Improvements in Apparatus for Burning Liquid Fuel.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Mar., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 29th Nov., 1890-Accepted, 14th Mar., 1891
[Communicated from abroad by STEPHEN THOMAS J. BRAY, of Moscow,
Petroffski, Rosumoffski, Cloth Mill Jokish.
Improvements in Apparatus for Burning Liquid Fuel.
I, WILLIAM EDWARD SMITH, of 33, Bedford Square, Brighton, in the County
of Sussex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows
My invention relates to apparatus for burning liquid fuel, and is designed to
provide for the utilization of hydrocarbon and other oils as fuel in steam-boiler
and other furnaces.
An important feature in my said invention consists in improved means for
simultaneously mingling the said hydrocarbons or other oils with air and steam
before combustion thereby effecting a saving of steam, and a less quantity of air
being required to enter the furnace to support combustion.
Another important feature in my said invention consists in providing a series of
cross-pieces or wires, or netting, or the like against which the sprayed vaporized or
atomized hydrocarbons or other oils are thrown or dashed thereby causing the
air to intermingle with the already formed gases and producing a broad and
economical flame resembling that produced by wood, coal, or other fuel in an
ordinary furnace or combustion chamber.
My said invention comprises morcover means for producing a circular or
annular film of hydrocarbons or other oils and for regulating the same and
various other improvements hereinafter set forth.
In carrying my said invention into practice I provide a suitable casing having
an inlet for the hydrocarbons or other oils to be burned, which is screw-threaded
to receive a supply pipe, fitted with a stop cock or valve for regulating the
admission of the said hydrocarbons or other oils. This supply pipe is attached in
the usual manner to any suitable tank reservoir or other available source of supply.
The said easing is moreover provided with an inlet for steam, also screw-threaded
for a pipe having a suitable stop cock or valve for regulating the admission
thereof in the usual manner. These inlets may be arranged in any direction that
is to say, horizontally or vertically, and communicate with annular chambers in
the said casing having circular or other suitable apertures into a nozzle casing
or shield hereinafter described; the said chamber for the hydrocarbon is preferably
on the exterior of or round that for the steam.
An adjustable hollow spindle or mandrel is arranged moreover in the said oil
chamber by means of which the flow of the hydrocarbon or other oil intended to
be consumed is regulated at the point where the said oil and steam meet for
spraying or atomizing the said hydrocarbon or other oil before coming in
contact with the series of wires or netting. A column or stream of air enters
moreover through this hollow spindle or mandrel destroying the vacuum otherwise
formed and causing a regular flow of the said hydrocarbon or other oil to be
burned.
The extremity of the said hollow spindle or mandrel is preferably formed slightly
conical or taper. The said oil, steam and air apertures, open into a casing or shield
provided with suitable perforations and with cross bars or cross pieces, or wire or
ther netting against which the sprayed vaporized or atomized hydrocarbons or
other oils are forcibly projected and are thus separated so as to cause a confusion
and break the would be blow pipe flame and produce a broad long rolling and
ffective flame in the combustion chamber or furnace, thereby providing for a more

page_text: economical use of the said hydrocarbons or other oils, and ensuring a less detrimental
effect upon the said furnace or combustion chamber than heretofore.
The operation of the apparatus is as follows, that is to say —
Steam is turned on into the steam chamber and the dimensions of the aperture
therefrom into the burner regulated to suit requirements by means of a cone or
otherwise which when once set, requires no further adjustment. The hydrocarbon
or other oil to be burned is then admitted to the hereinbefore described annular
chamber and by adjusting the said hollow spindle or mandrel by means of a hand
wheel or otherwise, the said hydrocarbon or other oil will flow through the aperture
into the burner or shield in a thin circular film which coming in contact with the
steam is sprayed or atomized and driven forward into the said casing or shield into
which air is drawn through the hereinbefore mentioned apertures which with the
already sprayed or atomized oil is dashed forcibly against the wires or netting and
the said current thus broken and further sprayed or atomized so as to cause a
thorough intermingling of the oil and steam with the said air.
