IMPROVEMENTS IN PUDDLING, HEATING, AND OTHER FURNACES
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the
County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
PUDDLING, HEATING, AND OTHER FURNACES." A communication from abroad
by William Stubblebine, of Bethlehem, Northampton County, Pennsylvania,
United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 13th January 1880.
"
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman. IMPROVEMENTS IN PUDDLING, HEATING, AND OTHER FURNACES."
A communication from abroad by William Stubblebine, of Bethlehem, Northampton
County, Pennsylvania, United States of America.
The main object of this Invention is economy in the consumption of fuel in
puddling, heating, and other furnaces, and the Invention relates to a peculiar
construction and arrangement of furnace in which limited supplies of fuel are
introduced into the fire chamber at frequent intervals, a portion of the inflammable
gases evolved from each supply of fuel is stored in a chamber above or adjoining
the furnace, and between the intervals of feeding the fire the gases contained in the
storage chamber are forced into the fire chamber by the pressure of air, all sub-
stantially as hereinafter described.
Gaseous products of combustion are generated so rapidly and in such large
volumes in puddling and heating furnaces whenever fresh air is introduced into
the fire chamber that a large proportion of these products passes off unconsumed to
the chimney, but by permitting a portion of the products to enter the storage
chamber the instant they are generated they may be utilized during the intervals
between the supplies of fuel by forcing them gradually by and with a current of air
from the storage chamber into the fire chamber where the mixture of air and gas
is ignited and passes off in a flame through the furnace.
Not only is a saving of fuel thus effected but an intense heat is maintained in
the furnace, and iron of a superior quality produced.
In carrying out this Invention as applied, for example, to a puddling furnace,
there is built on the roof of the furnace immediately over the fire chamber a
structure, enclosing a chamber which communicates with the interior of the said

page_text: fire chamber through openings in the roof, the said openings being sufficiently large
and numerous to permit the free passage through them of gases from the fuel.
A blast pipe communicates with the ash pit of the furnace, and another blast
pipe serves to introduce air into the upper chamber, the flow of air through the
said pipe being regulated by means of a valve or damper.
A perforated partition may be placed in the upper chamber, so that the air from
the pipe may pass in the form of jets into the said chamber.
In working the improved furnace a very light blast is introduced into the ash
pit instead of the usual heavy blast, the fuel being introduced into the fire chamber
in small quantities and at frequent intervals, and the damper or valve in the blast
pipe being closed during the introduction of each supply of fuel.
From the bituminous coal or wood employed as fuel in the class of furnaces to
which the Invention relates, volumes of volatile gases are evolved immediately on
the fuel being thrown upon the fire. These gases are generated so rapidly and in
such volume that their complete combustion cannot take place in ordinary furnaces,
a large portion passing off through the chimney in the condition of smoke.
In the improved furnace, however, a portion of the gases evolved on each intro-
duction of the fuel finds its way into the storage chamber, from which it is forced
by and with the air from the blast pipe into the fire chamber where the mixture of
air and gas becomes ignited and intensifies the heat of the furnace, the gas and air
being thus forced into the fire chamber during each interval or during a portion of
each interval which elapses between the supplies of fuel, and proferably when the
fuel in the chamber is in an incandescent condition.
By this means such a high degree of heat is maintained in the furnace, and such
a saving of fuel is effected that more "heats" can be worked in a given time and
at less expense of fuel than in ordinary furnaces, the puddled iron produced being
at the same time of superior quality.
It may be advisable in some cases to partly close the chimney damper for a short
time, when a fresh supply of fuel is fed to the fire chamber.
The air introduced into the storage chamber should be at a comparatively low
pressure, so that the mixed air and gas may be gradually forced into the fire
chamber.
Although the Invention has been referred to in the above description as applied
to a puddling furnace it may be used in connection with heating furnaces, and
indeed with any furnace in which the maintenance of a high degree of heat
is required, and where fuel from which volatile gases are rapidly evolved is
employed.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 6th
July 1880.
