IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SPELTER FROM ZINC ASHES AND REPUSES OBTAINED WHEN COATING IRON WITH ZINC
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Graham, of Manchester Road, Warrington,
in the County of Lancaster, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF SPELTER FROM ZINC ASHES AND REPUSES OBTAINED WHEN
COATING IRON WITH ZINC."
Sealed the 30th July 1867, and dated the 6th February 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Graham at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 6th
February 1867.
I, JAMES GRAHAM, of Manchester Road, Warrington, in the County of
Lancaster, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SPELTER FROM ZINC ASHES AND REFUSES OBTAINED
WHEN COATING IRON WITH ZINC," to be as follows:-
The present mode of making spelter upon the Belgian principle allows any.
metal which may exist in that state in zinc ashes and galvanizers' refuses
which is fusible to run down into the clay nozzle or receiver, from which
it is scraped out into ladles and run into moulds, the product being a very
impure metal containing all or most of the impurities in the original ashes or
galvanizers' refuses.
Now my improvements consist in placing the pots in the furnace with an incline
of 3 to 6 inches towards the back ends of the pots, or raising the front ends.or
mouths about that distance, instead of the present mode of inclining the pots

page_text: outwards towards the front or mouth ends of the pots, by which means all the
metal in a fusible state runs down towards the back ends of the pots and is
retained until distilled over into the receivers or clay nozzles in a state of
pure spelter, the impurities being left in the pots and raked out when the
charge is completed. The clay nozzles or receivers are each partially closed
up at the ends next the pots, which closing prevents any of the charge in the
pots getting over into the receivers or clay nozzles, such closing also forming
a.resistance to the escape of the vapours of zinc which otherwise would pass
off too rapidly.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Graham in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
3rd August 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
GRAHAM, of Manchester Road, Warrington, in the County of Lancaster,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Sixth day of February, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirtieth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
James Graham, Her special licence that I, the said James Graham, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said James
Graham, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during
the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF SPELTER FROM ZINC ASHES AND REFUSES OBTAINED WHEN COATING
IRON WITH ZINC," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said James
Graham, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under
my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was
to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the
said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said James Graham, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,

page_text: to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement
thereof, that is to say:-
The present mode of making spelter upon the Belgian principle allows any
metal which may exist in that state in zinc ashes and galvanizers' refuses
which is fusible to run down into the clay nozzle or receiver, from which
it is scraped out into ladles and run into moulds, the product being a very
impure metal containing all or most of the impurities in the original ashes or
galvanizers' refuses.
Now my improvements consist of placing the pots in a furnace with an
incline of 3 or 6 inches towards the back ends of the pots, or raising the front
ends or mouths about that distance, instead of the present mode of inclining
the pots 'outwards towards the front or mouth ends of the pots, by which
means all the metal which becomes fusible and free runs down towards the
back ends of the pots and is retained until distilled over into the receivers or
clay nozzles in a state of pure spelter, the impurities being left in the pots
and raked out when the charge is completed. The clay nozzles or receivers
are each partially closed up at the ends next the pots, which closing prevents
any of the charge in the pots getting over into the receivers or clay nozzles,
such closing also forming a resistance to the escape of the vapour of zinc
which otherwise would pass off too rapidly.
In treating dross spelter or spelter dross I merely regulate the heat so that
the metal does not burn, and attach clay nozzles or receivers of sufficient
capacity to hold the charge of the distilled metal, having a recess or basin in
the bottom which I can either tap into a ladle through a hole left for that
purpose or scrape out through the mouth; after tapping the hole is stopped
by a piece of clay moderately dry; when the charge is treated I remove the
nozzles or receivers and clean out the pots, then charge and again adjust the
nozzles or receivers, and as soon as necessary put on the iron plate pipes
commonly used.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Graham, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
JAMES GRAHAM. (L.S.)