IMPROVEMENTS IN FURNACES FOR HEATING STEAM BOILERS AND OTHER APPARATUS
Year: 1877

page_text: "
LETTERS PATENT to William Morgan-Brown, of the Firm of Brandon and
Morgan-Brown, Engineers and Patent Agents, of 38, Southampton Buildings,
London, and 1, Rue Laffitte, Paris, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
FURNACES FOR HEATING STEAM BOILERS AND OTHER APPARATUS." A commu-
nication from abroad by Albert Felton Upton, of Boston, Massachusetts, United
States of America, Leather Manufacturer.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Morgan-Brown at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th January 1877.
WILLIAM MORGAN-BROWN, of the Firm of Brandon and Morgan-Brown, Engineers
and Patent Agents, of 38, Southampton Buildings, and 1, Rue Laffitte, Paris.
"IM-
PROVEMENTS IN FURNACES FOR HEATING STEAM BOILERS AND OTHER APPARATUS."
This Invention of improvements in furnaces for heating steam boilers and other
apparatus consists in the employment in or in connection with the side walls of the
fire chamber and combustion chamber, and with the floor or flame bed of the com-
bustion chamber, back of the bridge wall, of pipes, or flues, or air passages, whereby
a sufficient quantity or volume of heated air or oxygen at an elevated temperature
may be discharged into or mixed with. the gases formed during the process of com-
bustion to assist in sustaining and completing the combustion of the carbon of the
fuel, the heated air so admitted in large volume furnishing sufficient oxygen for
substantially instantaneous and complete combustion of the gases or carbonic oxide,
whereas if the air admitted was cold the combustion would be less perfect.
In this Invention the area of the space for the fire and combustion chambers.
under the boiler is materially increased, this increase of space being also a part of
the Invention.
In this improvement the side walls of the combustion chamber are provided with
flues for the introduction of heated atmospheric air, such flues and the pipes in the
bottom of the combustion chamber preferably being made larger at the air-delivering
ends than they are at their receiving ends, the air heated in its passage through the
pipes being allowed to expand without choking the pipe, thereby greatly increasing
the force of the hot blast, and obviating the use of blowers or fans, as usual. In
connection with pipes for the introduction of heated air the flame bed is inclined
D 72

page_text: backward and downward from the perforated or slotted plate at the bridge wall,
the area of combustion chamber being thereby increased. The floor or flame bed of
the combustion chamber descends downward, back of the bridge wall, thereby
increasing the area of the combustion chamber to afford space for combustion of the
gases. Back of the bridge wall is an open space covered from side to side of the
furnace with a strong cast-iron plate perforated with a great number of small holes
through which passes heated air discharged from flues, in this instance formed of
pipes communicating with the atmosphere at the back of the furnace. These pipes
are laid close up to or into the bottom of the combustion chamber or flame bed, so
that the flame therein will heat the air in the flues quite hot. The air so heated is
directed downward into the chamber or space, when it is allowed to expand and its
current is broken, so that in leaving the chamber through the perforations in the
plate it is discharged evenly from side to side of the combustion chamber, and is
mixed with and supplied uniformly to the gases passing over the bridge wall. This
even and uniform mixing of the heated air and gases makes the combustion much
more perfect than would be the case if the air was admitted in but few places and
not thoroughly incorporated with the column of gas. In addition to this supply of
heated air at the under side of the column of gas, passing over the bridge wall,
columns of heated air from each side or wall of the fire and combustion chambers
are discharged into the flame above the perforated plate. The air heated in pipes
is discharged at openings located at each side of the furnace wall. This heated air
from pipes is discharged laterally into the flame or gas just as it passes over the
bridge wall, and coming from opposite sides and into the flame or gas, at substantially
right angles, the regularity of the current of flame or gas is completely broken up,
as will be fully evident to practical persons. The heated air imparts its supply of
oxygen to the flame or gases disturbed and checked by counter currents of heated
air or gas. The heated air rising through the perforated plate in numerous small
jets penetrates the whole mass of flame or gas from side wall to side wall, and the
gas or flame with its commingled heated air in the process of combustion rolls and
moves about in the combustion chamber, and laps up about the under portion of
the boiler in a manner not possible where the flame or gas is permitted to move
over the bridge wall in a regular defined current and without great disturbing
currents. The mixing of heated air in this way with the flame or gas, as described,
makes most perfect combustion, and enables the use of coal, pressed tan screenings,
or any kind of fuel.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Morgan-Brown in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
15th June 1877.
"
WILLIAM MORGAN-BROWN, of the Firm of Brandon and Morgan-Brown, Engineers
and Patent Agents, of 38, Southampton Buildings, London, and 1, Rue Lafitte, Paris.
IMPROVEMENTS IN FURNACES FOR HEATING STEAM BOILERS AND OTHER APPARATUS."
A communication from abroad by Albert Felton Upton, of Boston, Massachusetts,
United States of America, Leather Manufacturer.
The Invention has reference to gas consuming furnaces of steam boilers, and the
Invention consists in the employment in or in connection with the side walls of the
fire chamber and combustion chamber, and with the floor or flame bed of the com-
bustion chamber, back of the bridge wall, of pipes, or flues, or air passages, whereby
a sufficient quantity or volume of heated air or oxygen at an elevated temperaturė
may be discharged into or mixed with the gases formed during the process of com-
bustion to assist in sustaining and completing the combustion of the carbon of the
fuel, the heated air so admitted in large volumes furnishing oxygen for substantially
instantaneous and complete combustion of the gases or carbonic oxide, whereas if
the air admitted was cold the combustion would be less perfect.

