Improvements in Furnaces.
Year: 1890

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Furnaces.
I, JOHN MANNEY AYER, of the Southern Hotel Chicago, in the County of Cook,
and State of Illinois, United States of America, Manufacturer, 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 :-
The object of my invention is to obtain from either anthracite or bituminous coal, in
whatever form, substantially all the units of heat which the fuel is capable of affording,
by, first, distilling from the fuel the products of combustion within an inclosed chamber
with or without the use of steam, as circumstances may require, then causing highly
heated atmospheric air to become commingled with these products of combustion also
within an inclosed chamber, heating these commingled aëriform bodies to a high
temperature while thus inclosed, and while still in their highly heated state, liberating
them at the place of ignition so that when ignited substantially complete combustion
shall result.
The place of ignition may be any fire-chamber where the direct action of heat is
required, and hence my invention is applicable to metallurgic furnaces and all
others.
My invention consists in the general form of apparatus which I employ for carrying
the above operations into effect, and also in various details of construction and, com-
binations of parts which contribute to the efficiency of the apparatus.
In the accompanying drawings-
Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved producer;
Figure 2, a vertical section of the same;
Figure 3, a plan view of the steam coils, showing their relative situation in the
producer; and
Figure 4, a broken sectional view of the upper portion of the producer, showing a
mo:lification.
A is the producer, the walls and top of which may be formed of iron, brick or other
suitable material, according to the size, or the application to which it is to be put, or
the various other circumstances and conditions which may exist. The side and rear
walls of the producer A are made double, as shown in the drawings, wherein
tt represent the outer side walls, the outer rear wall, ss the inner side walls
and the inner rear wall. At a proper height above the base of the inclosure formed
by the inner walls is a series of round grate bars, r, supported in cross bars, q,
extending from side to side of the interior. The grate bars pass through holes in the
cross bars and are revolvable therein. The inner ends of the grate bars in order to
overcome friction are made tapering, and rest against the rear wall of the producer or
a plate thereon as shown at p, and the forward ends, which are accessible from the
outside of the furnace, are provided with angular sockets to receive the end of a crank,
the design being to oscillate the grate-bars singly. At a distance below the grate bars
sufficient to afford an ample ash-pit is a horizontal partition, n, formed preferably of
metal, and below this partition is the lowermost interior chamber, the function of
which will be explained further on. At the front of the producer a hinged door, m, is
provided reaching substantially the whole width of the combustion chamber; and
below the level of the grate bars, and in front of the ash-pit, is an inclined hinged
door, l, opening downward, and provided with one or more controllable draft
openings, k. The interior chamber B above the grate bars is the primary combustion
chamber into which the fuel is fed in any ordinary way, as through the manhole C
or C. The chamber D below the grate bars, besides being the ash-pit, and, as usual,
the avenue for the passage of atmospheric air through the grate bars to the fuel to

page_text: support combustion, performs an additional and highly important function in my
producer, by reason of the openings E in the side walls, which admit air from that
chamber into the side chamber formed by the double walls s and t. The drawing
shows one opening E at the side of the chamber D, and a corresponding opening
exists at the other side. This number may be increased if desired. The products of
combustion generated within the primary combustion chamber B find an outlet through
the opening F in the rear inner walls into the rear outer chamber G, where they
encounter atmospheric air which has passed by way of the chamber D through the
openings E into the side chambers G¹. While the side chambers G¹ and rear
chamber G form in effect one continuous chamber, partly inclosing the primary com-
bustion chamber, it is convenient for purposes of description, owing to the different
functions of the different parts to refer to these different parts as separate chambers,
as I have done above. The line of draft from the primary combustion chamber to the
place of ignition is through the opening F, thence down the rear chamber G through
the opening H into the lowermost chamber I, and thence out by way of the delivery
flues K, of which there may be any required number. It will be obvious also that
more than one opening H, and more than one opening F may be employed if the
conditions so require.
