Improvements in Deoxidizing Furnaces.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Aug., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Dec., 1898-Accepted, 5th June, 1997
Improvements in Deoxidizing Furnaces.
I, HENRY ANWYL JONES of No. 202 Park Place, Brooklyn, in the State of New
York, United States of America, Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
Valuable iron exists to a large extent in the form of a grannlar oxide, and the
present improvements are especially adapted to deoxidizing such granular oxide and
converting the same into cast iron, the whole operations being performed while
excluded from contact with the atmosphere in an effectual manner.
The granular oxide of iron is supplied into a hopper or containing vessel, and there
is a similar adjacent vessel for containing carbon or similar deoxidizing material, and
in the bottonis of these hoppers openings are provided with regulating slides for
allowing the proper proportions of materials to pass down into a rotary mixing device,
for thoroughly commingling the granular materials, and these pass down into the upper
ends of zigzag hoppers, there being intermediate zigzag flues containing hoating
devices, such as gas burners, to which the proper proportion of atmospheric air is
admitted for obtaining intense heating flames and a perfect combustion.
In making up those retorts and intermediate flues, earthenware blocks
advantageously made of fire clay, are provided, such blocks having flanges, so that
when the blocks aro set together tightly, closed retorts are formed with the intermediate
flues, and these are built into brick-work and properly secured, and the mixture of
gas and air is provided, and jet burners, similar to Bunsen burners, are advantageously
used in the heating of the deoxidizing apparatus formed of said zigzag rotorts. Air
pipes are provided between the sets of retorts, so that the air made use of in promoting
combustion can be in a highly heated condition, for lessening the consumption of the
heating gas.
There are openings for the escape of gases that may be generated under the action
of the heat, as the oxygen of the iron ore is liberated and combined with the carbon,
and the partially deoxidized oro passes into a range of secondary retorts through
intermediate tubular connections, and the range of secondary retorts is made similar
to the retorts before described, with the exception that such secondary retorts are
advantageously at a slight inclination, and iustead of being zigzag the lower ends of
the retorts are larger than the upper ends, so that the iron ore and carbon in a highly
heated condition will pass down from the secondary retorts as soon as the slides or
valves at the lower ends of such retorts are opened, and the deoxidized material
passes into a hopper and thence direct through a suitable tube into the reverberatory
melting hoarth, and advantageously such deoxidized granular iron is brought in at or
below the surface of the melting material on the reverboratory hearth, so that the
deoxidized material does not como into contact with the atmosphere, and the heat is
maintained until the same is properly melted.
It is to be understood that thoro are heating flues between the retorts in the range
of secondary retorts, so that such retorts ure kept at the proper temperature, and the
deoxidizing operation is advantageously carried on by about half filling the deoxidizing
retorts, subjecting the same to the action of heat and then filling up such deoxidizing
retorts and again subjecting the whole to the action of heating and afterwards

page_text: withdrawing about half of the contents from the deoxidizing retorts into the secondary
retorts, and again filling up the deoxidizing retorts and repeating the operations, so
that the materials are subjected to agitation as they descend in the zigzag deoxidizing
retorts, between the first and second heating operations, and they are further agitated
as such materials pass from the deoxidizing retorts into the secondary retorts, thus
ensuring a complote removal of the oxygen of the iron by the carbon that is brought
into intimate contact with the same in the presence of heat, and the final molting of
the iron is effected before the same is allowed to cool and while excluded from the
atmosphere.
Improvements in Deoxidizing Furnaces.
I, HRNRY ANWYL JONES, of No. 202 Park Place, Brooklyn, in the State of New
York, United States of America, Mechanical Engineer, 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 statoment:-
Valuable iron exists to a large extent in the form of a granular oxide, and the
present improvements are especially adapted to deoxidizing such granular oxide and
converting the same into cast iron, the whole operations being performed while
excluded from contact with the atmosphere in an effectual manner.
The granular oxido of iron is supplied into a hopper or containing vessel, and there
is a similar adjacent vessel for containing carbon or similar deoxidizing material, and
in the bottoms of these hoppers openings are provided with regulating slides for
allowing the proper proportions of materials to pass down into a rotary mixing device
for thoroughly commingling the granular materials, and those pass down into the
upper ends of zigzag hoppers, there being intermediate zigzag flues containing
heating devices, such as gas burnors, to which the proper proportion of atmospheric
air is admitted for obtaining intense heating flames and a perfect combustion.
