AN IMPROVED PROCESS OF REFINING THE SLAG FROM BLAST, PUDDLING, AND OTHER FURNACES, AND THE EMPLOYMENT OF THE REFINED MATERIAL FOR MORTAR, STONES, SLABS, ORNAMENTS, AND OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS. PATENT to Edward Thomas Hughes, of the Firm of Hughes
and Son, Patent Agents, 123, Chancery Lane, London, for the Invention
of "AN IMPROVED PROCESS OF REFINING THE SLAG FROM BLAST, PUDDLING,
AND OTHER FURNACES, AND THE EMPLOYMENT OF THE REFINED MATERIAL FOR
MORTAR, STONES, SLABS, ORNAMENTS, AND OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES."—A
communication from abroad by Emil Langen, of Siegburg, in the King-
dom of Prussia.
Sealed the 23rd January 1863, and dated the 29th July 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Thomas Hughes
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
29th July 1862.
I, EDWARD THOMAS HUGHES, of the Firm of Hughes and Son, Patent
Agents, 123, Chancery Lane, London,,do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "AN IMPROVED PROCESS OF REFINING THE SLAG FROM BLAST,
PUDDLING, AND OTHER FURNACES, AND THE EMPLOYMENT OF THE REFINED MATERIAL
FOR MORTAR, STONES, SLABS, ORNAMENTS, AND OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES," a com-
munication to me from abroad by Emil Langen, of Siegburg, in the Kingdom
of Prussia, to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in an improved mode of removing from the slag its
vitreous, stony, and brittle particles, and employing the material thus improved
for manufacturing hydraulic or other mortars, bricks, stones, slabs, ornaments,

page_text: and other articles. In order to remove the vitreous, stony, and brittle
particles from the slag, I simply cause it to be completely surrounded with
water as it flows from the furnace. By coming in contact and being completely
surrounded with water, the slag, flowing as it does at a high temperature,
suffers decomposition, and causes a sudden development of steam. The parts
of the slag which come first in contact with the water immediately form pores,
into which the water penetrates deeper and deeper until the entire mass of
slag is soaked through, and a development of steam from all parts of the slag
takes place continually. By the effect of the water or steam the combination
of sulphur which is present in the glowing particles of the slag become
decomposed, in consequence of which the surface of the single particles becomes
macerated all over, and are thereby very susceptible for a future combination
with cement or lime. When the development of steam has ceased, the slag
instead of being a glassy, brittle, or stony mass, is formed into a quantity
of porous particles admirably adapted for future combinations. The fine
particles of this improved material obtained from slag form excellent sand for
the manufacture of mortar, which amongst other purposes may be used as a
cement for the larger pieces of slag in order to produce artificial stones of any
desired shape, slabs, ornaments, or other article required. Instead of the
aforesaid, mortar, lime or other cement may be used, and according to the
different kinds of slag various colours will be given to the stones or other
articles.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Edward Thomas Hughes in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 27th January 1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EDWARD
THOMAS HUGHES, of the Firm of Hughes & Son, Patent Agents, 123, Chancery
Lane, London, send greeting..
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-ninth day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-sixth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Edward Thomas Hughes, Her special licence that I, the said Edward
Thomas Hughes, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said Edward Thomas Hughes, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and

page_text: 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
"AN IMPROVED PROCESS OF REFINING THE SLAG FROM BLAST, PUDDLING, AND OTHER
FURNACES, AND THE EMPLOYMENT OF THE REFINED MATERIAL FOR MORTAR, STONES,
SLABS, ORNAMENTS, AND OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES," a communication to me from
abroad by Emil Langen, of Siegburg, in the Kingdom of Prussia, upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Edward Thomas Hughes, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under , or their, or
one of their hands and seals, 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 Seal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Edward Thomas Hughes, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, that is to say:
This Invention consists in an improved mode of removing the vitreous,
stony, and brittle particles from the slag of blast, puddling, and other furnaces,
and employing the material thus improved for manufacturing hydraulic or other
mortars, bricks, stones, slabs, ornaments, and other articles. In order to
remove the vitreous, stony, and brittle materials from the slag, I simply, cause
it as it flows from the furnace to be completely surrounded with water, or
other steam-developing fluid. By coming in contact and being completely
surrounded with water, the slag, flowing as it does at a high,temperature,
suffers decomposition, and causes a sudden development of steam. The parts
of the slag which come first in contact with the water immediately form pores,
into which the water penetrates deeper and deeper until the entire mass of
slag is soaked through, and a development of steam from all parts of the slag
takes place continually. By the effect of the water or steam the combination
of sulphur which is present in the glowing particles of the slag becomes
decomposed, in consequence of which the surface of the single particles becomes
macerated all over, and are thereby very suitable for a future combination
with cement or lime. When the development of steam has ceased, the slag,
instead of being a glassy, stony, or brittle, mass is formed into a quantity of
smaller and larger porous particles. The more lime the slag contains, and
the higher the temperature at which the slag is suddenly exposed to water, and
completely surrounded by it, the smaller and more porous are the particles....

