IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF IRON AND STEEL
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Griffiths of Abergavenny in the County of
Monmouth for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS OR APPARATUS
EMPLOYED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF IRON AND STEEL
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Griffiths at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th May 1883.
THOMAS GRIFFITHS of Abergavenny in the County of Monmouth IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MEANS OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF IRON AND
STEEL
The Invention has for its object improvements in means or apparatus employed
in the manufacture of iron and steel.
In the specification of Letters Patent granted to William John Clapp and myself
dated March 28. 1881 N° 1372 is described a method of closing and opening the
passage through the tuyeres by means of plugs or stoppers formed to fit seats at
the rear ends of the tuyeres, such plugs or stoppers being provided with pistons
fitting cylinders, which pistons are acted upon in one direction to force the plugs-
or stoppers against their seats to close the passage through the tuyeres and in the
other direction to remove the plugs or stoppers from their seats and thereby open
the passage through the tuyeres.. And in order to prevent the metal cooling
within the tuyere when the plug or stopper is forced to its seat, a small aperture
is formed in the plug or stopper and in its tubular rod to enable a small blast of
air to enter the tuyere.
In a provisional specification filed by me on the 22nd day of March last I
described methods of closing the passage through the tuyeres by sliding valves or
covers mounted on axes of motion so as to move in a circular path or in guides
so as to move in a right line.
Instead of using the means and apparatus above referred to for effecting the
closing and opening of the passage through the tuyere I according to my present
Invention form or fix a stuffing box in the cover of each blast box or chamber
and pass therethrough a tube to which the plug stopper, valve or cover is fixed
and in such case the outer end of the tube has removeably fitted therein a stopper
Unica 11

page_text: which when removed enables a view of the tuyere to be obtained and I give
motion to the tube and consequently to the plug stopper, valve or cover by a
weighted lever acting upon the same by suitable connections and operated by a
rod or chain connected to a rod or chain passing around the convertor and supported
on suitable guides.
Or I mount the plug, stopper valve or cover on a hinge joint so as to enable
it to drop into position by its own weight a lever being employed to raise it
when it is required to open the passage through the tuyere and the said plug,
stopper, valve or cover can as described in my provisional specification above
referred to be forced against its seat by means of the sight tube screwed against
the valve.
I also employ a small tube passed through a comparatively large tube carrying
and operating the stopper, the smaller tube has formed on the outside thereof
a screw which screws into a nut formed or fixed in the end of the larger. tube by
which means I am enabled by rotating the smaller tube to adjust the nozzle thereof
to any required position within the tuyere.
Instead of passing the small blast of air through a small aperture in the centre
of the plug, stopper valve or cover such aperture can be formed around the edge of
the plug stopper valve or cover or in the seat for the same.
I also provide large openings in the convertor above the tuyeres to facilitate
repairs and I close these openings by suitable blocks or doors.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Thomas Griffiths in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
17th November 1883.
#
•
THOMAS GRIFFITHS of Abergavenny in the County of Monmouth "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MEANS OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF IRON AND
STEEL
93.
"
This Invention has for its object improvements in means or apparatus employed
in the manufacture of iron and steel..
In the Specification of Letters Patent granted to William John Clapp and myself
dated March 28th 1881 N° 1372 is described a method of closing and opening the
passage through the tuyeres by means of plugs or stoppers formed to fit seats at
the rear ends of the tuyeres, such plugs or stoppers being provided with pistons
fitting cylinders, which pistons are acted upon in one direction to force the plugs
or stoppers against their seats to close the passage through the tuyeres and in the
other direction to remove the plugs or stoppers from their seats and thereby open
the passage through the tuyères. And in order to prevent the metal cooling within
the tuyere when the plug or stopper is forced to its seat a small aperture is formed
in the plug or stopper and in its tubular rod to enable a small blast of air to enter
the tuyere.
In a Specification of Letters Patent granted to me dated March 22nd 1883
N° 1509 I described methods of closing the passage through the tuyeres by sliding
valves or covers mounted on axes of motion so as to move in a circular path or in
guides so as to move in a right line.
Instead of using the means and apparatus above referred to for effecting the
closing and opening of the passage through the tuyere I according to my present
invention form or fix a stuffing box in the cover of each blast box or chamber and
pass therethrough a tube to which the plug stopper, valve or cover is fixed and
in such case the outer end of the tube has removeably fitted therein a stopper
which when removed enables a view of the tuyere to be obtained and I give
motion to the tube and consequently to the plug stopper, valve or cover by a
weighted lever acting upon the same by suitable connections and operated by a
rod or chain connected to a rod or chain passing around the convertor and supported
on suitable guides.
