Improvements in Smoke-consuming Furnaces for Locomotive Engines.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 24th June, 1897
Complete Specification Left, 16th July, 1897-Accepted, 21st Aug., 1897
Improvements in Smoke-consuming Furnaces for Locomotive
Engines.
I, KARL MAREK, of VIT. Schottenfeldgasse No. 12, Vienna, Chief Inspector of the
Imperial Austrian Railways, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
All smoke consuming furnaces of present construction, such as those of Thierry,
Langer, Marek, and others, rely for the action upon the introduction of finely
divided steam jets into the combustion chamber for the purpose of preventing the
formation of smoke by chemical and mechanical action, or by mechanical action
only.
The arrangements of Thierry and Langer require a skilled treatment of the fire,
and in that case give a satisfactory result assuming a limited grate action; the Marek
smoke consuming furnace also acts with a forced draught.
With all the above mentioned arrangements, the use of the said steam jets cnuses
n considerable additional constimption of steam, or water, so that although by the
employment of these apparatus a higher evaporation duty of the fuel is apparently
obtained, yet an increased consumption of fuel (from 5 to 10 per cent.) results. A
greater inconvenience is however caused by the increased consumption of feed water,
as on account hereof the duration of a journey is considerably increased in con-
sequence of stoppages (which are not otherwise necessary) if the smoke consuming
devices are to be in action during the entire journey.
The smoke consuming furnace which forins the subject of my present invention
effects the consumption of smoke in a perfect manner without the use of steam jets
and without the use of fire brick shaft-like structures built into the combustion
chainber such as are employed in the known Marek furnace, it is based upon the
following observations :-
1. The principal agent in effecting smoke combustion is in all cases the fire-brick
arch which is built against the tube plate of the boiler, because it forces the com-
bustion gases and flames to pass through a restricted opening in which an admixture
therewith of a secondary or upper air supply can be more easily effected than in the
full area of the fire box.
Heretofore however the construction of such arches has been based on the view
which repeated experiments have proved erroneous, that the combustion gases and
flames that are [formed underneath the arch sweep in an extended curve round the
end of the arch, while as a matter of fact, in consequence of the strong blast-pipe
action, the flames and gases pass sharply round the said end of the arch so that this
part of the highly heated combustion products only participates.to a limited extent
in the smoke consumption, according to the extent to which these combustion products
come in contact with the secondary air supply.
2. The quantities of smoke that are formed in the inner corners of the fire box clo

page_text: not enter into combustion, or only to a small extent, because they can not be brought
iuto contact with the upper air supply.
According to the present invention these defects are obviated by constructing the
fire brick arch, which is built into 'the fire box in the usual manner, of an angularly
downward bent form in the longitudinal direction, whereby the flames and gases are
caused to pass in a considerable curve round the edge of the arch; secondly the
Becondary air supply, is intro.luced through the fire door in such manner as to flow in
divided currents both against the end of arch and underneath the same, as also into
the inner corners of the fire box.
The accompanying drawing shews the construction of a sino ke consuming
locomotive fire box coustructed according to my above described invention.
Fig. 1 shews a vertical longitudinal section.
Fig. 2 a horizontal longitudinal section, and Fig. 3 a rear end elevation, with the
firedoor closed.
The firebrick arch g extends beyond the middle of the fire box a, to about two
thirds of its length, the last portion g' thereof being made horizontal so that it appears
bent downward at an angle in the longitudinal direction. By thus extending the
length of the arch, the area for the passage of the gases and flaines is reduced, while
.in consequence of tlie bent form of the arch, the combustion products, which are
heated by contact with the white-hot surface of the arch are directed away therefrom
in an extended curve, so that in the passage opening the combustion of
one part of the smoky combustion products rising in a backward direction, will be
effected by contact with the heated smokeless portion of the products.
The current of the combustion products still containing smoke, will have its
sectional area reduced to such an extent that already the air current drawn in by the
blast pipe (or by the auxiliary blast, when the engine is standing) will be sufficient
to effect a perfect mixture with the combustion products for producing complete
combustion of the smoke.
The introduction of this air is effected through an opening b' formed in the fire
door b, in which opening is provided a rotatable flap c turning on horizontal pivots
and on that part of the flap which projects into the fire box is fixed to a plated by
means of two curved connecting pieces f. The latter might also be formed with an
angular bend, and they might be fixed to the firedoor, in which case the plate d
On the outer side of the door is also
would be connected directly to the latter.
fixed a plate 6' directed slightly upward.
When the flap is open as at Fig. 1, the flap cand the plates & and 6² form between
them two air channels of which the upper one, by means of the guides f, directs the
air not only against the end g of the arch.g, but also into the inner corners of the
firebox, as will be seen from Fig. 2, while the lower channel forined between the flap c
and the plate 2 directs the secondary air underneath the arch.
In order that the flap c may not be in the way of the fireman when stoking, the
parts are advantageously so arranged that on opening the firedoor, the Hap is
automatically closed down, and on closing the door it opens automatically.
This can, for instance, be effected by providing on the axis of the flap c a finger h
which, on closing the firedoor, 'strikes against a lever i arranged with spring action on
the firebox front. By the resistance offered by this lever the flap c is turned into the
open position; on opening the door the finger h moves away from the lever i and the
flap turns downward by gravity.
Dated this 24th day of June 1897.

