IMPROVEMENTS IN FURNACES OR APPARATUS FOR BURNING HEAVY OILS AND OTHER LIKE COMBUSTIBLE LIQUIDS
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson of 47 Lincoln's Inn Fields in the
county of Middlesex Gentleman for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
FURNACES OR APPARATUS FOR BURNING HEAVY OILS AND OTHER LIKE
COMBUSTIBLE LIQUIDS" A communication from abroad by La Société
Nouvelle des Forges et Chantiers de la Mediterranée of Paris in the Republic
of France.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd February 1882.
"
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON of 47 Lincoln's Inn Fields in the County of Middlesex
Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN FURNACES OR APPAPATUS FOR BURNING HEAVY
OILS AND OTHER LIKE COMBUSTIBLE LIQUIDS A communication from abroad
by La Société Nouvelle des Forges et chantiers de la Mediterranée of Paris in the
Republic of France.
This Invention relates to apparatus for burning heavy oils and other like
combustible liquids with a view to employing this description of fuel for heating
boilers in torpedo boats and generally for boiler and other like furnaces which aro
supplied with air under pressure and it consists in a special arrangement of the
burner with improved means for supplying the said burner with oil and air as
hereinafter described.
This improved arrangement enables the forced draught of air required to support
combustion in furnaces of the class above referred to be obtained without the
necessity of hermetically closing the stoke hole.
I will now describe the mode of carrying out this Invention taking as an
example a tubular boiler with a cylindrical furnace the heavy oil which is
conducted in the first place into an interioediate feeding reservoir under pressure
is maintained as thin or fluid as possible by means of steam and a sieve or strainer
and is supplied through a pipe to an oil distributor of a horizontal outer tube in
communication with the oil reservoir and enclosing a tube fitting tightly but
capable of sliding longitudinally inside the former. The sides of the inner tubo
are of unequal thickness and the upper side which is thinnest is provided with a
long slot or opening whilst the underside is provided with a number of holes.

page_text: The outer tube has a number of nipples the outlet passages of the said nipples
being opened or closed by a longitudinal motion of the inner tube causing the
openings therein to coincide or not with the passages through the nipples.
The oil passes from the nipples to open funnels or cups provided on the upper
extremities of a series of feed tubes one for each nipple. In order to enable the
oil to overcome the pressure of the air which would otherwise prevent it from
entering the furnace each feed tube is provided at its lower extremity with a small
valve connected to a vertical rod arranged inside the tube and supported by a
spring at its upper extremity. This spring serves to counterlance the weight of
the valve and rod and assists the pressure of the air in the furnace to keep the
valve closed until the oil accumulates in the tube so as to form a column equal in
weight to the column of water representing the pressure of the air in the furnace
whereupon the valve opens and allows the oil to flow to a burner formed by a
series of inclined bars provided with channels or grooves for the reception of the
oil. The oil on its passage from the feed pipes to the burner passes first into a
common receiver and along au inclined duct into the channels or grooves in the
bars where it is consumed gradually in its course from the upper part of the
channels to the lower part where the unconsumed residuum falls into a suitable
receptacle or ash pan. The channels gradually decrease in depth from the upper
part of the bars to the lower part in proportion as the oil is consumed. Air
distributors or deflectors consisting of hollow cast iron bars hereinafter described
are arranged between the grooved bars and are provided with tail pieces by which
they are united to a common axis so as to be capable of being operated by an
external lever working over a graduated quadrant for the purpose of regulating
the expenditure of air as hereinafter described.
The air distributors or deflectors being arranged between the grooved bars
become heated and in their turn heat the air on its passage. The air deflectors
project slightly beyond the grooved bars into the interior of the furnace and air
expanded or rounded at this part in order to deflect the air in thin cross streams
over the burning oil on the grooved bars so as to prevent any portion of the said
air escaping unconsumed and thus producing smoke. The air distributors or
deflectors are hollow and air is caused to circulate in their interior whence it is
delivered into the furnace through fine holes in the expanded part of the deflectors.
This air circulating in the projecting expanded part herein before described in
combination with the radiation from the thinner portion of the distributors or
deflectors prevents the metal from becoming over heated.
Air supplied under pressure is first caused to pass under the sole of the furnace
which is thus cooled and then enters a closed distribution chamber in front of the
bars and passes between the grooved bars and air distributors or deflectors to the
interior of the furnace.
The supply of air is regulated by moving the distributors or deflectors so as to
cause their expanded part to contract the passage between the bars and the said
distributors to the required extent.
The burner is capable of being taken to pieces and may be drawn out of the
furnace or heating chamber so as to expose all the parts for inspection.
In the case of boiler furnaces for torpedo boats the improved apparatus is
employed in an external combustion chamber arranged in front of the boiler
furnace proper.
