Improvements in Apparatus and Appliances for Obtaining More Perfect Combustion of Fuel in the Furnaces of Steam Generators or other Furnaces.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Jan., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 11th Oct., 1893-Accepted, 16th Dec., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus and Appliances for Obtaining More
Perfect Combustion of Fuel in the Furnaces of Steam Generators
or other Furnaces.
I, SETH TAYLOR, of 247 Pitsmoor Road, Sheffield in the County of York,
Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
Improvements in apparatus and appliances for obtaining more perfect combustion
of fuel in the furnaces of steam generators, or other furnaces.
The object of my invention is to economise fuel, & minimise the production of
smoke, and I effect this by obtaining a more perfect combustion of fuel, by means
of my improved apparatus and appliances. Although my invention is applicable to
various types of steam generators, mill, forge, or other furnices, irrespective of the
form of furnace, or methods of firing the same, a description of the apparatus as
applied to a "Cornish steam boiler" will suffice.
In the furnace of such a boiler, I construct an air box, in the fire bridge, such air
box, being made of metal, or formed in the brick work, of the bridge, or it may be
constructed of fire clay, or of metal faced with fire brick, or of fire clay and metal
combined.
This air box, is provided with an opening, or openings, for the admission of air,
such openings are placed in the front of the bridge, and below the fire bars. I also
make an opening or openings, at the back of the bridge, and by preference near the
top, of the same, for the exit of the heated air which has passed through the bridge
or air box.
When the draft is not sufficiently strong, I employ a steam or air jet to assist
the same.
In order that the air so passing through the bridge, or air box may take up as
much heat as possible, I construct it with internal projections, or heat conductors,
so arranged that the air admitted at the lower front part of the air box, becomes
heated by the walls of the air box, and the projections therein; and makes its exit
at the upper part of the air box.
I also construct a second bridge of metal or fire brick higher than the fire bridge,
or air box. This second bridge becomes highly heated, by the bright flames of the
fire, and acts as a regenerator. Thus by allowing the heated air from the air box,
to impinge upon the heated fire brick, it becomes more highly heated than by
ordinary methods, and in this way secures a more perfect combustion, practically
consuming the smoke, even, when fresh fuel has just been added to the fire. In a con-
venient position at or near the lower part of the said air box, I arrange a series of
longitudinal holes for the admission of air, with perforated sliding plates, suitable
for the opening, or closing, of said apperture, or air passages. One of the said
sliding plates is mechanically and automatically arranged so as to open and close
the air inlet. The other is arranged so as to allow the proper quantity of air
necessary and suitable to, the kind of fuel used.
I attach suitable levers and rods, to the above sliding plate, or plates, these are
so arranged that when the stoker, or fireman, opens the fire door, the sliding plate
or plates are moved, thus opening the air passages and allowing the air to pass
through the air bridge, the said air passages remains open after the fireman has
closed the fire door, for such a time as may be necessary, to secure a proper
combustion.
I also arrange an apparatus for closing said air passages automatically as follows.
A base plate.-cylinder-piston and rod.-internal valves,-spring-levers and

page_text: chains, arranged for the closing of the aforesaid air passages, at a time to be
regulated by the opperator.
Suitable valves are so arranged in the piston to allow the liquid to pass freely
through during the decent of the piston.
In the rod of the aforesaid piston I place a small valve, and screw, for the
purpose of regulating the flow of the liquid, in the cylinder; from the upper to the
lower side of the piston; and thus deciding the time, at which the air passages in
the air bridge shall be closed.
The aforesaid cylinder may be only partly filled with liquid, and in this way
allow the piston a very slow movement, at the commencement of its stroke, and a
quicker movement, during the remainder of its stroke.
Dated this 10th day of January 1893.
SETH TAYLOR.
VUMI LETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus and Appliances for Obtaining More
Perfect Combustion of Fuel in the Furnaces of Steam Generators
or other Furnaces.
I, SETH TAYLOR of 247 Pitsmoor Road, Sheffield, in the County of York,
Mechanical 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 :-
Improvements in apparatus and appliances for obtaining more perfect combustion
of fuel in the furnaces of steam generators or other furnaces to be as follows,-
The object of my invention is to economise fuel and minimise the production of
smoke, and I effect this by means of my improved apparatus and appliances.
Although my invention is applicable to various types of steam generators, mill,
forge or other furnaces, irrespective of the form of furnace or method of firing the
same a description of the apparatus as applied to a Cornish steam boiler will
suffice.
In the furnace of such a boiler I construct an air box in the fire bridge such air
box being either of metal, or formed in the brickwork of the bridge, or it may be
constructed of fire clay, or of metal faced with fire brick, or of fire brick & metal
combined.
The air box is provided with an opening or openings for the admission of air
such openings being placed in the front or under the bridge and below the fire bars.
I also make an opening or openings at the back of the bridge & by preference
near the top of the same, for the exit of the heated air, which has passed through
the bridge or air box.
Where the draught is not sufficiently strong, I employ an air jet to assist the
Bame.
In order that the air so passing through the bridge or air box may take up as
much heat as possible I construct it. with internal projections or heat conductors, so
arranged that the air admitted at the lower front part of the air box becomes
heated by the walls of the air box and the projections therein & makes its exit at
the upper part of the air box.
I construct a second bridge of metal or fire brick higher than the fire bridge or
air box.
This second bridge becomes highly heated by the bright flames of the fire & acts
as a regenerator, thus by allowing the heated air from the air box to impinge upon
the heated bridge, it becomes more highly heated than by ordinary methods and in
this way secures a more perfect combustion of the fuel, practically consuming the
smoke even when fresh fuel has just been added to the fire. In a convenient
possition at or near the lower part of the said air box, I arrange a series of

