IMPROVEMENTS IN FURNACES AND APPARATUS COMBINED THEREWITH, FOR MAKING WROUGHT IRON DIRECTLY FROM THE ORE, AND FOR COLLECTING AND CONDENSING THE OXYDES OR OTHER SUBSTANCES EVAPORATED IN THE PROCESS OF DEOXY-. DIZING IRON OR OTHER ORES
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Auguste Edouard Loradoux Bellford, of
16, Castle Street, Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, Patent
Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN FURNACES AND
APPARATUS COMBINED THEREWITH, FOR MAKING WROUGHT IRON
DIRECTLY FROM THE ORE, AND FOR COLLECTING AND CONDENSING THE
OXYDES OR OTHER SUBSTANCES EVAPORATED IN THE PROCESS OF DEOXY-.
DIZING IRON OR OTHER ORES." -A communication.
Scaled the 21st June 1853, and dated the 2nd February 1853.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Auguste Edouard.
Loradoux Bellford at the Office of the Commissioners of
Patents, with his Petition, on the 2nd February 1853.
. I, AUGUSTE EDOUARD LORADOUX BELLFORD, of 16, Castle Street,
Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN FURNACES AND
APPARATUS COMBINED THEREWITH, FOR MAKING WROUGHT IRON DIRECTLY
FROM THE ORE, AND FOR COLLECTING &
CONDENSING THE OXYDES OR OTHER

page_text: SUBSTANCES EVAPORATED IN THE PROCESS OF DEOXYDIZING IRON OR OTHER
ORES," to be as follows:-
The first and most important part of this Invention relates to
the deoxydation of the ore in a chamber which is so constructed
and arranged as to be heated by the waste heat from a puddling,
reverberatory, or other furnace, and at the same time prevent the
product of combustion from coming in contact with the ore, except
during the time of charging the furnace, and likewise permits the
charge of deoxydized ore to descend upon the floor of the furnace
without exposure to the atmospheric air. This part of the Inven-
tion embraces various means of exposing the ore to the heat of the
deoxydizing chamber; also of conducting it and regulating its
discharge from the deoxydizing apparatus to the furnace; and also a
new description of self-binding fire brick to form the tubes or cells
in which the ore is contained, while undergoing the deoxydizing
process in the chamber above mentioned.
The second part of this Invention relates to the combination of
one, two, or more refining fires, with a puddling or other similarly
constructed furnace, in such a manner that the heated and ignited
gases and products of combusition escaping from the refining fires
mix with those from the fire chamber of the furnace before passing
over the puddling or preparatory hearths, and are thus made to serve
in heating the charge upon the said hearths; and that the puddled
balls may be conveyed from the puddling hearth into or alongside
the refining fires, to be refined without taking them from the furnace
doors.
The third part of this. Invention consists in an improvement
in puddling, reverberatory, and other furnaces of similar con-
struction, for the purpose of arresting the sparks, dust, and heavier
portions of matter thrown off from the fuel, and preventing
their being deposited upon or in the charge upon the hearth.
This is accomplished by sinking the fire chamber and its roof
below its usual position in such furnaces, and uniting the roofs of
the fire chamber and hearth by a vertical or curved ascending wall,
and in providing a shelf or space between the fire chamber and the

page_text: hearth, in such a position in relation to the said ascending wall
that the solid particles will be arrested by the wall and thrown
upon the shelf, where they will remain until withdrawn through a
suitable opening provided for the purpose.
a
The fourth part of the Invention relates to certain means of
providing for the escape of the oxydes from the ores as they are
separated or caused to evaporate by the deoxydizing process, and of
regulating their condensation. This part of the Invention is
particularly applicable to iron ores in which zinc is found mixed
in considerable quantities, and provides for the condensation of the
vaporized zinc either in its sublimate or metallic form, or in the
form of white or other colored oxides; it is also applicable for the
collection and condensation of other substances which are given out
from ores during the deoxydizing process.
To enable others skilled in the arts to which these improvements.
are applicable, a full description of their construction and operation
will now be proceeded with.
Sheet 1, of the accompanying Drawings illustrates one of the modes
in which the first part of the Invention is applied, shewing a
puddling furnace and deoxydizing apparatus. The arrangement
for arresting the sparks, dust, and all solid particles thrown off from
the fuel, is also there shewn.
same.
#1 #
Fig. 1, in the above Drawing is a side elevation of the furnace
and apparatus. Fig. 2, is a longitudinal vertical section of the
Fig. 3, is a horizontal section of the same in the line
++ of Fig. 2. Fig. 4, is a vertical section in the line x X
of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section of the deoxydizing
chamber and apparatus in the line of Figure 2. Fig. 6, is a
plan of the ore box, which is placed between the deoxydizing
tubes or cells in the deoxydizing chamber and the furnace, con-
taining the necessary means of conducting the deoxydized ore from
the said tubes or cells to the hearth of the furnace. Similar letters
of reference indicate corresponding parts in each of the several
Figs. in this Sheet of Drawing.
a, represents the fire chamber; b, the preparatory, and c thè

page_text: working or puddling bottom. At the rear end of the furnace
there is a stack d, which is closed at the top, and constitutes the
deoxydizing chamber, and contains a series of flat vertical tubes e, e,
in which the ore is deoxydized. These tubes may be of iron
or other material, but are represented to be of iron; they are
connected together at top by a plate, which forms the bottom of a
feeding trough A, from which the ore is supplied to the tubes.
At the bottom the tubes are connected together by another plate h,
which forms the top of what I denominate the ore box H. The
spaces between and around the tubes must be sufficient for the free
passage of the ignited gases and heated products of combustion
which proceed from the furnace, and by which the tubes are heated.
The ore box is supported upon a bridge or deadwork w; it is of
iron, and may have one or more compartments r, for the reception
of the ore after it leaves the deoxydizing tubes. The ore box
represented has two compartments with a space between them; the
front and back parts of the said compartments incline inwards
towards each other, and terminate in two inclined spouts g, I,
which run forward for the discharge of the ore on the preparatory
bottom b, branching off towards the sides of the said bottom so as
to deliver the ore where there is least danger of meeting sparks or
particles which may escape from the fire and be carried up by the
draft. Each spout g is provided with a sliding shutter j, (see Fig.
2,) by which it may be closed when desired. The lower ends of the
spouts pass through holes in a plate a', which forms a continuation
of the roof of the furnace to the bridge or deadwork w.
The
and products of combustion from the furnace pass under the bridge
W, into a flue b', which extends around the rear end of a plate or
wall c¹, and then up around a casing d', which surrounds the ore box,
leaving a space or deadwork e¹ to protect the ore box from the too
intense heat. The gases and products of combustion then pass
around and amongst the tubes e, e, and act on the entire surface
of each and every tube in the entire series, and afterwards escape
through the flue near the bottom of the stack d, into the chimney
which is shewn in Fig. 1, the flue & being provided with a
2.
gases

