CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN TREATING OR REDUCING ORES OF ZINC, ALSO CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN FURNACES TO BE USED FOR REDUCING ORES OF ZINC, PART OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO OTHER FURNACES
Year: 1843

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, HENRY
HUSSEY VIVIAN, of Singleton; in the County of Glamorgan, Esquire, and
WILLIAM GOSSAGE, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Manu-
facturing Chemist, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty hath granted unto us
Her Letters Patent, bearing date at Westminster, the Fourteenth day of
January, in the sixth year of Her reign, for making, using, exercising, and
vending, within that part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
called England, Her Dominion of Wales, and Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed,
and also within all Her Majesty's Colonies and Plantations abroad, and the
Islands of Guernsey, Jersey, Alderney, Şark, and Man, our Invention of
"CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN TREATING OR REDUCING ORES OF ZINC, ALSO CERTAIN
IMPROVEMENTS IN FURNACES TO BE USED FOR REDUCING ORES OF ZINC, PART OF
WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO OTHER FURNACES," subject to the usual
proviso, obliging us to particularly describe and ascertain the nature of our said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, by an instrument
in writing under our hands, and seals, or under the hand and seal of one of
us, and to cause the sanie to be enrolled in the High Court of Chancery within
six calendar months next after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
William Gossage, on behalf of myself and of the said Henry Hussey Vivian,
do hereby declare that the nature of our said Invention, and the manner in

page_text: -which-the-same-is-to-be performed, are particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following description thereof, reference being had to the
Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon,
that is to say:-
In the usual mode of treating or reducing ores of zinc to obtain zinc
therefrom, the ores are first calcined to convert carbonate or sulphuret of
zinc contained therein into oxide, and metallic zinc is obtained from the
calcined ores by subjecting these to distillation in mixture with carbon in
closed vessels heated externally, and by condensing the metallic vapour
produced. We also calcine the ores and obtain metallic zinc from the
calcined ores by subjecting these to distillation in closed vessels, heated
externally and by condensation.
In describing that part of our Invention which consists of "improve-
ments in treating or reducing ores of zinc," we will consider these im-
provements to be divided into three parts; one part consisting in passing
a current of suitable deoxydizing gas or gases through the vessels or apparatus
being used for the operations of distillation and condensation, or one of
them, and we shall designate this the first part of these improvements;
another part consisting in the use of a partial vacuum in the vessels or
apparatus in which the calcined ore is subjected to distillation, whereby the
distillation of zinc from such ore is facilitated, and we shall designate this the
second part of these improvements; and the other part consisting in the use
of certain processes for obtaining other metals than zinc from the residuum
remaining after the distillation of zinc from certain ores of zinc, and we shall
designate this the third part of these improvements.
In describing that part of our Invention which consists of "improvements
in furnaces to be used for reducing ores of zinc," we will consider these
improvements to .be also divided into three parts; one part consisting in such
construction or arrangement of these furnaces as provides for the gaseous
matter in the distilling chamber being of an elasticity equal or nearly equal
to the elasticity of the gaseous matter in the flues in contact with such chamber,
in order to reduce the tendency to leakage to or from the distilling chamber
from or into such flues, and as provides for the application of suitable materials
upon or over the joints of the distilling chamber, where the same may be in
contact with the flues to prevent leakage through such joints, and we shall
designate this the first part of these improvements; another part consisting in
adapting calcining furnaces to certain distilling furnaces (used for reducing ores
of zinc), in such manner that the flame or heated air passing from such distilling
furnaces may calcine the ore contained in the calcining furnaces, and we shall

