IMPROVEMENTS IN BLAST FURNACES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Shepherd Williamson, of Cougleton, in the County
of Chester, Iron Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BLAST
FURNACES."
Sealed the 13th November 1877, and dated the 17th May 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Shepherd Williamson
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th May 1877.
WILLIAM SHEPHERD WILLIAMSON, of Congleton, in the County of Chester, Iron
Manufacturer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN BLAST FURNACES."
My Invention relates to the blast furnaces employed in the smelting of iron ore.
In some cases such furnaces are formed with "close tops" in order that the gases
evolved may be collected, and be employed as or in lieu of fuel, as is well under-
stood, and it is to this class of furnace that my Invention relates.
In such furnaces as ordinarily constructed the furnace has been closed by means
of a conical valve or bell, which has been drawn upwards into a circular orifice
formed in a conically shaped metal top which has been fixed on the furnace.
The said valve and fixed top have together formed an annular trough, into which
the charge has been tipped, and has been delivered into the furnace by lowering the
said valve.
The said conical valve as ordinarily arranged, has had the effect of deflecting the
charge towards the wall of the furnace, and this I have found to interfere with the
regularity of working of the furnace.
To remedy this defect was the object of a previous Invention for which Her
Majesty's Royal Letters Patent, bearing date the Fourteenth day of November, in
the year One thousand eight hundered and seventy-six, No. 2039, have been granted
to me, and is also the object of my present Invention.
I employ two conically shaped tops arranged one above the other at a distance
apart. The upper top is or may be sustained by or secured to a metal ring, which
rests upon or is secured to the flanch of the lower top. The space between the two
tops constitutes a passage for the flow of gases into the exit flue.

page_text: The conical valve is fitted to the central opening in the upper top, and is arranged
to be lowered into the space between the two tops when the charge is to be admitted
into the furnace.
The charge when entering the furnace falls principally upon the sloping surface
of the lower top, which deflects the falling charge towards the centre, and effects a
better distribution of the charge, and thereby renders the working of the furnace
more similar to the working of an open top furnace.
I prefer to make the central openings in the two tops larger in proportion to the
interior diameter of the furnace than is usual in the cases of ordinary close top
furnaces.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Shepherd Williamson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
17th November 1877.
WILLIAM SHEPHERD WILLIAMSON, of Congleton, in the County of Chester, Iron
Manufacturer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN BLAST FURNACES."
My Invention relates to the blast furnaces employed in the smelting of iron ore.
In some cases such furnaces are formed with "close tops," in order that the
gases evolved may be collected, and be employed as or in lieu of fuel as is well
understood and it is to this class of furnace that my Invention relates.
In such furnaces as ordinarily constructed, the furnace has been closed by means
of a conical valve or bell, which has been drawn upwards into a circular orifice
formed in a conically shaped metal top which has been fixed on the furnace.
Tho said valve and fixed top have together formed an annular trough, into
which the charge has been tipped, and has been delivered into the furnace by
lowering the said valve.
The said conical valve as ordinarily arranged has had the effect of deflecting the
charge towards the wall of the furnace, and this I have found to interfere with the
regularity of working of the furnace.
To remedy this defect was the object of a previous Invention, for, which Her
Majesty's Royal Letters Patent, bearing date the Fourteenth day of November, in
the year One thousand eight hundred and seventy-six, have been granted to me,
and is also the object of my present Invention. I employ two conically shaped
tops arranged one above the other at a distance apart. The upper top is or may
,be sustained by or secured to a metal ring, which rests upon or is secured to the
Hanch of the lower top. The space between the two tops constitutes a passage for
-the flow of gases into the exit flue.
The conical valve is fitted to the central opening in the upper top, and is arranged
to be lowered into the space between the two tops when the charge is to be admitted
into the furnace.
And in order that my present Invention may be better understood I have
appended hereunto a Drawing, to which I will now refer.
The said Drawing represents a vertical section of the upper part of a blast
furnace constructed in accordance with my Invention, parts not necessary to a
sufficient illustration not being represented.

page_text: In the said Drawing a is a lower vertical top, which is similar in form to the
ordinary top of a close top furnace.
In ordinary tops it is usual to contract the central opening b as compared with
the internal diameter of the upper part of the furnace, but I prefer to make this
opening larger than usual, that is to say, I prefer to make it as large, or nearly as
large as the said internal diameter. Upon the flanch of the top a cylindrical
shell c is fixed or mounted, and is surrounded or enclosed in or by the masonry or
brickwork of the upper part of the furnace. The part c sustains or partly
sustains an upper top e, which corresponds to the ordinary top of a close top
furnace, with the exception that I prefer to make the central opening larger than
usual, as aforesaid. In the centre of this arrangement is suspended the bell f, which
is connected by means of a link g with the lever or appliance for raising and
lowering the said bell.
Any suitable or ordinary means for raising and lowering the said bell may bo
employed, as such means form no part of my Invention.
The space between what I may call the two tops a and e, forms an annular spaco
or passage, into which flow the gases from the furnace, and which conveys the said
gases to the exit opening, partly indicated by the dotted lines at h. The said
opening communicates with a suitable pipe or conduit, which conveys away the
gases as in ordinary close top furnaces.
Although I prefer to arrange for the mouth of the gas conduit to lead away from
the said annular space or passage, I do not confine myself to this arrangement, and
if preferred for any reason, the gases may be led away from a lower point.
The charges are placed in the annular trough formed by the top e and the bell fin
the usual manner, and the bell is lowered to admit the charge into the furnace as
is usual.
The charge whon entering the furnace falls principally, and in the first place,
upon the sloping surface of the top part a, which deflects the falling charge towards
the centre of the furnace, and effects a better distribution of the charge, the dis-
position of the charge within the furnace, and as a consequence the general working
of the furnace being rendered more similar to those of an open top furnace.
Having now fully set forth and indicated the nature of my said Invention, and
the manner in which I carry the same into practical effect, I would have it to be
understood in conclusion that I claim,-
First. The blast furnace fitted and arranged so far as the upper part is concerned,
substantially as and for the purposes set forth and indicated herein-before, and in
and by the accompanying Drawings.
Secondly. The application to the upper part of a blast furnace of the two
conically formed "
tops," substantially as and for the purposes set forth and
indicated.
And, lastly. Leading away the gases from the annular space between two
conically formed tops, substantially as set forth and indicated.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Shepherd Williamson, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Fifteenth day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
WILLIAM SHEPHERD WILLIAMSON. (L.S.)
Signed and sealed by the said
William Shepherd Williamson
in the presence of
EDWARD K. DUTTON,
3, Princess Street,
Manchester.