COMPLET DE MUITION LIV
Year: 1897

page_text: COMPLETE DE MUITION LIV
Improvements in Apparatus for Consuming the Smoke in the
Furnaces of Boilers of all kinds.
A communication to me from BERNHARD FROHLICU, of Constantinstrasse, 7/9
Lutherstrasse, Leipzig-Reudnitz, in the Empire of Germany, Machine Manufacturer.
I, EDMUND EDWARDS, of the Firm of Edwards and Co., Patent Agents and Engineers,
of 65 and 66, Chancery Lane, London; in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention, and in what manner the same is to 'be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement, and
necompanying drawings, that is to say :--
This invention relates to improved apparatus for effecting the combustion of smoke
in boiler furnaces of all kinds, and it consists of separate devices by which :-
(1) The entire combustion of the hot gases,.
:-
(2) The removal of ashes from the easily accessible front part of the hot
flue, and
(3) The removal of the fine Root and ashes accumulating in the flue, are
effected.
The apparatus for the combustion of sinoke depends on the introduction of a
determined proportion of previously heated air direct to the hot gases at the back of
the firebridge, whilst the hot gases themselves are by suitable means so checked, and
whirled in eddies, that an intimate mixture with the hot air introduced takes place,
and the complete combustion of the still unburned gases is effected. Moreover, the
quantity of the heated air admitted during the process of combustion, in proportion
to the progress of the latter, is exactly regulated, so that when after each supply of
coal to the furnace the greatest production of smoke takes place, it is necessary that
the introduction of the heated air should be greatest, and then gradually diminished.
For this purpose a simple arrangement of apparatus is employed, which by the opening
and shutting of the furnace door is automatically set in action, so that during the
process of combustion, the supply of heated air behind the firebridge is entirely
automatically regulated. In order to prevent as much as possible the cooling of the
hot gases by the mixture with the additional air.so admitted, the latter is first heated
by a special device arranged behind the firebridge.
The larger ashes are detained by a series of bridges or partitions. The finer ashes
and soot which collect principally in the flue which leads from the boiler to the
chimney, are thrown down in this flue, by means of a jet of steam or. water directed
against them, and are removed through a side opening.
In this way it is possible to entirely get rid of the objectionable smoke and soot, as
well as the ashes, and to utilize the fuel itself in the most effective way.
The following is a description of the separate devices used; as well as of the
manner in which they are combined, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, 'in
which

page_text: Figure 1 is a section through an internal flue boiler, having the improvements
applied to it.
Figure 2 is a similar section through a water-tube boiler.
Figure 3 shews details of the smoke-consuming apparatus, and of the method by
which the heavier ashes and the soot are separated.
Figures 4, 5, 6, and 7, sbew in two different positions the apparatus for regulating
the supply of heated air, Figures 4 and 5 being front views, and Figures 6 and 7 sido
views.
Figure 8 shews a longitudinal section through the air regulator, and
Figures 9, 10, and 11, shew details of the same.
Figures 12 and 13 are transverse sections through the apparatus by which the
secondary air supply is heated, and Figure 14 is a back view of the arrangement for.
collecting and separating the ashes.
The apparatus for consuming the smoke, consists of devices for admitting a
secondary supply of air, and also for regulating the supply in proportion to the
progress of the combustion of the fuel; also for retaining and mixing the hot gases,
for heating the supplementary supply of air, and finally for cleaning the last-named
device.
Further, in order to secure as complete a combustion as possible of the fuel on the
firebars, it is arranged that the supply of air to the fuel on the bars shall be such that
it has as free access as possible to the fuel. For this purpose the firebars a are made
with undulating sides, the undulations being in the direction of the incoming air, and
inclined forward from below.
The introduction of the secondary supply of air takes place at the back of the
firebridge, and it is admitted through an opening in the bridge below the grate, this
opening being fitted with a door e turning upon horizontal pivots el, the opening
and closing being effected by means of an air regulator, as hereinafter described.
