IMPROVEMENTS IN AND CONNECTED WITH STEEL-MAKING AND OTHER FURNACES
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frank Wesley Dick, Manager, and James Riley, General
Manager, to the Steel Company of Scotland Limited, of Glasgow, in the
County of Lanark, North Britain, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frank Wesley Dick and
James Riley at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 5th March
1883.
FRANK WESLEY DICK, Manager, and JAMES RILEY, General Manager, to the
Steel Company of Scotland, Limited, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North
Britain, "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND CONNECTED WITH STEEL-MAKING AND OTHER
FURNACES,"
"
This Invention has for its objects to simplify and otherwise improve the
construction of steel-making and other furnaces and of apparatus connected
therewith
The improved furnaces are of the kind in which gaseous fuel is used and in
connection with which heat regenerators are employed. The regenerative chambers
are buildings detached from the main furnace building and, where four are used
as will generally be the case, are arranged in two pairs at the ends of the space,
with the furnace between them. Each chamber may be wholly detached, or each
pair may be formed in one building, side by side, or one above the other. The
chambers are by preference built so as at their upper parts to communicate as
directly as possible with the furnace, being close to the furnace or connected with
it by very short flues. Each regenerative chamber is by preference of a cylindrical
form and consists of an iron or steel shell lined with firebrick. The communications
with the chambers used respectively for heating the gas and the air are controlled
by separate valves; and sight holes are provided to allow of the internal condition
being ascertained at any time. The tops of the chambers are by preference made
removable to facilitate repairs; and each entire chamber may be made portable so
.
.

page_text: that it can be raised for the purpose of emptying out the brick chequerwork with
which the chamber is filled as usual.
In one modification the main furnace is constructed within a cylindrical shell of
iron or steel lined with firebrick and silica bricks. The roof or dome consists of
firebrick bound by an iron or steel ring and is by preference made removable for
the purpose of charging the furnace, an arrangement effecting a considerable
saving of time, and allowing of skulls being charged without previous breaking
whilst the side thrust on the walls which is caused by the ordinary construction of
roof is avoided. Diametrically opposite ports are formed through the furnace wall
for the ingress and egress of the gases, the flues from the two regenerators of each
pair uniting at each port. The parts in which these ports are formed are much
less costly and troublesome and much more easily renewed than the "blocks" of
existing furnaces worked with gaseous fuel.
The furnace may be made of an oval or rectangular form in plan; but the
circular form is believed to be the best. The regenerative chambers may also be
made of various forms, preference being given to the circular or cylindrical form.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Frank Wesley Dick and James Riley in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 3rd September 1883.
"
FRANK WESLEY DICK, Manager, and JAMES RILEY, General Manager to the
Steel Company of Scotland, Limited, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North
Britain "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND CONNECTED WITH STEEL-MAKING AND OTHER
FURNACES
Our said Invention has for its objects to simplify and otherwise improve
the construction of steel-making and other furnaces, and of apparatus connected
therewith.
The improved furnaces are of the kind in which gaseous fuel is used, and
in connection with which heat regenerators are employed. The regenerative
chambers are buildings detached from the main furnace building, and, where four
are used as will generally be the case, are arranged in two pairs at the ends of the
space with the furnace between them. Each chamber may be wholly detached,
or each pair may be formed in one building side by side, or one above the other.
The chambers are built, according to one modification, so as at their upper parts to
communicate as directly as possible with the furnace, being close to the furnace, or
connected to it by very short flues. Each regenerative chamber is by preference
of a cylindrical form and consists of an iron or steel shell lined with firebrick.
The communications between the chimney and the chambers used respectively for
heating the gas and the air are controlled by separate valves; and sight holes are
provided to allow of the internal condition being ascertained at any time. The
tops of the chambers are by preference made removable, in the modification now
being described, and each entire chamber may be made portable so that it can be
raised for the purpose of emptying out the brick checkerwork with which the
chamber is filled as usual. Any one of the regenerative chambers or the furnace
may be cooled down and repaired by itself without its being necessary to disturb
or cool the other parts.
The main furnace is constructed, according to one modification, within a
cylindrical shell of iron or steel lined with firebrick and silica bricks. The roof
or dome consists of firebrick bound by an iron or steel ring, and is by preference
made removable for the purpose of charging the furnace, an arrangement effecting
a- considerable saving of time, and allowing of "skulls" being charged without
previous breaking; whilst the side thrust on the walls, which is caused by the
ordinary construction of roof is avoided. Diametrically opposite ports are formed
for the ingress and egress of the gases into and from the furnace. The parts in
which these ports are formed are much less costly and troublesome, and much more
easily renewed than the "blocks" of existing furnaces worked with gaseous fuel.
The improved construction also allows of what are known as basic bricks being
used more economically and advantageously than in existing furnaces.
The furnace may be made of an oval or rectangular form in plan, but we believe
the circular form to be the best. The regenerative chambers may also be made of
various forms, preference being given to the circular or cylindrical form. The
egenerative chambers may be built, on pillars or otherwise in a relatively elevated
position so that the communications between them and the furnace may be at their
bottom parts instead of at their upper parts, which improved arrangement will
ompletely prevent their being obstructed or injured by the running in of fused
rebrick or slag.
And in order that our said Invention and the manner of performing the same
:

