IMPROVEMENTS IN FURNACES man QMINT OF ORTS AND IN THE MELTING OF METALS
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Balk, of Woodbridge Road, Ipswich, in
the County of Suffolk, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN FURNACES
man QMINT OF ORTS AND IN THE MELTING OF METALS."
Sealed the 24th June 1864, and dated the 2nd January 1864.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Balk at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
2nd January 1864.
I, WILLIAM BALK, of Woodbridge Road, Ipswich, in the County of Suffolk,
do hereby declare the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN FURNACES
APPLICABLE IN THE SMELTING OF ORES AND IN THE MELTING OF METALS," to be as
follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in furnaces applicable in
the smelting of ores and in the melting of metals. In constructing a furnace
according to this Invention, whether for smelting ores or for melting metal, a
chamber is formed below the bottom of the furnace proper. Through the
upper part or roof of this chamber are narrow passages which on the one hand
will admit of the fluid metal descending from the lower part of the furnace
into the chamber below, whilst the coke or fuel and the charge in the furnace
will be upheld and prevented from descending into the chamber. At the
lower part of this chamber is a tuyere or tuyeres for the purpose of supplying
air to a sufficient quantity of coke or other suitable fuel introduced into this
chamber, in order thereby to beat the interior of the chamber when com-
mencing to work the furnace, but such tuyere or tnyeres is or are to be

page_text: closed so soon as fluid metal descends from the furnace into the chamber.
Near the upper part of the chamber is an opening with suitable cover, which
is used for charging the chamber with fuel when required. There is also a
tap hole at bottom, also a slag hole to run off the slag above the metal; there
are also proper sight holes. The air blast is arranged to pass first into hollow
boshes or parts at the lower parts of the furnace proper, thence down through
suitable openings into the chamber, and thence up through one or more slits
or openings into the furnace by which the blast will be applied in a central
position at the very bottom of the furnace.
cone.
The lower parts or boshes of the furnace are, by preference, of a conical
shape, but they may be of other form, and such parts are, by preference, con-
structed in the following manner: An inverted truncated cone, by preference
of metal, is fixed above the upper part of the chamber; this cone on its inner
'surface may be lined with fire-brick, or the lining may be of other suitable
material. Exterior of this cone, and at a distance from it, there is another
cone fixed in such manner as to leave a space between the inner and outer
Around the outer surface of this second or exterior cone is a hollow
compartment formed by brickwork or otherwise, into which the blast is first
introduced, from which compartment the air rises to the upper parts of the
outer cone; it then descends into and through the space between the two cones
'into the chamber below, and thence the air passes through the roof of the
'chamber into the furnace above. By these means the boshes or lower parts
of the furnace will be kept cool; water may also be led in pipes or vessels of
suitable section to such of these parts as cannot be kept sufficiently cool by
air. Openings with suitable covers are also provided to admit air from the
outer atmosphere at the upper part of the chamber, which air from thence
rises between the before-described two cones, and makes its exit through other
openings with suitable covers; these openings are used for cooling the boshes
or lower parts of the furnace when from any cause a stoppage of blast occurs.
There are also valves or slides by which the blast can be kept from entering
the chambers partly or altogether; the blast then merely serves to circulate
round the lower parts of the furnace proper to keep them cool, making its exit
through the lower openings just mentioned.
.
Though it is preferred that the blast should be conducted into the chamber
which is below the furnace, as above explained, I in some cases cause the
blast to the furnace to take place by tuyers at the lower parts of the furnace
as heretofore, and in other cases I divide the blast, and cause some to pass
into the chamber, whilst by tuyers or otherwise I introduce part of the blast
to the furnace above such chamber. I also in some cases cause the blast to
°

page_text: enter the chamber without circulating round the boshes, or I cause the blast
to pass through a separate apparatus for heating the air after circulating.
round the boshes, and before entering into the chamber. Two or more.
cupola or blast furnaces may be built in one stack, and have their lower
chambers in communication one with the other, the communications between:
the chambers being arranged to be shut off.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Balk in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 30th
June 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
BALK, of Woodbridge Road, Ipswich, in the County of Suffolk, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Second day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-seventh year,
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said William Balk, Her special licence that I, the said
William Balk, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others.
as I, the said William Balk, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at
all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully
might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN FURNACES APPLICABLE IN THE SMELTING OF ORES AND IN THE
MELTING OF METALS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said,
William Balk, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe.
and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same,
was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal
Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the;
date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Balk, do hereby declare the,
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in furnaces applicable in the

