IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS FURNACES, APPLICABLE TO FORGING AND STAMPING MACHINERY, SMITHS' AND BOLT-MAKERS' FIRES, AND OTHER HEATING PURPOSES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Andrew Nicol Porteous, of Edinburgh, Scotland, Engineer,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS FURNACES, APPLICABLE TO
FORGING AND STAMPING MACHINERY, SMITHS' AND BOLT-MAKERS' FIRES, AND
OTHER HEATING PURPOSES."
Sealed the 3rd June 1879, and dated the 7th December 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Andrew Nicol Porteous at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th December 1878.
ANDREW NICOL. PORTEOUS, of Edinburgh, Scotland, Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN GAS FURNACES, APPLICABLE TO FORGING AND STAMPING MACHINERY, SMITHS'
AND BOLT MAKERS' FIRES, AND OTHER HEATING PURPOSES."
My Invention has for its object the adaptation to various heating purposes of gas
furnaces, in which the heat can be concentrated on the articles required to be heated,
and can be regulated with facility to any required degree of intensity, also in which
heat can be rapidly generated and the loss of heat prevented.
And my Invention consists in an arrangement of firebricks with a space or spaces
between them, in and through which the flame of gas, supported and intensified
by the mixture of air under pressure is caused to act directly on articles inserted
in such space or spaces. The fire bricks are made to suit the size and quantity
of the articles to be heated, and are suitably enclosed in a frame or other-
wise. The gas and blast are introduced into the said space or spaces through jets,
or apertures, or burners, the gas jet being within and in the centre of the blast jet,
so that the gas flame passes through the blast jet.
The blast jet or aperture is larger than the gas jet, so that the blast acts on
both sides or round the flame, according to the form given to the jets or
apertures.
The relative proportions of gas and blast can be regulated as required by means

page_text: of stop cocks fitted to the blast and gas pipes respectively, and the heat can be
thereby concentrated and thorough combustion obtained.
In furnaces wherein the quantity and intensity of the heat required are variable,
the burners or jets may be made capable of being moved either backward or forward,
so as to admit of the heat being adjusted to the several requirements of the furnace
in an economical manner.
The gas may be either supplied to the burner or burners from without, or it may
be formed in the apparatus by means of a hot blast or a jet of superheated steam
being caused to pass through a box or chamber containing pieces of coke or other
porous substance, which is kept saturated with paraffin or other suitable oil.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Andrew Nicol Porteous in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 6th
June 1879.
ANDREW NICOL PORTEOUS, of Edinburgh, Scotland, Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN GAS FURNACES, APPLICABLE TO FORGING AND STAMPING MACHINERY, SMITHS'
AND BOLT-MAKERS' FIRES, AND OTHER HEATING PURPOSES."
My Invention has for its object the adaptation to various heating purposes of gas
furnaces, in which the heat can be concentrated on the articles required to be heated,
and can be regulated with facility to any required degree of intensity, also in which
heat can be rapidly generated and the loss of heat prevented.
And my Invention consists in an arrangement of fire bricks or small pieces of
firebrick or ganister, with a space or spaces between them, in and through which
the flame of gas, supported and intensified by the mixture of air under pressure, is
caused to act directly on articles inserted in such space or spaces. The firebricks or
pieces of firebrick or ganister are made and arranged to suit the size and quantity
of the articles to be heated, and are suitably enclosed in a frame or otherwise. The
gas and blast are introduced into the said space or spaces through jets, or apertures,
or burners, the gas jet being within and in the centre of the blast jet, so that the
gas flame passes through the blast jet.
The blast jet or aperture is larger than the gas jet, so that the blast acts on
both sides or round the flame, according to the form given to the jets or
apertures.
The relative proportions of gas and blast can be regulated as required by means
of stop cocks fitted to the blast and gas pipes respectively, and the heat can be
thereby concentrated and thorough combustion obtained.
In furnaces wherein the quantity and intensity of the heat required are variable,
the burners or jets may be made capable of being moved either backward or forward,
so as to admit of the heat being adjusted to the several requirements of the furnace
in an economical manner.
