IMPROVEMENTS IN THE SMELTING OF METALLIC ORES, AND IN THE Manufacture of IRON AND IN FURNACES THEREFOR
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine,
Lake, & Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE SMELTING OF METALLIC ORES,
AND IN THE Manufacture of IRON AND IN FURNACES THEREFOR."-A com-
munication from abroad by William Rogers, of Leechburgh,
Pennsylvania, United States of America.
ealed the 23rd July 1875, and dated the 3rd June 1875.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Robert Lake at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition
and Declaration, on the 3rd June 1875, pursuant to the 9th Section
of the Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London, send greeting.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Robert Lake at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition
and Declaration, on the 3rd June 1875, pursuant to the 9th Section
of the Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London, send greeting.
WHEREAS I am in possession of an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE SMELTING OF METALLIC ORES, AND IN THE MANUFACTURE OF IRON AND IN

page_text: the column of ore just above the pier F. 9, 9, represent gas pipes, a
series of which may communicate with the gas chambers B of the
furnace. These pipes are connected with a gas generator of any of the
known kinds or with a gas receiver connected with a gas generator.
The pipes and g are furnished with stop-cocks or valves which are
used for regulating the admission of air and gas into the smelting
chamber A.
The bottom or hearth C is prepared like that of the ordinary puddling
or heating furnace, and is furnished with suitable taps for drawing off
the slag or cinder, and also for drawing off the metal obtained from the
ore. The ore with suitable fluxing material is charged into the
chamber D, as indicated in the Drawing represented by Figure 1. The
gas entering the chamber B through the pipes g strikes the bottom of the
chamber, spreads towards the charged column of ore, and being ignited
the air blast is allowed to enter the chamber and commingles with the
inspreading currents of burning gas; the air and gas thus united are
caused to act upon the charged ore, and its fluxing material in a manner
analogous to that of the compound blow pipe, producing heat which is
very intense but "mellow" in its action, so that it does not cause an
undue destruction of the metal in the process of separating it from the
ore in the operation of smelting..
-
Figure 2 represents a vertical section of my improved puddling furnace;
Figure 3 is a vertical section of the same on the line y, y, Figure 2.
A' represents the working chamber; B¹, the gas chamber; C', a fluc
leading from the revolving chamber A' to the stack D'; e¹ represents a
water vessel; f, f', represent blast pipes which are connected with a
blast device; '9', 9', are pipes which are connected with a gas generator
or a gas receiver connected with a gas generator. The working
chamber A' is prepared in the ordinary manner with "fix" and
bottom," and charged in the usual manner. Gas is conveyed into the
chamber B¹ through pipes g' where it is ignited; air blasts.are then
through the medium of pipes f¹ conveyed into the working chamber A¹.
The gas and air thus united will act on the charge of iron in a manner
and with an effect analagous to the manner and effect of the compound
blow pipe.

page_text: with gas and air pipes, f" representing the air pipes and g" the gas pipes..
The furnace is charged with metal in the usual manner, and the gas and
air supplied as herein-before described.
; Figure 5 represents an ordinary puddling furnace furnished with air
pipes f, and arranged for burning coal as a fuel which is charged into
the fire-chamber at k. The furnaces represented in Figures 4 and 5 are
furnished with what are known as "water necks" at h.
The advantages of my improvements briefly stated consist in economy
of fuel and in purifying the iron, so that a stronger and better article
is produced at a diminished cost of labor and fuel.-
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the
same, I wish it understood that I claim,—
First. In the process of smelting iron ore, evolving heat in the smelting
chamber of a furnace by the union of atmospheric air or its chemical
equivalents with an inflammable gaseous matter in contradistinction to
solid matter as a fuel, whereby an action and an effect analagous to those
of the compound blow pipe are produced on the iron ore, as herein
described and for the purpose specified.
Second. A smelting furnace having a burden chamber D, pier F,
hearth C, smelting chamber A, gas chamber B, gas pipes 9, 9, and blast
pipes ff, constructed, arranged, and operating with relation to each
other substantially as herein described and for the purpose specified.
Third. In the process of "puddling" and "heating" iron in the
manufacture of the same, evolving heat within the working chamber of
a furnace by the union of atmospheric air or its chemical equivalents
with an inflammable gascous matter in contradistinction to solid matter
as a fuel, whereby an action and an effect analagous to those of the
compound blow pipe are produced on the iron in the operation of puddling
and heating, as herein described and for the purpose specified.
Fourth. A puddling or a heating furnace having a gas chamber or
chambers B¹, furnished with gas supply pipes 9' working chamber A¹
provided with blast pipes f¹ and an outlet or stack D', constructed,

page_text: arranged, and operating substantially as herein described and for the
purpose specified.
Fifth. In connection with the subject matter of the third of the
above claims, the furnaces represented in Figures 4 and 5 of the accom-
panying Drawings, as herein described and for the purpose specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have here-
unto set my hand and scal, this Third day of May, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five.
Witness,
HY. JA. NoONE.
W. ROBT. LAKE. (L.S.)