Improvements in Apparatus for the Prevention of Smoke and Increasing the Steaming Power of Boilers, which may be also Applied to other Classes of Furnaces.
Year: 1894

page_text: This Print is in accordance with the Original Specification as it stands after
Amendment (under Section 18 of the Patents, &c. Act, 1883), as allowed by
the decision of the Comptroller General of the 16th day of March 1896.
Date of Application, 23rd July, 1894
Complete Specification Left. 24th Oct., 1894-Accepted, 9th Mar., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for the Prevention of Smoke and
Increasing the Steaming Power of Boilers, which may be also
Applied to other Classes of Furnaces.
I, SAMUEL ALBERT JOHNSON of 223 High Street Poplar, London E. Marine
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to certain improvements to more effectually secure a
thorough and practical consumption of smoke and to assist in increasing the
steaming power of boilers, which may also be so adapted and applied to ordinary
furnaces apart from those intended for raising steam.
For the general type or class of steam boilers as now in ordinary use or of any
other particular class or type, 1 so propose according to my present invention that
it may be so simply adapted as not to interfere with or materially require any
particular constructional alteration or arrangement.
The method I propose to adopt is to so provide and fit within the length of
the ash pit and at or about the lower portion and width of same with a metal plate
of suitably curved sectional form and passing through or toward the fire bridge
so as to lead into the combustion chamber. The said horizontal curved sectional
metal plate would be so placed and fitted within the length of the ash pit of the
furnace as to have a suitable amount of free air space left within the length
of same for the air to have free entry and passage direct into the combustion
chamber.
I also propose to provide and fit at or about and above the rear end of the
furnace bridge a plate of suitable material and proportion which may by preference
be perforated, and securely placed and fix same in position at a convenient and
suitable incline or angle from the said furnace bridge. And upon the upper or
top surface of the said inclined plate I propose to place a series of asbestos balls
or blocks (or mixed or formed with fire clay or of other like or suitable material
or compounds) capable of retaining and giving off intense heat.
In the case of multitubular boilers I would so arrange that some few or a
convenient and suitable number of the lower set of the tubes may be used and
fitted at each of their ends with a short length of tube, the inner portions of same
of slightly lesser diameter so as to fit and take within the mouth and end of same
at the stoke hold end, and the ends of same caused to project slightly into same and
left open to the atmosphere, so that a continuous and free current of air is induced
to enter within the tubes so fitted,-from the projecting open portions at the stoke
hole end towards the corresponding perforated projecting but closed portions at

page_text: their respective ends within the combustion chamber. The said induced atmo-
spheric currents entering therein will consequently become highly heated in their
passage through the said tubes, escaping freely through the perforated openings
formed around the projecting tube proportions within the combustion chamber and
in turn impinge upon and mix with the entire gaseous products, and at the same
time and in like manner the same having to meet with the intensely heated and
incandescent surfaces, as retained and given off by the asbestos (or fire clay or
other substance or material as preferred) blocks or balls, will likewise aid to most
effectively cause the entire gaseous products as evolved to burst into flame and be
consumed.
I also propose in some cases to place or insert a horizontal tube or tubes through
the ash pit, passing through the fire bridge, open at the one end to the atmosphere,
as projecting from the stoke hole, and the other end projecting through the fire
bridge into the combustion chamber but perforated around and closed at the end,
so that the heated air is permitted to freely enter and circulate within the
combustion chamber and over and around the highly heated blocks of asbestos,
or other suitable substance or material, resting or supported upon an inclined
perforated plate, which in some cases may be placed and supported as from the
ordinary fire bridge to a second fire bridge behind the same, and thereby causing
all the heated air to pass upwards and through the perforated inclined plate and
contents thereon and to freely mingle with and entirely consume the gaseous
products, as in manner before described.
In order to regulate the heated gases in their passage as toward the uptake, a
baffle plate may be provided, pivotted or hinged at its lower part in the smoke box
and capable of being adjusted by means of a handle worked from the stoke hole,
or in other suitable manner.
In the case of tubular boilers such as that known as the "Babcock,"
"" Willcox,"
or other such class of boiler I propose to place or lead therein perforated tubes, so
as to permit of the air freely passing and circulating in a heated state towards and
into the combustion chamber; and I further propose to place asbestos balls or the
like either open or suspended over or around the said perforated tubes, so that by
their becoming in a highly incandescent state, the resultant gases as evolved in
passing over and around same would cause such to at once burst into flame and
become thereby rapidly consumed.
A
1004
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION (AMENDED).
Improvements in Apparatus for the Prevention of Smoke and
Increasing the Steaming Power of Boilers, which may be also
Applied to other Classes of Furnaces.
I, SAMUEL ALBERT JOHNSON of Number 225 High Street Poplar, London, E.
Marine Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement and accompanying drawing =
This invention relates to certain improvements to effectually secure a more
thorough and practical consumption of smoke in the furnaces of marine or other
boilers than heretofore and at the same time effecting a considerable economy in
the consumption of fuel, as perfect combustion is ensured and greater heating and
steaming power obtained. It may also be adapted to suit other furnaces than those
intended for raising steam.
For the general type or class of steam boilers in ordinary use as in the case of
marine or multitubular boilers, I so propose according to this my present invention

