IMPROVEMENTS IN FURNACES FOR MANUFACTURING SPELTER OR METALLIC ZINC
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Philip Syng 'Justice, of 14, Southampton Buildings, in
the County of Middlesex, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
FURNACES FOR MANUFACTURING SPELTER OR METALLIC ZINC." A cominuni-
cation from abroad by Edward Charles Hegeler and Frederick Willian
Matthiessen, of La Salle, in the County of La Salle, State of Illinois, United
States of America, Manufacturers.
Sealed the 27th December 1879, and dated the 17th October 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Philip Syng Justice at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th October 1879.
PHILIP SYNG JUSTICE, of 14, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer. " IMPROVEMENTS IN FURNACES FOR MANUFACTURING SPELTER OR
METALLIC ZINC." A communication from abroad by Edward Charles Hegeler and
Frederick William Matthiessen, of La Salle, in the County of La Salle, State of
Illinois, United States of America, Manufacturers.
This Invention relates to that class of furnaces in which the zinc is manufac-
tured in fire-clay retorts or muffles of any form. In furnaces of this class in which
the retorts are heated from the outside it is desirable to give a uniform heat to a
large number of retorts in the most economical way, and at the same time have
these retorts easily accessible to the manual labour of charging and cleaning them
and taking the zinc from the condensers; and the object of this Invention is to
accomplish these ends better and more fully than by the furnaces now known and .
used.
The Invention consists, first, in a series of retort chambers, or preferably of a
flue like chamber arranged vertically, up and down, or zig zag or horizontally,
through which the partially burned gases from a gas generator or direct thick
grate fire enter and pass along for the purpose of being burned to heat the retorts,
being further burned on their passage along through the series of chambers or long
flue like chamber by air admitted between the chambers or at intervals along the
long flue like chamber, or both, so that such gases shall be completely burned at or
in the last chainber or extreme end of the flue like chamber; and, second, in the
use of hot air admitted at intervals into the retort chamber for the combustion of
the gases in the furnace, and admitted into the fire under the gas generator for
I Dains 77

page_text: their production in the gas generator, which is made practicable for these purposes,
especially the former, without destructive effects on the retorts by this Invention.
The arrangement of the retorts in a long flue being made practicable by the gradual
combustion of the gases by installments it is a separate part of our Invention to
arrange the long flue like chamber horizontally, thereby making the retorts easily
accessible for charging and cleaning from one floor, as the comparatively greater
velocity of the gases in the direction of the flue's axis (caused by its narrow interior
profile when compared to its length) will cause them to pass along in the flue like
chamber when arranged horizontally nearly as rapidly at its bottom as at its top
side.
As the heating of the air used for the burning of the gases in the furnace, as well
as their production in the gas generator, can be done by a separate fire or by the
burned gases after passing from the last chamber or extreme end of the long flue
like chamber, a great saving of fuel can be obtained by utilizing them in the
manner herein shown.
The Invention also further consists in the use of perforated retorts instead of
ordinary openings in the wall for the introduction of air into the retort chamber of
a zinc furnace between the retorts charged with ore, thereby avoiding the local
cooling effect in said retort chamber through said air.
The use of ordinary wall openings has heretofore made impracticable the intro-
duction of air into the fire gases, especially in the upper part of the Belgian zinc
furnace for the combustion of the gases there.
I am aware that open retors or canons, so called, are used on the dividing line
between the fire chamber and the retort chamber of the Belgian zinc furnace to
protect the retorts charged with ore from the direct action of the fire, and also that
air is admitted through them into the fire gases before these fire-gases come in
contact with the surface of the retorts charged with ore.
The improvement obtained by the use of perforated retorts for the introduction
of air into the fire gases in a retort chamber of a zinc furnace over the introduction
of such air through plain holes in the outer walls, consists in a quicker and more
perfect mixture of the said air and fire gases and consequent combustion, thus
preventing a local cooling effect in the retort chamber which takes place when the
air is introduced by holes in the outer walls so much as to make it usually
impracticable.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Philip Syng Justice in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 8th
April 1880.
