Furnaces for the Generation of Heat and Power.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Feb., 1897-Accepted, 5th June, 1897
[Communicated from abroad by JAMES R. HATMAKER, of Forty-second Street
and Park Avenue, New York, U.S.A., Engineer.]
Furnaces for the Generation of Heat and Power.
I THEODORE MCKENNA of 17 & 18 Basinghall Street London Solicitor and
Patent Agent, 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 relates to an apparatus adapted to be used as a furnace for the
generation of heat, or as a retort for the generation of power.
The main feature of my invention consists in apparatus, whereby I bring
together in a closed retort, elements of combustion in the presence of a flame or
heat, whereby I ocrasion combustion within said retort, and by the arrangements
hereafter to be described, I am able to control the supply of combustible elements
to the retort in such quantities, and according to such a pre-determined ratio, as to
produce within the retort practically perfect combustion, and I am able also, by
the construction and nature of my retort, to concentrate the heat or power thus
generated, and to utilize and control the same, either as heat in the reduction of
refractory substances, and the like, or I withdraw the pressure, thus
generated, and employ the same in the operation of an engine or motor, or I may
use both together, as the circumstances of the case may require.
may
I have illustrated my invention in the accompanying drawing, and designated
the parts by letters, referring to like parts, by like letters.
The drawing Figure 1 shows the vertical section of an elevation of my device,
with electrical connections, and a pipe and valve a 6, the latter is intended to be
connected to an engine or motor of some form.
Figure 2 is a detail view showing the automatic valve c8 interposed in the pipe
leading to the retort.
A, is a retort made preferably in two halves, and bolted together. As great
strength is required, I prefer to make this retort of heavy metal, and I line the
same with some refractory material, such as fire brick, to resist the effects of the
heat generated within the retort. I have indicated this lining as a 7. For
the purpose of introducing into the retort material to be affected by the heat, and
removing the same therefrom, I provide the ports, which are closed by the
screws a 1 and a 2; I also provide ports leading into the retort for the reception
of the gaseous fluids or other material that I may employ, as the elements of
combustion. In the drawing I have illustrated two ports, a 3 and a 4, but in
practice I prefer to concentrate these in one port, but for convenience of
illustration, I have shown the two. I also provide another port a 5, connected
with the pipe, and controlled by the valve a 6, which is intended to be connected
with a reservoir or engine, as convenience may require, when I desire to utilize
the pressure generated within the reservoir, as a source of power. a, is intended to
represent the poles of an electric circuit, x 1, a circuit controller.
I also provide valves c 7 and c 8 within the ports a 3 and a 4, arranged according
to well known forms of construction, to prevent an exhaust of pressure from the
retort through said ports, and yet to permit the combustible materials to flow from
the reservoirs into the retort, when the pressure in the retort is less than that
within the reservoirs. 1 prefer to make the surface area presented to the exhaust

page_text: of pressure from the retort greater than the surface presented to the pressure
flowing from the reservoirs. It will be understood that according to the area of
the surface thus presented, I may with precision regulate the time at which I will
permit pressure to be admitted to the retort from the reservoirs, for it will be clear,
that the valve will not open, until the pressure in the retort is exhausted sufficiently,
to allow the pressure flowing from the reservoirs to act on said valve, I am thus
able to use all or nearly all the pressure generated in the retort after the
combustion has taken place.
C
'
C, is a tubular chamber, made preferably in the form of the letter U set
upright, with the ends c 1 and c 2 closed; I partly fill this chamber with water (or
other liquid, having a specific gravity, greater than that of air or gas) thus leaving
two chambers c9 and c10, which will be hereafter referred to as reservoirs.
c3 and c 4 are pipes controlled by valves leading into said reservoirs, respectively,
and c 5 and c 6 represent pipes and valves leading from the reservoirs c 9 and c 10,
to the retort A, respectively. c11 is a basket suspended within the reservoir c 10,
by the rod c.12. The rod c 12 passes through the head of the chamber c 10, for the
purpose of lowering the basket c 11 into the water, and elevating the same.
As heretofore stated, the object of my invention is to generate heat or power,
or both, in a closed retort, by the combustion of fluids, gases, or other suitable
material within the retort, and the utilization of the elements of combustion, as
heat or power.
The difficulties which have been encountered heretofore in furnaces, have been
due largely to the fact, that the elements of combustion could not be brought
together under such control, as to produce perfect combustion. By the device,
which I have above described, I am able to so regulate the supply of combustible
material to my retort, as to get the best and most perfect results from combustion.
The manner in which I accomplish this is as follows: I establish a balance between
the elements of combustion contained in the reservoirs, so that a relatively uniform
pressure may be exerted, by each upon the other, to the end, that I may with
precision regulate the delivery of the elements of combustion to the retort,
according to such pre-determined ratio, as I may find to be most advantageous, and
most conducive to perfect combustion.
