IMPROVEMENTS IN FUR-
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Lafayette Harley, of the City of Wash-
ington, and District of Columbia, in the United States of America,
Mechanical Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN FUR-
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Lafayette Harley
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 19th November 1873.
I, JOSEPH LAFAYETTE HARLEY, of the City of Washington, and District
of Columbia, in the United States of America, Mechanical Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for “IMPROVEMENTS IN
FURNACES AND APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH," to be as follows:-
My Invention relates to furnaces generally which are required to
generate intense heat, but more especially those adapted to steam boilers.
It has for its object to utilize the lost carbon or unconsumed gasses
generated by the combustion of the fuel, and by mingling it dry

page_text: The steam pipe enters the top of the stripper on one side of the per-
forated partition, and the steam is conducted away by another pipe on
the opposite side, where it enters an air pipe just below and about a
quarter way around from the elbow pipe; it then passes to the centre of
the air pipe, where it is returned vertically, and passes down below the
contracted portion of the pipe affixed to the dome, and terminates in a
nozzle, which is contracted to give suitable increased projectile force to
the steam
The steam pipe enters the top of the stripper on one side of the per-
forated partition, and the steam is conducted away by another pipe on
the opposite side, where it enters an air pipe just below and about a
quarter way around from the elbow pipe; it then passes to the centre of
the air pipe, where it is returned vertically, and passes down below the
contracted portion of the pipe affixed to the dome, and terminates in a
nozzle, which is contracted to give suitable increased projectile force to
the steam.
To the bottom of the stripper a water leg is connected, which com-
municates with the bottom of the stripper and the jacket or water
space.
Taps or cocks are applied to the side of the stripper, and at the bottom
of the jacket or water space for the purpose of drawing the water there-
from as required.
A flue or pipe leads from the dome directly into the furnace above the
grate, which is protected from the action of the heat by a fire-brick, or
other suitable wall or covering, and is provided with several bevelled
topped chimneys adapted to receive and conduct the carbonic oxide to
the flue.
A damper is arranged in the flue between the dome and the front of
the furnace for controlling the currents in the flue.
A tubular or other channel through the jacket and dome communi-
cates with the flue to admit of the passage of a suitable rod, to the end
of which a scraper may be secured through the hole in the top of the
3 dome, and by means of which the flue may be scraped and cleaned, and
the accumulation of particles of carbon removed.
According to a slight modification of the stripper herein-before
described the steam pipe enters a vertical pipe at right angles, the lower
portion of which is of greater diameter than the upper portion which
enters the air pipe. This induces to the gravitation of the heavier or
wet steam and products of condensation, whilst the lighter and dry steam
ascends the smaller pipe above.

page_text: .
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Joseph Lafayette Harley in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 18th May 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOSEPH
LAFAYETTE HARLEY, of the City of Washington, and District of
Columbia, in the United States of America, Mechanical Engineer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Nineteenth day of November, A.D. 1873, in the
thirty-seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Joseph Lafayette Harley, Her special
licence that I, the said Joseph Lafayette Harley, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Joseph Lafayette Harley,
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, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
FURNACES AND APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Joseph Lafayette Harley, 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 imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
"
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Joseph Lafayette Harley, 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 Invention relates to furnaces generally which are required to
generate intense heat, but more especially those adapted to steam boilers,
the object of which is to utilize the lost carbon or unconsumed gases
generated by the combustion of the fuel, and by mingling with it either
dry steam or atmospheric air, or both, and injecting the combined mass
under or into the fire where it is consumed, producing very intense heat,

