IMPROVE. MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF IRON AND STEEL, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR. PARTS OF THE IMPROVEMENTS BEING ALSO APPLICABLE TO FURNACES OF VARIOUS KINDS AND PARTS TO SOME MOTIVE-POWER PURPOSES
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Gorman, of Glasgow, in the County of
Lanark, North Britain, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVE.
MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF IRON AND STEEL, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR.
PARTS OF THE IMPROVEMENTS BEING ALSO APPLICABLE TO FURNACES OF VARIOUS
KINDS AND PARTS TO SOME MOTIVE-POWER PURPOSES."
Sealed the 3rd May 1870, and dated the 12th November. 1869.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Gorman, at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 12th November 1869.
I, WILLIAM GORMAN, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North
Britain, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF IRON AND STEEL. AND IN APPARATUS
THEREFOR, PARTS OF THE IMPROVEMENTS BEING ALSO APPLICABLE TO FURNACES OF
VARIOUS KINDS AND PARTS TO SOME MOTIVE POWER PURPOSES," to be as follows,
that is to say -
This Invention has principally for its object to improve the manu-
facture of iron and steel by adopting processes and apparatus whereby
[Price 8d.]

page_text: the expenditure of fuel may be reduced and the quality of the iron or
steel ameliorated, and by utilising some of the bye-products hitherto
wasted.
Parts of the improvements are however also applicable otherwise as
herein-after explained.
One part of the Inveution consists in effecting the calcination and
reduction or partial reduction of the ores in retorts or vessels heated
externally, and from the interiors of which air is excluded to prevent
the access of oxygen to the ores whilst the volatile matters proceeding
from them are collected for use. Ores comprising free carbon in
sufficient quantity for their reduction may be treated by themselves,
but ores without sufficient carbon must have carbonaceous matter added
to them. Ores or minerals poor in iron but rich in carbon are the most
suitable materials for adding in this way as the carbonaceous matters
contained in them yield oil whilst their iron is very free from impurities
so that ores or minerals of no value for yielding iron or oil separately
are thus profitably available. When carboniferous ores are not obtain-
able cannel or similar coals may be advantageously used in this
process.
In some cases reducing gases produced from coal, coke, charcoal, or
other carbonaceous matter are passed into retorts amongst the ores,
and in some cases these gases are additionally heated before being
introduced into the retorts. The retorts may be heated by the otherwise
waste heat of an adjoining furnace or by a special furnace. Instead of
the retorts the main shaft of a blast furnace or any other suitable
chamber may
be employed to contain the ores whilst being treated with
the heated gases to effect their calcination and reduction or partial
reduction. After the ores leave the retorts or chambers they are sub-
jected to a much greater heat and are supplied with lime or other
suitable flux and carbon or oxides of iron, and of manganese as required
for producing the quality of metal desired preparatory to fusion. Lime
or other flux may also be introduced with the ores into the preliminary
calcining or reducing retorts or chambers.
For preparing and fusing the reduced ores there is used a combination
or modification of certain furnaces described in the Specifications of
Letters Patent granted to the present applicant and John Paton, and
dated 5th December 1863 (No. 3057), and Letters Patent granted to the
present applicant and dated 17th April 1868. (No. 1256). The peculiar

