IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF IBON AND OTHER METALS
Year: 1850

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRY
HOULDSWORTH, of Coltness House, in the County of Lanark, North Britain,
Ironmaster, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain, and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Twenty-sixth day of
September, in the fourteenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs
and: successors, give and grant unto me, the said Henry Houldsworth, Her
especial licence, full power, sole privilege and authority, that I, the said Henry
Houldsworth, my exors, admors, and assigns, and such others as I, the said
Henry Houldsworth, my exors, admors, or assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times during the term of
years therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF IBON AND OTHER METALS;"
in which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso requiring that I, the said
Henry Houldsworth, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal,
shall particularly describe and ascertain the nature of my said Invention, and
in what manner the same is to be performed, and shall cause the same to be
enrolled in Her said Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said in part recited Letters
Patent.
f
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said Henry
Houldsworth, do hereby declare the nature of my Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by this present instrument in writing, as follows, reference

page_text: '
My said Invention relates,―
First, to the application of the inflammable gaseous products ordinarily
escaping from blast furnaces, for the calcination or roasting of ironstone,
mine or ore, and other metallic ores.
Second, to the application of such inflammable gaseous products for the
burning or calcination of limestone or other materials used in the calcined
state as fluxes in the manufacture of iron.
Third, to the application of such inflammable gaseous products to the
drying of cores and moulds used in the casting of iron or other metals.
Fourth, to a peculiar form or construction of the orifices of tuyeres or blow
pipes used for blast furnaces and cupolas, by which form the air or blast is
better spread or diffused on entering the furnace than in the ordinary tuyères.
And in order that my said. Invention may be readily understood, I shall now
proceed to describe the various Figures on the Sheets of Drawings hereunto
attached.
Figure 1, on Sheet I. of my Drawings, is a front external elevation of the
blast furnace, shewing the two side pipes or channels for conveying the escape
gases to the roasting or calcining kilns, which latter, with the chimney be-
longing to them, are represented as placed behind the blast furnace. Figure 2,
on Sheet I. of my Drawings, is a vertical section at right angles to Figure 1
of the blast furnace, with the conducting pipes or channels for the escape
gases and the calcining or roasting kilns and their chimney, the whole being
fitted and arranged according to my improvements.
Figure 1, on Sheet II. of my Drawings, represents a complete plan of the
blast furnace and calcining kilns, portions of the details being shewn in hori-
zontal section to explain more clearly the internal arrangements; and Figure 2,
on the same Sheet, represents a complete front elevation of the calcining kilns
with their chimney, one kiln being represented in vertical section. The same
letters refer to the same parts in all the different views. The blast furnace A
is of the ordinary construction in its general details, having the usual mouth B
for the introduction. of the ore and fuel necessary in smelting. It is blown
in the ordinary manner by the air-blast pipes C. . Near the top of the furnace,
the proper height being in some degree variable according to 'circumstances
and the peculiar working of the furnaces, an annular flue or channel D is
formed in the thickness of the wall or sides of the furnace. This annular
channel has a ring of rectangular or other shaped apertures E, forming the
communication between it and the interior of the furnace. On opposite sides

