IMPROVEMENTS IN HOT-AIR FURNACES FOR HEATING BUILDINGS, SOME OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE A PULICABLE TO OTHER FURNACES.
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Edward Newton, of the Office for
Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil
Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN HOT-AIR
FURNACES FOR HEATING BUILDINGS, SOME OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE
A PULICABLE TO OTHER FURNACES. "A comununication.
Sealed the 28th June 1853, and dated the 3rd May 1853.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Edward
Newton at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 3rd May 1858.
I, WILLIAM EDWARD NEWTON, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN HOT-AIR FURNACES FOR HEATING
BUILDINGS, SOME OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO OTHER
FURNACES," to be as follows :-
This Invention relates to a method of supplying heated air (for the
combustion of the inflammable gases evolved from the fuel) through
apertures at or near the periphery of an apparatus placed within the
fire chamber, so that the air shall be effectually heated, and shall be
discharged across the current or currents of inflammable gases as they

page_text: pass in a thin slicet between the fire pot or walls of the fire chamber
and the apparatus from which the air is discharged; thus effectually
mingling the combustible gases and the supporter of combustion while
in a highly heated state.
The Invention further relates to a method of making the apparatus
for the supply of air to consume the combustible gases, movable and
adjustable within the fire pot or chamber, so that its position may be
adjusted and shifted to the varying charge and condition of the fuel.
The Invention also consists in making the air supplying apparatus in
two parts; the one a plate suspended from above and next the fire, and
the other resting thereon, the channels for the passage of the air being
made in one or both of them; the object of the two parts being to
facilitate repairs, and to prevent breaking by unequal expansion, the
lower plate being exposed to a more intense heat than the upper one.
The Invention further consists in making the flues through which
the air to be heated passes by means of flanches forming part of and
projecting from the fire pot or walls of the fire chamber, and enclosing
them by a surrounding wall, by means of which three sides of each flue
arò constituted heating surfaces, whilst only one side is in contact with
the fire or the products of combustion, thus diffusing the heat to in-
crease the heating surface, and at the same time protecting the surface
in contact with the fire against injury from overheating.
The Invention also consists in further heating the air in its passage
through the flues by causing it to pass through minute apertures in
a flanch projecting from and making part of the fire pot or walls of the
fire chamber, and heated by conduction, so that the air shall be sub-
divided into small streams or jets, and be thus brought into contact
with the heated surface of the flanch. The heating of the air thus sub-
divided, and the rarefaction consequent thercon, having the effect at the
same time of increasing the rapidity of the currents through the heating
flues.
The Invention further consists in discharging the heated air from
the heating flues into the hot air chamber through minute apertures to
increase the force and rapidity of the currents, whereby a greater
quantity of air will be carried over the heating surfaces, and discharged
into the apariments to be heated, than by any other known plan.

page_text: The Invention finally consists in dividing the hot air chamber into
two or more compartments, with communicating apertures governed by
dampers, each compartment being connected with a separate part of
the building, so that each part of the building may receive its due share
of heated air whatever may be its distance from the furnace; and the
heated air of all the compartments may be thrown into any part of the
building at pleasure, thus affording a better and more effectual means
of controlling the heat than by any other knowu plan.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Edward Newton in the Great Seal Patent
Office, on the 3rd November 1859.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
WILLIAM EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery
Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Third day of May, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the sixteenth
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said William Edward Newton, Her special
licence that I, the said William Edward Newton, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William
Edward Newton, 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 law-
fully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United King-
dom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of
Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN HOT-AIR FURNACES FOR
HEATING BUILDINGS, SOME OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO
OTHER FURNACES," being a communication from abroad, upon the con-
dition (amongst others) that I, the said William Edward Newton, by
an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what

