AN IMPROVED PUDDLING FURNACE
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Samuel Johnson Beaman and Joseph Onions,
both of Wednesbury, in the County of Stafford, for the Invention
of "AN IMPROVED PUDDLING FURNACE,"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Samuel Johnson
Beaman and Joseph Onions at the Office of the Commissionersof
Patents, with their Petition, on the 14th March 1872.
We, SAMUEL JOHNSON BEAMAN and JOSEPH ONIONS, both of Wednes-
bury, in the County of Stafford, do hereby declare the nature of our
said Invention for "AN IMPROVED PUDDLING FURNACE," to be as follows
(that is to say):
Our improved furnace will be sufficiently understood from the fol-
lowing description:-We construct a horizontal vessel either circular
or other regular or irregular shape in its transverse section, varying the
length according to requirements. This vessel we construct of boiler
plate or cast iron with an annular space for holding water, and capable

page_text: of resisting steam at a high pressure; and partially around such vessel
projecting ribs may be constructed of a V shape, that the vessel may
rest on rollers arranged at suitable distances corresponding with such
ribs, and between such rollers an arm or arms project downward, to
which a corresponding rod is applied for giving a reciprocating partial
refluent motion to the vessel on such rollers. The vessel thus con-
structed has an opening at the top and flue ways at the ends capable of
control, that is to say, changing the draught way from one end to the
other, or using both. At the bottom of this vessel projecting nozzles
are provided open or closed by a stop-cock for regulation, by which
steam may be injected into the interior of the molten iron while it is
being worked. The means of controlling the flue ways also provide a
way for extracting the balls of puddled iron when fit to be drawn. The
hollow vessel thus described we purpose lining with fire-bricks and
fettling as now adopted with ordinary puddling furnaces.
The opening at the top of the vessel affords the double purpose of
allowing the flame of the furnace hereafter referred to to enter the vessel,
as the ingress of heat and the application of a series of tubular dividers
to descend to the bottom of the vessel, to which dividers we purpose
imparting motion that they may move in a contrary direction with the
motion of the vessel, that is to say, that while the vessel containing the
molten iron is moving in one direction the dividers are moved in the
contrary direction; and to protect these dividers from the excessive heat
of the molten metal we purpose charging them with water or steam, with
a suitable safety vent or blow off. The vessel thus arranged is enclosed
within an outer case of brickwork, as that portion of puddling furnaces
is now constructed, having a furnace on one or both sides, so that the
combined effect of the heat from the furnace may pass over a bridge or
bridges, and descend into the vessel through the top opening (which
is an important feature in our Invention), and passes out through the
one or both flue ways before referred to.
To this description we may merely add that the crude iron is supplied
and the puddled balls withdrawn in rotation as the work is carried on
by the more or less intense heat, and by the action imparted to the
vessel and dividers, which may be by the agency of steam, water, or
other convenient or auxiliary power, thus reducing the manual labour
to the attention of the furnace fires and the withdrawing of the puddled
balls, and recharging the vessel with crude iron, a species of labour that

page_text: may be performed by an individual of the humblest capacity guided by
simple instructions, both as relates to the proper condition of the iron
being puddled, and to the general admission of steam when desired as
an agency for taking up the impure gases evolved from the iron being
puddled.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Samuel Johnson Beaman and Joseph Onions in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 14th September 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, SAMUEL
JOHNSON BEAMAN and JOSEPH ONIONS, both of Wednesbury, in the
County of Stafford, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fourteenth day of March, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the thirty-
fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto us, the said Samuel Johnson Beaman and Joseph Onions,
Her special license that we, the said Samuel Johnson Beaman and
Joseph Onions, our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as we, the said Samuel Johnson Beaman and Joseph Onions, our exe-
cutors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and
no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "AN IMPROVED
PUDDLING FURNACE," upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the
said Samuel Johnson Beaman and Joseph Onions, by an instrument
in writing under our hands and seals, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great
Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent..
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said Samuel Johnson Beaman and
Joseph Onions, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly

page_text: Our improved combination puddling furnace will be sufficiently
understood from the following description:-We construct a horizontal
vessel either circular or other regular or irregular shape in its transverse
section, varying the length according to requirements. This vessel is
constructed of boiler plate or cast iron with an annular space if required
for holding water, and capable of resisting steam at a high pressure,
and partially around such vessel projecting ribs may be constructed of a
circular form, terminating on the edge in a v shape, or otherwise, that the
vessel may rest and partially revolve on grooved or other rollers arranged
at suitable distances corresponding with such V. shaped or plain ribs, and
between such rollers an arm or arms project downwards from the vessel;
to which a connecting rod is applied for giving a partial reciprocating
motion to the vessel on such rollers, and by which reciprocating motion
a refluent action is given to the molten metal in progress of working or
puddling. The vessel thus constructed has an opening at the top and
flue ways at the ends capable of control, that is to say, changing the
draught way from one inlet to the other, or using both; at the bottom
of this vessel projecting nozzles are provided opened or closed by a
stop-cock for regulation, by which steam may be injected into the
interior with the molten iron while it is being worked. The means
of controlling the flue ways also provide a way for extracting the balls
of puddled iron when fit to be drawn. The hollow vessel thus described
we purpose lining with fire-bricks and fettling as now adopted with
ordinary puddling furnaces. The openings at the top and ends of the
vessel afford the double purpose of allowing the flame of the furnace
hereafter referred to to enter the vessel as the ingress of heat at one end
and the other the application of a series of tubular dividers to descend
to the bottom of the vessel, to which dividers we purpose imparting
motion that they may move in a contrary direction with the motion of
the vessel, that is to say, that while the vessel containing the molten
iron is, moving in one direction the dividers are moved in the contrary
direction, and to protect these dividers from the excessive heat of the
molten metal we purpose charging them with water or steam with a
suitable safety vent or blow off. The vessel thus arranged is united to
a melting and firing furnace built of brickwork, as that portion of
puddling furnaces is now constructed having a furnace on one or both

page_text: sides, so that the combined effect of the heat from the furnace may pass
over the furnace bridge or bridges and descend on the crude iron and
thence into the puddling furnace through the opening (which is an
important feature in our Invention), and passes out through the opposite
one or a flue way formed at the top as before referred to.
To this description we may merely add that the crude iron is supplied
and the puddled balls conveniently withdrawn in rotation as the work
is carried on by the more or less intense heat and by the action imparted
to the vessel and dividers, which may be by the agency of steam, water,
or other convenient or auxiliary power, thus reducing the manual labour
to the attention of the furnace fires, the withdrawing of the puddled
balls, and in charging the vessel with crude iron, a species of labour
that may be performed by an individual of the humblest capacity
guided by simple instruction, both as relates to the proper condition of
the iron being puddled, and to the general admission of steam when
desired as an agency for taking up the impure gases evolved during
working:
As a general remark we will observe that a new theory for the melting,
refining, balling, or puddling of iron by mechanical means involves
many difficulties in reducing such theory to practice that does not attend
many other Inventions; as, for instance, the means of construction are
various, heavy, and cumbrous, requiring much time, exposition, and
multifarious labour before a sufficient test of efficiency can be made,
but we believe the general arrangement as represented in the various
views and sections of the Drawings hereunto annexed will be found to
answer well, and which we will now proceed to describe, aided by the
figures and letters marked thereon, observing that the same parts as
tlicy occur in the various views are defined by the same letters of
reference.
Fig: 1 is a front view with the chimney broken off for convenience of
space showing the door partly raised through which the puddled balls
are withdrawn, and also representing the mode of giving motion to the
rabble and dividers herein-after referred to. The puddling vessel is
marked A, and is so connected to the exit fluè way marked B that the
said vessel partially revolves in air-tight rings hereafter to be parti-
cularized and described. The puddling vessel A rests on six rollers;
three on each side, two of which are shown in this view marked C and D ;

page_text: these rollers are set up on standards adjusted by wedging or otherwise
to a sole or ground plate. The standard E takes the bearing of the rabble
at the mouth of the vessel, and at right angles to the shaft of the rabble
a crank is fixed marked a, and on the front end of the axis of the
roller D another crank marked 6 is applied parallel with the former;
at the extremities of these cranks pins are attached for receiving the
connecting rod c, c. Beneath the puddling vessel, partly shown in
dotted lines, in this view is a strong projecting or descending arm
marked F necessary for giving a partial revolving motion to the vessel A
in order to impart a refluent action to the molten metal within the
vessel during the operation of puddling. The mode we have adopted
for making the escape flue way B is to cast the part here shown in four
parts with flanges for bolting and uniting together, the said four parts.
when together leave a circular opening for the reception of the end of
the vessel A, the bottom plates B¹, B', being partly broken away to show
the front end of the vessel resting on the front rollers, which otherwise
would be obscured by being placed behind the plate B₁, B; the door
of the vessel G, represented in section at Fig. 2, may be made of cast
iron surrounded by a flange in which fire-bricks may be laid and cemented
with fire-clay in the ordinary way, the door being suspended by a chain
or rod from an elevated pin, and raised or lowered by a lever with a
pendant rod for the convenience of the operator.
At Fig. 3 we have represented the same view as at Figure 1 with
some of the details omitted and others added, such, for instance, as the
guide plates H, H, for the door G to work in, as well as a swinging
crane marked K for sustaining the tongs marked.d, used for extracting
the balls, the said tongs being connected by a chain to a roller working
on the top of the crane, appliances and details well understood by
workmen accustomed to the puddling of iron; the dotted line e, e, e, e,
represents brickwork behind the front plates, as will be seen in the
ground plan, Figure 5, and corresponding part of Figure 1, which
represents the iron plate B and B¹ broken away for the purpose before
described, but we have introduced into this view the terminal or top part
of the stack for the purpose of showing that we adopt in our arrange-
ment the use of a common damper for regulating the furnace. The
hollow space within the plates B, B, admits of a projecting flue way
constructed. at the top of the puddling vessel to move freely around
when the vessel is being oscillated, and which flue way is represented