page_text: damper. There is a vertical wall m!, see Fig. 5, which closes up
the space from the bottom to top between that side of the stack d
through which the flue k, passes and the first tube of the series, to
prevent the gases and products of combustion from passing directly
to the flue k. If the damper ¹ of the flue k be closed, the
products of combustion, instead of passing into the stack d, will be
imade to escape through a flue m, directly into the chimney; this
Alue m, is also provided with a damper, which is to be closed when
the deoxydizing tubes are to be heated. The deadwork w extends
to the back wall of the stack d, and prevents the gases and products
of combustion from passing directly to the flue k, and causes them
to pass around in the flue, b' and thence up in the stack to heat the
deoxydizing tubes, before escaping through the fluc k into the
chimney. Each deoxydizing tube e is divided from top to bottom
by a partition 1, and cach division has inclined places ¹, 1,
on either side at the bottom, (see Fig. 4,) terminating in the
plate the said inclined planes contracting the width of the
divisions of the tubes to the width of the compartiments 7 of the orc
box. The. tubes may, however, be made without the partition l, and
the ore box may be all in one compartment; in that case the two
middle inclined planes only are used, the said inclines meeting
in a vertex. The object of the inclined planes, whether or not there
is a division in the tube and ore box, is to reduce the capacity of
the lower end of the tube, and present an impedient to the too
rapid discharge from the middle of the tube, and thus cause the
whole charge of ore in the stack to descend equally, and to prevent
that part of the charge at and near the middle of the tubes from
being discharged before being properly deoxydized. In the
middle of the series of the deoxydizing tubes and below .tlicm,
in cach compartiment of the ore box are two inclined planes, f,
connected together at their upper ends, and attached to the plate
of the ore, box; these two planes incline outwards from each
other and towards the inclined plates of the ore box, thus together
forming guides for the deoxydized ore as it is discharged from the
tubes, and forming two throats for the passage of the ore to each

page_text: fi
spont g. In addition to this, there is a series of adjustable planes
one pair for each tube, that is, one for each compartment; the
said planes being attached by one edge to a spindle i, which turns
in appropriate supports in the masonry, and one end of which
extends outside of the stack, and is there provided with a
handle F, by which to regulate the position of the planes from the
outside. The planes have their spindles i lying along one edge of
the delivery apertures of their appropriate tubes; and when partly
opened, as represented in Fig. 2, they form planes of opposite in-
clination, one to the front and another to the back of the ore box,
and one to each of the planes f¹; by changing the inclination of
the moveable planes, the discharge of ore from each tube may
be governed at pleasure, and if desired entirely stopped. By the
combination of all the planes it will be seen that an equal discharge
of ore from each tube can be secured, but without them more ore
would be discharged from the tubes farthest from the sides of the box.
Before explaining the manner of conducting the operation of this
deoxydizing apparatus and furnace, I will describe the improve-
ment by which the sparks, dust, and solid particles are arrested.
The fire chamber a, instead of being placed as usual with its.grate
nearly on a level. with or but a little below the puddling bottom,
is lowered so that its roof s is brought nearly to the said level,
and a shelf or step t, of the whole length of the chamber, is made
in the brickwork or masonry at the side nearest the puddling
bottom, the said shelf being separated from the puddling bottom by
a wall u. The roofs of the fire chamber and the roof over the
puddling bottom are connected by a curved wall v, which is nearly
upright. The flame and products of combustion, as they are
carried by the draft from the fire chamber towards the puddling
hearth, strike or play against the wall u, and are thrown back
against the curved wall v, by which the progress of the solid particles
is arrested, and they are caused to fall upon the shelft. At one end-
of the shelf there is a door, through which the accumulation of
matter on the shelf is withdrawn when necessary. By thus collect-

page_text: ing the sparks and other particles of matter, a purer flame is
obtained, and purer iron is made.
The operations of deoxydizing and puddling or welding are
conducted as follows:-Fire being made in the furnace in the usual
manner, the ore is put into the feeding trough, at the top of the
stack d, from which the tubes are filled. The gases and products
of combustion from the furnace passing around the tubes heat the ore
therein, and keep it to the required temperature to deoxydize it.
The tubes being flat, expose the ore to the action of the heat in
vertical strata, exposed on all sides, so that it can be deoxydized
with the greatest economy. At the commencement of the operation
the adjustable inclined planes are thrown up, to keep the .ore in
the tubes until a sufficient quantity near the lower end has been
deoxydized, and then the lower ends of the tube are opened to permit
the ore to descend by gravity into the ore box, and thence through the
spouts to the preparatory bottom, from which it is at the proper time
transferred by the operator to the working bottom, to be worked into
loops; and whilst the looping process is going on, the deoxydized
ore is descending to the preparatory bottom, and fresh ore continues
to be supplied to the deoxydizing tubes at top. After the ore is
deoxydized it is transferred to the puddling or finishing operation,
without losing any portion of the heat which it has received, and
during the whole deoxydizing operation it is effectually protected -
from the injurious presence of atmospheric air and the products of
combustion, whilst at the same time it is free to pass from the
deoxydizing tubes when in a proper condition. The waste heat
from the puddling or other furnace is thus made available for
preparing the ore for the final process of being reduced to the
metallic state, whilst at the same time the deoxydizing part of the
apparatus is effectually protected from the destructive action of the
intense heat which must be employed for the final reduction of the
ore, whether by the process of puddling or otherwise.
Instead of the flat tubes shown in the Drawing and described, a
series of round tubes may be substituted for each flat one, thus
having rows of series of tubes, but I prefer the use of flat tubes, as

page_text: above described. The flat tubes may be made of corrugated metal,
to increase the amount of surface to be exposed to the action of the
heat.
Sheet 2, of the Drawings illustrates two modifications of the
deoxydizing apparatus comprised in the first part of the Invention,
one of which is provided with the means of collecting and
condensing the evaporated substances given out from the ore by the
deoxydizing process constituting the fourth part of the Invention.
It also illustrates the combination of the refining fires and puddling
furnace, which forms the third part of the Invention, and the
self-binding fire bricks for building the deoxydizing tubes.
Fig. 1, in the above Drawing represents a side elevation of a
furnace having one of the above modifications of the deoxydizing
apparatus in connection with it, and having a refining fire on each
side to receive the pudded balls from the puddling hearth. Fig. 2, is
a longitudinal vertical section of the same. Fig. 3, is a horizontal
section of the same, taken nearly in the line ++ of Fig. 2. Fig. 4,
is a transverse vertical section of the same in the line × of Fig. 2.
Fig. 5, is a longitudinal vertical section of the other modification
of the deoxydizing apparatus before referred to as being provided
with the means of condensing and collecting the evaporations given
off from the ore; this section is taken through the ore tubes, of which
there are two rows, separated by an interposed row of tubes. Fig. 6
is a longitudinal vertical section of the above apparatus, taken
through the interposed row of tubes. Fig. 7, is a transverse vertical
section of the same in the line of Fig. 5. Fig. 8, is a liorizontal
section of the same. Fig. 9, is a vertical section of part of one of the
deoxydizing tubes made of self-binding fire bricks. Fig. 10, is a
horizontal section of the same.. Figs. 11, 12, & 13, are perspective
views of single fire bricks. Similar letters of reference indicate
corresponding parts wherever they are used upon the several Figs.
of this Sheet.
*1*1
What constitutes the main point of difference between the
deoxydizing apparatus already described and that illustrated in
Sheet 2, is, that in the latter the deoxydizing chamber and ore

