Improvements in Apparatus for Preventing Smoke or Increasing Combustion in Steam Boiler Furnaces.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Feb., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 12th Nov., 1895-Accepted, 28th Dec., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Preventing Smoke or Increasing
Combustion in Steam Boiler Furnaces.
We, WILLIAM ANTHONY LEES, of Bolton Road, Irlams-o'-th'-Height, in the
County of Lancaster, Engineer, and FRANK FARNWORTH, of Bolton Road,
Ramsbottom, in the said county, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
and
or
This invention relates to apparatus for supplying a quantity of air a steam to
the furnace behind the bridge and to apparatus for automatically controlling the
duration of time during which such air and steam is admitted.
The invention consists essentially in applying an injector tube to a hollow bridge
by which a current of air and steam is projected therethrough an annular or
other perforated chamber above the hollow bridge in which the air and steam are
superheated as they pass through it and an escapement mechanism connected with
the supply tap or damper valve by which these are closed after they have remained
open the desired length of time.
The invention may be applied either to an ordinary or force draught furnace
and the controlling mechanism may be applied to close other forms of air or steam
injectors for the furnaces of boilers.
The bridge we construct with a passage through it and form a chamber in front
of it below the bars by means of a semicircular plate attached to the back dead
plate. To the chamber thus formed we connect an air or injector tube which for
ordinary purposes is provided with a steam jet whereby an induced current of
fresh air is carried through.
The brick back bridge is preferably built up in two parts with a passage between
connected with the chamber below and covered by a perforated plate. At either
end of this plate it is provided with holes to which is attached a semicircular
perforated pipe or the walls of an annular chamber which extends up to the top of
the flue. The air and Isteam passes into this pipe or chamber and is heated before
issuing through the perforations to meet the products of combustion passing over
the bridge.
or
The hot air or injector tube below the bars is provided with an oscillating
damper or valve which opens when the pressure of the current comes upon it
and closes when there is no pressure, or in the case of a furnace with forced draught
is opened and closed by a lever and rod and no steam jet is required.
The stean jet to the injector tube is controlled by means of a tap or valve
connected with a lever or rod by which it is opened each time the furnace door is
opened and then closed by automatic controlling mechanism.
In the case of force draught furnaces where we do not employ the steam jet to
create the necessary current of air through the bridge the valve which controls
the air passage is connected by rods or levers to the furnace door by which it is
opened and then slowly closed by similar mechanism.
The controlling or closing mechanism is connected by means of a vertical (or other
shaft) with the steam valve or with the levers or rods which actuate the damper
valve and it is provided with a projecting arm or lever with which the furnace door
(or a projection or attachment thereon) engages each time the door is opened rotating
the shaft part of a revolution. This rotation of the shaft opens at one end of it
the steam or damper valve and at the other end sets the controlling or closing

page_text: 11
mechanism in operation. . On the upper end of this shaft is fixed a bevel or other
wheel working with a corresponding wheel on another preferably horizontal shaft
hereby a weight or weighted lever is raised and the mechanism set in motion.
The second wheel is secured to the second shaft and to this or on the shaft is
secured the arm or lever which carries the weight. Or instead of an arm a drum
with a weighted rope or cord may be employed. Loose on the same shaft is a
ratchet or catch wheel with the catch or pawl which engages therewith carried by
or connected to rotate with the second wheel. This ratchet wheel is attached to a
spur or other wheel which connects with a train of wheels conveniently arranged at
the end of which is an escapement wheel with an anchor escapement engaging there-
with. The anchor escapement is connected with a pendulumn the oscillations of
which regulate the speed at which the apparatus works.
When the weight is lifted by the rotation of the vertical shaft consequent upon.
the opening of the furnace door the pawl moves over the ratchet wheel and when
the door is closed again it engages with the ratchet wheel and the weight begins
to descend rotating the shaft in the opposite direction and closing the valve. The
speed of rotation is regulated by the movements of the pendulum and escapement
which are set in motion at the same time and the length of time that the valve
remains open is thereby adjusted.
Dated this 11th day of February 1895.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
6, Bank Street, Manchester, Patent Agents.
Improvements in Apparatus for Preventing Smoke or Increasing
Combustion in Steam Boiler Furnaces.
We, WILLIAM ANTHONY LEES, of Bolton Road, Irlams-o'-th'-Height, in the
County of Lancaster Engineer, and FRANK FARNWORTH, of Bolton Road,
Ramsbottom, in the said county, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
and
or
steam to
This invention relates to apparatus for supplying a quantity of air
the furnace behind the bridge and to apparatus for automatically controlling the
duration of time during which such air and steam is admitted.
The invention consists essentially in applying an injector tube to a hollow
bridge by which a current of air and steam is projected therethrough, an annular
or other perforated chamber above the hollow bridge in which the air and steam
are superheated as they pass through it and an escapement mechanism connected
with the supply tap or damper valve by which these are closed after they have
remained open the desired length of time.
The invention may be applied either to an ordinary or force draught furnace
and the controlling mechanism may be applied to close other forms of air or
steam injectors for the furnaces of boilers.
It will be fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Fig. 1. Front elevation partly in section of steam boiler to which the invention
has been applied.
Fig. 2. Longitudinal section of same through one of the flues.
Fig. 3. Front elevation partly in section of steam boiler showing the invention
applied in conjunction with forced draught.
Fig. 4. Longitudinal section of same through one of the flues.
Fig. 5. Front elevation (enlarged détail) of controlling mechanism.
Fig. 6. Side elevation of same with parts in section.

