Improved Apparatus for Consuming Smoke and Economising Fuel in Steam Boilers and the like.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 10th July, 1897
Complete Specification Left, 18th Jan., 1898-Accepted, 2nd Apr.,
1898
Improved Apparatus for Consuming Smoke and Economising Fuel in
Steam Boilers and the like.
We, JAMES SEEDHOUSE, Senr., and JAMES SEEDHOUSE, Junr., of 43, Sheaf
Street, Park, in the City of Sheffield, in the County of York, Engineers, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
-
The object of this invention is to provide an apparatus by means of which the
emission of smoke from steam boiler fires and the like may be prevented, and
which will at the same time increase the draught and consequently generate more
steam instead of reducing the steam as is the case when cold air is admitted
through the door in the usual way.
It is a well known fact that the introduction of a sufficient quantity of air into
the fire hole of steam boilers and the like, either by leaving the door ajar or by
being admitted through apertures in the door will prevent the emission of the
dense clouds of smoke usually seen rolling from the tops of chimney-stacks in
manufacturing districts. And it is also well known the admission of air in this
manner has the doble disadvantage of reducing the draught and of carrying with
it a large amount of heat, and consequently reducing the steam, and we find by
experience that when air is introduced over the fire as a forced draught-in the
manner hereinafter described-the emission of smoke is prevented in an economi-
cal and efficient manner without any of the disadvantages attending the admis-
sion of cold air in the usual way.
In carrying out our said invention we make one or more holes of suitable size
in the frontis plate over the fire hole door, in the said hole or holes we attach a
short tube or tubes of suitable shape which project a suitable distance outside of
the frontis plate, say 3 inches. The said tubes may also go through the frontis
plate into the fire hole for a suitable distance. From the top of the boiler or
boiler end we connect a pipe which we carry downwards and into the herefore said
projecting tubes in the frontis-plate. In case we make more than one of the said
tubes we take a branch of the steam pipe into each of them.
At the end of each of the said steam pipes which is within the said tube or tubes
we fix an elbow to which we attach a nozzle which may deliver the steam in a
single jet into the fire hole, but we prefer to so arrange it or them that they deliver
the steam either in a circular jet or in a series of jets consistant with the shape of
the tube in which they are placed. Each of the said branches of steam pipe we
provide with a cock for regulating the jets in a manner to be presently discribed.
To the mouth of each of the said tubes in the frontis plate of the fire hole we.
arrange a lid or shutter for shutting off the current of air through them in a
manner to be discribed. For the purpose of working the hereinmentioned cocks
and shutters or lids, we arrange a rod of suitable length and strength horizontally
across the boiler front in such a manner that it may be turned on its axes or
that it may be moved horizontally, to this rod we so arrange the said shutter or
shutters or lids as the case may be and cock or cocks on the steam pipe that by
D
077

page_text: sliding or turning the said rod as the case may be the lids or shutters and cocks
as hereinbefore mentioned are opened or shut off simultaneously. But such an
arrangement may be thrown out of gear by the attendant and the one may be
worked independently of the other if necessary.
The automatic arrangement we propose to use to work the said rod operating
on the said cocks and shutters, consists of a cast iron cylinder arranged on or at
the boiler front, in the said cylinder we fit a piston and rod, the piston rod being
coupled to the said rod across the boiler front in such a manner that when the
piston rod is moved in or out of the cylinder the said rod is made to turn or move
horizontally and there by open or close the shutters and cocks when the piston rod
is moved in or out of the cylinder. To the said piston rod we arrange a lever and
weight or springe in such a manner that when the attendant moves the lever one
way to open the shutters or lids and cocks to admit steam and air into the fire
hole or either of them separately--the weight or spring gradually forces it back
in a certain time and closes the lids or shutters and cocks and shuts off the current
of air and steam by such time as the fire has become bright. For regulating the
speed of the piston we fill the cylinder with oil or glycerine and when the pull
of the spring or weight is on the lever attached to the piston rod the oil or
glycerine is forced to the other side of the piston, through a pipe outside the
cylinder communicating with each end of the cylinder, this pipe is supplied with
a tap or cock for regulating the flow of oil from one side of the piston to the other.
