The Sun.
London, England, 1854-08-16 00:00:00

HOW TO SUBDUE SMOKE.

We propose under this head to make our
readers familiarly acquainted with some of the
means of subduing the smoke nuisance that come
under our observation in the metropolis ; so that
without attempting to write a history of all such
inventions, we may simply examine the construc-
tion and effective use of those that are at this
moment in the most active competition with each
other ; and these we shall divide into three
classes for greater facility of description, viz.,
machines that require unintermitting motive
power to keep them in action—contrivances to
which occasional motion must be given by the
stoker or other person having charge of the &e—
-arnd those containing no moveable parts at all,
but that are just as easy of construction as ordi-
nary furnaces. As a passing observation, we
may say that we have ourselves adopted one of
the last-mentioned class, and have no reason to
regret our preference for a simple over the com-
plex systems, either as regards expense or effect.
Of the class of machinery furnaces for which
motion is usually obtained from the steam-engine,
the greatest attention has been paid to those of
Juckes, Hazeldine, and Hall. The first consists
in an arrangement of endless chains, which, being
caused to rotate upon cylinders, stretch the
chains as it were from one end of the furnace
space to the other, and which of course occupy
its width ; such chains being formed of links a
few inches long that constitute in themselves the
fire-bar system of the furnace. Over the outer
end is fixed a contrivance for feeding the appa-
ratus with small coals ; and motion being given
to the machine, the fuel is carried gradually for-
ward, and consumed with a regularity that in-
-1 sures a corresponding ignition of the carbonaceous
gases which would otherwise pass off in unignit-
able smoke. As gradually, too, the links that
for the time constituted the fire-bars of the fur-
nace, passing in a downward direction over the
inner cylinder, return underneath to the lower
side of the outermost cylinder, and are again car-
ried up by it to form anew the upper or fire sur-
face of the furnace. Hazeldine's plan differs from
that of Juckes', by the substitution of fire-bars
which extend from side to side of the furnace,
and, instead of having motion given to them by
an endless chain arrangement, are caused to rock
to and fro in the direction of the length of the
furnace, which motion, added to the great inclina-
tion of their common surface from the feeding
place at the doorway down to the inner end of the
ash-pit, carries the fuel onward in the process of
combustion, but, of course, not with the uniform
regularity of the first-described plan. And it
differs also in a more important essential, for,
whilst the Juckes' furnace can be worked either
horizontally or inclined, it is indispensable to that
of Hazeldine to have given to it very considerable
inclination from the entrance to the inner extre-
mity of the furnace. Like that of Juckes', how-
ever, Hazledine's furnace is supplied with fuel by
a self-feeding apparatus, called a hopper ; which
is common also in principle to Hall's. As a fur-
nace machine Hall's is very dissimilar in construc-
tion to the other two, although fed much in the
same manner, and requiring similarly to be kept
in action by motive power. It is an inclined sys-
tem of longitudinal fire bars, with the centre of
motion at the inner extremity. These bars are
serried on their upper surfaces, and are so set in
action that every other bar, say half the bars
of the furnace, being alternately raised and
depressed, the fuel is carried forward with
much the same kind of regularity as in.
the other furnaces of this class. But Hall
has a provision for the admission of air simulta-
neously with that of fuel, which does not occur
with the others. ,71•7

As objections of a general character to the use
of these three plans, however effective they must
be admitted to be in many cases of an important
nature, we should mention the first expense,
which is necessarily very considerable, machines
having motion given to them, under the action
of fire, requiring to be very accurately and
strongly manufactured ; next, the contingent
cost of keeping in repair ; then the expen-
diture of steam engine, or other motive
power, to put and continue them at work ; and,
lastly, the limit placed to their applicability, by
the existence of thousands of furnaces who_e pe-
culiarities of form, proportions, and otherwise,
must inevitably prevent their conversion to any
machinery fire-bar system.
Iu our next notice we will refer to instances of
this kind that have come within the scope of our
own observation, and, if space will admit, pass
on to the consideration of those contrivances that
require to have occasional motion given to them
by the stoker or engineer.