Slag and in the Means to be Used therefor.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Jan., 1887
Complete Left, 17th Oct., 1887
Complete Accepted, 18th Nov., 1887
Slag and in the Means to be Used therefor.
We EDWIN WHILE JONES of Avenue House Linthorpe in the County of York
Commission Agent and CARL BRAND of South Bank near Middlesborough in the
same County, Slag Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
-
This invention relates to the manufacture of paving blocks and similar articles from
scoria or slag of blast furnaces and the invention consists in giving to the blocks such
a form that when laid in position they will lock together and give a secure foot hold
and also in the means to be used in producing such blocks.
In manufacturing paving blocks from scoria or slag this material is run from the
furnace into moulds to be formed into blocks and when the outer skin of the blocks is
sufficiently hard to permit of their being handled the blocks are placed in an annealing
kiln or oven to be annealed.
In carrying out this invention we form the blocks of polygonal shape with bevelled
edges and grooves and with or without a central indentation so that when placed in
position they will lock together and have grooves all round so that the paving will
present an irregular surface and thus provide good foot hold for horses. For the
sides of the streets we provide specially formed blocks having three plain sides the
fourth side being shaped according to the form of the blocks being used.
As mentioned above the slag or scoria is run from the furnace into moulds. These
moulds are carried by a turntable, wheel or other suitable arrangement of apparatus
These
whereby the moulds may be consecutively brought under the slag spout."
moulds are arranged round the periphery of the wheel a short distance apart and the
wheel is caused to rotate slowly during the felling operation. As the spaces between
the moulds come opposite the spout a quantity of the slag will pass through and be
lost and means are therefore provided to catch the molten slag and guide or distribute
to the moulds on either side. Hitherto a special form of mould has been used to
prevent this waste but the use of such moulds has entailed considerable expense both
in prime cost and in cost of maintenance.

page_text: To obviate these difficulties and to enable us to use ordinary moulds we employ
angle iron or curved metal guides or distributors which we secure in any
convenient manner to the edge of the turntable or wheel over the spaces between
the moulds.
These angle iron guides cost but little to manufacture and can be easily repaired
if desired by welding on a fresh plate or may be thrown away and replaced by
new ones.
The slag when run into the moulds will cool down so as to form a comparatively
hard skin the inside of the blocks remaining in a liquid state. It is therefore
necessary to anneal them that is to say to raise the temperature of the skin
approximately to that of the inside so that the blocks may cool down uniformly.
Hitherto this has been done either by placing the blocks in a large kiln or oven
previously heated by fuel or in a series of small chambers or ovens placed side by side
and heated by the initial heat of the blocks themselves.
The first arrangement has several disadvantages notably the expense and it also
takes up a large amount of valuable space near the furnace which might be more
profitably used for other purposes. The objection to the second arrangement in
addition to the large amount of space taken up is that there is nothing to keep up the
temperature of the lower layers of blocks and consequently the annealing is not
uniform while the heat rising from the lower layers being retained in the chamber
so increases the temperature in the upper part of the chamber or oven as to
practically remelt the slag forming the blocks of the upper layers, which thus runs
and forms a solid mass.
Now to obviate these disadvantages we employ chambers or ovens arranged in pairs
the two ovens being placed one above the other with an air space between and we
connect them by a suitable flue.
In the bottom of each chamber we spread a layer of breeze, coke or other suitable
fuel which we bring to a state of incandesence in any suitable manner. We then
charge the chambers with the blocks and close them up leaving the blocks therein for
some hours. The incandescent coke serves to keep up the temperature at the bottom
of the chamber while the heat passing upwards finds a ready outlet either into the
chamber above or into the open air if the chamber be too hot.
By these means and by the help of suitable dampers or slides we are enabled to
keep the heat comparatively uniform and we thus obtain better results in the form of
less waste than hitherto. We also double the annealing power on a given space a
desideratum of great moment in the immediate vicinity of a blast furnace.
Dated this Sth day of January 1887.

page_text: Slag and in the Means to be Used therefor.
Wo EDWIN WHILE JONES of Avenue House Linthorpe in the County of York
Commission Agent and CARL BRAND of South Bank near Middlesbourgh in the same
County Slag Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what"
manner the same is to be perforined, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to the manufacture of paving blocks or slabs from scoria or
slag of blast furnaces, and tho object of the invention is (1) to give to the blocks or
slabs such a form that they will, when laid in position, lock together and give a secure
foothold, and (2) to provide means to be used in producing such blocks or slabs in a
more efficient and economical manner than heretofore.