Or I mount the plug stopper valve or cover on a hinge joint so as to enable it
to drop into position by its own weight a lever being employed to raise it when it
is required to open the passage through the tuyere and the said plug stopper valve
or cover can as described in my Specification above referred to be forced against
its seat by means of the sight tube screwed against the same.
I also employ a small tube passed through a comparatively large tube carrying
and operating the stopper, the smaller tube has formed on the outside thereof, a
screw which screws into a nut formed or fixed in the end of the larger. tube by
which means I am enabled by rotating the smaller tube to adjust the nozzle thereof
to any required position within the tuyere.
Instead of passing the small blast of air through a small aperture in the centre of
the plug, stopper, valve or cover such aperture can be formed around the edge of
the plug stopper, valve or cover or in the seat for the same.
I also provide large openings in the convertor above the tuyeres to facilitate
repairs and I close these openings by suitable blocks or doors.
And in order that my said Invention may be more clearly understood and
readily carried into effect I will proceed aided by the accompanying Drawings
more fully to describe the same.

page_text: DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is an elevation Figure 2 is partly an elevation and partly a vertical
section and Figure 3 is a plan partly in section of a convertor with my present
improvements applied thereto and Figure 4 is a horizontal section of parts of the
above convertor drawn to a larger scale and showing a slight modification and 5
Figures 5 to 12 are various views of parts shewing other modifications....
In the various Figures like parts are marked with similar letters of reference.
a is the body of the convertor, b is the charging aperture, c.are the tuyeres, d is
the main blast pipe surrounding the upper part of the convertor and d..d'. are
branch blast pipes conveying the blast from the main blast pipe d. to the blast
boxes or chambers, e, and f. is the discharge aperture.. The parts above described
form no part of my present invention. I will first describe my invention as
represented at Figures 1. 2. 3 and 4.
In carrying my present invention into effect I form or fix a stuffing box e². in
the cover e¹. of each blast box or chamber e. and pass therethrough a tube g. to
which the plug, stopper, valve or cover g¹ is fixed and in such case the outer end of
the tube g has removeably fitted therein a stopper g². which when removed enables
a view of the tuyere to be obtained and I give motion to the tube g and conse-
quently to the plug, stopper valve or cover gl. by a weighted clutch lever h the
lower end of which is forked so as to act in combination with a grooved collar g³
screwed or otherwise. adjustably fixed on the tube g. and such weighted clutch
lever h is as shown by the full lines operated by a rod i which is connected thereto
by a link . and by a link 2. to a circular rod j passing around the upper, part of
the convertor where it is supported on suitable guide rollers k. A lever l. is
- connected to the rod j to enable the same to be readily moved in either direction
as may be required. The parts i. i¹and.i³. may however be dispensed with and
as shown by the dotted lines in Figure 1 a chain . may be used in lieu thereof in
which case one end of the chain ³. would be. connected directly with the clutch
lever h and after passing over a guide wheel k¹. it is connected at its other end
with the circular rod j.
:
By the means above described, the plug stopper, valve or cover, g' can be caused
to open the passage through the tuyere by simply moving the lever L. in the
direction of the arrow, a suitable stop or catch (not shewn) being provided to retain
said lever in such position when required whilst by relieving the lever 7. from
such stop or catch the weighted clutch lever h. will be free to act and will thereby
cause, the plugs, stoppers, valves or covers g¹.. simultaneously to close all the
passages through the tuyeres c.
By disconnecting the rod i, or chain . from the clutch lever h. any of the
tuyeres c. can be closed independently of the others.
.
To facilitate adjustment I sometimes pass the tube g. through a larger tube g*.
which latter carries and operates the plug stopper, valve or cover g'. in this case
the tube g has formed on the outside thereof a screw thread which screwes into a
nut formed or fixed in the outer end of the tube g*. by which means I am enabled
by rotating the tube g to adjust the nozzle thereof to any required position within
the mouth of the tuyere and thereby to regulate the area of the opening in the
end of the tuyere and consequently the amount of blast passing through the tuyere.
This regulation is necessary when it is found that the blast passing through any
tuyere is in excess or short of that required which would be the case when one
tuyere is more burnt than the others. Holes g. 93. are formed in the tubes g. g*. to
enable the blast to pass into the interior of the tube g so that when the plugs,
stoppers, valves, or covers g¹ are forced against the ends of the tuyeres a small
stream of blast is permitted to pass into the tuyeres through the tubes g in order
to keep the metal out of the tuyeres.
