I PROVEMENTS IN FURNACES FOR THE PRODUCTION OF HEAT BY BURNING TAR, PETROLEUM, AND OTHER LIQUID COMBUSTIBLES, AND IN THE MODE OF CONDUCTING THE BURNING OF THE SAID COMBUSTIBLES."
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Clarkson Major, of Wolverhampton, in the
County of Stafford, Manufacturing Chemist, for the Invention of "I
PROVEMENTS IN FURNACES FOR THE PRODUCTION OF HEAT BY BURNING TAR,
PETROLEUM, AND OTHER LIQUID COMBUSTIBLES, AND IN THE MODE OF CONDUCTING
THE BURNING OF THE SAID COMBUSTIBLES."
PROVEMENTS IN FURNACES FOR THE PRODUCTION OF HEAT BY BURNING TAR,
PETROLEUM, AND OTHER LIQUID COMBUSTIBLES, AND IN THE MODE OF CONDUCTING
THE BURNING OF THE SAID COMBUSTIBLES."
Sealed the 31st December 1867, and dated the 6th July 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Clarkson Major at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
6th July 1867.
I, JOHN CLARKSON MAJOR, of Wolverhampton, in the County of Stafford,
Manufacturing Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN FURNACES FOR THE PRODUCTION OF HEAT BY BURNING TAB,
PETROLEUM, AND OTHER LIQUID COMBUSTIBLES, AND IN THE MODE OF CONDUCTING
THE BURNING OF THE SAID COMBUSTIBLES," to be as follows:-
My Invention consists, firstly, in constructing or arranging the parts of
furnaces in the manner herein-after described for the purpose of fitting them
for the production of heat by the burning of tar, petroleum, and other liquid
combustibles, either with or without the use of solid fuel; and, secondly, in
the mode of conducting the burning of the liquid combustibles for the purpose
of securing their more perfect combustion and the economical production of
heat thereby.

page_text: In carrying out the first part of my Invention into effect I arrange in front
of the furnace at or about the place where the furnace door is ordinarily
situated a vertical opening, in which a series of horizontal or nearly horizontal
plates or shelves is fixed, the said plates being by preference slightly inclined
from the outside of the furnace downwards towards the inside, so that any
liquid poured on the plates at their outer sides will run towards the other
sides or the sides within the furnace; or the plates may be inclined alter-
nately towards the inside and outside of the furnace, so that the liquid running
over them pursues a zig-zag course; or the said plates may be arranged in
any other manner which will cause the liquid running from one of the upper
plates to be caught by or received on a lower plate. I make the said plates
or shelves by preference of iron, but they may be made of fire-clay or other
suitable material. The air for the support of the combustion principally enters
the furnace over and under the said plates. Although I prefer to apply the
said plates to the mouth of the furnace, yet they may be placed within the
furnace, or in any required position where the requisite quantity of air for
combustion can be supplied. The tar, petroleum, or other liquid combustible
is supplied from a reservoir on to one or more of the plates where it is ignited.
The burning combustible falls from the plate on which it is delivered to a
lower plate, and the whole of the plates speedily become so heated as rapidly
to volatilize and promote the burning of the said combustible.
In carrying the second part of my Invention into effect I add a quantity of
water to the tar, petroleum, or other combustible liquid to be burned in the
furnace herein-before described; or I supply water side by side with the said
liquid combustible. The addition of water occasions the more effectual dis-
persion of the liquid combustible, and thereby promotes its combustion and
produces an intensity of heat greater than that which is produced in the
absence of the said water. The tar, petroleum, or other liquid combustible
may however be used in the furnace herein-before described without admixture
with or addition of water.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Clarkson Major in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 3rd January 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
CLARKSON MAJOR, of Wolverhampton, in the County of Stafford, Manufac- 8
turing Chemist, send greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Sixth day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirty-first year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
John Clarkson Major, Her special licence that I, the said John Clarkson
Major, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said John Clarkson Major, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should
at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at 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 "Iм-
PROVEMENTS IN FURNACES FOR THE PRODUCTION OF HEAT BY BURNING TAB,
PETROLEUM, AND OTHER LIQUID COMBUSTIBLES, AND IN THE MODE OF CONDUCTING
THE BURNING OF THE SAID COMBUSTIBLES," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said John Clarkson Major, my executors or administrators, by
an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals,
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 Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Clarkson Major, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, that is to say :-
My Invention consists, firstly, in constructing or arranging the parts of
furnaces in the manner herein-after described for the purpose of fitting them.
for the production of heat by the burning of tar, petroleum, and other liquid.
combustibles either with or without the use of solid fuel; and, secondly, in..
the mode of conducting the burning of the liquid combustibles for the purpose-
of securing their more perfect combustion and the economical production of
heat thereby.
In carrying the first part of my Invention into effect I arrange in front of
the furnace at or somewhat in advance of the place where the furnace door is
ordinarily situated a vertical opening in which a series of horizontal or nearly
horizontal plates or shelves is fixed, the said plates or shelves being by pre-
ference more or less inclined from the outside of the furnace downwards
towards the inside, so that any liquid poured on the plates at their outer sides
will run towards the other sides or the sides within the furnace; or the plates.
may be inclined alternately towards the inside and outside of the furnace so.

