IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE OR MODES OF MANUFACTURING OR PREPARING CERTAIN MATTERS TO BE EMPLOYED AS PIGMENTS
Year: 1847

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date:
at Westminster, the Sixteenth day of November, in the eleventh year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said William Edward Newton, Her especial license, full power, sole
privilege and authority, that I, the said William Edward Newton, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, and such others as I, the said William
Edward Newton, my executors, administrators, or assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times during the term
of years therein mentioned, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within England, Wales, the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, and in
all Her Majesty's Colonies and Plantations abroad, and in the Islands of
Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, Sark, and Man, an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE MODE OR MODES OF MANUFACTURING OR PREPARING CERTAIN MATTERS TO BE
EMPLOYED AS PIGMENTS,". being a communication from a Foreigner residing
abroad; in which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso obliging me, the
said William Edward Newton, by an instrument in writing under my hand.
and seal, particularly to describe and ascertain the nature of the said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, and to cause the same

page_text: to be inrolled in Her Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said in part recited Letters
Patent, as in and by the same, reference being thereunto had, may more fully
and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
William Edward Newton, do hereby declare that the nature of the said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is to be performed, is par-
ticularly 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):
:-
The object of the present Invention is the manufacture and mode of
collecting various matters suitable to be employed as pigments. The matters
which it is proposed to manufacture or prepare for the above purpose are the
following:-First, zinc white; second, zinc yellow; and third, zinc green.
I will commence with an explanation of the manufacture of zinc white, and
the method of collecting the products. Zinc white can be obtained commer-
cially by distilling the metal from the mineral, or from the oxide, by means
of the arrangement of furnaces and apparatus hereafter described. .
In Sheet I. Fig. 1 represents a plan view, Fig. 2 a transverse section, and
Fig. 8, a longitudinal section of a glass furnace, with certain, modifications, as
will be hereafter explained, and with all the appendages and additional parts
'necessary for manufacturing and collecting the zinc white. Similar letters
öf reference denote similar parts in all the Figures of this Sheet. A is the
door' of the furnace; B'is the fireplace; C, C, are retorts made of refractory
clay or other suitable material capable of resisting a high temperature. They
are five in number; but this number may be varied either by increasing
or diminishing it. D, D, are openings or the mouths of the retorts, whereby
'tlie products of distillation escape therefrom. E, E, E, are rods or bars of
iron or other metal, which are suspended from above, as seen best in Fig. 2,
and are adapted to "the mouths or openings of the retorts in such a manner
'that by causing them to move laterally in front thereof they may scrape off
such of the products of distillation as may adhere to the mouths of the
retorts, and which would otherwise obstruct the opening. I denominate
these rods or bars "scrapers," because they are intended to scrape the openings
of each retort so as to remove the adherent matter." F is a horizontal bar
to which all the scrapers are attached, so that by moving this bar backwards
and forwards in a lateral direction each of the scrapers will be made to act
in a similar manner, and thus scrape the orifices of each retort. This bar F
may be worked either by hand or by any suitable mechanical means. G, G,

page_text: are hoppers for receiving the heavy masses of calcined zinc. These hoppers
are disposed in such a manner below the opening or mouth of the retorts
that their lower ends may by means of short pipes terminate in a general or
-common channel G', and from thence the product is carried down into a
recipient G. It should be understood that these channels are only intended
to receive the solid matters which escape during distillation, or that portion of
the product which accumulates near the orifice or mouth of the retort, and
is too heavy a body to be drawn by exhaustion towards the oxidizing chamber.
H is a small iron chamber applied to each retort for the purpose of isolating
them from one another. It is placed upon a framing H¹, and is fixed to the
wall; but it may be so arranged as to admit of its being removed at pleasure,
either by means of a crane, or by causing it to roll on a framing or railway,
or by other suitable contrivances. The front part of these chambers is open,
and is placed opposite the orifice or mouth of the retorts, so that the products
of distillation may issue from the retorts into this chamber. In the plan view
some of these chambers are shewn as removed and others in their proper
places. The back part of these chambers may be made to open or shut at
pleasure. J is a trap or opening made in the floor K, and closed by a door,
which being hinged at one end may be raised and lowered by means of an
iron chain or rod I, passed across the back part of the chamber, so that the
trap door may be raised or lowered without the necessity of opening the
chamber H. The operation of opening or closing the trap may, however, bo
accomplished in any other convenient manner. Instead of a trap which is
capable of being raised or lowered, it may be made to slide horizontally in
grooves so as to admit of its being slidden forward or backward at pleasure.
The above-mentioned arrangements shewn at H, I, J, may be adapted to
furnaces for treating zinc, in which a certain part of the oxide that is formed
is always lost, and which might be collected either by the above-described
method or by closing by means of a cloth the space situated beneath the
vessel where the zinc will be deposited. If the iron chamber is employed, a
small opening may be made in the part I, which may be opened and closed
at pleasure, and a glass may be placed therein in order to enable the attendant
to watch the operations that go on in the chamber, and the manner in
which the distillation process proceeds. In place of the constructions and
arrangements above mentioned, the same object may be effected by fixing a
vertical plate on each side of the orifice or mouth of the retort, and adapting a
third plate which should serve as a cover, and be capable of being raised or
lowered at will between the two side plates. K is a flooring upon which
the chambers Hare placed, and which separates this part of the apparatus

