IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR UTILIZING AND ECONOMIZING THE HEAT FROM FURNACES."
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Almon Henry Hearington, of Rochester, in the State of
New York, United States of America, but at present of 40, Southampton
Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN APPARATUS FOR UTILIZING AND ECONOMIZING THE HEAT FROM FURNACES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Almon Henry Hearington
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th April 1880.
ALMON HENRY HEARINGTON, of Rochester, in the State of New York, United
States of America, but at present of 40, Southampton Buildings, in the County of
Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR UTILIZING AND ECONOMIZING
THE HEAT FROM FURNACES."
My Invention relates to furnaces used for generating steam in boilers, or for
other purposes, and has for its objects improved methods of constructing such
furnaces and appliances forming part of them or connected with them so that the
heat generated by the combustion of the fuel is almost entirely utilized, a very
much less proportion of such heat being wasted than in such apparatus as hereto-
fore ordinarily constructed and used.
My Invention consists essentially in making and arranging the furnace, together
with flues, chambers, and conduits or passages in connection with it, in such
manner that the flame, hot air, and other products of combustion from the coal or
other fuel can be controlled and utilized as desired without any chimney being
required.
For this purpose I burn the coal or other fuel in a firebox or other suitable
chamber, preferably of the novel kind hereinafter described, to which I supply air,
more or less compressed, by means of one or more pumps, actuated by steam or
other suitable power. I arrange a pump of the kind hereinafter described, so that
it withdraws the ignited and heated gases and products of combustion from the
firebox through a series of channels or passages, divided and surrounded by corre-
sponding channels containing water, of such length and form that a considerable
part of the heat is absorbed by the water, none being wasted. The pump above
described is made double acting, and operates in such manner that after being
withdrawn the heated gases in the way described it then forces them through
another series of passages or channels, also surrounded by water spaces containing
water, which absorbs without waste a further quantity of heat, the heated gases
being then forced into a chamber, also surrounded by water spaces, and thence
D

page_text: through a series of chambers or spaces surrounding a sufficient number of tubes,
preferably vertical, containing water or steam, these chambers communicating by
means of winding passages so that the heated gases pass over a large surface of the
tubes before passing to an opening, through which they are forced into a further
series of pipes and passages surrounded with water, and thence either through a
tank or cistern of water, where the solid and soluble parts remain, the remainder
escaping into the open air; or if a sufficient proportion of unconsumed gas be
present it may be forced again into the firebox to be further consumed; or it may
be forced in part through the water tank and in part into the firebox. I arrange
valves or cocks wherever desirable so that the distribution and passage of the
hot gases and other products of combustion may be regulated and adjusted as
desired.
The water in the water spaces or channels described may be used when heated
for supplying boilers in which steam is generated, or for other purposes, an essential
part of my Invention being that wherever the flame, hot air and gases, and other
products of combustion pass whilst being forced through the several passages
described they shall only be in contact with surfaces containing a circulating stream
of water, whilst the passages are of such length and area that all available heat is
extracted before the hot air and gases are finally delivered, their too rapid passage
being prevented by the absence of any draught, their movement being entirely
caused by the action of the pump or pumps upon them.
In order to put my Invention in operation I take a base plate or bed, preferably
of cast iron, of sufficient dimensions to receive upon its upper surface the remaining
parts of the apparatus, and of sufficient thickness to contain in its substance the
various passages or channels, both for the heated gases and for water, as hereinafter
described.
Upon a convenient part of the base plate described I arrange and fix a firebox in
which the fuel is burned, such fuel being supplied from an air tight hopper, in
which it is contained by means of apparatus consisting of revolving tubular bars,
as hereinafter described. This firebox is surrounded by water and by flues in the
way hereinafter described, the air being supplied to a chamber below an ash box
under the fire, and around this chamber are passages through which the hot air and
products of combustion are stored and passed. From these passages the hot air
passes through flues in a boiler or steam generator above, and thence down through
a suitable passage or tube surrounded with water into a corresponding opening in
the base plate, and thence through a winding passage in the latter it passes up
through a union pipe into a smoke chamber of suitable size and shape, fixed in a
convenient position above the bed plate.
