IMPROVEMENTS IN HEATING AND PUDDLING FURNACES FOR THE MANU- FACTURE OF IRON OR STEEL, PART OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS IS ALSO APPLI- - CABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1879

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LETTERS PATENT to Alfred James New, Iron Master, of Ruddington, Notts,
and Samuel Thomas, Forge Manager, of Trowell, Notts, for the Invention of
IMPROVEMENTS IN HEATING AND PUDDLING FURNACES FOR THE MANU-
FACTURE OF IRON OR STEEL, PART OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS IS ALSO APPLI- -
CABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES." A communication from abroad by David Thomas,
of St. Louis. Missouri. U.S.A.
Sealed the 16th December 1879, and dated the 25th July 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred James New and
Samuel Thomas at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 5th July
1879.
ALFRED JAMES NEW, Iron Master, of Ruddington, Notts, and SAMUEL THOMAS,
Forge Manager, of Trowell, Notts. "IMPROVEMENTS IN HEATING AND PUDDLING
FURNACES FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF IRON OR STEEL, PART OF WHICH IMPROVE-
MENTS IS ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES." (A communication from abroad
by David Thomas, of St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.A.)
The first portion of the Invention consists in so constructing a furnace that the
waste heat instead of passing directly up a chimney is caused to pass into a receiver
or hot air chamber, where it can be utilized for the heating of air which is driven.
into the furnace by means of a fan or blowing engine in order to feed the fire with.
hot air instead of cold, thus effecting a great saving of fuel; or a portion of the
waste heat may be utilized for the making of steam.
The second portion of the Invention relates to the application of the same or a.
similar arrangement to a puddling furnace for utilizing the waste heat or gases for
the purpose of re-feeding the fire, thus enabling us to obtain a heat of from 4000°
to 6000° Fah.
The third portion of the Invention (which is also applicable to other purposes,
such as the manufacture of crucibles, cupolas, and blast furnaces, or ordinary fire
bricks or linings) consists in the employment of a mixture of ground flint and fire
clay, preferably in or about the proportions of four fifths flint to one fifth fire clay,
according to the quality of the latter.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Alfred James New and Samuel Thomas in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 24th January 1880.
ALFRED JAMES NEW, Iron Master, of Ruddington, Notts, and SAMUEL THOMAS,
Forge Manager, of Trowell, Notts. "IMPROVEMENTS IN HEATING AND PUDDLING
FURNACES FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF IRON OR STEEL, PART OF WHICH IMPROVE-
MENTS IS ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES." (A. communication from abroad
by David Thomas, of St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.A.)
The first portion of the Invention consists in so constructing a furnace that the
waste heat instead of passing directly up a chimney is caused to pass into a receiver
or hot air chamber, where it can be utilized for the heating of air which is driven
into the furnace by means of a fan or blowing engine in order to feed the fire with
hot air instead of cold, thus effecting a great saving of fuel; or a portion of the
waste heat may be utilized for the making of steam.
The second portion of the Invention relates to the application of the same or a
similar arrangement to a puddling furnace for utilizing the waste heat or gases for
the purpose of re-feeding the fire, thus enabling us to obtain a heat of from 4000°
to 6000° Fah.
The third portion of the Invention (which is also applicable to other purposes,
such as the manufacture of crucibles, cupolas, and blast furnaces, or ordinary fire
bricks or lining) consists in the employment of a mixture of ground flint and fire
clay, preferably in or about the proportions of four fifths flint to one fifth fire clay,
according to the quality of the latter.
The first portion of the Invention is shown in Sheets 1 and 2 of the accom-
panying Drawings, which illustrate a heating furnace with the improvements
applied.
In the views shown on Sheet 1 Figure 1 is a front elevation, Figure 2 a
sectional plan, and Figure 3 a back elevation. On Sheet 2 Figure 4 is a sectional
elevation through the line C, D, of Figure 2, whilst Figure 5 is an end elevation
of the furnace. A horizontal section through the heating chamber is shown in
Figure 6, whilst Figures 7 and 8 are respectively views of the upper bed plate and
side plates of the same.
A, A, are the side walls of the furnace, which is heated by fires formed on the
fire bars B, B. The products of combustion (after having acted upon the material
in the furnace which rests upon the hearth C) escape down the vertical flues D into
the horizontal flue E, and by means of the short neck F and passages G are led
from E into the hot air chamber or receiver H.
As will be seen in Figure 1 the products of combustion are led into the hot air
chamber H (which surrounds the base of the chimney) at it base or lower part,
from whence the gases rise and ultimately escape into the chimney I by means of
the passages J, J, at the upper part of the hot air chamber. From the chimney the
gases escape to the atmosphere as usual.
The hot air chamber H is fitted with series of breeches pipes K, K, the lower
ends of the legs of which are stepped into sockets L, L, so as to form a continuous
communication between them. The products of combustion from the furnace (led
into the hot-air chamber by the passages G) surround the pipes K, K, making
them very hot. The section of the hot-air chamber H in Figure 2 is taken through
the line X, Y, in Figure 1.
The air supplying the furnace is driven by a fan or blowing engine into the
pipes K at the branch M; it circulates up one and down the other leg of each of
the breeches pipes K, which, as before remarked, are connected to each other by
means of the sockets L; and the air finally issues from the pipes K by the branch N
in a highly heated state, in which condition it is led to the furnace or furnaces by
means of the pipes O, shown in dotted lines in the plan view Figure 2.

