IMPROVEMENTS IN FURNACES
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Russell Crampton, of Great George Street,
Westminster, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN FURNACES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Russell Crampton
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 28th March 1872.
I, THOMAS RUSSELL CRAMPTON, of Great George Street, Westminster,
in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN FURNACES," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in furnaces for puddling
iron and for other purposes. I form a revolving furnace for puddling
and melting metals, or for other purposes requiring great heat, with a
revolving barrel containing within it a combustion chamber and a
working chamber. The fuel and air are admitted in suitable proportions
into the combustion chamber through a central opening at one end, and
the flames which they produce go into the working chamber, and from

page_text: thence the products of combustion pass by an opening at the end of the
barrel into a flue, and so to the chimney. By this arrangement as
the combustion chamber and working chamber are fixed together the
inconveniences resulting from a moveable joint is avoided and I am not
subject to the injurious leakage of air between the combustion chamber
and the working chamber which it is difficult and troublesome to avoid
when an ordinary stationary furnace is employed to heat a revolving
working chamber.
The fuel employed in my furnace if solid is finely pulverized or divided
and is continuously supplied to the combustion chamber together with
the quantity of air necessary to consume it, or gaseous or liquid fuel
may be employed.
The fuel and air are conveniently admitted to the combustion chamber
in a number of streams, which are so directed that their action upon the
interior of the furnace may be controlled and rendered as little injurious
as possible to the lining, while proper provision is made for securing the
complete combustion of the fuel, The rotation of the combustion
chamber ensures that the streams of fuel and air shall act successively
all around the combustion chamber, so that the lining of the chamber
is less exposed to unequal wear, and as each part of the circumference
of the combustion chamber in turn comes to its lowest position some of
the slag in the bottom of the chamber is carried round with it, or partially
so, which also tends to protect the lining from wear. The revolving
barrel is constructed with a double metal casing in which water, air, or
other fluid circulates to keep it cool.
Within the casing is a lining of ordinary refractory material or fettling,
or both, and to sustain the lining studs are employed projecting inwards
amongst the lining material, and these studs may pass through or into
the space in the double casing so as to expose a large surface to the
cooling action of the water or other fluid.
I admit and draw off the water or cooling fluid at the end of the
combustion chamber through a suitable bearing which is there formed...
The furnace is charged and discharged through an opening in a fixed
flue provided with an ordinary door fixed in an inclined position imme-
diately opposite the open end of the working chamber. This flue I
make with a double metal casing cooled with water or other fluid, in this
way I am able to maintain a sufficiently tight joint between the revolving

page_text: barrel and the stationary flue. The entrance of air at this joint is of
comparatively small importance, as it passes to the chimney without
coming in contact with the work.
The part of this Invention which relates to the use of a revolving.
combustion chamber in combination with apparatus for supplying it.
with streams of finely divided fuel or gases and air.may be used with
great advantage when revolving working chambers are not required.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Thomas Russell Crampton in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 28th September 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
RUSSELL CRAMPTON, of Great George Street, Westminster, in the County
of Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-eighth day of March, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the thirty-
fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Thomas Russell Crampton, Her special
license that I, the said Thomas Russell Crampton, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Thomas Russell Crampton,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the.
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN:
FURNACES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Thomas
Russell Crampton, my executors or administrators, by an instrument
in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and scals, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and
in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to
be filed in the Great Scal Patent Office within six calendar months
next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Thomas Russell Crampton; do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same

