Improvements in Apparatus for use in Supplying Air to the Furnaces of Steam-boilers and other similar Furnaces.
Year: 1896

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for use in Supplying Air to the Furnaces
of Steam-boilers and other similar Furnaces.
I, ISAAC PEARSON, of 12 Spruce Street, Clopton Street, Hulme, Manchester, in the
County of Lancaster, Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
My invention relates to apparatus for use in supplying air to the furnaces of steam-
boilers and other similar furnaces and consists in improvements in such apparatus.
The object of my invention is chiefly to ensure that the fuel used in such furnaces
shall be properly consumed and to prevent or practically prevent smoke from being
emitted from such furnaces and also to secure economy in the consumption of fuel
therein, and efficient application of the heat resulting from the combustion of such
fuel. f
or
According to my invention as applied to a furnace in which the fuel rests upon a
grate or grate-bars through or through the space between which is allowed to pass a
portion of the air requisite for the combustion of such fuel or in a furnace
in which all the air requisite for the combustion of the fuel is intended to be supplied
above the surface on which such fuel rests, I provide a steam-jet or steam-jets or
blower or blowers of any suitable kind and provide pipes or channels by which the
jet or current or jets or currents of air and steam or spray induced by such steam-jet
or blower or steam-jets or blowers are led to a box or chamber or boxes or chambers
disposed around or above or at the sides of the door by which fuel is passed into the
said furnace and provide such chamber or chambers with a number of holes or nozzles
for the escape of air therefrom which are arranged so that the jets or currents of air
escaping therefrom shall be directed towards the fuel in the said furnace and so that
the air supplied shall be distributed as uniformly as possible thereon
otherwise so that no cooling effect upon parts of such fuel or the plates of the boiler
or other surface to be heated by such fuel shall be produced by the said jets or currents
of air. The steam-jet or steain-jets or blower or blowers which I employ may be of
any suitable form and may be so arranged that the jet or jets or current or currents,
of air caused by the steam jet or steam-jets employed may be caused to induce the
movement along with it or them of other quantities of air, and I prefer to employ an
arrangement which is noiseless or practically noiseless in working. I prefer to employ
a cock or tap or cocks or taps or a movable nozzle or cone or movable nozzles or cones
or other means enabling the quantity and velocity of the air supplied to the said
furnace or furnaces by means of the apparatus which I employ to be regulated as may
be necessary or desirable from time to time. In conjunction with the holes or
nozzles with which the chamber or chambers above mentioned is or are provided, I
inay provide projecting ribs or projections of other form upon such chambers or
baffle-plates or obstacles of any suitable kind, so as to further ensure that the air
supplied to the furnace shall be diffused, distributed or directed as may be considered
desirable in any particular case. The form and arrangement of the apparatus employed

page_text: according to my invention will require to be adapted to the form and arrangement of
the furnaces to which it may be requisite qr desirable to apply my invention.
In cases in which it may be desired that air at à pressure greater than atmospheric
pressure shall be supplied below the bars or grates supporting the fuel in a furnace
to which-my invention is applied 'cause the space below the said bars or grate to be
enclosed in any suitable manner, and provide a pipe or channel or pipes or channels
to convey air from the steam-jet or blower or steam-jets or blowers or the pipe or
channel or pipes or channels above mentioned to the place at which it may be requisite
or desirable to deliver the air to be supplied below the said bars or grate and I
may arrange that the jet or current or jets or currents of air to be supplied below the
said bars or grate shall be passed through a nozzle or cone or nozzles or cones enabling
it or them to induce the movement along with it or them of other quantities of air,
and I may provide means by which the supply of air above the said bars or grate
and the supply of air below the said bars or grate or either of them may be
regulated or shut off as may be requisite or desirable from time to time.
According to a modification of iny invention I dispense with the use of a steain-jet
or blower or steam-jets or blowers and employ a chamber or chambers similar to that
br those hereinbefore described and simply place such chamber or chambers in
coinmunication with the atmosphere or other supply of air either, at atmospheric or
higher pressure so that air may pass through it or them to the fuel in the furnace to
which this modification of my invention is applied.
Apparatus arranged according to my invention for the supply of air above the bars
or grate of the furnace of a steam-boiler or other similar furnace inay in any cases in
which it may be desirable be employed in conjunction with any arrangements of.
apparatus enabling forced draught or induced draught to be employed.
Dated this Twenty-sixth day of September 1896.
HOWARD
CHEETHAM,
Manchester, Agent to the Applicant.
Improvements in Apparatus for use in Supplying Air to the Furnaces
of Steam-boilers and other similar,, Furnaces.
I, ISAAC PEARSON, of 12 Spruce Street, Clopton Street, Hulme, Manchester in the
County of Lancaster, 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:
My invention relates to apparatus for use in supplying air to the furnaces'of
steain-boilers and other siniilar furnaces and consists in improvements" in such
apparatus..
f.
The object of my invention is chiefly to ensure that the fuel used in such furnaces
shall be properly consumed, and to prevent or practically prevent smoke from being
emitted from such furnaces and also to secure economy in the consumption of fuel
therein, and efficient application of the heat resulting from the combustion of
such fuel.
According to my invention as applied to a furnace in which the fuel rests upon a
grate or grate bars through or through the space between which is allowed to pass a
portion of the air requisite for the combustion of such fuel or in a furnace in which
all the air requisite for the combustion of the fuel is intended to be supplied above
the surface on which such fuel rests, I provide a steam-jet or steam-jets or blower 'or
blowers of any suitable kind and provide pipes or channels, by which the jet or currént

