IMPROVEMENTS IN APParatus for Preventing thE ESCAPE OF SPARKS AND SOOT FROM CHIMNEYS
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for an Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APParatus for Preventing thE ESCAPE OF SPARKS
AND SOOT FROM CHIMNEYS." A communication from abroad by Albert
Petzold, of Berlin, Germany, Engineer.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lako at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th June 1881.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent
Agents, Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR
PREVENTING THE ESCAPE OF SPARKS AND SOOT FROM CHIMNEYS." [A com-
munication from abroad by Albert Petzold, of Berlin, Germany, Engineer.]
This Invention relates to apparatus for catching or arresting soot in the chimneys
of dwelling houses and factories, and for catching or arresting and extinguishing
sparks and particles of soot in the chimneys of stationary and other steam engines.
The use of the said apparatus prevents the danger of fire which is caused by the
escape of sparks from chimneys, as this Invention renders it impossible for the sparks
to escape from the chimney.
In constructing an apparatus according to my Invention for use upon a dwelling
house chimney, I provide a cylindrical bood or case attached to or forming part of
the base plate fitting on the top of the chimney; and this hood has at its top a
slanting covering-plate, at the centre of which the escape pipe or opening is
situated, and a bridge-piece crosses the opening. I also provide within the hood
and concentric therewith a sheet metal cylinder into which the lower part of a spiral
apparatus enters, which apparatus serves to direct tho particles of soot or sparks to
the inner periphery of the hood, and therefore out of the path taken by the
escaping gases. The spiral apparatus consists of sheets of metal arranged spirally
round a vertical axis. The gases and the sparks, soot, and the like coming up the
chimney are compelled to pass through the helical channels formed by the said
Drine 71

page_text: spirally arranged sheets of metal in the cylinder; but on reaching the space above
the same the sparks and soot are by reason of their greater specific gravity thrown
out of this path by centrifugal force and collect in the hood, from which they may
be removed from time to time by a door provided for the purpose.
A spindle, screw-threaded at both ends through the aforesaid bridge-piece at the
upper part of the escape or exit pipe, and serves for adjusting the said spiral apparatus
within the cylinder, for which purpose female screws may be tapped into the
said bridge piece, and into a corresponding bridge picce crossing the top of the
chimney. This adjustability forms an important part of my improvements.
Together with the said spiral apparatus I fix ou the aforesaid spindlo several
annular sheet metal cones, each of which has a different diameter to the others.
I also provide a cone, closed at the hottom; these sheet metal cones are fixed on
the spindle by means of an iron bridge-piece, the three lever cones being within the
said spiral apparatus, and the upper one above the latter. The spiral apparatus
and the sheet metal cones can therefore bo suitably adjusted within the hood by
means of the spindle. The dimensions of these cones gradually decreases
downward, and I arrange the said cones in such a manner that the diameter of
the upper part of any one cone, except the top one, is slightly in excess of the
diameter of the lower part of the ono above the same. The inner edges of the
spiral plates or blades bear against the periphery of these cones. The latter serve
as deflectors for any currents of air or wind which may enter the chimney from
above. A current of air entering from above strikes upon the inner conical walls
of the concs, and is divided in the spaces left botween the several cones, and thus
enters the path of the natural draught of the chimney, so that the current is
prevented from having any injurious effect. The heated gases pass up to the
outlet and escape, but the particles of soot and the sparks being heavier drop down
within the hood or case.
According to a modification of the above described apparatus, instead of making
the spiral apparatus and cones as independent parts, I make the screw surfaces
and concs in one piece. Cones of this kind provided with spiral-channels are so
mounted on the screw spindlo that the direction of the separate spiral-channels
corresponds to that of a complete screw, so that the action of the centrifugal
force upon the current of gas passing through the spiral channels can become
fully effective.
According to another modification I provide a conical hollow covering plato
mounted upon the spiral apparatus, this plate serving as the deflector, which
will also sufficiently prevent disturbance of the natural draught by the entering
wind;
but I prefer the arrangement first described.
The same arrangement as that above described for the chimneys, dwelling
houses, or the like, may be advantageously used for factory and other chimneys.
