IMPROVEMENTS IN SMELTING ORES AND OTHER MATERIALS CONTAINING LEAD, AND IN FURNACES THEREFOR."
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Warne Chenhall, of Morriston, in the County of
Glamorgan, Civil Engineer, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SMELTING
ORES AND OTHER MATERIALS CONTAINING LEAD, AND IN FURNACES
THEREFOR."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Warne Chenhall at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 11th October 1881.
JAMES WARNE CHENHALL, of Morriston, in the County of Glamorgan, Civil
Engineer. " IMPROVEMENTS IN SMELTING ORES AND OTHER MATERIALS CON-
TAINING LEAD, AND IN FURNACES THEREFOR."
My improvement relates to the construction of the fire places of reverberatory
furnaces employed in the calcination and reduction of ores and other materials
containing lead, and is applicable to various kinds of reverberatory furnaces used
for that purpose, such for example as the Flintshire furnace, the flowing furnace,
and the Spanish furnace; to the working beds of all such furnaces my improved
fireplace may be adapted.
My improvement consists in placing the fire place at a considerably lower level
than the working bed, with an upright shaft to convey the gases from the fire
places to the furnace. The fire bars may be twenty feet below the bridge. The
fire place is supplied with coals through a hopper by the side, which is provided
with doors to avoid free access of air. The air which is passed through the fire
place must only be sufficient for partial combustion.
Abreast of the fire place and the gas-flue therefrom is another flue for conveying
air, the upper exit of which should be near the bridge. At the bottom of this
air-flue and at the ashpit are doors for regulating the passage of air.
In other respects the charges of lead ore are worked as usual in the various
kinds of reverberatory furnaces employed for that purpose.
Among the advantages which this fire-place presents are the following:-
1. Regularity of combustion and consequently economy of fuel,

page_text: 2. Complete control over the fire by adjusting the air which passes through the
air-flue and that which passes through the fire place, whereby an oxidizing or a
reducing flame may be obtained in the furnace at pleasure.
And, 3. The upward pressure of the gas from the fire-place and the air is
sufficient for the furnace without the necessity of a strong chimney draught. A
moderate draught, merely sufficient to take away the products of combustion, is all
that is required. Hence a great advantage which this Invention presents in lead
smelting is the small amount of fume which is produced as compared with that
produced when a strong draught is necessary, as with ordinary furnaces, and
further, for the same reason, the condensation of the lead fume in chambers, flues,
or other appliances is much facilitated.

page_text: for the same reason, the condensation of the lead fume in chambers, flues, or other
appliances, is much facilitated.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention and the manner of
performing the same, I would have it understood that I do not confine myself to
the exact details shewn and described, but I claim, my improved lead smelting
furnace with its low level gas producing fire place, and the smelting of ores and
other materials containing lead therein, substantially as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Warne Chenhall, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Third day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
JAMES WARNE CHENHALL. (LS.)