page_text: tubes are placed on or over the preparatory or puddling hearth, and
enclosed by the same walls and roof, and the draft passes directly
through the chamber to the chimney without the obstruction of any
interposing roof or flue, such as exists in the former. The effect of
this difference is that the chamber in the latter receives the whole
heat of the furnace with all its intensity, and the ore is prepared
in the tubes for the puddler in any desired quantity, without
obstructing the draft. The latter arrangement requires the tubes
to be made of fire brick, in order to stand the intensity of the heat,
and then they can be submitted without injury to such a degree of
heat that the iron may be almost made in them.
A, in Figs. 2 and 3, is the fire chamber; B, the preparatory, and
C the puddling bottom; D, is the deoxydyzing chamber, which is
in the form of a stack raised to a considerable height above the roof
of the furnace. It is of the same width as the furnace, its side
walls being upward continuations of those of the furnace. It
extends almost entirely over the preparatory bottom B, and for
some distance in the rear of it. It is closed at the top, and is lined
internally with fire brick. F, F, are the deoxydizing tubes, which
are formed by erecting two walls at a short distance apart, and
dividing the
space between the two into a number of compartments,
cach of which compartments forms a tube. The walls and partitions
are composed of a single thickness of self-binding fire brick, whose
form will be herein-after explained. The tubes thus formed are
supported upon a solid wall G of fire brick, extending all across the
rear end of the preparatory hearth, and upon two fire brick arches
a, a', which extend from the wall G to the roof of the furnace and
to the rear wall of the chamber. The number of tubes shewn in this
furnace, and considered most convenient, is five, all in one row; but
the number of tubes, or their précise arrangement, is not arbitrary.
The tubes are open at their upper ends, and are contracted in
size at their lower ends, to form ore spouts b, b, for conducting the
ore from them to the preparatory bottom B. The ore spouts from
the two forward tubes lead through the arch a, and those from the
other three into a larger spout d made in the wall G and opening

page_text: to rear.
on the preparatory bottom. Each ore spout is provided with a
slide C to open and close it. The slides of the two forward spouts
draw out towards the front, and may be connected to operate simul-
taneously; and those of the three other spouts draw out sideways,
and may be also connected to work simultaneously. The tubes are
made narrow, so as to allow plenty of space for the draft on cach
side, but they extend the whole length of the chamber from front
The communication between the chamber D and the
chimney is by means of the opening under the rear arch a¹ at the
back of the wall G, and a flue H near the ground. The heated
gases and products of combustion from the fire chamber, after
being carried by the draft over the preparatory and puddling
bottoms, are arrested by the wall G, and caused to pass upwards
into the chamber D on both sides of the deoxydizing tubes, and
then to descend over the rear of the wall G, and under the arch a¹,
to the flue H, and thence to the chimney.
The process of converting the ore into puddled balls in this
apparatus is as follows:-The ore spouts at the bottoms of the tubes
are all closed, and the tubes filled with granulated ore, mixed with
about 20 per cent. in weight of fine carbon. The fire is then made
in the fire chamber. After the ore has been subjected to a high
red heat for about twelve hours, the contents of one or more tubes
are let down upon the preparatory bottom by withdrawing the
slides or cut offs, which are afterwards closed, and the tube or
tubes again filled with fresh ore and carbon. The deoxydized ore
requires to be worked on the preparatory bottom B for about twenty
mninutes, and may be then forwarded to the puddling bottom,
and it will then ball up in a few minutes, and may be with-
drawn or passed on to the refining fires, if the latter are used.
The deoxydized ore in the remaining tubes may be withdrawn
from them to the preparatory hearth, as required by the puddler.
The slides or cut offs may, if thought desirable, be set and allowed'
to remain open such a distance as to cause a continuous supply to
be given from the tubes or any number of them to the preparatory
bottom.

page_text: The refining fires I, I, (see Figs. 1, and 3,) when employed in
connection with the puddling furnace to receive the puddled balls
therefrom, without exposure to the cold air, are placed at the sides
of the furnace, and their flues e, e, enter the same a short distance
in the rear of the fire chamber, so that the gases from the said
refining fires will mingle with those from the fire chamber A,
before passing over the puddling or preparatory hearths. A de.
scending inclined trunk J, leads from the puddling bottom to each
refining fire, for the purpose of conveying the puddle balls from the
former to the latter; and the lower end of the said trunk, close to
the refining fire, is furnished with a sliding door or valve K, by
which to close the communication. The trunk is also furnished
with a door L, to enable the refiner to place the balls in his fire.
The refiner must have his fires ready by the time the puddling
operation is finished, and the puddler will supply him with balls
by feeding them into the trunks, down which they will roll or run
by gravitation into the refining fires; or the refiner may take them
from the bottom of the trunks, and place them in the fires by
opening the valve K and doors L. One puddling furnace may
supply three or four refining fires, which will probably give all the
heat required to the puddling bottom. The operation of refining
is not described, as it does not differ from the ordinary process.
This combination of the puddling furnace and refining fires for the
purpose of refining the puddled ore will effect a great saving of fuel
and labor. The saving of fuel will be effected in two ways, viz.,
firstly, by employing the waste heat from the refining fires to perform
the process of puddling; and, secondly, by conveying the puddled
balls to the refining fires without material loss of heat. The saving of
labor to the puddler will be considerable, owing to the conveyance
of the balls to the trunks being more readily accomplished than
their withdrawal from the furnace. The process of refining after
puddling saves the puddler's labor, as small puddled balls are
better for refining, and are made with less labor, than large ones.
The arrangement for arresting and collecting the sparks and
dust shewn. in Sheet 1, and already described, is also shown in

page_text: Sheet 2, (see Figs. 2, and 3). By increasing the distance from the
front to the back of the shelf or receptacle t, as shewn in the latter
Sheet and Figs. and making the flues from the refining fires
enter the furnace above the said shelf or receptacle, and in front
of the walls u and v, the sparks and dust or solid particles from
the refining fires are prevented passing over the puddling hearth,
and caused to fall on the shelf t.
The other modification of the deoxydizing apparatus already re-
ferred to, but not yet described, consists of a chamber and a series of
tubes arranged in almost precisely the same manner as in that last
described; the only material point of difference being that in the ap-
paratus last described, the evaporating oxydes and matters given out
from the ore during deoxydation all escape upwards through the ore;
but in that about to be described, provision is made for their escape at
the sides of the deoxydizing tubes in such a way that they may be col-
lected and condensed. The above remarks will simplify the descrip-
tion. D, (Figs. 5, 6, 7, 8,) is the deoxydizing chamber; F, F, are the
deoxydizing tubes; G, the wall, and a, a', the arches supporting the
said tubes. In order to provide for the escape of the oxydes at the
sides of the tubes they are arranged in two rows, with a space between
them, which is protected from the action of the fire or products of
combustion, so that the tubes are each exposed to the heat on one side
only. On that side of each tube which is not exposed to the heat there
are openings ff, similar to what are known as "louver" openings,"
at short distances apart, in vertical rows, commencing some distance
above the bottom, and terminating near the top of the tube; and
the space between the tubes is divided by partitions g; g, extending
from the bottom nearly to the top, into a number of tubes M, M,
which constitute what I have before termed the interposed row of
tubes. The number of interposed tubes corresponds with that of the
vertical rows of openings f, f. The lower part of the space between
the deoxydizing tubes is undivided, as the partitions g, g, do not
extend to the bottom; and it is furnished with a spout h, which
is closed by a suitable shutter. Each row of the deoxydizing tubes
is furnished at the bottom with ore spouts b, b, and d, and slides

