IMPROVEMENTS IN FURNACES FOR STEAM- BOILERS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Lloyd Wise, of 7, Whitehall Place, in the City of
Westminster, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN FURNACES FOR STEAM-
BOILERS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES." A communication from abroad by
Georges Criner, of Paris, in the Republic of France.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Lloyd Wise at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th November 1880.
WILLIAM LLOYD WISE, of 7, Whitehall Place, in the City of Westminster.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN FURNACES FOR STEAM BOILERS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES."
(A communication from abroad by Georges Criner, of Paris, in the Republic of
France.)
The improvements have for their object the economy of fuel and the consumption
of smoke in furnaces, and consist in means for thoroughly mixing the gases evolved
from the burning fuel with an excess of air (avec l'air en excès), and for raising the
whole to a high temperature to secure perfect combustion..
In carrying out the Invention it is necessary to maintain a great heat in or near
the furnace, and to mix the gases in flues or channels with elbows or sharp bends
in them, the said channels being lined with firebrick to withstand the combustion
of the gases in them before the said gases are conducted to the boiler or utilized in
other ways.
A Sheet of Drawings is appended by way of illustrating the Invention as
modified to suit various forms of boilers, but in each case consisting substantially
of a fire grate and two or more bent or zig-zag flues, arched or otherwise, in which
the gases are mixed with an excess of air, heated, and burned (dans laquel les gaz
se melangent avec l'air en excès, s'échauff lent, et se brulent).
Fig. 1 shews the application of the Invention to an externally fired cylindrical
boiler with vertical flues.
Figs. 2, 2, 3, and 4, shew the application to a boiler with horizontal flues.
Figs. 5, 5, and 5ter, shew an isolated furnace, the gases from which can be used
for any suitable purpose.
Figs. 6, 6, and 6ter, represent a furnace extended laterally to gain sufficient
length of flue in confined positions.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Lloyd Wise in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 19th
May 1881.
WILLIAM LLOYD WISE, of 7, Whitehall Place, in the City of Westminster.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN FURNACES FOR STEAM BOILERS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES."
(A communication from abroad by Georges Criner, of Paris, in the Republic of
France.)
The improvements have for their object the economy of fuel and the consumption
of smoke in furnaces, and consist in means for thoroughly mixing the gases evolved
from the burning fuel with an excess of air (avec l'air en excès), and for raising the
whole to a high temperature to secure perfect combustion.
In carrying out the Invention it is necessary to maintain a great heat in or near
the furnace, and to mix the gases in flues or channels with elbows or sharp bends
in them, the said channels being lined with firebrick to withstand the combustion
of the gases in them, before the said gases are conducted to the boiler or utilized in
other ways. By these means a great heat is produced in or near the furnace, and
the complete combustion of the gases that emerge from it is effected by the intimate
mixture of these gases before they arrive in contact with the object or apparatus
to be heated.
The combustion takes place under a refractory roof, in which is arranged a
sufficient outlet for the gases, whereby they may pass into a channel or gallery, also
refractory, the form and arrangements of which may vary, but must always be such
that the products may there become well intermixed, and be completely burnt
before they are cooled by contact with the apparatus or the object to be heated.
Referring to the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, in which several arrangements
of furnace according to this Invention are represented variously modified, so as to
be applicable under different conditions, such, for instance, as a new installation or
as a modification of an existing installation, but in all of which the principle of the
Invention as herein before set forth obtains, Fig 1 is a vertical longitudinal section,
and Fig. 1 a cross section of a furnace in connection with an externally fired
boiler.
Between the grate, which is placed at a lower position than ordinarily, and the
boiler two arches A¹ and A2 are placed, open at their opposite ends, and enclosing
between them a mixing and combustion flue channel B, C, D, E. Sight holes,
closed if desired with glass or mica, may be arranged in convenient positions, as
at R1 and R2, for example.
Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of a similar furnace, in which a greater
length has been given to the mixing and combustion flue or channel B, C, D, E, by
the superposition of a third arch A³.
In these Figures (viz., Fig. 1, Fig. 1b, and Fig. 2) the first arch A' forms a
refractory roof, which, by radiating on the fuel, raises its temperature, and thus
facilitates the combustion on the grate itself. The gases passing out of the bed of
fuel follow the channel or gallery B, C, D, E, formed with refractory walls, the
return bends of which serve to mix these gases while at a high temperature
before they reach the boiler.
The proportions of the chambers vary according to the furnaces and the nature
of the fuel. As will be well understood, to ensure the perfect combustion of
gaseous or flaming coal, the passage B, C, D, E, whatever may be its form, should
be longer than for anthracite coal.
4
The two arrangements represented in Figs. 1 and 1 bts, and 2, may be also applied i
to and arranged in the interiors of certain large furnaces.
For furnaces that are éxterior to the boiler sufficient length of flue may also
be obtained with less elevation by a prolongation towards or beyond the fire
bridge.
Fig. 3 shews in vertical longitudinal section an external boiler furnace so
arranged.

page_text: Figs. 4 and 4bis shew in longitudinal and transverse section an external furnace
that is prolonged laterally to obtain the requisite length of flue.
To augment the useful effect of the mixing and combustion chambers, which also
act as galleries of concentration and radiation of heat, especially in certain particular
cases of installation, and for certain qualities of fuel, I arrange on their walls
projections or bafflers. By these projections or bafflers the gases are thrown into
eddies, which contribute to their intimate intermixture, and allow of the length of
the combustion chamber being restricted or reduced.
Fig. 5 represents in longitudinal section an internal boiler furnace, in which are
placed two arches similar to those described with reference to Fig. 1, but provided
with projections or bafflers a, a, a, fixed at suitable distances apart, in the form of
partial partitions situated transversely of the furnace.