From the upper part of this smoke chamber it passes through a central opening
into a steam generator arranged above, such generator consisting preferably of a
flat hollow chamber of sufficient strength, from which it passes through a vertical
tube which traverses this chamber into a corresponding chamber above, the upper
surface of which is hollow but provided with a series of openings through which it
passes into a steam generator consisting of another chamber, rectangular, circular,
or of other convenient shape in plan, having sets of vertical water pipes, the lower
ends of which communicate with the hollow top of the chamber below, whilst the
upper ends communicate in a similar way with a second hollow plate or box
forming the top of the last named chamber. The hot air and gases are made to
pass round each of the vertical pipes in succession by means of a winding passage,
round, and up, and down which they are forced to travel before they escape.
Having passed through this winding passage they are led through a pipe provided
with suitable union joints, which pipe passes through a chamber below that con-
taining the vertical pipes and enters a horizontal transverse passage which enters
the side of the flat chamber above the smoke chamber. From this transverse
passage the hot air and gases pass into a pipe or flue provided with suitable union
joints, and connected at its lower end with an opening in the top of the base plate,
which opening communicates with a winding passage in the latter which leads to

page_text: an air space below the air chamber under an ash pan beneath the furnace, and
thence to another opening in a convenient part of the top of the base plate, where
it is connected to the inlet opening of an air or fire pump, as first described.
The whole of the passages through which the hot air and gases and products of
combustion pass are surrounded by water spaces through which water circulates,
and are protected as well as these water spaces from loss of heat by radiation by
felt or other suitable material.
The air or fire pump is worked by steam or other convenient power, and draws
the hot air through the last described opening in the top of the base plate in the
following wayThe said opening is connected by a pipe and union joints with a
lateral opening in a suitably arranged chamber fixed upon the base plate, and having
double horizontal passages surrounded with water spaces, communicating with
corresponding vertical passages similarly surrounded, the upper parts of which
communicate with the inlet opening of the pump. The pump delivers the hot air
and gases drawn in by it through suitable discharge openings into a water sur-
rounded pipe or passage, the outer end of which is connected with a fifth opening in
the top of the base plate, whence they pass into and fill a space round the water
spaces which surround the passage before described, by which the heat passes into
the smoke chamber, and from the space so filled the hot air and gases are forced
through a vertical pipe provided with union joints, the upper end of which pipe is
conducted to one end of a horizontal pipe which traverses the flat steam generator
above the smoke chamber, and communicates at its outer end with a box or chamber
at the outer side of the generator, whence they pass through a corresponding return
tube traversing the other end of the generator. The last mentioned tube finally
communicates by a pipe provided with union joints either with one or more cisterns
of water, through which the hot air and gases are forced and precipitate their solid
parts, the remainder escaping into the open air; or with a sixth opening in the
top of the base plate communicating with a water surrounded passage which finally
ends in the fire box, where any unconsumed gas is again burned. The last pipe is
provided with regulating cocks or valves, by which the whole or part of the products
of combustion can be diverted in either direction, as may be desired.
In a convenient part of the base plate I form a chamber surrounded with water
spaces, one end of which communicates with the fire box, and the other end with
the space filled with hot air and gases below the smoke chambers, so that when the
pump is working it draws its supply partly from the fire box through the last
described chamber, and partly through the winding passages first described, regu-
lating cocks or valves being provided where necessary. The fuel may be burned in
any convenient furnace, suitable appliances being used by which it can be supplied
as required from an air tight hopper, but I prefer to use novel apparatus constructed
in the following manner:-Upon that part of the base plate already described,
which is prepared for the purpose, I fit and fix firmly a flat case or chamber, upon
the upper surface of which is fitted a box having at its upper part a range or series
of firebars, upon which the fuel is fed and consumed. These firebars are made
hollow, so that water can be made to pass and circulate through them, and I prefer
to make them cylindrical and fit them in bearings at their ends, so that they can
be made to revolve when required, their ends being provided with union joints to
allow this revolution without interfering with the supply of water to their interior.
Below these firebars I arrange a receptacle, into which the ashes pass down an.
inclined plane, and whence they can be removed when required through a door
which is closed air tight.