page_text: c, c, substantially similar to those in the last described apparatus.
The deoxydizing and interposed tubes are all covered by a hood
or cover N, (see Figs. 5, 6, 7,) which has suitable openings i, i, in
the sides, through which to charge the deoxydizing tubes, serving
also for the admission of air. The cover N has openings j, k, one
at each end. The interposed tubes are furnished at the top with
a sliding shutter, which is shewn only in section, Fig. 7, and is for
the purpose of closing them.
The process of making the iron directly from the ore is carried
on in this apparatus in precisely the same manner as in that
shewn in Figs. 2, 3, 4, of Sheet 2. The greater portion of the
oxydes or vapours escapes through the openings f, f, and may be
condensed in the interposed tubes or spaces M, M, by closing the
shutter, or may be allowed to pass into the cover or hood N; by
leaving open the said shutter, a small portion will escape upwards
through the ore. Supposing the ore to contain zinc, the latter will
be evaporated by the heat applied in deoxydizing, and will escape
into tubes M, M. If the shutter is closed, the vapour will be con-
densed in the said tubes, and will be collected at the bottom in the
form of sublimate or metallic zinc, which may be drawn out by the
spout h; but if the shutter is left open, and a suitable receptacle is
placed in communication with the hood or cover N, and a sufficient
quantity of oxygen is allowed to mix with the vapor, the white
oxide of zinc will be formed. Other substances contained in ore
be collected by the same means.
may
Enough has been said to shew the operation of the apparatus, as
I do not claim to have invented any new mode of treating the
evaporated oxydes or other substances, but only the mode of con-
trolling their escape from ores, and collecting them for any uses to
which they may be applicable.
The deoxydizing and interposed tubes in the last described
apparatus are represented to be of fire brick, the same as the tubes
of the apparatus previously described; but I do not confine myself
to the use of any material, as the same arrangement of tubes
may be made of metal, where the heat would not act upon them

page_text: with so great intensity as when placed in a chamber arranged as
described.
The self-binding fire bricks shewn in Figs. 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13,
have been invented in order to make deoxydizing tubes which will
stand any required degree of heat, but which will be thin enough
to be penetrated by the heat without difficulty, and will hold
together with sufficient strength to bear the outward pressure
caused by the weight of ore therein. The bricks of which the sides
of the tubes are formed are made with tongues and grooves, and
the cross bricks which form the partitions between or the ends of
the tubes are grooved. The side bricks m, m, have a tongue nat
one end, and a groove o at the other, a tongue p at the top, and a
groove at the bottom; but one. brick m¹ of each course must
have a tongue at each end, in order to present a tongue at each end
of the course, as shewn in Fig. 10. The cross bricks forming the
end of the series of tubes have grooves s, s, on one. side to receive
the tongues of the said bricks m, m¹; but those r², which form the
partitions, require grooves on both sides. The form of the ends of
the tongues and bottoms of the grooves may be that of a semi-
circle or semi-ellipse. The bricks of successive courses are arranged
with so great intensity as when placed in a chamber arranged as
described.
The self-binding fire bricks shewn in Figs. 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13,
have been invented in order to make deoxydizing tubes which will
stand any required degree of heat, but which will be thin enough
to be penetrated by the heat without difficulty, and will hold
together with sufficient strength to bear the outward pressure
caused by the weight of ore therein. The bricks of which the sides
of the tubes are formed are made with tongues and grooves, and
the cross bricks which form the partitions between or the ends of
the tubes are grooved. The side bricks m, m, have a tongue n at
one end, and a groove o at the other, a tongue p at the top, and a
groove at the bottom; but one. brick m¹ of each course must
have a tongue at each end, in order to present a tongue at each end
of the course, as shewn in Fig. 10. The cross bricks » forming the
end of the series of tubes have grooves s, s, on one. side to receive
the tongues of the said bricks m, m¹; but those r¹, which form the
partitions, require grooves on both sides. The form of the ends of
the tongues and bottoms of the grooves may be that of a semi-
circle or semi-ellipse. The bricks of successive courses are arranged
so as to break Joint.
CLAIM.
1st: Deoxydizing the ore in a chamber which is so constructed
and arranged as to be heated by the waste heat from a puddling
reverberatory, or other furnace; and at the same time to prevent
the gases and products of combustion from coming in contact with
the ore, except during the time of charging, and which like-
wise permits the charge of deoxydized ore to descend upon the
puddling or preparatory heath or bottom, without exposure to
the atmospheric oin
1st: Deoxydizing the ore in a chamber which is so constructed
and arranged as to be heated by the waste heat from a puddling
reverberatory, or other furnace; and at the same time to prevent
the gases and products of combustion from coming in contact with
the ore, except during the time of charging, and which like-
wise permits the charge of deoxydized ore to descend upon the
puddling or preparatory heath or bottom, without exposure to
the atmospheric air
2nd. The arrangement of a series of flat vertical tubes e, e, or
round tubes arranged as the equivalent thereof, in a vertical stack,
substantially as described and shewn in Sheet 1, of the Drawings.
When these are combined with a puddling or other furnace by.

page_text: means of an interposed ore-box H, or any substantially similar
means of conducting the ore to the puddling or preparatory bottom
substantially as and for the purpose specified.
3rd. The employment in combination with the series of deoxy-
dizing tubes e, e, and the orc box H, substantially as described
and shewn in Fig. 2, of Sheet 1, of a series of stationary inclined
planes f, f, and a series of adjustable inclined planes f, f, to regulate
and ensure the equal discharge of ore from each and from the whole
series of tubes.
4th. The arrangement of a tube or tubes F, F, or their equivalent,
in a chamber D, which is situated over the preparatory or working
hearth, and is not separated from the said hearth by any intervening
roof or fluc, but has all the waste heat or gases and products of
combustion from a puddling or other furnace passing directly
through it on their way to the chimney, for the purposes. herein
set forth, as fully described and shewn in Figs. 2, 3, and 4, of
Sheet 2.
5th. One or more refining fires combined with a puddling furnace
or other furnace of a similar nature, in any manner substantially as
described and shewn in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, of Sheet 2, so that their
waste heat and products of combustion mix with those of the fire
chamber of the furnace before passing over the puddling or pre-
paratory hearth or bottom.
6th. One or more trunks J, or their equivalents leading from the
working or preparatory hearth or bottom, into or close to the
refining fires, as shewn in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, of Sheet 2, to convey
the puddled balls by gravitation into the said refining fires, or to a
convenient position to be readily placed therein by the refiner,
without taking them out of the furnace doors or exposing them to
the cold atmospheric air.
7th. Sinking the fire chamber and its roof in any puddling
furnace, or other furnace employed for analogous purposes, below
the usual position, making a shelf, step, or receptacle t; between the
fire chamber and puddling hearth, and uniting the roof of the fire-
chamber and the roof over the working bottom of the furnace by
;

