IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO THE EXTRACTION OF METALS FROM THEIR ORES, AND BURNING LIME, CEMENT, BRICKS, AND LIKE MATERIALS, AND IN THE FURNACES AND MACHINERY EMPLOYED THEREFOR,
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Stone, of King William Street, in the City of
London, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO THE
EXTRACTION OF METALS FROM THEIR ORES, AND BURNING LIME, CEMENT,
BRICKS, AND LIKE MATERIALS, AND IN THE FURNACES AND MACHINERY
EMPLOYED THEREFOR,"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Stone at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 18th May 1881.
ROBERT STONE, of King William Street, in the City of London. " IMPROV E-
MENTS IN AND RELATING TO THE EXTRACTION OF METALS FROM THEIR ORES,
AND BURNING LIME, CEMENT, BRICKS, AND LIKE MATERIALS, AND IN THE
FURNACES AND MACHINERY EMPLOYED THEREFOR."
This Invention has reference to certain Inventions for which Letters Patent were
granted to Thomas Corry Stone, on the 24th June 1879, No. 2535, and to myself
on the 21st May 1880, No. 2070, and the object of my present Invention is to
improve and perfect the means and processes in those Patents described, with the
addition of such further subject matter as is hereinafter contained, and the means
whereby I effect these improvements are as follows:--
I construct the furnaces described in the said Letters Patent of any suitable
shape, as rectangular, circular, elliptical, or otherwise, and provide underneath or
above such furnaces a large space for air, into which space hot or cold air can be
forced by suitable blowing apparatus, and in which space it acquires the necessary
pressure to operate as a powerful blast to and through the furnace. In some cases
I add to this blast jets of steam or jets of oil, or of steam and oil combined, and
sometimes the oil is made to enter in the form of spray, for the purpose of
increasing the temperature of the blast and the furnace. When smelting ores I use
inclined slabs of terra cotta or other refractory material capable of resisting high
temperatures, down which slabs the metal is allowed to run when in a fluid state,
and I cause volumes of air mixed with annealing substances or oils to impinge
upon the molten metal as it flows down such inclined slabs, in order to obtain a

page_text: very superior quality of iron or steel. Afterwards the metal is caused to enter a
receiver or settling tank, from which it is drawn into moulds or dies suitable to
the shape of the rails or bars that may be required. Such rails or bars are then,
while still hot and in a soft state, subjected to the to and fro action of heavy rolls,
whereby the metal obtains a fibre, and is condensed and compressed, and a close
hard grained material of a superior quality is obtained. During this process of
rolling I sometimes apply heat to the material which is being operated upon, or
underneath the moulds or dies, in order to prevent it from cooling too quickly.
In the bottoms of the furnaces or kilns I place bars of terra cotta or other
indestructible material for sustaining the material while operating OD.
I utilize the heat remaining in the blast after passing through the furnace by
taking the same from the sides or top of the furnace or kilns, and passing it to
other furnaces or under drying floors.
These furnaces or kilns are suited to smelting ores of all kinds; also for burning
bricks, blocks, lime, gypsum, sets, and other analogous purposes.
When smelting or dissolving flint, spar, marble, granite, or any other hard
material, I use a flux composed of pearl ash, nitro borax, or leneal, cryolite, alum,
saltpetre, or any other suitable material or flux..
In order to obtain any color that may be required, such as red, green, blue,
silver, or gold, I add oxide of corbatt, green oxide of chrome, red oxide of iron,
silver, zinc, platinum, gold mercury, prepared silver, and suitable flux mixed with
oils.
The flux is mixed with the before mentioned materials when ground to a fine
powder.
Suitable apparatus is provided for pulverizing the various materials, such
apparatus being in the several forms described in the said Letters Patent, No. 2535,
1879, and 2070, 1880, or by ordinary millstones, either of iron or burr stone,
running in opposite directions.
The composition when in a melted state is run into moulds or dies, and in
making blocks, caps, pillars, slabs, cornices, chimney pieces, bricks, tiles, or pottery
sets, I employ heated dies or moulds with moveable sides and weighted cover, into
which I run a thin layer of composition, then fill up the die or mould with iron or
other slag from the furnaces while in a fluid state, then place the cover on it,
causing immediate cohesion between the two substances, the first forming an enamel
facing, and the latter the body of the article or casting.
