Year: 1898

page_text: A communication by PHILIP ARGALL, of Denver, in the County of Arapahoe
and State of Colorado, United States of America, Mechanical and Mining
Engineer
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street, Manchester, both
in the County of Lancaster, 118, New Street, Birmingham, in the County of War-
wick, and 322, High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to the cooling of ores, and consists of a cooling machine
whereby ores can be taken red hot from the roasting furnace and cooled down to
ordinary temperature by one operation and in a few minutes of time. It is par-
ticularly useful in cyanide and chlorination works, where the crushed ore is
roasted and has subsequently to be cooled down to normal temperature before
It can however be
being placed in the vats or barrels for chemical treatment.
used for cooling any fine furnace product.
The method at present employed and in general use for cooling ore is to
remove it from the furnace in wheelbarrows, spread it out on a cooling floor, turn
it over by hand labor one or more times to expose all parts of it to the air, and
finally spinkle it with water. All this was costly, laborious and time consuming.
This invention performs in a few minutes and in a thoroughly satisfactory manner
that which heretofore required many hours for accomplishment on the cooling
floor, and does away with the expensive and exhausting manual labor.
In construction, this rotary cooler has an outer cylindrical shell made pre-
ferably of steel plate, of a length of from 15 to 40 feet, mounted by means of
track bands upon rollers which rotate the cylinder through suitable connections
with a source of power in the way well known for rotating tubular furnaces for
the roasting or ores. There is an inner cylindrical shell of similar material to
the outer shell, secured to the latter at each end by annular flanged plates, and
by an annular series of suitable stay bolts in the center, and held stiffly in position
at other points by bearing screw studs running in threaded sockets secured to the
outer shell, thus admitting of adjustment, and not interfering with the longi-
tudinal expansion and contraction of the inner shell relatively to the outer shell.
Said inner shell terminates at the feed end of the cylinder in a corrugated tube,
the object of which is not only to increase the cooling surface at this point, but
also to provide for the considerable expansion and contraction at this point,
due to the impingement of the red hot ore on the steel tubing.
The rotary cylinder is set at an angle of inclination from the level of about one
foot in twelve, to provide for the progressive travel of the ore, as in rotary roasting
apparatus. It is provided with a series of discharge outlets around its circum-

page_text: ference, near the discharge end, and is also furnished with mud holes, having
removable lids or covers, to afford access to the space between the shells, and
outlet for any foreign substances accumulating therein. The lids or covers are
held in place by pivoted bolts and nuts, and a holding bar. The rotary cylinder
is also supplied with an annular hollow head at the discharge end, and a similar
annular hollow head at the feed end, secured in place to the inner steel shell pre-
ferably by suspension bolts placed in elongated or oblong holes to allow for ex-
pansion of the tubes, and with an intervening space or loose fit sufficient to allow
for expansion and contraction of the heads under the extreme variations of tem-
perature. These heads may be made either of cast or wrought metal, as for
example, good steel boiler plate. Between these heads is containd a double
series of tubes, preferably of wrought metal, secured in the same at their
extremities by expansion, or in any other suitable manner. As a means of gaining
access to these tubes for cleaning purposes or repairs hand holes with removable
covers are employed fitting circular openings in the head plates opposite to the
tube openings, with a yoke or spider within the head, held by a headed screw bolt
and nut, for firmly and detachably securing the said yoke and cover together.
There are four pipes leading from the distributor to the space between the
steel shells. These pipes are provided with valves. There are also four pipe
bends at the feed end of the apparatus, connecting the water space between the
main shells with the water space in the annular head at that end. There are
also four pipes extending from the water spaces in the said annular heads by
way of hollow projections on said annular heads, running lengthwise of the rotary
cylinder to a common main discharge or outlet pipe at the discharge end of the
apparatus, said pipes being connected to the said discharge pipe by suitable
bends and unions or couplers. A valve is provided in said main discharge pipe.
There are four pipes leading also from the distributor to the annular space in the
annular head at the discharge end, provided also with a means for turning on and
off the water supply.
As the tubes or pipes between the heads have to sustain a very considerable
displacing pressure, they are secured in place by the means about to be described.
