Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Jan., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 31st Oct., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 28th Feb., 1889
DESCRIPTION.
The furnace is a long construction of masonry, the inside width of which is in
accordance with the length of the plates to be manufactured. Its length is about
97 feet. By an opening A the plate to be annealed is introduced directly from the
casting table into, the furnace. By an opening opposite B, the plate is pulled partly
out and its head is broken off. The plate is pushed back. By an opening C the
glass is pushed down in the furnace to allow the introduction of another plate to be
annealed. For annealing the glass here a special disposition of heat recuperation is
adopted, and consists in surrounding the head of the furnace with openings distributing
the heat a A A A AV &c. These openings are fed by Gas brought from the

page_text: gasholders through a subterranean passage A F. The quantity served to each opening
can be regulated, & thus the furnace can be heated gradually & more or less according
to requirements. There is under each gas hole or opening, on both sides of the
furnace an air hole opening into the furnace and thereby encreasing the combustion
of the gas.
If the melting of the glass is not done in kilns heated by gas, the heat
openings are placed thus that they can be used as fire places for coal, coke or wood.
The iron bars which support the plates in the furnace are notched i.e. made with
projecting notches. These are covered with asbestos paste board, and are a means
for preventing the plates to break when on the bars, as otherwise it would. be the case
if they came in direct contact with them, owing to the difference of temperature
existing between the iron & the thick plate glass. The advantages derived from this
process of manufacture are:
I. To be able to make at once plates to given dimensions perfectly annealed.
II. To effect an economy of fuel by heating the furnace before & during the casting
with the otherwise unused gas from the melting kilns.
III. To effect an economy of hand labour by the suppression of pilers.
IV. To obtain a greater planimetry of the plates.
V. To effect an economy in the building of annealing furnaces, one as described
replacing with advantage a great number of piling furnaces as required for regular
working.
This invention has been patented in Belgium under No. 78759, 15 September 1887 ;
78993, 15 October 1887, 79435, 15 December 1887.
Dated this 31st day of Januar
1888

page_text: Statement :-
Until now thick Plate Glass has not been annealed by letting it cool gradually, nor
by gas heat. This furnace, the plans of which are annexed to the provisional specifi-
cation and the description of which follows attains this end.
DESCRIPTION.
The furnace is a long construction of masonry, the inside width of which is in
accordance with the length of the plates to be manufactured. Its length is about
97 feet. By an opening A the plate to be annealed is introduced directly from the
casting table into the furnace. By an opening opposite B the plate is pulled partly
out and its head is broken off. The plate is pushed back. By an opening the
glass is pushed down in the furnace to allow the introduction of another plate to be
annealed. For annealing the glass here a special disposition of heat recuperators is
adopted, distributing the heat into the furnace by openings A¹ A" A A¹ etc.
These openings are fed by gas brought from the gasholders through a subterranean
passage A F. There is under each gas hole or opening an air hole opening into the
furnace and the air combining with the gas, its combustion is thereby increased and
the walls of the furnace can be rapidly brought to a white heat.
The quantity of gas or air served to each opening can be regulated by sluices,
cocks or taps and thus the furnace can be heated gradually and more or less according
to requirement.
Each gas and air opening might be made with fire-bricks, forming a grating.
If the melting of the glass is not done in kilns heated by gas the heat openings
are placed thus that they can be used as fire-places for coal, coke or wood. The iron
bars which support the plates in the furnace are notched,-i.e.-made with projecting
notches. These are covered with asbestos paste board and are a means of preventing
the plates breaking when on the bars, as otherwise they would, if they came in direct
contact with them, owing to the difference of temperature existing between the iron
& the thick plate glass.
This invention has been natented in Belgium under

page_text: 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
1. It allows the direct introduction of the glass into the furnace without transition
of temperature.
Il. The annealing of Plate Glass can be effected in a shorter time, viz. :
Ath of an inch thick in one hour.
13ths
& a half.
"
"
}}
"
"2
2 hours.
"
"
III. The glass is less liable to break, while being annealed, not coming in direct
contact with the iron bars supporting it....
IV. A greater planimetry of the plates is obtained.
V. An economy of fuel is effected by heating the furnace before and during the
casting, with the otherwise unused gas from the melting kilns.
VI. An economy of hand-labour is effected by the suppression of pilers, as the
heat of the furnace can easily be regulated thro' sluices, cocks or taps arrangements
by one single man.
VII. An economy is effected in the building of annealing furnaces, one as described
replacing with advantage a great number of piling furnaces as required for regular
working with the present systems.
1
1000
L. LEPERSONNE & Co.,
24, Great Winchester Street, E.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.