IMPROVEMENTS IN FURNACES FOR MELTING STEEL AND FOR METALLURGICAL AND OTHER OPERATIONS, AND FOR PRODUCING COKE
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Russel Aitken, of 30, Great George Street, in the City of
Westininster, for the Invention of " IMPROVEMENTS IN FURNACES FOR MELTING
STEEL AND FOR METALLURGICAL AND OTHER OPERATIONS, AND FOR PRODUCING
COKE."
Sealed the 8th September 1877, and dated the 14th March 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Russel Aitken at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th March 1877.
RUSSEL AITKEN, of 36, Great George Street, in the City of Westminster. "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN FURNACES FOR MELTING STEEL AND FOR METALLURGICAL AND
OTHER OPERATIONS, AND, FOR PRODUCING COKE."
This Invention has for its object improvements in furnaces for melting steel and
for metallurgical and other operations, and for producing coke. For these purposes
I form within the body of the furnace and around or in close proximity to the bed
upon which the steel or other material is melted or treated a trench or hollow which
I fill with coal or coaly material capable of yielding gas. When this fuel is ignited
I supply air to it at the top whilst the entry of air beneath the fuel is carefully
prevented. The gas distilled from the fuel is burnt by the air forced into the
furnace to mix with it, and an intense heat is developed. At the end of the
operation coke is drawn out.
The fire-bricks of which the furnace is built are durable notwithstanding the
heat to which they are exposed, as the impurity and ash of the fuel is not disturbed
by the blast or brought into contact with the more highly heated parts of the
furnace.
The air may be heated before it enters the furnace, either by the products of com-
bustion before they are allowed to escape, or otherwise.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Russel Aitken in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 14th September
1877.
RUSSEL AITKEN, of 36, Great George Street, in the City of Westminster. "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN FURNACES FOR MELTING STEEL AND FOR METALLURGICAL AND OTHER
OPERATIONS, AND FOR PRODUCING COKE."
This Invention has for its object improvements in furnaces for melting steel and
for metallurgical and other operations, which also in some cases may produce coke,
For these purposes I form within the body of the furnace and around or in close
proximity to the bed upon which the steel or other material is melted or treated n
trench or hollow which I fill with coal or coaly material capable of yielding gas.
When this fuel is fully ignited I supply air to it at the top, whilst the entry of air
beneath the coal or coaly matter is carefully prevented. The gas distilled from the
fuel is burnt by the air forced into the furnace to mix with it, and an intense heat
is developed. At the end of the operation the residuum is drawn out.
The fire-bricks of which the furnace is built are durable notwithstanding the
heat to which they are exposed, as the impurity and ash of the fuel is not disturbed
by the blast or brought into contact with the more highly heated parts of the
furnace.
The air may be heated before it enters the furnace either by the products of
combustion before they are allowed to escape, or otherwise.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, I will proceed to describe
more fully the manner of performing the same.
Figures 1 and 2 of the Drawings are respectively a cross section and longitudinal
section of one of a range of furnaces constructed as above described. In this furnace
the hollow in which the gas producing matter a, a, is contained is divided into two
troughs or trenches for facility of drawing out the refuse. The furnace may be
charged by throwing down the coaly matter through the openings b; it is then
levelled to the height shown in sections, and ignited by throwing ignited fuel on to
the top of it; afterwards air is forced into the furnace (heated air being proferred
for high temperatures) through the main pipes c and the branch pipes d, and it is still
further broken up into small streams by being admitted into the furnace by the perfo-
rations in the fire-bricks e, e, e, the number of which depend on the rapidity with
which gas is to be produced, as well as the temperature which may be required.
The metal to be melted or the ores or other materials to be treated are placed on
the hearth f, and suitable doors g are left in this end of the furnace, according to
the requirement of the material being treated. The waste gases pass through the
opening h, whence they may be conducted to suitable ovens for heating the air
supplied to the furnace, or allowed to go to waste.
Figures 3, 4, and 5 are respectively a plan, partly in section, cross section, and
longitudinal section of a double furnace specially designed for melting or treating
metals and other substances in pots. a, a, is the gas producing material which may
bo charged at the openings b, b. After ignition air is forced into the furnace by the
main pipes c, c, and the branch pipes d, d, and is further subdivided, as before
described, with reference to Figures 1 and 2. The metal or other material to be
melted or treated is put in pots i, i, which are placed on a hearth f by being lowered
downwards through f¹, which may be covered with blocks of fire-clay f², as shown.
The waste gases from the furnace pass through the openings h, k, into the flue h¹,
from whence they may be taken to the air heaters or to the flue 2 for waste
gases.
Various modifications of furnaces to work in the manner herein-before described
may be adopted. Diagram views of two examples are shown at Figures 6 and 7.
In Figure 6 four troughs or trenches a, a, a, a, to hold the gas producing material
are grouped around one opening f, within which is received a rising and falling
platform upon which may be placed the pots or other receptacles for containing the

page_text: metal or other material to be operated on. The whole of these troughs or trenches
as well as the platform would be under one dome, the air being forced in, as before
doscribed. The waste gases may be carried off by an opening or openings in the
dome.
In Figure 7 the troughs or trenches a¹, a³, a³, a', are ranged side by side.
Sufficient air is admitted into each to raise the heat necessary for producing com-
bustion and consequently gas, but not sufficient to consumo all the gases given off
by the coaly naterial. The gases pass from a to a², thence to a³ and a', from
whence they enter the hearth f, where the gases left unconsumed may be utilized
by forcing in additional air at the point x.
In the above furnaces if an extra supply of gas or heat is required this may be
obtained by throwing in coal over the material which may partly have given off its
gas, still keeping the coal below the air openings.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of performing
the same, I will have it understood that I claim, the improvements herein-before
described in furnaces for inelting steel, and for metallurgical and other operations.
In witness whereof, I, the said Russel Aitken, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Eleventh day of September, in the year of our Lord One thou-
sand eight hundred and seventy-seven.