IMPROVEMENTS IN FURNACES FOR CALCISING COPPER OR OTHER ORES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Richard Farmer. Ironfounder, and Henry Hard-
wick, Engineer, both of Gainsborough, in the County of Lincoln, for the
Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN FURNACES FOR CALCISING COPPER OR OTHER
ORES."
Sealed the 1st October 1878, and dated the 15th April 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Richard Farmer and
Henry Hardwick at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 15th
April 1878.
CHARLES RICHARD FARMER, Ironfounder, and HENRY HARDWICK, Engineer, both
of Gainsborough, in the County of Lincoln. IMPROVEMENTS IN FURNACES FOR
CALCINING COPPER OR OTHER ORES,"
This Invention has for its object improvements in furnaces for calcining copper or
other ores:
We construct a circular chamber with horizontal bottom and arched top of fire-
bricks, worked at the bottom corner into an obtuse angle: through this chamber
passes a rotating centre shaft with semi-loose centre boss.to which arms are attached.
To these are fixed V shaped ploughs, each at a different radius from the shaft, so as
to describe different circles. The forward movement of these ploughs throws the
ore into ridges and furrows, thus exposing a large surface to the action of the heat.
and continually changing the particles of ore exposed. By a backward movement
the charge may be drawn (or emptied) through a long opening in the bottom of the
furnace. closed by an inclined slide plate running on rollers. the front of the slide
being closed by a lever and weight.
The centre shaft is carried by a screw for the purpose of raising and towering the
ploughs.
The power may be communicated by wheel gearing from an engine fixed on a
double girder framing, forming a stay for the furnace side and cross girders.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Charles Richard Farmer and Henry Hardwick in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 10th October 1878.
CHARLES RICHARD FARMER, Ironfounder, and HENRY HARDWICK, Engineer, both
of Gainsborough, in the County of Lincoln.. IMPROVEMENTS, IN FURNACES FOR
CALCINING COPPER OR OTHER ORES."
This Invention has for its object improvements in furnaces for caleining copper or
other ores.
We construct a circular chamber with horizontal bottom and arched top of fire-
bricks, worked at the bottom corner into an obtuse angle: through this chamber
passes a rotating centre shaft with semi-louse centre boss, to which arms are attached.
To these are fixed V shaped ploughs, each at a different radius from the shaft, so as
to describe different circles. The forward movement of these ploughs throws the
ore into ridges and furrows, thus exposing a large surface to the action of the heat,
and continually changing the particles of ore exposed. By a hackward movement
the charge may be drawn (or emptied) through a long opening in the bottom of the
furnace, closed by an inclined slide plate running on rollers, "the front of the slide
being closed and opened by a lever and weight.
The centre shaft is carried by a screw for the purpose of raising the ploughs and
lowering them as they wear away.
The power may be communicated by wheel gearing from an engine fixed on a
double girder framing, forming a stay for the furnace side and cross girders.
Such being the nature of our said Invention, we now proceed to describe the
manner of carrying it into practical effect, as illustrated in the accompanying three
Sheets of Drawings.
Fig. 1 is a
same.
plan of one of our improved furnaces: Fig. 2 is a side view of the
Fig. 3 is a horizontal section.
Fig. is a vertical section.
Fig. 5 is an elevation of the reverse side to Fig. 2.
Fig. 6 is a plan to a larger scale of the inclined slide plate on rollers; Fig. 7 is a
sectional view thereof.
Fig. 7 is a front view of lever and other parts.
Fig. 8 shows the changing positions of the ore in the furnace.
Figs. 9 to 17 are plans, elevations, and sections of the various shapes of ploughs.
1 is the circular chamber, with horizontal bottom 2 and arched top of fire-
bricks, worked at the bottom corner into an obtuse angle 4; 5, 5, are the fire-places:
6, 6, flues: 7 is the centre shaft, formed with a central hole S, and steadied by a
guide 9 with adjusting screws; 10 is a footstep carrying the centre shaft. and
adjustable vertically by the screw II and nut 12; 13 is a sand joint to prevent
entrance of air or escape of heated gases: 13 is a circular guard to prevent matter
from the furnace falling through the shaft hole; 13 is a guard on the shaft to
protect the footstep. The centre shaft is driven through a spur wheel 14. pinion
15. bevel gear 16, and spur gear 17 by the engine 18, which is fixed on the double
girder framing 19. The framing stays the furnace side, as already described. 20 is
The semi-loose centre boss on the shaft 7. By semi-loose we mean fast horizontally.
and loose vertically. 21 are arms radiating from the boss. 22, 23. 24. 25, 26. 27.
28, 29, 30, are the V shaped ploughs, secured to the arms at various distances from
the centre shaft so as to travel in different circular courses over the horizontal bed.
as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 8.
The positions of these ploughs may obviously be varied to suit circumstances.
By their forward movement they throw the ore into ridges and furrows, as already
described, and by their backward movement they empty the furnace: and in case
of the ore working too much towards the outer edge. the backward movement.
(keeping the slide closed) will work the ore back towards the centre.

page_text: 81 is the opening in the bottom of the furnace for drawing the charge: 32 is the
inclined slide plate for closing the opening: this plate runs on rollers 33 84 is a
weighted lever for closing and opening the front 35 of the slide plate aperture: 86
are flaps for guiding the ore as it falls from the furnace into trucks, one of which is
shewn at 87.
Having described the nature of our said Invention, and explained the manner of
carrying it into practical effect, we desire to have it understood that, save and
except as herein-after mentioned, we do not intend to claim any of the mechanical
parts of the apparatus herein-before shewn and described when taken separately
and apart from the combination or application thereof, in manner and for the
purposes bergin described; but what we consider to be novel and original, and
therefore claim as secured to us by the herein-before in part recited Letters
Patent is
1. Constructing mechanical caleining furnaces, substantially as herein-before
described, and shewn in the accompanying Drawings.
2. Forming the furnace with an obtuse angular part, connecting its vertical wall
with its horizontal bottom, substantially as described and shewn."
3. The application and use of the V shaped ploughs, substantially as described
and shewn, for performing the operations of stirring and withdrawing the charge.
4. The method of fixing the ploughs to the arms carried by the centre shaft,
substantially as described and shewn, for the purposes specified.
5. The method described of adjusting the position of the ploughs vertically.
6. Providing the furnace with the opening 31 and inclined slide 32 on rollers 33,
substantially as described and shewn,
7. The combination and arrangement with the furnace of the engine and girder
framing, the latter forming a stay, substantially as described and shewn.
In witness whereof, we, the said Charles Richard Farmer and Henry Hardwick,
have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Fifth day of October. in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
CHARLES RICHARD FARMER. (...)
HENRY HARDWICK.
(L..S.)