IMPROVEMENTS IN FURNACES FOR THE COMBUSTION OF TOWNS REFUSE OR OTHER DECOMPOSED MATTER
Year: 1884

page_text: We, JOHN EDWARD STAFFORD of Swindlehurst house, Burnley, in the County of
Lancaster, Civil Engineer, and JAMES TOWNSLEY PEARSON of 3, Albert Street, of
Burnley aforesaid, Inspector of Works do hereby declare the nature of our said
invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN FURNACES FOR THE COMBUSTION OF TOWNS
REFUSE OR OTHER DECOMPOSED MATTER," to be as follows:-
The furnace is constructed of fire brick or other fire resisting material over which
is a dome or conical shaped roof of the same material. This structure is firmly held
together and embraced by iron girdles, or the outer shell may be of iron and lined
with fire resisting material. The interior of the furnace is divided into three com-
partments or chambers separated by grating which may be constructed of tubing,
and made to communicate with the water space in a boiler or cistern, whereby &
constant circulation of water is maintained through the tubular grating. The
refuse matter is fed through an opening or door in the dome and supported by the
grating in the upper chamber, by which means the fuel under combustion on
the grating of the next chamber is relieved from the pressure and obstruction of
the refuse matter. This chamber is charged with fuel through a similar opening
as the one above it. The hot ashes falling through the lower grating are received
in a reserve of water contained in the third or lowest chamber, into which is an
opening sloping downwards so that the ashes may be readily removed with a rake.
One or more ranges of air passages or inlets may be formed around the furnace
to convey cold air from the exterior to assist combustion and as a means of cooling
the grating. The heated gases ascending, act upon the underside of the refuse
matter and passing upwards, impinge against the curvature of the dome, and are
thereby deflected on the top of the refuse matter which is thoroughly under com-
bustion and consumed. The heated gases are thence conveyed through one or
more flues into the chimney.
. 1 ጊዜ ስሰ
100A
THOS. RICHMOND,
Agent for the Applicants

page_text: We JOHN EDWARD STAFFORD of Swindlehurst house, Burnley, in the county of
Lancaster, Civil Engineer, and JAMES TOWNSLEY PEARSON of 3, Albert street
of Burnley aforesaid, Inspector of Works, do hereby declare the nature of our
invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN FURNACES FOR THE COMBUSTION OF Town's
REFUSE OR OTHER DECOMPOSED MATTER," and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
"
These improvements in furnaces or "destructor are specially designed for the
more effectual combustion of animal and vegetable decomposed matter or Town's
refuse.
The furnace is constructed of brickwork or other fire resisting material, with its
interior divided by grating into three distinct compartments or chambers, one above
the other; the upper chamber is provided with a dome or conically shaped roof, the
inner surface of which is preferably corrugated to present to the flame and heated
gases an extended heating surface. In this chamber is deposited the refuse matter,
which is subjected to the first brunt of the heated gases, generated in the next
chamber or fire-box, through the grating of which the hot ashes fall, and are
received in a reserve of water contained in the third or lowest chamber.
Suitable inlets, or air passages are formed around the furnace to convey cold air
from the exterior to assist combustion, and as a means of cooling the grating.
The refuse matter is supported by the grating of the upper chamber, by which
means the fuel under combustion on the grating of the next chamber or fire box, is
relieved from the pressure and obstruction of the refuse matter, beneath and
through which the heated gases freely circulate, and passing upwards, impinge
against the curvature of the dome, and are thereby deflected upon the upper surface
of the refuse matter before passing away to the chimney.
This impingement of the heated gases will also impart to the curvature of the
dome a considerable amount of heat, which is transmitted to the refuse matter by
radiation.
The direct and indirect action of the heated gases as above described will not
only effect a thorough combustion of the refuse matter, but will ensure a con-
siderable reduction of the noxious fumes and vapours evolved therefrom.
The grating of the upper chamber may be constructed of tubing, and made to
communicate with the water space of a boiler or cistern, whereby a constant
circulation of water is maintained through the tubular grating, so as to avert the
deterioting effects of the intense heat upon such grating.
In some cases we construct the grating of fire clay or other fire resisting material
slightly conical, with its apex projecting upwards, or so formed, as will tend to
distribute the refuse matter more evenly over its projecting surface. This con-
struction of grating will act efficiently when the meterial to be operated on is dry
and through which the heated gases are capable of penetration, but when such is
not the case as when the refuse is wet or sloppy, a perforated floor or grating may
be used with a concave surface, so that when the refuse is deposited it will converge
towards the centre of the cavity, thereby allowing a passage for the heated gases at
the sides of the furnace to the refuse chamber; or, an inclined grating may be used
down which the refuse matter when deposited, slides towards the lower portion of
the incline leaving a sufficient space at the higher portion for the escape of the
1

