An Improved Method of and Apparatus for the Purification of Smoke in Chimneys.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Mar., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 14th Dec., 1891-Accepted, 16th Jan., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method of and Apparatus for the Purification of
Smoke in Chimneys.
I, EDWARD RICHARD SALWEY, of 7 Stephen Street, in the City and County
of Bristol, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention has for its object to purify smoke emitted from chimneys. It is
specially applicable to the chimneys of dwelling and other houses as distinguished
from the chimneys of factories and other public works, to which, however, it may
be applied.
According to this invention the smoke in a chimney passes through a lightly-
packed mass of asbestos, talc, mica or other non-inflammable suitable substance of
a nature to retain sooty particles ascending in the smoke. This mass is contained
within a wire cage or skeleton box inserted in the chimney through an aperture
made in the side thereof and fitted with a sliding or other suitable door, the said
aperture and place for reception of the apparatus being preferably towards the top
of the chimney. The cage and its contents are supported in place upon narrow
shelves, strips or rails fixed in the masonry of the chimney. The cage and its
contents constitute a trap for the deposit of soot, sooty particles and other like
impurities ascending in the smoke which passes through the appliance and issues
at the chimney top in a comparatively purified state.
Where asbestos is employed as the medium for collecting the sooty particles, it
may be woven or otherwise manufactured into a cellular body containing numerous
perforations or channels for the passage of the smoke and for retention of the
noxious particles.
When necessary, the cage and its contents are withdrawn for removing the
deposited impurities. The removal of the deposits may be effected by washing
with water, or the deposits may be burnt by subjecting the cage and its contents
to the action of fire. A convenient method of burning the deposits is by intro-
ducing into the chimney at a point below the cage a gas jet, or a series of such
jets, by igniting which the deposits are burnt, a process which is assisted by the
contents of the cage becoming incandescent or red hot. The cage is furnished
with handles for withdrawal from and replacement in the chimney.
Dated this 13th day of March 1891.
NICHOLAS WATTS,
Bristol Bank Buildings, Bristol, Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method of and Apparatus for the Purification of
Smoke in Chimneys.
I, EDWARD RICHARD SALWEY, of 7 Stephen Street, in the City and County
of Bristol, Civil 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 :-
This invention has for its object to purify smoke emitted from chimneys. It
is specially applicable to the chimneys of dwelling and other houses as distinguished
from the chimneys of factories and other public works, to which, however, it may
be applied.

page_text: According to this invention the smoke ascending in a chimney passes through a
lightly-packed mass of asbestos, talc, mica or other non-inflammable suitable
substance of a nature to retain sooty particles carried up in the smoke. This body
is contained within a wire cage or skeleton box inserted in the chimney through an
aperture made therein and fitted with a sliding or other suitable door, the said
aperture and place for reception of the apparatus being preferably towards the top
of the chimney. The cage and its contents are supported in place upon narrow
shelves, strips or rails fixed in the masonry of the chimney. Soot, sooty particles
and other like impurities ascending in the smoke are intercepted by the contents
of the cage, and the smoke issues at the chimney top in a comparatively
purified state.
Where asbestos is employed as the medium for collecting the sooty particles, it
may be woven or otherwise manufactured into a cellular body containing numerous
perforations or channels for the passage of the smoke and for retention of the
noxious particles.
When necessary, the cage with its contents is withdrawn for removing the
deposited impurities, which may be effected by washing with water, or the
deposits may be burnt by subjecting the cage and its contents to the action of fire.
A convenient method of burning them is by introducing into the chimney at a point
below the cage a gas jet, or a series of such jets, by igniting which the deposits
are burnt, a process which is assisted by the contents of the cage becoming
red hot.
In the accompanying sheet of illustrative drawings,
Fig. 1 represents a stack of house chimneys fitted with my improved appliance
for purifying smoke.
Fig. 2 represents, at an enlarged scale, a vertical section of one flue or chimney.
In each chimney is a cage a of wire or metal rods and bars which cage contains
"asbestos wool " lightly packed. The cage which closely fits the flue is supported
therein on rails or bearers b,- Fig. 2, on which it readily slides when being
withdrawn from or placed in position in the flue.
Sliding doors care provided to cover the apertures by which the cages are
inserted in the flues.
In passing through the contents of the cage the smoke is freed from some of the
soot, sooty particles and other impurities, which are retained by the substance in
The smoke is accordingly rendered less obnoxious and injurious and
it escapes into the atmosphere at the chimney top in a comparatively
purified state.
the cage.
At such times as may be necessary or desirable the substance in the cages is
cleansed from the soot and other impurities collected as aforesaid by it. Such
cleansing may be effected either by removing the cages and washing the
substance with water, or the asbestos may be subjected to heat and the sooty
impurities thereby burnt.
A convenient method of burning the impurities is by the employment of a jet
or jets of gas, as shown at d in the drawings, the gas pipe e being conducted
through the wall of the chimney. The process of burning by gas is assisted by
the asbestos becoming red or white hot.
Instead of asbestos wool, the cages may be charged with talc, mica, or other
non-inflammable suitable substance of a nature which fits it to retain the impurities
aforesaid.
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 what I
claim is
The improved method of and means for purifying smoke in chimneys, more
especially dwelling house chimneys, hereinbefore described, that is to say, by a
mass or body of asbestos wool mica tale or other suitable substance contained in a

page_text: cage or frame such as a (or laid on a grating or tray) placed in the chimney so that
the smoke ascending in the chimney passes through such mass cr body, substantially
as set forth and for the purpose specified.
Dated this 11th day of December 1891.
NICHOLAS WATTS,
Bristol Bank Buildings, Bristol, Agent.