Improvements in Electric Furnaces for Welding or Heating Metals.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Nov., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 17th Aug., 1894-Accepted, 22nd Sept., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electric Furnaces for Welding or Heating Metals.
We, CHARLES FREDERICK PARKINSON, of Rydal Road, Lancaster, in the
County of Lancaster, Electrical Engineer, and THE LANCASTER RAILWAY
CARRIAGE AND WAGON COMPANY, LIMITED, of Lancaster, aforesaid, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to that type of electric furnace in which the electric
current does not pass through the metal but in which the heat is obtained from an
electric arc plying between two carbon, or other suitable poles, and it is primarily
designed to provide a furnace for heating the spokes of railway wheels for
glutting" but it is also applicable for heating other articles of metal for forging
or welding purposes.
In carrying out the invention as applied to the glutting of railway wheels, a
furnace is constructed of fire bricks or the like, of a suitable shape to receive the
spokes of the wheel and to support or hold the wheel whilst being heated.
At two or more sides of the furnace we insert carbon or other suitable poles
connected with a dynamo or other source of electricity.
These carbons may be of any shape, cylindrical, triangular, square, or the like,
which may be found most suitable for the work in hand.
The openings in the sides of the furnace are protected by plates of metal or other
material or by a sleeve or other device to prevent the heat escaping thereby and to
keep the carbons cool outside the furnace.
The carbons are each mounted in a sliding holder or carriage so that their
positions in the furnace and their relative positions to one another may be altered
or adjusted as required and mechanism may be provided to cause them gradually to
approach each other as they are consumed.
The furnace is lined with fire-clay, carbon, or other refractory material and in
the bottom below the carbon poles it is preferable to place a layer or filling of
broken carbon such as coke, retort carbon, or other suitable material, the surface
of which is nearly level with the under-side of the carbon poles. When the furnace
is at work this coke, carbon, or other suitable material becomes heated and its use
renders it possible to divide the carbon poles to a much greater extent than would
otherwise be possible, and enables an electric arc to be produced between their
points much longer than can be obtained between two carbon poles when used alone
thus giving a much greater and more intense heating surface or flame than would
otherwise be the case.
Below the carbon poles and preferably through the bottom of the furnace is
inserted a pipe or tuyere through which a jet of steam or other gas is injected into
the furnace. When the arc is in play the steam impinges upon it and is decomposed
giving off hydrogen gas. The jet of steam also causes the arc to be deflected and
to Hame up giving a greater heat and directing the heat against the wheel or other
metal article.
The furnace may be adapted for ordinary smiths' fires and for heating large
forgings, one or more pairs of carbon or other suitable poles may be inserted at
different parts of the furnace with a steam jet arranged for each arc, and further

page_text: the positions of the carbons may be capable of being altered as required to apply
the heat more directly to any part of the metal.
Dated this 17th day of November 1893.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
6, Bauk Street, Manchester, Patent Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electric Furnaces for Welding or Heating Metals.
We, CHARLES FREDERICK PARKINSON, of Wellington Terrace, Morecambe, late
of Rydal Road, Lancaster, both in the County of Lancaster, Electrical Engineer,
and THE LANCASTER RAILWAY CARRIAGE AND WAGON COMPANY, LIMITED,
of Lancaster, aforesaid, do hereby declare the nature of this 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 that type of electric furnace in which the electric current
does not pass through the metal but in which the heat is obtained from an electric
arc plying between two carbon, or other suitable poles, and it is primarily designed
to provide a furnace for heating the spokes of railway wheels for "glutting" but
it is also applicable for heating other articles of metal for forging or welding
purposes.
It consists essentially in constructing the furnace with a bed or layer of coke
or similar material below the carbon electrodes and passing a jet of steam or other
gas therethrough which becoming decomposed and ignited increases the temperature
of the furnace.
The invention will be fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings
in which as examples two arrangements of furnaces are illustrated.
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Fig. 1. Sectional elevation of furnace for heating railway wheels and pieces for
glutting" the spokes.
Fig. 2. Plan of same.
Fig. 3. Sectional elevation of furnace for heating railway wheels for "bossing."
Fig. 4. Plan of same.
Although two special forms of furnace are illustrated it is to be understood that
the construction of casing or brickwork of the furnace may be varied or constructed
to suit different forms of work or it may be made rectangular oval or circular if
desired.
The furnace A is constructed of fire bricks or other refactory material and as
applied to the "glutting" of railway wagon or carriage wheels is of such a shape
(see Figs. 1 and 2) to receive the spokes B of the wheel through the aperture a
whilst being heated it is also provided with a second chamber or furnace for
heating the triangular bar which forms the glut piece which is inserted through the
aperture a'.
The firebrick structure A encloses the combustion chambers C and D in which
are placed carbon electrodes E and F to which are connected the leads from a
dynamo or other source of electricity. These carbons may be of any shape,
cylindrical, triangular, square, or the like, which may be found most suitable for
the work in hand.
The carbon electrodes pass through tuyere irons built in the brickwork which
have water circulating round them to keep the carbons cool and to prevent the
escape of gas which will generate in the furnace.
The carbons E and F are each mounted in a sliding holder or carriage G so that
their positions in the furnace and their relative positions to one another may be
altered or adjusted as required and are provided with a suitable feeding mechanism
preferably a rack H and pinion J operated by a hand wheel; placed at the side of
the brick work.