page_text: The boiler A is of any ordinary construction with one, two or more fire boxes B.
The bridge at the back of each fire box B we construct of two parts forming
respectively a back bridge C and a front bridge C¹ with a cavity or passage c
between them and we form a chamber D in front thereof below the fire bars 6 by
means of a semicircular plate d affixed to the back dead plate b. The front of
the chamber D is closed by means of a pivoted damper or door E pivoted so as to
close of its own weight but to be easily opened when pressure is applied to one
side of it.
The cavity or passage c connects with the chamber D below it and on top is
covered or enclosed by a perforated plate F through which the air and steam
admitted to the chamber D can pass into the flue. "Above the top of the back
bridge C we erect a tubular or hollow arch G with an internal chamber H. The
arch G rests upon the perforated plate F which is provided at the ends with holes
which connect the cavity c in the bridge with the chamber H in the arch. The
arch G may be constructed of fire brick, tile or other suitable material, and is
perforated on its under side. Air and steam from the cavity c enter the chamber H
and are therein superheated before issuing from the perforations to meet the
products of combustion passing over the bridge.
Over the top of the front bridge C' we place a hollow perforated tile c¹ with
openings into the chamber from below it from the cavity c so that air and steam
may also be introduced into the flue at the top of this bridge.
The steam and air is admitted to the chamber D and cavity c between the bridges
through the pivoted door or damper E.
Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 a steam pipe K is carried underneath the fire bars
with a nozzle k, and an injector tube 611 the nozzle being so placed that the jet of
steam issuing through it strikes against and opens the pivoted damper or door E
and the jet of steam issuing therefrom carried with it a current of air into the
chamber D and through the cavity c between the bridges C C'.
The tap or valve L of the steam tube K is connected with the furnace door M
by means of a chain m or by a connecting rod or lever whereby the tap is
opened to allow a jet of steam to issue each time the furnace door is opened and
allowed to slowly or gradually close again by suitable mechanism provided for the
purpose.
The chain m at its upper end passes over the pulley or drum N to which it is
attached so that the opening of the furnace door M and consequent pull on the
chain causes the pulley N to rotate part of a revolution. Connected to the
pulley N and to the spindle of the tap L (see Figs. 5 and 6) is a lever O which
is moved round with the pulley N and lifted each time the furnace door M is
opened. The pulley N is connected to the lever O by means of a lug n on the side
of the pulley which is bolted or otherwise attached to the lever O. On this lever O
is placed a weight o which moves the lever back again when the door is shut and
the chain m falls slack. The lifting of the lever O opens the steam tap L and the
falling again of the lever closes it.
The falling of the lever O and the consequent closing of the tap L is regulated
and controlled by an escapement mechanism connected therewith so that the length
of time steam and air is allowed to blow into the back of fire is regulated and
adjusted. On one side of the pulley N is pivoted a pawl p which engages with a
ratchet wheel P gearing with a train of wheels R leading to an escapement
wheel and escapement controlled by a pendulum S or by a spring or other
device.
Instead of attaching the chain m to a pulley or drum N it may be attached direct
to a lever which can also serve to carry the pawl p.
Referring to Figs. 3 and 4 the invention is shown fitted to a furnace with forced
draught apparatus. The controlling or closing mechanism which is similar to that
already described is connected by the chain m with the levers and rods e e¹ which
actuate the damper valve E. The chain m¹ passes over the pulley N and is
connected by the chain m¹ with the damper E so that when the door M is opened

page_text: the weighted lever O is raised and the damper valve E opened and the controlling
mechanism operates as already described to regulate the length of time during
which the valve E is allowed to remain open.
When the weighted lever O is lifted consequent upon the opening of the furnace
door the pawl moves over the ratchet wheel and when the door is closed again it
engages with the ratchet wheel and the weight begins to descend either closing the
valve L or allowing the valve E to close. The speed of rotation is regulated by
the movements of the pendulum and escapement which are set in motion at the
same time and the length of time that the valve remains open is thereby
adjusted.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:
1. In a steam boiler furnace a bridge constructed of two parts forming a front
bridge C¹ and back bridge C with a cavity c covered by a perforated plate between
them an enclosed chamber such as D in front of the bridge below the fire bars a
hollow perforated tile c' and a hollow arch above the bridge in which the air and
steam are superheated and from which they issue to meet the products and heated
gases passing over the bridges substantially as described.
2. The combination with a steam boiler furnace of a bridge formed with a cavity
or air passage, a steam pipe for injecting steam and air into the back of the furnace
and an escapement mechanism connected by a chain or lever with the furnace door
whereby the closing of the valve of the steam pipe is controlled and adjusted
substantially as and for the purpose described.
3. In a steam boiler the combination of a bridge formed with a cavity or air
passage through it, a weighted damper valve for admitting air or steam thereto, a
forced draught appliance, and an escapement controlling mechanism connected both
to the furnace door and to the damper valve whereby the closing of the damper
valve is controlled substantially as and for the purpose described.
4. The mechanism for controlling the closing of the steam jet pipes of steam
boilers constructed and arranged substantially as described and shown with reference
to Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings.
5. A steam boiler furnace having the several parts constructed and arranged in
combination substantially as described and shown with reference either to Figs. 1
and 2 or Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings.
Dated this 7th day of November 1895.
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Manchester, Liverpool, and London, Patent Agents.
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Manchester, Liverpool, and London, Patent Agents.