CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GLASS, ALSO IN THE CONSTRUCTING OF FURNACES FOR MELTING AND FINING THE SAME
Year: 1849

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRY
HOWARD, of No. 4, Railway Place, Fenchurch Street, in the City of London,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at West-
minster, the Twenty-eighth day of March, in the twelfth year of Her reign,
did give and grant unto me, the said Henry Howard, my exors, admors,
and assigns, Her especial licence, full power, sole privilege and authority, that
I, the said Henry Howard, my exors, admors, and assigns, and such others
as I, the said Henry Howard, my exors, admors, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times hereafter
during the term of years therein mentioned, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick,
upon-Tweed, my Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
GLASS, ALSO IN THE CONSTRUCTING OF FURNACES FOR MELTING AND FINING THE
SAME," in which said Letters Patent there is contained a proviso, that I, the
said Henry Howard, shall cause a particular description of the nature of my
said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, by an instru-
ment in writing under my hand and seal, to be enrolled in Her said Majesty's
High Court of Chancery within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same, referr
ence being thereunto had, will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Henry Howard, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention, and
the manner in which the same is to be performed, are described and ascer-

page_text: tained by the Drawings hereto annexed, and to the figures and letters marked
thereon, that is to say :-
My Invention consists of certain improvements in the manufacture of
glass, also in the constructing of furnaces for melting and fining the same.
Sheet No. 1 Figures 1, 2, and 3, are views of a three-pot melting furnace.
Figure 1 is a plan, shewing the fire-place, melting pots, and flues; Figure 2 is
a section of the same. Figure 3 is an elevation, shewing the working hole and
outside construction. Figure 4 is a plan of a five-pot melting furnace; Figure 5
is an elevation of the same, shewing the "working holes," the arch being
shewn from each side of the furnace. Figure 6 is a plan of a five-pot melting
furnace with the arch springing from the ends of the furnace; Figures 7 and 8
are elevations of the same, shewing the openings for working the furnace.
Sheet No. 2: Figure 9 is a plan of a double casting furnace, each furnace
containing four pots; Figure 10 is a section of the same, taken through the
centre of the furnaces; Figure 11 is a cross section of the same; Figure 12 is
and
a plan of a five-pot casting furnace; Figure 13, a front view of the same;
Figure 14, a section of the same through the centre of the furnace; Figure 15
is a plan of a casting furnace with three pots; Figures 16 and 17 are sections
of the same; Figure 18, an elevation of the same; Figure 19 is a plan of a
six-pot casting furnace; Figure 20, section of the same; Figure 21, outside
elevation of the same; Figure 22 is a transverse section of a furnace with a
platina arch. Figures 23 and 24 are plan and section of an improved anneal-
ing kiln.
The main features of this Invention is, firstly, in so forming and construct-
ing these melting and casting furnaces that a better impingement of the
flame to and around the sides of the pots, and a more uniform heat is obtained
than in the furnaces now in use.
Secondly, in the portability and cheapness of their construction.
Thirdly, in the arrangement of the descending flues in relation to the
position of the melting and casting pots, so that a more regular and uniform
beat is obtained, as well as a better impingement of the flame to the sides of
the melting and casting pots.
By referring to Figures 1, 2, and 3 we have a melting furnace arranged
for three pots, and which we call a three-pot melting furnace; where
(A) is the fire-place; .B, the chamber for the pots; C, the melting pots;
(D), the descending flue. It will be readily seen that as the fire is kept
up in the fire-place (A), the flame in its course towards the various flues
(D, D, D,) is devided, encircles around and impinges on the sides of the
pots (C, C, C), but is kept at such a height as, to envelope the pot with the

page_text: T
flame during the process of melting; this is accomplished by the arrangement
of the contracted furnace, and descending flues in combination.
Figures. 4 and 6 are plans of two five-pot melting furnaces, with their
descending flues arranged to carry out the same effects as in the furnace
previously described, the direction of the flame to the flues being shewn
by the arrows in the Drawing (Figures 5 and 8), being outside elevations
of the same furnaces.
Figures 9, 10, and 11, Sheet No. 2, shew the construction of a double:
casting furnace to be used for the purpose of remelting or fining the glass
before being cast into sheets. This furnace has two fire-places, as marked.
(A, A), and is fed with fuel from the two side "tease holes" marked (Q. Q),
the pots being taken in and out through the "stopper holes" (P, P, P, P).
The same effect of impingement of the flame is obtained to and around the
sides of the pots by the peculiar situations of fire-places, pots, and descending
flues is obtained in this as in the former case, which will be clearly seen by the
sections (10 and 11).
Figure 12 is a plan of a five-pot casting furnace, having one fire-place A,
which is fed through the "tease" hole Q, the pots being taken in and
out through the three "stopper holes" (P, P, P); the same principle being
carried out in this as in the former cases, this furnace being adapted to
five pots. Figure 13 is a front view of the same; and Figure 14, a section
through the centre of the furnace. Figure 15 is a plan of a casting furnace
with three pots, having one fire-place; the same principle of impingement of
the flame to and around the sides of the pots being effected here as in the
former case, as will be seen by reference to section and elevation 16 and 17;
Figure 18 is an outside elevation of the same. Figure 19 is a plan of
a casting furnace with six pots with one fire-place and three stopper
holes for taking in and out of the pots. The same effect of impinging the
flame is here produced, as in all the former cases, as will be readily seen by the
section and elevation 20 and 21. Figure 22 is a transverse section of a
furnace proposed to be covered by a thin sheet of platina, as marked R, R,
which is supported by hooks and rods, marked S, S, from the cross bar
marked T, T. The object of this platina crown is to prevent what is technically
termed "droppings" falling from the crown of the furnaces into the casting
pots, which does much injury to the glass during the process of fusion. Figures
23 and 24 is a plan and section of an improved annealing kiln used for anneal-
ing the glass after it has been cast into sheets. The peculiarities of this kiln
is, firstly, in placing the flues (U, U,) for the exit of the heat in the centre of
the kiln instead of at the ends, as is the case in kilns now in use, the mouth

page_text: of the flue being on a level with the bottom of the kiln. The next feature is
in having the openings in the roof, marked (m, m, m, m), for the purpose of
admitting air to cool down the kiln, and also light to repair or empty it, which
openings are to be covered with an iron or clay stopper at will.
. What I claim as of my Invention is,-Firstly, the peculiar combination of
furnaces for melting or casting of glass, having one or more descending flues
distributed between or behind the melting or casting pot or pots in such a
manner that the flame encircles and impinges directly against and around the
lower part of tho pot or pots, the whole combination effecting uniformity of
lieat and quality of the materials manufactured.
Secondly, in the portability of these furnaces herein described and shewn in
the Drawings, whether arranged for one or more pots, having one or more
working holes of the shape, form, and dimensions shewn in the Drawings
referred to.
Thirdly, the adaptation of a sheet platina crown to casting furnaces for the
prevention of what is technically called droppings or drops, as is fully shewn
in Figure 22, and described in this Specification.
Fourthly, the peculiar form and construction of the annealing kiln, as shewn
in Figures 23 and 24, wherein the flues are placed in the centre of the kiln,
also the holes in the roof of the kiln to let off the heat more effectually after
the glass has been annealed, and the admission of light in emptying the kiln
of its contents, the whole of which is referred to in the Specification and the
Drawings hereunto annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Howard, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, the Twenty-eighth day of September, in the year of
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Twenty-eighth day of September,
in the year of our Lord 1849, the aforesaid Henry Howard came before
our said Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification
aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained and specified, in form
above written. And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped according to
the tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.
T