1 prefer however to provide special means for the removal of the sparks and
soot-particles, as it would obviously be very troublesome and difficult in chimneys
of great height to effect the removal of the soot through an opening in the side of
the sheet metal hood or case. I avoid this by making the cast-iron covering plate
which fits the top of the chimney funnel shaped, so that an unobstructed annular
or polygonal passago or space remains between the same and the sheet metal
cylinder. In this space I provide a number of registers or dampers which are
capable of rotation around fixed bolts or axes, these dampers being arranged in
such a manner that this annular space is ordinarily kept closed. To the ends of
these registers or dampers I connect rods, the lower ends of which are brought
together and joined to an eye or loop at the upper end of a vertical rod, extending
from top to bottom of the interior of the chimney, and provided at its lower end
with a lever which extends outward, and has only to be moved to open all the
registers simultaneously, and thus to allow the soot that has collected to fall down.
A spark catcher or arrester made according to my Invention for use with a
locomotive engine is constructed as follows:-The spiral apparatus is formed by a
single sheet of metal, preferably copper, which can easily be removed and cleaned.

page_text: This distinguishes my apparatus from all those hitherto used in which the metal
sheet formed into spiral channels has been rivetted in the interior of the chimney.
This does not provide for facility in cleaning when the apparatus happens to become
clogged with soot, which at once impairs the working. The spiral copper-sheet is
firmly connected with the upper outlet pipe. This can be suitably adjusted by
shifting it in the cover of a conical hood. This arrangement is specially applicable
when a boiler has to be heated with various kinds of fuel. The lower part of the
spiral blade lies in a lower cylindrical part of the chimney. The sparks and particles
of soot fall down within an outer casing, and can easily be removed as required
through a door provided for the purpose.
For extinguishing sparks I provide an arrangement, as hereinafter described,
which is specially applicable to portable agricultural or similar steam engines, that
is to say, I insert a series of rings in the base of the chimney in such a manner
that an annular space remains between the latter and the rings which aro placed
one above another, into which space a part of the escaping steam enters. Each of
these rings is provided with bevelled edges which bear against the interior of the
base and prevent displacement. Below these edges projecting flanges form, when
the rings are placed one above another, slits or openings through which the steam
which enters the annular space passes into and amongst the rising products of
combustion. The blow-off or exhaust pipe is led into the base and terminates in
two branch pipes, one of which opens at the lower part of the chimney, and
immediately below the said slots formed by the rings; the other or upper branch
opens into a channel which passes round the base, and communicates by several
openings with the aforesaid annular space; at the top and bottom the annular
space is tightly divided from the base, so that all blow-off steam entering the same
is compelled to escape through the slots.
Now supposing the products of combustion to be rising in the interior of the
chimney through the rings, and the blow-off steam to be escaping through the
channels, it is obvious that the following effect will take place.
One part of the blow-off steam which enters the annular space through one
branch rises therein, escaping into the interior through the slits. The steam which
freely flows upward in the centre through the other branch carries away by its
greater vis viva, the steam issuing from the slots of the ring, so that thereby a
perfectly closed cone of steam is formed, into which all sparks, soot, and the like
that may rise are forcibly carried, so that the extinction takes placo with
certainly.
This arrangement morcover serves for increasing the natural draught in the
chimney, and choking with soot is rendered impossible.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Scal Patent Office on the
27th December 1881.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent
Agents, Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR
PREVENTING THE ESCAPE OF SPARKS AND SOOT FROM CHIMNEYS." A com-
munication from abroad by Albert Petzold, of Berlin, Germany, Engineer.
This Invention relates to improvements in apparatus for catching or arresting
soot in the chimneys of dwelling houses and factories, and for arresting and
extinguishing sparks and particles of soot in the chimneys of stationary and other
steam engines. The use of the said apparatus prevents the danger of fire, which is
frequently caused by the escape of sparks and particles of burning soot from
chimneys, as it renders the escape of such sparks or particles from the chimney
impossible. .
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawing represents one form of my improved 1
apparatus adapted more particularly for use upon a dwelling house chimney. In
this Figure a represents a cast iron covering plate for the chimney, which plate
carries a cylindrical hood or case A at its top with a slanting or roof-shaped
covering-plate d. At the centre of the latter is an escape pipe or opening c,
across which extends a bridge-piece 8, t. c' represents a sheet-metal cylinder, 2
which is concentric with the hood or caso A, and contains or encompasses part of a
screw or spiral apparatus that serves to direct the sparks or particles of soot
towards the inner periphery of the hood or case A, and therefore out of the path
taken by the escaping gases. The aforesaid spiral apparatus or screw consists of a
series of sheets, blades, or plates 8 of metal arranged spirally around a vertical axis. 2
The gases or products of combustion, and the sparks, soot, and the like passing up
the chimney, are compelled to pass through the helical channels formed by the said
spirally arranged sheets of metal in the cylinder c', but upon reaching the space
above the same tho sparks, soot, and the like are, by reason of their great specific
gravity, thrown out of this path by centrifugal force, and are collected in the
hood or case A, from which they may be removed from time to time through a
door t.
