AN IMPROVED MATERIAL FOR CONSTRUCTING FURNACES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Barnett, of No. 17, Harmood Street, Chalk Farm
Road, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED
MATERIAL FOR CONSTRUCTING FURNACES."
Scaled the 9th September 1876, and dated the 10th March 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Barnett at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 10th March 1876.
JAMES BARNETT, of No. 17, Harmood Street, Chalk Farm Road, in the County
of Middlesex. "AN IMPROVED MATERIAL FOR CONSTRUCTING FURNACES."
My Invention relates to the preparation of a non-conducting and refractory
material for constructing furnaces subject to high temperatures. I boil clay or
other earthy absorbent matter of like character in a solution of salt, continuing the
boiling until the earthy matter is well impregnated with the salt. Practically I
find that one part by weight of salt to three parts of earthy material will make a
good mixture. I pug the mixture so as to incorporate the salt thoroughly with
the other ingredients, and I either form the mixture into bricks or blocks to be
used in the construction of furnaces, or, preferably, I use the mixture as a concrete,
which I pack within suitable casings to the shape of the structure, removing the
casings when the material has set.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said James Barnett in the Great Scal Patent Office on the 9th September
1876.
JAMES BARNETT, of No. 17, Harmood Street, Chalk Farm Road, in the County of
Middlesex. "AN IMPROVED MATERIAL FOR CONSTRUCTING FURNACES."
My Invention relates to the preparation of non-conducting and refractory
material for use in the construction of furnaces subject to high temperatures. I
boil clay or other carthy absorbent matter of like character in a solution of salt,
continuing the boiling until such matter is well impregnated with the salt. Prac-
tically I find that one part of salt to from three to five parts of earthy matter make
a good material. I either form such material into blocks adaptable to the several
Price 2d.1

page_text: parts of the furnaces in which such material is used, drying such blocks in the air
or otherwise until the limit of contraction is reached, or I use the material as a
concrete, which I pack within suitable casings to the shape of the structure
required, removing the casings when the material has set.
When furnaces are built of fire-brick I saturate earthy matter with a saturated
solution of salt, and use such mixture as a cement or mortar. In using such
material as a mortar, and where two or more thicknesses of brick are used, I fill in
the interstices with such mortar, taking especial care it is well applied between the
thicknesses of the brickwork, also so that the heat currents may be intercepted and
prevented from passing through such brickwork from one chamber or part of the
furnace to another, or to the outside of such furnace, whilst, when there is only one
thickness of brickwork I coat the outside of such brickwork with the non-
conducting material. For the protection from the effects of fire of brickwork in
locomotive fire-boxes, I fill in the interstices of such brickwork with the said non-
conducting material, coating also the upper side of the bricks with the same; or I
replace the brickwork with an arch of iron, upon which I spread a coating of the
non-conducting material.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I claim the use, as a material for constructing furnaces, of
clay or other earthy absorbent matter of like character impregnated with salt,
substantially as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Barnett, have hereunto set my hand and
sea!, this Sixth day of September, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-six.
JAMES BARNETT. (L.S.)