IMPROVEMENTS IN FURNACES TO BE EMPLOYED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF IRON AND STEEL
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Gidlow, of Hollywood, near Heaton, in the
County of Lancaster, Iron Master, and James Abbott, of Ince, in the said
County of Lancaster, Manager of Works, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN FURNACES TO BE EMPLOYED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF IRON AND STEEL."
Sealed the 13th November 1877, and dated the 24th May 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Gidlow and James
Abbott at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th May 1877.
THOMAS GIDLOW, of Hollywood, near Heaton, in the County of Lancaster, Iron
Master, and JAMES ABBOTT, of Ince, in the said County of Lancaster, Manager of
Works. IMPROVEMENTS IN FURNACES TO BE EMPLOYED IN THE MANUFACTURE
OF IRON AND STEEL."
This Invention has for its object to provide a puddling, balling, or reverberatory
furnace, in which iron or steel shall be puddled and balled automatically, econo-
mically, and in an efficient manner, without the aid of skilled workmen. For this
purpose we construct the puddling, balling, or reverberatory furnace, consisting of a
fire grate, hearth and accessaries in one piece, and give a vibrating, rocking, or
oscillating motion thereto.
The fire grate and hearth, as well as the roof, sides, and working doors, may be
of usual or ordinary construction. The bottom of the furnace, however, is made
stronger, and is supported at or near its centre on bearings; vibrating, rocking, or
oscillating motion is given to the furnace by means of a connecting rod or other
suitable appliance receiving motion from any suitable motive power.
The flames and heated gases are led from the said furnace through a movable or
oscillating neck, flue, or pipe, to the chimney.
By the above arrangement the working parts are out of the way of the flames
and heating gases, and are not liable to be damaged thereby.. The puddling and
balling of the iron or steel is effected by its motion in the hearth, which vibrates,
rocks, or oscillates with the rest of the furnace.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Thomas Gidlow and James Abbott in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 23rd November 1877.
THOMAS GIDLOW, of Hollywood, near Heaton, in the County of Lancaster, Iron
Master, and JAMES ABBOTT, of Ince, in the said County of Lancaster, Manager of
Works. "IMPROVEMENTS IN FURNACES TO BE EMPLOYED IN THE MANUFACTURE
OF IRON AND STEEL."
This Invention has for its object to provide a puddling, balling, or reverberatory
furnace, in which iron or steel shall be puddled and balled automatically, econ-
omically, and in efficient manner, without the aid of skilled workmen. For this
purpose we construct the puddling, balling, or reverberating furnace, "consisting of
a fire-grate, hearth, and accessaries.".in. one piece, and give a vibrating, rocking, or
oscillating motion thereto.
The fire-grate and hearth, as well as the roof, sides, and working doors, may be
of usual or ordinary construction. The bottom of the furnace, however, is made
stronger, and is supported at or near its centre on bearings; vibrating, rocking, or
oscillating motion is given to the furnace by means of a connecting rod or other
suitable appliance receiving motion from any suitable motive power.
The flames and heated gases are led from the said furnace through a movable or
oscillating neck, flue, or pipe, to the chimney."
By the above arrangement the working parts are out of the way of the flames
and heating gases, and are not liable to be damaged thereby. The puddling and
balling of the iron or steel is effected by its motion in the hearth, which vibrates,
rocks, or oscillates with the rest of the furnace.
_
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation, and Fig. 2 an end view of a furnace constructed
under our Invention; 1 is the hearth; 2, fire-grate, separated from the hearth 1 by
the bridge 3; 4, sides and ends, and 5, roof of furnace. The said hearth and fire-
grate, as well as the sides, ends, and roof, are supported and held together by a strong
framework 6, which passes under the bottom of the furnace, the whole of the said
furnace being supported and free to rock or oscillate on the bearings 7; 8 is the
fire door; 9, furnace door; 10, opening leading to the chimney 11, through which
the products of combustion and heated gases pass; 12 is a neck or connecting piece
formed with a convex end piece 13 fitting into a concave recess in the chimney so
as to make a tight joint during the rocking or oscillating of the furnace; 14 is a
spur wheel driven by any convenient power, and connected to the furnace 1 by the
rod 15 so as to give a vibrating motion thereto.
.
In practice the furnace is caused to give about five or six oscillations per minute,
but the number of such oscillations will vary according to the quality of iron being
treated, inferior pig generally requiring a less number of oscillations per minute
than pig of a better quality. We also find that the furnace works better and gives
superior results, and more homogeneous iron is produced when one kind of pig only
is treated at one time.
Fig. 3 shows a modification of movable neck for carrying the products of com-
bustion from the furnace to the chimney. The neck 16 is hinged to the furnace
at 17, and slides in and out of the chimney when the furnace oscillates. It will be
obvious that various forms and constructions of necks can be used without departing
from our Invention. .
The great advantage obtained in the use of a furnace constructed as above
described consists in the large quantity of pig that can be reduced at one time, and
this on account of the undulating motion given by the oscillation of the furnace to
the molten. iron so as to expose-a-large amount of surface to the action of the
heated gases and products of combustion.

page_text: In practice the furnace is caused to oscillate as soon as the pig iron in the hearth
becomes about half melted, and the action is then continued until the reduction of
such iron has been completed. When the iron has reached the pasty condition a
workman assists the balling of the iron by turning the same over by means of a
rabble or like appliance inserted through the furnace door, the motion of the furnace
greatly assisting such balling process. When the balling is completed the finished
iron is removed and a charge of pig iron substituted.
We find that the melting of the pig iron is greatly assisted if the furnace is
allowed to stand in an inclined position with the said pig in the hearth on a higher
level than the fire-grate.
It will be obvious that the direction in which the furnace and fire-grate are
caused to oscillate may be varied, the axis of oscillation being either longitudinal or
vertical, and that the furnace and grate may be suspended or otherwise carried
instead of being supported on bearings as shown. It will further be obvious that
the arrangement of dampers, doors, bridges, and other parts may be greatly altered
and modified under our Invention.
Having now described the nature of our Invention in such manner that others
will be enabled to carry our improvements into effect, we would have it understood
that we do not confine ourselves to the particular construction and arrangement of
furnace shown, but what we do claim is,-
First. Constructing puddling, balling, or reverberatory furnaces, consisting of
a hearth, fire-grate, and accessaries, in such manner that it shall be free to
oscillate.
Second. In giving a vibrating or oscillating motion to puddling, balling, or rever-
beratory furnaces constructed as herein set forth.
Third. Constructing vibrating or oscillating, puddling, balling, or reverberatory
furnaces with a movable or flexible neck for the purpose set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Abbott have hereunto set my hand
and seal, the Twenty-first day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
JAMES JOHNSON,
Patent Office,
4, Clayton Square,
Liverpool.
JAMES ABBOTT. (L.S.)