page_text: a vertical or curved wall v, substantially as described, for the
purpose of arresting and collecting sparks and particles of solid
matter given off froin the fuel.
8th. A single or double deoxydizing tube, or series of deoxydizing
tubes, F, F, with a centre or side space or series of tubes M, sub-
stantially as described and shewn in Figs. 5, 6, 7, and 8, to receive
and collect or conduct away the oxydes from the ores in the
deoxydizing tube or tubes, through suitable openings f,f, for the
purpose of manufacturing sublimate or metallic zinc or other sub-
stances, as set forth.
9th. The hood or cover N, furnished with suitable openings, and
placed over the tubes or spaces M, M, substantially as described, for
the purpose of receiving, leading off, and cooling the oxydes
escaping from the ores during the deoxydizing process.
10th. The employment for the purpose of constructing the de-
oxydizing tubes, and for other purposes, in furnaces, of self-binding
fire bricks m, m¹, each having tongues n, p, and grooves o, q, fitting
to corresponding grooves and tongues in that or those bricks placed
next it; and of the cross binding bricks r, having grooves s, s, to
receive the tongues of the bricks m m¹, substantially as described.

page_text: Bellford, 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, communicated to me by a foreigner residing
abroad, for "IMPROVEMENTS IN FURNACES AND APPARATUS COMBINED
THEREWITH, FOR MAKING WROUGHT IRON DIRECTLY FROM THE ORE, AND FOR
COLLECTING AND CONDENSING THE OXYDS OR OTHER SUBSTANCES EVAPORATED
IN THE PROCESS OF DEOXYDIZING IRON OR OTHER ORES," upon the condi-
tion (amongst others) that I, 'the said Auguste Edouard Loradoux
Bellford, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal,
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 inmediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Auguste Edouard Loradoux
Bellford, do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention, and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement (that
is to say):
The first and most important part of this Invention relates to the
deoxydization of the ore in a chamber which is so constructed and
arranged as to be heated by the waste heat from a puddling,
reverberatory, or other furnace, and at the same time prevent the
product of combustion from coming in contact with the ore, except
during the time of charging the furnace, and likewise permits the
charge of deoxydized orc to descend upon the floor of the furnace
without exposure to the atmospheric air. This part of the Inven-
tion embraces various means of exposing the ore to the heat of the
deoxydizing chamber, also of conducting it and regulating its
discharge from the deoxydizing apparatus to the furnace, and also
a new description of self-binding fire brick to form the tubes or cells
.

page_text: in which the ore is contained while undergoing the deoxydizing
process in the chamber above mentioned.
The second part of this Invention relates to the combination
of one, two, or more refining fires with a puddling or other similar
constructed furnace, in such a manner that the heated and ignited
gases and products of combustion escaping from the refining fires
mix with those from the fire chamber of the furnace before
passing over the preparatory and puddling hearths, and are thus
made to serve in heating the charge upon the said hearths; and that
the puddled balls may be conveyed from the puddling hearth into
or alongside the refining fires, to be refined without taking them
from the furnace doors.
The third part of this Invention consists in an improvement in
puddling, reverberatory, and other furnaces of similar construction,
for the purpose of arresting the sparks, dust, and heavier portions
of matter thrown off from the fuel, and preventing their being
deposited upon or in the charge upon the hearth.
This is accom-
plished by sinking the fire chamber and its roof below its usual
position in such furnaces, and uniting the roofs of the fire chamber
and hearth by a vertical or curved ascending wall, and in providing
a shelf or space between the fire chamber and the hearth in such a
position in relation to the said ascending wall that the solid particles
will be arrested by the wall and thrown upon the shelf, where
they will remain until withdrawn through a suitable opening
provided for the purpose.
The fourth part of the Invention relates to certain means of
providing for the escape of the oxyds from the ores as they are
separated or caused to evaporate. by the deoxydizing process,
and of regulating their condensation. This part of the Invention
is-particularly applicable to iron ores in which zinc is found mixed
in considerable quantities, and provides for the condensation of the
vaporized zinc, cither in its sublimate or metallic form, or in the
form of white or other colored oxide. It is also applicable for the
collection and condensation of other substances which are given out
from ores during the deoxydizing process.

page_text: To enable others skilled in the arts to which these Improvements
are applicable, to understand their application, a full description
of their construction and operation will now be proceeded with.
Sheet 1, of the accompanying Drawings illustrates one of the
modes in which the first part of the Invention is applied, showing
a puddling furnace and deoxydizing apparatus. The arrangement
for arresting the sparks, dust, and all solid particles thrown off
from the fuel, is also there shown.
Figure 1, in the above Drawing is a side elevation of the fur-
nace and apparatus.
Figure 2, is a longitudinal vertical section of
is a horizontal section of the same in the
Figure 4, is a vertical section in the line
Figure 5, is a horizontal section of the
the same.
line
Figure 3,
of Fig. 2.
of Figure 2.
X x of Figure 2.
deoxydizing chamber and apparatus in the line
Figure 6, is a plan of the ore box, which is placed between the
deoxydizing tubes or cells in the deoxydizing chamber and the
furnace containing the necessary means of conducting the deoxy-
dized ore from the said tubes or cells to the hearth of the furnace.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in each of
the several figures in this Sheet of Drawing.
a represents the fire chamber; b, the preparatory, and c the
working or puddling bottom. At the rear end of the furnace there is
a stack d, which is closed at the top, and constitutes the deoxydizing
chamber, and contains a series of flat vertical tubes e, e, in which the
ore is deoxydized. These tubes may be of iron or other material, but
are represented to be of iron; they are connected together at top
by a plate, which forms the bottom of a feeding trough A, from which
the ore is supplied to the tubes. At the bottom the tubes are
connected together by another plate h, which forms the top of what
I denominate the ore box H. The spaces between and around the
tubes must be sufficient for the free passage of the ignited gases
and heated products of combustion which proceed from the furnace
and by which the tubes are heated. The ore box is supported upon
a bridge or deadwork w; it is of iron, and may have one or more
compartments r, for the reception of the ore after it leaves the

page_text: deoxydizing tubes. The ore box represented has two compartments,
with a space between them; the front and back parts of the said
compartments incline inwards towards each other, and terminate
in two inclined spouts g, g, which run forward for the discharge of
the ore on the preparatory bottom b, branching off towards the
sides of the said bottom so as to deliver the ore where there is
least danger of meeting sparks or particles which may escape from
the fire and be carried up by the draft. Each spout g is provided
with a sliding shutter j, (see Figure 2,) by which it may be closed
when desired. The lower ends of the spouts pass through holes in
a plate a¹, which forms a continuation of the roof of the furnace to
the bridge or deadwork w. The gases and products of combustion
from the furnace pass under the bridge w into a flue b¹, which
extends around the rear end of a plate or wall c', and then up around
a causing which surrounds the ore box, leaving a space or dead-
work e¹ to protect the ore box from the too intense heat. The
gases and products of combustion then pass around and amongst
the tubes e, e, and act on the entire surface of each and every tube
in the entire series, and afterwards escape through the flue / near
the bottom of the stack d, into the chimney n, which is shown in
Figure 1, the flue k being provided with a damper . There is
a vertical wall m³, see Figure 5, which closes up the space from the
bottom to top between that side of the stack d, through which the
flue passes and the first tube of the series, to prevent the gases and
products of combustion from passing directly to the flue k. If
the damper, of the flue be closed, the products of combustion,
instead of passing into the stack d, will be made to escape through
a flue m directly into the chimney; this flue m is also provided with
a damper, which is to be closed when the deoxydizing tubes are to
be heated The deadwork w extends to the back wall of the stack
d, and prevents the gases and products of combustion from passing
directly to the flue k, and causes them to pass around in the flue b¹,
and thence up in the stack, to heat the deoxydizing tubes before
escaping through the flue into the chimney. Each deoxydizing
tube e is divided from top to bottom by a partition 7, and cach

