Improvements in Blast Furnaces, and in the Mode and Means for Charging the same.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 12th May, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 28th Dec., 1396-Accepted, 13th Mar., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Blast Furnaces, and in the Mode and Means for
Charging the same.
I THOMAS LEWIS of Stone House, Priors Lee near Shifnal in the County of Salop,
Blast Furnace Manager, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention to be as
follows:-
My invention has for its object improvements in blast furnaces and in the mode and
means for charging the same which enables me to effect considerable economy in
regard not only to the escape of the gases or heat which should pass down the
discharge pipe which conveys such gases or heat to the hot air ovens, boilers and
other parts where the gases are used but I am also able by my invention, at the same
time to prevent cold air from entering the furnace and discharge pipe while the cover
bell is lowered during the charging operation. This loss is considerable where only
one furnace is operated, but where a series are connected the loss is still more as the
opportunity for the entrance of cold air is increased. Besides this in the case of a
series of furnaces two or more bells may sometimes be lowered at or about the same
time, which changes the current of the gas and deprives the stoves, boilers &c. of
their regular supply and much inconvenience and loss is thus occasioned. Besides
the above inconvenience and loss the exposure occasioned is liable to produce
explosions. My invention also obviates the swaying of the bell and consequent
injury to the furnace lining as well as irregular charging.
Though my invention may be applied to furnaces with their existing hells I prefer
to fit round the mouth of the case in which the bell works a renewable mouth piece
or ring which fits on to a projection the inner part of the ring having also a bevelled
projection against which the edge of the bell fits as a stop.
Upon the top of the bell I fix firmly a vertical plunger of considerable size and
stiffness by means of a flange bolted to the top of the bell. This plunger works in a
chambered socket piece which is fixed upon a frame or covering mounted over and
upon the mouth of the furnace. This covering may be made in any number of
segments or plates and is supplied with any desired number of charging holes
according to the size of the furnace but generally from four to six holes will meet the
requirements. Upon each charging hole I fix a frame formed to receive the doors
to shut down thereupon the doors when closed tapering towards the sides of the
furnace upon the tapered door frames or seats.
The plunger casing is fitted with brackets or arms over each door upon which levers
are hung for operating the doors. The levers or series of levers are hung from the
brackets or arms and pass down to a projecting eye or attachment upon the door and
the door is constructed with a back balance weight which makes the door easily
operated and the cover plates may be recessed to allow the balance weight to pass
sufficiently low to allow the door when open to take a vertical or nearly vertical
position. Also projecting from the top of the lever is a catch which passes inwards
towards the plunger. Now the plunger passes upwards past the catch and has upon it
an annular balance weight which covers the catch, or all the catches, for there is one
catch and lever to each door. Then a rod passes down the plunger and is hinged to
the bottom, the plunger forming a trunk. This rod is connected to one end of a beam
mounted upon a column or stand the other end of the beam being fitted with a

page_text: balance weight and this end may also be attached to a winch or gearing for raising
and lowering the bell, as is usual.
When the bell is up and the furnace closed the doors are also maintained in their
open position. But immediately the bell is commenced to be lowered and before it
has passed through the ring at the mouth of the furnace the weight above the plunger
or trunk presses upon the catches and closes all the doors down upon their seatings so
that while the material is discharged and spread by the bell the mouth of the furnace
is sealed.
Now when the doors are open and the bell closes the mouth of the furnace the
charging is accompanied by barrows which are specially constructed for the purpose
as follows. The barrow has two wheels mounted upon each side and the inner back
portion is hung upon a pivot the bottom edge of which is secured by a sliding bolt or
its equivalent hung in a case at the front of the barrow. This bolt is operated by a
lever the end of which projects upwards so as to strike against the door of the furnace
when the barrow is pushed over the charging hole. This draws the bolt back and the
weight of the material forces the door down and the barrow is discharged and drawn
back and the bolt replacod for refilling.
It will be obvious that the furnace doors may be worked by racks instead of levers
and the barrow door by a lever and catch instead of the sliding bolt.
Dated this 11th day of May 1896.
GEORGE BARKER,
77 Colmore Row, Birmingham, Agent for Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Blast Furnaces, and in the Mode and Means for
Charging the same.