page_text: that the liquid running over them pursues a zig-zag course; or the said plates
may be arranged in any other manner which will cause the liquid running
from one of the upper plates to be caught by or received on a lower plate;
for example, the plates may be perforated with a series of small holes or
otherwise perforated so that liquid may flow or drop through the said holes
from one plate to that next below it; in this case I arrange the openings or
holes in one plate so that they shall not be immediately over those in the plate
next below it; I make the said plates or shelves by preference of iron, but
they may be made of fire-clay or other suitable material. The air for the
support of the combustion enters or principally enters the furnace over and
under the said plates, or through the openings where there are any in the said
plates. In order the more effectually to retain the liquid on the plates sand
or ashes or other suitable material may be strewed or fixed on the said plates;
the said sand or ashes or other material absorbs the liquid and retains more of
it under the influence of the heat of the plates than would be retained by the
plates alone; the plates may however be used without the said sand, ashes, or
material. Although I prefer to apply the said plates to the mouth of the
furnace, yet they may be placed within the furnace or in any required position
where the requisite quantity of air for combustion can be supplied. The tar,
petroleum, or other liquid combustible is supplied from a reservoir on to one
or more of the plates where it is ignited. The burning combustible falls from
the plate on which it is delivered to a lower plate, and the whole of the plates
speedily become so heated as rapidly to volatilize and promote the burning of
the said combustible. The vapour of the inflammable liquid on rising from
the heated plates becomes mixed with the air passing over, or under, or through
the openings in the said plates and burns with the evolution of great heat
and light.
In carrying the second part of my Invention into effect I add a small
quantity of water to the tar, petroleum, or other combustible liquid to be
burned in the furnace herein-before described, or I supply water side by side
with the said liquid combustible. The addition of water occasions the more
effectual dispersion over the plates of the liquid combustible and further tends
to prevent the formation of carbon or solid deposit on the plates, and the steam
generated mingling with the vapour of the liquid combustible in conjunction
with the air burns with an intensity of heat greater than that which is pro-
duced in the absence of the said water. A jet of steam may be used in place
of or in addition to the water; the steam jet both promotes the draught of
the furnace and aids combustion; the said steam jet however is no part of my
Invention. The tar, petroleum, or other liquid combustible may however be

page_text: used in the furnace hereiu-before described without the use of water or steam.
Coke or other solid fuel, or fire-bricks in an incandescent state at the back of
the furnace, assists in preventing the formation of smoke.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the manner in
which the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that I do not
limit myself to the precise details herein described, as the same may be varied
without departing from the nature of my Invention; but I claim as my
Invention,-
Firstly, constructing or arranging, substantially in the manner herein-before
described, the parts of furnaces for the purpose of fitting them for the produc-
tion of heat by the burning of tar, petroleum, and other liquid combustibles
either with or without the use of solid fuel.
Secondly, the mode herein-before described of conducting the burning of
the liquid combustibles for the purpose of securing their more perfect com-
bustion and the economical production of heat thereby.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Clarkson Major, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Thirty-first day of December, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
Witness,
HENRY RADNALL,
Clerk,
Hagger Street,
Blakenhall,
JOHN CLARKSON MAJOR. (LS.)
Wolverhampton.