page_text: division has inclined planes, ½, 1, on either side at the bottom, (sec
Figure 4,) terminating in the plate ; the said inclined planes con-
tracting the width of the divisions of the tubes to the width of the
compartments r of the ore box. The tubes may, however, be made.
without the partition I, and the orebox may be all in one compart-
ment; in that case the two middle inclined planes " only are used,
the said inclines meeting in a vertex. The object of the inclined
planes, whether or not there is a division in the tube and orebox,
is to reduce the capacity of the lower end of the tube, and present
an impediment to the too rapid discharge from the middle of the
tube, and thus cause the whole charge of ore in the stack to descend
equally, and to prevent that part of the charge at and near the
middle of the tubes from being discharged before being properly
deoxydized. In the middle of the series of the deoxydizing tubes,
and below them, in each compartment of the ore box, are two inclined
planes f,, connected together at their upper ends, and attached
to the plate h of the ore box; these two planes incline outwards
from each other, and towards the inclined plates of the ore box,
thus together forming guides for the deoxydized ore as it is dis-
charged from the tubes, and forming two throats for the passage of
the ore to each spout g. In addition to this there is a series of
adjustable planes f, one pair for each tube, that is, one for cach
compartiment, the said planes being attached by one edge to a
spindle i, which turns in appropriate supports in the masonry, and
one end of which extends outside of the stack, and is there
provided with a handle F, by which to regulate the position of the
planes from the outside. The planes have their spindles i lying
along one edge of the delivery apertures of their appropriate
tubes, and when partly opened, as represented in Figure 2, they
form planes of opposite inclination, one to the front and another to
the back of the ore box, and one to each of the planes f¹. By
changing the inclination of the moveable planes the discharge of
ore from each tube may be governed at pleasure, and if desired
entirely stopped. By the combination of all the planes it will be
seen that an equal discharge of ore from each tube can be secured,

page_text: but without them. more ore would be discharged from the tubes
farthest from the sides of the box.
Before explaining the manner of conducting the operation of this
deoxydizing apparatus and furnace, I will describe the improvement
by which the sparks, dust, and solid particles are arrested. The
fire chamber a, instead of being placed as usual with its grate
nearly on a level with or but a little below the puddling bottom,
is lowered so that its roof s is brought nearly to the said level, and
a shelf or step t, of the whole length of the chamber, is made in the
brickwork or masonry at the side nearest the puddling bottom, the
said shelf being separated from the puddling bottom by a wall w.
The roofs of the fire chamber, and the roof over the puddling
bottom, are connected by a curved wall v, which is nearly upright.
The flame and products of combustion, as they are carried by the
draft from the fire chamber, towards the puddling hearth, strike or
play against the wall u, and are thrown back against the curved
wall v, by which the progress of the solid particles is arrested, and
they are caused to fall upon the shelf t. At one end of the shelf
there is a door, through which the accumulation of matter on the
shelf is withdrawn when necessary. By thus collecting the sparks
and other particles of matter, a purer flame is obtained, and purer
iron is made.
The operations of deoxydizing and puddling or welding are
conducted as follows:-Fire being made in the furnace in the
usual manner, the ore is put into the feeding trough at the top of
the stack d, from which the tubes are filled. The gases and
products of combustion from the furnace passing around the tubes
heat the ore therein, and keep it to the required temperature to
deoxodize it. The tubes being flat expose the ore to the action of
the heat in vertical strata, exposed on all sides, so that it can be
deoxydized with the greatest economy. At the commencement of
the operation the adjustable inclined planes are thrown up to keep
the ore in the tubes until a sufficient quantity near the lower end
has been deoxydized, and then the lower ends of the tubes are
opened to permit the ore to descend by gravity into the ore box,

page_text: and thence through the spouts to the preparatory bottom, from
which it is at the proper time transferred by the operator to the
working bottom, to be worked into loops; and whilst the looping
process is going on the deoxydized ore is descending to the
preparatory bottom, and fresh ore continues to be supplied to the
deoxydizing tubes at top. After the ore is deoxydized it is transferred
to the puddle or finishing operation without losing any portion of
the heat which it has received; and during the whole deoxydizing
operation it is effectually protected from the injurious presence of
atmospheric air and the products of combustion, whilst at the
same time it is free to pass from the deoxydizing tubes when in a
proper condition. The waste heat from the puddling or other
furnace is thus made available for preparing the ore for the final
process of being reduced to the metallic state; whilst at the same
time the deoxydizing part of the apparatus is effectually protected
from the destructive action of the intense heat which must be
employed for the final reduction of the ore, whether by the process
of puddling or otherwise.
Instead of the flat tubes shown in the Drawing and described, a
series of round tubes may be substituted for each flat one, thus
having rows of series of tubes, but I prefer the use of flat tubes as
above described. The flat tubes may be made of corrugated metal,
to increase the amount of surface to be exposed to the action of the
heat.
Sheet 2, of the Drawings illustrates two modifications of the
deoxydizing apparatus comprised in the first part of the Invention,
one of which is provided with the means of collecting and condensing
the evaporated substances given out from the ore by the deoxy-
dizing process constituting the fourth part of. the. Invention. It
also illustrates the combination of the refining fires and puddling
furnace which forms the third part of the Invention, and the self-
binding fire bricks for building the deoxydizing tubes.
Figure 1, in the annexed Drawing represents a side elevation of
a furnace having one of the above modifications of the deoxydizing
apparatus in connection with it, and having a refining fire on

page_text: each side to receive the puddled balls from the puddling hearth:
Figure 2, is a longitudinal vertical section of the same. Figure 3.
is a horizontal section of the same taken nearly in the line × × of
Figure 2. Figure 4, is a transverse vertical section of the same in
the line xx of Figure 2. Figure 5, is a longitudinal vertical sec.
tion of the other modification of the deoxydising apparatus before
referred to as being provided with the means of condensing and
collecting the evaporations given off from the ore; this section is
taken through the ore tubes, of which there are two rows, separated
by an interposed row of tubes. Figure 6, is a longitudinal vertical
section of the above apparatus, taken through the interposed row of
tubes. Figure 7, is a transverse vertical section of the same in the
line of Figure 5. Figure 8, is a horizontal section of the same.
Figure 9, is a vertical section of part of one of the deoxydizing
tubes made of self-binding fire bricks. Figure 10, is a horizontaj
section of the same. Figures 11, 12, and 13, are perspective views of
single fire bricks. Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding"
parts, wherever they are used, upon the several Figures of this Sheet.
What constitutes the main point of difference between the
deoxydizing apparatus already described and that illustrated in
Sheet 2, is, that in the latter the deoxydizing chamber and ore tubes
are placed in or over the preparatory or puddling. hearth, and en-
closed by the same walls and roof, and the draft passes directly
through the chamber to the chimney, without the obstruction of
any interposing roof or flue such as exists in the former. The
effect of this difference is that the chamber in the latter receives
the whole heat of the furnace with all its intensity, and the ore is
prepared in the tubes for the puddler in any desired quantity, with-
out obstructing the draft. The latter arrangement requires the
tubes to be made of fire brick, in order to stand the intensity of the
heat, and then they can be submitted without injury to such a
degree of heat that the iron may be almost made in them.
A, in Figures 2 and 3, is the fire chamber; B, the preparatory,
and C the puddling bottom; D, is the deoxydizing chamber, which
is in the form of a stack raised to a considerable height above the