Two angle irons are firmly riveted to the inner shell at suitable intervals, spaced
about one inch apart. In this space curved saddles are fixed between the angle
irons, supporting the first or outer circle of tubes. Upon these tubes rest a series
of double saddles, which double saddles in turn support the inner series of tubes. The
said inner series of tubes is held firmly in place by a series of intermediate caps
attached to suspension bolts by screw nuts, said suspension bolts being anchored
at the other end by an eye and transverse bolt passing through the angle irons.
The construction of the distributer is as follows. There are two tubes, pre-
ferably of wrought iron, secured in head castings so as to include an annular space
between, said castings held in place by longitudinal bolts lying in the water
space. The end casting next the cooler is tapped with eight holes for the reception
of eight screw threaded pipes. Four of these pipes connect with the annular
water space included between the two main shells, described above, and the four
other pipes connect with the hollow head at the discharge end of the rotary cylinder.
Outside of this double distributor tube is a turned and fitted casting closely
embracing the outer tube, and provided with a double stuffing box and glands.
This outer casting is stationary, while the inner double tube rotates with the cooler
and its system of tubing. Said casting is tapped for a stationary supply pipe,
and is recessed with an annular chamber communicating with said supply pine
Perforations through the wall of the inner tube admit the water to the annuler
space between the two tubes, and thence to pipes radiating from the hollow head
at the inner extremity.
The main outlet or discharge pipe passes centrally through the inner pipes of
the distributer with a considerable air space or clearance surrounding it on all
sides. This discharge pipe, conveying hot water away from the cooler, rotates
with the system of pipes with which it is connected, and is provided with a stuffing

page_text: box and gland to admit of such rotation. By this mode of discharge my corre-
spondent is enabled to avoid obstructing the feed end of the cooler by an axial
pipe, which is desirable in order to avoid conflict with the means for introducing
the red hot ore into the cooler, when a chute is employed. The distributer also
enables all the water regulation to be done at one place, and that at the cool end
of the machine.
The mode of operation is as follows: The water is turned on at the right hand
end of the machine by means of the valves in the several distributing pipes; the
discharge valve is opened, and the machinery for rotation is set in motion. The
water enters the distributer through the main inlet pipe, and thence flows through
the four pipes before mentioned to the annular space between the main shells, and
also through the four other pipes to the annular space in annular head at the discharge
end. The water fills the main annular space and flows thence through pipes into
the annular space in the head at the feed end, and thence through the hollow
projections and through the longitudinal pipes into the main discharge pipe. The
water flowing into the first annular head passes into the longitudinal pipes between
the two heads, and the current flowing thence into the annular head at the feed
end meets and mingles with the current flowing through the connecting pipes,
where both join and pass together to the main discharge pipe.
The hot ore from the roasting furnace has meantime been spouted into the feed
end of the rotary cylinder, and as the cylinder rotates it gradually advances along
the steel cooling surface and among the cooling pipes, towards the discharge
openings, whereby its heat is rapidly abstracted, so that it reaches said discharge
openings at ordinary temperature. As it is very hot when arriving at the feed
end, the steel plates are subjected to an excessive temperature at that end, and
the water becomes heated to a like extent so that when discharged it contains a
large amount of heat which may be utilized in various ways about the works, such
as feeding boilers and heating rooms. If water is not abundant the residue is
collected and cooled in suitable tanks for reuse.
Talad this 1st day of December 1898.
(A communication by PHILIP ARGALL, of Denver, in the County of Arapahoe
and State of Colorado, United States of America, Mechanical and Mining
Engineer).
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, 6, Bank Street, Manchester, both
in the County of Lancaster, 118, New Street, Birmingham, in the County of War-
wick, and 322, High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
_
This invention relates to the cooling of ores, and consists of a cooling machine
whereby ores can be taken red hot from the roasting furnace and cooled down to
ordinary temperature by one operation and in a few minutes of time. It is par-
ticularly useful in cyanide and chlorination works, where the crushed ore is
roasted and has subsequently to be cooled down to normal temperature before

page_text: being placed in the vats or barrels for chemical treatment. It can however be
used for cooling any fine furnace product.
The method at present employed and in general use for cooling ore is to
remove it from the furnaces in wheelbarrows, spread it out on a cooling floor, turn
it over by hand labor one or more times to expose all parts of it to the air, and
finally sprinkle it with water. All this was costly, laborious and time consuming.
