AN IMPROVED METHOD OF CONSTRUCTING FURNACES WHEREBY MORE PERFECT COMBUSTION TAKES PLACE, AND THE SMOKE FROM THE FUEL IS MORE THOROUGHLY CONSUMED
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Littler and John Henry Banks, both of
Knutsford, in the County of Cheshire, for the Invention of "AN
IMPROVED METHOD OF CONSTRUCTING FURNACES WHEREBY MORE PERFECT
COMBUSTION TAKES PLACE, AND THE SMOKE FROM THE FUEL IS MORE
THOROUGHLY CONSUMED."
Sealed the 5th February 1869, and dated the 3rd December 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Littler and John
Henry Banks at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
their Petition, on the 3rd December 1868.
We, JOHN LITTLER and JOHN HENRY BANKS, both of Knutsford, in
the County of Cheshire, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion for "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF CONSTRUCTING FURNACES WHEREBY MORE
PERFECT COMBUSTION TAKES PLACE, AND THE SMOKE FROM THE FUEL IS MORE
THOROUGHLY CONSUMED," to be as follows:-
For the better understanding the following description Drawings are
annexed: (The same letters of reference refer to like parts throughout.)

page_text: Whereas that ordinary furnaces consist of one chamber, we to carry
out our Invention do to a certain degree divide it into two (or possibly
under some circumstances more) in the following manner at any defined
distance between what is commonly termed the bridge, Fig. 2, F, and
the door G. We make a partial division transversely A, which division
depends down from the upper surface of furnace to within any distance
from the fire-bars H that may be found desirable according to the
magnitude and nature of the furnace, which said division may be
constructed of brick, iron, or any other material. The part of furnace
that extends from the door G to the outer surface of transverse
division A, which we call for the purpose of description the first or fuel
chamber, B, is connected to the part of furnace C which extends from
the inner surface of transverse division and the bridge (and which we
call the second or flame chamber) by the open passage D between the
under edge or side of transverse division and the fire-bars, as is fully
shown in the Drawings. Further, in case of over firing, to prevent the
smoke dwelling in the first chamber B, we there provide two small
flues E, Figs 2 & 3, which are built or made in each side of the
furnace, with inlets as near the upper surface of furnace as may be
convenient, and outlets below the under side of fire-bars, as is fully
shown by Drawings, which said flues may not always be deemed
necessary. And further, these transverse divisions when applied to such
furnaces (as the furnaces) of flued boilers can act as permanent stays by
adopting the method of bolting a piece or pieces of iron or earthenware
on to the bottom edge, which pieces can be removed when burnt away
and replaced by new ones, as is indicated in sections of furnaces of flued
boilers, Figs. 4 & 5. These transverse divisions can also be so con-
structed as to admit the water or liquid contained in the boiler into
them, as shown at J, Fig. 7 (or any similar form that may be suitable
for the purpose). The bridge portion, see F, Fig. 2, can also be con-
structed in the same manner where it is possible, and filled with water
or liquid from the boiler, thereby greatly increasing the heating surface
and saving fuel.
The Drawings we attach to this Specification merely show our
Invention as applied to the furnaces of a salt pan, Figs. 1, 2, & 3, a

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Littler and John Henry Banks in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 18th February 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, JOHN
LITTLER and JOHN HENRY BANKS, both of Kuutsford, in the County of
Cheshire, send greeting,
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Third day of December, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the thirty-
second year of Her reigu, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto us, the said John Littler and John Heury Banks,
Her special licence that we, the said John Littler and John Henry
Banks, our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as we,
the said John Littler and John Henry Banks, our executors, adminis-
trators, 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, use, exercise, and vend,
within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF
CONSTRUCTING FURNACES WHEREBY MORE PERFECT COMBUSTION TAKES PLACE, AND
THE SMOKE FROM THE FUEL IS MORE THOROUGHLY CONSUMED," upon the con-
dition (amongst others) that we, the said John Littler and John Henry
Banks, our exccutors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under our, 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 within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said John Littler and John Henry
Banks, do hereby declare the nature of our said 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 consists of an improved method of constructing
furnaces, whereby more perfect combustion takes place and the smoke
from the fuel is more thoroughly consumed. For the better under-
standing the following description Drawings are annexed. The same
letters of reference refer to like parts throughout.