• Above the set of hollow firebars described I arrange a chamber or generator,
somewhat similar to that already described, into which the flame passes through
openings, and at one side of this generator I arrange an air tight hopper in which
the fuel is contained. The lower part of this hopper communicates by a narrow
longitudinal opening with the space above the firebars, and it is provided with a
hollow transverse roller or bar, through which water passes, and which can be
made to revolve when desired. This roller is provided with studs or projections, so

page_text: that when it is turned round it crushes the coal and projects it evenly in limited
quantity over the firebars. After passing through the openings already described
into the chamber above, the hot air and gases and products of combustion are con-
ducted round a series of vertical water pipes similar to those in the generator first
described, and after having been conducted successively round and up and down
each of these pipes they finally pass from the generator into a pipe conducting to
the first opening in the top of the base place, as originally described. The whole
of the furnace and the chamber and pipe communicating with it are surrounded
with water spaces, and where possible felt or other non-conducting material is used
to prevent the loss of heat by radiation.
In this way water is heated and steam generated in the vertical pipes described
with very great economy of heat and of fuel.
A modified arrangement for supplying the fuel is the following:-I make a
vertical passage or chamber provided with a moveable hinged plate capable of
being raised or lowered in the passage by one or more flexible chains or ropes
passing round wheels or pullies at the upper and lower ends of the passage, one of
which wheels or pullies can be turned in either direction when required for the
purpose of raising or lowering the hinged plate. When the latter is at the bottom
of the passage a sufficient quantity of coal or other fuel is placed upon it, and it is
raised to the upper part of the chamber, where it turns upon its hinge and discharges
the coal into a hopper. This hopper is provided below with an opening into &
hollow cylindrical casing, the lower part of which has a second opening above a
hollow series of tubular bars, by which the coal discharged upon them is distri-
buted. The hollow cylindrical casing bas fitted into it a corresponding hollow
cylinder capable of turning partly round upon its axis, and also having an opening
above and below, these two openings however not being in a line, but arranged so
that when the upper one is in communication with the hopper the lower one closes
the opening in the casing below, and vice versa.
By the arrangement described a regulated amount of fuel can be introduced
when desired into the cylinder, and discharged from the latter upon the tubular
bars, and I prefer to arrange a central longitudinal bar provided with arms or teeth
and passing through the axis of the cylinder, so that the coal in the latter can be
broken and stirred when desired. The lower part of the hopper, the cylindrical
casing, and the internal cylinder are all provided with passages round them, through
which water circulates, as in the parts of the apparatus previously described.
I construct and arrange the different parts of my improved apparatus so that
they can be readily and easily put together and adjusted by bolts passing through
them, air tight packing of lead or other suitable material being used to make the
joints between them. The pump which I prefer to use for the purpose of causing
the circulation of the hot air and gases and products of combustion is constructed
as follows:-I arrange a central fixed block having a cylindrical bar at each end.
Upon each of these bars I fit an annular plunger, the two plungers being connected
together by bolts or stays passing through corresponding holes in the block.
Outside each plunger I fit an annular fixed case, the outer ends of which are
closed, so that the plungers themselves can work backward and forward outside
the cylindrical bars but inside the annular cases. In each cylindrical bar I form
two openings communicating with corresponding openings in an attachment fixed
upon the block, which themselves communicate with an oscillating valve operated
by the power which drives the pump. The cylindrical bars, the block to which
they are fixed, the annular plungers, and the cases within which they work are all
provided with passages through which steam or water passes, and a moveable cover
is provided at the outer end of each case for the purpose of cleaning the interior of
the pump when necessary.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said. Almon Henry Hearington in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
8th October 1880.
ALMON HENRY HEARINGTON, of Rochester, in the State of New York, United
States of America, but at present of 40, Southampton Buildings, in the County of
Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR UTILIZING AND ECONOMIZING
THE HEAT FROM FURNACES."
My Invention relates to furnaces used for producing heat, which may be applied
to the purpose of generating steam, heating water, cooking, and other domestic
and other purposes, and it has for its objects improved methods of constructing
and arranging such furnaces and appliances forming part of or connected with
them, so that the heat produced by the combustion of coal or other suitable fuel
is almost entirely utilized, and it can be readily distributed, controlled, and utilized
in any required direction and for any desired purpose.
It consists essentially of methods of making and arranging the furnace, together
with flues, conduits, chambers, passages, and valves in connection with it in such
manner that the flame, hot air, and other products of combustion
can be
mechanically withdrawn and controlled and utilized in any direction, as desired,
without the necessity for any chimney or other equivalent mechanical means of
draft as ordinarily used. Also of novel methods of construction and arrangement
of apparatus by which the heat so withdrawn and distributed is utilized for any
desired purpose.