page_text: of the furnace two openings are made in the wall on the outside of the
annular flue or channel D, for the insertion of the two elbow branches
E', E', opening into the two pipes or flues F, F. The opposite ends of these
pipes terminate or open into the main pipe or flue G, which communicates
by branch pipes H, H, placed upon it at convenient distances with the cal-
cining or roasting ovens or kilns I, I. In the arrangement delineated in my
Drawings I have represented a range of four kilns as being worked or heated
for the purpose of calcination by one furnace. Each kiln has two inlet
pipes for the gas, as for example, at a, a, in the first kiln of the series shewn
in horizontal section. Each branch H, in place of passing directly into the
kiln, opens into a small detached furnace or fireplace J, placed there for the
purpose of igniting the gases previous to their entering the kiln by the pipes
K, K, opening from the upper part of the ignition furnace into the annular
flue or channel L, formed in the thickness of the wall near the base of the
kiln. When the blast furnace is in operation a portion of the escaping gaseous
products of the smelting process flow from the upper part of the furnace
through the outlet apertures E into the aunular flue D as indicated by the
arrows. Thence the gaseous current passes along the conveying flues F, F,
the quantity so passed being adjustable by the oscillating disc valves M, M,
rods from which hang downwards within reach of the furnace attendant be-
neath, who, when necessary, can entirely shut off the connection between all
of the kilns and the blast furnace. The flow of gas from the main G, is simi-
larly adjustable by the valves N, N, at the entrance of the branches H, the
opposite ends of which branches are expanded so as to admit the gaseous
current above or below the grate bars or fire-line O, of the ignition furnaces.
For the regulation of the current at this point a single-bladed valve P, is fitted
to the expanded branch; when this valve is turned downwards, as delineated
in my Drawings, the gases pass above it and are directed entirely above the
fire bars, but it is obvious that the current may be divided above and below
the bars, or passed entirely under them by a suitable alteration of the position
of the valve. An air valve is fitted to the ignition furnace for the purpose of
mingling with the passing gases in sufficient quantity to effect complete combus-
tion. By another modification the ignition furnace may be placed within.the
calcining kiln, or it may be constructed so as to form a part of the kiln itself.
Instead of this plan of ignition furnaces, the gases may be ignited after entering
the calcining kilns by admitting air to the interior of the kilns in immediate
contact with the ironstone or ore to be roasted. The gaseous current or flame
passes along from the pipes K, K, into the annular flue L of the kilns.
flue communicates with the interior of the kiln by a series of inlet apertures.Q,
This

page_text: set at regular intervals all round the base of the kiln.
Through these
apertures the gases and flame pass in and effect the calcination or roasting
of the ore built up on the floor of the kiln. In order to effect the
better distribution of the gases or flame in their action upon the ore, a third
passage or branch flue R forms a communication between the interior of the
annular flue L and a second smaller flue or circular chamber S, formed in the
centre of the base of the kiln. In addition to the rush of the gases and flame
or heated products through the side apertures Q of the flue. L, a considerable
current passes along the the flue R into the central chamber S, whence it is
diffused by a ring of openings from the chamber through the base of the kiln
into the centre of the mass of ore. The requisite draught for the calcining
kilns is obtained by a chimney T, which in my Drawings acts for the whole
series of four kilns The ascending gases, flame, and unconsumed vapour
passing up through the body of the kiln, pass off from the top of the latter by
the outlet U, opening into the under side of the long connecting flue V, built
along the range of kilns and communicating by the short flue W with the
chimney. The process or operation of calcination or roasting is continued
until the desired effect is produced upon the ore under treatment, which can
be ascertained in the ordinary manner when the gaseous current is cut off
from the kiln, which is allowed to cool down to permit of the removal of the
calcined ore. The ore or material to be calcined is charged or supplied to the
range of the kilns by the top charging doors X, a line of rails being laid along
and over the kilns for the passage of the charging waggons. The calcined
material is removed from the kilns by the doors Y in the front. I also propose
to employ the same general arrangement of apparatus for the calcination or
burning of limestone to be used as a flux in the process of smelting the ore.
Although the gases have a tendency more or less to pass out of the furnace
through the apertures and flues which I have described by the pressure ordinarily
existing in the furnace when in action, yet, to secure the steady flow of the gases
by these channels, I find it useful to employ a chimney, rotatory fan, or other
suitable exhausting or forcing apparatus for producing a draught or gaseous
current. In my Drawings I have represented a chimney as employed for this
purpose, but it is obvious that various other modes may be adopted for the
production of an artificial current or draught. The materials to be roasted or
calcined may be placed either in closed kilns or ovens, as delineated in my
Drawings, or in chambers more or less open, or in heaps in the open air. In
cases where the materials are left open, or only partially enclosed by walls, it
is necessary to employ some mechanical means, as a fan or other forcing
'or exhausting apparatus for urging or conveying the gases and flame through

