Blooms or for Maintaining the Heat thereof.
Year: 1884

page_text: Blooms or for Maintaining the Heat thereof.
I PETER KIRK of Bankfield Workington, in the County of Cumberland, Iron
and Steel Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of the said invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN OVENS OR FURNACES FOR HEATING INGOTS AND BLOOMS OR
FOR MAINTAINING THE HEAT THEREOF to be as follows:-
My Invention relates principally to the keeping hot of ingots of steel or
Bessemer Metal after they have been withdrawn from the moulds. In ordinary
practice when using heating furnaces the ingots are transferred to bogies and
thereby conveyed to the heating furnaces, a number of ingots being placed in
each furnace. The ingots lose a considerable portion of their contained hent
whilst being conveyed and waiting to be conveyed to the furnaces and the latter
aro irregular in their effect and their use is attended with other disadvantages:
According to my Invention I construct a cellular furnace having ovens or cells
built in two or more ranges in height each cell by preference holding only one
ingot. To heat the furnace preparatory to the introduction of the ingots and
subsequently to maintain a suitable degree of heat I arrange for hot currents to
flow through the cells the ingots being by preference so placed in the cells as that
the said currents shall flow from the tips toward tho bases of the ingots. I profer
to make each cell to slope from a charging opening on one side of the range
toward a withdrawing opening on the other side. I prefer that the charging
openings shall be within the range of the ingot crane so that it will not be
necessary to use bogies to convey the ingots to the ovens. The said openings may
be closed by means of removable plugs or covers lined with firo clay and tapered
so as to fit tight when home or by means of hinged or sliding doors or by suitable
means. Between each range of openings and the cells is a flue. Into one flue
I discharge a hot mixture of gas and air which issues from a bottom flue through
openings at intervals. The other fluo is led downward at one end of the range
and heats a flue or flues or pipes through which the air for admixture with the
gas is conveyed. The gas may be derived from any suitable source or the furnace
may be provided with a special producer or set of producers. The burning or hot

page_text: gases flow through the cells in the direction already mentioned or if preferred for
any reason may flow in the contrary direction. I may dispense with the said
withdrawing openings and both introduce and withdraw the ingots through one
set of openings. The sloping of the floors of the cells facilitates the introduction
and withdrawal of the ingots and the drainage of cinder or scoria. If the ingots
are at once placed in the furnace after withdrawal from the moulds they can be
kept for a considerable time with a comparatively small consumption of gas and
the heat can be better.regulated than in the ordinary heating furnace so as to do
little more than conserve the contained heat of the ingot and to make the heat
more uniform throughout the length of the ingot. I do not confine myself to the
exact arrangements for heating the cells. The improved furnace may also be used
in the heating of blooms.

page_text: Blooms or for Maintaining the Heat thereof.
I PETER KIRK of Bankfield Workington in the County of Cumberland Iron
and Steel Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"LMPROVEMENTS IN OVENS OR FURNACES FOR HEATING INGOTS AND BLOOMS OR
FOR MAINTAINING THE HEAT THEREOF" and in what manner the same is to bo
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement and accompanying drawings :-
=
My Invention relates principally to the keeping hot of ingots of steel or
Bessemer Metal after they have been withdrawn from the moulds. In ordinary
practice when using heating furnaces the ingots are transferred to bogies and
thereby conveyed to the heating furnaces a number of ingots being placed in each .
furnace. The ingots lose a considerable portion of their contained heat whilst
being conveyed and waiting to be conveyed to the furnaces and the latter are
irregular in their effect and their use is attended with other disadvantages.
According to my invention I construct a cellular furnace having ovens or cells
built in one, two or more ranges in height each cell by preference holding only one
ingot. To heat the furnace preparatory to the introduction of the ingots and
subsequently to maintain a suitable degree of heat I arrange for hot currents to
flow through the cells the ingots being by preference so placed in the cells as that
the said currents shall flow from the tips toward the bases of the ingots.
The nature of my Invention will be well understood whon reference is made to
the accompanying drawing wherein Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation on the line A. B.
in Fig. 3, Fig. 2 is a vertical cross section; Fig. 3 is a sectional plan on the
line C. D. in Fig. 1 and Fig. 4 is an outside, front elevation of one end of a heating
oven constructed in accordance with my Invention. In the said Figs. a. a. are
two gas producers and b. b. are the aforesaid cells to contain the ingots. The gas
producers may be of any suitable construction and may be built at one end of the
heating furnace as in the example or the gas may be desired from a more distant
source. The gases generated in the producers pass through the down fluo c. into
the gas flue d. which extends from end to end of the furnace below the cells b. or
the gas is otherwise suitably conveyed into the flue d. Above the gas Que d. is an
air flue e. the two being separated by means of metal or fire clay plates or slabs.
From the gas flue the gas flows through passages d' into a chamber f. which
extends along the back ends of all the cells b. As the gas flows through the
passages d' it meets with currents of air which are discharged from the air flue c.
through openings at e¹ and the mixture of gas and air is burnt in the chamber f.
The flames and heated gases flow from the chamber f. through the cells b. into a
front chamber g. which communicates by means of an opening g' at one end of the
furnace with a bottom waste Blue h. which communicates with the chimney.
Between the chamber g. and the flue . is a second air flue i. which communicates
at one end by means of a cross flue with the air fluo e. and supplies the latter

