Improvements in Apparatus for Treating the Fire Gases Evolved in Steam-boiler and other Furnaces.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Sept., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 13th June, 1895-Accepted, 6th July, 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Treating the Fire Gases Evolved
in Steam-boiler and other Furnaces.
I, JAMES PATTERSON, of 67, Landressy Street, Bridgeton, in the County of
the City of Glasgow, North Britain, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows, that is to say :-
My said invention has for its object, by means of improved apparatus, to
combine the producing or increasing of the draught with the separating of smoke,
dust, or solid particles from the fire gases evolved in steam-boiler and other
furnaces.
In carrying out my invention a centrifugal fan, or equivalent apparatus, is
arranged to draw in the fire gases from the flue, uptake, funnel, or chimney, into
which they pass on leaving the furnace or furnaces, and to discharge them through
any suitable outlet. Whilst passing through the fan water introduced in the form
of jets mingles with the fire gases and separates smoke, dust, or solid particles
from them, and may also absorb any gaseous or vaporised constituents which are
soluble.
The apparatus may be arranged in various ways to suit different boilers or
furnaces, I will however as an example, describe a medification designed for a set
of marine steam boilers. In this modification the fan is erected above the boilers
and is driven by a special steam or electric motor supported at one side of the
fan upon a casting which also forms a water tank. At the other side of the fan a
communication is formed between the central part of the fan and the boiler uptake,
and dampers or valves are provided such that the communication with the fan
can be opened and the direct passage upwards to the funnel be closed, or vice versa.
The fan is preferably of a special construction, adapted to withstand, without
injury, the actions of the hot fire gases and of the water; and is made with a
hollow central part of cast steel having a bolted-on cover at one side, and formed
with flanged parts to which are bolted curved arms having the fan blades riveted
to them. The water enters the hollow central part of the fan through the shaft
which is made tubular and has holes in it within the central part, the water thus
passing through the shaft also serving to prevent overheating of the shaft journals.
The water issues from the hollow centre of the fan through jet orifices between
the blades, and holes are made in suitable positions in the sides of the hollow
centre to admit air or gas from the fan casing to prevent the water from hanging
in the hollow centre. The action of the jets combined with the rapid rotation of
the fan causes the water to be formed into spray and to be uniformly distributed
amongst the fire gases which the fan draws from the uptake. The water or a
large part of it with what it separates or absorbs from the fire gases, descends to
the lower part of the fan casing and finds its way through a pipe to the outside
of the ship. Before being discharged from the apparatus the gases with the water
and matters suspended in thein pass through perforated or permeable screens to
complete the separation of solid constituents, such screens being arranged in
inclined or other positions, and some or all of them being fitted so that they can
be withdrawn through narrow or covered openings for the purpose of being
cleaned. The casing of the fan is made with an inwardly dished or coned part on
the side opposite to that at which the fire gases enter, so that the bearing may be

page_text: as near the centre of the fan as possible whilst it is protected from the heat.
The action of the water in the fan increases the propelling action of the fan on the
fire gases.
The steam boilers to which the apparatus is applied may be of either the fire-gas
tube or water tube types. In some cases, as for example, with a set of land
boilers the apparatus may be made in duplicate and so that either part may be in
use when the other part is being cleaned or repaired.
In a modification serving as an example of the application of my invention to
land boilers, a series of fire-gas tube or water tube boilers are arranged side by
.side, and the fire gases from all of them pass through an ordinary fuel economiser
and thence through the apparatus situated beyond the end of the range of boilers,
or in any other convenient position. In connection with the tank or receiver
through which the gases pass after being acted on by the fan, and in which the
water separates there is arranged at a slightly lower level a collecting vessel in
which solid matters are deposited from the water and from which such matters
may be removed from time to time. The water from which matters are deposited
in the collecting vessel may pass on through an overflow or trap valve into a tank
or reservoir from which it can be drawn to be used over again.
Dated this Twenty-fourth day of September 1894.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.
Improvements in Apparatus for Treating the Fire Gases Evolved
in Steam-boiler and other Furnaces.
I, JAMES PATTERSON, of 67 Landressy Street, Bridgeton, in the County of the
City of Glasgow, North Britain, Engineer, 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 has for its object, by means of improved apparatus, to combine
the producing or increasing of the draught with the separating of smoke, dust, or
solid particles from the fire gases evolved in steam boiler and other furnaces.