page_text: from the oxidizing chamber. Currents of cold air may be directed either into
the chamber of which the part K forms the floor, and in which the retorts are
worked, or into the floor itself, which is made hollow for this purpose, so
that by a continual current of cold air passing through the floor the tempera-
ture of the upper chamber may be kept down and rendered supportable. Lis
a pipe for supplying hot air. It communicates with the pipes of the hoppers G,G,
from which it drives out the white product, and sends it into the oxidizing
chamber. Instead of a current of hot air, a current of cold air may be made
.to pass across the chamber H; or, if thought desirable, the hot and cold air may
.be used in combination. M is what is called the oxidizing chamber, because
the metallic vapour is there oxydized upon leaving the retort by its contact
with the atmospheric air. N is a part of the oxydizing and collecting chamber,
in which are arranged cloths or woven fabrics for sifting the products. It
consists of a series of hoppers or inclined planes upon which the products as
they form become deposited, and by their own weight slide down into receptacles
placed in a chamber below. These hoppers are furnished with valves, cocks,
or registers, for the purpose of opening or closing at pleasure the passage of
the products. The whole of the products may be collected without loss by
means of suitable vessels or receivers filled with water, and furnished with two
pipes. One of these pipes communicates with the oxydizing chamber, in which
the zinc white is produced, and its other end is inserted in the water of the
vessel, and conducts the zinc white thereto from the oxydizing chamber, and
the end of the other pipe does not enter the water; but by withdrawing air
from the vessel a vacuum is produced in the first pipe which enters the water,
and the products are drawn down, and are deposited therein. O are recipients
intended to receive the white product. P, P, are partitions made of metallic
cloth or woven fabric, and placed at suitable distances apart, for the purpose of
allowing the passage of the atmospheric air, but of retaining and sifting the
products. Qis an exhausting tube for the purpose of drawing air through the
sifting surfaces, and drawing the products as they are formed towards the
oxydizing and collecting chambers. It should be understood that the same
effect may be produced in other ways, either by exhaustion or forcing air by
means of fanners or air pumps or other blowing machines. R is another tube
placed above the mouth or opening of each retort. It is furnished with a
funnel-shaped mouth, through which the volatilized products that escape from
the retorts are drawn while the retorts are being charged, and their ordinary
communication through the trap with the oxydizing chamber is cut off, the
trap door J being down. The tube or pipe R conducts the volatilized products
by another channel to the oxydizing chamber and sifting partitions, or they

page_text: may be made to pass through other sifting partitions arranged expressly for the
purpose in connection with the pipe R. The exhaustion may be effected by
any suitable means, such as by heating the tube or by means of fans. The
tube R is closed whilst the retorts are in operation, and the products are
passing at once into the oxidizing chamber. In the example here given the
exhaustion is produced by means of the waste heat from the furnace. The
preceding arrangements, have for their principal object the separation of the
retorts from each other; and it will be understood that this object may be
attained by other analogous means, for instance, the flooring K might be so
arranged as to be capable of being raised or lowered at pleasure, so as to
separate the retorts from one another, if requisite. It might also be divided
into sections corresponding to the number of retorts, so that that part only of
the floor which is required to be insulated from or put in communication with
the oxydizing chamber may be raised or lowered. The retorts might be
separated from each other by means of partitions, so as to render them inde-
pendent of each other. The pipe R might also be of such dimensions and ex-
hausting power as to draw in all the products as they are formed. From thence
they are carried directly to the collecting chambers. It will be understood
that the above-described arrangements might be considerably varied without
departing from. the nature of the Invention.
Sheet II. represents a blast furnace adapted to this purpose, Fig. 1 being a
plan, Fig. 2 a longitudinal section, and Fig. 3 a transverse section. It must be
closed at top either by a cover, which may be moveable, for the purpose of.
charging the retorts, or by a hopper, in which the substances, to be operated
upon may be placed. Or it might be hermetically closed at the top and open
at one side, for the purpose of charging, which opening must be closed after
the retorts have been charged.. Or the substances may be supplied through the
opening B. An opening must in that case be made in the required direction
to receive an inclined plane, upon which the substances to be supplied to the
furnace are to be poured. These and similar arrangements are, however, well.
known, and will not require to be very minutely described. I will, therefore,
furnish as much description as is necessary to explain them, observing that
similar parts are designated by the same letters in all the Figures. A is au.
ordinary blast furnace, which may be made of any suitable dimensions. B,
opening through which the products pass into the oxydizing chamber. C;
oxidizing chamber arranged in the same manner as that shewn in Sheet I:
Between each hopper in the oxidizing chamber metallic or other sifting parti
tions may be placed, for the purpose of arresting the heaviest portions of the
products, and any extraneous matters or impurities which might escape througli