page_text: roof of the furnace. It is of the same width as the furnace, its side
walls being upward continuations of those of the furnace. It extends
almost entirely over the preparatory bottom B, and for some
distance in the rear of it. It is closed at the top, and is lined
internally with fire brick. F, F, are the deoxydizing tubes, which
are formed by erecting two walls at a short distance apart, and
dividing the
space between the two into a number of compartments,
each of which compartments forms a tube. The walls and partitions
are composed of a single thickness of self-binding fire brick, whose
form will be herein-after explained. The tubes thus formed are
supported upon a solid wall G of fire brick, extending all across
the rear end of the preparatory hearth, and upon two fire brick
arches a, a, which extend from the wall G to the roof of the
furnace, and to the rear wall of the chamber. The number of tubes
shown in this furnace, and considered most convenient, is five, all
in one row,
but the number of tubes, or their precise arrangement,
is not arbitrary. The tubes are open at their upper ends, and are
contracted in size at their lower ends, to form ore spouts b, b, for
conducting the ore from them to the preparatory bottom B. The
ore spouts from the two forward tubes lead through the arch a, and
those from the other three into a larger spout d, made in the-wall
G, and opening on, the preparatory bottom. Each ore spout is
provided with a slide c, to open and close it. The slides of the two
forward spouts draw out towards the front, and may be connected
to operate simultaneously; and those of the three other spouts
draw out sideways, and may be also connected to work simulta-
neously. The tubes are made narrow, so as to allow plenty of space
for the draft on each side, but they extend the whole length of the
chamber from front to rear. The communication between the
chamber D and the chimney is by means of the opening under the
rear arch a' at the back of the wall G, and a flue: H, near the
ground. The heated gases and products of combustion from the
fire chamber, after being carried by the draft over the preparatory
and puddling bottoms, are arrested by the wall G, and caused to pass
upwards into the chamber D, on both sides of the deoxydizing

page_text: tubes, and then to descend over the rear of the wall G, and under
the arch a', to the flue H, and thence to the chimney.
The process of converting the ore into puddled balls in this
apparatus is as follows:-The ore spouts at the bottoms of the
tubes are all closed, and the tubes filled with granulated ore, mixed
with about 20 per cent. in weight of fine carbon. The fire is
then made in the fire chamber. After the ore has been subjected
to a high red heat for about twelve hours, the contents of one
or more tubes are let down upon the preparatory bottom by
withdrawing the slides or cut offs, which are afterwards closed,
and the tube or tubes again filled with fresh ore and carbon.
The deoxydized ore requires to be worked on the preparatory
botton B for about twenty minutes, and may be then forwarded
to the puddling bottom, and it will then ball up in a few minutes,
and may
be withdrawn or passed on to the refining fires, if the
latter are used. The deoxydized ore in the remaining tubes may
be withdrawn from them to the preparatory hearth, as required by
the puddler. The slides or cut offs may, if thought desirable, be
set and allowed to remain open such a distance as to cause a con-
tinuous supply to be given from the tubes or any number of
them to the preparatory bottom.
The refining fires I, I, (see Figures 1 and 3,) when employed in
connection with the puddling furnace to receive the puddled balls
therefrom without exposure to the cold air, are placed at the sides
of the furnace, and their flues e, e, enter the same a short distance
n the rear of the fire chamber, so that the gases from the said
refining fires will mingle with those from the fire chamber A before
passing over the puddling or preparatory hearths. A descending
inclined trunk J leads from the puddling bottom to each refining
fire, for the purpose of conveying the puddle balls from the former
to the latter; and the lower end of the said trunk, close to the
refining fire, is furnished with a sliding door or valve K, by which
to close the communication. The trunk is also furnished with a
door L, to enable the refiner to place the balls in his fire. The
refiner must have his fires ready by the time the puddling operation

page_text: is finished; and the puddler will supply him with balls by feeding
them into the trunks, down which they will roll or run by gravitation
into the refining fires; or the refiner may take them from the
bottom of the trunks, and place them in the fires by opening the
valve K, and doors L. One puddling furnace may supply three or
four refining fires, which will probably give all the heat required to
the puddling bottom. The operation of refining is not described,
as it does not differ from the ordinary process.
This combination of the puddling furnace and refining fires for the
purpose of refining the puddled ore will effect a great saving of fuel
and labor. The saving of fuel will be effected in two ways, videlicet,
-firstly, by employing the waste heat from the refining fires to.
perform the process of puddling; and, secondly, by conveying the
puddled balls to the refining fires without material loss, of. heat.
The saving of labor to the puddler will be considerable, owing to the
conveyance of the balls to the trunks being more readily accom-.
plished than their withdrawal from the furnace. The process of
refining after puddling saves the puddler's labour, as small puddled
balls are better for refining, and are made with less labor, than large
ones.
The arrangement for arresting and collecting the sparks and
dust shown in Sheet 1, and already described, is also shown in
Sheet 2 (see Figures 2 and 3). By increasing the distance from
the front to the back of the shelf or receptacle t, as shown in the.
latter Sheet and Figures, and making the flues from the refining fired
enter the furnace above the said shelf or receptacle, and in front of
the walls u and v, the sparks and dust or solid particles from the
refining fires are prevented passing over the puddling hearth, and
caused to fall on the shelf t.
;
The other modification of the deoxydizing apparatus already re-
ferred to, but not yet described, consists of a chamber and a series of;
tubes, 'arranged in almost precisely the same manner as in that last de-
scribed; the only material point of difference being that in the apparatus
last described, the evaporating oxyds and matter given out from the
ore during deoxidation all escape upwards through the ore;. but in