page_text: may be properly understood we hereunto append two sheets of explanatory
drawings to be hereinafter referred to and representing two modifications of our
improved arrangements.
Figure, 1, on sheet, 1, of the accompanying drawings is a vertical section of one
modification, and figure, 2, is a corresponding sectional plan; whilst figures, 3,
and 4, on sheet 2, are similar views of the second modification. In these drawings
the same reference numerals are used to mark the same or like parts wherever
they are repeated.
In the modification shown in figures, 1, and 2, the steel-making furnace, 5, is of
a circular form in plan, and occupies a middle position with four regenerative
chambers, 6, 7, 8, 9, arranged in two pairs, which are on opposite sides and consist
each of a gas-heating chamber, 6, 8, and. of an air-heating chamber, 7, 9. Each
regenerative chamber, 6, 7, 8, 9, is of a vertical cylindrical form, and has an outer
iron or steel shell lined with firebrick, whilst the interior is filled with brick
checkerwork or the openly arranged refractory bricks or pieces usually_employed
in regenerative chambers, but which are not shown in the drawing. Below the
regenerative chambers, 6, 7, 8, 9, there are formed the usual flues, 10, for leading
the combustible gas and air to the chambers, and for leading away from them to a
chimney the fire gases or gaseous products of combustion. These flues, 10, and
their valves are arranged in the ordinary way, excepting that valves are provided
for separately controlling the issue of the spent gases from the several regenerative
chambers so that the amounts of heat stored in the air and gas chambers respec-
tively may be separately regulated. The communications between the regenerative
chambers, 6, 7, 8, 9, and the furnace, 5, are at the upper parts of the chambers, and
consist of short curved flues, 11, from each air chamber, 7, 9, with flues, 12, from
the gas chambers, 6, 8, whilst the air and gas enter the furnace, 5, by a single inlet
port, 13, at each side. Movable tops or covers, 14, are adapted to the regenerative
chambers being formed of firebrick bound and supported by an angle-iron ring,
and an angle-iron channel piece, 15, is fixed round the top of the cylindrical walls
of each chamber to receive sand or any suitable luting material.
The furnace, 5, is built upon iron bars or beams, 16, over an open pit or space, 17,
provided as usual for the circulation of air to prevent overheating of the bottom of
the furnace. The furnace is made with two diametrically opposite working
doors, 18, at right angles to the two ports, 13, by which the gases enter and leave
the furnace. A movable cover, 19, adapted to the furnace, 5, being made of
firebrick which is bound and supported by an angle-iron ring, whilst sand or a
luting material is placed round the joint in a channel formed by a ring, 15, fixed
to the top of the furnace walls. This furnace cover, 19, and the covers, 14, of the
regenerative chambers, 6, 7, 8, 9, may be lifted by means of cranes, or overhead
travellers or other convenient hoisting apparatus. Where a number of furnaces
each with its regenerative chambers, are arranged in line, there may be erected
over them a longitudinal girder, 20, which may form part of the general roof and
which is supported on pillars, 21, as shown in figure, 1, and a chain may be led
along the girder to a pulley, 22, over the furnace the chain being by preference
worked by means of hydraulic apparatus. For lifting the covers, 14, of the
regenerative chambers, 6, 7, 8, 9, short transverse girders, 23, may be fixed upon
the longitudinal' girder, 20, and may be provided with the necessary guide pulleys
for leading the chains to points over the several chambers.
The modification shown in figures, 3, and 4, differs from that shown in figures, 1,
and 2, in having the regenerative chambers, 6, 7, 8, 9, elevated upon pillars, 24, so
as to be at such a height relatively to the furnace, 5, as that the flues, 11, 12,
communicating with the furnace may be connected to the bottoms of the chambers.
At the same time the flues or passages, 10, for leading the air and gas to the
chambers and for leading the gaseous products of combustion away from them,
are made to communicate with the tops of the chambers, and may be conveniently
supported, as shown, on transverse girders, 25, fixed upon the longitudinal girder, 20.
In this modification as the regenerative chambers, 6, 7, 8, 9, are not so liable to

page_text: become obstructed or to require repair, it is not important to have their tops or
covers made movable; they may however be fitted with bottom doors to give
access to them and to the flues, 11, 12.
Having thus particularly described our said Invention and the manner of
performing the same, we have to state that we do not restrict ourselves to the
precise details herein described or delineated but that what we believe to be
novel and original and claim as the Invention secured to us by and in terms of
the bereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is :-
1. The arranging or combining together of steel-making and other furnaces
using gaseous fuel with their regenerative chambers substantially in the improved
manner hereinbefore described with reference to figures, 1, and 2, of the
accompanying drawings.
2. The arranging or combining together of steel-making and other furnaces using
gaseous fuel with their regenerative chambers substantially in the improved manner
hereinbefore described with reference to figures, 3, and 4, of the accompanying
drawings.
3. The constructing of the regenerative chambers in detached buildings of
cylindrical or other simple form and connected to the furnace by short flues
substantially as herein before described.
4. The placing of the detached regenerative chambers in an elevated position
relative to the furnace and so that short direct- flues may connect their bottoms
with the furnace substantially as hereinbefore described.
5. The providing of the regenerative chambers with movable covers; and the
making of the chambers themselves portable substantially as and for the purposes
herein before described.
6. The making of the furnace of a circular or oval form and the providing of
the furnace with a movable cover substantially as and for the purposes herein before
described.
In Witness whereof we, the said, Frank Wesley Dick and James Riley, have
hereunto set our hands and seals this thirty-first day of August in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty-three.
Witness
EDMUND HUNT
Patent Agent
Glasgow,
FRANK W. DICK. (L.S.)
JAMES RILEY
(L.S.)