Apparatus for Separating Volatile Metals from their Alloys.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Mar., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 24th Dec., 1896-Accepted, 13th Feb., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by MARIE ANTOINE JOSEPH Roux, of No. 262
Rue du Faubourg St. Honoré, Paris, France, Mining Engineer.]
Apparatus for Separating Volatile Metals from their Alloys.
I, JOHN IMRAY, of No. 28 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the
County of London, Consulting Engineer and Chartered Patent Agent, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to apparatus for separating volatile metals from their
alloys, and is especially designed for separating mercury from its amalgams with
precious metals, and for separating zinc from argentiferous lead. It can also be
applied for purification of mercury and zinc by several distillations.
For this purpose, over a fire is arranged a distilling chamber having at one side
a melting compartment communicating with the chamber by a passage which first
descends under a partition and then ascends, so that the fused metal into which the
partition extends constitutes a liquid seal.
On the opposite of the distilling chamber there is a similar sealed passage leading
to an outlet, and there is also a condensing compartment communicating with the
upper part of the distilling chamber and having at the bottom an outlet passage
similarly sealed.
The distillation chamber being in the first place supplied with a quantity of
charcoal contained in a fusible box for the purpose of absorbing oxygen, is heated
to the temperature necessary to volatilise the metal to be separated, and, the alloy
to be treated being supplied to the melting compartment, is there fused and flows
thence by the sealed passage to the distilling chamber over the floor where it
spreads in a thin layer. The metallic vapour driven off passes to the condensing
compartment where it is liquefied and whence it flows by the sealed passage; also
the fused metal freed from the volatilised metal flows from the distilling chamber
by the sealed outlet.
The alloy to be treated is preferably supplied slowly so that there is time for
effective separation of the two metals which issue drop by drop from the two
outlets.
Dated this 25th day of March 1896.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Apparatus for Separating Volatile Metals from their Alloys.
I, JOHN IMRAY, of No. 28 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the
County of London, Consulting Engineer and Chartered Patent Agent, 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 apparatus for separating volatile metals from their
Price 1

page_text: alloys, and is especially designed for separating mercury from its amalgams with
precious metals, and for separating zinc from argentiferous lead. It can also be
applied for purification of mercury and zinc by several distillations.
For this purpose as shewn in section by the accompanying drawing over a
'fire is arranged a retort or distilling chamber B having at one side a melting
compartment A communicating with the chamber B by a passage D which first
descends under a partition and then ascends, so that the fused metal down into
which the partition extends constitutes a liquid seal.
On the opposite of the distilling chamber B there is a similar sealed passage E
leading to an outlet, and there is also a condensing compartiment C communicating
with the upper part of the distilling chamber B and having at the bottom an outlet
passage F similarly sealed.
The distillation chamber B being in the first place supplied with a quantity of
charcoal for the purpose of absorbing oxygen, is heated to the temperature
necessary to volatilise the metal to be separated, and, the alloy to be treated being
supplied to the melting compartment A, is there fused and flows thence by the
sealed passage D to the distilling chamber B over the floor of which it spreads
in a thin layer. The metallic vapour driven off passes to the condensing
compartment C where it is liquefied and whence it flows by the sealed passage F,
also the fused metal freed from the volatilised metal flows from the distilling
chamber by the sealed outlet E.
The alloy to be treated, is preferably supplied slowly so that there is time for
effective separation of the two metals which issue drop by drop from the two
outlets.
Having now particularly described aud ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what. I
claim is :-
Apparatus for separating volatile metals from their alloys constructed and
operating substantially as described.
Dated this 24th day of December 1896.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.