When the attendant moves the piston to the opposite end of the cylinder, by means
of the lever connected to the piston rod, for the porpose of opening the shutters
and steam cocks, the oil is allowed to pass quickly through a valve in the piston
so that the lever may be quickly lifted and the apparatus left to shut off the
current of air and steam automatically by the tine the fire has become bright.
Although the quantity of steam used is very small it is not necessary for it to
remain blowing when the fire has become bright and of course if the tubes leading
in to the fire hole were left open for the admission of cold air when the steam
was shut off they would be attended with the same disadvantages as when cold
air is admitted in the usual way.
We also propose to combine the herein discribed apparatus with the well known
lid, shutter or throttle valve arranged to open and close an aperture in the wall
under the fire bars. We combine it in such a manner that it is worked simul-
taneously with the before said shutters and steam jets so that the air entering
under the fire meets and impinges with the fumes beyond the bridge or in the
box or chamber frequently arranged with such shutters.
Dated this Ninth day of July 1897.
JAMES SEEDHOUSE.
JAMES SEEDHOUSE, JUNR.
Improved Apparatus for Consuming Smoke and Economising Fuel in
Steam Boilers and the like.
We, HENRY SEEDHOUSE, Wire-Rope Maker, 16, Pomona Street, Sheffield, and
HANNAH SEEDHOUSE, Spinster, 43, Sheaf Street, Park, Sheffield, Executors to 4
JAMES SEEDHOUSE, Senior, Engineer, (deceased), and JAMES SEEDHOUSE, Junior,
Engineer, 43, Sheaf Street, Park, Sheffield, 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:-
The object of this invention is to provide an apparatus by means of which the 5
emission of smoke from steam boiler fires and the like may be prevented, and

page_text: which will at the same time increase the draught and consequently generate more
steam, instead of reducing the steam as is the case when cold air is admitted
through the door in the usual way.
It is a well known fact that the introduction of a sufficient quantity of air in to
the fire hole of a steam boiler will prevent the emission of smoke, but the admission
of cold air in the usual way is attended by so great a disadvantage to the manufac-
ture that it is almost impossible for him to carry on his business under such
circumstances, and we claim that by the adaption of this invention the user of
steam boilers will not only efficiently prevent the emission of smok and be able
to keep within the bounds of the law without any disadvantage but will certainly
reap a benefit, as more steam cannot only be generated from boilers to which they
are fitted but that will be done with a saving in fuel.
In order that this invention may be fully understood, we will explain by
reference to the accompanying sheet of drawings in what manner we carry out
the present invention.
The same letters of reference indicate coresponding parts in all the figures.
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a double fired boiler fitted with this present
invention, the apparatus being shown as fitted to one fire hole only, but of course
it is necessary to fit a similar apparatus to each fire hole. Both (or any number)
may of course be worked by the same automatic (cylinder) arrangement.
Fig. 2 is an ideal section of a boiler fitted with this invention, showing the
arrangement of the funnel shaped air tube in the frontice plate and also the
manner of arranging the steam pipe therein for delivering the jet of steam into
the fire hole.
Fig. 3 is a section of the form of nozzle we use as we find that it is more
efficient and makes less noise than when we use one that blows straight through.
In carrying out this invention we make one or more holes of suitable size, about
3 inches diameter, in the frontice plate over the fire hole door. In each of the
said holes we attach a tube by means of two lugs and bolts a, a.
The said tubes
may be parallel or taper or funnel shaped as shown at A. The said tubes project
outwards about 3 inches and go through the frontice plate about 6 inches. From
the top of the boiler end we connect a steam pipe B of suitable size which we
carry downwards and take a branch from it through the side of each of the said
air tubes as shown at C. To the end of each of the said branches of the steam
pipe which enters the said air tubes we attach an elbow D to which we attach a
nozzle E which goes about 4 inches within the fire hole, that is, about 2 inches
short of the tube A. We do not confine ourselves to such details nor do we confine
ourselves to any particular kind of nozzle it may be an ordinary single jet, but
we prefer to make the nozzle that it either deliveres the steam in a circular jet as
shown at Fig. 3, or in a series of jets consistent with the shape of the air tube.