The latter may be closed by a sheet of water at its lower
part whereby an increased surface is obtained exposed to the direct action of the
heat.
The external combustion chamber or furnace is composed of a series of grooved
bars and air distributors or deflectors similar to those hereinbefore described
but which may be arranged radially in the form of a semi circle or of a
a polygon.
The reservoir of oil is placed above the crown of the furnace.
The oil is supplied to the oil distributor through pipes provided with cocks and
the said distributor is composed of a box in the form of a seament of a ring

page_text: containing an internal sliding plate of corresponding form provided with holes and
operating to open or close the passages of the nipples essentially as described with
regard to the former arrangement.
The air distributors are of course arranged radially between the bars but to
adjust them their outer extremities or tail pieces are provided with pins working
in oblique slots formed in a plate constituting a segment of a ring which is capable
of being displaced in a circular direction by means of an external lever so as to
shift the air distributors inwards or outwards by causing the oblique slots to slide
over the pins and thus regulate the supply of air by moving all the said air
distributors by one operation.
The air is supplied in a manner similar to that herein before described and any
suitable blowing apparatus may be employed for supplying air to the apparatus
under pressure.
A fire bridge serves to deflect the flame and prevent ashes from being blown
into the boiler furnace.
The burner is removeable as before described.
Peepholes fitted preferably with panes of mica to avoid liability to fracture are
provided for inspecting the action of the apparatus.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
19th August 1882.
"
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON of 47 Lincoln's Inn Fields in the County of Middlesex
Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN FURNACES OR APPARATUS FOR BURNING HEAVY
OILS AND OTHER LIKE COMBUSTIBLE LIQUIDS' A communication from abroad
by La Société Nouvelle des Forges et Chantiers de la Mediterranée of Paris in the
Republic of France.
This Invention relates to furnaces or apparatus for burning heavy oils and other
like combustible liquids with a view to employing this description of fuel for
heating boilers in torpedo boats and generally for boiler and other like furnaces
which are supplied with air under pressure and it consists in a special arrangement
of the burner with improved means for supplying the said burner with oil and air
as hereinafter described.
This improved arrangement enables the forced draught of air required to support
combustion in furnaces of the class above referred to to bo obtained without the
necessity for hermetically closing the stoke hole.
And in order that the said Invention may be fully understood I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same and for that purpose shall refer to
the several figures on the annexed sheet of drawings the same letters of reference
indicating corresponding parts in all the figures.
Figures 1. 2 and 3 represent respectively a longitudinal and a horizontal section
and a front elevation of the cylindrical furnace of a tubular boiler having a
return flame or wheel draught and working with a supply of compressed air.
Figure 4 is a vertical sectiou showing the inner sides of the front wall of the
furnace.
The arrangement is illustrated on a larger scale in Figure 5 which shows the
details of the construction most clearly.
The heavy oil which is conducted in the first place into an intermediate feeding
reservoir under pressure is maintained as thin or fluid and clear as possible by
means of steam and a sieve or strainer and is supplied by a pipe A to an oil
distributor composed of a horizontal outer main tube B in communication with the
oil reservoir and enclosing a tube fitting tightly but capable of sliding longi-
tudinally inside the tube B. The sides of the inner tube C are of unequal thickness
and the upper side which is thinnest is provided with a long slit or opening whilst
the under side is provided with a number of holes D which correspond with
perforations in the nipples E formed on the outer tube B the said nipples being
opened or closed by a longitudinal motion of the inner tube C cansing the openings
therein to coincide or not with the passages through the nipples E. The oil passes
exposed to the open air from the nipples into open funnels or cups provided on
the upper extremities of a series of feed tubes F one for each nipple E. In order
to enable the oil to overcome the pressure of the air which would otherwise prevent
it from entering the furnace each feed tube is provided at its lower extremity with
a small valve G connected to a vertical rod H arranged inside the tube Fand
supported by a spring at its upper extremity. This spring serves to counterbalance
the weight of the valve and rod and assists the pressure of the air in the furnace
to keep the valve closed until the oil accumulates in the tube so as to form a
column equal in weight to the column of water representing the pressure of the air
in the furnace whereupon the valves open and allow the oil to flow to a burner
formed by a series of inclined bars provided with or forming channels or grooves

page_text: for the reception of the oil. The oil on its passage from the feed pipes H to the
burner passes first into a common receiver I and along inclined ducts J into the
series of channels or grooves formed in or by the bars K where it is consumed
gradually in its course from the upper part of the channels to the lower part where
the unconsumed residuum falls into a receptacle or ash pan L. The channels
gradually decrease in depth from the upper part of the bars K to the lower part in
proportion as the oil is consumed. Air distributors or deflectors M consisting of
hollow cast iron bars hereinafter described are arranged between the bars K and
are provided with tail pieces by which they are united to a common axis at N so
as to be capable of being operated by an external lever ○ working over a graduated
quadrant for the purpose of regulating the expenditure of air as hereinafter
described. The air distributors or deflectors being arranged between the bars K
become heated and in their turn heat the air on its passage. The air deflectors
project slightly beyond the bars K into the interior of the furnace and are expanded
or rounded at this part in order to deflect the air in thin cold streams over the
burning oil on the bars K so as to prevent any portion of the said oil from escaping
unconsumed and thus producing smoke. The air distributors or deflectors are
hollow and air is caused to circulate in their interior being admitted at P whence
it is delivered into the furnace through fine holes Q in the expanded part of the
deflectors. This air circulating in the projecting expanded parts herein before
described combined with the radiation from the thinner portion of the distributors
or deflectors prevents the metal from becoming over heated. Air is supplied
under pressure to the apparatus through an orifice R and is first caused to pass
under the sole of the furnace which is thus cooled and the air then enters a closed
distribution chamber S and passes between and froin the air distributors or
deflectors to the interior of the furnace. A bridge T serves to guide the flame in
the required direction.
