Improvements in or relating to the Separation of Metals by Electric Action.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Dec., 1894-Accepted, 26th Jan., 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to the Separation of Metals by
Electric Action.
I, THOMAS T. OLIVER, Physician, of 2306 Indiana Avenue, Chicago, Illinois,
United States of America, 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 :-
My invention relates to the class of apparatus for treating electrically, minerals
and compounds generally containing metals, to separate therefrom their contained
metals.
The primary object of my improvement is to provide an apparatus for extracting
metal from a mass of metal-bearing material introduced into it 10 molten condition,
by charging the molten mass with a positive current of electricity and passing it
over a body presenting a solid-metal surface negatively charged with electricity,
whereby the metal, contained in the molten mass shall be deposited on and adhei e
to and thus be intercepted by the negatively charged surface; and the slag will
tail off.
My further object is so to combine my said improved extracting apparatus
with a preparatory fusing and metal-separating apparatus, wherein the refractory
material to be treated is subjected to and fused by the heat of the electric arc,
as to render the primary melting and separating and subsequent extracting steps
a single continuous operation.
My object is, also, to improve the preparatory fusing and separating apparatus
by adapting it to permit, readily, variation in the current according to requirement
for different metals in the matter of degree of heat of the arc, and my object
18, furthermore, to render the secondary extracting apparatus especially desirable
as to details in its construction.
Referring to the accompanying drawing-
Figure 1 shows my improved apparatus by a vertical transverse section taken at
the line on Figure 2. Figure 2 is a horizontal section of the same taken at
the hue on Figure 1. Figure 3 18 a vertical longitudinal section of the same
taken at the line on Figure 2.
Figure 4 is a broken enlarged view in section of the proferred tapering-drum
form of the negatively charged metal-body, showing the attachments with which it
is provided.
Figme 5 is a vertical section of the apparatus like that shown by Figure 1, but
taken at the line - on Figure 2, and omitting the resistance-box with its
connections and the ultunate metal-receiver.
1 represents the fusion-chamber of a furnace, in which ore, or compound
containing metal (aud all, for the sake of brevity, hereinafter referred to as ore) 18
fused by the heat of an electic aic produced between the positive and negative
poles, 2 and 3, of an electric-current generator, (dynamo-not shown) these poles
being represented in the form of carbons suitably arranged in the opposite walls of
the furnace. The fusion-chamber is provided with a stack or uptake 4, for the
gases and vapors generated in the smelting operation; a top orifice 5 provided
with a hopper, through which to feed the material to be fused between the
electrodes 2 and 3, and a side-outlet 6 for the molten material.

page_text: As will be readily understood, the various metals contained in ore are liable to
he such as fuse at different temperatures, as, for example, lead, copper, zinc and
silver. If, therefore, the intensity of heat of the arc formed between the
electrodes 2 and 3 were invariable and sufficient to melt, say, the silver, the other
metals in the one subjected to the heat of the arc would be dissipated in fumes by
melting the silver. To obviate this, I provide a resistance-box 16 in the circuit, of
any desired or well-known construction and provide it with a switch 17, preferably
of the sliding variety, by adjustinent of which the current may be modified to
produce different desired degrees of heat in the arc. Then if one such as that
described is being treated, the arc may be regulated to fuse, first, the metal which
melts at the lowest temperature, and which may pass off at the outlet 6; thereafter
the resistance in the cicuit may readily be reduced to an extent intensifying the
heat of the arc to a degree sufficient to melt the metal which fuses at the next
higher temperature; and so on till each of the metals contained in the ore has
been melted and run off.
The molten mass which flows off at the outlet 6 from the chamber 1 is metal,
but is mixed with impunities; and the slag which runs off at the outlet contains
more or less metal which it is desirable to save. To intercept this metal or
extract it from the refuse matter I provide my secondary extracting apparatus
hereinbefore referred to, and into which the outlet 6 opens; and the following is
a description thereof.
In a suitable housing is supported a metal body 7, the nature of the metals
composing it varying according to the particular pu pose for which it is to be used.
Thus if it be intended for intercepting, by electro-deposition upon it, gold or silver,
I form it of aluminium-bronze (95 per cent of copper and 5 per cent. of aluminium);
while for the baser metals I prefer to form it of aluminum-steel (95 per cent. of
steel and 5 per cent of aluminum). The metal body is negatively electrified,
preferably by connecting it, as indicated in Figure 2, with the negative pole of the
generator containing the electrodes 2 and 3 in its circuit. To render my secondary
extracting apparatus capable of continuous operation, I form the body 7 as a drum
o cylinder preferably tapering from one end to the other and supported in the
opposite walls of its housing to be rotated and thereby tend to direct the tailings
toward its smaller end where they discharge through an opening 8 underneath it
(Figure 5) 10 the adjacent wall of the housing; and continuous rotary motion may
be imparted to the diam, during the operation of the apparatus, by a screw-gear 14
on the drum-shaft, and an operating endless screw 15, or other equivalent means.
The molten material which escapes from the chamber 1 at the outlet 6 flows
upon the rotating drum 7, and the metal in the mass, charged with positive
electricity in the chamber 1, and which thus becomes of the nature of an electrolyte
in the chamber containing the dium, is caused by the negatively charged drum,
which is thus in the nature of a cathode, to deposit on the latter the metal. The
metal may be removed from the rotating diam as it deposits thereon by means of a
scraper 9, whence it discharges into a suitable receivei 10, while the tailings pass
off at the smaller end of the drum through the outlet 8 into a receiver 11.
During the operation, the drum 7 should as subjected to artificial cooling by the
flow through it of a current of water duceted through induction and eduction
pipes 12 and 13 communicating with the interior of the drum, as illustrated in
Figure 4, and communicating with a suitable water-supply (not shown).
In like manuer the negative electrode 3 may be kept hom overheating by a
flow of water through it, the electrode being of a hollow construction for the
ригрозе.
My metal-separating apparatus contaming the cathode-like body 7, is termed
Eccondary with reference to the apparatus containing the electric are as the fusing
medium. Obviously, however it may itself be au independent apparatus for the
electrical treatment of the mass reduced to the necessary molten condition in the
chamber 1 of any other apparatus, whether electrically operated or otherwise;
when, of course, means for charging the molten mass entering the chamber which

