IMPROVEMENTS IN. THE MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR CONSUMING SMOKE IN BOILER AND OTHER FURNACES OR FIRE PLACES."
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Hunter, of Leeds, in the County of York, for
an Invention of " IMPROVEMENTS IN. THE MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR
CONSUMING SMOKE IN BOILER AND OTHER FURNACES OR FIRE PLACES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Hunter at the
20
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 10th March 1881.
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
GEORGE HUNTER, of Leeds, in the County of York.
MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR CONSUMING SMOKE IN BOILER AND OTHER FURNACES
OR FIRE PLACES."
The object of my improvements is to burn or consume the smoke or products of
combustion arising from boiler or other furnaces or fires in which fuel is being
burnt, preventing thereby the nuisance arising from the non-combustion of such
smoke, whereby an increased heat is generated.
In the interior of each flue I provide a bridge, which by preference I make
hollow, and behind it is applied an air box communicating with its interior. The
passage or passages into the air box is or are supplied with self acting valves or
doors which are thrown back to admit air into the box by the operation of opening
the furnace doors and closed automatically in any required space of time, preferably
by the operation of a mercury wheel, this being allowed to work after closing the
doors.
In a convenient position with regard to the bridge I provide a perforated hollow
arch which is in direct communication with the hereinbefore mentioned air box so
that air is admitted from the air box into hollow arch, and thence through the
perforations into the flue, and mixing with the inflammable gases ignites them.
The bridge, air box, and hollow arch becoming intensely hot by the action of the
fire cause the air to be heated as it passes through them, preventing thereby the
boiler being cooled or chilled by its admission. I also, when required, extend a
tube in communication with the air box along the flue, on which are provided any
number of hollow perforated pillars for the purpose of admitting air to ignite any
inflammable gases that escape unburnt.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said George Hunter in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 10th
September 1881.
GEORGE HUNTER, of Leeds, in the County of York. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR CONSUMING SMOKE IN BOILER AND OTHER FURNACES
OR FIRE PLACES."
The object of my improvements is to burn or consume the smoke or products of
combustion arising from boiler or other furnaces or fires in which fuel is being
burnt, preventing thereby the nuisance arising from the non-combustion of such
smoke, whereby an increased heat is generated.
In the interior of each flue I provide a bridge, which by preference I make
hollow, and behind it, is applied an air box communicating with its interior. The
passage or passages into the air box is or are supplied with, self acting valves or
doors which are thrown back to admit air into the box by the operation of opening
the furnace doors, and closed automatically in any required space of time, preferably
by the operation of a mercury wheel, this being allowed to work after closing the
doors.
In a convenient position with regard to the bridge I provide a perforated
hollow arch which is in direct communication with the herein before mentioned
air box, so that air is admitted from the air box into hollow arch, and thence
through the perforations into the flue, and mixing with the inflammable gases ignites
them.
The bridge, air box, and hollow arch becoming intensely hot by the action of the
fire cause the air to be heated as it passes through them, preventing thereby the
boiler being cooled or chilled by its admission. I also, when required, extend a
tube in communication with the air box along the flue, on which are provided any
number of hollow perforated pillars for the purpose of admitting air to ignite any
inflammable gases that escape unburnt.
And in order that my Invention may be more completely understood, reference
is given to the accompanying Drawings and to the letters and marks thereon.
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section; Fig. 2 a transverse section through A, B, Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 a sectional plan; Figs. 4 and 5 a side and front elevation of mercury
wheel.
a is the interior of flue of an ordinary Cornish boiler; b, the bridge; c, the air
box; d, the opening into air box supplied with a door or valve e which is thrown
open to admit air by the operation of opening the furnace door f, and closed
automatically in any required space of time by the operation of a mercury wheel g
of ordinary construction. The opening of the furnace door f opens the valve or
door e by means of the rod h, slide bar i, fork j, and crank or lever k. The space
between the two forked ends is to allow the furnace door f to be closed without
affecting or moving the air chamber valve e, at the same time to leave room for the
closing of it by the mercury wheel g, but when the door or valve e is closed the
flow of air through the box or chamber c ceases, but the timeing of this is so
arranged as not to take place completely until after the inflammable gases are burnt
off. In a convenient position with regard to the bridge 6 I provide a perforated
hollow arch m which is in direct communication with the air chamber or box c
through the air passages n, so that air being admitted into the air chamber c is
conveyed through the air passages n into the hollow arch m, and thence through

page_text: the perforations in the flue a, when it immediately mixes with the inflammable
gases and ignites them. The bridge b, air chamber c, and hollow arch m becoming
intensely hot by the action of the fire cause the air to be heated as it passes through
them, preventing thereby the boiler being cooled or chilled by its admission.
I also, when required, extend a tube o (in communication with the air box c
through air passage p) along the flue at a', on which are provided any number of
hollow perforated pillars q for the purpose of admitting air to ignite any inflammable
gases that may be escaping unburnt.
A convenient form of mercury wheel is shewn at Figs. 4 and 5, in which 1 is
the chamber from which the mercury passes into chamber 2 through hole 3, the
timeing thereof being adjusted or regulated by the conical ended adjusting
screw 4, whereby the side of the hole through which the mercury has to pass is
adjusted.
It will be readily understood that these improvements may be applied to other
flues or fires as well as boilers.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and shewn by Drawings
how the same may be carried into practice, I would have it understood that I do
not limit myself to the precise limits, details, or configuration of the parts I have
expressed and shewn, as the same may of course be varied or modified without in
any way departing from the nature or principle of my Invention, but what I
claim and desire to be secured to me by Letters Patent is,-
First. The arrangement and combination of hollow arch m and air chamber c,
and parts connected therewith, for regulating the admission of air into flues,
substantially as and for purposes herein set forth.
Second. The arrangement and application of perforated pillars and parts connected
therewith, substantially as and for purposes herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Hunter, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Sixth day of September, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty one.
Witness to the signature of
the said George Hunter,
J. W. HARDING,
Engineer and Patent Agent,
2, East Parade,
Leeds.
GEORGE HUNTER. (L.S.)