IMPROVEMENTS IN CUPOLA AND SIMILAR FURNACES
Year: 1881

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 5th March 1881.
A com-
munication from abroad by Philipp Anton Fauler, of Freiburg, in Baden,
Germany.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, and Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN CUPOLA AND SIMILAR
FURNACES." A communication from abroad by Philipp Anton Fauler, of Freiburg,
in Baden, Germany.
My Invention relates to improvements in cupola and similar furnaces for the
treatment of cast iron as well as of all kinds of ore, such, for instance, as copper-ore,
nickel-ore, and the like.
A furnace embodying this Invention is chiefly characterized by the fact that it is
constructed with a number of superposed cylinders or rings, any one of which may
be removed and replaced when deteriorated or rendered defective by use, thus
providing means whereby great economy in the cost of maintenance and repair may
be effected.
According to another feature of this Invention means are provided whereby the
blast is admitted around the entire circumference in the form of a continuous or
unbroken sheet, that is to say, not by tuyeres only.
In carrying my said Invention into practice I construct a furnace as follows, that
is to say I surround the base of the same with a cylinder of sheet iron, and upon
this cylinder a second cylinder is supported, in the front side of which the tapping
hole is situated, whilst at its rear side the opening for the removal of the dross or
scoria is provided. Upon the upper cylinder there is a circular blast conduit, with
which blast tubes or pipes provided with air inlets or registers communicate. Above
this conduit I place a number of sheet iron cylinders or rings one above the other,
and the interior of these cylinders is furnished with a lining of refractory material.
Inside these cylinders or rings and at the lower part of the same I fix circular
T-shaped pieces of iron, and at the top and outside circular iron angle-pieces are
fixed to the said cylinders. The inner wings or arms of the said T-shaped pieces of
iron serve to support the lining, whilst the outer wings are bolted together with the
angle pieces hereinbefore referred to. The blast enters the circumferential conduit,

page_text: through which it obtains access in a concentric manner to the furnace. In the
circular blast conduit there are twelve (12) openings or registers provided with
colored glass, by means of which the operation may be inspected. By opening these
registers the entrance through which the blast reaches the interior of the furnace
may easily be cleaned.
The construction of this furnace provides the following advantages, namely:-
First. It is not absolutely necessary to repair the refractory lining material in the
place where the furnace stands, but the repairs may be effected in any place which
may be most suitable, and thus not only will the work of constructing such furnaces
be facilitated but interchangeable rings or cylinders may be made which will
fit perfectly to their places when required, and will be quite strong and solid,
whereby the stability of this lining is increased. Secondly. As soon as the
refractory lining becomes defective at any part of the zone designed to be occupied
by the molten metal, the ring or cylinder which is defective may be withdrawn and
immediately replaced by another without requiring the upper part of the furnace to
be replaced. Third. By means of the circular inlet for the blast the molten metal
can be kept within a small zone at a very high and uniform temperature, so that the
melting takes place very rapidly, and the carburetting and oxidizing of the raw
iron as well as the consumption of coke are reduced to that degree which is strictly
necessary.