Improvements in Apparatus for Reducing Dressed or Concentrated Ores.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Sept., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 10th June, 1891-Accepted, 11th July, 1891
PROTIONAL CLICATIVA.
Improvements in Apparatus for Reducing Dressed or Concentrated
Ores.
I, ROBERT DAVY BOWMAN, of No. 80, Lordship Lane, Dulwich, in the County
of Surrey, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:
This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for reducing dressed or
concentrated ore.
In carrying it into effect, I provide a crucible, preferably covered, of suitably
refractory material. Through the top is led, centrally and downwards, a tube
which reaches nearly to the bottom of the crucible. The dressed ore is then mixed
with a proportion of carbonaceous matter in any suitable form, e.g., sawdust or its
equivalent and introduced into the crucible. An incandescent substance must be
present at or near the bottom of the tube. A blast of oxygen gas, at a suitable
pressure, is then sent down the tube, with the result that a combustion adapted
to effect the perfect reduction of the ore is set up and maintained as long as is
necessary. The fumes will then pass away through suitable openings.
A suitable channel or tap-hole is provided from the bottom of the crucible, through
which the reduced metal may flow away.
Dated this 10th day of September 1890.
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE
SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Reducing Dressed or Concentrated
Ores.
1, Robert Davy BOWMAN, of No. 80, Lordship Lane, in the County of Surrey,
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 improvements in apparatus for reducing dressed or
concentrated ore.
In carrying it into effect, I provide a crucible, preferably covered, of suitably
refractory material. Through the top is led, centrally and downwards, a tube
which reaches nearly to the bottom of the crucible. The dressed orc is then
mixed with a proportion of carbonaceous matter in any suitable form, e.g., sawdust
or its equivalent, and introduced into the crucible. An incandescent substance must
be present at or near the bottom of the tube. A blast of oxygen gas, at a suitable
pressure, is then sent down the tube, with the result that a combustion adapted to
effect the perfect reduction of the ore is set up and maintained as long as is necessary.
The fumes will then pass away through suitable openings.
A suitable channel or tap hole is led away from the bottom of the crucible, through
which the reduced metal may flow away.
In order that my invention and the best means by which it can be carried into
practical effect may be thoroughly understood, I will now describe them in detail,
referring in so doing to the accompanying drawing which is to be taken as part of
this Specification and read therewith.
The figure is a sectional elevation illustrating my invention as applied to a crucible
Price 61

page_text: built into its own furnace, although it must be distinctly understood that this invention
is applicable to a crucible used under any
circumstances.
a is the crucible; and b, its cover. is the masonry of the crucible furnace.
d is a tube led downwards through the crucible-cover, preferably through its
It reaches down to within a short distance of the bottom of the crucible.
The function of this tube is to deliver a blast of oxygen into the crucible at the
bottom of the mixture of ore and fuel.
centre.
When the crucible is fixed in a furnace, the heat of the latter will raise the
temperature of the ore and fuel sufficiently high for the oxygen to act upon the
combustion going on in the crucible, but when no furnace is used, then some
incandescent substance must be provided at or near the bottom of the tube d,
for the purpose of rendering it possible for the oxygen to net as a vigorous promoter
of combustion.
After the crucible has been charged with the mixture of ore and fuel, the cover,
if one is used, is luted down, and the reduction can be forthwith commenced.
But it is not necessary to the successful operation of my invention that a cover
should be used, although it is desirable, and always necessary if volatile metals are
present in the ore.
The fumes may be allowed to escape through suitable openings in the crucible or
its cover, but when ores containing a volatile inetal, eg, zine or antimony are present
in the crucible, they are worth catching. I therefore, under such circumstances,
use a cover, and provide a special pipe through which said fumes may be led away
to a condensation chamber, or for further treatment as may be required. is the
tap hole and pipe which may be of any suitable construction.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. The combination of crucible and tube adapted to deliver oxygen into a crucible
at or near its bottom as set forthi.
2. The use as set forth of oxygen in reducing dressed or concentrated ores in
apparatus as described with reference to the accompanying drawing.
Dated this 10th day of June 1891.
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
22, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
22, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.