IMPROVEMENTS IN SMOKE CONSUMING APPARATUS AND IN MACHINERY FOR MAKING SUCH APPARATUS."
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Jean Baptiste Pierre Alfred Thierry, of No. 37, Rue de la
Tour Passy, in the City of Paris, a Civil Engineer, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN SMOKE CONSUMING APPARATUS AND IN MACHINERY FOR
MAKING SUCH APPARATUS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Jean Baptiste Pierre Alfred
Thierry at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 15th August
1876.
JEAN BAPTISTE PIERRE ALFRED THIERRY, of No. 37, Rue de la Tour Passy, in
the City of Paris, a Civil Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN SMOKE CONSUMING
APPARATUS AND IN MACHINERY FOR MAKING SUCH APPARATUS."
This Invention has for its object improvements in smoke consuming apparatus
and in machinery for making such apparatus.
The Invention consists, firstly, in improvements on the apparatus described in the
Specifications of former Patents granted to me for projecting jets of superheated
steain into the hearths of fire-boxes of marine and land furnaces.
The improvements consist in means of securing in a more simple manner than
heretofore the proper superheating and drying of the steam, and of insuring that
the jets shall be projected in the proper directions into the furnace.
The apparatus I now use for blowing superheated steam on to the gases of the
fire consists of an iron box placed inside the fire-place. The front of this box is
bored with holes of suitable size and direction, so that jets of steam are projected
through them with exactly the required direction and intensity. The metal of the
box is made thicker at the points where the holes are to be bored so as to ensure
the jet leaving in the right direction, and to prevent the steam from rapidly cutting
away the holes, or the holes may have nozzles fitted to them for these purposes.
The rear of the box is connected tó a pipe, which passing back through the end of
the fire-place is bent round and connected outside with the boiler, and so supplies
the superheating box with steam. The superheating box is of any suitable form
which will vary according to the requirements of the fire-place to which it
is fitted; it is however generally of an elliptic section; it is usually placed inside the
fire-place just above the door; it may however be placed in any other convenient
•

page_text: position which is sufficiently hot. In addition to the holes bored in it, it may have
pipes leading from it so as to carry jets of superheated steam to other parts of
the furnace.
To break up the jet of steam entering into the superheating box I place at tho
mouth of the pipe supplying it with steam a central disc or button; the steam strikes
against the button, and is thereby scattered and distributed evenly throughout
the superheating box, whereby it is more effectually superheated before being
projected into the furnace.
Sometimes in order to dry the steam more thoroughly before it enters the
superheating box, I project it into a chamber from which there is an outlet pipe
provided with a rose or grating; any water which may have been carried over is
arrested in this chamber, and can be drawn off from time to time.
In order to protect the superheating box which is exposed to the direct action of
the fire I form a passage round the steam supply pipe. The steam blowing through
the holes of the superheating box induces a current of air through the space around
the steam pipe, thus protecting the box.
Another part of my Invention consists of an apparatus for boring the holes in the
superheating box, so that the jets shall accurately take the desired direction. This
apparatus consists of two tables which represent the fire-bars and bridge of the
furnace. The superheating box to be bored is fixed to a frame connected to the.
tables, so that it is in exactly the same position as it will occupy in the furnace.
'The directions it is wished to give the jets of superheated steam are then set out by
means of strings, one end of which are attached to hooks on the tables, and, the
other ends to the points to be bored, or two sets of strings may be used to give the
required directions in elevation and in plan. The drilling apparatus is carried by:
a frame, so that it can easily be set so as to follow the direction of the strings.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
"
the said Jean Baptiste Pierre Alfred Thierry in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 15th February 1877.
JEAN BAPTISTE PIERRE ALFRED THIERRY, of No. 36, Rue de la Tour Passy, in
the City of Paris, a Civil Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN SMOKE CONSUMING
APPARATUS AND IN MACHINERY FOR MAKING SUCH APPARATUS."
This Invention has for its object improvements in smoke consuming apparatus
and in machinery for making such apparatus.
The Invention consists, firstly, in improvements on the apparatus described in
the Specifications of former Patents granted to me for projecting jets of superheated
steam into the hearths or fire-boxes of marine and land furnaces.
The improvements consist in means of securing in a more simple manner than
heretofore the proper superheating and drying of the steam, and of ensuring that
the jets or thin streams of steam or steam combined with air, either heated or not, at
pleasure, shall be projected in the proper directions into the furnace.
The apparatus I now use for blowing superheated steam on to the gases of the
fire consists of a box of iron (or other suitable metal which will resist the oxidizing
action of the fire) placed inside the fire-place. The front of this box is bored with
holes of such size and so directed that the jets of "steam or of steam and air issuing
from them shall be projected with exactly the required direction and intensity.
The metal of the box is made thicker at the points where the holes are to be bored
so as to ensure the jet leaving in the right direction, and to prevent the steam from
rapidly cutting away the holes, or the holes may have nozzles fitted to them for
these purposes.
