IMPROVEMENTS IN PYROMETERS OR INSTRUMENTS FOR ASCERTAINING AND INDICATING HIGH TEMPERATURES IN FURNACES OR FIREPLACES, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF OR THE LININGS FOR FURNACES, FIRE- PLACES, RETORTS, CRUCIBLES, AND OTHER STRUCTURES OR ARTICLES WHICH ARE LIABLE TO BE EXPOSED TO THE ACTION OF HIGH DEGREES OF HEAT
Year: 1871

page_text: ETTERS PATENT to William Edward Newton, of the Office for
Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil
Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PYROMETERS OR
INSTRUMENTS FOR ASCERTAINING AND INDICATING HIGH TEMPERATURES IN
FURNACES OR FIREPLACES, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO
APPLICABLE TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF OR THE LININGS FOR FURNACES, FIRE-
PLACES, RETORTS, CRUCIBLES, AND OTHER STRUCTURES OR ARTICLES WHICH
ARE LIABLE TO BE EXPOSED TO THE ACTION OF HIGH DEGREES OF HEAT."-
A communication from abroad by Robert Spencer, of the City and
State of New York, United States of America.
-
Sealed the 29th September 1871, and dated the 5th April 1871.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Edward Newton
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 5th April 1871.
I, WILLIAM EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery
5 Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN PYROMETERS OR

page_text: INSTRUMENTS
FOR ASCERTAINING
AND INDICATING HIGH TEMPERATURES
IN
FURNACES OR FIREPLACES, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLI-
CABLE TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF OR THE LININGS FOR FURNACES, FIREPLACES,
RETORTS, CRUCIBLES, AND OTHER STRUCTURES OR ARTICLES WHICH ARE LIABLE
TO BE EXPOSED TO THE ACTION OF HIGH DEGREES OF HEAT," to be as follows:-
The first part of the present Invention relates to the construction
of instruments that may be used for the purpose of ascertaining and
indicating the temperature of kilns or furnaces in which mineral,
metallic, or other substances are submitted to very high temperatures.
The heat of some furnaces is so great that pyrometers of the ordinary
construction will be destroyed or become useless in a very short time.
The improvement consists in making the bulb of the pyrometer of
the metal iridium and enclosing it in a block, brick, or casing made of
refractory materials as hereafter described. The iridium bulb is con-
nected by an iron rod extending to any indicating mechanism such as
that used in wheel barometers or steam gauges. The refractory brick
or casing containing the iridium bulb is made with a flange so that it
may be dropped into and suspended from a hole made in the crown or
other convenient part of the furnace or kiln. The bulb will thus be
exposed to the heat of the kiln or furnace, and will indicate the tem-
perature on the dial.
The refractory material of which the brick or casing for holding the
iridium bulb of the pyrometer is composed consists of fire-clay well
washed in water until all the organic and other impurities are washed
out of it. The fire-clay is then dried and ground, and pounded ganister
washed clean in the same manner is added thereto together with some
broken calcined pot. These materials when well mixed are made into a
plastic state by the addition of lime water (either natural or artificial) to
which may sometimes be added silicate of potash or soda, if the materials
are not sufficiently adhesive themselves and the article to be made there-
from is moulded in the ordinary manner; lumps, bricks, or blocks for
constructing furnaces or kilns may be formed of the same refractory
materials. When the lumps, bricks, blocks, or other articles have been
moulded and dried they may be dipped in a solution of the silicate, and
then burnt in a pottery or other suitable kiln when they will be found to
be glazed or shining and may then be used for constructing the kiln
or furnace. A similar compound may be used for lining the interior
of kilns or furnaces for the purpose of protecting the same from the

page_text: action of intense heat. Crucibles, seggars, melting pots, or other articles
which are liable to be exposed to intense heat may be made of the same
materials.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Edward Newton in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 5th October 1871.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in
the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of April, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the thirty-fourth
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said William Edward Newton, Her special licence
that I, the said William Edward Newton, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Edward Newton,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN PYROMETERS OR INSTRUMENTS FOR ASCERTAINING AND INDI-
CATING HIGH TEMPERATURES IN FURNACES OR FIREPLACES, PARTS OF WHICH
IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF OR THE LININGS
FOR FURNACES, FIREPLACES, RETORTS, CRUCIBLES, AND OTHER STRUCTURES OR
ARTICLES WHICH ARE LIABLE TO BE EXPOSED TO THE ACTION OF HIGH DEGREES OF
HEAT," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William
Edward Newton, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same
to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months
next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Edward Newton, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and

