IMPROVEMENTS IN CUPOLAS FOR MELTING METAL
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Richard Birkby, of Scholes, near Cleckheaton,
in the County of York, Iron Moulder, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN CUPOLAS FOR MELTING METAL."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Richard Birkby at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
1st November 1875.
I, RICHARD BIRKBY, of Scholes, near Cleckheaton, in the County of
York, Iron Moulder, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN CUPOLAS FOR MELTING METAL," to be as follows :-
This Invention consists in having the bottom of the cupola moveable
on slides, so that after the metal has been melted and run out, and when
it is required to "draw" or remove the cinder from the cupola this
bottom can be drawn out through a slot hole in the side, and thereby
allow the cinder to fall out through the opening into a chamber below.
This moveable bottom is formed with a channel on the upper side to

page_text: <
conduct the metal (as it becomes melted) into the chamber below during
the time of "blowing." In the side of this chamber is formed an
ordinary tapping hole" for running the metal out when required.
Also the bottom of this chamber is moveable, so that the cinder and
slag will fall out at the bottom of the cupola and chamber instead of
having to be drawn out at an aperture in the side by rake operated by
manual labour, as heretofore, which is a very disagreeable process.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Richard Birkby in the Great Scal Patent Office on
the 1st May 1876.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, RICHARD
BIRKBY, of Scholes, near Cleckheaton, in the County of York, Iron
Moulder, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the First day of November, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in the
thirty-eighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said Richard Birkby, Her special
licence that I, the said Richard Birkby, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Richard Birkby, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to tinie 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
CUPOLAS FOR MELTING METAL," upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the said Richard Birkby, my executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and
scals, 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 imediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Richard Birkby, do hereby declaro
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement and accompanying Sheet of Drawings:-
"
This Invention consists in having the bottom of the cupola moveable
on slides, so that after the metal has been melted and run out, and
when it is required to "draw or remove the cinder from the cupola
this bottom can be drawn out through a slot hole in the side, and
thereby allow the cinder to fall out through the opening into a chamber
below. This moveable bottom is formed with a channel on the upper
side to conduct the metal (as it becomes melted) into the chamber below
during the time of "blowing." In the side of this chamber is formed
an ordinary "tapping hole" for running the metal out when required.
Also the bottom of this chamber is moveable, so that the cinder and
slagg will fall out at the bottom of the cupola and chamber instead of
having to be drawn out at an aperture in the side by rake operated by
manual labour, as heretofore, which is a very disagreeable process.
In order that my Invention may be more fully understood I herein
give reference to the accompanying Sheet of Drawings marked with
figures and letters of reference.
Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a cupola; and Figs. 2 and 3 are sections
of same; Fig. 4 is a plan view.
A is the bottom of the cupola, which is formed in two parts. When
it is desired to remove the cinder from the cupola the part A is drawn
out through the slot B, and the cinder falls through the chamber C. A
channel c for the passage of the metal is provided between the side of
the cupola and the part A' of the bottom. The metal runs out through
the "taping hole" D. The bottom of the chamber C is moveable, as
shewn in Fig. 2, E being the bottom, which may be hinged, or may
slide in grooves or be otherwise supported.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the
manner in which the same is to be performed, I would have it under-
stood that I do not confine myself to the precise details of construction
herein shewn and described, but what I claim is,―
Firstly. The construction of cupolas with the moveable or false
bottom A, substantially as herein shewn and described.

page_text: Secondly. The construction of cupolas with the moveable bottom E,
substantially as herein shewn and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Richard Birkby, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of April, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
RICHARD BIRKBY. (L.S.)