IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS FURNACES FOR MELTING GLASS." SP by the said Antoine.
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to (Antoine Eugène) Assézat de Bouteyre, of the Firm
Compagnie Générale des Verreries Nouvelles, of Boulevard Saint Denis, 1, at
Paris, Manager, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS FURNACES FOR
MELTING GLASS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Antoine. Eugène Assézat
de Bouteyre at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th March
1880.
(ANTOINE EUGÈNE) ASSÉZAT DE BOUTEYRE, of the Firm Compagnie Générale des
Verreries Nouvelles, of Boulevard, Saint Denis, 1, at Paris, Manager. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN GAS FURNACES FOR MELTING GLASS."
The more and more general application of combustible gases to all industrial
operations, which have for their basis the economical production of heat, has
produced roughly many systems for arrangements of glass making furnaces, each
remarkable for an ingenious idea, but at the same time leaving to be desired on
various points what are on the contrary intelligibly discussed by some competitors.
The daily observance which we have made for many years on these different
types of gas furnaces has brought us to this subject with a certain eclecticism, from
which is evolved by degrees a new form which in practise embodies all the par-
ticular advantages of the different systems we have experimented upon, entirely
rejecting the defective arrangements which are manifested in the working of these
apparatuses.
We have been brought by observing the action and conduct of the Siemens
furnaces to be specially prepossessed with a gasogene fit for producing the com-
bustible gases with every kind of combustible mineral or other, and free from all
possibility of irregular return of air, except when the explosive mixtures are
threatening to the preservation of the apparatuses and to personal safety. Finally,
the cleansing of the ashpit should be ensured without exposing the workmen by
dangerous movements. On the other hand it appears to us very practical to render
the action of the apparatus independent of the attendance, more or less minute, of
the person in charge, which is not the case in the Siemens furnace, owing to the

page_text: intermittent working of the valves which regulate the admission of the air and the
gases into the recuperators of heat.
In the Ponsard furnace the particular arrangement of the recuperator permit the
circulation of these gases without the intervention of any unnecessary working, but
this apparatus being inseparable from the gasogene cannot fulfil the object we have
in view, and by which we ensure a constant and regular action. We have discovered
in fact that it is indispensable that the apparatus for producing the combustible
gases should be independent of the melting furnaces to which they should be
adapted absolutely, as in a range of boilers in which the production of the steam
is independent of the different motors which it has to operate.
We therefore arrange our gasogenes in ranges outside the manufactory, their
number being variable according to the quantity of glass to be melted and to the
number of melting furnaces.
These gasogenes also furnish the necessary heat for annealing the manufactured
articles, and are not made with free grates, but fed with air by a special ventilator
which regulates the pressure of air and gases through the entire apparatus to 3
centimeters of the mercurial column.
Each gasogene is formed of a closed chamber divided into two compartments by
a vertical partition which leaves under the general roof an open space of 0.40 metres
in height; the anterior compartment forms, properly speaking, the gasogene, whilst
the second compartment serves as a gasometer.
At a third of the height of the anterior chamber is arranged an inclined metal
plate resting at one part on the separating partition at about 1.50 metres from the
ground, and at the other part on the floor of the gasogene, which it joins by a series
of inclined steps or benches rising one above the other, under the renaults of which
are a series of vertical side holes of 15 millemetres in breadth to 100 in height.
This arrangement has for its object to shelter the vertical side holes from the
inroads of the scoriae, and so preserve them from all obstruction.
Below this plate is arranged a small air chamber into which the vertical side
holes open, and which is in communication with the pipe of a ventilator, as, for
instance, that of a steam generator. This generator is placed in connection with
the melting furnace, the waste heat from which it utilizes, it being sufficient for
the action of the ventilator and for the production of the steam necessary for the
gasogene.
When the apparatus is in operation the gasogene is kept in activity by the
mixture of air and steam formed in the small air chamber before named, by which
means the combustion is produced at the bottom of the gasogene, and the gases
formed rise to an orifice left in the internal partition of the apparatus, and passing
through it are diffused into the second compartment which serves as a gasometer.
From the latter proceed the delivery pipes for conveying the combustible gases into
the melting furnace.
