IMPROVEMENTS IN FURNACES
Year: 1881

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Benjamin Ralph Huntley at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 9th March 1881.
BENJAMIN RALPH HUNTLEY, of West Hartlepool. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
FURNACES."
This Invention relates to improvements in furnaces, and they are especially
applicable to those used in bolt and rivet making, and in blast and smelting
furnaces, they can also be applied to steam boilers and to heating furnaces in
general.
The Invention consists in forming a furnace of brickwork, preferably within a
wrought or cast iron shell or casing.
The receptacle for the fire is in the form of a basket with open sides and bottom,
thus which greatly facilitates the supply of air to the fuel to promote
combustion. Air channels or flues are arranged in the upper part of the furnace
on each side, and are led down to and terminate in pockets arranged on each side
of the fire grate or basket; by means of these air channels and pockets, the latter
being in communication with the sides of the fire grate, warm air is supplied to the
fuel, as the air gets warmed while passing through the top and side flues.
A perforated hearth is provided below the fire grate under and over which an air
cell is arranged, these cells as well as the grate side pockets being provided with
doors to regulate the supply of air to the fire. A firing hole is made preferably in
the front wall, communication with the furnace floor being formed through the
sides or where desired.
'
In addition I have air cells running up to and at the bridge for the purpose of
intensifying the heat accumulated at the fire, the gas thus meeting and adding to
the power of flame and consuming smoke.

page_text: The products of combustion after passing over the floor of the furnace may b
led to an underground flue, and thence to the chimney or stack, one of which t
each furnace is preferred.
Furnaces built according to this Invention possess the following advantages:-
Firstly. Nearly perfect combustion.
Secondly. Great saving in fuel.
Thirdly. Regular and continuous heat.
Fourthly. Consumption of smoke.
Fifthly. Simplicity of construction.
Sixthly. Extracting from the fuel most of the heating power it contains.

page_text: by the said Benjamin Ralph Huntley in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
9th September 1881.
BENJAMIN RALPH HUNTLEY, of West Hartlepool.
FURNACES."
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
This Invention relates to improvements in furnaces, and the improvements are
especially applicable to furnaces used in bolt and rivet making, and to blast and
smelting or forge and puddling furnaces; they can also be applied to steam
boilers and to heating furnaces in general.
The Invention consists in forming a furnace of brickwork, preferably with a
wrought or cast iron shell or casing. The receptacle for the fire-is in the form of a
basket with open sides and bottom, which greatly facilitates the supply of air to
the fuel to promote combustion. Air channels or flues are arranged in the top part
of the furnace or along each side, and at the bottom or underneath the floor of the
furnace, and lead to and terminate in pockets communicating with the fire grate or
basket; by means of these air channels and pockets, the latter being in communi-
cation with the sides of the fire grate, hot air is supplied to the fuel as the air
becomes heated while passing through the flues.
A perforated hearth is provided below the fire grate, and under and over this
hearth an air cell is arranged; these cells as well as the grate side pockets are
provided with doors to regulate the supply of air to the fire. A firing hole is made
preferably in the front wall, communication with the furnace floor being formed
through the side or where desired. Air cells are also arranged running up to and
at the bridge for the purpose of intensifying the heat generated by the fire, the
gases thus meeting with and increasing the intensity of the flame and assisting to
consume the smoke.
The products of combustion after passing over the floor of the furnace may be
conducted to an underground flue, and from thence to the chimney or stack, each
furnace being preferably provided with a separate stack or chimney.
But to make my Invention better understood, I will proceed to describe the
same by reference to the accompanying Drawings, in the several Figures of which
similar letters represent similar or corresponding parts.
In Sheet 1, Figure 1 represents a longitudinal section, Figure 2. a vertical
section, and Figure 3 a horizontal section, shewing my improvements applied to an
ordinary furnace; Figure 4 is a vertical section of the same without a perforated
bottom plate or hearth; Figure 5 is a longitudinal section; Figure 6 is a horizontal
section; and Figure 7 is a vertical section of a forge or puddling furnace with my
improvements applied thereto; Figure 8 is an elevation, partly in section, and
Figure 9 a side elevation partly in section of the same; Figures 10, 11, and 12,
detached enlarged details shewing the bottom bearing bar.
⚫ a, a, a, are the walls of the furnace formed of brickwork, and preferably enclosed
with a wrought or cast iron shell or casing, such shell or casing not being shewn
in the Drawings; the grate or receptacle for the fuel is of a basket form, as shewn,
that is to say; with open sides b, b, and open bottom b¹, b'; c, c, are the air channels
or flues shewn arranged longitudinally on each side of the upper part of the
furnace, and c¹ are vertical continuations thereof; d, d, are the pockets arranged
on each side of the fire grate or basket b, b¹, and forming the terminations of the
vertical flues c¹; e is the perforated plate or hearth placed below the fire grate or
basket b, b'; f and g are the air cells above and below the hearth e;
and i are
air doors for regulating the supply of air to the fire; j is the firing hole preferably
formed in the front wall of the furnace, as shewn in Figure 1, communication with

