IMPROVEMENTS IN COLLECTING AND UTILIZING SMOKE, GASES, AND SUCH LIKE PRODUCTS OF COMBUSTION, RENDERING THE SAME AVAILABLE FOR HEATING STEAM BOILERS, AND OTHER PURPOSES WHERE HEAT IS REQUIRED, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO THE DESULPHURIZATION OF COAL IN MAKING COKE
Year: 1861

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by John Halford at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 25th November
1861.
I, JOHN HALFORD, of Beacon Cottage, Great Barr, near Birmingham, in
the County of Stafford, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN COLLECTING AND UTILIZING SMOKE, GASES, AND SUCH LIKE
PRODUCTS OF COMBUSTION, RENDERING THE SAME AVAILABLE FOR HEATING STEAM
BOILERS, AND OTHER PURPOSES WHERE HEAT IS REQUIRED, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE
ALSO APPLICABLE TO THE DESULPHURIZATION OF COAL IN MAKING COKE," to be as
follows:-
In applying my Invention to coke ovens or open coke fires or heaps, instead
of the chimney or chimneys now ordinarily used, I construct a close built
or solid chimney which is closed at the top. Through the sides of this and
near the top I leave holes which encircle it placed at such distances apart as
may be required. This solid chimney is enclosed in another of the same kind
as is now ordinarily made use of, or one constructed in any manner so as to
draw off the smoke and other combustible products of the coal; I either
connect this outer chimney with the inner one at the top, or not, according to
circumstances. The outer chimney having the effect of drawing off the smoke,
gases, & such like products from the burning coal, and conveying the same
to the holes near the top of the solid, chimney, through which they descend
into a pipe or flue which I construct at the bottom of the fire either on or
under the surface of the ground, which is either extended to the place where

page_text: the heat is to be applied or discharges itself into a main flue or pipe. Where
a main flue is made use of (which like the smaller or subsidiary flues) is.carried
either along, or under the surface of the ground, I extend the same to the
boiler, or to any other place where the heat is to be applied; as soon as the
smoke arrives underneath the boiler it is ignited, and the heat given therefrom
serves either partially or totally instead of ordinary fuel. From the increased
draught caused by this means of burning coal into coke the sulphur.is more-
effectually extracted from the coke than by the ordinary method.
In applying my Invention to works and manufactories, I convey the smoke
as soon as-it reaches a convenient height up an ordinary chimney or stack;
I convey it through a chimney or flue attached to the first chimney, and either
on, under, or above the surface of the ground to the place where the heat is
to be applied into another flue, or on the plan adopted in regard to coke ovens
or open coke fires or heaps.
In open coke fires, the fire must be covered with coke or mine dust, or
.some substance of the same kind. If desirable I place a retort or retorts in
any place I may deem most suitable in the open coke fire, or in coke ovens, or
place them in any convenient position in a chamber connected with the main
or smaller flues in any place where the smoke may be ignited for the collection
of the gas emitted therefrom.