page_text: heated gases to the refuse chamber; or, the inner surface of the furnace may be
corrugated to form vertical passages to convey the heated gases from the burning
fuel to the refuse chamber, or they may be conveyed through a side flue to the
refuse chamber, a damper being provided to regulate their escape.
In order that our invention may be properly understood and readily carried into
practical operation, we have hereunto attached the accompanying sheets of drawings,
reference being had to the figures and letters marked thereon, the same letters
referring to the same parts in the various views and figures.
Fig. 1 represents a transverse section and Fig. 2 a longitudinal section of a
furnace or "destructor" constructed in accordance with our invention. Figs. 3 and 4
are similar views in section of two of these furnaces connected together by a down
cast flue, m, through which the waste heat from one furnace is conveyed into the
fire box of the next.
In Figs. 1 and 2 the furnace is constructed with a dome shaped roof; its interior
is divided into three compartments or chambers a, b, and c, by the grating a¹ and b².
The refuse matter to be consumed is fed through an opening or door a², and
deposited upon the grating a¹, which supports the refuse matter sufficiently above
the burning fuel on the grating b¹ to allow a free circulation of the heated gases,
which ascend and pass through the grating a¹, and thoroughly permeate the mass of
refuse matter above, which becoming ignited serves as fuel for subsequent deposits
of refuse which may be placed upon it.
The furnace is charged with fuel through the door way b² to replace spent or
burnt fuel which may fall as ashes through the grating b¹ into the chamber or ash
pit c.
The heated gases after their deflection in the refuse matter are conveyed away
through the flue d to the chimney.
In Figs. 3 and 4 the doine of each furnace is provided with an inner lining e of
brickwork or other suitable material capable of sustaining a high temperature and
having a great affinity for heat. This lining is built sufficiently below the dome to
form a space or flue area, which being constantly exposed to the heated gases
passing through it, will attain an intense heat, which will considerably reduce the
combustible portion of the heated gases that would otherwise escape in the form of
smoke.
This space or area is divided respectively by a circular partition or ring of fire
clay f, into an annular recess g, below the partition, and a space or passage h over
the outer circle of the lining.
The heated gases after their deflection on the refuse matter are carried along
by the draught through the apertures i and j into the annular recess g, where they
are divided by the partition k into two currents, which pass round in opposite
directions from the partition to the opposite side of the furnace, where they again
unite and pass upwards through a split or opening in the ring f, and are distributed
over the crown of the lining e. The heated gases now purified of smoke and
noxious vapours pass down the flue m, and mingle with those newly evolved in the
fuel chamber of the next furnace, by which means the waste heat that would
otherwise pass away to the chimney is utilized and a considerable saving of fuel
effected.
These furnaces may be sunk below the earth's surface as seen in Figs. 3 and 4,
to facilitate the operation of charging the furnace with refuse matter from the
platform p.
Although we have only shown two furnaces in Figs 3 and 4 several may be
connected together in like manner, air being admitted to each furnace by a series of
air ducts n to assist combustion and as a means of cooling the grating, from which
clinkers may be removed through the doorway o.
These furnaces may also be used for cremation purposes.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:
4
Firstly, the construction of furnaces or "destructors" with openings or spaces
formed in the flooring of the refuse chamber, that the heated gases may pass
directly underneath the refuse inatter under treatment, and thence upwards
among the same.
Secondly, the various means of escape for the heated gases from the burning fuel
to the refuse chamber as herein before described.
Thirdly, Causing the waste heat from the refuse Chamber to pass between the
dome and lining e substantially as described and set forth.
Fourthly, causing the waste heat from one furnace to pass into the fuel chamber
of the next furnace substantially as described and set forth.
Fifthly forming the floor or grating of the refuse Chamber of tubing, through
which water is caused to circulate for the purpose set forth.
Lastly, the general arrangement and construction of a furnace with a dome shaped
roof, substantially as described and set forth.
Dated this 17th day of November look
THOS. RICHMOND,
Agent for Messrs. Stafford & Pearson.