page_text: the orifice B. These sifting partitions will allow of the passage of the zinc
white only by reason of its lightness and tenuity. The opening B may be
provided with a register or any other suitable contrivance for the purpose of
separating the oxidizing chamber from the furnace, and cutting off the com-
munication between them when requisite, either whilst charging or under any
other circumstances.. The opening for charging might be so arranged as to
supply the materials in small quantities as the distillation goes on, either by
means of a hopper or any other known contrivance. A current of air, inde:
pendently of that driven from the blower, for the purpose of aiding the com-
bustion, might be so arranged as to provide the metallic vapor with the
quantity of oxygen necessary for. the formation of the zinc white. This
current of air may either be conducted directly into the furnace or into the
opening B, or this object might be effected by means of exhaustion, or by
forcing air through a pipe leading to the furnace or the oxidizing chamber. The
furnace may be of a circular form, or horizontal, or more or less inclined.
Instead of one opening B a greater number might be employed, and instead of
placing them at the upper part they might be set at different heights, even as
high as the fireplace, in which case the products formed. would be carried direct
to the oxidizing chamber, without being obliged to pass through the substances
above. A reverberatory furnace, or a furnace similar to those employed for
making coke, might be adapted to the above purpose. These are so well
known that it is unnecessary to enter into a detailed description of them. I
would, however, observe, that in making use of these latter the bed must be
heated, either by means of a fireplace situated in front, the flame from which
passes under the bed, and through flues round the furnace, making its exit
through a chimney above, or it may be heated by a fireplace underneath.
These furnaces are provided with an opening at the top or side for the passage
of the products into the collecting chamber, as above shewn and described.
In Sheet III., Fig. 1 represents a plan, Fig. 2 a transverse vertical section,
and Fig. 3 a longitudinal vertical section of a novel construction of furnace
for. manufacturing zinc white, similar letters being marked on corresponding
parts in all the Figures. It will be seen on inspecting the Drawings that this
furnace is constructed in the form of two long horizontal tubes set side by side,
in which fireplaces are constructed at convenient distances, and fed with blasts
of air. A, A, tubes constructed of fire bricks or other substances capable of
resisting a considerable degree of heat. B are flues through which the air (either
hot or cold) may be driven by means of a blower. C is the lowest part of.the
furnace, in which the residual matters of the combustion accumulate, and may
Be removed from time to time by any suitable opening. This part C might