page_text: 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 William Edward Newton, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement, reference being had to the
Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked
thereon (that is to say):
This Invention of Improvements in Hot-air Furnaces for heating
buildings, relates to a method of supplying heated air (for the combus-
tion of the inflammable gases evolved from the fuel) through apertures
at or near the periphery of an apparatus placed within the fire
chamber, so that the air, by passing through the apparatus, shall be
effectually heated, and shall be discharged across the current or
currents of inflammable gases as they pass in a thin sheet between the
fire pot or walls of the fire chamber and the apparatus from which the
air is discharged, and thus effectually mingle the combustible gases
and the supporter of combustion while in a highly heated state.
The Invention further relates to a method of making the apparatus
for the supply of air to consume the combustible gases, moveable and.
adjustable within the fire pot or chamber, so that its position may be
adjusted and shifted to the varying charge and condition of the fuel.
The Invention also consists in constructing the air supplying appa-
ratus in two parts; one part consisting of a plate suspended from above
and next the fire, and the other part resting thereon, the channels for
the passage of the air being made in one or both of them; the object of
the two parts being to facilitate repairs, and to prevent breaking by un-
equal expansion, the lower plate being exposed to a more intense heat
than the upper one.
The Invention further consists in making the flues, through which
the air to be heated passes, by means of flanches forming part of and
projecting from the fire pot or wall of the fire chamber, and enclosing
them by a surrounding wall; by means of which three sides of each flue
are constituted heating surfaces, whilst only one side is in contact with

page_text: the fire or the products of combustion, thus difusing the heat to
increase the heating surface, and at the same time protecting the
surface in contact with the fire against injury from overheating.
The Invention also consists in further heating the air in its passage
through the flues, by causing it to pass through minute apertures made
in a flanch projecting from and making part of the fire pot or walls of
the fire chamber, and heated by conduction, so that the air shall be
subdivided into small streams or jets, and be thus brought into contact
with the heated surface of the flanch. The heating of the air thus
subdivided, and the rarefaction consequent thereon, having the effect at
the same time of increasing the rapidity of the currents through the
heating flues.
The Invention further consists in discharging the heated air from
the heating flues into the hot air chamber through minute apertures, to
increase the force and rapidity of the currents, whereby a greater quan-
tity of air will be carried over the heating surfaces, and discharged
into the apartments to be heated, than by any other known plan.
The Invention finally consists in dividing the hot air chamber into
two or more compartments, with communicating apertures governed
by dampers, each compartment being connected with a separate part of
the building, so that each part of the building may receive its due
share of heated air, whatever may be its distance from the furnace; and
the heated air of all the compartments may be thrown into any part of
the building at pleasure, thus affording a better and more effectual
means of controlling the heat than by any other known plan.
In order, however, that the Invention may be clearly understood, I
have shewn, in the accompanying Drawings, various views of a furnace
constructed upon the improved plan. Fig. 1, is a vertical section
taken through the centre of the furnace; Fig. 2, an elevation of the
hot air flues surrounding the fire chamber, and representing the outer
surrounding walls and other parts of the furnace, and especially part of
the fire-chamber in section and at right angles to Fig. 1. Figures
3, and 4, are horizontal sections taken at the lines A a, and Bb, of
Fig. 1, and looking in the direction of the arrows; and Fig. 5, the fire.
pot and appendages in perspective, and partly in section. The same
letters indicate like parts in all the Figures.

page_text: a, represents the ash pit, and the grate, which may be of any
suitable construction, although I prefer what is known as the "turning
grate" hung on journals c, one of which journals extends through to
the outside of the wall, and serves as a handle to shake out and discharge
the cinders. This grate is fitted to the inside of the lower end of the fire
pot d, which is of a cylindrical form, and which I prefer to make of cast
iron, although it may be made of fire clay or other refractory substance.
It is provided, on its periphery, with radial flanches
which run up
C,
in
a helical direction, to form the hot air flues or passages f. (see Fig. 2);
and it is also provided at the upper edge with a horizontal flanch g,
pierced with numerous small holes h; and as it extends across the hot
air flues f, the air to be heated in its passage through the flues must
pass through these holes, and is thereby minutely divided and heated
by contact with the metal surface of the holes, which are kept heated
by conduction, the flanch being cast with or attached to and making
part of the fire-pot.
Inside of the fire pot, and connected with its inner periphery, are
two vertical tubes i, i, open at top, and extending through and below
the grate, and thence running out, cach in opposite directions, into
pipes for supplying air for the combustion of the gases. The
tubes i, i, are cast with and make part of the fire pot, which on the
outside is provided with the radial flanches to form the hot air flues,
which will be in a great measure prevented from burning out, as the
surplus heat will be conducted off rapidly by the fire pot and the fluc
flanches.
The upper end of this fire pot is formed to receive an upper section
k, which is a continuation of the fire pot, and, like it, is provided with
fluc flanches e, and also with a horizontal feeding tube or passage 1,
extending through the surrounding wall, and furnished with a door, m,
outside, through which the grate is supplied with fuel.
On the top of this extension is fitted a conical or funnel shaped ring
n, for the purpose of spreading out or enlarging the fire pot or chamber;
and above this are fitted a series of cylindrical rings o, p, and q, pro-
perly fitted to each other, the upper edge of one being grooved or
flanched, to form a suitable seat for the lower edge of the one next above
it and finally, the roof or top plate 7, is fitted into the upper edge of

