An Improved Method of and Apparatus for the Treatment of Smoke.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Aug., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 6th Dec., 1889-Accepted, 11th Jan., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method of and Apparatus for the Treatment of
Smoke.
I SAMUEL ELLIOTT of Newbury in the County of Berks Engineer do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of my invention is to destroy the smoke steam and noxious vapours
proceeding from Factory, Engine, and other chimneys and Flues by condensing and
absorbing them by means of water in a state of agitation and thus to prevent the
pollution of the atmosphere thereby.
In carrying out my invention ( make use of a cone or inverted cup fixed over
the top of the chimney or smoke aperture, at a short distance from it so as to cut
off direct heat communication from the chimney, and to allow of the admission of
outside air.
This cone or cup is connected by a pipe with a revolving fan which sucks the
smoke and gases from the cup and drives them through a further pipe or pipes into
a cylinder partly filled with water, to which cylinder motion is imparted, and the
smoke is, as it were, churned and thoroughly washed and absorbed by the water and
changed into sooty or dirty water.
The pipe leading from the cone or cup is considerably smaller in diameter than the
flue of the chimney, and it may be bent downwards or upwards as required to connect
it with the revolving fan. At the outlet of this revolving fan, is another tube or
pipe, connected by a bend junction or otherwise to, and forming an air tight. bearing
in which, works one end of a tube or pipe having a cylinder of wood iron or other
metal fixed thereon. This cylinder should preferably be about four times the
diameter of the chimney flue and it is partially filled with water. It is made shorter
than the pipe on which it is fixed and as each end of such tube or pipe projects and
works smoothly in air tight bearings in the ends of the pipes connected with it, such
pipe forms a direct communication with the pipe leading from the revolving fan-
The portion of the pipe which is inside the cylinder is perforated with many holes for
the outlet of the smoke into the Cylinder-The end of this pipe farthest away from the
revolving fan communicates with another tube or pipe, fixed in a vertical or other
direction as the final discharge pipe, and in which it works also in airtight
bearings.
I make the pipe on which the cylinder is fixed to revolve by means of cog or
chain gear or pulley or belts, and I place on this pipe also a large pulley with a belt
or chain communicating with the pulley of the revolving fan, and when motion is
applied to this large pulley, by hand or steam power or otherwise, this motion is com-
municated to the fan which revolves very rapidly. This revolving fan sucks the
smoke from the top of the chimney through the fan, and drives it into the Cylinder
through the holes in the pipe which runs through the Cylinder and which is connected
with the fan. This pipe revolves with the Cylinder.
I fill this Cylinder about one third full of water preferably, and the revolving of
the Cylinder churns together the water and smoke within it and condenses the smoke
and gases in the water.
Any small quantity of smoke or gas which may not be condensed or absorbed by
the water passes again into the perforated tube or pipe and passes out of the end
which communicates with the final discharge pipe.
The Cylinder may be ribbed inside to more porfectly agitate the water when the
Cylinder is in motion. It is also fitted with an air tight lid which can be opened for
cleaning it and removing the soot and dirty water:
Dated thi: 6th day of Amanat 1820
:

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method of and Apparatus for the Treatment of
Smoke.
1, SAMUEL ELLIOTT of Newbury in the County of Berks Contractor 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 my invention is to destroy the smoke and noxious vapours proceeding
from the chimneys of factories, engines and other flues by condensing and absorbing
them by means of washing with water in a state of agitation and thus to purify the
same and prevent the pollution of the atmosphere thereby.
In carrying out my invention I take the smoke and gases from the chimney by
means of a pipe (of about one fourth the diameter of the chimney or smoke aperture)
connected with a revolving fan or other suitable exhaust apparatus, which sucks the
smoke and vapours from the chimney and drives them, through a continuation of the
pipe, from the chimney, into a perforated revolving pipe in the cylinder or washing
apparatus which is partly filled with water, and in which, the smoke and gases being
driven through the holes in the perforated pipe, are beaten and thoroughly washed
and purified by the water and the smoke greatly reduced in volume, the solid matter and
gases contained therein being absorbed and decomposed, and the effluent vapour
and steam being purified to such a degree as to be innoxious and not to pollute the
air or darken or discolour anything with which it may come into contact.
The cylinder or apparatus in which the smoke is treated acts very much in the
manner of a churn, and the smoke and water are, as it were, churned together. The
form may be either a revolving cylinder or the pipe only revolving in a box or tank.
