IMPROVEMENTS IN. HEATING AND IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREFOR.
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields,
in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN. HEATING AND IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREFOR.'
"
-
A communication from abroad by La Société Metallurgique pour
l'Exploitation des Procédés Ponsard, of Paris, in the Republic of
France.
Sealed the 6th August 1872, and dated the 5th April 1872.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 5th April 1872.
I, JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County
of Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN HEATING AND IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED
THEREFOR," a communication to me from abroad by La Société Metal-
lurgique pour l'Exploitation des Procédés Ponsard, of Paris, in the
Republic of France, to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to a mode of and means for obtaining a highly
elevated temperature, and is more particularly applicable to metallurgical

page_text: processes, although it may also be advantageously applied to other
processes where intense heat is required.
The present improvements consist of a peculiar construction of gas
generator, and in supplying the same with air or any other suitable gas
previously heated to an elevated temperature, whether such hot air or
gas be forced into the generator by blowers, steam jets, or other air
forcing appliances, or otherwise supplied thereto.
In carrying out the Invention the improved gas generator is employed
in conjunction with a heat regenerator, which latter is divided into two
separate portions as regards the air space, by a solid wall, or by solid
bricks built into the air spaces, in order that one portion of the air or gas
which is heated thereby may be directed by a special conduit to the im-
proved gas generator, whilst the other may pass by its own proper flue to
the furnace to assist combustion.
The improved gas generator consists of a rectangular chamber, the
lower part of which is contracted in order that the refuse fuel may be
more readily withdrawn. The generator is charged with fuel through
hoppers fitted with valves or flaps, and the height of the fuel in the
generator is limited by an arch built across the chamber just in front of
the lower end of the incline down which the fuel descends into the main
part of the generator. A special conduit, constructed along one side of
the generator and entering the same by a lateral opening in the front or
entrance mouth, conveys the hot air or gas from the heater or regenera-
tor into the midst of the fuel in the gas generator. The ash-pit is fitted
with a sliding door, and holes are made in the front thereof for the
passage of a poker when required. Other openings in the top and sides
of the gas generator also facilitate the breaking up or stirring of the fuel
therein. Valves or dampers are fitted to both the air inlets of the heat
regenerator in order to regulate independently the quantity of air sup-
plied to the gas generator and to the furnace.
The supplying of hot air to the gas generator enables any kind of fuel
to be burned therein, particularly anthracites, lignites, and peat, whilst
at the same time a more intense heat is obtained along with a highly
reducing flame (without the addition of air when required) whereby
the reduction of all kinds of ores and metals can be readily accom-
plished.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 3rd October 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of
Middlesex, Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of April, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the 35th
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said John Henry Johnson, Her special license
that I, the said John Henry Johnson, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said John Henry Johnson, my executors,
administrators, or 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN HEATING
AND IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREFOR," a communication to me from
abroad by La Société Metallurgique pour l'Exploitation des Procèdès
Ponsard, of Paris, in the Republic of France, upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said John Henry Johnson, my executors
or administrators, 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 John Henry Johnson, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to
say:
The said Invention relates to a new gas generating apparatus intended
to convert solid fuel into carburetted and reducing gases of a very

page_text: elevated temperature. This result is obtained by previously heating the
air required for the gas generator by means of a heat regenerator, which
is heated by the flames leaving the furnace to which the gas generator is
applied.
In the apparatus constructed in accordance with this Invention the
air is introduced by the ascending force which it acquires in becoming
heated, but it may also be injected by a fan or blowing machine, or by a
steam jet, which has the effect moreover of augmenting the calorific and
reducing power of the gases produced. A small stream of water may
also be introduced into the regenerator by means of an iron tube, such
water escaping in the condition of steam into the regenerator, where the
steam by being highly superheated acquires considerable tension, which
produces a powerful blast on the fuel.
The combustible gases of an elevated temperature obtained by means
of this apparatus may be employed in the following manner, videlicet :-
1st. Simply burnt by hot air arriving from a heat regenerator in order
to obtain very elevated temperatures.
2ndly. Employed as hot non-oxidizing gases for certain metallurgical
operations, such for example as the distillation of volatile metals.
3rdly. Utilized as reducing agents for the treatment of ores in general,
and principally of iron ores.
The apparatus may be constructed in various ways in accordance with
this Invention, and in order that the said Invention may be better
understood I have shewn two examples on the annexed Sheets of Draw-
ings, which I shall now proceed to describe, reference being had to the
letters and figures marked thereon.
Sheet 1 shews the utilizing of these gases for the simple heating of a
reheating furnace.
Sheet 2 shews the application of the gases to the reduction of iron orcs
on the hearth, with a view to the direct production of cast iron, wrought
iron, and steel.
Figure 1 (Sheet 1) is a longitudinal vertical section taken along the
line A, B, Figure 2 of the gas generator of an elevated temperature on
this system applied to a reheating furnace; Figure 2 is a horizontal
section of the same taken along the line C, D, (Figure 1); and Figures