PHILIP SYNG JUSTICE, of 14, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN FURNACES FOR MANUFACTURING SPELTER Or
METALLIC ZINC." A communication from abroad by Edward Charles Hegeler and
Frederick William Matthiessen, of La Salle, in the County of La Salle, State of
Illinois, United States of America, Manufacturers.
This Invention relates to that class of furnaces in which the zinc is manufactured
in fireclay retorts or muffles of any form. In furnaces of this class in which the
retorts are heated from the outside it is desirable to give a uniform heat to a large
number of retorts in the most economical way, and at the same time have the
retorts easily accessible to the manual labour of charging and cleaning them, and
taking the zinc from the condensers; and the object of this Invention is to accom-
plish these ends better and more fully than by the furnaces now known and used.
The Invention consists, first, in a series of retort chambers, or preferably of a flue
like chamber arranged vertically, up and down, or zig zag or horizontally, through
which the partially burned gases from a gas generator or direct thick grate tire
enter and pass along for the purpose of being burned to heat the retorts, being
further burned on their passage along through the series of chambers or long flue
like chamber by air admitted between the chambers or at intervals along the long
flue like chamber, or both, so that such gases shall be completely burned at or in
the last chamber or extreme end of the long flue like chamber; and, second, in the
use of hot air admitted at intervals into the retort chamber for the combustion of
the gases in the furnace, and admitted into the fire under the gas generator for
their production in the gas generator, which is made practicable for these purposes,
especially the former, without destructive effects on the retorts by this Invention.
The arrangement of the retorts in a long flue being made practicable by the gradual
combustion of the gases by installments it is a separate part of my Invention to
arrange the long flue like chamber horizontally, thereby making the retorts easily
accessible for charging and cleaning from one floor, as the comparatively greater
velocity of the gases in the direction of the flue's axis (caused by its narrow interior
profile when compared to its length) will cause them to pass along in the flue like
chamber when arranged horizontally nearly as rapidly at its bottom as at its top
side. As the heating of the air used for the burning of the gases in the furnace as
well as their production in the gas generator can be done by a separate fire or by
the burned gasses after passing from the last chamber or extreme end of the long
flue like chamber, a great saving of fuel can be obtained by utilizing them in the
manner herein shown.
The Invention also further consists in the use of perforated retorts instead of
ordinary openings in the wall for the introduction of air into the retort chamber of
a zinc furnace between the retorts charged with ore, thereby avoiding the local
cooling effect in said retort chamber through said air. The use of ordinary wall
openings has heretofore made impracticable the introduction of air into the fire
gases, especially in the upper part of the Belgian zinc furnace for the combustion of
the gases there.
I am aware that open retorts or canons, so called, are used on the dividing line
between the fire chamber and the retort chamber of the Belgian zinc furnace to
protect the retorts charged with ore from the direct action of the fire, and also that
air is admitted through them into the fire gases before these fire gases come in
contact with the surface of the retorts charged with ore. The improvement obtained
by the use of perforated retorts for the introduction of air into the fire gases in a

page_text: retort chamber of a zinc furnace over the introduction of such air through plain
holes in the outer walls, consists in a quicker and more perfect mixture of the said
air and fire gases and consequent combustion, thus preventing a local cooling effect
in the retort chamber which takes place when the air is introduced by holes in the
outer walls so much as to make it usually impracticable.
