Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Aug., 1887.
Specification Accepted, 9th Sept., 1887
I ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn in the county of Middlesex M.I.M.E.
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the saune is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement :-
The well known cistern glass furnaces with continuous working produce a glass
which is generally only used for common ware such as bottles and the like while for
better articles such as white hollow glass plate glass and the like glass from the pot
furnaces is preferably used.
The object of the present invention is to combine two furnaces one of which is
only used for the smelting of the frit while the other is only used for the refining and
working of the metal.
In the accompanying drawings:
Fig. 1 represents the improved furnace in cross section.
Fig. 2 the same in longitudinal section.
Fig. 3 is a detail of the plug for the pots of the upper furnace.
A is the upper or sinelting furnace arranged on a higher level than the lower, or
refining furnace B both are in this instance furnished with a series of pots.
The pots a of the smelting furnace A are filled with frit through the working
holes b.
The frit melts from the top downwards the flame passing over the top of the pots
and runs off through small holes c in the sides of the pots a just above the bottom;
thence it runs through the gutter like channels d into the pots e off the lower or
refining furnace B. These pots e are provided with a vertical partition having an
opening at the bottom through which the metal enters and rises in the second
compartment.

page_text: Exactly the same quantity of frit is fed into the furnace A as metal runs off into
the furnace B. The metal undergoes a preliminary refining during the passage
through the channels d which refining is completed by the partition in the pot e of
the lower furnace B whence the refined metal is withdrawn for further working
through the working holes g.
To prevent a mixing and spoiling of the metal by the frit.in consequence of careless
charging of the pots a of the upper furnace the opening c of these pots can be closed
temporarily by an adjustable plugs having a conical end fitting into the funnel shaped
opening c. These openings c remain then closed until the frit is molten when they
are opened again to let as much of the metal run off into the pots e off the lower
furnace as metal has been withdrawn from the latter for working purposes. The
process nevertheless remains always continuous as the smelting goes on while the
refined metal is being withdrawn from the lower furnace.
Both furnaces A and B are provided with regenerative gas furnaces, the former
being heated from above and the latter from underneath.
The smelting and refining processes being perfectly independent the temperature
can be regulated for each process separately.
The furnace A is provided with a gutter running along its side for the reception
of the clay melting off the sides of the furnace the hearth of which slopes towards
the side opposite the running off channels d; where it is provided with a gutter & for
the reception of the glass overflowing during the smelting which is conducted from
the gutter & into the vault C through the openings 1.
Through the openings i the matter collecting in the gutter / can be withdrawn as
also the channels d and openings e inspected.
Instead of the pot furnace A a cistern furnace may be used for the smelting process
but this has the disadvantage that only one kind of metal can be worked while by the
use of the pot furnace several kinds of glass may be produced and worked
simultaneously a feature which is of the utmost importance for smaller glass works
and for such as do not produce or work a speciality.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention as
communicated to me by my foreign correspondent and in what manner the same is to
be performed I declare that what I claim is:-
1. The arrangement of the smelting and refining furnaces respectively in such a
manner that the continuously smelting metal runs continuously from the pots or
cistern of the smelting furnace into the pots of the refining furnace substantially
as and for the purpose specified.
2. The arrangement of two or more independent furnaces on different levels for
the purpose of obtaining the continuous working substantially as specified.
3. In the pots for the smelting of the frit the openings c for the running off of the
molten metal towards the refining furnace substantially as specified.
4. In the pots for the smelting of the frit the combination with the openings c of
an adjustable plug with cone shaped end fitting the funnel shaped end of the
opening c substantially as and for the purpose specified.
5. In a smelting furnace such as A having a sloping hearth a gutter k and
openings for the purpose of removing the glass overflowing during the smelting
process substantially as specified.
n
11
ليم
1000