Jan. 4, 1938. c. D.

BARRET AL 2,104,393
HOT BLAST CUPOLA
Filed Aug. 17, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 2

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Jan. 4, 1938. C. D. BARR E. A 2,104,393
HOT BLAST CUPOLA
Filed Aug. 17, 1935 3. Sheets-Sheet 3

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 Patented Jan. 4, 1938 - 2,104,393

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

2,104,393
HOT BLAST CUPOLA
Clarence D. Barr and Dan Owen Holmes, Bira
mirigham, Ala., assignors to American Cast
Iron Pipe Company, Birmingham, Ala., a cor
poration of Georgia
Application August 17, 1935, Serial No. 36,744
10 Claims. (CI. 266-14)
The present invention relates to improvements of air into the cupola to effect the melting of the
in hot blast cupolas and resides principally in the metal therein. Each of the tuyeres communi
provision of means for circulating, heating and cates with a down pipe 6, the upper ends of which
delivering air under pressure to the tuyeres pipes are connected to and communicate with 5
5 which blast the air into the cupola, to effect melt- the lower bustle pipes 7.
ing of the products therein used in the produc- The inner or refractory wall 8 of the cupola,
tion of cast metal objects. above the base, is formed to accominodate Con
One of the principal objects of the present duits or pipes 9 and 0 arranged in pairs with
invention is to provide a relatively long path of the longer pipes 9 of each pair communicating ()
I () Circulation of the air Subject to the heat created at their lower ends With the lower bustle pipes
in the cupola, during melting of the metals 7; and with the shorter pipes 0 communicating
whereby the air is thoroughly heated before it with the upper bustle pipes to which the air
is delivered to the tuyeres. under pressure is supplied from any Suitable
Another object of the invention resides in a source, not shown. It will be noted that the
is special construction of conduits through which lower ends of the pipes 9 and 0 extend through
the air is circulated and providing for easy re- openings in the refractory lining 8 and the Outer
placement of the conduits. When necessary. shell 2 of the cupola, and as shown best in Fig. 5,
A further object of the invention resides in the confront respectively valve heads 3 and 4 lo
provision of means for readily determining dur- cated respectively in the lower and upper bustle 20
...) ing operation of the cupola, that is, during a pipes 7 and . Around the lower ends of each
melting operation, whether the respective con- of the pipes 9 and C within the said bustle pipes
duits are intact or whether leaks have occurred is a suitable gasket 15 capable of withstanding
therein, and providing for cutting out or making the temperatures to which they are subjected,
inoperative such of the conduits as may be leaky due to the passage of the air therethrough and
25
so that should one or more of the conduits be- the heat of the cupola, and adapted to be con- ;25
come burned out or develop leaks the air will not pressed by gland rings 6 drawn up against the
be permitted to escape therefrom into the cupola, gaskets by means of bolts 7 and nuts 8 to effect
to create a melting zone above the desired melt- a fluid tight joint on each conduit, while permit
ing zone created by the tuyères. ting movement of the conduits under forces 30
3.) The foregoing and other objects and advan- created by expansion and contraction.
tages of the invention Will become more appar- The valve heads 3 and 4 are carried on stems
ent and will be pointed out during the course of 9 each provided at its outer end with a handle
the following detail description of the drawings, 20. The stems extend through gland nuts 2
in which threaded onto the outer ends of bosses 22 through
i,j Fig. 1 is a vertical central sectional view which and packings 23 the stems also extend.
through a cupola embodying the present inven- The posses 22 which receive the stems 9 are pro
tion and taken on the line - of Fig. 2; vided on plates 24 covering the respective bustle
Fig. 2 is a view taken on the line 2-2 of pipes. The said cover plates 24 are removably
Fig. 1; attached to the bustle pipes by eye bolts 25, the
!) Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the outer ends of which receive wing nuts 26. Dowel 4
upper portions of two pairs of conduits and their pins 26 are provided to center the cover plates.
couplings, one pair being shown in Section; Packing rings 27 are inserted between the plates
Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view partly 24 and the bustle pipes to provide fluid tight
in section through a portion of the upper end of joints.