This invention performs in a few minutes and in a thoroughly satisfactory manner
that which heretofore required many hours for, accomplishment on the cooling
floor, and does away with the expensive and exhausting manual labor.
In the drawings forming a part of this specification:
Figure 1 is a vertical central longitudinal section, with the middle portion
broken away, of this rotary cooler.
Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of the stuffing box and gland employed for
connecting the stationary inlet and outlet pipes with the rotary portions with
which they communicate.
Figure 3 is an end view of the feed end of the rotary cooling cylinder.
Figure 4 is an end view of the discharge end of the rotary cooling cylinder.
Figure 5 is a transverse section on line 5-5, Fig. 1, showing the method of
supporting and staying the internal system of cooling tubes.
Figure 6 is a longitudinal section of the distributor enlarged, shown at the right
end of Fig. 1.
Figure is an enlarged longitudinal section of a portion of the rotary cylinder,
showing the mode of gaining access to the circulatory tubes for cleaning purposes.
Figure 8 is an enlarged detail view of a portion of the cylinder in longitudinal
section, showing the mode of supporting the internal tubes.
Figure 9 is a transverse section on line 9-9 of Figure 6, showing the distributing
pipes.
Like letters of reference indicate like parts on the several figures.
In Figure 1, A is the outer cylindrical shell of the rotary cooler, made preferably
of steel plate, of a length from 15 to 40 feet, and mounted by means of track
bands B upon rollers B B which rotate the cylinder through suitable con-
nections with a source of power in the way well known for rotating tubular fur-
naces for roasting ores. Cis an inner cylindrical shell of similar material to the
outer shell, secured to the latter at each end by annular flanged plates c' (Figs. 1
& 7), and by an annular series of suitable stay bolts 6 in the centre, and held
stiffly in position at other points by bearing screw studs (61) running in threaded
sockets secured to the outer shell, thus admitting of adjustment, and not inter-
fering with the longitudinal expansion and contraction of the inner shell C
relatively to the outer shell. Said inner shell C terminates at the feed end of
the cylinder in a corrugated tube c, the object of which is not only to increase
the cooling surface at this point, but also to provide for the considerable expansion
and contraction at this point, due to the impingement of the red hot ore on the
steel tubing.
The rotary cylinder is set at an angle of inclination from the level of about one
foot in twelve, to provide for the progressive travel of the ore, as in rotary roasting
apparatus. It is provided with a series of discharge outlets 1) around its cir-
cumference, near the discharge end (at the right, Figure 1). It is also furnished
with mud holes d, d, with removable lids or covers maffording access to the space
between the shells A and C, and outlet for any foreign substances accumulating
therein. The lids or covers are held in place by pivoted bolts and nuts o, o and
a holding bar 1. The rotary cylinder is also supplied with an annular hollow
head E at the discharge end (Figure 4) secured in place to the inner steel shell (
preferably by suspension bolts 2 as shown in Figure 7. placed in elongated or
oblong holes to allow for expansion of the tubes, and with an intervening space
or loose fit sufficient to allow for expansion and contraction of the heads under
the extreme variations of temperature. These heads may be made either of
cast or wrought metal but as herein shown they are made of boiler plate. Between

page_text: these heads is contained a double series of tubes G, G preferably of wrought metal,
secured in the same at their extremities by expansion as shown in Figure 7
or in any other suitable manner. In Figure 7, is shown a means of gaining access
to these tubes for cleaning purposes or repairs by means of hand holes with remov-
able covers, e being a circular cover for a circular opening in the head plate
opposite to the tube opening, f being a yoke or spider within the head, and g
being a headed screw-bolt and nut for firmly and detachably securing the said
yoke and cover together. I, I are four pipes leading from the distributer to the
space a between the steel shells A and Ć. These pipes are provided with valves
or cocks i, i. J, J are four pipe connections at the feed end of the apparatus
between the water space a and the water space a¹ in annular head F. K, K are
four pipes extending from the said annular water space a¹ by way of hollow pro-
ject ons P lengthwise of the rotary cylinder to a common discharge or outlet pipe L
at the discharge end of the apparatus, said pipes K K being connected to said
discharge pipe by suitable bends and unions or couplers. A valve is provided
in discharge pine L. N N are four pipes leading also from the distributer to the
annular space all in annular head E provided like pipes 1 with a means for turning
on and off the water supply, one of which means is shown at n, (Figure 4).