page_text: longitudinal holes for the admission of air, with perforated sliding plates suitable
for the opening & closing of the said aperture or air passages.
One of the said sliding plates is mechanically and automatically arranged so as
to open & close the air inlet. The other is arranged so as to allow the proper
quantity of air necessary for combustion and suitable for the kind of fuel used.
I attach suitable levers and rods to the above sliding plate, or plates, these are.
Bo arranged that when the stoker or fireman opens the fire door the sliding plate,
or plates, are moved, thus opening the air passages and allowing the air to pass
through the air box, the said air passages remaining open after the fireman has
closed the door, for such a time as may be necessary to obtain a perfect
combustion.
I also arrange an apparatus for closing said air passages automatically, as
follows, a base plate-cylinder,-spring,-piston & rod,-internal valves,-levers
& chains, arranged for the closing of the aforesaid air passages, at a time to be
regulated by the operator.
Suitable valves are arranged in the piston to allow the liquid to pass freely
through during the descent of the piston. In the rod of the aforesaid piston
I place a small valve and screw, for the purpose of regulating the flow of the liquid
in the cylinder, from the upper to the lower side of the piston, & thus deciding the
time at which the passages in the air bridge shall be closed.
The aforesaid cylinder may be only partly filled with liquid, and in this way
allow the piston a very slow movement at the commencement of its upward stroke,
& a quicker movement during the remainder of its stroke. The aforesaid appliance
also regulates the air supply through the fire door.
I am aware that many inventions have been patented, for conducting & heating
air through hollow fire bridges and air boxes and so far as the general principle is
concerned I lay no claim as to novelty. Neither do I claim any novelty in the
application of the auxiliary air jet to induce or accelerate the current of air through
the bridge. The essential feature of my invention being a peculiar construction of
the air box or fire bridge by means of which I obtain a larger amount of heating
surface than is obtained by apparatus of a similar kind at present in use.
The nature of my invention will be better understood on reference to the accom-
panying two sheets of drawings, in which,
Fig. 1-represents an end elevation of a single flue boiler.
Fig. 2-being a sectional side elevation showing general arrangement.
Fig. 3 shows a front elevation of the fire bridge.
Fig. 4-being end sectional view.
Fig. 5-sectional elevation of actuating cylinder.
Fig. 6-sectional view of piston, rod and valves.
Fig. 7-plan of bedplate on which cylinder is bolted.
The same letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.
A. the air box in the fire bridge.
B. the opening for the admission of air.
C.-the opening for the exit of heated air.
D. internal projections or heat conductors.
E. second bridge, to act as a regenerator.
F.-sliding plates to open or close air passages.
G.-suitable levers and rods, connected to sliding plates F.
H.-adjustable actuating cylinder.
I. valve for liquid to pass through on descent of piston.
J. regulating valve and screw.
K. aperture for liquid to pass through on ascent of piston.
L.-chain from actuating cylinder to bellcrank M.
M.-bellcrank connected to sliding plates by means of link O., stud P. and
rod G.
N. stud fixed on fire door at about 3" inches from the centre of the hinge bolt,
to give a radial movement of say 3″ inches on opening the fire door,

page_text: O.-link with long slot connecting stud N. on fire door with stud P..
P.stud on rod G.
The movement would be as follows-
On opening the fire door stud N. puts link O. in tension, and acting upon stud P.
moves rod G., and the sliding plates F. in the direction of the arrow thus opening
the air passages B. admitting air to air box. The same movement of rod G. acts
upon the lower end of the bellcrank m' moveing it about 3 inches in an outward
direction, and the other end of the bellcrank m² in a downward direction, and in
this way brings the cataract piston to the bottom of the actuating cylinder.
When the fire door is being closed, the link O. with long slot, slides upon stud P.
and in this way allows the door to be closed freely and allows the cataract piston
to close the air passages slowly, and at a later period.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is,―
First. In the furnace of a steam boiler, constructing a fire bridge with an air
box, or air chamber provided with projections and ports by means of which I obtain
a large ammount of heating surface, in air passage of the same, and in the manner
and for the purpose substantially as herein described and illustrated in Figures 2-3
and 4, Sheets 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.
Second. An improved automatic actuating cylinder in connection with the
above as herein described and illustrated in Figures 1-2-5--6 and 7 Sheets 1
and 2 of the accompanying drawings,
Dated this 10th day of October 1893
SETH TAYLOR.