IMPROVEMENTS IN ROTARY PUDDLING MACHINES
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields,
in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN ROTARY PUDDLING MACHINES."-A communication
from abroad by William Sellers, of the City and County of
Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, and George H. Sellers,
of Wilmington, in the County of Newcastle, and State of Delaware,
both in the United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 30th December 1874.
I, JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the
County of Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN KOTARY PUDDLING MACHINES,” a com-
munication to me from abroad by William Sellers, of the City and
County of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, and George H.

page_text: Sellers, of Wilmington, in the County of Newcastle, and State of
Delaware, both in the United States of America, to be as follows :—
This Invention relates to that description of rotary puddling machines
for which Letters Patent were granted to me bearing date and numbered
respectively October 3rd 1871 (No. 2612), and September 11th, 1873 5
(No. 2982).
In the Specification of the last-mentioned Letters Patent there are
described amongst other improvements in mechanical puddling certain
provisions for a water circulation about the closed end of the rotary
puddler, one of the objects of that circulation being to enable the fix to 10
withstand the action of the flame impinging directly upon it.
In the practice of that patented improvement it has been found that
the fix was entirely protected at the closed end of the puddling vessel by
this water circulation, and throughout the cylindrical part by the fluid
cinder, but that in melting the iron in the puddling vessel the open end 1
being exposed to the action of the flame at all times and protected by
the cinder only during the boiling process was deprived of the cinder
which cemented it, and was liable to crumble under a too prolonged
exposure between its cinder baths.
The present Invention has for its object therefore the protection of the 2
fix at the open end of the puddling vessel by a water circulation, and
while accomplishing this to confine such protection to the smallest
space, so as to avoid a uscless wasto of heat and water, and it consists
in providing an annular circulation pipo within the open end of the
rotary puddling vessel, and in maintaining a circulation through this 2
pipe from and to the journal at the closed ond of the vessel through
which the water is supplied and discharged.
In carrying out this Invention it is proposed in lieu of delivering the
water through the hollow journal directly into the water back, as .
described in the Specification of the last-mentioned Lotters Patent, to 3
deliver it first through the hollow journal into an annular pipe situate
within the casing at the open end of the puddling vessel, through which
it passes round such open end, and is thence delivered into the water
back, whence it is discharged through the hollow journal as described in
the Specification before mentioned. In order to effect this circulation 3

page_text: the plug which passes through the hollow journal is provided with a
close fitting collar within the water back, which collar is secured to the
plug by bolts, and is turned true and bevilled on its interior, and the
corresponding side of the water back is also turned so as to fit the same
accurately. The other end of the plug is provided with a close fitting
flanged cover, the inside of the flange of which is bevilled and fits
accurately against a corresponding surface in the hollow journal. The
plug is thus provided with two seats fitted so as to prevent the passage
of water between their surfaces and the corresponding surfaces in the
hollow journal. A tap bolt is placed in the outer end of the plug, and
passes through the flanged cover, beyond which a spiral spring is
provided, which is capable of being compressed against the cover by
means of a nut and washer on such bolt, the effect of which is to
maintain the bevilled surfaces above mentioned in close contact with
the corresponding surfaces of the hollow journal. The inlet pipo is
scrowed into the double seated plug and passes through the flange of the
cover, thus preventing the cover from turning in the plug, the plug
itself also being prevented from turning with the revolution of the
hollow journal. The plug is divided longitudinally so as to form an
inlet passage and an outlet passage. A groove is provided around its
exterior next the collar in the water back, into which groove the inlet
passage opens, and communicating with this groove is a pipe, which
passing through the spur wheel surrounding the water back and outsido
of the puddling vessel serves to convey the water to the before-mentioned
annular pipe, which surrounds the open end of the puddling vessel within
•

