IM- PROVEMENTS IN DAMPERS FOR FURNACES
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Davies, of 109, Ellesmere Road, Sheffield,
in the County of York, Furnaceman, for the Invention of "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN DAMPERS FOR FURNACES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Davies at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
28th March 1878.
I, ALFRED DAVIES, of 109, Ellesmere Road, Sheffield, in the County
of York, Furnaceman, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN DAMPERS FOR FURNACES," to be as follows:-
These improvements have reference to dampers used for culvert
furnaces, mill furnaces, puddling furnaces, or any other furnaces where
dampers are used.
I find it an important improvement to construct the damper whether
of metal or other suitable material with a chamber or hollow in the

page_text: centre of the damper, into which chamber or hollow I pour water
through a standish or bowl at the top edge of the damper. The water
passes into and down the centre of the damper, and is let out at an
outlet tube or pipe at the opposite side of the damper a little below the
top; the water may be admitted into the damper through a standish or
bowl, or by means of a pipe, or by other suitable means.
:
I prefer to construct the damper of metal and of the following dimen-
sions -Twenty-six inches in length by twenty-one inches broad and four
inches thick, and to make the chamber or hollow two inches and three-
quarters in diameter, so as to permit the water to fill the hollow space 1
thus left in the centre of the damper.
The effect of my improvement is by the constant flow of water into and
out of the damper to cool the damper and render it less affected by heat
and more durable.
SPECIFICATION filed in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters 1
Patent, and of an Order of the Lord Chancellor, by the said Alfred
Davies in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 11th October 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALFRED
DAVIES, of No. 109, Ellesmere Road, Sheffield, in the County of York,
Furnaceman, send greeting.
2
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-eighth day of March, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in
the thirty-sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and
successors, give and grant unto me, the said Alfred Davies, Her 2
special licence that I, the said Alfred Davies, my executors, admi-
nistrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Alfred Davies, 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 a
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN DAMPERS FOR FURNACES," upon the condition (amongst

page_text: others) that I, the said Alfred Davies, my executors or administrators,
by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands
and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the
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, on or
before the Fourteenth day of October One thousand eight hundred and
seventy-three.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Alfred Davies, 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 and accompanying Sheet of Drawings (that is
to say):
These improvements have reference to dampers used for "culvert"
furnaces, mill furnaces, puddling furnaces, or any other furnace where
dampers are used.
"
I find it an important improvement to construct the dampers, whether
of metal or other suitable material, with a chamber or hollow in the
centre of the damper, into which chamber or hollow I pour water through
a standish" or bowl at the top edge of the damper. The water passes
into and down the damper, and is let out at an outlet tube or pipe at the
opposite side of the damper a little below the top. The water may be
admitted into the damper thro' a "standish" or bowl, or by means of a
pipe or by other suitable means.
I prefer to construct the damper of metal and of the following dimen-
sions 26 inches in length by 21 inches broad and four inches thick,
and to make the chamber or hollow two inches and three-quarters in
diameter so as to permit the water to fill the hollow space thus left in
the centre of the damper. The effect of my improvement is by the
constant flow of water into and out of the damper to cool the damper
and render it less effected by head and more durable.
In order that this my said Invention may be more clearly understood,
I have hereunto annexed one Sheet of Drawings illustrative of the
same, and have marked the same with figures and letters of reference,
the same letter referring to the same part in the various views or
Figures.
Fig. 1 is an elevation of an ordinary "culvert furnace" shewing my

page_text: Fig. 2 is a front view of the damper in section; Fig. 3 is a side view
of the same, and Fig. 4 is a plan view of same shewing hole or opening
for the escape of steam.
At A is shewn the damper; B is a pipe through which the water
enters into the damper by any suitable arrangement of connection with
other pipes communicating with the water which the damper is supplied
with, this pipe B I arrange so that it extends across the damper and
near to the bottom, and I perforate the same with small holes for the
water to escape, whereby the bottom of the damper is all kept at one
temperature; C is the hole or opening provided in the top for the escape
of the steam which arises when the water becomes heated.
The supply
of water to the damper is regulated by ball tap or other suitable tap or
means as required; D is the outlet hole into which may be screwed a
pipe and the surplus water conveyed to a tank or cistern in a heated
state for the supply of a steam boiler or other vessel or receptacle where
heated water is required or is advantageous.
Instead of the damper being filled with water cold air or steam may
be made to pass through it, in case such should be preferable and con-
venient, if air or steam be used then the opening C will be dispensed
with and only the inlet and outlet holes employed. The damper is
raised and lowered in the flue E of the furnace as required by the
attendant in a similar manner to the brick dampers which have hereto.
fore been used, and which when they have been exposed to the intense
heat for a day or two have broken to pieces and fallen into the flue, thus
rendering a stoppage of the furnace necessary while the "culvert" or flue
was cleansed of the broken pieces.
Now it will be readily observed that by my Invention this objection
is entirely obviated as the damper will. last for years, thus [saving the
cost of renewing dampers by the heretofore adopted method.
I have shewn the damper as applied vertically to a furnace, but it
may also be applied horizontally or in other position as required.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention and shewn
by Drawings how the same is or may be performed or put into practise,
I would have it understood that I do not confine myself to the precise
details of construction as herein shewn and described, as slight modifi.
cations may be made, but what I claim as of my Invention and believe
to be new is, the construction of dampers of metal or other suitable

page_text: material for "culvert" or other furnaces and flues, with a chamber or
hollow space for the supply of water or other liquid, air, or steam in such
manner that a constant flow of the same through it will act as a cooler
and render the damper less effected by the heat and more durable.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alfred Davies, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-third day of September, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
three.
0 Witness,
W. WHITEHEAD,
Patent Agent,
Sheffield.
ALFRED DAVIES. (L.S.)