page_text: advantages of the reverberatory and blast furnaces are combined, so that
the heat from the solid as well as that from the gaseous part of the
coal is made to act in reducing or fusing the ores or metals which
are first heated by the flame on the bed of the furnace and are then
transferred or glide down into a hearth where the sold fuel is consumed
and where the fusion is completed. The air for combustion is heated
by the waste heat as described in the earlier Specifications herein-before
referred to, the retorts or reducing gases herein-before referred to may
also be heated by the wasto heat of this furnace.
The herein-before described arrangements are adapted to produce
crude cast iron from the ore and also the various fusible compounds of
iron and steel.
to
In producing malleable iron or steel by this Invention a furnace such
as is herein-before described is used for fusing the cast iron, and along
therewith there may be fused ores or oxides of iron or of manganese
assist in decarburising the pig iron or in modifying the steel if produced.
When the iron is fused it is run into a vessel and carried to the
puddling furnace; or the fusing furnace may be placed at a higher
level and the iron be run from it down a channel to the puddling
furnace. Jets of air or air and superheated steam may be blown
through or amongst the fused iron whilst it is running or being
Pulverised oxide
conveyed to or after it is in the puddling furnace.
of iron may also be blown into the molten iron by the air or com-
bined steam jets, or the oxide of iron in a granulated form may be
added otherwise to assist in decarburising and refining the crude iron.
The puddling furnace and vessel referred to may also be lined or fettled
with oxide of iron, the bottom of the puddling furnace is in some cases
made as a movable vessel or dish, so that it may be removed from the
furnace in order that the iron may be taken out of it in a mass if
desired to be shingled or rolled. A number of such movable bottoms
are provided with trucks and rails to admit of their being adjusted to
different fusing or other furnaces and rings, hooks, or trunnions are
fixed to them for lifting them by cranes, and for turning them up for
emptying them. They are also provided with tap holes for running out
cinder.
The furnaces to be used for puddling or for heating puddled iron are
like what are described in the earlier Specifications herein-before
referred to, but the flame and fire gases instead of passing straight

page_text: through in the usual manner are made to revolve within the furnace
and return upon the objects to be heated so as to communicate a greater
amount of heat to them. This is effected by introducing the flame or
gases in a tangential direction, and placing the escape outlet at the
centre of the circulating currents thus produced. In other cases it will
be preferable to make a long furnace with openings in the bottom con-
structed for movable bottoms so that different stages of the puddling
or refining process may go on at different parts of one furnace, the
bottoms being shifted from one opening to the other as required.
As it
The gas producer for making combustible or reducing gases for the
purposes of this Invention or others may be made according to the first
of the earlier Specifications herein-before referred to, but with the
following improvements :-One improvement consists in making it
ronnd or oval in horizontal section, or with straight sides connected by
curves. A second improvement consists in extracting the bottom of
the body by a ledge carried round the lower opening whilst the ash-pit
is enlarged to admit of the grate bars being moved about freely without
uncovering the opening. It is preferred to use moving bars such as
those of what is known as Juke's furnace. The producer may be placed
at a low level aud may be supplied with air of a pressure above that of
the atmosphere, by means such as are herein-after described or other-
wise, so that the gas produced may be of a corresponding pressure.
is desirable that in furnaces for heating iron and other substances affected
by the air the pressure should not be less than that of the atmosphere,
the draught of a chimney may be employed to produce a plenum by
placing in the centre of a passage through which air is made to rush
by the action of the chimney draught another smaller passage or tube
with its mouth open to the force of the current, and arranged to lead the
air that enters it to the fuel by which the furnace is heated. The air
rushing into the smaller passage from the larger current will produce a
greater pressure in the furnace than exists in ordinary arrangements,
and thereby prevent the leakage inwards of air at points where its
presence in a free state is injurious. The waste gascous products of the
furnace are led into the same or a different chimney by a flue fitted
with a valve to regulate the pressure or draught as desired.
For the purpose of obtaining the highest temperature and most
complete combustion in furnaces for heating iron or in any furnaces in
which gaseous fuel is used the gases are mixed with the air necessary

page_text: for combustion, such air being by preference previously heated, and are
then led through a collar or contracted orifice as nearly as possible at
the instant of their ignition and combination, by which means they are
forced into intimate union, which conduces to their more complete
combustion.
The air blasts required for effecting rapid and intense combustion in
some of the herein-before described operations may be obtained by
ordinary blowing apparatus, but the present applicant prefers to adopt,
on account of its simplicity, apparatus of the kind described in the Specifi-
cation of certain Letters Patent granted to him and dated 8th December
1852, (No. 14,351), but he renders such apparatus more efficient according
to the present Invention by widening the biades of the steam wheel
towards the centre to permit a freer exit of the steam, also by providing
a stop at the centre to prevent the steam from passing the centre, also
by closing the bearing of the centre shaft at the end so that the steam
cannot blow out the lubricant for that shaft, and by forming or fixing
a collar on the shaft to assist further in retaining the lubricant. This
improved steam wheel is extremely convenient for driving a blowing
fan as the fan may be fixed on the same shaft as the wheel, the velocity
of the latter being quite sufficient, and intermediate garing or belts
unnecessary. The wheel is also advantageously suitable for driving
circular saws or for driving other apparatus requiring high speed.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent.
filed by the said William Gorman in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 11th May 1870.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
GORMAN, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, Engincer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twelfth day of November, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the thirty-
third year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said William Gorman, Her special
licence that I, the said William Gorman, my executors, adminis
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Gorman,

