US13431A - Improvement in making zinc-white - Google Patents

Description

S. T. JONES.

Making White Zinc.

Patented Aug. 14, 18.55.

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SAMUEL T. JONES, OF NEV YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN MAKING ZINC-WHITE.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N0. 11 3,4313, dated August 14, 1855.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, SAMUEL T. JONES, of the city and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful improvements in furnaces for the manufacture of zinc-white or oxide of zinc from the ores of zinc; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof.

Before proceeding to describe my invention I will refer to certain objects to be accomplished and difficulties to be overcome in the manufacture of white oxide of zinc.

It has been ascertained that zinc-white or oxide of zinc may be profitably manufactured from the ores of zinc by first pulverizing and admixing them with coal or other fuel, and that by the application of heat, together with a diffused and graduated blast or draft of air effecting ignition and a moderate combustion of the fuel, a reduction of the ore will take place, the zinc will be liberated, and the oxide will be produced in the desired form. It has been ascertained that it is of great consequence to apply the blast or draft in such-an equable and diffused state as to prevent an undue degree of heat, which would inevitably occasion slagging in some parts of the. mass of ore and fuel, so as materially to interfere with the operation. It is also necessary to provide against the sifting of the finely-pulverized ore through the bottom of grate. The main ob ject to be accomplished is to effect the reduc tion of the entire mass of ore by a gentle and roasting process rather than by a high meltingheat. If the blast were applied to a high pile of ore and fuel, such as is used in the pro cess of roasting ores of iron preparatory to their reduction in an iron blast-furnace, such an unequal distribution of heat would occur as to occasion the difficulty of slagging before referred to, whereby the operation would be impeded if not entirely interrupted.

To avoid such difficulties, and also to effect an equable and diffused application of thedraft or blast, is the object of my improvements, which I now proceed to describe.

They consist of four different arrangements or modes of construction of grate-bottoms,

beds, or hearths, each one producing similar effect.

First. I construct a grate-bottom of ample size to admit the ore or other substance containing zinc in an even layer or layers of a few inches in depth, together with the fuel, either in admixture or in separate layers of straight bars of narrow width, but increased proportionably in depth,in order to secure the desired strength, and arranged at such narrow or blast of air may be passed upward to the ore and fuel above, or other substance containing zinc, the tendency of the same to fall through when in a finely-divided state may be greatly diminished. \Vhen they are in a very finely-divided state, I further proceed, first, to lay immediately upon the bars a separate layer of coal of such size as will not pass through, which forms a suitable bed or bottom to receive the finer portions of ore and fuel in admixture thereupon, and sometimes I find it advantageous to apply the fine coal usually admixed with the ore in a separate layer upon the coarser coal immediately resting upon the grate-bars, and then the ore or other admixture of zinc in a layer thereupon, when this bed for the ore, &c., more effectually prevents their sifting through, and the lat ter are at the same time reduced by the flame carried upward through it.

Second. In lieu of the grate-bottom and be formed as above described, I sometimes prefer to construct one of flat bars or slabs of iron or other material capable of withstanding heat, fitting the same side by side closely to each other, but filled with small holes or perforations of from about one-eighth to threefourths of an inch in size, and at distances of from about one-fourth to about one inch from the center of one to that of another. The fuel and ore or other substance may then be placed upon such bottom either in separate layers or in admixture, as before described, 'as may be found most advantageous to secure the ends proposed.

Third. My invention relates, furthermore, to the construction of the grate-bottom or hearth to be used for such or other similar purpose, by placing one or more layers or series of bars or slabs of iron or other refractory material capable of withstanding heat, so that one side of each bar or slab shall underlap the side of the bar or slab next above it, leaving a space for the lateral passage of the air to the ore and fuel above between them, in which case the grate or bottom will have an distances apart that while the requisite draft inclination toward one side or to or from the middle toward the sides, the extent of which will depend upon the degree of underlapping or upon the thickness of the slabs. In this arrangement embracing inclinations of the hearth simple square bars or bars of other shapes may also be used to advantage, instead of the underlapping edge above described, by beddingthe surface of the grate with a layer of coarse coal and placing the layers of fine coal and ore upon its top, whereby the sifting through into the ashes below of the finer particles will be obviated.

Fourth. In lieu of the above, I also sometimes construct abed with two separate series or layers of slabs or bars, leaving a space between those of the upper and lower layers, so that any ore, fuel, 860., which may fall through will be caught upon the bars or slabs of the lower series, the openings or interstices between the bars or slabs of the respective series being such as to allow of an adequate supply of air being passed upward in a lateral direction between them.

Having now described the natur and objeots of my improvements, I will further 'remark that the several grates, beds, or bottoms, as described, should of course be surrounded or connected with suitable walls, forming an ash-pit beneath and ore-chamber above, with suitable doorways, blast-pipes, or air-passages, as may be required. The ore-chamber above may also be provided with an arch dome or cover, and with suitable openings and flues and pipes for the escape or conducting of the zinc vapors and products of combustion, as may be required.

I refer to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which theimprovements above described are represented.

No. 1 represents asection of a grate-bottom formed of bars of narrow width but proportionately increased depth, with narrow spaces between, and surmounted with coarser coal, forming a bed upon which the finer coal and ore may rest above without the danger of sifting through into the ash-pit below, the same being a representation of the first grate-bottom by me before described.

No.2 represents a plan of a bottom com posed of several fiat slabs placed side by side, each slab being pierced by numerous small holes for the passage of the air from beneath to the fine coal and ore placed on the top, the same being a representation of the second grate-bottom by me before described.

No. 3 represents a section of a hearth or bottom composed of bars or slabs underlapping each other at one side and rising with an inclination from the middle toward the sides, the same admitting of being reversed, so as to render the highest part in the center.

No. 8" represents a section of an inclined hearth or grate composed of square bars, surmounted with a bed of larger sized coal to support the smaller coal and ore on the top of such bed, the same being a representation of the third grate-bottom by me before described.

No. 4 represents a section of two layers or series of bars or slabs with an interval between each layer and also between the bars or slabs of the respective series, so placed that any fine ore and coal sifting between the bars of the upper layer will be caught upon those of the lower layer and the air supplied from beneath in a lateral direction, the same being a representation of the fourth grate-bottom by me before described.

WVhat I claim as my invention and improvement, and desire to receive by Letters Patent, 1s-

The manufacture of white oxide of zinc from ores of zinc or franklin-ite by means of a furnace having perforated grate-bars and an air-chamber underneath them, in which hot or cold blasts of air are forced to unite with the ignited mess of fuel in a diffused state, by passing through the perforations of the grate-bars to liberate the zinc in the form of vaper, in manner of construction and mode of operation substantially as set forth.

S. T. JONES.

In presence of- J. BANOROFT Srnvmvs, JOHN OBRIAN.

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