IMPROVEMENTS IN FURNACES OR FIRE-PLACES FOR THE COMBUSTION OF FUEL WITHOUT THE PRODUCTION OF SMOKE
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Harris Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for. an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN FURNACES OR FIRE-PLACES FOR THE COMBUSTION OF
FUEL WITHOUT THE PRODUCTION OF SMOKE." A communication from abroad
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Harris Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 5th November 1880.
HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN FURNACES OR FIRE-PLACES
FOR THE COMBUSTION OF FUEL WITHOUT THE PRODUCTION OF SMOKE." [A com-
munication from abroad by La Société Nessi, Frères, of Paris, France.]
Many processes and apparatus have been heretofore devised for consuming
smoke or preventing the escape of the same from fire places or furnaces of various
kinds when fuel is being consumed therein, but none of these processes or apparatus
have produced results sufficiently satisfactory to permit of their being put into
general practice.
The present Invention is designed to effect this object in a satisfactory manner"
by means of apparatus hereinafter described.
The said Invention is based upon the principle of feeding the fuel through an
opening arranged above the grate and above the ordinary door, and it is carried
into practice by the addition of an inclined feed throat or device upon which the
fuel forms, in front, a heap having sufficient slope or incline to cause it to fall
unaided upon the second part of the grate where the combustion takes place.
The special combination of such throat or feeding device with the other parts of
the furnace or fireplace forms the chief distinctive feature of this Invention."
The apparatus constructed according to my Invention may be wholly made of
cast iron, and comprises two cylindrical parts arranged one above the other. The
lower part is ribbed both on its inner and outer sides, and encloses the grate
separated from the front of the fire-place in the ordinary manner by a plate of
2

page_text: suitable width upon which the bars rest. There is also provided a door which
ordinarily is intended for charging, but according to this Invention is utilized only
for cleaning the grate and for stirring the fire.
The lowermost part of this apparatus forming the ash-pit is provided in front
with a door for the removal of ashes and cinders. The upper part of the apparatus,
also strengthened by ribs, is the dome of the fire place. It terminates at the back in
an opening where the flues by which the products of combustion escape commence.
In front it has an opening specially provided for the introduction of fuel, and closed
by a door. This opening is extended by or so as to form a feed-throat or device
formed by inclines and a neck.
According to this construction the grate will, after the introduction of the fuel
through the door, always be furnished with a thick layer of fuel extending from
the neck to the front plate of the apparatus, which layer perceptibly follows the
inclination of the hereinbefore mentioned incline. Combustion takes place only in
the second part of the grate before the fire bridge. Gradually, as the combustion
proceeds, the coal placed in front falls (in following the incline) for feeding the
grate, and the person attending to the heating will only have to refill by the
door.
The gaseous products which are evolved from the layer of fuel accumulated near
the doors are consumed in passing over the burning layer of fuel. Thus a complete
combustion of the smoke is attained without any trouble to the person attending
to this apparatus, who has only to refill from time to time.
If instead of being applied to stove-grates this Invention is to be used in
apparatus for heating the boilers of steam-engines it will undergo certain modifica-
tions of construction, notably in the form and in the nature of the materials that
are employed. These modifications will be readily understood without further
description.
In its application as a fireplace for kitchens the said Invention is considerably
simplified.
The principle of feeding is the same, but the grate is inclined and its upper part
forms the inclined surface upon which is deposited the fuel fed in by the additional
opening, situated in this case on the same horizontal plane as the opening ordinarily
provided, and it is closed by a round disc.
-The
The operation of this part of my Invention is as follows, that is to say:—
fresh coal is introduced by the feed opening. As the combustion proceeds the fuel
naturally descends upon the incandescent part; it is heated before burning, and
becomes in its turn inflamed. All the gases produced by the semi-incandescent
part of the fuel are in contact with a bright fire, and, being compelled to pass
over it, are completely burnt, and the consumption or prevention of smoke is
perfect.
The said Invention may be applied to all heating apparatus for domestic and
industrial use, and I may construct apparatus embodying these improvements of
any convenient material, such as metal or brick work, and vary their form and
dimensions to suit the purpose for which they are to be employed. .