1, THOMAS LEWIS of Stone House, Priors Lee, near Shifnal, in the County of
Salop, Blast Furnace Manager, 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 :-
My invention has for its object improvements in blast furnaces and in the mode
and means for charging the same which enables me to effect considerable economy in
regard not only to the escape of gasses or heat which should pass down the "down
carrier" discharge pipe which conveys snch gasses or heat to the hot air ovens, boilers
and other parts where the gasses are used, but I am also able by my invention at the
same time to prevent cold air from entering while the cover bell is lowered during the
charging operation. This loss is considerable where only one furnace is operated but
where a series are connected the loss is still more as the opportunity for the entrance
of cold air is increased. Besides this in the case of a series of furnaces two or more
bells may sometimes be lowered at or about the same time which changes the current
of the gas and deprives the stoves, boilers etc. of their regular supply and much
inconvenience and loss is thus occasioned. Besides the above inconvenience and loss
the exposure occasioned is liable to produce explosions. My invention also obviates
the swaying of the bell and consequent injury to the furnace lining and bell and ring
as well as irregular charging. Though my invention may be applied to furnaces with
their existing bells I prefer to fit round the mouth of the case in which the bell works
a renewable mouth piece or ring which fits onto a projection the inner part of the ring
baving also a bevelled projection against which the edge of the bell fits as a stop.
Upon the top of the bell I fix firmly a vertical plunger or guide of consi:lerable
stiffness by means of a flange bolted to the top of the bell. This plunger works in
chambered socket piece which is fixed upon a frame or covering mounted over and
upon the mouth of the furnace. This covering may be made in any number of

page_text: segments or plates and is supplied with any desired number of charging holes
according to the size of the furnace but generally from four to six holes will meet the
requirements. Upon each charging hole 1 fix a frame formed to receive the door to
shut down thereupon the doors when closed tapering towards the sides of the furnace
upon the tapered door frames or seats.
The plunger casing is fitted with brackets or arnis over each door upon which levers
are hung for operating the doors. The levers or series of levers are hung from the
brackets or arms and pass down to a projecting eye or attachment upon the door and
the door is constructed with a back balance weight which makes the door easily
operated and the cover plates may be recessed to allow the balance weight to pass
sufficiently low to allow the door when open to take a vertical or nearly vertical
position. Also projecting from the top of the lever is a catch which passes inwards
towards the plunger. Now the plunger passes upward past the catch and has upon
it an annular balance weight which covers the catch or all the catches for there is one
catch and levers to each door. Then a rod passes down or partly down the plunger
and is hinged to the bottom or other part the plunger forming a trunk. This rod is
connected to one end of a beam mounted upon a column or stand the other end of the
beam being fitted with a balance weight and this end may also be attached to a winch
or gearing or other means for raising and lowering the bell as is usual.
When the bell is up and the furnace closed the doors are also maintained in their
open position. But immediately the bell is commenced to be lowered and before it
has passed through the ring at the mouth of the furnace the weight above the plunger
or trunk presses upon the catches and closus all the doors down upon their seatings so
that while the material is discharged and spread by the bell the mouth of the furnace
is sealed.
Now when the doors are open and the bell which may be locked by means of a
wedge piece closes the mouth of the furnace the charging is accomplished by barrows
which are specially constructed for the purpose as follows:-The barrow has two
wheels mounted upon each side and the inner back portion is hung upon a pivot the
bottom edge of which is secured by a sliding bolt or its equivalent hung in a case at
the front of the barrow. This bolt is operated by a lever the end of which projects
upwards so as to strike against the door of the furnace when the barrow is pushed
over the charging hole. "This draws the bolt back and the weight of the material
forces the door down and the harrow is discharged and drawn back and the bolt
replaced for refilling.
It will be obvious that the furnace doors may be worked by racks or other means
instead of levers and the harrow door by a fever and catch instead of the sliding
bolt.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood and more easily carried into
practical effect I have appended hereunto the accompanying two sheets of drawings
which clearly illustrates the same.
Figure 1 is a part sectional elevation of my improved arrangements for charging a
blast furnace fixed to the mouth of the furnace.
Figure 2 is a plan view of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a part sectional side elevation of my specially constructed charging
barrow.
Figure 4 is a front end elevation of Figure 3.
A is the furnace in the top of which the case a' is fixed and although my invention
may be applied to furnaces with existing cases I prefer to fit round the mouth in
which the bell B works the renewable mouth piece or ring a² which rest on the
projection a the inner face of the ring has also a bevelled projection a' which forms
a stop for the bell the bottom edge of which fits against the same.
I firmly fix on the top of the bell the vertical hollow plunger or guide ¹ by means
of the flange 62 which is bolted to the top of the bell. This plunger works in the
chambered socket piece D fixed upon the frame or covering E mounted over and
upon the mouth of the furnace. The covering E may be made in any number of
gments or plates and provided with any desired number of charging holes e

page_text: according to the size of the furnace but preferably six as shown at Figure 2, Sheet 2.