Fig. 6 represents a longitudinal sectton, and Fig. 6b a transverse section of an
external boiler furnace, and Fig. 6ter a plan of the same partly in section, in which
the combustion flue has been prolonged towards or beyond the usual position
of the fire bridge. In the part C, D, of this flue are arranged vertical bafflers, in
the form of small columns placed in zig zag rows, as shewn in the sectional plan,
Fig. 6ter
Fig. 7 represents a longitudinal vertical section of another form of external boiler
furnace, and Fig. 7 bis is a plan of the same partly in section. This arrangement of
furnace has in its flue C, D, vertical or columnar bafflers arranged in rows.
H is a
receptacle for cinders, provided with damper R. This furnace is designed to be
situated externally of the body or apparatus to be heated, and to deliver its heated
gases by a flue. The form, number, and arrangement of the bafflers may be varied
to suit the circumstances of each particular case, according to the space available
and the nature of the fuel employed. It is not indispensable that the lower arch
should be very long, seeing that when its length is restricted the part of the upper
arch which then looks on to the grate partially fulfils the office of the lower arch
by its radiation towards the grate; consequently it is in some cases sufficient that
the arch A¹ should be long enough to give the flue C, D, E, (provided also with
bafflers) the requisite length according to the nature of the fuel employed.
In cases where it is difficult to give to the arch immediately over the fire all the
length necessary to insure good combustion, the insufficiency may be remedied by
bafflers placed on the second or upper arch.
As
Figs. 8 and 8 represent in longitudinal and transverse section respectively such
an arrangement of an external furnace, also applicable to internal furnaces.
shewn in the Drawing, the length of the arch A¹ only allows of two rows of bafflers
being placed on it, the insufficiency being made up by placing on the arch A² several
rows of bafflers.
In cases where the grate cannot either be sufficiently lowered to admit of the
lower arch, and in which no other arrangement obviating this drawback is admissible,
the combustion channel will consist of the passage left between the furnace wall
and the single arch A².
This channel may be rendered less open by increasing the thickness of the arch,
and furnishing it with bafflers placed on the arch, as in the preceding arrangement,
and also by piercing holes through this arch at divers points to cause more eddies
in the gaseous currents.
In such a case it may be possible to establish a supplementary combustion flue
behind or at the side of the fire bridge.
Fig. 10 represents in vertical longitudinal section an external boiler furnace so
arranged. The partition a, placed in the boiler flue, compels the gases to pass
through the chamber or gallery b, c, d, e, where bafflers are placed at suitable
distances apart. After passing out of the combustion chamber behind the partition a,
the gases resume their interrupted course in the boiler flue. This partition a may
be of any material able to resist the temperature it undergoes. It may be fixed or
moveable, and more or less tight against the boiler.
To insure the gases always burning from their entrance into this combustion

page_text: chamber at b, there is established a direct communication between the top of the
grate G and this entrance. The dotted lines x, y, and x, z, indicate the positions of
these lighting orifices.
This arrangement of gallery or supplementary combustion chamber may be
employed in combination with one or more arches above the grate, unless bituminous
coals are burnt and the grate cannot be lowered, in which case the arch can be
dispensed with, with less inconvenience.
For external furnaces that do not admit of any lowering of the grate, and for
internal furnaces of all kinds, the application of this Invention may be effected by
placing the furnace at the side of or underneath the object or apparatus where the
heat is to be utilised.
Fig. 11 shews in transverse section, Fig. 11 bis in longitudinal section, and
Fig. 11ter in plan, partly in section, such an external furnace. B, C, D, is the
combustion flue, which may or may not be provided with bafflers. It terminates in
a flue E, which may be horizontal, inclined, or curved, and of any desired length to
lead to the boiler or the receiver to be heated, or into any kind of furnace or inner
heating tube.
Fig. 9 is a vertical longitudinal section of a furnace placed underneath a boiler
having an internal flue or flues to receive the current of hot gases on their leaving
the vertical combustion gallery B, C, D, E, provided with bafflers.
It is to be understood that, where boilers are herein before referred to, it is not
intended to limit the application of this Invention to those which serve to evaporate
water, but to include all such apparatus as serve to heat, melt, evaporate, or distil
any substance.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and the manner in
which it is to be or may be carried into practical effect, as communicated to me
as aforesaid, I would have it understood that what is considered to be novel and
original, and therefore is claimed as secured to me under the Letters Patent
hereinbefore in part recited is,-
1. Providing in furnaces, such as hereinbefore referred to, refractory arches
arranged one above another so as to enclose channels that serve as galleries of
concentration and radiation for mixing the gases evolved from the burning fuel
with an
excess of air, and raising the whole to a high temperature to secure
perfect combustion, substantially as hereinabove described.
2. In a furnace, the use in combination with refractory arches placed one above
another and enclosing channels serving as galleries of concentration and radiation
for thoroughly mixing the gases evolved from the burning fuel with an excess of
air, and for raising the whole to a high temperature to secure perfect combustion,
of bafflers placed in the galleries or on the arches to aid in effecting the intimate
intermixture of the gases, substantially as described.
3. In a furnace, the use in combination with a refractory arch (or with refractory
arches) of a complementary gallery (or complementary galleries) of concentration
and radiation, substantially as described and illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10.
4. The improved furnaces constructed, arranged, and operating as hereinbefore
described with reference to and shewn respectively in Figs. 1 and 1bis; in Fig. 2;
in Fig. 3; in Figs. 4 and 4bis; in Fig. 5; in Figs. 6, 6bis, and 6ter; in Figs. 7 and 7 bis ;
in Figs. 8 and 8bis; and in Figs. 11, 11bis, 11ter, of the Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Lloyd Wise, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty-one.
W. LLOYD WISE. (L.S.)