AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR INCREASING THE HEATING EFFECT OF FUEL, AND FOR PREVENTING OR DIMINISHING THE PRODUCTION OF SMOKE IN STEAM-BOILER AND OTHER FURNACES."
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Gordon Donaldson Peters, of Moorgate Works, Moorfields,
"
in the City of London, Merchant and Manufacturer, for an Invention of
AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR INCREASING THE HEATING EFFECT OF
FUEL, AND FOR PREVENTING OR DIMINISHING THE PRODUCTION OF SMOKE
IN STEAM-BOILER AND OTHER FURNACES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Gordon Donaldson Peters
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd January 1882.
GORDON DONALDSON PETERS of Moorgate Works, Moorfields in the City of
London, Merchant and Manufacturer. "AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR IN-
CREASING THE HEATING EFFECT OF FUEL, AND FOR PREVENTING OR DIMINISHING
THE PRODUCTION OF SMOKE, IN STEAM BOILER AND OTHER FURNACES."
This Invention relates to improvements in apparatus for preventing the escape of
smoke and for ensuring the more perfect combustion of fuel in steam boiler and
other furnaces, the object of the said improvements being to simplify and increase
the efficacy of such apparatus.
According to the present invention the external gases of the atmosphere are
introduced into and intermingled with the hydrocarbons in the combustion
chamber in such a manner that oxygen mixed with steam is supplied in large or
small quantities, regulated at will according to the amount required to complete the
combustion of the fuel.
In some instances it is found necessary to introduce into the combustion chamber
a large quantity of oxygen to complete the combustion of the hydrocarbons and
escaping gases. In other instances a small quantity of oxygen will suffice to produce
the desired effect.
This Invention provides for regulating the quantity of oxygen, introduced into a
furnace and when properly attached to, or connected with, the said furnace and not
in use it can be completely shut off and will then not impair or obstruct the
natural draught or the entrance of air to the furnace through the fire bars.

page_text: According to the said invention I employ an apparatus which I term an
economizer and which may have an external form somewhat resembling that of a
large mushroom. The said apparatus has above or outside of its large or wide
portion a central steam chamber. The steam taken from the boiler is conducted
by a small pipe or pipes to this steam chamber which has a central extension
provided with a valve. The large or wide part of this apparatus and the
part of smaller diameter from the inner or under side thereof form the air
chamber. The said inner side bas apertures which when fully open will admit
large quantities of air. To permit the said apertures to be opened and closed at
pleasure I provide an adjustable disc which has corresponding apertures in its face
and which may be turned on its axis to bring them into or out of coincidence with
the first named apertures. The internal capacity of the said vessel is made as largo
as practicable and all of the ways or passages communicating with the inlet pipe
to the furnace are large so that the current of air shall not be checked, and the air
and steam may be injected with great force to increase the draught and the steam
producing capacity of the furnace. The aforesaid valve which controls the admis-
sion of steam to the air chamber or interior of the said apparatus is preferably
made conical somewhat like the plug of an ordinary cock and extends through its
seat at the inner extremity of the steam chamber. It has a small central passage
through it communicating with the steam chamber. The said valve is adjusted to
or from its seat by means of a screw provided with a handle or hand wheel at the
outside of the apparatus. The said central passage of the valve ensures a con-
tinuous admission of steam to the air chainber of the apparatus but when the
quantity thus admitted is found to be insufficient to give the desired force to the
current of air being injected into the furnace, additional steam may be introduced
by drawing the conical valve from its sent by means of the said screw thereby
increasing the volume of mixed air and steam passing into the furnaco and
accelerating the combustion of the fuel in the same.
I modify the construction of the said apparatus by providing the same with two
or more, of the aforesaid valves for regulating the admission of the same.
Or instead of such conical valve or valves I may employ a disc fitted to work on
the inner surface of the end of the steam chamber. This end of the said chamber
and the said disc are perforated with series of small holes, and by turning the said
disc on its axis the holes in the disc, or any number of them, may be moved into or
out of coincidence with those in the end of the chamber and thereby regulate the
admission of the steam.
I prefer that 'this disc should be provided with a small central passage for 'the
purpose above specified.
I further modify the said apparatus by providing the said steam chamber with
an annular inner portion connected to the other portions of the said chamber by
two or more tubes and perforated with small holes for the passage of the steam.
The said tubes converge to an aperture which is closed by a valve whose adjust-
ment is effected by a screw as above described. The steam passing through
the small holes or perforations mixes with the air in a series of small jets.
I provide the pipe extending from the said apparatus to the interior of the
furnace with a spreader or director on its inner end by means of which
spreader the steam and air may be distributed in any required direction in
the interior of the furnace. The current of air intermingling with the steam
will have its temperature raised according to the temperature and quantity of
steam injected.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent and of
an Order of the Lord Chancellor filed by the said Gordon Donaldson Peters
in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 18th July 1882.
GORDON DONALDSON PETERS, of Moorgate Works, Moorfields, in the City of
London, Merchant and Manufacturer. AN IMPROVED APPARATUS
FOR IN.