As stated before, one of my principal objects is to raise the commingled aëriform
bodies to a temperature which will insure substantially complete combustion when
ignition takes place. For this purpose I provide within the inclosing chambers and
lowermost chamber steam coils, L, which may receive steam from any convenient
source, as, for example, from a boiler heated by the ignited products of the generator
itself. The steam coils in the side and rear chambers are connected and continuous,
so that steam passes through all three on its way from the inlet i to the exhaust i¹.
They may, however, be separate if desired. That in the lowermost chamber is
preferably independent of the others, having its own supply valve and exhaust valve,
as shown. The coils in the side chambers and rear chamber may extend to the height
represented, or to any other height therein which the conditions may render desirable,
and, particularly below the level of the grate bars, they may be partly embedded in
brick either laid solid or spaced. Obviously, they can not be wholly embedded, since
in all cases flues would have to be left for the required flow of the various aëriform
bodies to the proper points.
near the centre
For use when deemed desirable a steam pipe, M, having perforations j below its
median horizontal plane, is supported behind one of the cross bars
This steam pipe may derive its supply from the same
source as the several steam coils, and like them it is provided with an exterior regulating
of the grate and below it.
valve.
The operation of my producer is as follows:
Combustion having been started in the primary combustion chamber it proceeds
throughout the entire operation at a comparatively slow rate, without inaterial
acceleration, and hence without waste. The products of combustion which accumulate
above the fuel in the primary combustion chamber consist largely of carbonic oxide,
carburetted hydrogen and hydrogen, associated with steam in case the steam pipe Mis
in operation. These pass into the rear chamber G, which I denominate the mixing
and heating chamber, since in this chamber the gaseous products from the primary
combustion chamber become commingled with atmospheric air, and thus commingled
are additionally heated, not only by the rear steam coil over which they must pass on
their way to the opening H, but also by radiation from the highly heated walls which
incloses the burning fuel. The air which thus commingles with the gaseous products
of combustion is derived wholly or in part by way of the passages E from the
chamber D. The door being open, air from the outside rushes by natural draft into
the chamber D and there divides, part of it passing up through the grate bars and part
of it passing through the openings E into the side chambers G', which I denominate
the air heating portion of the mixing chamber, since the air, while on its way in the
line of natural draft, to the rear chamber, becomes highly heated by contact with the

page_text: steam coils in the chambers G' and also by the radiation from the walls s which inclose
the burning fuel. If desired valved openings N may be provided leading from the
exterior air directly into the chambers G¹.
The lowermost chamber I, through which the commingled aëriform bodies finally
pass before entering the flue K, I denominate the reheating chamber. The steam
coil L within it is aided by the effect of the hot ashes and cinders, which find a lodging
place upon the horizontal partition n, constituting the base of the ash-pit and the top
of the reheating chamber, and thus the temperature of this chamber becomes very
high. It will thus be seen that the general construction and arrangement of my
producer is such as to economize and utilize all the heat of every portion, and concen-
trate it upon the one object of raising the highly inflammable ultimate product to a
tempearture at which substantially complete combustion will follow as the result of
ignition. The natural draft through the discharge conduit K, induced by the combus-
tion of the gaseous compound at the place of ignition and the consequent approximate
vacuum thus created, will serve alone under ordinary conditions to create the requisite
currents through the various channels and cause their convergence into the line of
direct draft with the resultant intimato association. The draft may, however, be aided
in any of the well-known ways, as, for instance, by the introduction into the delivery-
flue, of a suction blower, or stean-jet or hot-air jet as indicated at a.
To regulate the outflow, 1 provide a damper, h, in each flue K and a suitable handle
for adjusting it to different angles; and it is desirable to provide the producer with a
safety-valve, O, preferably at the top of the rear chamber, G, so that excessive
pressure from the accumulation of aeriform fluids within the producer may be
automatically prevented. When the operation of the producer is suspended the products
of combustion should be allowed to escape to the open air by way of the openings g
in the top, which are provided with lids, so that they may be opened and closed
at will. When the producer is not in the open air these openings g may be provided
with flues leading to the open air, in which case the lids will take the form of dampers.
