Improved Means for Clearing Regenerative Hot Blast Stoves of Dust.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Oct., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 30th May, 1889-Accepted, 13th July, 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means for Clearing Regenerative Hot Blast Stoves
of Dust.
We, CHARLES COCHRANE, of Green Royde, Pedmore, Stourbridge, Worcestershire,
Consulting Engineer, and JOSEPH ENGLISH of No. 11 James Street, North Ormesby,
Yorkshire, Foreman Bricklayer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
Regenerative hot blast stoves that are heated by the blast furnace gases are subject
to the accumulation of considerable quantities of dust in the "filling" which require
to be cleared out from time to time.
For this purpose it has been the practice hitherto either to allow the stove to cool down
to such an extent as to allow of access being had thereto with brushes, scrapers, or other
tools, or a gun has been fired off in the bottom space of the stove in order to dis-
lodge the dust by the concussion, while the stove remains heated. In the first
named case the great disadvantage arises that the stove requires to remain out of
action for about twelve days for carrying out the several operations of cooling down,
cleaning, and heating up again; while in the last named case, the explosion of the
gun is only partially operative, as the concussion is not sufficiently imparted to the
upper part of the "filling" to produce an effective dislodgement of the dust at that
part where the greater part of the deposit takes place.
According to our present invention we produce an effectual dislodgement of the
dust by the concussion process by employing in place of a comparatively large
quantity of explosive at the bottom of the stove, a series of small charges of explosive
that are introduced into the separate vertical passages of the "filling" from their
lower end, and are raised up therein until they arrive at a point where they become
fired by the heat of the stove.
Thus the concussion of the explosion is made to take place directly at the point
where the dislodgement of the dust is required, and consequently a most effective
dislodgement results.
For carrying out this operation we employ by preference a small tube or barrel
secured vertically on the end of a jointed rod, and containing a sinall charge of
powder, which tube is pushed up one of the channels of the stove, the joints of the
rod being unfolded as it is pushed up, until the lower end of the rod or one of its
joints can rest upon the bottom of the stove, thus supporting the barrel at the required
height in the channel.
The appliance is theu left in that position until the heat of the stove has penetrated
through the barrel sufficiently to fire the charge, after which the rod with the barrel
is withdrawn, and another one is then introduced into another passage, and so on until
all the passages are cleared in succession.
By this means a stove can be effectually cleared of dust in a comparatively short
space of time.
Dated this 30th day of October 1888.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicants.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means for Clearing Regenerative Hot Blast Stoves
of Dust.
We, CHARLES COCHRANE, of Green Royde, Pedmore, Stourbridge, Worcestershire,
Consulting Engineer, and JOSEPH ENGLISH of No. 11 James Street, North Ormesby,
Yorkshire, Foreman Bricklayer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:-
Regenerative hot blast stoves that are heated by the blast furnace gases are subject
to the accumulation of considerable quantities of dust in the regenerative filling
which require to be cleared out from time to time. For this purpose according to
one method hitherto employed it has been the practice to allow the stove to cool
down to such an extent as to allow of access being had thereto with brushes,
scrapers, or other tools, or, according to another method a gun has been fired off
in the bottom space of the stove in order to dislodge the dust by the concussion,
while the stove remains heated.
In the first named case the great disadvantage arises that the stove requires to
remain out of action for many days for carrying out the several operations of cooling
down, cleaning and heating up again, while in the second named case the explosion of
the gun is only partially operative, as the concussion is not sufficiently imparted to
the upper part of the filling to produce an effective dislodgement of the dust at
that part where the greater part of the deposit takes place. Other methods employed
are also only partially effective in dislodging the dust.
According to our present invention we produce a much more effectual dislodgement
of the dust by the concussion process by employing in place of a comparatively
large quantity of explosive at the bottom of the stove, a series of small charges
of explosive that are introduced into the separate passages of the "filling" from their
lower end, and are raised up therein until they arrive at the requisite point, where
they are fired by the heat of the stove, or by other means, mechanical or otherwise.
Thus the concussion of the explosion is made to take place directly at the point where
the dislodgement of the dust is required, and consequently a most effective dislodge-
ment results.
For carrying out this operation we employ by preference a small tube or barrel
secured on the end of a jointed rod, and containing a small charge of explosive which
tube is pushed up one of the passages of the stove, the joints of the rod being unfolded
as it is pushed up until the lower end of the rod, or one of its joints, can rest upon
the bottom of the stove, thus supporting the barrel at the required height in the
passage.
The appliance is then left in that position until the heat of the stove has penetrated
through the barrel sufficiently to fire the charge, or the charge may be fired by means
of a fuze, or by an electric spark or other means, after which the rod with the barrel
is withdrawn, and another one is then introduced into another passage and so on, until
all the passages are cleared in succession, or more than one gun may be inserted into
as many passages simultaneously, and thus accelerate the operation of dislodgement.
By this means a stove can be effectually cleared of dust in a comparatively short
space of time.
Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings shews a part vertical section of a regenerative
bot-blast stove with our improved means for clearing it of dust applied thereto.
A is a tube or barrel containing a charge of explosive material and fitted in a
socket B on the upper end of a jointed rod C, as shewn more clearly in the enlarged
section at Fig: 2.
The charged barrel is raised up to the required height in the stove by gradually un-
folding the joints of the rod C and putting them up the vortical passages of the
filling until the rod is supported with its lower end or one of its joints upon the
hottom of the stove. After a short time the heat at the upper part of the stove will
"
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page_text: have penetrated the barrel sufficiently to fire the charge, or the charge may be fired by
a fuze, electric spark, or other means, after which the rod and barrel are withdrawn
and cooled and a fresh charge is introduced into another passage. The rod C may also
be provided with screw joints so as to render the height to which the charge can be
raised variable.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be. performed we declare that what we
claim is -
1. Effecting the dislodgement of dust from the regenerative "filling" of hot blast
stoves, by raising a tube or barrel charged with explosive material to any required
height in the vertical passages of the regenerator, and exploding the charge either
by the heat existing in the passages or by other means, substantially as herein
described.
2. The use for effecting the dislodgement of dust as set forth in the preceding claim
of a barrel A carried by a jointed rod (adapted to be pushed up the passages of the
stove filling so as to support the barrel in the required raised position, substantially as
herein described.
Dated this 30th day of May 1889
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicants.