Improvements in Apparatus for Consuming Smoke and Saving Fuel.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 30th June, 1886.
Complete Left, 30th Mar., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 3rd May, 1887.
DESERV
Improvements in Apparatus for Consuming Smoke and Saving Fuel.
I ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to apparatus for effecting the consumption of smoke in steam
boiler and other furnaces by the introduction into the combustion chamber of highly
superheated steam and heated air. The exact form of apparatus and the manner of
applying the same will vary with the type and size of boiler or furnace. In a hori
zontal return tube boiler I carry a pipe from the top thereof into the smoke box
across the bottom of which it extends. To this pipe I connect branch pipes passing
through the tubes from the smoke box to the combustion chamber and terminating in
jets or distributors. The air is supplied by means of one or more tubes which pass
through the smoke box and afford a communication between the boiler tubes and the
outer air the admission of air being regulated by valves fitted to the ends of the
tubes in the combustion chamber and operated by rods extending through the tubes
into the stoke hole. For regulating the escape of the heated gases and air I employ
a damper or shield placed parallel with the tube plate in the smoke box opposite the
ends of the tubes. The shield may be mounted on parallel horizontal guides and can
bo moved nearer to or further from the ends of the tubes by means of a screw
projecting through the front of the smoke box and provided with a hand wheel.
Dated this 20th dove of June 1886

page_text: I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following
statement:
This invention relates to apparatus for effecting the consumption of smoke in steam
boiler and other furnaces, by the introduction into the combustion chamber of highly
superheated steam and heated air. The exact form of apparatus and the manner of
applying the same will vary with the type and size of boiler or furnace. In a hori-
zontal return tube boiler I carry a pipe from the top thereof into the smoke box across
the bottom of which it extends. To this pipe I connect branch pipes passing through
the tubes from the smoke box to the combustion chamber and terminating in jets or
distributors.
The air is supplied by means of one or more tubes which pass through the smoke
box and afford a communication between the boiler tubes and the outer air the
admission of air being regulated by valves fitted to the ends of the tubes in the
combustion chamber.
For regulating the escape of the heated gases and air I employ a damper or shield
placed parallel with the tube plate in the smoke box opposite the ends of the tubes.
The shield may be mounted on parallel horizontal guides and can be moved nearer to
or further from the ends of the tubes by means of a screw projecting through the
front of the smoke box and provided with a hand wheel.
In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 represents a front elevation of a return tube
boiler with one smoke box removed.
Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the same the section being taken through the
line A B.
Fig. 3 is a partial elevation of the opposite or combustion end of the boiler.
Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7 are details of parts hereinafter referred to.
Cis the outer shell of the boiler, D the water space E the combustion chamber
and F the smoke box. G are tubes connecting the combustion chamber and smoke
box.
From the superheater or highest part of the boiler two steam pipes H are carried
down to the level of the lowest row of tubes G passing horizontally in front of the
said row of tubes. The junction of the pipes H with the boiler is effected by means
of the steam cock J whilst a regulating valve K is inserted into each pipe in any con-
venient position. To the horizontal portion of each pipe H are connected branch
pipes L which pass from front to back of the boiler through the tubes G and terminato
in rose or T shaped heads having orifices or perforations of suitable size and so
arranged as to direct jets of steam over the whole of the combustion chamber.opposite

page_text: the ends of the tubes G.
A suitable form of distributing head is shown at L',
Figures 4, 5 and 6, the former an enlarged view in section of smoke box F tubes G
and pipes H and L, on the end of the latter of which is screwed the hollow knob or
bulb L shown in detail in figures 5 and 6. Nipples formed of any metal capable of
withstanding the wearing action of the steam, are formed on the exterior of the hollow
bulb and perforations are provided for the passage or escape of the steam the
number and size of perforations being capable of variation. By opening the cocks J
and K highly superheated steam in a finely divided state may be ejected into the
combustion chamber where it will become intimately mixed with the inflammable
gases and particles of smoke or carbon therein and assist in the combustion thereof
thereby preventing the passage of smoke or unconsumed fuel through the tubes G.
Air is admitted to the combustion chamber through the tubes G several of which
situated in the two bottom rows communicate with the outer air through pipes M
terminating outside the smoke box. The ends of these air pipes may either project
beyond the side of the sinoke box with an expanding orifice M in the interior of
which is situated a regulating valve M or the pipe may stop flush with the side or
bottom of the smoke box and the admission of air be regulated by means of a cut
off plate such as M' working on a pivot m fixed to the side or bottom of the smoke
box (see figure 7).
To prevent the too rapid escape of the gases and burnt particles through the tubes G -
into the smoke box, I employ a shield damper N which consists of a metal plate
large enough to cover the whole of the tubes leading into the smoke box. This
damper is supported by rods n passing through sleeves P which are fixed to the front
of the smoke box.
To the centre of the damper N is connected a screwed rod N¹ which passes through
the front of the smoke box and over the end of which is screwed a hand wheel N' by
means of which the damper may be moved nearer to or further from the tube plate R
and so arrest or permit the flow or passage of the gases in any required degree. By
this means the engineer or fireman in the stoke hole can keep a perfect control
over the draught and regulate the same according to the state of the wind and
weather.
I wish it to be understood that I am aware that steam mixed with air in various
proportions has been used for effecting the consumption of smoke and also that steam
has been used for forcing air into the furnace before delivering it onto the fire
and behind the bridge and that therefore I do not claim such application of steam
and air.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention
as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent and in what manner the samo is
to be performed I declare that what I claim is :-
1. The employment of steam free from any admixture of air delivered from jets
direct into the combustion chamber substantially as specified.
2. The combination with the apparatus described of the adjustable shield damper
substantially as and for the purpose specified.
3. The complete apparatus substantially as and for the purpose specified.
Datal thin 20th day of Maal 1007