page_text: in dotted lines at ff; the superstructure as here described rests on a
solid base or foundation which is somewhat important to the general
working or development of our improvements, as the use of iron and
bricks enters largely into our arrangements as materials, and it is neces-
sary that no part should sink from its original setting and position ;
and this foundation forms the datum line from which we raise our new
combined melting and puddling furnace, of which Fig. 4 is a longitudinal
central vertical section with the exception of the standards E and M
supporting the rabble g, g, and the dividers h, h, h, which are shown
as forming part of the rabble. In this view we show the vessel in
which the iron is puddled, marked A, constructed circular, and by
preference of boiler plate on the exterior, lined throughout with fire-
bricks and a coating of fettling, which being well understood needs no
description. In this view the flue way f,f, is best seen; the contracted
circular openings in the ends of this vessel are formed of strong angular
rings of iron which work in corresponding angular rings secured on the
inside of the plates B, B, and B', B', Figures 1 and 3, whilst the other
end in connection with the melting furnace works in an angular circular
ring secured to an annular plate which abutts against the face of a corre-
sponding annular plate marked j and k, secured against the flue way of the
melting chamber O, and thus forms a close joint, the expansion and con-
traction consequent on the different degrees of heat being compensated by
the parts coming together in the circular rings. P is a crown bridge in
the melting chamber, Q, the flue bridge, and R, the fire bridge, whilst
the square aperture S forms a portable opening for charging the melting,
chamber with pig or crude iron. The furnace proper marked T may be
charged with fuel from the front through the opening U or an opening
at the side as preferred, and in the side walls of the furnace T air flues
may be placed with dampers for regulation, and the fire-bridge made
hollow at the back to connect the air ways, which from their position
are calculated to heat the air they contain to a high temperature, which
escapes around the sides of the furnace and front of the bridge, through
small apertures or air ways formed in the bricks in a manner described
in a Patent granted to William Swain in 1855, No. 708, such jets of
highly rarefied air being beneficial in rendering the fuel more active in
its heating effect, in addition to which we purpose using cold or hot
blast, which may be conveniently admitted through a shield placed in
front of the ash hole, so as to apply the blast under the bars; but it
may be preferred to take the blast through the end or other part of the

page_text: furnace above the bars, or both above and below. At the bottom of the
melting chamber O below the flue bridge we insert an iron tapping hole
by preference of a taper form, placing a corresponding tube into the
vessel A, so that by removing the stopping and applying a portable
spout the molten metal may be permitted to run from the melting
chamber into the puddling vessel A, and these tapping holes are
also essential for running off the slag from one or other of the vessels
in which it may have accumulated in excess of requirement; and
although we have' represented these tapping holes as at m and n,
nevertheless n may be placed in either of the jams of the melting
chamber, whilst the tapping hole in the vessel A may be placed in any
suitable position in relation to the melting chamber by being oscillated
by the lever shown in this view marked F, so that in the partial revolving
action of the puddling vessel A the tapping hole may be brought in
convenient relation to the tapping hole in the melting chamber O. In
this view we are enabled to to partially show three of the rollers on which
the puddling vessel A rests, and which rollers are respectively marked
C, C, C, whilst their corresponding set on the other side are marked
D, D, D, as shown at Fig. 5, which is a longitudinal transverse section of
Figure 4 taken through the dotted line V, V, showing a top view of the
rabble 9, 9, and dividers h, h, h, resting on the supports M and E. The
outer end of the rabble bar is wormed with a quick screw, and works
in à corresponding threaded gland thrown readily off when required in
order that the rabble may be withdrawn from the furnace or vessel for
cooling or substitution of any other shaped or constructed implement,
either for working or dividing the iron or forming the balls, as well as
their withdrawal when formed. The rabble shown we prefer making
from a piece of strong tubing, and with a small inner tube, so that the
stream of water or steam may be conducted in through the outer tube
and out through the inner tube, or vice versa. The details for effecting a
this are well known, and need no further description.
The crank repre-
sented in Figure 1, marked a, is formed with a collar that fits the gland
of the standard E, the rabble passing and working through the collar
of the crank, a feather being formed on the rabble fitting a groove in the
collar of the crank, by which means as the crank is pulled backwards 3
and forwards, as shown in Figure 1, by the backward and forward re-
volving action of the roller D, so the rabble will be wormed in and
out, thus torsing the action of the dividers as they pass through the
molten metal in its refluent motion caused by the partial reciprocating

