CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN FURNACES FOR JAPANNERS' STOVES, OVENS, BOILERS, AND KILNS; AND WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER. FIRE-PLACES, BY WHICH COMBUSTION IS BENDERED MORE COMPLETE, AND THE FUEL THEREBY GREATLY ECONOMISED
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Swain, of Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Gentleman, for the Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN
FURNACES FOR JAPANNERS' STOVES, OVENS, BOILERS, AND KILNS; AND WHICH
IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER. FIRE-PLACES, BY WHICH
COMBUSTION IS BENDERED MORE COMPLETE, AND THE FUEL THEREBY GREATLY
ECONOMISED."
Sealed the 25th September 1855, and dated the 30th March 1855.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Swain at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
30th March 1855.
I, WILLIAM SWAIN, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Gentleman,
do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVE-
MENTS IN FURNACES FOR JAPANNERS' STOVES, OVENS, BOILERS, AND KILNS; AND WHICH
IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER FIRE-PLACES, BY WHICH COMBUSTION
IS RENDERED MORE COMPLETE, AND THE FUEL THEREBY GREATLY ECONOMISED," to be
as follows, that is to say :-
My Invention consists in making or building furnaces for japanners' stoves,
ovens, boilers, kilns, or other fire-places in such a way, that by means of suit-
able bricks, perforated or otherwise, and suitably placed, I am enabled to.
surround the fire with jets of highly rarified air, thereby ensuring that due
supply of oxygen so essential to the perfect combustion of the coals or other
fuel that may be used...

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Swain in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
29th September 1855.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
SWAIN, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirtieth day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, in the eighteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said William Swain, Her special license that I, the said William Swain, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William
Swain, my executors, administrators, or 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 "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN
FURNACES FOR JAPANNERS' STOVES, OVENS, BOILERS, AND KILNS; AND WHICH
IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER FIRE-PLACES, BY WHICH COMBUSTION
IS RENDERED MORE COMPLETE, AND THE FUEL THEREBY GREATLY ECONOMISED," upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William Swain, by an instru-
ment in writing under my hand and seal, 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 William Swain, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement,
that is to say-
My improvements in the construction or building of furnaces for japanners'
stoves, ovens, boilers, kilns, and other fire-places consists in constructing them
in such a way, that by means of suitable bricks, perforated or otherwise, and
suitably placed, I am enabled to generate more heat with less fuel, and to
regulate such heat in such a way that I can increase or diminish the amount
of heat to the degree that may be desired. This is mainly effected by the mode
of placing the peculiar shaped bricks I propose using, and also by supplying
the fire with a regular and due proportion of atmospheric air in such a way
that the air may be highly rarefied before coniing in contact with the fuel.

page_text: DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Sheet 1 represents the various bricks I propose using in the construction of
my furnaces and fire-places. Fig. 1 represents a crown brick in four views;
A being the bottom side, B the top side, C an end view, and D a section
through e, e, of the end view; the arrows indicating the direction of the air
passing in through the large central hole, and passing up through the apertures
or perforations in the crown of the brick, as shewn at fif, of the top view B.
Fig. 2 represents the same description of brick, also in four views, with the
exception that the perforations for the passage of the air passes down through
the bottom side of the brick, as indicated by the arrows, in contradistinction to
passing through the crown, as in Figure 1. Fig. 3 represents three views of
straight tubular bricks with a row of perforations, as in the before-described
Figures. Fig. 4 represents a side and sectional end view of a brick, taken
through one of the perforations, having a semicircular groove running from
end to end, with conical perforations passing through at right angles with the
lengthway of the brick. Fig. 5 represents a side and end view of a brick
tapered lengthway, having a semicircular groove running through it in the
same direction. Fig. 6 represents a front and sectional end view of a furnace
brick, taken through 9,9; Fig. 7 representing bricks for the same purpose,
but so formed that the furnace shall be of a circular form, as will be seen by
the end view H and sectional end view I, taken through j,j. Fig. 8 represents
a bottom, side, and a sectional transverse view, taken through k, k, or k, k.
Fig. 9 represents a front view of a brick or tile, and also a sectional view,
taken through 1, 1, or either of the sunken cavities, shewing that in using them
they are intended to lap one over the other, as shewn by the rabbet m, m, and
n; and Figure 10 represents the same description of brick in four views, but
instead of lapping one over the other, they are provided with an angular
groove and corresponding projections; O being the front view, P an edge view,
as also a sectional transverse view taken through s, s, of either of the sunken
cavities. Fig. 11 represents two views of the same description of brick in a
curvilinear form; Trepresenting the under side of the brick; and U a sectional
end view, taken through v, v, or either of the sunken cavities. Fig. 12 repre-
sents a sectional side view of a brick, having two square holes right through it,
in the form shewn at w, w, as also by the dotted lines at x, x, x, x, which

