AN IMPROVED VALVE FOR HOT BLAST FURNACES OR STOVES OR FOR ANALOGOUS PURPOSES
Year: 1884

page_text: I JOHN ADDISON BIRKBECK of Grange Road West, Middlesbrough in the
County of York, Engineer do hereby declare the nature of said Invention for "AN
IMPROVED VALVE FOR HOT BLAST FURNACES OR STOVES OR FOR ANALOGOUS
PURPOSES
"
=
My Invention has for its object to provide a valve which is especially applicablo
for hot blast furnaces but may also be used for hot blast stoves or for other
purposes to which it is applicable the said valve obviating the difficulties and
expenses arising from the exposure of metal to great heat which occur in the case
of valves constructed in the ordinary manner. According to my Invention I make
the valve casing of a casting lined with fire clay or equivalent refractory material
and the valve proper I make of a slab of fire clay or equivalent refractory material
secured to a casting or the like by which connection is made with the operating
mechanism which may consist of a rod which passes through a stuffing box in a
combination of the casting of the valve casing and is connected to a rack which is
operated by a pinion on the axis of which is a pulley over which is passed a chain
or rope carried thence over a pulley attached to the framework and carrying at its
end a weight to balance the moving parts of the valve.

page_text: I, JOHN ADDISON BIRKBECK of Grange Road West Middlesborough in the
County of York Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "AN
IMPROVED VALVE FOR HOT BLAST FURNACES OR STOVES OR FOR ANALOGOUS
PURPOSES " 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 to obviate the difficulties and expenses arising
from the exposure of metal to high temperatures as in the case of valves and valve
seats constructed in the ordinary manner for controlling the blast of hot blast
furnaces stoves or for analogous purposes and this I effect by constructing the valve
and valve seat so as to expose fire clay or equivalent refractory material to such
high temperatures in the place of metal which latter requires frequent renewal and
passages for the circulation of cold water or air to absorb the great heat which it
cannot resist. The mechanical arrangement for operating a valve constructed
according to my Invention may be similar to that in use for valves constructed in
the ordinary way for the same purpose as for instance the operating rod may pass
through a stuffing box in a continuation of the casting forming the valve casing,
this operating rod being connected to a rack worked by a pinion with a pulley fixed
to one end of the axis of the pinion, to carry a weight-to-balance-the-valve,-the-
other end of the axis being provided with a band pulley or chain wheel turned by
a rope or chain to wind the valve in or out of its seat by the action of the pinion
geared into the rack, the whole of the moving parts being suitably supported on
framework secured to the valve casing; or the valve may be operated by any other
suitable mechanical arrangement.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood I shall now
proceed particularly to describe the same and for that purpose shall refer to the
accompanying drawings in the several figures of which like letters of reference
indicate the same parts.
-
Figure 1 is a sectional view taken through the centre of the valve which is
shewn in position in its seat when the valve is closed. Figure 2 illustrates a front
view of the valve corresponding to a section of the valve casing taken on the
linex of Figure 1 and also illustrates the ordinary mechanical arrangements
suitable for operating the valve, Figure 3 illustrates a front view of the valve also
taken on the line xx of Figure 1 but omitting the mechanical arrangement for
working the valve as shown in Figure 2. In figures 1. 2 and 3 a is the valve
casing constructed of metal in the usual manner b is the lining of the valve casing
which also forms the valve seat, the valve sliding in and out between the
surfaces b¹ b as shown more particularly in figure the said surface being faced
true and parallel for the purpose. The valve seat b is made of fire clay or
equivalent refractory material to resist the effect of the great heat to which it is
exposed The valve c is made of similar material to the valve seat b being exposed
to the same high temperature. The valve c is made of the usual form and faced
true and parallel on both sides to fit in between the surfaces b¹ b³ of the valve seat
and to effectually seal the passage when closed. In figure 2 the valve is shown
secured to the cross head & by means of the dove tails d¹ d' and d³. Figure 3
illustrates a modification of this arrangement by providing a stirrup or strap e
passing round the valve the ends of which are provided with nuts and threads or
other means for suitably strapping the valve to the cross-head Figure 2 illustrates
a continuation of the casting of the valve casing a with the operating rod f which
is connected to the crossbond by means of a tee Lead as shown, passing through a

page_text: stuffing box to the rack of the apparatus for moving the valve in or out of its seat
the apparatus illustrated in figure 2 is similar to those in ordinary use for this
purpose and therefore needs no description. I do not limit myself to the precise
form of valve and valve seat hereinbefore given as an example, as the same may
be varied without departing from the nature of my Invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my Invention
and in what manner it may be carried into effect I declare that what I claim is:-
Valves for hot blast furnaces or stoves or for analogous purposes wherein the
valve proper and the valve seat therefor are made of fire clay or equivalent
refractory material substantially as and for the purpose herein before described.
Dated this 16th day of January 1885.