page_text: designate this the second part of these improvements; and the other part
consisting in using an apparatus (without blowing machinery) for applying the
heated air which passes from reverberatory furnaces (used for reducing ores
of zinc) to heat the air required for effecting the combustion of the fuel used
for heating such furnaces, and we shall designate this the third part of these
improvements, and which is that part of our improvements in furnaces to
be used for reducing ores of zinc which is applicable to other furnaces, as
herein-after described..
"
The gases which are suitable for carrying into effect the first part of our
"improvements in treating or reducing ores of zinc " are those which contain
hydrogen or carbon in such state as to be capable of combining with oxygen
contained in oxide of zinc, and which are either entirely free from sulphur or
contain only a small proportion of this substance. We prefer to use car-
buretted hydrogen (obtained by distilling coal), or a mixture of carbonic oxide
and carburetted hydrogen, obtained by decomposing water by the action of
heated coke or coal; and in order to apply the gas which we use, we provide
for a current being established through the apparatus which contains the cal-
cined ore of zine undergoing distillation and through the condensing apparatus;
and we introduce the gas by means herein-after described for that purpose.
To carry into effect the second part of our "improvements in treating or
reducing ores of zinc," we obtain a partial vacuum in the vessels or apparatus
in which the calcined ore of zinc is subjected to distillation by providing a
communication between such vessels or apparatus and a chimney draft ot.
any similar draft, and we provide such communication by means herein-after
described for that purpose.
The ores of zine, to which the third part of our "improvements in treating.
or reducing ores of zine" is applicable, are those which contain copper and
silver or either of these metals, and in order to carry this part of our
Invention into effect we either calcine the residuum remaining after the.
distillation of zinc from these ores, and then flux it in mixture with minerals.
containing sulphur (such as iron pyrites, copper pyrites, or galena), adding
suitable fluxing materials to combine with the earthy matters, and thus obtain
the metal or metals contained in such residuum as sulphuret separate from.
slag or scoria, and then subject this sulphuret to any usual processes.to:
obtain the metal or metals therefrom; or otherwise we reduce the residuum
to powder, and then calcine it thoroughly, and afterwards dissolve oxide
contained therein by means of acid (such as sulphuric or muriatic acid), and
we obtain the metals contained in the solution thus procured by any usual
processes.

page_text: In reference to the first part of our improvements, in furnaces to be used
for reducing ores: of zinc,. we would observe that in the year-One thousand.
eight hundred and twelve, Letters Patent were granted to William Evetts
Sheffield, for an Invention therein described, and in the.. Specification inrolled
by him under such Letters Patenta furnace for distilling zinc is described,
which furnace.contains a chamber formed of brickwork, to be heated by fire
acting under the bottom and round the sides and top of such chamber; but it
has been found that furnaces constructed accordingly to' this Specification, do
not sufficiently.provide against leakage through the brickwork forming the
chamber. By this part of our Invention, we provide against,this leakage. The
furnace which we use for this purpose is exhibited by the Figures in Sheet 1
of the annexed Drawings. Figures 1 and 2 also exhibit a calcining furnace
attached to the'.distilling furnace; and Figures 2. and 8 exhibit a condensing
apparatus attached to the same; and the Figures in this Sheet also exhibit the
means by which we carry into effect the first and second parts of our "improve-
ments in treating or reducing.ores of zinc. Fig. I is a vertical longitudinal
section; and: Figure 2. is, a longitudinal section in plan, taken at the line 1, 2, of
the distilling furnace, and the line 3, 4, of the calcining furnace in Fig. 1.
Fig. 2 also exhibits a section in plan of a condensing apparatus attached to
the distilling furnace. Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section of the distilling
furnace and condensing apparatus, taken through the line:5; 6, in Figure 2.
In each of these Figures the same, letters of reference are used to indicate
similar parts. A is the fire-place; B, the ash-pit;, C, the chamber in which
the calcined ore of zinc is subjected to distillation, the top and bottom of this
chamber being formed of brick arches; D, D, D*, D*, the flues in contact with
the chamber C; E, E, a flue communicating with the flues D, D, D*, D*, in
such manner as provides for flame or heated air, passing through it not being
in contact with the sides of the chamber; F, F, are iron mouth pieces, through
which the calcined ore is to be introduced into the chamber C for distillation,
and the residuum remaining after the distillation has been effected is to be
withdrawn. These mouth pieces are furnished with clay stoppers P, P, and
with iron stoppers or lids fitting against the fronts of the mouth pieces,
and secured by cross bars and screws; these iron stoppers or. lids being used
to close the mouth pieces in the same manner as the mouth pieces of retorts.
used for distilling coal gas are closed; H is the condensing apparatus, com-
municating with the chamber C by the channel I. This condensing apparatus
is formed of iron plates, and has a channel surrounding its upper part to con-
tain water, and is fitted with a cover or lid by means of an hydraulic joint.
K, K, are iron plates forming a casing for the furnace, and made air-tight to