In order to explain the manner in which I put my Invention
in operation, I will first describe it in one of its simpler forms of arrangement in
which a portable furnace is to be used, the heat produced from it being withdrawn
by mechanism actuated by hand power, and such heat being applied to the purpose,
amongst others, of heating an oven situated at any convenient distance from the
furnace.
For this purpose I burn the coal or other fuel in a furnace constructed sub-
stantially in the following manner:-It consists of an external casing formed of a
vertical cylinder, preferably of iron, and of suitable dimensions. The upper part of
this cylinder is provided with a cover which is secured to it by a watertight joint,
preferably of the kind hereinafter described, and into a recess in the upper part of
this cover is fitted a second cylinder fitting into the recess and similarly secured
into its place. This inner cylinder serves as a hopper and has double sides, the
space between them being filled with water, and at its upper part it has one or
more openings through which fuel can be introduced into it, and which can be
closed by screw covers when necessary. The lower part of the hopper is conical in
shape and is provided with one or more openings which, when necessary, can be
made to coincide with corresponding openings through the bottom of the recess in
which it fits, the entire hopper with its contents being capable of turning round
horizontally in its recess, so that the openings can either be opened or closed.
Below the bottom of the recess, in which the hopper fits as described, I arrange and
fit a transverse plate across the furnace, a sufficient water space being left between
them, and I make the centre of this plate in the form of a tubular funnel surrounded
by water spaces, its upper part communicating by one or more vertical pipes
passing through the water space above it, with the openings in the bottom of the
recess which holds the hopper.
In this way, when the hopper is turned round so that the openings coincide, the
fuel is discharged from it through the funnel, and when it is turned so that the
passages are closed, a fresh supply of fuel can be introduced into it through the
openings above. Below the funnel described I arrange a compound transverse
cylinder serving as a fire grate and fitted into the apparatus as follows:-The
vertical cylinder which constitutes the furnace as already described has a transverse
circular opening through it on each side to receive the transverse cylinder, and

page_text: each of these openings is provided with a tubular annular space round it into which
water is allowed to pass. The transverse cylinder which fits into these openings
consists, first, of a double external cylinder containing a water space; secondly, of
a lower internal tube into which air is admitted from one end and escapes up
through perforations, each of which is surrounded by a water space, into the
cylinder amongst the fuel which has been dropped upon it from the funnel already
described, the lower end of which enters an opening made through the external
double case of the transverse cylinder; thirdly a central tube containing water
which surrounds an inner central tube, to one end of which the fire and products
of combustion have access, whilst its other end communicates in the manner herein-
after described with pumping apparatus by which the heated air can be withdrawn
and distributed in any direction. The lower part of the double casing to the
transverse cylinder has a sufficient number of openings formed through it, by
which, when requisite, the ashes pass through and fall upon a horizontal conical
ash pan which occupies the lower part of the apparatus. This ash pan is itself
double, and water is admitted to and circulates through its interior. Below it is
situated a chamber provided a
at its sides with one or more openings having air-
tight doors through which the ashes can be removed when necessary, and the
ashes are discharged from the ash pan into this chamber by causing the former to
revolve upon its vertical axis sufficiently far to cause one or more openings through
it to coincide with similar openings into the chamber below. The main transverse
cylinder is fitted into the openings prepared for it as described, with the inter-
vention of stuffing boxes, each of which is provided with hollow metal rings
through which water constantly circulates, and the cylinder is capable of revolution
upon its axis for a short distance for the purpose of shaking and discharging the
ashes. The lower revolving ash pan is provided with a similar stuffing box to that
just described, and the whole apparatus is preferably mounted on wheels so that it
can be readily moved from place to place. In the accompanying Drawings, Sheet 1
is in illustration of a furnace constructed in the manner just described. Figure 1
is a transverse section of the apparatus, and Figure 2 is a section showing the
transverse cylinder and its appliances. In Figure 1 the main vertical cylinder is
shewn at 1, having a cover 2, attached preferably with a stuffing box and lead
packing, as shewn at 3, and its lower part forming a recess at 4, into which
fits the hopper 5 having double sides, the space between which is filled with
water; 6 and 7 are two openings closed with covers 8 and 9, through which fuel
is introduced to the hopper 5, the covers 8 and 9 being raised or lowered by the
