IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR INDICATING OR SIGNALLING THE HEIGHT OF MATERIALS IN FURNACES CUPOLAS, OR KILNS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Roberts, of Tipton Green Furnaces, Tipton, in the
County of Stafford, Ironmaster, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR INDICATING OR SIGNALLING THE HEIGHT OF MATERIALS IN
FURNACES CUPOLAS, OR KILNS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Roberts at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 16th February 1876.
ALFRED ROBERTS, of Tipton Green Furnaces, Tipton, in the County of Stafford,
Ironmaster. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR INDICATING OR SIGNALLING THE
HEIGHT OF MATERIALS IN FURNACES, CUPOLAS, OR KILNS."
My Invention refers to apparatus to be employed in connection with a blast
furnace, cupola, lime, or other kiln for ascertaining and indicating the height of the
materials in such furnace, cupola, or kiln, and thus to secure a regular and uniform
supply of materials to the furnace, cupola, or kiln.
In applying my Invention to a blast furnace, I use a vertical rod or tube having a
flag or indicator, and working in bearings within or upon the outside of the furnace ;
this rod or tube is visible in most cases above the top of the furnace or tunnel head
and is made capable of rising or falling vertically by the following means:-A chain is
attached to the rod or tube and passes over a top pulley, then under a small friction
roller and down part of the length of the run or lift, when it passes around a bottom
pulley and up or upon the run, railroad, or lift, a certain distance, where it is at-
tached to a sliding catch which traverses on one side of the tram on two small rails, so
that as the wagon travels up or upon the run, railroad, or lift it will come in contact
with the catch and cause it to slide up a certain distance, thus acting upon and pull-
ing the chain upwards, which has the effect of raising the rod or tube, causing it to
ascend so far out of the furnace, cupola, or kiln, as to admit of its being charged
without injury to the indicator. Upon the return journey of the wagon down or
along the run, railroad, or lift, the catch and chain will be released and will slide
back into their normal position, effecting the fall and descent of the indicator rod or
tube, the bottom end of which comes in contact with and rests upon the materials
in the furnace, cupola, or kiln, and by the length of indicator rod or tube then
visible is determined the depth of materials in the furnace, cupola, or kiln. To keep
the-chain at tension when the rod or tube is down I provide a spring or a counter-

page_text: balancing weight and chain which is suspended from. the catch. Or by another
arrangement I may place the catch near the bottom of the run or lift and the chain
extending to the top or side of the furnace, cupóla, or kiln, passing over a pair of pulleys
to the free end of the chain, which may have a balance weight suspended therefrom.
By another method I can use a lever with two arms one above and one under
the run, railroad, or lift, so that as the wagon passes over the one lever arm it shall
be depressed, causing the second arm to which the chain is attached to retire and
force the rod or tube in an elevated position, and the return journey of the wagon
will liberate the lever, allowing the indicator rod or tube to fall into position upon
the materials.
In applying my Invention to a furnace, cupola, or kiln where wagons are not
employed I arrange the apparatus so that a loaded barrow being wheeled up to the
mouth of the furnace, cupola, or kiln may operate the catch for raising the indicator
rod or tube, the return journey liberating such catch, or a man's weight in going up
a ladder to attend to the feeding of a furnace, cupola, or kiln may engage the catch
for raising the indicator rod or tube, and upon his return the releasing of such catch
will allow such rod or tube to descend upon the level of the materials.
In cases where the apparatus is placed under the control of a manager it may be
found preferable to employ a windlass at the bottom of the run, railroad, or lift,
which working by hand in connection with the chain will determine the depth
of materials in the furnace, cupola, or kiln.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Alfred Roberts in the Great. Seal Patent Office on the 15th August
1876.
ALFRED ROBERTS, of Tipton Green Furnaces, Tipton, in the County of Stafford,
Ironmaster. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR INDICATING OR SIGNALLING
THE HEIGHT OF MATERIALS IN FURNACES, CUPOLAS, OR KILNS."
My Invention refers to apparatus to be employed in connection with a blast
furnace, cupola, lime, or other kiln for ascertaining and indicating the height of the
materials in such furnace, cupola, or kiln, and thus to secure a regular and uniform
supply of materials to the furnace, cupola, or kiln.
My Invention will be more readily understood by referring to the Drawings
hereunto annexed and to the letters and figures marked thereon. Figure 1 is a
section through a blast furnace with my Invention applied thereto. I use an iron or
other metal vertical rod or tube (a) of suitable length carrying a flag or indicator (a¹)
and working in bearings (b) in an upright position upon the inside or outside of the
tunnel head of the furnace or in bearings secured to a beam, standard, or iron pillar
in cases where a tunnel head is dispensed with or in any other suitable manner.