The screw-spindle passing through the bridge-piece s, t, in the escape or exit
pipe e serves for adjusting the screw or spiral apparatus vertically within the
cylinder c'. For this purpose female screw-threads may be formed in the upper
bridge-piece s, t, and in the lower bridge-piece 8, t', and the portions of the spindle p
which pass through the same screw threaded as shewn. This adjustability of
the said screw or spiral apparatus constitutes an important feature of my
improvements.
In addition to the aforesaid spiral apparatus I fix upon the spindle p a series of
annular sheet metal cones D, DI, D", each of which has a different diameter to the
others, I also provide the said spindle with a cone D¹¹, which is closed at its
bottom. In Figure 2 the upper cone D is shewn in section and in plan or top
view; in the top view the sheet metal conic D¹ is also indicated. As shewn in the
Drawing, these sheet metal cones are fixed upon the spindle p¹ by means of a 4
bridge-piece, preferably of iron, the three lower cones being arranged within the
spiral apparatus, and the upper one D above the latter. The screw or spiral
apparatus and the sheet-metal cones can therefore be suitably adjusted within the
hood A by means of the spindle p. The dimensions of the several cones gradually
decrease downward, and I arrange the said wires in such a manner that the
diameter of the upper part of any one of the same is slightly in excess of the

page_text: 8
diameter of the lower part of the one directly above it. The inner edges of the
spiral plates or blades a bear against the periphery of the said cones. The latter
servo as deflectors for any currents of air or wind which may enter the chimney
from above. A current of air entering from above in the direction of the arrows ell
impinges against the inner conical walls of the cones; it is divided in the spaces
between the cones, and travels in the direction indicated by the arrows ell, and
thus enters the path of the natural draught of the chimney; a downward current
therefore will not have an injurious effect. The heated gases travel in the direction
of the arrows e, e, and the particles of soot and the sparks, being of higher specific
gravity than such heated gases, follow the direction of the arrows e' and drop down
to the bottom of the hood or case A.
In Figure 3 I have shewn in section a modification of my improved apparatus,
which differs from that above described only in the arrangement of the screw or
spiral apparatus and the cones, that is to say, instead of making the said screw or
spiral apparatus and cones as independent parts, I mako the scrow blades and the
cones in one piece. Cones of this kind provided with the spiral channels are so
mounted on the screw spindle p that the direction of the separate spiral channels
corresponds with that of a complete screw, so that the action of the centrifugal
force upon the current of gas passing through the said spiral channels may become
fully effective.
In the construction shewn in section in Figure 4 I provide a conical hollow
covering plate u mounted upon the screw or spiral plates 8; this plate u serves as
a deflector, and will prevent the disturbance of the natural draught by a down
draught or current of air. I prefer however to employ the arrangement previously
herein described.
The same arrangement as that above described for the chimneys of dwelling
houses or the like may be advantageously employed for factory and other
chimneys.
Figure 5 represents in section an apparatus embodying a screw and cones as
above specified and adapted for use upon a factory chimney. This arrangement
differs from that shewn in Figure 1 with regard to the manner in which the
removal of the sparks and soot particles is effected. It would obviously be very
troublesome and difficult in chimneys of great height to effect the removal of the
soot through an opening in the side of the sheet-metal hood or case A. I avoid
this difficulty by making the cast-iron covering plate funnel-shaped, so that an
unobstructed annular or polygonal passage or space is left between the same and
the sheet-metal cylinder c¹. In this space I arrange a series of registers, dampers,
or valves r, r, which are capable of turning upon fixed bolts in such a manner that
this annular space is ordinarily kept closed. To the inner ends of these registers
or dampers r, r, I connect rods y, y, the lower ends of which are joined to an eye
or loop at the upper end of a vertical connecting rod z extending from the top to
the bottom of the interior of the chimney, and provided at its lower end with a
lever which extends outward and simply requires to be moved to open all of the
valves or dampers r, r, simultaneously, and thus allow the soot and other matter
that has collected in the case or hood A to fall.
In some cases I may dispense with the cones in the various forms of apparatus
above described, and employ the screw or spiral apparatus alone, but I prefer to use
the said cones in combination therewith, as above set forth.
