Improvements in Furnaces for the Manufacture of Metallic Sleepers.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Mar., 1886.
Complete Left, 13th Dec., 1886.
Complete Accepted, 1st Feb., 1887.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Furnaces for the Manufacture of Metallic Sleepers.
JAMES MORGAN WHILE General Manager of Steel Works Darlington Steel & Iron
Co. Limited Darlington do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
In the manufacture of Iron and Steel sleepers, it is usual to heat them the whole of
their length, for the purpose of pressing and punching; owing to the great irregularity
of this heat a great variation exists in the guage of the finished sleeper when cold.
My invention is for the purpose of avoiding in a great measure this variation; the
method I adopt is by constructing the furnace in such a manner as to prevent in a
great measure the middle portion of the sleeper from becoming heated, while at the
same time the ends can be heated to any temperature which may be required for the
work; by this means the expansion of the middle portion is so small as to cause a
minimum of contraction and variation in cooling and so produce the best results with
regard to the guage of the finished sleeper.
In addition to the great advantages just mentioned, there are the following
1stly. This furnace will require less fuel per ton of sleepers than the ordinary
furnace.
2ndly. The sleepers being drawn and charged sideways there will be much less labor
than in the ordinary system.
3rdly. The furnace being built with an inclined hearth, there will be very little
labor in passing the sleepers through.
4thly. One furnace of this description will heat at least double the number of
sleepers than will the old system.
The accompanying drawing represents four views of the furnace.
The sleepers are charged continuously at the Door marked A Figures 1. 3 & 4, and
are forced down the inclined hearth of the furnace towards the Door marked B.
Figures 1. 3 & 4 out of which they are taken to be operated upon.
During the passage of the sleepers from the doors A to B they are heated on their
ends by the fires C Figures 1. 2 & 3.
It will be observed the middle portion of the furnace D does not have any fire.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Furnaces for the Manufacture of Metallic Sleepers.
JAMES MORGAN WHILE General Manager of Steel Works Darlington Steel & Iron
Co. Ltd. Darlington 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 :-
In the manufacture of Iron or Steel Sleepers it is usual to heat them the whole of
their length for the
great irregularity of this pose of punching, or pressing them to shape; owing to the
heat there exists a great variation in the gauge of the finished
sleeper when cold.
My invention is for the purpose of avoiding in a great measure this variation, as
well as to cheapen the production; the method I adopt is by constructing the furnace
in such a manner as to prevent in a great measure the middle portion of the sleeper
from becoming heated, while at the same time the ends may be heated to any desired
temperature for the work; by this means the expansion of the middle portion of the
sleeper is in so small a degree as to cause a minimum of contraction in cooling and so
produce the best results with regard to the gauge of the finished sleeper.
The Drawings left with the Provisional Specification represents four views of the
Furnace.
The sleepers are charged continuously at the door A and are forced down the
inclined hearth towards the door B from whence they are taken to be operated upon.
During the passage of the sleepers from the doors A to B they are heated on their
ends by the fires C. C. C. C. C. C.
It will be observed that the middle portion of the furnace D does not have any fire.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is
1st. The Furnace being built in such a manner as to heat both ends of the sleeper,
and simultaneously; without heating the middle portion alike.
2ndly. That the Hearth of the Furnace be inclined to facilitate the passage of the
sleepers through.