CREASING THE HEATING EFFECT OF FUEL AND FOR PREVENTING OR DIMINISHING
THE PRODUCTION OF SMOKE IN STEAM-BOILER AND OTHER FURNACES."
This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for preventing the escape
of smoke and for ensuring the more perfect combustion of fuel in steam-boiler and
other furnaces. The said apparatus accomplishes these objects by admitting into
the furnace above the fuel jets of stean with or without atmospheri: air.
In some instances it is found necessary to introduce into the furnace or com-
bustion chamber a large quantity of oxygen to complete the combustion of the
hydro-carbons and escaping gases; in other instances a small quantity of oxygen
will suffice to produce the desired effect.
This invention provides for regulating the quantity of oxygen introduced into a
furnace, and, when the apparatus is properly attached to or connected with the said
furnace and not in use, it can be completely closed and will not then impair or
obstruct the natural draught or entrance of air to the furnace through the fire
bars.
According to this invention I construct an injector or injecting apparatus which
I term an economizer and which has a steam chamber and an air-chamber; the
former is provided with a nozzle or nozzles projecting into the air-chamber, each of
the said nozzles being fitted with a valve for regulating the amount of steam
admitted to the furnace, and the air-chamber being provided with an adjustable
disc or cylinder for regulating the quantity of air admitted into the furnace with
the steam. In some cases provision is made for the admission of a small jet of
steam through the valve when the latter is closed and a valve or stop-cock is
provided for cutting off the supply of steun when desired.
The said apparatus is illustrated in the accompanying Drawings, in which
Figure 1 is a plan of an injector with one steain nozzle.
Figure 2 is a section of the same ou the line x, x.
Figure 3 is a plan and
Figure 4 a section on the line y y of an injector with two steain nozzles.
Figure 5 is a central section of an injector with one steam nozzle having a flat
end perforated with small apertures which are opened or closed by a perforated
dise valve.
Figure 6 is a central section of an injector having an annular steam nozzle.
Figure 7 is an inner end view of the said annular steam nozzle.
Figure 8 is a longitudinal section illustrating the application of my invention to
the furnace of a Cornish or Lancashire boiler, and
Figure 9 is a similar section ilustrating its application to a locomotive furnace.
Like letters indicate the same parts throughout the drawings.
A, is the steam-chamber to wh.ch steam is admitted by means of a supply pipe
at B. In the apparatus shewn in Figures 1 and 2 there is one nozzle C extending
from the steam-chamber A through the air-chamber D. The said nozzle is fitted
with a conical or taper valve E having a small hole through it; and the said valve
is operated or adjusted by means of a screw spindle E in the ordinary manner.
F is an extension of the air-chamber in which the steam and air commingle and to
which is connected a pipe communicating with the furnace or combustion chamber.

page_text: The said apparatus is provided with an adjustable disc G having three apertures 1, 2, 3
as shewn in Figure 1, corresponding apertures heing provided in the air-chamber D.
This disc is free to rotate on its axis and by turning it in one or the other direction
the apertures 1, 2, 3 will be moved over the apertures in the chamber or over the
surfaces between the said apertures, and the latter can thereby be opened to any
desired extent to admit more or less air or can be entirely closed to cut off the
supply of air to the said chamber. The said disc is provided with a handle or
projection G' whereby it can be easily manipulated. The operation of this injector
is as follows:-If it is desired to admit steam alone into the furnace, the adjustable
disc G is adjusted to cover the apertures in the air-chamber D and the steam issues
from the hole through the valve E or (if this valve is raised) between the valve and
its seating, and passes to the furnace or combustion chamber. If it is desired to
admit air with the steam, the adjustable disc G is turned to open the apertures in
the air-chamber D to an extent proportionate to the quantity of air required. The
jet of steam will then draw currents of air through the said apertures to commingle
with the steam. It will thus be seen that the quantity of steam, (above a certain
limit) and the quantity of air admitted to the furnace or combustion chamber can
be regulated as required, and the supply of steam to the apparatus may be cut off,
if necessary, by means of a valve or stop-cock provided upon the boiler or in the
supply pipe.
The apparatus shewn in Figures 3 and 4 is similar in construction and operation
to that above described with the exception of having two nozzles C, C* each of
which is provided with a, valve; the two valves E, E* are attached to a crosshend
H which is operated or adjusted by means of the screw spindle I passing through
it and provided with a thrust collar K bearing against a cap screwed into the end
of the steam-chamber; the inner end of this screw spindle I has its bearing in the
casing at between the two nozzles C, C*. It is obvious that the adjustment or
movement of the two valves E, E will be simultaneous.
