IMPROVEMENTS IN BLAST FURNACES AND CALCINING KILNS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Hickman, of Spring Vale Furnaces, near
Wolverhampton, in the County of Stafford, Ironmaster, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN BLAST FURNACES AND CALCINING KILNS."
Sealed the 25th November 1879, and dated the 30th May 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Hickman at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 30th May 1879.
ALFRED HICKMAN, of Spring Vale Furnaces, near Wolverhampton, in the
County of Stafford, Ironmaster. "IMPROVEMENTS IN BLAST FURNACES AND
CALCINING KILNS."
This Invention relates chiefly to the construction of blast furnaces for
smelting iron and to kilns for calcining ores, but may be used also for analogous
purposes.
A furnace or kiln constructed according to this Invention is divided in the
interior by one or more vertical walls or divisions of any suitable material to with-
stand the action of the fire.
In the case of a blast furnace for smelting iron, the walls should commence at a
point above the zone of fusion, say, from 20 to 30 feet above the bottom of the
hearth. The walls may be carried on arches sprung from the sides of the furnace,
and may be carried up either to the top of the furnace or to any point below the
top. If the furnace is close-topped and worked with a cup and cone the top of the
walls must he low enough to leave room for the cone to work, and they should be
high enough to catch the cone if let fall by any failure of the lifting gear. If the
gases are taken off through holes or arches around the furnace the walls may be
carried up to the top of such holes. If the gases are taken off through a tube in
the centre of the throat of the furnace, the walls may be carried up to the tube and
made to support it.
The chief objects desired to be attained in placing the walls or divisions within
a blast furnace are by relieving the pressure of the materials upon each other and
rendering them more pervious to the passage of the ascending gases, 1st, to quicken
the working of the furnace; 2nd, to enable tender or friable materials to be worked
D

page_text: to better advantage within the furnace; and 3rd, to render advantageous the employ-
ment of a higher furnace than has hitherto been advisable.
In the case of a calcining kiln the walls or divisions aforesaid may be carried
from the bottom to the top of the kiln.
The chief objects desired to be attained by placing the walls or divisions inside 5
a calcining kiln are, 1st, to lessen the pulverization of the materials within the kiln
and thus prevent waste; 2nd, to lessen the liability of the kiln to choke or gob,
and in case of such choking or gobbing occurring to render it more easy to be dealt
with owing to the lesser mass, and to enable the remaining divisions to be worked
though one may be choked; and 3rd, to enable different kinds of materials to be 1
calcined in the same kiln at the same time, and all kept separate.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Alfred Hickman in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 26th
November 1879.
ALFRED HICKMAN, of Spring Vale Furnaces, near Wolverhampton, in the
County of Stafford, Ironmaster. "IMPROVEMENTS IN BLAST (FURNACES AND
CALCINING KILNS."
This Invention relates chiefly to the construction of blast furnaces for smelting
iron and kilns for calcining ores, but is applicable also for analogous purposes, such,
for instance, as for kilns for burning lime. The Invention being very simple in
detail will be readily understood by a competent furnace builder without the aid of
an illustration.
A furnace or kiln constructed according to this Invention is divided in the
interior by one or more vertical walls or divisions of any suitable material to with-
stand the action of the fire. The said walls are preferably built nine inches thick
and of fire bricks of good quality, and are preferably built radiating from the centre
of the furnace to the lining, being properly bonded into one another at the centre,
and may be also into the lining.
In the case of a blast furnace for smelting iron the walls are carried on arches
the same width as the walls and spanning the interior of the furnace, the springings
of which should commence at a point above the zone of fusion (that is to say), the
arches spring at a point about twenty-five feet above the bottom of the hearth, it
being preferred to start the walls as low down as they will stand without being
melted. For a furnace about seventeen feet diameter of bosh I prefer to have four
radiating walls, that is, two walls crossing one another at right angles and forming
four distinct vertical divisions, but the number of divisions may of course be varied
to suit the size and height of the furnace and the materials used in smelting. The
arches carrying the division walls should have a good rise at the centre, being
preferably semicircular or nearly so. Relieving arches may be built in the division
walls a few feet above the arches carrying the walls, so as to support the main
portion of the walls in case of the lower portions being burnt out. The walls are
preferably carried to the filling level of the furnace.
If the furnace is close-topped and worked with a cup and cone the top of the
division walls must be low enough to leave room for the cone to work, and they
should be high enough to catch the cone if let fall by any failure of the lifting gear.
If the gases are taken off through a tube in the centre of the throat of the furnace
the walls may be carried up to the tube and made to support it. The filling
openings in an open-topped furnace are arranged in number and position to suit
the vertical divisions aforesaid. The tops of the division walls are protected by
cast iron plates extending about 2 feet 6 inches down on each side of the
walls and hanging on the top of the walls by flanges about 3 inches broad. The
plates on opposite sides of a wall are bolted together by bolts passing through the
wall.
The chief objects desired to be attained in placing the walls or divisions within a
blast furnace are, by relieving the pressure of the materials upon each other and
rendering them more pervious to the passage of the ascending gases, 1st, to quicken
the working of the furnace; 2nd, to enable tender or friable materials to be worked
to better advantage within the furnace; and 3rd, to render advantageous the em-
ployment of a higher furnace than has hitherto been advisable.
In the case of a calcining kiln the walls or divisions aforesaid are carried
preferably from the bottom to the top of the kiln. There are preferably four
radiating walls for a kiln 16 feet diameter, thus dividing the kiln into four vertical
divisions, forming, when the walls are carried from the bottom to the top of the kiln,
four distinct and separate kilns. The said walls may of course be carried on

page_text: arches any desired height from the bottom of the kiln if preferred, and relieving
arches may be built as described for a blast furnace. The filling-in openings are
arranged to suit the divisions, and the tops of the walls are protected as before
described.
The chief objects desired to be attained by placing the walls or divisions inside a
calcining kiln are 1st, to lessen the pulverization of the materials within the kiln
and thus prevent waste; 2nd, to lessen the liability of the kiln to choke or gob,
and in case of such choking or gobbing occurring to render it more easy to be dealt
with, owing to the lesser mass, and to enable the remaining divisions to be worked
though one may be choked; and 3rd, (in the case of the walls being carried from
the bottom to the top of the kiln), to enable different kinds of materials to be
calcined in the same kiln at the same time and all kept separate.
In the case either of blast furnace or a calcining kiln the vertical walls or divisions
may divide the furnace or kiln in any desired manner otherwise than radially,
though I consider the radial walls much to be preferred.
Having thus stated the nature of my said Invention, and particularly described
and ascertained the manner of performing the same, I declare that I claim as my
Invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent, the improvements in blast
furnaces and calcining kilns herein described, that is to say, dividing the said
furnaces and kilns by vertical walls, substantially as and for the purpose herein
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alfred Hickman, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty fifth day of November, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine.
Witness,
HENRY CHILTON,
Clerk to Stephen Watkins,
Assoc. M. Inst. C.E.,
Office for Patents,
Wolverhampton.
ALFRED HICKMAN. (L.8.)