page_text: Whereas that ordinary furnaces consist of one chamber, we to carry
out our Invention do to a certain degree partially divide it according to
circumstances in the following manner :-Firstly, in the case of furnaces
of salt pans, Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, which are generally very broad and short,
and others of similar construction and proportion (such as are used for
the purpose of baking, heating, boiling, and melting, not being furnaces
for the generation of steam) at any defined distance between what is
cominonly termed the bridge F and the door G, Figs. 1 and 4, do make
one or more partial division A, A. Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, transversely, which
division on divisions depend down from the upper surface of furnace to
within any distance from the fire-bars that may be found desirable
according to the magnitude and nature of the furnace; but secondly,
we in the case of furnaces of steam boilers, Figs. 5, 6, 7, do partially
divide it according to the length of the fire in the following manner, at
any defined distance between what is commonly termed the bridge F
and the door G, Fig. 5. We make two or more partial divisions trans-
versely A, A, which divisions depend down from the upper surface of
furnace to within any distance from the fire-bars I that may be found
desirable according to the magnitude and nature of the furnace. The
first of which said divisions by acting as a blower causes the upper
surface of the fuel before it rapidly to ignite and burn, and the second
or others, if any, by somewhat confining the current of smoke near to
the surface of the fire causes it to be thoroughly consumed before
passing over the bridge; and further, although combustion cannot take
place without a proper quantity of air passing into the furnace, it is
acknowledged by all scientific and practical men that the admission of
any greater quantity than is absolutely necessary for the perfect com-
bustion of the fuel can only be done at a proportionate loss of heat,
therefore the first division, by confining the current of the small
quantity of air admitted through the door when closed upon the
immediate surface of the ignited fuel, has an equal effect in the burning
of the smoke with the large quantity admitted by opening the door,
under the old plan, three-fourths of which air passing through the
upper part of the furnace serves no other purpose than that of cooling
it. The said divisions in all cases may be constructed of brick, iron,
or any other material. The first one, for economy's sake, may be made
of a piece of sheet or cast iron, which can be fixed by set screws to the
sides of the furnace, as perfection of fit is not at all necessary. The
second one under ordinary circumstances should be constructed of

page_text: fire-brick, but where it is applied to the flues of steam boilers it is
advisable that they should be made hollow to admit the water contained
in the boiler into them, as this being the fiercest part of the fire valuable
heating surface is obtained; and further, the second or others, if any, of
these divisions when so applied we should, under certain circumstances,
make with openings through them running parallel with the sides of
furnace for the purpose of allowing limited quantities of smoke to pass
through them, thereby preventing under any circumstances the smoke
to pass into the back part of the furnace in too large volumes. Further,
in case of over firing to prevent the smoke dwelling in the front part
of the furnace, we there provide two flues E, Figs. 2, 4, 5, which are
built or made in each side of the furnace with inlets as near the upper
surface of furnace as may be convenient, and outlets below the under
side of fire-bars, as is fully shewn by Drawings, which said flues may
not always be deemed necessary; which said flues do under certain
circumstances act as air flucs. And further, as the object of these
divisions is to confine the current of smoke on the surface of the fire for
a defined distance, which for purposes of explanation we will say one-
third the length of the fire, that object can be attained by making one
division A, Fig. 8, of such magnitude that it shall extend along the
whole space extending between the first and second divisions A, A,
Fig. 5, which said division may be made of iron, brick, or any other
material.
The Drawings we attach to this Specification shew our Invention as
applied to the furnaces of a saltpan, Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, and a steam boiler
5, 6, 7, 8, and a common stove 9.
In witness whereof, we, the said John Littler and John Henry
Banks, have hereunto set our hands and scals, this Eleventh
day of February, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and sixty-nine,