page_text: 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, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF IRON AND STEEL, AND IN APPARATUS
THEREFOR, PARTS OF THE IMPROVEMENTS BEING ALSO APPLICABLE TO FURNACES OR
VARIOUS KINDS AND PARTS TO SOME MOTIVE-POWER PURPOSES," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said William Gorman, my executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one
of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what mauner 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 William Gorman, 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 in writing, reference being had to the
accompanying Drawings, that is to say :-
My said Invention has principally for its object to improve the
manufacture of iron and steel by adopting processes and apparatus
whereby the expenditure of fuel may be reduced and the quality of the
iron or steel ameliorated, and by utilising some of the bye products
hitherto wasted.
Parts of my improvements are however also applicable otherwise, as
herein-after explained.
And in order that my said Invention, and the manner of performing
the same, may be properly understood I have hereunto appended two
Sheets of explanatory Drawings, to be herein-after referred to, and
representing by way of example some of the modifications of apparatus
or practically carrying out my improvements. In these Drawings
wherever the same reference letters or numerals are repeated they are
used to mark the saine or like parts.
As in the following particular description of my Invention reference
will frequently be made conjointly to two or more of the modifications
of furnaces shown in the Drawings I will first state what most of the

page_text: Figures represent, and then proceed to fully describe the nature of my
Invention, and the modes in which I at present consider it may be most
effectually carried out.
Figures 1 to 7 on Sheet 1 of the Drawings represent a furnace suitable
for fusing pig iron and for other purposes, Figure 1 being a vertical
section, Figure 2 a vertical section, as at the line A-A in Figure 1;
Figure 3 a front elevation, partly in section, as at B-B in Figure 1;
and Figures 4 to 7 horizontal sections, as at the lines C-C, D-D,
E-E, and F-F, Figures 1 and 2. At the upper part there are in the
middle two heat-restoring chambers 1, 2, up through which the waste
gases pass, and which are traversed by horizontal fire-clay tubes 3 for air
or combustible gas to pass through to take up heat from the waste gases.
At the back (the left-hand side in Figure 1) the air blast enters from a
duct 4 through valves 5 into two passages, 6, 7, both communicating
with tubes 3, but leading ultimately to different points. Next below the
heat-restoring chambers 1, 2, there is a retort or coking chamber 8 into
which the fuel is first put, and from which when coked it falls by an
opening 9 at the inner end into or across the inner end of a reverberatory
chamber 10. This chamber 10 is made with an inclined bottom, and
the iron which is put into it to be heated preparatory to its being fused
gradually moves down, and ultimately falls down an opening 11 at the
inuer end towards the front side of the hearth 12 below. The coke or
fuel being lighter falls towards the back of the hearth, so that it is
interposed between the iron and the blast, which last enters by tuyeres
at 13 from one 6 of the air passages. The fused iron is run off by a
suitable outlet 14 at the front of the hearth. The gases pass from the
hearth 12 up by the passage 11 into the reverberatory chamber 10, and
on turning into that chamber have mixed with them what additional
supply of air may be necessary for their complete combustion, such
air entering through a series of openings 15 from the second 7 of the
air passages.
The waste gases leave the chamber 10 by flues 16 at
the sides leading to the heat-restorer chambers 1, 2, above. 'The
arrangement shown in these Figures 1 to 7 is herein-after referred to as
modification A.
Figures 8 to 13 represent modification B, which is a smelting furnace,
Figure 8 being a sectional plan, Figures 9 and 10 horizontal sections, as
at G-G and H-H respectively in Figures 11, 12, 13, which last are
vertical sections, as at I-1 and J-J in Figure 8, and K-K in Figure 12