At Figures 5 and 6 I have represented parts of a convertor with two tuyeres c
side by side in a single blast box e. In this case both the plugs stoppers, valves

page_text: or covers g are simultaneously operated by a single weighted clutch lever ½ formed
with two forks at its lower end as shown at Figure 5.
At Figures 7 and 8 I have represented a vertical and a horizontal section of
parts showing a modification in the form of valve or cover g¹ and in the method of
operating the same. In this case the valve or cover g¹. is hinged to the end of a
tube m which in order to facilitate adjustment of the valve or cover g¹ against the
end of the tuyere c. is passed through a stuffing box e³. fixed on the door or
cover e'. of the blast box or chamber e. and is retained in any required position by
a set screw e¹. or by other suitable means. The valve or cover g' is weighted by
the arm ge so as to give such valve or cover g¹ a constant tendency to close the
passage through the tuyere c. when not otherwise acted upon. And in order to
open the passage through the tuyere I pass through the tube m a rod or pusher n.
formed at its inner end with a projection n'. which when said rod or pusher n is
pushed inwards acts upon the arm go. and thereby removes the valve or cover g¹.
from the end of the tuyere c. A grooved collar g³. is fixed to the rod or pusher n.
to enable the same to be operated by a clutch lever h as before described with
respect to the tube g.
.
At Figure 9 I have represented a vertical section of parts showing a modification
of the last described arrangement. In this case the valve or cover g¹. is not caused
automatically to close the passage through the tuyere c. but its arm 96 is connected
by a link g to a sleeve 98 screwed upon the tube g so that the passage through the
tuyere c. is closed and opened by moving the tube g. to and fro as described with
respect to the first arrangement and instead of employing a tube m. to carry the
axis of the valve or cover g¹. such tube m. is replaced by a solid rod mounted
and adjusted in a similar manner to the tube m. The sleeve gs. is also capable of
adjustment on the tube 9 by screwing as shewn.
At Figures 10. 11 and 12 I have represented a vertical section, an elevation and
a horizontal section of parts showing another slight modification. In this case the
valve or cover gl instead of moving to and from its seat in a vertical plane is
caused to move in a horizontal plane. For this purpose the arm ge is mounted on
a cross bar e. carried by two studs es, fixed to the door or cover e'. motion being
given to such valve or cover g'. in a similar manner to that of the arrangement.
described with respect to Figure 9.
Instead of passing the small blast of air through a small aperture in the centre
of the plug, stopper valve or cover g'. a passage or passages can be formed around
the edge of the plug stopper, valve or cover g² or in the seat for the same at the
end of the tuyere as will be well understood.
I also provide large openings o, in the convertor above the tuyeres c. to facilitate
repairs of the interior of the convertor from the exterior thereof and thereby avoid
the necessity for entering the convertor when repairing the same and I close these
openings o by suitable blocks or doors but I do not claim this as part of my present
invention.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention and the mode in which
I carry the same into effect I would have it understood that what I Claim
IS:-
First. The combination of tube g plug stopper valve or cover g² grooved collar g³.
and weighted clutch lever h connected to the rod j by which all the plugs stoppers
valves or covers g'. are simultaneously operated substantially as herein shown and
described and for the purpose stated.
Second. The plug stopper valve or cover g¹ in combination with the tube g on.
which it is fixed and by which it is operated to open and close the passage through
he tuyere substantially as herein shown and described.
Third. The combination of tubes g. g*. and plug, stopper valve or cover g¹
ogether with means for adjusting the nozzle of tube g in relation to the tuyere
ubstantially as herein shown and described with respect to Figure 4 and for the
urpose stated.
Fourth. The combination of hinged weighted plug stopper, valve or cover g¹.

page_text: with rod or pusher n, grooved collar g³ and weighted lever h for operating the
same substantially as herein shown and described with respect to Figures 7 and 8.
Fifth. The combination of hinged plug, stopper valve or cover g¹ link g7.
collar g. and tube g substantially as herein shown and described with respect to
Figures 9. 10. 11 and 12.
Sixth. Forming one or more small grooves or passages in the face of the plug
stopper, valve or cover gl. or in the seat for the same in lieu of forming a small
passage through the centre of the plug, stopper valve or cover g¹ or through the
tube g substantially as herein described and for the purpose stated.
In witness whereof I the said Thomas Griffiths have hereunto set my hand
and seal this 15th day of November in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and eighty three.
:
MTTA
ADINITIO