page_text: consequently that of the water back itself, in which case the outer
portion of the fix in the back may be liable to waste from exposure to
beat without a fresh supply of cinders. In order to prevent this defect
it is proposed to employ an annular pipe for protecting this part, tho
circulation being first through the annular pipe firstly mentioned, then
into the second annular pipe, and from thence into the water back, or a
circulation from the hollow journal independent of that through the
annular pipe firstly herein-before mentioned may be employed.
It is obvious that the position of the water circulation may be varied
according to circumstances, so that this Invention is not limited to a 1
particular location, nor to specific forms of the cooling surfaces, the
object being to apply the cooling circulation to those portions of the
vessel only in which the gain in the protection of the surfaces will more
than compensate for the loss of heat and the use of water.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Henry Johnson in the Great Soal Patent
Office on the 7th June 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
HENRY JOHNSON, of 17, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirtieth day of December, in tho
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the
thirty-eighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give' and grant unto me, the said John Henry Johnson, Her
special license that I, the said John Henry Jolinson, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John Henry
Johnson, my executors, administrators, or 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, oxercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN ROTARY PUDDLING MACHINES," a communi-

page_text: cation to me from abroad by William Sellers, of the City and County of
Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, and George H. Sellers, of Wil-
mington, in the County of Newcastle, and State of Delaware, both in tho
United States of America, upon the condition (amongst others) that I,
the said John Henry Johnson, my executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under my hand and seal, 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 calender months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Henry Johnson, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner tho
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement, reference being had to the accom-
panying Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that
is to say:-
-
The said Invention relates to that description of rotary puddling
machines for which Letters Patent were granted to me bearing date and
numbered respectively the Third October, One thousand eight hundred
and seventy-one, Number 2612, and September the Eleventh, One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, Number 2982.
In the Specification of the last-mentioned Letters Patent there aro
described amongst other improvements in mechanical puddling certain
provisions for a water circulation about the closed end of the rotary
puddler, one of the objects of that circulation being to enable the fix
to withstand the action of the flame impinging directly upon it.
In the practice of that patented improvement it has been found that
the fix was entirely protected at the closed end of the puddling vessel by
this water circulation, and throughout the cylindrical part by the fluid
cinder, but that in melting the iron in the puddling vessel the open end
being exposed to the action of the flame at all times, and protected by
the cinder only during the boiling process, was deprived of the cinder
which cemented it, and was liable to crumble under a too prolonged
exposure between its cinder baths.
Now the object of the present Invention is to protect the fix at the
open end of the puddling vessel by a water circulation, and while

page_text: accomplishing this to confino such protection to the smallest space, so as
to avoid a useless waste of heat and water, and the Invention consists in
providing an annular circulation pipe within the open end of the rotary
puddling vessel, and in maintaining a circulation through this pipe from
and to the journal at the closed end of the vessel through which the {
water is supplied and discharged.
And in order that the said Invention may be fully understood I
shall now proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that
purpose shall refer to the several Figures on the annexed Sheet of
Drawings, the same letters of reference indicating corresponding parts 1
in all the Figures.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings is a vertical section through
the centre of the puddling vessel showing the circulation pipes;
Figure 2 is a rear clevation of the same; Figure 3 is a front clevation
of the same, partly in section, shewing the annular circulation pipe.
Figure 4 is a vertical section through the open end of the puddling
vessel showing the annular circulation pipe in a location different from
that shown in Figure 1.
1
Figure 5 is a vertical section through the centre of the journal at the
closed end of the puddling vessel to shew the circulation pipes upon an 2
enlarged scale; Figuro 6 is a plan partly in section of the same.
The puddling vessel A, gearing B, hollow journal O, and water back D
are described substantially in the Specification of the Letters Patent
No. 2982, herein-before referred to. As therein described the water
was delivered directly into the water back and discharged therefrom
through the hollow journal C.
According to the present Invention in lieu of delivering the water
through the hollow journal directly into the water back it is first
delivered through the hollow journal into an annular pipe E, through
which it passes round the open end of the puddling vessel, and is thenco a
delivered into the water back D, whence it is discharged through the
hollow journal, as described in the Specification lastly herciu-before
mentioned. In order to effect this circulation the plug F which passes
through the hollow journal O is provided with a close fitting collar a
within the water back D, which collar is secured to the plug by the two 3

