Improvements in or relating to Burning Petroleum and other Hydrocarbons and Apparatus connected therewith.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Oct., 1890-Accepted, 14th Mar., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Burning Petroleum and other
Hydrocarbons and Apparatus connected therewith.
A communication from abroad by ALLAN MASON, of Brooklyn, Kings County,
New York, and JOHN WILSON, of the City, County, and State of New York,
both in the United States of America.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of the Agency_for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street, Man-
chester, both in the County of Lancaster, and 323, High Holborn, in the County
of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates (inter alia) to a method of burning hydro-carbon fuel,
which consists of injecting a portion of the same in a vaporized condition, as dis-
tinguished from sprayed, in one laterally divergent and rearwardly projected jet in
the upper portion of the furnace chamber and so as to produce a distinguishably
individual fire, and at the same time maintaining a distinctively separately burning
fire of localized jets of oil in the lower space, upwardly and locally impinging their
products on and commingling them with the laterally projected fire, as hereinafter
more fully described, reference being made to the accompanying drawing, in which :-
Figure 1 is a horizontal section of a furnace and partly a plan view and partly a
sectional view of some of the apparatus.
Figure 2 a longitudinal sectional elevation of the furnace and burner apparatus,
taken on line, of Figure 1.
"
In any boiler or other furnace chamber a, a pipe retort bis arranged with an
inlet branch c entering the fire door d, the general arrangement of the said pipe
retort being a circuit of the combustion chamber along the inner walls with a
terminal issue e of its inner extremity for the discharge of the gases and vapors
projected inward from the fire door alongside of the inlet branch
and being
successively larger in diameter along the different sections, but the form and
arrangement may be varied at will, as it may be coiled several turns either verti-
cally or horizontally along the rear transverse part or along the side walls of the
furnace, if desired, and said transverse part may be located at the rear wall of the
furnace instead of in the advance position of the same, as here shown.
It is also preferable to arrange said pipe retort on trunnion pivots, or in any
other approved way whereby the front and rear may be respectively elevated or
depressed to shift its pitch or inclination as varying conditions may require, as, to
change the application of the heat and to vary the flow of the inatters passing
through it. And with the inlet e, an oil feeder g, and a steam jet nozzle h are
arranged for introducing the oil and steam and spraying the oil to be mixed,
vaporized and gasified and introduced into the furnace through the issue e.
And with the oil and steam thus introduced, the introduction of air through the
inlet e is provided for, at i, along with them.
The issue nozzles or burners e may have the flaring mouth represented in
Figures 1 and 2, together with or without the curled extremity there shown for the
expansion and distribution of the escaping vapors which, in practice, is found a
very efficient and practical form.
With the fire thus produced and having wide range rearwardly and laterally in
he furnace chamber, it is also proposed to use a lower fire burning upward from a
bed of refractory (or refractory and absorbent) material for greater diffusion and
ntensity and for preventing interruption of the upper fire and also for the vaporizing

page_text: and burning of any drippings of oil that may, under some circumstances, fail of
being vaporized in the retort. For that purpose, means or apparatus therefor are
represented, as the oil holding troughs y (see Figure 2) with the refractory materials,
as porous stone, asbestos or the like, s, supported upon them or above, said troughs
being arranged above the air space and having numerous air tubes u admitting air
above the oil, and being also arranged with spaces between them for effective
distribution of the air. The oil is supplied from the pipe w, by branch a, to each
trough, and an overflow, connected by a branch with each trough, allows any
excess that may flow into the troughs to escape into a receptacle, but of course
any other approved apparatus may be employed for the application of this lower
fire.
It is to be noted that the invention is essentially favourable to the expansion and
rarefaction of the combustible matters by reason of the progressively increasing
dimensions of the retort or retorts and the unobstructed issue out of which the
vapors or gases escape in more expanded and, therefore, more combustible condition
than when subject to compression by retention in the retorts through the effect of
contracted issues. By the greater expansion in the retort, the vapors and gases
are proportionately hotter as well as more expanded when reaching the point of
combustion.
My correspondents are aware of the British Patent No. 4,241 of December 7th,
1875, in which carburetted air or gas and air are introduced from below, together
with injected oil spray "above the level of the fire bed," but in such close proximity
that there is practically only one fire in which all the elements from both ways are
combined, as the object of the invention is stated to be, whereas, in this case, it is
the distinctively separate upper and lower fires that are relied upon, the upper fire
being the product of the highly expanded and thoroughly commingled atoms of the
several fuel elements, and by which better results are produced, because the light
and volatile carburetted air or gas and air burned in close proximity to the upper
fire fail to produce a distinctive fire below on account of their rapid flow directly
into the other, so that, practically, there is only one fire in that case; it is by the
separate burning of the two fires and the commingling of the hot products of the
two that the best results are obtained.
