Improvements in Apparatus for Assisting Combustion in Steam Boiler and other Furnaces.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 5th July, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Apr., 1890-Accepted, 28th June, 1390
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Assisting Combustion in Steam
Boiler and other Furnaces.
I, OREL DIGHTON ORVIS, of St. George's Club, Hanover Square, in the County
of Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to that class of apparatus for improving the combustion in
steam boiler and other furnaces. In the present instance I employ special apparatus
for causing an in-draught of air which may be mixed with steam in a super-heater
located in one of the side flues or other convenient portion of the boiler or setting
according to the kind of boiler dealt with, the mixed steam and air being eventually
delivered over the fire.
Good results may however be obtained with this apparatus without using steam at
all the air being forced in by any suitable blower.
In carrying out my invention I prefer to employ a suitable horizontal hox or pipe
generally rectangular in cross section rounded at the ends and provided with a
horizontal diaphragm somewhat shorter than the length of the box. At the outer end
of this box and which would usually be in front of the boiler I introduce the steam
jet and also have the intake for the air and in front of the steam jet I prefer to
contract the box so as to produce a strong current of air while using a minimum
quantity of steam. The outlet for the mingled superheated steam and air from the
box or chamber is preferably situated at the front end and below the air and steam
inlet but separated therefrom by the diaphragm. Any suitable connection between
the steam space or steam pipe of the boiler and the steam jet or jets may be made and
controlled by suitable valves and the outlet of the box may be connected with the flue
preferably the front end of it by a suitable tube or equivalent.
There may be any required number of boxes and connections but in the case of
a Lancashire boiler with two flues I generally prefer to employ two boxes one for
each flue.
I prefer to enter the tube carrying the superheated mixture of steam and air into a
flue or furnace by the front end above the fire door and to surround this tube inside
the furnace by another tube of larger diameter, say for example, the inner tube
two inches diameter and the outer tube four inches diameter though I do not confine
myself to any particular sizes. The inner and outer tubes are connected by small
cross tubes in such a manner as to make a connection between the interior of the
inner tube and the furnace. The space between the two tubes is supplied with water
preferably but not necessarily from the boiler itself with which or with any other
source of supply the outer tube is connected in any convenient manner but preferably
in such a way as to cause the circulation of water through the outer tube
and around the inner one; this arrangement prevents the inner tube from becoming
over-heated or burned, and is economically most useful as I find this water space will
produce enough steam to supply the jets. The tubes may extend over the tube of the
furnace preferably in the centre thereof and may with advantage be continued beyond
the bridge; if one supply is used along the centre of the upper part of the furnace the
small cross tubes or jets may be arranged in a single line so as to direct the jets of
steam and air downwards on to the products of combustion in the furnace proper over
the bridge and beyond the bridge. If more than one supply be employed for one
furnace they may be arranged in any way found most convenient and directing their
jets wherever required.
If preferred the steam and air inlets may be introduced at the lower part of the
super-heating chamber the outlet in such case being placed above the diaphragm.

page_text: In devices of this description as heretofore constructed I have found that when first
starting after they have become cold so much condensation takes place that water
drips onto the fire causing trouble and the steam is not superheated for a long time
until the whole boiler and fittings have reached their full working temperature. In
my apparatus however any condensation water remains in the superheating chamber
(which being in the direct line of the hot gases quickly becomes fully heated) until
there is sufficient heat to vaporize it when it passes on with the rest of the steam.
Did th: Kih
CLL 1400
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
A gents
COMPLETE
SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Assisting Combustion in Steam
Boiler and other Furnaces.
I, OREL DIGHTON ORVIS, of St. George's Club, Hanover Square, in the County
of Middlesex, Gentleman, 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 :-
This invention relates to that class of apparatus for improving the combustion in
steam boiler and other furnaces. In the present instance I employ special apparatus
for causing an in-draught of air which may be mixed with steam in a super-heater
located in one of the side flues or other convenient portion of the boiler or setting
according to the kind of boiler dealt with, the mixed steam and air being eventually
delivered over the fire.