45 the cupola, and showing the manner of hinging The direction of flow of the air through the
the conduits; bustle pipes, conduits 9 and 0 and the tuyeres is
Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail view partly in Sec- indicated by the arrows in the drawings, it being
tion and partly in elevation showing the lower noted that the air enters the shorter pipes ; O from
ends of the conduits, the inlet and outlet pipes the bustle pipes and then passes upwardly with
79 controlling
with Whichthetheyflowconflicted Valves in the cupola wherein the pipes are directly ex
of air through said conduits; posed to the temperatures existing in the cupola,
and f and then down through pipes 9, bustle pipes 7,
Fig. 6 is a front view of one of the covers for down pipes 6, and through the tuyeres 4 into the
the bustle pipes taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5.
55 In Fig. P the drawings the numeral indi- ing
cupola
zonethrough
at thethe openings
bottom 5 tocupola.
of the create the melt 55
cates the lining of the base of the cupola, com- -
posed of refractory material enclosed within a Referring to Figs, 1 and 2 it will be noted that
metal shell 2 resting upon a mantle plate 3. the respective conduits 9 and 0 are alternately
The usual tuyeres 4 communicate with open- arranged around the interior of the cupola, and, 60
60 ings 5 through the lining to deliver the blasts of course, the number of conduits used depends
 2 2,104,393
upon the capacity of the cupola, and the size of to the dot and dash line position of Fig. 1, after
the conduits used. removing the gland rings 6. The conduits or
Each pair of conduits 9 and 0 is connected to pipes may be then readily withdrawn from the
its top by couplings 26, shown in detail in Figs. couplings and new ones inserted therein, after
3 and 4, each coupling comprising a hood-like Wiich the conduits are irestored to the full line
member having a pair of sockets 29 and 30 there position of Fig. i. The packings 5 may then be
in which receive the upper ends of the pipes 9 and placed around the lower ends of the conduits, the
8. Packing rings 3i, somewhat similar to piston gland rings 6 restored, and a new batch of re
rings, are seated in grooves in the upper ends of fractory cement C troweled in to fill the Space
0. the conduits and contact the inner walls of thearound the lower ends of the pipes. If the cou ()
Sockets 29 and 30, providing fluid tight joints, plings 28 need to be repaired the pins 33 are simply
and yet permitting relative longitudinal move moved out of the cradles 33 so that a new installa
ments between the conduits and sockets to take tion may be made in obvious manner.
care of expansion and contraction Which occurs We would point out also that access to the inte
at various times in the melting process and rior of the bustles for removing and replacing the
- thereafter. gland rings. 6, is had simply by removing the
Each of the couplings 28 is provided With up
Standing ears 32 having allined openings to re proper
a unit.
plate 23 which carries the valve With it as
ceive pins 33 maintained against longitudinal We have shown and described the pipes or Con
U movement by means of cotter pins 34, or the like.
duits 8 and is arranged or coupied in pairs with
Depending brackets 35 are attached to the annu the inlet for the air through the lower bustle
lar plate 36 at the top of the cupola, as by means pipe so that the air is fed upwardly through the
of rivets or bolts 37, the said bracketS being pipes and then downwardly through the pipes
formed to provide cradles 38 to receive pins 33 to 9. We have also shown and described slip joints
hingedly connect each pair of pipes 9 and , and for
their respective couplings 38, to the top of the and the ends of said pipes to facilitate removal 2 5
replacement thereof.
cupola. What We claim is:
As is well known not blast cupolas are charged 1. In a hot blast cupola, having a chamber
30
by dumping the iron, coke, etc., thereinto from to receive a charge of materials to be melted
the top. In the present case, since the conduits therein and tuyeres communicating With said 30
9 and 0 and couplings 28 especially at their tops chamber adjacent its lower end to deliver blasts
are exposed to contact by the iron and coke being of air thereto to create a melting Zone at the
dumped into the cupola, We provide guard plates bottom of the chamber, means to preheat the
É) each having at its top a hooked end or flange air delivered by said tuyeres to said chamber
4 to engage over the plate 36' Whereby the plates comprising bustle pipes into Which the air is 35
40 are renovably supported to protect the upper delivered under pressure, conduits leading from
ends of the conduits and their couplings during Said bustle pipes upwardly within the cupola,
charging of the cupola.