page_text: with air. In the example air is forced into the flue i. by means of an air
injector k. seen in Fig. 2 the air boing injected by means of a jet of steam. From
this injector a flue . leads into the flue i. A fan or any other suitable means may
be used to obtain the supply of air. The air becomes heated by flowing through
the flue i. and is still further heated in its passage through the flue e. The cells b.
are formed in a central wall m. which is built of fire brick or refractory material
each cell in the example being of a size suitable to contain a single ingot and to
leave a suitable amount of space for the passage of the flames or heated gases from
the chamber f into the chamber g. By preference the cells are inclined from one
chamber to another so as to facilitate the discharge of melted cinder which flows
down the floors of the cells into the chamber f. from which such melted cinder
can be removed at intervals. To still further provide for the discharge of the
cinder I make a channel or two or more channels in the floor of each cell and I so
form the said floor as that the ingot touches the same at two or more points
only, somewhat in the manner indicated in Fig. 2. This construction of the
floor also tends to the more uniform heating of the ingot owing to the
heated gases being permitted to pass below the ingot. The outer walls of
the furnace are enclosed within an iron shell as is usual and in the front
and back walls and plates openings n. o. are formed which openings are in line
with the cells. The openings n are for the introduction. of the ingots and the
openings o. for the withdrawal of the same. The sloping formation of the cells
facilitates the introduction and withdrawal of the ingots. The mouths of the said
openings are a little tapered and are closed by means of metal plugs which are
tapered to fit the mouths of the opening and are filled or lined with firo clay of
refractory material. In lieu of these plugs the mouths of the openings may be
fitted with hinged or sliding doors or may be closed by other suitable means.
I prefer that the charging openings n. shall be within the range of the ingot crane
so that it will not be necessary to use bogies to convey the ingots to the oven or
furnace. I may dispense with the withdrawing openings o. and both charge and
withdraw through the openings n. The ingots if placed within the cells of the
furnace immediately after withdrawal from the moulds can be kept for a consider-
able length of time with a comparatively small consumption of gas and the heat
can be better regulated than in the ordinary heating furnace so as to do little more
than conserve the contained heat of the ingots and to render the heat more uniform
throughout the mass. It will be seen that the tips of the ingots which are usually
cooler than the bases are exposed to the greatest heat so that they receive a little
excess of heat whereby the ingots bear the transport to the rolls better and roll
down casier than when the tips are cooler than the rest of the mass The oven or
furnace may also be used in the heating of blooms although it has been designed
more particularly for the heating of ingots. I do not confine myself to the precise
formation and arrangement of the air and gas flues nor to the general construction
of the furnace so long as the important feature is retained namely the horizontal or
sloping cells to contain the ingots communicating at each end with chambers or
flues in combination with means for causing a flow of heated or burning gases
through the cells. I do not confine myself to the formation of the furnace two cells
in height. If preferred the furnace may have only one range of cells or it may
have three or more ranges one above the other.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1. The oven or furnace for heating ingots or blooms constructed substantially
as herein described and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
2. The oven or furnace formed with cells b. to hold ingots or blooms communi-
cating at each end with chambers or flues f. g. in combination with arrangements
for heating the cells whereby heated or burning gases are caused to flow through

page_text: the cells from one chamber to the other substantially as and for the purpose set
fortb.
•
•
3. The oven or furnace composed of a number of cells b. each sloping from end
to end and heated by means of gas or of hot gases the charging opening n. through
which ingots or blooms can be introduced into the cells and the openings o. through
which the ingots or blooms can be withdrawn substantially as and for the purpose
set forth and indicated.
4. The combination of parts consisting of the sloping cells b. the chambers f. the
openings n. the gas fluc d. opening into the chamber f. the air. Qlue c. supplying.
heated air to mix with the gas and the chamber g. into which pass the heated
gases flowing from the chamber f. through the cells substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.

