IMPROVEMENTS IN OR CONNECTED WITH SMELTING OR BLAST FURNACES
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Ferrie, of the Monkland Iron Company,
Limited, of Calderbank, and Chapelhall, in the County of Lanark, North
Britain, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN OR CONNECTED WITH
SMELTING OR BLAST FURNACES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Ferrie at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st February 1882.
WILLIAM FERRIE, of the Monkland Iron Company Limited of Calderbank and
Chapelhall, in the County of Lanark, North Britain. "IMPROVEMENTS IN OR
CONNECTED WITH SMELTING OR BLAST FURNACES."
This Invention which relates to improvements in or connected with smelting or
blast furnaces has reference to that class of such furnaces wherein retorts are placed
at the upper part thereof for the purpose of converting into coke and collecting and
utilising the gases given off from the coal being distilled in such retorts, whilst the
principal end in view is the separation and collecting of the tarry and ammoniacal
products.
In a blast furnace constructed according to these improvements the retorts are
arranged with sliding plates or doors or their equivalent one at the bottom of each
retort and the other at the part where a prolonged passage from the retort meets
the arch of the blast furnace at the top of the blast furnace proper or prolonged
passage may be dispensed with, in which case the bottoms of the retorts are close
upon the arch of the furnace.-The purpose of this arrangement is to produce a
more effectual sealing of the retorts and to prevent the gases from the furnace or
air from gaining access into them. The retorts may be combined together in sets
of two, three, or more, discharging through a single opening in the blast furnace
arch common to all of them and the said retorts may be similarly connected at
their upper ends so that a group of them may be charged as required from a
hopper or bunker common to them and the said retorts in either arrangement that
is to say whether singly or in groups may be placed obliquely or horizontal.

page_text: The retorts are heated by blast furnace gasses burnt in flues surrounding them
and the gaseous products resulting from the destructive distillation of the fuel in
the said retorts are collected therefrom by being passed through a hydraulic main
and thence carried to condensers.
Another feature of the Invention has for its object to prevent the materials when
charged through the central opening of a blast furnace from falling with too great
weight upon the ordinary burden or charge of the furnace.-This is effected by
suspending from the charging cone a second cone a short distance above the
burden or charge.-The materials therefore when charged through the ordinary
cone in place of falling directly on the burden or charge fall upon the second cone
by which the force of blow due to their fall is broken and they slide off gradually
on to the top of the burden or charge.
Another feature of this Invention consists in the direct utilization of surplus
blast furnace gasea for the purpose of the destructive distillation of shales, coal,
ironstones, or other substances in retorts, stills, or equivalent apparatus.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Ferrie in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 18th
August 1882.
WILLIAM FERRIE, of the Monkland Iron Company Limited, of Calderbank and
Chapelhall in the County of Lanark, North Britain. "IMPROVEMENTS IN OR
CONNECTED WITH SMELTING OR BLAST FURNACES."
My said Invention which relates to improvements in or connected with
smelting or blast furnaces has reference to that' class of such furnaces wherein
retorts are placed at the upper part thereof for the purpose of converting into coke
and collecting and utilizing the gases given off from the coal being distilled in such
retorts whilst the principal end in view is the separation and collecting of the tarry
and ammoniacal products.
In a blast furnace constructed according to these improvements the retorts aro
arranged with sliding plates or doors, or their equivalent, one at the bottom of
each retort and the other at the part where a prolonged passage from the retort
meets the arch of the blast furnace at the top of the blast furnace proper, or the
prolonged passage may be dispensed with, in which case the bottons of the retorts
are close upon the arch of the furnace.-The purpose of this arrangement is to
produce a more effectual sealing of the retorts and to prevent the gases from the
furnace or air from gaining access into them. The retorts may be combined
together in sets of two, three or more, discharging through a single opening in the
blast furnace arch common to all of them and the said retorts may be similarly
connected at their upper ends so that a group of them may be charged as required
from a hopper or bunker common to them, and the said retorts in either arrange-
ment, that is to say whether singly or in groups may be placed obliquely or
horizontally.
The retorts are heated by blast furnace gases burnt in flues surrounding them
and the gaseous products resulting from the destructive distillation of the fuel in
the said retorts are collected therefrom by being passed through a hydraulic main
and then carried to condensers.
Another feature of my Invention has for its object to prevent the materials when
charged through the central opening of a blast furnace from falling with too great
weight upon the ordinary burden or charge of the furnace. This is effected by
suspending from the charging cone, a second cone a short distance above the burden
or charge-The materials therefore when charged through the ordinary cone in
place of falling directly on the burden or charge, fall upon the second coue by which
the force of the blow due to their full is broken and they slide off gradually on to
the top of the burden or charge.