page_text: re-pectively. The upper part of this furnace, which corresponds to the
main shaft of the ordinary blast furnace, contains twelve vertical
retorts 17, S, eight 17 of which in the middle are for receiving ores to
be calcined or reduced together with the requisite carbonaceous matter
and flux, whilst the other four 8 are to receive coal, wood, or other fuel
to be coked, and to supply carbon to carbonic acid expelled from the
orcs, each being connected with two of the ore retorts 17 by passages at
the top which allow of the transference of the gases. The gases pass
down through the fuel retorts 8 into spaces 18, and becoming converted
into carbonic oxide issue through contracted orifices 19 into the main
chamber of the furnace along with air which enters the spaces 18 from
passages 7 through jet openings 20 directed towards the orifices 19, and
which by the jet action becomes intimately mixed with the combustible
gases and exhausts them from the retorts. The bottoms of the eight ore
retorts 17 open into a chamber 21 with inclined bottom sides, and with
a central opening 11 communicating with the fusing hearth 12 below.
The bottoms of the fuel retorts 8 communicate with inclined spaces 22
leading down to the hearth 12 at the sides of the orc chamber 21, and
the coke or residue of the fuel fed into the tops of the retorts finds its
way down to the hearth in such a mauner as to surround and enclose
the metal descending through the central opening 11, and interpose
between it and the blast entering at 13. The gases from the hearth 12
pass up the side spaces 22, mingle with those from the fuel retorts 8,
and with them enter the spaces 18, whence they are blown by the air
jets into the main chamber in which they are completely burned, and
serve to heat both the ore retorts 17 and the fuel retorts 8. From
the main chamber the gases pass off by flues 16 to heat-restorer
chambers 1, 2, wherein they are utilised in heating the air which passes
through tubes 3 in those chambers on their way to the passages 7.
Figures 14 to 18 on Sheet 2 of the Drawings represent modification C,
which is a puddling furnace made according to my Invention, the
Figures being sections respectively as at the Lnes L-L, M-M, N-N,
O-O, P- P. A retort or coking vessel 5, which may be of cast iron, is
arranged at the top so as to be heated by the waste gases on their way to
the uptake or chimney 23, and in the under side of this retort there is
an opening through which the coke or partially coked coal may be raked
down into the fi:e-pl.ce or gas-producing furnace 24 below.
The gases
from this furnace proceed by passages 18 towards the reverberatory

page_text: chamber 10, being impelled through contracted orifices 19 by jets of air
entering by orifices 20 from an air duct 7. The outlet 16 for the gases
from the reverberatory chamber 10 is in the middle of the side, and the
inlets for air and gas 20, 19, are directed tangentially and below the
outlet, in consequence of which the current of gas and flame does not
proceed directly towards the outlet but circulates round in vertical
planes as it gradually approaches it. The gases pass by flues 16' down
to the heat restorer 1, 2, below, and then up through the chamber con
taining the retort 8 to the chimney 23. There are two air passages 6, 7,
one of which 6 leads to an opening under the grate, whilst the other. 7
is the one previously referred to. A hinged valve 25 serves to regulate
the proportions of air proceeding by the two passages, and a slide
valve 26 to regulate the total amount of air entering. The. air enters
by a passage 27 and mouth piece 28, which last faces a somewhat
smaller mouth piece 29 leading to the passages 6, 7. The mouth
pieces 28, 29, are in a chamber 30, in which a partial vacuum is formed
by the draught of a chimney, in consequence of which the atmospheric
pressure causes a current of air to enter the passage 27, and a large
portion of this current enters the smaller mouth piece 29, and finds its
way along the passages 6, 7. With this arrangement the air and gases
in the passages 6, 7, and in the reverberatory chamber 10 will have
a greater pressure than they would have were the requisite quantity
to be obtained by a draught acting through those spaces, and there
will in consequence be less tendency for atmospheric air to enter the
reverberatory chamber by accidental openings, and to injure the metal
by means of its free oxygen.
Figures 19 and 20 are vertical and horizontal sections of modifi-
cation D, which is a puddling furnace differing very little from the one
last herein-before described, and chiefly in being without the coking
retort (8). The inlet 19 for the gases into the reverberatory chamber 10
is disposed so as to direct them first across the top, but still so as to
circulate before passing off by the outlet 16.
Figures 21 and 22 are vertical sections at right angles to each other,
and Figure 23 is a horizontal section of modification E, which is a
reverberatory or heating furnace, merely differing somewhat in the
proportions of the parts from that shown in Figures 19 and 20. The
outlet 16 is however at the same side or end as the inlet.
Figure 24 is a vertical section of modification F, which is a rever-