page_text: bolts b, b, and is turned truc and bevelled on its inner end, the corre-
sponding side of the water back being also turned so as to fit the same
accurately. The other end of the plug F is provided with a close fitting
flanged cover c, the inside of the flange of which is bevelled, and fits
accurately against a corresponding surfaco in the hollow journal C. The
plug F is thus provided with two seats fitted so as to prevent the passage
of water between their surfaces and the corresponding surfaces in the
hollow journal. A tap bolt d is placed in the outer end of the plug F,
and passes through the cover c, beyond which a spiral spring is provided,
which is capable of being compressed against the cover by the nut and
washere on the bolt d, the effect of which is to maintain the bevelled
surfaces above mentioned in close contact with the corresponding
surfaces of the hollow journal. The inlet pipe f passes through the.
flange of the cover c, and is screwed into the double-seated plug F, thus
preventing the cover from turning on the plug, as also the plug itself
from turning with the revolution of the hollow journal. The plug F is
divided longitudinally so as to form an inlet passage 9 and an outlet
passage h. A groove i is provided around its exterior next the collar a,
into which groove the inlet passage opens, and communicating with this
groove is a pipe k, which passing through the spur wheel B and outside
of the puddling vessel A serves to convey the water to the annular
pipe E, which surrounds the open end of the puddling vessel within the
casing.
After passing through the annular pipe E the water is conveyed
through the pipe to a hollow projection m on the side of the water.
back, through which it is delivered into the water back, whence it is
discharged as described in the Specification of the before mentioned
former Letters Patent, No. 298273.
Apertures closed by covers n, n, n, n, are provided in the outer sido
of the water back D for the purpose of affording access to its interior,
so as to enable the collar a to be inserted and screwed to the plug F.
In the operation of the machine provided with a water circulation as
described it has been found that the location of the annular pipe is a
matter of some importance.
In both the positions shewn in the Drawings, viz., the positions
represented by Figures 1 and 4 respectively, the lining will be prevented

page_text: from crumbing out by a prolonged exposure to the heat without the
application of fresh cinder, but in the position represented by Figure 4
the cooling is excessive, and the overflow of cinder during the boiling
operation causes it to build around the mouth of the vessel, which excess
must be removed. This objection is remedied when the pipe is located
as represented in Figure 1. The cylindrical portion of the puddling
chamber. being washed with cinder during the whole of the puddling
operation the fix will be so cemented by it in this part as to thoroughly
maintain itself without other cooling than that afforded by radiation
from the outside of the vessel. Morcover as cooling involves both a
loss of licat and the use of water the cooling circulation is according to
this Invention applied to those portions of the vessel only in which
the gain in one respect will more than compensate for the loss in tho
other.
In the construction of such puddling vessels it may be desirable to
reduce the size of the spur wheel B, and consequently that of the water
back D, in which case a liability would be incurred of the outer portion
of the fix in the back wasting from exposure to heat without a fresh
supply of cinder.
In order to obviate this defect an annular pipe
should be used for protecting this part, the circulation being first
through the pipe E, which should discharge into the second annular
pipe, and thence into the water back, or a circulation from the hollow
journal independent of that through the pipe E may be employed, but
such modifications being within the skill of the constructor it is deemed
unnecessary to further particularize them.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the
said Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or
carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion that the location of
the water circulation may be varied according to circumstances, and
that I do not therefore limit myself to a particular location, nor to
specific forms of the cooling surfaces, but what I consider to be novel
and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by
the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
First. A rotary puddling vessol with a water circulation confined to
its open and closed ends, substantially as and for the purposes herein-
before described and as illustrated by the accompanying Drawings.

page_text: Second. The circulation pipe at the open end of a rotary puddling
vessel, substantially as and for the purposes herein-before described and
as illustrated by the Drawings.
Third. The combination of a circulation pipe at the open end of a
rotary puddling vessel with the hollow journal and water back at the
closed end of the vessel, substantially as and for the purposes herein-
before described and as illustrated by the Drawings.
Fourth. The combination with the hollow journal of the double-seated
plug, substantially as and for the purposes herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have to this
my Specification set my hand and seal, this Seventh day of June,
One thousand oight hundred and scventy-five.
J. HENRY JOHNSON. (L.S.)