IMPROVE. MENTS IN PUDDLING FURNACES
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Bedson, of Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, Manager of Ironworks, for the Invention of "IMPROVE.
MENTS IN PUDDLING FURNACES,"
"
Sealed the 12th November 1872, and dated the 14th May 1872.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Bedson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
14th May 1872.
I, GEORGE BEDSON, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster,
Manager of Ironworks, do hereby declare the nature of the said In-
vention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN PUDDLING FURNACES," to be as follows:
'
My Invention relates, firstly, to an improved arrangement of puddling
furnace, whereby the operation is performed by mechanical means. The
vessel in which the metal is to be puddled is provided with a mid-feather
or feathers extending from one end to the other or in detached portions.
The vessel_so_formed I mount upon centres, which are caused to vibrate
in their bearings, and thus impart a rocking motion, by which means the
fluid metal is caused to pass alternately backward and forward over the.

page_text: said mid-feather.or feathers, and thus continually expose fresh surfaces
to air. During this turning over I propose to cause a tool or tools,
actuated in any ordinary manner, to pass along the edge of the mid-
feather. So far my Invention may be carried out by the use of any
ordinarily constructed vessel, but I propose to form the said vessel of
iron, wrought by preference with an outward casing, leaving a space for
the introduction of a stream of water, which may be allowed to enter
through the centre of motion and to pass out on the other side. Or the
said vessel may vibrate in a bath of running water. The furnace bottom
thus constructed I surround with brickwork, having the ordinary fire-
place, doors, and other usual appliances.
Secondly. My Invention refers to an improvement upon that descrip-
tion of puddling furnace for which Letters Patent were granted to me in
conjunction with John Williams, dated January 5th, 1864, No. 31, or to
similar rotatory furnaces, and consists in the use of a certain construction
of instrument for agitating the metal. For this purpose I employ one or
more tools formed after the manner of ploughshares, extending from a
rod which passes to the outside of the furnace, and which may there be
held by hand or by ordinary mechanical means. These tools turn over
the metal, and I propose to form them hollow and to cause a stream of
water to pass through them.
Another part of my Invention relates to those furnaces which are
constructed and arranged as revolving cylinders, and consists, firstly, in
forming the interior surface with corrugations which serve to retain the
"fettling ;" and, secondly, I place around the same a cylindrical casing,
which runs in water and is provided with perforations by which the said.
water may be taken up.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said George Bedson in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 14th November 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
BEDSON, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Manager of Iron-
works, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fourteenth day of May in the wear of 2

page_text: our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, and in the thirty-
sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said George Bedson, Her special license that
I, the said George Bedson, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the 'said George Bedson, my executors, adminis-
trators, 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 PUDDLING
FURNACES," upon the condition, amongst others, that I, the said George
Bedson, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, 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 Scal Patent Office within six calendar months next
and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said George Bedson, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to bo
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement and accompanying Drawings, that is to say :-
My Invention relates to improved arrangements of puddling furnaces,
whereby the operation is performed by mechanical means.
In the accompanying Drawings the first part of my Invention is
shewn in longitudinal section at Fig. 1, in cross section at Fig. 2, and in
end elevation at Fig. 3. At 1 are the walls of the furnace, constructed
in the ordinary manner of such erections; at 2 are the fire-bars; and
at 3 the flue. Upon an iron frame 4 are mounted bearings 5, 5*, in
which are situate axes 6, 6º, attached to a vessel 7, the sides of which
extend upward to form a chamber 8, which constitutes the puddling
furnace, and across the centre thereof is a projecting part 9, con-
stituting a midfeather. The axes 6, 6*, are formed hollow, as at 7*, 7**,
one end of such hollows communicating with the vessel 7 and the other
ends with fixed pipes 10, 10*, extending from vertical pipes 11, 11*, and
at 12, 12*, are stuffing boxes which pack the junctions between the
axes 6, 6*, and pipes 10, 10*. From the pipe 11 thero extends a hori-
zontal pipe 13, which is open at 14, 14", to spaces 15, 15°, formed in
the bearings 5, 5*. At 16 is a shaft driven by the motive power, and
carrying a crank 17 connected to a rod 18, the other end of which