page_text: the furnace floor / being effected through the sides of the furnace or otherwise, as
desired; are the air cells or flues leading up from the bottom of the furnace to
the bridge; m is the flue for conducting the products of combustion to the
chimney n.
By this construction of furnace it will be understood that hot air is supplied to
the fuel in the grate b, 61, by means of the air channels or flues c and c¹ and the
pockets d, d, the latter being in communication with the sides of the fire grate
and the air becoming heated while passing through the said air channels or flues;
the air cells or flues intensify the heat generated by the fire, the gases thus
meeting with and increasing the intensity of the flame and consuming the smoke.
The products of combustion after passing over the floor k of the furnace may be
conducted through the flue m to an underground flue and from thence to the
chimney or stack n.
The forge or puddling furnace represented in Figures 5 to 9 is constructed
substantially on the same principle as that hereinbefore described, and similar
letters of reference being used to represent corresponding parts to those shewn in
Figures 1 to 4 will need no further description.
In Sheet 2, Figure 13, is a horizontal section, and Figure 14 is a front elevation
shewing my improvements applied to a double furnace fed from one fire, the grate
b, b, of which is arranged in a similar manner to that shewn in Figures 5, 6, 7,
and 8, Sheet 1; the surface of the fire is increased and the air channels or flues
run along the sides and also underneath the furnace floor, as shewn in dotted lines,
the arrows indicating the direction of the air currents; these return channels are
so arranged as to enable the unconsumed gases after passing over the furnace floor k
to return to the fire grate or fire chamber for recombustion instead of being
wasted; Figure 15 is a horizontal section of another form of double furnace with
a similar arrangement of flue; Figure 16 is an end elevation with the front of the
furnace removed; both these furnaces may be supplied at the centre of the bridge,
as shewn at 7, with steam or hot air or both combined, according to the quality of
fuel used; air may also be admitted through orifices at the front end or side of the
furnaces; Figure 17 is a sectional side elevation, Figure 18 a front elevation, and
Figure 19 a horizontal section of a furnace with longitudinal bars b¹ carried to the
front end of the furnace grate for mill or forge purposes and provided with air
cells and air channels, as hereinbefore described; Figure 20 is a horizontal section,
Figure 21 a longitudinal section, and Figure 22 a front elevation of a furnace
arranged for heating ingots, or blooms, or other heavy metals, or for making steel;
Figure 23 elevation of same, the front being removed.
This furnace is provided with the steam or air channels or orifices at the bridge,
as herein before described; the hot air channels run along underneath the floor of
the furnace, as shewn by dotted lines, the arrows shewing the direction of the air
currents. Air is admitted to the grates b, b1, by openings at s in the bridge wall
below the grates, and is accelerated in its action and progress by the aid of steam
jets issuing from a pipe p placed across and underneath the bottom grate bars b.
A jet of steam may also be applied to the bridge through a cast iron bridge or
opening at q. Cold air is admitted at the neck of the furnace and passes in the
direction shewn by the arrows, becomes heated in its passage, and is forced through
the fire by the action of the draught obtained by means of the stack. The stack
may be placed on the crown or other part of the furnace, and the neck be thus
dispensed with. The fire and the grates are properly closed in and protected from
external pressure of cold air by an arrangement of doors shewn in Figure 22, which
is a front view of the furnace. By this means all the heat which can be obtained
is applied directly to the required part of the furnace, and the surplus heat may be
employed for heating water for steam boilers at A. u, u, are supports for the said
boilers; the columns and bed plates to support the boilers are shewn in plan at
Figure 24.
This furnace may be arranged (as shewn in Figure 20) so as to be charged at
either side or both sides; the number of charging holes t may be varied according

