A NEW OR IMPROVED SYSTEM OF SMOKE-BURNING FURNACES OR FIRE-PLACES. WITH REGULATED DRAUGHT AND PRODUCTION OF STEAM
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Edward Gedge, of No. 11, Wellington Street,
Strand, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "A
NEW OR IMPROVED SYSTEM OF SMOKE-BURNING FURNACES OR FIRE-PLACES.
WITH REGULATED DRAUGHT AND PRODUCTION OF STEAM." A communication
from abroad by Josse Egide Spanoghe, Professeur à l'Athenée Royal, Antwerp,
Belgium.
Sealed the 26th June 1877, and dated the 28th December 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Edward Gedge at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 28th December 1876.
WILLIAM EDWARD GEDGE, of No. 11, Wellington Street, Strand, in the County
of Middlesex, Patent Agent. "A. NEW OR IMPROVED SYSTEM OF SMOKE-BURNING
FURNACES OR FIRE-PLACES WITH REGULATED DRAUGHT AND PRODUCTION OF
STEAM." A communication from abroad by Josse Egide Spanoghe, Professeur à
l'Athenée Royal, Antwerp, Belgium.
The system, the subject of this Invention, consists in the application of the
double-action force and suction pneumatic or air pump to the fire-places or fire-
boxes of generators, say, on the basis of one square decimeter of surface of grate for
every horse power of steam.
The dimensions of the pump depend upon the speed of its movements and the
extent of surface of the grate or fire bars; its maximum should not exceed the dis-
placement of forty cubic meters of air per kilogramme of fuel used.
The pump is worked by the steam engine of the factory or of the boat where it
is employed, and acting, so to say, only on free air it needs only sufficient power
to overcome the resistance of the friction of its parts. It may, if required, be
driven by a small separate steam engine.
The pump, the suction pipe of which is fitted to the smoke box of the gonerator,
draws the air through the fire and establishes a current, which, by an arrangement
of cocks, may be proportioned to the heat required. Fuel of very inferior quality
may be supplied to these furnaces.
The smoke produced by the combustion is drawn by the pump through several
sheets of liquid, with the object of cooling it and freeing it from all the bodies which

page_text: render it visible, and to isolate the hydrogen and carbonic acid gasses of which it is
mainly composed. These gases, thus isolated and invisible, are forced into a bath
so composed as to absorb as much carbonic acid as possible, and are directed towards
the fire-place, where, being mixed with atmospheric air and drawn through the
fire by the suction of the pump, they contribute to the combustion and development
of the caloric.
When the fire disengages no more or very little hydrogen gas the product of the
combustion will by a play of the cock be driven outside instead of being directed
towards the fire-place.
The gas tar which might be produced in the washing troughs, containing the
sheets of liquid through which the smoke passes, may be mixed with the fuel and
more heat be thus obtained.
The useful aim of this Invention may be summed up in the following five
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Edward Gedge in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 28th
June 1877.
WILLIAM EDWARD GEDGE, of 11, Wellington Street, Strand, in the County of
Middlesex, Patent Agent. "A NEW OR IMPROVED SYSTEM OF SMOKE-BURNING
FURNACES OR FIRE-PLACES WITH REGULATED DRAUGHT AND PRODUCTION OF
STEAM," A communication from abroad by Josse Egide Spanoghe, Professeur à
l'Athenée Royal, Antwerp, Belgium.
The system which forms the subject of this Invention consists in the application
of a double-action force and suction pneumatic or air pump to the fire-places or
fire-boxes of generators, calculated on the basis of 15 square inches of surface of
grate for every horse power of steam.
The dimensions of the pump depend upon the speed of its movements and the
extent of surface of the grate or fire bars; its maximum should not exceed the dis-
placement of forty cubic yards of air for every two pounds of fuel used.
The pump is worked by the steam engine of the factory or of the boat or place
where it is employed, and acting, so to say, only on free air it needs only sufficient
power to overcome the resistance of the friction of its parts. It may, if required,
be driven by a small separate steam engine.
The pump, the suction pipe of which is fitted to the smoke box of the generator,
draws the air through the fire and establishes a current, which, by a proper arrange-
ment of cocks, may bo proportioned to the heat required. Fuel of very inferior
quality may be supplied to these furnaces.
The smoke produced by the combustion is drawn by the pump through one or
more sheets of liquid, with the object of cooling it and freeing it from all the bodies
which it holds, and to isolate or separate the hydrogen and carbonic acid gases of
which it is mainly composed. These gases thus isolated are forced towards the
fire-place, where, being mixed with atmospheric air and a little steam, they con-
tribute to the combustion and development of the caloric.
When the fire disengages no more or very little hydrogen gas the product of
the combustion will by a play of the cock be driven outside instead of being
directed towards the fire-place.
The gas tar which might be produced in the washing troughs containing the

page_text: sheets of liquid through which the smoke passes may be mixed with the fuel and
more heat thus obtained.
The utility or useful aim of this Invention may be summed up in the following
six parts.
First. Any desired draught, and therefore any desired production of steam.
Second. Profitable use of fuel of inferior quality.
Third. Reduction of surface of grate or fire bars and in the size of the generators.
Fourth. Maximum profit in caloric to be obtained from the fuel.
Fifth. Saving of fifty per cent. in fuel.
And Sixth. Suppression of large and high chimneys.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Edward Gedge, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-sixth day of June, One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-seven.
T17
ד
W. E. CEDCE (L.S.)