Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Apr., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 7th Jan., 1897-Accepted. 8th Apr., 1997
I, WILLIAM GIBBINGS of Hough Green Widnes in the County of Lancaster,
Metallurgist do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an improved method of working blast furnaces, and to
apparatus therefor, the object of such invention being to render such furnaces more
durable and to increase their smelting capacity.
The accompanying drawings illustrate a blast furnace adapted for use in carrying
out my improvement.
In the ordinary and usual method of working such furnaces the material to be
melted is mixed with the coke, anthracite coal, or other fuel used and the mixture is
charged into the top of the blast furnace and by gravity descends to the melting
zone, where it arrives in almost the same mixed condition.
In my improved furnace I aim at keeping the fuel away from the sides of the
furnace, thus aiming also at confining the melting zone to the centre of the furnace.
To accomplish this, I provide on the top of the furnace a receptacle for the fuel,
placing this receptacle in the centre of the furnace with the object of keeping the
fuel also in the centre.
In the accompanying drawing of a blast furnace, with the brickwork in section
Fig. 1 R is such receptacle which may be made of any suitable material.
One way of charging the fuel would be through a door D in a moveable conical
cover or dome C from a stage S G surrounding the blast furnace. This cover or
dome C is counterbalanced by a weight W, and when the dome C is raised the ore
or other material to be melted may be charged into the space S.
Both the fuel and ore may be charged into the furnace separately and automatically
by trams or wagons if desired.
Fig. 2 shews a plan of the top of the furnace with the dome C removed, shewing
the receptacle R, and one method of supporting it, namely by iron bars stretching
over and resting on the sides M of the blast furnace.
In Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings I have shewn the various parts of an
ordinary blast furnace, BP is the main blast pipe, BBP the branch blast pipes
and TT the tuyeres. I do not claim any novelty or invention in respect to these
portions of the furnace or in respect to the moveable dome, except where such dome
is used in conjunction with a door to receive the coke or other fuel.
The receptacle R may be made of cast or of wrought iron or other suitable metal in
plates, sheets, or bars, and may be either in one length or in telescopic parts to
facilitate removal when desired. Its length may vary according to the class of
material being melted.

page_text: I, WILLIAM GIBBINGS of Woodside, Halebank (formerly of Hough Green
Widnes) in the County of Lancaster, Metallurgist do bereby 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 :-
This invention relates to an improved method of working blast furnaces and to
apparatus therefor, the object of such invention being to render such furnaces more
durable and thereby to increase their smelting capacity.
The accompanying drawings illustrate a blast furnace adapted for use in carrying
out my improvement.
In the ordinary and usual method of working such furnaces, the material to he
melted is either mixed with the coke, anthracite coal, or other fuel used, and the
mixture is charged into the top of the blast furnace, or else the fuel and material
to be inelted are charged into the blast furnace in alternate layers and by gravity
the whole of the fuel and material to be melted descend to the melting zone very
much in the order in which they are charged into the furnace.
In my improved furnace, aim at keeping the fuel away from the sides of
the furnace, thus aiming also at confining the melting zone to the centre of the
furnace.
To accomplish this, I provide, on the top of the furnace, a receptacle for the fuel,
placing this receptacle in the centre of the furnace with the object of keeping the fuel
also in the centre.
In the accompanying drawing of a blast furnace with the brickwork in section,
Fig. 1, R is such receptacle which may be made of any suitable material.
One way of charging the fuel would be through a door D in a moveable conical
cover or dome (from a stage SG surrounding the blast furnace. This cover or
dome is counterbalanced by a weight W, and when the dome C is raised the ore
or other material to be melted may be charged into the space S.
Both the fuel and ore may be charged into the furnace separately and automatically
by trams or wagons if desired.
Fig. 2 shows a plan of the top of the furnace with the dome removed, showing
the receptacle R and one method of supporting it, namely by iron bars stretching over
and resting on the sides M of the blast furnace.
in Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings, I have shown the various parts of an
ordinary blast furnace BP is the main blast pipe, BBP are the branch blast pipes
and TT the tuyeres.
The receptacle R may be made of cast iron, wrought iron, or other suitable
metal or material in plates, sheets, or bars, and may be either in one length or in
telescopic parts to facilitate removal when desired. Its length may vary according
to the class of material being melted, the height of the furnace or other conditions
of working.
In some blast furnaces a central tube descending below the charging stage and into
the centre of the blast furnace is used as the flue for carrying off the smoke and
gases. If desired this tube may, at the same time, be used as the receptacle for the
coke by having a charging door made in its side.

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 :
1. A blast or cupola furnace in which is employed a receptacle for the fuel
substantially as described.
2. A blast or cupola furnace in which is employed a receptacle for the fuel, whether
such receptacle form part of the flue of such furnace or not.
Dated this Sixth day of January 1897
W. GIBBINGS.