page_text: to requirements, four on each side being shewn in the Drawing, and this number is
preferred for ingot heating.
Figure 25 is a longitudinal section of a puddling furnace, shewing the charging
door t with rubble hole therein. When puddling through this hole in the ordinary
manner the cold air enters and has an injurious effect upon the iron. This may be
obviated by providing an opening or flue v, communicating either with the top
flue c, as shewn in the Drawing (or with the side or bottom flue, as shewn by the
dotted lines, as may be found most convenient), the door being formed partly
hollow and with an opening at the top communicating with the said flues (or the
door may communicate with the side or bottom flues or air channels, as the case
may be). By this means the heated gases pass in the direction of the arrows to
the end flue c¹, and re-enter the fire chamber through the orifices w made in the
said flue, and the cold air is thus prevented from acting upon the molten iron as
it is carried with the gases, and being heated in its passage is used for heating
purposes.
In Sheet 3 Figure 26 is a horizontal section, Figure 27 is a longitudinal section,
and Figure 28 is a front view of an extended arrangement of my improved furnace
suitable for ingot heating, air being admitted, as shewn by the dotted lines at r,
Figure 26. The required number of air channels pass underneath the floor of the
furnace from the front side to the fire grates b, 6¹. The charging doors are
arranged in a line at the front side only of the furnace, and the fire grates extend
the whole length on the opposite side of the furnace, as shown. The means of exit
consists of a number of flues to a main underground channel or flue, shewn in
dotted lines at x, blocked in the centre, and each part supplying if required at
boiler A at each end, as shewn. The charging doors t are arranged along the
opposite side to the firing side, and a door or doors t¹ is or are provided at each
end, by means of which ingress and egress may be obtained for bars of any length.
The doors may be raised and lowered by means of levers in the ordinary way.
The roof of the furnace may be supported by pillars at required intervals formed
with a hole or orifices through the centre, or otherwise placed to suit require-
ments.
Figures 29, 30, and 31 show the arrangement of fire bars which I prefer to
employ for the furnace hereinbefore described and shewn at Figures 26, 27, and 28,
Sheet 3; Figure 29 is a front view of one of the bearing bars; Figure 30 is a plan
of the arrangement of bars for the grate; the said bars may be of cast iron formed
round in the centre with a number of cross pieces, as shewn at Figure 31, which is
a section through one of the longitudinal bars.
The bars are formed with square ends z for the purpose of allowing a key or
spanner to be applied thereto for turning them when required for scarring purposes,
and allowing the scar to be extracted without drawing the bars out. A further
advantage from their use is that by occasionally turning the bars the slag or scar
will be raised into the fire and consumed; this arrangement is equally applicable to
both side and bottom grates.
By the improvements hereinbefore described an almost perfect combustion is
obtained, a great saving is effected in fuel, a regular and continuous heat is kept
up, the smoke is effectually consumed, and the greatest possible amount of heat is
obtained from the fuel; the construction of the furnaces is also very simple, and in
the case of the puddling furnaces the quality and yield of iron are much improved.
Having thus described my said Invention, and the best means with which I
am acquainted for carrying the same into effect, I wish it to be understood that
I do not confine myself to the precise details of construction herein laid down and
shewn in the Drawings, as the same may be varied without departing from the
peculiar character of the Invention, but what I do claim is,―
Firstly. The general arrangement and construction of furnaces, substantially as
hereinbefore described and represented in the accompanying Drawings.
Secondly. The construction and employment for furnaces of all descriptions of a

page_text: "
fire grate of a basket form, as herein before described and represented in the accom-
panying Drawings.
Thirdly. The combination with the basket form of fire grate of air cells and flues,
arranged substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described and repre-
sented in the accompanying Drawings.
Fourthly. The method herein described of effecting the combustion of the partly
unconsumed or waste air and gases by causing the same to be returned to the fire
grate by the arrangement of return flues, substantially as hereinbefore described
and represented in Figures 20 and 21, Sheet 2, of the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Benjamin Ralph Huntley, have hereto set my
hand and seal, this Eighth day of September, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty one.