I fix around each charging hole the frame e tapering towards the sides of the furnace
which forms a seating for each of the doors when closed or the frame e may be
cast or formed out of the same piece of metal as the segnents which form the
covering E.
The plunger casing D is provided with arms or brackets d' over the centre of each
door having slots d² formed on the top thereof in which the levers d³, d for.
operating the doors are pivotted. These levers which are hung from the brackets
or arms pass down to the attachment et on the top of the door and each door is
constructed with a balance weight e' at the back which enables the door to be easily
operated the covering E being recessed at e to allow the balance weight to pass
sufficiently low as to enable the door to assume a vertical or nearly vertical position
when open. Also projecting from the top of each lever is a catch do passing
inwards towards the piunger b. The top end of the said plunger extends above
the plunger socket D and the balance weight H fits loosely over the top and covers
all the catches d'. Passing down the interior of the plunger is a rod h¹ one end of
which is hinged to the bottom or the rod may only pass partly down the plunger and
be hinged to any other part, the other end which extends beyond the top of the
balance weight H being hinged to one end of the beam K mounted upon a column
or stand and the other end of the said beam is fitted with a balance weight k²
or k³ this end may also be attached to a winch or gearing or their equivalent for
raising and lowering the bell as is usual. When the bell is up and closing the mouth
of the furnace it may be locked in that position by a wedge piece passing through,
the plunger and resting upon the socket D.
The charging of the furnace is accomplished by barrows specially constructed for
the purpose but these barrows are equally applicable for other purposes. The
barrow J which may or may not be corrugated has two wheels j', mounted upon
an axle at each side. The back end 3 of the barrow is hung upon the pivot j*
mounted in the slots formed in the side of the barrow. The bottom edge of the
back end is secured in its closed position by the bolt or its equivalent working in
the slot connected to the front end of the barrow. This bolt is operated by the
lever j the top end of which projects upwards and is forced back by the spring
its equivalent. The part j is provided for closing the end after the contents have
been discharged.
The modus operandi is as follows:-
or
When the bell is up and the furnace closed as shown at Figure 1. the doors e³
are open ready for the furnace to be charged. The barrow is then wheeled over
the charging hole the lever j at the front of the barrow coming in contact with
the door draws the bolt back and the end j swings open discharging the contents
into the furnace. When the furnace has been charged the beam is operated and the
bell lowered but before it passes through the ring a² at the mouth of the furnace the
weight on the top of the plunger presses upon the catches d' which operates the levers d
and closes all the doors down upon their seatings so that while the material is being
discharged and spread by the bell the mouth of the furnace is sealed thereby preventing
any gasses from escaping.
It will be obvious that these doors may be opened and closed by a rack or racks or
their equivalent instead of the levers and that they may be closed before the bell
commences to descend.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what we
claim is :-
First. In a blast furnace lowering the doors such as e by means of the levers such
as d³ and d' or their equivalents operated by the weight H or its equivalent mounted
on the plunger such as 6' attached to the bell B in the manner and for the purpose
substantially as herein before described and as shown on the accompanying sheets of
drawings.

page_text: Second. In a blast furnace mounting the bell B so that when the charging doors
such as e are open the mouth of the furnace is closed until it has been charged in the
manner and for the purpose substantially as hereinbefore described and shown upon
the accompanying sheets of drawings.
Third. In blast furnaces arranging and constructing the doors so that when
lowering the bell B the doors are closed which prevents the gasses from escaping
until the charging operation is completed substantially as described and as shown
on the accompanying sheets of drawings.
Fourth. In blast furnaces the bell B working up and down in the socket such as D
and capable of being locked in the manner and for the purpose substantially as
bereinbefore described and as shown on the drawings.
Fifth. In blast furnaces fixing the flange such as a² around the mouth in the manner
and for the purpose substantially as hereinbefore described and as shown on the
accompanying sheets of drawings.
Sixth. In a barrow such as J pivotting the front to the sides and holding the
same in its closed position by the catch such as 7 or its equivalent which is released
by pressing the end of the lever or its equivalent in the manner substantially
as herein before described and as shown on the accompanying sheets of drawings.
Seventh. Discharging the contents from barrows in the manner substantially as
hereinbefore described and shown on the accompanying sheets of drawings.
Eighth. The improvements in blast furnaces and in the mode and the means for
charging the same substantially as and for the purpose herein before described and as.
shown on the accompanying sheets of drawings.
Dated this 24th day of December 1896.
GEORGE BARKER,
77 Colmore Row, Birmingham, Agent..