IMPROVEMENTS IN REGENERATIVE FURNACEO
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Christian August Wilhelm Schön of Hamburg in the
Empire of Germany for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN REGENERATIVE
FURNACEO "
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Christian August Wilhelm
Schön at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th August
1882.
CHRISTIAN AUGUST WILHELM SCHÖN of Hamburg in the Empire of Germany.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN REGENERATIVE FURNACES'
"
The Gas produced in a Generator by any well known process and by means of
ordinary fuel is caused to pass therefrom through a bell shaped reversible valve
into and along a long channel which is separated throughout its whole length from
a similar channel for supplying fresh air, by a dividing wall of brick-As the gas is
in a heated state the dividing wall becomes hot and the air of the air channel
entering the latter at a point near the commencement of the gas channel takes up
the heat from the dividing wall and becomes at last very hot. At the end of the
Gas channel there is formed an oblique wall by which the stream of gas is forced
to rise. The air channel is bent at its extreme end so as to terminate at the other
side of the above mentioned wall and the heated air is therefore forced to rise also-
These two upwardly directed streams of gas and hot air meet at the top of the
oblique wall become thoroughly mixed and ignite on entering the combustion
chamber-The heat generated in this way is very intense and the flames very
pure as all impurities of the gas and air are secreted or deposited in the channels
owing to the long distance traversed through them-From the combustion chamber
the products of combustion are carried by a third channel to a chimney which
takes up also the surplus of the heated gases of the generator-The draught of
the chimney is regulated by a slide or damper between the chimney and the
generator
As it is desirable to change the course of the gases when required, a second set
of channels, in all parts similar to that described, is arranged in connection and in

page_text: close proximity with it-This second gas channel begins from the reversible valve
and terminates under the combustion chamber at a spot corresponding to the above
mentioned gas channel. An air channel is arranged likewise alongside of the gas
channel, so that when the gas and air follow these channels, they enter the com-
bustion chamber in the same manner as previously-In order to give to the gas
and air this new direction the communication between the generator and the first
gas channel is interrupted and established as required between the generator and
the second gas channel by the reversible valve while by reversing a register the
air is diverted into the second air channel, which served before as the above
mentioned third channel, to lead from the combustion chamber to the chimney-
The first air channel is now caused to conduct the products of combustion from the
combustion chamber into the chimney
The reversible valve is constructed in the shape of a bell extending over the
openings of the two gas channels-By dropping one of the two suitably constructed
dishes with downward flange alternately over one of these openings, where the joint
is established by water, the respective opening is closed, and the other opened,
thereby directing the gases either to the second or first gas channel as required
The air register may be made of any ordinary form or construction.

page_text: Fig: 1 is a horizontal section shewing the entire apparatus Fig: 2 is a vertical
section of the same Fig: 3 is a transverse section In figures 4 and 5 is represented
on an enlarged scale the bell shaped tank or gas chamber.
A is one of the generators of ordinary construction from which the heated gases
or products of combustion pass through the bell shaped tank B which acts as a
changer of the direction of the course of such gases as hereinafter described As
shewn in fig: 1 these gases pass through the flue in the direction of the arrows a
up to the diaphragm e and there become mixed with the air which is free to enter
at the valve m and through the flue b-When the valves m and n are in the
position shewn in fig 1 the products of combustion are free to escape through the
Hlues a b¹ into the chimney g
Instead of the "regenerative chambers" usually employed for conveying the
mixture of gas and air into the combustion chamber. I cause the gas and air to be
conducted in such a manner as to meet in opposite directions within a diaphragm e
arranged obliquely in the flue as shewn in fig: 1.
At first the gas from the generator A will enter into the flue a as indicated by
arrows and air will enter at l-Before the gas and air unite within the diaphragın e
the air becomes heated by the said diaphragm-It will be evident that on changing
the inlet the heated products of combustion would escape through the gas flue into
the chimney and that the walls of the air flue would not become sufficiently
heated To obviate this I have arranged a valve n of any suitable construction
within the flue through which the mixture of gas and air is caused to pass-By
closing such valve either entirely or partly the waste heat is prevented from
escaping in a proportionate degree through the gas flue and is caused to pass
through the air flue-When it is inconvenient toconstruct the air and gas flues in
a long straight line they may be constructed of a curvilinear form as shewn by

