Halifax Paper - The Improved Brückner Cylinders

THE Brüclrner roasting-cylinder is well known as an apparatus which has done good work in the desulphnrization, particularly of refractory silver ores, in the western districts of this country. A paper by Mr. J. M. Locke, of Cincinnati, describing the cylinders, as constructed by Messrs. Lane & Bodley, in that city, may be found at p. 295, vol. ii., of the Transactions of the Institute; and a paper by Mr. N. H. Cone, vol. iv., p. 226, gives an account of their operation in Colorado. The purpose of the present paper is to present an .improved construction, designed by Mr. Brückner. This is clearly shown in the accompanying plate, which scarcely needs explanation. It will be seen at once that this construction involves two cylinders, instead of one. Mr. Brückner thinks that three cylinders might be better yet, as securing an exact mechanical reproduction of the work of the well-known three-hearth Fortschaufelungsofen, the most perfect of the reverberatories in which delicate roasting is performed with hand-labor. THE APPARATUS. Erection of the Cylinders.—Although the cylinders may he put lip at any locality, or added to existing works, it is preferable, if possible, to choose the site on a hill sloping naturally, say about 30' or 33. Two excavations are made, one 8 to 12 feet higher up than the other; and each is protected by a wall with a batter of about 1 inch to the foot, to prevent slides of stone and earth. Each cylinder being 20 feet long and 7 feet in diameter, the total excavation should be 60 to 70 feet along the hill, and 15 to 25 feet wide. On each level a building is erected 35 feet long by 20 feet wide and 12 feet high, with the roof containing a ventilator against the hill. When both buildings are on the same level, there should preferably be a solid frame-work of very heavy timber, to carry the four rollers which bear the upper cylinder. The four rollers carrying the lower cylinder should preferably rest on two very heavy pieces of timber, strongly braced together and laid to their top in a foundation made of stone or brick and cement. Foundations are necessary only under each two opposite rollers, but they must be made carefully,