Another feature of my Invention consists in the direct utilization of surplus blast
furnace gases for the purpose of the destructive distillation of shales, coal, ironstones,
or other substances in retorts, stills or equivalent apparatus,-the object in this case
being to effect the roasting or calcining of black band and bituminous ironstones in
close retorts, whereby the fumes arising from the usually practised open-calcining
or roasting in "bings" and the destructive influence of such fumes upon vegetation
are thereby prevented and so that the carbonaceous matter in the ironstone is
converted into coke, whereby the fuel added to the charge within the blast furnaco
is diminished also the tarry and ammoniacal products are collected.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood, I now proceed
more particularly to set forth the systemn, mode or mauner in or under which the
same is or may be used or practically carried into effect reference being bad to tho

page_text: accompanying Drawings and to the letters and Figures marked thereon, that is
to say:
Figure 1 is a transverse section through a blast furnace constructed according to
one part of my present Invention.
Figure 2, is in part a plan and in part a horizontal section of the same taken
at different levels as hereinafter more particularly described.
Figures 3, and 4, are respectively corresponding views of a blast furnace constructel
according to another part of my present Invention.
Figure 5, is in part a plan and in a part a horizontal section and Figure 6, is a
transverse section of a blast furnace constructed according to a further part of my
present Invention.
Figures 7, and 8, are transverse vertical sections and Figures 9, and 10, are
respectively a horizontal section and plan of a set of retorts constructed according
to the last part of my present Invention.
Figures 11 and 12, being a modification thereof and Figures 13 and 14, a further
modification thereof.
In Figures 1 and 2, the retorts A are arranged round the top of the blast furnace
proper and are provided at their lower ends with the sliding doors B, which may
be operated, that is to say, opened or closed by the screws a, or by any other suitable
means. These doors B, are also provided with means whereby a jet of steam or gas
may be kept constantly blowing through and around their working surfaces thereby
preventing the passage of atmospheric air therethrough into the lower part of the
retorts in a manner analogous to that set forth in the Specifications of Young, Brash
and Scott No. 2487 A.D. 1872, and Young, Neilson, and Young No. 3894, A.D.
1876.
The coal previous to being charged into the retorts A, is brought to the tunnel-
hend b of the furnace in the ordinary manner, and when the covers c, of the
chambers are raised the retorts A, having been previously discharged are
re-charged with fresh coal-The covers c, are then replaced so as to close the
chambers d, coal dust or other luting being thrown in around the joints forined by
the covers c, and chambers d, to prevent air passing thereinto.-The guscous
products given off by the charge while being coked pass through the chambers d,
and thence through the pipes e, each of which is fitted with a throttle-valve or
regulator f, and thence into the hydraulic mains H, from which it is led to the
condensers; the latter not being shewn in the Drawings. After the charge has
been coked within the retorts A, it is discharged from the same when the
doors B, are opened and passes thence into the passages B*, into the common
chamber C, which at the time of receiving the cuked charge from the retorts A, is
closed at the bottom part by the cone D, which thus makes a comparatively tight
joint against tho passage of gases from the body of the blast furnace into the
retorts A. The hoated coke is then mixed with a charge of ironstone and limestone
which has been previously charged into the hopper E, by raising the cone F, which
allows the charge in the hopper E, to fall into the chamber C, and the mixed charge
of coke, ironstone and limestone is then allowed to fall into the furnace proper by
the cone D, being lowered, or instead of using the chamber C, as a charge mixing
chamber the cones D, and F, may, as is obvious, be so utilized as to allow the coked
and non-coked material to fall into the blast furnace in separate or unmixed
charges.
The retorts A, are hented by the blast furnace gases being burnt in the flues g,
surrounding them, and the gases are led to these flues through the conduits
leading from the upper part of the blast furnace represented in dotted lines at /.-
The surplus blast furnace gases that is to say the gases in excess of those utilized
for heating the retorts A, may be carried off through the con luit i, for other
heating purposes or for being condensed so as to obtain the ammoniacal and other
products; the non-condensible portions escaping by the chimney C.-The
conduit i, is provided with a light disc valve D, which on being opened allows
the condensible portions to pass into the main E.-On the same level as the

page_text: hopper E is arranged the gallery j, whereby facility is afforded for the operating of
the doors B, and to which is also fixed the mechanism (not shewn in the Drawings).
for raising and lowering the cone D.