page_text: the upper ring 9.
All these rings are formed with radial and helical
flanches e, in continuation of those on the lower part, to form the con-
tinuation of the hot air flues to the top. The flanches e, above the first
and second sections of the fire pot project less than they do on the first
and second parts, in the proportion of the increased diameter, so as to
have the capacity of the hot air flues the same, or nearly the sumo, all
the way up. At about the middle of the height of the enlarged part
there is a diaphragm, or false dome, s, with holes, t, near the periphery,
for the purpose of deflecting the flame towards the periphery, and thus
concentrate the heat where it is most required for heating the air which
passes through the flues. The upper ring 7, is formed with an
aperture for the discharge of the products of combustion into the exit
pipo u.
The fire pot is placed upon a base wall e, of brick or stone which
surrounds the ash pit; and a second wall w, is built up around and in
close contact with the outer edges of the flue flanches e, so as to com-
plete the hot air flues, there being suitable apertures in this wall near
the bottom, for the passage of cold air into the hot air flues.
The cold air can be supplied by draught from out doors, or, if desired,
by a rotary fan-blower a, or any other suitable blowing apparatus.
The wall w, extends up to about the level of the lower edge of the
upper ring 9, and above this the flues are surrounded by a perforated
ring y, connected with a perforated top plate z, the perforations in
which are slightly conical, and all tho heated air from the hot air flues
must pass through these perforations. This, I have found, gives an
increased impetus to the current of air, which causes it to circulate
more freely and rapidly, and further into apartments to be heated,
than by any other known plan.
The wall w, is surrounded by an outer wall a', of masonry, which
extends up above the entire furnace, enclosing it all around, and on top
leaving a space which is divided into any desired number of hot air
chambers, b', by means of iron or other partitions c'; each partition
having a hole governed by a damper d, so that all or any desired
number of hot air chambers can, be made to communicate.
The inner and the outer walls are connected near the bottom by a

page_text: horizontal partition e', to separate the hot air chambers b', above, from
the passage below, through which cold air is supplied to the hot air
flues.
The space between the outer wall and the furnace answers the
double purpose of hot air chambers and economizer of heat, as it
effectually prevents heat from being radiated into the apartment.
The lower part of each hot air chamber b', is provided with a hot air
pipe f¹, which extends to and supplies any desired part or section of a
building to be heated. The furnaces should be constructed with as
many separate air chambers, b', as there are separate sections of the
building to be heated; so that each section, however distant from the
furnace, will receive a due proportion of heated air; and, if desired, the
heated air from any number of chambers can be directed to any section
of the building, by opening the dampers in the partitions.
This arrangement avoids the serious inconvenience, experienced in
furnaces as heretofore constructed, of having the hot air concentrated
in the apartments nearest the furnace, as the heated air will pass out of
the most direct and shortest passage; hence the nearest apartment will
receive all, or nearly all, whilst the more distant will receive little or
none. This difficulty is not avoided, but only modified in a very slight
degree, by registers in the apartments; for if the register in the nearest
apartment be closed, the heated air will still run into and accumulate
in the pipe or flue leading to the nearest apartment, and the
reflux only will go to the next nearest apartment. But, by my im-
provement, each apartment or section of a building, being connected
with a separate chamber, will receive its due proportion of heated air,
whatever may be its distance from the surface; and if one hot-air
chamber be not sufficient, two or more can be connected by opening
the connecting dampers in the partitions, and closing the dampers in
the discharge pipes leading to other apartments or sections of the
building.
Above the fire in the grate, there is a plate g', of less size than the
horizontal section of the fire pot, leaving the required space for the
passage of the flame and the gaseous products of combustion. This
plate has a stem h', at top, by which it is suspended by a bolt to a rod i',

