IMPROVEMENTS IN FURNACES AND BOILERS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Lawrence, of Notting Hill, in the County of
Middlesex, Mechanical Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
FURNACES AND BOILERS."
Sealed the 17th May 1878, and dated the 24th November 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Lawrence at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th November 1877.
WILLIAM LAWRENCE, of Notting Hill, in the County of Middlesex, Mechanical
Engineer.. "IMPROVEMENTS IN FURNACES AND BOILERS."
The improvements consist in constructing the fire-bar portion of furnaces of or
with a plate or plates, trough or troughs, perforated cylinder or cylinders (all herein-
after called the trough simply), with fire-bars arranged on either or both sides of
the trough, and in converting existing fire-bar parts of furnaces by blocking or
covering up the interstices between some of their fire-bars by means of plates or
pieces of metal, or other suitable material, and thus forming the trough.
In some cases where the fire-bar surface is or has to be made limited in size, placing
the trough any convenient distance above the fire-bars, leaving sufficient space for
draught by or through the bars underneath; sometimes in lieu of the trough, or in
part combination therewith, using a perforated cylinder or other shaped receptacle
or cage, all for the purposes of receiving and stoking on said trough the fuel, and
thereby more thoroughly and efficiently consuming the same than heretofore.
Also, in combination with the above improvements, feeding fuel to the trough
automatically, that is, allowing the fuel to pass by one or more spouts or hoppers
on to the trough from a resevoir of fuel, and in conjunction with such feeding, or
otherwise, actuating by hand or machinery one or more stirrers or propellers for
stoking and distributing the fuel on or about the trough.
Also, in the construction of one or more subsidiary chambers, or boilers with fans
or stirrers working therein for the purpose of sensitising the walls or other parts of
such chambers, to the heat to be passed thereon from the improved furnace above
described, or from any furnace.

page_text: Also, in the construction of superheaters or subsidiary boilers of or with closed
corrugated cells, chambers, walls, or trays, or with other convenient shaped recep-
tacles, for extending the heating surface of such receptacles, and placing therein
chloride of calcium or acetate of soda saturated in water, or any other suitable liquid
or solution, the boiling point of which is higher than that of water; and passing
through one or more such receptacles or series thereof, charged as above, one or
more pipes carrying water or liquid for the purposes of heating such water or
liquid.
In some cases the receptacles themselves may be charged with water simply, steam
or hot gases, or hot gases mixed with steam, having been passed, or then passing,
over or by the outer surfaces of the said receptacles, said steam gases being generated
by the improved furnace heating a boiler and the subsidiary boilers above described,
or by other means.
Lastly, in the construction of small furnaces, house grates, stoves, and such like,
with aforesaid trough and bars; or converting existing grates by furnishing them
with the trough and bar arrangement described, but in lieu of the self-feeding and
stoking devices set forth, making the trough vibratory, or to vibrate, when fuel is
cast on and when said fuel is nearly consumed, and thus self-stoking to a certain
extent.
Also, in lining the sides, backs, or other parts of said small or other furnaces with
split tubes for combustion purposes, the ends of such tubes being arranged to pass
in or near the fuel and up the shaft or chimney, and in their course from the fire to
the shaft made in various shapes, twisted, curved, straight, angular, or otherwise.
The improvements may be performed by making the various parts of metal; the
trough may be in the centre or otherwise, and its edges or sides lie in the same
plane as the bars; or it may be out of centre, wholly or partially above the plane of
the bars, and occupy the whole length or depth, more or less, of the furnace grate
surface, occupying a width of about one-third of the said surface, and be made in
one or more pieces, as one trough, or in several troughs when desired; the bars, also
of metal, may be those existing (when an old furnace is treated) or new ones,
arranged at any convenient distance apart parallel with or at any angle to the
direction of the length of the said trough, which may be corrugated, curved or plain
on the surface, or in cross or longitudinal section, and sometimes perforated.
The feeding and stoking arrangements may be actuated by steam from the engine
(when there is one worked by the said furnace), or by a special donkey engine, the
hoppers of the fuel supply and the propellers or stirrers being worked by convenient
machinery geared or in connection with either of the aforesaid engines.
The subsidiary boilers and fans are to be of metal, the fans keyed on shafting
worked either by the aforesaid engines or by a special one if necessary, the subsidiary
boiler itself being preferably cylindrical or tubular in shape, composite or other-
wise.
The superheating chambers, with their extended surfaces, as also the water pipes
passing through them, are to be of metal, the said chambers being furnished with
convenient inlets and outlets for the admission and exit of the saturated calcium or
soda solution or liquids. Vents or valves by which the escape of steam above any
desired pressure from the said chambers are also to be provided.
The small furnaces and house grates may be constructed similarly to those
described above, the plate or trough being pivoted on centres and furnished with
one or more counterbalance weights or adjustable racks of any material.
The split tubes may be of fire-clay, porcelain, or metal, and may be made in any
tubular form, in section, longitudinally or transversely.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Lawrence in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 23rd May
1878.
WILLIAM LAWRENCE, of Notting Hill, in the County of Middlesex, Mechanical
Engineer. IMPROVEMENTS IN FURNACES AND BOILERS."
