Improvements in Smoke Consuming Furnaces.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 14th June, 1894-Accepted, 1st Sept., 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Smoke Consuming Furnaces.
We, ROBERT MATTERN of Zirkow near Prague, Empire of Austria, Master
Potter, and OTTOKAR SKRIVAN, Königliche Weinberge near Prague aforesaid,
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement :-
This invention relates to the construction of smoke-consuming furnaces, adapted
to all industrial uses, and in which, further, all kinds of combustible, such as pit-
coal, lignite, wood, turf, wood-waste and other refuse may be consumed.
In the accompanying drawings examples are shown of the application of our
improved smoke-consuming apparatus to different types of furnace.
Fig. 1 shows the arrangement applied to a chamber or magazine stove.
Fig. 2. the same for a drying stove of kiln ;
Fig. 3. the same for a brewing-copper;
Fig. 4. the same for a tubular boiler with two fire-grates;
Fig. 5. the same for a steam-boiler with fire-grate and step-grates;
Fig. 6 the same for an economical fire-grate;
Fig. 7 the same for a Cornish or Lancashire steam-boiler
Fig. 8 the same for a forge-furnace, and reheating or welding furnaces;
Fig. 9 (in vertical section) and Fig. 10 (in front elevation) show the application
of the invention to a baking-oven; and
Fig. 11 the corresponding horizontal section
Figs. 12, 13 and 14 represent in horizontal section, front elevation and vertical
longitudinal section, the application of this principle of furnace-construction to a
locomotive boiler.
The essential feature of the invention lies in the arrangement of an independent
partition-wall N (in the nature of a bridge) which is built at a distance of from
15 to 20 centimetres above the grate-surface, in the form of an arch. This partition
wall is easily arranged in any furnace, inasmuch as both side walls of the combustion
chamber or fireplace are chiselled out or otherwise adapted to facilitate the
construction of the arch.
The object of this partition-wall is to prevent the direct ascent of the smoke-
gases or combustion-products generated in the fire-space, so that they must
compulsorily pass through the bright clear flame of the smokeless glowing
fire (at b). There is always some unburnt coal or combustible material remaining
en the fire-grate, and for the purpose of preventing the smoky fumes therefrom
from escaping unconsumed an air-supply passage d is brought from above through
the partition-wall N, which is thereby kept cool against the fuel or combustion-
chamber A. The principal advantage is, however, that by opening the air-valve g
with which the inlet opening of the said passage d is fitted, the large volume of
smoke generated in furnaces of great size are blown against the clear, glowing fire
by the strong current of heated air issuing from the air-supply passage d, whereby.
the most complete and smokeless combustion of the fuel is attained. The air-
supply passage d is provided throughout the entire length of the partition-wall N
with numerous orifices through which the fresh warm air is supplied to the
fire-space.
In constructing the wall N care must be taken to leave an opening B towards
the flue as an outlet for the clear flame into the boiler flues or heating chambers,
which opening should be equal in area to about 30 per cent. of the free-grate

page_text: surface; by which is to be understood to total open area provided by the openings
between the bars for, the free admission of air.
A further advantage consists in the under part of the said partition wall or bridging
arch N forming a neck or flame-passage, and causing the smoke consequently to
have further to travel through the glowing fuel and therefore be the more
completely consumed.
The removal of the cinders and clinkers, in the cases shown in Figs. 1 and 2
takes place through the door E and is effected by simply raking them out with a
suitable stoking implement the dust may be removed through the door F.
In Fig. 3 a clinker-hearth G is shown beneath the fire-grate R, and the cinders
and clinkers can easily be removed through the intervening space Z, which applies
equally to the apparatus shown in Figs. 4 and 5. In these latter cases however, a
clinker grate His substituted for the hearth G; the cinders and clinkers fall
thereon and are removed through the ash-door F.
The fuel is lighted on the fire-grate, and it is extremely important that there
should be no smoke formed at the very commencement of the combustion, which
object will be attained by spreading a few shovelfuls of coal evenly over the
fire grate, and then the necessary wood is laid and lighted thereon. As soon as
the wood is thoroughly kindled the fuel-chamber A above is filled with coal.
In this manner; from the very outset the coal-gases or products of combustion
must pass through the flames from the wood when the wood is consumed, the layer
of coal lying underneath it is already burning with a bright, clear flame, and the
smoke-consumption proceeds uninterruptedly.
The coal attains the state of glowing heat only between the points a and b
i.e. directly over the grate; above a the coal is kept cool by the air current, and
below b nothing remains but cinders, etc.
As already stated, Figure 6 shows the application of our improved arrangement
to an economical fire-grate, Figure 7 its use for a steam-boiler, fired internally,
and Figure 8 its employment for a smithy furnace on a large scale. Flat-iron
heating-stoves may be arranged in similar manner. The pieces of iron to be
forged are inserted through the openings E (Figure 8) and heated in the glowing
mass at B.
Figures 9. 10. and 11 illustrate the application of our invention to a baking oven.
Here it is a great advantage that the baking hearth for the bread remains quite
free of all impurities, because the furnaces are formed, at a lower level, at the
right and left hand sides of the heating space R' (Figures 9 and 11). The door S
for the insertion and removal of the bread is arranged centrally in relation to the
hearth.
In the improved construction of locomotive boiler furnace shown in Figures 12, 13
and 14 the projecting partition N or bridge is constructed out of strong boiler-plates,
is hollow, and forms part of the water-space of the boiler.
The apparatus is provided with supplementary trumpet-mouthed air-supply tubes
(on the principle of wind-sails or ventilators on board ship) which, while the
locomotive is running, are so turned in the direction of travel that the bell-
mouths generate a strong blast upon the fuel. These tubes or horns are jointed
in any suitable manner so that they can readily be turned in any direction.
The air-passages d supply the air necessary for the consumption of the smoke and
have their outlets directly over the glowing mass of fuel.
at
The following are the advantages resulting from the improved arrangements as
above described:
1. The utmost economy of fuel ;
2. Freedom and comfort in the manipulation of the fire, as the stoker is not
inconvenienced by excessive heat while attending to the furnace ;-
3. Prevention of risk of explosion;
4. Diminution in wear and tear of furnace-doors.
The following accessories are also shown in the drawings:
c is a small door through which inspection can be made of the flame or boiler

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
A construction of furnace characterized by a wall partition or arch such as N
bridging over the flue or escape from the fire chamber and wherein for fixed
structures hollow passages d are arranged and adjacent to or in connection with
which for locomotives and portable engines air-supply horns such as d and C
(Figures 12-14) are provided in such manner that the in-flowing current of air
drives the smoke or gases directly into the glowing mass of combustible material
whereby they are effectually consumed.
Dated this 14th day of June 1894.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicants.