Improvements in Annealing Furnaces for Gun Tubes and other Articles.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Apr., 1899-Accepted, 24th June, 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Annealing Furnaces for Gun Tubes and other
Articles.
I, ISAIAHI TURTON, of the Royal Gun Factorys, Woolwich, in the County of
Kent, Manager, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:-
-
The object of my invention is the construction and arrangement of a horizontal
annealing furnace which will insure an uniformity of heat with economy of fuel
and suitable for long gun tubes jackets hoops armour plates and other articles
which are placed in a closed chamber or
"muffle heated externally by spiral
flues with gas and compressed air and in such a manner that the flame does not
come in contact with the articles to be annealed.
"
The chamber containing the articles to be annealed is heated by radiation of
heat through the thin linings seperating the flues which surround it.
The furnace consists of a long horizontal chamber with doors at one or both
ends one or more distinct spiral flues are built round it through which the gas
and air in combustion circulate from end to end of furnace leaving at the opposite
end to that where the gas enters and passes through an underground brick flue
to the chimney a damper being fitted therein for regulating the heat etc.
A supply of gas is regulated by valves and a number of air slides are fitted
with pipes, cocks, and nozzles, along both sides of the furnace for the supply of
compressed air any of which can be regulated so as to obtain an uniform heat
from end to end and of any desired degree of temperature.
"
The gas passes from "producers' or other supply through a brick channel in
the ground to the valve or valves and then into the spiral flues near the front end
of the furnace.
Rails are laid on the floor of the annealing chamber (which coincides with the
ordinary floor level) upon which suitable trucks containing the articles to be
annealed are run into or right through the chamber.
In the case of long forging or tubes rough turned and bored I place three or
more trucks under the article.
The centre truck or trucks being specially fitted with adjustable wedges actuated
by right and left hand screws so as to keep the tube in line and prevent "sagging"
or bending.
In the accompanying drawings the same letters refer to like parts.
Fig. 1 is a plan with one portion shewn in section.
Fig. 2 is an elevation with one portion shewn in section.
Fig. 3 is a cross section.
Fig. 4 and 5 are two views of the special trucks used for supporting either ends
or middle of long tubes etc.
Fig. 6 is an end or front view shewing the balanced door which may be
arranged to slide either horizontally or vertically.
A is the annealing chamber B B the doors with chains CC, pulleys DD, and
balance weights EE. The spiral flues F, F, and girders GG are for dividing

page_text: the flues and supporting the floor of the chamber on arches. I, I¹, are gas valves
built into the brick culvert and fitted with test pipes and cocks J, J', for ascertain-
ing when the gas is ready for lighting. KK are the underground flues for the
exit of waste gases through a damper to the chimney. LL etc. are side plates for
staying the brickwork and fitted with openings and slides for regulating the
admission of compressed air. M, M, are the air pipes cocks and nozzles. NN are
ties or bands for binding the plates and brickwork together, or "brickstaves
and tie rods may be substituted for the plates according to circumstances. . 0, 0, are
the end frames and girders for doors and balance weights. P, P, are pipes or open-
ings in suitable places for fixing." pyrometers." QQ are adjustable trucks.
R, R, are wedges. SS right and left handed screws with hand wheels T, T, or
square-ends for spanner.
"
In working the furnace the gun tubes, jackets hoops, armour plates or other
articles are placed on trucks and wheeled into the annealing chamber and the
.doors closed and "luted" with fireclay. The test cocks are then opened to allow
any air that may be in the passages to escape. A light is then applied to the
test pipe or pipes and when the gas burns freely the gas may be allowed to
enter the furnace by gradually opening the valve or valves and placing a lighted
piece of oily cotton waste into one of the air ports. The gas and air supplies
are then regulated until the flame extends along the flues the whole length of the
furnace.
"
When the heat inside the annealing chamber has reached say about 900 degrees
the gas is shut off, the air cocks and slides all closed and the damper shut down
and the furnace allowed to gradually cool down. When the furnace is cold the
doors are opened and the articles and trucks removed.
my said
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
'claim is:
1st. The arrangement and construction of a horizontal annealing furnace heated
by gas and compressed air substantially as shewn and described.
2nd. The heating of an internal chamber by one or more spiral flues so as to
seperate the flame from the articles to be annealed substantially as described and
set forth.
3rd. The arrangements in a horizontal annealing furnace for producing an
uniform heat of any desired degree of temperature required throughout by the
régulating of gas and compressed air substantially as described and set forth.
4th. The method and apparatus for facilitating the moving and supporting long
gun tubes armour plates and other articles on adjustable trucks running into or
through a horizontal annealing chamber substantially as described and set forth.
Dated this 20th day of March 1899
WASHINGTON, HUDSON,
Agent for the Applicant.
"Kempscote;" Coleraine Road, Westcombe Park, London, S.E.