IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PROMOTING THE COM- BUSTION OF SMOKE IN LOCOMOTIVE AND STEAM BOILER FURNACES
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frank Wirth, of the Firm of Wirth & Comp.,
Patent Agency, residing at Frankfort /m (Germany), for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PROMOTING THE COM-
BUSTION OF SMOKE IN LOCOMOTIVE AND STEAM BOILER FURNACES." -A
communication from abroad by Charles Boschan, of Vienna (Empiro
of Austria).
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frank Wirth at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
9th May 1873.
I, FRANK WIRTH, of the Firm of Wirth & Comp., Patent Agency,
5 residing at Frankfort /m (Germany) do hereby declare the nature of tho
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PROMOTING THE COM-
BUSTION OF SMOKE IN LOCOMOTIVE AND STEAM BOILER FURNACES," a communi-
cation to me from abroad by Charles Boschan, of Vienna (Empire of
Austria), to be as follows:-
The apparatus which forms the subject of this Invention is applied
directly to the fire-place, and consists of an ordinary horizontal steam

page_text: boiler grate in the middle, and at the two side ends of which are provided
open spaces between the grate bars for the reception of vertical venti-
lation midfeathers, which are supported upon ledges formed on the bars.
These midfeathers are made of crucible matter or fire-brick, or other
suitable material, and are hollow and of the same length as the grate
bars. The upper edge of the said midfeathers are fluted or formed with
a bead, and in this cylindrical upper part, openings, helically arranged,
are formed. Also in the sides of the midfeathers towards the fire are
formed longitudinal openings or slots, which said helical and longi-
tudinal openings communicate with the interior or hollow portion of the
midfeathers.
The channels, arranged as described, form passages for atmospheric air,
and not only produce a generally increased current, but particularly an
increased supply of oxygen for the combustion of the latest supply of
fuel which lies not yet decomposed upon the glowing fire, thus obtaining
a more effectual combustion of the smoke, and glowing particles given
off therefrom.
As the midfeathers, particularly of locomotives, are when in use at a
great heat the air introduced by them into the middle of the flame is
heated to a high degree by radiant heat, which circumstance is of great
importance for the perfect combustion of the smoke.
The screw form of the helical openings is peculiarly fit for the desired
purpose, as by this means an excessive supply of air to the fire-place is
avoided; but, at the same time, an intimate mixing of the ascending
gases and the sparks with hot air is effected, each particle or atom being
crossed by the air current, and by the reverse arrangement of the said
openings lying opposite to each other the crossing becomes a double onc.
This arrangement of apparatus by the small number of the mid-
feathers, and also by their form, does not detrimentally affect the
operations by the fireman of charging, firing, and removing the
cinders.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Frank Wirth in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 8th November 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, FRANK
WIRTH, of the Firm of Wirth & Comp., Patent Agency, residing at
Frankfort /m, Germany, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of May, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the
thirty-sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said Frank Wirth, Her special
licence that I, the said Frank Wirth, my exccutors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Frank Wirth, my executors,
administrators, and 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, tho
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR PROMOTING THE COMBUSTION OF SMOKE IN LOCOMOTIVE AND Steam
BOILER FURNACES," a communication to mo from Charles Boschan, of
Vienna (Empire of Austria), upon the condition (amongst others) that I,
the said Frank Wirth, my exccutors or administrators, by an instrument
in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, 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 Frank Wirth, do hereby declaro
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to bo
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, reference being had to the Figures on the accom-
panying Sheet of Drawings, and to the letters of reference marked
thereon, that is to say :-
The apparatus which forms the subject of this Invention is applied
directly to the fire-place, and consists of a horizontal steam boiler grate
having the fire-bars so arranged that there shall be a space between

page_text: them in the middle, and also spaces between them and the sides of the
furnace; and over these spaces are placed upright hollow blocks sup-
ported on the cross bars at the back and front of the grate, or in any
other suitable manner, and the tops of these blocks are of a cylindrical
or curved shapo.
5
The blocks are made of fire-clay, fire-brick, or other heat-resisting
material, and have at the top a number of spiral slots or openings, and
in the sides between the top and bottom a number of horizontal slots or
passages extending mearly to the ends of the blocks, and all these slots
or passages communicate with the interior of the furnace and the
hollows in the blocks, which hollows are open at the bottom to the
atmosphere.
On the accompanying Sheet of Drawings Fig. 1 is a transverse
section of a furnace provided with my improved apparatus for con-
suming smoke; Fig. 2, a view of the apparatus detached; and Fig. 3, a
side view of one of the blocks.
a represents the fire-bars; b, the metal sides of the furnace; c, the
hollow fire-clay or fire-brick blocks; d, hollows in the blocks open at the
bottom to the atmosphere; e, the spiral slots or openings; and f, the
horizontal slots or openings.
This arrangement of slots or openings and hollows in the blocks form
passages for atmospheric air, and not only produce an increased current,
but particularly an increased supply of oxygen for the combustion of the
latest supply of fuel which lies not yet decomposed upon the glowing
fire, thus obtaining a more effectual combustion of the smoke, and
glowing particles given off therefrom.
As the blocks, particularly those of locomotives, are when in use at a
great heat the air introduced by them into the middle of the flame is
heated to a high degree by radiant heat, which circumstance is of great
importance for the perfect combustion of the smoke.
The screw form of the spiral passages is peculiarly suitable for tho
desired purpose, as by this means an excessive supply of air to the fire-
place is avoided; but, at the same time, an intimate mixing of the
ascending gases and the sparks with hot air is effected, each particle or
atom being crossed by the air current, and by the reverse arrangement
of the said openings lying opposite to each other the crossing becomes a
double one.

page_text: This arrangement of apparatus by the small number of the mid-
feathers or blocks, and also by their form, does not detrimentally affect
the operations by the fireman of charging, firing, and removing the
cinders.
Having now described the naturo and particulars of the said In-
vention I claim, the improvements in apparatus for promoting the
combustion of smoke in locomotive and steam boiler furnaces, sub-
stantially as herein described and shown on the Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frank Wirth, have hereunto set
my hand and scal, this Twenty-seventh day of October, Onc
thousand eight hundred and seventy-three.