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Water-jacketed Cupola

The Keims cupola is jacketed, and is described by the inventor as follows: In this new cupola there is no burning out at or about the tuyeres; there are no clinkers to be chipped off daily, and repairs to be made before another heat can be run; and the bottom need not be dropped for months, if you so desire. To accomplish these results the inventor uses a three-foot water-jacket, with the tuyeres placed as near the bottom of the jacket as possible; the blast being upward, and the jacket not allowing anything to adhere to it, prevents burning out or clinking. The lower portion is part and parcel of the jacket (but not water-jacketed), and is lined with fire-brick, so as to retain the heat in the metal well and to prevent chilling. This improved bottom and jacket may be used in connection with the old cupolas now in use by simply taking off enough of the bottom of the old in which to insert the new, thus avoiding any great expense in making the change. As there is no hanging or clogging in this cupola, the blast has perfect circulation throughout the entire mass that is to be melted, and so is a great fuel-saver, as every particle of fuel is used to the best advantage. As the heat of the jacket cannot be raised above 240 deg. Fahrenheit, it will readily be seen that there will be no burning out, and that with ordinary care a jacket will last as long as a steel boiler; for the whole arrangement is made of 1/4-inch steel plate, and as the overflow is higher than the jacket, it would be only through gross negligence if it should burn. In fact, the jacket would be the coldest point as long as any water remained. The metal produced is of the best quality, and has a ring almost equal to bell-metal.