'
The secondary supply of air admitted as described under the firebridge must then
pass through the apparatus by which it is heated. This apparatus consists of
perforated plates g at the back of the bridge, which plates are held together by
bolts g, whilst projections g2 hold the separate plates apart, and provide space for the
passage of the air which is to be heated. These plates g may either be flat as shewn
in Figure 12, or waved as shewn in Figure 13.
This collection of plates is carried upon supports, upon the separate plates. The
heating of the plates is effected by the passage of the hot gases above them. These
gases are made to move or eddy round, so as to cause them to mix as completely as
possible with the secondary current of heated air admitted as described. This is
effected by means of a hanging bridge or partition m, behind the firebridge, the 'hot
gases from the fire, as well as the secondary supply of heated air, striking against this
hanging bridge and becoming mixed. The mixing is made still more complete by
means of a further partition n, which also effects the separation of the heavier ashes
and soot. Between the plates g and in the holes through them, some of the ashes
and soot are deposited, which must be removed from time to time. In order to effect
this removal without interruption to the working of the boiler, the collection of plates
is blown out from below by means of steam which is injected through a pipe h,
arranged transversely to the plates g near their centre, the upper side of the pipe
being perforated with fine holes. Steam is admitted to this pipe through a supply
pipe h, provided with a regulating stop-valve at v.
To obtain a complete combustion of the smoke without too great a supply of the
secondary heated air current, an arrangement must be provided which will admit the
largest quantity at first after the fuel has been supplied, and afterwards in proportion
to the progress of the combustion; the supply diminishing by degrees in proportion
to the diminution in the production of smoke. Means must also be provided, by
which the door,e is more or less opened to regulate the quantity of the air admitted,
and it must operate in such way, that after each supply of fuel to the grate, at first
when the production of smoke is greatest, the supply of the secondary current of air
shall also be at its greatest, this supply gradually decreasing, until a fresh supply of

page_text: fuel. This process is arranged to take place automatically aud' independently of any
attention from the stoker.
The door is opened every time the fire is fed, and is closed as soon as possible
after the operation is completed. It can therefore be easily arranged that by suitable
connection between the fire door and the regulating air door e, both the latter and the
former are opened together. The closing of the door e, however, must not follow at
once, as until the complete combustion of the fuel supplied, the secondary supply of
air must be only gradually shut off. In order to effect this, an arrangement is
necessary, which effects the gradual and automatic closing of the door e, in the
space of time required, between the successive charges of fuel to the grate.
The apparatus for this purpose is shown in Figures 4, 5, 6, and 7, in two different
positions; Figures 4 and 6 shew front and side views of the position of the several
parts when the firedoor is closed, and Figures 5 and 7 shew similar views when the
fredoor is open.
.
"
Upon a spindle c extending, across the front of the boiler below the firedoor, an
arm d is fixed, which is so shaped that when the firedoor is opened, the arm is moved
by it, and the spindle c, which is fitted in bearings ct, is turned round, moving with it
a second lever u which is also fixed upon it. The outer end of this lever u is connected
with an S-shaped bar u', which has a slot at its lower free end, through which a
lever 92 passes which is fixed upon a spindle q which turns in bearings below the
firegrate and at right angles to the spindle c. The outer end of the lever q' is
connected by a link s' and a flexible cord or chain 8, which passes over a pulley r,
with the weight of the regulating apparatus, the construction of which is hereinafter
described.
י
At the further end of the spindle q. is fixed a lever es which is connected with the
door or valve e by a connecting link e², so that the movement of the spindle q, which
is actuated by the spindle c, operates the door or valve e. The return movement of
the spindle c after the firedoor b is closed, is effected by the lever t, carrying an
adjustable weight t'.
This levert is fixed in the proper position upon the spindle c.
As already mentioned, the regulator which determines the closing of the door e is
shewn separately in Figures 8 to 11; and consists of a hollow cylinder closed at the
top and bottom, and partly filled with a suitable fluid (glycerine). In it can move up
and down a hollow cylindrical weight, closed at its upper end. This weight is
connected with the lever q2 upon the spindle q, by means of an arched rod r, the two
sides of which pass through the cover of the cylinder and are fixed to the top of the
weight, whilst the top of the arched rod is connected by a hook 2 with a cord or
chain which passes over the pulley r and is connected by the rod or wire 8 with the
lever g2 upon the spindle q, so that the weight is raised automatically by the opening
of the firedoor.
