IMPROVED MEANS FOR HEATING THE AIR SUPPLY TO FURNACES FOR METALLURGICAL AND OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1885

page_text: Metallurgical and other Purposes.
I JOSEPH PLATT of Highfield Villa, Pitsmoor, Sheffield, in the County of York,
Ironworks Manager, do hereby declare the nature of my Invention for "IMPROVED
MEANS FOR HEATING THE AIR SUPPLY TO FURNACES FOR METALLURGICAL AND
OTHER PURPOSES" to be as follows:-
The object of my Invention is to heat the atmospheric air on its way to the
fireplace or combustion chamber of a furnace, by which means may be secured
more perfect combustion, economy in fuel, and a more efficient working of the
Furnace.
I effect this object in the following manner, viz: I construct the bottom of the
ash hole or pit of the Furnace with a metal plate or plates, under which I leave an
air space or spaces formed in brickwork or otherwise, or the air spaces may be
formed by ribs on the underside of the metal plate or plates which on becoming
heated, will largely increase the surface available for heating the air.
My Improvements are applicable to a Furnace fitted either with an ordinary
grate and fire bars, or with a close grate without openings, In the latter case
1 construct the fire grate in a similar manner to that described for the bottom of
the ash pit with an air passage or passages underneath, supported on metal plates
and bearers, the top side of the grate may be covered with thin bricks or other
refractory material (without openings).
The walls forming the sides of the fire place I construct with air flues or
passages, such passages, being separated from the action of the fire by thin layers.
of fire brick, these passages may be connected together or in groups, or they may
be arranged to work separately and independently of each other. At the end of
the fire place or grate nearest the hearth of the Furnace, I place a perforated
bridge, which may be made of one or more blocks of metal, fireclay, or other
refractory material, and this perforated bridge may be connected either with the
air flues or passages under the fire grate or side walls or both, I admit the air to
these passages through suitable ports or openings formed in the ash pit or in the
sides of the Furnace or other convenient position.
The ash pit may be fitted with or without close doors, and a portion of the air
supply may be conveyed through a perforated grid or grids placed on the ground

page_text: line, either at the front back or sides of the fire grate, such grid or grids being
provided with slides or valves to regulate the admission of air and placed on the
openings of the air passage or air passages communicating with the air spaces
below the metal plate or plates at the bottom of the ash pit.
The air so admitted would traverse these air passages, first below the bottom of
the ash pit, and thence into the ash pit below the fire grate either to the back or
the front as the case may be, and in case of an open grate being used (with fire
bars) a portion of this heated air would pass between the fire bars to supply com-
bustion, whilst the other portions having traversed along the under side of the
firegrate enter the air passages in the side or front walls of the fire place through
suitable openings inside the ash pit, thence traversing the passages in the sides of
the Furnace and finally discharges itself in a highly heated condition onto, into,
or over the bridge of the Furnace where it unites or amalgamates with the gases
and other products generated in the fire place thereby perfecting combustion and
increasing the amount of flame and intensity of the heat entering the Furnace.
In the case of a close fire grate being used (without fire bars) a portion of this
heated air may be admitted to the grate through suitable openings from the ash pit
to the front end or sides of the grate."
The air passages or openings underneath the fire grate and in the side walls may
receive the air supply either from the ash pit or direct from outside the Furnace,
all the openings in connection with these air passages may be fitted with slides or
valves to regulate the admission of air.
.
A Furnace may be constructed with air passages as last described either in the
front or along the roof of the fire place, and as previously described, these air
passages may be connected with the side passages or ash pit or may be open direct
to the outside of the Furnace, and discharge the heated air after having traversed
along their surfaces either at or near the bridge'or other convenient position.

page_text: Metallurgical and other Purposes.
I JOSEPH PLATT of Highfield Villa, Pitsmoor, Sheffield in the County of York,
Ironworks Manager, do hereby declare the nature of my Invention for "IMPROVED
MEANS FOR HEATING THE AIR SUPPLY TO FURNACES FOR METALLURGICAL AND
OTHER PURPOSES" and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described, and ascertained, in and by the following statement:-
The object of my Invention is to heat the atmosphere air on its way to the fire
place or combustion chamber of a Furnace, by which means may be secured more
perfect combustion, economy in fuel, and a more efficient working of the Furnace.
I effect this object in the following manner viz.
I construct the bottom of the ash hole or pit of the Furnace with a metal plate
or plates under which I leave an air space or spaces formed in the brickwork or
otherwise, or, the air spaces may be formed by ribs on the underside of the metal
plate or plates, which on becoming heated will largely increase the surface
available for heating the air.
My improvements are applicable to a Furnace fitted either with an ordinary
grate and fire bars, or with a close-grate without openings; in the latter case
I construct the fire grate in a similar inanner to that described for the bottom of
the ash pit, with an air passage or passages underneath, supported on metal plates
and bearers, the top side of the grate may be covered with thin bricks or other
refractory material (without openings).
The walls forming the sides of the fire place I construct with air flues or
passages, such passages being separated from the action of the fire by thin layers
of fire brick; these passages may be connected together or in groups, or, they may
be arranged to work separately and independently of each other. At the end of
the fire place or grate nearest the hearth of the Furnace, I place a perforated
bridge, which may be made of one or more blocks of metal, fire clay or other
refractory material, and this perforated bridge may be connected either with the
air flues or passages under the fire grate or side walls or both. I admit the air to
these passages through suitable ports or openings formed in the ash pit or in the
sides of the Furnace or other convenient position.
-
The ash pit may be fitted with or without close doors and a portion of the air
supply may be conveyed through a perforated grid or grids placed on the ground
line either at the front, back, or sides, of the fire grate such grid or grids being
provided with slides or valves to regulate the admission of air and being placed on
the openings of the air passage or air passages communicating with the air spaces
below the metal plate or plates at the bottom of the ash pit.
The air so admitted would traverse these air passages, first, below the bottom of
the ash pit, and thence into the ash pit below the fire grate, either to the back or
the front as the case may be, and in case of an open grate being used (with fire
bars) a portion of this heated air would pass between the fire bars to supply com;
bustion whilst the other portions having traversed along the underside of the
"

page_text: (2.) Constructing the walls forming the sides or ends of the fire place or com-
bustion chamber of the Furnace with ports or passages through which the air
supply may be conducted and heated on its way to the Fire Grate or Combustion
Chamber where it may be discharged through suitable openings, either into the
fire place above the bars, or, on to, into or over the fire bridge.
'
(3.) The particular form and combination of Fire Bricks for use on the top of the
Fire Bridge where the air is discharged from air ports or passages as last described
or otherwise through a hollow or perforated Bridge, the form and combination of
such Fire Bricks being more particularly illustrated in the enlarged views Figs. 5, 6
and 7 of the accompanying Sheet of Drawings.
(4.) An improved means for heating the air supply to Furnaces for Metallurgical
or other purposes by either of the means set forth in claims 1 and 2 applied
separately to such a Furnace, or by a combined application of the same, such
separate or combined applications being carried out in the manner as hercin set
forth and illustrated.