IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM BOILERS AND IN FURNACES TO BE EMPLOYED THERE- WITH
Year: 1872

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by (Jean Conrad) Meyer at the.
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
7th October 1872.
Í, (JEAN CONRAD) MEYER, of Boulevard de Strasbourg, 23, at Paris,
Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM BOILERS AND IN FURNACES TO BE EMPLOYED THERE-
WITH," to be as follows:-
My Invention relates to the construction and arrangement of steam
boilers and their furnaces, so that the smoke is consumed in a simple
and effectual manner, and that a vigorous circulation of the water in the
boiler is maintained, whereby safety and economy in generating steam
are secured, and the boiler is saved from incrustation and from the rapid
wear and tear consequent thereon. For this purpose I construct the
boiler with a fire-box at one end, preferably of the form of a cylindrical
shell. The interior cavity of this box is open at top and bottom, and
serves as a receptacle for the fuel which is fed at the top of the cavity,
and which rests on a grate placed some distance below the bottom of the
fire-box. The annular cavity of the fire-box is a water and steam space

page_text: communicating at bottom with the lower part of the boiler, which may
of cylindrical form laid horizontally, or which may be of clephant
form, in which case the water space of the fire-box communicates with
the generating tubes below the body of the boiler, these tubes com-
municating with the body of the boiler at or near their ends farthest
from the fire-box. The upper part of the annular cavity of the fire-box
communicates with the upper part of the boiler over a diaphragm which
extends upwards to within a short distance below the water line. From
this construction it will be seen that when the principal heating power
is maintained in the lower part of the fire-box, there will be a rapid
circulation of the water up the annular cavity of the fire-box, backwards
along the upper part of the boiler, and again forwards towards the fire-
box along the lower part of the boiler, or in the case of an elephant
boiler along its generating tubes. This circulation prevents sudden
ebullitions or portions of the water attaining the spheroidal condition,
and also saves the boiler from incrustation, the solid matter being
deposited in the form of mud which can be occasionally withdrawn.
The fuel supplied to the fire-box rests, as has been already mentioned,
on a grate some distance below the fire-box, so that between the bottom
of the fire-box and this grate there is a furnace space. On the front side
of this space is an opening provided with a fire-door which is fitted with
an air valve of any known construction. The door can be opened when
required for stirring the fuel, removing clinkers, or other purposes. The
valve on the door regulates the supply of air admitted on this side to the
furnace. On the opposite side of the furnace space is the opening to the
boiler flue formed over a sloping bridge or bank. The flue may be led
backwards under the boiler and return along the sides thereof to the
chimney, or it may be made to circulate in any known manner under
and round the boiler.
In the sloping face of the bank or bridge is a long slit or elongated
opening for air which is supplied by flues formed in the setting of the
boiler immediately under or near the main fluc. These air flucs as well
as the chimney are provided with dampers or valves of any known con-
struction, whereby the supply of air at the bridge and the general
draught may be regulated.
The combustion in the lower part of the fire-box is maintained in
vigorous action partly by air descending through the fuel above, and

page_text: partly by air entering by the fire-door and grate, and the fresh fuel
lying in the fire-box above that which is in combustion has its gases
distilled from it. These gases after passing through the live fuel meet
at the bank or bridge with the fresh air which enters by the slit therein,
and which has been warmed by passing along the flues, and thus their
complete combustion is effected as they enter the boiler flues.