Improvements in Means for Facilitating the Smelting of Brass and other Metal Turnings and similar Fine Metal Scrap.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Dec., 1895-Accepted, 25th Jan., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means for Facilitating the Smelting of Brass and
other Metal Turnings and similar Fine Metal Scrap.
I RUDOLF BAUMANN of Seebach, near Zurich, Switzerland, Metal Founder,
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 and accompanying drawings
:-
My said invention relates chiefly to the melting of brass turnings and borings or
the like, but is also applicable to the melting of turnings, borings, filings, planings
and other similar fine scrap cut or machined from or composed of other similar
metals or alloys.
The invention consists of a portable auxiliary heat intercepting and concentrating
crucible cap or appliance placed over or in connection with the smelting furnace.
The appliance is so arranged that I obtain the full benefit of the heated gases from
the furnace together with considerable economy in fuel and very little gaseous loss
of metal, the heat being capable of regulation so as not to exceed the temperature
required to effect the proper melting of the metal.
My invention will be better understood by a reference to the annexed sheet of
drawings, Fig. 1 being a vertical section of the melting appliance while Fig. 2 is a
plan view.
The appliance consists of an inner separate and separable melting chamber a
made of graphite or other suitable heat resisting or refractory material and having
a prolongation b. The inner chamber a is surrounded by an outer casing c of,
suitable heat resisting or refractory material. The outer casing c is surrounded
for the greater part of its depth by a jacket d of sheet or other metal, and the
enlarged foot of the casing c is embraced by a curb ring 9 of cast iron or other
suitable material secured to the foot c¹ by studs h. Between the interior circum-
ference of the outer casing c and the exterior of the chamber a there exists an
annular space e, this being the space through which the heating gases from the
smelting furnace pass. In order to preserve the chamber a in a position truly
concentric with relation to the surrounding casing c, I furnish the casing c with
three or more radial blocks ƒ of refractory material which are passed through
spaces in the side of the casing c the ends abutting against the inner smelting
chamber a which is thus maintained truly concentric. The blocks are prevented
from being displaced outwards by retaining studs f, these studs passing
through brackets f* secured to the side of the casing and projecting outwards.
The annular space e at the top of the casing c is partially blocked by four
segments i, spaces k for the passage of. the hot gases being left between the
respective segments. These segments i constitute a means for regulating the tem-
perature to which the contents of the chamber a should be subjected. For example
by extending the segments so as to narrow the openings k, the draught is diminished
while if the segments are reduced so as to increase the size of the openings k the
draught is increased.
The projections marked m on the casing c are trunnions whereby the appliance
may be slung or lifted from place to place.
It will be evident that the separate smelting chamber a might be renewed from
time to time without renewing the rest of the appliance.
In using my improved appliance it is first well heated and is then placed upon or
in communication with the furnace, and filled with brass turnings for instance. The

page_text: blast is then put on and the intensely heated gases from the furnace pass through
the annular space e quickly raising the smelting chamber to white heat or melting
temperature. The hot gases are intercepted and concentrated in the annular
space e so that the full amount of heat is given up, less fuel being therefore
required in the furnace.
The gases escape as aforesaid through the openings k.
The melted metal accumulates in the crucible or may be led to any suitable
*vessel.
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 general arrangement, construction and combination of the improved
portable auxiliary smelting appliance for facilitating the melting of brass or alloy
turnings, planings, filings, borings and other similar light metallic scrap,
substantially as herein before described and shown.
2. The improved smelting appliance for the indicated purposes and consisting
of a portable outer casing such as c with a contained inner smelting chamber a with
prolongation b concentrically disposed within the casing e so as to leave an annular
space between for the passage of the hot gases from the furnace, the said casing c
being furnished with radial distance blocks f and intercepting segments i inter-
changeable so as to regulate the draught and also with trunnions m to facilitate
the moving of the appliance all arranged and operating for the purposes, in the
manner and substantially as herein before described and illustrated.
UЯted the 11th dev of
Jecember 1906
BLED the IIth dow of
December 80%
For the Applicant,
E. K. DUTTON & Co.,
5 John Dalton Street, Manchester, Chartered Patent Agents.