Improvements in Annealing and like Furnaces for Iron and Steel.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Annealing and like Furnaces for Iron and Steel.
CHRISTOPHER JOSEPH THORN, 24, Wainfelin Road, Pontypool, in the County
of Monmouthshire, Furnace Builder, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to provide improvements in Sheet Iron and Steel
Castings Close Annealing Heating Furnace for the purpose of annealing or soften-
ing uniformly the sheet iron and steel castings in boxes or so called pots containing
so many tons of sheet iron and Steel Castings. The furnaces generally at present
employed are heated from the side or top of the heating chamber which softens
the top sheets or castings but not the bottom ones, which objection is overcome by
the formation of furnace as follows. My invention consists in the bottom of the
heating chamber of the Sheet Iron & Steel Castings Close Annealing Heating
Furnace being formed with two longitudinal side flues with four smaller flues
crossing from each side flue to a longitudinal centre flue on the same level in the
middle of the heating chamber and with small square passages leading up from
each of the above named flues through the bottom at the many different points
into the heating chamber of the Sheet Iron and Steel Castings Close Annealing
Furnace. With my improved Furnace it is necessary for the flame, heat, and gases
from the fireplaces to pass through the flues and passages formed of masses of brick-
work, which constitutes the bottom on to which the boxes or so called pots pass
by means of balls fitting into grooves which raise the bottom of the boxes or sq
called pots thus enabling the flame, heat, and gases to rise from the bottom of the
heating chamber up the ends sides and to the top of the Boxes or so called pots
thus giving it the uniform heat required in the Close Annealing of Sheet Iron and
Steel Castings. The Sheet Iron and Steel Castings Close Annealing Heating
Furnace can be built of a size to heat and anneal one or more boxes or so called
Pots of Sheet iron or steel castings as may be desired. It is so provided with
fireplaces connecting with side flues and with small flues leading from side flues to
a middle flue passing from the side and small flues and middle flue through small
square passages to the heating chamber which is connected with the chimney.
At the front end of Close Annealing Heating Furnace is formed an opening for
the introduction of the boxes or so called pots containing so many tons of Sheet
Iron or Steel Castings to be annealed. A furnace so built reduces the cost of
repairs to a minimum is a saving in the consumption of fuel, also of labour to the
workmen in charge of furnace.
Dated this 18th day of January 1897.

page_text: Improvements in Annealing and like Furnaces for Iron and Steel.
I, CHRISTOPHER JOSEPH THORN, 24, Wainfelin Road, Pontypool, Monmouth-
shire, Furnace Builder, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:―
The object of this invention is to provide improvements in sheet iron and steel
castings close annealing heating furnace for the purpose of annealing or softening
uniformly the sheet iron and steel castings in boxes or so called pots containing so
many tons of sheet iron and steel castings. The furnaces generally at present
employed are heated from the side or top of the heating chamber which softens
the top sheets or castings but not the bottom ones, which objection is overcome by 1
the formation of furnace as follows. My invention consists in the bottom of the
heating chamber of the sheet iron and steel castings close annealing heating
furnace being formed with two longitudinal side flues with four smaller flues cross-
ing from each side flue to a longitudinal centre flue on the same level in the middle
of the heating chamber and with small square passages leading up from each of 1
the above named flues through the botton at the many different points into the
heating chamber of the sheet iron and steel castings close annealing furnace.
With my improved furnace it is necessary for the flame, heat, and gases from
the fire places to pass through the flues and passages formed of masses of brick-
work, which constitutes the bottom on to which the boxes or so called pots pass
by means of balls fitting into grooves which raise the bottom of the boxes or so
called pots, thus enabling the flame, heat, and gases to rise from the bottom of
the heating chamber up the ends, sides, and to the top of the boxes or so called
pots, thus giving it the uniform heat required in the close annealing of sheet
iron and steel castings. The sheet iron and steel castings close annealing heating a
furnace can be built of a size to heat and anneal one or more boxes or so called
pots of sheet iron or steel castings as may be desired. It is so provided with fire
places connecting with side flues and with small flues leading from side flues to
a middle flue passing from the side and small flues and middle flue through small
square passages to the heating chamber which is connected with the chimney.
At the front end of the close annealing heating furnace is formed an opening for
the introduction of the boxes or so called pots containing so many tons of sheet
iron or steel castings to be annealed.. A furnace so built reduces the cost of repairs
to a minimum, is a saving in the consumption of fuel, also of labour to the work-
men in charge of furnace.
In order that my invention may be fully understood, I will now refer to the
annexed drawings, in which:―
Figure 1. is a sectional side elevation upon line -y in Figure 2.
Figure 2. sectional plan through line -y in Figure 1.
The bottom of the heating chamber is provided with a side flue c communicating
with the flues & which convey the heated air and gases to the flue e, from which the
heated air and gases pass in the passages f to the heated chamber g which is in
connection with the chimney h. f', f, are passages connecting the side flues c
with chamber g. i is an opening for the introduction of the boxes or pots con-
taining the metal to be annealed. These boxes or pots are provided with balls or
such like carried in grooves or the like for the purpose of raising the boxes or
pots a sufficient distance from the bottom of the furnace, so as to provide for the
circulation of the heated air and gases. By this arrangement it will be seen that
the heated air and gases do not only pass round and over the top of the boxes or
4

page_text: pots but circulate underneath the boxes or pots containing the metal to be annealed,
thus giving greater equality of temperature. b are the fireplaces for the burning
of the combustible material.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. The combined construction and arrangement of the various parts substantially
as described and illustrated herein.
2. In close annealing furnaces: the employment of a series of flues arranged in
the bottom of the furnace so that the heated air and gases may pass underneath
or around and over the boxes or pots containing the metal to be annealed, said boxes
or pots being provided, with balls or such like carried in the bottom of the boxes or
pots for the purpose of raising the same a sufficient distance from the bottom of
the furnace so as to enable the heated air and gas to circulate beneath the boxes
or pots.