As the tubes or pipes G G between the heads have to sustain a very considerable
displacing pressure they are secured in place by the means illustrated in Figures 5
and 8. Two angle irons PP" are firmly riveted to the inner shell C at suitable
intervals, spaced about one inch apart. In this space curved saddles are fixed
between the angle irons supporting the first or outer circle of tubes G. Upon
these tubes rest a series of double saddles p¹, which double saddles in turn support
the inner series of tubes G¹. The said inner series of tubes is held firmly in
place by a series of intermediate caps Q, attached to suspension bolts q by screw
nuts as shown in Figure 5, said suspension bolts being anchored at the other end
by an eye and transverse bolt q" passing through the angle irons P P.
The construction of the distributor, Figures 6 and 9, is as follows: R R¹ are
two tubes, preferably of wrought iron, secured in head castings S S₁ so as to inclose
an annular water space between, and held in place by longitudinal bolts s s lying
in the water space. The end casting next the cooler is tapped with eight holes
for the reception of eight screw-threaded pipes I, N, (Figures 6 and 9). The four
pires I connect with the annular water space included between the two main shells A
and C, as described above, and shown Figures 1 and 4. The four pipes 'N
connect with the hollow head E at the discharge end of the rotary evlinder
(Figure 4). Outside of this double distributor tube R R is a turned and fitted
casting R closely embracing tube R and provided with a double stuffing box
and lands r 1 (Fig. 6). This outer casting R is stationary, while the inner
double tube R R₁ rotated with the cooler and its system of tubing. Said casting R"
is tapped at V1 for a stationary supply pipe V, and is recessed with an annular
chamber u communicating with said supply pipe . Perforations u¹
through the wall of the inner tube R₁ admit the water to the annular
space between the tubes R R and thence to pipes I, N, radiating from the hollow
head S, at the inner extremity.
The main outlet or discharge pipe L passes centrally through the inner pipe R¹
of the distributer with a considerable air space or clearance surrounding it on
all sides, as shown in Figure 1. This discharge pipe, conveying hot water away
from the cooler, rotates with the system of pipes with which it is connected, and
is provided with a stuffing box and gland T (shown in Figure 2) to admit of such
rotation.
By this mode of discharge obstructing the feed end of the cooler by an axial
pipe is avoided, which is desirable in order to avoid conflict with the means for
introducing the red hot ore into the cooler, when a chute is employed. The dis-
tributor also enables all the water regulation to be done at one place, and that
at the cool end of the machine.

page_text: The mode of operation is as follows:
The water is turned on at the right hand end of the machine by means of the
valves in the several distributing pipes; the discharge valve k is opened and the
machinery for rotation is set in motion. The water enters the distributor through
main inlet pipe V and thence flows through the four pipes I to the annular
space between the shells A and C, and also through the four pipes N to the
annular space a" in annular head E at the discharge end. The water fills the
annular space and flows thence through pipes J into annular space a¹ in the
head F, and thence through the hollow projections and through pipes K into
discharge pipe L. The water flowing into annular space head E through pipes N
passes into pipes G G and the current flowing thence into annular head F meets
and mingles with the current flowing through pipes J, where both joint and pass
together to the discharge pipe L.
The hot ore from the roasting furnace has meantime been spouted into the feed
end of the rotary furnace cylinder, at the left hand, and as the cylinder rotates
it gradually advances along the steel cooling surface and among the cooling
pipes G G¹ towards the discharge openings D, whereby its heat is rapidly extracted,
so that it reaches said discharge openings at ordinary temperature. As it is very
hot when arriving at the feed end the steel plates are subjected to an excessive
temperature at that end and the water becomes heated to a like extent, so that
when discharged it contains a large amount of heat which may be utilized in
various ways about the works, such as feeding boilers, heating rooms &c. If
water is not abundant the residue is collected and cooled in suitable tanks for
re-use.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondent I declare that what I claim is:-
-
(1) In a rotary ore cooler, a cylinder consisting of an outer and an inner
shell enclosing an annular space between them, corrugations in said inner shell
at the receiving end of said cylinder, closures at the end of said
annular space means for rotating the cylinder, pipes connected with
a source of water supply connected to said annular space at the
end farthest removed from the corrugations, and pipes connected with the said
annular space at the end nearest the corrugation leading to a main discharge con-
duit through the interior of said cylinder, substantially as described.