The descent of the weight is antomatic and is determined by a simple and
adjustable regulator. At the upward movement of the weight b the hollow space in it
becomes filled with air, which enters through an opening 18 in the holder or
chamber at the upper end of the air tube 13, which communicates directly with the
interior of the weight 12. The opening 18 can be closed from the inside, but during
the quick upward movement of the weight the air can enter by raising the closing or
regulating plate 7 which is kept elastically pressed against the opening When the
weight descends, the air must escape from inside it, and the speed with which it can
so escape will determine the speed at which the weight can descend, which speed can
also be varied by increasing or diminishing the weight.
The regulation of the speed is effected in a very simple way, by diminishing or
increasing as desired the size of the opening . This is done by means of the
regulating plate or valve 17, the position of which can be adjusted exactly, as at one
end it is carried by the moveable bar or link le pivotted to the top of the holder *,
whilst it can be moved by the spindle moveable in the bearing into any desired
position so as to more or less close the opening ', as shewn from the inside in
Figures 10 and 11.

page_text: The arrangement of apparatus, which serves to separate the larger ashes and the
soot, so as to keep them in the inner flue, consists of partitions, which are made
alternate in position, that is to say the first of them is arranged in the lower half,
and the next in the upper half of the flue, and so on, so that the hot gases must take
a zigzag course through, the flue, and consequently at each change of direction, must
strike against the next partition; which causes the change of direction. These strokes
can by means of a powerful draught be made so strong, that the partitions, unless
very strongly built, are shaken and injured. To prevent this, and not to have to make
the partitions so strong, they are supported against iron plates o, which are arranged
at their back, and are fixed in any suitable way. In the form of arrangement shewn
in Figure 1, this fixing is effected by means of semicircular rings o' which are
attached to the plates o at the back of the partitions, by means of ears o³ on 0,
and o³ on o¹, held together by bolts. o*, and which are supported against the wall of
the flue at the circumference by ears o°.
In this way the partitions n and also the hanging bridge m are perfectly preserved
from injury by the force of the heated gases.
Lastly, the arrangement has to be described, which serves to collect and remove
the fine soot and ashes which are formed in the flue between the boiler and the
chimney. For this, it is necessary to provide in the flue, means by which the hot
gases may be retarded and whirled round in eddies and the separation and deposition
of the fine solid parts from the combustion gases effected.
This arrangement consists of wedge-shaped ribs k, projecting down from the top of
the flue; these ribs being bevelled at their lower edge, so that they retard and set
whirling round, the combustion gases striking against them. Below these ribs, and
at right angles to the flue is a perforated pipe i, which is made and arranged like the
one h already described. for clearing the plates which heat the supplementary nir
supply. This pipe can either introduce jets of water, or (as in the form shown in
Figures 1 and 2) steam, the supply of which is regulated by a valve v'.
The jets of steam or water, which are supplied through the perforated pipe i,
moisten the fine dust and soot, so that by their increased weight they fall to the
bottom, and then, by the condensation of the steam, if steam is used, they are washed
away out of the flue through a gutter .p. The gutter p is preferably so arranged, as
shewn in Figures 1 and 2, that it lies in the deepest part of a depression in the
bottom of the flue, so that as much as possible of the ashes and soot may be carried
away.
The working of the entire apparatus described is as follows:-
To feed the fire, the firedoor is opened, and; simultaneously with it the door e for
the secondary air supply, so that during the supply of fuel and for a short time after,
when the production of smoke is greatest, the supply of a large proportion of the
Becondary heated air supply takes place. After the fire door is closed, the lever l, which is
no longer held; can move back and the door consequently closes. The speed with
which this closing of the door e takes place, is arranged to occupy the time between
two successive supplies of fuel, and for this purpose, the draught regulator is used,
by which the movement back of the spindle c by the weight this retarded. The
complete closing of the door c only takes place therefore, when the production of
smoke has ceased, and the time occupied in closing may be varied according to the
quality and kind of coal used.