"
The improvements consist in constructing the fire-bar portion of furnaces of or
with a plate or plates, trough or troughs, for distillation purposes (all herein-after
called the "trough" simply), with fire-bars arranged at an angle or otherwise on
either or both sides of the trough; or the trough may consist of one or more troughs
placed wholly above the fire-bars, or wholly apart therefrom, in the same furnace;
or one furnace may be used for the trough, and others for burning the products there-
from; and in converting existing fire-bar parts of furnaces or stoves by blocking or
covering up the interstices between some of their fire-bars by means of plates or
pieces of metal, or other suitable material, and thus forming the trough, for the
purposes of receiving and stoking on said trough the fuel, and thereby more
thoroughly and efficiently consuming the same than heretofore.
Also, in combination with the above improvements, or otherwise, feeding fuel to
the trough automatically, that is, forcing or allowing the fuel to pass in an annular
or other form by one or more spouts or hoppers, or from an endless chain feeder on
to the trough from a moveable or fixed reservoir of fuel, and in conjunction with
such feeding or otherwise actuating by hand or machinery one or more stirrers or
propellers for stoking and distributing the fuel on or about the trough.
Also, in the construction of one or more primary or subsidiary chambers or boilers
with fans or stirrers working therein, or in the flues leading thereto or therefrom,
for the purpose of distributing and thereby sensitising the heat over the surface of
such chambers or their flues.
Also, in the construction of primary or subsidiary heaters of or with closed corru-
gated cells, chambers, walls, or trays, or with other convenient shaped receptacles for
extending the heating surface, and placing therein chloride of calcium or acetate of
soda saturated in water or any other suitable chemical compound, the boiling point of
which is higher than that of water; and passing through one or more such receptacles,
or series thereof, charged as above, one or more pipes carrying water or liquid for the
purposes of heating such water or liquid.
In some cases the receptacles themselves being charged with water simply, steam
or hot gases mixed with steam having been passed or their passing over or by the
outer surfaces of the said receptacles, said gases being generated by the improved or
other furnace.
Also, in constructing tubular boilers in sections, so as to divide the volume of
water and increase the heating surface without any corresponding increase in the
length of tubes.
Lastly, in the construction of small furnaces, house grates, stoves, and such like,
with aforesaid trough and bars, or converting existing grates by furnishing them
with the trough and bar arrangement described, but in lieu of the self-feeding and
stoking devices set forth, making the trough box fashion, or with a distillation
chamber furnished with jets or burners for the escape and use of the products of
distillation.
Also, in lining the sides, backs, or other parts of said small or other furnaces with
split tubes for combustion purposes, the ends-of such tubes being arranged to pass
in or near the fuel and up the shaft or chimney, and in their course from the fire to
the shaft made in various shapes, twisted, curved, straight, angular, or otherwise.
The improvements can be practically performed in metal, as illustrated in the
Drawings accompanying this Specification, wherein Figure 1 is a plan, and Figure 2
longitudinal section taken through line Z, Z, Figure 1, of the improvements combined
with an ordinary boiler. A, B, is the rotary heat distributor, koyed on shaft d, as

page_text: shown, the arrows representing the heat currents; C is a cellular cylindrical subsi-
diary boiler; D, a corrugated chambered heater, illustrated in detail in Figures 3, 4,
and 5; a are ordinary fire-bars; b, bridge; c, air door; e', water inlet pipe; f, outlet
pipe e, water pipes; g, baffle plates.
Though the arrangement shown in Figures 1 and 2 is useful, it is. intended when
desired to use any of the improvements separately, or two or more only in
combination.
Figures 3, 4, and 5 are respectively sectional end, sectional side and plan views of
heater D, which is formed of corrugated metal, as shown, the gases being allowed to
pass externally and through the passages E, thereby transmitting heat to the pipes F
through which water or other liquid circulates. L are spaces for chemical compound;
M, pipes for inlet, outlet, and passage of the chemical compound.
Figures 6, 7, and 8 are respectively longitudinal, cross section, and plan views of
another form of trough, as at G, having an irregular bed, as shown, and of fire-bars
in combination therewith, arranged at an angle, as at X. H is a mechanical
stoker.
Figure 9 is a transverse section through Y, Y, Figure 11, seen in direction of the
arrow Y, and Figure 10 a section through P, P, looking in the direction of the
arrow P.
Figure 11 is a longitudinal section of the fire-box of a locomotive treated with a
special trough J¹, formed in sections for convenience of removal, J being the moveable
feeder; K, steam draught jet. Fuel is placed in the feeder J through the spout, and
rests therein and on the trough J', and when sufficiently distilled it is allowed to
escape by the lever arrangement, as shown in dotted lines.
Figure 12 is a diagram of a tubular boiler divided into sections by tube plates,
the shell of the boiler being preferably continuous; 1 being annular feeder; 2, fuel
distillating reservoir or trough; 3, 4, and 5, stoke holes; and 7, fire-doors; 8 and 9,
tube plates.
Figure 13 shows a longitudinal section, and Figure 14 cross section of endless
feeding band or chain, N being the chain; O, wheels for actuating same; X, canted
fire-bars; P, trough.
Figures 15 and 16 show respectively elevation and section of a house grate heated
with distillation chamber or trough, R being the chamber; S, moveable lid thereto;
T, grate space; V, escape jet or burner for distillation products.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Lawrence, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-third day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
ז' ו
IAM LAWRENCE. (L.S.)
WILLIA