IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM BOILER FURNACES
Year: 1856

page_text: Finsbury, London, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
STEAM BOILER FURNACES." A communication, from Le Docteur. Bordone,
1 of Vincennes.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said- Pierre Théophile Auguste
Nicoulland at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Pétition, on the 15th January 1856.
[
I, PIERRE THEOPHILE AUGUSTE, NICOULLAND, of 39, Rue de l'Echiquier,
Paris, in the Empire of France, and 4, South Street, Finsbury, London,
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN STEAM BOILER FURNACES" to be as follows, that is to say:-
This Invention relates to improvements in the construction of furnaces for
steam boilers, and consists of a circular grate revolving in a circular, chamber
or furnace. Between the inner and the outer circular iron frame of the grate
are placed the fire bars, the length of which are about two-thirds that of the
radius of the circle.. Some of the fire bars are provided at each end with anti-
friction rollers, which rotate upon the top of two horizontal circular brackets,

page_text: one being fixed to cach side of the circular furnace. The outer circular frame
is provided at the bottom with a circular rack, into the teeth of which gear
those of a pinion fixed to a shaft, having at one end a winch handle, by which
means, or by any other mechanical power, the circular grate can be made to
rotate at will. In plan the furnace is of a circular shape, having a circular
space in the middle, thus forming a hollow ring or chamber. To the slanting
cover of this chamber are fixed fire tubes, which enter the smoke box at the
opposite end of the boiler. Flues are made to surround the bottom of the
furnace. The latter is supplied with fuel by means of a hopper placed on the
right of the door of the furnace. The fuel falling through the hopper upon
the circular grate when rotating becomes gradually heated, until it arrives at
the fire-place in front, where the combustion is completed and the smoke
consumed. The coke is then allowed to fall through an opening by the side of
a series of flue tubes placed near the furnace door. The ash pan is of a
circular shape, containing water, and is made to rotate.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Pierre Théophile Auguste Nicoullaud in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 14th July 1856.
:
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, PIERRE
THEOPHILE AUGUSTE NICOULLAUD, of 39, Rue de l'Echiquier, Paris, in the
Empire of France, and 4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Gentleman, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifteenth day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the nineteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Pierre Théophile Auguste Nicoullaud, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, Her special license that I, the said Pierre Théophile Auguste
Nicoullaud, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Pierre Théophile Auguste Nicoullaud, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and
at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully
might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for

page_text: "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM BOILER FURNACES," communicated to me by. Le
Docteur Bordone, of Vincennes, upon the condition (amongst others) that I,
the said Pierre Théophile Auguste Nicoullaud, by an instrument in writing
under my hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature
of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed,
and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Pierre Théophile Auguste Nicoullaud,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement thereof, reference being had to the Drawing hereto
annexed, and to the figures and letters marked thereon, that is to say :-
T
This 'Invention consists in constructing steam boiler and other furnaces with
a circular grate, which is made to revolve round a fixed central grate, so as to
form a smoke-consuming furnace.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawing represents the improved grate
applied to a locomotive."
Figure 2, horizontal section through a, b, of the same.
Figure 8, an end view, in section, taken through c, d, of Figure 1. C, D,
Figure 1, is the circular revolving grate, shewn in section in Figure 1; and 'in
horizontal section in Figure 2. It consists of the ordinary fire bars placed
radially upon two concentric iron frames. To one of these frames is cast a
circular rack, in which a pinion R gears, as is shewn in detail in Figure 9, for
the purpose of moving it' round, which is accomplished by turning a winch
handle fixed to the axis of the pinion. To the under part of the iron circular
frames before mentioned are 'fixed small antifriction pulleys, which revolve
upon two circular iron brackets fixed to the sheet iron casing. E is the fire box ;
H, the fixed central grate, under which is the ash box; the latter has an
opening made in it to allow the removal of the cinders, &c. A, B, Figure 2, is
the fixed grate, around which travels the circular grate C, D, separated from
the former by bricks, iron plates, or a double casing, containing water, and
communicating with the boiler, if necessary. M, fuel placed on the circular
grate. The fuel is made to fall after being heated in its travel upon the fixed
grate, as is shewn in Figures 3 and 4. In Figure 3, F represents the semi-
circular cover to the moveable grate; C, chamber in which circulates the air,
and where it becomes heated previous to its passing through the fuel; EI is the.
ash box. Instead of bars and frames, the moveable grate may consist of a cast-

page_text: iron plate, having openings made in it for the passage of air, and provided with
a rack at the lower part.
Figure 4 is a view, in section, of the grate set in brickwork for heating
steam' boilers: M represents the fuel carried round on the revolving grate:
This grate is constructed with a sheet-iron cover X, X, thus forming a heating
chamber F, in which the smoke is consumed; P; upper door of the furnace;
to allow the fire to be examined from time to time; P, lower door, placed:fat
the opening in the brickwork, which admits of the removal of cinders, &c. from
the ash-pit H; C, air chamber. The bottom of the chamber may be furnished
with a moveable reservoir, put in' motion in 'an opposite direction to the grate
by the pinion R, to enable the cinders to be removed.
Figure 5 shews a modification of Figure 4, in which the boiler is: tubular.
The letters in both Figures refer to the same parts, with the exception of-P¹;
Figure 5, which is an additional opening in the brickwork for the admission
of air.
Figure 6 represents a vertical section through a, b, Figure 5. 'A, Bis-the
bottom of the boiler; E, chamber; O, iron plate; P, P, furnace doors:
Figure. 7, partial elevation of Figure 6. In this Figures is seen the
pinion R, by which the moveable circular grate is turned: :: 0,. opening or
flue for the admission of air; 'P, furnace door; P, ash-pit door; T, hopper in
which the fuel is fed
..
Figure 8 is a horizontal section through c, d, Figure 5, and which shews; the
fuel M, placed in the hopper T, as partially covering the moveable circular
grate'; D, side of the hopper; H, I, cast or sheet iron partition; placed between
the grate and the chamber E, Figure 5;10, iron plate; A, B, fire bars of thes
fixed grate. In this improved furnace, the coal being placed in!the hopper
then' falls upon the moveable circular grate; which is made to revolve... The
smoke mixing with the air is consumed as it passes over the burning fuel,
which after having travelled round comes in contact with the partition II, and
falls upon the central fixed grate A, B, in the state of coke.
...
Figure 9 detail view, in section, shewing the mode of turning the moveable
circular grate C, D, applied to a locomotive..!
Figure 10 shews the pulleys of the moveable grate revolving upon a brick
support:
'
*\....
Figure 11; the grate applied to a pottery oven, provided with the necessary 3
flues. The letters represent parts of the furnace before described
Figure 12, the improved grate, adapted to a baking oven, also furnished with.
flues and air chambers."."

page_text: Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, I would have it understood that I do not confine
myself to the precise details herein laid down; but what I claim is, the mode
of constructing smoke-consuming grates for steam boiler and other furnaces,
for the purpose of economising the combustible products from fuel, as herein-
before described, and referred to in the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Pierre Théophile Auguste Nicoullaud,
have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Eighth day of July, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six.
P. TH. A. NICOULLAUD. (L.S.)