Good results may however be obtained with this apparatus without using steam at
all the air being forced in by any suitable blower.
In carrying out my invention I prefer to employ a suitable horizontal box or pipe
generally rectangular in cross section rounded at the ends and provided with a
horizontal diaphragm somewhat shorter than the length of the box. At the outer
end of this box and which would usually be in front of the boiler 1 introduce the
steam jet and also have the intake for the air and in front of the steam jet I prefer to
contract the box so as to produce a strong current of air while using a minimum
quantity of steam. The outlet for the mingled superheated steam and air from the
box or chamber is preferably situated at the front end and below the air and steam
inlet but separated therefrom by the diaphragm. Any suitable connection between
the steam space or steam pipe of the boiler and the steam jet or jets may be made and
controlled by suitable valves and the outlet of the box may be connected with the flue
preferably the front end of it by a suitable tube or equivalent.
There may be any required number of boxes and connections but in the case of a
Lancashire boiler with two flues I generally prefer to employ two boxes one for
each flue.
I prefer to enter the tube carrying the superheated mixture of steam and air into
a flue or furnace by the front end above the fire door and to surround this tube inside
the furnace by another tube of larger diameter, say for example, the inner tube
two inches diameter and the outer tube four inches diameter though I do not confine
myself to any particular sizes. The inner and outer tubes are connected by small
cross tubes in such a manner as to make a connection between the interior of the
inner tube and the furnace. The space between the two tubes is supplied with water
preferably but not necessarily from the boiler itself with which or with any other
source of supply the outer tube is connect d in any convenient manner but preferably
in such a way as to cause the circulation of water through the outer tube and around
the inner one; this arrangement prevents the inner tube from becoming over-heated
or burned, and is economically most useful as I find this water space will produce
enough steam to supply the jets. The tubes may extend over the tube of the furnace
preferably in the centre thereof and may with advantage be continued beyond the
bridge; if one supply is used along the centre of the upper part of the furnace, the

page_text: small cross tubes or jets may be arranged in a single line so as to direct the jets of
steam and air downwards on to the products of combustion in the furnace proper over
the bridge and beyond the bridge. If more than one supply be employed for one
furnace they may be arranged in any way found most convenient and directing their
jets wherever required.
If preferred the steam and air inlets may be introduced at the lower part of the
super-heating chamber the outlet in such case being placed above the diaphragm.
In devices of this description as heretofore constructed I have found that when first
starting after they have become cold so much condensation takes place that water
drips onto the fire causing trouble and the steam is not superheated for a long time
until the whole boiler and fittings have reached their full working temperature. In
my apparatus however any condensation water remains in the superheating chamber
(which being in the direct line of the hot gases quickly becomes fully heated) until
there is sufficient heat to vaporize it when it passes on with the rest of the steam.
In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a front end elevation of a Lancashire
boiler provided with apparatus according to my present invention, Figs. 2 and 3 are
longitudinal vertical sections taken respectively on the lines a b and c d of Fig. 1 ;
Figs. 4 and 5 are respectively an end elevation and a longitudinal section drawn to
an enlarged scale of one of the induction and superheating boxes located in the
external flues of the boiler setting, Fig. 6 is a transverse section through one of the
heaters in the boiler flues; Fig. 7 is a horizontal section showing the connection
between the pipes C and d¹.
Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.
