A NEW OR IMPROVED SYSTEM HEATING APPARATUS FOR SMELTING METALS IN CRUCIBLES, AND FOR VARIOUS USES
Year: 1874

page_text: ETTERS PATENT to William Edward Gedge, of No. 11, Wellington
Street, Strand, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the
OF FURNACE AND SUPER-
Invention of "A NEW OR IMPROVED SYSTEM
HEATING APPARATUS FOR SMELTING METALS IN CRUCIBLES, AND FOR VARIOUS
USES." A communication from abroad by Messieurs Lepet, fils
ainé, frères, and Company, 64, Faubourg St. Martin, Paris,
France.
at e Uce or
on the 18th July 1874.
UT
I, WILLIAM EDWARD GEDGE, of No. 11, Wellington Street, Strand,
in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature
of the said Invention for "A NEW OR IMPROVED SYSTEM OF FURNACE AND
SUPERHEATING APPARATUS FOR SMELTING METALS IN CRUCIBLES, AND FOR VARIOUS
USES," a communication to me from abroad by Messieurs Lepet, fils
Prica Sd.1

page_text: be as follows:-
This Invention relates to improvements in the furnaces used in the
manufacture of cast steel and analogous manufacture, and particularly
in relation to the superheating of the air. The advantages of previously
superheating the air directed into metallurgic furnaces have long been
recognized.
This Invention comprises an apparatus which, utilizing the waste
heat, raises the blast of air to a more or less elevated temperature. This
superheater is metallic, and its arrangements are indicated at V, Fig. 1,
of the accompanying Sheet of Drawing.
It will be seen that in order to prevent fusion of the apparatus, which
would soon take place, every part of its surface is constantly cooled by a
current of air from a fan or other blast engine. As it issues from the
apparatus this air passes into the twyers, and is driven into the furnace
to keep up the combustion. This principle has led the Inventors of the
improvements, the subject of this Invention, to the construction of
furnaces for melting steel or any other metal requiring like steel
a high temperature, which furnaces will not, like those in ordinary use,
be rapidly disorganised by the great heat produced therein. This same
principle has also permitted the Inventors to obtain another important
result in relation to the takeing out of the crucibles or pots from the
furnace.
It is well known that hitherto when the fusion of the metal is com-
plete and that the running is about to be begun the crucibles or pots
must, by the aid of tongs, be drawn from the furnace when the.
temperature is at its maximum of intensity, and in this part of
metallurgy it is this operation which presents the greatest difficulties.
This Invention obviates these difficulties by making the bottom or sole
plate of the furnace, upon which the crucibles or pots rest, moveable, so
that the crucible may be withdrawn with the greatest facility. The
furnace by which this result is obtained is constructed as follows:―The
chamber A, in which the crucibles or pots are placed for operating
the fusion, is raised to a fixed height above the ground or floor of the
works. It is supported upon two vertical walls B leaving an open a
passage on two sides. It is traversed by rails, upon which traverses
the chariot carrying the sole plate of the furnace and the crucibles or

page_text: pots. This sole plate C (Fig. 3) is composed of a metal case having two
lateral openings D, twyers placed on its upper part, and friction
rollers c, c. The surface of this sole plate is exactly that of the inside
of the furnace, of which it forms the floor. The result of this arrange-
ment is, that instead of putting in the crucibles or pots from the top of
the furnace they are introduced by the bottom. To obtain this result a
hydraulic press F, or other lifting arrangement placed beneath the
furnace, seizes the sole plate and carries it to the place which it is to
Occupy in the furnace. An opening or mouth G placed at the top
serves only for the introduction of the coke, the combustion of which
takes place as in ordinary furnaces.
It will be evident that by reason of the elevated temperature produced
the sole plate would soon become fused if it were not constantly cooled
by a current of fresh air, and the bricks themselves would soon dis-
aggregate as in ordinary furnaces. To remedy this defect the furnace
chamber is constructed with a double casing, so that a continuous
current of air may be brought upon the entire surface of its sides as
The air
well as upon that of the sole plate, and thus cool every part.
coming from the fans or blast engine traverses the vertical conduit H,
and then by various tubes circulates around the furnace in the space K
formed by the double casing.
In order that the air may strike equally upon all parts of the furnace
it is made to enter by vertical conduits I, which are elbowed at about
half the height of the chamber. The air then plunges into lower
openings to pass into horizontal conduits L, and finally penetrate into
the interior of the case which forms the sole or floor of the furnace so as
to cool it also.
the combustion.
It then escapes from this case by the twyers b to feed
The result is that all parts of the furnace are con-
stantly cooled by a continuous current of air which prevents the brick
and the castings from deteriorating.
The fusion of the metal being effected, the removal from the furnace
is of the simplest (see Fig. 2). It is only necessary to open the cock of
the hydraulic press (if this kind of lift is used) and the sole plate or floor
of the furnace gently lowers with the crucibles or pots to the level of
the ground or floor of the works. The crucibles or pots are then freed
from the incandescent coke, and the running off takes place with great
facility and speed.

