IMPROVEMENTS IN OBTAINING PERFECT COMBUSTION AND IN APPA- BATUS RELATING THERETO, THE SAME BEING APPLICABLE TO EVERY DESCRIPTION OF FURNACE AND FIRE-PLACE, AS ALSO TO OTHER PURPOSES WHERE INFLAMMABLE MATTER OR MATERIAL IS MADEUSE OF
Year: 1849

page_text: WILSON AND PIDDING'S SPECIFICATION.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, the said
JAMES GODFREY WILSON, Engineer, of Chelsea, and WILLIAM PIDDING, Of
Elizabeth Street, Pimlico, both in the County of Middlesex, send grecting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at Westminster,
the Third day of April, in the twelfth year of Her reign, did give and grant
unto us, the said James Godfrey Wilson and William Pidding, our exors,
admors, and assigns, Her especial license, full power, sole privilege and
authority, that we, the said James Godfrey Wilson and William Pidding, our
exors, adñiors, and assigns, and such others as we, the said James Godfrey
Wilson and William Pidding, our exors, adiñors, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times hereafter
during the term of years therein mentioned, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-
upon-Tweed, and in the Islands of Guernsey, Jersey, Alderney, Sark, and
Man, and also in all Her said Majesty's Colonies and Plantations abroad, our
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN OBTAINING PERFECT COMBUSTION AND IN APPA-
BATUS RELATING THERETO, THE SAME BEING APPLICABLE TO EVERY DESCRIPTION OF
FURNACE AND FIRE-PLACE, AS ALSO TO OTHER PURPOSES WHERE INFLAMMABLE
MATTER OR MATERIAL IS MADE USE OF;" in which said Letters Patent there
is contained a proviso, that we, the said James Godfrey Wilson and William
Pidding, shall cause a particular description of the nature of our said Inven-

page_text: tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, by an instrument in
writing under our hands and seals, to be enrolled in Her said Majesty's High
Court of Chancery within six calendar months next and immediately after the
date of the said in part recited Letters Patent, reference being thereunto had,
will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, we, the said
James Godfrey Wilson and William Pidding, do hereby declare the nature of
our Invention, and the manner in which the same is to be performed, are
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement
thereof, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the
figures and letters marked thereon, that is to say :-
Our Invention consists, firstly, in the construction and arrangement of appa-
ratus (shewn in Sheet A of the Drawings annexed hereto and herein explained)
applicable to steam engine boiler and other furnaces, whether stationary or
otherwise, for the purpose of promoting and assisting combustion of the fuel,
by admitting, diffusing, and intermixing atmospheric air in jets or streams into
and amongst the body of fuel under combustion. The mode of supplying the
atmospheric air we prefer should be by an arrangement with the external
portion of any part of the building where the apparatus may be applied.
Secondly, in the arrangement of apparatus of a like nature and character
applicable to domestic stoves and grates, for the purpose of promoting and
assisting combustion of fuel, as shewn in Sheet B of the Drawings annexed
and herein explained.
Thirdly, in the arrangement of apparatus applicable to gas burners and oil
and spirit lamps, for the promotion and assistance of the combustion of the
inflammable matter or fluid used therein (as shewn in Sheet B of the Draw-
ings annexed hereto, and herein-after explained), by admitting and intermixing
into the same or the result of the same while under combustion, streams or
jets of the atmospheric air.
. Fourthly, in the arranging and introducing an air passage in the interior or
centre of wax, composition, or other description of candles which are made in
moulds.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
- Figure 1 in 'Sheet A of the Drawings hereunto annexed represents a
sectional elevation in part of an ordinary steam boiler, with a side view in
elevation of the apparatus or moveable air feeders and distributors shewn in
the furnace; Figure 2 is another view in plan of part of the same arrange-
ments; Figure 5 is a plan of a portion of the furnace bars, shewing the
air distributors. The letters or figures of reference used to describe this