page_text: the brickwork thereof at the upper and lower edges by means of glaziers'
putty or other suitable cement, and this casing is also connected by 'air-tight
joints to the mouth pieces-F, F, and -the-channel-I. By-this-construction, we
provide for those parts of the distilling chamber which are in contact with the
flues being in a position nearly horizontal, and for the application of suitable
fusible materials upon or over the joints of the brickwork forming the chamber
which are in contact with the flues, to prevent leakage through such joints.
We prepare a 'fusible material suitable to be applied to the joints of the brick-
work by mixing aluminous' earth with such a proportion of oxide of iron as will
make a mixture capable of being fluxed into an. adhesive glaze- at the heat
employed in the distilling operation. L; L, is a pipe from the condensing
apparatus H to a chimney M, which chimney is in communication with the
flues D, D, D, D* By this arrangement we provide for the gaseous matters
contained in the chamber. C being subjected to the same exhausting power
as the flame or heated-air in the flues D, D, D; D*; and we thus provide
for the gaseous matter in the chamber being of an elasticity equal or nearly;
equal to the elasticity of the gaseous matter in the flues in contact with the
chamber, and thereby reduce the tendency to leakage from the one to the
other, and by means of the communication between the chamber C, in which
the calcined ore is subjected to distillation, and the chimney M through the
condensing apparatus H. and the pipe L, L, we occasion a partial vacuum in
such chamber, and thus facilitate the distillation of zinc from the ore contained.
therein. N is a pipe for conducting deoxydizing gas- from an apparatus
in which it may be produced, as herein-before referred to, into the chamber
C, at the part most distant from the channel I, and the deoxydizing gas being
admitted into the chamber through this pipe, is drawn through the chamber
by the draft of the chimney M, and: a current of such gas is thereby. esta-
blished. A partial vacuum in the chamber-C, and a current through such
chamber, may also be effected by means of a fan or other exhausting apparatus
to be used instead of the chimney. M..
The Figures 1 and 2 in Sheet 1, all the Figures in Sheets 2 and 3, and the
Figures 1 and 2 in Sheet 4 of the Drawings hereunto annexed, exhibit the
means by which we carry into effect the second part of our "improvements
in furnaces to be used for reducing ores of zinc." Figures 1 and 2 in' Sheet 1.
of the said Drawings exhibit the adaptation of a calcining furnace- to a dis-.
tilling furnace similar to the furnace described in the Specification inrolled by
William Evetts. Sheffield, under the Letters Patent granted to him, as herein..
before mentioned. O. is a flue through which the flame or heated air passes
from the distilling furnace into the calcining: furnace; Q is the chamber of the

page_text: calcining furnace, having suitable openings for introducing and withdrawing
ore; R is the sole or floor; and S, the roof thereof; T.is a flue through which
the flame or heated air which has passed into the calcining furnace from the
distilling furnace passes from the calcining furnace to the chimney M, and
which flue is furnished with a moveable damper; U, U, is a flue between the
distilling furnace and the chimney M. This flue is furnished with a moveable
damper, which is intended to be withdrawn when it may be convenient, that
the flame or heated air which passes from the distilling furnace should not
pass into the calcining furnace. In the Specification of an Invention, for
which Letters Patent were granted to Frederick Benecke, Daniel Towers.
Shears, and James Henry Shears, on or about the Seventh day of October,
One thousand eight hundred and twenty-four, two distilling furnaces are
described, one of which is referred to as being exhibited in, the Drawings
attached to such Specification by the Figures 10, 11, 12, 13, and 14, and which
we will distinguish as a Silesian furnace, and the other is referred to as
exhibited in the said last-mentioned Drawings by the Figures 15, 16, and 17,
and which we will distinguish as a Belgian furnace.
The Figures in Sheet 2 of the Drawings hereunto annexed exhibit the adap-
tation of a calcining furnace to a Silesian furnace; and the Figures in Sheet 3 of
the Drawings hereunto annexed exhibit the adaptation of a calcining furnace to
a distilling furnace of a construction somewhat modified from that represented
in Sheet 2. In the Figures in both these Sheets the same letters of reference
are used to indicate similar parts. Figure 1 in Sheet 2 is a section in plan of a
Silesian furnace with a calcining furnace adapted thereto; Figure 2 in Sheet 2
is a longitudinal vertical section, taken through the line 1-2 of Figure 1 in
the same Sheet; Figure 3 in Sheet 2 is a longitudinal vertical section, taken
through the line 3-4 of the distilling furnace and the line 7-8 of the cal-
cining furnace in Figure 1 in the same Sheet; and Figure 4 in Sheet 2 is a
transverse vertical section through the lines 5-6 in Figure 1 and Figure 2 in-
the same Sheet. A is the fire-place; B, the ash-pit; C, the chamber of the
oven, with two rows of muffles therein. D, D, are the muffles; E, E, the con-
densers or beaks adapted to the niuffles; F, a dome of brickwork, covering
the oven and abutting against brick pillars N, N, and the walls H, H; G, G,
are arches of brickwork supported on the pillars N, N, and joining the dome
F; K, K, are flues along the two fronts of the oven, and communicating
either directly or indirectly with a chimney of suitable dimensions, to provide a
draft of sufficient power; I, I, are small flues through the arches G, G, forming
a communication from the interior of the oven into the flues K, K, and having
movcable dampers in them; M, M, are small flues communicating with the