page_text: In this Invention the area of the space for the fire and combustion chambers under
the boiler is materially increased, this increase of space being also a part of the
Invention.
·
In this improvement the side walls of the combustion chamber are provided with
flues for the introduction of heated atmospheric air, such flues and the pipes in the
bottom of the combustion chamber preferably being made larger at their air delivering
ends than they are at their receiving ends, the air heated in its passage through the
pipes being allowed to expand without choking the pipe, thereby greatly increasing
the force of hot the blast and obviating the use of blowers or fans as usual. In
connection with pipes for the introduction of heated air the flame bed is inclined
backward and downward froin the perforated or slotted plate at the bridge wall, the
area of the combustion chamber being thereby increased.
Figure 1 represents a vertical section of the side wall of a stationary furnace
showing the arrangement of flues in the furnace wall opposite the fire-box and
combustion chambers.
.
Figure 2 represents a horizontal section above the bridge wall, the perforated
plate being broken away.
Figure 3 represents a vertical section of the boiler and furnace.
Figure 4 represents a section of the outside wall of an upright boiler.
Figure 5, a vertical section of part of a vertical boiler furnace.
Figure 6, a modified arrangement of flues.
The boiler a shown in the furnace is of the tubular class, and may be of any
usual kind. 6 represents the grate bars; c, the ash-pit; d, the bridge wall; f, the
fire chamber; and e, the combustion chamber. The floor or flame bed of the com-
bustion chamber descends downward, back of the bridge wall, thereby increasing
the area of the combustion chamber to afford space for combustion of the gases.
Back of the bridge wall d is an open space h covered from side to side of the
furnace with a strong cast-iron plate g perforated with a great number of small
holes through which passes heated air discharged from flues o, in this instance
formed of pipes communicating with the atmosphere at the back of the furnace.
These pipes are laid. close up to or into the bottom of the combustion chamber or
flame bed, so that the flame therein will heat the air in the flues quite hot. The
air so heated is directed downward into the chamber or space h, where it is allowed
to expand and its current is broken, so that in leaving the chamber through the
perforations in the plate it is discharged evenly from side to side of the combustion
chainber, and is mixed with and supplied uniformly to the gases passing over the
bridge wall. This even and uniform mixing of the heated air and gases makes the
combustion much more perfect than would be the case if the air was admitted in
but few places and not thoroughly incorporated with the column of gas. In addition
to this supply of heated air at the under side of the column of gas passing over the
bridge wall, columns of heated air from each side or wall of the fire and combustion
chambers are discharged into the flame above the perforated plate. The air heated
in pipes i, l, and received at n is discharged at openings k, m, located at each side
of the furnace wall. This heated air from pipes i, 1, 'is discharged laterally into the
flame or gas just as it passes over the bridge wall, and coming from opposite sides
and into the flame or gas at substantially right angles, the regularity of the current
of flame or gas is completely broken up, as will be fully evident to practical persons.
The heated air imparts its supply of oxygen to the flame or gases disturbed and
checked by counter currents of heated air, &c. The heated air rising through the
perforated plate in numerous small jets penetrates the whole mass of flame or gas
from side wall to side wall, and the gas or flame with its commingled heated air in
the process of combustion rolls and moves about in the combustion chamber and
laps up about the under portion of the boiler in a manner not possible where the
flame or gas is permitted to move over the bridge wall in a regular defined current,
and without great disturbing currents. The mixing of heated air in this way with
the flame or gas, as described, makes most perfect combustion, and enables the use
of coal, pressed tan screenings, or any kind of fuel.
•