The apparatus is constructed of any suitable material and may be of any con-
venient dimensions.
Although have hereinbefore described a convenient method of carrying my
said invention into practice it is obvious that I can somewhat modify the con-
struction of my improved apparatus without however departing in any way from the
nature of my said invention.
Dated this 14th day of March 1300
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Burning Liquid Fuel.
I, WILLIAM EDWARD SMITH, of 33, Bedford Square, Brighton, in the County
of Sussex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to apparatus for burning hydrocarbon or other liquid fiel
in steam boiler and other furnaces.
The said invention comprises improved means for simultaneously mingling the
hydrocarbon or other liquid fuel with air and steam previous to its discharge from
the burner and before combustion. For this purpose the hydrocarbon or other
liquid fuel is sprayed or vaporized by means of a jet of steam, and air is supplied
to the centre of the mixed vapours and also externally to the same during their
passage to the furnace or combustion chamber; thus providing for a more efficient
admixture of the said air and vapours than heretofore.
#
The said invention comprises moreover a perforated shield or casing having
series of cross pieces of wires or netting or the like against which the sprayed
vaporized or atomized hydrocarbon or other liquid fuel is forcibly projected or
dashed and thus thoroughly broken up, thereby causing the air drawn into the
burner to intermingle with the already formed gases and producing a long steady
rolling and economical flame resembling more or less that produced by wood coal
or other fuel consumed in the usual manner in an ordinary furnace or combustion
chamber instead of the injurious blow pipe flame common to burners of this kind
or class as hitherto constructed.
My said invention comprises moreover improved means for producing a circular
or annular film of hydrocarbon or other liquid fuel through a suitable aperture and
for regulating the dimensions of the said aperture. It also comprises other
improvements hereinafter set forth.
In the accompanying drawing I have shown how my said invention may be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice.

page_text: Figure 1 is a side elevation.
Figure 2 a front elevation, some of the parts being removed, and
Figure 3 a rear elevation, some of the parts being removed illustrating one form
of my improved apparatus for burning liquid fuel.
Figure 4 is a vertical longitudinal central section on the line & Figures 2
and 3.
Figure 5 is a transverse section on the line y y Figures 1 and 4 some of the parts.
being removed, and
Figure 6 is a transverse section on the line
Figures 1 and 4.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
A. A are the two parts of the casing of the injector, B is the inlet for the
hydrocarbon or other liquid fuel, C is the inlet for the steam. Or if desired the
steam may be admitted through the inlet B and the hydrocarbon or other liquid
fuel through the inlet C.
The rear part A of the casing extends into and is secured to the front part A
thereof by means of screw threads A or in any other convenient manner.
A³ is a
back nut for locking the part A' firmly in position in the part A. and forming a
tight joint between the said parts. The steam inlet C is upon the front part A
of the said casing and the hydrocarbon inlet pipe B upon the rear portion A'
thereof. The inlets B and C may extend in any direction, that is to say hori-
zontally or vertically or at any convenient angle or inclination, and are screw
threaded to receive supply pipes a and b intended to be connected with any avail-
able source of supply of hydrocarbon or other liquid fuel and of steam. The
pipes and are provided with suitable stop cocks or valves a' for regulating
the said supply of hydrocarbon or other liquid fuel and of steam to the apparatus.
c is a nozzle-casing, or shield, provided with apertures or perforations c¹ for the
admission of air and secured to the front part A. of the casing by screw-threads or
otherwise. dis an adjustable hollow spindle arranged centrally in the part A' of
the casing. B' is an annular chamber (Figure 4) formed by the space between the
outer walls of the said hollow spindle d and the inner walls of the said part A'
of the casing, and C is an annular chamber formed by the space between the
outer walls of the said part A', which extends into and through the part A as
hereinbefore mentioned, and the inner walls of the part A. The inlet C com-
municates with the said annular chamber C. The hydrocarbon inlet pipe B is
preferably provided with a sleeve or enlargement B3 fitted to a suitable seating on
the part A and capable of rotary adjustment thereon. 13 is a nut for securing.