The rear of the box is connected to a pipe, which passing back
through the end of the fire-place is bent round and connected outside with the
boiler and so supplies the superheating box with steam. The superheating box is

page_text: of any suitable form, which will vary according to the requirements of the fire-place
to which it is fitted; it is however generally either of a circular, square, rectangular,
triangular, or elliptic section, and is usually placed inside the fire-place just above
the door; it may however be placed in any other convenient position which is
sufficiently hot. In addition to the holes bored in it it may have pipes
leading from it so as to carry jets of superheated steam to other parts of the
furnace.
To break up the jet of steam entering into the superheating box I place at the
mouth of the pipe supplying it with steam a disc pulverizer or central button.
The steam strikes against the button and is thereby scattered and distributed
evenly throughout the superheating box, whereby it is more effectually superheated
and expanded before being projected into the furnace.
Sometimes in order to dry the steam more thoroughly before it enters the super-
heating box I cause it first to pass into a chamber at the front of the furnace from
which there is an outlet pipe provided with a fine rose or grating; any water which
may have been carried over is arrested in this chamber and can be drawn off either
continuously or from time to time.
In order to protect the superheating box which is exposed to the direct action of
the fire I form a passage round the steam supply pipe; the steam blowing through
the holes of the superheating box induces a current of air through the space around
the steam pipe, thus protecting the box from the destructive action of the fire.
Another part of my Invention consists of an apparatus for boring the holes in
the superhating box, so that the jets shall accurately take the desired direction.
This apparatus consists of two tables which represent the fire-bars and bridge of the
furnace. The superheating box to be bored is fixed to a frame connected to the
tables, so that it is in exactly the same position as it will occupy in the furnace.
The directions it is wished to give the jets of superheated steam are then set out by
means of strings, one end of which are attached to hooks on the tables and the other
ends to the points to be bored, or two sets of strings may be used to give the
required directions in elevation and in plan. The directions vary indefinetely
according to the forms and dimensions of the furnaces. The drilling apparatus is
carried by a frame, so that it can easily be set so as to follow the direction of the
strings.
The Drawings annexed shew clearly my Invention, and will enable it readily to
be carried out; however the form and arrangement of the several apparatus may
have to be varied to adapt, them to the form of steam boilers and furnaces of
various forms.
On Sheet 1 Figure 1 shews a front view of a Cornish boiler with two internal
tubes, each provided with a blowing apparatus. One is shewn with the apparatus
covered by the front plate, the other is shewn with this plate removed.
Figure 2 shews a longitudinal section of one of the furnaces shewing the position
of the apparatus and its projected steam jets, as also the general arrangement of the
furnace.
Figure 3 shews a face view of the blower box looking from the interior of the
furnace. This box-A, of iron or other suitable metal, has ten projections with con-
necting ribs, five of which projections in the present case are made use of to receive
blowing nozzles B, B, which are pierced at C for projecting steam; E, E, are screw
plugs to allow the apparatus to be cleaned.
Figure 4 shews a face view of the blower box. This face is secured to the inner
side of the furnace front, as seen at Figure 2. It shews the inlet of steam from the
steam boiler for the blast after having passed through the purifier. This inlet is from
a supply tube H, Figures 1 and 2, by a scattering nozzle D. Figures 5 and 6 shew
a section and under side view of this nozzle; it is screwed into the box, as shewn
at Figures 4, 7, and 8. The steam conducted by the tube H strikes against the
central button of the nozzle and is thereby scattered and caused to enter the box
by the openings shewn at Figure 6.
Figure 7 is a plan, partly in section, of the box A; the part in section shows the

page_text: nozzles B. It will be seen that the nozzles are prolonged on the interior, and are
pierced with small holes for straining the steam which enters through them.
Figure 8 is a vertical transverse section of one of the nozzles B and the box A.
It shows the jet hole bored in an inclined direction.
Figure 9 is a vertical section of the steam purifier K. Steam comes from the {
steam boiler by the supply tube L which descends nearly to the bottom of the
chamber of the purifier, the steam issuing therefrom only being able to escape
through fine holes at the end of the exit pipe M is delayed and deprived of water,
calcarious sediment, and other matters carried along with it; these are deposited at
the bottom of the chamber whilst the purified steam passes by the pipe M into 1
the superheating apparatus; N is a screw cleaning cap.
Figure 10 is a plan of the exterior of the purifier. J is a discharging tap for
carrying off either constantly or intermittently the liquid and other deposits which
are at the bottom of the chamber. The whole arrangement is shewn at Figure 1..
