A NEW OR IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR ADMITTING AIR TO STEAM BOILER OR OTHER FURNACES, FOR THE CONSUMPTION OF THE GASES ARISING THEREIN AND THE PREVENTION OF SMOKE
Year: 1884

page_text: .
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
I JOHN MOULSON of No 21 Upper Cox Street Balsall Heath, in the County of
Worcester Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"A NEW OR IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR ADMITTING AIR TO STEAM BOILER OR
OTHER FURNACES, FOR THE CONSUMPTION OF THE GASES ARISING THEREIN AND
THE PREVENTION OF SMOKE" to be as follows:-
This invention relates mainly to the Furnaces of externally fired Boilers, also 'to
furnaces of Boilers or Coppers for Browers, Manufacturers, and Domestic purposes,
and is further applicable to the Furnaces or Fire places of Ķiln's or Ovens, and has
for its object the provision of a simple and efficient method for promoting com-
bustion and preventing smoke, adapted to the wants of small Manufacturers and
others, and requiring no skilled attention for its effective working.
This Invention as applied to the Furnace of an externally fired Steam Boiler,
with the usual brick seating, consists of the construction, and application for the
purposes mentioned of the following apparatus. Immediately above the Fire door
frame, and affixed in any convenient way thereto, is a shallow cast Iron or other
metal box open in front. To the front of this box, which is about the same width
as the fire door but much less in height, is fixed a metal grating with narrow
vertical or other shaped slots or openings, and over this again is fitted a sliding
plate with similar openings kept in place by a suitable margin or guide frame, and
the sliding plate is capable of a transverse motion of an extent about equal to the
width of the said slots or openings, so that the admission of the outer air to the
said box may be closed or regulated at will, and a knob is affixed to the moveable
plate for this purpose. Instead of this perforated sliding plate, other well known
devices may be used for controlling admission of air. In the back plate of the box
is a series of openings, by preference circular, and arranged horizontally from side
to side of the box, and into these openings are screwed or otherwise affixed or
attached a series of wrought iron or other metal inlet pipes or nozzles, projecting
horizontally a short distance into the furnace chamber, at a level below the bottom
of the boiler. In operation, the outer openings are uncovered to the required
degree by the sliding or regulating plate, when the less density of the air of the
furnace chamber, induces a strong curront of air from the outside through the said
D....
71

page_text: inlet pipes or nozzles, which air being partly heated in the Chamber of the entrance
box, and afterwards more highly by the heat from the fire communicating itself to
the said inlet pipes or nozzles, enters the furnace chamber and mixes with the gases
arising therein at a comparatively high temperature, and tends to effect perfect
combustion and the destruction of black smoke.
Instead of the series of inlet pipes or nozzles being of wrought iron and attached
to the inlet box, they may be of cast iron and affixed to, or cast in one piece with
the same.
Further they may be arranged in a circular sweep transversely, to
correspond with the bottom of the boiler. Or instead of being projected into the
Furnace Chamber in a horizontal direction as I prefer, they may be inclined
downwards, or caused to dip at any desired angle, without in any way departing
from the nature of this Invention or its operation.
When the Iron furnace front is in one complete casting, instead of being of
separate plates with separate Fire door frame, an opening may be left in the
casting, or may afterwards be cut in the said furnace front immediately over the
fire door opening, to which the said air box or chamber may be attached by flanges
or snugs and screw fastenings.
The construction of Brick furnaces with their Iron fronts, for Brewers Boilers,
Domestic Boilers, Kilns, Ovens, and for other purposes, being substantially the
same as for the Steam Boilers above described, except by being usually much
smaller in size, the application of the Invention to the same will be readily
understood from the above, the parts of course being smaller in proportion to the
size of the Furnace and Fire grate.
As bearing upon the nature of this Invention I should point out that it is not
intended by the said apparatus to deal with any large quantity of air. For such a
purpose extensively apparatus with artificial or mechanical adjustments requiring
skilful management is necessary. With my Invention I find that for each square
foot of fire grate surface a combined area of the inlet pipes or nozzles (which
I prefer should not exceed 1/2 inch in bore) of 3 square inches produces very
beneficial results. I refer to this matter as a further illustration of the nature of
my invention, and not as in any way binding myself to any particular proportions
or dimensions.

