Processes of and Convertors for Smelting and Refining Ores.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 1st May. 1894-Accepted, 3rd Nov., 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Processes of and Convertors for Smelting and Refining Ores.
I, CHARLES MAURICE ALLEN, of 643 Talbott Avenue, Butte City, Silver Bow
County State of Montana, United States of America, Engineer do hereby declare
the nature of my invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:—
First, my invention relates particularly to the converting and smelting of gold,
silver and precious ores, which require high degrees of temperature to reduce to a
molten condition, and has for its principal object the providing of a simple,
economical and efficient process of converting and smelting precious metals in a
continuous operation. To this end, it consists in first reducing the raw material to
a molten condition in a suitable convertor, by subjecting it to an intense heat and
blast of air, then changing the position of the molten material in the convertor so
as to remove it from the action of the air, drawing off the desired quantity of such
molten material of the gravity desired, changing the remaining molten material
back to its original position, adding a sufficient quantity of new material, subjecting
such mixture to the direct action of a blast of air until the whole mixture is again
reduced to a molten condition, again changing the position of the molten material
in the convertor to remove it from the action of the air blast, and drawing off the
quantity of molten material desired.
It consists further in providing a tipping-tapping convertor for smelting and
converting ores, by mounting a convertor upon trunnions so that it may be tipped
to change the position of any molten material which may be contained within its
converting chamber, so as to remove it from the action of an air current or blast
and bring it into position, so that it may be tapped and any desired quantity of
molten material drawn off.
It consists further in providing a cylindrical, rotating convertor, by mounting
cylindrical convertor upon suitable mechanism by which it may be rotated and
the position of any molten material, which may be contained in its smelting
chamber, changed to remove it from the action of the air blast and bring it
into position to puncture, tap, and draw off the desired quantity of molten
material.
It consists further in providing a convertor with mechanism by which the dust
or dirt or waste material blown out of the converting chamber may again be
introduced back into the smelting chamber and subjected to the action of the heat
to be melted.
It consists finally in the features, combinations and details of construction
hereinafter described and claimed.
In the drawings,
Figure 1 is a vertical sectional elevation of one form of my convertor, taken on
line 1, 1 of Fig. 2;
Fig. 2 a vertical section in elevation, taken on line 2, 2 of Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 a plan view of the bottom of the convertor, looking at it from the top;
Fig. 4 a transverse vertical section of a cylindrical rotating convertor with its
operating mechanism;
Fig. 5 a similar view of the convertor shown in Fig. 4 removed from its
operating and supporting mechanism, and shown in its opposite position ;
Fig. 6 a section showing the arrangement of the side and end water jackets of
the convertor shown in Figs. 4 and 5;

page_text: Fig.
a vertical section in elevation of one of my convertors, showing the
method of introducing the waste material with the blast of air.
In carrying out my process, and in making an apparatus for such purpose, I
make a convertor chamber, A, provided with side water jackets, A', and a bottom
water jacket, A'-see Figs. 1, 2 and 3. These water jackets are made of sheets of
metal, with a space between them for the circulation of water. The edges, a, of
the inner sheets are turned or bent outward and fastened to the edges of the outer
sheets by rivets, or in any other convenient way. In this way, I avoid all seams,
rivet holes, or other openings through the inner sheet of the water jackets, so that
all liability of leakage into the convertor, which may occasion accidents, is
avoided. The bottom water jacket is intended to fit in and to be inclosed by the
lower ends of the side jackets, as shown in the drawings. The upper end of the
convertor, as will be understood, is intended to open into a dust chamber, and has
proper communication or connection with a smoke stack, as is now the usual
construction. In order to support the convertor in a vertical position during its
operation, provide supports or standards, B, which are provided with journals or
bearings, b, at their upper ends. I provide the convertor with hollow trunnions, C,
adapted to rest and be supported in the journals of the supports or standards on
which the convertor is mounted. Through one of the hollow trunnions, I introduce
a blast pipe, D, so that a blast or current of air can be forced in through the
trunnion and through a continuation of the blast pipe, D', which communicates at
its upper end with the hollow trunnion, and leads at its lower end to the tuyeres, d,
which preferably enter the convertor through the bottom water jacket more at one
side of the bottom than the other, as shown in Fig. 1. carry a water pipe, E,
leading from a proper source of supply through the other hollow trunnion and
down to or near the bottom of the side water jacket, which pipe may be divided
into branches, one leading into the side water jacket, and the other into the bottom
water jacket, so as to supply the requisite quantity of water to each. Pipes, E',
lead from the water jackets out through the hollow trunnion, to permit the water
to flow through the water jacket and be carried off, so that a fresh supply will
constantly be introduced into the water jackets. I make a section of the
convertor, F, which will be above the surface of the molten material when the
convertor is it its initial working position, of brick work or other frangible material,
so that it can be punctured to form a tap to draw off from time to time the desired
quantity of molten material. As will be apparent from the description up to this
point, the convertor is intended to be tipped or turned over, as represented by
dotted lines in Fig. 1, when it is desired to draw a quantity of molten material.