In Figures 3 and 4, Sheet 2, the retorts A', are arranged round the top of the
furnace as in the furnace herein before described with reference to Figures 1 and 2,
and are represented in these Figures in two different forms of construction those
on the left being of iron and those on the right built of fire-brick.-These
retorts A, are fitted at their upper ends with chambers C', as shewn being fitted
with hinged covers I, supplied with the counter weights and chains J¹, working
over antifriction rollers K', supported in the standards L'-To charge the
retorts A¹, the coal is brought to the tunnel head H', in the ordinary manner as
herein before described with reference to Figures 1 and 2, and the covers 1',
opened. The coal is then charged into the retorts A¹, after which the covers are
closed, the joints being made tight by luting. By this means the gaseous products
given off from the charge while being coked are collected in the chambers C', and
pass therefrom through the pipes M¹, into the hydraulic maius D', and from these
to the main pipes and conduits E, from which they are led to the condensers, or
other apparatus where they are treated.-The charge when sufficiently coked
within the retorts A¹, is allowed to fall into the furnace proper through the
passages b', by the doors B¹, being opened by the screws a³, or by any other
suitable means. The doors B₁, are also sealed by steam or gas as herein before
described with reference to Figures 1 and 2.
To feed the ironstone and limestone into the furnace it is charged from off the
tunnel head H, into the charging cone G³, and from which it is allowed to fall by
lowering the cone d', when by virtue of the outwardly sloping surface of the
cone d', the charge is broken in its fall against the sides of the furnace and from
thein on to the cone F, which is suspended from the last mentioned cone d¹, and
from off the surface of this cone F¹ into the furnace.-By the use of the second
cone F', the weight of the fall of the ironstone is to a large extent diminished.-
The blast furnace gases for heating the retorts A¹, pass through the openings and
flues c*, up and around the retorts A', towards their upper ends and the burnt
products are collected and passed out through the chimneys N¹.
For the raising and lowering of the cones in all the Figures herein before described,
I may use any suitable means, such for example as those represented in plan at
Figures 2 and 4, which is a series of levers acted upon by a winch.
In Figures 5 and 6, Sheet 3, is shewn an arrangement of the upper part of a
blast furnace whereby the retorts C³, may be charged simultaneously from one
central charging cone B.-This cone B³, is formed with a central opening to
enable it to be moved up and down around the chimney 12.-Upon this cone B³,
the coal to be coked is charged and allowed to fall therefrom into the retorts C³,
by the lowering of the cone B2, which after it has allowed the charge to fall is
drawn up into the position shewn at Figure 6, whereby the gaseous products given
off from the charge while being coked within the retorts C³, are prevented from
escaping excepting through the pipes K³, from which they are led to the con-
densers or other apparatus.-The charge when sufficiently coked is then allowed to
fall into the bopper E2, by opening the doors D', and from this hopper E², upon
the charging cone H², by opening the doors F.-These two last mentioned
doors D, and F, may be opened or closed in any suitable manner.-From the
cone H, the charge is then allowed to fall into the blast furnace proper, by the
lowering of the cone H, which is suspended from the lever L3, which may be
operated by any of the mechanical contrivances usually employed for the purpose
of raising and lowering the charging cones of blast furnaces.-Upon this last
mentioned cone H³, the ironstone or other mineral to be smelted is charged and it
may be allowed to fail therefrom into the blast furnace proper, either mixed or
unmixed with the coke, from the retorts C.-The furnace gases for heating the
retorts C³, are led into the flues Nº, surrounding them, by the inlet pipe O³, and

page_text: after passing round them through the several divisions of flues escape into the
central chimney 12, through the outlets P².
Figures 7, to 10, Sheet 4, are views as hereinbefore stated of a set of retorts
wherein the destructive distillation of shales, coal, ironstones, or other substances is
effected by the direct utilization of surplus blast furnace gases.-The substance to
be treated is charged into the retorts A³, and is supported at its lower part upon
the calcined or coked material or residuum of a previous charge with which the
chamber Es, is filled.-This chamber Es, is provided with the chain band B³, to
which is imparted a traversing motion by its being in gear with the sprocket
wheels F, which are rotated by any suitable means, and which may be a continual
slow motion or an intermittent motion.-The chains B³, are provided with
ridges G³, so that as the chains are moved the coked or calcined material or
residuum is by degrees drawn out from below the charge in the retorts so that the
charge becomes lowered and room is thereby provided in the retorts A³, to add
fresh material for being coked or distilled.-The gaseous products arising from the
destructive distillation of the substance under treatinent pass up into the
chambers a³, and through the outlets d³, therefrom into a central pipe e³, from
which they may be led to a hydraulic main or other apparatus.-The blast furnace
gases for heating the retorts A³, are passed into the flues c³, surrounding them
through the inlet Cs, and after circulating upwards through the several tiers of
Blues, escape out through the chimney D³.