With the upper retort and fire of oil vapor and the lower fire of coal, as some
have tried, for burning petroleum, the overflow or drippings, always occurring more
or less from the oil or oil vapor above coming in contact with the coal, not only
burns rapidly but heavily, and causes deposits of lamp black on the oil burner or
retort, which, in time, forms a coating in the burner that prevents the action on it
of the heat of the coal fire, and it fails to produce continuous and perfect vaporiza-
tion of all the oil passing through the retort, and, in addition to that, the affinity or
attraction of the oil for, or rapid absorption by it of, the more volatile elements of
the coal transforms it into a lava-like mass, preventing its own combustion and
shutting off its own sufficient supply of air, besides being a prolific source of injury
to the furnace and grate bars by coking thereon in hard masses, the removal of
which causes breakage of the walls and bars. The fires would choke up, smoke
and the furnace grates become clogged.
Messrs. Mason and Wilson have found, in practice, that the unobstructed retort
of the upper fire is the best known practical means of supplying the oil vapor with-
out tarry deposits in the retort. All retorts having contracted issues choke and
fail, and the same is true of all burners from which oil vapors or jets issue from
contracted orifices under pressure, but claim is not here made to the process of the
unobstructed retort alone, for, although it avoids deposits in the retort, there are
drippings into the space below which make difficulty, except with the fire of local
oil burners such as are employed below, and in which the jets are strong and regular,
and they effectually consume the drippings from the upper fire and do not choke
with deposits of their own supply of oil.
They also continuously take effect in their respective localities on the upper
flame, so as to distribute it still more than by its own expansion, and thus dissipate the

page_text: tongue-like projections that otherwise take effect on the fire box sheet towards which
the flame is projected.
A further object of the invention is that the oil may be so presented to the heating
apparatus that perfect combustion is obtained; that more heat may be obtained
from a given quantity of the material than by the usual methods of supplying heat;
that the petroleum be atomized and rarefied so that continuous uninterrupted com-
bustion is obtained, and that a safe, continual and economical heat be obtained for
mechanical and other purposes. The process, in this case, is for what Messrs.
Mason & Wilson choose to term the damp process" of burning petroleum and
other hydrocarbons.
Petroleum or other oil or fatty substance, steam and air is introduced in proper
proportion, and the oil thoroughly atomized and mixed with steam by impinging
steam or air upon it, or oil upon steam or air on its way to the flame; tlie air makes
the combustion perfect, and may, when used without steam, be injected to produce
the draught and spray the oil, the steam, when used, supplies the drawing or forcing
power and, in addition, the steam decomposes in the flame and gives an additional
element of heat in the evolving of hydrogen and oxygen. This decomposition and
the vaporizing of the oil are assisted or stimulated by the use of superheated steam
and' hot air.
The process consists of effecting a lateral diffusion of the injected and atomized
and vaporized oil and its due measure of forcing and atomizing steam and air for
supporting combustion, co-extensive with the breadth of the combustion chamber or
thereabout, containing a bed of refractory or refractory and absorbent substance, a
suitable distance beneath the inlet of the injected film of combustibles, for the com-
bustion of the drippings of oil from the inlet (or the same and oil otherwise supplied
to it) in combination with the direct combustion from the said inlet, either by air
of the lower portion of the injected film or with other air introduced separately to
the porous bed, and with or without a steam jet, whereby a double process results,
in which one fire diffuses laterally and along the combustion chamber and the other
upward from the lower bed, and each helps the other by crossing and intermixing
of the combustible matters more intimately and effectively than in the common
process, and so that the uncertainty of accidental extinction of the flame of either
source and especially of the upper inlet, to which such burners are more or less
liable by excessive or inadequate supply of either of the elements and other causes,
is avoided and continuous combustion secured, the temporary interruption of either
being instantly overcome by ignition again from the other.
Various contrivances of apparatus may be employed for carrying out this im-
proved method or process of burning hydrocarbon, but that which it is preferable
to use is represented in the accompanying drawing, in which :-
Figure 3 represents a sectional elevation (as on the line yy Fig. 4) of a boiler
furnace of ordinary construction for burning coal with the improved apparatus
applied so that oil fuel may be readily substituted for coal, and vice versa, without
any change of the furnace."
Figure 4 is a horizontal section of the same taken on line = .
Figure 5 is section on line a Fig. 4 showing a detail of the furnace, and
Figure 6 is a section of the injector for introducing and spraying the oil and
producing the draught.