page_text: represents an end view of the brick; and I have further illustrated this brick
by shewing that it would be necessary to make them half the length and with
one hole, as represented in a front_view_at Y. and sectional, end view Z in this
Figure. Fig. 13 represents a common shaped building brick with taper
grooves running transversely on each side, as represented at a', a¹, a², a², a², a',
on the edge view, and 6, 6, 61, in the side view, as also by the dotted lines
c, c, c, c', in the end, view. .Fig. 14 represents the same description of bricks
as last described, but made thinner; on one edge, to render them suitable for
arch work; the top series, which represents a bottom, end, and lengthway sec-
tional view of a brick, with three taper holes or perforations running from;
edge to edge, while the lower series represent the under edge, side, and sec-
tional end view, with semicircular taper grooves on each side, that when such
bricks may be built into an arch it would be full of conical circular holes, the.
smaller part of the hole coming through the crown of the arch. Fig. 15
represents a side and bottom view of a brick suitable for a shield around an
iron boiler or furnace, with the hollow, grooves, on the sides. placed in a radial:
form from the centre. Fig: 16 represents a back and, sectional view of a brick.
suitable for the backs of ordinary grates or open fire-places, taken through
either of the lines of perforation. Fig. 17 represent a flat, and edge, view of a
perforated tile, which I place vertically or diagonally, in some description of
flues where it may be desirable to divide the blast as much as possible, that it
may more readily consume the heated, atmospheric air, so essential to perfect
combustion or consumption of smoke. Fig. 18 represents a back edge, and
end views of a brick, which may be made of iron or fire clay, to be built in the
air flue, as near the fire as convénient, where the air. will have to travel in the
direction of the arrows, and thereby.be greatly rarified before coming in contact
with the blast or fire.
"
Having thus described the various bricks exhibited, I will now proceed to
shew their applications in various descriptions of furnaces and fire-places,
observing that I use the same letters, of reference to denote the same parts as
they occur in the various Figures.
1
Fig. 1, Sheet 2, represents a vertical longitudinal section of the description
of steam engine boilers known as the Cornish boiler (broken off at the back
for the convenience of space), wherein. I have exhibited the application of the
description of bricks represented in Sheet 1; at Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4, which
are here introduced in a sectional view at a, a, and forming the bridges at the
back of the fire.
Fig. 2 represents a transverse section, exhibiting a top view of the bricks,
marked with the same letters of reference; and Fig. 3 represents a transverse

page_text: sectional view,..taken through b, b, of Figure 1, exhibiting a front view of the
before-mentioned brick a; and directly over the bridges thus formed, marked
a, a, I place in a diagonal form a suitable number of perforated bricks or tiles,"
exhibited at Figure 17, Sheet 1; and by referring to Figure 2, it will be seen.
that I have exhibited six of these bricks or tiles on each bridge marked c, c, c,
&c. The advantage of this arrangement will be understood by the following
descriptionAir. being the essential element, to perfect combustion, it is
admitted in the desired quantity; by this arrangement, entering as it does
through the air holed, shewn by the direction of the arrow din Figure 3, and
passing along between the dotted lines e, e, Figure 2; passing through this
channel, it then ascends into the hollow bridge d, and from thence through the
apertures on the crown, where it comes in contact with and commingles with
the blast, which is greatly divided, by passing between and through the diagonal
tiles, cic, &c. The right-hand airway. f is managed in the same way, but
extends back to the second bridge, where. it escapes in a highly rarefied state,
mixing with the, flame or blast that extend back to that bridge, thereby
thoroughly and completely effecting a perfect combustion of the coal or fuel,
rendering it impossible for any to escape in unconsumed particles, or smoke to
pass away. but. should such a result occur, a remedy will be found by the
simple addition of one or more. bridges and corresponding.airways.
Fig. 4 represents a vertical section of a circular casting furnace, with the
top bricks g, g, shewn, not in section, but, broken off at the bottom, to shew
that they fit into the lower bricks h, h, by a lap or rabbet joint at i, i. Fig. 5
is a top view of the same furnace, shewing the three bricks making the circle
9, 9, 9. The open space around the bricks j,j,j, is intended to be filled up with
sand, leaving holes (shewn by the dark circles) through which the air descends,
and into the furance in the direction of the arrows, shewn at Figure 4. These
bricks are exhibited in three views at Figure 7, Sheet 1.
Fig. 6 represents a front view of a gilding or enamelling stove with part of
the front removed, for the purpose of shewing the door, which works at the
side in a groove by means of a chain and counterpoise, the chain working over
a pulley; and the chimney, which stands immediately over the fire-place on the
front wall, is also shewn broken off. On each side of the fire-place k, k, are fitted
two iron frames, with sliding plates to cover over or regulate the supply of air,
the course of which will be best seen by referring to Figure 7, which is a ver-
tical section of the last Figure, taken through 1, 1; and it will be seen that the
air passing in the direction of the arrow k, taking the course of the dotted
line, and passing through the perforated brick m and n at the back of the fire,
where it meets the blast just where it passes away around the stove and up the.

