IMPROVEMENTS IN CUPOLAS AND BLAST FURNACES
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Bedson; of Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN CUPOLAS AND BLAST
FURNACES."
Sealed the 8th December 1863, and dated the 12th June 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Bedson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 12th
June 1863.
I, GEORGE BEDSON, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster,. Manager
of Iron Works, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN CUPOLAS AND BLAST FURNACE," to be as follows:-
My Invention consists, firstly in making those parts of cupolas and blast
furnaces which are usually called the "boshings" or "hearths" of wrought-
iron chambers, and in supplying a stream of water to such chambers. The
inlet I place near the lower end and the outlet at the upper, causing it to
extend upward, so that there is always a head of water. I propose setting
the inside plates of the water chambers at an angle and fixing thereon a
series of shelves, for the purpose of carrying sand, clay, or other such material.
The above part of my Invention has reference, as above stated, to the

page_text: boshings" or "hearths," such parts being those which are exposed to the
most intense heat, but I also propose to apply the same description of water.
chamber to the other parts of cupolas or blast furnaces.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said George Bedson in the Great Seal Patent Office. on the 12th
December 1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
BEDSON, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Manager, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twelfth day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-sixth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said George Bedson, Her special license that I, the said George
Bedson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Geerge Bedson, 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 Ire-
land, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN CUPOLAS AND BLAST FURNACES," upon the condition, amongst others,
that I, the said George Bedson, 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 George Bedson, do hereby declare
the nature of my 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 and accompanying Drawings (that is to say) :-
"My Invention consists, finally, in making those parts of cupolas and blast
furnaces which are usually called the "boshings" or "hearths" of wrought-
iron chambers, and in supplying a stream of water to such chambers; and,
secondly, I apply the same description of water chamber in other parts of
cupolas or blast furnaces.

page_text: In the accompanying Drawing, Fig. 1 represents the lower part of a cupola
in section. At a is a water chamber, entirely surrounding the "boshings" or
hearth." This chamber is constantly supplied with water by means of a
pipe 6, provided with a stop-cock, by which the stream may be regulated at
pleasure. The water passes through the chamber a and makes its exit at c,
extending upward so as always to keep a head of water, and thus the bossings
or hearth are continually kept from being over heated, the stop-tap on the
pipe 6 affording the means of regulating the temperature thereof. The water
chamber a is shewn as embedded in masonry, and as provided on its inward
surface with shelves e, set at an angle and filled with clay or other such
material used for protecting surfaces of iron from great heat. This clay
or other such material fuses when the cupola is used, and runs into a solid
mass. This method of coating, however, is not absolutely necessary, for the
water chamber may be lined with ordinary fire-brick if desired. At d is one
of the twyer holes, apertures being made through the chamber a for the
required number.
Fig. 2 represents the lower part of a blast furnace in section. At a is a
water chamber similar to that above described, fed with a stream of water
at b, which flows out at c. The twyer holes are at *, there being, as before,
apertures formed through the water chamber to admit them. Above the
chamber a is another distinct water chamber d, fed by a pipe e, and provided
with an 'outlet pipe at f. These chambers are represented as set in masonry
both on the inward and outward surfaces, but may be used without masonry
on the outside. The above examples shew the application of my Invention
to the lower parts only of cupolas and blast furnaces, but the whole length or
other portion thereof may be constructed after the same manner.
any.
Fig. 3 represents a cupola in section, with a water chamber a extending
from the hearth to the top, the supply pipe being at 6 and the exit pipe at c.
At d an aperture is formed through the water chamber, constituting the usual
feed hole.
Fig. 4 represents a blast furnace in section, provided with a water chamber
a, extending throughout the length of the furnace, the supply pipe being at b
and the exit pipe at c. In the two last described figures the water chamber
is shewn as constructed in one part only, but it may be in two or more
portions, each one provided with a separate flow and exit pipe.
In applying my improvements above described an economy may be eff.cted
by using the water chambers for the purpose of obtaining steam.
Having thus described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention,

page_text: and the manner of carrying the same into effect, I desire it to be understood
that I claim, as secured to me under the above in part recited Letters Patent,
the application of water chambers to the "boshings" or "hearths," or other
portions of cupolas or blast furnaces which are exposed to heat.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Bedson, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eleventh day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.
GEORGE BEDSON. (L.S.)