IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF FURNACES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Bamford and George Taylor, both of Middleton,
in the County of Lancaster, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF FURNACES."
Sealed the 25th July 1876, and dated the 12th May 1876,
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Bamford and George
Taylor at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th May 1876.
WILLIAM BAMFORD and GEORGE TAYLOR, both of Middleton, in the County of
Lancaster. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF FURNACES."
This Invention relates to the construction of furnaces for the consumption or
prevention of smoke, and for economizing fuel, and consists principally in an
arrangement of mechanism for admitting a current of heated air behind the ordinary
bridge for a certain definite time after "firing up."
In the lower part of the ordinary fire-brick bridge of the furnace we make an
opening leading from the ash-pit into the flue space behind the bridge, and about a
brick length (more or less) behind the ordinary bridge we erect a second bridge,
but without any opening through it. In the opening of the ordinary bridge we fix
a valve or damper mounted on pivots (like a throttle valve), and provided with a
short lever, which is connected by a rod to a second lever beneath the furnace door,
On the latter is fixed a projection, which as the door is opened to "fire up" presses
on the second named lever, and causes the rod to open the valve or damper, and
admit hot air from the ash-pit into the space between the two bridges, which
passing upwards mingles with the smoke from the fresh fuel, causing a more
perfect combustion, and thus consuming the smoke, and consequently economizing
the fuel.
In connection with the front lever before the furnace door is a disc or wheel,
which is kept slowly revolving (by a strap in connection with the steam engine or
otherwise), and this disc or wheel is provided with a projection or finger, which
after a certain definite period acts upon the lever and causes the rod to close the
damper or valve. The length of time during which the damper or valve may bo
allowed to remain open after each "firing up" may be varied, but for ordinary

page_text: furnaces about three minutes will be sufficient, the object being to admit the hot air
only until the fresh fuel has become red, and ceased to evolve dense smoke.
We would here also remark that any other known mechanical arrangement may
be employed for closing the damper or valve at a fixed or definite period.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said William Bamford and George Taylor in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 11th November 1876.
WILLIAM BAMFORD and GEORGE TAYLOR, both of Middleton, in the County of
Lancaster. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF FURNACES."
This Invention relates to the construction of furnaces for the consumption or
prevention of smoke, and for economizing fuel, and consists principally in an
arrangement of mechanism for admitting a current of heated behind the ordinary
bridge for a certain definite time after "firing up."
Such being the nature and object of our said Invention we will now proceed to
describe in detail the manner in which the saine is to be or may be performed or
carried into practical effect, and in order that the same may be clearly understood
we have annexed hereunto a Sheet of Drawings illustrative thereof, and have
marked the same with figures and letters of reference corresponding with those in
the following explanation thereof:-
In the annexed Drawing Fig. 1 is a partial elevation and transverse section; and
Fig. 2, a partial longitudinal elevation of a boiler furnace with our improvements
shewn as applied thereto.
a, a, is the boiler; and b, b, the furnace. In the lower part of the ordinary
brick bridge c, c, of the furnace we make an opening d, d, leading from the ash-
pite, e, into the flue space f, f, behind the bridge, and about a brick length (more
or less) behind the ordinary bridge we erect a second bridge g, g, but without any
opening through it. In the opening of the ordinary bridge we fix a valve or
damper h, h, mounted on pivots (like a throttle valve), and provided with a short
lever,, which is connected by a rod h, k, to a bell-crank lever 1, 1, beneath the
furnace door m, m. On the latter is fixed a projection n, n, which as the door is
opened to fire up" presses on an inclined plane o, o, on the horizontal arm of the
bell-crank lever 1, 1, (see Fig. 2), and causes the rod k, l, to open the valve or
damper h, h, and admit hot air from the ash-pit e, e, into the space between the
two bridges, where it becomes heated, and decompose, and passing upwards mingles
with the smoke from the fresh full, causing a more perfect combustion, and thus
consuming the smoke, and consequently economizing the fuel.
"
In connection with the bell-crank lever below the furnace door is a disc or
wheel p, p, keyed on a shaft q, q, which is kept slowly revolving (by a strap or
cord, r, in connection with the steam engine or otherwise), and this disc or
wheel 22, 2, is provided with a projection or finger 8, 8, which after a certain definite
period acts upon the lever l, l, and causes the rod k, k, to close the damper or valve
h, h. The length of time during which the damper or valve may be allowed to
remain open after each "firing up" may be varied, but for ordinary furnaces about
three minutes will be suflicient, the object being to admit the hot air only until the
fresh fuel has become red and ceased to evolve dense smoke.
We would here also remark that any other known mechanical arrangement may
be employed for closing the damper or valve at a fixed or definite period.
Having now described the nature and object of our said Invention, together with
the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or carried into practical
effect, we wish it to be understood that we claim as our Invention, admitting air
into the space between the two bridges by means of a damper which is opened by

page_text: opening of the fire-door, and closed by suitable mechanical means after a certain
definite period of time, substantially as hercin-before inore particularly described
and illustrated by the Drawings annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Bamford (on behalf of myself and the
said George Taylor), have hereunto set my hand and seal, the Tenth day of
November, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
six
WILLIAM BAMFORD. (L.S.)