A Combined Stove and Thermo-pile for the Production of Light, Heat, and Electricity
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 18th June, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 18th Mar., 1892-Accepted, 28th May, 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A Combined Stove and Thermo-pile for the Production of Light,
Heat, and Electricity.
I, FREDERICK ROBERT EDWARD BRANSTON, of 83 Commercial Road,
Lambeth, in the County of Surrey, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
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My invention relates principally to that class of oil and gas stoves known as
"condensing and consists in combining therewith a suitable thermo-electric
battery or the like for the production of electricity.
In this class of stove the products of combustion pass up a vertical tube and
along other passages where they are condensed. In a suitable position, preferably
around the vertical tube over the lamp or burner, I arrange the elements of the
battery in such a manner that one end thereof may be exposed to heat transmitted
through the said tube or otherwise and the other end to currents of air or other
cooling medium.
When air is used as this cooling medium the battery may be protected externally
by rods, wire-netting, or any other suitable guards which will allow a free current
of air. When water is used the battery may be cased in with a water-jacket or
coil, or the water may be allowed to trickle down either inside or outside a suitable
casing. Such water after leaving the battery may be conducted away suitably for
domestic or other uses.
I prefer to store the electricity, in this manner generated, in secondary batteries
or the like for use at will. In this manner a stove used for heating purposes
through the day may also be at the same time generating electricity for lighting in
the evening.
F. R. E. BRANSTON...
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A Combined Stove and Thermo-pile for the Production of Light,
Heat, and Electricity.
I, FREDERICK ROBERT EDWARD BRANSTON of 83 Commercial Road,
Lambeth, in the County of Surrey, 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:—
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My invention relates principally to that class of oil and gas stoves known as
"condensing
and consists in combining therewith a suitable thermo-electric
battery or the like for the production of electricity.
In this class of stove the products of combustion pass up a vertical tube and
along passages where they are condensed. In a suitable position, preterably around
the vertical tube over the lamp or burner, I arrange the elements of the battery in
such a manner that one end thereof may be exposed to heat transmitted through
the said tube or otherwise and the other end to currents of air or other cooling
medium.
When air is used as the cooling medium the battery may be protected externally
by rods, wire-netting or any other suitable guards which will allow a free current
of air. When water is used the battery may be cased in with a water-jacket or
coil, or the water may be allowed to trickle down either inside or outside a suitable

page_text: casing. Such water after leaving the battery may be conducted away suitably for
domestic or other use.
The accompanying drawing shows several methods in which my invention may
be carried out, the same reference letters when occurring in different figures
indicating the same or corresponding parts. Thus A shows the thermo-pile, B the
burner, and C the condensing tubes or surfaces.-
The thermo-pile A may be constructed in any convenient manner; I prefer
however to construct it as shown in Figs. 3 and 4 (and enlarged in Fig. 7). The
elements a are arranged in crowns or rings and insulated by sheets of talc and
asbestos or other suitable heat-resisting non-conductors of electricity. The inner
end of each element is electrically connected to the outer end of its neighbour by
suitable conductors so that each crown is coupled up in series terminating at the
terminals a². The terminals of the different crowns are coupled up for intensity or
quantity as desired. The elements with their insulating packing are held together
by upper and lower plates a³ clamped together by a suitable number of bolts and
form a compact cylinder surrounding the furnace tube a¹.
4
The gas burner B₁ is of atmospheric, argand or other class suitable for the
production of heat with or without light. The products of combustion pass up the
furnace tube a' constructed of metal, plumbago, fireclay or other material sufficiently
conductive and non-porous to conduct the heat to the elements of the pile but
preventing the passage of the deleterious products of combustion. It may be filled
with refractory blocks similar to some kinds of gas fires or have a depending inner
tube to force the products of combustion into more intimate contact with its inner
walls. In some cases the burner is in the form of a tube rising vertically into the
furnace tube and provided with perforations through which the gas escapes in
burning jets impinging against the inner walls of the furnace tube.
Fig. 1 shows a small apparatus having two condensing tubes C connected to the
furnace tube by a hollow top D. The condensing surface is increased by inner
air tubes concentric with the outer ones as shown in sectional plan at C, Figs. 2^
and 6.
Fig. 2 is a side elevation and Fig. 2ª a sectional plan at X. X Fig. 2 of au
apparatus with two piles and burners, the condensing apparatus C being placed
between.
Fig. 5 shows another arrangement in which two piles are used with one burner B,
the heat passing from one to the other through the top piece D. The products of
combustion are condensed at C.
Where increased current is required several sets of apparatus constructed as
above may be arranged in duplicate, triplicate, etc. on a single bed plate.
Fig. 6 shows one of such arrangements with four piles and burners.
The apparatus of my invention when constructed in its simplest form with one
pile supplies a low-tension current suitable for driving small motors, electroplating,
or other purposes.
It may be used to charge secondary batteries, singly or in
parallel circuit, which may be afterwards coupled up for intensity and used for
lighting or other purposes. Thus a stove may be used for heating during the day
and at the same time be charging secondary batteries for use after dark. As the
products of combustion are condensed the apparatus may be placed in halls or
rooms of private houses and other places where a non-condensing stove or one
needing a flue would be inadmissable or inconvenient. The condensing stove also
produces heat more economically than non-condensing ones on account of the heat
given out by the condensation of the watery vapours etc. produced during
combustion.
In the foregoing description I have set forth a thermo-pile suitable for my
apparatus but I do not claim the construction of the said pile as new nor do I
limit myself to the employment of this particular one. The construction and
arrangement of the burner, furnace tube, and pile may be varied without departing
from the spirit of this invention. I may use either gas or oil as fuel.,

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
(1.) The combination of a thermo-pile with a condensing gas or oil stove for
the purposes set forth.
(2.) The construction combination and arrangement of the different combined
stoves and thermo-piles shown in the accompanying drawing and substantially as
described.
(3.) The construction of the thermo-pile shown in the accompanying drawing
and substantially as described, in combination with condensing oil and gas stoves.
Dated this 18th day of March 1892.
F. R. E. BRANSTON.