Improved Process and Apparatus for Generating Heat.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Apr., 1889-Accepted, 15th June, 1889
Improved Process and Apparatus for Generating Heat.
I. HERBERT JOHN ALLISON, of 52 Chancery Lane, London, in the County of
Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, (which has
been communicated to me from abroad by Allen George Newman Vermilya,
Counsellor-at-Law, of Temple Court, (7 Beekman Street) in the City of New York,
State of New York, United States of America). and in what manner the same is.
to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in, and by the following
statement:-
Said invention relates to furnaces and stoves adapted to burn coal or similar fuel
and consists in the apparatus herinafter set forth and the method of utilizing it for
heating purposes.
In the majority of apparatus at present used for producing heat by the combustion
of coal, much of the gas and unconsumed matter rising from the burning coal, passes
off into the chimney without being burned, resulting in great waste.
The present theory is, that this is caused by. the lack of sufficient air or oxygen,
properly supplied, to combine with said unconsumed matter and permit the complete
utilization of the fuel, and this is to some extent true; but it is also true that not
only must sufficient air be furnished, but it must be furnished in proper distribution
and there must also be provision made for igniting the combination, to produce the
best results, and it is in the direction of these two features that my principal improve-
ments lie, the remainder consisting of conveniences for carrying out these principal
purposes.
In the drawings, Figure 1, is a side elevation of a locomotive boiler and furnace to
which my invention has been applied, part of the wall being broken away to more
clearly exhibit its peculiar features.
Figure 2, is a vertical, cross sectional view on line a, e, figure 1.
Figure 3, is a perspective view of the attachment, (partly in section) the
combination of which with the boiler constitutes my invention, as to apparatus, and by
the use of which my new process may be practised.
Figure 4, is also a perspective view, with parts broken away, of a cooking stove
fitted with said apparatus.
Figure 5, is a front elevation of the fire box of said stove.
Figure 6, is a central, vertical, cross sectional view of said fire box.
Figure 7, is a front elovation of a self feeding parlor stove tbus adapted, the novel
arrangement of the interior being in section.
Figure 8, is a plan view of the supporting disk of said stove, and
Figure 9, is a similar of the air distributor located within said stove.
F, is the fire box of the apparatus. In the figure 1, it is provided with ordinary
grate bars G, and door D, indeed is identical with well know apparatus.
Within this space and between the grate for the coal C, and the draft exit E, is
placed a support S, made of incombustible material, capable of supporting parts B,
about to be described, and arranged to permit the passage of gases from one side to
the other, here from the lower side to the upper. It may be either a perforated
diaphragm as shown, supported by two side pieces, or a series of bars running across
the fire box between which the gases may pass.
Upon this support, 1 place a quantity of incombustible material which may be
raised to a red heat without injury, formed or broken into small pieces of such shape
that when heaped or arranged together there will be interstices between them for the
passage of gas. Fire clay balls B, decreasing in size from the bottom to the top of
the mass are preferable.
Through this mass B, conduits A¹, extend, usually from one side to the other and

page_text: connected at the ends by a general conduit A, opening into A', and also into the
outer air or a connection leading thereto (here the the ash pit). These connections A',
are perforated, preferably at the sides, with small apertures a, opening within the
mass B, in what I term the combining chamber of the apparatus.
Such arrangement ensures an even and general distribution of air through the
mass B, which may be controlled by a damper if desired, as shown in figure 7. It is
found best to introduce air directly into the mass B, and there combine it with the
gases and matter passing through the interstices of said mass from s, as in this way a
very small quantity of air is met by a very small quantity of gas in the interstice,
their combination is instantaneous, perfect and easily regulated as to proportions,
with no danger of explosion when ignited; when if air was forced into a considerable
open space, there combined with said gases and then passed through a heated mass,
the combination would he imperfect, the regulation difficult and the operation attended
with some degree of danger.
In locomotive and marine boilers, I usually cover the mass B, with a second
perforated diaphragm S1, for the purpose of preventing B, from being drawn out of
the stack by the great draft.
The fuel may be introduced through door D, in the usual manner.
The arrangement in figures 4, 5, and 6, is substantially similar, the variation being
in making the grate or fire basket in the form of a drawer, that it may be opened to
add fuel, and the conduit A, is extended along the front and rear; but it might
readily be supplied through a door as is a furnace or arranged with a slanting grate
having an opening for the introduction of fuel, above it.
In figuro 7, to adapt the apparatus to a self feeder, a disk or damper D¹, upon a
short post or rod R, is provided and above this a cone C, having openings at the
base, registering with those of D', and others in its side walls. Its base projects
sufficiently to sustain a circular grate G, which, as well as D¹, I provide with
handles H. From the walls of the stove, I suspend a circular double lining which
forms an air conduit A2, and other conduits A³, A4, cross wise and circular, all
connecting, are combined therewith.
1
A², is provided with a damper d, preferably upon its outer wall, that it may not
permit draft from the fire, through A2; and its base wall projects inward forming
rim which supports the hollow, truncated cone shaped, perforated support S², which
surrounds the reservoir for the coal and supports the mass B, already described,
substantially as S, does in the other forms of apparatus.
The whole apparatus might be supported from the bottom or top or by a
tripod suspended from lugs on the frame; but I prefer the arrangement shown and
I also prefer to have the grate somewhat lower than the base of conduit A²,
as the formation of clinker is thereby largely avoided and if any is formed it may be
easily removed.
Fuel being introduced into its appropriate place and fired, the heat therefrom
passes through s, and the interstices between B, in its natural course, and quickly
raises them to a higher temperature; air being admitted through its conduits,
combines with the gases and particles of unconsumed matter passing between B,
the combination is instantly ignited by the heat of B, and produces more heat,
every particle of fuel being thereby consumed and none permitted to escape and be
wasted.
When fresh fuel is added, in ordinary apparatus, much smoke arises and there is
a temporary lowering of the temperature, but in my apparatus what would result in
smoke, being combined with air in the combining chamber and ignited by the still
highly heated mass B, is consumed and no smoke results, but a great saving of fuel ;
then too, the mass of B, once heated, prevents the rapid variation of the temperature,
a result much to be desired.
I find it desirable to have the balls B, of larger size next the coal space than farther
from it, as I thereby permit free combination at the bottom and, as it were, check
the escape at the top or toward it, sufficiently to ensure the ignition of the entire
combined fuel and air.

