IMPROVEMENTS IN PUDDLING, HEATING, AND OTHER REVERBERATORY FURNACES USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF IRON AND STEEL, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS MAY ALSO BE APPLIED TO STEAM-BOILER FURNACES
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Hewes, of West Bromwich, in the County of
Stafford, Innkeeper, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PUDDLING,
HEATING, AND OTHER REVERBERATORY FURNACES USED IN THE MANUFACTURE
OF IRON AND STEEL, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS MAY ALSO
BE APPLIED TO STEAM-BOILER FURNACES."
Sealed the 19th April 1865, and dated the 20th January 1865.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Hewes at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 20th
January 1865.
I, JOHN HEWES, of West Bromwich, in the County of Stafford, Innkeeper,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
PUDDLING, HEATING, AND OTHER REVERBERATORY FURNACES USED IN THE MANU-
FACTURE OF IRON AND STEEL, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS MAY
ALSO BE APPLIED TO STEAM-BOILER FURNACES," to be as follows:-
My Invention consists of the arrangement or combination of the parts of
puddling, heating, and other reverberatory furnaces herein-after described, by
which said arrangement or combination perfect combustion of the fuel used in
the said furnaces is effected, the formation of smoke prevented, or partly
prevented, and the draught through the furnaces readily controlled.
My Invention may also be applied to the furnaces of stationary steam
boilers.

page_text: I will describe my Invention as applied to a puddling furnace :-I construct
the fire-grate and bed of the puddling furnace in the ordinary way. Over the
grate and bed of the furnace and at a short distance therefrom I construct a
reverberating arch, the said arch dividing the body of the furnace into two
horizontal flues or passages. That part of the arch situated over the fire-
grate approaches near to the said grate, so as to make a narrow flue or
passage between the grate and arch, the said flue or passage being still further
contracted over the bridge separating the grate from the bed. The fire and
heated air from the fire-grate pass over the said bridge by the narrow flue or
passage described, and are reflected by the reverberating arch upon the metal
on the bed of the furnace. The fire and heated air after heating the metal on
the bed rise over the end of the arch, and return by the passage or flue above
the said arch to a vertical chamber or flue situated over the front end of the
fire-grate. This vertical chamber or flue opens into another horizontal flue
at the top of the furnace, and the latter communicates with the stack or
chimney at the back end of the furnace. Air is admitted into the vertical
chamber or flue over the fire-grate by an opening at the end of and over the
fire-grate door of the furnace, a sliding damper in the said opening regulating
the quantity of air admitted to, or wholly cutting it off from the said chamber.
A damper is also situated at the top of the said chamber or vertical flue, so as
to open or cut off communication with the stack or chimney. By means of
these dampers the draught through the furnace and the amount of air
necessary for perfect combustion of the fuel in the said furnaces are readily
regulated, and by the admission of air into the vertical chamber or flue the
formation of smoke is prevented or partly prevented. The top flue may
cases be dispensed with, and the stack be placed over the front of the furnace.
In this case the fire and heated air after returning from the back of the
furnace pass directly to the stack.
SPECIFICATION. in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Hewes in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 15th 8
July 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
HEWES, of West Bromwich, in the County of Stafford, Innkeeper, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters 3
Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of January, in the year of our Lord

page_text: One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-eighth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said John Hewes, Her special licence that I, the said John
Hewes, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
I, the said John Hewes, 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 "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN PUDDLING, HEATING, AND OTHER REVERBERATORY FURNACES
USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF IRON AND STEEL, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES, WHICH
IMPROVEMENTS MAY ALSO BE APPLIED TO STEAM-BOILER FURNACES,"
upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said John Hewes, 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 manner 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 John Hewes, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say:-
My Invention consists of the arrangements or combinations of the parts of
puddling, heating, and other reverberatory furnaces herein-after described, by
which said arrangements or combinations perfect combustion of the fuel used
in the said furnaces is effected, the formation of smoke prevented or partly
prevented, and the draught through the furnaces readily controlled.
My Invention may also be applied to the furnaces of stationary steam
boilers.
I will describe my Invention as applied to a puddling or heating furnace :-
I construct the fire-grate and bed of the furnace in the ordinary way. Over
the grate and bed of the furnace and at a short distance therefrom I construct
a reverberating arch, the said arch dividing the body of the furnace into two
horizontal flues or passages. That part of the arch situated over the fire-grate
approaches near to the said grate so as to make a narrow flue or passage
between the grate and arch, the said flue or passage being still further
contracted over the bridge separating the grate from the bed. The fire and
heated air from the fire-grate pass over the said bridge by the narrow flue or

