IMPROVEMENTS IN AN APPARATUS PARTICULARLY APPLICABLE AS A SPARK ARRESTER FOR LOCOMOTIVES, SMOKE STACKS, AND OTHER FLUES OR CHIMNEYS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Daniel Hawkesworth, of Acacia Valley Tannery, in the
County of Digby, Province of Nova Scotia, and Dominion of Canada, Tanner,
and Henry Colford, of the City of Halifax, in the Province of Nova Scotia, and
Dominion of Canada, Insurance Agent, for the Invention of IMPROVEMENTS
IN AN APPARATUS PARTICULARLY APPLICABLE AS A SPARK ARRESTER FOR
LOCOMOTIVES, SMOKE STACKS, AND OTHER FLUES OR CHIMNEYS.”
Sealed the 16th September 1876, and dated the 17th March 1876.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Daniel Hawkesworth and Henry
Colford at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th March 1876.
DANIEL HAWKESWORTH, of Acacia Valley Tannery, in the County of Digby,
Province of Nova Scotia, and Dominion of Canada, Tanner, and HENRY COLFORD,
of the City of Halifax, in the Province of Nova Scotia, and Dominion of Canada,
Insurance Agent.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN AN APPARATUS PARTICULARLY APPLICABLE
AS A SPARK ARRESTER FOR LOCOMOTIVES, SMOKE STACKS, AND OTHER FLUES OR
CHIMNEYS."
The object of this Invention is to produce a spark arrester so arranged that it may
be placed inside of a chimney, smoke stack, or flue at any suitable point, while it
may also be used upon the top of a chimney or smoke stack in the usual manner;
or the said spark arrester may also be employed for various other useful purposes,
all as herein-after fully set forth.
The Invention consists principally in arranging a series of triangular plates either
perforated or solid inside of a casing, smoke stack, or flue in such a manner as to
form a spiral, the points of said plates overlapping each other; and the Invention
further consists in the details of construction and arrangement and in slight
modifications in the shape of the plates.
But that our Invention may be fully understood we will proceed to describe the
same in detail by aid of the accompanying Drawings.

page_text: plates within a cylinder and a square box or casing; Figure 4 is a similar view
showing the plates adapted to a hexagonal casing; Figure 5 is a similar view
showing a series of elliptical plates adapted to a cylindrical casing; Figure 6 is a
perspective sectional view of a spark arrestor when adapted for use on locomotives
and having the plates detachably connected; Figure 7 is a vertical section of a drum
with two sets of removable plates; and Figure 8 is a combination of the elements
of Figures 6 and 7; Figure 9 represents the Invention as adapted to a stove; and
Figures 10 and 11 show slight modifications in the form of the plates; and
Figure 12 shows the Invention adapted as a ventilator.
In the accompanying Drawings similar letters of reference are employed to
indicate corresponding parts wherever they may occur.
A represents a sheet metal casing, which may be cylindrical in shape, as shown
by Figures 1, 2, 5, and 6 of the accompanying Drawings, or it may be of square
shape, as shown by Figure 3, or of hexagonal shape, as shown by Figure 4, as we
have found by experiments that the configuration of the enclosing case, flue, or
smoke stack may be varied without affecting the perfect operation of the apparatus,
so that square, hexagonal, or other shaped enclosing casings as well as cylindrical
may be employed. To the interior wall of the enclosing casing a series of metallic
plates a, a, are arranged spirally so as to overlap each other. Each plate a projects
beyond the axis of the enclosing casing, so that not only the sides but also the points
will overlap each other.
When the plates are adapted to the inside of a chimey or flue itself we prefer to
perforate them, but when arranged within a drum or the expanded part of a smoke
stack or within any other casing the plates may be made solid, care being taken
that they shall be arranged at a suitable distance from each other so as not to
obstruct the draft. The series of plates should be arranged at proper distances from
each other so as to extend at least once around the casing, smoke stack, or flue, that
is to say,
for at least one "round," so that when seen from above said casing will
appear perfectly closed. The plates a while not in the least obstructing the passage
of the smoke will intercept the passage or flight of any sparks, which being heavier
than the smoke will strike against the under side of such plates a and be kept there
in suspension until consumed, when the draft will carry them away as ashes. The
points of the plates overlapping each other will prevent any of the sparks from
escaping along the axis of the casing.
We have also found by experience that a particular shape or configuration of the
plates a is not material, as the same may be made triangular or elliptical, as shown
in Figures 10 and 11, or they may be made of any other suitable shape or outline;
but it is essential for the successful operation of the Invention that they should be
arranged spirally within the casing, smoke stack, or flue in such a manner as to
overlap each other at the sides and along the axis of such casing, smoke stack, or
flue within which they are arranged.
When the Invention is to be adapted to the smoke stacks of locomotives we
prefer to arrange the plates as shown in the perspective sectional view of Figure 6,
that is to say, the plates a are shorter and narrower at the bottom A' where the
sparks and steam first meet the plates, gradually increasing in size toward the top.
This arrangement is for the purpose of graduating the resistance of the plates a to
the steam and to the products of combustion so that the draft will not be impaired
by the escaping steani coming too suddenly and abruptly in contact with the lower
plates.
In order to prevent soot from accumulating on the under side of the plates a these
may be made detachable, as shown by Figures 6 and 7. In these Figures b, b, are
flanges or shoulders projecting longitudinally from the interior walls of the casing
or stack A. The plates a are provided with lateral projections b₁ which fit into the
flanges b, so that the plates may be readily moved up or down or detached from the
casing or smoke box or stack A for the purpose of cleaning. When used in
locomotive stacks it is desirable to secure the plates a by set screws or equivalent
devices to prevent their being loosened or blown out by the steam jets.