page_text: arrangement refer to the same parts in the various Figures in this Sheet.
a, a, are the ordinary bearing bars; b, the furnace bar; c, c, are the hollow
air feeders; f, f, f, are the hollow air distributors, which have small holes
drilled in them (as shewn); d, d, are cams; e is a shaft or spindle upon which
the said cams are fixed; 9 is the supply pipe, which feeds or supplies the air
to the feeders c, c. The application and action may be thus described :-
The pipe g is fixed in the brickwork, one end being stopped up, a recess in
the brickwork under the bridge being left for the purpose of fixing on the air
feeders c.
The pipe 9 has holes in the same, as shewn at Figure 7, for the
purpose of allowing the air to pass into the feeders c, c. The pipe g is con-
tinued in length to any convenient place or position outside the building, for
the purpose of procuring the supply of atmospheric air, and the mouth of the
same may be enlarged or made trumpet-mouthed. A regulating valve may
be introduced into the pipe, so that the supply of atmospheric air may be
under controul, and increased or diminished, as occasion may require. The
fire bars b, b, are kept in their place by the ends fitting on lugs cast in the
bearing bars d. The air feeders c, c, fit freely on the pipe g, with their mouth
or hollow part over the holes (shewn in Figure 7), and are kept in their
place by the collars on either side i, i, which are fixed on the pipe. The air
feeders c, c, are to be made solid at the end as far as marked by the red line,
that their weight may assist the action of falling as the cam recedes. The
air distributor f, f, are hollow and have small holes drilled in them, and are
fitted on the feeder over a sinall nozzle cast on the same, as shewn at Figure 6.
The spindle or shaft e is to be fixed in suitable bearings, and the drum h fixed
on same is to be outside the brickwork, and may be driven at a slow motion
by connection from the steam or other power on the premises. The cams
d, d, d, which are grooved or made hollow on their outer edge, as shewn,
Figure 2, for the purpose of fitting better the bottom edge of the air feeders,
are fixed on the shaft e, with their largest parts or points alternately reversed
and-opposite to each other, as shewn, Figure 2, and at such distances as may
be necessary, and in accordance with the number of air feeders to be fitted
into the furnace. Figures 6 a shew the sectional shape preferred for the air
feeders. In Figure 5 the air feeders are shewn introduced alternately with
the furnace bars, but they may be so arranged as to be introduced after every
second bar, or at such distances as may be deemed expedient; their distance
apart may be in some cases regulated by the nature of the fuel and construc-
tion or nature of the furnace. By the revolutions of the cams d, d, fixed on
the shaft 2, the air feeders are raised and lowered, and by this action they
distribute into and amongst the body of the fuel atmospheric air in quantity

page_text: under regulation by means of the regulating valve before mentioned to be
introduced into the pipe 9, sufficient to promote and assist combustion; the
action of the air feeders being raised and lowered by the revolution of the
cams, will to an extent prevent their being affected by the fire, and will by
disturbing and breaking up the fuel under combustion save great labour of
stoking. It may be found advisable, under some circumstances where this
apparatus is applied, to close up the mouth of the ash pit, and thus prevent
the admission of the air by any other means than through the air feeders.
Figure 3 in Sheet A of the said Drawings is a side view in elevation of an
air feeder and distributor fixed. Figure 4 is an end view in elevation of the
same arrangement. a, a, are the ordinary bearing bars; b, the ordinary fire
bars; c, c, are the air feeders and distributors, made hollow, blank at one end,
as shewn by red dotted line, Figure 3, and by the sectional view of c,
Figure 4, having holes drilled in same, and which fit into nozzle in the pipe g,
joint tight; is the pipe to supply the atmospheric air to the feeders c, c.
Figure 8 shews a part of the bearing bar cast with notches in same to receive
the air feeders. The pipe g is to be stopped up at one end, the other end is
to be carried to some convenient position outside the building, and in every
respect the arrangements for admitting the atmospheric air are to be similar
to those before described. Figure 9 is a sketch of an air feeder made similar
to that shewn on Figure 3, but having its top edge curved; the curves may
be more or less than shewn, and in some furnaces this may be preferable.
If found advisable under peculiar circumstances to heat the air before passing
into the mass of combustible material to a greater degree than can be done
by the arrangements herein shewn, the same may be effected by coiling a
portion of the pipe g in the flue, or by any of the arrangements ordinarily in
use for heating air to be admitted into furnaces, and which arrangements are
well known. Figures 10 and 11 are views in plan and section of another
arrangement for feeding and distributing atmospheric air amongst inflammable
material or matter. j is a hollow air feeder, with horns or tubes projecting
therefrom, on to which the hollow air distributor k are fitted, small holes being
drilled in the same; 7 is a pipe for feeding or supplying the atmospheric air
to j, bolted into the flange of the same; m is a shaft or spindle bolted into
the opposite flange of j; the apparatus is to be fixed in bearings, the pipe l
lying in one and the shaft m in the other, and the same is to be given motion
to by a band passed over the drum n, or by any suitable arrangement. Where
the same is applied to furnaces, the same arrangements with respect to
the fire bars and regulating the supply of air, as before described, are to be
made. Those portions of the apparatus (herein described) which are in imme-

