Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Jan., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 27th Sept., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 2nd Nov., 1888
I, CHARLES DENTON ABEL of No. 28 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane in
the County of Middlesex, Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an improved construction of regenerative gas furnaces, the
essential feature of which consists in the production of the combustible gases in
producers that are built directly on to the furnace, in combination with a peculiar
reversing action for the regenerators, which can be heated and maintained ready for
action when the furnace is not in use.
.
This heating arrangement is equally applicable for all reverberatory furnaces
whether for smelting pig metal, reheating, puddling, or open hearth steel furnaces.
The accompanying drawings shew the improved construction in combination with a
puddling furnace with working bed and forchearth, Fig. 1 shews a longitudinal section,
a sectional plan, and
Fig. 2 a cross section through furnace and regenerators, Fig.
Figs. 4, 5 and 6 the reversing mechanism for the valves, which direct the currents of
the heated air supply and the combustion gases.
A gas producer, or two thereof, A A¹ of shaft-form are built directly on the
furnace and are worked with either coke or other fuel, and either hot or cold air
blast.
It is advisable to employ two producers in order to obtain a constant gas supply
that is not effected by stoking. For working puddling furnaces ordinary coal inay
be used.
The producers work with a comparatively small depth of fuel (about 6 ft.) and act
as well with caking as with non-caking coal.
The ashes of the fuel are slagged by means of lime stone added to the fuel, and the
liquid slag is drawn off without difficulty at the lowest point a.

page_text: By building the gas producers directly on to the furnace the advantage is gained
that the initial heat of the gases is not lost, the gases passing into the furnace at a
temperature at about 600° Cent.
By this means the additional heating of the gases is rendered unnecessary, and the
entire heat of the combustion gases passing off can be utilized for heating the air
supply. This is an essential difference and at the same time a considerable advantage
as compared with the usual heating arrangements.
Also, all conduit pipes for the gases are obviated and consequently also all incon-
veniences attendant on the use of such conduits, such as deposits of tar &c.
The gases pass out of the generators through narrow slits or flues directly into a
cleansing chamber B above, where, where a considerable quantity of the dust carried
with them is deposited, and from which the dust is periodically removed, through
side doors, while the furnace is working.
From the chamber B the gases pass through a short throat C into the furnace and
combine directly on issuing from the narrow mouth, of C with the hot air supply
passing in through flue D. The resulting flame passes over the working hearth E
and the fore-hearth F of the furnace, and escape thence through the flue G to one or
other of the regenerators L L and thence to the chimney M according to the position
of the slides H H and valves J K or J, K₁.
The regenerators are arranged on each side of the furnace, under the floor, the
combustion gases being made to pass alternately through one or other of them, while
the air supply passes through other one which has been previously heated, attaining a
temperature of about 800° Cent.
The gases have to pass through two slides H H in the divided flue G. These
slides, formed of fireclay, slide between cooled frames; they are opened and closed
alternately.
Each regenerator L or L', consists of the chamber N or N¹ filled in the usual manner
with fire bricks, and the flue O which is also heated by the products.
For reversing the direction of the currents of gas and air, four valves or
cocks JK, JK of refractory material, are used, having a single passage through
them; they may also be replaced by slides, valves, flaps or doors.
The direction of the gases, with the positions of the slides and cocks shewn on the
drawings is as follows:
:-
At the flue G the escaping gases are divided, the greater portion passing through
the chamber N while the remainder passes through the flue O of the regenerator L.
The heat is practically almost entirely taken up from the gases, as they pass away to
the chimney with a temperature of only about 250° Cent.
The gases are led off to the chimney M by means of the before mentioned cocks or
valves and K. The quantity of gas passing through the flue O can be easily regu-
lated by this means.
The other regenerator L' at the same time effects the heating of the forced air
supply, which enters through the larger cock K' into the cooler end of the chamber N¹,
and on issuing from the hotter end thereof enters the highly heated flue O, from
which it passes through the passage of the smaller cock J₁ through flue D towards
the point in the furnace where it unites with the combustible gas.