page_text: Improvements in Smoke-consuming Furnaces for Locomotive
Engines.
I, KARL MAREK, of VII. Schottenfeldgasse No. 12, Vienna, Chief Inspector of the
Imperial Austrian Railways, 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 :-
All smoke consuming furnaces of present construction, such as those of Thierry,
Langer, Marek, and others, rely for their action upon the introduction of finely
divided steam jets into the combustion chamber for the purpose of preventing the
formation of sinoke by chemical and mechanical action, or by mechanical action
only.
The arrangements of Thierry and Langer require a skilled treatment of the fire, and
in that case give a satisfactory result, assuming a limited grate action; the Marck
smoke consuming furnace also acts with a forced draught.
With all the above-mentioned arrangements the use of the said steam jets causes
a considerable additional consumption of steam, or water, so that although by the
employment of these apparatus a higher evaporation duty of the fuel is apparently
obtained, yet an increased consumption of fuel (from 5 to 10 per cent.) results. A
greater inconvenience however is caused by the increased consumption of feed-water,
as on account hereof the duration of a journey is considerably increased in consequence
of stoppages (which are not otherwise necessary) if the smoke consuming devices are
to be in action during the entire journey.
The smoke consuming furnace which forms the subject of my present invention
effects the consumption of smoke in a perfect manner without the use of steam jets
and without the use of fire-brick shaft-like structures built into the combustion
chamber such as are employed in the known Marek furnace. It is based upon the
following observations:-
1. The principal agent in effecting smoke combustion is in all cases the
fire-brick arch which is built against the tube plate of the boiler, because
it forces the combustion gases and flames to pass through a restricted opening in
which an admixture therewith of a secondary or upper air supply can be more casily
effected than in the full area of the fire box.
Heretofore however the construction of such arches has been based on the view,
which repeated experiments have proved erroneous, that the combustion gases and
flames that are formed underneath the arch sweep in an extended curve round the
end of the arch, while as a matter of fact, in consequence of the strong blast-pipe
action, the flames and gases pass sharply round the said end of the arch so that this
part of the highly heated combustion products only participates to a limited extent
in the smoke consumption, according to the extent to which these combustion
products come in contact with the secondary air supply.
2. The quantities of smoke that are formed in the inner corners of the fire. box do
not enter into.combustion, or only to a small extent, because they can not be brought
into contact with the upper air supply.
According to the present invention these defects are obviated by constructing the
fire-brick arch which is built into the fire box in the usual manner, of an angularly
downward-bent form in the longitudinal direction, whereby the flames and gases are
caused to pass in a considerable curve round the edge of the arch; secondly, the
secondary air supply is introduced through the fire door in such manner as to flow in
divided currents both against the end of arch and underneath the same, as also into
the inner corners of the fire box.

page_text: The drawings accompanying my provisional specification shew the construction of
a sinoke consuming locomotive fire box constructed according to my above described
invention.
Figure 1 shews a vertical longitudinal section.
Figure 2, a horizontal longitudinal section, and Figure 3, a rear end elevation, with
the fire-door closed.
The fire-brick areň g extends beyond the middle of the fire box a, to about
two-thirds of its length, the last portion g! thereof being made horizontal so that it
appears bent downward' at an angle in the longitudinal direction.
By thus extending the length of the arch, the area for the passage of the gases
and flames is reduced, while in consequence of the bent form of the arch, the
combustion products, which are heated by contact with the white-hot surface of the
arch, are directed away therefrom in an extended curve, so that in the passage
opening the combustion of one part of the smoky combustion products rising in a
backward direction, will be effected by contact with the heated smokeless portion of
the products:
The current of the combustion products still containing smoke, will have its
sectional area reduced to such an extent that already the air current drawn in by the
blast pipe (or by the auxiliary blast, when the engine is standing) will be sufficient to
effect a perfect mixture with the combustion products for producing complete
combustion of the sinoke.
The introduction of this air is effected through an opening b₁ formed in the fire-
door b, in which opening is provided a rotatable flap c turning on horizontal pivots,
and on that part of the flap which projects into the fire box is fixed a plate d by
incans of two curved connecting pieces f. The latter might also be formed with an
angular bend, and they might be fixed to the fire-door, in which case the plate d
would be connected directly to the latter. On the outer side of the door b is also
fixed a plate 62 directed slightly upward.
When the flap is open, as at Figure 1, the flap c and the plates & and b² form
between them two air channels, of which the upper one, by means of the guides f,
directs the air not only against the end g' of the arch g, but also into the inner
corners of the fire-box, as will be seen from Figure 2, while the lower channel
formed between the flap c and the plate 6 directs the secondary air underneath.
the arch.
In order that the flap cinay not be in the way of the fireman when stoking, the
parts are advantageously so arranged that on opening the fire-door, the flap is
automatically closed down, and on closing the door it opens automatically.
This can, for instance, be effected by providing on the axis of the flap ca finger h
which, on closing the fire-door, strikes against a lever i arranged with spring action
on the firebox front. By the resistance offered by this lever the flap.c is turned into
the open position; on opening the door the finger h moves away from the lever i and
the flap turns downward by gravity.
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 smoke consuming furnace wherein a brick arch g built into the combustion
chamber is formed with a downward bent end such as g', so that the flames and
combustion gases are caused to pass in a considerable curve round the bend g¹ of the
arch, whereby the sectional area of the body of the combustion gases rising near the
fire door is decreased to such an extent that the consumption of smoke can be effected
by the air drawn in, substantially as described.
2. In a smoke consuming furnace such as is referred to in the first claim, the use
for the introduction of the secondary or upper air supply, of a pivoted flap c-mounted
in an opening in the fire-door, operating in combination with curved or angularly bent
strips and of guide plates d and 62 in such manner as to cause the entering upper

page_text: air supply to pass both against the end g' of the brick arch g and below the latter, as
also into the inner corners of the firebox, substantially as described.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.