The steam pipe B is provided with a cock at F for regulating or shutting off
the steam jets. Each branch may also be provided with a cock for the same
purpose. We do not confine ourselves to either the number or size of the said
air tubes.
To the mouth of each of the said air tubes we arrange a shutter G, which is
attached to an arm H, working on a pivot I, the other end being attached to
a rod J in such a manner that when it is moved horizontally the shutters G G
are opened or closed. The cock F (and also the cocks on the branches of the
steam pipe if any) is also connected with the said rod by means of a key K, so
that when the rod is moved for the purpose of closing the shutters and shutting
off the current of air the jets of steam are shut off at the same time if desired,
or the key (or keys) may be made to take off, so that the steam may be turned
on or off at will for the purpose of forcing the fire, or the shutters may be detached
and the steam jets only worked by the automatic arrangement on occasion.
Although we prefer to adapt the arrangement of the rod for working the
shutters and cock (or cocks) as shown on the accompanying sheet of drawings we do
not confine ourselves to work the shutters and cock (or cocks) by a rod worked

page_text: horizontally, for it will be quiet clear to anyone they might be worked, by little
variation, by a rod being moved on its axes instead of moved horizontally.
The automatic arrangement for working the said rod J or its equivalent consists
of a cylinder L arranged at or on the boiler front and operated upon by means
of a lever and weight or spring, this arrangement being well known in connection
with so called smoke preventing apparatuses and will be clearly understood on
refering to Fig. 1. The cylinder is fitted with a piston in which there is a
valve opening downwards in this case so that when the lever M is lifted and the
piston also by means of the rod N to which it is attached, the oil or glycerine
contained on the upper side of the piston is allowed to quickly pass through to
the bottom side and the shutter and steam cock is opened and the apparatus may
than be left to work automatically by means of the weight 0 which forces the
piston down on the oil or glycerine under the piston which gradually passes through
the pipe P to the upper side, the speed being regulated by the cock Q. The
piston rod being attached to a curved lever R, which passes through a slot in
the head of the piston rod which is provided with a small wheel top and bottom
of the lever R to prevent friction. The said lever R works on a pivot S the short
end pasing through a loop in the end of the lever J. When the piston rod is
forced down the rod J is moved from left to right when the shutters and cock is
closed and air and steam shut off. The arm T is a continuation of the rod J for
working the apparatus for the next fire hole (not shown on the drawing).
We porpose to combine the well known shutter or throttle valve arrangement
to open and close an aperture in the wall under the fire bars with this invention.
This may be worked by hand or by being attached to a rod which is turned on
its axes by an arm attached to the lever AI.
Having now particularly discribed 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:
--
First. In steam boilers and the like, the admission of air and steam into the
fire hole through one or more apertures in the frontice plate of the fire hole
substantially as and for the purpose herein described and shown on the accom-
panying sheet of drawings.
Second. In steam boilers and the like, the application of the shutters or lids
to the said apertures substantially herein setforth.
Third. In steam boilers and the like, the combination of a steam cock or cocks
or valve or valves with the lids or shutters G G for shutting off the steam
substantially as and for the purpose herein discribed and shown on the accom-
panying sheet of drawings.
Fourth. In connection with steam boilers and the like, the application and
combination of the lever R and H with the rod J and the key K and the s
shutters G substantially as and for the purpose herein described and shown on
the accompanying sheet of drawings.
Fifth. In steam boilers and the like, the application of the nozzle Fig. 3 and
its combination with the shutters and levers R and H and the rod J or its
equivalent substantially as and for the purpose herein described and shown on 4
the accompanying sheet of drawings.
Sixth. Working the herein described apparatus, for consuming smoke in steam
boilers, automatically by means of a cylinder &c., substantially as and for the
purpose here described and shown on the accompanying sheet of drawings.
Dated this 15th day of January 1898.
A
HENRY SEEDHOUSE,
HANNAH SEEDHOUSE,
Executors.
JAMES SEEDHOUSE.