page_text: beratory or puddling furnace, in which the inlet 19 into the chamber 10
is at the end further from the furnace 24, but there is a communication
31 by which a portion of the circulating current may pass from the
chamber 10 back into the furnace 24 so as to re-use some of the
heat.
Figure 25 is a vertical section of modification G, which is a rever.
beratory or puddling furnace having in connection with it a chamber 32,
into which the gases pass from the chamber 10, and in which there
are retorts 17 to receive carbonaceous ores or ores mixed with carbon-
aceous matter, or to receive coal to be coked, and then transferred to
the furnace 24, or used otherwise. When ores are reduced in the retorts.
the metal may be transferred from them to the puddling chamber 10
The volatile matters evolved in the retorts from coal or from carbon-
aceous ore or matter are led by passages to the furnace 24.
Figure 26 is a vertical section of modification H, which is a puddling
or reverberatory furnace, in which the retorts 17 are disposed vertically,
instead of their being horizontal, as in Figure 25. The retorts may also
be placed in other positions.
When iron ores are calcined in kilns or open heaps in the ordinary
way the volatile matters contained in the ores and fuel are dissipated and
lost in the atmosphere, and the ores acquire a high degree of oxidation.
And when those oxidised ores are subsequently reduced in the blast
furnaces their oxygen unites with carbon to ultimately form carbonic
oxide, which is also dissipated along with the other waste gases of
the furnace. By my Invention, however, amongst other things, such
gaseous products are utilised as well as those from the flux and fuel
or other materials which are used in manufacturing iron.
One part of my Invention consists in effecting the calcination and
reduction or partial reduction of the ores in retorts or vessels 17 heated
externally, and from the interiors of which air is excluded to prevent
the access of oxygen to the ores, whilst the volatile matters proceeding
from them are collected for use. Ores comprising free carbon in
sufficient quantity for their reduction may be treated by themselves,
but ores without suflicicut carbon must have carbonaceous matter added
to them. Ores or materials poor in iron but rich in carbon are the most
suitable materials for adding in this way, as the carbonaceous matters
contained in them yield oil, whilst their iron is very free from impurities.
so that ores or minerals of no value for yielding iron or oil separately

page_text: are thus profitably available. When
carboniferous ores are not
obtainable cannel or similar coals may be advantageously used in this
process. In some cases reducing gases produced from coal, coke, char-
coal, or other carbonaceous matter are passed into the retorts amongst
the ores, and in some cases these gases are additionally heated before
being introduced into the retorts. The retorts may be heated by the
otherwise waste heat of the same or of an adjoining furnace or by a
special furnace. Instead of the retorts the inain shaft of a blast furnace
or any other suitable chamber may be employed to contain the ores
whilst being treated with the heated gases to effect their reduction or
partial reduction. After the ores. leave the retorts or chambers they
are subjected to a much greater heat, and are supplied with lime or
other suitable flux, and carbon or oxides of iron and of manganese, as
required for producing the quality of metal desired preparatory to fusion.
Lime or other flux may also be introduced with the ores into the
preliminary calcining or reducing retorts or chambers.
For preparing and fusing the reduced ores I use a combination or
modification of certain furnaces described in the Specifications of Letters
Patent granted to me and John Paton, and dated 5th December 1863
(No. 3057), and Letters Patent granted to me, and dated 17th April
1868 (No. 1256). The peculiar advantages of the reverberatory and
blast furnaces are combined, so that the heat from the solid as well as
that from the gaseous part of the coal is made to act in reducing or
fusing the ores or metals, which are first heated by the flame on the
bed of the furnace 10, modification A, and are then transferred or glide
down into a hearth 12 where the solid fuel is consumed and where the
fusion is completed. The air for combustion is heated by the waste
heat, as described in the earlier Specifications herein-before referred to;
the reducing gases or the retorts herein-before referred to may also be
heated by the waste heat of this furnace, as in modification C.
The herein-before described arrangements are adapted to produce
crude cast iron from the ore, and also the various fusible compounds of
iron or steel.
It has before now been proposed to treat iron ores of the more highly
oxidised kinds in retorts or chambers excluding free oxygen with
accessory details, different from those herein described, but such treatment
has not been found satisfactory and has not come into general use.
have, however, discovered that ores, such as argillaceous and black band
I..