page_text: and increasing the draught of the furnace, as will be herein-after more
fully set forth.
My Invention consists in a novel arrangement by which the escaping
carbon is arrested, and after being mingled with either atmospheric air
or steam, or both, previously stripped of all undue moisture, is projected
by atmospheric pressure underneath or into the fire; and my Invention
further consists in novel means for stripping the steam or depriving it
of all undue moisture, in order that it may enter the furnace perfectly
dry.
In carrying out my Invention I arrange a furnace, the walls of which
I prefer to form of fire-brick, and arrange therein a boiler.
Doors are formed in the walls to give access to the furnace and the
under side of the grate, which are made to fit closely.
The smoke stack is by preference arranged at the rear of the
furnace.
A pipe penetrates the front of the furnace, which has its exit under
the grate. This pipe is turned upwards on the outside of the walls of
the furnace, where it connects with a dome which is surrounded by a
cylindrical case forming a hot water jacket or space. This dome has a
cone-shaped bottom, and has a hole in its top arranged centrally for the
reception of a pipe, which is cone shaped from a point near its centre up
to a flanged collar, which rests steam tight on the top of the dome,
packing the joint between the said pipe and the dome. The jacket or
hot water space is provided with a cap which forms the top or cover of
the same, and an air pipe is mounted on the upper end of the pipe con-
nected to the top of the dome, which is provided with a smaller elbow
pipe leading to the smoke stack. Above the entrance of this pipe a
damper is arranged.
A steam pipe is connected with a steam stripper, the lower portion of
which is by preference dish shaped or curved inwards towards an annular
opening in the centre. This stripper is provided with a partition, one
side of which is perforated, and has a solid or non-perforated bottom
corresponding in its contour with the sides of the stripper.
The steam pipe enters the top of the stripper on one side of the per-
forated partition, and the steam is conducted away by another pipe on
the opposite side, where it enters an air pipe just below and about a

page_text: fourth of the way around from the elbow pipe; it then passes to the
centre of the air pipe, where it is returned vertically, and passes down
below the contracted portion of the pipe affixed to the dome, and ter-
minates in a nozzle, which is contracted to give suitable increased
projectile force to the steam.
projectile force to the steam.
To the bottom of the stripper a water leg is connected, which com-
municates with the bottom of the stripper and the jacket or water
space.
Taps or cocks are applied to the side of the stripper and at the bottom
of the jacket or water space for the purpose of drawing the water there- 1
from as required.
A flue or pipe leads from the dome directly into the furnace above the
grate, which is protected from the action of the heat by a fire-brick, or
other suitable wall or covering, and is provided with several bevelled
topped chimneys adapted to receive and conduct the carbonic oxide to
the flue.
A damper is arranged in the flue between the dome and the front of
the furnace for controlling the currents in the flue.
A tubular or other channel through the jacket and dome communi-
cates with the flue to admit of the passage of a suitable rod, to the end
of which a scraper may be secured through the hole in the top of the
dome, and by means of which the flue may be scraped and cleaned, and
the accumulation of particles of carbon removed.
According to a slight modification of the stripper herein-before
described the steam pipe enters a vertical pipe at right angles, the lower
portion of which is of greater diameter than the upper portion which
enters the air pipe. This induces to the gravitation of the heavier or
wet steam and products of condensation, whilst the lighter and dry steam
ascends the smaller pipe above.
But that my Invention may be fully understood I will describe the
same in detail by aid of the accompanying Drawings.

