AN IMPROVED METHOD OF UTILIZING THE WASTE DEAT OF CUPOLA AND OTHER FURNACES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Wilson, of Sheffield, in the County of York, for
the Invention of "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF UTILIZING THE WASTE DEAT
OF CUPOLA AND OTHER FURNACES."
Sealed the 3rd November 1876, and dated the 3rd June 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Wilson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd June 1876.
ALEXANDER WILSON, of Sheffield, in the County of York. "AN IMPROVED
METHOD OF UTILIZING THE WASTE HEAT OF CUPOLA AND OTHER FURNACES."
The object of my Invention is to utilize the waste heat of cupolas or other
furnaces requiring compressed air, and thereby effect a considerable economy of fuel.
To this end cast iron or other pipes or flues formed with refractory material are
tixed in a heating chamber constructed above the charging hole of the cupolas or
other furnace, and by passing the cold air from the "fan or "blower" through
these pipes or flues it becomes highly heated previous to its being discharged
through the tuyeres into the body of the cupola or other furnace. By this means
the metal or orc can be melted down very rapidly, and with a considerable saving
of fuel.
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The pipes or flues can be fixed either vertically, obliquely, or otherwise.
In carrying out my Invention and adapting it to cupolas I form a heating
chamber by coving over the brick lining of the cupola a short distance above the
charging hole, leaving contracted openings into the heating chamber for the passage
of the gases which are evolved from the fuel. By this means the gases are caused
to mix thoroughly, and by allowing a sufficient quantity of atmospheric air to pass
through the charging hole (which quantity can be regulated by a sliding door) a
perfect combustion of the escaping gases will take place. The temperature of the
heating chamber can also be regulated by the addition of small quantities of coal
fuel with the "charge." In the above-mentioned heating chamber are placed a
series of horizontal rings of cast-iron pipes, supported on brackets fixed to the inside
of the cupola casing. Each ring has an inlet and an outlet branch, by which the
whole series are connected. The cold air is brought from the main air pipe by an
up-take pipe, and is admitted into the inlet branch of the top ring; from thence
it passes through the whole series of rings, and out through the outlet branch of the
bottom ring of pipe. The heated air blast is then conveyed by means of a brick-
lined down-take pipe into au aruular space or chamber fixed round the outside of
[Price Gd.]

page_text: the cupola, and from this chamber it is distributed through the tuyeres into the
cupola in the usual manner. By this means a great quantity of the heat which is
usually allowed to pass into the atmosphere unappropriated is brought back into
the cupola with the air blast, and is thus employed to assist in melting down the
charge of metal.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Alexander Wilson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 1st December
1876.
ALEXANDER WILSON, of Sheffield, in the County of York. "AN IMPROVED
METHOD OF UTILIZING THE WASTE HEAT OF CUPOLA AND OTHER FURNACES."
The object of my Invention is to utilize the waste heat of cupoles or other
furnaces in which compressed air is used, and thereby to effect a considerable
economy of fuel. To this end cast-iron or other pipes or flues constructed of some
refractory material are fixed in a heating chamber constructed above the charging
hole of the cupola or other furnace, and by passing cold air from the fan or blower
used for supplying the furnace with air through these pipes or flues the air becomes
highly heated previous to its being discharged through the twyeres into the body
of the cupola or other furnace. By this means the metal can be melted down very
rapidly, and with a considerable saving of fuel.
In the accompanying Drawing Fig. 1 is a horizontal section or plan view of a
cupola furnace with my improvements adapted thereto. Fig. 2 is a vertical section
of the same taken in the line 1, 2, of Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is another vertical section
taken on the line 3, 4, of Fig. 1.
The air pipes or flues can be fixed either vertically, obliquely, or otherwise.
In adapting my Invention to cupola furnaces I form a heating chamber A by
covering over the brick lining of the cupola Ca short distance above the charging
hole, as at B, leaving contracted openings b, b, into the heating chamber A above for
the passage of the gases which are evolved from the fuel. By allowing a sufficient
quantity of air to pass in through the charging hole or through small apertures
entering the combustion chamber from the outside of the cupola in a line with the
charging door, which quantity can be regulated by a sliding door or flappets such
a mixture of air with the ascending gases will be obtained as to insure the com-
bustion of the latter on their passage from the furnace. The temperature of the
heating chamber A. can also be regulated by the addition of small quantities of coal
fuel with the "charge." In the above-mentioned "heating chamber" A I place a
series of horizontal rings of cast-iron pipes D, supported on brackets d, d, which are
fixed to the inside of the cupola casing. Each ring of pipes D is made separate, and
is provided with an inlet and an outlet branch by which the whole series are con-
nected. It will be seen that the inlet branch e of air pipes 1 is inserted and restя
in a flange f of the pipe immediately below it, so that should any one of the pipes
or tubular rings I become defective or damaged it can be easily removed by first
raising up the tubular rings or pipes D above it, and then a fresh or perfect ring or
pipe can be inserted in the place of the defective one. It will be evident that the
joints of the pipes 1 may be lnted with sand or otherwise if desired, so as to pre-
vent leakage of the air. The cold air is brought from the main air pipe by an
up-take pipe F, and is admitted into the inlet branch of the top tubular ring D',
from thence it passes through the whole series of rings of pipes D, D, and out
through the outlet branch of the bottom ring of pipe D. The heated air blast is
then conveyed by means of a brick lined down-take pipe into an annular space
or chamber H fixed round the outside of the cupola, and from this chamber it is
distributed through the twyeres into the cupola in the usual manner. By this means
a great quantity of the heat which is usually allowed to pass into the atmosphere
unappropriated is brought back into the cupola with the air blast, and is thus

page_text: employed to assist in melting down the charge of metal, and thereby a very con-
siderable economy of fuel will be effected.
Having now described my Invention of "An Improved Method of Utilizing the
Waste Heat of Cupola and other Furnaces," and having explained the manner of
carrying the same into effect, I claim as the Invention secured to me by Letters
Patent as aforesaid the combination with a cupola or other furnace of a heating
chamber through which the heated gaseous products of combustion from the cupola
or other furnace are made to pass and part with a portion of their heat to a series
of air pipes or tubular rings placed therein, and so arranged that a blast of air is
made to pass through then and thus become heated as herein set forth before being
conducted to the furnace to assist in promoting the combustion of the fuel.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Wilson, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, the Thirtieth day of November, in the year of our Lord One thou-
sand cight hundred and seventy-six.
ALEX. WILSON. (L.S.)