page_text: .revolving action of the puddling vessel, which action is effected by
connecting an arm rod from any convenient motive power to the crank F
fixed to the bottom of the vessel A, shown in front view at Figure 1, and
partly in section at Figure 4.
In Figure 5 we are enabled to show the flanged castings forming the
outer case of the furnace T and melting chamber O, and, how the
connection is formed with the partially revolving puddling vessel A, as
well as the buck staves r, r, r, the rectangular plate marked 8, 8, 8, 8,
represents a sole or foundation plate on which the standards rest carrying
the rollers for supporting the vessel A, and which standard by means of
keys, wedges, or other equivalent means are advanced or retired to the
exact position in taking the weight of the vessel and adjusting the vessel.
in its connection with the melting chamber O, and' the square base
marked W, W, W, W, represents the brick or stone foundation on which
the puddling vessel, chamber, stack, and attendant parts rest.
Having given a general detailed description of the several combined
parts and details, we will assume that the furnace T has been charged
with the proper fuel through the fire-hole U and the door closed, the
damper of the stack raised, the air ways opened or auxiliary blast
applied, and the melting chamber has been charged with best tap or
other kinds of fettling, and that the same is melted and reduced to a
liquid state, and that the tap holen has been opened and a portable
spout applied to run the fettling into the puddling vessel A, which being.
made to partially revolve flushes the fettling over its surface: this being
done the melting chamber may be charged with broken pig or crude
iron, so that the combined effect of the draught and blast has carried
the heat from the furnace T over the fire-bridge R, and there impinged
by the crown bridge P, so that before it escapes over the flue bridge Q
it shall have brought its impinged heating effect down on the pig iron
charge until it is thoroughly melted and liquified to be run out by
tapping the hole n, and allowed to run by means of a portable spout
before referred to through the pipe m into the puddling vessel A, and the
tap holes being closed the melting chamber may be recharged, while the
puddling vessel A is put into a reciprocating partial revolving action,
rolling the molten iron from side to side, at the same time it is being
torsed and agitated by the advancing and retiring action of the rabble and
dividers, at which stage we prefer using a rabble constructed for receiving
through. its interior, and conveying down to the dividers and througli

page_text: small apertures formed in the same, superheated steam, which will have
the effect of commingling with, expanding, and working the molten
iron, so that the impure sulphurous gases will be disengaged, evolved
from the molten metal, and carried away up the stack. When the iron
is thus purified and has come into nature a water rabble with dividers,
as here shown, may be applied, and by the continuous action of the
vessel and dividers the iron is formed into balls ready to be drawn by
the operator first removing the water rabble, and by aid of the hanging
tongs, shown in Figure 3, the balls are individually grappled and with-
drawn, to be taken away on bogies to the hammer or squeezers, by
which time the second charge of crude iron will have been melted and
ready to be run into the puddling vessel as before, the oscillating motion
of which is stopped for the purpose of so doing, and thus in routine
firing, melting, and puddling the operations are carried on with an
increase in quantity and quality of produce, with considerable reduction
of labour and fuel.
Constructive opinions may vary as to detail, and we will admit that
our plan as here described and exhibited may be much diversified with-
out materially affecting the general order and combination in which
consists the spirit, novelty, and merit of our Invention; as, for instance,
the enlarged vacant space at the base of the stack may be made annular
or continuous, so that the puddling vessel may be made absolutely to
revolve, which may be advantageous for more effectually puddling the
internal surface of such vessel, and the stack may be altered, as well as
the advancing and retiring of the steam and water rabble, as many other
mechanical arrangements or means may be adopted to effect the same
object without using the quick-threaded screw here shown; and instead
of connecting the puddling vessel to the melting chamber with the
through flue way, as here shown, the heat may be carried through an
elevated flue way, and made to descend into a hollow case, similar to the
base of the stack here shown, and through such flue way to an opening
at the top of the vessel to make its exit in the manner exhibited, but
we believe the plan here shown will yield the best practical result, as
the heat is retained and well directed for effecting the object.
Having thus described and exhibited our improvements we wish it
understood that we claim as of our Invention, and wish to protect.
under these our in part recited Letters Patent, the general adaptation,.

page_text: combination, and arrangement of parts for the economic melting and
puddling of iron as herein described and exhibited, or their equivalents.
In witness whereof, we, the said Samuel Johnson Beaman and
Joseph Onions, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this
Thirteenth day of September, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-two.
Witness,
JAMES S. COCKINGS,
Patent Agent,
Birmingham.
SAMUEL JOHNSON BEAMAN. (L.S.)
JOSEPH ONIONS.
(L.S.)