The openings in the upper part of the generator at the front are for purposes of
inspection and are provided with a transparent medium in the usual way.
The modification illustrated in Figure 4 shows the mixing and heating chamber
extended over the top of the generator, thus affording the space G2, and the discharge
flue or flues K for delivering the commingled aëriform bodies at the place of ignition,
extending out from this upper chamber, G³, instead of from the lowermost chamber,
as in the form previously described. The action in the modified construction is in
general the same as in the other, except that the direction of the draft is reversed,
carrying off the commingled aëriforin bodies to the place of ignition from the top
instead of from the bottom of the generator. The discharge-flue or flues K may
extend out from the front of the furnace, as shown, or in any direction which the
surrounding conditions render desirable.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is :-
1-A generator for abstracting inflammable gases from fuel, and delivering them,
commingled with atmospheric air, all in a highly heated state, to the place of ignition,
comprising in combination a primary combustion chamber, an additional chamber,
partly inclosing the primary combustion chamber, and communicating with the interior
thereof, and also with the external air, whereby the commingling of atmospheric air
with the gaseous products of combustion is effected, an auxiliary heating means within
the inclosing chamber, and a conduit leading from the inclosing chamber to the place
of ignition, substantially as described.
2-A generator for abstracting inflammable gases from fuel, and delivering them,
commingled with atmospheric air and steam, all in a highly heated state to the place
of ignition, comprising in combination a primary combustion chamber, an additional
chamber, partly inclosing the primary combustion chamber, and communicating with
the interior thereof and also with the external air, a steam injector for delivering

page_text: steam into the primary combustion chamber, an auxiliary heating means within the
inclosing chamber, and a conduit leading from the inclosing chamber to the place of
ignition, substantially as described.
3-A generator for abstracting inflammable gases from fuel, and delivering them,
commingled with atmospheric air, all in a highly heated state, to the place of ignition,
comprising in combination the primary combustion chamber B, with its ash-pit D, and
draft-regulating doors, chambers G and G³, partly inclosing the primary combustion
chambers and ash-pit, and communicating through one or more openings F with the
interior of the primary combustion chamber, and through openings E with the interior
of the ash-pit, steam coils, L, within the chambers, G and G¹, and a draft-flue leading
from these chambers to the place of ignition, substantially as described.
4-A generator for abstracting inflammable gases from fuel, and delivering them,
commingled with atmospheric air and steam, all in a highly heated condition to the
place of ignition, comprising in combination the primary combustion chamber B, with
its ash-pit, D, and draft-regulating doors, steam injecting pipo M, extending
transversely across the interior below the grate, and provided below its horizontal
median plane with perforations j, chambers G and G₁, partly inclosing the primary
combustion chamber and ash-pit, and communicating through one or more openings F
with the primary combustion chamber, and through openings E with the interior of
the ash-pit, steam-coils, L, within the chambers G and G, and a draft-flue leading
from these chambers to the place of ignition, substantially as described.
5-A generator for abstracting inflammable gases from fuel, and delivering them,
commingled with atmospheric air, all in a highly heated condition to the place of
ignition, comprising in combination the primary combustion chamber B, with its ash-
pit D and draft regulating doors, chambers G and G¹, partly inclosing the primary
combustion chamber and ash-pit, and communicating through one or more openings F
with the primary combustion chamber, and through openings E with the interior
of the ash-pit, a chamber, I, below the ash-pit, communicating through one or more
openings H with the rear chamber G', steam coils L within the chambers G, G' and I,
and a draft-flue, K, leading from the chamber I to the place of ignition, substantially
as described.
Dated this 22nd day of July 1890.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.