page_text: that my improvements may be so easily adapted as not to interfere with or
materially require any particular constructional alteration or arrangement.
The method I propose to adopt is to provide and fit within the length of the ash
pit of the furnace and at or about the lower portion of the same, a metal plate of
suitably curved sectional channel or tunnel form, passing from the front of the
boiler beneath the fire bars toward and through the lower portion of the fire bridge
toward the combustion chamber, thus providing a suitable passage or air space
within the length of same direct into the air and combustion chamber.
I also propose to provide and fit at the back of the furnace bridge a perforated
plate of metal and securely place and fix same in position at a convenient and
suitable incline or angle from the said furnace bridge toward the back of the
combustion chamber. And upon the upper or top surface of the said inclined
plate I propose to place a series of asbestos balls or blocks or a combination of
asbestos and fire clay (or other suitable or like substance or material) capable of
retaining and giving off great heat.
It will therefore be found in practice that by means of the channeled or curved
tunnel form of metal plate before referred to. That the oxygen will be steadily
led directly under the said inclined plate (which would be freely perforated) and
thereby through and around the asbestos balls or blocks or the like whereby a free
current of air is given direct into the combustion chamber, thereby igniting the
gaseous resultants and creating rapid and perfect combustion.
may in some cases propose to place and fit upon the upper part of the said fire
bridge a plate or block of metal or other suitable material of semicircular or like
form within the furnace and form same with suitable openings so as to permit of
the heated gases passing through or over same, or such openings may be dispensed
with and the flame caused to pass round and over same instead.
I further propose
in the case of multitubular boilers as in combination to arrange that some few or
a convenient and suitable number of the lower set of the tubes may be used and
each of their ends fitted with a short length of tube, the inner portions of same
being of slightly tapered or conical form as to enable them to be fitted securely
within the mouth or end of each tube as desired and to slightly project therefrom.
But at the stoke hole portion the projecting ends of same would be left open to
the atmosphere, so that a continuous and free current of air may be induced or
permitted to enter within the said tubes so fitted directly towards and into the corre-
sponding projecting portions within the combustion chamber wherein they by means
of perforations being formed throughout their projecting portions and closed at their
ends would give the required results. The said atmospheric currents entering
therein will consequently in their passage through the said tubes become highly
heated and freely escape through the perforated openings formed in and around
the projecting tube portions within the combustion chamber, and in turn impinge
upon aud mix with the gaseous products evolved therein, at the same time and in
like manner the same having to meet with the intensely heated incandescent block
or ball surfaces, as hereinbefore referred to, will not only very greatly aid but
most effectively cause the entire gaseous products produced therein to rapidly
burst into flame and be instantly consumed.
In order to regulate the heated gases in their passage or escape as toward the
uptake, a "baffle plate" may be provided and pivotted or hinged at its lower part
in the smoke box and capable of being adjusted by means of a regulator handle or
lever connection worked from the stoke hole end.
In the case of Cornish and such like type or class of flue boilers I propose to
provide or build a second bridge by means of which a chamber or division space is
formed within the boiler flue, between this said bridge and that of the ordinary
fire bridge in front of same and over which a perforated plate or plates would rest
or be supported at a slight angle by preference, and upon the upper surface of same
a series of asbestos balls or blocks (or of other like or suitable material or
substance) would be placed and supported therein;-and immediately behind the
said second bridge and at a suitable distance apart in the length of the flue.I propose