page_text: Figure 2 is a central vertical section of a modification of the steam
stripping device.
Figure 3 is a side view of the pipe and its inlets arranged within the
furnace over the grate, and through which the non-combusted carbon is
drawn to the mingling dome; Figure 4 is a section at x, x, of
Figure 3.
Figure 5 is a top view of the furnace and appurtenances with the
boiler removed; and Figure 6 is a central vertical section at y, y, of
the steam, carbon, and air mixing devices, and the steam stripping
apparatus.
Similar letters denote like parts in the several Figures.
A represents the walls or sides of the furnace composed of suitable
masonry, and having suitably arranged therewith a boiler B; O is the
door to the grate, and through which the coal or fuel is fed; and D is
another door under the grate leading to the ash-pit. Both of these
doors are made to fit closely. E is the smoke stack; F is a pipė pene-
trating the front of the furnace, and having its exit under the grate; it
is turned upwardly outside, connecting with a dome G, which is sur-
rounded by a cylindrical case H forming a hot water jacket or space I. The
dome G has a cone-shaped bottom, and has a hole in its top arranged
centrally for the reception of a pipe K, which is cone shaped from a
point near its centre up to a flanged collar, which rests steam tight on
the top of the dome, packing the joint between the said pipe and dome;
L is a cap forming a top or cover to the jacket space I; M is an air
pipe mounted upon the upper end of the pipe K provided with a smaller
elbow pipe N leading to the stack. Above the entrance of this pipe N
is a damper O; P is a steam pipe leading into a steam stripper Q, which
is of about the design shown, provided with an L partition R, one side
perforated as shown, the other or bottom being non-perforated, and
corresponding in its contour to the sides of the box Q. The steam pipe
enters the top on one side of the perforated partition, R, and an exit
pipe S leads from the opposite side, and enters the air pipe M just below
and about quarter way around from the pipe N, travelling to the centre
of the pipe M, where it is returned vertically, passing down below the
contracted portion of the pipe K, and terminating in a nozzle, which is
suitably contracted to give suitable increased projectile force to the
steam; T is a water leg communicating from the bottom of the

page_text: stripper Q to the jacket space I; U is a pet cock; and V is a draw-off
cock arranged at the bottom of the jacket space to withdraw its con-
tents, as will be more fully explained hereafter; W is a flue or pipe
leading from the dome G directly into the furnace above the grate pro-
tected from the action of the heat by suitable masonry, and provided &
with several bevelled topped chimneys X adapted to receive and conduct
the carbonic oxide to the flue W; Y is a damper in the flue W between
the dome and the front of the furnace for controlling the currents in
said flue; Z is a tubular or other channel through the jacket and dome
communicating with the flue W to admit of the passage of a suitable 1
rod, which may be secured to a scraper passed through the hole in the
top of the dome, and by means of which the flue may be scraped, and
the accumulation of particles of carbon, &c., removed.
Figure 2, as before mentioned, represents a water leg, which is a
modification of the steam stripper Q; P is the steam pipe which enters 1
a vertical pipe 8¹ at right angles. The lower portion of the pipe 8¹ is of
greater diameter than the upper portion, which enters the air pipe M.
This conduces to the gravitation of the heavier or wet steam and pro-
ducts of condensation, while the lighter and dry steam ascends the
smaller pipe above. A¹ is a register band for closing a series of air 2
inlets at the point indicated in air pipe, which may be used or not at
discretion.
The operation of the apparatus is as follows:-The fire having been
started in the grate, and sufficient heat produced to generate steam in
the boiler, a supply is allowed to pass into the pipe P, and through:
the stripper Q, the light and dry steam passing through the pipe S is
projected through the nozzle thereof below the contraction in the pipe K,
which is but a continuation of the air pipe M. This creates a vacuum
in said air pipe, which is filled by the pure air entering at the top of the
pipe. Air entering at this point is more valuable than warm or foul
air, on account of the amount of oxygen it contains. The atmospheric
air and steam commingle at or near the small or extreme end of the air
pipe, and their projectile force operate to create a vacuum in the dome G
by virtue of its contracted or cone-shaped base, and the relative position
of the exit of pipe M. This vacuum is immediately filled by the
non-combusted carbon or gases within the furnace, which are drawn
down the chimney X into the flue or pipe W; they are then mingled
with the atmospheric air and steam in the pipe F, and projected into