page_text: is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained'in and by
the following statement thereof, that is to say :-
-
This Invention has for its object improvements in furnaces for
puddling iron and for other purposes. I form a revolving furnace for
puddling and melting metals, or for other purposes requiring great heat,
with a revolving barrel containing within it a combustion chamber and
a working chamber. The fuel and air are admitted in suitable pro-
portions into the combustion chamber through a central opening at one
end, and the flames which they produce go into the working chamber,
and from thence the products of combustion pass by an opening at the
end of the barrel into a flue, and so to the chimney. By this arrange-
ment as the combustion chamber and working chamber are fixed
together the inconveniences resulting from a movable joint is avoided,
and I am not subject to the injurious leakage of air between the
combustion chamber and the working chamber, which it is difficult and
troublesome to avoid when an ordinary stationary furnace is employed to
heat a revolving working chamber.
The fuel employed in my furnace is finely pulverized or divided (as
fully described in the Specification of the Patent granted me in 1869,
No. 3504), and is continuously supplied to the combustion chamber
together with the quantity of air necessary to consume it, or with
suitable modifications gaseous or liquid fuels may be employed.
The fuel and air are conveniently admitted to the combustion chamber
in a number of streams, which are so directed that their action upon the
interior of the furnace may be controlled and rendered as little injurious
as possible to the lining, while proper provision is made for securing the
The rotation of the combustion
complete combustion of the fuel.
chamber ensures that the streams of fuel shall act successively all round
the combustion chamber, so that the lining of the chamber is less exposed
to unequal wear, and as each part of the circumference of the com-.
bustion chamber in turn comes to its lowest position, some of the slag
in the bottom of the chamber is carried round with it or partially so,
which also tends to protect the lining from wear. The revolving barrel
is constructed with a double metal casing in which water or other
suitable fluid circulates to keep it cool.
Within the casing is a lining secured by any well known means of
ordinary refractory material or fettling, or both, the composition of the

page_text: lining being regulated to the requirements of the material under treat-
ment.
I find it advantageous to employ studs projecting inwards amongst
the lining material, and these studs may pass through or into the space
in the double casing so as to expose a large surface to the cooling action
of the water or other fluid, or other modes of fastening may be used.
I admit and draw off the water or cooling fluid at the end of the
combustion chamber through a suitable bearing which is there formed,
or the water may pass in at the end and out at any other convenient
part of the furnace.
In some eases I employ for conducting cooling fluids round the
chambers coiled pipes or other channels.
* 2
The furnace may be charged and discharged through an opening in a
fixed flue provided with an ordinary door, or by removing a portion of
the flue for that purpose or by other known means. This flue may be
made with a double metal casing cooled with water or other suitable
fluid. In this way I am able to maintain a sufficiently good joint
between the revolving barrel and the stationary flue. The entrance
of air at this joint is of comparatively small importance as it passes to
the chimney without coming in contact with the work. 、
In some cases I create inside a pressure above the atmosphere, in
which case no outside air can enter the joint.
The part of this Invention which relates to the use of a revolving
combustion chamber in combination with apparatus for supplying it
with streams of finely divided fuel and air may be used with great
advantage when revolving working chambers are not required.
The furnace may be caused to revolve by any well known means. -
Having described the nature of my Invention, I will describe the
best means known to me for carrying them into effect, and will refer to
the Drawings and the letters thereon marked.
."
Figures 1 and 2 represent an elevation and a longitudinal hori-
zontal section of combustion chamber and utilizing chamber revolving
together.
A is a feeder for pulverized coal, the coal dropping into the induced
current of air produced by the injection of air through a fixed annular

