IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS AND MEANS FOR BURNING COMBUSTIBLE LIQUIDS, VAPOURS, AND. GASES TO. OBTAIN HEAT AND LIGHT THEREFROM
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Lee Norton, of Belle Sauvage Yard, Ludgate
Hill, in the City of London, and. George Hawksley, of Montrose. Villas,,
Caledonian Road,in the County of Middlesex, Engineer, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS AND MEANS FOR BURNING COMBUSTIBLE
LIQUIDS, VAPOURS, AND. GASES TO. OBTAIN HEAT AND LIGHT THEREFROM."
Sealed the 21st February 1868, and dated the 22nd August 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Lee Norton and
George Hawksley at the Oflice of the Commissioners of Patents, with
their Petition, on the 22nd August 1867.
We, JAMES. LEE NORTON, of Belle Sauvage Yard, Ludgate Hill, in the
City of London, and GEORGE HAWKSLEY, of Montrose Villas, Caledonian
Road, in. the County of Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature
of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS AND MEANS FOR BURNING
COMBUSTIBLE LIQUIDS, VAPOURS, AND GASES TO OBTAIN HEAT AND LIGHT THERE.
FROM," to be as follows;-
It has before been proposed to burn combustible liquids by forcing such
liquids through a rose so as to obtain a very fine shower, which shower it
was then proposed to ignite. This method however is practically inefficient,
because even when readily inflammable liquids are used it is necessary to
divide them very much more-minutely than has heretoforer been-proposed,
and that the liquid will not fall as a shower but will appear like smoke near
SO
Price 8d1

page_text: the orifice from which it issues and at a distance from it melt away or as
it were dissolve in the air. Such a jet cannot practically be obtained from
a rose however fine, as the smallest impurity would suffice to choke the
perforations, besides which it is necessary, that the size of the orifice itself
should be adjustable to regulate the flame.
We according to our Invention produce a suitable jet by forcing the liquid
by a heavy pressure between two surfaceswhich are exceedingly close together
butwhich can separate or be separated to discharge anyimpurity from between
them and to regulate the flame. We prefer that these surfaces should be held
together by a spring, and that the liquid should be compelled to force its way
between them overcoming the spring. The orifice which we use is formed by
a conical valve and valve seat of hardened steel, and a spring adjustable by a
screw holds the valve against the seat until it is overpowered by the liquid
striving to lift the valve and escape. When the pressure of the liquid and the
tension of the spring are suitably adjusted the required smoke-like jet is
readily obtained; it may be ignited and if desired directed into a furnace or
against any article it is required to heat. A suitable jet, such as above
described,, may also be obtained by causing two (or other number) of minute
streams of liquid to impinge the one on the other immediately on their escape
from the orifices which form them. The streams being formed under a heavy
pressure are completely broken up and dispersed when they come in contact;
or similarly a single stream may be thrown against a plate or other obstacle.
We prefer that the orifice or orifices should be surrounded by a hollowcone (or
similar instrument) in such manner that the jet may draw in air at the base or
mouth of the cone and form a rapid current through its smaller end; this cur-
rent then impinges on the jet just in advance of the orifice or orifices and helps
to supply it with the air, necessary to combustion. We place directing vanes
within the cone to give to the current of air a vertical movement which serves
to bring it into more intimate contact with the jet; or in place of a single
cone two concentric cones may be similarly employed, but we arrange their
directing vanes in opposite directions. We also give a vertical movement to
the issuing jet; this we do when we use a valve jet by inclined guide grooves
in the valve seat and valve of the orifice. In some cases we supply air under
pressure to the orifice, together with the combustible liquid. This may be done
by means of a pump with two barrels of different size, the one drawing air and
the other the liquid, and the air and liquid are then forced forward together.
We sometimes also supply water-under pressure to the orifice, together with
the combustible liquid. In some cases we do not ignite the smoke-like jet,
but we form it in a close receiver supplied with air either through the orifice