The chamber of the gasogene is closed at the top, where it is furnished with a
charging hopper by which the coal or other combustible is introduced. At the
bottom of the anterior compartment of the gasogene is a door for cleaning purposes.
The melting furnace is composed of a melting chamber of rectangular form, into
which at one part open the charging doors for introducing the raw materials, and
at another part are flues communicating with the chamber in which is effected the
combustible mixing of the gases produced in the gasogene, and the heated air
furnished by the recuperative system, Ponsard, this heated air arriving at the chamber
through a number of flues.
The mixture of air and gases so formed in the chamber is kindled, and the flame
at a high temperature passing by suitable flues into the melting chamber of the
furnace causes the vitrifiable materials to melt, and afterwards escape through
another flue in the opposite wall of the chamber, and through a circulating flue
into the recuperator where it heats the compressed air arriving by pipes; the surplus
heat of the flame is conveyed by another pipe to the ventilator and afterwards to
the annealing furnace, whence it finally escapes by a chimney.

page_text: Directly the glass is melted it flows over a short dam arranged parallel to the
axis of the furnace at the side of the melting chamber.
This dam forms a gathering reservoir of a semicircular shape, from which open
working holes of any desired number through which the melted matter is drawn
by the workman for being worked up.
The reservoir borrows from the melting chamber the necessary caloric for
maintaining the glass in a melted state. A platform is formed all round the
apparatus at a convenient height, giving access to the working holes and charging
hoppers, and communication is made between the platform and recuperator by
means of stairs.
The apparatus above described acts, as seen, with continuous combustion, and is
capable of producing 1500 bottles per working hole per day. The expense of its
introduction also is not higher than with other systems, and the considerable
production of which it is capable, not being hindered by the destruction of its parts
from personal negligence or usage, fully satisfies the object sought.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Antoine Eugène Assézat de Bouteyre in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 8th September 1880.
(ANTOINE EUGENE) ASSÉZAT DE BOUTEYRE, of the Firm Compagnie des Verreries
Nouvelles, of Boulevard Saint Denis, 1, at Paris, Manager.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
GAS FURNACES FOR MELTING GLASS."
The more and more general application of combustible gases to all industrial
operations, which have for their basis the economical production of heat, has
produced roughly many systems for arrangements of glass making furnaces,
each remarkable for an ingenious idea, but at the same time leaving to be
desired on various points what are on the contrary intelligibly discussed by some
competitors.
The daily observance which we have made for many years on these different
types of gas furnaces has brought us to this subject with a certain eclecticism, from
which is evolved by degrees a new form which in practice embodies all the
particular advantages of the different systems we have experimented upon, entirely
rejecting the defective arrangements which are manifested in their working of
these apparatuses. We have been brought by observing the action and conduct of
the Siemens furnaces to be specially prepossessed with a gasogene fit for producing
the combustible gases with every kind of combustible mineral or other, and free
from all possibility of irregular return of air, except when the explosive mixtures
are threatening to the preservation of the apparatuses and to personal safety.
Finally, the cleansing of the ashpit should be ensured without exposing the work-
men by dangerous movements. On the other hand it appears to us very practical
to render the action of the apparatus independent of the attendance, more or less
minute, of the person in charge, which is not the case in the Siemens furnace owing
to the intermittent working of the valves which regulate the admission of the air
and the gases into the recuperator of heat. In the Ponsard furnace the particular
arrangements of the recuperator permit the circulation of these gases without the
intervention of any unnecessary. working, but this apparatus being inseparable from
the gasogene cannot fulfil the object we have in view, and by which we ensure a
constant and regular action. We have discovered in fact that it is indispensable
that the apparatus for producing the combustible gases should be independent of
the melting furnaces, to which they should be adapted absolutely as in a range of
boilers, in which the production of the steam is independent of the different motors
which it has to operate. We therefore arrange our gasogene in ranges outside the
inanufactury, their number being variable according to the quantity of glass to be
melted, and to the number of melting furnaces. These gasogenes also furnish the
necessary heat for annealing the manufactured articles, and are not made with free
grates, but fed with air by a special ventilator, which regulates the pressure of air
and gases through the entire apparatus to 3 centimeters of the mercurial column.