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Henry Harris Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 5th
May 1881.
HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN FURNACES OR FIRE-PLACES
FOR THE COMBUSTION OF FUEL WITHOUT THE PRODUCTION OF SMOKE." A com-
munication from abroad by La Société Nessi, Frères, of Paris, France.
Many processes and apparatus have heretofore been devised for consuming smoke
or preventing the escape of the same from fire-places or furnaces of various kinds
when fuel is being consumed therein, but none of these processes or apparatus have
produced results sufficiently satisfactory to lead to their adoption in general
practice.
The present Invention is designed to effect this object in a satisfactory manner
by the improved device hereinafter described.
This Invention is based upon the principle of feeding the fuel through an
aperture arranged above the grate and the ordinary door, and it is carried into
practice by the addition of an inclined feed or throat upon which the fuel forms at
the front of the furnace a heap sufficiently sloping to fall naturally upon the second
part of the grate where the combustion takes place. The special combination of
this throat or feeding device with the other parts of the furnace forms the distinctive
feature of the said Invention.
The accompanying Drawing in Figures 1 to 4 illustrates the application of this
Invention to the furnace of a calorifière for warming houses.
Figure 1 is a transverse vertical section of this furnace.
Figure 2 is a longitudinal section thereof, and
Figure 3, a horizontal section of the same.
Figure 4 is a front view of the said furnace.
The apparatus illustrated in these Figures of the Drawing is supposed to be
entirely made of cast iron; it comprises two semi-cylindrical parts H and I,
arranged one above the other. The lower part I, ribbed both on its inner and
outer sides, encloses the grate F separated in the usual manner from the front of
the fire-place by a plate C of suitable width upon which the bars rest. The door D,
which ordinarily serves for the introduction of the fuel, is here only used to permit
the cleaning of the grate and the stirring of the fire. The lower part E, forming
the ash-pit, presents no particular features; it is provided in front with a door
for the removal of ashes and cinders.
The upper part H of the said apparatus is also strengthened by ribs, and forms
the dome of the furnace. It terminates at the back in the aperture G communi-
cating with the flues by which the products of combustion escape. In front it has
the aforesaid aperture specially provided for the introduction of fuel, and closed by
a door A. Extending from this aperture is the feed throat formed by the incline B
and the neck c.
By reason of this construction, as will be seen, the grate will, after the introduc-
tion of the fuel through the door, always be furnished with a deep layer of fuel
extending from the neck c to the plate C, which layer perceptibly follows the slope
of the inclined plane B. Combustion takes place only in the second part of the
grate, in front of the fire bridge. Gradually, as the combustion proceeds, the fuel
at the front falls along the said inclined plane to feed the grate, and the attendant
will only have to keep the throat supplied through the door A.
The gaseous products evolved from the fuel accumulated near the doors are
consumed in passing over the burning layers. Thus a complete combustion of

page_text: the smoke will be effected with no trouble to the attendant beyond that above
stated.
If, instead of being applied to a stove or furnace for heating inhabited
apartments, this Invention is to be adapted for heating steam boilers it will
comprise various modifications which will be readily understood without further
description.
In its application to a kitchen fire-place the said Invention is considerably
simplified, as shewn in Figures 5 to 8, Figures 5 and 6 being longitudinal and
transverse sections, and Figures 7 and 8 a horizontal section and a plan.
The manner of feeding or charging the apparatus with fuel is the same in this
form as in that above described, but, as will be seen by reference to the Drawing,
the grate C is inclined, and its upper part forms the inclined surface upon which
the fuel is deposited when fed in by the additional aperture. The latter in this
case is in the same horizontal plane as the ordinary opening, and is closed by a disc
or plate at A.
The manner in which the consumption of smoke is effected in this arrangement
is as follows, that is to say:-The fresh coal is introduced by the aperture A at the
right hand side of Figure 5. As the combustion proceeds at the left hand side
the fuel naturally descends upon the incandescent part, is heated before burning,
and becomes in its turn inflamed. All the gases produced by the semi-incandescent
part at the right hand side are in contact with a bright fire, and, being compelled
to pass over it, are completely burnt, and the combustion and prevention of the
escape of the smoke will be ensured.
The said Invention may be applied to all heating apparatus for domestic and
industrial use. I may construct apparatus embodying these improvements of
metal, masonry, or other convenient material, and may vary the form and
dimensions to suit the purpose for which the said apparatus is to be employed.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondents, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim as the distinctive and novel features of this Invention,-
First. In a calorifière or stove for domestic purposes, or in a steam boiler furnace,
the throat or feed aperture having a neck with an inclined plane upon which the
fuel is so placed as gradually to fall upon the second part of the grate where the
combustion takes place, all substantially as set forth.
Second. In such furnaces the combination of the throat with the dead plate
and the first part of the grate, forming the space where the fuel accumulates
previous to its arrival at the part where combustion takes place, substantially as
specified.
Third. In a kitchen stove or fireplace, the throat formed by the first part of the
grate, which is inclined throughout its length, in combination with the additional
aperture arranged at the same height as and by the side of the other aperture,
substantially as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Harris Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fifth day of May, in the year of our Lord One thousand