screw and nut at 10. Bevilled toothed wheels are shewn at 11 by which the
hopper 5 can be revolved when desired; 12 is a transverse plate across the furnace
fitted into the water tight lead joint at 13, and forming a water cased funnel
dipping into the transverse cylinder 19 at 14. Dotted lines at 15 and 16 indicate
openings through the hopper 5, which can be made to correspond with similar
openings into the funnel 14, so that fuel can be dropped through the latter when-
ever desired. In Figure 2 annular waterspaces are shewn at 17 and 18 through
which the transverse cylinder 19 passes, stuffing boxes 20 and 21 being also
provided at each end fitted with packing rings containing water, as shewn ; 22 is
a lower air tube opening to the end of the cylinder at 23; and 24, 25, 26, 27, are
perforations through which the air passes into the fire space 28. The transverse
cylinder 19 has a double casing 29, between which water circulates, passing round
the perforations 24, 25, 26, 27, as shewn; 30, 31, 32, and 33 represent hollow
firebars filled with water, and having spaces between them through which the
ashes fall upon the ash pan 34. A central pipe communicating with the water
space is shewn at 35, and 36 is an inner central pipe, one end of which commu-
nicates with the fire space 28 through openings in the end 37, whilst its other end
communicates with the transverse passages 38, 39, connected to the pump or other
part of the apparatus, as hereinafter described. The inner pipe 36 is held and
fixed securely in its place in the way shewn, its inner end being turned back
and forced into lead or other packing in a recess at 40, whilst its other

page_text: end is tightened by the screw and nut 41 which draws it forward and
at the same time tightens the packing in the exterior and interior stuffing
boxes 42 and 43, each of which is provided with metallic rings through
which water circulates as in the stuffing boxes previously described. The
opening 44 may be used for the purpose of first igniting the fuel, and is after-
wards closed by an air tight door. The entire transverse cylinder 19 may be
turned backward and forward to a slight extent, in order to shake the ashes
through the openings between the hollow firebars upon the ash pan 34, which
can be made to revolve when desired by means of the bevilled toothed wheels 45.
The ash pan revolves in the case 46 formed in the upper part of the water space 47
into which the cylinder 1 is fitted with stuffing boxes, and preferably lead
packing 48; and 49 and 50 are chambers having openings 51, 52, which can be
closed with moveable doors. By turning round the ash pan 34 sufficiently, the
passages through it and through the water space 47, as indicated by dotted lines
53, 54, can be made to communicate with the chambers 49 and 50 into which the
ashes fall. A stuffing box is shewn at 55 round the axis of the ash pan 34; this
stuffing box like those already described being fitted with hollow rings through
which water circulates; 56, 57, represent wheels or castors upon which the
apparatus may be readily removed from place to place. It will be seen that by
the novel method of construction described the apparatus is very easily and
readily put together, whilst every part of it which is exposed to injury from the
heat of the fire is surrounded with water. The air admitted to the fire as
described may be supplied from a reservoir or vessel having a self-acting inlet
valve, and this vessel may if desired be filled with compressed air forced in by
suitable pumping apparatus.
The passages 38 and 39 are made to communicate as desired by suitable pipes
and connections with the ovens or other apparatus or places which are to be
heated, and through which the heated air and gasses pass on their way to the pump
hereinafter described. One such form of apparatus applied to the purpose of
heating an oven or boiler is shewn in Sheet 2, in which Figure 3 represents in
section the passages and other parts through which the heated gases travel; 1 is
an opening communicating with the air pipe through which the heated gases pass
from the furnace as already shewn. After leaving the furnace they are directed
through the pipe 2, surrounded with the water space 3, and after passing through
a valve at 4 they pass through a succession of pipes 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, which form or are
enclosed in the side of the oven. The ends of these pipes are all fitted with
stuffing boxes provided with suitable packing, preferably of lead, at 10, 11, 12, &c.,
the whole being tightened and held firmly together by the covers 13, 14, 15, 16,
and the heated gases thence pass into the water surrounded valve case 17 and
through the adjustable valve 18, whence they are directed through the pipe 19
surrounded with the waterspace 20, and they pass finally along the passages 21,
and are then connected by the pipe 22 with a pump of the kind hereinafter
described. Pipes similar to those shewn at 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, may be made to surround
two or more sides of the oven as well as one side, as shewn. From the exit
passage 22 the hot air and gases are drawn by a pump preferably of the kind
shewn in sheets 3 and 4, in which Figure 4 is a longitudinal section and Figure 5
a sectional plan of the pump; 1 and 2 are cylinders having passages through them
at 3, 4, communicating with a central four-way cock or valve at 5.
