Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1874-03-06
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roxE AND COKE OVENS.
r-om the London Mining Journal

From the London Mining Journal.]
importance of coke as an ele-
in the production of iron and
;s second only tOthat of coal, yet
evident that no marked attention
,en devoted to the construction I
ovens in which it is made. In very
Nv mrts of the country the system
ro,tinp ovens has remained with
change for a long series OF years,
omch il must have been evident
there was a great deal of unneces-
waste and loss of time in the gem
ion of the heat by it. The high
y of fuel, and the increased con-
nntion of coke, however, have led
seyeral important improvements
inc been recently developed in the
10 If erecting the ovens, with the
Mold view of obtaining not only q
her output from given quantity of
than by the old method, but Of
erior quality as well.
boke. it may be stated, is by no
ms of ancient date in connection
m iron smelling, for it was not until
Nv in the last century that even coal
III vas used in the furnaces to any
ent, although Dud Dudley certain
adopted it much earlier. Yet in
we find it stated as something UNI
nmon that Abraham Darby used
coal with great success al ColebrOOk
Ie, in Shropshire, when vast tracts Of
- 1odlands were entirely cleared by the
nts of the ir0nmakers and advance
Horticulture. But at that period the
Ike of iron throughout the kingdom
s very small; for in l740 it was only
but II 800 tons, whilst it is now being
bde at the rate of ,OO0, 900 tons year,
d requiring in the various processes
hndergoes before it reaches the fin
ling point for the numerous purposes
which it is intended no less than
IOOO,0OO tons of coal. OF that i'm
ense quantity considerable proper
tn has to be converted into coke,
hich is alike necessary in the making
pig as it is of steel. Durham has
'hg held the first place for coke, the
Atput being now close upon 3,5W0, 900
Dns q year, requiring about 6,5O0, 900
rs of coal, which only gives at most
kty per cent. of coke. But in the
Dnverting Of the coal into cokea great
bal of time is occupied, about two
bangeS week being the limit that can
; obtained at the majority of the
bens, being at the rate of fOrty-eight
burs for each burning. Even that
he. however, was not considered sut-
eient not so very lcng ago, even
it is now; so that the roast
lg of the best coke has taken
y hours, or even more. Con-
)4uently. any system by which coke
the same tenacity and purity can be
ptained III considerably less time than
al present, cannot fail to be other
fise than of the greatest advantage to
plllery owners who are makers OF coke,
nt also to the consumers, who, by the
creased output, would be able
purchase on much better terms
pan they do now. Any improve
nent, then, by which the cost of pro-
pnelion can be sensibly decreased. the
paity ofcoke improved, and quantity
pm given tonnage of coal material
Creased, is sure to command atten-
bn.
In such direction appears to be the
lven,ion of Mr.. J. BllStard, builder,
Barn>ley, and which has just been
hented. after large number of ovens
nlt by him for the Dodworth Silk
one Coal Company have been fully
Sted. The system is a simple one,
nj the cost of erecting the ovens not
lore than would be charged for the
Fdinary ones. The ovens are built in
so rows, back to back, with Il flue
lhnlng between them, each having
aperture communicating with this
ae, but so arranged as to be opened
closed by means of a damper. The
eated gases from the ovens pass
ong the flue to boilers or pipes con-
ahins wate:, so that steam is raised
supply the engines either at the pit
|, any place near the ovens. But
hen the heated gases are not required
icy pass direct to the chimney-shaft
y using hampers at the end of the
ue. The result of constructing the
Vens in such manner is to produce
uick draught in the tlue and complete
in the ovens, so that, the
ases Az being drawn Off quickly, the
cAe Is improved in quality and in
reased in quantity. a considerable
has been affected by Mr..
,,usard with regard to the charging of
NC o'enS by means of tramway over
,eni. The wagons or tubs with the
oal a pass along the tramway, and there
'h,S an opening in the ovens between
~ ~ rails the coal is tilted from the tubs
~ tne ovens. The drawing of the
ne Is done most eflectually and
lmkly. Forthat purpose rake with
eth projecting upwards is placed on
e ;,, moor OF the oven, being covered
an sufficient coating Of clay to pro-
u IL rom the fire, and when the coke
made and the gases drawn Off the
'olS are opened, and the rake being
laened "a by chain to a windlass the
'he n; Is pulled out by the engine in a
I, lu mass whist hot. BY taking the
ne out hot time is saved by not hav-
10 cool it whilst in the ovens,
.i'st the latter can be re-charged be-
y, 10 'hey have had time to become
Nv, SO that combustion of course
uimences almost at once. By the
'ehtion Mr.. Bustard states that set
q ose.is o can be charged and drawn,
y " I"he hard and pure, and all that
= N uesired, and re-charged also in
sta" satao"urs.insuring three draws a week
s Win coal, of which we are in
,a.,e med by Mr.. Bell and other, that
ra,.v LILY one.tfird of its power is posi-
=, 10y ioSt IN use, so there is every rea-
IN ~ W peiieve that a considerable por-
,la u the valuable properties of
"0 ls wasted in the course of
q immersion from coal. But
" til00 has arrived vhan avorv.