To better and more clearly explain the nature of the Invention of my foreign
correspondents, reference is made to the annexed Drawings, in which Fig. 1, Sheet 1,
is a longitudinal front elevation of the improved furnace; Fig. 7, Sheet 2, being a
horizontal plane of same on line x, x, Fig. 1; Fig. 2, Sheet 1, is a vertical longi-
tudinal section on a plane indicated by line x, x, Figure 7, Slieet 2; Fig. 3, Sheet 1,
is a longitudinal rear elevation of the furnace; Fig. 4, Sheet 1, is a vertical
longitudinal section on a plane indicated by line y, y. Figure 7, Sheet 2; Fig. 5,
Sheet 2, is a vertical cross section on a plane indicated by line x', ', Figure 7,
Sheet 2, showing an end view of the furnace and gas generator with the outer walls
removed; Fig. 6, Sheet 2, is a vertical cross section on a plane indicated by line 2, 2,
Figure 7, Sheet 2, showing the opposite end view of the furnace with the outer
wall removed, and the rear wall of the gas generator; Fig. 7, Sheet 2, is a horizontal
plane on line x, x, Figure 1, Sheet 1, showing the air retorts in perspective, and the
ore retorts omitted; Fig. 8, Sheet 2, is a vertical cross section on line y, y, Figure 1,
Sheet 1; Fig. 8, Sheet 2, is a vertical cross section on line 2, 2, Figure 1, Sheet 1;
Figure 9, Sheet 3, is a vertical longitudinal section on a plane indicated by line x, x,
Figure 10, Sheet 3, showing the long retort chamber arranged in a zig zag form;
Fig. 10, Sheet 3, is a vertical cross section on the line x, x, Figure 9, Sheet 3;
Fig. 11, Sheet 3 is a vertical longitudinal section on line x, x, Fig. 12, Sheet 3;
Fig. 12, Sheet 3, is a vertical cross section on line x, x, Figure 13, Sheet 3; Fig. 13,
Sheet 3, is a front or side longitudinal view of Figure 12, Sheet 3, on a plane of
line x, x¹, of said Figure 12. The Figures 11, 12, and 13, Sheet 3, show a
common Belgian furnace altered to apply my Invention; Figs. 14, 15, and 16,
Sheet 3, show a common silesian muttle furnace altered to apply my Invention,
Figure 14 being a top view with the arch removed to show the retorts or muffles;
Figure 15, a horizontal plane on line x, x, Figure 16, and Figure 16 a vertical cross
plane on line x, x, Fig. 14. Like letters of reference indicate like parts in the
several Figures of the Drawings; A is a gas generator; B is a gas flue into which
sufficient air is admitted from air flue C at valve D to increase by combustion the
temperature of the gas nearly to the degree required at the outside of retorts E, being
those charged with ore; F is the horizontal flue like retort chamber in which the
retorts E, G, G, G2, G3, are supported at one end on steps in the back wall, and at
the other on shelves in front. As the partially burned gases enter chamber F, they
first pass over and between air retorts G having the perforations g, g, through
which perforations a sufficient amount of additional air is admitted to raise by
further combustion the temperature of the gases to the full degree required on the
outside surface of a portion of the nearest retorts E charged with ore to reduce the
ore within. The heat of the gases being partially absorbed by such retorts through
the chemical process of reduction and evaporation of zinc taking place inside of
them, the temperature of the gases is gradually reduced on their forward march
between the retorts E, so that arriving at air retorts G₁ an increase of their
temperature is desired. This is reached by a small amount of heated air entering
through perforations g, g, in the retorts G'. The gases pass along between a
further portion of retorts E charged with ore gradually decreasing in temperature,
as before described, meeting in G' an additional amount of hot air entering through
the perforations g, g, in air retorts G2 causing the further combustion of the gases
and again increasing their temperature, which is again reduced by their passing
through another set of retorts charged with ore and again increased by another
admission of hot air from another set of air retorts G³, and so on, repeating the
operation as long as the progressing fire gases contain any combustible gases.
H is a flue through which the worn out fire gases are conducted from the

page_text: extreme end of the flue like retort chamber F, to chamber I of the air heating
apparatus passing in said chamber I over the outside surfaces of fire clay pipes J,
and iron pipes K, contained within said chamber I, and thence into and through
flue L into the chimney M, from which they are finally discharged.