page_text: I JOHN MOULSON of No 21 Upper Cox Street Balsall Heath in the County of
Worcester Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "A NEW
OR IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR ADMITTING AIR TO STEAM BOILER OR OTHER
FURNACES, FOR THE CONSUMPTION OF THE CASES ARISING THEREIN AND THE
PREVENTION OF SMOKE" 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 mainly to the furnaces of externally fired Boilers also to
furnaces of Boilers or Coppers for Brewers Manufacturers and domestic purposes
and is further applicable to the furnaces or fire places of Kilns or ovens and has for
its object the provision of a simple and efficient method for promoting combustion
and preventing smoke adapted to the wants of small Manufacturers and others and'
requiring no skilled attention for its effective working.
This Invention as applied to the furnace of an externally fired steam boiler with
the usual brick seating consists of the construction and application for the purposos
mentioned of the following apparatus. Immediately above the fire door frame and
fixed in any convenient way thereto is a shallow cast iron or other metal box open
in front. To the front of this box which is about the same width as the fire door
but much less in height is affixed à metal grating with narrow vertical or other
shaped slots or openings and over this again is fitted a sliding plate with similar
openings kept in place by a suitable margin or guide frame and the sliding plate is
capable of a transverse motion of an extent about equal to the width of the said
slots or openings so that the adinission of the outer air to the said box may be
closed or regulated at will, and a knob is affixed to the moveable plate for this
purpose. Instead of this perforated sliding plate other well known devices may bo
used for controlling admission of air. In the back plate of the box is a series of
openings by preference circular and arranged horizontally from side to side of the
box and into these openings are screwed or otherwise aflixod or attached a series of
wrought iron or other metal inlet pipes or nozzles projecting horizontally a short
distance into the furnace chamber at a level below the bottom of the Boiler. In
operation the outer openings are uncovered to the required degree by the sliding
or regulating plate when the less density of the air of the furnace chamber induces
a strong current of air from the outside through the inlet pipes or nozzles which
being partly heated in the chamber of the entrance box, and afterwards more
highly by the heat from the fire communicating itself to the said inlet pipes or
nozzles, enters the furnace chamber and nixes with the gases arising therein at a
comparatively high temperature, and tends to effect perfect combustion and the
destruction of black smoke.
Instead of the series of inlet pipes or nozzles being of wrought iron and attached
to inlet box, they may be of cast iron and affixed to or cast in one piece with the,
same. Further they may be arranged in a circular sweep transversely to corre-
spond with the bottom of the boiler. Or instead of being projected in the furnace
chamber in a horizontal direction as I prefer, they may be inclined downwards or
caused to dip at any required angle without in any way departing from the nature
of this invention or its operation. When the furnace front is in one complete
casting instead of being of separate plates with separate fire door frame, an opening
may be left in the casting or may afterwards be cut in the said furnace front
mmediately over the fire door opening, to which the said air box or chamber may
be attached by flanges or snugs and screw fastenings,

page_text: The construction of Brick furnaces with their iron fronts for brewers Boilers
Domestic Boilers, Kilns, ovens or other purposes being substantially the same as
for the steam boilers above described, except by being usually much smaller in size,
the application of the invention to the same will be readily understood from the
above, the parts of course being smaller in proportion to the size of the Furnace
and Firegrate.
As bearing upon the nature of this invention I should point out that it is not
'intended by the said apparatus to deal with any large quantity of air. For such a
purpose extensive apparatus with artificial or mechanical adjustments requiring
skilful management is necessary. With my Invention I find that for cach square
foot of fire grate surface a combined area of the inlet pipes or nozzles (which
I prefer should not exceed one and a half inches in bore) produces very beneficial
results. I refer to this matter as a further illustration of the nature of my
invention and not as in any way binding myself to any particular proportions or
dimensions.
I now proceed to particularly describe and ascertain the said Invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed reference being had to the accompanying
drawings.
Figures 1 and 2 Sheet 1 shew the mode of applying this invention to an
externally fired Steam Boiler. Figure 3 shews the Invention as applied to a
Brewers Copper or to a Domestic or washhouse Boiler. Figures 4 and 5 show
enlarged views partly in section of the apparatus in one of its forms and applicable
to the above purposes.
Figures 6 and 7 Sheet 2 shew various modifications of the form and arrangement
of the inlet pipes or nozzles for the apparatus delineated in the preceding figures.
Figures 8 and 9 shew the apparatus as adapted for and applied to the Furnace
Tube or flue of an internally fired Boiler.
Figuros 10 and 11 Sheet 3 shew a modification of the latter arrangement.
Figures 12 and 13 shew a modification of the arrangements shewn in figures 1 to 4
and applicable to similar or other purposes.
Figures 14 to 19 inclusive shew various modifications of the cross sectional forms
of the inlet pipes or nozzles both singlo and composite. Figures 20 and 21 slew
forms of deflectors and diffusers for use in connection with the inlet pipes or
nozzles.
Figures 22. 23 and 24 represent the inlet pipes or nozzles fitted with spiral
partitions for the same and other purposes.
Similar letters of reference refer to corresponding parts throughout the whole of
the figures.
Figure 1 is a front elevation and figure 2 a cross section shewing the Invention
as applied to an externally fired steam Boiler in which A is the Boiler. B is the
brickwork of seating and C the fire grato the arrangement being such as is in
ordinary and common use. D is the fire door framo which is fitted with the usual
doors. The new or improved apparatus comprised by this invention consists as
shewn of the air chamber E. with its sliding or regulating plate F in front and the
inlet pipes or nozzles G. G. projecting into the furnaco chamber sufficiently far to
receive from the fire a temperature equal to a low red heat or thereabouts. The
arrows indicate the currents of air when the apparatus is in action, and with pipes
of suitable length the air will thus acquire a temperature which will enable it when
mixing with the gases arising from the fire in proper proportions to effectually
consume the smoke arising immediately after firing.
Figure 3 shews this Invention as applied to a Boiler or Copper such as is used-
by Brewers and for Washhouses and for other purposes in which A is the Boiler or
Copper B the brick work of the seating and Furnace shown in Section, C the fire
grate, D the fire door and the parts of my new or improved apparatus are similar
to and shewn by the same letters as in the previous figures The said apparatus is
shewn to a larger scale and in detail in Figures 4 and 5 which I now proceed to