page_text: ‘ores, containing iron as a carbonate or in a less oxidised state whilst not
so easily or conveniently smelted by ordinary processes can on the con
trary be very advantageously dealt with by means of closed retorts,
particularly when arranged, combined, and worked as herein described.
The said ores (with carbon or carbonaceous matter added for their reduc-
tion and carburisation when required) can be reduced to the metallic
state in the closed retorts with a very moderate expenditure of fuel. The
volatile matters evolved in the retorts 17 may be passed through fuel
retorts 8, as herein-before described with reference to modification B, or
they may be led away by suitable pipes or ducts from the tops or outer
ends of the retorts, and be washed if desired and cooled so as to obtain any
liquefiable constituents. The uncondensable gases such as carburetted
hydrogen, carbonic acid, and carbonic oxide may then be passed through
retorts 8 heated externally, and containing carbonaceous matter, when
the carbonic acid will take up carbon to form carbonic oxide which with
the other gases being highly heated are well adapted for reducing ores or
for combustion, and may be passed through ores contained in retorts
heated externally or in a chamber such as the shaft of a blast furnace
for their reduction. When the gases have taken up oxygen in reducing
the ores their reducing power may be restored by passing them through
a carbonaceous fuel contained in externally heated retorts, as already
mentioned, and it is to be observed that gases so obtained are from their
comparatively little dilution by nitrogen much more valuable as reducing
agents or for producing heat, than when they are obtained by combustion
with atmospheric air. Any kind of refuse coal or shale, or even spent
shale from which oil has been extracted, will answer for supplying
additional carbon to gases obtained from oxides or carbonates of iron.
And I may here observe that when in any smelting, fusing, puddling, or
heating furnace constructed according to my Invention, or in which my
improved processes are conducted, the quantity of combustible or heated
gases produced therein or in connection therewith is more than is
required or fully used in the furnace or connected set of furnaces or
apparatus the surplus may be utilised for any other operations for which
it may happen to be conveniently available. Also when gases from any
of the retorts are led out of a furnace to be washed, or to have liquefiable
constituents separated from them, the uncondensable portions may be
eturned to the same furnace or be used in other furnaces or apparatus
for producing heat or light, or in some cases the uncondensable gases
may be allowed to finally escape into the atmosphere.

page_text: In producing malleable iron or steel by this Invention, a furnace such
as is herein before described, modification A, is used for fusing the cast
iron, and along therewith there may be fused ores or oxides of iron or of
inanganese or ferro-mauganese to assist in decarburising the pig iron or
in modifying the steel or iron produced. When the iron is fused it may
be run into a vessel and carried to the puddling furnace, or the fusing
furnace may be placed at a higher level and the iron be run from it
down a channel to the puddling furnace. Jets of air impelled by jers of
superheated steam may be blown through or amongst the fused iron
whilst it is running or being conveyed to or after it is in the puddling
furnace. Pulverised oxide of iron may also be blown into the molten
iron by the air or combined steam jets, or the oxide of iron in a granulated
form may be added otherwise to assist in decarburising and refining the
crude iron. The puddling furnace and vessel referred to may also be
lined or fettled with oxide of iron. The bottom of the puddling furnace
is in some cases made as a movable vessel or dish so that it may be
removed from the furnace in order that the iron may be taken out of it
in a mass, if desired to be shingled or rolled. A number of such movable
bottoms are provided with trucks and rails to admit of their being
adjusted to different fusing or other furnaces, and rings, hooks, or
trunnions are fixed to them for lifting them by cranes and for turning
them up for emptying them. They are also provided with tap holes
for running out cinder. In some cases it will be convenient to make a
long furnace with openings in the bottom constructed for the movable
bottoms so that different stages of the puddling or refining process may
go on at different parts of one furnace, the bottoms being shifted from one
opening to the other as required.
The gas producing furnace for making combustible or reducing gases
for the purpose of this Invention or others may be made according to
the first of the earlier Specifications herein-before referred to, but with
the following improvements.
One improvement consists in making it round or oval in horizontal
section or with straight sides connected by curves.
A second improvement consists in contracting the bottom of the body
by a ledge carried round the lower opening whilst the ash-pit is enlarged
to admit of the grate bars being moved about freely without uncovering
the opening. I prefer to use moving bars such as those of what is known
as Juke's furnace. The gas producing furnace may be placed at a low