page_text: chimney o, the bricks m and n being of the same description as exhibited at
Figure 13, Sheet 1. The back portion of the arch immediately above the fire
is composed of perforated bricks, of the kind shewn at Figure 14, (Sheet 1,)
for the purpose of admitting the radiate heat to the floor of the stove, which
is composed, as well as the sides and crown, of bricks with sunken cavitys in
them, in order that the fire may be more active in its operation, and not have
so large a substance of fire clay (of which the bricks are to be composed) to
heat through. The bricks thus described are also exhibited in Sheet 1 at
Figures 9, 10, and 11. Fig. 8 is an inclined section, taken through p, p, of
Figure 7.
Fig. 9 represents the front elevation of an upright engine boiler, q, q, being
two airways, fitted as in Figure 6 with slides, for the purpose of closing or
regulating the supply; and Figure 10 is an horizontal section, taken through
1, r, of the last Figure, shewing a plan of the bridges s, s; and Fig. 11 is a
vertical section, taken through t, t, of the plan, exhibiting the bridges s, s,
carried up within the dome of the boiler; but instead of being built of solid
bricks, it is built of bricks shewn and described at Figure 12, Sheet 1, in
order that a number of currents of air shall ascend through the bridge, and
through the perforated bricks u, u, that it may meet the blast just after passing
over the crown of the bridges; the heat or fumes then descending will pass
away from v to w, which is the stack of the chimney represented broken off.
Fig. 12 represent the front of a fire-place embodying my improvements as
applied to a common kiln for burning bricks, earthenware, or other plastic
materials, observing that I still use the regulating slides that open and close
the airway in front, represented at x, x. Fig. 13 is a vertical section of the
same, taken through y, y, with the door removed; and Fig. 14 is a sectional
plan of the same, taken through the dotted line or centre of airway x, x,
Figure 12. The sides and arch of my fire-place are built with perforated bricks,
before referred to at Figures 12 and 14, Sheet 1, and the utility of such bricks
will be understood by the following description:-The air enters through the
airway on the left-hand side, stopping at z and flowing around and over the
arch, passing through the perforated bricks into the fire; while the air on
the right-hand passes through the airway z on that side to the air chamber a¹,
and up through the perforated bricks a³, a¹, a¹, meeting the current of heat
that flows back through the opening left when charging the kiln, extending
from to 6, which will have the effect of taking into and through the body
of the kiln a great current of highly rarified air, which will have the effect of
absorbing the reek or moisture arising from the bricks in the early stage of
burning.

page_text: Fig. 15 represents a vertical section of the sides and arch of perforated
bricks that surround the fire of the kiln before described, exhibiting the airway
d', d', d', shewn also at the same letter, Figure 13.
Fig. 16 represents a transverse section of a common open grate or fire-place,
drawn for the purpose of exhibiting the position and use of the brick or fire
grate back, exhibited at Figure 16, Sheet 1. c is a space or cavity, for the
purpose of heating the air before it passes through the perforations, as indi-
cated by the arrows, and supplying the fires at the back with the requisite
amount of air necessary for combustion.
I will now proceed to describe the application of my various bricks as
exhibited in Sheet 3.
Fig. 17 represents the front of a stove applicable for japanners, so con-
structed that by aid of the peculiar shaped bricks used, the temperature
of the open part can be increased or reduced much quicker than such kind
of stoves are capable of, built on the common plan. I effect this by a more
even distribution of the heat around the bottom, sides, and ends of the stoves,
and using the description of bricks before described, as exhibited at 9 and 10
in Sheet 1, as will be seen by referring to Fig. 18, which is a longitudinal
section taken through e, e', of the last Figure, exhibiting three chambers or
compartments f', f¹, f¹, the sides of which are built with bricks, as exhibited
at Figure 10; but I have not considered it necessary to divide and exhibit the
sunken cavities on the face of the bricks only in the five forming the top row
in the chamber over the fire-place; nor do I confine myself to the form of
such sunken cavities, as they may be round, or of any hexagon form, or any
other suitable shape; my object being simply to reduce the amount of clay or
substance of brick the fire has to heat before the heat of the stoves can be
raised to the desired temperature, and the same means that enables me to
readily obtain the desired temperature also allows me as readily to reduce
it. The floors of the compartments are formed of bricks, with lap joints as well
as sunken cavities, as exhibited at Figure 9, Sheet One. Fig. 19 is a trans-
verse section, taken through g', g', of Figure 18, with the partitions h³, h',
removed, for the purpose of exhibiting the end of the stove wherein the same
description of bricks are used as in the sides, but I have only shewn one
divided out into sunken cavaties to avoid confusion in the Drawings. Fig. 201
is an horizontal longitudinal section, shewing the airway i,, leading to the
first bridge, and a similar one leading to the second bridge j, j', the bridges
being. identical with those exhibited at Figure One, Sheet 1, and described at
Figures 1 and 2, Sheet 2; and it will be seen that the sides of the fire-place
are built with perforated bricks, as before described, and connected with the

