Improved Means of Regulating Fluid Currents in Conduits, Pipes, Channels, and the like.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Aug., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 5th May, 1897-Accepted, 19th June, 1397
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means of Regulating Fluid Currents in Conduits, Pipes,
Channels, and the like.
J, RICHARD GOLL of 112 Landstrasse, Eschersheimer, Frankfort-on-the-Main, in
the Empire of Germany Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
This invention has for object to so regulate the flow of liquids and gases in conduits,
pipes, channels and the like that the flow will be uniform and unobstructed and will
also have a reactive effect such as for example in the case of fireplaces, etc., where the
effect will be to provide a regular and as far as possible smokeless combustion. The
friction of the fluid whether air, gas, or liquid, flowing along the walls of the conduit
ucts to retard the movement of the layer of fluid nearest to the walls which lags behind
and in turn reacts on the adjacent layer and so on and since the influence of the friction
thus acts proportionately to the length of flow in the conduit this friction has a
wedge-like effect producing a deflection of the current. This deflection produces in
the centre of the current a compression of the flowing particles which reacts outwards
and in consequence of the compensating movements that take place at intervals along
the line of flow, produces swirling or whirling movements in the conduits, particularly
in chimneys. It will be readily understood without illustration how compression of
the more active or rapid current is produced by the more sluggish outer layer which
gradually increases towards the interior the longer the flow.
The inventor has observed that by inserting suitable obliquely-set guiding or
distributing vanes in the path of the current, not only the course of the current
between these vanes is directly influenced but also that such obliquely-set vanes
produce a reaction upon the course of the current by equalizing the same for
relatively large distances. By arranging a series of guiding or deflecting devices at
determined distances the current can be so influenced and equalized throughout the
whole length of the conduit. The current can he assumed to be divided into a
number of streams and the object in view is to guide these several streams as far as
possible parallel to one another and to obviate retardation along the walls of the
conduit, by deflecting those streams which are situated in the centre and which flow
with greater velocity away from that sitnation and towards the sidos, the most simple
way of carrying out this mode of regulation being by means of obliquely-set plates
in the path of the current. These distributing vanes may be arranged in enlarged
parts of the conduit said enlarged portions being interposed in conduits of small
cross-sectional area, or connected thereto for the purpose of enabling the current in
said conduits to be regulated by such vanes.
In using regulating devices of this kind the main object will generally be to effect
uniformity of flow in the conduit and particularly in the case of fireplaces and
furnaces, without however excluding other kinds of guidance in particular cases. This
regulation can be effected in accordance with the foregoing, also by influencing the
escaping volumes, such as for instance in fireplaces, by means of devices arranged
above the grate or in the smoke flues or heating flues and in the chimney. When for
instance the escaping gases encounter above the grate a greater resistance at one point
than at another this will cause a reaction having for result to produce a weaker inflow
of air at that point. One form of construction adapted to produce this action consists
in making the guide vanes the solid portions of apertured diaphragms fixed across the

page_text: passage or conduit, the apertures in the "exit diaphragm" of the intermediate
chamber being so arranged as to provide passages of flow in the middle of the
chamber which diverge or become wider towards the outside and inversely become
more and more contracted at the sides of the chamber towards the outside. The
volumes having a special tendency to flow towards the centre are compelled to spread
out in their passage through these middle areas, and their velocity of flow is therefore
diminished whilst the excess of volume which would otherwise occur within the
chamber towards the centre is diverted or deflected towards the sides where it meets
passages of uniformly extending area. These are unable to take up the excess of
volume coming to them from the centre without in turn giving up a portion towards
the sides where in the upwardly contracting passages it helps to force on the otherwise
sluggish flow in an upward direction and flows off with the latter. Consequently the
current at the "inflow diaphragm" which is assumed to be-completely equalized, is
kept uniform throughout its course through the chamber by reason of the weakening
of the otherwise stronger current in the centre and by reason of the strengthening of
the otherwise weaker current ut the sides. Consequently, in general, the arrangement
of fixed or movable vanes above the grate or below the grate, or at a suitable distance
from the grate, will enable the several different divided and guided products of com-
bustion to have the required reaction upon the current flowing through the grate.
The regulating devices placed in the path of the escaping gases at the proper angle in
each particular case, will thus act first by stemming and diverting the flow at the
surface of the burning layer and further upon the proper influx of air from below,
whilst at the same time the retardation of flow acts upon the paths of the several air
currents coming from the burning fuel in such a manner as to produce a distribution
of the gases favourable to the giving off of heat.
The action of the fixed or movable guide vanes may be further increased by causing
them to take up or receive the exhaust from a steam engine the regulation of which
exhaust produces a regulation of the air carried along by it so that then the air can be
said to be sucked or drawn in with more or less intensity in the different parts of the
cross-sectional area of flow.
