IMPROVEMENTS IN CRU- CIBLES OR MELTING POTS FOR METALS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Toussaint, formerly of Saint Jean d'Angely,
France, but now of Icknield Port Road, Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Scientific Chemist, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN CRU-
CIBLES OR MELTING POTS FOR METALS."
Sealed the 10th August 1877, and dated the 12th February 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Toussaint at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th February 1877.
IMPROVE -
JOSEPH TOUSSAINT, formerly of Saint Jean d'Angely, France, but now of Icknield
Port Road, Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Scientific Chemist.
MENTS IN CRUCIBLES OR MELTING POTS FOR METALS."
The nature of this Invention is the construction or form of a crucible which has
a spout or nozzle leading from the bottom side portion, and of a length to pass
through the wall of the furnace, to enable the molten metal to be run off. This
crucible may be of plumbago or other composition capable of rendering it very
refractory and very hard, and to resist the most violent fire for a long time.
The form of this crucible is conical from bottom to top; its bottom is rounded on
the outside and on the inside; the base is one-half the diameter of its upper part; it
is of a length or height double its diameter at its upper part, and from three to four
inches, more or less, thick.
This crucible is made with matters prepared by the ordinary process placed in a
mould which has the intended form of the crucible, and a mandril or stein is fitted
in the mould to form the aperture or passage throughout the length of the spout or
nozzle.
The mould when filled with the necessary materials for making the crucible is
subjected to pressure to expel the water contained in the composition, and to
close up the pores of the composition. This pressure is indispensable to give to the
crucible and its spout a long duration to resist the action of the fire, and to give the
necessary strength to hold the weight of the metals it is intended to contain.
The crucible thus constructed is suspended or held in place by two, three, or four
projecting bricks set an angle in the furnace to support the crucible, the bricks being
of the same composition as the crucible. At a suitable distance apart other like

page_text: bricks serve to hold the crucible in an upright position, and prevent it moving; the
projecting bricks are at intervals to enable the fire to play upon all parts of the
exterior of the crucible.
The crucible has a lid or cover, which fits it exactly, to keep the metal or metals
in the crucible in a state of cleanliness, and to prevent unnecessary evaporation of
certain metals, such as zinc.
The crucible thus made is intended to smelt all kinds of metals and metallic
bodies, and to purify and transform them; and in employing the necessary chemical
products, according to their nature or sort, in order to render them fibrous, streaky,
soft or hard, or to change cast iron into soft iron, and then into steel suitable for
cutting tools.
The operations can all be effected by the same fire, and without any interruption.
Cast iron becomes soft iron, and afterwards steel, no matter what quantity one
desires, and that in 40 minutes.
-
The crucible is also suitable for melting gold, silver, and their oxides or dust, and
to purify them; to melt and extract copper,brass, and their oxides or "cinders," and
to purify them and to render them harder or softer, as desired; to give more white-
ness and brightness to white metals, and to mix them intimately, as is done for
brass.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Joseph Toussaint in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 11th August
1877.
JOSEPH TOUSSAINT, formerly of Saint Jean d'Angely, France, but now of Icknield
Port Road, Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Scientific Chemist. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN CRUCIBLES OR MELTING POTS FOR METALS."
The nature of this Invention is the construction or form of a crucible which has
a spout or nozzle leading from the bottom side portion, and of a length to pass
through the wall of the furnace, to enable the molten metal to be run off or
drawn off by it when desired. This crucible may be of plumbago or other compo-
sition capable of rendering it very refractory and very hard, and to resist the most
violent fire for a long time.
The form of this crucible is preferably conical from bottom to top; its bottom is
rounded on the outside and on the inside; the base is one-half the diameter of its
upper part; it is of a length or height double its diameter, more or less, at its upper
part.
This crucible is made with matters prepared by the ordinary process placed in a
mould which has the intended form of the crucible, and a mandril or stem is fitted
in the mould to forin the aperture or passage throughout the length of the spout or
nozzle.
The spout may be tubular, round, oval, square, triangular, or other like shape; or
it may be formed with bottom channel only, with the top part open; or in other
form; and it may be moulded with the pot, or as a separate article and attached to
the pot, in any suitable manner. The spout or nozzle in all cases leads from the
bottom portion of the crucible to the outside of the furnace wall, as and for the
purpose described.
The mould when filled with the necessary materials for making the crucible is
subjected to pressure to expel the water contained in the composition and to close
up the pores of the composition. This pressure is indispensable to give to the
crucible and its spout a long duration to resist the action of the fire, and to give the
necessary strength to hold the weight of the metal it is intended to contain.
The crucible thus constructed is suspended or held in place in a furnace by two,
three, four, or more projecting bricks set at an angle in the furnace to support the
prucible, the bricks being of the same composition as the crucible, or the crucible

page_text: may be supported on a foot. At a suitable distance apart other like bricks serve
to hold the crucible in an upright position, and prevent it moving; the projecting
bricks are at intervals to enable the fire to play upon all parts of the exterior of the
crucible.
The crucible has a lid or cover, which fits it exactly, to keep the metal or metals
in the crucible in a state of cleanliness, and to prevent unnecessary evaporation of
certain metals, such as zinc.
The crucible thus made is intended to smelt all kinds of metals and metallic
bodies, and to purify and transform them; and in employing the necessary chemical
products, according to their nature or sort, in order to render them fibrous, streaky,
soft or hard, or to change the colour of metals; also to change cast iron into soft
iron, and then into steel suitable for cutting tools.
The operations can all be effected by the same fire, and without any interruption.
Cast iron becomes soft iron, and afterwards steel, no matter what quantity one
desires, the conversion occupying about 40 minutes only.
The crucible is also suitable for melting gold, silver, and their oxides or dust, and
to purify them; to melt and extract copper, brass, and their oxides or "cinders,"
and to purify them and to render them harder or softer, as desired; to give more
whiteness and brightness to white metals, and to mix them intimately, as is done
for brass.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I declare that I claim, the construction and employment of
crucibles or melting pots to be enclosed in furnaces for melting purposes, said cru-
cibles having one or more spouts or nozzles at their lower ends leading to the out-
Ride of the furnace wall, the crucibles being suspended from the sides or supported
by a foot within furnaces, as and for the purposes set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Toussaint, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Fifth day of July, One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
seven.
JOSEPH TOUSSAINT. (L.S.)