In the operation of my device, I may employ any of the well known gaseous
fluids, which when brought into union in the presence of heat or flame, will
produce combustion, such elements are gas and air, but there are many others, that
might be enumerated.
For the purpose of illustration, I will describe the operation of my device, as
the same may be operated with the use of acetylene gas in association with air.
It is known, that when calcium carbide in a solid form, or otherwise, is brought
into contact with water, a gas is generated, which is known as acetylene gas, and
that this gas has a powerful expansive property. I will describe how I may use
calcium carbide in the generation of acetylene gas, and how I may use such gas
in the operation of my apparatus.
I first partially fill the tubular chamber C, as heretofore stated, with water
which will naturally rise to the same level in both chambers c 9 and c 10, I then
close the valves c4 and c 5, and c 6, and open the valve c3 to permit the
reservoir c 9 to be filled with air, or I may facilitate this operation by injecting
the air into said chamber; I then close the valve c3, I then fill the basket cll
with calcium carbide, and lower said basket into the water in the chamber c 10;
immediately acetylene gas will be generated within the reservoir c 10, with such
pressure as to depress the column of water lying beneath the same, and in the
cylindrical chamber C, and elevate the column of water in the reservoir c9, corre-
spondingly; thus compressing the air within said chamber to a pressure equal to the
pressure of the gas in the reservoir c 10. I have illustrated this form of bringing
the calcium carbide in contact with the water, by simple and convenient means, but I
do not intend to limit myself to this form. I may introduce the calcium carbide
through the pipe and valve c4, and where 1 employ illuminating gas, and other

page_text: fluids, that may be generated in a separate reservoir; I may inject the same into
the reservoir c 10, through the pipe and valve c 4.
As heretofore stated I may utilize my device for the reduction of refractory
substance, by the application of heat, as a smelting furuace, or I may employ the
heat and power generated within the retort for power alone; or I may utilize both.
the heat and power concurrently. I will describe the operation as I utilize the
same concurrently.
To introduce the material to be smelted into the retort, I remove the screw
threaded plug a 1 and replace the same when the material is introduced, and when.
the operation is over I remove the material from the retort, by removing the
screw threaded plug a 2, or other equivalent devices may be used for this purpose;
I then open the valves a 5 and a 6, to permit the gas and air to flow into the
retort A.
It will be understood that the pressure in the reservoirs, 9 and c 10, being :
equal, that the flow will be equal, where the resistance to such flow is the same;
and that where the relative resistance to such flow is varied, that the relative
proportion of the flow will be maintained equal. For this reason and by this
arrangement of balance of pressure between the reservoirs, I am able to control
the supply of combustible fluids to the retort, according to a definite and pre-
determined ratio, that is to say if I open the valve c 6 to its full capacity, and c 5
to its half capacity, the relative proportion of gas and air delivered to the retort
will be and continue as one is to two, and so I may vary the relative proportion
of the supply of each accordingly, as circumstances may require. If for instance I
should know as a scientific fact, that perfect combustion was produced by the
union of gas and air in given proportions, I should regulate the supply accordingly;
if on the other hand I was ignorant of this fact, I could regulate this supply
by experiment, adjusting the valves c5 and c6, with reference to each other,
until I arrived at that point where perfect combustion was produced within the
retort A.
When the retort A, is supplied with combustible fluids or gases, as heretofore
stated, I close the circuit a 1, and produce within the reservoir a spark; I may
resort to other means to produce a flame or spark within the retort such as
siphoning the flame into the retort through a small aperture or otherwise. The
spark will ignite the gaseous fluids within the retort, and an explosion will ensue,
as a result of which heat will be generated within the retort, and a high degree of
pressure; 1 may then expand this pressure into a receiver or engine, through the
valve and pipe a 6, or I may exhaust the same to the atmosphere. The pressure
being thus exhausted from the retort A, the gas and air will immediately be fed
into the retort by their own pressure, and a second explosion will be had by the
generation of a spark between the poles a, and so the operation may be continued.
It will be understood that when the combustion takes place within the retort, that
a pressure will be generated therein, which will be greater than the pressure
within the reservoirs, hence the valves c 7 and c 8 will be closed by such excess of
pressure, and so remain closed until the pressure within the retort is exhausted, to
a degree less than the pressure within the reservoirs.
I may adjust the valve a 6, in connection with the operative parts of an engine,
so that the valve a 6 may be closed when the explosion takes place, and opened
immediately thereafter to deliver the pressure generated to an engine in operative
position. I may also substitute a mechanical balance between the reservoirs c 9
and c 10, instead of the hydraulic balance, which I have described; such a balance
would be an ordinary cylinder and piston, or the equivalent, but I prefer to use the
hydraulic balance.