In making up these retorts and intermediate fluos earthenware blocks
advantageously made of fire clay are provided, such blocks having flangos so that
when the blocks are set together tightly, closed retorts are formed with the
intermediate fines, and these are built into brick-work and properly securod, and the
mixture of gas and air is provided, and jet burners, similar to Bunsen burners are
advantageously used in the heating of the deoxidizing apparatus formed of said zigzag
retorts. Air pipes are provided between the sets of retorts, so that the air made use
of in promoting combustion can be in a highly heated condition for lessening the
consumption of the heating gas.
There are openings or the escape of gases that may be generated under the
action of the heat, as the oxygen of the iron ore is liberated and combined with the
carbon, and the partially deoxidized ore passes into a range of secondary retorts
through intermediate tubular connections, and the range of secondary retorts is made
similar to the retorts before described, with the exception that such secondary retorts
are advantageously at a slight inclinatiou, and instead of being zigzag, the lower onds
of the retoris are larger than the upper ends, so that the iron ore and carbon in a
bighly heated condition will pass down from the secondary retorts as soon as the slides
or valves at the lower ends of such retorts are opened, and the deoxidized material
passes into a hopper and thence direct through a suitable tube into the reverboratory
melting bearth, and advantageously such deoxidized granular iron is brought in, at or

page_text: below the surface of the melting material on the reverberatory. hearth, so that the
deoxidized material does not come into contact with the atmosphere, and the heat is
maintained until the same is properly melted.
It is to be understood that there are heating flues between the retorts in the range
of secondary retorts, so that such retorts are kept at the proper temperature, and the
deoxidizing operation is advantageously carried on by about half filling the deoxidizing
retorts, subjecting the same to the action of heat and then filling up such deoxidizing
retorts and again subjecting the whole to the action of heating and afterwards
withdrawing about half of the contents from the deoxidizing retorts into the
secondary retorts, and again filling up the deoxidizing retorts and repeating the
operations, so that the materials are subjected to agitation as they descend in
the zigzag deoxidizing retorts between the first and second heating operations, and
they are further agitated as such materials pass from the dooxidizing retorts into the
secondary retorts, thus ensuring a complete removal of the oxygen of thic iron by the
carbon that is brought into intimate contact with the same in the presence of heat,
and the final melting of the iron is effected before the same is allowed to cool and
while excluded from the atmosphere.
In the drawing,
Fig. 1 is a vertical section of the upper portion of the apparatus, Fig. 2 is a similar
section of the lower part of the apparatus,
Fig. 3 is a partial vertical section at right angles to Fig. 1,
Fig. is a sectional plan at the line 2, 2. Fig. 3.
The ore in a granular form is supplied into the hopper A and the carbon 'also in
granular form is supplied into the hopper A'; this may be effected by suitable
elevators or chains of buckets driven at such a speed or provided with buckets of such
relative sizes that the carbon and oro will pass into the hopper or hoppers in the
proper relativo proportions-that is to say, there usually is about carbon and iron-
ore by weight.
At the bottom of the hopper is a slide or regulating valve B which is to be opened
to allow the materials to run in the proper proportions from the hoppers down into the
mixer C, which mixer C is formed of a cylindrical case having within it a shaft 4 and
arms upon tho shaft and blades 5 so that as the mixor shaft and blades are rotated they
come into contact with the carbon and ore as the same fall down from the hopper, and
such materials are intimatoly mixed together so as to bring the particles of curbou and
of iron into contact as such materials pass out from the mixer and by the chutes c to
the retorts D which are vertical or nearly vertical and of an undulating or zigzag
contour, and between the retorts D are the heating Bues E into which flues air and
gas in the proper proportions for perfect combustion are admitted by the burners F,
and there aro cocks at 6 and 7 for regulating the supply of air and gas respectively
so that the proper proportion will be maintained at each burner producing a heating
flame.
The retorts and heating flues are made of sections, preferably of clay, set together,
each section having in it a flue opening that is a bent curve and there are projecting
flanges forming substantially rectangular edges to the flue section, which flanges form
portions of the sides of the adjacent curved flue, the edges of the sections being set
together as shown at 8, so as to make up a furnace of any desired capacity. I have
represented three retorts at each side and four flues so that each retort is heated on
each side and the products of combustion in the flues ascend and pass off by the
lateral openings 9, preferably to a suitable chimney, and the retorts are surrounded by
a brick-work enclosure at G, and suitable tie rods and bars are provided for holding
the parts reliably together; and it is advantageous to provide a middle wall El botween
the retorts, formed of bricks through which the air pipes I pass and they are provided
with branches K to the burners so that the air consumed is in a heated condition when
it reaches the gas, petroleum or other fuel.