To produce the broad flame in the upper portion of the furnace chamber a, the
broad flat steam injector nozzle is employed, about as wide as will enter the
ordinary fire door ", but sufficiently contracted vertically to allow an air space
above and below for the inflow of air, and having a series of small steam issues e
and slits if desired, at the end with slight grooves or troughs in the upper
surface in which the oil from suitable supply pipes, discharging into said grooves,
may be conducted off the end of the nozzle into the steam jets, which nozzle is
inserted in the fire door about as shown with any suitable exterior support and such
pipe connection with the boiler as is necessary for supplying the steam, and with
the funnel i for facilitating the induction of the air by the suction of the steam jet,

page_text: and guiding and directing the same to the jet ; or the steam may be omitted and air
used instead as before stated.
With this form of injector having issues and oil guides properly divergent as
indicated in Figure 4, it will be readily seen that a film of combustible elements
will be supplied co-extensive with the length and breadth of the chamber, the
oil being very thoroughly atomized for efficient combustion, and being especially
disposed, with relation to the upper portion of the steam and air jets, for
effective combustion in the upper part of the furnace chamber, with which like
combustion in the lower part of said chamber and a more thorough intermixture
of the combustible elements are provided for by the use of a bed of refractory,
or refractory and absorbent, material j below, as asbestos, porous stone or the
like substance for receiving and holding the drippings from the injector above
for combustion either alone or with other oil with the air of the lower portion
of the injected draught, together with or without other air or air and steam
admitted below said porous bed, whereby an upward burning fire from the whole
surface is obtained commingling transversely with the upper fire, thus ensuring
the more perfect admixture of the elements than with one fire alone, besides
having, in the cross fires which support each other, an effectual preventative of
the sudden interruption of the fire which is common in the burning of oil in one
fire only from various well known causes, as the momentary interruption or
material variation of the oil supply by clogging or other causes.
For an efficient means of supplying oil to the refractory bed in addition to
the drippings from above, a series of metallic troughs k is employed that can be
readily introduced through the fire door and located in about the position of the
fire grate in the ordinary furnace on which the drippings will be well distributed
and to which oil may be supplied through the feeder land a branch m to each
trough, with pipe connections n to prevent overflow and to conduct any excess
into a receptacle p, and with air tubes for the supply of air from the space
below, and, if desired, the troughs may be fitted with slight air spaces s between
them for better distribution of the air.
Thus there is a refractory and absorbent substance beneath the inlet and flame,
and, as oil will burn readily when lighted in the presence of air, the oil that
drips from the inlet pipe or other means of introducing the oil to the flame
chamber is immediately lighted and burns until all consumed, and this will, in
turn, light the highly atomized vaporized or gasified oil should it be put out at
any time by any accident or by having in combination too much steam or air
or both, thus the whole system cannot fail to work steadily and surely and is
doubly automatic in this way, the drippings are lighted by the atomized oil
vapor or gas flames, which keep the drippings constantly ignited, and, in turn,
the fire from the drippings keeps the atomized oil vapor or gas constantly
ignited.
The atomizing, vaporizing, and, when required, gasifying of the oil are so
accomplished by this process that combustion is so perfect that there is no smoke
or lamp black. There is no possibility of the fires becoming extinguished or being
suddenly reduced or increased, except as desired by the operator. The flame is
broad, covering the entire heating surface, and has no tongue or jet that would
cut, channel or burn the metal.
The boiler will last as long as with coal or wood fires, and longer because the
heat is more uniform by this process than when a coal or wood fire is used.
The flame being broad and covering the entire heating surface, no brick work
or other protection is necessary to protect the surface, which is not heated, from
any jet or tongue that, by being concentrated on one point or part of the
would burn through it or shorten its life, and which is also an element of danger
as, by the boiler being burned through at the point of contact, there is great
danger of explosion.
In the case of small tubes, the live flame can be put through each tube, thus
ensuring even treating and perfect combustion.

page_text: It is found that the refractory material will retain sufficient heat for effectually
vaporizing the oil, whereas one experience in the use of a coal fire in the lower
part of the furnace is that it is impracticable with the oil fire above, because it
is extinguished by the absorption of its carbon by the oil so that effectual com-
bustion is prevented, and by chilling when replenished which is frequently required,
which also chills the oil fire above and often extinguishes it.
23
In British Patent No. 4241 of December 7th, 1875, carburetted air or gas
and air are introduced from below together with the injected oil spray above
the level of the fire grate in a somewhat similar arrangement to the present
invention, but in such close proximity that there is practically only one fire in
which all the elements from both ways are combined, as the object of the inven-
tion is stated to be, whereas, in this case, it is the distinctively separate lower
fire of similar elements upon which my correspondents rely, and by which they
produce better effects, because the light and volatile carburetted air or gas and
air, burned in close proximity to the injected oil, fail to produce a distinctive
fire below, on account of their rapid flow directly into the oil fire, so that,
practically, there is only one fire in that case, it is the heavier and more
substantial oil fire burning in its place below and the commingling of the hot
products of the two from which the best results are secured.