In carrying out the invention a centrifugal fan, or equivalent apparatus, is
arranged to draw in the fire gases from the Hue, uptake, funnel, or chimney, into
which they pass on leaving the furnace or furnaces, and to discharge them through
any suitable outlet. Whilst passing through the fan water introduced in the form
of jets mingles with the fire gases and separates smoke, dust, or solid particles
from them, and may also absorb any gaseous or vaporised constituents which are
soluble.
The apparatus may be arranged in various ways to suit different boilers or
furnaces; will, however, as an example, describe an arrangement designed for
a set of marine steam boilers. In this arrangement the fan is erected above the
boilers and is driven by a special steam or electric motor supported at one side of
the fan upon a casting which also forms a water tank. At the other side of the
fan a communication is formed between the central part of the fan and the boiler
uptake, and dampers or valves are provided such that the communication with the
fan can be opened and the direct passage upwards to the funnel be closed, or
vice versa. The fan is preferably of a special construction; adapted to withstand,
without injury, the actions of the hot fire gases and of the water, and is made
with a hollow central part of cast steel having a bolted-on cover at one side, and
formed with flanged parts to which are: bolted curved arms having the fan blades
riveted to them. The water enters the hollow central part of the fan through

page_text: the shaft which is made tubular aud has holes in it within the central part, the
water thus passing through the shaft also serving to prevent overheating of the
shaft journals.
The water issues from the hollow centre of the fan through jet orifices between
the blades, and holes are made in suitable positions in the sides of the hollow
centre to admit air or gas from the fan casing to prevent the water from hanging
in the hollow centre. The action of the jets combined with the rapid rotation of
the fan causes the water, to be formed into spray and to be uniformly distributed
amongst the fire gases which the fan draws from the uptake. The water or a
large part of it with what it separates or absorbs from the fire gases, descends to
the lower part of the fan casing and finds its way through a pipe to the outside
of the ship. Before being discharged from the apparatus the gases with the water
and matters suspended in them pass through perforated or permeable screens, to
complete the separation of the solid, constituents, such screens being arranged in
inclined or other positions, and some or all of them being fitted so that they can be
withdrawn through narrow or covered openings for the purpose of being cleaned.
The casing of the fan is preferably made with an inwardly dished or, coned part on
the side opposite to that at which the fire gases enter, so that the bearing may be
as near the centre of the fan as possible whilst it is protected from the heat.
The action of the water in the fan increases the propelling action of the fan on
the fire gases.
The steam boilers to which the apparatus is applied may be of either the fire-gas
tube or water tube types. In some cases, as for example, with a set of land boilers
the apparatus may be made in duplicate and so that either part may be in use when
the other part is being cleaned or repaired.
In a modification serving as an example of the application of my invention to
land boilers, a series of fire-gas tube or water tube boilers are arranged side by
side, and the fire gases from all of them pass through an ordinary fuel economiser
and thence through the apparatus situated beyond the end of the range of boilers,
or in any other convenient position. In connection with the tank or receiver
through which the gases pass after being acted upon by the fan, and in which the
water separates, there is arranged at a slightly lower level a collecting vessel in
which solid matters are deposited, from the water and from which such matters may
be removed from time to time. The water from which matters are deposited in
the collecting vessel may pass on through an overflow or trap valve into a tank.or
reservoir from which. it can be drawn to be used over again.
But in order that the invention may be fully understood I will now proceed to
describe same by the aid of the accompanying, drawings which illustrate different
methods of carrying such invention into effect.
Figs. 1 and 2 of such drawings illustrate a suitable construction of the fan
employed, respectively in side elevation and. transverse section, the fan casing not
being shown, but the gases to be treated entering such casing at the centre by the
inducing action due to the rotation of the fan blades in the usual manner.
The shaft A on which the fan blades B are mounted is hollow and to it water
from any suitable source is admitted through the pipe C. The end of the shaft A
terminates within an enlargement or hollow hub D forming part with the fan
blades B, and such end of the shaft is provided with perforations or openings b,
through which the water supplied through the hollow shaft issues and entering the
hollow hub D is by centrifugal action due to the rotation of such hub and fau
blades thrown outwards against the outer wall of the hub. Openings d towards
the centre of the hollow hub D permit air or gases to enter such hub from the fan
casing.
Openings dare also formed in the hub D.
The action is as follows:-The water entering through pipe C issues through
the openings b, and is thrown outwards against the inner wall of the hollow hub D,
thus creating a partial vacuum within the latter. The air or gases in the fan
casing then entering the hollow hub through the openings d behind the water

page_text: permits same to be thrown out through the openings d', and such water being
beaten up by the revolving blades B is caused to intimately commingle with the
gases in the fan casing to be treated, which will thus be deprived of their solid
or soluble constituents before leaving the fan casing through the ordinary exit
orifice.