page_text: passage described, and are reflected by the reverberating arch upon the metal
on the bed of the furnace. The fire and heated air after heating the metal
on the bed rise over the end of the arch and return by the passage or flue
above the said arch to a vertical chamber or flue situated over the front end
of the fire-grate. This vertical chamber or flue opens into another horizontal
flue at the top of the furnace, and the latter communicates with the stack or
chimney at the back end of the furnace. Air is admitted into the vertical
chamber or flue over the fire-grate by an opening at the end of and over the
fire-grate door of the furnace, a sliding damper in the said opening regulating.
the quantity of air admitted to or wholly cutting it off from the said chamber.
A damper is also situated at the top of the said chamber or vertical flue, so as
to open or cut off communication with the stack or chimney. By means of
these dampers the draught through the furnace and the amount of air
necessary for perfect combustion of the fuel in the said furnaces are readily
regulated, and by the admission of air into the vertical chamber or flue the
formation of smoke is prevented or partly prevented. The top flue may in some
cases be dispensed with, and the stack be placed over the front of the furnace.
In this case the fire and heated air after returning from the back of the
furnace pass directly to the stack. Or in addition to supplying air to the body
of the furnace by a chamber or flue over the fire-place, air may also be
supplied above the fire-grate by means of vertical flues, the lower ends of
which open into the ash-pit.
Having explained the nature of my Invention, I will proceed to describe
with reference to the the accompanying Drawings the manner in which the
same is to be performed.
Figure 1 represents in longitudinal vertical section a puddling or heating
furnace arranged according to my Invention; Figure 2 is a horizontal section
of the same taken through the line to, of Figure 1, and Figure 3 is a transverse
section of the same taken through the line a, of Figure 1. The same letters
indicate the same parts in Figures 1, 2, and 3. a, is the fire grate, b, the
fire bridge, and c, the bed of the furnace. Over the said grate and bed is a
reverberating arch d, the said arch dividing the body of the furnace into two
horizontal flues or passages e, f. The front end of the arch d projects over
the bed c in the manner represented. The fire and heated air from the fire
grate a pass over the bridge b, and are reflected by the arch d upon the
metal on or in the said bed. The whole of the fire and heated air produced
by the combustion of the fuel on the grate a is thus confined to a small space and
their full effect imparted to the metal to be melted on the bed c. The fire
and heated air after heating the metal on the bed c, rise over the end of the

page_text: arch d, and return by the passage or flue over the said arch to a vertical
chamber or flue h, over the front end of the fire grate. The said horizontal
fluef opens by the said vertical flue h into another horizontal flue i at the
top of the furnace, and the latter communicates with the stack or chimney k
at the back end of the furnace. The top flue i may be dispensed with and
the heated air be made to pass to a stack placed over the front of the furnace.
Over the fire grate end of the furnace and in front of the flue h is an opening
h, the front of which opening is provided with a sliding damper 1, which
regulates the quantity of air admitted to the flue 1, or wholly cuts it off from
the said flue. A damper is also situated at the top of the chamber h, so as
to open or cut off communication with the stack or chimney k. By means of
the said dampers land the draught through the furnace and the amount of
air necessary for perfect combustion of the fuel in the said furnaces are adjusted
with great nicety, and by the admission of air into the vertical chamber or
flue h the formation of smoke is prevented or partly prevented.
=
Figures 4, 5, 6, and 7 represent a modification of my Invention also
applied to a puddling furnace; Figure 4 being a longitudinal vertical section
of the furnace; Figure 5, a side elevation of the same; Figure 6 a transverse
vertical section of the same, taken through the line a, Figure 4; and Figure 7
an end or front elevation of the same. The same letters indicate the same
parts in Figures 4, 5, 6, and 7; 6 is the fire-place; c, the ash-pit; d, the bed;
and e, the reverberating arch. The back end of the furnace opens by the flue
f into the stack g, the said flue and stack being supported upon the
columns h, h. Underneath the bed d of the furnace is a chamber or passage
i, the end of which is open, the other end being separated from the ash-pit
by the vertical wall k, communication between the said chamber i and ash-pit
c being effected by the grating in the said wall. In the side walls of the
fire-place are vertical flues m, m, opening at bottom into the ash-pit c, and at
top above the fire-grate, as best scen in Figure 6. In the front wall of the
furnace and above the fire-grate is an opening n, in front of which a damper o
slides. By raising or lowering this damper, air can be admitted above the
fire-grate or cut off therefrom at pleasure. Air is also supplied above and
below the grate from the ash-pit c. The air from the said ash-pit as well as
that supplied thereto from the chamber i, rises partly between the bars of the
grate and partly through the side flues m, m, to the space above the fire, as
indicated by the arrows in Figure 6. By the arrangement of the parts
described for supplying a copious amount of air to the fire perfect combustion
of the fuel is effected, and by admitting air above the grate the formation of
smoke is prevented or partly prevented. The draught through the furnace is

