IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF FURNACES EMPLOYED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GLASS
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Francis Dixon Nuttall, of St. Helen's, in the County
of Lancaster, Glass Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF FURNACES EMPLOYED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
GLASS."
Sealed the 12th November 1867, and dated the 15th July 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Francis Dixon Nuttall
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
15th July 1867.
I, FRANCIS DIXON NUTTALL, of St. Helen's, in the County of Lancaster,
5 Glass Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF FURNACES EMPLOYED IN THE MANUFACTURE
OF GLASS," to be as follows:-
The main objects of my Invention are (1) to economize fuel; (2), to obtain
any desired temperature for heating or fusing; and (3), to render the most
important parts of glass makers' furnaces more durable.
The tank is made of fire-clay bricks or blocks, or of fire-clay or pots in any
ordinary way, and is supported on pillars or walls with space between; these
pillars or walls and spaces constitute the "cave." The fire-grate or fuel
chamber is formed at the side of the tank, preferably at some distance there-
from, in such manner that only a limited supply of oxygen is admitted to or
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF FURNACES EMPLOYED IN THE MANUFACTURE
OF GLASS," to be as follows:-
The main objects of my Invention are (1) to economize fuel; (2), to obtain
any desired temperature for heating or fusing; and (3), to render the most
important parts of glass makers' furnaces more durable.
The tank is made of fire-clay bricks or blocks, or of fire-clay or pots in any
ordinary way, and is supported on pillars or walls with space between; these
pillars or walls and spaces constitute the "cave." The fire-grate or fuel
chamber is formed at the side of the tank, preferably at some distance there-
from, in such manner that only a limited supply of oxygen is admitted to or

page_text: amongst the fuel. The gaseous product of the partial or slow combustion of
the fuel induced in this way passes along a flue, and when just over the tank
or before it reaches it heated air is admitted, intense combustion is thereby
induced. The volume of heated air admitted determines the temperature in
the tank and flues; the heated air is taken from the cave where it is raised
in temperature by radiation, or from pipes which are passed through or over
the fire-grate or fuel chamber.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Francis Dixon Nuttall in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 15th January 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, FRANCIS
DIXON NUTTALL, of St. Helen's, in the County of Lancaster, Glass Manu-
facturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifteenth day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirty-first year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Francis Dixon Nuttall, Her special license that I, the said Francis Dixon
Nuttall, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as 1, the
said Francis Dixon Nuttall, 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 "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF FURNACES EMPLOYED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
GLASS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Francis Dixon
Nuttall, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under
my, 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 Francis Dixon Nuttall, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, reference being had to the Sheet of illustrative

page_text: Drawings hereto attached, and to the figures and letters thereon, that is
say:
to
The main objects of my Invention are (1) to economize fuel; (2), to obtain
any desired temperature for heating or fusing; and (3), to render the most
important parts of glass makers' furnaces more durable.
The tank is made of fire-clay bricks or blocks, or of fire-clay or pots in any
ordinary way, and is supported on pillars or walls with space between; these
pillars or walls and spaces constitute the "cave." The fire-grate or fuel
chamber is formed at the side of the tank, preferably at some distance there-
from, in such manner that only a limited supply of oxygen is admitted to or
amongst the fuel. The gaseous product of the partial or slow combustion of
the fuel induced in this way passes along a flue, and when just over the tank
or before it reaches it beated air is admitted, iutense combustion is thereby
induced. The volume of heated-air admitted determines the temperature in
the tank and flues; the heated air is taken from the cave where it is raised
in temperature by radiation, or from pipes which are passed through or over
the fire-grate or fuel chamber.
On the accompanying Sheet of Drawings Fig. 1 is a side elevation, Fig. 2
a longitudinal vertical section, Fig. 3 a transverse vertical section, and Fig. 4
a horizontal section at the line A, B, Fig. 2, all of a furnace, in which the
several improvements which I have made are employed. Like letters denote
the same parts in all the views.
'
:
a, the outer walls with working holes b; c, the crown; d, pillars or supports
carrying the tank e, which is here made of fire-clay blocks fitted closely together;
f, silicious sand or other substance or material resting on arched and other
bearers g, and serving as a backing to support and prevent too rapid radia-
tion of heat from the metal into the spaces h, which here constitute what is
known as "the cave;" i, the fire grate and fuel chamber, and j, the fire-door;
k, passages for conveying heated air, or air from the cave raised in tempera-
ture by beat radiated from the surfaces thereof to the back of the bridge l,
there to meet the products of combustion from the fuel chamber i and promote
combustion. m, tubes to conduct air into the furnace; the air in passing
through these pipes becomes heated, and is thereby in a fit condition for
mixing with the gases or products from the fuel chamber and inducing com-
bustion. The pipes m are carried through or over the fuel chamber in such
manner that they are certain to become heated. k and m may
be employed
in the same furnace, as shewn, or they may be used separately, and they may
terminate near or at the bridge, as shewn, or elsewhere as may be convenient.
The supply of air to the fuel over the fire-grate through between the fire-bars

page_text: can be regulated in any convenient manner; when the said supply is taken
directly from "the cave," moveable grids or covers similar to those now in
use can be employed; and when there is a closed ash-pit the door is made
with a valve, which can be opened or closed more or less according to the
temperature required in or over tank. A small quantity of air can be
admitted through the fire-door j if desired, but I prefer to keep it closed air-
tight. The quantity of air admitted through k and m, or their equivalents to
meet the products of combustion must be proportioned to the quantity
admitted to the burning fuel in the fuel chamber so as to cause or induce the
desired combustion. Any workman accustomed to the management of furnaces
of this kind will know at a glance the character of the flame and whether
more or less air is required. In practice I prefer to leave k and m or either
of them, as the case may be, open at all times, and to reduce or increase the
supply of air to the fuel. It will be obvious, however, the air admitted to the
furnace at the several points described can be regulated, as desired, so as to
cause more or less intense combustion and a larger or smaller body of flame
and heat.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and particularized
the same by the exact details which I consider most suitable, I would have it
understood that what I claim is,―
First, constructing furnaces with passages k, or their equivalents, for
conveying air from the cave, substantially in the manner and for the purpose
set forth.
Second, constructing furnaces with pipes or passages m, or their equivalents,
for conveying air from outside the furnace, substantially in the manner and
for the purpose set forth.
And, third, constructing furnaces by arranging or combining the whole of
the parts, substantially in the manner herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Francis Dixon Nuttall, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twelfth day of December, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
FRANCIS DIXON NUTTALL. (L.S.)