The positions of the two cocks of each regenerator are the same while the furnace
is at work, being at right angles to the positions of those of the other regenerator.
For changing the direction of the currents, the positions of slides in the flue G
and those of the cocks of the two regenerators are reversed.
"
The four cocks, which are balanced by weights P carried by levers Q are for this
purpose slightly raised or "eased out of their casings by means of a set of
levers R S T worked by hand, and are then turned through an angle of 90° by
another set of levers U V W, after which they are again lowered by means of the
first levers. This operation is effected in an exceedingly short time.
If the furnace is put out of action for repairs or other purposes, the heat of the
regenerators L L can be kept up with small expenditure of fuel so that when the
furnace is put in action again they are at once ready for use.

page_text: For this purpose a slide X of fireclay which may be provided for this purpose, is
closed, or the flue C is cut off by other suitable means, from communication with the
furnace, and after suitably adjusting the cocks and partially closing the slides H H¹
they are admitted into both the regenerators through flue D, where they enter into
combustion with the small quantity of air entering through the flue G.
A reverberatory furnace provided with this heating arrangement exceeds con-
siderably in its capabilities the existing constructions of furnaces, with a less consump-
tion of fuel and the wear is reduced to a minimum ranging between to 1 per cent.
Dated this 3rd day of January 1888.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in Regenerative Gas Furnaces with Gas Producers.
I, CHARLES DENTON ABEL, of No. 28 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent, 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 an improved construction of regenerative gas furnaces, the
essential feature of which consists in the production of the combustible gases in
producers that are built directly at the furnace, in combination with a peculiar
reversing action for the regenerators, which can be heated and maintained ready for
action when the furnace is not in use.
This heating arrangement is equally applicable for all reverberatory furnaces,
whether for smelting pig metal, relicating, puddling or open hearth steel furnaces.
The accompanying drawings shew the improved construction in combination with
a puddling furnace with working bed and forehearth, Fig. 1 shews a longitudinal
section, Fig. 2 a cross section through furnace and regenerators, Fig. 3 a sectional
plan, and Figs. 4, 5 and 6 the reversing mechanism for the valves, which direct the
currents of the heated air supply and the combustion gases.
A gas producer, or two thereof A A. of shaft form are built directly at the furnace,
and are worked with either coke or other fuel and either hot or cold air blast.
It is advisable to employ two producers in order to obtain a constant gas supply
that is not affected by stoking. For working puddling furnaces ordinary coal may be
used. The producers work with a comparatively small depth of fuel (about 6 feet)
and act as well with caking as with non-caking coal.
The ashes of the fuel are slagged by means of lime stone added to the fuel, and the
liquid slag is drawn off without difficulty at the lowest point a.
By building the gas producers directly at the furnace the advantage is gained that
the initial heat of the gases is not lost, the gases passing into the furnace at a
temperature of about 600° Centigrade.
By this means the additional heating of the gases is rendered unnecessary, and the
entire heat of the combustion gases passing off can be utilized for heating the air
supply. This is an essential difference and at the same time a considerable advantage
as compared with the usual heating arrangements.
Also, all conduit pipes for the gases are dispensed with and consequently also all
inconveniences attendant on the use of such conduits, such as deposits of tar &c.
The gases pass out of the generators through narrow slits or flucs directly into a
cleansing chamber B above, where a considerable quantity of the dust carried with
them is deposited, and from which the dust is periodically removed through side
doors, while the furnace is working. From the chamber B the gases pass through a
short throat C into the furnace and combine directly on issuing from the narrow
mouth of C with the hot air supply passing in through flue D.
The resulting flame passes over the working hearth E and the fore hearth F of the
furnace, and the combustion products escape thence through the flue G to one or

page_text: other of the regenerators L I, and thence to the chimney M according to the position
of the slides HH, and valves J K and J, K,.
The regenerators L L are arranged on each side of the furnace under the floor,
the combustion gases being alternated to pass through the one, while the air supply
passes through the other which had been previously heated, attaining a temperature of
about 800° Centigrade.
The gases have to pass through two slides H H, in the divided flue G. These slides,
formed of fire clay, slide in cooled frames; they are opened and closed alternately.