the said sleeve B² in position upon the said seating, a suitable stuffing box fitted
with a gland B4 being provided for forming a tight joint. B is a circumferential
groove or recess in the interior of the sleeve B and communicating through
apertures A in the rear part A' of the casing with the annular chamber B. The
said annular chambers 13 and Chave annular circular or other suitable apertures Be
and C in to the nozzle casing or shield c. The size of the said aperture C² can
be regulated by screwing the part A' of the casing more or less into the part A,
the extremity of the said part A which projects into the part A being formed
taper or conical for that purpose. The flow of the hydrocarbon or other liquid
fuel through the aperture B is regulated by means of the hollow spindle d. The
extremity of which is formed slightly conical or taper so that the size of the
aperture B can be regulated by adjusting or moving it to, or from, the nozzle-
casing, or shield c. 127 are screw-threads provided upon a collar or enlargement d
on the said hollow spindle d. The screw-threads are adapted to engage with
corresponding screw-threads provided in the part A' of the casing. ³ is a hand
wheel firmly secured upon the rear or one extremity of the said hollow spindle for
convenience of adjusting the same. indicates a stuffing box and gland for
forming a tight joint round the said spindle d. ee are a series of wires or netting
arranged in the mouth of the said nozzle casing or shield c. The hydrocarbon or
other liquid fuel passing through the said aperture B is sprayed or atomized before
entering the said nozzle-casing, or shield c and coming in contact with the series

page_text: of wires or netting e. A. column or stream of air moreover passes up or is drawn
through the hollow spindle d and destroys the vacuum which would otherwise be
formed thus tending to induce a more regular flow of the hydrocarbon or other
liquid fuel through the said aperture 13.
The operation of the apparatus is as follows, that is to say :--Steam is turned
on into the annular steam chamber C and blown through the aperture C² therefrom
into the casing or shield e. The dimensions of the said aperture is then regulated
or adjusted to suit requirements by means of the conical or taper portion of the
part A of the casing which when once properly set requires no further adjustment.
The hydrocarbon or other liquid fuel to be burned is then admitted to the herein-
before described annular chamber B' and the hollow spindle d is adjusted by means
of the hand-wheel d³ or otherwise so that the said hydrocarbon or other liquid
fuel will flow through the aperture 16 into the casing or shield c in a thin circular
film which coming in contact with the steam is sprayed or atomized and driven
forward and through the said casing or shield e into which air is drawn through
the hereinbefore mentioned apertures or perforations which together with the
already sprayed or atomized oil is dashed forcibly against the wires or netting e
and the said current thus broken and further sprayed or atomized as to cause a
thorough intermingling of the oil and steam with the said air. The sprayed
vaporized, or atomized hydrocarbon or other liquid fuel being forcibly projected
against the cross bars or cross pieces or wire or other netting e is thus separated
so as to cause a confusion and prevent the formation of a blow pipe flame impinging
constantly upon one part of the walls of the combustion chamber or furnace or
boiler plates, and produces instead, a broad, long, rolling, and effective flame in the
said combustion chamber or furnace thereby providing for a more economical use of
the said hydrocarbon or other liquid fuel, and ensuring a less detrimental effect
upon the walls of the said furnace or combustion chamber or upon the plates of
the boiler, than heretofore. The said flame or combustion moreover takes place at
some distance from the mouth of the said nozzle casing, or shield e thus obviating
the overheating and consequent rapid deterioration or destruction of the apparatus.