Preferably I make it in the shape of an oblong box or tank on a stand, and it may
be either of cast iron or of wood. It is fitted with a hinged top, having in its centre
a discharge tube or pipe projecting therefrom. I vary the size, according to the size
of the chimney and the volume of smoke to be treated.
In the manner in which I prefer to make the apparatus eiz. an oblong box or
tank, I arrange in the tank, and somewhat lower than the centre, viz. at the same
distance from the bottom as from the sides, a pipe of the same diameter as the pipe
which brings the smoke from the chimney through the revolving fan. The part of
this pipe which is inside the tank is perforated with holes throughout its length and
has fastened thereon and extending the whole length of the pipe five six or eight
wings or beaters, made of perforated zinc, or wire netting or other perforated material.
The pipe is closed at the extreme end, and works in bearings at both ends. At the
inlet end it works in the end of the pipe leading from the revolving fan, being jointed
thereto by a stuffing box joint on a plumber block bearing; and at the extreme end
it bas a small spindle working through a stuffing box in the side of the tank, in a bearing
fixed onto the outside of the tank.
Inside the tank above this perforated pipe I place four covers of perforated zinc or
other perforated material on light wooden frames, having a curved shape to follow
the sweep of the beaters upon the perforated pipe, and of the same length and width
as the tank. The lowermost of these frames rests upon lugs cast in the corners of
the tank at a short distance from the sweep of the beaters, and the remainder rise one
above the other at a distance of about two inches apart.
I partially fill the tank or apparatus with water, but so that it does not come to the
bottom of the perforated pipe, and I insert a tap in the front of the tank for the
purpose of regulating this, and another tap at the bottom for, the purpose of emptying
when necessary.art of the pipe which is outside the tank, at the inlet end and just
I fix upon
between the plumber block joint and the stuffing box on the end of the tank, two
pulleys, the smaller of which is driven from the shafting of a steam engine, and the
other and larger communicates, by a belt, with the pulley of the revolving fan; and

page_text: when motion is applied to this pulley the motion is communicated to the fan, which
revolves very rapidly and sets the apparatus in motion.
The fan both sucks the smoke from the chimney and drives it through the pipe
into the tank; and by the revolving of the perforated pipe with the beaters attachet
the smoke and water are churned and beaten against the perforated trays and the sides
of the apparatus, and all the solid matter of the smoke is decomposed and separated,
and rises through the covers in the shape of sooty foam, which accumulates and is
driven through the covers until it settles upon the uppermost in the shape of lamp
black or moist soot; while the smoke and gases are to a great extent absorbed
and condensed, and such part as may remain is thoroughly washed and purified, and
escapes by the outlet pipe in the shape of a white vapour more resembling steam and
innoxious. The lamp black or moist soot which accumulates on the uppermost cover
may be removed by a brush into a trough by the side of the apparatus and so taken
away. Where convenient to do so, I assist the operation of the fan, and also aid in
the cleansing and decomposition of the solid matter in the smoke, by introducing at
the bend of the inlet pipe conducting the smoke into the tank or washing apparatus,
a jet of steam from the exhaust or waste steam of the Cylinder of the engine supplying
the power for working the pulley.
As before mentioned a revolving cylinder with divisions lengthways may be used
instead of the revolving pipe only. Such cylinder and the divisions should be of
coarse mesh wire or perforated zinc or other perforated material, and would be fixed
on and revolve with the pipe. It should be made in two halves so that it can readily
be detached for cleaning.
To assist in understanding and carrying into effect my Invention I will proceed to
describe the accompanying drawings, reference being had to the figures and letters
marked thereon; Figures 1 to 7 being on a scale of one inch to a foot and Figures 8
and 9 being on a scale of one inch to four feet.
Figure 1 is a front view of the apparatus shewing an oblong box or tank on
stand.
Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of the tank as illustrated in Figure 1 shewing the
fan, the inlet of the smoke, the perforated pipe with the wings or beaters attached and
the curved covers or trays over same.
Figure 3 is a cross section through the centre, shewing the perforated pipe, the
wings or beaters and the covers or trays and also showing the brush for cleaning.
Figure 4 is an end elovation shewing the fan by which the smoke is brought from
the chimney into the tank, and the two pulleys by which the apparatus is set in
motion.
Figure 5 is an end elevation of the opposite end to figure 3.
Figure 6 shews a longitudinal section of the perforated pipe with a revolving
cylinder with divisions fastened thereon.
Figure 7 is a cross section of the same.
Figure 8 shews the method of applying the apparatus to a Factory chimney.
Figure 9 shews the method of applying it to a brick kiln or pottery chimney.
Similar letters in all the figures represent similar parts.
