IMPROVEMENTS IN SUPPLYING WATER TO THE TUYERS OF FURNACES AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED THERE- WITH.
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Frew, of New Mains, in the County of Lanark,
North Britain, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SUPPLYING
WATER TO THE TUYERS OF FURNACES AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED THERE-
WITH.
"
Sealed the 7th October 1876, and dated the 15th April 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Frew at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 15th April 1876.
JAMES FREW, of New Mains, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN SUPPLYING WATER TO THE TUYERS OF FURNACES AND IN
APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH."
This said Invention has reference to a new or improved mode and means or
apparatus for regulating the flow or circulation of the cooling water to and from
the tuyers of smelting or other furnaces, so as automatically to shut off the supply
thereto the instant the smallest escape of water takes place in and by the burning
of the tuyer, thus preventing the usual numerous accidents and loss of life to the
attendants caused by the said burning of and escape of water from the tuyers into
the furnace, and which is forced out through the tuyer holes with great violence
in volumes of scalding steam and gas.
And the nature and novelty of the Invention consist in the application of a
balance pressure valve and chamber on the inlet branch and pipe leading to each
Layer, or by preference a duplex and chambered equilibrium balanced valve, having
both lids or valves on the same spindle, the one working on its scat in a chamber
on or connected with the inlet pipe leading to the tuyer, and the other on its seat
in a chamber connected to the outlet or discharge pipes of the tuyer, the free or
head pressure of the supply water leading into the inlet valve chamber tending to
shut this inlet valve, and consequently the supply of water to the tuyer, while
the pressure of water maintained within the tuyer and pipes leading to and from
Price 6dJ

page_text: it behind the lids or caps of the valves tends to open them. The caps or lids of
the valves are made so large that a very slight motion opens them sufficiently to
allow of the flow or current through the tuyers to keep them properly cool, and
they are preferably moved or worked horizontally or upwards to close the valves,
so that the weight of the valves tends to maintain them in their normal open
position; the back pressure within the tuyer and outlet branch behind the valve
caps tending to keep the valves in this open position is preferably obtained and
regulated by a screw cap or stem (actuated from the outside) in the branch or
chamber of the outlet pipe and valve below or on the inside of the branch leading
to the discharge or ordinary overflow branch or nozzle for showing and examining
the amount and heat of the discharged water, all so that the moment a hole is
burned or otherwise formed in the cooling coil pipe within the tuyer allowing the
smallest escape of water the normal balance pressure on the valves and outflow
through the discharge valve plug and branch is destroyed by the escape at the
outlet within these latter, and the pressure on the inner or closing faces of the
valves, so that the head pressure, which remains the same with a greater outflow
caused by that at the burned or burst part, immediately and automatically shuts
off the supply of water to the tuyer. When this new or improved balance or equi-
librium regulating valve is made with an inlet and outlet valve chamber, these might
be cast in one, and have the spindle with the two valve lids or caps sliding through a
liquid tight hole in the branch connecting the two chambers having the inlet and
outlet branches cast thereon for attaching the inlet pipe from the supply head of
water and the outlet tube leading into the tuyer, while the outlet tube therefrom
would be screwed to the inlet branch of the discharge chest and valve, while the
discharge nose tube would be screwed to the outlet branch of this chest. The
inlet valve or cap would have a short central spindle or head projecting out
towards the end cover of the inlet valve chest where the valve is fitted in from,
and where a hand spindle works out through a stuffing box with its inner end
fitted loosely on the said projecting head of the valve, so as to be able to shut or
open it, but with sufficient clearance or play that the valve can close itself without
moving the said hand spindle, which by the moving handle or lever outside can
be fixed in its desired normal position to suit the shut or open working position
of the valve by holding notches or other equivalent. A filtering rose would be
fitted on the entrance to the inlet pipe, or a sieve in a chamber fitted with a
cleaning out lid to filter the water before reaching the inlet valve chest, and
.cleaning out screw plugs might be fitted on both valve chests to clean out any
deposits or obstruction which might collect at the valves, to insure their proper
working in a few moments without danger to the tuyer.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said James Frew in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 14th October 1876.
JAMES FREW, of New Mains, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN SUPPLYING WATER TO THE TUYERS OF FURNACES AND IN
APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH."