(2) A rotary ore cooler, consisting of a cylinder having inner and outer
cylindrical shells, with an annular water space between, means for rotating said
cylinder, hollow heads within said inner shell and sustained thereby, longitudinal
tubes between said hollow heads connecting the same, return tubes communicating
with one of said hollow heads and with a main discharge pipe, and means for
supplying water continuously to said annular space and to said hollow heads
while the cylinder is in rotation, substantially as specified.
(3) In a rotary ore cooler, a cylinder consisting of shells A and C enclosing an
annular space, hollow heads E and F within inner cylinder C, longitudinal tubes G
and G connecting said hollow heads, return pipes KK, leading from hollow head F
to main discharge outlet, means for supporting and rotating said cylinder, means
for supplying water to said annular space and to said hollow heads, and means
for discharging the water therefrom while said cylinder is in rotation, substantially
as specified.
(4) In a rotary ore cooler, a cylinder consisting of an outer and an inner shell
enclosing an annular space between them, closures at the end of said annular
space, said inner shell projecting beyond the said annular space at the discharge
end, annular corrugations in said inner shell at the receiving end, discharge open-
ings through the projecting portion of said inner shell at the discharge end, means
for rotating said cylinder, means for supplying said annular space with water at

page_text: one end, and means for discharging the water from said annular space connected
with the other end thereof, substantially as specified.
(5) In a rotary ore cooler, a cylinder consisting of an outer and an inner shell,
enclosing an annular space between them, hollow annular heads within said inner
shell near the ends thereof, a double series of tubes extending longitudinally
between said holl heads, arranged in two concentric circles, and means for
supporting said tubes against displacement, consisting of annular angle irons secured
to said inner shell, saddle pieces p, double saddles intermediate caps Q and
suspension bolts q anchored to said angle irons, substantially as specified.
"
(6) In a rotary ore cooler, a cylinder consisting of an outer shell and an inner
shell enclosing an annular space, annular closures c at the ends of said annular
space, and hollow heads E and F within said inner shell, said hollow heads loosely
fitting said inner shell and anchored to the latter by bolts in elongated apertures
to provide for longitudinal and lateral expansion, substantially as specified.
(7) In a rotary ore cooler, a cylinder consisting of an outer shell and an inner
shell enclosing an annular space, closures c at the ends of said annular space,
hollow heads E and F within said inner shell, anchored to the latter, tubes G G¹
extending between said hollow heads, openings in the outer plates of said hollow
heads opposite said tubes, removable covers for said openings, yokes f, and screw
bolts g, whereby access is afforded to the interiors of said tubes, substantially as
specified.
(8) In a rotary ore cooler, a cylinder consisting of an outer shell and an inner
shell enclosing an annular space between them, closures at the ends of said annular
space, means for rotating said cylinder, pipes for supplying water to said annular
space at one end thereof, discharge pipes for conveying the water away from said
annular space connected with the other end thereof, and a main central discharge
pipe with which said discharge pipes are connected, and a distributer having a
stationary part connected with a stationary main inlet pipe and a revoluble part
communicating with said supply pipes, surrounding said main central discharge
pipe with an annular space between, substantially as specified.
(9) In a rotary ore cooler, a cylinder consisting of outer and inner shells
enclosing an annular space, closures at the ends of said annular space, means for
rotating said cylinder, hollow heads E and F within said inner shell, anchored
to the latter, intermediate tubes extending between said hollow heads, means for
supplying water to said hollow heads and intermediate tubing, and means for con-
veying water away from said annular space and from said intermediate tubing
terminating in a main discharge pipe, substantially as specified.
(10) In a rotary ore cooler having a water circulation, with supply and dis-
charge pipes and a main central discharge pipe, a distributing means consisting of
a revoluble member surrounding said main central discharge pipe, with an annular
air space between, an annular chamber in said revoluble member supply pipes
radiating from said annular chamber, a stationary member secured upon said
revoluble member for a portion of its length, having an annular chamber therein,
a stationary main supply pipe connected with said stationary annular chamber,
apertures in said revoluble chamber communicating with said stationary chamber,
and packing means between said stationary member and said revoluble member,
substantially as specified.