Steam is taken from any desired part of the steam boiler by a pipe H¹ to the
pipe L which conducts it into the purifier K, from whence it passes by the pipe H
into the superheating apparatus placed in the interior of the furnace just above the
fire-door, and by preference immediately below the end of the steam boiler and
conforming to it in shape. The purified steam supply pipe H passes through an
arched perforated washer, and through an opening in the front of the furnace, as
shewn by the Drawings, Figures 1 and 2. All the parts above described are outside
of the furnace.
In some cases it is desirable to supply the fire with additional air to render the
combustion more active, according to the quality of the fuel. In this case I arrange
in the fire-doors revolving screw ventilators, such as shewn at Figures 11 and 12.
Figure 11 is an elevation of a fire-door with two air holes, each provided with a
ventilator; Figure 12 is a section showing the door furnished internally with
screcus P, P¹. These screens which are pierced with small holes obstruct the air as
it enters, divides it, heats it, and protects the doors from the action of the fire.
I have confined myself to giving the description of one form only of my apparatus,
but it must be understood that to adapt the apparatus to any furnace it is only
necessary to change its form, or to increase or diminish the number of jets, or to
modify their direction.
In addition the purifiers, scatterers, and other parts are capable of being modified
in their details of construction and in their forms and arrangements without
departing from the general directions substantially as given above.
On Sheet 2 is shewn the machine for boring the jet nozzles of the superheating
box.
Figure 1 is a plan and Figure 2 an elevation of the machine.
Figure 3 is a front view of the two cross bars H and graduated standards I.
Figure 4 is a front view of a clamp serving to fix the tool carrying machine.
Figure 5 is a section through the axis of a machine suitable for drilling the
apparatus at the angles required for the several jets.
A, superheater of a smoke consuming apparatus fixed on the machine in the
same manner as when mounted in the steam boiler furnace to which it is to be
adapted; B, circular hollow washers; C, screws pressing upon the washers B in
such manner as to hold the apparatus A up to the cross bars H.; D, elbow bend to
connect the apparatus with the steam supply pipe E; E, steam supply pipe; F,
inlet tap placed between the steam boiler and the apparatus in such manner as to
stop at pleasure the communication with this latter; at G there may be a discharge t
tap; H, cross bars upon which the apparatus is fixed; at each of their extremities
is a graduated standard I of a T shape; they can move upwards or downwards in
the two fixed parts J of the machine. By this arrangement the cross bars can be
moved vertically to shift the apparatus in the same direction according to the height
that there will be between the dead plate of the fire-grate and the apparatus;
K, clamping screws to hold the slides at the required height; L, wooden board
ou which are represented the boiler tubes or the tubo plates of locomotives, or the

page_text: arch of marine and other steam boilers, and the height of the furnace bridge; M,
another board, the plan of which shows part of the surface of the fire-bars; these
two boards are fixed to the supports N; in this manner they can be moved towards
or from the apparatus, according to the length given to the furnace; N¹, graduated
slides affixed to the supports N; O, guide bars, rectangular, in section, upon which
slide the graduated slides N¹; P, binding screw to hold the boards at the distance
required; Q, threads slewing the direction of the stean jets towards the grate at
the bottom of the fire-place, and in elevation towards the bridge; R, small drilling
machine with jointed quadrant and slide carrying the drill which can be placed in
the direction of any of the threads.
Description of Figures 4 and 5.-f, clamps for fixing the drilling machine to the
superheating apparatus; g, g', screws and nuts for screwing up the clamps nt
pleasure; h, sockets into which screw the stems of the clamps; these sockets have
projecting from them a flat part pierced with a rectangular slot, and carrying the
stem i so as to allow of boring a hole at any given angle to the horizontal. The
slot allows the drilling machine to be shifted when the feed screw of the drill is at
either end of its traverse. The stem has jointed to it a frame k by a screw and
nut which allows the machine to be inclined to the right or left as required; 7 is
a slide which can be moved to and fro along the frame by the feed screw; the
slide has mounted upon it the drill spindle m; n is a pinion upon the drill
spindle driven by a toothed wheel o which turns upon a stud forming part of the
frame; the toothed wheel o carries a crank handle by which it can be turned; q is
a nut for feeding forward or drawing back the slide and drill holder m.
Having thus described my Invention, and the manner in which it may be carried
out, I would have it understood that I claim,-
First. The arrangement, substantially as above described, of the superheating box
with what I have called the pulverizer, and with the straining jets or blowers at
varying angles, and with steam straining apparatus for the production of dry highly
heated steam, and for projecting it on to a furnace at the points most suitable
for promoting combustion and consuming smoke; also the mode, described and
represented, to supply additional air to the furnace above the fire-bars.
Second. The manner of applying the apparatus, substantially as described, to a
furnace so as to put it as much as possible beyond the destructive action of the fire
and to render its use easy, effective, and economical.
Third. The arrangements, substantially as described, for ensuring the exact
piercing of the nozzlo jets.
In witness whereof, I, the said Jean Baptiste Pierre Alfred Thiorry, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of February, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and soventy-seven.