page_text: pipe B, the injected air, coal dust, and induced air passing together
through the annular pipe C attached to the revolving chamber striking
the revolving chamber D (which has been previously heated with wood
or ordinary coal in the usual manner employed in coal dust furnaces) at
an angle passing along the sides and deflected all round into the centre E,
where a most intimate readmixture of the products takes place close to
or in the working or puddling chamber F, passing through and out of
it in the opening G into the flue piece H, and thence to the chimney.
The flue piece H is shewn attached to the lever I, Figure 3, with a
counterweight J at the other end. This flue piece is removed away
from the furnace, as shewn by the dotted lines, when the furnace has
to be charged or discharged, refettled, or otherwise requiring free access
to the chamber. The flue to be kept to its face by any convenient
means. The flue may be made stationary, if so an ordinary lifting door K
may be used covering a proper opening in the flue piece through which
access to the furnace is obtained, or access may be obtained by any
other known means. The flue piece is shewn made double of iron
forming a water space and supplied by the waste water from the furnace,
it may be supplied by any other convenient means, but that shewn is
simple. The water enters through a cock or revolving union joint or
short piece of hose attached to a pipe fixed in a line of the centre
of the flue lever I connected with another pipe fixed on the flue piece,
the water passing through these pipes into the flue piece, whatever its
position the water leaves the flue piece by a pipe X.
.
The water spaces surrounding the furnace are supplied as follows, see
Figures 2 and 5-A bearing or cock d is attached to the revolving
chamber at any convenient distance from its end in line with its axis on
which it turns, revolving in a fixed shell e; the water enters at f into
an annular space g in the shell, from this space it passes through a
passage h in the revolving portion d through the annular air and coal
passage c, along the pipe i, i, into a pipe j surrounding the furnace, from
thence through one or more pipes k, k, passing close into the neck of
the furnace 1. The water traverses the water space past the centre
portion m, making its exit through n, and then by a passage made
through the annular coal and air passage c into the centre o, then
through the passage p into the annular recess g' in the shell, and finally
out of the pipe ». The end of the pipe r may be carried up to a height
above the furnace so that the water spaces may be full in case of
'r

page_text: accident to the supply, the waste water may be made to pass by suitable
connections X to the water space in the flue piece if desired...
In some cases the 'direction of the water may be reversed by changing
the outlet into the inlet f, and vice versa; if this be arranged the
water may be allowed to make it's exit at any convenient point from
openings made in the pipes i, i, and j, or at other convenient position.
falling into channels near the ground; also if the latter plan be used a
simple revolving union joint with a single pipe connecting it to the
chamber at o may be used in substitution of the cock or bearing: d and
its double connection (h, p,) to the furnace.
>
Any convenient mode may be adopted for causing the water to pass
into the water spaces of the combustion chamber, so that the main
feature of its passing centrally through a cock, bearing, or union joint be
maintained as mentioned, also the form of water spaces in the furnace
so supplied with water may be varied, but if any parts of the furnace
be left without water protection it is desirable that the extreme ends
and projections into the furnace should have water spaces for keeping
them cool.
Instead of the furnace being made double, forming a continuous water
space, it may be constructed in part or in whole of a single shell'or
frame of iron or other suitable material, and protected by a coil or
number of pipes placed inside or outside the casing, or part inside and
part outside, such pipes being in connection with the cock, bearing, or
union joint before alluded to, the water passing through the same and
thence through the pipes, making its exit substantially as previously
described. The combustion chamber is by preference lined with fire-brick,
gannister, or other suitable refractory material and secured in its place
by any well-known means, the puddling part of the chamber to be lined
and fettled by any material, and in the manner commonly known to be
applicable to that purpose. When coils or pipes are used the refractory
lining or fettling may be made to surround such pipes or coils; s and t
are tap holes for drawing off the cinder and slag when required.
The mixed coal and air is described as passing into the combustion
chamber through an annular space striking the chamber all round;
instead of this annular space any, convenient number of. pipes may be
substituted, and instead of. the mixture of air and coal being arranged
to enter the chamber equally, all round, in some cases the air may enter
equally, but the coal may be adjusted on its entering the induced