The section, F, in which the tap is intended to be made, will be below the surface
of the molten material when the convertor is tipped to draw off a portion of the
charge. At such time also, the tuyeres, d, which, as above stated, are arranged
toward one side of the bottom of the convertor, will open into the convertor above
the surface of the molten material, so that the blast will not be driven through nor
agitate the material when the convertor is tipped to draw off the material. It will
thus be permitted to settle and assume the condition desired before drawing off.
In order to tip the convertor, I arrange a gear wheel, G, on one of the trunnions,
and a rack, G, with its teeth intermeshing with the gear wheel; and to move this
rack up and down whenever it is desired to tip the convertor, I employ a bydraulic
cylinder, H, the piston in which connects with the rack, so that when water is
admitted behind the piston it will move the rack up, turn the gear wheel, G, and
tip the convertor. After the desired quantity of molten material has been drawn
from the convertor, it is again restored to its normal or working position, fresh or
raw material introduced, and the operation repeated. By leaving a portion of the
molten material in the convertor, the new material added will be ignited and
melted, so that the process will be continued without interruption as long as desired
after the commencement of the operation. Of course, it will be understood that
the first charge must be reduced to a molten condition by fuel introduced into the
convertor; but, as this is a familiar operation, I have not deemed it necessary to

page_text: escribe it. It will also be understood that it is expected that there w
ufficient sulphur in the ores treated to supply the requisite amount of fuel for their
eduction after the first charge has been sinelted.
It will thus be seen that by changing the position of the convertor with its
converting chamber, the molten material in it occupies one place while the con-
verting chamber is in its initial working position, and another place when it is in
its discharging position. In a word, it changes its position relatively to the
converting chamber to permit the discharge and prevent the blast of air from
agitating the molten material.
Figs. 4, and 5 represent a cylindrical convertor, in which I make a cylinder, I,
of the desired length and diameter. This cylinder is closed by ends, I. The
sides and ends of the convertor or converting chamber are formed of sheets of
metal, so as to form a water space, i, between the sheets to permit the circulation
of water to preserve the converting chamber from destruction by the intense heat.
The inner sheet of the side and end water jackets are turned out, as at it, to permit
the edges to be riveted or otherwise fastened to the edges of the outer sheets, so as
to obviate the necessity of making rivet or other holes through the inner sheets
and thus avoid liability to accident, which would be occasioned were there a
While I have spoken
possibility of water leaking into the converting chamber.
of the converting chamber as being a cylinder, yet it is to be understood that the
edges are not closed together, so that there is an opening, 1', for the admission of
the material to be treated into the converting chamber, as well as to afford an exit
for the smoke, dust and fumes resulting from the operation of the convertor.
arrange, in one or both ends of the convertor, a section, J, formed of brickwork or
other frangible material, which can be punctured to form a tap to draw off the
I also provide a row of tuyeres, j,
material from time to time, as desired.
entering the convertor, preferably at the bottom, when in working position, through
which a blast of air will be driven as necessary in operation. In the working
position of the convertor, the section, J, in the end or ends, is above the surface of
the molten material, and the tuyeres enter below the surface of such material.
When, however, the convertor is rotated to permit a portion of the molten material
to be turned off, the position of these parts is reversed and the tuyeres enter above
the molten material, and the sections of frangible material are below the surface of
the molten matter, so that when they are punctured a desired quantity may be
drawn off. I arrange a hood, K, over the convertor, to carry off fumes, and
provide a chute, k, through which the ore to be treated may be introduced. The
convertor rests upon rolls, K, and in order to rotate it, I provide around its outer
surface a row of teeth, k, which engage with the teeth of a gear wheel, K³, which
may be rotated by a band on a pulley, not shown, on the shaft, 2, or in any other
O desired manner, so that from time to time, as desired, the rotating chamber may be
rotated enough to bring it into its discharging position, and, after a desired quantity
of material has been drawn off, rotated back into its working position. I might
say that in this, as in the tipping-tapping convertor, it is intended in operation to
leave a portion of the molten material in the converting chamber to assist in the
5 ignition and melting of the succeeding charge of new or raw material, so that the
operation may be continuous and not interrupted.