In the modified form of the injector shown in Figure 5, the nozzle L has a Bat
end with one small hole through its centre and a series of small holes or apertures
near its circunference for the admission of steam to the furnace. A disc-valve M
on the end of the spindle N is fitted into the nozzle L which valve has a flat
surface seated on the inner surface of the end of the nozzle. This valve is
perforated with holes or apertures preferably corresponding in number and size
with those in the end of the nozzle L; the spindle N is provided with a collar N¹
which fits the stuffing box N2 and against which the packing is pressed by means
of a gland and screw-nut of ordinary construction. In place of the disc Ġ shown
in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, this apparatus is provided with a cylinder O having three or
four apertures and fitted on the air-chamber D which is provided with apertures to
correspond with those in the said cylinder. The cylinder O is free to rotate on
its axis and can be easily turned in either direction by means of the handle or
projection for the purpose of opening or closing the apertures in the said
chamber. In this modification of my apparatus (as in those above described) the
hole or aperture in the centre of the nozzle is always open for the admission of
steam to the furnace and the apertures near its circumference can be opened or
closed at will by turning the spindle N and disc-valve M, the quantity of steam
admitted being thereby regulated, and the cylinder O is adjusted to admit or
prevent the admission of air with the steam as desired.
In the modification of my Invention illustrated in Figures 6 and 7 the annular
nozzle or hollow ring P is perforated with small holes as shewn in Figure and is
secured to the steam chamber A by means of the piece R connected to the said
nozzle by the branch pipes R', R2, R3, R. The said branch piece R is fitted with an
ordinary mitre valve S operated by means of a screw spindle S¹ in the usual
manner to regulate the admission of steam. The admission of air is regulated by
means of the cylinder O in the same manner as in the apparatus shown in
Figure 5.

page_text: I sometimes provide the pipe extending from the said apparatus to the interior
of the furnace with a spreader or director on its inner end by means of which
spreader the steam and air may be distributed in any required direction in the
interior of the furnace. The current of air intermingling with the steam will have
its temperature raised according to the temperature and quantity of steam injected.
In the application of my said invention to a Cornish or Lancashire boiler shewn
in Figure 8 the above described apparatus or economizer, instead of being arranged
to introduce the steam or mixed steam and air directly into the furnace above the
fuel on the grate, is provided with a pipe Tarranged below the grate and extending
through the ash-pit to a hollow furnace bridge U. This pipe conducts the steam
or steam and air from the injector into the hollow bridge and provision is also made
for the admission of air by the aperture U¹ in the lower part of the bridge. The
adjustment of this aperture to regulate the quantity of air admitted thereby is
effected by means of the disc V which slides on the pipe T and is manipulated by
means of the rod V. The bridge U has fire bars as shewn at U³ through which
the oxygen forced into it by the injector passes to mix with the carbon passing
from the furnace over the bridge U, and this intermingling of the oxygen with the
carbon ensures a practically perfect combustion of the volatile portions of the fuel
and thereby not only prevents the escape of sinoke from the furnace but accelerates
the evaporation and economizes fuel.
In adapting my Invention to a locomotive furnace, as shewn in Figure 9, the
economizer is placed at the back of the same; the pipe Textends from the injector
into the hollow bridge U which is provided with an air admission aperture U', and
regulating disc or cover V as above described. The oxygen forced by the said
apparatus into this hollow bridge passes therefrom through the apertures U³, into
the furnace where it mingles with the unconsumed volatile portions of the fuel
causing their complete combustion and consequently economizing and increasing
the heating effect of the fuel.
Having thus fully described my said invention and shown how the same may
be conveniently and advantageously carried into practice I wish it understood that
I do not limit myself to the precise details of construction or arrangement herein-
before described, nor do I claim generally or irrespectively of the improvements or
novel features herein described, the introduction of steam or mixed steam and air
into a steam-boiler furnace to promote or improve the combustion therein, but
I claim
First. The improved injecting apparatus constructed with a steam chamber and
an air-chamber and provided with one or more nozzles each fitted with an adjustable
valve and properly arranged to admit and regulate the admission of the steam
from the steam-chamber into the air-chamber or space which is provided with nn
adjustable disc or cylinder having apertures for regulating the admission of air to
mix with the steam in the said chamber, all substantially, as, and for the purpose,
specified.
Second. In the said apparatus the valve in the nozzle provided with an
aperture for the admission of steam to the air-chamber when the said valve is
closed, substantially as described.
Third. The modification of my invention comprising the combination, with the
two valves, of the cross head and screw spindle, substantially as described and as
shewn in Figure 4 for the purpose specified.
Fourth. The modification of my invention wherein the nozzle has its inner end
perforated and fitted with a perforated valve which is adjustable on its axis and is
provided with a spindle for operating it, substantially as described and as shewn in
Figure 5 and for the purpose specified.
Fifth. The modification of the said apparatus comprising the annular nozzle
connected by branch-pipes with an aperture which is fitted with a valve,
substantially as described and as shown in Figures 6 and 7 and for the purpose
specified.

page_text: Sixth. The combination of the above described improved apparatus with a
furnace, substantially as shewn in Figure 8 or in Figure 9 of the accompanying
drawings, or in any manner suitable for effecting the object of my invention as
above set forth.
In witness whereof I the said Gordon Donaldson Peters have hereunto set my
hand and seal this Seventeenth day of July in the year of our Lord
Öne thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
GORDON DONALDSON PETERS.
(L.S.)