Improvements in Electrical Furnaces and their Manipulation.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Oct., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 25th June, 1890-Accepted, 26th July, 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electrical Furnaces and their Manipulation.
THOMAS PARKER Newbridge Wolverhampton Electrician, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Instead of using movable anodes of metal or carbon I use blocks of carbon fixed in
the walls of the furnace opposite to each other and set at suitable distances apart in
the interior of the furnace wherein it is intended to treat the materials at the high
temperature of the electric arc, or incandescence due to the current. These blocks of
carbon are fixed in metal conductors which may he kept cool by a circulation of water
within themselves. The blocks of carbon are arranged with holes through their
centres so that a rod of metal or small rod of carbon may be used to establish the
circuit through the furnace. In starting the electric furnace when charged or
required to be run a small rod of carbon or other conductor is pushed through the
centre of the carbon block across the furnace to the opposite carbon block or anode,
or rods may be pushed from each side to meet in the centre of the furnace. Through
these a current is passed which raises the same to a high state of incandescence and
thereby establishes a passage for the current in the mass of material in the furnace.
The varying resistance of the material within the furnace during treatment is met
by varying the electro-motive force across the furnace by an automatic arrangement
acting upon the magnets of the exciting machines in the case of alternating currents
or upon the main magnets in case of continuous currents being used. This automatic
arrangement may be regulated so that the quantity of current may be controlled at
will across the furnace and any increase or decrease of resistance in the furnace is at
once met. A suitable aperture is left in the sides of the furnace so that the
material may be manipulated between the anodes in the interior of the furnace during
the work. Any required materials may be treated in this furnace in the usual
manner of electric furnaces.
contation 1000
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electrical Furnaces and their Manipulation.
I THOMAS PARKER of Newbridge Wolverhampton in the County of Stafford
Electrical Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this Invention and in what
nanner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement:-
According to my Invention instead of using moveable electrodes of metal or carbon
I use blocks cylinders or equivalent pieces of carbon secured in position in the walls
of the furnace opposite to each other and set at suitable distances apart in the interior
of the furnace wherein it is intended to treat the materials at the high temperature of
the electric arc or incandescence due to the current.
These blocks if they be of carbon are preferably fixed in metal conductors which
conductors or the anodes themselves if they be of metal may be kept cool by a
circulation of water within them.
These blocks cylinders or the like will he fixed whilst the furnace is running only
Rods of
needing to be pushed further into the furnace to compensate for wear.
metal or of carbon are used to establish the electric circuit through the furnace
and these rods may be passed through holes through the electrodes or through the
walls of the furnace. In starting the electric furnace when charged and required to

page_text: be run the said rods of carbon or other conductor are pushed through the electrodes
or through the holes in the side of the furnace across the furnace to the opposite
electrode or the rods may be pushed from each side to meet in the centre of the
furnace and through these rods a current of electricity is passed which creates a high
state of incandescence and thereby establishes a passage for the current in the mass
of material in the furnace. Thereafter the rods so used to establish the circuit may
be allowed to remain or they may be drawn outward without being entirely removed
the varying resistance of the material within the furnace during treatment is met or
compensated by varying the electro-motive force across the furnace which may be
done by an automatic arrangement acting upon the magnets of the exciting machines
in case of alternating currents being used or upon the main magnets in case of
continuous currents being used.
This automatic arrangement may be regulated so that the quantity of current may
be controlled at will across the furnace and any increase or decrease of resistance in
the charge in the furnace in at once met.
An aperture or apertures is or are left in the sides of the furnace so that the
material may be manipulated between the electrodes in the interior of the furnace
during the work. Any materials which can be treated in electric furnaces may be
treated in this furnace.
The electric current employed in this furnace may be either a continuous or an
alternating current the latter being preferred.
The accompanying drawing will serve to illustrate the manner in which my Inven-
tion may be carried into effect.
Figure 1 is a vertical section of the furnace and figure 2 is a diagram to illustrate
the method of regulating the electro motive force or quantity of current across the
furnace. F is the furnace containing the charge to be treated. It has an inlet hopper
at a with slides A. A by which the charge can be admitted without opening cominu-
nication between the interior of the furnace and the outer air. B is a screw conveyor
by which the charge is pushed forward into the furnace. c¹ c¹ are the electrodes
consisting of blocks (or cylinders or the like) of carbon fixed in metal socket pieces c c
to which the electric circuit wires d from the dynamo D are affixed. The current as
aforesaid may be either continuous or alternating. c² c² are rods of metal or carbon
which are used to establish the electric circuit through the furnace the said rods
being inserted into holes in conductors (in contact with the socket pieces c) and in
the furnace as shewn or through holes through the centre of the electrodes c¹ from
either one or both sides so that they can be caused to meet each other when inserted
from both sides or to meet the opposite carbons c¹ when inserted only from one side.
g is the outlet for the gas or vapour. h is the slag tap hole and x the openings for
manipulating the charge the said openings being closed by clay or otherwise when
the furnace is at work.
I use coke or other form of carbon in the charge between the electrodes c¹
the said coke being in contact with the said electrodes so that complete incan-
descence is insured.
A method of varying the electro-motive force or quantity of current across the
furnace with the varying resistance of the charge is illustrated by the diagram
figure 2. c c indicate the electrodes in the furnace as in Figure 1 and D is the
dynamo and T its terminals. E represents the exciting circuit. R. R. are resistances
and R. S. is the resistance switch which is operated to put in more or less resistance
at R as the resistance of the charge in the furnace lessens or increases.
This switch may be automatically operated and a suitable arrangement for the
purpose is a current regulator such as is described in the Specification of Letters
Patent No. 14,504 of 14th September 1889 granted to William Henry Douglas
and Thomas Hugh Parker.
The carbons or electrodes can be readily removed and replaced when desired. In
order to maintain the electrodes in working order when they are of carbon fine or
divided carbon may be introduced by the openings x into the furnace over the exposed
ends of the electrodes.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed i declare that what I
claim is
First. An electrical furnace constructed or arranged as hereinbefore described and
illustrated by figure 1 of the accompanying drawings.
Second. In electrical furnaces electrodes consisting of blocks or pieces of carbon
or metal (c) fixed in the furnace and smaller rods or pieces (c²) for establishing the
circuit all substantially as herein before described.
Third. The manipulation of electrical furnaces or process for submitting a charge
to electrical action consisting in placing the charge between electrodes (c¹) and then
establishing the circuit by supplementary electrodes (c²) substantially as herein before
described.
Fourth. In the manipulation or working of electrical furnaces the employment
of fixed electrodes and means for regulating the electro motive force or quantity
of current across the furnace without moving the electrodes for that purpose.
Fifth. In the manipulation or working of electrical furnaces the introduction by
holes as at in the furnace of powdered or divided carbon over the exposed ends of
the carbon electrodes to preserve the same in working order substantially as herein-
before described.
Sixth. An electrical furnace substantially as described in combination with
ineans for generating and passing there through an alternating current of
electricity.