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:
1
In a furnace for the generation of bast and power the combination of a closed

page_text: retort adapted to sustain pressure and heat, and provided with suitable ports, and
an. exhaust, and means to generate a spark or flame within the retort, with
reservoirs adapted to contain gaseous fluids, with means to introduce gas into one
of said reservoirs, and air into the other, with suitable valves to control the same,
with a tubular connection between them to contain a liquid, such as water to act as
a balance between the pressure in each reservoir, also a tubular connection between
each reservoir and the retort, and valves interposed in said connection, to control
the introduction of the combustible fluids into the retort, substantially as
.described.
2. In a furnace for the generation of heat and power, the combination of a closed
retort adapted to sustain pressure and heat, and provided with suitable ports, and
an exhaust, and means to generate a spark or flame within the retort, with
reservoirs adapted to contain gaseous fluids, provided with suitable valves, and
means to introduce calcium carbide or other similar compound into one of said
reservoirs, and to bring the same into contact with water, and means to introduce
air into the other of said reservoirs, with a tubular connection between said
reservoirs to contain a liquid, such as water to act as a balance between the
pressures in the reservoirs, also a tubular connection between each reservoir and
the retort, and valves interposed in said connection to control the introduction of
combustible fluids into the retort, substantially as described.
3. In a furnace for the generation of heat and power, the combination of a closed
retort, provided with suitable ports to admit elements of combustion, and valves
interposed in said ports arranged to permit such pressure to be admitted, but
prevent such pressure from escaping from the retort; with reservoirs for the
storage of combustible fluids under pressure, and a tubular connection between
said reservoirs to contain a liquid, such as water to act as a balance between the
pressure in the reservoirs, and meaus to supply the combustible material from
the reservoirs to the retort, and to control said supplies, and means to ignite the
elements of combustion within the retort; an exhaust port leading from the
retort to a gas receiver, and means to control said exhaust, substantially as
.described.
4. In a furnace for the generation of heat and power, the combination of a
closed retort, in connection with reservoirs adapted to contain gaseous fluids,
and means to maintain a relatively uniform pressure within said reservoirs to
supply the gaseous fluids to the retort in given quantities, according to a pre-
determined ratio, and means to ignite the same within the retort, substantially as
.described.
5. In a furnace for the generation of heat and power, the combination of a
closed retort, provided with suitable ports, with reservoirs for the storage of
combustible Ĥuids under pressure and means to sustain such pressure relatively
uniform between said reservoirs, by the use of a hydraulic or equivalent balance,
and means to supply combustible material to the retort from said reservoirs, and to
control said supply, and means to ignite the gases when united within the retort,
substantially as described.
6. In a furnace for the generation of heat and power, the combination of a
closed retort, provided with suitable ports, and an exhaust, with reservoirs for the
storage of combustible fluids, or gases, and hydraulic or equivalent balance
interposed between said reservoirs, and means to produce acetylene gas in one of
the said reservoirs, and means to supply the retort from said reservoirs, and to
-control said supply, and means to ignite said gases, when the same are united
within said retort.
7. In a furnace for the generation of heat and power, the combination of a
closed retort adapted to sustain pressure and heat, and provided with suitable
ports, and an exhaust, and means to generate a spark or flame within the retort,
with reservoirs adapted to certain gaseous fluids, with a tubular connection
between them, said connection adapted to contain liquid, such as water, to act as a
balance between the pressure in each reservoir, also a tubular connection between

page_text: each reservoir and retort, and valves interposed in said connection to control the
introduction of combustible material into the retort, substantially as described.
8. In a furnace for the generation of heat and power, the combination of a
closed retort, adapted to sustain pressure and heat, and provided with suitable
ports, and an exhaust and means to generate a spark or flame within the retort,
with reservoirs adapted to contain gaseous fluids, provided with suitable valves,
one of said reservoirs provided with a vessel adapted to carry calcium carbide or
other similar compound with means to bring the calcium carbide or other similar
compound in contact with water in said reservoir, and means to introduce air into
another of said reservoirs, with a tubular connection between said reservoirs to
contain a liquid such as water to act as a balance between the pressure in each
reservoir, and also a tubular connection between each reservoir and the retort, and
valves interposed in said connection to control the introduction of the gases into
said retort, substantially as described.
9. In a furnace for the generation of heat and power, the combination of a
closed retort, provided with suitable ports, and valves interposed therein, arranged
to prevent the exhaust of pressure from the retort through said ports, yet permitting
the introduction of the combustible fluids through the same, and an exhaust with
reservoirs for the storage of combustible fluids under pressure, and means to
sustain such pressure relatively uniform between the said reservoirs, by the use of
an hydraulic or equivalent balance, and means to supply the combustible material
from the reservoirs to the retort and to control said supply, and means to ignite the
elements of combustion within the retort, substantially as described.
Dated the 2nd day of February 1897.
THEO. MCKENNA,
17 & 18 Basinghall Street, London.