Improvements in Appliances for the Prevention of Smoke from Furnaces.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 27th July, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 24th May, 1897-Accepted, 10th July, 1897
Improvements in Appliances for the Prevention of Smoke from
Furnaces.
I WALLACE MCGUFFIN GREAVES Kersal Dale Manchester Lancashire, Engineer do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
(1.) My improvements consists in a new appliance for the prevention of smoke
from furnaces and more particularly from the furnaces of steam boilers of the
Lancashire type.
(2.) The object of my invention is to ensure the combustion of the waste and
previously unconsumed carbon from the furnace before reaching the chimney by the
introduction of a simple and inexpensive diaphragm new in principle form and
arrangement.
(3.) For this purpose and with this object I direct the smoke and carbonaceous
gases from the furnace to come in contact with and pass through a red hot or
incandescent diaphragın formed and arranged as hereinafter particularly described,
and thereby complete the process of combustion without resorting to the expedient
of introducing a current of cold air at the bridge or at the furnace door.
(4.) Heretofore an admixture of clay with various substances has been employed
in several forins for this purpose as in the case of my former patent entitled-An
Improved Smoke Consuming Apparatus, Dated the 17th Day of October 1889 and
numbered 16353 but all such appliances require renewal at frequent intervals as it is
found by experience that however refractory their composition may be they burn
away and become ineffective after the lapse of a certain space of time; my present
improvements deal specifically with this defect.
(5.) I carry out my invention by placing in the flue and behind the furnace a
diaphragm consisting of a number of perforated metal blocks or segments resting
upon or against one another so as to form a kind of pierced wall resting in but not
attached by bolts or revits to the flue through which the flame smoke and gases of
combustion must necessarily pass.
(6.) By preference I make these blocks or segments of cast iron with or without
gills or projections to increase the surface exposed to the flame of the furnace, and
the perforations therein run for preference longitudinally in the direction of the
current from the furnace.
(7.) The blocks or segments so made I place at a convenient distance from the
furnace bridge so as to form a kind of baffle wall.
(8.) If the heat of the furnace and the volume of smoke make it desirable I
place a second series of blocks or segments or more if necessary behind the first.
(9.) As this particular arrangement of a baffle wall of perforated blocks or
segments tends somewhat to reduce the draught from the furnace requisite for the
perfect combustion of the fuel I employ a jet of steam directed for the purpose of
forcing an effective draught, any of the ordinary methods now in use being sufficient
for my purpose.

page_text: (10.) My invention can be readily applied to any class of furnace from which the
flames pass with a flue of sufficient capacity to accommodate the wall or diaphragm
of perforated blocks or segments and can be adapted to boiler and other furnaces
without in any way interfering with the structure or setting thereof.
Dated this 24th day of July 1896.
WALLACE MCGUFFIN GREAVES.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements and Appliances for the Prevention of Smoke from
Furnaces.
I. WALLACE MCGUFFIN GREAVES Kensal Dale, Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement :-
My invention consists of a diaphragm consisting of a number of perforated metal
blocks or segments resting upon or against one another so as to form a kind of pierced
wall placed in the flue and behind the furnace of a boiler.
In the accompany drawing
A is the flue behind the furnace.
B is the boiler.
C is a metallic diaphragm furnished with perforations or orifices D.
E is the exit to the chimney.
The arrow shows the direction of the draught.
The metallic diaphragm C is made preferably of cast iron, and is constructed in
sections as indicated in the drawing so as to form a kind of perforated wall. The
sections are placed in contact with each other and with the boiler skin. No bolts or 2
rivets are used and no interference with the skin of the boiler is needed.
If desired, I place another similar diaphragm behind the first.
The hot gases and other materials pass from the furnace in the direction of the
arrow in the flue A. The diaphragm C acts as a baffle to check the escape of the heat
through E up the chimney. In consequence a greater part of the heat is utilised in 3
the flue A to heat the boiler B. The diaphragm Calso absorbs heat, and by reason
of its material, shape, and position, quickly communicates it to the boiler by
conduction.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
A perforated metallic diaphragm placed in the flue of a furnace behind the bridge,
the said diaphragm being made in sections and placed in position without the use of
bolts or rivets substantially as described and shown in the drawing.
Dated this 24th day of May 1897
3
W. H. MUNNS,
Agent for Applicant.