Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 27th May, 1887
Complete Left, 21st Feb., 1888
Complete Accepted, 13th Apr., 1888
to Apparatus therefor.
We, EPHRAIM ALCOCK JONES, of Ayrton Rolling Mills, Middlesborough in the
County of York, Manufacturer, and FREDRIO FRANCIS JONES of 57 Chaucer Road,
Herne Hill, in the County of Surrey, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to the preparation of oxides of iron to be used in the
manufacture of paint and for other purposes, and our said invention comprises
improved processes and apparatus for the preparation of the said oxides.
The main object of our said invention is to provide for utilizing in the preparation
of the red and brown oxides of iron, the scale or film of oxide which is
produced on the surface of iron or steel when heated, and which falls off when the
iron or steel is subjected to hammering rolling and other operations. Our improved
processes are, however, applicable for the treatment of native oxides.
In preparing oxides of iron according to our said invention, we combine with the
said scale or with the native oxide an additional quantity of oxygen which will vary
according to whether it is desired to produce a red or a brown oxide. In treating
the aforesaid scale, we subject it to the action of sulphuric acid and thereby convert it
into a sulphide or sulphate of iron. We then roast or calcine the said sulphide or
sulphate sufficiently to drive off the sulphur. We thus produce a higher oxide of
iron, which may, if desired, be further treated in any suitable manner. It will be
found advantageous to pulverize the said scale before it is subjected to the action of
the sulphuric acid.
We prefer to proceed as follows, that is to say-We pulverize the scale and place
it in a thin layer in a tray or receptacle and heat it to a temperature of about one
hundred and eighty degrees Fahrenheit; and we then pour the sulphuric acid upon
it. We take the resulting product (sulphide or sulphate of iron), and, after grinding
or pulverizing the same if necessary, we subject it in a heating or roasting furnace
to a temperature sufficient to drive off the sulphur. The latter operation may be
effected in an ordinary roasting or calcining furnace, but is preferably effected by means
of hot air in a furnace such as that hereinafter described.

page_text: Our improved furnace is made of considerable height and is designed to have the
powdered sulphide or sulphate fed into the same from the top, so that it will fall
through the entire height of the furnace. A pipe is provided at the lower end of the
furnace for the introduction of heated air into the same. An escape for this air is
provided at the top of the furnace; the supply and escape of the air are, however,
so regulated that the pressure within the furnace will always be slightly greater than
the atmospheric pressure. Cross-bars or projections are provided in the said furnace
so that they will arrest or retard the downward movement of the powdered material
and thus ensure the proper heating thereof. A grate is preferably arranged beneath
the closed chamber of the furnace for effecting the preliminary heating thereof and
maintaining it at the desired temperature. One or more doors are provided for
permitting the withdrawal of the oxide; and holes are, if necessary, formed in the
sides of the furnace, to permit the insertion of a rod or tool for removing the material
from the said cross-bars or projections from time to time. The air is to be heated in
any suitable manner previous to its introduction into the furnace. We prefer to pass
it through a pipe extending into or through the flue which conducts the smoke and
products of combustion from the aforesaid grate.
According to a modification of our invention, we subject the pulverized scale to the
action of heated air in a furnace such as that above described, without previously
subjecting the said scale to the action of sulphuric acid. In this case, the air is
preferably surcharged with oxygen.
In treating native oxides according to our said invention, we proceed substantially
in the same manner as above described with reference to the scale, the oxides being
preferably pulverized to facilitate the action thereon of the sulphuric acid.
The product, in either case, should be ground or triturated until the desired degree
of fineness is attained. The said product will be either red or brown oxide according
to the amount of oxygen combined with the iron. An oxide of iron of a very bright
red colour can, by our process, be prepared from iron scale. We thus obtain a very
valuable product from a comparatively valueless substance.
It will be seen from the foregoing description that an important feature of our said
invention is the conversion of oxide of iron into sulphide or sulphate of iron and the
subsequent reconversion of the sulphide or sulphate into a higher oxide of iron.
By our improved process, we are enabled to obtain oxides of iron of better and
brighter colours than those obtained by the ordinary processes. Moreover, the material
is thoroughly disintegrated and subsequent grinding thereof thus facilitated.
Dated this 27th day of May 1887.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London,
Agents for the Applicants.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to the Preparation of Oxides of Iron and
to Apparatus therefor.