page_text: The combustion chambers C and D of the furnace are lined with fire clay,.
carbon or other refractory material and in the bottom of the chambers below
the carbon electrodes we place a layer or filling L of broken carbon such as coke,.
retort carbon, or other similar material, the surface of which is nearly level with
the under-side of the carbon poles. When the furnace is at work this coke, carbon,
or other suitable material becomes heated and its use renders it possible to divide
the carbon electrodes to a much greater extent than would otherwise be possible,
and enables an electric are to be produced between their points much longer
than can be obtained between two carbon poles when used alone thus giving a
much greater and more intense heating surface or flame than would otherwise be
the case.
Below the carbon poles and preferably through the bottom of the furnace is
inserted a pipe or tuyere M through which a jet of steam or other gas is injected
into the furnace. When the arc is in play the steam impinges upon it and is.
decomposed giving off hydrogen gas. The jet of steam also causes the arc to be
deflected and to flame up giving a greater heat and directing the heat against the
wheel or other metal article. The steam pipe M is preferably carried several
times round the bottom of the combustion chamber (under the coke or broken
carbon L) in the form of a spiral with the end terminating in the centre and the
point turned upwards into the coke.
In the special construction of furnace illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 the combustion
chambers C and D are connected by a small passage N through which any
surplus gas generated in the combustion chamber D will pass into the under side
of the combustion chamber C. A small perforated grate O may be placed in the
bottom of the chamber to prevent the coke falling through and a pipe P may
also be introduced into the bottom of the furnace to supply hot air under
pressure. Passages a' may be made in the bottom of the furnace for slag to run
out through.
Referring to Figs. 3 and 4 an example of the furnace is shown with the carbon
electrodes placed vertically designed for bossing railway carriage and wagon
wheels. The several parts of the furnace are similar to those already described
and will be indicated by similar letters of reference. Upon the top of the
combustion chamber C is a fire brick A¹ through which passes the carbon
electrode E. The other carbon electrode F passes up into the combustion
chamber C through the brickwork A on the bottom of the furnace which at
this part may be of conical or other suitable shape. Passages a¹ may be made in
the brickwork for slag. The carbons are moved by rack and pinions and the steam
pipe M is placed below the coke L.
The furnace may be adapted for ordinary smiths' fires and for heating large
forgings, one or more pairs of carbon or other suitable electrodes may be inserted
at different parts of the furnace with a steam jet arranged for each are, and further
the positions of the carbons may be capable of being altered as required to apply
the heat more directly to any part of the metal.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
1. An electric furnace constructed with a layer of broken coke or carbon below
the electrodes to give an extended arc and with a steam jet issuing through the
heated coke which is decomposed and produces a gas flame to increase the
temperature of the furnace substantially as described.
2. In an electric furnace the combination with the brickwork A of two carbon
electrodes placed in combustion chambers, a layer of broken coke or carbon in the
bottom of the combustion chambers below the electrodes and a steam pipe delivering
a jet of steam through the heated coke or carbon which is decomposed thereby
substantially as described.

page_text: 3. An electric furnace having the several parts constructed and arranged in
combination substantially as described and shown with reference either to Figs. 1
and 2 or Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings.
Dated this 16th day of August 1894.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
6, Bank Street, Manchester, Patent Agents.