The mode of manufacturing blocks or slabs from scoria or slag is well known, that
is to say, the molten scoria or slag is run from the blast furnace into moulds of
the form required, which are carried by a wheel or turntable, and when the outer
skin of the blocks is sufficiently hard to permit of their being handled, the blocks
are placed in an annealing oven for the purpose of being annealed.
The moulds, which are bolted to the rim of the turntable, must of necessity be
placed a short distance apart, and when ordinary moulds are used, a space is left
through which a portion of the molten slag will pass as the moulds are moved
round by the attendant; thus a loss of material is occasioned.
°
To obviate this disadvantage, the moulds have been specially formed to bridge
over the spaces, but this modification, while preventing the waste of material as
above mentioned, considerably increases the weight of the mould, and also its primo
cost and the cost of maintenance.
The annealing process has hitherto been carried out by placing the blocks in a
large kiln or oven, which has been previously heated, or in a series of small
chambers or ovens placed side by side, that are only heated by the heat radiated
from the blocks, which it is claimed are annealed exclusively by their own initial
heat.
The first arrangement has several disadvantages, notably the large amount of
valuable space required near the furnace for the kiln, which might be more profitably
employed for other purposes, and the expense attendant upon heating such large
kilns. The objection to the second arrangement, in addition to the large amount of
space taken up, if a large number of these ovens are employed, is, that there is
nothing to keep up the temperature of the lower layers of blocks; consequently the
lower layers are improperly annealed, while the heat in the upper part of the
chamber becomes so great as to practically remelt the blocks of the upper layers, and
the slag runs and forms a solid mass, thus causing great waste. It is true that

page_text: provision is made in this latter arrangement for the heat rising from the blocks in
one chamber, passing to the adjacent chamber, in order to preheat it before being
filled with the blocks, but in our view, actual contact with an incandescent mass is
required to obtain proper results.
Our invention is designed to overcome the disadvantages above mentioned, and we
will therefore proceed at once to describe the invention, reference being had to the
accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1, Sheet 1, is a plan view of two blocks of the
form which we prefer, Fig. 2 being a cross section on the line 1, 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3
is a plan view of a portion of paving with blocks of another form,-Fig. 4 being a
cross section taken on the line 3, 4 of Fig. 3.-Fig. 5, Sheet II, is a plan viow of
part of the turntable or wheel, showing how the moulds are carried.
Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the mould on an enlarged scale, with the slag distributor
in position.
Fig. 7 is an end view of a pair of moulds and slag distributor.
Fig. 8, Sheet III, is a back elevation of a series of annealing ovens arranged
according to our invention, and
Fig. 9 is a sectional plan taken on the line 5, 6 of Fig. 8.
The form of block which we prefer is that shown at Figs. 1 and 2. In this form,
the two sides of the block are made wavy or indented, and the face consists of two
circular figures with chamfered or bevelled edges a, and radial V grooves b,
communicating with a sunk or recessed centre c, of polygonal or other form.
The spaces d between the two circles will also be sunk, as will be seen in the
cross section.
In Figs. 3 and 4, the face of the block is formed of two hexagons separated by
V-grooves, and having chamfered edges, and a sunk or recessed centre, and radial
grooves as before described.
The grooves and the chamfered edges in both forms will be of the same depth as
the recessed or sunk portions, so that so many channels will be formed by which water
can run away.
The grooves and recesses will also provide a good grip for the feet of horses, as
even supposing the recesses become filled with mud, there would still be good
foot hold.
For the gutters and ends of the paving, we provide plain blocks having threo
straight sides, and the fourth sido made to conform to the outline of the blocks, as
shown at d*, Fig. 3. In places where the gradients are steep, wo may place these
side blocks to form a track for the wheels of vehicles, two blocks being placed back to
back to form the track.
The moulds in which these blocks are cast, may be of ordinary type, and they are
bolted onto the rim or periphery of the turntable or wheel, as shown at Fig. 5,
ad being the moulds, and ee the angle iron rim or periphery of the wheel. The
construction of this wheel or turntable is well known, and need not therefore be
described, more especially as it forms no part of the present invention.
We prefer, however, to slightly modify the form of the mould by making one side
slightly higher than the other, as shown at Fig. 7, Sheet II, so that the loss of
material caused by the overflowing of the mould, when full. may be reduced to a
minimum, for the attendant, by watching the lowest side, will be able to see when
the mould is full, and he will immediately rotate the wheel to bring a fresh mould
into position.
Above the space between two moulds, we place a slag distributor f―This
distributor may be formed of cast or wrought metal having a cross section
somewhat like an inverted V, and of a length nearly equal to that of the mould.-
The distributor is provided with a hooked stem by which it is hooked on to the rim e
of the wheel. The cost of these parts is so slight that when they become worn, thoy
may be replaced by new ones, or when made of wrought metal may be readily
repaired at slight cost by rivetting plates thereon.