By this construction the retorts and the heating flues are easily and cheaply built
and the parts made air tight, and the retorts can be taken apart whenever repairs
become necessary.

page_text: 1 have represented at La supporting beam or floor for the retorts, and at the lower
ends of the retorts the tubes M are connected and provided with slides or gates 10 by
which the passage of the material under treatment can he regulated, and these tubes M
lead to the secondary or finishing retorts N which are advantageously placed at an
inclination, as shown, and between them are the heating flues O into which air and gas
or other combustible materials are supplied at F', so as to burn with the heat necessary
for finisbing the treatment of the oxide of iron, such burners being similar to those
before described.
These retorts N are widest at the hottom so that the materials in them will not
become wedged or clogged in such retorts, and these retorts are made generally in a
similar manner to the retorts D- that is to say, the retorts are made of clay sections
set together with edge flanges coming together at 11 so as to form the heating flues O,
the retorts themselves being air tight and without any vertical seams, and the clay
sections are set together end to end as they are built up vertically, and at 12 the
products of combustion pass away and there are openings at 13 for the escape of gases
from the retorts.
At the lower ends of the retorts N are slides P actuated by any suitable means such
as lever bundles or screws, and these slides when closed retain the ore and carbon in
the secondary or finishing retorts N and when open allow the materials to slide down
into the hopper Q and by the feed pipe R directly to the reverberatory furnace or
hearth S in which the iron is melted and may be puddled or otherwise treated
according to the product desired. I have represented the tap hole 14 through which
melted slag may be drawn off and the tap hole 15 through which the melted iron may
be withdrawn and the final discharge hole at 18. This apparatus is to be operated in
the following manuer:
The burners are to be set in operation so as to supply flune into the heating flues of
the retorts, and when such retorts are at the proper temperature, the valve B is
opened sufficiently to allow the carbon and oxide of iron to pass down into the
mixer C in which the shaft and blades are revolving and the carbon and iron ore
are intimately and uniformly mixed together and pass ou into the retorts and about
half fill the same, and the material is allowed to remain under the action of heat a
sufficient length of time for the oxygen to be driven off from the iron and to
combine with the carbon, the valve B is then withdrawn and a second charge of
material allowed to pass down and be mixed in the mixer and fill the retorts to the
top, such materials remaining under the action of the heat the proper length of time,
and then the gate or valve 10 is opened to allow about half the contents of the
retorts to pass down into the secondary or finishing retorts, which being about half
the size are full or nearly so, and it is advantageous to provide peep holes at 16 so
ns to stop the flow of the material when the retorts have received the proper
quantity of material, the valve B is again withdrawn and the materials are supplied
down into the retorts D to nearly fill the same, and the operations are performed
successively so that the apparatus is made substantially continuous, and when the
materials in the secondary or finishing retorts have been exposed to the proper
temperature and for the required time, the slides P are withdrawn and the contents
of the retorts N are allowed to pass down into the reverberatory furnace or hearth
for final melting.
During these respective operations the granular ore and the carbon are intimately
mixed by the disturbing action produced as the materials pass down the zigzag
retorts and at the same time atmosphere is excluded and with but little or no loss of
heat because the materials pass froin the retorts into the secondary retorts, and from
the latter to the melting furnace without coming in contact with the external
atmosphere and without losing their heat perceptibly.
In the walls of the heating fluos E there are openings with plugs 17 that are
removable so as to give access to the flues for igniting the flames and also for
observing the heated condition of the retorts; I, however, prefer also to provide small
removable plugs 19 at the lower ends of the flues E and O for the insertion into such
fines of incandescent charcoal or other fuel when starting the apparatus so that the

page_text: same will immediately ignite the gases that are introduced first at the bottom portions
of the flues and thou successively in the burners that are higher up so that the lower
burner ignites the higher burners, and the products of combustion pass away laterally
by any suitable flues to a pipe or chimnoy T.
The gases driven off from the retorts might be allowed to pass away by this.
pipe or chimney T if there were openings communicating with such pipe T, but
usually it is advantageous to provide a separato escape flue from the oponings 18:
and 29 so that any carbonic oxide gas inay pass from such rotorts to a suitable
holder and subsequently utilized.
