IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR APPLYING HEAT TO STEAM OR OTHER BOILERS OR VESSELS, AND FOR FACILITATING THE COMBUSTION OF GASES AND SMOKE
Year: 1859

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Bennett Howell, of Sheffield, in the County
of York, Steel Manufacturer, John Hick, of Great Bolton, in the County
of Lancaster, Ironfounder, and William Hargreaves, of the same Place,
Ironfounder, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR
APPLYING HEAT TO STEAM OR OTHER BOILERS OR VESSELS, AND FOR
FACILITATING THE COMBUSTION OF GASES AND SMOKE."
Sealed the 6th December 1859, and dated the 8th June 1859.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Bennett Howell,
John Hick, and William Hargreaves at the Office of the Commissioners
of Patents, with their Petition, on the 8th June 1859.
We, JOSEPH BENNETT HOWELL, of Sheffield, in the County of York, Steel
Manufacturer, JOHN HICK, of Great Bolton, in the County of Lancaster,
Ironfounder, and WILLIAM HARGREAVES, of the same Place, Ironfounder,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR APPLYING HEAT TO STEAM OR OTHER BOILERS OR VESSELS, AND FOR
FACILITATING THE COMBUSTION OF GASES AND SMOKE," to be as follows:-
Our Invention consists in fixing in the flue or flues placed in or leading
from or to the boiler a shaft, on which are mounted at convenient distances
from each other discs of metal, or vanes, set obliquely in such a manner that

page_text: they shall be at liberty to revolve freely upon the shaft. These vanes or discs
are caused to revolve by the force of the heated gases or currents impinging
upon them in their progress to the chimney. The gases are thereby brought
into closer contact with the sides of the boiler or flue, and the heat is radiated
upon their inner surfaces, and to a certain extent arrested, so that time is
given for the heat to be given off through the flues to the boiler or other
vessel. We propose to use a hollow shaft or tube upon which the vanes or
discs revolve freely, and through it we admit at certain intervals, through
suitable openings, atmospheric air for the purpose of combining with and
promoting or facilitating the combustion of the gases.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Joseph Bennett Howell, John-Hick,-and William Hargreaves
in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 8th December 1859.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, JOSEPH
BENNETT HOWELL, of Sheffield, in the County of York, Steel Manufacturer,
JOHN HICK, of 'Great Bolton, in 'the County of Lancaster, 'Ironfounder, and
WILLIAM HARGREAVES, of the same Place, Ironfounders, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eighth day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine, in the twenty-second year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
us, the said Joseph Bennett Howell, John Hick, and William Hargreaves,
Her special licence that we, the said Joseph Bennett Howell, John Hick,
and William Hargreaves, our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as we, the said Joseph Bennett Howell, John Hick, and William
Hargreaves, our executors, administrators, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR APPLYING HEAT TO STEAM OR OTHER BOILERS OR VESSELS, AND FOR
FACILITATING THE COMBUSTION OF GASES AND SMOKE," upon the condition (amongst
others) that we, the said Joseph Bennett Howell, John Hick, and William
Hargreaves, our executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under
our, or one of our, or their or one of their hands and seals, should particu-

page_text: larly 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 I, the said John Hick, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement and accompanying Drawing, that is to say:―
As the action of
Our Invention consists in fixing in the flue or flues placed in or leading
from or to the boiler a shaft or rod on which are mounted at convenient
distances from each other, one, two, or more discs or fans of metal constructed
with vanes or blades set obliquely in such a manner that they shall be at
liberty to revolve freely upon the shaft which serves as axis.
the draught from the chimney causes a strong current of the heated gases or
products of combustion, the same will on impinging upon the vanes of the discs
cause the latter, to revolve rapidly. The consequence is that these heated
currents will to a certain extent be guided along and deflected or thrown
against the inner surface of the plates forming the flue, whereby the heating or
evaporating powers of the boiler or vessel are materially increased.
In the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, Fig. 1 represents a longitudinal
vertical section of a boiler with one flue arranged for internal firing to which
our improved apparatus (heat diffusers) are applied; Fig. 2 is a sectional end
elevation of the same. a is the shell of the boiler; b, the flue, one end of
which is fitted with fire door c, grate bars d, and bridge e in the usual manner,
and the other end communicating with the flue f leading to the chimney.
The fans or discs g, with their obliquely set vanes or blades, are made with
suitable centres or bosses through which the shaft or rod h, serving as axis, is
passed. The rod h rests in bearings on the cross bars i, the ends of which are
secured to the sides of the flue b. To prevent the sliding of the fans,
g on the
rod h, they are placed between the cross bar and a collar k, which latter is
secured on the rod h by means of a set screw. The rod h and fans g can be
easily removed for the purpose of cleaning, and again be replaced.
When desirable we place the fans or discs upon a hollow shaft or tube in
place of on the solid bar or rod. This tube communicates with the atmosphere
in front of the boiler, aud the atmospheric air passes through the other end as
well as through one or more openings in the side of the tube into the flue, and
thus assists in the combustion of the gases and smoke in the flues, and at the
samo time reduces the temperature of the hollow axis.

page_text: What we claim as of our Invention is,-
Firstly, the use of fans or discs which are caused to rotate by the force of
the currents of heated gases or products of combustion.
And, secondly, the use of hollow shafts or tubes serving as centres or axis to
such fans or discs as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Hick, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Seventh day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine.
JOHN HICK. (L.S.)