IMPROVE- MENTS IN STOVES
Year: 1858

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Clinton Henderson, of Albany, in the State
of New York, United States of America, for the "Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN STOVES."
Sealed the 23rd November 1858, and dated the 14th June 1858.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Clinton Henderson
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
14th June 1858.
I, JOSEPH CLINTON HENDERSON, of Albany, in the State of New York,
United States of America, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN STOVES," to be as follows:-
I provide a suitable chamber, grate, or pot for receiving the fuel, and the
same is to be of any desired size or shape, and fitted with the necessary
door for supply of fuel, and an ash-pit below the grate as usual. Above
the said chamber or fire pot I attach a truncated cone or pyramid, that
is made of metal or other material of the desired thickness, and of the size
adapted to the purpose, and the opening formed at the top of said cone or
pyramid by the truncation of the same is to be of the size required for
passing out the products of combustion into a second chamber or heat radiator
formed by a casing of any desired size or shape surrounding said cone or

page_text: pyramid, and connected to the base thereof. A pipe of the desired size leads
away from this outer casing to a suitable chimney.
The operation of this truncated cone or pyramid over the fire is to detain
the products of combustion, and at the same time impart heat to them, because
said cone or pyramid being within the outer casing, becomes very hot, and by
heating up said products of combustion and retaining the same, causes a more
perfect combustion, which consumes smoke and gases as far as possible, pre-
venting the same from being wasted, thus effecting a great economy in fuel.
If desired, a regulated supply of air may be admitted above the fire, at the
base of the truncated cone or pyramid to aid in effecting a more perfect com-
bustion or regulating the heat from the fire. My device may be used for any
furnace or heater to which it may be applicable.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Joseph Clinton Henderson in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 11th December 1858.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOSEPH
CLINTON HENDERSON, of Albany, in the State of New York, United States of
America, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fourteenth day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight, in the twenty-first year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Joseph Clinton Henderson, Her special license that I, the said Joseph Clinton
Henderson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Joseph Clinton Henderson, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all
times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN STOVES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Joseph Clinton Henderson, by an instrument in writing under my hand and
seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same
to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next
and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Joseph Clinton Henderson, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, reference being had to the. Drawing hereunto annexed,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):-
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a stove containing my improvements, and
Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same. Similar marks of reference indicate
the same parts.
The nature of my said Invention consists of a combustion chamber above
the fire, and within a radiating chamber, whereby the products of combustion,
such as smoke and gases from bituminous and other coals or fuel are confined
within the first combustion chamber, where they are submitted to sufficient
heat to produce a perfect combustion, and then they pass into the outer casing
forming the radiating chamber, from which the heat is communicated to the.
surrounding atmosphere, or to the substance to be heated.
A
In the Drawing I have shewn my Invention as applied to a stove, but the
same may be used in a boiler furnace or other heater wherever available.
is the base forming the ash-pit; 1 is the grate; and B is the fire box ; E is
the door for the entrance of fuel; C is the frustrum of a cone forming the
combustion chamber; G is the orifice from which the products of combustion
pass into the radiating chamber D, from the base of which chamber the flue F
passes to a suitable chimney.
The operation of this apparatus is, that the smoke and gases are confined
within the combustion chamber C, the orifice G being of a regular size for this
purpose, or variable by a damper, or otherwise, so as to produce a plenum
within said chamber C, and the truncated cone, becoming highly heated
because it does not act as a radiating surfaces, increases the temperature of the
gases, and causes them to mix and commingle in such a manner while retained
by the contraction G at the top of said chamber, that all smoke and combustible
matters are consumed, and the heated gases passing into the chamber D,
impart their heat by radiation through the casing to the surrounding air, and
the flue F being near the bottom of the chamber D, produces a plenum in
the said chamber D. A secondary supply of air might be introduced above
the fuel at the base of the chamber C, but where the admission of draft is
properly regulated, this is not necessary.
In the manufacture of gas from coal and other substances, an operation
takes place that may serve as an illustration of the manner in which my
Invention operates, viz., the retort into which the coal is placed must be

page_text: heated to such a degree that the gases are driven off, not as a smoky mass
similar to combustion in the atmosphere, but as a nearly colorless hydrocarbon
produced by the heat, so in my heater the cone or chamber above the fire, not
acting as a radiating or conducting surface, but having heat on both sides, is
raised to such a temperature that a complete combination of the elements of
combustion is effected, because the said cone being contracted sufficiently. at
its apex or opening into the outer chamber is converted into a transmitting
retort that will not allow (when properly proportioned), the escape of any
smoke or unconsumed carbonaceous matter; hence, a stove constructed on my
plan, so soon as the fire is thoroughly kindled and burning, will not pass
sufficient smoke from bituminous or similar coals to even soil or adhere to the
outside of the cone C, consequently a great saving is effected in the coal, and
all trouble from smoke is avoided, and the combustion of bituminous. coal
rendered as clearly and agreeably as that of anthracite.
In cases where my Invention is applied in steam or other boilers or heaters,
the clogging up of flues by an accumulation of soot is prevented.
The chamber C may be constructed of fire-brick, soapstone, or other
material, although for ordinary purposes I prefer substantial cast iron.
It will be apparent that the size and proportions of the parts must be varied
and determined according to the character of the stove, furnace, or heater, and
the fuel made use of; and I do not limit myself in any of these particulars, so
long as the following three elements are found, viz., 1st, a furnace or five box,
in which the primary combustion takes place; 2nd, a non-radiating com-
bustion chamber above the fuel, where a secondary combustion or combination
of the products of the first combustion is made to take place by the heat and
contraction of the outlet from said chamber; and 3rd, a heating or radiating
chamber or device intervening between the surface to be heated, for the pur-
poses of radiation or conduction and the aforesaid secondary combustion
chamber.
I am aware that a tapering or contracting flue or chamber has been used
over the fire pot, for the purpose of detaining the products of combustion, and
causing said tapering chamber to receive and radiate heat. A stove has also
been made with a parallel cylinder within the exterior cylinder, but this simply
formed an exterior descending flue, and did not produce any plenum in the
space over the fire to detain and increase the heat, and produce a secondary
combustion above the fire.
What I claim as my Invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,
the non-radiating combustion chamber, with a contracted orifice or throat

page_text: producing a plenum in said chamber, in combination with a fire box or pot,
and with an exterior chamber surrounding said combustion chamber, and from
which exterior chamber the heat is taken by radiation or conduction, sub-
stantially as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Clinton Henderson, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Sixth day of November, A.D. One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight.
JOSEPH CLINTON HENDERSON. (L.S.)
Witnesses,
JESSE M. WHITE,
308, Hudson Street,
Albany, N. Y.
HENRY B. ALVORD,
101, Hawk St.,
Albany, N. Y.