page_text: ''
"
to place a diverting" or third bridge which may be formed or built up of metal
bars or of other material in a triangular form within the tubular flue, and a free
passage or air space is formed thereby at each side and in the central portion
forming the said "diverting or third bridge, and upon the crown or upper part
thereof a series of perforated blocks or balls, composed of asbestos or mixed with
other suitable composition or materials, would be placed thereon and close to the
crown of the furnace flue, so as to break the flame or heated gases when passing
over the asbestos blocks or balls as previously referred to.
I also propose to fit a horizontal tube or tubes so as to be led either from the
stoke hole end and through the ash pit and the front fire bridge, or instead thereof
from uear the rear end of the boiler, and brought directly therefrom toward and
into the divisional air chamber and under the perforated plate carrying the blocks
or balls of asbestos or the like. A portion of the said pipe or tube would be
permitted to enter within the lower part of the said chamber and would be
perforated around same to a suitable extent, but closed at its extremity therein and
the other end would project outwardly and be there open to the atmosphere, either
at the stoke hole end or at the rear end of the boiler as may be determined, to
permit of the air freely entering and passing therethrough into the said chamber,
in the form of a continuous current and through the perforated plate and among
the highly heated incandescent asbestos balls or blocks (or other form or
composition) above same.
In the case of tubular boilers such as that known of the "Babcock" "Willcox
or other such class of boiler or boilers I propose to place or fit therein perforated
tubes in a suitable manner so as to permit of the air freely passing and circulating
in a heated state into the combustion chamber; and I further propose to place
balls or blocks of asbestos, mixed either with fire clay or other like or suitable
material, either suspended upon or held over or around the said perforated tubes so
that by their becoming in a highly incandescent state the resultant gases evolved,
would when passing over and around same be instantly caused to burst into flame
and become thereby completely consumed.
In the accompanying sheet of drawings,
Figure 1, exhibits a longitudinal section of a marine type of boiler :
Figure 2, is a part cross sectional view of Figure 1, taken on the line a, b of
same:
Figure 3, is a part end or front view of Figure 1 :
Figure 4, is a longitudinal sectional view of a Cornish or flue type of land boiler
and Figure 5, is a cross section of same taken on the line c, d of Figure 4.
In the several figures referred to herein the same letters of reference indicate
like or corresponding parts thereto, in which A, A as in Figures 1 and 2, shews a
semicircular form of metal plate, with sides turned down to rest upon the bottom of
the furnace flue B, B, and forms a channel space for air to freely pass into and
through same and as shewn underneath the fire bridge C, C into the air chamber O
and from thence upwards into the combustion chamber D, D; and directly toward
the asbestos blocks E, E. F, F is a perforated metal plate to support the asbestos
blocks E, E in position. G, G are horizontal tubes, in some few of the lower
parts of which I fit short tapered tube connections H, H at the stoke hole
end J, J and open to the atmosphere. K, K are corresponding short tapered
tubes fitting into the ends of the tubes G, G, within the combustion chamber D,
and perforated around therein, but in this case they are closed at their ends.
L, is the "baffle" plate pivotted or hinged at its lower portion L'. M, is a lever
handle for acting upon and throwing the flame against the front of the boiler by
means of the baffle plate L.
"
In Figure 4 exhibiting a Cornish type of flue boiler and at Figure 5 shewing a
cross section of same, wherein the second bridge N, before referred to forming the
air chamber O, between the bridge N and fire bridge C. P, shews the "diverting
bridge, by preference of triangular form which gives a free passage for the heated
gases to pass therethrough at the centre and at each side of the supports of same

page_text: as shewn at Q, Q1, Q', Figure 5 and surmounted with asbestos or other blocks P¹.
R is a horizontal tube as seen at Fig. 4, but open to the atmosphere at the rear
end of the boiler and led directly into the air chamber O, and upward through the-
perforated plate F and among the asbestos blocks E. S, as seen in section also in
elevation at Figures 1, 2, 4 and 5 is a semicircular block of metal or other suitable
material, placed upon the top of the fire or first bridge with the object of causing
the flames to split up before spreading over the ashestos blocks, which would be
effected to some extent by their passing thro' the openings as shewn and over
and around same;-or these openings may be dispensed with and the flames
permitted to pass around and over the said block alone.
A suitable regulator would be provided for giving admission to or cutting off at
will the air supply toward the air chamber Ŏ, and so regulating the amount of
oxygen for feeding the asbestos balls or blocks E.
The semicircular or channel-like form of metal plate A, A shewn in the
accompanying drawing (Figures 1, 2 and 3) as applied to a marine type of boiler
for conveying oxygen into the air chamber O, may if desired be likewise equally
applied in the Cornish or other land type or class of boiler.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-.
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that I do not claim
generally the invention specified below, but only when used in furnaces constructed
as herein set forth in the fourth and fifth paragraphs of this Specification, but
subject hereto what I claim is :-
The adoption of a semicircular or like form of block pierced through or
otherwise so as to split or divert the smoke and flames before reaching the incan-
descent blocks or balls. Likewise the adoption of a "divertor" or third bridge
having perforated blocks or balls of asbestos or the like placed on the upper part
thereof so as to further arrest and consume any spent gases and finally destroying:
all smoke and like resultants.
0042 1
cou 100s
SAMUEL A. JOHNSON.
Graham & Co.,
63, Clapham Road, S.W., Agents for the Applicant..