IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF IRON OR STEEL
Year: 1859

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Henry Tooth, of 3, Spring Terrace, Wands-
worth Road, in the County of Surrey, Engineer, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF
IRON OR STEEL."
Sealed the 31st January 1860, and dated the 3rd August 1859.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Henry Tooth
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
3rd August 1859.
I, WILLIAM HENRY TOOTH, of 3, Spring Terrace, Wandsworth Road, in
the County of Surrey, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR THE MANU-
FACTURE OF IRON OR STEEL," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in machinery or apparatus
for puddling iron or steel, or working it so as to convert crude, pig, or cast
iron into wrought iron or steel, or into such a state as is known as puddled
balls either of iron or steel, and also for making what is known as scrap balls,
which are now made in an ordinary balling furnace, and for the application of
the said machinery or apparatus to any useful purpose; also for the manu-
facture, moulding, or shaping fire-resisting materials to be used in the said

page_text: machinery or apparatus. For these purposes I cause a chamber to be made
of iron or other suitable material resembling a drum or cylinder, and in shape
either round, oval, square, octagonal, hexagonal, or any other suitable figure,
having at each end of the said chamber suitable journals or bearings to
revolve in plumber blocks, or upon antifriction rollers, or other suitable
bearings that will enable the chamber to revolve. I cause an opening to be
made in each end of the revolving chamber to admit fire or heated gases to
pass into at one end and out at the other end. I also cause the bearings upon
which the chamber revolves to be fixed upon an iron or other suitable frame-
work, so that it may be moveable if required to admit of the chamber being
charged, or the iron taken out when sufliciently operated upon. I also cause
the chamber to be lined with fire bricks, fire clay, firestone, cinder, or other
suitable materials, and in cases where the lining is made of fire brick or such
materials, I make such lining in suitable moulds in parts or in one piece, and
so that they or it may fit the inside of the chamber. I further make suitable
projections on the face of such lining for the purpose of stirring up the molten
metal as the chamber revolves. I also cause some parts of the lining to be
made by forcing the clay through dods or dies, leaving suitable projections,
and making those parts solid or hollow as may be required; but in some cases I
prefer using the lining with a level or smooth face, that is, without projections,
leaving the molten metal to be stirred up by the friction produced by the
molten metal coming in contact with the surface of the lining as the chamber
revolves.
In cases where I use firestone, the stone is cut to fit the chamber,
leaving suitable projections when such projections are required. I also cause
suitable wheel work to be attached to the chamber to drive it by power inde-
pendent of manuel labour, so as to keep it in constant motion. When
required, such wheel work may consist of bevel gear, spur gear, or wheels to
drive it by a chain, or by a band working on a drum. I also cause the said
chamber to be so fixed, that the opening at one end or the outlet may com-
municate with a chimney or flue, and the opening at the other end or inlet
may communicate with a furnace or fire-place for generating the heat to
operate upon the metal, and cause it to be so placed between the fire-place
or furnace and the flue, that the chamber is still free to revolve upon its own
axes. I also cause the furnace or fire-place to be made of strong iron plates,
bolted or fastened together with a lining of fire bricks or other material, and
the whole so constructed that it may be free to run upon wheels, upon rails,
or upon a tramway, so that the furnace may be moved away from the
revolving chamber to admit of it being charged, and the charge removed

page_text: when sufficiently operated upon. But in some cases I cause the furnace or
fire-place to be made stationary, and the revolving chamber to be made
moveable with its framework; or I cause both fire-place and revolving
chamber to be made a fixture, and have a suitable doorway made in the
chamber for the purpose of charging and taking out the metal. Having
arranged the apparatus or machinery, as herein described, I proceed as
follows:-I charge the chamber with about four or five cwt. of iron, or any
lesirable quantity, more or less, as the apparatus may be made to take in
a large or small charge, and if in a cold state I allow the metal to become soft
with the heat, or begin to melt; I then set the chamber.in motion at a suitable
speed, and allow it to revolve until the metal comes to nature, and also until
it has become balled up into a mass; I then take it out, and recharge and
proceed as before.