We, EPHRAIM ALCOCK JONES, of Ayrton Rolling Mills, Middlesborough, in the
County of York, Manufacturer, and FREDRIC FRANCIS JONES, of 57 Chaucer Road,
Herne Hill, in the County of Surrey, Civil Engineer, 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:-
Our invention relates to the preparation of oxides of iron to be used in the manu-
facture of paint and for other purposes, and comprises improved processes hereinafter
described.
The main object of our said invention is to provide for utilizing, in the preparation
of the red and brown oxides of iron, the scale or film of oxide which is produced on
the surface of iron or steel when heated, and which falls off when the iron or steel is
subjected to hammering, rolling and other operations. Our improved processes, are,
however, applicable for the treatment of native oxides.
In preparing oxides of iron according to our said invention, we combine with the
said scale or with the native oxide an additional quantity of oxygen, which will vary
according to whether it is desired to produce a red or a brown oxide. In treating the
aforesaid scale or native oxide, we subject it to the action of sulphuric acid and
thereby convert it into a sulphate of iron. We then roast or calcine the said sulphate
sufficiently to drive off the sulphur. We thus produce a higher oxide of iron, which
may, if desired, be further treated in any suitable manner. It is advantageous to
pulverize the said scale or oxide before it is subjected to the action of the sulphuric
acid.
We prefer to proceed as follows, that is to say :-We pulverize the scale and place
it in a thin layer in a tray or receptacle and heat it to a suitable temperature and we
then pour the sulphuric acid upon it or we put the acid in first and add the scale in a
suitable manner. We take the resulting product (a sulphate of iron) and, after
grinding or pulverizing the same, if necessary, we subject it in a heating or roasting
furnace to a temperature sufficient to drive off the sulphur. The latter operation may
be effected in an ordinary roasting or calcining furnace.
The furnace employed should be of considerable height and the powdered sulphate
should be fed into the same from the top, so that it will fall through the entire height
of the furnace. A pipe is provided at the lower end of the furnace for the introduction
of heated air into the same, and an escape for this air at the top of the furnace; the
supply and escape of the air are, however, so regulated that the pressure within the
furnace will always be slightly greater than the atmospheric pressure. Cross-bars or
projections may be provided in the said furnace so that they will arrest or retard the
downward movement of the powdered material and thus ensure the proper heating
thereof. A grate is preferably arranged beneath the closed chamber of the furnace
for effecting the preliminary heating thereof and for maintaining it at the desired

page_text: temperature. One or more doors are provided for permitting the withdrawal of the
oxide; and holes are, if necessary, formed in the sides of the furnace to permit the
insertion of a bent rod or tool for removing the material from the said cross-bars or
projections from time to time. The air may be heated in any suitable manner previous
to its introduction into the furnace. We prefer to pass it through a pipe extending
into or through the flue which conducts the smoke and products of combustion from
the aforesaid grate.
According to a modification of our invention we subject the pulverized scale, in a
suitable furnace, to the action of heated air charged with acid or surcharged with
oxygen, without previously subjecting the said scale to the action of sulphuric acid.
In treating native oxides according to our said invention, we proceed substantially
in the manner above described with reference to the scale, the oxides being preferably
pulverized to facilitate the action thereon of the sulphuric acid.
The product, in either case, should be ground or triturated until the desired degree
of fineness is attained.
The product of our process will be either red or brown oxide according to the
amount of oxygen combined with the iron. An oxide of iron of a very bright red
colour can, by our process, be prepared from iron scale. We thus obtain a very
valuable product from a comparatively valueless substance.
It will be seen from the foregoing description that an important feature of our said
invention is the conversion of oxide of iron into a sulphate of iron and the subsequent
reconversion of the sulphate into a higher oxide of iron.
By our improved process, we are enabled to obtain oxides of iron of better and
brighter colours than those obtained by the ordinary processes. Moreover, the material
is thoroughly disintegrated and subsequent grinding thereof thus facilitated.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we wish it understood that
we claim ;-
First. The preparation of a red or brown oxide of iron by converting scale or
native oxide into sulphate of iron and reconverting the said sulphate into a higher
oxide of iron.
Second. The preparation of sulphate of iron by heating scale and subjecting it to
the action of sulphuric acid, or to the action of air charged with acid.
Third. The improved process of preparing oxide of iron, consisting in pulverizing
scale or native oxide and subjecting it to the action of sulphuric acid, or to the action
of air charged with acid, and then heating or roasting the resulting sulphate,
substantially as, and for the purposes, above specified.
Dated this 20th day of February 1888