AN IMPROVED METHOD, OF PREVENTING THE PRODUCTION OF SMOKE FROM FURNACES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
i
Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention of "AN
IMPROVED METHOD, OF PREVENTING THE PRODUCTION OF SMOKE FROM
FURNACES." A communcation from abroad by James Todd, of Potosi,
Missouri, United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd August 1876.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF PREVENTING THE
PRODUCTION OF SMOKE FROM FURNACES." A communication.
The object of this Invention is to provide means för effectually consuming smoke
in or preventing its escape from furnaces.
According to the said Invention I introduce air compressed to at least fifteen
pounds to the square inch into the furnace chamber from the upper part thereof in
such manner as to strike and penetrate the rising products of combustion before it
reaches the fuel charge.
I provide an air supply pipe connected with and leading from a suitable air
compressing apparatus. This pipe is arranged across the end of the furnace (either
inside or outside the latter) above the level of the fire. I also provide a series of
pipes leading out of the said air supply pipe and projecting slightly into the furnace,
and so inclined as to point towards the farther end of the fire.
The operation is as follows:-The furnace is fired in the ordinary way, the
compressed air is then introduced through the pipes into the furnace. By reason of
the inclination of the last named pipes the jets of air are caused to strike the fire far
enough back from the bridge wall to enable them to penetrate and break up the flame
and products of combustion, and cause the latter to be rolled forward to the front of
the fire-box, thence to arise and again come in contact with the air current; and
owing to the compression of the air to the degree described when it is delivered
into the furnace chamber, the proper.amount of oxygen for the thorough consumption
177

page_text: of the smoke can be combined therewith without interfering with the action of the
fire proper.
It is obvious that this Invention is adaptable to all kinds of furnaces. I have
found in practice that the required pressure varies from 15lbs. up to 150lbs. per
inch, according to various conditions; for instance, the varying conditions of the fire
in the same furnace, the strength of the draught, the distance of the point of the air
delivery pipe from the fire, and the particular direction of the air current.
Soon after a fire is started a pressure of from 30 to 100lbs. per inch may be
advantageously used, and when the fire is very bright and the unconsumed carbon
is reduced to a minimum the pressure may be allowed to drop to 15lbs. per
inch.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
17th February 1877.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF PREVENTING THE
PRODUCTION OF SMOKE FROM FURNACES." A communication from abroad by James
Todd, of Potosi, Missouri, United States of America.
The object of this Invention is to provide means for effectually consuming smoke
in or preventing its escape from furnaces.
According to the said invention I introduce air compressed to at least fifteen :
pounds to the square inch, into the furnace chamber from the upper part thereof in
such manner as to strike and penetrate the rising products of combustion before it
reaches the fuel charge.
In the accompanying Drawing Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of a fire-box:
or furnace embodying my invention; Figure 2 is a front elevation of the same.
Like letters indicate the same parts throughout the Drawing.
A is a steam boiler; B, the fire-box or furnace chamber; C, the ash-pit; D, an air
supply pipe connected with and leading from a suitable air compressing apparatus
not shown. The pipe is arranged across the end of the furnace (either inside or
outside the latter) above the level of the fire. E, E, represent a series of pipes
leading out of the pipe D, and projecting slightly into the furnace and so inclined
as to point towards the farther end of the fire.
The operation is as follows:-The furnace is fired in the ordinary_way, the
compressed air is then introduced through the pipes into the furnace. By reason
of the inclination of the last named pipes the jets of air are (as indicated by the
arrow) caused to strike the fire far enough back from the bridge wall to enable
them to penetrate and break up the flame and products of combustion, and cause
the latter to be rolled forward to the front of the fire-box, thence to arise and again
come in contact with the air current, and owing to the compression of the air to the
degree described, when it is delivered into the furnace chamber the proper amount
of oxygen for the thorough consumption of the smoke can be combined therewith
without disturbing or obstructing the action of the fire.
It is obvious that this Invention is adaptable to all kinds of furnaces. I have
found in practise that the required pressure varies from fifteen pounds to one
hundred and fifty pounds per square inch, according to various circumstances; for
instance, the varying conditions of the fire in the same furnace, the strength of the
draught, the distance of the point of the air delivery pipe from the fire, and the
particular direction of the air current.
4
Soon after a fire is stared a pressure of from thirty to one hundred pounds per
square inch may be advantageously used, and when the fire is very bright and
the unconsumed carbon is reduced to a minimum, the pressure may be allowed to
drop to fifteen pounds per inch. Any practical workman can very soon determine
from experience exactly how to regulate the pressure, and no definite rule can be

page_text: given saving that the pressure must not fall below fifteen pounds per square
inch.
Having thus fully described the said Invention, as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I am aware that blowing engines and pumps have been used to introduce air
into a furnace, and that steam has been employed to draw air into a furnace and
that air has been introduced into a furnace both above and below the fire, and also
at the side thereof, and even under sone slight degroe of compression. Con-
sequently, I do not claim such apparatus or processes; but, I claim the above
described method of preventing the production of smoke from furnaces by the intro-
duction in the manner set forth of air compressed to not less than fifteen pounds per
square inch.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of February, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
HTM PART TAKE