ImprovemeNTS IN CONVERTING FURNACES.
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London for an Invention of
"ImprovemeNTS IN CONVERTING FURNACES.' Communicated to him from
abroad by Pierre Manhés, of Lyon, France Metallurgist.
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 13th October 1883.
"
"
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine Lake, and Co, Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London, "IMPROVEMENTS IN CONVERTING FURNACES
[A communication to him from abroad by Pierre Manhés, of Lyon, France
Metallurgist.]
This invention relates to converting furnaces employed in the metallurgic
treatment of copper and other metals.
In the specification of former Letters Patent dated August 3rd. 1880. A.D. No. 3181
for "Improvements in the manufacture and treatment of copper and of alloys of
copper," it is stated that the copper may be treated in any furnace, but preferably
in a Bessemer converting furnace, this furnace being more suitable than any other
by reason of the effect of the inter-molecular combustion which forms the basis of
the process.
This invention has for its object to improve the said Bessemer and other
converting furnaces as hereinafter described, whereby the process may be more
successfully carried out than heretofore.
As fast as the metallic copper is produced it passes to the bottom of the furnace,
where it is collected and if (as is the case with the Bessemer converting furnace)
the air blast enters the furnace through vertical pipes arranged at the bottom of
the said furnace, the said air is compelled to pass through the metallic copper,
which, not containing any combustable matter, cools when it comes into contact
with the air, whereby sooner or later an obstruction is caused in the blast pipes
and thus prevents the said process from being successfully carried out.

page_text: The above defect could be obviated by forcing air previously heated into the
said blast pipes, but this means is not very practicable, and would be costly,
whereas a simple arrangement permits the same result to be attained.
The said arrangement, the details of which may vary, consists in leaving a free
space, below the level of the apertures of the blast pipes, where the metallic copper
collects as fast as it is produced, and where it is sheltered from contact with
the air. This free space must always be large enough to contain the copper
produced and is preferably slightly larger than required.
In order to accomplish this result the vertical blast pipes of the converting
furnace are replaced by horizontal blast pipes arranged around the furnace, the
outlet of the said pipes inside the said furnace being placed at a suitable height
above the bottom of the same, so that, as the copper is reduced, it falls below the
blast which continues to pass through the combustible material; the copper
therefore does not cool and the blast pipes are not obstructed.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Robert Lake in the Patent Office on the 26th March
1884.
"
-
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co, Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London "IMPROVEMENTS IN CONVERTING FURNACES:
A communication to me from abroad by Pierre Manhés, of Lyon, France,
Metallurgist,
This invention relates to converting furnaces such as those termed "Bessemer
Converters" to be employed in the metallurgic treatment of copper and other
metala.
In the specification of former Letters Patent granted August 3rd AD. 1880,
N° 3181, for the said Pierre Manhés' invention of " Improvements in the
manufacture and treatment of copper and of alloys of copper," it is stated that,
"though the operation may be carried on in any furnace, the inventor prefers to
employ a Bessemer Converter," this being more suitable than any other furnace in
respect of the inter-molecular combustion which forms the basis of the process
described in the said specification.
The present invention has for its object to improve the said converters as
hereinafter described in such a manner that the above named process may be more
successfully carried into effect than heretofore.
In the use of such furnaces or converters, the metallic copper, as fast as it is
produced therein, descends to the bottom, where it collects. In the ordinary
Bessemer converter used in the metallurgy of iron, the air-blast enters through
vertical tuyeres or pipes arranged at the bottom of the said converter. It is,
therefore, obvious that the air has to pass through the mass of metallic copper,
which, not containing any combustible matter, is cooled and solidified by contact
with the air, and sooner or later becomes such an obstruction to the blast as to
prevent the successful operation of the said process.
This difficulty may be obviated by forcing air previously heated through the said
tuyeres or pipes, but this method of working may be said to be impracticable by
reason of its costliness.
Now my invention provides for overcoming the difficulty in question in a very
simple and advantageous manner.
In practising my said invention I arrange the tuyeres to deliver the blast
laterally or horizontally into the converter; and provide, below the level of the
apertures of the said tuyeres, a space wherein the metallic copper collects as fast as
it is produced and wherein it is protected from contact with the air. And
I combine with the said space and the tuyeres the arrangement illustrated in the
accompanying drawing which I will now proceed to describe and in which
Figure 1 is a plan or top view, and
Figure 2 a vertical central section of a converter provided with my improvements.
Like letters indicate the same parts throughout the drawings.
A is the body of the converter, B.B are the trunnions thereof supported in the
usual manner in suitable bearings. CC are the horizontal or lateral tuyeres or air-
passages arranged around the converter at such a height above the bottom of the
same that as the copper is reduced it falls into the space D below the blast.
Now, although the arrangement of the tuyeres above the bottom of the converter
partially obviates the difficulty arising from the cooling of the metal by the air,
yet there will be a tendency, especially towards the close of the operation, for
masses of congealed matter to form around the tuyeres. The resulting interruption

page_text: of the operation causes an increased pressure of air in the pipes which is at once
indicated by the pressure-gauge.
I, therefore, provide the converter with an air-belt E formed of cast iron or
other suitable material and attached to the converter as shewn. This air-belt
surrounds the series of tuyeres or air-passages C which extend therefrom into the
converter. And in the outer wall of this air-belt I form orifices F provided with
plugs or stoppers and arranged one opposite each tuyere.
The arrangement of these parts as described permits the ready removal of the
obstruction from any of the tuyeres by means of a rod or bar passed through the
said orifices provided in the air-belt.
Having thus fully described the said invention as communicated to me by my
Foreign correspondent and the manner of performing the same I wish it understood
that I do not claim generally or irrespectively of its embodiment in the apparatus
constructed for the purpose of my invention the arrangement of the tuyeres to
deliver the blast into the furnace above the space occupied by the metal, but
I claim
A Bessemer converter or similar furnace provided with tuyeres or air-passages
arranged above the space to be occupied by the metal and in combination with an
air-belt provided with orifices opposite the tuyeres, substantially as, and for the
purposes, specified.
In witness whereof I the said William Robert Lake have hereunto set my
hand and seal this Twenty-sixth day of March in the year of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and eighty four
T17M DODT