IMPROVEMENTS IN FURNACES FOR KILNS AND ALL EVAPORATING PURPOSES OR STEAM BOILERS SES OR STEAMILERS WHEREBY SMOKE IS CONSUMED AND GREAT ECONOMY OF FUEL IS EFFECTED."
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Benjamin Finch of Palace Chambers 9 Bridge Street
Westminster Consulting Engineer for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
FURNACES FOR KILNS AND ALL EVAPORATING PURPOSES OR STEAM BOILERS
LETTERS PATENT to Benjamin Finch of Palace Chambers 9 Bridge Street
Westminster Consulting Engineer for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
FURNACES FOR KILNS AND ALL EVAPORATING PURPOSES OR STEAM BOILERS
WHEREBY SMOKE IS CONSUMED AND GREAT ECONOMY OF FUEL IS EFFECTED."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Benjamin Finch at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th July 1882.
"
BENJAMIN FINCH of Palace Chambers 9 Bridge Street Westminster Consulting
Engineer IMPROVEMENTS IN FURNACES FOR KILNS AND ALL EVAPORATING
PURPOSES OR STEAM BOILERS WHEREBY SMOKE IS CONSUMED AND GREAT ECONOMY
OF FUEL IS EFFECTED
"
This Invention comprises the introduction of a fire box enclosing the fire at
bottom, front, and sides closely, leaving the top open wherein the fuel is placed, the
back is provided with an outlet for the flame generated to pass into the flue, the
bottom of the box is filled with spent ashes upon which the fuel rests forming an
arch or hollow fire in front of the flue.
When lighted from above the draught draws the smoke and flame down through
the red hot fuel beneath and into the flue and so consumes the smoke generating
gas which creates immense heat with no waste of fuel.
Thus all fire bars are dispensed with and all ash formed is removed periodically
through end flue doors having tale sight holes for inspection these doors are placed
on either or both ends of the fire box or bottom as found convenient.
The bridge crossing the outlet flue I propose to form of hollow fire block through
which air circulates to keep it cool and so warm the air previous to entering the
fire box above thus effecting great economy of fuel.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent and
of an Order of the Lord Chancellor filed by the said Benjamin Finch in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 27th February 1883.
BENJAMIN FINCH of Palace Chambers 9 Bridge Street Westminster Consulting
Engineer "IMPROVEMENTS IN FURNACES FOR KILNS AND ALL EVAPORATING
PURPOSES OR STEAM-BOILERS WHEREBY SMOKE IS CONSUMED AND GREAT ECONOMY
OF FUEL IS EFFECTED
"
According to my Invention I employ a fire box closely enclosing the fire at the
bottom front and sides leaving an opening or openings at top for the introduction
of the fuel. The back of the said fire box is provided with an outlet for the
products of combustion into the flue. The bottom of the fire box is filled with (so
as to be formed of) spent ashes upon which the burning fuel rests the said fuel
forming an arch or hollow fire in front of the flue. The fire being lighted from
above the draught draws the smoke and flame mixed with air down through the
incandescent fuel into the flue and so the smoke is consumed and gas is generated
which creates immense heat without waste of fuel.
Fire bars are dispensed with and the ash can be very readily removed periodically
through end ash holes in either or both ends of the fire box or (by preferonce) at the
open bottom thereof. The bridge crossing the outlet flue I form of a hollow tile
through which air circulates to cool the tile and warm the said air previous to its
entering the fire box. The said bridge is thus rendered durable and also fuel is
economised.
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose shall refer to
the several figures on the annexed Drawing the same letters of reference indicating
corresponding parts in all the figures.
.
Figure 1 represents in vertical section and Figure 2 in front elevation partly in
section one of the furnaces of a pottery kiln arranged according to my Invention.
The fire box A is built up within the arch of the kiln and encloses the fire as
shown at the bottom front and sides there being at top an opening at a provided
with a door a³ for the introduction of fuel. At the back are outlets B for the
products of combustion to the interior of the kiln. The bottom of the fire box is
composed of the spent ashes of the fire as at C upon which spent ashes the
incandescent fuel rests as shown so that there is an arch of burning fuel. There
are no fire bars and the ash is removed through ash holes as at D which may be in
any suitable portion of the ash pit-The bridge E crosses the outlet flue and is
formed hollow with outlet passages e and an air inlet e² regulated by a damper es.
In working the kilns provided with my improvements the bottom half of the
furnace is filled with spent ashes upon which the ignited fuel is placed and over
it is spread the coal covering the space beneath the bridge. The air to support
combustion passes in at e² and out at e thus both causing a down draught through
the fire and mixing with the products of combustion as they pass into the opening
to the flues beyond the bridge. The supply of air by the air inlet e is regulated
by the damper es so that no more air is allowed to pass through the furnace than
is required for the combustion of the fuel and smoke and this air being as it is
heated before it leaves the openings e great heat is generated with economy of fuel
and little or no smoke escapes-By closing the air inlets the fire may be extinguished
without injury to the goods in the kiln.
Figure 3 is a longitudinal section of the furnace and of a boiler showing my
Invention applied thereto. The parts which correspond with those shown in

page_text: Figures 1 and 2 are marked with the same letters of reference and require no
further description. The fire box is shown as being encased with a water casing A²
to prevent radiation of heat-The air is admitted by the opening a and steam
(either from the boiler or exhaust steam) may be introduced at the bridge E by a
steam pipe as at et for example. Air enough passes through the said bridge E to
keep it cool. Compressed air instead of water may be passed into the casing A³
and be allowed to pass therefrom down through the fire to facilitate the combustion
of the fuel. The bridge E, may in order to economise space, be brought within or
partly within the line of the boiler and may contain a casing in which the steam
may be superheated before it issues into the fire box or the space beyond the
bridge. In place of steam compressed atmospheric air may be introduced in like
manner. The said bridge may be formed by a continuation of the skin of the boiler
instead of being formed of a separate piece as shown.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried
into effect I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and
original and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the hereinbefore
in part recited Letters Patent is
First. The improvements in furnaces for kilns, for steam boilers or for other
purposes consisting in the general arrangement and combination of parts sub-
stantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described in various applications with
reference to the accompanying Drawings.
Secondly In furnaces for kilns steam boilers or for other heating or evaporating
purposes the employment of a fire box with an open bottom without fire bars
closed by the spent ash from the fire substantially as and for the purpose
described
In witness whereof I the said Benjamin Finch have to this my Specification
set my hand and seal the twenty sixth day of February One thousand
eight hundred and eighty three