page_text: By this arrangement the fires are fed with hot instead of cold air, thus effecting
a great saving of fuel.
It is evident a portion of the waste heat products of combustion may be led
away to boilers for generating steam either before or after passing through the hot
air chamber.
P, P, are columns resting on the lower bed plate Q and carrying at the top the
upper bed plate R, R, on which the chimney is built. The columns P, P, are also
provided with flanges S, S, to which the side plates T, T, are bolted, the latter
covering in and strengthening the side lining U of the hot air chamber.
On referring to Figures 3 and 4 it will be seen that the ash pit is furnished with
doors e, e.
These doors are opened when the fires are first lighted on the bars B, so as to
supply the necessary draught, as also when the fires at B require cleaning; but
when the furnace is at work the said doors are kept closed, and all the air to the
furnace is supplied by the pipes O, which air, as before described, is highly heated
by its having passed through the pipes K in the heating chamber H.
The second portion of the Invention is shown in Sheets 3 and 4 of the Drawings,
which illustrate in elevation and sectional views a puddling furnace with an air
heating appliance similar in the main to that shown in Sheets 1 and 2.
In the present case the hot air chamber is carried on columns X at one end of
the furnace, as seen in Figures 1, 2, and 3.
The fire for heating the furnace is carried on the bars B, and the products of
combustion after acting on the metal on its hearth C are led by the vertical flues D
into the chamber H, which they thoroughly heat, and ultimately escape by the flue J
(shown in dotted lines) through the crown of the chamber into the chimney I, and
so to the atmosphere.
In the hot air chamber shown in Sheets 1 and 2 the products of combustion are
led into direct contact with the air heating pipes K, but in the present arrangement
the pipes K are placed in a separate chamber W and outside of the hot air
chamber, the crown of the latter conforming to the curve of the breeches pipes K,
as distinctly seen in the sectional elevation Figure 3, which section is taken on
the line A, B, C, D, of Figure 1.
The chamber H carries at its top the bed plate R securely stayed to the top of.
the columns X, and on this plate the chimney I is built in a similar manner to that
shown in the heating furnace arrangement.
The air to be heated is forced by a fan or blower into the branch M, seen in the
sectional plan Figure 4, by which it is led to the pipes K. The sectional plan,
Figure 4, is taken on the line O, P, of Figure 2.
These pipes K are each stepped into sockets or boxes L, as in the heating furnace
arrangement, by which they are all connected together. The air after it enters
at M passes backwards and forwards through the pipes K, over the crown of the
hot air chamber, and leaves by the branch N.
From N the air, now highly heated, is led by the pipe a into the pipe b spanning
the top of the furnace, and which leads it to the boxes c, c, and from the latter it
is conveyed into the furnace by the horizontal conduits d, d, seen in Figure 5.
The hot air on entering the furnace mixes with the gases arising from the com-
bustion of the fuel on the bars B, by which the temperature is raised from 4000° to
6000° Fah.
Figures 5 and 6 are a vertical and horizontal view respectively through the
furnace, as indicated on the Drawings by the line S, T, in Figure 2, and the line
M, N, in Figure 1.
The third portion of the Invention (which is also applicable to other purposes,
such as the manufacture of crucibles, cupolas, and blast furnaces, or ordinary fire
bricks or lining) consists, as before stated, in the employment of a mixture of
ground flint and fire clay, preferably in or about the proportions of four fifths flint
to one fifth fire clay, according to the quality of the latter.

page_text: And having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, we declare that we claim,―
First. The improvements in heating, and puddling furnaces for the manufacture of
iron or steel, as described and substantially as shown.
Secondly. The employment of a mixture of ground flint and fire clay in or about!
the proportions specified for the purposes set forth.
In witness whereof, we, the said Alfred James New and Samuel Thomas,
have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Twenty first day of January,
One thousand eight hundred and eighty.
ALFRED JAMES NEW. (L.S.)
SAMUEL THOMAS.
(L.S.)