IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OF AND APPARATUS FOR HEATING STEAM GENERATORS, BOILERS, FURNACES, AND STOVES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James J. Jarves, of Boston, in the United States of
America, now resident at Florence, Italy, and Signor G. B. de Ferrari fu
Angelo, of Genoa, Italy, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS
OF AND APPARATUS FOR HEATING STEAM GENERATORS, BOILERS, FURNACES,
AND STOVES."
Sealed the 19th January 1877, and dated the 16th September 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James J. Jarves and Signor
G. B. de Ferrari fu Angelo at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on
the 16th September 1876.
JAMES J. JARVES, of Boston, in the United States of America, now resident at
Florence, Italy, and Signor G. B. DE FERRARI FU ANGELO, of Genoa, Italy.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OF AND APPARATUS FOR HEATING STEAM GENE-
RATORS, BOILERS, FURNACES, AND STOVES."
The object of this Invention is to furnish a safe and effective means of using
petroleum or other similar mineral oil or hydrocarbon as a fuel or heating agent.
In the trials that have hitherto been made with petroleum it has been found
exceeding difficult if not impossible to avoid the danger of explosions, and on the
other hand the metal surfaces in contact with the burning oil were rapidly burnt
away and destroyed. In this Invention these evils are avoided by causing the
petroleum to flow through a bed or layer of asbestos or amianthos, which being
indestructible by heat will last for any given period. Asbestos being a mineral
capable of very fine subdivision serves by its capillary action to carry the oil to its
surface, where it burns with safety, at the same time giving off the whole of its
heat to the surface desired.
Under one modification or system of arrangement as applied to the heating of
steam generators the furnace forms a receptacle or holder for containing a mass of
asbestos of any desired depth or thickness. The mineral oil is conveyed by means
of a pipe from a tank or reservoir to the centre or lower part of the bed of asbestos,
the flow of the oil being regulated by a tap or valve. The capillary nature of the
asbestos causes the oil to flow upwards to the surface, where it is ignited and gives
off, as is well known, an intense heat highly effective in generating steam. At the
Prine G21

page_text: same time the asbestos being a non-conductor of heat the lower part of the mass
remains cool, and hence there is no destruction of the conduit pipes or of the furnace
itself.
For the purpose of consuming the smoke of the petroleum, as well as to effect its
more economical consumption, a pipe is fitted so as to convey and diffuse a jet of
steam over the surface of the burning oil, which, uniting with the unconsumed
hydrocarbon flashes it into flame.
It is obvious that this arrangement for burning mineral oils or other explosive
hydrocarbons may be applied to any number of furnaces, and to any extent of
burning surface that may be required, and so modified in arrangement and applica-
tion to suit any particular purpose so long as there is a mass of asbestos for the oil
to pass through, and so prevent any injurious or destructive consequences. By
these means steam ships, for example, would be enabled to carry a sufficient
quantity of fuel to permit of their going on long voyages, and avoid the delay
now attendant upon coaling, at the same time an important saving of space would
be gained.
The system is also applicable to a variety of other useful purposes in the arts and
manufactures.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said James J. Jarves and Signor G. B. de Ferrari fu Angelo in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 16th March 1877.
JAMES J. JARVES, of Boston, in the United States of America, now resident at
Florence, Italy, and Signor G. B. DE FERRARI FU ANGELO, of Genoa, Italy.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OF AND APPARATUS FOR HEATING STEAM GENE-
RATORS, BOILERS, FURNACES, AND STOVES."
"
The object of this Invention is to furnish a safe and effective means of using
petroleum or other similar mineral oil or hydrocarbon as a fuel or heating agent.
In the trials that have hitherto been made with petroleum it has been found
exceedingly difficult if not impossible to avoid the danger of explosions, and on the
other hand the metal surfaces in contact with the burning oil were rapidly burnt
away and destroyed. In this Invention these evils are avoided by causing the
petroleum to flow through a bed or layer of asbestos or amianthos, which, being
indestructible by heat, will last for any given period. Asbestos being a mineral
capable of very fine subdivision serves by its capillary action to carry the oil to its
surface, where it burns with safety, at the same time giving off the whole of its
heat to the surface desired.
