IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS OR APPLIANCES IN CONNECTION WITH DOMESTIC AND OTHER FIRE-PLACES, STOVES AND FURNACES
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Nepomuc Moerath of Great Saint Helens in the
City of London Civil Engineer for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS OR APPLIANCES IN CONNECTION WITH DOMESTIC AND OTHER
FIRE-PLACES, STOVES AND FURNACES "
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Nepomuc Moerath
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 10th November 1883.
JOHN NEPOMUC MOERATH of Great Saint Helens in the City of London, Civil
Engineer, "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS OR APPLIANCES IN CONNECTION WITH
DOMESTIC AND OTHER FIREPLACES, STOVES, AND FURNACES
The chief objects of my invention are to save the consumption of fuel, to
improve the ventilation of rooms and other places, and to cause a more complete
prevention or consumption of the soot or products of combustion.
The arrangement or apparatus for producing a down or back draught may be
made of cast or wrought iron or even copper or other suitable material and is
composed of for example a box casting or castings forming air-mixing chambers
which are kept a convenient distance apart (according to the width of the chimney
or other place the apparatus may be fitted to) by pipes or passages which
communicate with the interior of each box casting or air mixing chamber. The
ends of the pipes or passages are fitted or placed a short distance apart and near
the edges of the box castings or air mixing chambers and the space enclosed or
nearly so by the pipes or passages and by the air chambers on the other is loosely
filled with asbestos, preferably in lumps, or other silicious substance or material.
Communicating with the lower part of each of the air mixing chambers, I
provide, say, two passages made of metal, fire clay, or other suitable substance and
of a curved tapering form the smaller ends of which communicate with the air
chambers, air being free to enter or to be drawn in at the enlarged ends of the
curved passages which may be of a square, bell-mouthed or other shape.
Within this first curved tapering passage I provide a second curved funnel or
hopper-shaped passage, the larger mouth communicating with the air above or
below the grate slightly in advance of the first passage and the smaller mouth
Price Tel

page_text: opening into the air chamber at or about the same level and place as the first
passage. The apparatus is of such a size that all or nearly all smoke and other
products of combustion passing through the chimney or flue must pass through the
interstices between the pipes or passages and percolate through the asbestos or
other material. It is obvious that as the apparatus, namely the pipes and packing
of asbestos, becomes heated, large quantities of air will by tho so called induced
current action be drawn through the first and second curved passages into the air
chamber (where they will become mixed) and pass into the pipes or passages.
These pipes or passages have holes which admit the air to the asbestos or other
material (that is to say, the pipes on the top of and sides of the apparatus have
holes only on that part of the circumference nearest to the asbestos, the lower
pipes having holes all round the circumference a convenient distance apart) and
the air will rush through into the heated asbestos causing a more perfect
combustion and a greater consumption of air than heretofore thus effecting a saving
of fuel and a better ventilation.
The proportions of the apparatus must, vary according to size of fire place or
different kinds of fuel used and other circumstances.
The apparatus just described is more particularly applicable to domestic fire-
pluces, but the invention is equally adaptable to industrial purposes namely for
furnaces for steam boilers, ore-smelting and numerous other descriptions of furnaces
with slight modifications; for example in steam-boilers the curved passages would
be lengthened and reach the open air communicating with the chimney which is
provided with a cowl turning on ball bearings and with curved passages for
inducing a current in a similar manner to that described, the air passing down
through pipes arranged in the chimney and thus becoming heated by the ascending
gases surrounding the said air pipes, but the main features of the invention remain
the same. The automatic air suction by the down or back draught first sucks the
air into a mixing chamber and afterwards into suitable perforated guides for the
purpose of mixing the ordinary product of combustion CO with the oxygen from
the air which is sucked or drawn in so that C O, is formed with the result that
the temperature rises and the heating properties are increased and less space than
now is required for the gases passing away by the chimney and less height for the
chimney than heretofore where desired for carrying off the burnt gases.