page_text: main flues K, K, and having moveable dampers in them. By this arrange-
ment we provide for the flame and heated air traversing the whole length
of the muffles, and we are enabled to regulate the quantity of flame passing
along the muffles, and thus provide for the muffles being heated more uni-
formly than is effected by the Silesian furnaces for distilling ores of zinc as
these have been hitherto constructed. The flues K, K, conduct the flame
or heated air from the distilling furnace into the calcining furnace. O, O, is
the sole or floor of the calcining furnace; P, the chamber; Q, the arched-
covering; and R, the exit flue communicating with the chimney U, in which
flue a moveable damper is placed; S, S, are two flues furnished with moveable
dampers T, T, and communicating directly from the flue K, K, to the chimney
U. The flues S, S, provide for the flame or heated air which passes from the
distilling furnace being conducted into the chimney U at such times as it may
be convenient that such flame or heated air should not pass into the calcining
furnace. The Figures shew the usual arrangements of openings for introducing
and withdrawing the ore for calcination.
The Figures in Sheet 3 exhibit the modified arrangement of the Silesian
furnace with a calcining furnace adapted thereto, in which the oven, instead of
being a parallelogram, is an octagon. Figure 1 is a section in plan; Figure 2
is a longitudinal vertical section taken through the line 1-2 in Figure 1;
and Figure 3 is a transverse vertical section, taken through the line 3-4 in
Figure 2. A is the fire-place; B, the ash-pit; C, the chamber of the oven
in which the muffles are placed; D, D, the muffles; E, E, the condensers or
beaks; F, a dome of brickwork covering the oven and abutting against brick
pillars N, N, and. the walls H, H; G, G, are arches of brickwork supported
on the pillars N, N, and extending from each front of the oven to the dome F;"
K, K, are flues along the fronts of the oven; and I, I, are small flues through
the arches G, G, forming a communication from the interior of the oven into
the flues K, K, having moveable dampers. By this arrangement the flame or
heated air is applied equally to all the muffles, in the same way as we have
mentioned in reference to the Figures on the Sheet 2, and the communication
with a chimney is also effected in a similar manner. The Figures in this Sheet
also exhibit the adaptation of a calcining furnace to this modification of the
Silesian furnace, and the arrangements are similar to those explained in
describing the Figures in Sheet 2.
The Figures in Sheet 4 of the Drawings hereunto annexed exhibit the
adaptation of a calcining furnace to the distilling furnace which we have called
a Belgian furnace. Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section, and Figure 2
a plan view in section, taken through the line 1-2 in Figure 1, and Figure 3.