page_text: the mass of materials.
For this purpose a fan may be conveniently used,
such fan being placed in the line of pipes or flues leading from the blast
furnace. In calcination by the partially enclosed plan a series of bevil
hollow walls may be erected parallel to each other to form spaces or bays for
the reception of the minerals to be operated upon, the gases being conducted
along an internal pipe, flue, or passage made throughout each wall, and
discharged by side openings into the spaces or bays by branch pipes. The
gas is ignited at the orifices of the branch pipes for the calcination of the
minerals in the bays, and the pipe to each bay being provided with a stop
valve, any single bay may be put in operation by itself when desired. It will
be obvious to practical men that the gaseous products of blast furnaces. as
collected in the manner described, are applicable for the heating of stoves or
ovens for drying moulds and cores used in the casting of iron and other
metals, and for general foundry purposes.
My improvements in the tuyeres or blow pipes of furnaces and cupolas are
to be described in reference to Figures 3, 4, 5, and 6, on Sheet 2 of my
Drawings.
Figure 3 is a longitudinal section of what I term my annular tuyere as
detached from the furnace and blowing apparatus.
Figure 4 is a plan of the end or mouth of the tuyere corresponding. A. is
the nose pipe entering into the tuyere mouthpiece B, fitted with cooling
water pipes in the ordinary way. At the tuyere mouth is cast or attached a
transverse division piece C, so as to divide the orifice into two parts D, D,
the object being to divide the effluent current of air into two parts or currents.
As these currents issue. from the mouth, the inclined surfaces E, E,. of the
tuyere deflect the currents, or incline them towards each other, so that after
quitting the tuyere the two currents impinge one against the other, and result
in a broad fan-light sheet, and the blast is thus better. distributed over the
materials on which it is intended to act. In the modification. of the tuyere
delineated in Figures 3 and 4, the sides of the division piece C, are merely
rounded off, but it is obvious that such sides or surfaces may be bevilled off if
necessary to produce a better impinging of the currents.
Figure 5 is a longitudinal section of another arrangement of tuyere, and
Figure 6 is a corresponding end view of the orifice. In this plan the end of
the nose pipe A is rounded or bevilled inwards as at B, B, and a flat button
or disc C is attached in the centre of the end of the pipe, so as to leave an
annular opening as at B, B, for the blast, such annular opening being only
interfered with by the narrow ribs or holders D, D, of the disc C. The
current or currents are thus deflected and made to impinge on each other for

page_text: the purpose already described. The system of deflecting or spreading the
air blast over an extended surface may obviously be carried out under various
modifications. Instead of deflecting the air by a modification of the form
of the tuyere itself, a separate deflecting surface may be attached near or
combined with the ordinary tuyere to receive the current and deflect it upon
the materials in the furnace.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my Inven-
tion, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, I may observe, in conclusion, that I do not confine or restrict myself to
the precise details or arrangements which I have had occasion to describe or
refer to, as many variations may be made therefrom without deviating from
the principles or main features of my Invention; 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, the application and use of the inflammable gases evolved from blast
furnaces in the process of smelting for the calcination or roasting of ironstone,
or the ores of other metals, and lime.
Second, the system or mode of roasting or calcining ores and lime by means
of the said gases, conducted by pipes or flues to close kilns or open deposits of
minerals, and ignited therein..
Third, the application and use of the said gases to the drying or baking of
cores and moulds and other apparatus employed in casting metals.
Fourth, the system or mode of blowing smelting or melting furnaces or fires
employed in the manufacture of metals by an air-blast diffused or spread over
an extended surface of the materials operated upon, either by the impinging
of two or more currents of air upon one another, or by the impinging of an
air current upon a fixed deflecting surface.
Fifth, the application and use of annular tuyeres or blow-pipes for the
spreading or diffusion of the blast, as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Houldsworth, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, the Twenty-fourth day of March, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-one.
HENRY (L.S.) HOULDSWORTH.
Signed, sealed, and delivered in the presence of
W JOHNSON, C. E.,
J. HENRY JOHNSON, Sol",

page_text: AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Twenty-fourth day of March
in the year of our Lord 1851, the aforesaid Henry Houldsworth came before
our said Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification
aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained and specified, in form
above written. And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped according
to the tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.
Enrolled the Twenty-sixth day of March, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-one.