IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM BOILERS
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Elias Harvey McNiel, of Groton, in the State of New
York, and United States of North America, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN STEAM BOILERS."
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Elias Harvey McNiel at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 16th March 1880.
ELIAS HARVEY MCNIEL, of Groton, in the State of New York, in the United
States of North America. "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM BOILERS."
My Invention relates to the class of smoke consuming boiler furnaces adapted for
saving fuel and intensifying the heat for generating steam in steam boilers. It
consists in combining the smoke and unconsumed carbon after it has passed. through
the boiler flues with atmospheric air, heated by contact with the escaping gases,
and returning the same to the fire box to be consumed, also in certain details of
construction hereinafter more particularly described, and all as shown in the
accompanying Drawings in which,-
Figure 1 is a side elevation of an ordinary boiler and heating apparatus with
my improvements attached.
Figure 2 is a longitudinal section, and Figure 3 is a front or end view of a
boiler partly in section showing my improvement.
A represents the boiler proper; B, the fire box; C, the ashpit under the latter;
and D, the heating chamber in rear of the boiler; c, c, are boiler flues, and G is a
hood projecting over the ends or openings of the flues c, and is open at. bottom;
E represents-a-bonnet.covering the front end of the boiler, and having the smoke
stack F at top; a is a pipe extending from top of hood-G-upwards into_and
through the side of the smoke stack thence downward to a fan chamber H. A
second pipe b connects with the bottom of the fan chamber H, and communicates
with the interior of the ash-box C beneath the grate. The operation of my
Invention is as follows:-
The smoke or unconsumed carbon resulting from combustion of the fuel passes
from the fire chamber beneath the boiler, in the direction denoted by the arrows,
into the heating chamber D, thence through the flues c to the hood G, the inner
face of which is inclined outwardly to deflect it upward toward the opening in
pipe a. The hood also serves to suddenly check the current of smoke delivered

page_text: To
from the flues as it impinges sharply against its face, thereby causing a separation
of its constituents, the heavier gases dropping towards its opening at bottom,
while the lighter unconsumed particles are directed upward toward pipe a.
The
fan I in chamber H revolves upon shaft d by means of a pulley thereon, which
may be driven from the same power for which the boiler supplies 'steam.
avoid overheating of the fan shaft d by the heated air that passes through the
fan chamber I provide an opening or annular (space e in the sides of the fan
box around the shaft of from '/, to 1/4 of an inch in width to admit the required
amount of air to keep it cool. The operation of this fan creates a strong draft
and partial vacuum within the bonnet E, causing the atmospheric air to rush in
at the top of the smoke stack and unite with the smoke and products of combustion
as they are discharged from the flues into hood G; both then pass through pipe a
into fan box H, where they are thoroughly mixed by the fan and driven thence
through pipe b into the fire chamber where they are consumed, and that portion
from which the carbon has been extracted, and which has become thoroughly
volatilized, escapes from bottom of hood G and passes out of the smoke stack. The
atmospheric air which is admitted at top of the smoke stack becomes heated in its
passage by contact with these escaping gases before it is drawn into the hood and
mixed with the smoke, thus causing it to mix more readily and preventing it from
reducing the temperature of the smoke before its delivery into the fire box.
My Invention is also applicable and may be adapted to rail-road locomotives
having the smoke stack at the opposite end of the boilers, and in addition to its
fuel saving and heat promoting qualities it is a complete spark and cinder arrester,
thereby overcoming one of the principal annoyances incident to locomotive engines
and rail road travel.
I am aware that smoke consuming boiler furnaces are not new, and that atmo-
spheric air has been combined with the smoke in such machines to assist in its
combustion, and I do not claim this broadly, but I am not aware that in any of
these the temperature of the air has first been raised before combining it with the
smoke.
Having now described my Invention, and in what manner the same may be
carried into effect, what I claim is,―
1st. In a smoke consuming boiler wherein the smoke is combined with a current
of heated air before it is returned to the fire box, as set forth.
2d. The boiler A, bonnet E, smoke stack F, pipe a, and fan I, whereby the
current of air is drawn from the top of the smoke stack, heated, and united with
the smoke, all combined to operate for the purpose specified.
3d. The combination of boiler A, bonnet E, smoke stack F, pipe a, and fan I
having the openings e around its shaft in its enclosing box, as and for the purposes
described.
4th. The boiler A, its bonnet E, and smoke stack F, and deflector G, in combi-
nation with pipes a, b, fan case and fan I, and fire box B, operating together for
the purpose specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Elias Harvey McNiel, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of March, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty.
ELIAS HARVEY MONIEL. (L.S.)