page_text: current that the mass of the coal may enter more at one side than the
other, say on the bottom, and passing along the revolving.chamber the,
products will be deflected upwards, and as the top air passing on the
upper side will be deflected downwards in an intensely heated state
a readmixture of the whole will be made at or near the entrance of
the working chamber producing most intense heat in the combustion
chamber.
.
drawn off every.
Some of the slag
Slag is continually formed, which will have to. be
12 hours, or at any time it may be required to do so.
in the combustion chamber will be carried round with the furnace
forming a continuous slag lining, thereby protecting the combustion
chamber from the injurious action of the air and coal which would
otherwise strike directly on it.
When the revolving combustion chamber is used in combination with
a fixed working chamber I prefer that that portion of the working
chamber forming the joint between it and the revolving chamber should
have a water casing Y, as shewn in Figure 4. An ordinary reverberatory
furnace is drawn for the purpose of illustration only. The revolving
combustion chamber constructed on the principle above described may
be readily adapted so as to be applied to boilers or any description of
furnace it which it is applicable..
.
A, Figure 4, is a revolving combustion chamber formed substantially
'as previously described; in effect it is substantially the chamber D
and F, Figure 2, without the division between them; B is the ordinary
heating furnace, the products of combustion passing by the neck E and
through it to the chimney; C is a water joint attached to the end of
the working chamber supplied with water and constructed in any well
known or convenient manner; by this means the joint is protected by
surfaces cooled by water on both sides; if desired this joint may be kept
sufficiently open to allow of a current of air to be regularly injected
through it all round mixing with the products of combustion as they
pass the joint, pipes being placed round the outside of the joint in the
required position, through which air of the required quantity is injected
to effect that object.
I desire it to be understood that I am aware that revolving chambers
have been employed for puddling and other purposes, also that water
has been employed to run on the outside of revolving furnaces so as to
cool them; also that parts of fixed flues have when subjected to great

page_text: heat had coils through which water, circulated; also, that revolving
furnaces have been proposed to be made with a fixed or movable
flue piece capable of being moved sideways or in other directions
for the exit of the products of combustion to the chimney, and to
facilitate the removal of balls from the furnace; also that tubes have
been used to conduct water into such portions of flues requiring. to be
removed from time to time, such pipes have been constructed with
movable joints so arranged that the water continues to pass through
the movable flue piece at all times; also that revolving furnaces have
been lined with suitable brickwork and gannister, and in some cases
they have been proposed to be lined and repaired with mill furnace
cinder in a fluid state, or made of bricks formed chiefly of oxide of iron
and fixed with molten cinder; also that an inner lining forming a base
may be composed of oxide of iron bricks, such as mill tap cinder, and
put together with a thick mortar composed of ground mill tap cinder
or other suitable oxide mixed with lime cream; also that mixtures of
certain ores with lime have been proposed for forming a foundation
lining in one mass, on which fettling is afterwards melted or placed;
also that water has been injected into the puddling chamber immediately
above the melted cast iron on to the fettling on the descending side to
chill the fettling and prevent its floating on to the top of the cast iron.
I am also aware that a puddle ball can be lifted out of the chamber
by inserting a forked tool into the chamber and causing the chamber to
rotate so that the ball falls into the fork, the fork and ball are then
lifted out by a crane. To none of these (being well-known appliances)
do I make any claim, but they can be used with my improved appa-
ratus constructed as herein described when it may be found desirable
to employ them.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner
of performing the same, I would have it understood that I claim,-
1. The combination of parts forming my improved rotating double
chambered furnace constructed with cooling apparatus, substantially as
herein described.
2. The use of a revolving furnace, substantially such as is herein
described, being composed of two chambers, one a combustion chamber
adapted for the combustion of powdered fuel and air, the products of
combustion passing into the other chamber, which is a utilizing or
working chamber.

page_text: 3. The use of a revolving combustion chamber adapted for the
combustion of powdered fuel and air, substantially as herein described,
when applied to an independent utilizing or working chamber into
which the products of combustion are conducted from the combustion
chamber.
4. The application (to revolving chambers or furnaces such as are
herein. described) of cooling fluids introduced through the axis of
rotation and conducted round the revolving chambers or furnaces so as
to protect the parts liable to be injured by excessive heat..
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Russell Crampton, have 1
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of Sep-
tember, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred
and seventy-two.