IMPROVEMENTS IN FURNACES FOR MELTING IRON AND OTHER METALS AND FOR SHELTING ORES
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Jacob Eichhorn, of 7, Delabay Street, Westminster,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN FURNACES FOR MELTING IRON AND
OTHER METALS AND FOR SHELTING ORES."-Partly a communication from
abroad by Heinrich Krigar, residing at Hanover, in the Kingdom of
Prussia.
Sealed the 21st February 1868, and dated the 9th September 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Jacob Eichhorn at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
9th September 1867.
1, JACOB EICHHORN, of 7, Delahay Street, Westminster, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN FURNACES FOR MELTING
IRON AND OTHER METALS AND FOR SMELTING ORES," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in furnaces for melting iron
and other metals and for smelting ores.
The furnace when for melting metals is constructed with an upright body
or trunk similar to a cupola furnace, such as is commonly used for melting
iron. This body or trunk is by preference oblong in plan, but it may be of
other form, and at its lower end it opens into a hearth or chamber of larger
Around the body or trunk an air passage is formed to which air is

page_text: supplied by a fan or otherwise. From this passage air channels are formed
in a downward direction into the enlarged chamber or hearth. The fuel
together with the metal to be melted is introduced at the top of the body or
trunk as is usual in cupola furnaces, and the fuel descends down below the end
of the body or trunk into the hearth or enlarged chamber in which it stands
on the melted metal in a heap sustaining the column of fuel and metal in the
body or trunk. The air which is forced into the enlarged chamber or hearth
is free to circulate around or partly around the heap of fuel which it keeps in
a state of vivid combustion, and the air has to force its way through the heap
to ascend the body or trunk. In this way a large quantity of fuel is con-
stantly maintained in a state of rapid combustion at the lower part of the
furnace by which the air becomes highly heated before it rises up the body or
trunk, and great capacity is given to the hearth to contain melted metal.
the front of the hearth a door may be arrauged, which may be opened for
cleaning the hearth and repairing the lining after the charge has been tapped
At
I also arrange sight holes in the sides of the enlarged chamber or
hearth. In some cases two or more bodies or trunks are combined with one
enlarged chamber or hearth.
In constructing furnaces for smelting ores I sometimes give to the body or
trunk a form similar to that of a blast furnace, such as is used in smelting
iron ore.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Jacob Eichhorn in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
9th March 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, 1, JACOB
EICHHORN, of 7, Delahay Street, Westminster, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirty-first year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Jacob Eichhorn, Her special licence that I, the said Jacob Eichhorn,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Jacob Eichhorn, 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,

page_text: exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, au Invention for "I::PROVEMENTS IN
FURNACES FOR MELTING IRON AND OTHER METALS AND FOR SHELTING ORES," the
result partly of a communication made to me from abroad by Heinrich Krigar,
a person resident at Hanover, in the Kingdom of Prussia, and partly of Inven-
tion of my own, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Jacob
Eichhorn, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my,
or their, or one of their bands and seals, should particularly describe and ascer-
tain 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 immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Jacob Eichhorn, do hereby declar
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say :-
This Invention has for its object improvements in furnaces for melting iron
and other metals and for smelting ores.
The furnace when for melting metals is constructed with an upright body
or trunk similar to a cupola furnace, such as is commonly used for melting
iron. This body or trunk is by preference oblong in plan, but it may be of
other form, and at its lower end it opens into a hearth or chamber of larger
area. Around the body or trunk an air passage is formed to which air is
supplied by a fan or otherwise. From this passage air channels are formed in
a downward direction into the enlarged chamber or hearth. The fuel together
with the metal to be melted is introduced at the top of the body or trunk, as
is usual in cupola furnaces, and the fuel descends down below the end of the
body or trunk into the hearth or enlarged chamber, in which it stands on the
melted metal in a heap sustaining the column of fuel and inetal in the body
or trunk. The air which is forced into the enlarged chamber or hearth free
to circulate around or partly around the heap of fuel, which it keeps in a state
of vivid combustion, and the air has to force its way through the heap to
ascend the body or trunk; in this way a large quantity of fuel is constantly
maintained in a state of rapid combustion at the lower part of the furnace, by
which the air becomes highly heated before it rises up the body or trunk, and
great capacity is given to the hearth to contain melted metal. At the front
of the hearth a door may be arranged which may be opened for cleaning the
hearth and repairing the lining after the charge has been tapped out. I also