The openings d for the entrance of air or gases to the interior of the hub D are
preferably fitted with valves automatically opening inwards when a certain vacuum
has been formed therein.
Figs. 3 and 4 are respectively a side elevation and transverse section of a
modified form of fan, in which the water is admitted to the hub D through the
pipe C from the opposite side to that where such hub is mounted on shaft A, such
pipe C working in a gland E. The action is the same as in the arrangement
previously described.
Figs. 5, and 7 show a further modification of fan suitable for the purposes of
this invention, Fig. 5 being a longitudinal section thereof, Fig. 6 a transverse
section through the fan spindle, and Fig. 7 an end view of such modification.
In this arrangement the fan blades B are carried on one spindle or shaft A,
while the hub D through which the water issues is carried by a separate spindle F,
the spindles A and F being caused to rotate in opposite directions, the object being
to further facilitate the commingling or churning up of the gases to be treated and
the water. The shafts A and F may be driven in opposite directions by any
suitable means, the arrangement shown in the drawings consisting in a pulley Ġ
fast on the blade spindle A and actuated from any suitable motor, the movement
of such shaft A being transmitted by pulley H (also mounted on shaft A) to
pulley I on an intermediate shaft K, and thence by pulley L on same shaft K, by
a cross belt M to a pulley N on the hub spindle F.
The hub spindle F will preferably be provided with lubricating gutters or
channels O.
Figs. 8 and 9 are respectively a longitudinal section and end view of an arrange-
ment of fan in which the water issuing from the central hub D is caused to strike
the blades B in the direction of rotation of the latter and so assist in propelling the
fan, while at the same time serving to keep the fan blades clean from any deposit
which might otherwise accumulate thereon. For this purpose the openings d
through which such water issues from central hub D are in the form of tubes curved
or bent in the direction of rotation of the fan blades.
Fig. 10 is a longitudinal section showing the fan applied to a receiver in which
the water after having absorbed the solid constituents and soluble portions of the
gases in the fan accumulates and an arrangement of screens through which the
mingled gases and water are preferably caused to pass on their way to the chimney
or uptake so as to separate the water and what it has absorbed or taken up from
such constituents of the products of combustion which it has been unable to deal
with. Figs. 11 and 12 are respectively a front elevation and end view of one of
the screens suitable for the purpose.
It will be seen that the gases and water on their passage from the fan X pass
through screens P (preferably of a sievelike construction as shown in Fig. 11,
and of a material which may vary with the nature of the gases to be dealt with),
the lower ends of which dip into water contained in the bottom of the receiver Q.
All or any of such screens P may be fitted so that same may be readily removed
for cleaning or repair when necessary.
An outlet R at bottom of receiver Q enables the water and matters contained
therein to be run off when desired.
The receiver may have a water spraying device S of any suitable construction
arranged therein, for the purpose of submitting the gases treated as above described
to a final action before they proceed to the chimney or uptake T, such water (with
whatever it may have absorbed or taken up) falling down into the water and other
matters which have been previously separated from such gases on their passage
through the screens P.

page_text: said
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
In apparatus for treating the fire gases evolved in steam boiler and other
furnaces
1. The employment of a fan the casing of which is connected with the flue or
passage through which the gases to be treated pass on their way to the chimney or
uptake, the spindle of such fan being hollow and connected with any suitable
supply of water or other fluid for treating such gases, and the hub of the spindle
being provided with openings for permitting the water to enter the fan casing, and
with other openings permitting air or gases to enter such hub from the casing, all
substantially as and for the purpose specified.
2. Mounting the blades of the fan described in the preceding claim on a separate
spindle or shaft to that on which the hub through which the water or other fluid
for treating the gases issues, is mounted, and actuating such spindles or shafts so.
as to cause same to revolve in opposite directions.
3. Arranging the orifices for the exit of water or other fluid for treating the
gases from the hub of the fan described in Claim 1, so that the issue of the water
assists in propelling the fan, while at same time it also serves to keep the fan blades
clean, substantially as specified.
4. The combination with the fan described in Claim 1 of screens through which
the gases after treatment in such fan are caused to pass on their way to the chimney
or uptake, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
Dated this 13th day of June 1895.
ALLISON BROS.,
Agents for the Applicant.