The supply of air is regulated by moving the distributors or deflectors so as to
cause their expanded parts to contract the passages between the bars K and the
distributors to the required extent.
The burner is capable of being taken to pieces and may be drawn out of the
furnace or heating chamber so as to expose all the parts for inspection. A pane of
glass U is provided in front of the bars in order that the action of the apparatus
may be watched and the combustion regulated.
In the case of boiler furnaces for torpedo boats the improved apparatus is
employed in an external combustion chamber arranged in front of the boiler
furnace proper. The latter may be closed by a sheet of water at its lower part
whereby an increased surface is obtained exposed to the direct action of the
heat.
The external combustion chamber or furnace is composed of a series of bars and
air distributors or deflectors similar to those hereinbefore described but which may
be arranged radially in the form of a semicircular or of a polygon as shown for
example in Figure 7. The reservoir of oil is placed above the crown of the furnace
and the various details are marked with the same letters of reference. They differ
slightly in form only from those herein before described. This application of the
invention is illustrated in Figures 6, 7 and 8 which are respectively a longitudinal
vertical section or plan partly in section and a front elevation partly in section.
The oil is supplied to the oil distributor through pipes provided with cocks A.
According to this arrangement the said distributor is composed of a box B in the
form of a segment of a ring containing an internal sliding plate C of corresponding
form and provided with holes and operating to open or close the passages of the
nipples essentially as described with regard to the former arrangement but by a
movement of the plate C in the direction of its length.
The oil flows from the nipples of the distributor into the feed tubes F provided
with valves as in the preceding arrangement and thence through a common
passage I and passages J and then to the grooves or channels formed by the bars K
as in the arrangement before described. The air distributors M are of course

page_text: arranged radially between the bars but to adjust them their outer extremities or
tail pieces are provided with pins working in oblique slots formed in a plate N
constituting the segment of a ring which is capable of being displaced in a circular
direction by means of an external lever O so as to shift the air distributors inwards
or outwards by causing the oblique slots to slide over the pins and thus regulate
the supply of air by moving all the said air distributors by one operation. On
examining the plan (Figure 7) it will be perceived that these details are similar
to and perform the same functions as those hereinbefore described.
In this arrangement also the air enters by orifices R and enters the distribution
chamber S essentially as hereinbefore described. One or more blowing apparatus
may be employed at the side of the boiler supplying air to the apparatus under
pressure through a corresponding orifice or orifices. A fire bridge T deflects the
flaine and prevents ashes from being blown into the boiler furnace.
The burner is removeable as before described. Peepholes fitted preferably with
panes of mica in place of glass to avoid liability to fracture are provided in the
plate in front of the bars for inspecting the action of the apparatus. The reservoir
of oil may be provided with a guage glass serving to indicate the consumption
of oil.
The form and dimensions represented in the drawing may be modified as
required in practice according to the nature of the oil employed.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said Inven-
tion and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into effect
I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original and
therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the hereinbefore in part recited
Letters Patent is :-
First-The improvements in furnaces or apparatus for burning heavy oils and
other like combustible liquids consisting in the arrangements for supplying the oil
which allows it to be introduced into the furnace under air pressure, and dispenses
with the necessity for keeping the stoke hole hermetically closed substantially as
hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Second-The means.for regulating the supply of air at will according to the
quantity of oil to be consumed and the pressure at which the air is supplied
substantially as and for the purpose herein before described with referenco to tho
accompanying drawings.
Third-The general arrangement of the apparatus for obtaining the results
substantially as herein before described and illustrated in the several figures of the
accompanying drawings.
In witness whereof I the said John Henry Johnson havo to this my
Specification set my hand and seal this eighteenth day of August One
thousand eight hundred and eighty two.