Improvements in Apparatus for Preventing Smoke or Promoting Combustion in Steam Boiler Furnaces.
Year: 1893

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Preventing Smoke or Promoting
Combustion in Steam Boiler Furnaces.
to be
I, JAMES SADLER, of Ramsbottom, in the County of Lancaster, Mechanic, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This invention is designed to provide apparatus whereby a jet of steam may be
injected into the boiler furnace for a regulated interval of time after each time the
door is opened. It may be applied to stationary marine or other boilers.
It consists essentially in the application to the steam boiler furnace of a steam
pipe to inject a jet of steam and regulating and controlling apparatus operated by
the opening and closing of the fire doors connected to each door and constructed
with an hydraulic piston or ram which controls the steam valve the water admission
valve being opened and closed as the door is opened and closed.
The invention will be fully described with reference to the accompanying
drawings in which as an example it is shown applied to a Lancashire boiler.
Fig. 1. side elevation partly in section.
Fig. 2. plan.
Fig. 3. end elevation.
Fig. 4. sectional elevation of the controlling apparatus.
Fig. 5. elevation of same.
Fig. 6. detail elevation and plan of water valves.
The jet of steam is conveyed to the furnaces by the steam pipes A A¹ one of
which passes underneath the fire bars B in each of the fire boxes E E. The pipes
are provided with copper nozzles a of fan shape to spread out or distribute the jet
of steam issuing therefrom in the form of a spray. In each furnace the nozzle a is
placed in a space formed between the two bridges C, C' through which heated air
can also pass into the furnace. The furnace bridges C C' are preferably double
built up of brick upon a cast iron box c. The space between them is fitted with a
valve or damper D above the steam nozzle a so balanced as to close by its own
weight and to be opened by the force of the steam jet impinging upon it. The
damper D is pivoted to the cast iron box e and on its heavier side is perforated to
allow of a slight amount of air to pass through when closed. The jet of steam as
it issues from the nozzle a strikes the projecting brick or corner c¹ to more
When it is desired
completely break it up into spray before reaching the furnace.
to open the damper without admitting steam to the furnace a lever with a rod
extending to the front of the boiler may be employed.
The steam as it issues from the nozzle induces a current of fresh air to pass up
the space between the bridges and commingling with the steam promotes complete
combustion in the furnace and prevents any dense smoke passing away to the
chimney.
The admission of steam to the furnaces through the pipes A A¹ is regulated or
controlled to take place only when the fire doors are open and for a desired length
of time after they have been closed.
On top of the boiler or in other convenient position I place two or more steam
valves F F attached to the steam pipes A A' by which the steam is admitted to
or shut off from the pipes A A'. Adjacent to each of these valves I place a
This appliance
controlling valve or appliance G G¹ to open and close the valves.
consists of an hydraulic cylinder g with a hollow piston g' capable of moving to and
fro therein. The piston g' consists of a hollow brass tube working in a bored
cylinder projecting from one end of which is the connecting rod f. The top of the
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page_text: piston g' is weighted and to it is attached a let off or drip tap H by which the
hollow piston g' can be emptied. The cylinder is provided with small stuffing
boxes at both ends to prevent the escape of the water and the connecting rod fis
attached to the steam admission valve F. When water is admitted into the
cylinder g the hollow piston g! is forced up and carrying with it the connecting rodf
the steam valve F is opened and steam admitted to the pipe A and allowed to blow
through the nozzle a into the furnace. When the water supply is shut off the
piston is forced down again by the weights h and the steam valve shut, the water
in the piston escaping through the tap H. The duration of the discharge of steam
by the jet in the furnace can be regulated by the tap H by allowing the water to
flow either quickly or slowly from the piston.
It will be evident that the hollow piston is not essential to the controlling
apparatus G as a solid piston or plunger may be employed with the drip tap
placed in any convenient position to let off the water.
The water is supplied to the controlling apparatus G G' by means of the pipes I I'
fitted with piston or other valves J J₁ and the opening and closing of these valves
is controlled by the furnace doors M M the valves opening with the doors and
closing with them. Vertical shafts K K' are connected with the doors being
pivoted at the bottom end on the hinge pin of the fire box doors and attached to
the door by the links kk' so that as the doors are opened or closed the shafts move
with them part of a revolution. On the top end of each of the vertical shafts K K'
is fitted a small disc crank L L' which rotates backwards and forwards with its
shaft. The water valves J J' in the pipes I 11 are connected by the connecting
rods jj' with the crank discs L L' and each time these are moved by the opening
of the doors the valves are opened and when moved in the reverse direction by the
closing of the doors the valves are closed.
In operation the opening of the furnace door M rotates the vertical shaft K and
crank disc L opening the water valve J and allowing water to flow through the
pipe I into the cylinder g forcing up the piston g' and with it the connecting rod or
link thereby opening the steam valve F in the steam pipe A. Steam is thereby
admitted through the pipe A to the nozzle a and the jet is blown into the furnace
so long as the valve F remains open the steam as it is blown through opening the
damper D. The closing of the furnace door operates the vertical shaft and disc
in the reverse direction closing the water valve J and cutting off the supply of
water to the apparatus G. The weights then force down the piston g₁ which
gradually descends, the water in the cylinder trickling out through the tap H. As
soon as the piston g' falls to the bottom of the cylinder g the steam valve is closed
and the steam jet stopped. The length of time the steam jet continues in action
after the closing of the furnace door is adjusted by the opening or closing of the
drip tap H to allow the water to flow out faster or slower.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In apparatus for the prevention of smoke or promotion of combustion in steam
boilers the combination with a steam pipe delivering a jet or spray into the furnace
of hydraulic cylinders and pistons which control the opening and closing of the
steam admission valves and water supply pipes the valves of which are opened and
closed by the opening and closing of the furnace doors substantially as described.
2. Apparatus for controlling or regulating a supply of steam to the furnace of a
steam boiler consisting of an hydraulic cylinder and piston which opens and closes
the steam admission valves, water pipes for carrying water to the cylinder, and a
vertical shaft and crank disc attached to the furnace doors and rotating with them
to open and close the water admission valves constructed and arranged in com-
bination with a steam pipe and nozzle placed behind the furnace substantially as
and for.the purpose described.
3. In apparatus for preventing smoke and promoting combustion in steam boiler

page_text: furnaces the combination, with the steam pipe A and nozzle a situated at the back of
the furnace, of the pivoted damper D which is opened by the force of the steam jet
impinging upon it, and the double.fire bridge substantially as and for the purpose
described.
4. The apparatus for preventing smoke and promoting combustion in steam
boiler furnaces having the several parts constructed and arranged in combination
substantially as described and shown.
Dudhin noth dow of June 1893
.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
6, Bank Street, Manchester, Patent Agents.