page_text: level, and may be supplied with air of a pressure above that of the
atmosphere by means such as are herein-after described, or otherwise,
so that the gas produced may be of a corresponding pressure. As it is
desirable that in furnaces for heating iron and other substances affected
by the air the pressure should not be less than that of the atmosphere
the draught of a chimney may be employed to produce a plenum or at
least to maintain a pressure very nearly equal to atmospheric pressure by
placing in the centre of a passage 30, Figure 271, through which air is
made to rush by the action of the chimney draught, another smaller
passage or tube 29 with its mouth open to the force of the current and
arranged to lead the air that enters it to the fuel by which the furnace is
heated. The air rushing into the smaller passage from the larger current
will produce a greater pressure in the furnace than exists in ordinary
arrangements, and thereby prevent the leakage inwards of air at points
where its presence in a free state is injurious. The waste gaseous pro-
ducts of the furnace are led in the same or a different chimney by a
flue fitted with a valve to regulate the pressure or draught as desired.
A modification of this apparatus is shown in Figure 18, already herein.
before described.
For the purpose of obtaining the highest temperature and most
complete combustion in furnaces for treating iron, or in any furnaces in
which gaseous fuel is used, the gases are mixed with the air necessary
for combustion, such air being by preference previously heated, and are
then led through a collar or contracted orifice (marked 19 in all the
modifications) as nearly as possible at the instant of their ignition and
combination and before their entrance into and expansion or divergence
in the space or chamber in which the heat of their combustion is to
act, by which means they are forced into an intimate union conducing to
their more complete combustion.
Although gas producing furnaces 24 are herein-before described or are
shown in the Drawings as provided in connection with the puddling or
reverberatory furnaces, modifications C to H, it is to be understood that
they may be dispensed with when gases such as those from the smelting
furuaces herein-before described or others suitable can be obtained. Also
iron ores, limestone, shale, or coal may be operated upon in retorts 17,
such as are shown in modifications G, H, as heated by the otherwise
waste heat of puddling or reverberatory furnaces so as to obtain com-
bustible gases or liquefiable vapors therefrom to be consumed in the