My improved burner may be applied to the furnace or combustion chamber of
a boiler by simply securing the nozzle casing, or shield in a suitable aperture
provided in a sheet of iron or other suitable metal which is secured in the doorway
of the said furnace or combustion chamber in place of the ordinary door, or the
said burner may be arranged in the bottom of the fire-box or in any other suitable
position. The casing or shield is preferably secured in the said plate so as to
project for a distance of half an inch or thereabouts into the said furnace or com-
bustion chamber, and suitable air holes are provided in the plate round the said
casing or shield, the said air-holes being combined with a suitable damper by means
of which the admission to the said furnace or combustion chamber of the air
necessary to support proper combustion therein, can be regulated.
When the burner is fixed in the door-way of the furnace or combustion chamber
as above described, the fire-bars are preferably covered with fire-clay brick and a
channel about twelve inches in diameter and extending for about twenty-seven
inches more or less from the front of the fire-box, is provided for guiding the flame
and causing a complete intermingling of the air with the gases.
My improved burner has the following, amongst other advantages eis.lt can
be easily and expeditiously fitted to existing boilers at a practically trifling cost.
The said burner is extremely simple in construction and can be managed by unskilled
labour, and one man is able to attend to several boilers. The consumption of fuel
can be easily and accurately adjusted, and complete or approximately complete
combustion of the said fuel is ensured. Consequently there is very little or no
discharge of smoke or waste products of combustion from the chimney or shaft.
Moreover owing to the construction of my improved burner the combustion takes
place in the furnace or combustion chamber and at some distance from the mouth or
aperture of the shield or casing, and consequently the latter never gets hotter when
at work than can be borne by the naked hand, thus preventing the rapid deterioration

page_text: or destruction from overheating in which the burners of this kind or class as
hitherto constructed are liable. Furthermore my improved burner does not make
the objectionable noise which is experienced when many other burners of this kind
or class are employed, produces a long, steady, rolling flame, causing no injury, or
very little injury to the walls of the combustion chamber or to the plates of the
boiler, necessitates no alteration in the brickwork setting of the said boiler, and can
be expeditiously applied to or removed from the said boiler thus permitting of the
latter being re-converted in the same short time and rendered suitable for the
consumption of coal or other fuel.
One or more of the said burners may be employed in each fire-box or furnace.
In the case of marine boilers having only one or two fire-boxes it is preferable to
employ two burners to each fire box in order to ensure satisfactory results but where
the said boilers have three or more fire-boxes one burner to each fire-box will usually
be found sufficient. In some instances the said burner or burners are arranged in
the bottom of the fire-box.
My improved burner is constructed of any suitable material and may be of any
convenient dimensions. In cases however where burners of uniform dimensions are
employed in the fire-boxes or combustion chamber of boilers of widely different
capacities the number of the said burners used in each fire-box or combustion chamber
will necessarily depend (as hereinbefore mentioned) on the size and construction of
the said boiler to which they are intended to be applied.
When the said steam is admitted through the inlet B and the hydrocarbon or
other liquid fuel through the inlet C suitable means may be provided for permitting
the size of the aperture C2 to be adjusted so as to regulate the flow of the hydro-
carbon or other liquid fuel through the same.
It is obvious moreover that I can somewhat modify the construction of my
improved apparatus for burning hydrocarbons or other liquid fuel without departing
from the nature of my said invention. I may in some cases omit the spreading or
distributing devices at the mouth of the burner though they are of great use in
securing the full benefit of my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim is
First. The combination of an injector comprising a hollow central spindle for
the admission of air and fuel and steam chambers round the said spindle with a
perforated casing or shield substantially as and for the purposes above specified.
Second. The combination of an injector comprising a hollow central spindle for
the admission of air, and fuel and steam chambers around the said spindle, a
perforated casing or shield, and a spreading or distributing device at the mouth of
the said casing or shield, substantially as and for the purposes above specified.
Third. The combination of an injector comprising a hollow central spindle for
the admission of air, fuel and steam chambers around the said spindle communi-
cating through annular apertures with a perforated casing or shield, a spreading
or distributing device, and means for regulating or adjusting the dimensions of the
said apertures, substantially as and for the purposes specified.
Dated this 28th day of November 1890.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.