Improvements in Reversing Valves for Regenerating Furnaces.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Oct., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 6th Mar., 1891-Accepted, 11th Apr., 1891
. PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Reversing Valves for Regenerating Furnaces.
I, WILLIAM KIRKHAM, of 19, Burslem Street, Brightside, Sheffield, in the
County of York, Foreman Bricklayer, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion to be as follows:-
-
My invention relates to an improved construction and arrangement of reversing
valves for regenerating furnaces, by the adoption of which a saving of at least one
hundred per cent. will be effected in the cost of the valves and their fixing, and in
repairing the same.
<
"
Hitherto, the ordinary reversing valves with their surroundings have been con-
structed of cast iron, in the centre of the valve a
was fitted having a
spindle passed through its centre.
tongue
When new and fixed in position the cost was about £25, but after being at that
expense sometimes the first heating destroyed either the tongue or the spindle which
could not be taken out without pulling down the whole structure, and to get the
valve out a hydraulic jack or a crane had to be employed, the valve being situated
in most cases between the gas box or receiver and the draught flue, so that the gas
box had to be lifted up and about eight or nine men were required to pull out the
valve and put in another that has been repaired, at a cost of about £5; besides this,
owing to the high pressure heat required in regenerating furnaces the reversing
valves have been rendered useless-even with good luck-about every four or five
weeks, but they are never safe from one week to another.
The improved system of reversing valves provided in accordance with my inven-
tion costs only about £12 10s. and consists essentially of a structure made or built
in brickwork, in which are conveniently placed and fitted in slots, three cast iron
tongues, or flaps, three being provided in order that when one is in action, or doing
its work, the other two are getting cool, and if one of the tongues should fail it can
be changed in about ten minutes at very small cost; but these tongues would not
need replacing under five or six months or more. The spindle in the old form of
tongue, according to my invention, is entirely dispensed with.
My tongues or flaps are made in the form of a flat plate with a square shank on
each end.
At each side of the brickwork I provide a small door so that when required two
inen can easily change a tongue.
My improved system of valves can also be adopted in furnaces where the old
reversing valves have been used, as the flues and other parts would scarcely need
altering in order to fix my reversing valves therein.
Dated this 27th day of October 1890.
BRISTOW HUNT, R.P.A.,
Aldine Chambers, Sheffield, Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Reversing Valves for Regenerating Furnaces.
I, WILLIAM KIRKHAM, of 19, Burslem Street, Brightside, Sheffield, in the
County of York; Foreman Bricklayer, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement in writing, and on reference to
the acccompanying sheet of drawings :-
My invention relates to an improved construction and arrangement of reversing

page_text: .
valves for regenerating furnaces (of the open hearth kind or of other kinds) whereby
a very great saving will be effected in the cost of construction and fixing and in
repairing the same.
In most cases the old kinds of reversing valves consisted of a cast iron structure
with a centre tongue also made of cast iron through which a wrought iron spindle
was passed this tongue being worked by a lever fastened to the spindle, but neither
the tongue nor the spindle could be got out when required for repairs or renewal
without destroying the connections with the flues and taking out the entire valve
which is a costly process.
When a regenerating furnace is at its working temperature the valve gets heated
and the tongue or the valve itself soon begins to get distorted or out of its proper
fitting position, and as the working efficiency of the valve entirely depends upon the
tongue being an exact fit to the side of the valve, when either the tongue or the
valve gets distorted the tongue lies partially open the effect being that the gas air
or heat instead of going into the furnace and there giving out its heat passes through
the valve and into the chimney flue without having performed any useful work.
Whenever it is necessary to repair the old kind of valve a crane or a hydraulic
jack is required to lift up the gas box before the valve can be got out and when
the furnace is working at a high temperature repairs are very frequently required,
the cost of same being a great item in the working expenses. Should the spindle
or valve give way while a heat is in the furnace the consequences are very
disastrous, the gas having then to be shut out of the flues while the
box is
gas
raised the old valve taken out and another inserted,- -an operation taking con-
siderable time during which the metal in the furnace is going cold and sometimes
solidifies.
In order that my invention may be fully understood it is illustrated on the
accompanying sheet of drawings the same being marked with figures and letters
of reference corresponding with those in the following description, like reference
letters indicating like parts in all the figures.
Figure 1, is an outside elevation of that part of a regenerating furnace containing
my reversing valves.
Figure 2, is a front elevation in section showing the arrangement of my valves
and the tongues fitted therein.
Figure 3, is a plan section drawn on the line A-B in Figure 1, and
Figure 4, is a vertical section drawn on the line C-D in Figure 1.
