IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR MAKING TUYERES AND BRICKS OF VARIOUS FORMS FOR BESSEMER CONVERTER BOTTOMS, BLAST FURNACE BLOCKS, AND OTHER PURPOSES, AND IN THE CON- STRUCTION OF BOTTOMS FOR BESSEMER STEEL CONVERTERS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Benjamin Joseph Barnard Mills, of the Firm of Harris
and Mills, of 23, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR
MAKING TUYERES AND BRICKS OF VARIOUS FORMS FOR BESSEMER CONVERTER
BOTTOMS, BLAST FURNACE BLOCKS, AND OTHER PURPOSES, AND IN THE CON-
STRUCTION OF BOTTOMS FOR BESSEMER STEEL CONVERTERS." A communica-
tion from abroad by Andrew Jackson Haws, of Johnstown, in the County of
Cambria and State of Pennsylvania, United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Benjamin Joseph Barnard Mills
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 11th December 1876.
BENJAMIN JOSEPII BARNARD MILLS, of the Firm of Harris and Mills, of 23,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MACHINERY FOR MAKING TUYERES AND BRICKS OF VARIOUS FORMS
FOR BESSEMER CONVERTER BOTTOMS, BLAST FURNACE BLOCKS, AND OTHER
PURPOSES, AND IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF BOTTOMS FOR BESSEMER STEEL
CONVERTERS." A communication from abroad by Andrew Jackson Haws, of
Johnstown, in the County of Cambria and State of Pennsylvania, United States of
America.
The improved brick making machine is constructed with a cylinder to be filled
with clay or other material and provided at bottom with a die, mould, or former of
the required shape through which the material is forced by the action of a plunger.
Dies or moulds of various forms are applied to the bottom of the cylinder to impart
the required shapes to the bricks or tiles to be produced. The material is forced
downward through an open frame within the cylinder, from which project down-
ward rods adapted to form perforations in the mass of clay descending within the
former. A removeable check plate or stopper is applied at the lower end of
the former so that the clay may receive the necessary pressure before it is
discharged.

page_text: For the construction of Bessemer steel converter bottoms the bricks are made of
hexagon shape, with others of segment form to surround thein and fit the curb or
shell by which they are held in place. The bricks are provided with longitudinal
perforations for the passage of air, and with downwardly projecting lugs by which
they are secured to the tuyere box by means of suitable fastenings.
Annular washers are provided to close air-tight the joints between the lugs of
the tuyere bricks and the top of the tuyere box in which they are fixed.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Benjamin Joseph Barnard Mills in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 11th June 1877.
BENJAMIN JOSEPH BARNARD MILLS, of the Firm of Harris and Mills, of 23,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent. " IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MACHINERY FOR MAKING TUYERES AND BRICKS OF VARIOUS FORMS
FOR BESSEMER CONVERTER BOTTOMS, BLAST FURNACE BLOCKS, AND OTHER
PURPOSES, AND IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF BOTTOMS FOR BESSEMER STEEL
CONVERTERS.' A communication from abroad by Andrew Jackson Haws, of
Johnstown, in the County of Cambria and State of Pennsylvania, United States
of America.
"
The improved brick making machine is constructed with a cylinder to be filled
with clay or other material and provided at bottom with a die, mould, or former of
the required shape through which the material is forced by the action of a plunger.
Dies or moulds of various forms are applied to the bottom of the cylinder to impart
the required shapes to the bricks or tiles to be produced. The material is forced
downward through an open frame within the cylinder, from which project down-
ward rods adapted to form perforations in the mass of clay descending within the
former. A removeable check plate or stopper is applied at the lower end of
the former so that the clay may receive the necessary pressure before it is
discharged.
.
For the construction of Bessemer steel converter bottoms the bricks are inade of
hexagon shape with others of segment form to surround them and fit the curb or
shell by which they are held in place. The bricks are provided with longitudinal
perforations for the passage of air, and with downwardly projecting lugs by which
they are secured to the tuyere box by means of suitable fastenings.
Annular washers are provided to close air-tight the joints between the lugs of the
tuyere bricks and the top of the tuyere box in which they are fixed.
And in order that the said Invention may be more clearly understood and
readily carried into effect, I will proceed, aided by the accompanying Drawings,
more fully to describe the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section on the line 1, 1, Figure 2, of the machine for
forming bricks and tiles.
Figure 2 is a bottom view of the former with the check plate omitted.
Figure 3 is an under side view of the open frame with the perforating rods
depending therefrom.
Figure 4 is an external view of the lower part of the former to illustrate the mode
of applying the moveable check plate or stopper.
Figure 5 is a horizontal view of a portion of a Bessemer steel converter bottom.
Figure 6 is a vertical section on the line 6, 6, Figure 5.
Figure 7 is an under side view of the converter bottom omitting the tuyere box.
A represents a cylinder of any suitable length and diameter, made of metal adapted

