AN IMPROVED VALVE, PARTICU- LARLY APPLICABLE FOR REGULATING THE SUPPLY OF AIR TO FURNACES AND FIRE-PLACES
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Matthew Allen, of Worship Street, in the County of
Middlesex, Builder, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED VALVE, PARTICU-
LARLY APPLICABLE FOR REGULATING THE SUPPLY OF AIR TO FURNACES AND
FIRE-PLACES."
Sealed the 26th October 1855, and dated the 10th May 1855.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Matthew Allen at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 10th
May 1855.
I, MATTHEW ALLEN, of Worship Street, in the County of Middlesex, Builder,
do hereby declare the nature of tho said Invention for "AN IMPROVED VALVE,
PARTICULARLY APPLICABLE FOR REGULATING THE SUPPLY OF AIR TO FURNACES AND
FIRE-PLACES," to be as follows:-
My Invention consists in fitting in the body of a plate swung centrally on
two pivots or axes a vessel or chamber made somewhat in the form of an hour
glass. The narrow centre of this vessel is on a line with the pivots on which
the plate swings. I charge one side of the vessel with sand or other suitable
material, and through the centre of a vessel I place a slide, or its equivalent,
which is worked by a thumb screw. In order to set the valve, I place that half
of the plate which carries the weighted part of the vessel uppermost, and then
the valve plate is open both at top and bottom. It is prevented from falling
over inwards by a rack, or other suitable contrivance. I open the slide to the

page_text: desired extent, when the sand will fall with more or less rapidity into the under
part of the vessel, and as it does so, gradually brings the valve plate into an
upright position, and so closes the passage to which it may be fitted.
Instead of the hour glass shaped vessel being fixed to the body of the
valve plate, it may be connected to one of the pivots on which the plate swings,
or it may be fitted to the plate in any other convenient manner.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Matthew Allen in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
9th November 1855.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, MATTHEW
ALLEN, of Worship Street, in the County of Middlesex, Builder, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, in the eighteenth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, ler heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, tho
said Matthew Allen, Her special licence that I, the said Matthew Allen, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Matthew
Allen, 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 "A IMPROVED VALVE, PARTICULARLY
APPLICABLE FOR REGULATING THE SUPPLY OF AIR TO FURNACES AND FIRE-PLACES,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Matthew Allen, by an
instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should particularly describe
and ascertain the nature of tho 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 Matthew Allen, do hereby declare the
nature of my 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 Drawings hereunto annexed, that is to
say:-

page_text: My Invention consists in fitting in the body of a plate swung centrally on
two pivots or axes a vessel or chamber made somewhat in the form of an hour
glass. The narrow centre of this vessel is on a line with the pivots on which
the plate swings. I charge one side of the vessel with sand, or other suitable
material, and through the centre of the vessel I place a slide, or its equivalent,
which is worked by a thumb screw. In order to set the valve, I place that
half of the plate which carries the weighted part of the vessel uppermost,
and the valve plate is open both at top and bottom. It is prevented from
falling over inwards by a rack, or other suitable contrivance. I open the
slide to the desired extent, when the sand will fall with more or less rapidity
into the under part of the vessel, and as it does so, gradually brings the valve
plate into an upright position, and so closes the passage to which it may be
fitted. Instead of the hour glass shaped vessel being fixed to the body of
the valve plate, it may be connected to one of the pivots on which the plato
swings, or it may be fitted to the plate in any other convenient manner.
In Figure 1 of the Drawings hereunto annexed I have shewn a front
elevation, and Figure 2 a section, of one of my improved valves; Figure 3 is
a plan of the adjustable slide fitted in the centre of the valve. A, A, is a box or
case; B, B, is a metal plate, free to swing upon its axes C, C, supported in the
sides of the case at a, a; D, D, is a vessel of the particular shape shewn, made
in two parts, united at the collar b; E is a plate or disc of metal, interposed
between the two parts of the vessel D. This plate is slotted out or cut away
from c to d, while a thumb screw F working through the collar 6 regulates
the size of the aperture in the disc. The vessel, which I prefer to make of
glass, is accurately fitted into the plate B, and before being fixed therein
has one of the parts thereof filled, or nearly so, with sand, or other suitable
material which will act in a similar manner to sand, for the purpose required.
e is a rack held in an inclined position between the arm f and ledge g.
In Figure 4 (a front elevation) and Figure 5 (a plan) I have shewn the
manner in which one of my valves may be fitted to regulate the supply of
air to an ordinary stationary furnace. G is a passage or air flue leading from
tho front of the brickwork, in which the furnace is set, to a box at the back
of the furnace door. This box is perforated to divide the air entering, as
hereafter explained, into numerous small jets or streams. The case and
valve are fitted into the mouth of the air passage, as shewn at Figure 4. On
a fresh supply of fuel being introduced into the furnace, that part of the valve
containing the sand or other suitable material is turned upwards and inclined
backwards against the rack, which will place the valve in the position in which
the greatest amount of air can pass through it. The inclination of the valve,

page_text: and consequently the volume of air allowed to flow in, may be increased or
diminished by moving the rack backward or forward. The sand running
from the upper to the lower part of the vessel will gradually lessen the
inclination of the valve, and consequent inflow of air, until the valve assumes
the horizontal position and closes the passage; the time this will occupy will
of course depend upon the size of the aperture in the disc between the two
parts of the valve vessel. No fixed rule can be given, as the time air should
be allowed to flow in must depend upon various circumstances, which may in
no two cases be identical, but which slight experience with each furnace or fire-
place will readily determine. However, as in every case a larger supply of
air will be required on adding fresh fuel than will be needed as the processes
of distillation and consumption proceed, my valves will be found of benefit
in all cases where it is sought to burn fuel with economy and without black
smoke issuing from the furnace chimney. In Figures 6 and 7, front clevation
and longitudinal section respectively, I have shewn my valve fitted to regulate
the admission of air to the ash-pit of a furnace. The sand vessel is here
connected to the valve plate by a rod h; and Figures 8 and 9 represent the
valve fitted to a casing at the side of a furnace door.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I do not limit myself to
the fitting of my valves to furnaces and fire-places in the manner or position
shewn in the Drawings annexed, as the same may vary to suit different con-
structions of furnaces; but what I claim is, the improved valve, herein-before
described, and represented in the Drawings hereunto annexed, which after
being placed in its most open position becomes gradually closed by the falling
of sand or other suitable material in a vessel fitted therein, and forming part
thereof or connected thereto, all as herein-before particularly described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Matthew Allen, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Sixth day of November, One thousand eight
hundred and fifty-five.
MATTHEW ALLEN. (L.S.)