page_text: Figure 7 shows a drum provided with two sets of removable plates, the lower
set a being concave in shape so as to form hollow receptacles d, in which the soot
or sparks are deposited, while the upper set of plates a are flat. The bent plates a¹
will intercept all the sparks and solid matter, which will be embedded in the
cavities d, while the upper plates will intercept any sparks that should chance to
pass by the lower plates a.
In Figure 8 we have shown a combination of the elements represented by
Figures 6 and 7, the lower short plates being made concave and the upper plates
flat, and all the plates gradually increasing in size from bottom upwards. It
will be readily understood that the plates a¹ instead of being made concave may be
of the shape as shown by Figures 10 and 11, as the object of the concavity or the
shape as shown by the last-named Figures is simply to form receptacles on their
lower side where the soot may be deposited.
In Figure 9 we have shown the Invention as applied to a stove as a heat
radiator and soot gatherer, and in this Figure B is a stove, the pipe from which is
carried into a vertical pipe C, which rests upon the heater and soot box D, which has
a removable pan or reservoir D'. The drum A is affixed removably upon the top of
the pipe C in such manner that it may be readily turned by the handle e so as to
shake the soot from off the plates within. The soot drops through the pipe C into
the soot box D, from which it may be readily removed. The plates within the
drum also serve to delay the passage of the heat into the chimney, thereby saving
nearly fifty per cent. of fuel.
In Figure 12 we have shown the Invention adapted as a ventilator, and to that
effect the drum A is provided with doors f at the botton which communicate with
flues or pipes that conduct the cold air from the outside. The air is heated in its
passage through the drum and escapes through the top through a self-closing valve g
operated by cords or chains ¹, so that the supply of air may be easily regulated.
From what has been said above it will be obvious that the Invention when
employed as a spark arrester may be arranged within the chimney, smoke stack, or
flue at any suitable point, or it may be placed upon the top of such chimney or
smoke stack in the usual manner. When used as a heater or soot gatherer the
drum or box containing the plates a should be placed at some convenient point
upon the flue leading into the chimney.
The advantages of the Invention when used as a spark arrester not only effectually
prevent the escape of sparks but the spiral or rotary motion imparted to the smoke
by the circumferentially arranged plates a will improve the draft, so that the
Invention may be employed with advantage upon chimneys or flues which are
defective in that respect.
The drum or box A may be made of metal, earthenware, or any other suitable
material; thus when used as a heater earthenware is preferable as retaining the
heat longer than metal.
Having now described our Invention and the manner in which the same may be
performed, what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is―
First. A series of plates arranged within a casing, flue, or chimney, or a smoke
stack, or when employed in combination with such flue, chimney, or smoke stack in
the manner and for the purposes substantially as herein-before described.
Second. A spark arrester consisting of a cylinder A having a series of triangular
plates a, a, arranged circumferentially and spirally overlapping each other sidewise
and at the points, substantially as described and for the purpose specified.
Third. The combination of a smoke stack or drum A with a system of plates
arranged circumferentially and spirally on the inside of said stack or drum, said
plates increasing in size from the bottom upward, substantially as described for the
purpose specified.
Fourth. In a spark arrester or soot gatherer, the combination of a lower set of
concave or otherwise bent plates with an upper set of flat plates, arranged sub-
stantially as herein-before described and for the purpose specified.

page_text: Fifth. A series of concave or bent plates when used in combination with a soot
gatherer or spark arrester in the manner and for the purpose as herein-before
described and fully shown by the Drawings.
In witness whereof, we, the said Daniel Hawkesworth and Henry Colford, have
hereto set our hands and seals, this First day of March, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
DANIEL HAWKESWORTH. (L.S.)
HENRY COLFORD.
(LS.)