An example of the application of this invention to a locomotive may be illustrated
by placing the vanes in the smoke-box between the blast pipe and the chimney so as
to be acted upon by the exhaust steam and thereby regulate the draught, the vanes being
arranged obliquely across the smoke-box from front to back above the mouth of the
blast pipe in such a position as to divide the path of the steam and hot gases into
unequally divergent passages, that is to say the central passage becomes wider whilst
the side passages become contracted towards the top to a degree increasing with their
distance from the centre. The result of this arrangement is to render the passage of
the products of combustion and also of the steam more difficult in the middle and loss
in amount whilst the passage is rendered easier towards the sides and also the action
of the exhaust steam up on the draught is partially transferred from the centre. It
will be seen that by means of this arrangement the escape of the products of
combustion from the laterally situated boiler tubes is facilitated by reason of the
greater cross-sectional area formed at said places between the vanes whilst it is aided
by the greater amount of steam which exhausts through these passages than before
and which is greater than that passing along the centre. In consequence there is
produced a more active flow of the gases at the sides above the grate with a
consequently more active inflow of air than before whereby the desired regulating
action is effected.
In the application of the vanes to a closed stove they may be placed in the flues
above the combustion space the vanes being formed by transversely extending bars
which serve to prevent the premature burning away of the central layer of the coals,
that is to say the formation by burning through of a channel through the centre of
the layer of coals which circumstance is usually to be seen in an ordinary surface-
burning furnace or stove. This is prevented by the centrul draught being partially
stemmed and deflected with the result that the air is caused to pass through at the
sides of the layer of coals so as to produce uniform combustion.

page_text: In order to maintain the uniformity of draught sni'able guide vanes are arranged
at intervals along the whole extent of the flue and up to the top of the chimney, said
vanes serving to counteract the tendency of rapid combustion in the centre.
Dated this 10th day of August 1896.
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.
Improved Means of Regulating Fluid Currents in Conduits, Pipes,
Channels, and the like.
I, RICHARD GOLL of 112, Landstrasse, Eschersheimer, Frankfort-on-the-Main, in
the Empire of Germany, Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the samc is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention has for object to so regulate the flow of liquids and gases in conduits,
pipes, channels, and the like, that the flow will be uniform and unobstructed and will
also have a reactive effect such as for example in the case of fireplaces, etc. where the
effect will be to ensure a regular and as far as possible smokeless combustion. The
friction of the fluid whether air, gas, or liquid, flowing along the walls of the conduit
acts to retard the movement of the layer of fluid nearest to the walls which lags behind
and in turn reacts on the adjacent layer and so on and since the influence of the
friction thus acts proportionally to the length of flow in the conduit this friction has a
wedge-like effect producing a deflection of the current. This deflection produces in
the centre of the current a compression of the flowing particles which reacts outwards
and in consequence of the compensating movements that take place at intervals along
the line of flow, produces swirling or whirling movements in the conduits, particularly
in chimneys. Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings illustrates diagrammatically
how compression of the more active or rapid current is produced by the more sluggish
outer layer, indicated by the lines T, which gradually increases towards the interior the
longer the flow.
The inventor has observed that by inserting suitable obliquely-set guiding or
distributing vanes in the path of the current, not only the course of the current between
these vanes is directly influenced but also that such obliquely-set vanes produce a
reaction upon the course of the current by equalizing the same for relatively large
distances. By arranging a series of guiding or deflecting devices at determined
distances the current can be so influenced and equalized throughout the whole length
of the conduit. The current can be assumed to be divided into a number of streams
and the object in view is to guide these several streamis as far as possible parallel to one
another and to obvinte retardation along the walls of the conduit, by deflecting those
streams which are situated in the centre and which flow with greater velocity away
from that situation and towards the sides. Figure 2 illustrates the most simple way
of carrying out this mode of regulation, the direction of flow indicated by the lines in
this figure being produced and maintained by means of obliquely-set plates r in the
path of the current. Figures 3 and 34 shew how these distributing vanes v may be
arranged in enlarged parts of the conduit said enlarged portions being interposed in
conduits of small cross-sectional area or connected thereto for the purpose of enabling
the current in said conduits to be regulated by such vanes.
In using regulating devices of this kind the main object will generally be to effect
uniformity of flow in the conduit and particularly in the case of fireplaces and furnaces,
without however excluding other kinds of guidance in particular cases. This regulation
can be effected in accordance with the foregoing, also by influencing the escaping

page_text: volumes, such as for instance in fireplaces, by means of devices arranged above the
grate or in the smoke fiues or heating flues and in the chimney. When for instance
the escaping gases encounter above the grate a greater resistance at one point than at
another this will cause a reaction having for result to produce a weaker inflow of air at
that point. One form of construction adapted to produce this action is shown in
Figure 4 and consists in making the guide vanes the solid portions of apertured
diaphragms fixed across the passage or conduit, the apertures in the exit " diaphragm "
of the intermediate chamber K being so arranged as to provide passages of flow in the
middle of the chamber which diverge or become wider towards the outside and
inversely become more and more contracted at the sides of the chamber towards the
outside. The volumes having a special tendency to flow towards the centre are
compelled to spread out in their passage through these middle areas, and their
velocity of flow is therefore diminished whilst the excess of volume which would
otherwise occur within the chamber towards the centre is diverted or deflected towards
the sides where it meets passages of uniformly extending area. These are unable to
take up the excess of volume coming to them from the centre without in turn giving
up a portion towards the sides where in the upwardly contracting passages it helps to
force on the otherwise sluggish flow in an upward direction and flows off with the
latter. Consequently the current at the "inflow diaphragın" which is assumed to be
completely equalized, is kept uniform throughout its course through the chamber by
reason of the weakening of the otherwise stronger current in the centre and by reason
of the strengthening of the otherwise weaker current at the sides. Consequently, in
general, the arrangement of fixed or movable vanes above the grate or below the grate,
or at a suitable distance from the grate, will enable the several different divided and
guided products of combustion to have the required reaction upon the current flowing
through the grate. The regulating devices placed in the path of the escaping gases at
the proper angle in each particular case, will thus act first by stemming and diverting
the flow at the surface of the burning layer and further upon the proper influx of air
from below; whilst at the same time the retardation of flow acts upon the paths of the
several air currents coming from the burning fuel in such a manner as to produce a
distribution of the gases favourable to the giving off of heat.
The action of the fixed or inovable guide vanes may be further increased by causing
them to take up or receive the exhaust from a steam engine the regulation of which
exhaust produces a regulation of the air carried along by it so that then the air can be
said to be sucked or drawn in with more or less intensity in the different parts of the
cross-sectional area of flow. Figures 5 and 6 illustrate an example of the application
of this invention to a locomotive the vanes being placed in the smoke-box between
the blast pipe A and the chimney so as to be acted upon by the exhaust steam and
thereby regulate the draught, the vanes being arranged obliquely across the smoke-box
from front to back above the mouth of the blart pipe in such a position as to divide
the path of the steam and hot gases into unequally divergent passages, that is to say the
central passage becomes wider whilst the ride passages become contracted towards the
top to a degree increasing with their distance from the centre. The result of this
arrangement is to render the passage of the products of combustion and also of the
steam more difficult in the middle and less in amount whilst the passage is rendered
easier towards the sides and also the action of the exhaust steam àpon the draught is
partially transferred from the centre. It will be seen that by means of this arrangement
the escape of the products of combustion froin the laterally situated boiler tubes is
facilitated by reason of the greater cross-sectional area formed at said places between
the vanes whilst it is aided by the greater amount of steam which exhausts through
these passages than before and which is greater than that passing along the centre.
In consequence there is produced a more active flow of the gases at the sides
above the grate with a consoquantly more active inflow of air than before whereby
the desired regulating action is effected.
The application of the vanes to a closed stove is illustrated in Figures 7, 8, 9,
and 94, the vanes v being placed in the flues above the combustion space the vanes
being formed by transversely extending bars which serve to prevent the premature

page_text: burning away of the central part of the coals, and the formation of a channel through
the centre of the layer of coals as usually happens in an ordinary surface-burning
furnace or stove. This is prevented by the central draught being partially stemmed
and deflected with the result that the air is caused to pass through at the sides of the
layer of coals so as to produce uniform combustion.
In order to maintain the uniformity of draught suitable gaide vanes are arranged:
at intervals along the whole extent of the flue and up to the top of the chimney,.
said vanes serving to counteract the tendency of rapid combustion in the centre.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what:
I claim is :-
1. The herein descrit ed method of regulating the flow of fluid currents through
conduits, pipes, channels and the like, which consists in providing in the course of
the current, fixed or movable guide vanes or parts acting as such, of various
lengths and in various positions relatively to one another or relatively to the
contour of the passage, whereby the current is divided and passages are formed
for the same which vary in cross sectional area in their continued course, so that
a portion of the more active current is diverted from its more direct path and is.
guided towards the parts of less active flow, with the result that these latter are
accelerated and the more active current is retarded, thereby effecting an equalization
of the velocities of flow throughout the cross sectional area of flow, and so as to
prevent the swirling or eddies caused by the crowding together of differently
speeded parts of the current.
2. In applying the method specified in Claim 1, arranging fixed or movable-
guide vanes within enlargements of the conduit for the purpose of influencing the
flow in the current as described.
Doted this th dow of Mo 1907
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.