IMPROVEMENTS IN EFFECTING THE PROTECTION OF IRON AND STEEL SURFACES, AND IN THE FURNACES EMPLOYED THEREIN
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederick Settle Barff, of Kilburn, in the County of
Middlesex, and George Bower, of Saint Neots, in the County of Hunts, and
Anthony Spencer Bower, of Saint Neots aforesaid, for an Invention
IN EFFECTING THE PROTECTION OF IRON AND STEEL
of "IMPROVEMENTS
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederick Settle Barff, George
Bower, and Anthony Spencer Bower at the Office of the Commissioners of
Patents on the 28th July 1881.
FREDERICK SETTLE BARFF, of Kilburn, in the County of Middlesex, and
GEORGE BOWER, of Saint Neots, in the County of Hunts, and ANTHONY SPENCER
BOWER, of Saint Neots aforesaid. "IMPROVEMENTS IN EFFECTING THE PROTECTION
OF IRON AND STEEL SURFACES, AND IN THE FURNACES EMPLOYED THEREIN."
This Invention relates to the more effectual protection of the surfaces of articles
of iron and steel by the creation of a film or coating of magnetic oxide thereon,
and has particular reference to the Inventions for which process Letters Patent
have been granted to Frederick Settle Barff, dated 29th February 1876, No. 862;
to George Bower, dated 26th May 1877, No. 2051; and to George Bower and
Anthony Spencer Bower, dated 1st April 1878, No. 1280; and to the said George
Bower and Anthony Spencer Bower, dated 20th September 1880, No. 3811.
According to our present Invention the furnace we employ is essentially a gas
furnace, and consists of a cast or wrought iron or other suitable chamber heated
externally by the combustion of gas furnished by generators placed at the side or
other convenient position. The products of combustion pass round the retort or
chamber, which is protected by fire brick tiles on the outside, and the waste heat
is utilized for the generation and superheating of stean by being made to pass
round cast or wrought iron pipes of suitable dimensions, and filled with pieces of
iron or of other good conductors. Water is allowed to enter these generating and
superheating pipes at the coolest end, and in its passage through the pipes containing
the aforesaid pieces of iron becomes converted into highly superheated steam under

page_text: a pressure equal or nearly so to the head under which the water is admitted.
Means are supplied whereby the pieces of iron in the interior of the pipes may be
readily changed when by long use they become covered with incrustation from the
water supplied.
The articles of iron or steel to be coated are placed inside the cast iron retort or
chamber by means of a rolling table, which is so arranged as to move freely upon
rails outside the chamber. Provision is made to allow the articles to be coated to
be then treated by superheated steam alone (such steam being both produced and
superheated by means of the waste heat of the furnace), or if desired to be treated
by carbonic acid and carbonic oxide.
We also propose (when desired) to introduce petroleum or other hydro carbon
into the chamber, for the purpose of causing the surfaces of the iron or steel to be
freed from rust, or for the conversion of such rust into magnetic oxide by means
of the rich gas produced by the action of beat upon the hydro carbon.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Frederick Settle Barff, George Bower, and Anthony Spencer Bower
in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 9th January 1882.
FREDERICK SETTLE BARFF, of Kilburn, in the County of Middlesex, and
GEORGE BOWER, of Saint Neots, in the County of Hunts, and ANTHONY SPENCER
BOWER, of Saint Neots aforesaid. "IMPROVEMENTS IN EFFECTING THE PROTECTION
OF IRON AND STEEL SURFACES, AND IN THE FURNACES EMPLOYED THEREIN.'
Our said Invention relates to the more effectual protection of the surfaces of
articles of iron and steel by the creation of a film or coating of magnetic oxide
thereon, and has particular reference to the Invention for which process Letters
Patent have been granted to Frederick Settle Barff, dated Twenty ninth February,
One thousand eight hundred and seventy six, No. 862; to George Bower, dated
Twenty sixth May, One thousand eight hundred and seventy seven, No. 2051; and
to George Bower and Anthony Spencer Bower, dated First April, One thousand
eight hundred and seventy eight, No. 1280; and to the said George Bower and
Anthony Spencer Bower, dated Twentieth September, One thousand eight hundred
and eighty, No. 3811.
According to our present Invention the furnace we employ is essentially a gas
furnace, and consists of a cast or wrought iron or other suitable chamber heated
externally by the combustion of gas furnished by generators placed at the side or
in any other convenient position. The products of combustion pass round the retort
or chamber, which is protected by fire brick tiles on the outside, and the waste
heat is utilized for the generation and superheating of steam by being made to pass
round cast or wrought iron pipes of suitable dimensions, and filled with pieces of
iron or of other good conductors. Water is allowed to enter these generating and
superheating pipes at the coolest end, and in its passage through the pipes containing
the aforesaid pieces of iron or their equivalents becomes converted into highly
superheated steam under a pressure equal or nearly so to the head under which the
water is admitted. Means may be provided for readily changing the pieces of iron
or their equivalents in the interior of the pipes when by long use they become
covered with incrustation from the water supplied.
The articles of iron or steel to be coated are placed inside the retort or chamber
by means of a rolling table, which is so arranged as to move freely upon rails
outside the chamber. Provision is made to allow the articles to be coated to be
then treated by superheated steam alone (such steam being both produced and
superheated by means of the waste heat of the furnace), or if desired to be treated
by carbonic acid and carbonic oxide.
Petroleum or other hydro-carbon may be introduced into the chamber for the
purpose of causing the surfaces of the iron or steel to be freed from rust, or for the
conversion of such rust into magnetic oxide by means of the rich gas produced by
the action of heat upon the hydro carbon.
And in order that our said Invention may be fully understood, we shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose shall refer to
the several Figures on the annexed Sheet of Drawings, the same letters of reference
indicating corresponding parts in all the Figures.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings represents a longitudinal section of a
furnace constructed and arranged according to and for the purpose of carrying out
our said Invention. Figures 2 and 3 are transverse sections of the same, taken
respectively along the lines 1-2, and 3-4, (Figure 1) and Figures 4 and 5 are
horizontal sections, taken respectively along the lines 5-6, and 7-8, (Figure 1).
A is a chamber or retort into which the objects or articles upon which the