Each regenerator L or L, consists of the chamber N or N¹ filled in the usual
manner with fire bricks, and the flues 0 0, which are also heated by the combustion
products.
For reversing the direction of the currents of gas and air, four valves or
cocks JK, J, K, of refractory material are used, each having a single passage through
it. Instead of these, slides, valves, flaps, or doors can be employed.
The direction of the gases, with the positions of the slides and cocks shewn on
the drawings is as follows:-
At the flue G the escaping gases are divided, the greater portion passing through
the chamber N while the remainder passes through the flue O of the regenerator L.
The heat is practically almost entirely taken up from the gases as they pass away to
the chimney with a temperature of only about 250° C.
The gases are led off to the chimney M by means of the before mentioned cocks
or valves J and K. The quantity of gas passing through the flue O can be easily
regulated by this means.
The other regenerator L, at the same time effects the heating of the forced air
supply, which enters through the larger cock K, into the cooler end of the
chamber N, and on issuing from the hotter end thereof enters the highly heated flue O
from which it passes through the passage of the smaller cock J through flue D
towards the point in the furnace where it unites with the combustible gas.
While the furnace is at work, the two cocks for the one regenerator are at right
angles to those for the other regenerator. For changing the direction of the currents,
the positions of the slides in the flue G and those of the cocks of the two regenerators
are reversed.
The four cocks which are balanced by weights P carried by levers Qaro for this
purpose slightly raised or "eased" out of their casings by means of a set of levers
and rods R S T worked by hand, and are then turned through an angle of 90° by
another set of levers and rods U V W, after which they are again lowered by means
of the first set of rods and levers. This operation is effected in an exceedingly
short time.
If the furnace is put out of action for repairs or other purposes the heat of the
regenerators L L, can be kept up with small expenditure of fuel so that, when the
furnace is put in action again, they are at once ready for use.
For this purpose, a slide X of fire clay is closed, or the flue C is cut off by other
suitable means from communication with the furnace and, after suitably adjusting the
cocks and partially closing the slides H H₁, the produce gases are admitted into both
the regenerators through flue D, where they enter into combustion with the small
quantity of air entering through the flue G.
A reverberatory furnace provided with this heating arrangement exceeds
considerably in its capabilities the existing constructions of furnaces with a less
consumption of fuel, and the waste is reduced to a minimum, ranging between to
14 per cent.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. The construction of regenerative gas furnaces wherein the combustible gases are
made to pass from gas producer or producers built closely against the furnace
immediately and without loss of initial heat into the combustion chamber thereof,
where they enter into combustion with the highly heated air supply, the heat of the

page_text: escaping combustion gases being utilized solely for heating the air supply, the furnace
being so arranged that the combustion proceeds always in the same direction,
while the passage of the air supply and combustion gases is alternately reversed,
subsiantlally as herein described.
2. In regenerative gas furnaces of the kind referred to in the preceding claim, the
arrangement herein described with reference to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings
wherein the combustible gases proceeding from two gas producers A A' built close
against the furnace enter into combustion with the heated air supply passing in
through flue D while the combustion gases are led, according to the position of the
slides Halternately, through the regenerators L L consisting of regenerative
chamber N and flue O so as to heat the same, while at the same time the air supply
passes through the other regenerator, the flow of the combustion gases and air supply
being regulated by cocks, valves, dampers or doors which alternately cause the air
supply to pass through the regenerative chambers N N' and flues 0 0 and D and the
combustion gases to pass to chimney M.
3. In regenerative gas furnaces such as are referred to in the preceding claims, the
use of single way cocks J K worked by means of the lever mechanisms RST
and U V W substantially as herein described with reference to Figs. 4 to 6 of the
drawings.
4. In regenerative gas furnaces such as are referred to in the first and second
claims, the arrangement herein described whereby, when the furnace is not in action
the heat in the regenerators is kept up by causing a supply of combustible gas and
air to pass into them from the producer A and flue D, the communication with
the furnace hearth being cut off by a damper X or other suitable means, substantially
as herein described.