The apparatus or appliance may be applied as a stove for cooking and other
purposes by applying thereto vessels for containing methylated spirit or hydro-
carbon oil. For this purpose a spirit vessel is placed at the upper and lower part
of the appliance, the upper being below the asbestos chamber or mixer and
enclosed by the perforated pipes supplied with air by pipes which are equivalent
to the curved passages for the admission and mixing of air before described. For
convenienco of construction the air suction pipes are arranged say three in
number round the apparatus and form the supports of the structure. The air
suction pipes are provided with inverted saucer-shaped plates open in the centro
through which the flame passes while at the same time air is free to enter at the
top and to pass down under the edges of the plates and up through the central
aperture there mixing with the flame and increasing combustion.
By this means I have an apparatus which is open or partially so round its
circumference and the risk of explosion is thereby avoided. The whole apparatus
may be enclosed in a box of copper or other material suitable for the purpose
fitted with talc sight holes or otherwise if desired. The case may be provided
with doors to get at the interior of 'the apparatus for filling the lower burner with
spirit or for other purposes. Tho upper spirit holder is reached by lifting off
the case containing the asbestos mixer before described,

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Nepomuc Moerath in the Patent Office on the 10th May 1884.
JOHN NEPOMUC MOERATH of Great St Helens in the City of London Civil
Engineer "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS OR APPLIANCES IN CONNECTION WITH
DOMESTIC AND OTHER FIRE PLACES, STOVES AND FURNACES
"
The chief object of my invention are to save the consumption of fuel, to improve
the ventilation of rooms and other places, and to cause a more complete prevention
or consumption of the soot or products of combustion.
The first part of the invention relates to an arrangement or apparatus for
producing a down or back draught forming air-mixing chambers which are kept
apart by pipes or passages which communicate with the interior of each air mixing
chamber.
Asbestos or other silicious material is placed in the space between the pipes, and
communicating with the lower part of each of the air mixing chambers. I provide
air suckers tuyeres or passages all as hereafter described.
The invention further relates to the construction of cowls for chimneys based on
the invention as applied to fireplaces and furnaces.
The invention further relates to the same or a similar combination as applied to
firebars and to stoves for cooking and other purposes and in order that my
invention may be fully understood I will proceed to describe the same by the aid
of the accompanying drawings.
Figure 1 shows in sectional front elevation so much of a domestic fireplace with
my invention applied thereto as will be sufficient to illustrate how the invention
may be conveniently carried into effect. Figure 2 is a vertical cross section
through the line xy of Figure 1; a, a are the air mixing chambers composed of for
example of two box castings and kept a convenient distance apart according to the
width of the chimney or other place the apparatus may be fitted to; b b b & are
the tubes connecting these chambers with apertures in same on that part nearest the
asbestos in both the top and bottom tubes but the bottom tubes or those nearest
the fire have apertures on both sides for strengthening the back draught as
hereafter referred to, and arranged in a frame such as is shown at Figure 2, c is the.
asbestos or other silicious material contained in the space comprised between these
tubes bb. The asbestos may be bored with conical holes. d, d, are the air sucking
passages or tuyeres communicating with the lower part of the mixing chambers a, a
and the sides of the fireplace or grate; dd³ indicating the entrances to such
passages or tuyeres and through which the air travels as indicated by the arrows
in Figure 1. These tuyores d d¹ are preferably arranged as shown within one
another and in the example shown are curved in an upward direction, the mouth
or entrance d³ projecting somewhat beyond the mouth ₫³ as shown while the inner
ends of the said tubes are at or about the same level with one another as shown in
the drawings. The inner end dx of the inner tube passage or tuyere d' is made
smaller than the outer one causing an induced current of air acting not as a
blower but by giving a greater velocity to and sucking up of the air through the
larger tube or passage d; The passages may be made of metal fireclay or of other
suitable substances; e is the fireplace or grato; f is a hood or screen in front of
same, the position of which may be adjusted or it may be a fixture, if desired, g is
the flue. The action of this fireplace is as follows:-The fire being lighted in the
grate (a composition composed of paraffin wax, sawdust and carbon powder or
charcoal may be used for this purpose) the smoke and other products of combustion
strike against the lower tubes 66 and pass between same and into the asbestos or
other silicious material c contained within the space, enclosed by the tubes b b.