page_text: protective coating is to be produced are placed. This chamber or retort is constructed
by preference of cast or wrought iron, and is protected externally by fire brick
tiles, excepting at the bottom, which is hollow and divided into a series of
longitudinal channels B1, B2, 133, B4, B5, B6, B7, forming together a zigzag or
circuitous conduit, along which air carbonic acid gas, oxygen aqueous vapour, or
other oxydizing agent may be caused to pass beneath the said chamber or retort.
At the side of the chamber or retort are arranged gas producers C¹, C³, C³, from
which the carbonic oxide and hydro-carbons generated pass downwards through
the channel D, their flow being regulated by the damper E. An air valve F is
provided on the side of this flue to regulate the quantity of air for combustion; the
products therefrom are conducted along the flue G, and thence upwards through the
various openings H', H.-H. These openings are severally provided with small
dampers, so that any one of them may be opened or closed at will. The products
of combustion then pass round the chamber or retort A and make their exit through
the openings K', KK, into the channel L, thence pass round the partition wall M
into the flue N and away to the chimney by the underground flue O. In the
flues Land N are respectively placed two cast iron pipes P and Q, which are both
filled with cast iron balls of suitable dimensions or of other convenient dividing
and heat conducting material. Water is allowed to enter the pipe Q by a small
pipe R, which water is converted into steam by the heat of the waste gases at the
exterior of the pipe; the steam is thence conducted by a pipe S into the channel B'
in the bottom of the chamber A, and passing along the zigzag or circuitous conduit
formed by the channels B' --- B', enters the channel A in a superheated condition by
a series of small holes T', T---T. The regulation of the water supply is effected
by means of a micrometer screw placed above a thick glass tube, so that the exact
quantity passing may be seen. The water is supplied under such pressure as may
be found convenient, and by passing through the mass of cast iron balls or their
equivalent and then along the channels in the bottom of the chamber A becomes
converted into steam at an exceedingly high temperature, and at the same time
absorbs the heat which would otherwise escape up the chimney and be wasted. A
gas pipe U with a suitable close fitting valve V is also provided leading into the
top of the chamber A from the producers C1, C2, C3, and an exit pipe W, also fitted
with a valve leads to the chimney flue. Means may also be provided to allow the
entry of petroleum or other oils for the purpose of producing a rich gas for
reducing rust to magnetic oxide at a low temperature, or for cleaning iron or steel
-surfaces.-The-gas-from-the-producers-may-be-used-in-any manner that may be
found convenient. If necessary it may be caused to pass through the chamber
without admixture of air for the purpose of reducing rust or of cleaning iron, or
else air may be admitted through the sight holes 1 in the doors 2, 2, so that
combustion may take place without the entering gas to heat the articles contained
therein, as also to oxidize them with carbonic acid. If necessary also the valve E
leading to the chimney may be slightly opened, so as to create a draft through the
chamber or retort A, the air entering the doors being employed to oxidize the
articles in the chamber or retort, whilst any production of red oxide may be
reduced to magnetic oxide by the furnace gas or coal gas, or by hydrocarbon or
other oils admitted into the chamber or retort, as herein before described.
The articles to be operated upon are introduced into the chamber or retort A in
cages carried on tables, which are supported on the spindles of loose rollers, the
peripheries of which run on the rails of the track. For the convenience of working,
two or more tables with their cages are employed, so that when one table with it's
case containing the articies to be operated on is inside the chamber or retort A
another table may be outside unloading or reloading.
Coal is supplied to the gas producers through hoppers, one of which is shown
at c; e, e, e³, are additional sets of fire-bars, which are introduced above the
ordinary fire bars d', d², d³, while the latter are removed and the bottom of the
fires cleaned from clinkers and dust.
Provision may be made for conducting the products of combustion at will, either

page_text: into the superheating flues L, N, direct or around the chamber or retort A only or
(as illustrated in the Drawing) both around the chamber or retort A and into the
superheating flues L, N. In lieu also of employing the products of combustion
from gas producers C, C³, C³, coal gas or carbonic oxide and hydrogen obtained
independently may be used for heating both the chamber or retort and the
superheating flues L, N. The gas so employed may also be introduced into the
chamber or retort A, so as to raise the articles to be treated contained therein to
the requisite elevated temperature, after which steam superheated to the requisite
temperature may be admitted into the said chamber or retort in order to oxidize
such articles.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of our said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, we would observe in conclusion that what we consider to be novel and
original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to us by the hereinbefore in
part recited Letters Patent is,-
Effecting the protection of iron and steel surfaces, substantially in the manner
and by the employinent of the furnace hereinbefore described, the said furnace being
so constructed and arranged that one and the same furnace is rendered adapted for
effecting the production of a protective coating upon iron and steel surfaces by the
several processes hercinbefore referred to.
In witness whereof, we, the said George Bower and Anthony Spencer Bower,
on behalf of Frederick Settle Barff and ourselves, have to this our
Specification set our hands and seals, the Twentieth day of December, One
thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
GEORGE BOWER.
(L.S.)
ANTHONY SPENCER BOWER. (L.S.)