[1849. 



THE CIVIL ENGINEER AND ARCHITECT'S JOURNAL. 



U9 



SMELTING AND REFINING LEAD ORES. 



William Young, plumber, and Henry Burgess Young, en- 

 gineer, of Barnstaple, Devonshire, for ^^improvements in smelting 

 and refining lead ores." — Granted August 28, 1848; Enrolled Feb- 

 ruary 28, 1849. 



These improvements relate to the condensation of the vapours 

 which escape from the furnaces employed in the manufacture of 

 lead from ore, for the purpose of obtaining the litharge and other 

 oxides, which are carried oif mixed with the products of c<im- 

 bustion. For tliis purpose, the flue from the furnace is made 

 to pass through a steam-boiler flue, so that the waste heat may be 

 used in generating steam; the flue then opens into a fan, by which 

 the vapours are projected down the surface of a large closed tank 

 of water. A great portion of the metallic compound is then mixed 

 with the water. The vapours next pass from the top of this tank 

 into another flue, into which there is projected a strong jet of high- 

 pressure steam from the boiler above-mentioned. The combined 

 steam and vapours are then made to pass successively through a 

 series of chambers, the opening from the one to the other being 

 through finely-perforated plates of metal. The gra\ity of the 



particles of oxide is increased by the steam, and they collect upon 

 the floors of the chambers. Connected with the large tank of 

 water there is a smaller cistern placed outside, by which the height 

 of the water inside the chamber is regulated, and, consequently, 

 the distance of the surface of the water in the tank from the mouth 

 of the descending flue can be readily ascertained, and the pressure 

 be regulated accordingly. 



The patentees claim — 1st, the employment of a water lute, which 

 may be regulated by raising or lowering the water in the cistern, 

 whereby the draught will be regulated, and an economy of fuel 

 effected. — 2ndly, The causing the metallic particles which escape 

 from the furnace along with the smoke, to pass through water, and 

 then through finely-perforated plates into vaults filled with steam; 

 and the condensation and collection of the metallic particles. — 

 3rdly, Applying these processes in the smelting of lead, for col- 

 lecting white and blue oxide of lead in a paste. — tthly. Causing 

 the metallic particles, if any, which may remain with the smoke 

 after the second process, to pass through the body of the furnace, 

 and again to undergo that process; and a complete collection of 

 the metallic particles. 



DOUBLY TRAPPED WATERCLOSETS. 



Combined Patent Self-Acting Pan-and- Valve Doubly-Trapped Waterclosets, suited to every description of Dwelling Houses, Public 

 Buildings, Hotels, Railway Stations, Hospitals, Asylums, ^c.^ Patented by Messrs. Joseph Bunnett and Co., of Lombard-Street, City, 



and Deptford, Kent, engineers. 



Some time since, we gave our readers the specification of a patent granted to Mr. Bunnett, 

 for improvements in waterclosets, (see Journal Vol. X., p. 144); — we have much pleasure in 

 again bringing this subject forward, on account of its great value in the progi-ess of sanitary 

 reform. 



By adopting the principle of his Patent Efiluvia Traps, Mr. Bunnett has succeeded in 

 producing a Self-acting AVatercloset, which requires no attention from the person using it. 

 The supply and force of the water is always eflicient and uniform, and cannot be wasted; no 

 soil can be left in the basin after use, and an ample supply of water is ahvays secured in the 

 basin, to form a water lute between that and the syphon trap, thereby eft'ectually preventing 

 the least smell from rising. All other self-acting waterclosets being only trii]>ped by the 

 syphon or D traps, a portion of the fouled water is always left exposed in them, liable at 

 all times to smell, particularly after standing for a day or two. 



The improved trap is formed so as to allow a perfectly free passage for the soil, &c., with 

 an opening at the top of it, the cover of which may be removed and replaced, should any 

 necessity arise for the same, from anything being either accidentally or wilfully dropped 

 down the closet. 



This improved watercloset appears to us to be veiy simple and durable in its construction, 

 and cannot get out of order. It is not necessary that the cistern should be placed directly 

 over the closet, but may be placed at a convenient distance; and any number of closets can 

 be supplied from the same cistern. 



References to Engraving. 



In the annexed engraving, A is the sup- 

 ply-box, which may be fixed either within 

 the cistern, or in any other convenient 

 situation. B and C are the inlet and 

 outlet valves. When the closet is not 

 in use, the valve B is closed. By the 

 pressure on the seat the valve B is 

 opened, and the valve C is closed, and 

 the supply-box is thereby charged; as 

 soon as the pressure is removed from 

 the seat, the valve B is again closed, 

 and the valve C is opened, and the 

 whole of the water confined in the sup- 

 ply-box is discharged into the basin. 

 D is a moveable pan or trap, suspend- 

 ed on a centre and balanced by E, a 

 rolling weight, which, on the rush of 

 water into the basin, instantly rolls to- 

 wards the centre and allows the pan 

 to fall to its fullest extent, as indi- 

 cated by the dotted lines. 



There are several modifications of this 

 impro\ed watercloset which for want of 

 space, we are unable to lay before our 

 readers, but specimens of each may be 

 seen in action at the office of the paten- 

 tees, Lombard-street, City. 