page_text: smelting of ores and in the melting of metals. In constructing a furnace
according to this Invention, whether for smelting ores or for melting metal, a
chamber is formed below the bottom of the furnace proper. Through the upper
part or roof of this chamber are narrow passages which on the one hand will
admit of the fluid metal descending from the lower part of the furnace into
the chamber below, whilst the coke or fuel and the charge in the furnace
will be upheld and prevented from descending into the chamber. At the
lower part of this chamber is a tuyere or tuyeres for the purpose of supplying
air to a sufficient quantity of coke or other suitable fuel introduced into this
chamber in order thereby to heat the interior of the chamber when com-
mencing to work the furnace, but such tuyere or tuyeres is or are to be closed
so soon as fluid metal descends from the furnace into the chamber. Near the
upper part of the chamber is an opening with suitable cover which is used for
charging the chamber with fuel when required. There is also a tap hole at
bottom, also a slag hole to run off the slag above the metal, there are also
proper sight holes. The air blast is arranged to pass first into hollow boshes
or parts at the lower parts of the furnace proper, thence down through suitable
openings into the chamber, and thence up through one or more slits or
openings into the furnace by which the blast will be applied in a central
position at the very bottom of the furnace. The lower parts or boshes of the
furnace are by preference of a conical shape, but they may be of other form,
and such parts are by preference constructed in the following manner :-An
inverted truncated cone, by preference of metal, is fixed above the upper part of
the chamber, this cone on its inner surface may be lined with fire-brick or
the lining may be of other suitable material. Exterior of this cone and at a
distance from it' there is another cone, fixed in such manner as to leave a space
between the inner and outer cone. Around the outer surface of this second
or exterior cone is a hollow compartment formed by brickwork or otherwise
into which the blast is first introduced, from which compartment the air rises
to the upper parts of the outer cone, it then descends into and through the
space between the two cones into the chamber below, and thence the air
passes through the roof of the chamber into the furnace above. By
these means the boshes or lower parts of the furnace will be kept cool; water
may also be led in pipes or vessels of suitable section to such of these parts as
cannot be kept sufficiently cool by air. Openings with suitable covers are
also provided to admit air from the outer atmosphere at the upper part of the
chamber, which air from thence rises between the before-described two cones
and makes its exit through other openings with suitable covers.
These
openings are used for cooling the boshes or lower parts of the furnace when

page_text: from any cause a stoppage of blast occurs. There are also valves or slides by
which the blast can be kept from entering the chamber partly or altogether,
the blast then merely serves to circulate round the lower parts of the furnace
proper to keep them cool, making its exit through the lower openings just
mentioned. Though it is preferred that the blast should be conducted into
the chamber which is below the furnace, as above explained, I in some cases
cause the blast to the furnace to take place by tuyeres at the lower parts of the
furnace as heretofore, and in other cases I divide the blast and cause some to
pass into the chamber, whilst by tuyeres or otherwise I introduce part of the
blast to the furnace above such chamber. I also in some cases cause the blast
to enter the chamber without circulating round the boshes, or I cause the blast
to pass through a separate apparatus for heating the air after circulating
round the boshes and before entering into the chamber. Two or more cupola
or blast furnaces may be built in one stack and have their lower chambers in
communication one with the other, the communications between the chambers
being arranged to be shut off.
Having stated the nature of my Invention, I will now describe the accom-
panying Drawings. As many circumstances influence the construction of
furnaces applicable in the smelting of ore or in the melting of iron, such as, for
instance, the degree of heat required, the nature of the material to be smelted
or melted, the durability of the material for building and mending the furnace,
the quantity or pressure of blast at command, the locality &c., I have preferred
to show several applications of my Invention. The same letters refer throughout
to the same parts, viz., a, chamber below the bottom of the furnace proper;
b, passages, through which the fluid metal descends from the lower part of the
furnace into the chamber a, and through which in most cases the blast or part
of it passes into the furnace, being thus applied in a central position at the very.
bottom of the furnace; c, tuyeres for supplying air to a sufficient quantity of
coke or other fuel introduced into the chamber, in order thereby to heat the
interior of the chamber when commencing to work the furnace, but which are
to be closed so soon as fluid metal descends from the furnace into the chamber;
d, opening, which is used for charging the chamber with fuel when required;
e, slag hole; f, sight holes, which are either covered with glass or closed by
a plug 9, wind pipes leading the air blast from the blowing machine; h,
plates or bodies of a conical, flat, or other suitable shape for spreading the blast-
properly over the outer surface of i, as indicated by arrows, whereby the boshes*
are kept cool, and thus the durability of its lining is greatly increased.
Note. Furnaces might from the beginning be so built as not to require these:
plates or bodies, but with them the range for observation through m is greatly

