Fig. 1 (a).—Plant for Bricking Ores, Selby Smelter. (Plan.)
The number of men required to operate the entire plant, exclusive of those employed in bringing the material to the bins and emptying the cars into them, is 12, placed as follows; One preparing the lime for use, one removing the charge from the mill and supplying the elevator-conveyor, which is accomplished by means of a specially shaped, long-handled shovel; one keeping the supply spout of the press clear (an attempt was made to do this mechanically, but was found to be unsuccessful, owing to the extremely sticky nature of the material, and so was discarded in favor of manual labor); one to control the press in case of mishap and to keep the dies clean; one oiler; three receiving the bricks from the press and taking the brick-loaded cars from the press to the drying-house, and two placing the bricks on the shelves.
Fig. 1 (b).—Plant for Bricking Ores, Selby Smelter. (Elevation.)
The drying-house scarcely requires description; it is but a roofed shed, without sides, fitted with stalls into which the bricks are set on portable shelves, as close as working conditions will permit. The means of drying, at the present time, is by the natural circulation of air, but a mechanical system is in contemplation, by which the air will be drawn into the building from the outside and forced to find its way out through the bricks. The drying-house is adjacent to the pressing plant, in fact forms the back of it, so that there is a minimum distance to haul the product. The time required for drying the bricks sufficiently for them to withstand the necessary handling is, depending on the weather, from two to eight days, the usual time being about three days.