Under one modification or system of arrangement as applied to the heating of
steam generators the furnace forms a receptacle or holder for containing a mass of
asbestos of any desired depth or thickness. The mineral oil is conveyed by means
of a pipe from a tank or reservoir to the centre or lower part of the bed of asbestos, the
flow of the oil being regulated by a tap or valve. The capillary nature of the asbestos
causes the oil to flow upwards to the surface, where it is ignited, and gives off an
intense heat, highly effective in generating steam. At the same time, the asbestos
being a non-conductor of heat, the lower part of the mass remains cool, and hence
there is no destruction of the conduit pipes or of the furnace itself.
For the purpose of consuming the smoke of the petroleum, as well as to effect its
more economical consumption, a pipe is fitted so as to convey and diffuse a jet of
steam over the surface of the burning oil, which, uniting with the unconsumed
bydrocarbon, flashes it into flame.
It is obvious that this arrangement for burning mineral oils or other explosive
hydrocarbons may be applied to any number of furnaces and to any extent of
burning surface that may be required, and so modified in arrangement and applica-

page_text: tion as to suit any particular purpose, so long as there is a mass of asbestos for the
oil to pass through, and so prevent any injurious or destructive consequences. By
these means steam ships, for example, would be enabled to carry a sufficient
quantity of fuel to permit of their going on long voyages, and avoid the delay
now attendant upon coaling, at the same time an important saving of space would
be gained.
The system is also applicable to a variety of other useful purposes in the arts and
manufactures.
And in order that our said Invention of improvements in the means of and
apparatus for heating steam generators, boilers, furnaces, and stoves may be
properly understood, so as to be readily carried into practical effect, we shall now
proceed to describe the same, particular reference being had to the explanatory
Sheet of Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon,
that is to say :-
Figure 1 on the accompanying Sheet of Drawings is an end view (partially in
section) of a multitubular boiler or steam generator of the class ordinarily employed
for marine purposes, and which is in this example heated by three parallel furnaces,
as shewn in the Drawing.
Figure 2 is a vertical sectional elevation taken at right angles to Figure 1, and
corresponding thereto.
The mineral substance, asbestos, being the material employed as the means of
preventing danger in the use of mineral oils, as well as acting as a preservative
to the surrounding metal, the general construction of the furnace is modified
accordingly.
In the example we have selected, viz., a marine boiler, the furnaces A consist
each of a rectangular case or receptacle, in which the asbestos B is placed and the
mineral substance is pressed down so as to form a tolerably compact mass. It is
obvious that the shape as well as the area of the furnace or receptacle for the
asbestos may be varied to suit the particular purpose for which this heating medium
is required.
The stream of petroleum or other mineral oil is conveyed by means of a main
feed pipe from the tank or reservoir containing the stock of oil. From the main
pipe secondary pipes branch off, and are carried into the lower part of the mass of
asbestos in each furnace, as shewn at C, in both Figures of the Drawing. The end
of each pipe C beyond the part where it enters the asbestos receptacle is perforated
so as to admit of the flow of the oil into the mass of asbestos. Each feed pipe C, as
well as the main feed, is fitted with a tap or valve to regulate the supply of oil, and
to afford the means of instant control.
In the example we have given there are two feed pipes to each furnace, and these
are arranged parallel, but this disposition of the feed pipes may be modified to suit
any desired arrangement. At the lower part of each furnace is a door D for regulating
the admission of the draught, and at the upper part of the furnace is another door E
by which any part of the furnace or its fittings may at any time be readily
examined. The backward end of the furnace A abuts against the fire-bridge F,
which is of the ordinary kind.
In burning petroleum in furnaces of boilers, &c., it is highly important that there
should be an abundant supply of air to the flame. The air may be supplied cither
by natural draught, or be forced into the furnace by an air pump, a fan, or other
suitable injector. Preferably the air is introduced in a series of streams or jeta
crossing each other in various directions, and injected or allowed to flow into the
flame so as to produce a heat of the highest possible intensity. Or the furnace may
be divided into sections or compartments so as to allow of streams or blasts of air
to be directed between the flames of the burning oil, and so aiding their combus-
tion. The doors of the furnace may be arranged with sliding shutters, upon opening
which the admission of air may be regulated as required. The particular mode of
supplying the requisite quantity of air must of necessity depend on the form,
dimensions, and particular purpose to which the furnace is applied.

page_text: In some furnaces for special purposes it will be necessary to admit air either by
blast or natural inflow along the sides of the furnace, and above the flame as well
as in front, all depending in the direction required for utilizing the greatest amount
of heat given off by the burning mineral oil.