My correspondents are also aware that flames, rising from a fire below, have
been crossed by a blow pipe jet and projected into an oven and also into a boiler
Hue, to be there burned together with the blow pipe jet and they disclaim such
method of burning, and therefore disclaim these devices.
The invention further relates to a method of burning liquid hydrocarbon fuel
which consists of injecting oil steam and air into a pipe retort and maintaining
them for a time therein subject to the heat of the combustion chamber for mixing,
expanding, vaporizing and gasifying them therein, and also superheating air by
subjecting it separately from the other above mentioned elements to the heat of
the furnace and discharging the vapors or gases and superheated air together at
the point of combustion and thus effecting more perfect combustion and producing
correspondingly greater heat all as hereinafter fully described, reference being
made to the accompanying drawing, in which apparatus is represented by which
the improved process may be carried out :-
Figure 7 being a horizontal section of a furnace and partly a plan view and partly
a sectional view of some of the apparatus.
Figure 8 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the furnace and apparatus taken
on line of Figure 7.
In any boiler or other furnace chamber a, a pipe retort is arranged with an
inlet branch c, entering the fire door d, the general arrangement of the pipe
retort being a circuit of the combustion chamber along the inner walls with a
terminal issue e, of its inner extremity for the discharge of the gases and vapors
projected inward from the fire door alongside of the inlet branch c, and being
successively larger in diameter along the different sections, but the form and
arrangement may be varied at will as it may be coiled several turns either
vertically or horizontally along the rear transverse part or along the side walls of
the furnace if desired, and said transverse part may be located at the rear wall
of the furnace instead of in the advanced position of the same as here shown.
It is also preferable to arrange said pipe retort on trunnion pivots f, or in
any other approved way whereby the front and rear may be respectively elevated
or depressed to shift its pitch or inclination as varying conditions may require,
as, to change the application of the heat and to vary the flow of the matters
passing through it.
And with the inlet c, are arranged an oil feeder g, and a steam jet nozzle h, for
introducing the oil and steam and spraying the oil to be mixed, vaporized and
gasified and introduced into the furnace through the issue e, and with the oil and
steam thus introduced the introduction of air through the inlet e is also provided
for at i along with them and also other air through another pipe retort j, traversing

page_text: the furnace substantially like retort b, and connected to issue e, by the annular
injector k, so that both inlets may be used or not as preferred, any suitable stopper
being provided to exclude the air from retort when desired.
With the highly combustible elements thus produced and calculated to burn with
great intensity and correspondingly limit of projection of the flame at the issue e
the facility afforded by the bend where the retort terminates in the issue e is taken
advantage of for introducing additional measures of oil, steam and air or either of
them, either under pressure or not or heated or not by providing the respective
inlets 1, m and a therefor, which, like the others h, g and r, are to have the suitable
connections for feeding or injecting the respective elements as required. With
these additional inlets the longer flame of the less volatile elements thus directly
admitted to the burner may be had in combination with the shorter but more volatile
and inflammable gases generated in the retorts.
The issue nozzle or burner e may have the flaring mouth represented in Figures 7
and 8, together with or without the curled extremity there shown for the expansion
and distribution of the escaping vapors which is found in practice a very efficient
and practical form.
It is to be noted that the invention is essentially favorable to the expansion and
rarefaction of the combustible matters by reason of the progressively increasing
dimensions of the retort or retorts and the unobstructed issue out of which the
vapor or gases escape in more expanded and therefore more combustible condition
than when subject to compression by retention in the retorts through the effect of
contracted issue.
By the greater expansion in the retort the vapors and gases are proportionately
hotter as well as more expanded when reaching the point of combustion.
In Figure 9 a retort is represented in the furnace chamber which enlarges
gradually but materially from the entrance point of the oil, steam and air to the
issue nozzle e where the expanded, gasified and rarefied combustible elements are
projected into the furnace chamber. The heat from the combustion of these
elements being directed backward against a part of the retort and the other parts
of the retort being surrounded by the heat in the chamber, the elements of com-
bustion passing through the said retort are exposed to the heat and rarefied, gasified
and expanded during their progress. The enlarging of the retort towards the issue
nozzle gives room for the expanding of the oil vapors and hence compression in the
retort is prevented and there is no liability to deposition of tar taking place inside
the retort. By this apparatus combustion can be maintained without a secondary
fire.
In this figure the reference letters indicate similar parts to those in Fig. 7.
The invention further consists of an improved contrivance of the inlet pipe for the
combined oil and steam, or oil, air and steam of an injector burner, for utilizing
said pipe as a retort to more effectually vaporize or gasify the oil previous to the
issue at the burner and so as to effectually prevent lodgment or deposition of any
carbon or other matters in the pipe as hereinafter fully described, reference being
made to the accompanying drawings, in which,
Figure 10 is a horizontal section of a boiler furnace having a hydrocarbon
burner arranged in accordance with this invention, and,
Figure 11 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the same.