page_text: I have found by actual experiment that a high degree of heat may be maintained
for a much longer period with a given quantity of coal in this apparatus, used in
this method, than in any other known to me, and for many purposes, such as broiling,
the heat from the incandescent mass B, is much superior to that obtained directly
from a body of consuming coal.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
Ilaim is:
1. The combination in a furnace for burning carbonaceous material, of a chamber
subdivided by perforated hollow partitions, whereby the air is finely divided and
heated, said chamber having a perforated bottom adapted to hold incombustible
material, and means for heating, conveying and distributing air to the same as
set forth.
2. The combination in a furnace for burning carbonaceous material, of a mass of
refractory incombustible material, perforated air chambers located within the
body of said material, a support for said material and means for supplying air
thereto and evenly distributing the same, substantially as set forth.
3. The combination in a furnace, of a perforated plate over the fuel, a mass of
refractory incombustible material supported thereby, an air passage into the mass
of said material above said plate and side air passages opening into said first passage,
substantially as set forth.
4. The combination in a furnace for burning carbonaceous material, of a per-
forated plate over the fuel, a mass of refractory material supported on said plate,
a second perforated plate over said mass and means for supplying air and evenly
distributing it through said mass, whereby all the gases are consumed and the escape
of sparks prevented, substantially as set forth.
5. The combination in a furnace, of a mass of refractory incombustible material
located in the line of draft, means for supporting said material, and air supply
chambers located within said mass for evenly distributing air therein, snbstantially
as set forth.
6. In a heating apparatus, the combination of the fuel space and grate, an
opening for the introduction of fuel, apertures for the introduction of air, a
combining chamber beyond the fuel space but in the line of draft, partially filled
with incombustible material with interstices between the pieces, supports for said
material, air inlets leading into the space occupied by said material, separately
from the gas inlets and a draft passage beyond said material, substantially as
set forth.
7. In a furnace, the combination of a mass of refractory incombustible material
having interstices therethrough and located in the line of draft, whereby the gaseous
products of combustion pass into said interstices, a support for said material and
means for separately supplying and evenly distributing air to and throughout said
interstices, substantially as set forth.
8. The process of producing heat by igniting a mass of fuel, passing the flame,
gas and unconsumed particles between the interstices of small pieces of incom-
bustible material, introducing air by several passages, evenly and generally through-
out said interstices, there combining it with the unconsumed fuel and igniting the
combined mixture, substantially as set forth.
9. The process of producing heat by igniting a mass of fuel, passing the uncon-
sumed particles thereof between small pieces of incombustible material which decrease
in size from the point nearest the fuel, and which material is thereby highly heated,
introducing air by separate passages evenly and generally throughout the interstices
between said pieces, there combining it with the unconsumed particles of fuel and
igniting the combination by the heat of said pieces, substantially as set forth.
10. The process of burning carbonaceous material by passing the products of
combustion through a highly heated mass of refractory incombustible material,

page_text: introducing air finely divided, into said mass so that it is evenly and generally
distributed throughout the same and in this state therein meets and mingles with the
products of combustion, substantially as set forth.
ALLISON BROS.,
Agents for the Applicant.