IMPROVE- MENTS IN THE FURNACES OF STEAM BOILERS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Head aud John Robert Jefferies, both of the Orwell
Works, Ipswich, in the County of Suffolk, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE FURNACES OF STEAM BOILERS."
ealed the 22nd January 1878, and dated the 19th October 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Head and John Robert
Jefferies at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th October
1877.
JOHN HEAD and JOHN ROBERT JEFFERIES, both of the Orwell Works, Ipswich,
in the County of Suffolk. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE FURNACES OF STEAM
BOILERS."
This Invention has for its object improvements in steam boilers, in which vegetable
substances, such as straw, grass, reeds, cotton stalks, and other vegetable refuse are
to be used as fuel, and it specially refers to those boilers in which the vegetable
fuel is propelled forward into the fire-box either by rollers or through a feeding
hopper, or in other equivalent manner, to ensure greater economy by the more
perfect combustion of the fuel used, and also to prevent the accumulation of unburnt
particles of fuel in the flues or tubes of boilers.
These improvements consist mainly in so constructing the furnaces or fire-boxes of
boilers that the gases and flames from the burning material are caused to pass into
a combustion chamber before passing on to the flue or tubes of the boiler. We
employ an ordinary fire-grate, at the back of which we raise a partition or bridge
from the level of the grate to a considerable distance from the crown of the fire-box.
Behind this partition or bridge we form another partition or baffler, commencing at
the crown of the fire-box, and descending towards the fire-grate. It will thus be
seen that the flames and gases rise from the fire-grate, pass over the bridge, and
Price BdJI

page_text: then descend into the chamber below the second partition or baffler. In this chamber
such portion of the burning material as may have been carried over the bridge by
the draught will be entirely consumed, and the gases only will rise and pass on
through the flue or tubes.
The partitions above described may be constructed of fire-brick, suitable pro-
jecting pieces being fixed to the interior of the fire-box for their reception and
support.
We also employ a combustion chainber formed by means of a brick arch over the
fire-grate, suitable openings being left in the brick arch for the flame and gases to
ascend and pass on to the flue or tubes.
We also employ a fire-brick partition built from the level of the grate to the
crown or near the crown of the fire-box, suitable openings being left in the
partition to allow of the escape of the flame and gases to the combustion chamber
behind.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Head and John Robert Jefferies in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 17th April 1878.
JOHN HEAD and JOHN ROBERT JEFFERIES, both of the Orwell Works, Ipswich,
in the County of Suffolk. " IMPROVEMENTS IN THE FURNACES OF STEAM
BOILERS."
This Invention has for its object improvements in steam boiler furnaces, in which
vegetable substances, such as straw, grass, reeds, cotton stalks, and other vegetable
refuse are to be used as fuel, and it specially refers to those boilers in which the
vegetable fuel is propelled forward into the fire-box either by rollers or through a
feeding hopper, or in other equivalent manner, to ensure greater economy by the
more perfect combustion of the fuel used, and also to prevent the accumulation of
unburnt particles of fuel in the flues or tubes of boilers.
These improvements consist mainly in so constructing the furnaces or fire-boxes
of boilers that the gases and flames from the burning material are caused to pass
into a combustion chamber before passing on to the flue or tubes of the boiler. We
employ an ordinary fire-grate, at the back of which we raise a partition or bridge
from the level of the grate to a considerable distance from the crown of the fire-
box. Behind this partition or bridge we form another partition or baffler, com-
mencing at the crown of the fire-box, and descending towards the fire-grate. It
will thus be seen that the flames and gases rise from the fire-grate, pass over the
bridge, and then descend into the chamber below the second partition or baffler.
In this chamber such portion of the burning material as may have been carried over
the bridge by the draught will be entirely consumed, and the gases only will rise
and pass on through the flue or tubes.
The partitions above described may be constructed of fire-brick, suitable pro-

page_text: jecting pieces being fixed to the interior of the fire-box for their reception and
support.
We also employ a combustion chamber formed by means of a brick arch over the
fire-grate, suitable openings being left in the brick arch for the flame and gases to
ascend and pass on to the flue or tubes.
We also employ a fire-brick partition, built from the level of the grate to the
crown or near the crown of the fire-box, suitable openings being left in the
partition to allow of the escape of the flame and gases to the combustion chamber
behind.
The Drawings annexed shew examples of steam boiler furnaces with our improve-
ments applied to them.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of the fire-box of a boiler of the locomotive or
portable engine class; Figure 2 is a transverse section of the same.
A is the. fire-door, through which the straw or other vegetable fuel is fed in, by
preference with the apparatus for which Letters Patent were granted to Casimir
Schemioth, 11th January 1872, No. 94, or in other equivalent manner; B is the fire-
grate of ordinary construction; C is a partition rising from the level of the grate to
within a suitable distance from the crown of the fire-box; D is a second partition
commencing at the crown of the fire-box, and descending to a little below the lowest
row of tubes a. The flames and gases rise from the grate B, pass over the partition
or bridge C at b, and then descend into the chamber E beneath the second partition
or baffler D. In the chamber E such portion of the burning material as may have
been carried over the top of the bridge at b will be entirely consumed, and the gases
only will rise and pass on through the tubes a, a. The partitions C and D are here
shown hollow, c, c, being holes in the plate of the fire-box to allow the water to
circulate freely through them. c is a moveable brick or plate for closing the bottom
of the chamber E.
Instead of hollow bridges, these partitions may be formed by a series of circular
water tubes.
Figure 3 is a longitudinal section of a similar fire-box, with the partitions C and
D constructed solid, of any fire-resisting material, such as fire-brick. Figure 2 serves
also as a transverse section of Figure 3.
Figure 4 is a horizontal section of a portion of the partition D of Figure 3 to an
enlarged scale, shewing the mode of supporting the partition. Pieces of angle iron d
are fixed to the interior of the fire-box, and the edges of the fire-brick partition are
formed with grooves to slide upon the angle iron; cross pins passing through the
fire-brick and the angle iron retain the partition firmly in position.
The edges of the partition are formed so as to completely screen the angle iron or
other supporting pieces from the action of the fire:
Figure 5 shews a fire-box fitted with a brick arch, Figure 6 being a transverse
section of the same; Figure 7 is a similar fire-box furnished with a brick partition,
having openings f for the passage of the flames and gases (as indicated by the arrows)
into the combustion chamber E behind it.
We have shewn in the Drawings our improvements as applied to boilers of the
locomotive or portable engine type, but it is obvious that they may be applied to
boilers of other construction, such as Cornish boilers, and also to the furnaces of
externally fired boilers.
And we would have it to be understood that we do not confine ourselves to the
proportions shewn on the Drawings, nor to the precise methods of construction
shewn thereon, as these may be considerably varied without departing from the
nature of our Invention, but what we claim as of our Invention is, constructing
steam boiler furnaces or fire-boxes in which vegetable substances, such as straw,
grass, reeds, cotton stalks, and other vegetable refuse, are to be used as fuel, and are
propelled forward into the furnace or fire-box by rollers, or through a feeding
hopper or otherwise in such a manner that the gases and flames from the burning

page_text: material are caused to pass into a combustion chamber before passing on to the flue
or tubes of the boiler, substantially as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Robert Jefferies, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twelfth day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.