page_text: is jointed at 19 to a lever 20 fast on the axis 6. At 21 are sliding
doors capable of being raised by levers for the purpose of obtaining
access to the chamber 8. The metal to be puddled is passed in a heated
or cold state as usual through the doors 21 into the chamber 8, where it
is subjected to the heat arising from the fire-place, and when it is
sufficiently fluid rotatory motion is communicated to the shaft 16, which
by means of the crank 17, rod 18, and lever 20 will impart a
vibratory movement to the vessel 7, and consequently chamber 8, the
axes 6, 6*, partially turning in their bearings. The full lines in Fig. 2
shew the vessel and chamber midway in the vibratory movement, and
the red lines at the extent of such motion in one direction, and the effect
will be the tilting over of the molten metal to and fro, causing it each
time to pass over the midfeather 9 and continually expose fresh surfaces
to air so as to effect the required puddling. During this operation a
stream of water is allowed to flow through the pipe 11 and to pass
through the tubes 10, 10*, and hollow axis 6 into the vessel 7, after
which it passes out by the axis 6* and tube 10* to the pipe 11*, from
whence it is conducted to any desired situation. At the same time also
streams of water will flow through the pipes 14, 14*, into the hollow
parts 15, 15*, of the bearings 5, 5*, whereby the axes 6, 6*, are kept
cool, the water which passes out flowing through apertures 22, 22*, and
from thence along a drain 23. At 21* is a door which may be opened
for the removal of cinder.
I do not limit myself under this part of my Invention to a rocking
chamber provided with a water space, but prefer that combination, as it
'tends to preserve the same and the "fettling" which covers it. This
fettling material is applied in the usual manner, and is shewn by the
colored parts 24.
I would also remark that instead of one midfeather 9, two or more
may be used, and that it or they may be in detached parts extending at
intervals across the chamber 8.
Secondly. My Invention refers to an improvement upon that descrip-
tion of puddling furnace for which Letters Patent were granted to me
in conjunction with John Williams, dated January Fifth, One thousand
eight hundred and sixty-four, No. 31, or to similar rotatory furnaces,
and consists in the use of a certain construction of instrument for
agitating the metal. This arrangement is shewn in two views taken at
right angles to each other, Figs. 4, 5. At 25 is the furnace bottom or

page_text: chamber which receives the metal, and formed according to the aforesaid
Patent with a water space 26. At 27 is an instrument, flat at its under
side and curved in two directions as it advances upwards, like a plough-
share, as shewn in the Drawing. This instrument is formed hollow, as
seen by the dotted lines 28, with two channels 29, 29*, in the upper part
thereof leading to induction and eduction water pipes 30, 30°, the former
being supplied from any convenient source and the latter conducted to
any suitable place for discharge. The furnace bottom is adapted to the
fire-place in any usual manner, and is caused to revolve as described in the
Specification of my Patent aforesaid, or in any other convenient manner,
and as it carries the molten metal round it brings it continuously into
contact with the instrument 27, which turns it over, and thus exposes it
to the action of the air. The instrument 27 is secured by cottars to a
pedestal 31, which is carried by the iron frame 32.
Another part of my Invention relates to puddling furnaces, which
consist of rotatory cylinders, in which the metal to be puddled is placed,
such as those which are known as Dank's' furnaces, and consists,
firstly, in forming the inside of the said cylinder with corrugations; -
and, secondly, in applying a water space around it.
.
Fig: 6 represents the cylinder in cross section formed with corru-
gations 33, which when in use are fettled in the usual 'manner, and at 34
are the projecting parts for maintaining the said fettling. The cylinder
so formed may be adapted to the fire-place, and caused to revolve in any
usual manner, being supported as is now practised by rollers. By this
arrangement the corrugations afford an additional support for the
fettling; and they turn the metal over in a more effectual manner for
exposing it to the air.
Figs. 7 and 8 shew the method I adopt for obtaining a water space
around the cylinder. On the outside of the cylinder 33 is a casing 35,
› forming a water space 43, and to one side of which is fixed by a flange &
hollow ring 36, provided with a circular stuffing box 37, the gland 38, 38*,
of which is formed in two parts, each consisting of four portions of rings,
which are sprung inward when drawn together by bolts 39. Within
the stuffing box 37 is a stationary hollow ring 40, furnished with
pipes 41, 41, the former being for the supply of water and the latter for
its discharge, and at 42 are perforations establishing communication
between the annular chambers 40, 36. As the cylinder revolves water

page_text: .
flows through the pipe 41, chamber 40, and perforations 42 into the
water space 43, and passes out through the perforations 42*, chamber 40,
and pipe 41*, and thus the cylinder is kept at a comparatively low tem-
perature. The circulation of water through the space 43 is assisted by
the revolution of the cylinder, but in order if necessary to assist that
operation another ring 40 and parts connected therewith may be adapted
to the other end of the cylinder, the pipe 41 remaining as it is, and the
pipo 41* on the top of the said additional ring.
Having thus described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and the manner in which the same is to be performed, I desire it to 1
be understood that I claim as secured to me under the above in part
recited Letters Patent,—
-
Firstly. The use of a vibrating furnace bottom provided with a mid-
feather or feathers, or other projections for the metal to roll over; also
supplying the said bottom with a surrounding water space.
Secondly. As applied to my former Patent aforesaid, the use of the
instrument or tool illustrated at 27.
Thirdly. As applied to cylindrical furnaces as aforesaid, forming their
interior surfaces with corrugations; also surrounding the said cylinders
with a water space.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Bedson, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of November, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two..