A is a horizontal pipe or box of which there may be one or more, two being shown
applied to the boiler represented in the accompanying drawings. As the apparatus
applied to each flue of a boiler is similar to the other or others for simplification the
following description is confined to one of such apparatus. The box A which may
be of wrought or cast iron or other suitable metal is generally rectangular in cross
section and is divided at its interior by a diaphragm a¹ which extends directly from
the front end a² to within a suitable distance from the back end a³. The back end a³
is curved or semi-circular so as more readily to direct the stean and air to the under-
side of the diaphragm a¹. at is an air inlet pipe let into the upper wall or crown of
the box A at its front end its free end being open to admit air. This pipe can be
dispensed with if desired a simple opening being left. a are two steam jets which
project inwards from the front end of the box A and to which are connected the steam
pipes a the upper ends of each pair of which may be connected to the same fitting a.
a are pipes fitted with suitable valves a³, which pipes connect the fittings a with
the T piece ao a pipe a" from which passes through preferably the front end of the
boiler at the inside of which it may be bent in the manner indicated in dotted
lines in Fig. 2 so as to prevent as much as possible the entrance of water from the
boiler.
The crown or upper part of the box A has a depression at a¹ so as at that part to
contract the area of the passage above the diaphragm a' for the purpose of inducing
a strong current of air while using a small quantity of steam. C is the pipe through
which the mingled steam and air passes from the box A into the heater D which may
be located within and immediately under the crown of, and over the furnace in the
boiler tube B' as shown in Fig. 3, the pipe C in such case passes through the
upper part of the furnace-door-frame E. This heater consists of two tubes d' d'
arranged preferably one within the other as shown in the enlarged transverse
section Fig. 6. The pipes d d are closed at their inner ends and at the
front end only the pipe is open that being connected to the pipe C. d³ are short
radial or other pipes or jets which connect the pipes d' and d² together and which
traverse the water space d intervening between said pipes d' d². To this water
space d are connected flow and return pipes d' de respectively, these being secured in
the pipe and crown of hoiler tube B₁ in any convenient manner the circulation
being through the pipes d³ ³ and do preferably in the direction indicated by the arrows
in Fig. 3.

page_text: When it is desired to supply the superheated steam and air to the furnace E¹ all
that is necessary is to open the valve a and the steam thus allowed to escape from
the boiler B will blow through the jets a³ into the box A and will draw air through
the pipe a as indicated by the arrows. The combined air and steam will then travel
towards and turn under the back end of the diaphragm a¹ and will expand in the
larger chamber below the diaphragm and will again pass forward below said
diaphragm to the outlet pipe C. The steam and air are thus heated by contact with
the walls of the box A which is itself heated by the products of combustion passing
through the flue F and impinging on the box A. The heated steam and air pass
next into the pipe d¹ of the heater D and then escape to the fire through the jets d³
after having become highly heated in D.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
:-
1. In apparatus such as described a box such as A adapted to be placed in a flue and
divided through substantially the whole of its length by a diaphragm a¹ to one side
of which is admitted air or air and steam which before escaping from said box has to
traverse both chambers formed by the diaphragm wherein it expands and becomes
highly heated during the contact with the surrounding heated walls substantially as
herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
2. In apparatus such as described a heater such as D consisting of two pipes d¹ d²
one within the other with a water space between them and having short tubes or
jets such as d³ connecting the two pipes so that the heated air from the inner pipe
may be delivered laterally through the outer pipe substantially as herein described
and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
3. In apparatus such as described the combination with the flue tube of a boiler of a
heater such as D consisting of two pipes d' d' one within the other and having a water
space between them and short tubes or jets d³ traversing said water space to the
outside of the heater the water space of said heater being connected by pipes
passing through wall of flue tube with the interior of the boiler so that a circulation
of water may result substantially as herein described and illustrated in the accom-
panying drawings.
4. In apparatus such as described the combination with the tube delivering the air
to the furnace of an enclosing water tube or vessel whereby the said air tube is
preserved from burning and steam produced which may be directly as through a con-
necting pipe or indirectly as through the boiler employed in the jet which introduces
the air substantially as described.
5. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the complete apparatus
substantially as herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
1
1
OREL DIGHTON ORVIS.
W. P. Thompson & Boult,
Agents for the Applicant.