page_text: houses the drum 7 with a positive (as from an electrode 2) as well as with 'a
negative current from a generator will be provided.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, & in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
3 claim is :-
1. In an electric metal-separator, the combination of a metal body rotably
supported in a suitable housing and forming the negative pole of an electric
generator, an inlet leading to the said body for the molten mass to be treated, a
chamber for the supply of said molten mass discharging through the inlet into said
housing, and a positive pole of the generator in the path of the molten mass to said
body, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
2. In an electric metal-separator, the combination of a tapering metal drum
rotably supported in a suitable housing and provided with means for rotating it
and with water induction and eduction pipes communicating with the interior of
the drum, said drum forming the negative pole of an electric generator, a metal-
outlet in said housing and a slag-outlet there at the tapering cod of the drum,
a scraper for the drum, and a positive pole of the generator in the path of the
molten mass to the drum, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
3. In an apparatus for separating metals by electric action, the combination of
the fusion-chamber 1, the arc-electrodes 2 and 3 in a generator-circuit and
extending into said chamber, and the extractor communicating with the fusion-
chamber and containing a movably supported metallic surface connected with the
negative pole of a generator, substantially as set forth.
4. In an apparatus for separating metals by electric action, the combination of
the fusion-chamber 1, the arc-electrodes 2 and 3 in a generator-circuit, and
extending into said chamber, the resistance-box 16 arranged in the circuit, and
the extractor communicating with the fusion-chamber and containing a movably
supported metal surface connected with the negative pole of a generator,
substamally as set forth.
5. In an apparatus for the separation of metals by electric action, the com-
bination of the fusion-chamber 1, the arc-electrodes 2 and 3 in a generator-oircuit
and extending into said chamber, and the extractor communicating with the
fusion-chamber and contaming a rotably supported metallic drum connected with
the negative-pole of a generator, substantially as set forth.
6 In an apparatus for the separation of metals by electric action, the com-
bination of the fusion-chamber 1, the arc-electrodes 2 and 3 in a generator-circuit
and extending into said chamber, the resistance-box 16 arranged in the circuit,
and the extractor communicating with the fusion-chamber and containing a rotably
upported metallic drum connected with the negative pole of a generator, sub-
stantially as set forth.
7. In an apparatus for the separation of metals by electric action, the com
ination of the fusion-chamber 1, the arc-electrodes 2 and 3 in a generator-circuit
nd extending into said chamber, and the extractor communicating with the
usion-chainber and containing a rotably supported tapering metallic drum
onnected with the negative pole of a generator, substantially as set forth.
8. In an apparatus for the separation of metals by electric action, the coin-
nation of the fusion-chainber 1. the arc-electrodes 2 and 3 in a generator-circuit
nd extending into said chamber, and the extractor communicating with the
usion-chamber and containing a rotably supported metallic drum connected with
be negative pole of a generator and provided with pipes for circulating water
hrough it, substantially as set forth.
9. In an apparatus for separating metals by electric action, the combination of
he fusion-chamber 1, the arc-electrodes 2 and 3 in a generator-circuit and extending
to said chamber, the negative electrode 3 being hollow for the passage of a cooling
rrent of water, and the extractor communicating with the fusion-chamber and

page_text: containing a movably supported metallic surface connected with the negauvo pore
of a generator, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 24th day of December 1894.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.