page_text: "
The pipes becoming heated air is drawn up the tubes or passages d, d' (its velocity
being increased by the action of the so-called induced current) into the air mixing
chambers a, a, from whence it passes into the tubes b, b and from thence by the
apertures b, b' and is distributed amongst the asbestos or other silicious material c
where it is heated and the asbestos absorbs the smoke which comes from the 5
fireplace, a great heating surface is thereby produced and from experiments which
I have made there is a great saving of fuel and ventilation is improved. The high
temperature which is reached transforms the carbonic oxide gas CO into
carbonic acid C O, the latter having a greater specific weight than the former and
therefore it occupies less volume in the chimney and the gases consequently escape 1
more easily into the open air, the result is that the combustion of the fuel is slow
and as nearly as may be complete. The only smoke observable is when lighting
the fire and when fresh coal is put on, but as soon as the temperature rises the
smoke disappears and is absorbed as before described by the asbestos or other
silicious material. Provided the fireplace is large enough it is not necessary to stir 1
the fire during a whole day. The perforated pipes or tubes b b cause down draught
preventing or consuming soot and smoke and materially reducing the consumption
of fuel. The ash pan may as will be described further on with reference to
Figure 12 be divided into two parts the upper compartment to receive the ashes
the lower compartment for water which should be renewed when evaporated.
Disinfectants or other materials whether odoriferous or otherwise may be placed in
the water for sanitary or other purposes.
In closed stoves the air suckers are placed behind as well as under the firegrate
and the air mixing chambers at the entrance to the chimney. These appliances
can be removed during the summer The air mixing chambers a and tubes b
might be placed some distance from the air suckers d and in this case they would
be connected by pipes.
In kitchen ranges the air suckers or air passages are placed behind the ash pan
and water reservoir and the heated air is conducted into perforated pipes coated
with asbestos and refractory material placed on the three sides of the firegrate, the
second air mixing chamber is provided at the entrance to the chimney; this second
air chamber is supplied with warm air coming from the air suckers or passages and
heated during its passage through the chimney as will be more clearly explained
hereafter..:
In the fireplaces and stoves before described where the chimney is low several
air suckers arranged one above the other will be required and connected with one
another by a pipe or pipes, elbows or other suitable means.
The improved cowl constructed according to my invention and to be used in
combination with the fireplaces and stoves before and to be hereafter referred to or
to be used separately without the fireplaces or stoves as shown in side elevation
partly in section at Figure 3.
Hero d d are the air suckers passages or tuyeres of the same or similar
construction as before described and now arranged as applied to chimney cowls;
the air suckers are in communication with tubes d', d' d' which lead down through
the cowl and chimney to any desired place or apartment, the air which enters by
the tuyeres or suckers d d' is therein drawn by the action of an induced current
through the heat in the chimney and the air which passes down the tubes d* is
heated during its transit and issues at its destination in a warm state into the
room or other place to which the pipes load, d is a conical cap or hood about
midway up the cowl for protecting the air suckers from rain entering them and for
allowing some of the gases at this part to escape.
The upper portion of the cowl is provided with conical tubes or passages de for
causing or increasing an upward current in the main shaft A of the cowl; shows
the ball bearings on which the top of the cowl revolves, a detached view in section
of these bearings is given at Figure 4. m is a conical aperture extending through
the head of the cowl. The arrows show the direction in which the air circulates.
The revolving cowl head is of importance especially for factory chimneys because

page_text: it mixes the outgoing poisoned gases with the atmosphere and the mixture always
goes off in the direction of the wind without annoying or being noxious to the
neighbourhood.