page_text: or otherwise. The air thus impregnated with the liquid we lead away from
the receiver by pipes to burners, at which it is burnt like gas for light and
heat. The liquid not absorbed or taken up by the air is returned at once to
the pump to be reinjected. Petroleum and creosote, for example, are com-
bustible liquids which may advantageously be used according to my Invention:
A suitable burner for burning air impregnated with combustible liquids' as
above described, or it may be for burning gas or vapour, consists of a box or
case, in the top and bottom of which circular holes are bored. Into the hole's
in the bottom short pieces of tube taper on the outside are fitted, so that their
upper ends enter the holes in the top of the box or case so as to be concentric
therewith. The aeriform material to be burnt is passed into the box or case
and issues by the annular openings between the sides of the holes in the top-
and the tubes within them and is burnt as it escapes, the tubes serving to
supply air to the interior of the flames. Where ignited jets of fluid material
issuing from orifices under pressure, as above described, are used in heating
steam boiler and similar furnaces they are according to our Invention caused
to impinge on surfaces of fire-brick or similar material placed on the fire-bars
or furnace bed. By this means the formation of smoke is avoided and the boiler
is relieved from the destructive effects of an intense flame thrown directly
upon a portion of it. We prefer to employ for this purpose columns moulded
in fire-clay and burnt; these columns are formed with suitable bases, so that
they may build closely together at the bottom, but leave intervals between
their shafts to allow of the flame passing in a zig-zag course. The columns
have also capitals, which also build closely together at the top, and serve
(if it be a steam boiler furnace) to protect the bottom of the boiler at its
front end. A fire of solid fuel may in some cases be maintained in the
furnace, and the jet or jets used as auxiliary thereto.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
. filed by the. said James Lee Norton and George Hawksley in the
.Great Seal Patent Office on the 22nd February 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME; we, JAMES
LEE NORTON, of Belle Sauvage Yard, Ludgate Hill, in the City of London,
and GEORGE HAWKSLEY, of Montrose Villas, Caledonian Road, in the County
of Middlesex, Engineer, send greeting:

page_text: One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirty-first year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the
said James Lee Norton and George Hawksley, Her special licence that we,
the said James Lee Norton and George Hawksley, our executors, administra-
tors, and assigns, or such others as we, the said James Lee Norton and
George Hawksley, our executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time, and at all times thereafter
'during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS AND MEANS FOR BURNING COMBUSTIBLE LIQUIDS, VAPOURS, AND GASES
TO OBTAIN HEAT AND LIGHT THEREFROM," upon the condition (amongst others)
that we, the said James Lee Norton and George Hawksley, our executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under our or their hands and
seals, or under the hand and seal of one of us or them, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great
Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after
the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said James Lee Norton and George
Hawksley; do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement thereof, that is to say--
It has before been proposed to burn combustible liquids by forcing such
liquids through a rose so as to obtain a very fine shower, which shower it was
then proposed to ignite. This method however is practically inefficient
because even when readily inflammable liquids are used it is necessary to
divide them very much more minutely. than has heretofore been proposed,
and so that the liquid will not fall as a shower, but will appear like smoke
near the orifice from which it issues, and at a distance from it melt away
or as it were dissolve in the air. Such a jet cannot practically be obtained
from a rose, however fine, as the smallest impurity would suffice to choke
the perforations, besides which it is necessary that the size of the orifice
itself should be adjustable to regulate the flame.
We according to our Invention produce a suitable jet by forcing the liquid
by a heavy pressure between two surfaces which are exceedingly close
together, but which can separate or be separated to discharge any impurity
from between them and to regulate the flame. We prefer that these surfaces
should be held together by a spring, and that the liquid should be compelled

