Improved Method of and Apparatus for Treating Smoke and Gases from Furnaces and other Fires.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Jan. 1891
Complete Specification Left, 10th Sept., 1891-Accepted, 10th Oct., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Method of and Apparatus for Treating Smoke and Gases
from Furnaces and other Fires.
I, ALFRED SOUTH DAVY Fulwood Road, Sheffield, in the County of York,
Manager of Steel Works, do hereby declare the nature of my invention to be
as follows:
This invention relates to an improved method, (and apparatus used therein)
whereby the smoke and gases arising from the fire of a boiler furnace, or other
furnace or fire, are decomposed by water.
In carrying out the invention I propose to use a fan of special construction, in
combination and with its revolving parts, or some of them, charged with water.
The fan may revolve horizontally or vertically, and smoke from the furnace
flue is drawn in and forced through, like air through an ordinary fan.
The fan is so constructed that when at work the smoke, gases, and water are
driven outward by centrifugal force against the interior of the casing which
surrounds the disc or vanes of the fan, the specific gravity of the water causing it
to pass through the smoke and gases, and to form into spray, which mixes with
and decomposes the smoke and gases, any solid matter contained therein being
precipitated.
I propose to construct the fan with a hollow spindle or axle, made sufficiently
long to enable the bearings to be outside the casing, and I divide the interior of
the spindle throughout its length into two or more sections or compartments,
which are charged with water in any convenient manner, the object of the
division being to cause the water in the spindle to be carried round with it.
Midway in the spindle, or in a line with the vanes, or in the arms of the vanes,
or in the disc, as the case may be, I provide a number of small holes communi-
cating with the interior of the hollow spindle, through which when the fan is at
work, the water is thrown out by centrifugal force, and driven against the
casing.
I may, either in combination with the method above described, or otherwise,
admit water through the casing so as to impinge direct upon the vanes, or the
casing may be constructed to form a reservoir for water at the bottom, so that the
tips of the vanes will dip slightly into it as they revolve.
I
Instead of driving the fan in any ordinary manner, may in some cases utilize
the draught from the chimney to give the desired rotary motion by exhaustion.
The fan may be fixed in any convenient position between the furnace and the
chimney stack, and it will be understood that the heated gases will not interfere
with the working of the fan, as its moving parts when at work, will practically be
surrounded by water.
The water escapes from the bottom of the casing, the solid matter being
deposited in the discharge pipe, provision being made for its easy removal.
The water for charging the hollow spindle need not necessarily be under
pressure, as the area of the central hole is considerably reduced at each end, and
centrifugal force will cause the water to assume the form of a tube; an ordinary
tap may therefore be used to admit the water into the end of the spindle, without a
stuffing box; but in some cases it may be desirable to use water under pressure.
when I should make the connection between the water supply pipe and the end of
fan spindle through a gland or stuffing box.
ROBT. F. DRURY, Fel. Inst. P.A.,
Bank Buildings, George Street, Sheffield, Agent for Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Method of and Apparatus for Treating Smoke and Gases
from Furnaces and other Fires.
I, ALFRED SOUTH DAVY Fulwood Road, Sheffield, in the County of York,
Manager of Steel Works, 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 :-
This invention relates to an improved method, and to the apparatus used therein,
whereby the smoke and gases arising from the fire of a boiler furnace, or other
furnace or fire, are decomposed by water.
In carrying out the invention I propose to use a fan of special construction and
having some of its revolving parts charged with water.
And in order that the invention may be clearly understood and defined, I
annex a sheet of drawings illustrating the construction of the axle and vanes of
the special fan.
Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of the axle and vanes of fan.
Fig. 2 is a section of the axle (enlarged).
The fan may revolve horizontally or vertically and smoke from the furnace to
which it is applied is drawn into and forced through the fan, in a manner similar
to air through an ordinary fan, and it is so constructed that when it works the
smoke, gases, and water supplied to the fan are driven outward by centrifugal
force, against the interior of the casing which surrounds the disc or vanes of the
fan, the specific gravity of the water causing it to pass through the smoke and
gases, and to form into spray which mixes with and decomposes the smoke and
gases, any solid matter contained therein being precipitated.
I construct the fan with a hollow or tubular spindle or axle A, made sufficiently
long to enable the bearings to be outside the casing, the position of which is
indicated in Fig. 1 by the letter B, and I divide the interior of the spindle
preferably throughout its entire length, by means of longitudinal ribs C, into two
or more sections which are continuously charged with water in any convenient
manner, the object or use of the longitudinal ribs being to cause the water in the
spindle to be carried round when the spindle revolves.
Midway in the spindle, being the part that is enclosed in the casing B, or in a
line with the vanes D, or in the arms E of the vanes, or in the disc or boss F,
either singly or in combination, I provide a number of holes H, which communi-
cate with the interior of the spindle and form waterways, through which when the
fan is at work the water is projected by centrifugal force and driven against the
interior of the casing B, in such a manner as to form it into spray.
Water may also be admitted through the casing so as to impinge upon the
revolving vanes, or the bottom of the casing may form a reservoir for water, into
which the tips of the vanes would dip as they revolve.
The fan may be driven by any suitable means, or in some cases it may be caused
to rotate by exhaustion, caused by the draught from the chimney with which it is
in communication.
The fan may be fixed in any convenient position in the flue, or smoke passage,
between the furnace and the chimney stack, and it must be understood that the
heated gases passing through will not interfere with the effective working of the
fan, as its moving parts will practically be covered with water when the fan is at
work.
The said water escapes from the bottom of the casing, the solid matter being
deposited in a discharge pipe, or reservoir and a suitable provision is made for its
easy removal.
The water for charging the hollow spindle need not necessarily be under pressure,
as the area of the entrance or central hole J at each end is of less diameter than

page_text: the interior, and when the spindle is rotating centrifugal force will cause the
water to assume a more or less tubular form, and thus an ordinary tap may be used
to admit the water at one or both ends of the spindle without a stuffing box, but
where it is desirable to use water under pressure, I should make the connection
between the water supply pipe and the end of fan spindle, through a gland or
stuffing box.
Instead of the entrance or central hole J opening abruptly from its small
diameter into the full internal diameter of the axle, it may be made conical or to
gradually increase in diameter towards the central portion where the perforations
are situated, this form causing the water to flow from the ends towards the centre.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1-The improved method of treating smoke and gases from furnaces and other
fires, by causing them to pass through a revolving fan, blower or exhauster, in the
interior of which they are permeated by water in the form of spray by which
they become decomposed, and by which the solid matters are precipitated, and
carried off, substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated.
2 A fan, blower or exhauster for the treatment of smoke and gases from
furnaces and other fires, and through which the said smoke and gases are drawn,
having a hollow or tubular vane spindle, partially divided longitudinally by ribs,
and perforated with holes for the passage and ejection of water into the casing by
centrifugal force, and with or without additional holes through the boss, and arms
of the vanes substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated.
3-A fan, blower or exhauster for the treatment of smoke and gases from
furnaces and other fires, having openings or suitable entrances for water to be
supplied through the casing into the interior, which impinging upon or being
caught by the revolving vanes will be dashed into spray for the purpose specified
and substantially as herein before described and illustrated.
Dated the 7th day of September 1891.
ROBT. F. DRURY, Fel. Inst. P.A.,
Bank Buildings, George Street, Sheffield, Agent for Applicant.