This rod or tube (a), Figures 1 and 2, is visible in most cases above the top of the
furnace or tunnel head, and is made capable of rising or falling vertically and allowed
to rest on the top of the materials (c) in the furnace by the following means:- A
chain (d) is attached to the rod or tube (a) at the point (e) by a linkor otherwise, and
passes over a top pulley (f), then under a small friction roller or rollers (g), and up
or upon a portion of the run or railroad (h), or lift, or road, or ladder, as the case may be,
when it passes around a bottom pulley (i) and up or upon the run or railroad (h), or
lift, a certain distance, where it is attached to a sliding catch (k), which traverses on
one side of the tram in a groove (1) or on runners or rails formed in a fixed carriage
(m) secured on one side of the tram, shewn more clearly in enlarged side elevation
and plan Figures 3 and 4 on the other side of the sliding catch (k); the chain (d) may
be prolonged over the pulley (n), and is fastened to the main chain underneath the
carriage (m³), or in any other desirable manner so as to balance the weight of the
sliding catch () and loose chain attached thereto; as the wagon travels up or upon
4

page_text: the run or railroad (h) or lift, a fixed projection (o) upon the under side of the
wagon or elevator will come in contact with the sliding catch (k), causing it to slide
up a certain distance on its carriage (m), thus acting upon and pulling the chain (d)
upwards, which has the effect of raising the rod or tube (a), as shewn in the part
section, Figure 2, causing. it to ascend so far out of the furnace, cupola, or kiln, so as
to admit of the furnace being charged without injury to the indicator rod or tube
(a); upon the return journey of the wagon or elevator down or along the run or
railroad () or lift, the sliding catch () and chain (d) will be released and will slide
back into their normal position, effecting the fall and descent of the indicator rod or
tube (a), the bottom end of which comes in contact with and rests upon the
materials in the furnace, cupola, or kiln, and by the length of indicator rod or tube
(a) then visible is determined the depth of materials in the furnace, cupola, or kiln.
To keep the chain at tension when the rod or tube (a) is down, I sometimes provide
a spring or a counterbalancing weight and chain which is suspended from the
sliding catch (). Or by another arrangement I may place the catch near the
bottom of the run, road, or lift, and the wagon descending will force the catch back,
thus raising the indicator rod or tube out of the furnace.
By another method as shewn in Figure 5 I can use a lever with two arms (p, p',)
one above and one under the run, railroad, or lift, so that as the wagon passes over
the one lever arm (2) it will be depressed, causing the second arm (p) to which the
chain is attached to retire and force the rod or tube into an elevated position, and
the return journey of the wagon will liberate the lever (2), allowing the indicator
rod or tube to fall into position upon the materials.
In applying my Invention to a furnace, cupola, or kiln, where wagons are not
employed, I arrange the apparatus so that a loaded barrow being wheeled up to the
mouth of the furnace, cupola, or kiln may operate the catch for raising the indicator
rod or tube, the return journey liberating such catch, or a man's weight in going
up a ladder to attend to the feeding of a furnace, cupola, or kiln may engage the
catch for raising the indicator rod or tube, and upon his return the releasing of
such catch will allow such rod or tube to descend upon the level of the materials,
and in cases where the materials are hauled up vertically instead of up a run or rail-
road my Invention may be similarly applied.
Figure 7 is a section of a furnace shewing my improved apparatus placed under
the control of a manager, as it may sometimes be found preferable to employ a
windlass (r) at the bottom of the run, railroad, or lift, which working by hand in
connection with the chain (s) will determine the depth of materials in the furnace,
cupola, or kiln, by the employment of a pair or more pulleys (t), revolving in
opposite directions by reason of the chain passing over one and down to meet a
tube or rod (v) and then up and over the second pulley, when it is attached to the
indicator rod or tube (w). Figure 6 shews the position of both tubes or rods when
loading the furnace; the unwinding of the chain will allow the rod or tube (v) to
descend upon the materials, the indicator rod or tube (w) being the requisite
distance out of the furnace bead to determine the depth of the materials.
Having thus described the object and nature of my said Invention, and the
manner in which the same is to be carried into effect, I claim without limiting
myself to these precise details the several improvements in apparatus for indicating
or signalling the height of the materials in furnaces, cupolas, or kilns, by the employ-
ment of an indicator rod or tube and signal, with its attendant parts, or any
mere equivalents therefor, substantially in manner as herein more fully set forth
and specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alfred Roberts, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Eleventh day of August, in the year of our Lord One.
ALF. ROBERTS. (L.S.)