Water spaces
6 are shewn surrounding the central passages 3, 4, and also surrounding a lower
passage 7. Hollow plungers 8, 9, are carefully fitted upon the cylinders 1 and 2
and inside the cylinders 10 and 11 which are provided with stuffing boxes at
12 and 13, the outer ends of the plungers being closed by hollow covers 14, 15,
each of which has a hollow projection 16, 17, the two being connected together by
the hollow pipe 18, the ends of which communicate through the passages in
16 and 17 with the interior of the plungers 8, 9. At the upper part of the pump is
fitted a water reservoir or cistern 19 from which the several passages in the cylinders,
cases, and valve are supplied, and the pipe 18 passes through the reservoir 19, in

page_text: One or more
the tube 20 which is provided at its ends with stuffing boxes 21, 22.
openings are made at the centre of the length of the pipe 18 so that water con-
stantly fills it, and passing through the projections 16, 17, fills also the hollow
plungers 8 and 9. The plungers may be connected together by connecting rods
passing outside the reservoir 19 as well as by the pipe 18, so that the two plungers
can be worked simultaneously backward and forward by hand or other convenient
power, the fourway cock 5 being actuated at each end of the stroke by cams or
projections which strike a lever or levers fixed upon it at 23, after it has passed
through a stuffing box provided with packing having water spaces, as shewn.
The spaces 24 which communicate are filled with oil. By the combined action
of the pump and cock or valve, the heated gases are drawn in continuously through
the water surrounded passage 25, which is in connection with the appliances for
heating ovens, or for other purposes, and they are continuously discharged by the
pump through the water surrounded passage 26. From and by means of the pump
just described the hot air and gases are forced in any further required direction for
the purpose of heating further apparatus for purposes similar to those already
described, or for other purposes; and after passing through such apparatus or
directly from the pump they are forced into one or more reservoirs, whence they
are passed entirely or partly back into the firebox and reburnt. Or if the pump is
not working they may be directed by a valve into a cistern containing water in
which the solid parts are deposited, whilst the remaining gases after being thus
cooled are allowed to escape, and are conducted away in any convenient situation.
One method of arrangement for this purpose is shewn in section on Sheet 5 at
Figure 6; 1 is a passage connected with the delivery opening from the pump
as just described. The passage 1 is surrounded by a waterspace 2, and passes
through an adjustable valve at 3 by which its opening can be regulated as desired,
whence it is conducted along the pipe 27, always surrounded by the water space 28
into the pipe 29 which descends nearly to the bottom of the water contained in
the water vessel 30. When the pump is not working and the valve 3 is opened the
gases pass in this way and are cooled as they rise up through the water, where they
deposit their solid and soluble parts, and they finally pass down the pipe 31, where
they are discharged at 32 into the open air or other convenient place; or the whole
or part of the unconsumed air and gases may be diverted by suitably arranged
valves and returned to the furnace already described, where they are reburned.
For instance, when the valve 3 is closed the heated gases are forced by the pump
through a self-regulating measuring receiver, and thence into one or more reservoirs
provided with adjustable valves or cocks, so that the gases may be passed into either
reservoir, and thence in greater or less quantity into the air inlet pipe of the
furnace where they are reburned until all parts of them capable of being consumed
have been burned. Apparatus constructed according to my Invention may be
modified and added to in order to suit the various purposes to which it is to be
applied. Thus the whole apparatus may be fixed upon a base or bed plate of
suitable form and size provided with channels through which the heated air and
gases are drawn and forced, and with openings communicating with the different
parts of the apparatus, all such channels and openings being surrounded with spaces
filled with water similar to those already described. The water surrounding the
furnace may be used as a steam boiler or generator, the steam from which may be
used to provide motive power or for other purposes. After passing through the
first channel in the base plate described the hot air and gases may be made to pass
up into a chamber surrounded with a casing containing a series of vertical tubes,
closed below but passing above through steam tight joints into a steam space,
winding divisions being made in the casing so that a part of the hot gases being
diverted into one end of the casing pass up and down round the tubes, in which
steam is consequently freely generated so that the apparatns may be used as a
steam generator, the tortuous passage through which the hot gases pass being itself
surrounded with water spaces. From the outlet extremity of the tortuous passage
just described, the hot gases may be drawn through a pipe traversing another flat

page_text: chamber filled with water, and thence into the lower part of another steam
generator constructed as follows:-The lower part consists of a strong flat chamber,
rectangular or of other suitable shape, containing water but having a series of central
vertical passages through it which pass into a chamber above, the top of which is
formed of a strong flat chamber similar to the one below.