"
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman. IMPROVEMENTS IN PUDDLING, HEATING, AND OTHER FURNACES."
A communication from abroad by William Stubblebine, of Bethlehen, Northampton
County, Pennsylvania, United States of America.
The said Invention has for its object insuring the thorough combustion of the
gases evolved from the fuel in the fire chambers of puddling, heating, and other
furnaces, and the maintenance of a uniform high degree of heat in the same; and
this object is attained by combining with a furnace an air and gas chamber located
above the fire chamber, and having direct communication therewith through
openings in the roof of the said fire chamber, the said gas and air chamber being
provided with a valved blast pipe, all as hereinafter explained.
In the accompanying Drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of a puddling
furnace constructed for carrying out the said Invention, and Figure 2 is a transverse
section of the same taken along the line 1, 2, Figure 1.
So far as the furnace proper is concerned it is similar to ordinary puddling
furnaces, A being the fire chamber; B, the puddling chamber; D, the chimney;
E, the ash pit; a, the feed opening for the fuel; b, the working opening; d, the
bridge wall; f the grate; e, the Hue leading to the chimney, which is provided at
the top with the usual damper; and g, the tubular chills surrounding the puddling
bed. The openings a and b and the opening to the ash pit are provided with the
On the roof h of the
usual doors, that of the opening having a working hole c.
fire chamber, and immediately above the latter is built a structure F inclosing a
chamber J, which communicates with the interior of the said fire chamber through
openings i, ¹, in the roof-
The usual blast pipe mmmunicates with the ash pit E of the furnace, and a
blast pipe n serves to ioduce air into the chamber J, the flow of air through the
said pipe n being regulated by means of a valve or damper 8.
In working the improved furnace a very light blast is introduced into the ash
pit E instead of the usual heavy blast, the fuel being introduced into the fire
chamber A in small quantities and at frequent intervals.
On introducing each supply of fuel into the fire chamber the valve of the blast
pipe n is opened, and owing to the draft over the bridge wall the blast has a
tendency to seek the rear openings . In the meantime the gases evolved from the
fuel, and accompanied with more or less flame of a character indicating imperfect
combustion, will enter the chamber J through the front openings i and the gases
will be intimately mixed with the air in the said chamber, the mixture passing
through the rear openings into the fire chamber near the bridge wall, and being
there consumed so as to add to the heat of the furnace.
It has been found in practice that the Invention results in the maintenance of a
high degree of heat in the puddling chamber of the furnace, the saving of fuel, the
working of more heats than usual in a given time, and the production of puddled
iron of a quality superior to that made in ordinary furnaces from the same kind of
pig-iron.
The intervals between the charges of fuel introduced into the fire chamber, the
quantity of fuel introduced at each charge, and the regulation of the blast will
depend in a great measure upon the condition of the metal in the puddling
chamber.
It may be stated however that the blast into the chamber J may be diminished
by closing or partly closing the valve of the blast pipe n after the volatile gases
evolved from one charge of fuel have been consumed, that the valve should be

page_text: opened when a new charge is introduced and that the blast below the grate may
be increased as the upper blast is decreased.
It will be obvious that the arrangements hereinbefore described are equally
applicable to heating and other like furnaces.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said Inven-
tion, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into effect, I
would observe in conclusion that I wish it to be understood that I do not claim
broadly an air chamber provided with an air pipe or pipes and situated above the
fire chamber of a puddling or heating furnace, and communicating therewith
through openings in the roof of the said fire chamber for the purpose of directing
air into the products of combustion; but what I consider to be novel and original
and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the hereinbefore in part
recited Letters Patent is,-
The combination with a puddling, heating, or other like furnace of a gas and air
chamber J located above the fire chamber, having a direct communication therewith
through openings i, i¹, and having a valved blast pipe n, all substantially as
herein before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have to this my Speci-
fication set my hand and seal, the Sixth day of July, One thousand eight
hundred and eighty.
J. HENRY JOHNSON. (L.S.)