page_text: dotted lines in fig: 1 so as to give to the walls the greatest amount of surface for
retaining the heat of the waste gas and for utilizing the same in its turn
The bell shaped tank or gas changer shewn in figures 4 and 5 is arranged directly
behind the generator from which the gas enters through the opening A fig: 4
passing into the bell C from which it escapes according to the position of the bell
into one of the flues leading to the melting pot-In the arrangement shewn in
fig: 1 the gas from the generator A passes through the bell B and euters the flue a
flowing up to the melting pot D from whence it escapes through the flues b' or a'-
Any soot and tarry matter that may adhere within the flues will be at once burned
on changing the bell whereby the exhaust flues a¹ b¹ will be caused to act as
feed pipes and the feed pipes or entrance flues ab as exhaust flues.
The bell shaped gas chamber is constructed as follows: E is a circular channel
with a cross F (fig: 5) a constant flow of water entering on one side of such
channel and flowing out at the opposite side Four sector-shaped openings are
formed by the said cross-The gas from the generator enters through the opening A
and escapes alternately through one of the openings B B' to the melting pot, the
waste gas returns through the opening A' and thence passes to the chimney
Above the channel E the bell C is arranged to dip into the water of the said
channel E-The bell is divided by a hollow diaphragm through which water is
continually flowing from the inlet in order to prevent the bell from being burned
by the hot gas the steam or vapour being free to escape upwards-Around the
channel E are arranged pillars p p carrying sheaves upon which rests a cast iron
ring with diagonal ribs-A vertical shaft t passes through the centre of the said
ring and to this shaft the bell C is connected By depressing the weighted lever q
the vertical shaft t and the bell C are lifted out of the water in the channel E and
the bell with its upper ring o may be turned until the diaphragm coincides with the
cross F F-The bell is then again lowered and caused to dip into the water of the
circular channel E when the opening A will be brought into communication with
the opening B' and B with the opening A¹ so that the heated gas will be
forced to pass through the flue a' while the waste gas escapes through the flue a
fig: 1.
In order to effect an immediate and complete shutting off of the opening A figures 4
and 5 one quarter of the bell cover is arranged to fit tightly in the manner of a
manhole door on unscrewing the nut J the quadrant will fall down and shut off
the openings
For this purpose the bell must first be brought into such a position that the
quadrant lid may be over the opening A-The bell accordingly must be turned
half a circle on the position shewn in fig: The quadrant lid is made tight in
the bell cover by a luting of sand or water which prevents the gas from escaping
when the said quadrant lid is down its lower edge dips into the water of the
channel E and cross F thereby preventing the entrance of the gas from the
generator-The generation of gas will in consequence be immediately stopped but
as soon as the lid is lifted again there will be a fresh developement of gas in the
generator even if it had ceased for several days
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention and the manner in
which the same is to be performed I hereby declare that what I claim as of my
Invention is
First The combination of parts consisting of a heat generator or generators a
bell shaped reversible valve for directing the course of the heated gas and valve for
the air extended channels or flues for the passage of the gas and air an oblique or
inclined wall or diaphragm for mixing the heated gas and air previous to their
entering the combustion chamber or melting pot and a third channel or flue (with
a regulating valve in it) leading to the chimney all arranged so as to be capable of
acting in the manner substantially as described.
Secondly The combination with the above named apparatus of corresponding
gas aud air channels or flues adapted to receive the heated gas and air from the

page_text: reversible valve (when this has been turned as required) and pass them to the
diaphragm or mixer so as in an ignited state to enter the combustion chamber or
melting pot Also for giving this new direction to the gas and air the use of a
valve for closing the communication between the heat generator and the first
named gas channel or flue and opening it with the second named and also the use
of a register or valve for changing the course of the air all arranged so as to be
capable of acting substantially in the manner described
Thirdly-The use of extended gas and air channels or flues whether formed in a
straight line or in curves substantially as and for the purpose described.
And lastly the general construction of the bell shaped reversible valve as
represented and described and as adapted for use in combination with the heating
apparatus as and for the purpose or purposes substantially as described.
In witness whereof I the said Christian August Wilhelm Schön have hereunto
set my hand and seal the twentieth day of February in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty three.