IMPROVEMENTS IN FURNACES
Year: 1885

page_text: I, WILLIAM LLOYD WISE, of No 46 Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of
Middlesex, Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature
of said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN FURNACES" (a communication to me
from abroad by Julius Georg Hänsel of Dresden, Germany, Proprietor of lime
Works and Franz Ludwig Krumbiegel, of Braunsdorf near Dresden aforesaid,
Foreman) to be as follows:-
In a furnace according to this invention fuel, particularly small coal or slack, is
first coked and afterwards the coke is burned, the gases evolved in the coking
process being likewise consumed. Such a furnace is capable of being employed
for heating boilers and ovens, firing lime kilns, and many other purposes, its
construction being suitably modified according to the object to which it is applied.
The fuel is first coked in a vertical oven or retort, and afterwards descends on
to a grate, where it is completely burned, while the gases evolved in the retort
during the coking operation descend to the fire on the grate and are there
consumed with the coke.
The vertical oven or retort is provided with a series of adjustable openings for
the introduction of air to different parts as may be required.
In one form of furnace according to this invention and suitable for the heating
of steam boilers, there is a grate which is placed by preference in an inclined
position, but which may however be arranged horizontally, or may be replaced
under certain circumstances by a plate of fire-proof material.
In combination with this grate is a vertical oven or retort having its rear wall
at one part of the form of a projecting arch which is somewhat narrowed towards
the bottom of the retort. This arch intervenes between the retort and the grate
and is connected to a flue at the rear of the grate. The retort is provided at the
top with a hopper mouth while the front wall is formed by doors. The doors can
be partly replaced by plates of fire-proof material which may have openings capable
of being closed by lids. In this front wall are arranged, after the manner of slats
in venetian blinds, inclined iron plates which project inside the furnace, while the

page_text: floor of the furnace is formed of fire-proof plates. Below the above-mentioned doors
there is another door which serves for stoking and cleaning purposes and also for
the introduction of air to the fire-grate. There is also an air channel which opens
into the flue and serves for the introduction of previously heated air into the
escaping gases from the fire.
The operation is as follows:—
A fire having been lighted on the grate and the oven or retort filled up with
fuel which may be entirely composed of very small coals, one or more of the doors
is or are opened according as required and the fuel becomes coked by the heat of a
fire burning on the grate. As the coking proceeds, the coke is pushed on to the 1
grate and the gases evolved escape under the arch and reach the fuel on the grate
where they burn with a bright thin flame. After a time the air current is modified
and the layer of coke on the grate is allowed to burn while air is being admitted
below.
When the oven or retort is closed against the inlet of air heated air must be 1
admitted to the flue.
If desired the usual door found in steam boilers for firing and cleaning the grate
together with an ash pit door for the introduction of air can be retained, and be
used in addition to or in place of some of the doors mentioned above.
When a furnace according to this invention is applied to a lime-kiln, the furnace
may conveniently be built into the sides of the kiln, or two or more such furnaces
may be used.
In small furnaces, as for small steam boilers and stoves the arch can be replaced
by a built-in fire-proof plate which may by its oblique position narrow the opening
of the retort downwardly.