The hot gases mixed with smoke are directed against the partition m, so that they
are whirled round and thoroughly mixed with the secondary supply of air which has
been heated by passing through the plates g, and a complete combustion of the smoke
is thus effected. There are always, however, mixed soot and ashes carried forward,
which are deposited, by means of the alternate partitions n which cause the smoke to
describe a zigzag path. The hot products of combustion, freed for the most part from
impurity, pass away by the usual draught, to the flue, and finally to the chimney.
Before, however, reaching the chimney they are again subjected to a thorough and
complete cleansing, by means of jets of steam or water which remove the finest ashes
and soot, so that the gases reaching the chimney are freed alike from smoke and

page_text: from soot and ashes, and consequently the surrounding country is in no way injured
or disfigured.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. Apparatus for consuming the smoke in the furnaces of boilers of all kinds,
consisting in the combination with devices for supplying behind the firebridge fa
previously heated secondary current of air, of apparatus for automatically opening and
closing the door or valve e through which such secondary current is supplied, by the
opening of the firedoor b; and of an upper partition or hanging bridge m behind the
firebridge, and a number of partitions n alternately above and below in the boiler
flue; and apparatus for separating the fine ashes and soot in the flue, consisting of
bevilled ribs in the top of the flue, and steam or water jets i in the lower part,
substantially as described and illustrated.
2. The apparatus for heating the secondary supply of air admitted behind the
firebridge as described in Claim 1, consisting of a number of perforated plates ✓ close
to each other, these plates being kept at the required distance apart by lateral
projections g², and held together by bolts g¹, substantially as described and
illustrated.
3. The apparatus for opening and closing the valve or door e by means of the
furnace door, consisting of a transverse spindle c turning in bearings.c', on the front of
the boiler below the fire door b, and having fixed upon it a bent lever d which when
the furnace door is opened is operated by the latter, and actuates a second lever u also
fixed upon c, to which is jointed an S-shaped link u¹ the other end of which has a
slot u fitting upon a leverg³ upon a spindle q below and at right angles to the spindle c;
the outer end of the lever q being connected, by a link f¹ and a chain passing over a
pulley, with the weight of the regulating apparatus l, the other end of the spindle q
being connected with the air door or valve e, by a lever e³, and link e²; and finally the
lever t and adjustable weight (, which causes the return movement of the spindle c,
substantially as described and illustrated.
4. In the arrangement described in Claim 2 for heating the secondary supply of
air, the cleansing apparatus, consisting of a perforated pipe h, by which jets of steam
are supplied through a pipe h', and by which the holes in the separate plates g are
entirely and completely cleaned when necessary.
5. In the arrangement described in Claim 1, the apparatus for retarding the hot
gases, consisting of firebrick partitions m, which are supported by iron plates o, the.
plates being held by semicircular rings o¹, which are attached to the plates by
cars o², o³, and bolts o, the rings of being held in position in the flue by ears.o³,
substantially as described and illustrated.
6. The apparatus for depositing and collecting the fine soot and ashes in the flue,
consisting of wedge-shaped ribs in the flue and depending from its top, and a
perforated pipe i, in combination with a steam supply pipe i¹ having a regulating
valve », the perforated pipe lying in a depression across the bottom of the flue below
the ribs k, and a gutter being formed at the bottom of the depression, by which the
water and the impurities are carried away, substantially as described and
illustrated:
7. The apparatus for regulating the closing of the air valve e, consisting of the
cylinder closed at the top and bottom, and partly filled with liquid, in which a hollow
cylindrical weight closed above and provided with an, air tube 18, rises and falls, the
hollow weight being connected with a lever u upon the spindle 7 by means of the
arched rod 74, hook r³, chain or cord r1 passing over the pulley r, and the rod 8, so
that the ascent of the weight is caused by the opening of the furnace door, whilst
its descent by its own weight depends upon the speed with which the air is allowed to
escape from it, this speed being regulated by an adjustable valve in a holder lat
the upper end of the air pipe, the valve being pivotted on a link so that it
can open or close the opening & more or less, by means of an adjustable spindle l

page_text: fixed to it and passing through a guide substantially as described an
illustrated.
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