page_text: to force its way between them, overcoming the spring. The orifice which we
use is formed by a conical valve and valve seat of hardened steel, and a spring.
adjustable by a screw holds the valve against the seat until it is overpowered
by the liquid striving to lift the valve and escape. When the pressure of the
liquid and the tension of the springare suitablyadjusted the requiredsmoke-likė
jet is readily obtained; it may be ignited, and if desired directed into a furnace
or against any article it is required to heat.
A side view of a burner constructed in this manner is shown at Figure 1,
and a longitudinal section of the same at Figure 2. a is a pipe, at the top
of which is formed a chamber b; its fore end has a passage bored through it
and receives the steel valve seat c; d is a conical valve also of steel fitting the
seat c; its stem d', which is square, passes back through the passage and
through a hole in the strap e; it receives a button & on its inner end, and
a coiled spring is confined between the button and the strap. The strap is
connected to a screw nut g which works in guides within the chamber b; they.
allow it to traverse to and fro, but not to rotate; h is a screw, the stem of
which passes out through the back of the chamber b, and has a hand wheel '
upon it; h is a packing of leather to prevent the escape of the liquid past the
stem h. By turning the hand wheel h the valve d is set into its seat with
more or less force, and the petroleum or liquid which is to be burnt being
admitted under pressure to the chamber b forces its way past the valve d, and
so produces the desired spray-like jet.
Figure 3 is a side view of an apparatus which may be employed to force
the petroleum or liquid into the chamber b; it consists of a force pump i,
which may be worked in any convenient manner, and which injects the liquid
into a cylinder in which a ram l works; this ram is heavily weighted; the
pressure upon it should not be less than one ton for every square inch of
surface, and it may be greater with advantage. The pipe a, Figures 1 and 2,
communicates with the cylinder k. A suitable jet such as above described,
may also be obtained by causing two or other number of minute streams of
liquid to impinge the one on the other immediately on their escape from the
orifices which form them. The streams being formed under a heavy pressure
are completely broken up and dispersed when they came in contact.
a is a cavity into
Figure 4 is a longitudinal section of such a burner.
which the liquid under pressure is forced, and b, b, are two fine passages by
which the liquid-escapes in minute streams,-and-these impinging the one on
the other break up into a smoke-like spray. Burners of this description
being liable to become choked, we prefer to arrange a number of them in
such manner that when one becomes unserviceable another may at once be

page_text: brought into use. The arrangement is shown in plan, partly in section, at
Figure 5, as will be seen. Three burners are mounted on the top of a pipe
through which the petroleum or liquid under pressure is supplied. There is
a passage on one side only of the pipe, and the liquid escapes to and issues
from the burner which is opposite to the orifice in the pipe. When 'one
burner becomes choked it is only necessary to turn the arrangement partly
round to bring another into operation, and the choked burner may be cleared
or replaced at leisure. We prefer that the orifice or orifices, whichever it may
bé, should be surrounded by a hollow cone, or similar instrument; in such
manner, that the jet may draw in air at the base or mouth of the cone and
form a rapid current through its smaller end; this current then-impinges on,
the jet just in advance of the orifice or orifices and helps to supply it with the
air necessary to combustion. We place directing vanes' within the cone to
give to the current of air a vertical movement which serves to bring it into
more intimate contact with the jet. Such a cone is represented in Figures 1
and 2, and is marked 'n; it is carried by stemi n' passing through a socket on
the pipe a and clamped therein in any desired position by a set screw so that
the cone may be set nearer to or further from the burner as may be found
desirable; n² are the spiral ribs within the cone to give a vertical movement
to the incoming current of air, or in place of a single cone two concentric
cones may be similarly employed; but we arrange their directing. vanes in
opposite directions. This second cone is also shown Figure 2; it is
marked o; it is so carried that it can be moved nearer to or further from the
first cone to regulate the quantity of air, passing between it and the cone n
and this current may be arrested by bringing the cones in contact. o' are
the spiral ribs within the cone o; they are directed the opposite way to those
in the cone n. When the burner is fitted to a furnace the arrangement
should be such that the whole or nearly the whole of the air entering the
furnace shall pass through the cones.
Figure 6 is a back view of the cones n and o. In some cases we form the
smoke-like jet in a close receiver supplied with air; the air thus impregnated
with the liquid we lead away from the receiver by pipes to burners at which it
is burnt like gas for light and heat. The liquid not absorbed or taken up by
the air is returned at once to the pump to be reinjected. Petroleum and
creosote for example are combustible liquids which may advantageously. be
used according to our Invention.
Figure 7 is a side view, and Figure 8 is a plan, of some of the apparatus
which we employ when so working. a is an axis carried in bearings on a
suitable base plate and driven by a driving band, or in other convenient