page_text: the furnace under the grate, and up through the same into the fire,
where they are burnt, increasing the intensity of the heat and draught.
The pipe N passing from the air pipe M, and terminating in the smoke
stack E, where it is provided will a bell mouth, will by the action of
the same forces conduct the smoke with any inflammable gases it may
contain into the pipe M, and mingle it with the other collected com-
bustible matter. Of course this pipe may or may not be used, and all
the draughts are controlled and regulated by means of the dampers
shown, or any other or additional ones. The products of condensation
and wet steam stripped in the stripper Q fall to the bottom thereof, and
are conducted into the jacket space I, thus heating the dome G suffi-
ciently to warm the air in its passage through the pipe M, so that cold
air with its richness of oxygen is obtained, and afterwards warmed
without the escape of any oxygen. By means of the pet cock U the
hot water may be prevented from rising sufficiently high in the stripper
to interfere with its functions, and the water contained in the jacket
and stripper may be entirely drawn off by the cock V.
The bevelled tops of the chimneys X are exposed through the masonry,
and are so constructed that they can be readily removed from the
flue W, and replaced by new ones at slight expense.
It will be observed that all the draught vacuums are produced by
locating the discharge of the projectile forces below the contractions in
the respective conduits; and the beneficial results are due to the special
construction and arrangement of the several parts of the apparatus.
I am aware that very many attempts have been made (some of which
have been successful to a limited extent) to utilize the uncombusted
carbon, and that atmospheric air and steam projected in a jet have also
been used, but in all the apparatuses with which I am familiar there are
serious defects in the construction and arrangement resulting in an
imperfect accomplishment of the ends sought. The best experiments
have, so far as I am familiar with the same, produced less than fourteen
pounds evaporation to one pound of coal, and not even then without the
destruction of the devices and apparatus used to such an extent as to
counteract in a pecuniary point of view the advantages gained in
increased evaporation. After continued and careful practical experi-
ments I have obtained over eighteen pounds evaporation to the pound of
coal with comparatively no destruction of the apparatus; for it will be
observed that no part of my apparatus, except the bevelled grate bar

page_text: chimneys are subject to the influence of the incandescent mass. And
as these are portable, and made of cheap material and design they may
be removed at very trifling cost should they become injured by long
continued use.
It will be also observed that I do not use any superheating devices for 5
drying or raising the temperature of the projected steam, but instead
thereof I employ the steam stripping device herein-before described,
which produces substantially the same result as the superheating of the
steam.
Another advantage of my apparatus is that the fire space is not 10
lessened materially, if at all, and no change in the construction of the
furnace or boiler is necessary for the ready application of my improve-
ments. This advantage, it will be readily understood, is of great
importance, especially with reference to locomotive boiler furnaces.
It will also be understood that, requiring no special change in the 18
furnaces as at present constructed, my improvements can be used or not
at will, and this alternative feature will readily suggest and demonstrate
its value.
Having thus described my Invention I would have it understood that
I do not confine myself to the exact details shown and described, as the 20
same may be varied without departing from the peculiar character of my
Invention; but what I do claim is,―
First. The method herein described of taking the carbon directly from
the fire space, mingling it with stripped steam or air, or both, and pro-
jecting the same under or into the fire, substantially as and for the 2
purpose set forth.
Second. In combination with a furnace the carbon flue W arranged
above the grate and the discharge flue F underneath the same with the
air pipe M, K, and steam nozzle and carbon dome G arranged relatively
to each other, as and for the purposes set forth.
Third. The carbon dome G in combination with the air pipe M, K,
and steam nozzle, whereby the necessary vacuums are produced for the
injection of atmospheric air and carbon, in substantially the manner and
for the purpose set forth.
3
Fourth. The steam dome G constructed as described, and provided 8
with the hot water jacket I, as and for the purpose set forth.

page_text: Fifth. In combination with the carbon flue W the removable.
chimneys X, as and for the purpose specified.
Sixth. In combination with the inlet and exit steam pipes P and S
the stripper Q, constructed and operating in substantially the manner
set forth.
Seventh. The combination of the steam pipe P, stripper Q, exit pipe 8
with its nozzle air pipe M, K, dome G, and conduit F, all arranged with
reference to each other and the furnace, as and for the purposes set
forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Lafayette Harley, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of April, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
four.
JOSEPH LAFAYETTE HARLEY. (L.S.)