page_text: describe.. E is the air entrance chamber preferably of cast iron and rectangular in
shape with openings e e for receiving the inlet pipes or nozzles G G. and with ears
or snugs ee for the bolts ee by which the frame or margin ee which carries
the regulating plate F. F. The latter as shewn in this case is hung on pivots ff
on which it swings when open and closes by contact with the faces fƒ³ respectively.
Other forms of door or regulating plate may be adopted. A sliding plate with
holes or slots corresponding with similar holes or slots in the fixed plate forming
the front of the air chamber is shewn in Figures 12 and 13 sheet and is equally
applicable to the apparatus now under description. The door or regulating plate
is used for adjusting the apparatus to any particular requirements of the furnace,
and is fitted with fastenings f³ and in case of a sliding plate with knob or handle
for moving and fixing same at any desired position.
The pipes or nozzles in Figures 4 and 5 are shown cast in threes with heads or
flanges g common to the set. I prefer to cast them vertically and with ribs g³ g²
connecting same to give increased strength and durability. The pipes pass through
triangular openings at the back of the box and are secured by bolts and clamps g³g³.
It will be seen that the pipes are thus interchangeable. In furnaces of the class now
being dealt with the pipes instead of being in groups forming two tiers as in figures 4
and 5 they may extend across the furnace in a single row as shewn in Figures 12
and 13 Sheet 3 or any other modification for substantially the same ends may be
adopted. For Domestic or Washhouse Boilers a single row of small pipes cast in
one piece with door frame or to small box to be built over is a convenient arrange-
ment. As a general rule I prefer pipes of not more than One and a half inch bore
and increase or diminish the number according to size of the furnace.
To meet the case of such Furnaces as those in connection with muffles and Kilns
and so forth which are sometimes subject to intense heat I adopt the arrangement
shewn in Figures 12 and 13 sheet 3 in which the pipes G. G. are of fire brick or of
cast iron protected with fire brick casings and inserted in a fire brick block or
burr e es forming the back of the chamber or recess E. which may be formed entirely
in the brick work or may have a light cast iron frame e" on which is mounted the
sliding. or regulating plate F. as before described. As a further support and pro-
tection from oxcessive heat of pipes when projecting far into furnaces of this class
they may be underbuilt by Brick arch or otherwise supported and screened by
Brick work bb as shown in Figures 12 and 13 Sheet 3.
In Furnaces for externally fired steam boilers and other furnaces above described
the apparatus may be inconvenient in the front. In this case the apparatus may be
equally well adapted for fixing in the sides of the furnace chambers and in the case
of very large Furnaces an apparatus on both sides may be preferable and they may
then with advantage be set at angles converging towards the bridge or back of
furnace. The pipes further in any case instead of being parallel to each other may
be spread out fan shape as shewn G. G. Figure 7 and instead of being cylindrical in
bore as shown at G Figure 6 may if preferred be varied so as to form frustrums of
cones as at g.g or be bell mouthed as at g³ of the same figure such description being
intended to apply to the internal configuration.
Further in double rows of pipes if preferred the upper row may be extended.
further in the furnace than the lower row as shewn at Figure 5 on sheet one.
The mode of applying my Invention to internally fired Boilers such as the Cornish
and Lancashiro Boilers is shewn in Figures 8 and 9. Sheet 1. and in Figures 10
and 11 Sheet 3. In Figures 8 and 9 H. H. represents the cast Iron Furnace front
attached by the usual bolts h h to the Boiler A. I is the furnace tube of flue with.
the usual grate C. D is the opening for the fire doors which may be single or in
halves and as preferred not perforated except with several small sight holes. In
accordance with my invention the front is formed with an air chamber E. E
controlled by the regulator F. swinging on pivots ff and fitted with stop f³ for
fixing open or shut. G. G. are the air pipes or nozzles which are formed with a
bend of gradually enlarging bore at the front end as shown and open into air