page_text: Blooms or for Maintaining the Heat thereof.
I PETER KIRK of Bankfield Workington, in the County of Cumberland, Iron
and Steel Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of the said invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN OVENS OR FURNACES FOR HEATING INGOTS AND BLOOMS OR
FOR MAINTAINING THE HEAT THEREOF to bo as follows:-
"
My Invention relates. principally to the keeping hot of ingots of steel or
Bessemer Metal after they have been withdrawn from the moulds. In ordinary
practice when using heating furnaces the ingots are transferred to bogies and
thereby conveyed to the heating furnaces, a number of ingots being placed in
each furnace. The ingots lose a considerable portion of their contained heat
whilst being conveyed and waiting to be conveyed to the furnaces and the latter
aro irregular in their effect and their use is attended with other disadvantages:
According to my Invention I construct a cellular furnace having ovens or cells
built in two or more ranges in height each cell by preference holding only one
ingot. To hoat the furnace preparatory to the introduction of the ingots and
subsequently to maintain a suitable degree of heat I arrange for hot currents to
flow through the cells the ingots being by preference so placed in the cells as that
the said currents shall flow from the tips toward the bases of the ingots. I profer
to make each cell to slope from a charging opening on one side of the range
toward a withdrawing opening on the other side. I prefer that the charging
openings shall be within the range of the ingot crane so that it will not be
necessary to use bogies to convey the ingots to the ovens. The said openings may
be closed by means of removable plugs or covers lined with fire clay and tapered
so as to fit tight when home or by means of hinged or sliding doors or by suitable
means. Between each range of openings and the cells is a flue. Into one flue
1 discharge a hot mixture of gas and air which issues from a bottom flue through
openings at intervals. The other flue is led downward at one end of the range
aud heats a flue or flues or pipes through which the air for admixture with the
gas is conveyed. The gas may be derived from any suitable sourco or the furnaco
may be provided with a special producer or set of producers. The burning or hot

page_text: gases flow through the cells in the direction already mentioned or if preferred for
any reason may flow in the contrary direction. I may dispense with the said
withdrawing openings and both introduce and withdraw the ingots through one
set of openings. The sloping of the floors of the cells facilitates the introduction
and withdrawal of the ingots and the drainage of cinder or scoria. If the ingots
aro at once placed in the furnace after withdrawal from the moulds they can be
kept for a considerable time with a comparatively small consumption of gas and
the heat can be better regulated than in the ordinary heating furnace so as to do
little more than conserve the contained heat of the ingot and to make the heat
more uniform throughout the length of the ingot. I do not confine myself to the
exact arrangements for heating the cells. The improved furnace may also be used
in the heating of blooms.

page_text: Blooms or for Maintaining the Heat thereof.
I PETER KIRK of Bankfield Workington in the County of Cumberland Iron
and Steel Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN OVENS OR FURNACES FOR HEATING INGOTS AND BLOOMS OR
FOR MAINTAINING THE HEAT THEREOF and in what manner the spine is to be
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement and accompanying drawings :—
23
My Invention relates principally to the keeping hot of ingots of steel or
Bessemer Metal after they have been withdrawn from the moulds. In ordinary
practice when using heating furnaces the ingots are transferred to bogies and
thereby conveyed to the heating furnaces a number of ingots being placed in cach
furnace. The ingots lose a considerable portion of their contained heat whilst
being conveyed and waiting to be conveyed to the furnaces and the latter are
irregular in their effect and their use is attended with other disadvantages:
According to my invention I construct a cellular furnace having ovens or cells
built in one, two or more ranges in height each cell by preference holding only one
ingot. To heat the furnace preparatory to the introduction of the ingots and
subsequently to maintain a suitable degree of heat I arrange for hot currents to
flow through the cells the ingots being by preference so placed in the cells as that
the said currents shall flow from the tips toward the bases of the ingots.
The nature of my Invention will be well understood when reference is made to
the accompanying drawing wherein Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation on the line A. B.
in Fig. 3, Fig. 2 is a vertical cross section; Fig. 3 is a sectional plan on the
line C. D. in Fig. 1 and Fig. + is an outside front elevation of one end of a heating
oren constructed in accordance with my Invention. In the said Figs. a. a. aro
two gas producers and b. b. are the aforesaid cells to contain the ingots. The gas
producers may be of any suitable construction and may be built at one end of the
heating furnace as in the example or the gas may be desired from a more distant
source. The gases generated in the producers pass through the down flue c. into
the gas flue d. which extends from end to end of the furnace below the cells b. or
the gas is otherwise suitably conveyed into the flue d. Above the gas flue d. is an
air flue c. the two being separated by means of metal or fire clay plates or slabs.
From the gas flue the gas flows through passages into a chamber f. which
extends along the back ends of all the cells b. As the gas flows through tho
passages dit meets with currents of air which are discharged from the air flue c.
through openings at e¹ and the mixture of gas and air is burnt in the chamber f
The flames and heated gases flow from the chamber f. through the cells b. into a
front chamber g. which communicates by means of an opening g' at one end of the
furnace with a bottom waste flue . which communicates with the chimney.
Between the chamber g. and the flue h. is a second air fluc i. which communicates
at one end by means of a cross flue with the air flue e. and supplies the latter