page_text: to sustain considerable pressure, and sustained vertically in a stout framing. Fitting
within this cylinder is a piston G operated by steam, hydraulic, lever, or other
power. The cylinder communicates at its lower end with the funnel-shaped top B
of a mould or former C which has a transverse section to correspond with that of
the bricks, blocks, or tiles which it is designed to produce, and is removeably and
firmly secured to the lower end of the cylinder A either directly or through the
medium of a vertical crown flange C¹ fitting within the mouth of the cylinder. In
practice any desirable number of moulds or formers Care employed, having different
shapes to correspond with the different articles to be produced. These formers or
moulds may be of any desirable length. On the exterior surface of the former at
its lower end are lugs c adapted to receive hooks & formed on a removeable check
plate or stopper D which when in position tightly closes the lower end of the former
or mould c. The check plate or stopper D may fit flush against the lower end of
the former C as shown, or it may be formed with an annular bead to fit within the
flaring mouth of the former.
.
The vertical crown flange C₁supports by means of an internal ledge or offset q
an open plate or frame H sustaining at its centre a conoidal hub or block E, to the
bottom of which are attached any desirable number of rods F projecting vertically
downward within the mould or former C to the bottom thereof, and employed to
produce perforations which are thus made to extend through the bricks, blocks, or
tiles formed within the mould or former C. The frame H is supported within the
crown flange C¹ or is sustained within the lower end of the cylinder A above the
funnel B in any suitable manner. The operation of the former is as follows:-The
cylinder A is filled with the material out. of which the bricks, blocks, or tiles are to
be formed and the check plate or stopper D is secured in position. The clay being
forced down by the descent of the piston G passes through the open frame H into
the funnel B and through the former C, completely filling the latter and being
forced around the perforating rods F. When the former C is completely filled with
clay or other material and sufficient pressure is developed the check plate or stopper
is removed. The pressure of the piston G being continued the clay tuyere, brick, or
block, or tile, or other article is forced through the mould or former Č and may be
cut off to any desired length. The check plate D is again applied as often as
requisite to cause the proper pressure of the clay.
It is evident that the perforations formed by the rods F will extend completely
through the tuyere blocks or whatever article the apparatus may be used to form,
and by this means perforated tuyeres of any desired length may be formed accurately
and rapidly in an economical manner.
Figures 5, 6, and 7 represent the application of perforated bricks to the con-
struction of a Bessemer steel converter bottom. I, I, represent metallic hoops to
form a curb or rim for the converter bottom, and J, J, J, the bricks of refractory
material formed to fit therein as shown. The said bricks are made of fire-clay and
silicious stone, or of any preferred refractory material; K represents the air
chamber or tuyere box communicating with perforations L in the bricks J, so that
the said perforated bricks constitute tuyeres for the blast; M is the nozzle or pipe
through which the blast is introduced to the air chamber K; N, O, are plates form-
ing respectively the top of the air chamber and the support of the bricks, and having
between an air space P; Q, Q, Q, represent lugs or offsets formed on the lower ends
of the bricks J, and projecting through openings prepared for thein in the plates N, O,
so that said lugs or offsets will reach the air chamber K. They are held by
suitable clamps R, or screws, dovetails, or other fastenings of any preferred form,
washers S being applied around the lugs or offsets to make air-tight connections
with the plate N forming the top of the air chamber K. The tuyere openings L
extend down through the lugs or offsets Q as shown.
The tuyere box, blast nozzle, and other accessories which are shown to illustrate
the practical operation of the improvements may be varied in construction and
arrangement without departing from the essential features of the Invention.

page_text: .
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and the mode in which
the same is carried into effect, I would have it understood that what I claim is,-
First. The combination of the perforating rods F with the open frame. H and
former B, C, constructed and operating as described.
Secondly. The combination of the former C, perforating rods and check plate D, as
set forth.
Thirdly. The combination of the cylinder A, plunger G, former C, and removeable
check plate or stopper D, as set forth.
Fourthly. The perforated bricks J, L, constructed with holding lugs Q, and
secured to the tuyere box in the manner set forth.
:
Fifthly. The bricks J in combination with the tuyere box, and with suitable
fastenings R and washers S, as set forth.
Sixthly. The bottom for Bessemer converters consisting of a series of bricks
formed as described with longitudinal tuyere openings for the passage of air and
downwardly projecting lugs or offsets for securing them in position over the tuyere
box or air chamber, substantially as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Benjamin Joseph Barnard Mills, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Ninth day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
B. J. B. MILLS. (L.S.)