IMPROVEMENTS IN ANNEALING FURNACES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Hatton, of Kidderminster, in the County of
Worcester, Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN ANNEALING
FURNACES"
Sealed the 22nd January 1878, and dated the 27th July 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Hatton at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th July 1877.
GEORGE HATTON, of Kidderminster, in the County of Worcester, Manufacturer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN ANNEALING FURNACES."
This Invention consists in constructing annealing furnaces in such manner that
the trolly or truck which forms the moveable bottom of the furnace and carries the
articles to be annealed shall be kept cool and not enclosed in the furnace, whilst, at
the same time the furnace is kept air-tight. With this view, I construct a trolly,
the body of which is filled in with fire-brick blocks, and the iron frame or body is
furnished on the angles formed by the bottom and sides with a beaded flange, which
flange when the trolly is in action, engages in a netal groove formed in a curb plate
supporting the inner walls of the furnace; the flange and groove are not in immediate
contact with each other, but there is a space between them to receive sand which
acts as a packing medium, and prevents cold air from entering the furnace whilst at
work; the trolly or moveable bottom being in place, the doors close on to the fire-
brick blocks on the top of the trolly, level with the furnace floor, leaving the roadway
and wheels supporting such trolly or moveable bottom open to the outer air, so that
a free current passes underneath.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said George Hatton in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 26th January
1878.
GEORGE HATTON, of Kidderminster, in the County of Worcester, Manufacturer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN ANNEALING FURNACES."
This Invention consists in constructing annealing furnaces in such manner that
the trolly or truck which forms the moveable bottom of the furnace and carries the
articles to be annealed shall be kept cool and not enclosed in the furnace, whilst at
the same time the furnace is kept air-tight.
The Drawing represents a furnace of this description, partly in section and partly
in elevation, the annealing chamber being shewn in section, and the part containing
the furnace grate in elevation.
The general parts of this furnace are such as are well known, and need no further
description; I shall therefore confine myself to describing those parts only which I
consider to be improvements.
(a) is a trolly in the annealing chamber (x), the body of which trolly is filled
in with fire-brick blocks (b). The iron frame (c) constituting the body is fur-
nished on the angles formed by the bottom and sides with a beaded flange (d), which
flange when the trolly is in action engages in the metal groove (e) formed in a curb
plate (f) supporting the inner walls of the furnace; the flange (d) and groove (e)
are not in immediate contact with each other, but there is a space between them to
receive sand which acts as a packing medium, and prevents cold air from entering
the furnace whilst at work: The trolly or moveable bottom being in place, the
doors close on to the fire-brick blocks (b) on the top of the trolly, level with the furnace
floor (g), leaving the roadway and wheels supporting such trolly or moveable bottom
open to the outer air, so that a free current passes underneath.
I also form a distributor between the grate and the annealing chamber, so that
the flame is distributed more equally in the annealing chamber, and burning the
top of the pots is avoided. This is shewn at (h), which represents the section of
a perforated wall built up between the fire bridge (i) and the annealing chamber (x),
so that the flame passing over the bridge (i) then passes through openings (k) in
the wall (), and is thus spread in divided streams into the annealing chamber.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, I claim the improvements in the construction of
annealing furnaces, by which the trolly or truck is kept cool, whilst at the same
time the furnace is kept air-tight, as herein more fully set forth and specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Hatton, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of January, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.