It is preferable to use two inlet retorts, pipes a, in the improved burner but
more or only one may be employed according to circumstances, said pipe or pipes
preferably having a funnel, to facilitate the induction of air, by the steam
injectors c, and the oil also, which is to be supplied by the feed pipe d, and
delivered on to the steam nozzle c, in any approved way for being injected into the
retort pipes along with the proper quantities of steam and air.
These pipes are arranged to enter the furnace chamber e, in a somewhat elevated
position, say at the top of the fire doorway or opening, and to extend therefrom
backward either directly or in a sinuous course, and also in a descending inclination
nearly to the front of the chamber, where the issues y are, when two or more pipes

page_text: are used directed crosswise of the furnace one against or in opposition to another.
If only one is used the issue will preferably be directed backward or rearward of
the chamber, but it is intended to employ two generally, locating one at each side.
of the doorway and to arrange them reversely as to their curves and sinuosities so
that their issues will terminate in opposition. If more than two are required, two
more, that is to say another pair, will preferably be used in the same arrangement
but in a little lower plane allowing them to be coiled without interference.
In this arrangement it will be seen that with the burners located at the front of
the chamber, and the coils of pipe mainly back of the same and in the continuous
descending inclination throughout their whole course very thorough and effectual
vaporization and admixture of the fuel elements will result, but for still greater and
more perfect effects another pipe will in some cases be employed, arranged on
either side or, say, about midway between the other two at the entrance of the
furnace and like the others traversing the furnace chamber sinuously and with the
same downward inclination and return to the front, but having its issue directed
backward and directly between the issues of the other pipes, from a position in
advance of them, which arrangement is found a most effective onc, producing the
best results as to good combustion and for heating and gasifying the fuel elements.
passing through the pipes, whenever the heat takes effect to the greatest advantage
by reason of their traversing the chamber in the most heated parts or where the
backwardly flowing hot elements from the burners are most effective upon them.
Whilst the sinuous arrangement of the pipes is manifestly the best for exposure
of the matters passing through them to the heat, the invention is not confined to
that contrivance, for the direct arrangement of them is substantially the same, the
essential feature of the invention being the backward and forward extension and
continuously descending pipe retort or retorts, and the issue thereof located at or
in close proximity to the front of the furnace chamber. It is to be noted that the
apparatus is applicable to furnaces of ordinary construction without change, and so-
that it can be readily applied or removed at will, mainly employing any approved
support of refractory material such as may be temporarily placed on the fire.
grate, for the pipes to rest on while in use; they will in practice be put together in
suitable sections that may be introduced through the fire door into the chamber.
An important feature of the invention is the terminal issue of each pipe in the
burner nozzle lying in the plane of the rest of the pipe, and without upward turn,
so that there is no obstruction by coking of the less volatile matters and chocking
up the issue as they do when there is an upward escape of the gaseous products,
particularly as when they issue upwardly through small perforations of a horizontal
pipe or tubular fire grate.
The invention further consists of improved contrivances of injector burners for
vaporizing the hydrocarbon in advance of the issue at the burners and for the con-
junction of burners in a manner calculated to cause more effective combustion as
hereinafter fully described reference being made to the accompanying drawing in
which,
Figure 12 is a horizontal section of a boiler furnace showing an arrangement. of
burners in accordance with the invention.
Figure 13 is a similar view of a furnace showing the arrangement of burners as
it is preferred to use them; one of the retort pipes in both the figures is partly
shown in section.
It is proposed to inject the fuel elements of oil and air through retort pipes a,.
preferably entering the furnace chamber, through the sides, near the front in
one or more pairs but they may enter through the front d, if desired, which retort
pipes are arranged so as to traverse the furnace chamber backward nearly to the
rear, and thence directly forward again as in Figure 12, backward and across the
same from side to side near the back and thence forward to the front again as in
Figure 13, where the issue nozzles are arranged to discharge crosswise of the
furnace and in opposition to each other so that the con licting jets of vapors
generated in the retort pipes and projected one into the other at the point of

page_text: combustion will burn with greater intensity through the better admixture of the atoms
of combustible elements due to the conflict of jets, and the burning streams or
currents will take better effect on the retort pipes, by the turning of the crossing
currents backward along the retort pipes, through the influence of the draught in
the backward direction causing two principal streams, one along each retort pipe,
the stream from the burner of one side passing mainly along the retort of the other
side, so as to impinge on it, and also on the side wall of the furnace chamber to
better advantage, and near the back of the chamber they diverge again to some
extent along the tube sheet i, and along the transverse extension of the retort pipes
as arranged in Figure 13, all so as to have great vaporizing power, intense com-
bustion and effective impingement on the sides, back and on the crown sheet of the
furnace as well, to which the heat naturally tends from all parts of the space
below.