In all the figures a is the apparatus or tank in which the smoke and gases are
treated. the fixed pipe leading from the chimney through the fan d into the per-
forated revolving pipe c. d is the revolving fan working in the bearings e e¹ and
set in motion by the pulley . This pulley is connected by a belt with the pulley g
fixed on the revolving pipe c, outside the tank. is the other pulley also fixed on
the revolving pipe outside the tank, and which is connected by a belt to the shafting
of the engine supplying the motion.
ijklare the four curved and perforated trays or covers over the beaters.
m is
the brush for cleansing the accumulation of moist soot into the trough n.
o is the
final discharge pipe or outlet for the cleansed vapour and steam which remains after
the washing and cleaning. p. g show the bearings in which the perforated pipe works
in the inlet pipe b, and at the extreme end of the perforated pipe c respectively.

page_text: show the stuffing boxes at the two ends of the perforated pipe, s the stuffing
box connecting the inlet pipe and the revolving pipe c.it is the inlet for the waste
or exhaust steam when used. u is a soot door in the inlet pipe for the cleaning
out of any small amount of soot which may accumulate in the bend of the inlet pipe b.
In Figure 6 w is the cylinder fixed on the perforated pipe and revolving with it and
a section thereof is shown in Figure 7
To set the apparatus in operation, the pulley is connected with the shafting of
an Engine and by this the pipe c is made to rapidly revolve and motion is thereby
also imparted to the pulleys g.. and the fan d. The action of this fan sucks the
sinoke from the chimney through the inlet pipe & into the perforated pipe e revolving
rapidly in the tank or cylinder a which is partially filled with water.
The rapid
revolving of the pipe c causes the beaters ac² c³ c c c shewn in figure 3, or the
cylinder as shewn in Figures 6 and 7, as the case may be, to strike the water
contained in the tank a and cause it to be continually thrown round and tossed against.
the sides of the tank and the perforated covers at the top and to mix with the smoke
and the steam let in by the inlet pipe t. This thoroughly washes and decomposes
the smoke and gases and to a great extent absorbs and condenses them while the solid
matter in the smoke is separated, and driven against and through the perforated
trays ijk. and through the uppermost, on the top of which it settles and is occasionally
brushed away by the brush in into the trough n.
Such part of the vapour of the smoke and gases from the chimney, and the
steam let in by the inlet t, as may not be absorbed, passes out by the outlet o, which
can either be carried direct into the air or back into the chimney at a point higher
than the part of the chimney where the smoke has been taken from. This final outlet
pipe o can if necessary be taken to any convenient distance or position.
The method of the application of the apparatus to a chimney varies somewhat
according to the kind of chimney for which the apparatus is intended.
In factory chimneys I insert a stop valve or door, and underneath insert the
pipe as shewn in figure 8, by means of which the smoke is sucked by the fan or
other exhaust apparatus and driven into the tank a. With these chimneys the outlet
pipe o may be returned into the chimney at a point above the valve or door as shewn
in Figure 8, or it may if preferred be continued direct into the air, or taken by bends
to any convenient outlet.
For the funnels of all descriptions of engines I either insert a stop valve or door in
the same way as shewn in Fig. 8 or I continue the funnel by a moveable cap or bend
to connect it with the inlet pipe b.
In brick kiln or pottery chimneys I fix a cone or inverted cup over the top of the
chimney or smoke aperture and connect this, by a pipe, with the revolving fan, as
illustrated in figure 9 and in this case the final discharge pipe or outlet is continued
direct into the air.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is;
1. The construction of apparatus for the treatment of smoke in order to remove
the solid matter and noxious gases therefrom by taking them from the chimney by
a fan or other artificial exhaust and washing and absorbing them with water, or a
mixture of water and steam in a violently agitated state substantially as hereinbefore
described.
2. In apparatus for the treatment of smoke in order to remove the solid matter
and noxious gases therefrom the combination of the rapidly revolving pipe e into
which the smoke is conducted by an artificial exhaust with the tank a containing
arrangements for beating and agitating the smoke with water or a mixture of water
and steam substantially as hereinbefore described.
3. In apparatus for the treatment of smoke in order to remove the solid matter and
noxious gases therefrom the combination of the exhaust fan with the washing tank a

page_text: and the rapidly revolving pipe c with the wings or beaters and covers for catching
the sooty foam all constructed and arranged substantially in the manner and for the
purposes set forth.
4. The improved apparatus for the treatment of smoke substantially as hereinbefore
described and represented in figures 1 to 7 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated the 6th day of December 1889.