page_text: increased; i, boshes or lower parts of the furnace, which are made of wrought
or cast iron or other suitable material, and put together in plates or in bars
similar to a fire-grate, and lined with fire-brick or other suitable material;
j, passages leading the blast into the chamber, being furnished with throttle
valves, as shewn in Figures 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 11, or with slides, as shewn in
Figures 1, 2,14, to regulate the amount of blast passing through them, or to shut
it off altogether; k, diaphragm plates with slides, as shewn in Figures 4, 11; or
with throttle valves, as shewn in Figures 5, 6, 11, which serve to regulate or
shut off the admission of blast when applied to the lower part of the furnace
above the chamber a. I prefer this method to tuyeres, as it offers peculiar
facilities as well for watching and poking the fire as often as necessary, as also
for cleaning the hearth after the melting, all this being done through holes
made for that purpose. m, sight holes for observing the exterior of the
boshing or lower parts of the furnace proper, and to learn where and when
they require re-lining or mending; n, openings with covers, through which
the blast is allowed to escape when only used for cooling the boshes, i, the
valves in and k being mostly or wholly shut off, or to admit air from the
outer atmosphere, which air passes through the spaces left between h and i,
and makes its exit through other openings o with suitable covers. These
openings are thus used for cooling the boshes or lower parts of the furnace
when from any cause (while the furnace is at work) a stoppage of blast occurs.
Figures 1 and 2 represent part of a furnace so arranged as to receive the blast
only through the opening b; Figures 3 and 4 represent a furnace where the
blast is divided, part of it passing through b and part of it above the chamber a
at k; his formed of two cones, whereby the watching of the boshes i through
the sight holes is facilitated; Figures 5 and 6 represent part of a furnace
similar to Figures 3 and 4, but provided with a loose box to receive the hearth or
bottom of the furnace proper, whereby in some cases peculiar facilities in mend-
ing the hearth with the opening b are obtained; the box may be arranged to be
moved by hand or machinery, according to the size of the furnace; Figure 7
shews the boshes i of a furnace with pipes wound spirally round them through
which water is applied, in addition to the air blast, to keep the boshes cool;
Figures 8 and 9 shew a number of openings 6 with the means of cooling the
thin division walls between them by leading air or water through them. When
air is used the branches p have an opening upwards, and the other two
branches downwards, leading air into the chamber a; each pair of branches
has the means of being shut off in a similar manner; water or air may be.
made to pass round a slit or other openings; Figures 10 and 11 shew two
furnaces of the same construction as Figures 3 and 4, built in one stack. The

page_text: g;
chamber is divided into two parts, which communicate through the hole
each of these furnaces can be used separately when this hole is filled up and
properly luted.
Figures 12, 13, and 14 shew another mode of dividing the blast, different to
that illustrated by Figures 3 and 4, and only applicable when two or more
furnaces are built in one stack, or at least in connection with one another by
their chambers. The blast entering at 9 circulates round the boshes i and
between the plates h to the roof of the chamber, part of it then descends
through into the chamber, while part of it ascends through the pipes r, and
enters, according to the position of the throttle valves s, into one or the other of
the furnaces (as shewn in the Drawing into the left hand one.) This furnace
being covered the blast can only escape through b. In the chamber it unites
with the blast admitted direct into the same, and then ascends through b¹ into
the other furnace which is uncovered and being charged; when this is done
the cover is moved from the left into the right furnace, the left throttle valve
closed, and the right one opened, so the two furnaces work alternately
upwards and downwards respectively. The cover t, as shewn, is carried by a
system of levers and counterpoise u, but might also be made to slide or
otherwise. The keep v being thrown over the lever w (by which the cover is
moved by hand) serves to hold the cover down and prevent its being raised
by the blast; in this furnace one and the same hole in the chamber is shewn
to serve both purposes, vizt., for admitting the blast and for filling the same
with coke.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Balk, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Ninth day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.