page_text: is a front view of a Belgian furnace. In each of these Figures the same
letters of reference are used to indicate similar parts. A is the fire-place; B,
the ash-pit; C, C, the distilling vessels; D, D, are flues through which the
flame or heated air passes from the chamber of the distilling furnace into a flue
E, which communicates with the "calcining furnace and with a branch flue F
communicating with a chimney M; 0, 0, is the sole or bed; P; the chamber;
and Q, the arch of the calcining furnace; R is a flue from the calcining furnace
to the chimney M, having a moveable damper therein; the branch flue F pro-
vides for the flame or heated air which passes from the distilling furnace being
conducted into the chimney at such times as it may be convenient that such
flame or heated air should not pass into the calcining furnace. The calcining
furnace is furnished with suitable openings for. introducing and withdrawing
the ore.
To carry into effect the third part of our improvements.in furnaces to be
used for reducing ores of zinc, we use such an apparatus as is exhibited
in the Figures in Sheet 5 of the annexed Drawings, Fig.. 1. being.a longitu-
dinal vertical section of a distilling. furnace for reducing ores .of zinc, with
our apparatus applied thereto; Fig. 2, a plan view of the furnace, shewing
the air-heating apparatus in section, and the flue connecting this apparatus
with the furnace; Fig. 3, a vertical section, taken through the lines marked
1, 2, in Figure 1, and 3, 4, in Fig. 2; and Fig. 4; a plan view in section of part
of our apparatus, taken through the line marked 5,'6, in Fig. 3. In all these
Figures the same letters of reference are used to distinguish "similar parts.
A is the fire-place, consisting of four walls, and without fire bars or ash-pit,
having an arch K, upon which the fuel is supported; B, the opening for the
introduction of fuel; C, the distilling chamber; D, D, and D, D*, the flues
in contact with the chamber C; E, a flue for conducting flame or heated air
from the flue D*;.D*, to the apparatus for heating the air required to effect
the combustion of the fuel. This apparatus consists of a chamber G, G,
through which a number of iron pipes are passed, each of which has one end.
open to the atmosphere and the other in communication with a chamber H;
which communicates with the main flue I, to the branch flues J, J, and then
communicate with openings PP, through which the heated air gains.access.
to the fuel; there is an opening in one side of the fire-place A, to provide
for occasionally raking out clinkers and ashes' produced from the fuel, and
this opening is usually closed by the door N: The flame and heated air
passing from the flue D; D*, is conducted through the flue E,' to the:
chamber G, in which it comes in contact with the pipes 0, 0, and then
passes from the chamber G, through the flue F, into a chimney M. The

page_text: air required for effecting the combustion of the fuel. passes through the.
pipes O, O, into the chamber H, and from thence through the flue I, into the
branch flues J, J, and the openings P, P, and thus gains access to the fuel,
and as the pipes O; O, are heated, by the flame or heated air which, traverses
the chamber G, the air, passing. through these, pipes. becomes heated, and it
passes in a heated state to the fuel for combustion. The course of the flame
or heated air passing from the furnace to the chimney is shewn by black
arrows, and the course of the air passing from the atmosphere to the fire is
shewn by blue arrows.
We have exhibited this apparatus as applied to a furnace for distilling the.
ores of zinc, but we also apply it in a similar manner to furnaces for calcining
the ores of zinc, and to other reverberatory furnaces used for treating other
ores than ores of zinc or metals obtained from such ores.
30.
We have described various arrangements of apparatus which we consider to
be best adapted for carrying our Invention into effect, but we do not claim
any exclusive right to the use of such arrangements of apparatus, except so
far as the same may be herein-after particularly defined; nor do we confine.
ourselves to the use of the particular arrangements herein described, as con-
siderable modifications of these may be used to effect our Invention.
We claim as our Invention the use of a current of such deoxydizing gas or
gases, as we have herein-before described for this purpose, passing through a
closed chamber in which the operation of distilling zinc is effected, and through
the condensing apparatus connected therewith.
The use of a partial vacuum in the vessels or apparatus in which calcined
ore of zinc is distilled.
The use of the processes herein described for obtaining copper and silver
contained in the residuum remaining after the distillation of calcined ores of
zinc.
The use of such a furnace for distilling calcined ores of zinc as provides for
the gaseous matter in the distilling chamber of such furnace being of an
elasticity equal, or nearly equal, to the elasticity of the gaseous matter in the
flues in contact with such distilling chamber, or for the application, upon or
over those joints of such distilling chamber which are in contact with flues, of
such materials as we have herein-before described for that purpose.
The use of calcining furnaces attached to or in connection with such dis-
tilling furnaces as we have herein-before described, whereby the ore is calcined
by the flame or heated air which passes from such distilling furnaces.
The use of such an apparatus as provides (without blowing machinery) for
the flame or heated air which passes from reverberatory furnaces, used to

page_text: Inrolled the same Fourteenth day of July, in the year above written.