page_text: chamber E. E and are attached to the inner rim by bolts g³ ³ or in any other
convenient manner. These pipes in passing into the furnace tube may either be
parallel with sides of same or may dip at any desired angle or the dip may vary at
different portions of the circumference as shewn in the figure. For the convenience
of stoking and for acting more uniformly upon the fire a portion of the pipes over
the middle of the grate may be shortened as shewn by dotted lines g' Figure 9. In
the corresponding figures 10 and 11 an arrangement is shewn for similar boilers with
straight tubes or nozzles G. G. which may be conveniently secured by bolts g³ or in
dovetail snugs 9º cast on the furnace front H. H. An air chamber E. is formed by
sides e cast upon the furnace front and the iron regulator or flap plate F. which is
pivotted at the top at ff and closes against faces f³ ƒ³.
The latter is fitted with catch.fs for adjustment. In both these arrangements for
internally fired Boilers the action is the same as in the apparatus described at the
beginning and it is obvious that many modifications may be made in details without
departing from the nature of this Invention.
Hitherto the air inlet tuhes or nozzles have been considered as plain circular pipes
as shewn in cross section in figure 14 but I sometimes adopt other sections.
To obtain more heating surface in proportion to the sectional arca the section
shewn in Figure 17 may be used. Or a composite tube of three four or more small
tubes enclosed in casing as shewn in Figure 15. Or such tubes may bo cast with
two three or more radial partitions running the whole or part of the length of the
said pipes as shewn in Figure 16. In these ways or by similar means the air may
be subdivided or heated to any required extent. Figures 18 and 19 show other
forms of plain tubes with straight sided sections that may be found useful for
special purposes. A series of pipes of triangular section by placing the tubes or
pipes side by side in opposite positions can be made to take up but little space. In
very short or confined furnaces it may in some cases be necessary to deflect and
diffuse the currents of air through the pipes G. G to produce the best results. One
form of such deflector is shown in Figure 20. G is the end of pipe in furnace. Kis
the deflector which may be (with a circular pipe) either a flat circular plate or of a
conical shape as shewn. It may. be secured by means of ribs or feathers k. to the
pipe and may be removable at pleasure. Figure 21 shews another form with cap k³
fitting in the pipe G. as shewn by scrowing or otherwise and with several short pipe
like openings operating at any desired angles as indicated by the arrows. The
pipes and all fittings in the furnace are preferred of cast iron as standing tho
necessary temperature for long periods innch better than wrought iron.
In Figures 22. 23 and 24 is shewn an arrangement by which short tubes may be
made equally efficient with long tubes as regards heating by the air being caused to
travel in spiral passages and attended also with a diffusive action in delivery arising
from centrifugal force: G. G. is the main air pipe. L. L are spirally shaped par-
titions two three four or more in number running the whole or part of the length of
the main tube and radial in cross section. I prefer these made in cast or wrought
iron and separate from the main pipe. They may be made in wrought iron by
twisting while hot a straight piece of the required length of any section such as a
cross or with any number of thin radial feathers or ribs. If made of cast iron tho
ribs may be made thicker at one end than the other as shewn at l. 1. by the end
views of figure 22. in Figures 23 and 24. In this way the tubes may be made of
expanding or contracting areas after the manner of g. g³ Figure 6.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my Invention'
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is,
1. The construction and use of Apparatus for consuming the gases arising from
steam boiler and other furnaces in which air is admitted by pipes or tubes projecting.
considerably into the furnace chamber from the front or sides and above the fire, the
currents of air through such tubes being induced and the air rendered sufficiently
hot for the intended purpose by the heat of the fire acting upon the said pipes or,
tubes substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described;

page_text: 2. The construction and use of such air injection pipes or tubes with subdivisions
ns shewn in Figures 15. 16. and 17 substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore
described.
3. The construction and use in connection with such air induction pipes or tubes
of deflectors and diffusers of the air currents as shewn in figures 20. 21. 22. 23. and 24
substantially as and for the purposes herein before described.
Dated this 19th day of December 1884.
Witness,
THOS. R. THOMAS,
13, Lincoln's Inn, Birmingham.
JOHN MOULSON.