I sometimes spread the powdered composition into the hot dies or moulds, after
which the melted slag is poured in. The latter melts and adheres to the composition,
which forms a fine polished surface, or I may use the dies or moulds without
heating.
I also sometimes lay the composition upon the slag or material in the form of a
paste, or in the dies or moulds, and then heat both until cohesion takes place.
In forming brickets, blocks, slates, or tiles, I compress them by the means
described in the said Letters Patent, No. 2070, 1880, or by a plain roll or drum
which is placed over the boxes to force the plastic material into the boxes as
the machine rotates, and after suitable pressure being applied by means of a cam
and falling weights the pressed blocks are discharged upon a travelling band.
The blowing apparatus made use of in some cases consists of a suitable case with
the rotating fans of a V shape, the air being drawn in at the centre and withdrawn
by the usual arrangement from any part of the periphery of the case.
In smelting ores (especially gold ores) I sometimes grind the ores to a fine
powder and then mixed with annealing substances, such as peat, oil, or other
suitable material.
The foregoing machinery referred to is also applicable for grinding the material
while in a plastic as well as in a powdered state; sometimes I may grind by a
screw revolving in a cylinder diminished or otherwise.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, and of
an Order of the Lord Chancellor, filed by the said Robert Stone in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 25th November 1881.
ROBERT STONE, of King William Street, in the City of London.
" IMPROVE-
MENTS IN AND RELATING TO THE EXTRACTION OF METALS FROM THEIR ORES,
AND BURNING LIME, CEMENT, BRICKS, AND LIKE MATERIALS, AND IN THE
FURNACES AND MACHINERY EMPLOYED THEREFOR."
This Invention has reference to certain Inventions for which Letters Patent
were granted to Thomas Corry Stone on the 24th June 1879, No. 2535, and to
myself on the 21st May 1880, No. 2070, and the object of my present Invention is
to improve and perfect the means and processes in those Patents described, with
the addition of such further subject matter as is hereinafter contained, and the
means whereby I effect these improvements are as follows:-
I construct the furnaces described in the said Letters Patent of any suitable
shape, as rectangular, circular, elliptical, or otherwise, and provide underneath or
above such furnaces a large space for air, into which space hot or cold air can be
forced by any suitable blowing apparatus, and in which space it acquires the
necessary pressure to operate as a powerful blast to and through the furnace. In
some cases I add to and combine with the blast jets of steam or jets of oil, or of
steam and oil in combination, the stean imparting motion to the oil and causing it
after the manner of liquid fuel to enter in the form of spray, and thereby increasing
the temperature of the blast and also of the furnace." When smelting ores I use
inclined slabs of terra cotta or other refractory material capable of resisting high
temperatures, down which slabs the metal is allowed to run when in a fluid state;
and I cause volumes of air, mixed with annealing substances or oils, to impinge
upon the molten metal as it flows down such inclined slabs in order to obtain a
very superior quality of iron or steel. Afterwards the metal is caused to enter a
receiver or settling tank, from which it is drawn into moulds or dies suitable to
the shape of the rails or bars that may be required. Such rails or bars are then,
while still hot and in a soft state, subjected to the to and fro action of heavy rolls,
whereby the metal obtains an improved fibre, the metal being thereby condensed
and compressed, and a close hard-grained material of a superior quality is thereby
obtained. During this process of rolling I sometimes apply heat to the material
which is being operated upon or underneath the moulds or dies in order to prevent
it from cooling too quickly.
In the bottoms of the furnaces or kilns I place bars of terra cotta or other
indestructible material for sustaining the material while operating thereupon.
I utilize the heat remaining in the blast after passing through the furnace by
taking the same from the sides or top of the furnace or kilns and passing it to
other furnaces or under drying floors.
These furnaces or kilns are suited to smelting ores of all kinds; also for burning
bricks, blocks, lime, gypsum, sets, and other analogous purposes.