The outer end of each pipe has a funnel mouth f, to favor the induction of air
and oil through the influence of a steam or compressed air jet from the injector
nozzle to which oil is supplied through the feed pipe in any approved
arrangement.
Only one pair of retort pipes is represented but two or more may of course be
employed, as preferred, arranged in tiers one above another.
By the discharge of the jets against each other at the front of the furnace and
thereby locating the igniting point at the greatest distance from where the products
of combustion enter the flues, more space of the furnace chamber is available and
better combustion is secured than when the igniting point is at the centre or
further back in the chamber.
The invention also consists of a petroleum burner for the combustion of hydro-
carbon fuel in steam boiler and other furnaces, the objects of which are to simplify
and cheapen the combustion and to facilitate the adjustment for operation and for
renewal and repairs all as hereinafter fully described, reference being made to the
accompanying drawing, in which,
Figure 14 is a sectional elevation of the burner in full size or thereabouts, and
Figure 15, a sectional elevation of part of a steam boiler showing the application
of the burner which is represented in side elevation on a reduced scale.
In the first place is provided the tube a for the body shell or container of the
burner, and also for the air inlet conductor in which is fitted an inner smaller burner
tube b, centrally and secured thereto with any approved holder or holders c, the
said outer tube being open throughout its length except as obstructed by the inner
tube b, and being constructed and adapted to connect at its outer end with the front
plate or door e of the furnace f, by screw threads or other approved means suitable
for maintaining and retaining the burner in position and the inner tube being closed
with a cap or head g, at its outer end which is preferably located a short distance
within the outer end of the exterior tube. In the head of this inner tube, is fitted
the injector tube by the detachable bush and check nut j, said injector tube
having an adjustable and detachable nozzle cap k on its inner end in which the issue
orifice for controlling the jet is made, the bush being screwed in the head
the tube screwed in the bush, and for introducing the oil it is preferable to connect
the oil feeding tube m through the upper side of the tube b, so that the oil will
drip on the tips of the nozzle, so as to flow into or on the jet of steam or steam and
air at the issue, whereby my correspondents expect to obtain the best results in
spraying the oil and mixing the oil and steam for effectual combustion, but the oil
may be introduced further back through the feeding tube m.
and
By fitting the injector tube adjustably in the bush i, it can be shifted forward
and backward readily with relation to tubes band a for regulating the action, and
by connecting said injector tube to the head of the tube b, by the detachable bush i,
the injector tube can readily be taken out to change or repair the tip k which is
desirable, particularly for changing to vary the size of the issue 1, for different
grades or qualities of oil and for different volumes of steam or air as may be required
for different conditions or circumstances of the case.

page_text: The check nut binds the injector tube firmly in the bush, the bush may also be
provided with a check nut, also the tip k, if desired.
The head of the tube b may be perforated for allowing air to enter through said
tube also if preferred as represented at o.
The invention further consists of improved contrivances of the injecting and
spraying apparatus for introducing the oil into the furnace and effectually combining
the atoms of the combustible elements for more perfect combustion as hereinafter
fully described, reference being made to the accompanying drawing, in which,
Figure 16 is a sectional elevation of the improved burner apparatus, and
Figure 17 a sectional elevation of a boiler furnace, showing the application of the
burner thereto.
C
An air inlet tube a is provided of approved size and preferably having a
funnel on one end, and an oil feed pipe connection in the side near the funnel,
which tube is put into the front plate d, or door of the furnace, with the
funnel projecting outward and the rest projecting inward of the furnace, securing
the same in any approved way and preferably with the feed pipe connection cinside
of the front plate, but it may be outside if preferred, which pipe connection has a
funnel mouth opening into the tubes, or it may be partially funnel shaped, that is,
made with a shape or inclination at e, in the direction of the furnace chamber, with
which is provided an injector nozzle f, suitably directed to impinge the steam jet
for drawing in the oil and air and spraying the oil on said shape just below the top,
for an effective means of breaking up the oil for advantageous mixture with the
air and steam, and also for projecting the stream of combined elements in an upward
direction in the range of another injector nozzle g, discharging more directly into
the furnace chamber and adapted to mutually increase the intermixture of the atoms
of the different elements and thereby provide more perfect combustion, but it is
proposed in some cases to use injector f, impinging on the pipe e without injector g,
which is found a very effective contrivance quite sufficient for many purposes.
The oil feed pipe h, connected with the inlet c, will also connect with an oil tank
or other approved source of supply, and the injector tubes will connect with the
boiler for the steam supply, and all will have suitable stop and regulating cocks for
the purpose. It is preferred to arrange the sloping mouth of the oil inlet in the
lower side of the tube a, but it may be placed at the top, or intermediately, as
preferred, the effect will be about the same.