In Figure 9 I have shewn in section my improved construction of a spark
catcher or arrester for uso with a locomotive engine. In this construction the
screw or spiral apparatus is formed of a single sheets of metal, preferably copper,
which can be readily removed and cleaned. This feature distinguishes my
apparatus from all of those which have hitherto been used, and in which the metal
sheet formed into spiral channels has been rivetted in the interior of the chimney,
and thus has not permitted the ready cleaning of the apparatus when it happens
to become clogged with soot, which clogging at once impairs the working. The
said spiral copper sheet is firmly connected with the upper outlet pipe S. This

page_text: pipe may be properly adjusted by shifting or sliding it in the cover d of the
conical hood or caso M. This arrangement is especially applicable when a boiler
has to be heated with various kinds of fuel. The lower part of the screw or spiral
blade extends into the cylindrical part S of the chimney. The sparks and particles
of soot fall down within the outer casing or hood and can easily be removed as
required through the door t.
In Figures 6, 7, and 8 I have shewn my improvements as adapted to be applied
to a portable, agricultural, or similar steam engine, Figure 6 being an elevation
partly in section; Figuro 7, an exterior view; and Figure 8, a plan or top view.
This part of my improvements has for its object to extinguish the sparks by
means of the exhaust steam passing through rings I, I, in such a manner that the
sparks beforo they can escape are entirely extinguished, thus obviating all danger
of a conflagration. These rings, which are shewn detached in Figures 7 and 8, are
inserted one above another in the base of the chimney in such a manner that an
annular space is left between the latter and the said rings, into which space a part
of the exhaust steam enters. Each of these rings I, I, is provided with bevelled
edges or flanges at h, which bear against the interior of the base of the chimney
and prevent the displacement of the said rings. Below these edgos projecting
flanges form, when the rings are placed one above another, slots or openings i, i,
through which the steam that enters the annular space passes into the rising
products of combustion and mingles with the same. The blow-off or exhaust pipo
is led into the base and terminates in two branch pipes o, o'. The branch o
opens at the lower part of and centrally within the chimney and immediately
below the slots i, i, formed in the rings; the other or upper branch o¹ opens into a
channel or chamber which passes around the base of the chimney and commu-
nicates by several openings with the aforesaid annular space; at the top and
bottom the annular space is suitably separated from the base, so that all blow-off
steam entering the same is compelled to escape through the slots i, i.
Assuming the products of combustion to bo rising in the interior of the chimney
through the rings, and the exhaust steam to be escaping through the channels o, 01,
it is obvious that the following effect would take place, namely:-One part of the
exhaust steam which enters the annular space through the branch o' rises therein
and passes into the interior of the chimney through the slots. The steam which
freely flows upward in the centre of the apparatus through the branch pipe o carries
away by its greater vis vicu the steam issuing from the slots in the ring, so
that a perfectly closed cone of steam is formed, into which all sparks, soot, and
the like that may riso from the furnace are forcibly carried, and they are
consequently extinguished with certainty.
This arrangement moreover serves for increasing the natural draught in the
chimney, so that the choking of the same with soot is rendered impossible.
Having thus fully described the said Invention, as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim in apparatus for proventing the escape of sparks and soot from
chimneys,―
First. The combination with the cones D, D', D, D, and the spiral plates or
blades on the spindle of the hood or case having the cover d and the
cylinders c, c, substantially as above set forth and as illustrated in Figure 1 of the
Drawing.
Second. The combination with the hood or case of the cylinders c, c', and the
cones provided with the screw plates or blades arranged upon the screw-spindle p
substantially as above set forth and as shewn in Figure 3 of the Drawing.
Third. The combination with the hood and its cover of the spiral plates or
blades and the plate u upon the spindle 2, substantially as above set forth and as
shewn in Figure 4 of the Drawing.
Fourth. The combination with a spark and soot arrester or catcher of the series
of valves or dampers arranged within the funnel-shaped covering plate and
adapted to be operated by the rods x, y, so as to allow the accumulated sparks

page_text: and soot to fall, substantially as above set forth and as shewn in Figure 5 of the
Drawing.
Fifth. The screw or spiral apparatus & formed of sheet-metal, as shewn in
Figure 9, and attached to the upper outlet pipe S' of a locomotive chimney, which
pipe is movable within the cover d of the hood or case M in combination with tho
cylindrical part S of the chimney, substantially as above set forth.
Sixth. The combination of the rings I, I, having the slots i, i, and the bevelled
edges or flanges with the channel k, and the branches o, o', of the exhaust pipe, one
of which branches o discharges steam centrally within the chimney, and the
other o¹ into the said channel from which the exhaust steam flows into the inner
part of the chimney and through the said slots so as to extinguish the sparks and
at the same time increase the draught, all substantially as above set forth with
reference to Figures 6, 7, and 8 of the Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty seventh day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.