When the blocks have sufficiently cooled down on the outside to form a hard skin,
they are taken from the moulds, and placed in the annealing ovens.

page_text: The ovens are arranged in two rows A. B. one above the other, with a furnace Cor
other heat generating apparatus in the middle of the row, see Figs. 8 and 9.
In the wall between each pair of superposed ovens, and at either end of the series
is built a chimney D. Thus, each pair of ovens will have a chimney on either side,
with which they are in communication, by means of inlet passages D' and exit
passages D-The front of each oven is provided with a small charging door, and the
back with a pair of discharging doors E, of a size to admit of a man entering the
oven to arrange the fuel on the floor thereof as will be hereafter referred to, and also
to remove the annealed blocks when cooled down.
The gases of combustion produced in the furnace pass by flues F arranged in rear
of the ovens, the said flues being connected with the chimnies D by means of lateral
passages F, the lower part of the chimnies D practically forming part of the flues to
convey the hot gases to the upper tier of ovens A. We may however connect the
ovens with the flues F direct by means of separate passages & flues. The ovens on
either side of the furnace may, if preferred, be in direct communication with the
furnace, as shown at D₁*, Fig. 8, instead of with the flues F.
G. G. are air passages placed one on either side of the furnace, and which run
from front to back of the setting, and then along the back parallel with the flues F.
These air passages are connected with air flues in the chimney stacks D, which in
turn are connected with the ovens by lateral passages. The air inlets to the ovens
are placed by the side of the gas inlets, so that the air and hot gases, on entering, will
immediately mix together, and combustion will take place.
The admission of gases and air to and from the ovens is regulated by means of
dampers H, and the exits are closed by dampers H', while dampers J are placed at
the entrance of the flues F, and other dampers in the chinnies D, both at the
bottom and above the openings to the top series of ovens.
In working the annealing process, we first spread over the bottom of the oven a
layer of coke, breeze, or other fuel, which we bring to a state of incandesence by
means of the burning mixture of air and gases. When the fuel is thoroughly
incandesencent, we shut off the combustible mixture, and we introduce into the oven
the blocks of slag, piling them up in an irregular manner upon the incandescent fuel.-
The effect of the incandescent fuel is to heat up and to keep up the heat of the lower
layers of blocks during the process of annealing, so that all the layers may be properly
annealed.
If the heat at the top of the oven is raised to such a temperature as would be likely
to remelt the blocks, we have only to open one or both of the dampers H', and allow
the extra heat to escape to the chimney D.
A suitable platform, which may be provided with rails for trollies, will be arranged
both at front and back of the ovens, to enable us to charge and discharge or draw the
upper row of ovens.
By the above described arrangement of superposed rows or tiers of ovens, we save
valuable ground space, and we double the annealing power on a given space, while
with their chimnies, flues, passages, and dampers, we are enabled to regulate the heat
as required, thereby considerably increasing the out put, as there is a corresponding
decrease in waste. We are also enabled to shut off one end of the series, which can
then be allowed to cool down and be discharged while working the other end, or to
shut off any one or more of the ovens, thus concentrating or distributing the heat as
may be desired or required.
It will be of course understood that we may dispense with the use of the fuel in the
ovens, and keep up the heat of the lower layers of blocks by the hot gases direct,
but we prefer to use the fuel, as it will require less attention, and give more equable
results.
The furnace or gas producer may also be placed at any convenient distance from
the series of ovens, or at one end of the setting, instead of being in the centre, as
shown, so long as the tiers of ovens with their chimnies, flues, passages and dampers
are retained, the gases being conveyed in suitable flues so arranged as not to interfere
with the ordinary working space of the blast furnace.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is
1. The manufacture and use of paving blocks or slabs of scoria or slag having wavy
or indented sides to form an interlock with adjacent blocks, and grooved and
recessed faces to afford good foothold, substantially as described.
2. The use in combination with ordinary moulds, of means substantially as herein
shown and described for distributing or guiding the molten slag to the moulds to
prevent waste of material as setforth.
3. In the manufacture of paving blocks or slabs from scoria or slag, the use of
series of annealing ovens arranged in tiers, each oven being in communication with
one or more chimnies, and with passages or flues for hot air in connection with the
outer air, and with similar passages or flues for hot gases in connection with a gas
generator or other heat producing apparatus, the said chimnies and passages or flues
being provided with dampers whereby the entrance of the air and gases to the ovens,
and the temperature of the ovens, may be regulated as desired, all substantially as
shown and described and for the purposes set forth..
בד.
171 1
1007
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicants.