1847.] 



THE CIVIL ENGINEER AND ARCHITECT'S JOURNAL. 



27 



which is effected in the manner shown in the annexed engraving, represent- 

 ing a verlical section of the apparatus, wtiich consists of a \vroti<;lit or cast 

 iron pan or vessel rf, for holding the zinc, placed within another wrought 

 or cast iron pan c, with a span of about 1^ inch all round and under the 

 upper pan; tliis lower pan is set in briclcwork «, over a furnace 6, and 

 surrounded by Ihe flue, and contains niollen lead, or lead combined with 

 tin, through which the iieat is transmitted to the upper pan, containing the 

 zinc ; the upper pan is lined on the inner face with (ire-clay or fire-brick, 

 to prevent any galvanic efiect by the action of the zinc on the iron. By 

 this method the zinc is iiept in the bath at an even temperature of about 

 800° Fahrenheit. 



IMPROVEMENTS IN GLASS. 



James TnimiNS Chance, of Handsworth, Slaffordshire, glass manufac- 

 turer, and Henry Baogir, of West Bromwich. glass slainer, for " inj- 

 provemettts in the manufaclure of glass." — Granted April 28; Enrolled Oc- 

 tober 28, 1846. 



The improvements relate, first, to the application of heat to sheets, panes, 

 or plates, or other articles of glass, when they require to be rehealed for 

 any purpose, such as the producing stained, painled, enamnielled or other 

 glass, which has been hitherto eflected either by placing the glass upon 

 metallic shelves within a niunile, and applying the lire externally, or by 

 placing the glass in a kind of reverberatory kiln, upon a bed of stone or 

 burned clay, aud then applying the tire internally and directly upon the 

 glass. By the former method there is a difiicully in preventing plates of 

 glass from becoming bent or cockled, and in beating the glass unilormly ; 

 and, by the latter plan, the direct action of the fire upon the glass is inju- 

 rious. 



The improvements consist in so applying heat that the advantages of 

 the two methods above mentioned are united, and, at the same time, their 

 respective peculiar defects are avoided. In carrying out this part of the 

 invention, the glass is laid upon a suitable bed (stone is preferred), and the 

 glass covered by suitable covers, so as to enclose the glass in a chamber, 

 by which the direct action of the fire on the glass is prevented, the inverted 

 pans, for the time being, producing close chambers witiiiii Ihe kiln. In 

 the top of each cover there is a small aperture, communicating, by means 

 of a pipe, with the outside of Ihe front of Ihe kiln, this contrivance being 

 intended to allow of the e.=cape of any vapour. In order to facilitate the 

 practical operation of enclosing the glass in covers, moveable beds are 

 preferred, placed upon an iron carriage running upon rails, the kiln being 

 properly constructed fur receiving such carriages. The annexed engrav- 

 ings show a plan and longitudinal section, a a are the lire-places ; b b car- 



riages, with a bed or beds ; <; c inverted pans or covers. The carriages ar 

 introduced into the kiln at the doors ee; the doors are then closed, and th^ 

 flame and heat will be reverberated within the arch, and then pass off uP 

 the chimney/, which is to have a damper to regulate the draft. The pro- 

 cess of heating and cooling the glass is then conducted in the ordinary 

 way. And for the purpose of still further securing the glass from being 

 injured by the fire or smoke, the edges of the covers are fitted into grooves 

 cut into beds, there being powdered chalk, or other suitable substance, to 

 close the joints. 