In some cases, in order to consume more effectually any smoke or other gaseous
and inflammable product of combustion, we cause a spray of steam to be ejected
over the surface of the burning oil, and one modification for effecting this object is
shewn in the Drawing. Steam is conveyed from the boiler by a pipe to the steam
cock G, by means of which it is admitted to the steam pipe H, which extends
backward over the furnace A. The pipe then bends towards the front of the
furnace, and terminates in a transverse tube I, this part of the tube being finely
perforated to admit of the spray of steam being ejected over the surface of the
burning fuel. By this arrangement the steam in its passage through the pipo H
becomes highly superheated, and in the best possible condition to unite with and
ignite whatever unconsumed combustible matters may arise from the burning oil.
In this way all kinds of mineral oils which are abundant and low in price but
otherwise dangerous from their explosive nature and destructive qualities may be
burnt with the utmost safety and freedom from danger, and at the same time be
kept under perfect and instant control.
It will be obvious also that the amount of flame and consequently the heating
power may be regulated with the utmost nicety by means of the tap or valvo on
each feed pipe. A valve is fitted in the chimney or funnel, by means of which the
ascending current of air may be regulated at will, and the fires may be instantly
extinguished by closing all the ventilators as well as the valve we have here
referred to.
We may here refer to a point of practical management which is of importance.
Upon putting out the flame it is advisable that the upper doors E should after-
wards be opened for a few moments in order to create an upward draught through
each furnace, and so carry off the vapour of the oil which is evolved from the heated
asbestos, but as this heat is retained by the mineral only for a very brief period the
admission of the draught is requisite only for a few seconds, and by these simple
means all possible chance of danger is avoided.
Although we have shown our improvements as applied only to a marine steam
generator, for which purpose our Invention will be found peculiarly useful, on
account of the large saving of space and weight in carrying this fuel in lieu of coal,
an object of the greatest importance for steam ships going long voyages, and from
other considerations of safety and economy, yet we do not by any means confine
ourselves to this or any other particular application of our Invention so long as its
characteristic feature is adhered to; thus, this mode of heating may be applied to
furnaces of all kinds, as well as steam generators, to ordinary domestic stoves, and
cooking apparatus, whether portable or otherwise, and for all purposes where such a
heating medium is desirable.
The advantage of this system of heating is further enhanced by the indestructible
nature of asbestos by fire, so that the supply does not in anywise diminish with
the consumption of the fuel, and on account of this peculiarity it does not become
clogged with carbonaceous matter, whilst from the capillary nature of a mass of the
filaments the mineral oil flows freely upwards, and at the same time its valuable
non-conducting property prevents the lower part of the mass from getting heated,
and thus all possibility of danger is avoided.
Having now described the nature of our said Invention of improvements in the
means of and apparatus for heating steam generators, boilers, furnaces, and stoves,
and in what manner the same is or may be used and carried into practical effect,
we wish it to be understood that we do not confine ourselves to the precise details
of arrangement or combination of parts as herein-before described, as the same may
be varied in many ways without departing from the essential features of our
Invention, but what we do claim and desire to secure by the herein-before in part
recited Letters Patent is,-

page_text: Firstly. The method or mode of rendering the burning of petroleum or other
mineral hydrocarbon of an explosive or otherwise dangerous character both safe and
efficient as regards control by means of a mass of asbestos, which acts as a safety
agent and non-conductor of flame, as herein-before described.
Secondly. The method or mode of applying or using asbestos to or in furnaces,
stoves, or other similar heating apparatus in the manner herein-before described
and shewn under one modification in the accompanying Drawing, or any mere
variation of parts or equivalent therefor.
Thirdly. The method or mode of applying and injecting a jet or jets of steam
over the surface of the burning petroleum in combination with the use of an
asbestos bed or beds to assist and facilitate its complete combustion, or any mere
modification of or equivalent for the said arrangement, as shewn in the accompanying
Drawing.
Fourthly. The method or mode of supplying or injecting a jet or stream of air or
jets or streams of air in contact with burning petroleum for the purpose of assisting
the consuming of the same, and producing a more intense heat therefrom, as herein-
before described, or any mere equivalent therefor.
In witness whereof, I, the said James J. Jarves, on behalf of myself and the
said Signor G. B. de Ferrari fu Angelo, have hereunto set my hand and seal,
this Sixteenth day of March, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-seven.
JAMES J. JARVES. (L.S.)