IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR GENERATING STEAM AND GAS, AND CONSUMING SMOKE
Year: 1854

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Robinson, of Huddersfield, in the County of
York, Manufacturing Chymist, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR GENERATING STEAM AND GAS, AND CONSUMING SMOKE,"
Sealed the 24th November 1854, and dated the 20th September 1854.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Robinson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
20th September 1854.
I, JAMES ROBINSON, of Huddersfield, in the County of York, Manufacturing
Chymist, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR GENERATING STEAM AND GAS, AND CONSUMING SMOKE," to
be as follows:-
Firstly, the improvements consist in having a series of sets or tiers of
gratings or fire-places, one above the other, so constructed that the uppermost
shall have wider openings than the next, which shall also in like manner have
wider openings than the succeeding set of gratings, so that the fire passing
through the first shall fall on the second, and through the second to the third,
and so on.
Secondly, in having the grate bars hollow, and when employed for generating
steam, having an open communication at each end with a steam boiler, so that
the water can circulate through them; but when used for generating gas, in
[Price 8d.]

page_text: having the grate bars provided with covers at the ends, so as to form a series
gas retorts, having pipes to carry off the gas, or by having such grate bars
or retorts connected together at one or both ends, so that one pipe may serve
to convey the gas away.
Thirdly, in causing the smoke to descend through the whole series or tiers of 5
gratings to the flue or flues which are below, instead of being above the fire,
as at present, the coal being supplied to the first or upper grates, as also the
air necessary to combustion, and the draught or current downwards, through
the gratings.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Robinson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
19th March 1855.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
ROBINSON, of Huddersfield, in the County of York, Manufacturing Chymist,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Royal
year of
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of September, in the
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, in the eighteenth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said James Robinson, Her special licence that I, the said James
Robinson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said James Robinson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR GENERATING STEAM AND GAS, AND CONSUMING SMOKE," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said James Robinson, by an instrument
in writing under my hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be
performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Royal Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said James Robinson, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what mauner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement
(that is to say):-

page_text: My Invention consists of forming or constructing a compact framework or
apparatus, consisting of one, two, three, or more tiers of fire-places, all the
bars of the said tiers being fitted and fastened to the front and back part of
the said framework, the whole of which are hollow, made of boiler plates or
similar material, forming one complete cellular apparatus. The coal or other
fuel is supplied to the top or upper tier, and the bars or tubes are so arranged
that the spaces between them are wider than in the next tier, and these are
also wider than the spaces in the tier below; so that the fire passing through
the top or first set of gratings will fall on and remain for a time on the second
set, and then fall through to the third, and so on. The air necessary for
combustion is also supplied at the top or upper part of the apparatus above the
fire, instead of under it, as heretofore, by which contrivance I obtain a down-
ward draught or current through the whole series of gratings, which causes
the smoke from the top or green fuel to pass through its own and also through
the red fires of the succeeding tiers of gratings, whereby it will be consumed.
The whole of the said apparatus being hollow, and when used for generating
steam is attached to the boiler or vessel by one or more connecting tubes in
such a manner as to allow the water to circulate freely both through boiler and
apparatus, it is evident that the water in the said apparatus will be heated and
generate steam, as well as that in the boiler; in fact, the hollow heating appa-
ratus may be considered part of the boiler itself. It will be easily perceived
that by this arrangement a very great heating or steam generating surface is
obtained, and by causing the smoke to descend through its own fire, and also
through the bright fires which have previously fallen on the lower grates, it
will be completely consumed, by which means a considerable saving of fuel will
be effected, and the smoke nuisance abated. When the said apparatus is used
for making or producing gas, I fix a cover or covers at one or both ends of the
bars or tubes, and thus form a series of gas retorts with pipes or suitable
apparatus to carry off the gas.
These my said improvements will be clearly understood by reference to the
accompanying two Sheets of Drawings, in which the same letters of reference
are used to represent the same parts in all the Figures.
Fig. 1, Sheet 1, is a longitudinal vertical section of my apparatus attached to
an ordinary two-flued boiler, taken through the lines F, G, as seen in Figs. 3,
4, and 5; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, with part of the brick-work
removed, so as to shew the action of the heat; Fig. 3 is a horizontal section,
taken through the line A, B; Fig. 4 is a cross vertical section, taken through
the line C, D; aud Fig.5 is a front elevation. The whole of theapparatus when
used for generating steam is constructed of boiler plates or similar material,

page_text: with an inner casing. a represents the outside; b, the inner casing, by which a
water space is formed around the fire box or fire-places; d,the bars or tubes, of
which in this illustration there are three sets or tiers,connected to and opening
at each end into the water space c; on the uppermost of these tiers the coals
or other fuel is placed, as on ordinary grate bars, the spaces between them
allowing the partially consumed fuel to pass or fall through to the next tier,
where the spaces are smaller than those in the upper tier, thus causing the
fuel to be retained for a time, until it becomes further consumed, and then
falls to the next tier, and so on. represents small tubes perforated at their
sides towards the fires to admit air, as well as over the fire doors. The pipes g
connect the apparatus with the boiler, by which there is a free circulation of
both water and steam. His a valve or damper, to be opened when the
fire is "raked" for the night, or when steam is not required to be generated
rapidly.
Sheet 2 of the accompanying Drawings shews the application of my
improved apparatus for generating gas, in which Fig. 1 is a cross verticae
section and Fig. 2 a front elevation of the same. The tubes a, which are
both grate bars and gas retorts may be made of iron, fire clay, or other
suitable metal or material, and of any convenient size or form, as well as the
sides and top b.
c represents perforated tubes, open at the outer end to the
atmosphere, for supplying air to the lower fires; d,a partition to divide thecur-
rent of air; e, the flues; f, the fire doors; g, the ash door; h, a cover for the
retorts; i, bars or braces to secure the covers by the pins and cotters, as shewn
at each end; k, the escape or discharge pipe connected to the mouth-piece,
which has a communication with all the retorts. Figs. 3, 6, and 7, of No. 2
Sheet of Drawings, shew another mode of constructing the hollow bars and
framework, by making them of a form or shape differing from the circular
form, by which it will be seen I gain an additional amount of heating surface,
and still retain the additional number of fires, with the downward draught of
current; but although I have shewn several fires in all these views, they are
not necessary for the purpose of securing the downward draught, as the
principle may be applied to one fire or furnace of the ordinary construction.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
mauner the same is to be performed, I desire it to be distinctly understood
that I do not confine myself to the exact details herein set forth, as such may
be varied or modified without departing from the principle thereof.
I am
aware that hollow bars have been proposed to be adopted in other furnaces; I
do not, therefore, claim such bars as of my Invention, or the exclusive us
thereof, except when combined as above described; but I hereby declare that

page_text: I claim as my Invention an apparatus for generating steam and gas, con-
structed and arranged so that the smoke or combustible matter will descend
through and from its own fire and fire bars, or through its own fire and fire
bars and other fires in succession, thus establishing a downward current or
draught.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Robinson, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fifteenth day of March, One thousand eight
hundred and fifty-five.
JAMES ROBINSON. (L.B.)
Signed, sealed, and delivered by the within-named
James Robinson, in the presence of
W* TASKER,
Patent Agent,
Halifax.