IMPROVEMENTS IN SMELTING ORES AND METALS AND IN THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREFOR
Year: 1883

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Samuel Richard Smyth at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th November 1883.
SAMUEL RICHARD SMYTH of Southampton Buildings, London
"IMPROVEMENTS
IN SMELTING ORES AND METALS AND IN THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREFOR
The object of this invention is twofold. i.e:
1stly To greatly increase the yield or product
2ndly To greatly economise the cost and labour of the process
"
My invention relates Firstly To a novel process hereafter termed the "liquid.
process" for smelting iron and steel and other ores and metals and Secondly To an
improved apparatus for carrying the same into effect
Such process consists in the application of liquid hydro-carbon and liquid
Oxyhydro-compounds: also liquid alkali compounds to the smelting of iron and
other ores and metals by first accumulating and afterwards atomising and
distributing the same either by hot or cold air blast.-or by atomised water or
vapour, or superheated steam-or by carburetted hydrogen, or carbonic oxide
gas; or by oxygen or hydrogen, or any or either of them alone or combined acting
as carriers as hereafter explained
To carry out my invention I employ any suitable liquid hydro-carbon-such as
petroleum, or any suitable atomised alkali compounds, and by means of any of
the before named carriers employed either alone or in combination with the liquid
hydrocarbons or alkali compounds I carry them into a blast or other furnace
Or I force such liquid hydro carbons or alkali Compounds into any such furnace
alone by columnar or other pressure and atomise and distribute the same
mechanically.
My improved process may be applied to any existing blast or other furnace
without any material alteration being made therein
To carry out my improved process, I erect in any convenient position adjacent
to the furnace one or more accumulators or holders of suitable form and capacity
and fit them with one or more pipes, floats, valves, guages, checks, and other
appliances so as to render the apparatus automatic.
Such accumulators are employed to store the before mentioned liquid compounds
and are fixed at a sufficient elevation to give sufficient impetus to the flow of such

page_text: compounds to overcome the pressure of the atmospheric blast as it enters the
tuyeres of the furnace
Suitable mixing tanks are also constructed in any convenient place from which
tanks the compounds may be forced to the accumulators by means of suitable
pumping mechanism
When employing oxygen or hydrogen I store these elements in holders and
force them into the furnace at the part of the descending blast pipes leading into
the tuyeres where the liquid compounds the atomising distributors or at any other
convenient point while I bring Supply pipes from the accumulators and surround
the furnace with a pipe of each compound
Descending from such supply pipes are branch pipes fitted with suitable valves
while atomisers are attached to the mixing boxes which latter are placed in the
most convenient part of the descending blast pipes or in any other convenient
position Suitable valves and guages are fixed to each Supply pipe
A drop valve is fitted on the main blast pipe leading to the furnace beyond the
shut off valve so as to provide for the escape of any accumulated gases when the
blast is shut off while a pressure valve is fixed on the main blast pipe surrounding
the furnace to relieve any Sudden pressure
In using Steam or steam decomposed in a furnace through coil or worm or any
suitable heater to commingle with the atomised hydro-carbon or alkali compounds
in the mixing boxes I attach suitable pipes and valves so as to regulate the supply
of the Same to the atomised Compounds
By my invention I generate caloric and fluxing Compounds by the combination
of the Compounds and Elements herein specified with the fuel gases and charge
of the furnace itself-such compounds and elements being conveyed into the
furnace direct by. a hot or cold air blast either separately or in combination with
each other whereby I produce with much less solid fuel far greater heat and obtain
aL larger yield of metal in a shorter period of time than has hitherto been
practicable
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