Furnaces for generating zinc vapors

Claim 1

APPARATUS FOR GENERATING ZINC VAPORS FROM ZINCIFEROUS MATERIAL COMPRISING MEANS FORMING A FURNACE CHAMBER COMPRISING BOTTOM AND LATERAL WALLS, HEATING MEANS ABOVE SAID BOTTOM WALL FOR HEATING ZINCIFEROUS MATERIAL CHARGED TO SAID CHAMBER FOR GENERATING ZINC VAPORS FROM SUCH MATERIAL, DISCHARGE MEANS FROM SAID CHAMBER FOR THE ZINC VAPORS, THE SAID MEANS FORMING SAID CHAMBER HAVING AN EXTERIOR METAL CASING WHICH IS OPERATIVELY LINED BY SAID BOTTOM AND LATERAL WALLS, WHICH WALLS ARE OF SUCH THICKNESS WITH RELATION TO THEIR HEAT CONDUCTIVITIES AS TO MAINTAIN SAID CASING AND THE ADJACENT PORTIONS OF SAID WALLS AT A REDUCED TEMPERATURE BELOW THE MELTING POINT OF ZINC AND COMPRISE BRICKWORK AT THE SIDE OF SAID CHAMBER AND ITS BOTTOM, THE BRICKWORK AT THE SIDE OF SAID CHAMBER BEING EXPOSED TO THE ZINC VAPOR SPACE OF SAID CHAMBER WHEREBY ZINC VAPORS UNAVOIDABLY ENTER THE INTERSTICES OF SUCH BRICKWORK AND CONDENSE TO LIQUID ZINC INTERMEDIATE ITS THICKNESS AND PERCOLATE DOWNWARD THROUGH SUCH INTERISTICES TO THOSE OF THE BRICKWORK OF THE BOTTOM WALL OF SAID CHAMBER, AND MEANS FOR DRAINING TO THE EXTERIOR OF SAID CASING LIQUID ZINC WHICH COLLECTS IN THE INTERSTICES OF SAID BOTTOM WALL COMPRISING MATERIAL OF HIGH HEAT CONDUCTIVELY EXTENDING THROUGH SUCH WALL FROM ADJACENT SAID CHAMBER TO ADJACENT SAID CASING FORMING A DRAINAGE CONDUIT IN COMMUNICATION WITH SUCH INTERSTICES.