Fig. 7 shows my method of introducing the dust and waste material through the
blast pipe and in which I use a convertor, L, which may be made with water-
It may be
jacketed side walls and bottom portion, l, or in any other desired way.
It opens
U a convertor adapted to be tipped, or of any other form of construction.
at its upper end into a dust chamber, L', into which the particles of dust blown out
of the converting chamber by the force of the blast is collected and in which it
accumulates. I have provided the dust chamber with an incline or hopper floor,
I carry a blast
so as to lead the accumulating dust to a desired point, as at l.
55 pipe, L', into the converting chamber, through tuyeres, to introduce the desired
blast of air at or near the bottom. I carry a pipe, P, from the exit point of the
dust chamber into the blast pipe, so that it communicates with the dust chamber

page_text: and the converting chamber through the blast pipe, although, if desired, it may be
arranged to communicate directly with the converting chamber, though I prefer
the arrangement shown. I arrange valves, L³, in the dust pipe, so that when it is
desired to convey the dust accumulated in the dust chamber, the upper valve may
be opened until the space between it and the lower valve fills with dust, when it
may be closed and the lower valve opened to allow the dust to pass on down into
the blast pipe, and to be blown into the converting chamber at or near the bottom
of the molten material. By this arrangement, back pressure of the air is prevented,
and the introduction of the dust secured. It will be understood that the convertor
communicates with a smoke stack, and that proper means are employed for
introducing ores to be smelted and for tapping the convertor and drawing off the
molten material from time to time, as desired.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The process of smelting and converting ores, which consists in supplying raw
material to material in a convertor already in a molten condition, subjecting the
old and new material to the action of a blast of air until a desired quantity is in a
molten condition, changing the position of the molten material in the convertor to
remove it from the action of the blast of air, drawing off the desired quantity of
the molten material, and then restoring the remaining portion to its original position
to receive additional raw material, substantially as described.
2. A tipping-tapping convertor having a smelting chamber for the reception of
molten materials, tuyeres for the admission of an air blast, a section of brick work
arranged above any molten material in such chamber when in its initial working
position and below the surface of any such material when the convertor is tipped,
and means for tipping the convertor, substantially as described.
3. A tipping-tapping convertor having water jackets entirely surrounding its
smelting chamber, hollow trunnions for supporting such convertors, tuyeres for the
admission of an air blast in the bottom of such convertor, blast pipe connecting
such tuyeres and leading in through the hollow trunnion, water supply and discharge
pipes connected with such water chambers and leading in through the hollow
trunnion, a section of such convertor wall formed of brick work and arranged at a
point above any molten material in such chamber when the convertor is in its
initial working position and below such material when the convertor is tipped, and
means for tipping the convertor, substantially as described.
4. A rotatable convertor having a cylindrical converting chamber for holding
molten material, tuyeres in the cylindrical portion for the admission of an air blast, a
section of brick work in the end of the convertor adapted to form a tap, and means
for rotating the convertor, substantially as described.
5. In a convertor, the combination of a cylindrical converting chamber having
side and end water jackets composed of metal sheets with the edges of the inner
sheets bent outwardly to overlap the edges of the outer sheets to which they are
fastened whereby rivets and other holes in the inner sheets are avoided, and end
sections adapted to be punctured or broken to form a tap, substantially as
'described.
6. In a convertor, a cylindrical converting chamber having its sides water-
jacketed in combination with truncated cone-shaped water-jacketed ends,
substantially as described.
7. In a convertor, the combination of a converting chamber, a dust chamber, a
blast pipe for introducing air into the converting chaniber, a dust pipe communicating
with the dust chamber and blast pipe for introducing the dust into the converting
chamber, and means located on such dust pipe for regulating the admission of the
dust into the blast pipe, substantially as described.
8. In a convertor, the combination of a converting chamber, a dust chamber, a
blast pipe for introducing air into the converting chamber, and a pipe provided

page_text: with valves communicating with the dust chamber and the converting chamber for
conveying the dust from one to the other, substantially as described.
Dated this 1st day of May 1894.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.