The invention also comprises an improved contrivance of hydrocarbon injector
burners for regulating the oil supply in marine boiler furnaces where the rolling of
the ship causes irregularity of the flow in the feed pipe, all as hereinafter fully
described, reference being made to the accompanying drawing, in which :-
Figure 18 represents a sectional elevation of the improved injector, as when the
ship is in its level position.
Figure 19, a section of the oil feed regulator when the ship is in the same
position.
Figure 20 is a similar section of the regulator when the injector has a descending
inclination by the roll of the ship.
Figure 21, a section of the regulator when the injector has an upward inclination
by the roll of the ship.
Figure 22 is a sectional elevation of a marine boiler having the improved burner
applied to it.
The oil, steam and air are mixed or combined in a mixing chamber or casing,
prior to entering the furnace, said mixing chamber consisting of the tube a inserted
about midway of its length or a little more in the fire door or furnace plate m and
having its ends open and carved upwardly also having the oil feed pipe b discharging
into it through the bottom outside of the furnace, and also having the steam nozzle d,
introduced a certain dictance from the outer end as shown, whereby the oil from
the oil feed pipe b, is combined with the air, entering the chamber at c, by the effect
of the steam jet from the nozzle d, for combustion at the issue e, in the furnace
chamber said chamber stands level when the ship is level but by the rolling of.
B

page_text: the ship it sometimes has a downward pitch as in Figure 20 which augments the
flow of the oil, and causes an over-supply and at other times it has an upward pitch
as in Figure 21, which retards the flow and prevents the supply of the requisite
quantity at the burner whilst the steam jet and air injected by it continue the same,
thus materially interfering with effective and economical combustion.
To remedy this evil the oil feed pipe is provided with a regulating cock f, having
a pendulum regulator g for automatically shifting it, which cock and pendulum are
so adjusted that they partly close the passage, to regulate the supply, when the
mixing chamber stands level, as in Figures 18 and 19, and close it still more, when
the pitch of the chamber is downward as in Figure 20, but open it wider when the
pitch is upward as in Figure 21, thus effecting autoniatic regulation according as
the ship rolls.
The chamber is constructed with an upward curve of the outer end to prevent
the outflow of any oil that may possibly fail of being drawn inward by the suction
of the jet when the pitch of the chamber is upward, and the inner end is also made
with an upward turn as a further means of limiting the flow when the pitch is down-
ward, and also with cross ribs or bars i and pockets j along the bottom of the interior
for the lodgment of any liquid portions for obstruction and retention till effectually
broken with spray by the jet.
The bottom is also perforated with numerous small orifices along the curve and
between the cross ribs for a further means of causing the discharge of the atoms in
spray and for the issue in divisional jets into the atmosphere of the place of
combustion, m represents the door or front plate of the furnace through which the
injector is inserted.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondents, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. The method of burning hydrocarbon fuel which consists of injecting a portion
of the same in a vaporized condition, as distinguished from sprayed in one laterally
divergent and rearwardly projected jet in the upper portion of the furnace chamber
and so as to produce a distinguishably individual fire, and at the same time main-
taining a distinctively separately burning fire of localized jets of oil in the lower
space upwardly and locally impinging their products on and commingling them with
the laterally projected fire, substantially as described.
2. The method of burning liquid hydrocarbon fuel which consists of injecting a
film of mixed oil spray, steam and air of uniform spread in the upper portion of the
furnace chamber by a solid but widely distributed jet of steam receiving the oil
distributively thereon and at the same time introducing oil to and maintaining on
an absorbent substance in the lower part of the furnace chamber an upwardly
burning fire of uniform lateral spread, the two fires being so far separated that
each represents a practically separate fire, substantially as described.
3. The method of burning liquid petroleum which consists in injecting oil, steam
and air into a highly heated retort, vaporizing and gasifying the oil, air and steam
therein and combining with the highly heated gases of these three elements, hot
air separately heated, and discharging the resultant products en masse at the burning
point, substantially as described.
4. The combination with a furnace chamber of a vaporizing or gasifying pipe
retort and an injector therefor, said retort located in and traversing the furnace
along the sides and across the same in the rear part, with the inner terminal
projected rearward from the furnace front and in range with the part crossing the
back for the flame of the resultant vapours issuing from the mouth to impinge upon
the part of the retort crossing the furnace in the rear, substantially as described,
and as shown in Figure 9.