Figure 5 shows in longitudinal vertical section a furnace suitable for mines and
other places with my improvements applied thereto; d dare the air passages,
c the asbestos or other silicious material and b the perforated tubes or the
equivalents thereto in this case made of firebrick, as metal tubes would not resist
the heat and they also take the place of the ordinary bridge. The side against the
fire of the air mixing chamber is made with conical apertures with the apex of the
cone opening to the furnace whereby the air is projected well into the same and
with increased velocity but in the top the conical apertures are arranged in the
contrary direction whereby the admission of the air is moderated preventing the
destruction of the roof of the furnace. Air suckers or passages are also in this case
shown applied to the firebars which latter are arranged in step like fashion as is
common in some furnaces, b¹ shows the air passages. This furnace is fed with
slack coal through the hopper A provided with supply door B. C is the furnace
proper and D ashpit, d is a passage at the back for the admission of warm air
from air reservoir underneath, which air is admitted thereto through air opening
coming from the ashpit D; is the water compartment in the air suckers d. The
action of this furnace is such that the bridge by means of the conical apertures
sends the superheated air backwards to the fire and by the top apertures upwards
and into the concentrated flame but without striking the roof of the furnace which
if it did would be the means of quickly destroying the surface thereof and hence
why the position of the conical apertures is in this case reversed. The hollow fire
bridge may also be utilized for regulating the heat of the furnace and for this
purpose it is provided with a door, not shown in the drawing, whereby wood,
charcoal or other fuel can be introduced when required into the interior of the fire
bridge and there is another door C² for cleaning out the furnace.
Figure 6 shows in longitudinal vertical section, an arrangement of furnace
similar to that before described as applied to a stationary Lancashire or Galloway
boiler. The arrangements in this case as to the supply of air to the furnace are
precisely the same as the arrangement before described and similar parts are
consequently marked with similar letters of reference the water vessel or reservoir
in the air sucker d is supplied with water from the boiler by a pipe d'as shown
which is also in communication with the tank.
The improved firebars which are shown in connection with the furnace, illustrated
at Figure 5 are shown detached at Figure 7 and 7 that firebar shown in section at
Figure 7 and in plan at figure 7 being particularly applicable when slack coal is
used and is what I may call a staircase firebar about say 18" in length for each
compartment it is composed of a cast iron plate S with conical or inclined air
guides S¹ composed of ribs, the plate is covered with a shield S' made of refractory
material and perforated with conical apertures as in the air passages for the bridge
before described the slack coal is carried by this perforated refractory shield S* the
air passes through and between the ribs S and the temperature of the bars is
thereby reduced and they are prevented from melting which would otherwise take
place. This arrangement of firebars is also applicable for kilns for burning bricks,
tiles, lime, cement, salt glaze stoneware pottery of all kinds and for smelting quartz
and minerals. The other arrangement of firebar which is shown in vertical section
at Figure 8 is composed of a combination of fireclay and cast iron, the two being
held together by dovetails as shewn. This fire bar is made deeper than firebars of
ordinary construction, o is the cast iron p is the fireclay and g the air spaces the
air which passes through these spaces owing to the increased surface of the firebars
is heated and the result is that where such firebars are used a saving of fuel is
effected and the air attains a higher temperature by coming in contact with the
fireclay. The fireclay is inserted in the metal frame while the clay is in a soft state.
Figure 9 is a view in longitudinal vertical section of a marine boiler with my
improvements applied thereto and fitted with what I may call a superheating fire-

page_text: grate, that is fitted with bars such. as those shown at Figure 8; d' is the air sucker
preferably to resist the great heat made of copper or fireclay. C is a shield
covering the air sucker & from the fire bridge so that no air can pass under the.
bridgo into the combustion chamber without traversing the apparatus the air
sucker d sends the air into a tube b. which latter is surrounded by refractory
material and is provided with apertures b' for the back draught, in this case with
six as shown at Figure 10, which is a vertical cross section of this part of the
boiler; B is a second air mixing chamber placed on the inner side of the boiler-
tube cleaning doors which if desired may be fed with air from the chimney as
previously described with reference to Figures 3 and 4. This second apparatus is
not absolutely necessary for the good working of the furnace but at the same time
when applied it assists in saving fuel and in construction and action it is similar
to the air mixing chambers and tubes shown at Figures 1 and 2. To produce a.
good draught which in hot climates is very desirable on board ship, I provide a
double pipe under the fire grate, the inner pipe of the two is perforated and
receives the air from the air mixing chamber B to which it is conveyed by a pipe 68
the outer pipe contains a small quantity of the blow off water from the boiler
supplied thereto by pipe d' Figure 10 the decomposed water (hydrogen and
oxygen) mixed with the air in the fire-bridge b tends to increase the temperature
as well as to effect the saving of fuel. The air sucker d is provided with an
aperture so that the double pipe can be easily taken out and cleaned from salt and
mud.