When smelting or dissolving flint, spar, marble, granite, or any other hard
material I use a flux composed of pearl-ash, nitro-borax, or lineal, cryolite, alum,
saltpetre, or any other suitable material or flux.
In order to obtain any color that may be required, such as red, green, blue,
silver, or gold, I add oxide of corbatt, green oxide of chrome, red oxide of iron,
silver, zinc, platinum, gold mercury, prepared silver, and suitable flux mixed with
oils.
The flux is mixed with the before mentioned materials when ground to a fine
powder.

page_text: Suitable apparatus is provided for pulverising the various materials, such
apparatus being in the several forms described in the said Letters Patent,
No. 2535, 1879, and 2070, 1880, or by ordinary millstones, either of iron or burr
stone, running in opposite directions.
The composition when in a melted state is run into moulds or dies, and in
making blocks, caps, pillars, slabs, cornices, chimney pieces, bricks, tiles, or pottery
sets, I employ heated dies or moulds with moveable sides and weighted cover, into
which I run a thin layer of composition, then fill up the die or mould with iron or
other slag from the furnaces while in a fluid state, and then place the cover
thereupon, causing immediate cohesion between the two substances, the first
forming an enamel facing and the latter the body of the article or casting.
I sometimes spread the powdered composition either for enamelling or coloring,
or both, into the hot dies or moulds, after which the melted slag is poured in.
The latter melts and adheres to the composition, which forms a fine polished
surface. I sometimes use the dies or moulds without heating.
I also sometimes lay the composition upon the slag or material in the form
of a paste, or in the dies or moulds, and then heat both until cohesion takes
place.
In forming brickets, blocks, slates, or tiles, I compress them by the means
described in the said Letters Patent, No. 2070, 1880, or by a plain roll or drum
which is placed over the boxes to force the plastic material into the boxes as
the machine rotates, and after suitable pressure being applied by means of a
cam and falling weights the pressed blocks are discharged upon a travelling
band.
The blowing apparatus made use of in some cases consists of a suitable case with
rotating fans of a V shape, the air being drawn in at the centre and withdrawn
by the usual arrangement from any part of the periphery of the case.
In smelting ores (especially gold ores) I sometimes grind the ores to a fine
powder and then mix with annealing substances, such as peat, oil, or other suitable
material.
The foregoing machinery is also applicable for grinding the material while in a
plastic as well as in a powdered state, and I sometimes grind the materials by
means of a screw revolving in a conical cylinder.
In manufacturing cement I sometimes take, in a raw state, the several materials,
and mix them together in proper proportions and grind them. The materials thus
prepared I mould into brickets or blocks and dry them in kilns or otherwise, thus
saving the expense of washing. After drying the material is burned in manner
herein before described.
In burning the bricks I place the fuel directly under the bricks to a suitable
extent on fire bars with circular ends capable of rolling upon the ordinary bearing
bars built into the sides of the kiln. Above such fire bars I place terra cotta or
fire clay slabs to pile the bricks upon in the kilns.
For the last aforesaid purposes I utilise the waste heat from the top or sides of
one kiln to the lower part of another, forcing such waste heat through the unbaked
damp bricks until dry enough to receive heat at a higher temperature.
Having now described my said Invention, and the manner of carrying out the
same, I wish it to be understood that what I claim and desire to be secured to me
by the herein before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
1. The method or means of increasing the temperature of the blast of blast
furnaces by adding thereto jets of steam and oil, as herein before described.
2. The arrangements for adding coloring and enamelling mixtures to color the
materials or to form surfaces to castings, as herein before described.
3. The arrangements for laying composition upon slag in the form of paste and
then heating both together to cause cohesion, as herein before described.
4. The arrangements for reducing or grinding ores to a fine powder, and mixing
the same with annealing substances, as herein before described.

page_text: 5. The novel arrangements and means for burning bricks, as herein before
described.
6. The improvements in and relating to the extraction of metals from their ores,
and burning lime, cement, bricks, and like materials, and in the furnaces and
machinery employed therefor, substantially as and for the purposes herein before
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Stone, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Eighteenth day of November, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty one.
ROBERT STONE. (L.S.)