page_text: diate contact with the heat of the fuel we prefer to be made of chilled cast
iron, or in some cases the castings may be rendered malleable or toughened
by processes well known; but where necessary and practicable, we intend that
all parts of the apparatus which may be more immediately affected by intensity
of heat shall be covered or coated with fine clay or some vitreous material not
speedily affected by being subject to heat.
We will now describe the application of our improvements to domestic
or house stoves and fire grates. Figure 1 of Sheet B of the Drawings
hereunto annexed is a view in plan of a portion of an ordinary stove or
grate; and Figure 2, same Sheet, is an elevation in part of same, shewing
in both the apparatus or improvement applied; Figure 5 is a view plan of the
air feeder shewn at Figure 2; Figures 3, 4, 6, and 7, in the same Sheet B,
are variations in the mode of application of the same. The same letters
or figures of reference made use of to describe the said arrangements in
Sheet B refer to the same parts in the various Figures. a is a bottom of a
stove or grate with holes or openings to admit the air distributors to pass
through; b, b, is the air feeder; c, c, is the air distributor; d is the feed pipe,
partly shewn,. for supplying the atmospheric air. The air feeders b, b, which
may be constructed of any description of metal or pottery ware, is to fixed
under the ordinary bottom of the stove or grate by small brackets or any
convenient means. The pipe or tube d, for feeding the atmospheric air, which
may be of metal or any flexible material, such as gutta percha, (except at the
two extremities, which must be of metal,) is attached to the nozzle of b, and
passes in the most convenient manner through the external wall of the room
or building, for the purpose of supplying the atmospheric air from the outside
of the apartment or building. The most convenient mode would be to pass the
tube or pipe under the floors or behind the skirting board, or to pass it round
the ceiling of the apartment. The opening or mouth-piece in the external wall
might be somewhat similar to an air-brick, but must be larger than the pipe
or tube, having a nozzle, to which the same may be attached. The air dis-
tributors c, c, c, which are made hollow, and have small holes drilled in same,
are made to fit into the air feeders b, b, as shewn by the sectional view of the
same at =, in Figure 2, and the joints made air-tight. It will be seen that
the air distributors c have a shoulder at the bottom, upon which the bottom
of the grate a rests; the bottom a being fastened, or by its weight thus keeps
the same in their place. A regulating valve is to be introduced into the feed
pipe d, for the purpose of regulating the supply of air; the same description
of metal as before described for the furnace arrangements it will be preferable
to use for those parts likely to be most affected by the heat. Figures 3, plan,

