IMPROVEMENTS IN FURNACES
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John West of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster,
Engineer in Chief of the Corporation Gas Department. for an Invention of
IMPROVEMENTS IN FURNACES"
.56
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John West at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st August 1883.
.
j
JOHN WEST of Manchester in the County of Lancaster, Engineer in Chief of
the Corporation Gas Department, "IMPROVEMENTS IN FURNACES
"
•
This invention has for its object the building of furnaces in such a form, and
manner as to simplify their construction and at the same time to effect great
economy in their use, by utilising the heat of what is in ordinary furnaces the
waste gases, the principles of construction being those generally known as
regenerator furnaces. These furnaces are applicable for many purposes, but are
especially adapted for heating gas retorts.
The invention consists in forming an arched chamber, producer, or furnace
proper, where the heat is generated, under the retorts. This chamber or furnace
is provided with two openings furnished with lids or doors, one at the upper part
for feeding the fire, and the other at the lower part for clinkering or otherwise
dealing with the fire. In the arch of the furnace there are a number of small
openings or nostrils through which the carbonic oxide and other gases pass to a
point adjacent to the lower part of the bottom retorts, where they mix with
heated atmospheric air, and vigourous combustion ensues. On each side of the
chamber or producer, and exterior thereto, walls of brickwork are built so as to
form two distinct sets of passages, or conduits, one for conveying away the hot
gases, after having heated the retorts, to the main flue, and the other set for
conveying atmospheric air to the point where the carbonic oxide is emitted. These
passages are subdivided by rabbeted tiles placed horizontally, so as to compel the
atmospheric air of the one set, and the waste gases of the other set to perform a
circuitous or zigzag course but in opposite directions, from the point or points of
introduction to the point or points of exit, in one case to the main flue, and in the
other to the place where combustion ensues. The walls are so built that a very

page_text: large surface of brickwork is exposed to the air or gases passing through the
passages, in order that in the one case the brickwork may absorb all the heat
possible from the descending hot waste gases, and in the other that the heat so
absorbed may be more easily imparted to the air which goes to supply combustion.
There is also an arrangement whereby the air necessary for combustion in the
producer is heated in one or more of the lower passages on each side of the chamber
before it is supplied thereto. The air entries are provided with adjustable doors
for regulating the quantity to be admitted, and the passages are furnished with
suitable sight holes and plugs. The lower door of the furnace is constructed of
cast iron, planed or faced and supported by a chain, which passes over a pulley and
is furnished with a counterpoise. The door has two vertical ribs, each having a
slotted hole therein. Across the door there is a wrought iron bar carrying two
cams and a lever or handle. The ends of the bar work in two adjustable hooks,
one on each side of the frame of the doorway which is also planed or faced, so that
when the door is drawn down and the lever raised the cams operate upon the door
and close it tightly, but on pushing down the lover the pressure is removed and
the door released so that it can be raised or opened with ease.
-
It will be understood from the foregoing that the heat and carbonic oxide
generated in the chamber pass up through the nostrils, where meeting with the hot
air intense combustion takes place, the resulting heated gases then pass up, over,
and around the retorts to be heated, and having done their work there, they
descend through the conduits or passages before described, imparting heat to the
brickwork as they go. This heat is absorbed by the air in the passages on each
side, and in the course of its travel upwards becomes so raised. in temperature as to
fit it for combining with the carbonic oxide as before described. "
.
For application to boilers it is preferable to construct the producer distinct from
the boiler setting, but the same principle is followed
The chief novelty and improvement in this invention is that the whole may be
constructed of bricks and tiles of the usual shape and size, no special or extraordinary
ones being required, and the arrangement is therefore very convenient and
exceedingly economical.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John West in the Patent Office on the 21st February 1884.
JOHN WEST of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer in Chief of
the Corporation Gas Department, IMPROVEMENTS IN FURNACES
"
"
This invention has for its object the building of furnaces in such a form
and manner as to simplify their construction, and at the same time to effect
great economy in their use by ultilizing the heat of what is in ordinary furnaces
the waste gases, the principles of construction being those generally known as
regenerator furnaces. These. furnaces are applicable for many purposes, but are
especially adapted for heating gas retorts.