page_text: I WILLIAM LLOYD WISE of N° 46 Lincolns Inn Fields in the County of
Middlesex, Consulting Engineer & Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention (a communication to me from abroad by Julius Georg Hänsel,
of Dresden, Germany, Proprietor of Lime Works, and Franz Ludwig Krumbiegel, of
Braunsdorf, near Dresden, aforesaid, Foreman,) to be as follows:-
In a furnace according to this invention, fuel, particularly small coal or slack, is
first coked and afterwards the coke is burned, the gases evolved in the coking
process being likewise consumed. Such a furnace is capable of being employed
for heating boilers and ovens, firing lime kilns, and many other purposes, its.
construction being suitably modified according to the object to which it is applied.
The fuel is first coked in a vertical oven retort or distilling chamber, and
afterwards descends on to a grate where it is completely burned, while the gases
evolved in tho retort during the coking operation descend to the fire on the grate,
and are there consumed with the coke. The vertical oven or retort is provided
with a series of adjustable openings with inclined or other divisions for the
introduction of air to different parts as may be required.
In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1. is a section of a furnace constructed in
accordance with this invention. Fig. 2. shows in vertical section such a furnace
in a simple form suitable for the heating of steam boilers. Fig. 3 is a horizontal
section thereof. Figs. 4 and 5 are respectively vertical and horizontal sections of
a lime kiln having furnaces according to this invention built in its sides.
Referring to Fig. 1. A. is a grate which is placed by preference in an inclined
position, but which may however be arranged horizontally as shown in Figs. 2.
and 3, or may be replaced under certain circumstances by a plate of refractory
material.
In combination with this grate is a vertical oven retort or distilling chamber B.
having its rear wall G. at one part, of the form of a projecting arch which is
somewhat narrowed towards the bottom of the retort. This arch intervenes
between the retort and the grate and is connected to a flue L at the rear of the
grate. The retort is provided at the top with a hopper mouth F. while the front
wall is formed by doors E. and D. The doors can be partly replaced by plates of
fire proof material which may have openings capable of being closed by lids. In
this front wall are arranged after the manner of slats in Venetian blinds inclined
iron plates H which project inside the furnace while the floor of the furnace is
formed of refractory blocks K supported on an inclined plate K¹. Below the
doors E. and D. there is another door C. which serves for stoking or raking and
cleaning purposes, and also for the introduction of air to the fire-grate.
The plate K' is supported by lateral stays and is at a sufficient distance from
the grate to allow of the introduction of a stoking tool for attending to the grate.
There is also an air channel M which opens into the flue L and serves for the
introduction of previously heated air into the escaping gases from the fire.
The operation is as follows:
A fire having been lighted on the grate A and the oven or retort filled up
with fuel which may be entirely composed of very small coal one or both of the

page_text: doors E. D. is or are opened if required and the fuel becomes coked by the heat of
the fire burning on the grate. As the coking proceeds the coke is pushed on to
the grate A. The fuel on the grate may reach the lower edge of the arch G. The
gases evolved pass from the retort B. by the arch G. and reaching the fuel on the
grate they burn with a bright thin flame. When the amount of coke upon
the grate is such as to extend to the arch G, the doors E. and D. and the hopper F.
are closed, the door C. is opened, and the layer of coke on the grate is allowed to
burn down to reduced height while air is being admitted below.
When the oven or retort is closed against the inlet of air in order to burn the
gases heated air must be admitted to the Blue which can be done through M.
By opening or closing the doors E. and D. the formation of coke in the retort
may be regulated according to requirement of fuel on the grate and in such
manner as to maintain a sufficient quantity of live fuel on the grate to ensure
combustion of the gases issuing from B.
In Figs. 2 & 3 the arrangement of the retort and fire place is somewhat modified
as shown in a manner that will be readily understood from the drawings without
further description the parts being marked with the same letters of reference as
are used to denote like parts so far as they obtain in Fig. 1. The coke may be
readily pushed on to the Grate A. through the door D.
If desired the door usually provided in steam boiler furnaces for firing and
cleaning the grate together with an ash pit door for the introduction of air can be
retained, and be used in addition to or in place of some of the doors mentioned
above.
When a furnace according to this invention is applied to a lime-kiln, the furnace
may conveniently be built into the sides of the kiln. In figures 4. and 5. two such
furnaces are shewn, but more may be employed if desired.
In small furnaces, (such as for small steam boilers and stoves,) the arch G. can
be replaced by a built-in refractory plate which may by its oblique position narrow
the opening of the retort downwardly.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what we
claim is :-
1. In a furnace comprising a distilling chamber in which fuel can be coked, and
a combustion chamber in which the coke and gases can be subsequently consumed,
the arrangement of the distilling chamber as an upright retort with a side or wall
formed with regulating perforations or apertures having intervening plates or.
divisions substantially as described.
. 2. A furnace with distilling chamber B. having a perforated side or wall
constructed and arranged as shown in Fig. 1, or as in Figs. 2. and 3. of the
drawings.