The gas may be either supplied to the burner or burners from without, or it may
be formed in the apparatus by means of a hot blast or a jet of superheated steain
being caused to pass through a box or chamber containing pieces of coke or other
porous substance, which is kept saturated with paraffin or other suitable oil.
Having thus stated the nature of the said Invention I will proceed to describe
more particularly in what manner the same is to be performed by the aid of the
accompanying Drawings, in which are represented gas furnaces adapted to the
several purposes above referred to.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 represents an elevation of a circular revolving furnace; Fig. 2, a section
of the same; Fig. 3, a plan of a circular burner; Fig. 4, a section of the same;
Figures 5 and 6, vertical sections of jet burners; Fig. 7, a furnace for heating
small articles in quantities; Fig. 8, a plan of the same; Fig. 9, a vertical
section of a gas producing furnace suitable for smiths" or bolt makers' use;
Fig. 10, a furnace for heating hars of iron, the waste heat from which may be
applied to heating the blast for combustion, and also for evaporating mineral or
other oils.
In the above Figures, A, A, represents the gas supply pipes for supplying gas to
the furnace; B, B, the blast of hot or cold air; D, D, the combustion chamber
shown of an oval shape; C, C, bolt blanks suspended by their heads in the com-
bustion chamber for heating; E, E, flues and chimney from the combustion chamber;
S, S, pieces of firebrick or ganister, or firebrick blocks at the bottom of the com-
bustion chamber for spreading or concentrating the flame on to any required portion

page_text: of the bolt and for storing the heat; M, funnel shaped opening at the top of the
furnace (Fig. 7), for introducing the small articles of metal to be heated; N, an
opening at the bottom for taking out the same when heated; K (Fig. 9), an opening
for introducing mineral oil into the tank G, G, containing sponge or pieces of coke,
pumice stone, or other porous material, which is kept saturated with the oil; F,
superheated steam jet for evaporating the oil; H, H, (Fig. 10), a box or chamber
containing tubes through which pass the hot escaping gases for the purpose of
heating the blast surrounding those tubes; R, a tube leading from the air heating
chamber H, H, to the box G, G, containing sponge or other porous substance for the
purpose of evaporating the oil and supplying the furnace with hot air gas; 0, 0,
cocks and handles for regulating the admission of air and gas into the combustion
chamber.
Ordinary coal gas may be used for the above described furnaces, such gas being
produced from a Siemens' furnace, or from a retort, or from any of the known
micthods of producing carbonic oxide gas. In cases wherein the gas produced from
oil is used, the furnace may be started by means of coal gas, and the oil gas after-
wards turned on, or it may be started at once by the superheated steam jet; in any
case the gas will be used under pressure.
I would remark that my Invention is not confined to the circular shaped furnace
shewn in Figures 1 and 2, as the furnace may for some purposes be more conve-
niently used in the form of a square furnace, or to heat from one side only, or the
furnace may be straight with the requisite number of burners, according to the
intensity of heat required; or the furnace may have a combustion chamber on each
side, with the flue in the centre, where the escaping gases heat the blast and the
gas if required.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, I hereby declare that what I claim as of my Inven-
tion is,―
First. The arrangement of furnace with the form of combustion chamber repre-
sented in Figures 1 and 2, and described, or of oval or other suitable form.
Secondly. The mode of suspending bolt blanks by the head, with the shank
thereof inserted in the combustion chamber, in order to prepare such blanks for being
rolled or forged into bolts and screws.
Thirdly. The arrangement shown and described for concentrating the flame with
more or less force, as required, on any portion of the bolt blank while in the com-
bustion chamber by means of small pieces of firebrick, ganister, or blocks of perforated
or suitably formed pieces of firebrick placed in the bottom of the combustion
chamber, as represented and described.
Fourthly. The general arrangement of furnaces, shown and described.
And, lastly. The introduction of gas and air under pressure through jets or
nozzles into furnaces for heating bolt and screw blanks, as herein before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Andrew Nicol Porteous, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Fourth day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.
Witness,
JAMES BURNET,
17, Dundas Street,
Edinburgh,
Civil Engineer.
A. N. PORTEOUS. (LS.)