page_text: be prolonged immediately under each fireplace, so as to form a kind of ashpit,
as shewn at J, J, in the Drawing, and the ashes removed through an opening
made for that purpose, the bottom pȧrt at C being closed by fire bars, or by a
register, which might be opened at will, to allow the ashes to fall into the space
beneath. Or instead of a register it might be closed by a grating of such a
size as to retain the ore, and allow the scoria only to escape through the bars
into the ashpit. By this arrangement a current of air might be conducted up
through the bars, and the blowing machine might thus be dispensed with. It
would be advisable to mix some appropriate flux with the matters when intro-
duced into the furnace, in order to reduce the scoria to a liquid state, and
allow them to run out through an opening made for the purpose in the part C:
D, D, D, are the fireplaces, which communicate with each other by the horiz
zontal chamber or arch F, above. The charge of ore and coke is piled up until
it is flush with the top of the brickwork at a, leaving the upper part F
empty. E, E, are partitions of fire brick separating the fireplaces D, D;
from each other below. A current of air may be forced or drawn through
the upper part F, F, for the purpose of conducting the volatile products
to the collecting chambers, and of oxidizing the metallic vapors which
are evolved during combustion. At each end of the flue F collecting chambers
are situated, into which the products pass through passages G, G. These
passages G, G, are furnished with registers, which may be opened or closed as
occasion may require. H, H, are the collecting chambers for receiving the
zinc white when formed. They are arranged in the same manner as those
above described. Instead of two chambers, one only might be employed, if
found more convenient. I, I, I, are openings for charging directly over the
fireplaces, and which must be hermetically closed after each charging operation,
either by luting or by means of a hopper, in which the substances to be
operated upon may be previously dried, or by any other suitable means.
will be easily understood that various modifications may be made in this
apparatus; for instance, instead of two tubes a greater number, or one only,
might be employed, the number and dimensions of the fireplaces might be
varied, or the brickwork might be carried higher up, so as to leave a smaller
space for the passage of the air and the products, or one collecting chamber
only instead of two might be employed without departing from the nature of
the Invention, which consists in the employment of a horizontal tubular
furnace, containing one or more fireplaces (working either with or without
blasts of air), communicating with chambers, into which the products of
combustion are driven or drawn.
It

page_text: MODE OF OPERATION.
First. When retorts are employed the zinc is introduced in the form
of ingots into the retorts previously heated to a white heat; and when
they are completely charged the trap-door in the flooring is to be raised
(after having closed the door of the external chamber H), so as to put the
retort in direct communication with the oxidizing chamber. The zinc passes
off in the state of vapor, becomes oxidized by the air from the air pipe, and is
drawn into the chamber by the exhaustion which is constantly maintained by
the pipe R; it is then arrested by the wire gauze partition, which, however,
allows the air to pass, and is deposited in hoppers, from which it drops into
receptacles placed below for its reception. When the retort is exhausted the
trap-door in the flooring is lowered, the retort is recharged, and the operation
proceeds as before. If zinc ore or oxide of zinc be operated upon, it is mixed
with half it weight of coal, coke, or earth, in the ordinary manner of treating
zinc ore. If uncalcined blende (native sulphuret of zinc) be operated upon, it is
necessary to add to the mixture a quantity of peroxide of manganese, carbonate
of lime, or oxide of iron, proportioned to the quantity of sulphur it contains.
Second. Blast furnace.-In operating by means of a blast furnace, it is
be charged with the ore mixed with the substances, above mentioned,
and also with a sufficient quantity of flux suitable to the nature of the scoria.
As the zinc separates from the other substances with which it was combined it
passes off in the state of metallic vapor, which becomes oxidized, and is driven
or drawn into the oxidizing chambers, and collected as above described.
Third. Reverberatory furnaces or those similar to coke ovens.-The working
of a reverberatory furnace is so well known that it is unnecessary here to describe
it. The charging and cleansing is conducted in the same manner as when
operating upon other ores; this method is not, however, so convenient as the
others. When furnaces like those employed for making coke are employed it
is only necessary to charge it, when heated to a high temperature, with the metal
or oxide of zinc, either alone or mixed with coal or with ore, through the
ordinary door, or through an opening above or at the side. A current of air is
to be passed either through the furnace or to the orifice of the pipes leading to
the collecting chamber, in order to convert the metallic vapor into oxide of
zinc or zinc white. In operating upon the metal with this or an analogous
form of apparatus the melted zinc might be allowed to fall in drops like rain
by means of a sieve above.
Fourth. Mode of operating with the horizontal tubular furnace.-The

