IMPROVEMENTS IN FURNACES FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF GLASS, COMMONLY CALLED MELTING FURNACES
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas George Webb, of Manchester, in the County
of Lancaster, Glass Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN FURNACES FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF GLASS, COMMONLY CALLED MELTING
FURNACES.'
Sealed the 1st March 1867, and dated the 5th September 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas George Webb at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
5th September 1866.
I, THOMAS GEORGE WEBB, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster,
Glass Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN FURNACES FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF GLASS, COMMONLY CALLED
MELTING FURNACES," to be as follows:-
My Invention consists in the use of a central pillar applied to melting
furnaces, whereby a chamber is formed surrounding the said pillar for the
passage of heat and the reception of the melting pots; or if the said melting

page_text: pots be arranged in a rectangular form I apply an intervening pillar or
pillars. Above the chamber or chambers so formed I erect arches for
deflecting the heat, and, I propose to furnish the said pillar or pillars with
openings leading from spaces formed therein for the admission of air or gas,
the said gas being used either to assist combustion or to afford the required
beat after the manner of a gas furnace; the openings may be regulated by
dampers. If ordinary fuel be used it is employed in any known manner.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Thomas George Webb in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 5th March 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
GEORGE WEBB, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Glass Manu-
facturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the thirtieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Thomas George Webb, Her special license that I, the said Thomas
George Webb, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said Thomas George Webb, 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 FURNACES FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF GLASS, COMMONLY CALLED
MELTING FURNACES," upon the condition, amongst others, that I, the said
Thomas George Webb, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal,
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 Thomas George Webb, do hereby
declure 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 and accompanying Drawings, that is to say:-

page_text: In the accompanying Drawing Fig. 1 represents my improved furnace in
vertical section, and Fig. 2 in horizontal section, one half only being shewn.
In order, however, the more clearly to explain the construction the vertical
section Fig. 1 is taken in two lines as regards Fig. 2, the portion above the
line A, B, being taken in the line C, D, and the portion below the line A, B,
in the direction of E, D.
The bed of the furnace upon which the ordinary pots a are placed is shewn
at b divided by the columns c which carry the usual arches, the said columns
being formed with flues d leading into the chimney e, as is well understood.
In the bed & are firing holes f, the outward ends of which are open to arch-
ways g, within which the attendant stands when supplying fuel, and to assist
him in this platforms are erected at h. Thus far the construction is that in
ordinary use, or substantially so, and if the usual form of furnace were con-
tinued an arch or dome, technically termed the crown, would extend from the
one side to the other, but according to my Invention I erect a central column
i, and between that and the pillars c I build an arch k, which extends around
the centre and forms therefore an annular reverbertory furnace. The central
pillar i I form hollow and apply a pipe thereto, which pipe is provided with
doors m, n, turning upon hinges and capable of being opened or closed by
chains attached thereto and conducted to any convenient situation. The
fire-bars of the furnace are at o extending around the central pillar i, and
constituting therefore an annular fire-place. The pots a having been placed
on the bed or "siege "b, the spaces between the pillars c are closed as usual,
and the operation is conducted as now commonly practised; but by reason
of my central pillar i and arch k the heat is deflected around an annular space.
If it be desired to allow air to enter the furnace from the central pillar, the
door n is opened and the air will then flow through apertures p formed in
the said pipe, and corresponding apertures q formed in the pillar i; but sup-
posing it desired to cool the pillar i by allowing air to pass through it without.
entering the surface, then the two doors m and n are opened. In the same
manner gas or gases may be allowed to pass into the furnace by placing a
pipe leading from the source of supply of the said gasses in communication
with the pipe l, and these gasses may be used to increase the effect of the
products of combustion arising from the fire-place o, or to afford the required
heat by their own combustion as in the case of that arrangement now known
as Siemens' furnace.
Having thus described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention, and
the manner in which the same is to be performed, I desire it to be understood

page_text: that I claim as secured to me under the above in part recited Letters Patent,
the use of the central pillar and annular arch k; also forming the said pillar
hollow for the transmission of air or gasses.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas George Webb, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Fourth day of March, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
THOMAS GEORGE WEBB. (L.S.)