page_text: same furnaces or otherwise. Also when coal or other carbonaceous fuel
is coked means of waste heat of a fusing or other furnace, as in the
retort 8, modification A, the coke may not in all cases be used in the
same furnace, and when not so used there will of course be no outlet in,
the bottom of the retort, but there will be an outlet in the top for the
volatile matters and a pipe or passage to convey them into the furnace
or elsewhere.
Referring to modification B, I may here state that the blast intro-
duced by the tuyeres at 13 may be cold, or it may be heated by the heat
restorers 1, 2, or otherwise. Sight holes and apertures are to be provided
at various points as found requisite in practice for ascertaining that the
various processes are progressing inside in a proper manner and for the
introduction of instruments for regulating and assisting the descent of
and for arranging the ores and fuel to the best advantage. The separate
fuel retorts 8 may be dispensed with, a larger proportion of fuel or
carbonaceous matter being in that case put along with the ores into the
ore retorts 17, or some of the fuel may be introduced by separate lateral
doors into the side spaces or fuel chambers 22.
Arrangements are shown in the Drawings and herein-before described
whereby the gases are made to circulate or whirl in vertical planes, but
if it is preferred they may be modified in obvious ways to make the gases
circulate in horizontal or other planes.
Heat restorers 1, 2, 3, may be applied to all the modifications altho'
only shown in connection with some of them, and on the other hand the
air supplied either at the point (13), where the solid fuel is finally
consumed, or where the gases are consumed (20 or 15) may be in a cold
state.
The arrangements herein-before described for heating reverberatory
or puddling chambers 10 are obviously applicable to glass, pottery, and
other furnaces and kilns wherein it is desired to apply heat by means
of gaseous currents or flame, and also to steam boiler and various other
furnaces.
The air blasts required for effecting rapid and intense combustion in
some of the herein-before described operations may be obtained by
ordinary blowing apparatus, by which also the gases may be propelled
or transferred between different parts of the apparatus when required,
but I prefer to adopt on account of its simplicity apparatus of the kind
described in the Specification of certain Letters Patent granted to me

page_text: and dated Sth December 1852 (No. 14,351), but I render such apparatus
more efficient according to my present Invention, as shown in the
sections, Figures 27, 28, and 29, by widening the blades a of the steam
wheel towards the centre to permit a freer exit of the steam; also by
providing a stop 6 at the centre to prevent the steam from passing the
centre also by closing the bearings
;
c of the centre shaft at the ends,
so that the steam cannot blow out the lubricant for that shaft; and by
forming or fixing a collar d on the shaft to assist further in retaining
the lubricant. This collar is in the same piece with the centre stop
or boss b.
This improved steam wheel is extremely convenient for
driving a blowing fan e, as the fan may be fixed on the same shaft f
with the wheel as shown, the velocity of the latter being quite sufficient,
and intermediate gearing or belts unnecessary. The shaft may be sup-
ported by antifriction wheels at a point between the fan and the steam
wheel. The wheel is also advantageously suitable for driving circular
saws, or for driving other apparatus requiring high speed.
Having thus particularly described my said Invention, and the manner
in which the same is to be performed, I have to state that I do not
restrict myself to the precise details herein described or delineated, but
that what I believe to be novel and original, and claim as the In-
vention secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters
Patent is,
1. The constructing of furnaces, the combining together of their parts,
and the working of them, substantially in any of the improved modes
herein described.
2. The reducing or partial reducing of iron carbonate ores in retorts.
heated externally and excluding atmospheric air, and the treating of
any iron ores in such retorts when arranged. worked, and combined
with other parts, substantially in the improved manner herein described.
3. The using of carbonic oxide formed from carbonic acid derived
from the ores and flux themselves as an agent for reducing ores, or for
producing heat in the saine or other furnaces, substantially as herein-
before described.
4. The heating or coking of carbonaceous ores or other carbonaceous
substances in retorts or chambers heated by waste heat, substantially as
herein-before described.
5. The causing of the ignited gases or flame to circulate or whirl in

page_text: a reverberatory or other heating furnace or chamber, as herein-before
described.
6. The causing of the air passing through a furnace to be of a greater
pressure than when the draught acts fully through the furnace by
making the inlet for such air face a current of larger area induced by
draught, substantially as herein-before described.
7. The arranging of the air supply to smelting and other furnaces in
two separate courses, in one to act on the solid fuel, and in the other to
act on the gasified fuel, and substantially in the manner herein-before
described.
8. The causing of the air mixed with the gasified fuel to pass at
the moment of mixing or immediately afterwards through contracted
orifices, substantially as herein-before described.
9. The impelling of air by jets of superheated steam into molten iron
whilst flowing, as herein-before described.
And, 10. The using of a steam wheel, improved substantially as
herein-before described, for actuating a blowing fan for supplying, pro-
pelling, or exhausting air or gases in connection with furnaces or
otherwise, and for other motive-power purposes.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Gorman, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Tenth day of May, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy.
Witness,
EDMUND HUNT,
Patent Agent,
Glasgow.
URMAN. (L.B.)