My said Invention has reference to a new or improved mode of and means or
apparatus for controlling the flow or circulation of the cooling water to and from
the tuyers of smelting or other furnaces, and which consists substantially of a
duplex equilibrium valve chest fitted or jointed to the inlet and outlet water cooling
pipe of the tuyers, so as to automatically shut off the supply of water thereto the
instant an escape of water takes place at the tuyer by its being burned, or from
other cause, and thus by these improvements prevents the frequent accidents and
loss of life to the attendants caused by the said burning or bursting of the tuyers

page_text: as usually fitted, which allows the water to escape into the furnace and be forced
or blown out through the tuyer holes in the furnace with great violence in volumes
of scalding steam and gas..
And in order that the nature and novelty of my said Invention and mode of
performing the same may be properly understood, I will now proceed to describe
the Sheet of Drawings which I have hereunto appended for the purpose of showing
the best modes and means I am at present aware of for putting the Invention into
effect or practice, the same reference letters and numerals indicating the same
or corresponding parts in all the Figures where shown.
Figures 1, 2, and 3 are a sectional elevation, and a corresponding end elevation
and plan of one modification of my new or improved valvular apparatus for or
connected with the supplying of water to the tuyers of furnaces constructed in
accordance with and illustrative of the nature and mode of putting my said Invention
into effect or practice. Figure 4 is a side elevation of the retaining pin G, g,
detached, for holding the hand lever F of the spindle E for moving and setting
the valve a, a¹, all; and Figure 5 is a section on the line 1-1 in Figure 1 through
the inlet chamber A₁ of the casing A, showing the moving and setting spindle and
wiper E, e, holding the valve a, a, a, in its open or setting on position.
Referring to these Figures 1, 2, and 3, this new or improved apparatus consists
of a duplex or inlet and outlet chambered valve chest A, fitted with a double
beat or equilibrium balanced pressure valve a, having its lid or valves a¹, a¹¹, on the
same spindle respectively working over their seats 1, 2, within the inlet and outlet
chambers A', A, of the case A, so as to open or close the equal sized apertures or
ports 1, 2, of these chambers and seats A¹, A", respectively connected with the inlet
branch and feed pipe b, b, leading to the tuyer, and to the outlet branch and pipe
c, c¹, leading from the tuyer, which being well understood is not shown in the
Drawings; the pipes b and c being coupled in any ordinary manner to the screwed
branches of the malleable iron water circulating pipes left projecting from the
tuyers for the purpose. The free or head pressure of the water which is led by the
inlet or supply pipe B, B1, into the inlet valve chamber A', tends to shut the inlet
valve a', and consequently the supply of water to the pipe band tuyer; while the
pressure of the water maintained within the tuyer and pipes b¹ and c¹ leading to
and from it on the face side of the lids or caps a¹ and all of the valve or valves a
tends to keep them and the ports 1 and 2 in their open normal position when all
is set and working properly. The lids a¹ and all of the valve a, and ports 1 and 2,
are made so large that a very slight longitudinal motion of their spindle a opens
them sufficiently to allow of the requisite flow or current of water through the
pipes b, c, to keep the tuyer properly cool; and the valve a, a¹, a¹, is preferably
fitted and moved or worked horizontally as indicated in the Drawings, or vertically
with the valves closing upwards, so that the weight of the valve a and its lids a¹,
a¹¹, would tend to maintain them in their normal open position, as well as the back
pressure within the tuyer and branch b, b, and c, c¹, on the inside 1, 2, of the valve.
