IMPROVEMENTS IN THE HEATING OR MELTING OF IRON OR STEEL AND OTHER SUBSTANCES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Jacob Geoghegan Willans, of 9, St. Stephen's Crescent,
Bayswater, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE HEATING OR MELTING OF IRON OR STEEL AND OTHER SUBSTANCES."
Sealed the 16th April 1880, and dated the 31st October 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Jacob Geoghegan Willans
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 31st October 1879.
JACOB GEOGHEGAN WILLANS, of 9, St. Stephen's Crescent, Bayswater, in the
County of Middlesex. " IMPROVEMENTS IN THE HEATING OR MELTING OF IRON-
OR STEEL AND OTHER SUBSTANCES.”
My Invention consists in applying a bydrocarbon along with air to carbonic
oxide gas for use in a reverberatory furnace in the heating or melting of iron, or
steel, or other substances, such as fusible metals, glass, or other mineral substances.
A reverberatory furnace may be employed such as heretofore used in melting
cast iron but with a deeper fuel chamber to ensure the production of carbonic oxide
gas and coke, or non-bituminous fuel may be used for the purpose. I prefer that'
the ashpit be sufficiently enclosed to allow the quantity of air admitted under the
grate to be regulated, or that the air may be supplied by a blowing machine.
I admit the hydrocarbon and air by preference in a heated state into contact
with the carbonic oxide gas in or about the upper part of the fuel chamber so that'
the mixture of hydrocarbon and carbonic oxide in a state of combustion passes
through the reverberatory furnace and affords the heat required.
Instead of generating the carbonic oxide gas in a fuel chamber at the reverberatory
furnace this gas may be produced elsewhere. In such case it should preferably be
in a heated state before its being brought into contact at the reverberatory furnace
with the hydrocarbon and air.
A hydrocarbon such as creosote or petroleum will answer, and may be applied'
either in the form of spray or vapour.
The combustion of carbonic oxide gas and hydrocarbon in any desired proportions
will afford a more uniform flame than if raw bituminous coal be used. The volume"
of the flame may also be regulated as desired.
:
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page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Jacob Geoghegan Willans in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
30th April 1880.
JACOB GEOGHEGAN WILLANS, of 9, Saint Stephen's Crescent, Bayswater, in the
County of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN HEATING OR MELTING OF IRON OR
STEEL AND OTHER SUBSTANCES."
This Iuvention has for its object improvements in the heating or melting of iron
or steel and other substances.
I apply as fuel in the heating or melting furnace carbonic oxide gas with which
hydrocarbon vapour and air have been admixed in suitable proportions.
When bituminous coal is used for such furnaces the flame is variable, and when
fuel deficient in bituminous matter (such as anthracite or anthracitic coal, coke,
or partially consumed bituminous or other coal, wood, fibrous peat, or charcoal) is
used the flame is of less heating power. My Invention admits of producing a
regular flame of high heating power of any required volume, and either of an
oxidising or reducing character as desired; and in addition to the heating of iron,
or steel will be found applicable to melting metals, such as copper and its alloys,
roasting ores, and heating mineral substances which need a strong heat in their
preparation or manufacture; and also for melting the ingredients of which glass is
composed. The hydrocarbon employed may be such as tar, creosote, or petroleum,
which immediately become converted into vapour by the heat of the furnace.
The carbonic oxide gas may be made at the furnaces, or this gas may be conveyed
in pipes from gas producers, or blast furnace gases may he used, and where such
gases can be conveniently obtained my Invention provides a very advantageous
method for utilising them. In other cases I prefer that the carbonic oxide be made
at the reverberatory furnace so that it be at a high temperature when used. I also
prefer that the hydrocarbon shall be in a fluid state before its application.
Reverberatory furnaces such as are used in iron foundries for melting cast iron
will answer for the melting and reverberatory furnaces such as are used at iron and
steel works will answer for the heating of the above metallic and mineral sub-
stances, but I do not limit the use of my Invention to such furnaces.
I prefer the following arrangement:-I have the fuel chamber of the reverberatory
furnace six feet in depth from the top of the bridge to the grate bars, and I have the
fuel charging place fitted with a door which may be closed when the furnace is at
work. I have the ash pit sufficiently enclosed with a door so that a regular supply
of air may be admitted into the space under the grate through pipes or openings
for the purpose.
For a furnace of 5 feet interior width I have two openings of about 6 inch square
in the top of the end wall of the fuel chamber to allow currents of air to be directed
towards the bridge, each opening to be about twelve inches distant from the adjoining
side wall.
I insert air pipes into these openings and pack fire clay around them. The
bydrocarbon may be injected in along with the air, but I prefer to have a inch
pipe to convey liquid hydrocarbon from an elevated tank to drop it through a
small opening in the roof midway between the air pipes and close to the end wall
of the fuel chamber. The hydrocarbon will thus be vapourised and mix with the
carbonic oxide gas ascending through the fuel. I prefer to use creosote, of which
one to three gallons per hour will generally suffice.
For furnaces of greater width than five feet I prefer to have two (or it may be
more) hydrocarbon pipes, and three (or it may be more) air pipes, about evenly
distributed over the width of the fuel chamber, but air pipes about 2 feet 6 inches
apart and hydrocarbon pipes midway between them will be found to answer.
The air generating the carbonic oxide gas may be drawn in at the lower part of
the fuel chamber by the draught of the chimney, and air may be thus drawn in
over the fuel through openings of regulated size, but I prefer to use a fan or blower

page_text: yielding about 2000 cubic feet of air per minute, about one half of which is to be
admitted under the grate to generate the carbonic oxide from the fuel, and the '
remainder to be applied over the fuel to burn this gas and the added hydrocarbon
vapour. Where blast furnace gases are employed, or where the carbonic oxide
is produced elsewhere and conveyed to the furnace, the fuel chamber of the
reverberatory furnace should be filled up with incombustible material to within
about 15 inches of the top of the bridge, as no grate bars or blast underneath are
then required, and the carbonic oxide gas is admitted at the upper part of the fuel
chamber. I have the air pipes and the hydrocarbon pipe fitted with valves or taps
so that the supplies from either can be regulated; or, but less conveniently, the
upper air pipes and hydrocarbon pipe may be permanently regulated by their
sizes at their exit, and the supply of the carbonic oxide may be alterable as
desired.
For melting purposes I prefer that the air admitted over the fuel be previously
.heated in a blast heater to about 700° Fahrt.
Where the carbonic oxide gas is to be generated in the fuel chamber of the
furnace when carrying on the heating or melting process I first have the reverberatory
furnace fired up with usual fuel until it be hot and I charge therein the material
to be heated or melted. I then fill up the fuel chamber to within twelve inches of the
top of the bridge with fuel defficient in bituminous matter, but preferably with
coke, and I close the fuel charging opening and ash pit door; I then admit the air
from the blowing machine under the grate and also the air over the fuel through
the pipes or openings for these purposes, at same time applying creosote in such
quantity as to shew some smoke issuing from the furnace to the chimney. If a
reducing claim be unnecessary I diminish gradually the supply of the creosote until
the smoke disappears and that a clear flame is visible in the furnace. If an
oxidising flame be required I further diminish the supply of creosote or I increase
the supply of air over the fuel. I charge fresh coke into the fuel chamber when
its depth of coke is reduced to less than three feet. The extent or volume of flame
passing through the furnace may be increased or diminished by increasing or
diminishing in relative proportions the supplies of carbonic oxide, hydrocarbon,
and air.
Having now described my Invention and the means which I employ for carrying
into effect I would have it understood that I do not confine its use to any particular
size or interior shape of furnace, but I claim as my improvements in the heating or
melting of iron or steel and other substances,-
First. Conducting the said heating or melting operations in a furnace in which
there is burnt a compound gaseous fuel consisting of carbonic oxide gas, generated
either at the furnace or brought from a distance and then caused to be admixed
with hydrocarbon vapour and with air, substantially as described.
Second. Conducting the said heating or melting operations in a furnace supplied
with blast furnace gases, which gases are caused to be admixed with hydro carbon
vapour and with air, and with such admixture are burnt in the heating or melting
furnace, substantially as described.
Third. The arrangements herein before described to be used in heating or melting
iron or steel and other substances by which carbonic oxide gas is generated, and
then caused to be admixed with hydrocarbon vapour and with air, and in such
admixture is burnt in the heating or melting furnace, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Jacob Geoghegan Willans, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty.
J. G. WILLANS. (L.S.)