IMPROVEMENTS IN BLAST FURNACES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Shepherd Williamson, of Mortlake House,
Congleton, in the County of Chester, Iron Manufacturer, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BLAST FURNACES."
led the 8th May 1877, and dated the 14th November 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Shepherd Williamson
⚫ at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th November 1876.
WILLIAM SHEPHERD WILLIAMSON, of Mortlake House, Congleton, in the County
of Chester, Iron Manufacturer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN BLAST FURNACES."
My Invention relates to the blast furnaces employed in the smelting of iron ore.
In some cases such furnaces are formed with close tops in order that the gases
evolved may be collected and be employed as fuel as is well understood, and it is
to this class of furnaces that my Invention relates.
In furnaces as constructed previously to my Invention the top of the furnace has
been closed by means of a conical valve which has been drawn upwards into a
circular orifice formed in a conically shaped metal top which has been fixed on the
furnace. The said valve and fixed top have together formed an annular.trough into
which the charge has been placed, and has been delivered into the furnace by
lowering the said valve. The said conical valve has had the effect of deflecting the
charge towards the walls of the furnaces, and this I consider to be an objection.
To remedy this defect arrange the said valve to rest upon the said fixed top and
be raised when the charge is to be delivered into the furnace, being lowered to close
the charging orifice. As the said valve is raised above the falling charge it has not
the aforesaid deflecting action, and the charge is permitted to fall into the central
part of the furnace to a greater extent. In addition to this advantage the furnace
may be charged to a greater height, and the said valve is or may be arranged to be
free to act as a safety valve in the event of an explosion within the furnace.
The gases are withdrawn from the furnace in the ordinary manner, or are with-
drawn through a flue or pipe communicating with an annular flue formed between
the aforesaid fixed top and the top of the-brickwork of the furnace. To guide-the-
said valve in its movements I prefer to apply guides above the said valves; as for
example, a shaft bar or frame extending upwards from the top of the valve may
work in slides or between guide pulleys.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Shepherd Williamson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
14th May 1877.
WILLIAM SHEPHERD WILLIAMSON, of Mortlake House, Congleton, in the County
of Chester, Iron Manufacturer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN BLAST FURNACES."
My Invention relates to the blast furnaces employed in the melting of iron ore.
In some cases such furnaces are formed with close tops in order that the gases
evolved may be collected and be employed as fuel as is well understood, and it is to
this class of furnaces that my Invention relates.
In furnaces as constructed previously to my Invention the top of the furnace has
been closed by means of a conical valve which has been drawn upwards into a
circular orifice formed in a conically shaped metal top which has been fixed on the
furnace. The said valve and fixed top have together formed an annular trough
into which the charge has been placed, and has been delivered into the furnace by
lowering the said valve. The said conical valve has had the effect of deflecting the
charge towards the walls of the furnace, and this I consider to be an objection.
To remedy this defect I arrange the said valve to rest upon the said fixed top and
be raised when the charge is to be delivered into the furnace, the valve being
lowered to close the charging orifice. To guide the said valve in its movements
I prefer to apply guides above the said valve; as for example, a shaft bar or frame
extending upwards from the top of the valve may work in slides or between guide
pulleys.
And in order that my Invention may be more readily described and understood,
I have appended hereunto a Drawing made to a scale of about one-half inch to the
foot and marked with letters of reference, to which Drawing I will now refer.