In Figures 11 and 12 is represented a similar set of retorts supplied with an
alternative method whereby the calcined or coked material or residuum and other
matter may be allowed to collect so as to seal, the lower ends of the retorts.-
This consists in the placing of a structure A4, of conical form immediately below
the open bottoms B', of the retorts C4, whereby the calcined or coked material or
residuum falling on the sides of this cone A*, on reaching the height of the open
retort bottoms B, forms a seal to the passage of the substance under treatment.
The body of the retort casing is supported at its corners on brick columns or in any
other suitable manner. The action of this retort is similar to that herein before
described with reference to Figures 7 to 10.
Figures 13 and 14, Sheet 6 represent as hereinbefore stated a set of retorts
wherein the destructive distillation of shales, coal, ironstone, or other substances is
effected by the direct utilization of surplus blast furnace gases as hereinbefore
described with reference to Figures 7 to 12. of the accompanying Drawings.
These gases pass through the pipe A5, wherein they become mixed with the necessary
quantity of air to effect their combustion and up the pipe B³, to the chamber C³,
where they divide and pass into the flues as, surrounding the rerorts 6-After
circulating through these flues a³, towards the lower ends of the retorts b³,
they pass out through the flues represented in dotted lines at c³, and those at d³,
to the chimney, or they may be further utilized if necessary after heating the
retorts.
In charging the retorts 65, which may be done separately or collectively, the
charging cone e, in place of being in its lowest or open position as shewn at
Figure 14, is in its uppermost position that is to say with its lower end bearing
upon and closing the bottom of the hopper or bell G, the substance to be coked or
carbonized in the retorts is then charged upon the charging cone e, the hopper G³,
of which is divided off into a number of divisions corresponding to the number of
retorts to be charged. The charging cone, is then lowered by means of the
lever D³, and its attachments thereby leaving the substance with which the cone e³,
was charged, free to fall into the retorts 65-The charging cono e³, is then drawn
up again and thus allows the gaseous products resulting from the destructive
distillation of the substance under treatment to pass off only by the exits 5, to the
hydraulic main from, whence it may be taken to the condensers or to any other
suitable apparatus for use or treatment.
To allow of discharging the retorts 6, I arrange at the lower part thereof, the
hinged doors g*, which when closed, are held in position by similar doors or props ho

page_text: which are tightened or loosened so as to be raised or lowered by the screws 1³,
being respectively tightened or loosened. Waen the doors are in the latter position
the contents of the retorts 6%, fall in the chamber jo, from which they may be
removed as required.
Instead of utilizing blast furnace gases only for heating the retorts shewn on the
three last Sheets of Drawings, a portion of the gases generated by the destructive
distillation of the substances in the retorts may be led off by a pipe or pipes into
the flues surrounding them and wherein they are burnt.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
improvements and the system mode or manner, wherein the same may be used or
carried into practical effect, I would observe in conclusion that I do not claim as
novel and original all the parts of the apparatus hereinbefore described and shewn
on the annexed Drawings nor do I restrict or confine myself to the precise details
hereinbefore described and shewn for carrying my said improvements into practical
effect, but what I do consider to be novel and original and therefore claim to be
secured to me by the hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is:
First. The arrangement and construction of the upper parts of blast furnaces so
that the bottoms of the retorts are sealed or separated from the interior of the
blast furnace by a double sealing, that is to say by the sliding doors B, and cone D,
or by the equivalents of these, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference
to Figures 1, and 2, Sheet 1, of the annexed Drawings.
Second. The arrangement of retorts at the upper part of blast furnaces whereby
the said retorts are charged from a central charging cone simultaneously and
discharged on to the ordinary charging cone of a blast furnace substantially as
herein before described and shewn at Figures 5, and 6, Sheet 3, of the annexed
Drawings.
Third. The employment of a portion of the waste gases, from blast furnaces for
coking or carbonizing fuel or ironstone, or shale in retorts separate from, that is to
say not carried upon the upper part of blast furnaces and with or without using a
portion of the gases resulting from the distillation of the fuel or other substance
for heating the said retorts and so as to prevent the escape of the fumes which
result from open calcining and roasting in "bings," and whereby the coal in
blackband and bitumenous ironstones is carbonized, and the tarry and ammoniacal
products collected substantially as hereinbefore described and shewn at the Figures
upon Sheets 4, 5 and 6 of the annexed Drawings.
In witness whereof I the said William Ferrie have hereunto set my hand
and seal this Sixteenth day of August in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty two.