And in order that my said Invention may be well understood reference is made to
the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, like letters of reference indicating
corresponding parts in all the Figures. Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a
detached gasogene combined with melting furnace for the application of our
principles. Figure is a plan of a range of gasogenes with horizontal section
through the melting furnace. Each gasogene C (see plan, Figure 2) is formed of a
closed chamber a (Fig. 1) divided into two compartments by a vertical partition,
which leaves under the general roof an open space of 0.40 metres in height. The
anterior compartment serves as a gasometer. At a third of the height of the anterior

page_text: chamber a is arranged an inclined metal plate b, resting at one part on the
separating partition at about 1.50 metres from the ground, and at the other part on
the floor of the gasogene, which it joins by a series of inclined steps or benches
rising one above the other, under the resaults of which are a series of vertical side
holes c, c, of 15 millimetres in breadth, to 100 in height. This arrangement has
for its object to shelter the vertical side holes c, c, from the inroads of the scorix,
and so preserve them from all obstruction: Below this plate is arranged a small
air chamber d, into which the vertical side holes c, c, open, and which is in com-
munication with the pipe g of a ventilator, such as with that of a steam generator.
This generator is placed at V in connection with the melting furnace f, the waste
heat from which it utilises, it being sufficient for the action of the ventilator and
for the production of the steam necessary for the gasogene. When the apparatus
is in operation the gasogene is kept in activity by the mixture of air and steam
formed in the small air chamber d, by which means the combustion is produced
at the bottom of the gasogene, and the gases formed rise to an orifice left in the
internal partition of the apparatus, and passing through it are diffused into
the second compartment, which serves as a gasometer. From this latter
proceed the delivery pipes h for conveying the combustible gases into the
melting furnace. The chamber a of the gasogene is closed at the top, where it is
furnished with a charging hopper i by which the coal or other combustible is
introduced. At the bottom of the anterior compartment of the gasogene is a door p
for cleaning purposes. The melting furnace is composed of a melting chamber f
of rectangular form, into which at one part open the charging doors p¹, p¹, for
introducing the raw materials, and at another part are flues communicating with
the chamber in which is effected the combustible mixing of the gases produced
in the gasogene a, and the heated air furnished by the recuperative system, Ponsard,
arranged at R. The combustible gases of the gasogene are brought by the pipes
which open into the chamber j; the heated air of the recuperator arrives in this
chamber by the passage * opening into the chamber ; by a number of flues jº.
The mixture of air and gases so formed in the chamber j is kindled therein, and
the flame at a high temperature passing by flues into the melting chamber of the
furnace causes the vitrifiable materials placed in the body of the furnace to melt,
and afterwards escapes through a passage K¹ in the opposite wall of the chamber
and through the circulating flue K into the recuperator R, where it heats the
compressed air arriving by pipes and the pipe j communicating with the
ventilator; the surplus heat of the flame is then used to heat the generator arranged
at V, and afterwards the annealing furnace, whence it finally escapes by a chimney q.
Directly the glass is melted it flows over short dam / arranged parallel to the axis
of the furnace at the side of the melting chamber. This dam 7 forms a gathering
reservoir G of a semicircular shape from which open working holes o, o, of any
desired number; through these holes the melted matter is drawn by the workman
for being worked up. The reservoir G borrows from the melting chamber the
necessary caloric for maintaining the glass in a melted state. A. platform 8 is
formed all round the apparatus at a convenient height, giving access to the working
holes and charging hoppers, and communication is made between the platform and
recuperator R by means of stairs u. The apparatus above described acts, as seen,
with continuous combustion, and is capable of producing 1500 bottles per working
holo per day. The expense of its introduction also is not higher than other
systems, and the considerable production of which it is capable, not being hindered
by the destruction of its parts from personal negligence or usage, fully satisfies the
object sought.
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 novel and original and therefore
claim as my Invention is,―

page_text: The construction and use of apparatus for melting glass, substantially as herein-
before described and illustrated by the accompanying Drawing.
In witness whereof I, the said Eugène Assezat de Bouteyre, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of August, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty.
A. E. ASSEZAT DE BOUTEYRE. (L.S.)
Witness,
ALBERT CAHEN,
Civil Engineer,
of Boulevard Saint Denis, 1,
at Paris.