IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF COMPOUNDS OF IRON SO AS TO RENDER THEM MORE SUITABLE FOR THE PRODUCTION OF IRON
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Duncan McKechnie, of St. Helens, in the County of
Lancaster, Chemist, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT
OF COMPOUNDS OF IRON SO AS TO RENDER THEM MORE SUITABLE FOR THE
PRODUCTION OF IRON."
Sealed the 4th August 1876, and dated the 8th June 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Duncan McKechnie at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th June 1876.
DUNCAN MCKECHNIE, of St. Helens, in the County of Lancaster, Chemist.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF COMPOUNDS OF IRON SO AS TO RENDER
THEM MORE SUITABLE FOR THE PRODUCTION OF IRON."
This Invention relates to the treatment of compounds of iron, and more particu-
larly to that known as purple ore, which, as is well known, is obtained in a finely
divided condition, and is therefore not well adapted for direct employment in the
blast furnace, and it consists, firstly, in incorporating the finely divided oxides of
iron with a mixture of slaked lime and water in such proportions as that the
incorporated materials shall assume the consistency of clay or of puddled clay.
The mixture thus obtained, by the employment of any incorporating or mixing
apparatus or process, is then removed to a kiln so constructed as that at the
inferior or lower portion a flue or flues are placed, in the upper portion of which are
openings in order that the heated gases and products of combustion may ascend
into the interior of the kiln or chamber.
This Invention further consists in that before charging the incorporated materials
into the kiln or chamber, planks or slabs or other forms composed or constructed of
either wood or of other material are placed vertically over the orifices or openings
in the upper portion of the flue or flues, and after the kiln or chamber has been
charged the planks or slabs or other forms composed or constructed of either
wood or of other material are removed so as to allow a free passage for the heated
air and gases.
The firing or heating of the contents of the kiln or chamber is continued until
they assume the desired consistency when they may be allowed to cool and be then
broken into the desired size or forms suitable for being employed in the blast
furnace or otherwise for the production of iron.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said Duncan McKechnie in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 8th December
1876.
DUNCAN MCKECHINIE, of St. Helens, in the County of Lancaster, Chemist.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF COMPOUNDS OF IRON SO AS TO RENDER
THEM MORE SUITABLE FOR THE PRODUCTION OF IRON."
tr
My said Invention relates to the treatment of compounds of iron, and more
particularly to that known as 'purple ore," which, as is well known, is obtained
in a finely divided condition, and is therefore not well adapted for direct employ-
inent in the blast furnace, and it consists in incorporating the finely divided oxide
of iron with a mixture of slaked limo, or of milk of lime and water, in such pro-
portions as that the incorporated materials shall assume the consistency of clay or
of puddled clay.
The mixture thus obtained, by the employment of any incorporating or mixing
apparatus or process, is then removed to a kiln constructed in the manner shewn in
the Sheet of Drawings hereunto annexed.
Figure 1 of the Drawings represents a longitudinal section of a portion of the
kiln. Figure 2 is a transverse section of the same.
Figures 3 and 4 are a side elevation and a horizontal section corresponding to
Figures 1 and 2 respectively.
Similar letters indicate like parts in all the Figures.
The kiln is composed of any suitable number of chambers A, all capable of being
placed as required in or out of communication with a flue B for the passage of the
products of combustion by opening or closing dampers a, a, below each of which
chambers are constructed any desired number of fore-places or chambers C, C, the
same being separated from the main chamber A by a floor or partition D. In this
floor are formed a series of apertures at b, b, which when open admit of the heated
gases and products of combustion from the fire-places C, C, ascending into the
interior of the chamber A. Before charging the incorporated materials into the
kiln or chamber A, the same being uncovered or partially so, planks, slabs, or
cores F, composed or constructed of wood or other suitable material, are placed
vertically over the apertures in the floor D, and after tho kiln or chamber A
has been charged, the planks, slabs, or cores F are withdrawn and the kiln or
chamber having been recovered or closed with the roof D' the heated air and
guses ascend into the interior of the kiln or chamber A, the spaces left by the with-
drawal of the planks, slabs, or cores forming flues for the transverse of such heated
air and gases.
The firing or heating of the contents of the kiln or chamber is continued until
the incorporated materials assume the desired consistency when the agglomerated
material inay be allowed to cool and be then broken into the desired size or form
suitable for being employed in a blast furnace, or otherwise for the production
of iron.
In order to effect such cooling process and to utilize the residual heat I prefer to
cause air to pass through the passages of the consolidated or agglomerated iron ore,
and I employ such diluted air as a substitute for or in conjunction with the air of
the ordinary temperature so as to effect the object of this Invention.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into effect,
I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original, and
therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part recited
Letters Patent, is-
First. The treatment of oxides of iron, when in a pulverulent or finely divided
condition, by firstly incorporating the same with lime and then submitting the
mixture thus formed to the action of an elevated temperature.

page_text: Second. The construction and employment of kilns or heating apparatus for
effecting the agglomeration of the combination of iron oxide and of lime, substan-
tially in the manner herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Duncan McKechnie, have to this my Specifica-
tion set my hand and seal, this Sixth day of Decomber, One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-six.
DUNCAN MCKECHNIE. (L.S.)