The gas generator A, gas flue B, retort chamber F, flue H, chamber I, flue L,
and chimney M are connected respectively with each other in the order here stated,
so as to form a continuous open way for the fire gases to pass from the gas
generator A, to and through the furnace, and thence to and through the air heating
apparatus, and to the chimney to be discharged, as stated (see Figs. 5, 6, 7).
The forward course of the fire gases is indicated in the Drawings by the
serpentine arrows. N, Figures 3, 6, and 7, is a pipe with valve O through which cold
air or blast (from a fan) enters the iron pipes K, and passes upward through a part
and downward through another part, as shown in the Drawings by the straight or
curved arrows, being heated therein to a considerable degree and passing on into
fire clay pipes J, and through them, as shown by such arrows, where it is heated
thoroughly to a high degree of heat. The pipes K and "j" are open at each end,
and extend through the walls or floors which support then at their ends into the
open space above and below, which open space is partitioned off into compartments
N, N1, N2, N3, N4, N5, N6, N7, as shown in Figure 4, Sheet 1, and Figure 6. Sheet 2,
in such manner as to cause the air to be blown or drawn through the pipes from'
the first compartment N', into which the cold air from pipe N is implied up
through two of the said pipes K into compartments N2 above, and down through
the other two pipes K into compartiment N³ below, and so on through pipes until
it reaches compartment N7, as shown.
Flue P is connected with this last compartment N7, and conveys the hot air
therefrom to the flue Q, which extends along the entire length of the furnace, and
is located below the front ends of the air retorts G, G1, G2, G3, (see Figures 2, 6, 8).
Out of flue Q a portion of the hot air is carried by the branch flues R, S, T, U,
Fig. 1, extending from Q up in front of or near the said air retorts respectively.
These branch flues have smaller flues r, s, t, u, connecting with each of the said air
retorts, and at the junction of the branch flues R, S, T, U, with flue Q are valves
R, S, T, U, by which the amount of hot air admitted into the branch flues may
be regulated, and the smaller flues r, s, t, u, connecting the said air retorts also
have valves r, s, t, u, by which the amount of hot air admitted into each of the
said air retorts is regulated, so that the hot air inay be entirely shut off from some
of the said air retorts, and left on to others wholly or only partially as the operator
may desire, and the hot air thus admitted into the air retorts passes out through
the holes g, g, into the furnace for the burning of the fire gases, as before described
(see Figures 1, 8, 8ª).
The flue Qis also connected with the gas flue B by a short flue C, which has a
valve D (see Figures 2 & 7), by which a regulated amount of hot air from Q may
be introduced into said gas flue B, as and for the purpose above described. Con-
nected with the flue P at or near its junction with the compartment N' is a flue V
with a valve v (see Figures 3 & 6), by which flue and its valve a regulated
amount of hot air is carried into the chamber W, Figure 5, under the gas generator.
A to be admitted into the fire in the gas generator, and used instead of cold air in
generating the gases. The air pipes N, K, compartments N' to N7, and pipes
P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, are so connected with each other respectively as to form an
open way from the mouth of N when cold air is admitted to and through the
various valves described when open into the furnace, and the fire in the gas
generator in regular quantities in the manner described, there being sufficient air
pressure caused by the draught of the furnace or by a blast fan to make the hot
air flow into the furnace at any point or into the fire in the gas generator when
the proper valves are open.
The particular devices described for conducting the hot air or cold air instead
to and regulating its introduction into the air retorts G, G¹, G³, G³, may as a

page_text: matter of course be varied and otherwise adapted to accomplish the ends sought,
and so far as relates to the use of the series of chambers, or long flue like chamber
considered without reference to whether hot or cold air is to be used, the whole bot
air apparatus may be dispensed with, as well as blast substituted by the draught
of a chimney, and cold air introduced through ordinary apertures in the walls, or
in the projecting ends of the perforated air retorts, which in the latter case need
not lie in the regular rows necessitated by the blast or hot air pipes.