A series of vertical tubes are inserted with steam tight joints upon each side of
the central openings, so that they communicate with the upper and lower chambers
and are constantly filled with water and steam, and round them between the
chambers a corresponding series of casings is formed, into which the heated gases
are forced at one end, and are made to travel and circulate round and up and down
the tubes by means of suitably arranged divisions. The whole of the chambers and
tubes are firmly held together in their places by means of side plates and a cover,
preferably arched, connected by screws or bolts and surrounded by spaces containing
water. This arrangement is shewn on Sheet 6, Figures 9, 10, and 11. From the
generator thus constructed, in which steam is rapidly and readily generated, the
heated gases are drawn through a pipe provided with suitable union joints and
surrounded with water, into and through a transverse pipe passing through the
chamber beneath the generator, and thence by another similar pipe into an opening
in the base plate, and through one of the channels of the latter into an air space
beneath the furnace, and from the latter through another channel, whence they may
be made to pass up through one or more devices consisting of passages surrounded
with water and provided with distributing valves, and from such devices they pass
to a pump of a kind similar to or of the same kind as that already described.
From the pump the heated gases, utilized as described, may be discharged in the
method first described, or they may be forced down a water-encased pipe into
another water-encased channel in the base plate, and thence through one or more
horizontal pipes traversing the water chamber beneath the second steam generator,
above described, and into a cistern of water where the gases are cooled and the solid
products of combustion precipitated, as already above described; or the whole or part
of them may be diverted by suitable valves through a final passage in the base plate
into a water-surrounded chamber in the latter, whence they are forced into the air
inlet passage of the furnace to be reburned as already described. It will be seen
that my Invention is capable of very varied application, both in the form of the
different portions of the apparatus and in the method in which they are to be
applied, but that the principal object of my Invention is to utilize the whole or the
principal part of the products of combustion of fuel by drawing and forcing them
through a series of channels and pipes surrounded with water, and utilizing the
heat during such passage for different purposes. For example, the different parts
of the apparatus may be so modified that the heat may be applied to distilling gas
from coal, cooking, heating buildings, manufacturing, and other purposes. The
pump described may be operated by hand, by steam, or by other power. In
Figures 7 and 8 on Sheet 5 of the Drawings, an arrangement of a double oscillating
pump or reservoir is shewn, by which when worked by hand or other power the
heated gases are distributed as already described, or if used as a reservoir the
heated gases are forced into it from the separate pump already described, remaining
in it, and if desired being measured during the passage. 1 represents a hollow
shaft rocking in the bearing 2, and having upon it a hollow lever 3 and pin 4,
upon which is pivotted the upper end of the hollow plunger 5 which fits in the
cylinder 6, oscillating upon the hollow centre at 7. The cylinder 6 is surrounded
with a water case 8, and has a stuffing box at 9 provided with hollow packing, as
shewn, through which water circulates; and water also passes up the hollow
standard and bearing 2, through the crank or lever 3, and pin 4, and into the
hollow plunger 5, which it fills. 10 is an inlet and outlet water-surrounded
passage for the heated gases, and 11 are water spaces surrounding the passage 10;
a stuffing box having packing with water passages similar to those already
described being shewn at 12. A precisely similar cylinder and plunger are
arranged close to those described and shewn, the levers being connected together so

page_text: that the plungers work alternately as they oscillate, one being in its cylinder whilst
the other is out, and vice versa. A distributing valve of a kind similar to those
already described is arranged at 13. When the apparatus is used as a reservoir for
the heated gases the latter are forced into one of the cylinders until its piston is
raised and the direction of the valve altered, and they then pass into the other
cylinder. In the same way each cylinder alternately delivers the gases compressed
into it to receivers, and thence to the fire box.
A single acting pump, similar in its arrangement and method of action to those
first described, but having only one plunger, may also be used and operated by
hand or other power. It consists of a hollow ram working in a casing all
surrounded with water spaces, and provided with a suitable distributing valve.
