IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION of FURNACES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Eustace Carey, of Widnes, in the County of Lancaster, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION of FURNACES."
Sealed the 6th April 1877 and dated the 12th October 1876
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Eustace Carey at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th October 1876.
EUSTACE CAREY, of Widnes, in the County of Lancaster. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE CONSTRUCTION OF FURNACES."
«
This Invention relates to improvements in the construction of furnaces or
apparatus for producing and utilizing heat (herein-after called furnaces"), and
consists in constructing the heat producing portion of the furnace (which is con-
tiguous to that portion of the furnace where the heat is utilized) in such a manner
as that the fuel gases generated by the combustion of the fuel are more effectually
consumed, and in arranging the relative level of the heat producing and heat
utilizing parts of the furnace, so that the quantity of air or other gases which are
allowed to mix with the fuel gases, and which are not necessary for their combustion,
are much reduced.
In carrying out this Invention I construct the heat producing portion of the
furnace with a combustion chamber directly over the fire, and of such a height,
shape, and capacity, according to the furnace or purpose to which such products of
combustion are to be applied, as to ensure the more perfect and complete combustion
of the gases before entering that part of the furnace where the heat is utilized.
The fire-place with regard to the other or the heat utilizing portion of the furnace
is placed at such a lower level that the ascending power of the column of hot
gases from and above the fire-place is sufficient to fill the furnace so as to prevent
the entrance of cold air or other gases which are not required for the combustion
of the fuel gases.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Eustace Carey in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 11th April
1877.
EUSTACE CAREY, of Widnes, in the County of Lancaster.
THE CONSTRUCTION OF FURNACES."
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
My said Invention relates to improvements in the construction of furnaces or
apparatus for producing and using heat (herein-after called "furnaces"), and consists
in so constructing the heat producing part of the furnace (which is contiguous to
the heat using part thereof) that the fuel gases generated by the combustion of the
fuel are more effectually consumed, and in so arranging the relative level of the
heat producing and heat using parts of the furnace, that the quantity of air or
other gases allowed to mix with the fuel gases and not necessary for their com-
bustion is much reduced. These results are obtained, firstly, by employing in
combination with the fire-place a combustion chamber which may be partially
filled with brickwork or other material to aid in the mixing and combustion of the
fuel gases; this combustion chamber should be situate if practicable immediately
over the fire-bars (or that part of the furnace where the fuel is placed for com-
bustion), and should be of such a height that the ascending power of the column of
heated gases above the fire-bars is sufficient to draw either between the fire-bars or
through other apertures for the purpose, into such combustion chamber a sufficient
quantity of air for the complete or nearly complete combustion of the fuel; secondly,
by placing the fire-place and the said combustion chamber at such a level
in relation to the heat using part of the furnace that the ascending power of
the column of heated gases before mentioned will so fill the heat using part of the
furnace, that little if any cold air is drawn thereinto, whereby a considerable saving
of heat and therefore of fuel is effected.
The main object of my said Invention is to so construct the furnace that the
draught obtained from a chimney is not required for the combustion of the fuel,
the chimney being used exclusively or nearly so for drawing off and conducting
away the waste products of combustion.
In order that my said Invention may be perfectly understood, I shall refer to the
several Figures on the accompanying Sheets of Drawings which represent examples
of furnaces having the improvements which form the subject of the said Invention
applied thereto.
Sheet 1 of my Drawings shews an ordinary reverberatory furnace, such for
example, as is used for drying or "finishing" carbonate and other salts of soda and
potash, and for other purposes, Figure 1 being a longitudinal section of the furnace;
Figure 2, a horizontal section taken along the line 1-2; and Figures 3 and 4,
transverse sections taken respectively along the lines 3-4, and 5-6, (Figure 1).
Sheet 2 of my Drawings shews evaporating pans of two different types.
Figure 5 is a longitudinal section of a pan; Figure is a horizontal section;
and Figure 7, a transverse section of the same taken respectively along the lines
7-8, and 9-10, (in Figure 5). This pan is simply taken as an example to illustrate
the application of my said Invention, my improvement being equally applicable to
common salt evaporating pans, and pans of other descriptions where liquids are
heated or evaporated by fire heat.
Figure 8 is a longitudinal section of a pan or pot; and Figure 9 is a plan of the
same.
In all these Figures A represents the fire-place or part where the fuel is placed
for combustion; B, the heat using part thereof; C, the combustion chamber which
together with A forms what I designate the heat producing part of the furnace;
and D are the flues for conveying away to the chimney the waste products of
combustion.
In the examples illustrated, the combustion chamber C is situate immediately
over the fire-bars A, which is the most suitable situation when practicable, but in
all cases the chamber is made of such a height that the ascending power of the

page_text: column of heated gases above the fire-bars A is sufficient to draw either between
the fire-bars or through other apertures which may be provided for the purpose, a
sufficient quantity of air for the complete or nearly complete combustion of the fuel.
The fire-place A and the combustion chamber C are also arranged below the heat
using part B of the furnace, and at such a level in relation thereto that the
ascending power of the column of heated gases before referred to will so fill the
heat using part B of the furnace that little if any cold air is drawn thereinto.
By the combination of the two features herein-before described, viz., the employ-
ment of a combustion chamber of a sufficient depth arranged together with the fire-
place below the level of the beat using part of the furnace, considerable economy is
effected in the consumption of fuel as the gases generated by the combustion of
the fuel are more completely consumed, and the quantity of cold air admitted into
the furnace is reduced to a minimum, the draught obtained from the chimney not
being required to support combustion, but being simply utilized for conveying away
the products of combustion after they have been sufficiently exhausted or deprived
of their calorific powers.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention and several modes of
carrying the same into effect, I would observe in conclusion that I do not confine
myself to the precise proportions or arrangements shewn in the Drawings, as the
same may be modified according as the varieties of fuel and other circumstances
may render necessary, but what I consider to be novel and original and therefore
clain as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters
Patent is, the employment of a combustion chamber constituting together with the
fire-place, the heat producing part of the furnace which is arranged in relation to
the heat using part of the furnace, substantially in the manner and for the purposes
herein-before described, and as illustrated by the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Eustace Carey, have to this my Specification
set my hand and seal, this Fifth day of April, One thousand eight hundred
and seventy-seven.
EUSTACE CAREY. (L.S.)