:
As before stated Figures 9 and 10, Sheet 3, show the cross section of a furnace
built with application of our Invention in zig zag shape. The fire gases from a
grate fire or the partially burned gases from a generator enter the zig zag shaped
retort chamber F at B, receiving through the perforations g, g, of air retort G a
small amount of additional air, then after passing along downward through the
retorts contained in the first compartment of chamber F receive through air
retorts Ganother installment of air and so on, until they pass at H out of the zig
zag retort chamber F, and pass to the chimney or an air heating apparatus, as
before described.
Figures 11, 12, and 13, Sheet 3, show a pair of common Belgian furnaces altered
to apply my Invention, being thereby heated by one tire instead of two. The fire
gases from the grate A or instead a gas flue connected with a generator enter the
one furnace chamber F1 froin the bottom meet in it additional air passing in
through the perforations in the air retorts g pass further upward, and again receive
air through air retorts g₁ pass further upward, and under the arch spanned anew-
over both furnaces meeting additional air introduced through openings g² in the top
of the arch, then passing downward through the other furnace chamber F meeting,
through air retorts g³, another installment of air then passing further downward to
the escapement flue, and further to the chimney of air heating apparatus. With Q
are marked the flues leading the cold or hot air to the air retorts; and Figures 14,
15, and 16, Sheet 3, show a double Silesian muffle furnace altered, so as to apply
my Invention, the use of heated air being assumed for the combustion of the gases.
The gases from a generator come through flue B to the muffle chamber F¹, meeting
before entering it at C¹ the heated air coming through flue Q from an air heating
apparatus in such quantity as only partially to burn them, but so much as to
produce in chamber F the required heat; then pass through flues h¹, h', h¹, and
H', H', to the other muffle chamber F2 meeting previous to their entrance in C² an
additional amount of air, so as to burn them completely, then passing out through
flues h2, 2, and H2, H2, to an air heating apparatus. In the same manner a third
muffle chamber could be heated, depending on the perfection of the air heating
apparatus.
I do not claim generally the combination of several retort chambers in one zinc
furnace, nor generally the construction of the retort chamber of a zinc furnace in
the form of a more or less long flue, nor generally the construction of air inlets
into the retort chamber of a zinc furnace, nor generally the connection of an air
heating apparatus with a zinc furnace to heat the air used in the generation and
combustion of the gases heating the same, nor the admission of air through the
open retorts or canons lying on the dividing line between the fire chamber and
retort chamber of the Belgian zinc furnace; but, having thus described the nature
of the Invention of my foreign correspondents what 1 claim and desire to secure
by Letters Patent is,―
First. In a zinc furnace several retort chambers in a connected series, through
which the fire gases successively pass, in combination with inlets for the admission
of air into or intermediate of the several chambers, substantially as set forth.
Second. In a zinc furnace a flue like retort chamber, through which the fire
gases pass in the direction of its greatest extension, in combination with inlets at
intervals throughout its length for the admission of air, substantially as and for
the purpose specified.
;
Third. In a zinc furnace a flue like retort chamber through which the fire gases

page_text: pass in the direction of its greatest extension, the greatest extension of said flue
like retort chamber being in a horizontal line, in combination with inlets at
intervals of its length for the admission of air, substantially as and for the purpose
specified.
Fourth. In a zinc furnace a retort chamber or chambers having intermediate air
inlets of the character specified, in combination with an air heating apparatus,
substantially as set forth."
Fifth. In a zinc furnace a retort chamber having retorts, in combination with
interposed perforated retorts serving as inlets for air into the fire gases, after said
fire gases have passed over the surface of a portion of the ore retorts, substantially
as specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Philip Syng Justice, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eighth day of April, in the year of our Lord 1880.
DUIT ID a TITSTIO