page_text: airways and . The crown of the fire-place and draftway from end to end
is built with perforated bricks, in order that the heated air may ascend and
play under the bottom of the stove, and from thence taking the direction of
the arrows around the ends and side of the stove.
Fig. 21 is the front view of an annealing furnace, fitted with slides in
the front for the conveyance and regulation of the supply of 'air, as described
in the former Figures. Fig. 22 is a longitudinal section of the last Figure,
taken, through,, exhibiting a section of the crown or arch of the fire-
place, built with perforated bricks, leaving a space between the crown of the
arch and floor of the furnace, the floor being supported on partition bricks
at m, m, Figure 23, which is a transverse sectional view, taken through
n', n', of Figure 22; and it will be seen that I use a bridge at the back of
the muffle or furnace, as described in Figure 1 and 2, Sheet 2, the air.
passing into such bridge from airways, exhibited in the front of Figure 21 ;
the left-hand airway supplying the bridge, and the right passing around the
back of the muffle, as at o', and then in through a row of perforated bricks
and over the bridge, as indicated by the arrows, passing through the muffle
and up the flue p¹. I have not considered it necessary to exhibit a side view
for shewing the door where the articles are put in and taken out.
Fig. 24 represents the front view of a muffle designed for annealing wire or
other bulky metallic articles. This furnace has also applied to it airways, with
slides for closing and regulating the supply of air, and is fitted with a portable
cover 'q', from the crown of which a flue or metal pipe is attached for carrying
off the smoke. Fig. 25 is a sectional plan of the same, taken through 71, 71, of
the last Figure; the circular pot for holding the work, as well as the shield or
jacket and airways, are represented by dotted lines; Fig. 26 is a vertical
section of Figure 24, taken through s¹, s¹; and Fig. 27 is a vertical section of
the outer brickwork of the furnace, taken through the dotted line t', t¹, of the
plan, Figure 25. The working operations of this furnace will be understood
by the following description:-At the back and front of the fire-place are two
open spaces for the fire to escape, as also two on each side, marked u², u¹, u¹, 20²,
in the plan, Figure 25, and which passes up the openings indicated by the
arrows v', 'v', Figures 26 and 27, where it is met by a current of air passing
into the air chamber from a row of perforated bricks, shewn at w¹, w¹, supplied
with air through the openings and slides places each side of the fire door. In
Figure 24, the bottom part of the pot is surrounded by a jacket or shield,
shewn in Figure 27, and in section, Figure 26, at c', x¹³, a¹, x¹³, x², x², which
jacket is stayed by a sufficient number of key bricks, marked y', y', which has
the effect of dividing and mixing the air with the flame- or gases in course of

page_text: ascending in the direction of the arrows around the side of the furnace to the
chimney.
Fig. 28 and 29 represent a vertical section and plan of a furnace, such as
are used by brass founders, and differing in nowise from the furnace described
at Figure 4, Sheet Two, excepting the shape of the bricks, that being circular
and this square, to shew the adaptation of the brick exhibited at Figure 6,
Sheet One.
I have not thought it necessary to further illustrate and diversify the further
application of my various bricks, as they can be varied as situation and occasion
require; nor have I thought it necessary to exhibit the application or use of
the peculiar shaped brick, represented at Figure 18, Sheet One, which may be
made of iron or clay, and I introduce them were convenient in the airways
as near the fire as they can be well placed, in order that they may by the heat
they imbibe thoroughly heat the air as it passes in and around the projections
before such air comes in contact with the flame or blast of the fire.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner in
which the same may be carried into effect, I wish it understood that I do not
confine myself to the exact proportion or shape of the various fire clay bricks
exhibited in Sheet One, as they are all capable of considerable modification;
but what I do claim as my Invention is, the various modes exhibited of heat-
ing and admitting a due proportion of atmospheric air to the fire or flame by
means of the various perforated bricks, as herein described and set forth in the
various Figures; as also in the use of bricks or tiles with sunken cavities
without any regard to their shape, as exhibited at Figures 9 and 10, (Sheet
One,) for the walls of japanners' stoves, or hot-air closets, and such like places
or buildings requiring a regulated heat; likewise in the mode of admitting
hot air to the bodies of kilns, has before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Swain, have hereunto.set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-seventh day of September, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five.
WILLIAM SWAIN. (L.S.)
Signed by the said William Swain in the presence of
J. S. COCKINGS, Patent Agent,
Birmingham.