The said Drawing represents the upper part of a blast furnace in vertical section,
a being the wall of the furnace. Upon the top of the furnace is mounted the
conically shaped metal top b which is or may be formed of cast iron. A central
opening is formed in the said top as is usual, but the said opening is larger in
proportion than in the cases of ordinary tops of close top furnaces. The margin c of
the said opening is turned so as to form a seating for the conical valve D, the lower
edge of the said valve being also turned to fit the said seating. In the example the
said valve is formed of wrought iron or steel plate riveted or attached to a ring e of
cast iron which is turned to fit the seating as aforesaid, or the said ring may be
made of wrought iron or steel if preferred. The upper end of the cone is secured to
a square shaft f which is arranged to be guided to move in a straight line by means
of pulleys g, g
In the example the said pulleys are supposed to be formed with
flanches which enter grooves in the sides of the shaft f, but the arrangement may
be varied, as for example, the shaft f may be round and be guided by grooved
pulleys or may be guided with vee-grooved pulleys bearing against the corners of a
square shaft, or the said shaft may be arranged to slide up and down in guides.
The pulleys g, g, are fixed upon shafts which are fitted to revolve in bearings which
are sustained by framing h. Upon one end of the said framing is formed or
secured the standard i which constitutes the fulcrum for the lever which is
employed to raise the valve D. The inner end of this lever is connected to the
shaft by means of chains / which are secured to each side of the said shaft. The
outer end of the said lever is acted upon to raise the said valve by ordinary or
suitable means. When the said outer end is depressed the inner end acting through
the chains raises the valve D, and the guiding pulleys g, g, cause the said valve to
rise in a straight line, and when the valve is being lowered cause the valve to
descend straightly and truly to its seat. A passage m for the flow of gases from
the furnace is formed below the top by an enlargement of the upper part of the
furnace, the said passage extending around the said top and communicating with
the said passage n which is formed and arranged in the ordinary or in a suitable
In the example the opening or mouth from c to c is about equal to the
manner.

page_text: inner diameter of the upper part of the furnace. This is of importance, that is to
say, it is of importance that such opening shall not be less than the said inner
diameter to any great extent, and in some cases it might even be a little in excess
of the said inner diameter. The reason for the said proportions is that if the said
opening be too small or be of the ordinary size in proportion to the furnace the
benefit of the employment of the valve arranged to rise when opening is lost,
because the larger pieces of the charges tend to shoot past the centre, and to collect
at the sides. When the proportions indicated are retained there or thereabouts a
good distribution of the charge is obtained.
I do not confine myself to the said arrangement for guiding the valve as
illustrated in the Drawing, as the said valve may be suspended from the lever by
means of a chain or link, that is to say, in the saine manner as the ordinary valves,
the shaft and guides being dispensed with, and also I do not confine myself to the
construction of the said valve as it may be formed entirely of cast iron, but being of
an increased size I use wrought iron or steel to lessen the weight.
I prefer to employ a chain or chains of links to connect the valve with the
raising lever in order that the said valve may be free to rise when subjected to an
excessive pressure arising within the furnace; as for example, in the event of an
explosion within the furnace the said valve will be free to rise, and thereby to act
as a safety valve.
Additional advantages are due to the facts that the furnace may be charged to a
greater height, and that when the valve D is raised the interior of the furnace is
inore exposed to inspection than in cases wherein the valve has to be lowered into
the furnace. When the furnace is at work the materials to feed the furnace are
tipped into the annular trough formed by the top b and the valve D as is usual,
and when desirable the said valve is raised and the charge is thereby permitted to
fall into the furnace, the said valve being lowered to close the opening in the top b.
Having now fully set forth and indicated the nature of iny said Invention and
the manner in which I prefer to carry the same into practical effect, I would have
it to be understood that I claim,-
First. The furnace top and valve formed, arranged, and acting substantially as
and for the purpose set forth, and indicated herein-before and in the accompanying
Drawings.
And, Lastly. The furnace top formed with a comparatively large opening, and
fitted with a conical valve arranged to be raised to admit the charge, substantially
as set forth and indicated.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Shepherd Williamson, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this. Eleventh day of May in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
WILLIAM SHEPHERD WILLIAMSON. (LS.)
Signed and sealed by the
said Willian Shepherd
Williamson, in the pre-
sence of
EDWARD K. DUTTON,
Agent to the Patentee,
3, Princess Street,
Manchester.