page_text: In some
arrange sight holes in the sides of the enlarged chamber or hearth.
cases two or more bodies or trunks are combined with one enlarged chamber
or hearth.
In constructing furnaces for smelting ores I sometimes give to the body or
trunk a form similar to that of a blast furnace, such as is used in smelting
iron ore.
And in order that the said Invention may be most fully understood and
readily carried into effect, I will proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto
annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a front view of a furnace arranged according to my Invention
and suitable for melting metals as in a cupola furnace; Figures 2 and 3 are
vertical sections of the same; Figure 4 is a horizontal section taken at the
line 1, 1, in Figure 3, and the sections Figures 2 and 3 are taken respectively
at the lines 2, 2, and 3, 3, in Figure 4.
a, a, is the foundation of the furnace; it receives the base plate 6 on which
the two principal walls c, c, are built; between these walls is the hearth for
receiving the melted metal and fuel, it is closed at the back by the wall d and
in front by a door e, in which a tapping hole e' is formed; this door together
with the other parts of the hearth are as is usual lined with refractory
material. The door is carried by the casing fin which the furnace is enclosed,
this casing serves to retain a backing of sand or other suitable material to
prevent loss of heat and also to give support to the brickwork. 9, 9, are two
arches turned from one side wall c to the other, and they together with the
walls c, c, support the shaft or body h, h, of the furnace, into which at the top
the fuel and metal to be melted are fed. Instead of arches fire lumps may be
used to support the shaft h. i, i, are other two arches turned over the space
between the two side walls; these arches are a short distance above the
arches g, g, and as is shown there are spaces left for the descent of air
between the arches g and i. Over these arches an air flue k is formed all
round the furnace, as is shown, and it is supplied with air by the air pipes 1, l,
into which air is forced by a fan or otherwise. The fuel with which the metal
is fed in at the top of the shaft or body h descends on to the hearth or on to
the melted metal thereon, issuing through the arches 9, 9, so as to form an
inclined heap, as is shown at Figure 3. The air from the air flue k descends
between the arches g and i into the hearth outside the arches g, and it penetrates
under these arches through the fuel which lies there, and in this way keeps

page_text: the heap in vivid combustion. The current of air is deoxidized almost as soon
as it touches the heap of fuel; the heated current rises up the shaft or body h
and melts the metal, and the melted metal then falls without being burnt
down to the hearth, where it becomes protected by the slag and fuel floating
upon it.
Where a furnace is required to contain a large mass of melted metal two
(or more) shafts or bodies h may be combined with one hearth in the manner
represented at Figures 5 and 6, Figure 5 being a vertical section of a furnace
with a double shaft, and Figure 6 a horizontal section of the same taken at
the line 4, 4, Figure 5. This furnace is so similar to the single shafted furnace
that no detailed description of it is necessary. I prefer to make the furnace
with two or more shafts when otherwise (in order to contain the quantity
required) it would be necessary to have the crown of the arch 9 more than
thirty inches above the base plate b.
In furnaces for smelting the construction is similar to that of a blast
furnace; such a furnace is represented in Figures 7 and 8. Figure 7 is a
vertical section of the furnace, and Figure 8 is a horizontal section taken at
the line 5, 5, Figure 7. The blast is here admitted into three.arched
chambers A, A, ranged around the hearth of the furnace, and it forces its way
through the heaps of fuel which occupy these arches, and thus escapes into
the furnace. The blast furnace is otherwise of ordinary construction. B is a
slag trap or an arrangement to allow the slag to flow out continuously without
allowing the blast to escape.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I would have it understood that I do not confine myself
to the exact details described, as the same may be varied without departing
from the Invention; but what I claim is,―
The constructing furnaces for melting iron and other metals and for
smelting ores in the manner herein-before described.
I also claim the constructing furnaces for melting iron and other metals
and for smelting ores with an upright body or shaft carried on one, two, or
other number of sides by arches or supports, underneath which in each case
the fuel is able to issue from the shaft and form a heap in an enlarged or
outer chamber or hearth to which air is admitted, and which air is then free
to play over the whole of the upper surface of the ignited heap, and has before
it can ascend the shaft to penetrate under the said arch or support of the
shaft.
I also claim the constructing furnaces for melting iron and other metals

page_text: with two or more erect shafts combined with a common lower chamber or
hearth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Jacob Eichhorn, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Ninth day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.
JACOB EICHHORN. (L.S.)