page_text: A boiler, say, of one hundred horse power, when set in accordance with this
Invention will have the grate placed about thirty inches below it, the top of the
bridge wall will be about fourteen inches below, the bottom of the boiler, and the
under side of the boiler at its back end will be about twenty-four inches above the
floor of the combustion chamber or flame bed. This, it will be noticed, affords more
space than usual for complete combustion of the gas.
The flues. in the side wall, as shown in Figure 1, instead of being arranged
vertically, might be arranged horizontally, or at any other angle in the side walls so
long as the flues are made to retain the air long enough to properly heat it.
The flues in the side walls may be arranged horizontally if desired, as shown in
Figure 6. The arrows in such Figure show the direction of the current of air tổ
the discharge openings k.
Any desired number and diameter of pipes may be employed for the flues,
according to the quantity of air to be admitted, and the flues may be more or less
tortuous.
The flues in the wall of the furnace fire chamber receive air which is heated and
discharged at openings k, one at each side, at or near the bridge wall. Other
similar flues in the side wall forming the combustion chamber receive air at or
near the back of the wall at n, and discharge it at m over the perforated plate g in
a heated state. The addition of the flues enables the utilization of the entire
walls of the furnace for the purpose of heating a large quantity of air to be dis-
charged into and intimately mixed with the gases generated by the burning fuel,
thereby adding to the efficiency of the furnace as to its qualities for thorough
combustion.
In this present Invention the flues i, l, and pipes o are shown as tapering or
increasing in size towards their delivering ends, to provide for the expansion of the
heated air passing through them, the degree of enlargement being made to correspond
with the degree of heat and the corresponding expansion of the air. The air heated
in the flues and pipes, being given room in which to expand, does not choke the
pipes or lessen the supply of oxygen, but on the contrary the velocity of the current
of air so heated and expanded is increased, and is supplied to the gases to be
consumed with greater force and in larger quantities than before usual, and expanded
and heated, such air does not cool the gases, but readily commingles with them
at substantially a degree of heat suitable for immediate ignition or combustion.
The air containing oxygen at an elevated temperature is thoroughly commingled
with the gases passing over the bridge wall into the combustion chamber, where the
space is large enough to permit the introduction and incorporation with the gases of
a sufficient volume of heated air to furnish sufficient oxygen at an elevated tem-
perature to unite with the carbonic oxide, and substantially complete perfect
combustion.
Figure 5 shows the Invention embodied in a vertical boiler. The grate b¹ is
surrounded as usual with a fire-brick wall c¹ forming the combustion chamber d¹.
To form flues in this wall the pipes are placed therein, as shown, each pipe com-
'municating at one end with the atmosphere, or it may be with an air space between
the outer wall and boiler shell, and at the other or enlarged end such pipes discharge
air into the fire-box above the incandescent material in the combustion chamber,
such discharge openings m being usually from twelve to fifteen inches above the
grate. In practice these flues will each be composed of two members or loops
instead of several members or loops.
Instead of pipes for flues the fire-bricks may be provided with air passages, and
be built into the wall, the communicating openings in the bricks forming flues.
In Figure 5 the inlets are marked n and the discharge openings m. The line e¹
indicates the lower portion of the boiler, and f¹ an outer wall or casing.
Figure 4 shows the Invention in another plan, the outer wall of a vertical boiler
being broken away to show the arrangement of hot air conducting pipes or flues
therein. This wall is built immediately outside the metallic boiler shell e¹, shown
in Figure 5, and preferably directly against it so as to be heated by radiation from

page_text: the shell. These pipes are arranged as double loops, receiving air at their lower end,
opened to the atmosphere, and discharging it heated at from twelve to fifteen inches
above the fuel in the fire chamber.
In Figure 2 it will be noticed that the flame bed above the tapering dies o is
gradually inclined from the bridge wall and pitches downward, thereby gradually
increasing the area of the space forming the combustion chamber e. This gradually
enlarging space greatly aids in facilitating the combustion of the volatile products
of combustion, and permits the introduction of a larger amount of hot air than
were the flame bed horizontal, and being an enlarged space the draft is increased.
Having described the Invention, what is claimed is,―
First. In a smoke-consuming furnace, the flues in the side walls and openings at the
sides over the bridge wall in combination with the flues in the flame bed, and the
perforated plate and chamber h, all arranged with reference to each other, and
the boiler, as described, whereby the heated air is introduced and commingled with
the gas or flame in the combustion chamber, substantially as described.
Second. The combination with the chamber h, of the tapering pipes o arranged in
the flame bed and adapted to heat and permit the exhaustion of the air passing
through the pipes into the chamber, substantially as described.
Third. The flues in the wall of the fire chamber in combination with the flues
in the side walls of the combustion chamber, both adapted to discharge hot air at
or near the bridge wall, substantially as described.
Fourth. In combination the tapering pipes o and the downwardly and backwardly
inclined flame bed adapted to permit the introduction and expansion of hot air, and
the combustion of the gases in the gradually enlarged combustion chamber e, sub-
stantially as described.
Fifth. The flues in the side walls and flues in the flame bed to introduce hot air
into the combustion chamber in combination with the downwardly and backwardly
inclined flame bed, to operate substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Morgan-Brown, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twelfth day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.