page_text: manner; it has upon it a crank a' which by a connecting rod is linked with a
piston working in the air-pump cylinder b; this cylinder is open at one end,
and the other end is in connection with inlet and outlet air passages, as is
clearly shown on a larger scale at Figure 9, which is a longitudinal section of
this cylinder. bis the inlet valve, and the outlet valve. The piston rod is.
continued through,a stufling box on the cover of the air pump cylinder, and
the plunger of the force pump d forms part of it.
:
Figure 10 is a longitudinal section of the force pump on the larger scale.
d' is the suction passage of the pump; it communicates with the small vessel
containing the petroleum or liquid to be burnt, and which is constantly supplied
to this small vessel, from a tank so arranged as to maintain a uniform level in
the small vessel. is the exit passage by which the liquid passes from the
pump; it opens into a pipe which terminates within a receiver of considerable
capacity with an adjustable valvular orifice, such as we have already fully
described in respect to Figures 1 and 2 of the Drawings, and through this
orifice the liquid issues into the receiver as a smoke-like jet.. The receiver
should be of a capacity not less than, say, 20 times that of the air-punip
cylinder. The air from the air pump is led into the cylinder by a pipe
separate from the liquid; other pipes also lead from the receiver to the
burners at which the impregnated air is to be burnt. From the bottom of
the receiver a pipe also passes to the small vessel which supplies the force
pump with liquid, so that any liquid which escapes volatilization in the
receiver may at once pass back to the force pump and be again projected
from the valvular orifice. A pipe is also provided by which a portion of
the air forced into the receiver may return from it to the air pump more or
less as the pressure in the receiver rises or falls; this may be regulated by
self-acting mechanism which it is unnecessary here to describe. The
quantity.of free air drawn in by the air pump will be lessened. according
to the quantity of air allowed to pass back from the receiver.
. A suitable burner for burning air impregnated with combustible liquids, as
above described, or it may be for burning gas or vapour, consists of a box or
case, in the top and bottom of which circular holes are bored. Into the holes
in the bottom short pieces of tube taper on the outside are fitted so that their
upper ends enter the holes in the top of the box or case, so as to be concentric
therewith. The aeriform material to be burnt is passed into the box or case
and issues by the annular openings between the sides of the holes in the top
and the tubes within them and is burnt as escapes, the tubes serving to
supply air to the interior of the flames: A vertical section of this burner is
shown at Figure 11. a is the chamber into which the gas or vapour is supplied,

page_text: and it issues at the top thereof by the annular spaces between the side of
the holes which are bored in the top of the chamber, and the tubes b
which are fitted into the bottom of the same; through these tubes baig
passes to the interior of each jet of flame.
Where ignited jets of fluid material issuing from orifices under pressure, as
above described, are used in heating steam boiler and similar furnaces, they
are, according to our Invention, caused to impinge on surfaces of fire-brick or
similar material placed on the fire-bars or furnace bed. By this means the
formation of smoke is avoided, and the boiler is relieved from the destructive
effects of an intense flame thrown directly upon a portion of it. We prefer to
employ for this purpose columns moulded in fire-clay and burnt; these columns
are formed with suitable bases so that they may build closely together at the
bottom, but leave intervals between their shafts to allow of the flame passing
in a zig-zag course. The columns have also capitals which also build closely
together at the top, and serve (if it be a steam boiler furnace) to protect the
bottom of the boiler at its front end. Fire-brick columns adapted for use in
this manner are shown in elevation at Figure 12, and in plan at Figure 13;
they stand on the fire-bars or bed of the furnace, and their bases may fit
together so as to prevent air ascending through the fire-bars. Their capitals
also fit together so as to support the boiler or evaporating pan. The columns
shown in the Drawing are adapted to support a flat-bottomed pan like a salt
pan, which they also protect from the too fierce heat of the jets of flame.
Where the boiler is of curved form the colums will vary in length, and their
capitals will be formed. accordingly. From three to five feet at the front of
the furnace may advantageously be filled with these columns.
A fire of solid fuel may in some cases be maintained in the furnace and
the jet or jets as auxiliary thereto.
In witness whereof, we, the said James Lee Norton and George
Hawksley, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Twenty-second
day of February, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and sixty-eight.
J. L. NORTON.
(L.S.)
GEO. HAWKSLEY. (L.S.)