page_text: has been used,
The above-mentioned operation is easily performed. Close to the blast
furnace, and as near as possible to the dam, one or more large reservoirs are
to be placed and filled by a continual supply of water, into which the glowing
slag is also running in such a manner that it-is immediately covered with
water: If the reservoirs are sufficiently large; the glowing slag may be entering
at one side whilst the cooled mass is being drawn to the other side, and then
taken out and removed. If several reservoirs are employed they can be used
and emptied alternately, a second smaller reservoir could also be placed into
each of them, in order to take out and transport the whole charge at once. It
is obvious that this process causes less trouble and expense than the production
of slabs of slag hitherto only intended for transport. Precisely the same opera-
tion is to be applied to slag of puddling and reheating furnaces, placing close to
the floss at the flue of the furnaces a water reservoir large and deep enough
to cover the flowing mass of slag instantly and entirely with water. Without
the above-mentioned decomposition the effect will be the same as with the
slag of blast furnaces, namely, instead of a glassy close mass, the slag will
appear of a porous texture. The fine particles of slag furnish excellent sand
for the manufacture of good and especially of hydraulic mortar.
Crushed slag
of blast' furiinces has hitherto been often applied as sand for mortar, but only
the common slag crushed in stamping mills or with rollers
without having been changed in its composition or texture.
experience that hydraulic mortar prepared from common blast
quite as brittle as the blast furnace slag itself; besides, the combination with
lime or cement is not complete, because the single particles of "slag being
smooth, stony, or glassy prevent a perfect adhesion. This slag is like common
sand, which adheres only with single sharp points without entering into close
combination with the smooth surfaces of the grains. The material prepared
as I have described is essentially different; each single grain has many small
pores; all surfaces are macerated, and have numberless, small points, and also,
in proportion to its size; an enormous surface. The blast furnace slag,
especially if coke is applied, consists chiefly of silicate of lime, in which silica
is soluble; the lime will therefore have a chemical effect on the surface of the
particles of slag, and, as above remarked, the combination will be the closer
in proportion as the surface small slag has become larger. Thus mortar
prepared with my material will have greater solidity than that prepared with
common sand, be it never so sharp, or with common slags, and when finally
crushed not only replace trass but surpass it, whilst the smaller particles of the
prepared slag are to be used for mortar for any purpose, but particularly as a
cement for the larger pieces of slag, in order to make of them artificial stones
It is known by
furnace slag is

page_text: of any desired shape, slabs, ornaments, or other articles. The same reasons
which favour an incorporation with lime or cement for this slag sand are
applicable for the larger pieces, as they have the same texture; it will there-
fore be possible with a proportionably small addition of lime to make stones
of any desired shape, and of such solidity that they can be applied to various
uses, and in many cases will replace cut stones. The slag of puddling and
reheating furnaces is applied in the same manner, though, in regard to the
required admixture of lime, with less advantage; it will serve chiefly by its black
colour to impart different colouring to the stones and slabs.
The novelty of this Invention consists in the alteration of the glowing slag
by a complete covering with water or other steam-developing fluid, and also
the application of the slag prepared in this manner for the manufacturo of.
stones, slabs, or other articles by means of lime or other cement.
Having now fully described the nature of my Invention, I desire it to be
understood that I claim,-
First, the improved system of changing the slag flowing in a glowing
condition out of blast, puddling, and other furnaces by a rapid and complete
covering with water or any other steam-developing fluid.
And, secondly, the application of the slag, prepared for the manufacture of
mortar, and also, with admixture of lime or other cement, for manufacturing
bricks, stones, slabs, ornaments, and other articles.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Thomas Hughes, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-seventh day of January, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.
E. T. HUGHES. (L.B.)
E. T. HUGHES. (L.B.)