My improved reversing valves instead of being made of a cast iron structure, as
heretofore, are made of firebrick as shown at a, in Figure 2, in which are fitted in
slots, or otherwise, three cast iron or other suitable metal tongues, or flaps b, which
are so situated in the valves that the heat cannot destroy them. I prefer to have
three tongues in order that when one is in action or doing its work the other two
are getting cool, and if one of them should fail, or perhaps have a flaw in it, and
require to be replaced it can be very quickly changed and at a small cost; more-
over there will be no necessity to disturb either the valve or the gas box c, as
by taking off that one of the three doors d, (see Figure 1,) in front of the defective
tongue, it can be taken out and be immediately replaced, and in order to accomplish
this there is no necessity for shutting the gas out of the main flues because while
the furnace is receiving gas and air from one side the tongue is taken out of the
other side of the valve and replaced by another tongue before the time for reversal
of the valves arrives, and thus there will not have been any stoppage in the
admission of gas to the furnace. The spindle made use of in connection with the
old form of tongue is entirely dispensed with in my invention and my tongues, or
flaps, are made in the form of flat plates with a square shank on each end, and
are fitted as shown in Figure 2 of the drawing.
The doors d, (Figure 1,) are so conveniently placed that two men can easily and
quickly change a tongue when necessary.
The arrows at the right hand side of Figure 2, show the direction in which the
gas passes down from the gas box c, into the furnace, and the arrows on the left

page_text: hand side of the same figure show the direction in which the waste heat passes from
the furnace into the chimney fluc.
e, Figure 1, is a lever which is connected, as shown, to the slide bar f, in con-
nection with the doors d, and is used for operating the tongues when required.
g, is a spindle one end of which is connected to the ordinary mushroom valve h,
Figure 2 it passes upwards through the charging stage or floor i, and up through
a pillar j, and on the top end of the spindle g, a wheel k, is screwed which is used
to operate the mushroom valve h.
My improved system of reversing valves can be easily adopted in furnaces where
the old kinds of reversing valves have been used, as the flues and working parts
thereof would need very little altering in order to fix my valves therein, the cost of
which would be trifling.
Among the important advantages secured by the adoption of my said invention
are the following My valves by reason of being constructed of firebrick instead
of cast iron greatly increased durability is obtained and less heat is absorbed by
the firebrick than is the case with cast iron. The valves being more effectually
closed and opened more gas air or heat passes into the furnace for useful work and
less passes into the chimney flue to waste. Greater durability being attained the
repairs needed are much less than with the old kinds of valves, and when repairs
should become necessary the necessity for moving either the valve or the gas box
is done away with. My tongues can be replaced while the furnace is working
there being no necessity to shut off the gas air or heat from the furnace, and the
tongues can be replaced when necessary in very much shorter time than heretofore.
And further the adoption of my improvements will effectually prevent all chance
of the metal in the furnace solidifying through the failure of a valve, a catastrophe
to which furnaces, in which the old valves are worked, are at any time subject
either from the heat bursting the valve or burning off the spindle of the old kind
of tongue.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is preferred to be performed, I have to state
in conclusion that I do not confine myself to the precise arrangements of the valves.
and tongues as illustrated on the drawing, or in the method of working the same,
because it will be evident to a practical furnace builder that equivalent modifications
or variations in the arrangements of my reversing valves and of the tongues can be
made without departing from the principles or main features of my invention; and
I declare that what I claim is :-
1. Making reversing valves for regenerating furnaces, of the open hearth kind or
of other kinds, of firebrick instead of cast iron as hitherto, and so arranging tongues
therein that the heat cannot destroy them, substantially as hereinbefore described
and as illustrated on the accompanying sheet of drawings.
2. Constructing the reversing portion of the furnace with doors so situated that
when a defective tongue is required to be replaced it can be readily done while the
furnace is in work and without shutting off the gas air or heat from it, substantially
as hereinbefore described, and as illustrated in Figures 1, and 2, on the accom-
panying sheet of drawings.
3. Dispensing with the spindle as heretofore connected to the centre tongue of a
regenerating furnace and operating the improved tongues in the reversing valves
direct from a lever and slide bar (or other device) as shown at Figure 1, on the
accompanying sheet of drawings.
Tested shin
501 1 of Wahu 1801
BRISTOW HUNT, R.P.A.,
Aldine Chambers, Sheffield, Agent for the Applicant.
BRISTOW HUNT, R.P.A.,
Aldine Chambers, Sheffield, Agent for the Applicant.