page_text: by the following statement, reference being had to the Drawing here-
unto annexed and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is
to say) -
The first part of the present Invention relates to the construction
of instruments that may be used for the purpose of ascertaining and
indicating the temperature of kilus or furnaces in which mineral,
metallic, or other substances are submitted to very high temperatures.
The heat of some furnaces is so great that pyrometers of the ordinary
construction will be destroyed or become useless in a very short time.
The first part of the present Invention consists in making the bulb
of the pyrometer of the metal iridium and enclosing it in a block brick
or casing made of refractory materials, as hereafter described.
Fig. 1 in the accompanying Drawing represents the improved pyro-
meter complete with its indicating apparatus, and shewn as adapted to
the crown of a puddling or reverberatory furnace.
Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the refractory block or brick detached
and enclosing the iridium bulb a, which is attached to the lower end
of an iron rod b, whereby it is connected to the indicating mechanism c
above, as shewn at Fig. 1. The indicator is similar in construction to
that used in wheel barometers or steam gauges. The refractory brick
or casing d containing the iridium bulb is made with a flange at its
upper end, so that it may be dropped into and suspended from a hole
made in the crown or other convenient part of the furnace or kiln, as
at e, Fig. 1. The bulb a will thus be exposed to the heat of the kiln
or furnace, and as it rests upon the bottom of the block d, and is free
to expand, as the heat in the furnace increases the iron rod b will act
on the mechanism of the indicating apparatus, and will thus indicate
on the dial the temperature in the furnace. The refractory material
of which the brick or casing a for holding the iridium bulb of the
pyrometer is composed consists of fire-clay well washed in water until
all the organic and other impurities are washed out of it. The fire-clay
thus purified is then dried and ground. Pounded ganister washed clean
in the same manner as the fire-clay is added thereto in the proportion
of one part of washed ganister to three parts of purified fire-clay,
together with one part of pulverized calcined pot. These materials
when well mixed are made into a plastic state by the addition of lime
water (either natural or artificial) to which may be added a small
quantity of solution of silicate of potash or soda if the materials arc

page_text: not sufficiently adhesive themselves. The article to be made of this
refractory compound is moulded and produced in the ordinary manner
of making bricks, blocks, or other articles of fire-clay. Lumps, bricks,
or blocks for constructing furnaces or kilns may be formed of the same
refractory materials. When the lumps, bricks, blocks, or other articles
have been moulded and dried they may be dipped in a solution of the
silicate and then burnt in a pottery or other suitable kiln, when they
will be found to be glazed or shining, and may then be used for con-
structing the kiln or furnace. A similar compound or preparation of
materials may be used for lining the interior of kilns or furnaces for
the purpose of protecting the same from the action of intense heat.
Crucibles, seggars, melting pots, or other articles which are liable to
be exposed to intense heat may be made of the samo materials, and
when properly burned will be found much more capable of resisting
intense heat than when made of ordinary or unprepared fire-clay.
Having now described the Invention which has been communicated
to me by my foreign correspondent, and having explained the manner
of carrying the same into effect, I claim as the Invention secured to me
by Letters Patent as aforesaid,-
First. Constructing pyrometers or instruments for ascertaining or
indicating high temperatures in furnaces or fireplaces with bulbs of
iridium adapted to the end of a metal rod connected with any suitable
indicating mechanism or apparatus, as herein set forth.
Second. I claim enclosing the iridium bulb in a block or casing made
of refractory compound, prepared as herein set forth.
Third. I claim the use of the refractory compound hercin-before
described for lining furnaces and kilns and for the manufacture of
fire-lumps, bricks or blocks, crucibles, seggars, melting pots, and other
articles which are liable to be exposed to intense heat.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Edward Newton, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, the Fifth day of October, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-