page_text: with air. In the example air is forced into the fluo . by means of an air
injector . seen in Fig. 2 the air being injected by means of a jet of steam. From
this injector a fluc l. leads into the flue i. A fan or any other suitable means may
be used to obtain the supply of air. The air becomes heated by flowing through
the flue i. and is still further heated in its passage through the flue e. The cells b.
are formed in a central wall m. which is built of firo brick or refractory material
each cell in the example being of a sizo suitable to contain a single ingot and to
leave a suitable amount of space for the passage of the flames or heated gases from
the chamber f. into the chamber g. By preference the cells are inclined from one
chamber to another so as to facilitate the discharge of melted cinder which flows
down the floors of the cells into the chamber f. from which such melted cinder
can be removed at intervals. To still further provide for the discharge of the
cinder I make a channel or two or more channels in the floor of each cell and I so
form the said floor as that the ingot touches the same at two or more points
only, somewhat in the manner indicated in Fig. 2. This construction of the
floor also tends to the more uniform heating of the ingot owing to the
heated gases being permitted to pass below the ingot. The outer walls of
the furnace are enclosed within an iron shell as is usual and in the front
and back walls and plates openings n. o. are formed which openings are in line
with the cells. The openings nare for the introduction of the ingots and the
openings o. for the withdrawal of the same. The sloping formation of the cells
facilitates the introduction and withdrawal of the ingots. The mouths of the said
openings are a little tapered and are closed by means of metal plugs which are
tapered to fit the mouths of the opening and are filled or lined with fire clay of
refractory material. In lieu of these plugs the mouths of the openings may be
fitted with hinged or sliding doors or may be closed by other suitable means.
I prefer that the charging openings n. shall be within the range of the ingot crane
so that it will not be necessary to use bogies to convey the ingots to the oven or
furnace. I may dispense with the withdrawing openings o. and both charge and
withdraw through the openings n. The ingots if placed within the cells of the
furnace immediately after withdrawal from the moulds can be kept for a consider-
able length of time with a comparatively small consumption of gas and the heat
can be better regulated than in the ordinary heating furnace so as to do little more
than conserve the contained heat of the ingots and to render the heat more uniform
throughout the mass. It will be seen that the tips of the ingots which are usually
cooler than the bases are exposed to the greatest heat so that they receive a little
excess of heat whereby the ingots bear the transport to the rolls better and roll
down casier than when the tips are cooler than the rest of the mass
The oven or
furnace may also be used in the heating of blooms although it has been designed
more particularly for the heating of ingots. I do not confine myself to the precise
formation and arrangement of the air and gas flues nor to the general construction
of the furnace so long as the important feature is retained nainely the horizontal or
sloping cells to contain the ingots communicating at each end with chambers or
flues in combination with means for causing a flow of heated or burning gases
through the cells. I do not confine myself to the formation of the furnace two cells
in height. If preferred the furnace may have only one range of cells or it may
have three or more ranges one above the other.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1. The oven or furnace for heating ingots or blooms constructed substantially
as herein described and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
2. The oven or furnace formed with cells b. to hold ingots or blooms communi-
cating at each end with chambers or flues f. g. in combination with arrangements
for heating the cells whereby heated or burning gases are caused to flow through

page_text: the cells from one chamber to the other substantially as and for the purpose set
forth.
3. The oven or furnace composed of a number of cells b. each sloping from end
to end and heated by means of gas or of hot gases the charging opening n. through
which ingots or blooms can be introduced into the cells and the openings o. through
which the ingots or blooms can be withdrawn substantially as and for the purpose
set forth and indicated.
4. The combination of parts consisting of the sloping cells b. the chambers f. the
openings n. the gas flue d. opening into the chamber f. the air flue e. supplying
heated air to mix with the gas and the chamber into which pass the heated
gases flowing from the chamber f. through the cells substantially as and for the
purpose sot forth.