caps a, a, as before stated, against the force of the passing water in the chamber A¹
on the back of the valve lid a¹ tending to shut it. When this new or improved
balance or equilibrium regulating valve a, a, a, is made with an inlet and outlet
valve chamber A, A, these might be cast in one as described and shown, and
have the spindle a of the two valve lids or caps a, a, sliding through a liquid
tight hole in the outlet chamber 1 and division A1, the inlet chamber A¹
having the inlet branch B cast on it, and the outlet branch b on the outlet
compartment 1 of this chamber, for respectively attaching the inlet pipe B¹ from
the supply head of water and the outlet tube 61 leading into the buyer, while
the outlet tube c¹ therefrom would be screwed to the inlet branch c of the discharge
chest and valve A", a", while the discharge nose tube C¹ would be screwed to the
outlet branch C cast on the chamber A". The inlet valve or cap has a short central
spindle and head a projecting out towards and working in a recess in the end cover
As of the inlet valve chamber A', with a small opening a³ for preventing any suction

page_text: or pressure behind the valve spindle a, the valve being fitted in through this end
aperture closed by the cover A². A lateral branch D and stuffing box D¹ are
formed and fitted over the chamber A¹ and end a² of the valve, out through
which stuffing box the valve setting spindle E works, with the setting hand lever F
screwed on its outer end with snugs f working over the holding segment or sector d
cast on the boss D¹ of the stuffing box. The spindle E has a segmental wiper e
formed on its lower end for opening or shutting the valve by acting on the
head aor the back of the valve lid a¹, according as it is turned to the position
e or e, indicated by the angled dotted lines in Figure 5, corresponding to the
positions d¹ and d³ of the hand lever F, indicated by the angled lines in Figure 3,
in either of which open or shut positions the valve a, a, a, can be held by the
retaining pin or catch G held, and sliding laterally in the boss of the hand lever F
by its front end g entering holes in the snugs f and holding sector d at these two
positions and respectively. A central position of the spindle E and wiper e
indicated by the dotted line e, in Figure 5, and corresponding position d² of the
handle F, in Figure 3, leaves the valve free to close itself automatically without
interfering with the spindle or wiper E, e, which can be fixed in this position by its
moving handle or lever outside and pin G, g, as described in reference to the open
and shut positions of the valve. Thus when the valve a, a, a¹¹, is so set open
and the handle F fixed in its central position d², the moment a hole is burned or
otherwise formed in the cooling coil pipe within the tuyer, allowing the smallest
escape of water, the normal balance pressure on the valve lids a, a, and the
ordinary outflow through these a¹, a", and the pipes b', c', and discharge branch C, C¹,
is destroyed by the escape of water at the said burnt hole within the tuyer and
tubes b¹ and c¹, thus releasing the pressure on the inner or closing faces of the
valves a, a, so that the head pressure which remains the same within the supply
pipe B, B¹, with a greater outflow caused by that at the burned or burst part
immediately and automatically to act on the back of the valve a¹ so as to close it
and the port 1, and thus shuts off the supply of water to the tuyer. The screw
pin c which fixes the valve seat 2 in its chamber A¹¹ also answers for being taken
out to allow of a small escape of water from the pipes b¹, c¹, (with the tubes b¹
and c¹ directly connected with the tuyer pipe) to prove the proper action of the
valve when desired. The back pressure in the tubes b' and c¹ may in some cases
be somewhat regulated by a screw cap or stem (actuated from the outside) in
the branch or chamber A" of the outlet pipe c and valve all below or on the
inside of the branch C leading to the discharge or ordinary overflow branch or
nozzle C for indicating and examining the amount and heat of the discharge
water. In setting the valve a, a, a, in its working position, the handle F is
brought to the position d', shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3, to open the valve until
the water flows out properly at the outlet branch C, when the handle is then set
and fixed in the mid position 2, when the valve will be left all ready to auto-
matically act and close as described, when an escape takes place at the tuyer, all
as before described. A filtering rose might be fitted on the entrance to the inlet
pipe B¹, or a sieve in a chamber fitted with a cleaning out lid to filter the water
before reaching the inlet valve chamber A¹, and cleaning out apertures with screw
plugs might be formed and fitted on both valve chambers A³, A¹¹, to clean out any
deposits or obstruction which might collect at the valves, to insure their working
in a few moments without danger to the tuyer.
Having thus described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is to be performed, I would observe
in conclusion that I do not restrict myself to the precise details herein described
or delineated; but what I believe to be novel and original, and therefore claim as
the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,
the general construction or arrangement of duplex valvular apparatus or mechanism
fitted to the inlet and outlet cooling water tubes of furnace tuyers for automatically
shutting off the water the moment a hole is burned or any escape of water takes

page_text: place therein, all substantially as herein described in reference to and shown in
the accompanying Drawings, or any mere modification thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Frew, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Seventh day of October, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-six.
Witness,
W. R. M. THOMSON,
Patent Agent,
Glasgow.
JAMES FREW. (L.S.)