page_text: which is in turn suspended to a chain passing through the top of the
furnace, and the roof of the outer wall, thence over two pulleys j',, and
having a counterpoise ¹, suspended to its other end, outside of the
outer wall. This weight should be sufficient to balance the plate and
its appendages, so that its position relatively to the charge of coal on
the grate can be adjusted at pleasure. Above this plate there is
another plate 7, with a hole in the centre to fit on to the stem h¹. Its
under surface is formed with channels n', n', opening at equal distances
apart at the periphery, and communicating with two bent tubes m', m',
which extend up from the upper plate, and then turn down and fit
closely but freely in the vertical tubes i, i, inside of the fire pot.
The air which enters through the pipes j, j, passes up the tubes i, i,
into the bent tubes m', m', and thence through the channels n', n, and,
after having been highly heated, is discharged in small jets all around
the edge of the plate into the narrow passage for the products of com-
bustion, between the edge of the plate and the fire pot, thus mingling
with and supplying oxygen to the combustible gases evolved from the
fuel, whilst in a highly heated state and in the best condition to inflame.
This produces a large body of flame, which spreads in the upper part of
the fire chamber, and which is deflected by the diaphragm or false
dome towards the drum or cylinder impinging on the surface thereof,
to give the required heat. After passing through the apertures around
near the edge of the diaphragm, the flame again spreads out in
the chamber above, and finally escapes through the exit pipe to the
chimney.
The position of the plate with its air channels, relatively to the charge
of coal on the grate, can be regulated at pleasure by moving the
counterpoise weight outside, so as to discharge the jets of air at the
best point to ensure the combustion of the combustible gases evolved
from the fuel.
As the air for this apparatus is not supplied to it through the ash pit,
there will be no danger of choking the channels or passages with ashes
and other solid impurities.
The advantages of having the apparatus for the supply of air to the
combustible gases made, as above described, in two parts, is that the
upper plate, simply resting on the lower plate, will not be so liable to be

page_text: warped and cracked by exposure to heat and unequal expansion. And
as the lower plate is exposed to the most intense heat, and will be the
first to receive injury, it can be readily removed and replaced by simply
disconnecting it from the suspension rod and chain, and letting it drop
down through the bottom of the fire pot, by first taking out the grate
and returning it, or substituting another; and in addition to all this, it
affords ready means of cleaning out the channels, by simply lifting up
the upper plate.
This apparatus can, however, if desired, be made in any other
manner which will supply air for the combustion of the gases as they
pass between it and the fire pot, and be adjustable to any desired
position relatively to the charge of fuel..
It will be obvious that this mode of supplying air to consume the
combustible gaes is applicable to other furnaces or fire chambers as
well as to hot air furnaces, and therefore I do not wish to limit myself
to the application of such apparatus to hot air furnaces alone. Nor do
I wish to limit myself to the helical form of the hot air flues around
the fire chamber, although this form will present the greatest amount of
heating surface in a given space. And finally, I do not intend to limit
myself to the use of the above described improvements in combination
alone, although in my judgment the best results will be obtained by
such connected use.
What I claim as new in the present Invention, and desire to secure
by Letters Patent, is, the method of supplying heated air for the com-
bustion of the inflammable gases evolved from the fuel, through aper-
tures in a plate, or other equivalent or suitable contrivance placed
within the fire pot or chamber, and made to discharge jets of air into
the space (between it and the fire pot) through which the products of
combustion pass.
I also claim making such air-supplying apparatus movable and
adjustable within the fire pot or chamber, for the purpose of adapting
it to the varying height and condition of the charge of fuel, so as to
effect the economic combustion thereof, as specified; and I also claim
making such air-supplying apparatus in two parts, substantially and for
the purpose specified.
I also claim forming the flues for the heating of the air by means of

page_text: flanches projecting from and making part of the outer surface of the
fire pot, and enclosed by a surrounding wall, as shown and described.
1 also claim causing the air to pass through small apertures in a
flanch projecting from the outer surface of the fire pot, substantially as
specified, as a means of imparting heat by conduction to the air, when
subdivided into small streams as set forth.
And I also claim discharging the heated air into the hot air chamber
or chambers, through minute apertures substantially as specified, as a
means of increasing the velocity of the discharged air, and insuring a
more rapid circulation of air through the flues, and to the apartments
to be heated, as set forth.
And, finally, I claim dividing the hot air chamber into two or more
compartments, by means of partitions provided with apertures, governed
by dampers or valves, substantially as specified, for the purpose of
regulating the supply of air to separate parts of a building, as circum-
stances may require.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Edward Newton, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, the Third day of November,
in the year of our Lord_One thousand eight hundred and fifty-
three.
Witness, J. W. MOFFATT,
66, Chancery Lane,
W. E. NEWTON. (L.S.)