The second part of the improvements relate to the mode of applying 

 heat to sheets, panes, or plates of glass, when it is desired to alter their 

 shape, whether to render them more flat, or to give them any required cur- 

 vature. According to the methods generally adopted, the kiln hiis to be 

 cooled considerably before a second charge of glass can be introduced into 

 It. Now, the improvements consist of so employing moveable beds and 

 covers, as described, that the cooling down of Ihe kiln is rendered unne- 

 cessary, and the glass, when enclosed in the chambers formed on the beds, 

 can be safely introduced into the flattening or bending kiln, without neces- 

 sarily reducing the temperature of the kiln. The moveable beds aforesaid, 

 previously to their being charged with glass, are to be heated to a tempera- 

 ture approximating to that of the kiln itself: this is done by means of a 

 aniall kdn, similar to the main kiln. When the glass has remained suffi- 

 ciently long in the flattening or bending kiln, it is withdrawn along a lear 

 or long arch opening into the kiln, similar to that described in the specitica- 

 tionof a patent granted to the said James Timmins Chance, July 7th, 

 1842. This iear or arch, however, is not an essential appendage to the 



present system of the patentees, because the beds and the covers above 

 mentioned may be of such a thickness as to allow the glass to be withdravrn 

 from the kiln without the intervention of a lear or long arch. 



GLAZING CAST IRON. 



Timothy Kenrick, of West Bromwich, StafTordshiie, ironfounder, for 



"Improvements in glazing and enamelling the surfaces of Cast Iron." 



Granted May 20 ; Enrolled Nov. 26, IS-Ui. 



The improvements relate to coating and glazing articles of cast iron, 

 with two separate coats, one to give it a body, and the other the glaze, in 

 the following manner:— The cast iron articles are first to be thoroughly 

 cleaned, and then to be coated with a composition, consisting of lOOIb. of 

 calcined flints and 7.51b. of borax, both ground line and fused ; when 

 cooled, 401b. of this mixture is to be added to 51b. of potters' clay, ground 

 in water till of such a consistency, that when the article is dipped', it will 

 retain a coating l-16ih inch thick. It is then allowed to set, and while 

 moist, the glazed composition is carefully sifted over the surface, consist- 

 ing of lOOlb. of cornish stone, ground fine, 1171b. borax, ground fine, 351b. 

 soda ash, 351b. saltpetre, 35lb. slaked lime, 131b. white sand, and 501b'. 

 white glass, well pounded ; the whole are mixed, and well vitrified : when 

 cool they are ground to a fine powder, washed, and dried ; 451b. of this 

 mixture to be added to Hlb. of soda ash, in hot water, and well'slirred 

 and then dried in a stove. When the article has received the glazing it is 

 placed in a stove, and kept at a temperature of 213° Fahr. Afterwards it 

 is fired in a kiln or muffle, raised to a heat suflicient to fuse the glaze • 

 then removed and examined, and if the glazing be not perfect, the mixture 

 is sifted over it, and it is again subjected to the action of the kiln or niulHe. 



For coating the interior of iron pipes, the first mixture, or body coating, 

 is poured through the tube, at the same time turning it round so as to in' 

 sure its contact with every part throughout its eiiliie length, and whilst 

 moist the glazing powder is passed through in the same way ; after which 

 the tube is to be treated as above described. 



The patentee does not claim glazing the interior surfaces of vessels of 

 capacity, but only for enamelling the external surface of such articles, and 

 the enamelling and glazing of cast-iron Italian irons, box irons, knobs for 

 door handles, and such like articles, and tlie inside of cast iron pipes, and 

 ornamental surfaces of cast iron ornaments. 



IMPROVEMENTS IN SMITHS' M'ATER TUE-IRONS. 



Br W. NoTON. 



(Reported in the Franklin Journal.) 



The smiths' water tue-iron as fitted up on the ordinary construction, is 

 bad in principle, lasts a very short lime before it is destroyed, and is eminently 

 calculated for being an expensive item in the economy of the smith's work- 

 shop. Much inconvenience and hindrance results from the frequent stop- 

 page occasioned by the failure of this useful appendage to the smithy fire. ' 



My attention was directed to the circumstance, eight or nine years ago 

 with the intention of finding a remedy for, or at least an amelioration of the 

 evil. Upon examination of the dijahlcd tue-iron, I found the inside, more 

 especially the end nearest the fire, generally filleit up with a substance suffi- 

 ciently soliil to prevent any water getting to that part — the place where it ii 

 most required to carry away undue temperature ; thus the tue-iron is not 

 fairly worn, but burnt out before its time. "" 



What is meant by the ordmary construction may be understood by refe- 

 rence to figs. 1 and 2, of the prefixed sketch : — 



Fig. I. Fig. 2. 