'
Figure 11 is a view in longitudinal vertical section illustrating the invention as
applied to a fixed laud boiler with inside firo and the arrangement is similar to
that last described.
"
Figure 12 shows in sectional elevation the invention as applied to a hot air
engine. In this case the air suckers are arranged all round and the air mixing
chamber is also circular; the action is similar to the arrangement described with
reference to Figures 1 and 2, by this arrangement I can burn other fuel than coke,
a point of importance because coke is not to be obtained everywhere and where
cheap motive power is required. Where higher temperature is required, sometimes
a serpentine coil of pipes may be employed for heating quickly and for preventing
the formation of smoke.
Figure 13 is a longitudinal vertical section. Figure 14 is a plan with cap
removed. Figure 15 is a horizontal section through the line CD of Figure 13
and Figure 16 shows in longitudinal vertical section a portion of a modified form
of tho lower part of the vessel shown at Figure 13 of a stove or appliance also
constructed according to my invention for burning mineral oil, methylated spirit
and suitable for cooking and other purposes; d d d are the air sucking passages or
tuyeres with openings as in the previous case for the admission of air or these
openings may be as shown at Figure 16 d' d² d³ are the pipes or continuation of
the air sucking passages and forming the supports for the apparatus; c is the
asbestos or other silicious material at or near the top of the stove the air tubes or
passages d d d opening into the asbestos chamber c at top; ff' are the vessels
for containing the methylated spirit or hydrocarbon fluid; g g 9 g gare the inverted
saucer shaped plates open in the centre as shown and through which openings the
products of combustion from the hydrocarbon in vessels ff' pass, h is a hinged
door for the admission and removal of the vessel f'; on the hydrocarbon being
ignited in the vessels ff1 the flame from the lower vessel f¹ rushes up and through
the apertures of the plates g and impinges against the asbestos c while at the saine
time the air which enters by the passages d d d travels up the tubes d¹² d³ and
at the top impregnates the asbestos c the draught of air is increased by the
saucers g and apertures at the bottom of the vessel and the air escapes automatically
through apertures in the bottom of the vessel containing the asbestos c whereby
the flame is purified all or most of the noxious vapours arising from the hydrocarbon
being held in suspension by the asbestos. Charcoal may be placed above the
hydrocarbon holders if desired and aromatic or other suitable scents or materials

page_text: may be placed in the bydrocarbon holders. The cooking vessel is placed on the top
of the outer casing or cover h' to the whole apparatus and i is a cap with handles k
thereto and when this cap is removed and inverted it serves as a saucepan or cooking.
utensil Apparatus constructed in the manner before described is also applicable
when made on a larger scale for the purpose of a copper for washing purposes or
for any cooking purposes it may be desired to apply it.
Having now described the nature of my said invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed I declare that I claim :-
First In fireplaces stoves and furnaces the employment of automatic air
suckers tubes tuyeres or passages for the sucking in or admission of air to air
mixing chambers which by pipes distributes samo through silicious material all
acting substantially as and for the purposes set forth:
Second The particular construction and arrangement of domestic fireplaces
substantially as described with referenco to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying
drawings:
Third-The particular construction and arrangement of furnaces substantially
as described and illustrated with reference to Figures 5, 6, 9, 10, 11 and 12 of the
accompanying drawings.
Fourth-The construction and arrangement of cowl substantially as described
with reference to Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.
Fifth-In firebars the application thoreto of air sucking appliances in com-
bination with the construction or formation of such bars substantially as and for
the purposes described with reference to Figures 7, 7 and 8 of the accompanying
drawings.
Sixth-In stoves for burning mineral oil or methylated spirit the construction
and arrangement of parts whereby the air is sucked in and the vapours absorbed
all substantially as herein before described with reference to Figures 13, 14, 15
and 16 of the accompanying drawings.
In witness, whereof I the said John Nepomuc Moerath have hereunto set my
hand and seal this Tenth day of May in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty four.
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24
JN. MOERATE C.E. (L.S.)