page_text: and 4, elevation (Sheet B), shew another arrangement of air feeders which
may be applied. o.is a feed pipe; p, p, p, are air feeders into which the air
distributors are to be fitted. The other arrangements are to be as before
described. Figures 6 and 7, same Sheet, shew a plan of introducing a back
to the grate, made partly hollow, as shewn by red lines; the feed pipe would be
attached to the nozzle of the hollow back q, and the air distributors which
would be hollow, as before described, but the shape shewn in the side view
Figure 7, and would be fastened on over the holes in the hollow back, shewn
in Figure 6. These arrangements, subject to modification to suit various forms,
are applicable to every description of domestic stove or grate, the number of
air distributors depending upon the size of the same.
We will now describe that portion of our Invention which relates and is
applicable to gas burners or consumers, as also to oil and spirit lamps. Figures
8, 9, and 14, in Sheet B of the Drawings annexed hereto, represent parts of gas
burners with the air feeder and distributor applied to the same. The letters
used to describe the parts are the same to each of the Figures. Figure 8 is a
plan, and Figure 9 is a sectional elevation of the same. b is the gas burner;.
c, the air distributor, which is a hollow ring, having connection with a small tube
h inside the stem or branch of the gas burner; fine holes are drilled round the
outer edge, or that part coming in contact with the flame of the hollow ring c,
for the purpose of allowing the air to pass out. The tube h, which may be of
metal or any flexible material, is to be conducted through the inside of the stem.
or branch of the gas burner where the same is large enough (and outside wher
otherwise), and continued in the most convenient manner through the outer
wall of the apartment, or otherwise into the open air, for the purpose of supply-
ing the atmospheric air to the gas or other matter under combustion. A
regulating cock is to be introduced into the tube h, by which the supply of
atmospheric air may be regulated. Figures 14 and 15 represent a plan and
section of a gas burner where the hollow ring or air distributor encircles the
same. e is the gas burner; f is the air distributor; the same is fed by the
tube 9 passing up the outside of the burner. Figure 10 is a plan, and
Figure 12 a section of a part of a lamp burner, shewing the part containing
the wick and the air distributor attached. a is the wick; b, the hollow ring
or air distributor. The other arrangements are precisely similar to those
described for the gas burners. Figure 11 represents in plan the wick of a
lamp encircled by the hollow ring or air feeder; Figure 13, section of same.
a is the wick of the lamp; b, the hollow metal ring. Fige 16, Sheet of Draw-
ings B, shews another form of air feeder applicable to any description of lamp
or gas burner. The hollow air distributors should be of metal capable of standing

page_text: great heat, and, may be constructed in such form as is most suitable for the
lamps or gas burners they have to be applied to.
That portion of our Invention which relates to forming air passages in candles
made in moulds is illustrated by Figure 17, in Sheet B of the Drawings.
a is the candle; b, the wick; c, the air passage, which may be formed by the
introduction of a wire or mandrill, upon which the wick may be plaited, sure
wire remaining in the wick until the candle is finished; when the same is
withdrawn, a hole or air passage will remain, which will admit the air into the
centre of the flame of the candle,and thus assist combustion. A small tube
should pass from the outside of the candlestick or lamp into the bottom of the
hole in the candle as a means of conveying the air.
.:
Having thus described the nature of our Invention, and the manner or mode
in which the same is to be performed, we would have it understood that we do
not confine ourselves to the details herein described, so long as the peculiar
character and features of either part of our Invention be retained; but what
we claim is,-
First, the mode or modes of constructing and arranging of apparatus as
herein described and applicable to steam boiler and other furnaces, whereby
the combustion of the fuel is assisted and more perfectly obtained by the
introduction and distribution of jets or streams of atmospheric air in and
amongst the fuel under coinbustion.
Secondly, the arranging and construction of apparatus applicable to domestic
stoves and fire grates, as described herein, whereby the combustion is assisted
and more perfectly obtained by the admission and distribution of jets or
streams of atmospheric air in and amongst the fuel under combustion.
Thirdly, the mode or modes of arranging a hollow air feeder or distributor
in connection with gas burners or oil and spirit lamps, whereby the combustion
is assisted and made more perfect by the admission and mixing of jets or
streams of atmospheric air into and amongst the flame of the fluid or matter
while under combustion.
Fourthly, the introduction of air passages formed in the centre of the wicks
of candles made in moulds, as herein described, for the purpose of aiding
combustion..
In witness whereof, I, the said James Godfrey Wilson, one of the said
parties, have, on behalf of both the said parties, hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Third day of October, One thousand eight hundred and
forty-nine
JAMES GODFREY (L.s.) WILSON.

page_text: AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Third day of October, in the
year of our Lord 1849, the aforesaid James Godfrey Wilson came before our
said Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification
aforesaid, and all and everything therein contained and specified, in form
above written. And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped according to
the tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.