In order that the description of the apparatus may be more easily understood
drawings are attached hereto of which the following is an explanation. Fig 1 is
a view, in one half of which the regenerator and retorts are shown in elevation,
and the other half exhibits a transverse section of one half of the regenerator and
some retorts. Fig 2 is a plan of the regenerators through A, B, Fig 1.-Fig 3 is a
vertical and longitudinal section of one of the regenerators through C, D, Fig 1,
and Fig 4 is a vertical and longitudinal section through E, F, Fig 1; while Fig 5
is a front elevation of the door J, and Fig 6 is a side elevation of the same. The
arrows in the various Figs indicate the direction in which the waste gases or air,
as the case may be, flow.
The invention consists in forming an arched chamber G Fig 1, producer or
generator H and furnace where the heat generated is applied to the retorts. This
producer is provided with two openings furnished with lids or doors I and J, one I
at the upper part for feeding the fire, and the other J at the lower part for
clinkering or otherwise dealing with the fire. In the arch of the producer or
generator there are a number of small openings, or nostrils, through which the
carbonic oxide and other gases pass to a point adjacent to the lower part of the
bottom retorts, where they mix with heated atmospheric air and vigourous
combustion ensues. On each side of the chamber or producer and exterior thereto,
walls K, K, of brickwork are built so as to form two distinct sets of passages or
conduits, one L for conveying away the hot gases after having heated the retorts to
the main flue, and the other set M M for conveying atmospheric air to the point
where the carbonic oxide is emitted. These passages are sub-divided by rabbeted
tiles N placed horizontally, so as to compel the atmospheric air of the one set to
pursue a circuitous and ascending course, and the waste gases of the other set to
perform a zigzag, or a backwards, forwards. and descending course, but in opposite
directions, from the point or points of introduction to the point or points of exit, in
one case to the main flue, and in the other to the place where combustion ensues.
The walls are built with projecting bricks O, O, so that a very large surface of
brickwork is exposed to the air or gases passing through the passages in order that
in one case the brickwork may absorb all the heat possible from the descending
hot waste gases, and in the other that the heat so absorbed may be more easily
imparted to the air which goes to supply combustion. There is also an arrangement
whereby the air necessary for combustion in the producer is heated in one or more
of the lower passages P, P, on, each side of the chamber, before it is supplied
thereto. The air entries are provided with adjustable doors QQ Fig 1 for
regulating the quantity to be admitted, and the passages are furnished with
suitable sight-holes and plugs R, R. The lower door J, Figs 1, 5 and 6, of the
furnace is constructed of cast iron, planed or faced, and supported by a chain which
passes over a pulley and is furnished with a counterpoise. The door has two
vertical ribs S, S, each having a slotted hole therein. Across the door there is a

page_text: wrought iron bar T carrying two cams V, V, and a lever or handle W. The ends
of the bar work in two adjustable hooks one on each side of the frame of the
doorway which is also planed or faced, so that when the door is drawn down and
the lever raised, the cams operate upon the door and close it tightly, but on pushing
down the lever the pressure is removed and the door released so that it can be
raised or opened with enso.
It will be understood from the foregoing that the heat and carbonic oxide
generated in the chamber or generator pass up through the nostrils where meeting
with the hot air intense combustion takes place, the resulting heated gases then
pass up, over, and around the retorts to be, heated, and having done their work
there, they descend through the conduits or passages before described, imparting heat
to the brickwork as they go. This heat is absorbed by the air in the passages on
each side and in the course of its travel upwards becomes so raised in temperature
as to fit it for combining with 'the carbonic oxide as before described.
For application to boilers it is preferable to construct the producer distinct from
the boiler setting, but the same principle is followed.
An important feature in this invention is that the whole may be constructed of
bricks and tiles of the usual shape and size, no special or extraordinary ones being
required, and the arrangement is therefore very convenient and exceedingly
economical.
Having now described and particularly set forth the nature of this invention
and the manner in which the same is, or may be used, or carried into effect, I
would observe in conclusion that I do not confine or restrict myself to the precise
details or arrangements which I have described or referred to, as variations may be
made therefrom without deviating from the principles or main features of this
invention, but what I consider to be novel and original and therefore claim as tho
invention secured to me by the hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is,—
First. The passages formed with walls or partitions having projecting bricks or
tiles O, O, as herein described and shown on the drawings.
Second-The arrangement of the air and waste gas passages, as herein describedt
and shown on the drawings.
In witness whereof I the said John West have hereunto set any liand and seal
this Twentieth day of February in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and eighty four.