Glass, Brick Burning, and other Purposes.
Year: 1885

page_text: Glass, Brick Burning, and other Purposes.
I, THOMAS MAY, of Bath Cottage Rye Bread, Castleford, in the County of
York, Bricklayer, do hereby declare the nature of said invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN GAS PRODUCING FURNACES FOR SMELTING METALS, GLASS, BRICK BURNING
AND OTHER PURPOSES to be as follows:-
"
This invention relates to the construction of gas producing furnaces for smelting
metals, glass, brick burning and other purposes and has for object the production
of gas at a cheaper rate than heretofore, In lieu of forming the interior of the
furnace at the front in a sloping position from the top to the grate, I form the said
front from the top vertically for a considerable distance downward and from the
latter point slope it down to the grate, thereby obtaining a larger area of chamber,
the said front I support by a suitable metallic plate, either in one or more parts.
Through the vertical portion of the front wall which is provided with a metallic
plate (which may be in one with the supporting plate abovementioned,) I provide
openings, also openings in the front plate corresponding therewith and which may
be opened or closed as required, these openings allow of pottering or pokering any
clinker which may have formed upon the grate, and for dislodging the same-The
furnace is supplied with fuel from the top by means of a hopper or hoppers, and
shoot or shoots in the usual way, It is also provided with one or more openings
at the top for allowing pottering or pokering the fuel in the event of its arching
or caking together, -The back wall of the furnace I form at a suitable angle to the
grate bars and which I build up solid. I place, the grate bars at a considerable
decline from the front to the back, at the latter part of which I form a suitable
space for the withdrawal of the "clinker as it becomes formed, which enables the
fire to be kept clear.
"
The front part of the furnace, that is the ashpit is closed with metallic doors
capable of being opened at pleasure for cleaning out. The part above the doors
being also of metal or other suitable material and to which I attach a steam
blower.
By the above described construction of furnace, an inferior quality of fuel can
be used for the production of gas than has heretofore been usual.

page_text: Glass, Brick Burning, and other Purposes.
I, THOMAS MAY, of Bath Cottage Rye Bread, Castleford, in the County of
York, Bricklayer, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS PRODUCING FURNACES FOR SMELTING METALS, GLASS,
BRICK BURNING AND OTHER PURPOSES, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
This invention relates to the construction of gas producing furnaces for smelting
metals, or glass, or burning bricks and for other purposes and has for object the
production of such gas at a cheaper rate than heretofore.
In lieu of making the furnace with its interior at the front sloping from the
top to the grate as heretofore has been usual in furnaces of the type to which
my invention relates, I make the inner front wall vertical from the top for a
considerable distance downward, and thence slope it down to the grate thereby
obtaining a larger area of chamber for the fuel and the gases generated by its
combustion. To support the said slope and the front of the furnace I provide a
suitable metallic plate in one or more parts, I will assume it to be a single plate,
which I prefer, This plate takes a bearing in the side walls and is built or other-
wise secured therein. Through the vertical portion of the front wall and the
vertical part of the metallic plate in front of the same I provide openings to allow
of pottering or pokering the fuel and any clinker which may have formed upon
the grate and for dislodging the same. The crown of the furnace is arched as
usual and covered externally with metallic plates, one or more hoppers being fixed
thercon over suitable openings or shoots in the crown to contain and feed fuel in
the usual way, a number of openings are also provided to allow of pottering or
pokering the fuel in the event of its arching or caking together. These openings
also serve as sight holes through which the progress of the working may be inspected
and are provided with suitable covers. The back wall is formed with a slight
"
batter" in an outward direction as it proceeds upward, and at the lower part
thereof for about three feet upward and the same distance on the base line, is
filled up solid, thus forming a slope of about fortyfive degrees, The grate bars
are placed on suitable cross bearers and form a considerable incline downward
from the front towards the back, terminating about eighteen inches from the solid
back slope just referred to and thus providing a suitable space for the withdrawal
of the "clinker" as it is formed, without the necessity of drawing any of the grate
bars. Thus the fire can be kept clean. On newly starting the fire, in order to
prevent the fuel dropping into the ashpit, the above-mentioned space between the
ends of the grate. bars and the sloping back is filled in with proviously formed
clinker which is removed as other clinker forms:
In furnaces such as described above and with reference to the accompanying
drawings fuel can be used of inferior quality to that heretofore usually employed

page_text: for the production of gas, thus enabling gas to be produced at much less cost.--
Referring to the drawings Fig. 1, is a plan, Fig. 2, is a sectional elevation on the
line a, a, Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a front view of a furnace embodying my invention.
b, is the front wall shewn vertical from 61, to 62. From 61, to b3, is the slope
down to the grate; c, is the metallic plate that supports the said slope, as also the
front wall b,d, are openings in the metallic plate and in the front wall b, for
pottering or pokering the fuel and clinker and dislodging the latter from the grate.
These openings are also sight, holes for observing the action of the furnace. c, e are
bearers for the grate bars f. g, is the back wall of the furnace, h, is the solid slope
at the bottom of the back wall. i, is the space between the end of the grate and
the said slope. This space as already stated, is, on starting the fire filled with
previously formed clinker, which is removed from the furnace through such space
as other clinker is formed and accumulates. j, and k, shew the usual enclosure and
blower.
•
The top of the furnace is fitted with metallic plates 7, hoppers m, from which
fuel is supplied, and sight and pokering holes n.-o, is the uptake for the gas pro-
duced, to which is connected a tube for conducting the gas to any required point;
P, are steps leading to an area for gaining access to the furnace (when a group of
furnaces are built together, which is usual, this area forms a passage leading to
them) and which may be arched or otherwise covered and have openings in such
cover or adjoining thereto for the removal of clinker and ashes.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
In a furnace or apparatus of the type hereiñabove referred to for producing gas,
1. Making the interior at the front with a part or wall b, vertical from 61, to 6 2,
and a sloping or inclined part from 61, to b 3, substantially in the manner and for
the purpose hereinabove described with reference to and shewn in the drawings.
2. The arrangement whereby an opening or space i, is provided between the end
or back of the grate and the sloping back h, of the furnace substantially in the
manner and for the purpose hereinabove described with reference to and shown in
the drawings.
3. Providing openings such as d, through the front plate c, and front wall b, the
arrangement being such that the working of the furnace may be inspected, and the
fuel and clinker may be pottered or pokered to facilitate the combustion of the fuel
thereby expediting the production of gas and to cause subsidence of the clinker
towards the opening i, 'substantially as hereinabove described with reference to and
illustrated by the drawings.
4. I also claim the improved gas making furnace as shewn and described.
Dated this 13th day of October 1885.
Witness,
THO E. CRAVEN, C.E.,
Fel. Inst. Patent Agents,
24, Victoria Chambers, Leeds.
THOMAS MAY.