page_text: also readily controlled by means of the sliding damper o, and by the ordinary
damper in the stack or chimney g. By the open chamber i, situated under
the bed d, the said bed d is kept cool and a current of air through the said
chamber is maintained by the grating 1. The parts of the furnace which I
have not described are of the ordinary construction and constitute no part of
my Invention.
Although I prefer to use the side flues m, m, in combination with the
opening n, for delivering air above the fire-grate, yet the said opening n may
be used alone for that purpose; and although I have only herein described
and represented my Invention in connection with a puddling furnace, yet it
may be applied, to heating furnaces, mill furnaces, and other reverberatory
furnaces used in the manufacture of iron and steel and for other purposes.
When I apply the arrangement of my Invention represented in Figures
4, 5, 6, and 7, to mill furnaces, I use with the said furnaces a cinder bottom,
which cannot be conveniently done in mill furnaces as ordinarily constructed.
In applying my Invention to the furnaces of stationary steam boilers, I
arrange the arch over the fire-grate and the damper for admitting air in the
manner represented in Figure 8, which represents a longitudinal vertical
section of a steam boiler furnace arranged according to my Invention; p is
the fire-grate, above which is an arch q, the said arch separating for some
distance horizontally the said fire-grate from the chamber r in which the
boilers is situated. Above the arch 9, and in front of the furnace, is an
opening t, which can be opened and closed by the sliding damper u. The
chamber opens into the chimney or stack v, situated at the fire-place end
of the furnace. Between the bottom of the chimney v and chamber r is a
horizontal damper w. By means of the dampers u, w, the draught through
the furnace can be controlled and the combustion of the fuel made more or
less perfect. The flame and heated air from the fire-grate p are directed by
the arch towards the end of the boiler most distant from the fire-place, from
whence they circulate about the boiler, and finally escape by the stack or
chimney v.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the manner in
which the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that I do
not limit myself to the precise details herein described and illustrated in the
accompanying Drawings, as the same may be varied without departing from
the nature of my Invention, but I claim as my Invention,―
Firstly, the arrangement or combination of the parts of puddling, heating, and
other reverberatory furnaces used in the manufacture of iron and steel, and
for other purposes, herein-before described and illustrated in Figures 1, 2, and 3

page_text: of the accompanying Drawings, that is to say, dividing the body of the
furnace by a low horizontal arch so as to cause the flame and heated air from
the grate to have their full effect upon the metal on the bed before they escape
to the stack or chimney; also the arrangement for admitting air over the fire-
place end of the furnace and for regulating the draught of the furnace.
Secondly, the arrangement or combination of the parts of puddling, heating,
and other reverberatory furnaces used in the manufacture of iron and steel,
and for other purposes, herein-before described and illustrated in Figures
4, 5, 6, and 7 of the accompanying Drawings, that is to say, the arrangement
or combination of the parts described and represented for admitting air above
and below the fire-grate, and for regulating or controlling the draught of the
said furnaces, and for keeping the beds of the furnaces cool.
Thirdly, the arrangement or combination of the parts of steam boiler furnaces
herein-before described and illustrated in Figure 8 of the accompanying
Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Hewes, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Thirteenth day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-five.
Witness,
RICHARD SKERRETT,
Clerk to George Shaw,
Birmingham.
JOHN HEWES. (L.S.)