To this pump may be added a safety valve consisting also of a piston or plunger
working in a water-surrounded cylinder and held up by an adjustable weighted
lever, so that. if there be too great pressure of the heated gases the piston is forced
down and the gases escape back through an opening provided for the purpose,
which is thereby uncovered. The single acting pump last described is especially
useful for first starting or setting in action the circulation of the gases and air,
and suitable adjustable valves may be arranged so that it can draw its supply
partly from the exit pipe from the firebox of the furnace, or partly from the passages
in the base plate. It is also of use to force and deliver heat to any particular
locality when required, and to store and use any surplus heat. The form of the
furnace in which the fuel is originally burned may be varied from that first
described and shewn, to suit varying circumstances. For instance, the fire box
may consist of a series of hollow tubular firebars capable of revolving in water-
tight stuffing boxes, and having water circulating through them. The ashes pass
down an inclined plane below these bars into a box, whence they can be removed
when necessary through an air tight door. In order to supply the fire bars with
fuel I arrange a cylindrical transverse water surrounded chamber containing a
second hollow cylinder also surrounded with water spaces.
Each cylinder is provided with an opening below communicating with the fire-
box, and one above communicating with a hopper above, these openings being
arranged so that they are not open simultaneously. Revolving crushing rollers may
also be provided, between which the fuel is crushed and distributed upon the
firebars below, and the whole apparatus is surrounded with water spaces.
The hopper may be supplied with fuel by an endless chain working in a vertical
chamber adjoining the furnace, the chain being fitted with a hinged lift upon
which, when at the bottom of the passage in which it works, the fuel is placed. The
lift is then raised by turning one of the wheels round which the chain passes, and
falling over at the top of the passage it discharges the fuel into the hopper through
a suitable opening. The apparatus for generating steam to be used in connection
with and forming part of my Invention may also be modified. A novel form of such
generator which I sometimes use consists of a series of sections or segments placed
above each other vertically and strongly bolted together. Each segment consists
of an outer hollow cylindrical shell containing a water space. The top and bottom
segments are closed in and fitted with water tubes, the hot gases being admitted
through a proper passage and made to circulate up and down round the tubes, and
finally escaping through a second opening. A series of smaller tubes may also be
used surrounding a central pipe, froin which they are supplied with water, and the
whole of the tubes are provided with steam tight joints, preferably provided with
hollow packing rings containing water similar to those already described, every
part of the generator being held firmly and tightly together, when the bolts which
connect the several segments are tightened. The method of construction of the
generator just described is shewn on Sheet 6, in Figures 12 and 13. Where water-
tight joints have to be made between the several parts of the different apparatus I
prefer to use packing of the kind shewn, in which a projecting edge upon one such
part is forced into a corresponding groove in the other part, into which a strip of
lead has previously been inserted.

page_text: I have already explained that my apparatus may be modified in its shape or
form, and in the details of construction of its several parts, but having now
described it and the manner in which it is to be performed, I claim:-The fire box
and water surrounded passages; the revolving hopper for supplying fuel; the
revolving ash pan for discharging ashes; the water surrounded air passages; the
revolving water surrounded fire bars; the endless chain and lift for raising and
supplying fuel to the firebox; the tubular steam generators; the sets of winding
pipes through which heated air and gases are drawn or forced for heating ovens or
other places; the methods of securing the ends of such pipes; the double-acting
pump with water-surrounded passages, oil vessel, and distributing valve; the
water surrounded passages communicating with a water reservoir and discharge pipe ;
the regulating valve in connection with such water reservoir; the double oscillating
cylinders and plungers, serving either as pumps or measuring reservoirs; the vessels
or chambers in connection with such measuring reservoirs and the firebox; the single-
acting pump having water-surrounded passages and hand lever, and the loaded
plunger serving as a safety valve; the base plate having water-surrounded passages
and openings; the water-surrounded pipes and union joints connecting the different
parts of the apparatus; the several water-surrounded passages for absorbing heat
from the hot air and gases, and the distributing valves having water-surrounded
passages through them; the method of making airtight joints by forcing sharp
edged rings into recesses containing lead; the method of arranging stuffing boxes
with packing having recesses through which water circulates; the general arrange-
ment of apparatus described for consuming and utilizing different kinds of fuel in
such manner as to control, utilize, and economize the heat of the smoke, gases, and
other products of combustion, without the use of a chimney, and to deliver them in
any manner, and to any position, and for any purpose required, all substantially as
and for the purposes described and shewn in the Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Almon Henry Hearington, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this 8th day of October, in the year of our Lord 1880.
ALMON HENRY HEARINGTON. (L.S.)