From the foregoing it should be obvious that a Second set of conduits leading downwardly in
the air under pressure which is supplied to the Said cupola, couplings connecting the upper ends
bustle pipes , is forced upwardly through con of adjacent conduits and hingedly supporting the 40
duits or pipes , couplings 28, and downwardly pipes at
Same their tops within said cupola, and bustle
communicating With said Second conduits
through conduits or pipes 9, into the lower bustles and said tuyeres.
and down pipes 6 to the tuyeres. The travel of 2. In a hot blast cupola, having a chamber to
45 the air is over a relatively long course with the receive a charge of materials to be melted therein
conduits in direct exposure to the heat Within and tuyeires cominunicating with said chamber
the cupola, so that the air which is delivered to adjacent
the tuyères and blasted into the cupola is of a thereto toitscreate lower end to deliver blasts of air
a melting Zone at the bottom
relatively high temperature.
of the chamber, means to preheat the air de
Of course the air entering the bustle is in livered
50 ducted into the lower ends of the pipes 0, while by said tuyeres comprising conduits on
the air delivered from the pipes 9 into the bustle 7 the interior of the cupola and arranged in pairs
is emitted under pressure toward the Valve heads With couplings at their upper ends, bustle pipes
into Which the air under pressure is delivered
3. The operator may test from time to time for
55 whether or not the pipes 9 and 9 and their cou air isheating, bustle pipes into Which the heated
delivered, one of the conduits of each pair 55
plings are intact or whether they have developed Communicating With Said first bustle pipes, and
leaks by moving the valve heads 3 toward the the other of the conduits of each pair communi
confronting ends of the pipes 9. If the valve cating With the Second bustle
heads move against their respective pipes with tuyeres communicating with thepipes, and said
second bustle
60 that there is a leak in one of the pipes 9 or
ease, then the operator will knoW or be Warned
9 of pipes toit receive the heated air therefrom and (i)
the pair being tested. In such event he simply deliver into said Chanber.
3. In a hot blast cupola, having a chamber
closes the valves 3 and 4 against their respec
to receive a charge of materials to be melted
tive pipes so that the pipes thus closed are cut therein
65 out and air will be delivered to the tuyeres only and tuyeres communicating with said
through the intact pipes thus aSSuring mainte chamberof air
adjacent its lower end to deliver blasts
thereto to create a melting zone at the
nance of the melting Zone at the bottom of the
cupola. bottom of the chamber, means to preheat the
When it is necessary to replace any of the pipes air delivered by said tuyeres comprising conduits
70 after a melting operation and when the cupola, has On the interior of the cupola, and arranged in
cooled sufficiently to permit a Workman to enter pairs With couplings at their upper ends, bustle
it, he removes the guard plates 40 which cover pipes into which the air under pressure is de
the pipes to be repaired, as well as the refractory livered for heating, bustle pipes into which the
cement Or filler C from the lower ends of Said heated air is delivered, one of the conduits of
s pipes, swings the said set of pipes on the pivot 33 each pair communicating with said first bustle 75
 2,104,393
pipes, and the other of the conduits of each pair
communicating with the second bustle pipes, said
tuyères communicating with the second bustle
pipes to receive the heated air therefrom and
deliver it into said chamber, and a hinged con
nection for each pair of conduits permitting them
to be swung inwardly in the cupola, for the pur
poses specified,
4. In a hot blast cupola, having a chamber
0 to receive a charge of materials to be melted
therein and tuyeres communicating with said
chamber adjacent its lower end to deliver blasts
of air thereto to create a melting ZOne at the
bottom of the chamber, means to preheat the
i5 air delivered by said tuyeres comprising bustle
pipes into which the air is delivered under pres
Sure, conduits leading from said bustle pipes
upwardly within the cupola, a Second set of
conduits leading downwardly in said Cupola, cou
plings connecting the upper ends of adjacent
conduits and hingedly supporting the same at
their tops within said cupola, fluid tight expan
sion joints between said couplings and conduits,
and bustle pipes communicating With said second
conduits and said tuyeres.
5. The structure of claim 4 wherein the bustle
pipes are arranged externally around the cupola,
With the lower ends of all conduits extending
through the cupola wall in communication with
the bustle pipes, and filuid tight joints are pro
vided between said lower ends of the conduits
and Said bustle pipes.