page_text: 3, 4, and 5, are transverse vertical sections taken respectively along the
lines E, F, G, H, and J, J (Figure 1).
The gas generator is composed of a rectangular chamber a, the lower
part 6 of which is contracted considerably in order that the residuum of
the fuel and the slag may be readily withdrawn.
The charging of the fuel is effected through the hopper c which is
provided with a valve, and the part d of the roof serves to limit its height
in the chamber a. The hot air is conducted from the heat regenerator i
to the front of the gas generator by the flue e, and enters the fuel
through the aperture f, which occupies nearly the whole width of the
chamber a. The ash-pit g may be closed by sliding doors h, composed
of sheet metal, which are raised by means of counterweights, or in lieu
thereof it may remain open if the internal pressure is insufficient to
cause the gas to flow back through this part of the apparatus, which is
to be carefully luted with ashes, sand, or earth. Above the vault of the
ash-pit apertures j are formed, which with the apertures / formed on the
side faces of the gas generator, and the spy-holes formed in the roof of
the furnace, serve for the introduction of stirrers to facilitate and regu-
late the combustion of the coal and cause the ashes or the melted scoria
to run down into the lower part of the apparatus.
The regenerator i is divided into two parts; the one serves for the
heating of the air required for the formation of the gas, and the other
for the heating of the air required for the combustion of the gases, and
which is introduced into the furnace through the flue m. These two
portions of the apparatus may be separated by a solid wall, but the
passages for the air which traverses the apparatus may also be divided by
solid bricks, as shewn in the Drawing, leaving the smoke passages in
communication. Independent valves are provided which are placed in
front of each group of orifices for the inlet of air into the regenerator,
and admit of the regulating of the quantity of air to be introduced both
into the gas generator and into the furnace in order to produce therein
the combustion of the gases.
On the annexed Drawing an iron tube n is shewn, for increasing the
draft in the apparatus, such tube serving to introduce into the lower part
of the regenerator, corresponding to the feeding of the gas generator, a
streamlet of water, which by being evaporated produces a sufficient

page_text: quantity of steam to increase the propulsion of the hot air, as also the
calorific and reducing power of the gases produced.
Figure 1 (Sheet 2) is a longitudinal section taken along the line A, B,
(Figure 3) of a modification of the improved gas generator on this
system, shewn applied to a puddling furnace; Figure 2 is a transverse
vertical section taken along the line C, D (Figure 1), of the improved
gas generator, of an elevated temperature; and Figure 3 is a horizontal
section of the furnace, taken along the line L, M (Figure 1).
It is composed of a vertical rectangular sunk chamber A, into which
the fuel is charged by means of two boxes B of the ordinary description,
provided with valves, the lower part of such fuel chamber being provided
with apertures on its two faces, to which access may be obtained by
means of two pits formed on each side of the apparatus, by which the
burnt products, ashes, scoria, and the like, are withdrawn. The lower
part of the chamber is for this purpose caused to terminate in two
inclined planes C (Figure 2), which are carried down to within a certain
distance of the ground, so that stirrers may be readily introduced into
the spaces thus formed to release the ashes or scoria which accumulate in
the lower part of the gas generator.
The heat regenerator D is divided into two parts, one of which is
specially intended to feed the gas generator, and the other the furnace
to which it is applied. In order to overcome the resistance which the
coal offers to the passage of the air, two tubes E admit of a streamlet of
water being conducted into the lower part of the regenerator, corre-
sponding to the feeding of the gas generator, such water by being
evaporated producing a sufficient quantity of steam to augment the
propulsion of hot air into the gas generator and at the same time the
heating and reducing power of the gases produced, also special valves F
admit of the regulating of the quantity of cold air introduced into the
two compartments of the heat regenerator D for supplying the gas
generator and furnace respectively.
into
The hot air enters the chamber A by the side flue G, which
opens
one of its longitudinal faces; the combustible gases produced leave the
gas generator by a similar flue H, parallel thereto and situate on the
opposite face of the apparatus, but a trifle higher than the other; the gas
generator is thus traversed throughout its entire width by the air, which
on contact with the coal is converted into carbonic oxide. The reducing

page_text: gases then enter the flue I, which is divided by vertical partitions,
and directs thèm vertically into the furnace to which the apparatus is
applied.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the
said Invention and the manner in which the same is or may be used or
carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider
to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured
to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,—
First. The peculiar construction and arrangement of gas generator, for
the production of carburetted or other gases at an elevated temperature,
as herein-before described.
Second. The feeding of the said gas generator with air or other gas
heated to an elevated temperature and blown therein or not, substantially
as and for the purpose herein-before described.
Third. The application and use of the said apparatus cither in metal-
lurgical processes, as herein-before described, or in any other branch of
manufactures in which it may be advantageously employed.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have to this
my Specification set my hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of Sep-
tember One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two.
J. HENRY JOHNSON. (L.S.)