page_text: that about to be described, provision is made for their escape at the
sides of the deoxydizing tubes in such a way that they may be
collected and condensed. The above remarks will simplify the
description. D, (Figures 5, 6, 7, 8,) is the deoxydizing chamber;
F, F, are the deoxydizing tubes; G, the wall, and a, a', the arches
supporting the said tubes. In order to provide for the escape of the
oxyds at the sides of the tubes, they are arranged in two rows with
a space between them, which is protected from the action of the fire
or products of combustion, so that the tubes are each exposed to
the heat on one side only. On that side of each tube which is not
exposed to the heat, there are openings f, f, similar to what are
known as "louver" openings, at short distances apart, in vertical
rows, commencing some distance above the bottom, and terminating
near the top of the tube; and the space between the tubes is divided
by partitions g, g, extending from the bottom nearly to the top, into
a number of tubes M, M, which constitute what I have before
termed the interposed row of tubes. The number of interposed
tubes corresponds with that of the vertical rows of openings f, f,
The lower part of the space between the deoxydizing tubes is un-
divided, as the partitions g, g, do not extend to the bottom; and it
is furnished with a spout which is closed by a suitable shutter.
Each row of the deoxydizing tubes is furnished at the bottom with
ore spouts b, b, and d, and slides c, c, substantially similar to those
in the last described apparatus. The deoxydizing and interposed
tubes are all covered by a hood or cover N, (see Figures 5, 6, 7,)
which has suitable openings i, i, in the sides, through which to
charge the deoxydizing tubes, serving also for the admission of air.
The cover N has openings j, k, one at each end. The interposed
tubes are furnished at the top with a sliding shutter 1, which is
shown only in section, Figure 7, and is for the purpose of closing
them.
The process of making the iron directly from the ore is carried on
in this apparatus in precisely the same manner as in that shown in
Figures 2, 3, 4, of Sheet 2. The greater portion of the oxyds or
vapors escapes through the opening f,f, and may be condensed in the

page_text: interposed tubes or spaces M, M, by closing the shutter 7, or may be
allowed to pass into the cover or hood N; by leaving open the said
shutter a small portion will escape upwards through the ore. Sup-
posing the ore to contain zinc, the latter will be evaporated by the
heat applied in deoxydizing, and will escape into tubes M, M. If the
shutter is closed the vapour will be condensed in the said tubes,
and will be collected at the bottom in the form of sublimate or me-
tallic zinc, which may be drawn out by the spout ; but if the
shutter is left open, and a suitable receptacle is placed in commu-
nication with the hood or cover N, and a sufficient quantity of
oxygen is allowed to mix with the vapour, the white oxide of zinc.
will be formed. Other substances contained in ore may be collected
by the same means.
Enough has been said to show the operation of the apparatus, as
I do not claim to have invented any new mode of treating the evapo-
rated oxyds or other substances, but only the mode of controlling
their escape from ores, and collecting them for any uses to which
they may be applicable.
The deoxydizing and interposed tubes in the last described appa-
ratus are represented to be of fire brick, the same as the tubes of
the apparatus previously described; but I do not confine myself to
the use of any material, as the same arrangement of tubes may be
made of metal, where the heat would not act upon them with so
great intensity as when placed in a chamber arranged as described.
The self-binding fire bricks shown in Figures 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13,
have been invented in order to make deoxydizing tubes which will
stand any required degree of heat, but which will be thin enough
to be penetrated by the heat without difficulty, and will hold
together with sufficient strength to bear the outward pressure.
caused by the weight of ore therein. The bricks of which the
sides of the tubes are formed are made with tongues and grooves,
and the cross bricks which form the partitions between or the ends
of the tubes are grooved. The side bricks m, m, have a tongue n
at one end, and a groove o at the other, a tongue p at the top
and a groove q at the bottom; but one brick m¹ of each course

page_text: must have a tongue at each end, in order to present a tongue at each
end of the course, as shown in Figure 10. The cross bricks r
forming the end of the series of tubes have grooves s, s, on one
side to receive the tongues of the side bricks m, m¹, but those r',
which form the partitions require grooves on both sides. The form
of the ends of the tongues and bottoms of the grooves may be that
of a semi-circle or semi-ellipse. The bricks of successive courses are
arranged so as to break joint.
CLAIM.
1st. Deoxydizing the ore in a chamber which is so constructed
and arranged as to be heated by the waste heat from a puddling
reverberatory or other furnace, and at the same time to prevent
the gases and products of combustion from coming in contact with
the ore, except during the time of charging, and which like
wise permits the charge of deoxydized ore to descend upon the
puddling or preparatory hearth or bottom without exposure to
the atmospheric, air. :
2nd. The arrangement of a series of flat vertical tubes e, e, or
round tubes arranged as the equivalent thereof, in a vertical stack,
substantially as described, and shown in Sheet 1, of the Drawings.
When these are combined with a puddling or other furnace
by means of an interposed ore box H, or any substantially similar
means of conducting the ore to the puddling or preparatory bottom
substantially as and for the purpose specified.
3rd. The employment, in combination with the series of deoxy-
dizing tubes e, e, and the ore box H, substantially as described, and
shown in Fig. 2, of Sheet 1; of a series of stationary inclined planes
fi, fi, and a series of adjustable inclined planes f, f, to regulate and
ensure the equal discharge of ore from each and from the whole
series of tubes.
4th. The arrangement of a tube or tubes F, F, or their equi-
valent, in a chamber D, which is situated over the preparatory
or working hearth, and is not separated from the said hearth by any
intervening roof or flue, but has all the waste heat or gases and.
products of combustion from a puddling or other furnace passing

page_text: directly through it on their way to the chimney for the purposes
herein set forth, as fully described and shown in Figure 2, 3, and 4,
of Sheet 2.
5th. One or more refining fires combined with a puddling.
furnace, or other furnace of a similar nature, in any manner sub-
stantially as described and shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3, of Sheet 2,
so that their waste heat and products of combustion mix with those
of the fire chamber of the furnace before passing over the puddling
or preparatory hearth or bottom.
6th. One or more trunks J, or their equivalents, leading from
the working or preparatory hearth or bottom into or close to the re-
fining fires, as shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3, of Sheet 2, to convey
the puddled balls by gravitation into the said refining fires, or to a
convenient position to be readily placed therein by the refiner,"
without taking them out of the furnace doors, or exposing them to
the cold atmospheric air.
7th. Sinking the fire chamber and its roof in any puddling
furnace, or other furnace employed for analogous purposes, below the
usual position making a shelf, step, or receptacle t, between the fire
chamber and puddling learth, and uniting the roof of the fire
chamber and the roof over the working 'bottom of the furnace by
a vertical or curved wall v, substantially as described, for the
purpose of arresting and collecting sparks and particles of solid
matter given off from the fuel.
8th. A single or double deoxydizing tube, or series of deoxydizing
tubes, F, F, with a centre or side space or series of tubes M, sub-
stantially as described, and shown in Figures 5, 6, 7, and 8, to
receive and collect or conduct away the oxyds from the ores in the
deoxydizing tube or tubes, through suitable openings f, f, for the
purpose of manufacturing sublimate or metallic zinc or other sub-
stances, as set forth.
9th. The hood or cover N, furnished with suitable openings, and
placed over the tubes or spaces M, M, substantially as described, for
the purpose of receiving, leading off, and cooling the oxyds
escaping from the ores during the deoxydizing process.

page_text: 10th. The employment for the purpose of constructing thedeoxy
dizing tubes, and for other purposes, in furnaces of self-binding
fire bricks m, m', each having tongues n, p, and grooves o, q,
fitting to corresponding grooves and tongues in that or those bricks
placed next it; and of the cross binding bricks r, having groo ve
s, s, to receive the tongues of the bricks m, m¹, substantially as
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Auguste Edouard Loradoux
Bellford, have hereunto set my hand and seal, the Second day
of August, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and fifty-three.
A. E. L. BELLFORD. (L.S.)