6. In a hot blast cupola, having a chamber
to receive a charge of materials to be melted
3. therein and tuyères communicating with said
chainber adjacent its lower end to deliver blasts
of air thereto to create a melting Zone at the
bottom of the chamber, means to preheat the
air delivered by said tuyeres comprising bustle
pipes into which the air is delivered under pres
Sure, conduits leading from said bustle pipes
upwardly within the cupola, conduits leading
downwardly in Said cupola, couplings connecting
the upper ends of said conduits in pairs and
hingedly supporting the same within said cupola,
bustle pipes communicating With said Second
conduits and said tuyères, and valves within said
bustle pipes confronting the open ends of Said
conduits and operable to permit circulation of
air through said pairs of conduits and to cut off
said circulation.
7. In a hot blast cupola, having a chamber to
receive a charge of materials to be melted there
in and tuyeres communicating with said cham
s5 ber adjacent its lower end to deliver blasts of
air thereto to create a melting zone at the bot
tom of the chamber, means to preheat the air
delivered by said tuyeres comprising bustle pipes
60
into which the air is delivered under pressure,
conduits leading from said bustle pipes upwardly
within the cupola, conduits leading downwardly
in said cupola, couplings connecting the upper
ends of Said conduits in pairs and hingedly Sup
- porting the same Within Said cupola, bustle pipes
communicating with said second conduits and
said tuyères, and manually controlled means to place, and means between said removable clo
determine the continuity of the passage of the
air through said conduits and couplings and op joint when the closures are clamped onto said
erable to close said conduits in the event of leak
age to prevent delivery of air thereto,
8. In a hot blast cupola, having a chamber to
3
receive a charge of materials to be melted therein
and tuyeres communicating With said chamber
adjacent its lower end to deliver blasts of air
thereto to create a melting Zone at the bottom
of the chamber, means to preheat the air de 5
livered by said tuyeres comprising bustle pipes
into which the air is delivered under pressure,
conduits leading from said bustle pipes upwardly
within the cupola, conduits leading downwardly
in said cupola, couplings connecting the upper 0
ends of said conduits in pairs and hingedly Sup
porting the same within said cupola, bustle pipes
communicating with said second conduits and
said tuyeres, removable closures on said bustle
pipes and affording access to the interior there
of, removable packings around said conduits with
in said bustle pipes forming fluid tight joints be
tween said bustle pipes and said conduits, and
valves carried by Said removable closures Oper
able to close said conduits. 20
9. In a hot blast cupola, having a chamber to
receive a charge of materials to be melted therein
and tuyères communicating with said chamber
adjacent its lower end to deliver blasts of air
thereto to create a melting Zone at the bottom of :2 5
the chamber, means to preheat the air delivered
by said tuyeres comprising bustle pipes into which
the air is delivered under pressure, conduits lead
ing from said bustle pipes upwardly within the
cupola, conduits leading downwardly in Said :
cupola, bustle pipes into which the heated air is
delivered, couplings connecting the upper ends
of said conduits in pairs and hingedly Supporting
the same within said cupola, the lower ends of
said conduits being curved and extending through 3
the Wall of the cupola, into the Said bustle pipes,
removable packings forming a fluid tight joint
between said lower ends of the conduits and the
bustle pipes, and removable closures on the bustle
pipes affording access to the interior thereof for
removal and replacement of said packings to per
mit said pairs of conduits to be swung on their
hinges and to be clamped in place.
10. In a hot blast cupola, having a chamber to
receive a charge of materials to be melted therein .
and tuyeres communicating with Said chamber
adjacent its lower end to deliver blasts of air
thereto to create a melting Zone at the bottom
of the chamber, means to preheat the air deliv
ered by said tuyeres comprising bustle pipes into
Which the air is delivered under pressure, COn
duits leading from Said bustle pipes upWardly
Within the cupola, conduits leading downwardly
in said cupola, bustle pipes into which the heated
air is delivered, couplings connecting the upper 55
ends of said conduits in pairs and hingedly Sup
porting the same within said cupola, the lower
ends of said conduits being curved and extend
ing through the wall of the cupola into the said
bustle pipes, removable packings forming a fluid 60
tight joint between said lower ends of the con
duits and the bustle pipes, and removable clo
Sures on the bustle pipes affording access to the
interior thereof for removal and replacement of
said packings to permit said pairs of conduits to
be swung on their hinges and to be clamped in
sures and said bustle pipes to form a fluid tight
bustle pipes. 70
CLARENCE D. BARR.
DAN OWEN HOLMES.