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industrial biography-第23部分
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coke; brays or small coke; and peat。 An abundance of coals existed in
the neighbourhood: by rejecting those of inferior quality; and coking
the others with great care; a combustible was obtained better fitted
even than charcoal itself for the fusion of that particular kind of
ore which is found in the coal…measures。 Thus we find Darby's most
favourite charge for his furnaces to have been five baskets of coke;
two of brays; and one of peat; next followed the ore; and then the
limestone。 The use of charcoal was gradually given up as the art of
smelting with coke and brays improved; most probably aided by the
increased power of the furnace…blast; until at length we find it
entirely discontinued。
The castings of Coalbrookdale gradually acquired a reputation; and
the trade of Abraham Darby continued to increase until the date of
his death; which occurred at Madeley Court in 1717。 His sons were too
young at the time to carry on the business which he had so
successfully started; and several portions of the works were sold at
a serious sacrifice。 But when the sons had grown up to manhood; they
too entered upon the business of iron…founding; and Abraham Darby's
son and grandson; both of the same name; largely extended the
operations of the firm; until Coalbrookdale; or; as it was popularly
called; 〃Bedlam;〃 became the principal seat of one of the most
important branches of the iron trade。
There seems to be some doubt as to the precise time when pit…coal was
first regularly employed at Coalbrookdale in smelting the ore。 Mr。
Scrivenor says; 〃pit…coal was first used by Mr。 Abraham Darby; in his
furnace at Coalbrookdale; in 1713;〃*
'footnote。。。
History of the Iron Trade; p。 56。
。。。'
but we can find no confirmation of this statement in the records of
the Company。 It is probable that Mr。 Darby used raw coal; as was done
in the Forest of Dean at the same time;*
'footnote。。。
See Mr。 Powle's account of the Iron Works in the Forest of Dean
(1677…8); in the Philosophical Transactions; vol。 ii。 p。 418; where
he says; 〃After they have pounded their ore; their first work is to
calcine it; which is done in kilns; much after the fashion of
ordinary lime…kilns; These they fill up to the top with coal and ore;
stratum super stratum; until it be full; and so setting fire to the
bottom; they let it burn till the coal be wasted; and then renew the
kilns with fresh ore and coal; in the same manner as before。 This is
done without fusion of the metal; and serves to consume the more
drossy parts of the ore and to make it friable。〃 The writer then
describes the process of smelting the ore mixed with cinder in the
furnaces; where; he says; the fuel is 〃always of charcoal。〃 〃Several
attempts;〃 he adds; 〃have been made to introduce the use of sea…coal
in these works instead of charcoal; the former being to be had at an
easier rate than the latter; but hitherto they have proved
ineffectual; the workmen finding by experience that a sea…coal fire;
how vehement soever; will not penetrate the most fixed parts of the
ore; and so leaves much of the metal unmelted〃
。。。'
in the process of calcining the ore; but it would appear from his own
Memoranda that coke only was used in the process of smelting。 We
infer from other circumstances that pit…coal was not employed for the
latter purpose until a considerably later period。 The merit of its
introduction; and its successful use in iron…smelting; is due to Mr。
Richard Ford; who had married a daughter of Abraham Darby; and
managed the Coalbrookdale works in 1747。 In a paper by the Rev。 Mr。
Mason; Woodwardian Professor at Cambridge; given in the
'Philosophical Transactions' for that year;*
'footnote。。。
Phil。 Trans。 vol。 xliv。 305。
。。。'
the first account of its successful
employment is stated as follows: 〃Several attempts have been made
to run iron…ore with pit…coal: he (Mr。Mason) thinks it has not
succeeded anywhere; as we have had no account of its being practised;
but Mr。 Ford; of Coalbrookdale in Shropshire; from iron…ore and coal;
both got in the same dale; makes iron brittle or tough as he pleases;
there being cannon thus cast so soft as to bear turning like
wrought…iron。〃 Most probably; however; it was not until the time of
Richard Reynolds; who succeeded Abraham Darby the second in the
management of the works in 1757; that pit…coal came into large and