page_text: DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWING.
Fig. 1 is a section in elevation of a furnace embodying this Invention;
Fig. 2 is a transverse section of same at the moment of removing
the crucibles or pots; Fig. 3 is a view of the floor or sole plate of the
furnace provided with four rollers for running on the rails, carried by
the hydraulic press; and Fig. 4, cross section at X, Y, Fig. 1.
A, A', combustion chamber or furnace, the lost flames from the one
in activity heating the chamber A¹; B, vertical walls; C, sole plate or
case forming floor of furnace; D, openings for entrance of wind into
the case C; E, crucibles or pots; F, hydraulic press; G, mouth for
feeding. furnace; H, conduits for entrance of air; I, vertical conduits
penetrating into the double casing to cause the wind to whirl therein;
K, double casing; L, horizontal conduits; V, superheater of the air, to
be employed or not, at pleasure; W, retort heated by the waste heat to
produce gas and coke, which may be afterwards used to heat the
furnace.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Edward Gedge in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 15th January 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
EDWARD GEDGE, of No. 11, Wellington Street, Strand, in the County
of Middlesex, Patent Agent, send greeting.
.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eighteenth day of July, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the thirty-
eighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said William Edward Gedge, Her special license
that I, the said William Edward Gedge, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Edward Gedge, 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

page_text: Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"A NEW OR IMPROVED SYSTEM OF FURNACE AND SUPERHEATING APPARATUS FOR
SMELTING METALS IN CRUCIBLES, AND FOR VARIOUS USES," a communication to
me from abroad by Messieurs Lepet, fils ainé, frères, and Company,
64, Faubourg St. Martin, Paris, France, upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said William Edward Gedge, my executors or admi-
nistrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or
one of
their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be
performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar montlis next and immediately after the date
of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Edward Gedge, 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:-
This Invention relates to improvements in the furnaces used in the
manufacture of cast steel and analogous manufacture, and particularly
in relation to the superheating of the air. The advantages of previously
superheating the air directed into metallurgic furnaces have long been
recognised.
This Invention comprises an apparatus which, utilizing the waste
heat, raises the blast of air to a more or less elevated temperature.
This
superheater is metallic and its arrangements are indicated at V,
Figure 1, of the accompanying Sheet of Drawing,
It will be seen that in order to prevent fusion of the apparatus, which
would soon take place, every part of its surface is constantly cooled by a
current of air from a fan or other blast engine. As it issues from the
apparatus this air passes into the twyers, and is driven into the furnace
to keep up the combustion. This principle has led the Inventors of the
improvements, the subject of this Invention, to the construction of
furnaces for melting steel or any other metal requiring like steel
a high temperature, which furnaces will not, like those in ordinary use,
be rapidly disorganized by the great heat produced therein.
This same
principle has also permitted the Inventors to obtain another important
result in relation to the taking out of the crucibles or pots from the
furnace.

page_text: The
It is well known that hitherto when the fusion of the metal is com-
plete and that the running is about to be begun, the crucibles or pots
must, by the aid of tongs, be drawn from the furnace when the
temperature is at its maximum of intensity, and in this part of
metallurgy it is this operation which presents the greatest difficulties.
This Invention obviates these difficulties by making the bottom or sole
plate of the furnace, upon which the crucibles or pots rest, moveable, so
that the crucibles may be withdrawn with the greatest facility.
furnace by which this result is obtained is constructed as. follows:-The
chamber A, in which the crucibles or pots are placed for operating
the fusion, is raised to a fixed height above the ground floor of the
works. It is supported upon two vertical walls B leaving an open
passage on two sides. It is traversed by rails, upon which traverses
the chariot carrying the sole plate of the furnace and the crucibles or
pots. This sole plate C (Fig. 6) is composed of a metal case having two
lateral openings D, twyers b, placed on its upper part, and friction.
roller c, c. The surface of this sole plate is exactly that of the inside
of the furnace, of which it forms the floor. The result of this arrange-
ment is, that instead of putting in the crucibles or pots from the top of
the furnace they are introduced by the bottom. To obtain this result
a hydraulic press F, or other lifting arrangement, placed beneath the
furnace seizes the sole plate and carries it to the place which it is to
occupy in the furnace. 'An opening or mouth G placed at the top
serves only for the introduction of the coke, the combustion of which
takes place as in ordinary furnaces.
It will be evident that by reason of the elevated temperature produced
the sole plate would soon become fused if it were not constantly cooled
by a current of fresh air, and the bricks themselves would soon dis-
aggregate as in ordinary furnaces. To remedy this defect the furnace
chamber is. constructed with a double casing so that a continuous
current of air may be brought upon the entire surface of its sides as
The air
well as upon that of the sole plate, and thus cool every part.
coming from the fans or blast engine traverses the vertical conduit H,
and then by various tubes circulates around the furnace in the space K
formed by the double casing.
In order that the air may strike equally upon all parts of the furnace
it is made to enter by vertical conduits I, which are elbowed at about
half the height of the chamber. The air then plunges into lower

page_text: two furnaces may be coupled together and the same blast serve both, or
the waste heat of one be used for the other; that the Invention is
intended to be applied to all kinds of furnaces used in metallurgy to
which it may be found applicable. And what I claim as secured to me
by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
-
1°. The construction and use of a metal superheating apparatus kept
at a proper temperature by a continuous current of air.
2°. Application of this same principle for the preservation of
metallurgic furnaces by means of a double casing, with circulation of
air also superheated.
3°. Application, which also permits the construction, of a moveable
metal bottom or bed plate to the furnace.
4°. The use of the same principle to obtain the withdrawal of the
crucibles or pots promptly, easily, and without any danger.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Edward Gedge, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of January,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
five.'
W. E. GEDGE. (L.S.)