IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF FURNACES FOR CALCINING ORES AND OTHER SUBSTANCES, AND IN APPARATUS TO BE USED IN CONNECTION THEREWITH
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Russell and John Russell, both of Low
Walker, near Newcastle-on-Tyne, in the County of Northumberland,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF FURNACES
FOR CALCINING ORES AND OTHER SUBSTANCES, AND IN APPARATUS TO BE USED
IN CONNECTION THEREWITH."
Sealed the 9th April 1872, and dated the 12th December 1871.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Russell and John
Russell at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their
Petition and Declaration, on the 12th December 1871, pursuant to
the 9th Section of the Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, WILLIAM
RUSSELL and JOHN RUSSELL, both of Low Walker, near Newcastle-on-
Tyne, in the County of Northumberland, send greeting.
WHEREAS we are in possession of an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE CONSTRUCTION OF FURNACES FOR CALCINING ORES AND OTHER SUBSTANCES, AND
IN APPARATUS TO BE USED IN CONNECTION THEREWIH," and have petitioned

page_text: Her Majesty to grant unto us, our executors, administrators, and
assigns, Her Royal Letters Patent for the same, and have made solemn
Declaration that we are the true and first Inventors thereof.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said William Russell and John
Russell, do hereby declare that the following Complete Specification,
under our hands and seals, fully describes and ascertains the nature
of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed
in and by the following statement, reference being had to the Drawings
hereunto annexed, and to the figures and letters marked thereon, that
is to say:
-
Our said Invention consists in the construction of furnaces for cal-
cining ores and other substances in a more rapid, simple and effectual
manner than has been hitherto practicable.
The furnace is constructed with one or more horizontal beds therein
of a circular form, but by preference three such beds ranged one above
another, and each having two doors opening thereto, are employed, and
such construction will be herein-after referred to and described as being
better adapted clearly to explain the nature of the whole of our said
Invention.
The beds are constructed of fire-bricks, the arch of the bottom or first
bed forming the middle or second bed, and the arch of the second bed
forming the uppermost or third bed. Each of the beds is furnished
with a moveable trap or slide, which when opened will allow the ore
or other substance under treatment to pass through.
The furnace is in the first place charged with the ore or other sub-
stance through a hopper or by other convenient means as well understood,
the traps or slides in the uppermost or third bed and in the middle or
second bed being opened to enable the charge to reach the bottom or first
bed. The trap or slide in the second bed is then closed and the charge
supplied to the latter. The trap or slide in the third bed is in turn
closed and the charge admitted. The flame from the fire employed
for heating the furnace is allowed to enter at the lower bed, and passes
thence to the second and third beds. When the orc or other substance
in the lower or first bed is sufficiently calcined, the trap or slide in
the bottom of the bed is withdrawn and the ore or other substance is ;
cleared out by means of the scrapers herein-after mentioned, and de-
posited for transport or otherwise as may be desired. The trap or slide

page_text: in the middle or second bed is then withdrawn and the charge allowed
to pass on to the lower or first bed, and the uppermost or third bed is
emptied into the middle or second bed in like manner, a fresh chargo
being then supplied to the uppermost or third bed.
J
The stirring of the ore or other substance on the several beds for
the purpose of subjecting every portion of the same to the action of the
heat of the furnace, which is usually performed by means of rakes
worked by manual labour or in some cases by mechanical appliances,
is effected under our said Invention by means of scrapers which are
attached to a vertical shaft passing through the centre of the furnace.
We prefer (although we do not claim it as being of our Invention)
that the shaft and scrapers shall be formed of cast iron, and that the
same shall be hollow so as to allow a constant flow of water to pass
through the same in order to preserve them in a cool state.
It is manifest that the shaft and scrapers may be constructed in a
solid or hollow form without the water arrangement.
•
The shaft and scrapers are caused to revolve for the purpose of
stirring the ore or other substance by means of a worm wheel attached
to the bottom of the shaft or by any other suitable or well-known
arrangement. This arrangement of the scrapers causes the ore or other
substance to be uniformly mixed and equally exposed to the action
of the fire, and secures a more rapid calcination than can possibly be
attained where the stirring is carried on by manual labour or by the
mechanical appliances hitherto employed.
We will now refer to the annexed Drawings, from which the nature
of our said Invention will be more clearly understood. Figure 1 is
a ground plan of the furnace; Figure 2 being a. vertical section taken
through the line A, B, Figure 1; and Figure 3 being a vertical section
taken through the line C, D, Figure 1. The same letters of reference
refer to like parts in the several Figures.
.D
a, a, are the circular beds; b, b, the scrapers or stirrers; c, the hollow
shaft; d, d, the traps or doors in the circular beds for the passage of
the ore under treatment; e, the gearing by which the scrapers are
caused to rotate; g, the fire which heats the furnace.
Having thus described and ascertained the nature of our said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we would

page_text: observe in conclusion that what we consider novel and original, and
therefore claim as constituting our said Invention, are,-
First. The construction and arrangement of furnaces for calcining
ores and other substances, substantially as herein-before set forth and
described.
And, secondly. The apparatus for and method of mixing and stirring
the ore or other substance under treatment, substantially as and for the
purpose herein-before set forth and described.
In witness whereof, we, the said William Russell and John
Russell, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Fourth
day of December, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-one.
WILLIAM RUSSELL. (L.S.)
J. RUSSELL.
(L.S.)