regular use in the blasting…furnaces as well as the fineries of
Coalbrookdale。
Richard Reynolds was born at Bristol in 1735。 His parents; like the
Darbys; belonged to the Society of Friends; and he was educated in
that persuasion。 Being a spirited; lively youth; the 〃old Adam〃
occasionally cropped out in him; and he is even said; when a young
man; to have been so much fired by the heroism of the soldier's
character that he felt a strong desire to embrace a military career;
but this feeling soon died out; and he dropped into the sober and
steady rut of the Society。 After serving an apprenticeship in his
native town; he was sent to Coalbrookdale on a mission of business;
where he became acquainted with the Darby family; and shortly after
married Hannah; the daughter of Abraham the second。 He then entered
upon the conduct of the iron and coal works at Ketley and Horsehay;
where he resided for six years; removing to Coalbrookdale in 1763; to
take charge of the works there; on the death of his father…in…law。
By the exertions and enterprise of the Darbys; the Coalbrookdale
Works had become greatly enlarged; giving remunerative employment to
a large and increasing population。 The firm had extended their
operations far beyond the boundaries of the Dale: they had
established foundries at London; Bristol; and Liverpool; and agencies
at Newcastle and Truro for the disposal of steam…engines and other
iron machinery used in the deep mines of those districts。 Watt had
not yet perfected his steam…engine; but there was a considerable
demand for pumping…engines of Newcomen's construction; many of which
were made at the Coalbrookdale Works。 The increasing demand for iron
gave an impetus to coal…mining; which in its turn stimulated
inventors in their improvement of the power of the steam…engine; for
the coal could not be worked quickly and advantageously unless the
pits could be kept clear of water。 Thus one invention stimulates
another; and when the steam…engine had been perfected by Watt; and
enabled powerful…blowing apparatus to be worked by its agency; we
shall find that the production of iron by means of pit…coal being
rendered cheap and expeditious; soon became enormously increased。
We are informed that it was while Richard Reynolds had charge of the
Coalbrookdale works that a further important improvement was effected
in the manufacture of iron by pit…coal。 Up to this time the
conversion of crude or cast iron into malleable or bar iron had been
effected entirely by means of charcoal。 The process was carried on in
a fire called a finery; somewhat like that of a smith's forge; the
iron being exposed to the blast of powerful bellows; and in constant
contact with the fuel。 In the first process of fusing the ironstone;
coal had been used for some time with increasing success; but the
question arose; whether coal might not also be used with effect in
the second or refining stage。 Two of the foremen; named Cranege;
suggested to Mr。 Reynolds that this might be performed in what is
called a reverberatory furnace;*
'footnote。。。
Reverberatory; so called because the flame or current of heated gases
from the fuel is caused to be reverberated or reflected down upon the
substance under operation before passing into the chimney。 It is
curious that Rovenson; in his Treatise of Metallica of 1613;
describes a reverberatory furnace in which iron was to be smelted by
pit…coal; though it does not appear that he succeeded in perfecting
his invention。 Dr。 Percy; in his excellent work on Metallurgy; thus
describes a reverberatory furnace: 〃It consists essentially of
three partsa fireplace at one end; a stack or chimney at the other;
and a bed between both on which the matter is heated。 The fireplace
is separated from the bed by a low partition wall called the
fire…bridge; and both are covered by an arched roof which rises from
the end wall of the fireplace and gradually dips toward the furthest
end of the bed connected with the stack。 On one or both sides of the
bed; or at the end near the stack; may be openings through which the
ore spread over the surface of the bed may be stirred about and
exposed to the action of the air。 The matter is heated in such a
furnace by flame; and is kept from contact with the solid fuel。 The
flame in its course from the fireplace to the stack is reflected
downwards or REVERBERATED on the matter beneath; whence the name
REVERBERATORY furnace。〃
。。。'
in which the iron should not mix with the coal; but
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