IMPROVEMENTS IN ANNEALING IRON AND STEEL WIRE
Year: 1877

page_text: $5
LETTERS PATENT to George Woods and Edwin Woods, both of Warrington, in
the County of Lancaster, Wire Drawers, for the Invention of IMPROVEMENTS
IN ANNEALING IRON AND STEEL WIRE."
Sealed the 21st August 1877, and dated the 22nd February 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION flet by the said George Woods and Edwin
Woods at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd February
1877:
GEORGE WOODS and EDWIN Woods, both of Warrington, in the County of
Lancaster, Wire Drawers. " IMPROVEMENTS IN ANNEALING IRON AND STEEL
WIRE."
Under the system at present in use iron and steel wire to be annealed are placed
coil by coil in a rotort chamber, or pot, which when filled is closed with a lid to
protect the contents from the action of the flames. The said retort chamber, or pot
is heated to a high red heat and afterwards allowed to cool, after which the coils of
wire are removed. In practice the alternate heating and cooling of the retort
chamber, or pot, results in frequent fracture of the same. In order, moreover, to
complete the annealing in a reasonable time, say twenty-four hours for three tons of
wire, the fires have to be urged to a considerable extent, thereby consuming a large
amount of fuel for the work done. It also not unfrequently occurs that a retort
chamber, or pot will become fractured during the heating thereof, and that the
flames entering therein will, on account of the intense heat necessary to be kept up,
damage the whole or part of the charge.
Now our Invention has for its object to give a longer life to the retorts chambers,
or pots, to enable a greater number of charges to be annealed in a given time, to
reduce the quantity of fuel required for each charge, and to prevent damage to the
wire in case of fracture of the retort chamber, or pot, and consists,-
First. In maintaining the retort chamber, or pot constantly at a uniform or
nearly uniform and moderate heat, thereby reducing the liability to fracture from
alternate heating and cooling. We also have the retort chamber, or pot bricked
round, so as to prevent the flames from acting direct on such retort chamber, or pot,
and this we are enabled to do on account of the heat being constant.

page_text: Second. In supplying such retort chamber, or pot, when a uniform or nearly
uniform heat is maintained, with an internal pipe or flue through which the flames
and products of combustion may pass, thereby obtaining a more uniform and equal
temperature, and dispensing with the lid at the top of the retort chamber, or pot, as
on account of the comparatively mild action of the fires and moderate heat the
flames will not damage the charge of wire.
Third. In providing a lifter or holder on which the coils of wire rest, whereby the
coils of wire may be lifted into and out of such retort chamber, or pot, at one
operation by means of a crane.
Fourth. In sinking the mouth of the retort chamber, or pot beneath the top of
the furnace, which is covered with sliding doors or like appliances. The said sliding
doors or like appliances are opened and closed, to allow of the charging and dis-
charging of the retort pot, or chamber.
.
A ton of wire can be annealed in the above manner in about one hour and
a half
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said George Woods and Edwin Woods in the Great Seal Patent Office on
⚫ the 22nd August 1877.
•
"
.
GEORGE WOODS and EDWIN WOODS, both of Warrington, in the County of
Lancaster, Wire Drawers. " IMPROVEMENTS IN ANNEALING IRON AND STEEL
WIRE."
Under the system at present in use iron and steel wire to be annealed are placed
coil by coil in a retort chamber, or pot, which when filled is closed with a lid to
protect the contents from the action of the flames. The said retort, chamber, or pot,
is heated to a high red heat and afterwards allowed to cool, after which the coils of
wire are removed. In practice the alternate heating and cooling of the retort,
chamber, or pot, results in frequent fracture of the same. In order, moreover, to
complete the annealing in a reasonable time, say twenty-four hours for three tons of
wire, the fires have to be urged to a considerable extent, thereby consuming a large
amount of fuel for the work done. It also not unfrequently occurs that a retort,
chamber, or pot, will become fractured during the heating thereof, and that the
flames entering therein will, on account of the intense heat necessary to be kept up,
damage the whole or part of the charge.
Now our Invention has for its object to give a longer life to the retorts, chambers,
or pots, to enable a greater number of charges to be annealed in a given time, to
reduce the quantity of fuel required for each charge, and to prevent damage to the
wire in case of fracture of the retort, chamber, or pot, and consists,―
First. In maintaining the retort, chamber, or pot constantly at a uniform or
nearly uniformn and moderate heat, thereby reducing the liability to fracture from
alternate heating and cooling. We also have the retort chamber, or pot bricked
round, so as to prevent the flames from acting direct on such retort chamber, or pot,
and this we are enabled to do on account of the heat being constant.
Second. In supplying such retort chamber, or pot, when a uniform or nearly
uniform heat is maintained, with an internal pipe or flue through which the flames
and products of combustion may pass, thereby obtaining a more uniform and equal
temperature, and in dispensing with the lid at the top of the retort, chamber, or pot,
as on account of the comparatively mild action of the fires and moderate heat the
.flames will not damage the charge of wire.
Third. In providing a lifter or holder on which the coils of wire rest, whereby the
said coils of wire may be lifted into and out of such retort, chamber, or pot at one
operation by means of a crane.
Fourth. In making the mouth of the retort, chamber, or pot beneath the top of
the furnace, which is covered with sliding doors or like appliances. The said sliding

page_text: doors or like appliances are opened and closed to allow of the charging and dis-
charging of the retort, pot, or chamber.
A ton of wire can be annealed in the above manner in about one hour and
a half.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 is a plan view, and Fig. 2, a sectional elevation, illustrative of our improve-
ments under the second, third, and fourth heads.
Under the second head, 1, the retort; 2, internal flue.
Under the third head 3 is the lifter or holder on which the coils of wire 4 rest.
The lifter 3 and wire 4 are lifted into and out of the retort by means of a crane or
other hoisting agent. The said lifter is preferably formed of two pieces or bars of
iron or steel bent into horseshoe shape and connected at bottom and top.
Under the fourth head the top of the furnace is constructed with sliding doors 5
to allow of charging and discharging the retort; 6, fire-place; 7, flues.
Having now described the nature of our Invention in such manner that others
will be enabled to carry our improvements into effect, we claim,―
Under the first head. The improvements in annealing wire, substantially as set
forth.
Under the second head. The improvements in retorts adopted for annealing
wire, substantially as set forth under the first head.
Under the third head. The improvements in charging and discharging retorts
with wire, substantially as set forth.
Under the fourth head. The use of doors 5 for the purposes set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edwin Woods, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, the Twentieth day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
JAMES JOHNSON,
Patent Office,
Clayton Square,
Liverpool.
Witness.
EDWIN WOODS, (L.S.)