In my present invention, the retorts and heating flues are easily and cheaply
constructed and put together, and it will be apparent that this furnace may be
extended and its capacity practically increased indefinitely and by increasing the
number of retorts and their intervening feeding flues, and in making up the clay
retorts in this heating furnace as represented, it is only necessary to provide two.
or three forms in which the respective sections of the earthenware retorts are.
constructed; so that these retorts can be sot together in building up the furnace
and the projecting flanges form the intermediate flues, and it is only necessary to.
surround the earthenwaro retorts with sufficient brick work to support and hold
together such retorts.
It is to be understood that the retorts are preferably made of fire clay, and so.
also the brick-work should be adapted to withstand the heat to which the furnace
is exposed.
I do not limit myself to any particular character of reverberatory furnace or hearth
upon which the ore is melted; it is, howover, important that the granular deoxidized
ore should be supplied into the furnace progressively and the slag and impurities.
drawn off in a molted state separately from the iron or steel that is melted or puddled
in the said furnace.
In cases where the deoxidized material is passed directly into the melting furnace,.
there is risk of the melted-metal or slag splashing and clogging up the apparatus or
injuring the attendants. By causing the iron to pass into the melted material below
the surfaco thereof, this difficulty is prevented.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :
First. In a deoxidizing furnace, a series. of retorts each formed of sections of
earthenware material set together and having projecting flanges that meet at their
edges to form intervening heating flues, in combination with brick-work surrounding
and supporting such earthenware sections, substantially as set forth.
Second. In a deoxidizing furnace, a series of retorts each formed of sections of
earthenware material set together and having projecting flanges that meet at their
edges to form intervening heating flues, in combination with brick-work surrounding
and supporting such earthenware sections, burners passing through openings in the
side walls of the furnace and into the heating flues, each burner having a supply
pipe and cock for liquid or gaseous flaid and a supply pipe for air, substantially as.
set forth.
Third. In a deoxidizing furnace, a series of retorts each formed of sections of
earthenware material set together and having projecting flanges that meet at their
edges to form intervening heating flues, in combination with brick-work surrounding
and supporting such earthenware sections, air heating pipes within the brick-work
and between the retorts and burners for supplying liquid or gaseous flaid and
connections from the air heating pipes for supplying the air to the burners,.
substantially as set forth.
. Fourth. The combination in a deoxidizing furnace, of a range of substantially
vertical retorts having a zigzag conformation and intervening beating flues, burners.
for supplying the material consumed, a hopper for the granular ore and carbon, a
rotary mixer, tubes leading from the same to the respective retorts and slides for

page_text: regulating the admission of the ore and carbon to the mixer, substantially as
set forth.
Fifth. The combination in a deoxidizing furnace, of a range of substantially
vertical retorts having a zigzag conformation and intervening heating flues, burners
for supplying the material consumed, a hopper for the granular ore and carbon, a
rotary mixer, tubes leading from the same to the respectivo retorts and slides for
regulating the admission of the ore and carbon to the mixer, a range of secondary
retorts and connections thereto from the first retorts and slides for regulating the
passage of the granular material from one set of retoris to the other, substantially
as set forth.
Sixth. The combination in a deoxidizing furnace, of a range of substantially vertical
retorts having a zigzag conformation and intervening heating flues, burners for
supplying the material consumed, a hopper for the granular ore and carbon, a rotary
mixer, tubes leading from the same to the respective retorts and slides for regulating
the admission of the ore and carbon to the mixer, a range of secondary retorts and
connections thereto from the first retorts and slides for regulating the passage of the
granular material from one sot of rotorts to the other, there being openings for the
discharge of the gases from the respective rotorts, and openings from the flues for
the discharge of the products of combustion, substantially as set forth.
Seventh. The combination in a deoxidizing furnace, of a range of substantially
vertical retorts having a zigzag conformation and intervening heating flues, buruers
for supplying the material consumed, a hopper for the granular ore and carbon, a
rotary mixer, tubes leading from the same to the respective retorts and slides for
regulating the admission of the ore and carbon to the mixer, a range of secondary
retorts and connections thereto from the first retorts, and slides for regulating the
passage of the granular material from one set of retorts to the other, a furnace
for melting the ore.and tubular connections and slides from the retorts to such
furnace for allowing the ore to pass directly into the melting furnace, substantially as
set forth.
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BREWER & SON,
London and Leeds, Agents for the Applicant.