5. The combination, with a furnace chamber, of a vaporizing or gasifying pipe
retort and an injector therefor, said retort located in, and traversing the furnace
long the sides and across the same in the rear part, with the inner terminal

page_text: projected rearward from the furnace front and in range with the part crossing the
back for the flame of the resulting vapours issuing from the mouth to impinge upon
the part of the retort crossing the furnace in the rear and the expanding and
laterally diffusing exhaust nozzle, substantially as described, and shown in
Figure 9.
6. The improved hydrocarbon burner consisting of a pipe retort having back-
ward and forward extension and continuously descending inclination in the furnace
chamber with hydrocarbon fuel, injecting attachments at the outer or front end,
and at level or downwardly inclined burner issue at the inner end, located at or
in close proximity to the front of the furnace, substantially as described.
7. The combination, in a hydrocarbon burner £1 two pipe retorts having back-
ward and forward extension and continuously descending inclination in the furnace
chamber with hydrocarbon injecting attachments at the outer or front ends and
burner issues of the inner ends located at or in close proximity to the front of the
furnace and in the planes of the rest of the pipes to which they connect and
discharging in opposition to each other, substantially as described.
8. The combination, in a hydrocarbon burner, of three pipe retorts having back-
ward and forward extension and continuously descending inclination in the furnace
chamber with hydrocarbon injecting attachments at the outer or front ends and
burner issues of the inner ends located at or in close proximity to the front of the
furnace and in the planes of the rest of the pipes to which they connect, two of
which discharge in opposition to each other, and one between and at right angles or
thereabouts to the other, substantially as described.
9. The combination, with the fire box of a boiler or other furnace, of a retort
pipe located in each side thereof and extending from the front or thereabouts
backward nearly to the rear and thence forward again nearly to the front, and
having the issue nozzles discharging transversely of the furnace chamber and in
opposition to each other, across the front of the furnace, said retort pipe having
injector attachments for the induction of the combustible substance, substantially as
described.
10. The combination, with the fire box of a boiler or other furnace, of a retort
pipe located in each side thereof and extending from the front or thereabout back-
ward nearly to the rear, thence across from side to side of the furnace chamber
and forward again nearly to the front, and having the issue nozzles discharging
transversely of the furnace chamber and in opposition to each other, across the
front of the furnace, said retort pipes having injector attachments for the intro-
duction of the combustible substance, substantially as described.
11. The combination with a furnace chamber of the open outer supporting and
air inlet tube a, attached to the furnace door or plate, the tube 6 located in the
tube a, and supported centrally therein by a stand c, and having the outer end
closed with a head or cap, the injector tube connected through the head or cap
of tube h, with a detachable bush and check nut k, in which said injector tube
is fitted with a running thread for adjustment lengthwise the tips 1, detachably
connected to the inner end of the injector tube, and the oil inlet pipe connected
through the side of tube b, substantially as described.
12. The combination in a hydrocarbon burner of the air inlet tube a, open to the
air at the outer end, the oil inlet entering the lower side of the said tube in an
inclined or sloping direction towards the furnace chamber and the injector nozzle
directed to impinge the inducing jet on the rear side of said inclined or sloping
mouth, substantially as described.
13. The combination in a hydrocarbon burner of the air inlet tube a, open to the
air at the outer end, the oil inlet entering the lower side of said tube in an inclined
or sloping direction towards the furnace chamber, the injector nozzle directed to
impinge the inducing jet on the rear side of said inclined or sloping mouth, and the
injector discharging in the spray upwardly projected from said sloping mouth,
substantially as described.
14. The combination with the furnace chamber of the mixing chamber having

page_text: both ends open and upwardly curved to prevent outflow of oil when out of level by
the pitch of the vessel and extending into the furnace chamber through the front
of the same, the oil supply pipe connected with the said mixing chamber and the
steam jet pipe entering said outwardly curved open end and projecting the steam
against the inner surface of the upwardly curved bottom of the inner end of the
said mixing chamber, substantially as described.
15. The combination with the furnace chamber of the mixing chamber having
both ends open, and upwardly curved to prevent the outflow of oil when out of
level, by the pitch of the vessel, and extending into the furnace chamber through
the front of the same, the oil supply pipe connected with said mixing chamber, the
regulating cock in the oil pipe, the pendulum actuator of the regulating cock, and
the steam nozzle inserted in the outer open end of the mixing chamber and projecting
the steam against the inner surface of the upwardly curved bottom of the inner
end of said mixing chamber, substantially as described.
16. The combination with the furnace chamber of the mixing chamber having
both ends open and upwardly curved to prevent outflow of oil when out of level by
the pitch of the vessel and extending into the furnace chamber through the front of
the same, the cross ribs, pockets, and perforations, in the bottom of the inner
upwardly inclined end, the oil supply pipe connected with the mixing chamber
and the steam injecting nozzle projecting the steam on the bottom of the said
upwardly inclined inner end of the mixing chamber, substantially as described.
Dated this 20th day of October 1890.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.