page_text: furnaces having been heated to a suitable temperature by means of coal
or coke, the mixture of ore and coke or coal is fed in through the
openings I, I, to which may be added (according to the arrangement), a
certain quantity of flux, such as alumina and carbonate of lime or other
substance, according to the nature of scoria or residuary matters, care being
taken to leave the upper part F free. In treating uncalcined blende a certain
quantity of carbonate of lime, peroxide of manganese, or oxide of iron, must
be mixed with it, according to the quantity of sulphur it contains. The ore is
decomposed, the zinc goes off in the state of metallic vapor, which combines with
the oxygen, and forms oxide of zinc, which passes into the collecting chambers,
towards which it is continually driven or drawn, as above mentioned. Imme-
diately after charging, and until the charge has become incandescent, gases and
solid although light bodies will be given off, which may find their way into
the collecting chamber, and would spoil the whiteness of the products. It is
to remedy this that two chambers are employed, one at each end. One of
these chambers is intended to receive the products which escape before the
charge has become incandescent; and therefore, immediately after charging,
the register of the chamber intended, to receive the most pure products is
closed, whilst that for the reception of the impure vapors is left open. This
latter is closed as soon as pure zinc white begins to be formed, and the other
one is opened. The collecting chambers and all the other parts are arranged
as above described.
Sheet IV. represents an arrangement of furnace constructed upon the saine
principle as those ordinarily employed for the manufacture of coal gas, adapted
to the manufacture of zinc white, with the oxidizing chamber and its accessaries,
Fig. 1 being a plan view, Fig. 2 a transverse vertical section, and Fig: 3 a longi-
tudinal vertical section. Any number of these furnaces might be set side by
side; and furnished respectively with any suitable number of retorts. The same
letters indicate similar parts as in the other Drawings, the only difference
being that by this arrangement the retort may be charged through the chamber
in which the fireplace is situated. For this purpose the retort is open at both
the ends D and D'. It is charged at the end D', which is afterwards hermetically
closed, and remains so during the process of distillation. In adapting this
arrangement the chamber H and flooring K may be dispensed with. This
arrangement is not, however, so advantageous as the others, and will only
therefore be used in case of necessity.
What is claimed under this Invention is,-
First, the distillation of metallic zinė, or of oxide of zinc, or zinc ore, by
any of the manne above mentioned

page_text: Second, the application of furnaces similar to glass furnaces, reverberatory
:furnaces, and coke ovens, as above described, and the modifications of them
respectively, in order to fit them for the purpose of manufacturing zine white.
Third, the novel construction of furnace for this purpose above described,
and shewn in Sheet III. of the accompanying Drawings.
"
Fourth, I claim isolating the retorts from cach other, and also cutting off
the communication between the retorts and the oxidizing chamber when
I do not
required, whatever means may be employed to effect that object.
confine myself to the apparatus -shewn for that purpose, as I have done so
merely for the purpose of illustration.
Fifth, the employment of suitable apparatus for cleansing the mouths of the
retorts without being obliged to enter the oxidizing chamber.
Sixth, the arrangement of apparatus shewn and described, or any modifica-
..tion thereof, by which the retorts may be charged, cleaned, and replaced, 'or
submitted to any operation required, without interfering with the oxidizing
*chamber.
Seventh, the application or employment of blast furnaces for the production
or manufacture of zinc white or oxide of zinc, whether such furnaces are
circular. or of any other suitable form, and whether they are constructed and
arranged in a vertical, inclined, or horizontal position.
Eighth, the employment or introduction of currents of air into an oxi-
dizing or other chamber, for the purpose of converting the metallic vapors
of zinc into zinc white or oxide of zinc; also the employment of an
exhausting tube or blowing apparatus for.conducting the metallic vapors to the
oxidizing chamber, as above shewn and described. I claim also the employ-
-ment of wire gauze or sieves for sifting the products; also the arrangement of
vessels for receiving the heaviest portion of the products.
Ninth, the arrangement of the oxidizing chambers so as to allow of the
products being collected from them without the necessity of entering the said
chambers.
Having now described all that relates to the manufacture and manner of
collecting zinc white, I will proceed to an explanation of that part of the
Invention which relates to the other colors, viz., yellow of zinc and green of
.zinc. Zinc yellow:-As the manufacture of this substance forms the subject of
a previous Patent, I will merely remark that hydrochloric acid may be used
instead of sulphuric acid. Zinc green:-Yellow having been produced by the
patented process, is diluted with a suitable quantity of water, and mixed
with a certain quantity of Prussian blue (previously mixed with a suitable
quantity of water, oil, or other appropriate. liquid), either in a hot or

page_text: cold state; green of zinc will thus be formed, the color of which will be
as durable as the blue itself. The above substances may be employed for
painting of any kind, or for any other purposes for which white lead or other
pigments are usually employed.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Edward Newton, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, the Sixteenth day of May, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and forty-eight.
W. E. (L.S.) NEWTON.
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Sixteenth day of May, in the
cleventh year of the reign of Her Majesty Queen Victoria, the said William
Edward Newton came before our said Lady the Queen in Her Chancery,
and acknowledged the Instrument aforesaid, and all and every thing therein
contained and specified, in form above written. And also the Instrument
aforesaid was stamped according to the tenor of the Statute made in the
fifty-fifth year of the reign of His late Majesty King George the Third.
Inrolled the Sixteenth day of May, One thousand eight hundred and