page_text: or jets or currents of air and steam or spray induced by such steam-jet or blower or
steam-jets or blowers are led to a box or chamber or boxes or chambers disposed
around or above or at the sides of the door by which fuel is pissed into the said
furnace and provide such chamber or chambers with a number of holes or nozzles för
"the escape of air' therefrom which are arranged so that the jets or currents of air
escaping therefrom shall be directed towards the fuel in the said furnace and so..that
the air supplied shall be distributed as uniformly as possible thereon or otherwise so
that no cooling effect upon parts of snch fuel or the plates of the boiler or other
surface to be heated by such fuel shall he produced by the said jets or currents of
air. The steam-jet. or steam-jets or blower or blowers which I employ may be of any
suitable form and may be so arranged that the jet or jets or current or currents of air
caused by the steam-jet or steam-jets einployed' may be catised to induce the
movement along with it or thein of other quantities of air, and I prefer to employ an
arrangement which is noiseless or practically noiseless in working. I prefer to
provide a cock or tap or cocks or taps or a movable nozzle or cone or movable nozzles
or cones or other means enabling the quantity and velocity of the air supplied to the
said furnace or furnaces by means of the apparatus which I employ to be regulated as
may be necessary or desirable from time to time. In conjunction with the holes or
nozzles with which the chamber or chambers above mentioned is or are provided; I
inay provide projecting ribs, or projections of other form upon such clambers, or
baffle-plates or obstacles of any other suitable kind, so as to further ensure that the
air supplied to the furnace shall be diffused, distributed or directed as may, he
considered desirable in any particular case. The form and arrangement of, the
apparatus employed according to my invention will require to be adapted to the form
and arrangement of the furnaces to which it may be requisite or desirable to apply
my invention.
In cases in which it may be desired that air at a pressure greater than atmospheric
pressure shall be supplied below the bars or grate supporting the fuel in a furnace to
which my invention is applied 1 cause the space below the said bars or grate.to be
enclosed in any suitable inanner, and provide a pipe or channel or pipes or channels to
convey air from the steam-jet or blower or steam-jets or blowers or the pipe or
channel or pipes or channels above mentioned to the place at which it may be
requisite or desirable to deliver the air to be supplied below the said bars or grate,
and I may arrange that the jet or current or jets or currents of air to be supplied
below the said bars or grate shall be passed through a nozzle or..cone or nozzles.or
cones enabling it or them to induce the movement along with it or them of other
quantities of air, and I may provide means by which the supply of air'ibove the said.
bars or grate and the supply of air below the said lars or grate or either of them may
be regulated or shut off as may be requisite or desirable from time to time...
In the accompanying drawings, apparatas arranged according to my invention is
illustrated as applied to the two furnaces of a Lancashire Boiler and-as arranged 'to
supply air, either altogether above the grate-bars on which the fuel being consumed
in such furnaces rests, or partly above and partly helow such grate-bars or altogether
below such grate-bars as may be necessary or 'desirable from time to time in the use
of such furnaces.
9.
Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the said boiler, Fig. 2 is in part a side elevation-nail
in part a longitudinal section taken on the plane indicated by the line (A A) of Figal
and showing part of the said boiler, Fig. 3 is in part a plan of part of the said boiler
and in part a horizontal section taken on the plane indicated by the line (BB) of
Figs. 1 and 2.
Fig. 4 is a front elevation and Fig. 5 a vertical section of one of the
boxes or chambers employed in the furnaces of the said boiler in accordance with my
avention. The line (CC) of Fig. 4 indicates the plane upon which the section Fig. 5
s taken. Fig. 6 is a side elevation and Figs. 7 and 8 vertical sections illustrating
one of the valves employed to control the distribution of the air supplied by means of
he apparatus employed according to my invention. The line (DD) of Figs. 6 and 8
ndicates the plane upon which the section Fig. 7 is taken, and the 'line (EE) of
ig. 7 indicates the plane on which the section Fig. 8 is taken. In all the figures of

page_text: the accompanying drawings, the same letters of reference are employed to indicate
corresponding parts.
(a) (a) are the blowers employed in conjunction with the furnaces of the said boiler.
The said blowers (a) (a) are supplied with steam by means of the pipes (at) which
are connected to any suitable parts of the boiler illustrated in the accompanying 5
drawings or to a pipe connected to such boiler or to any other boiler from which it
may be convenient to supply steam to such blower and each of the said blowers (a) is
arranged so that its axis or centre-line is in the same straight line as the centre-line
of a conical tube (6) the upper end of which is formed with a trumpet-shaped mouth
into which the jet of steam issuing from such blower (a) enters. The tapering lower 1
part of the said conical tube (b) which increases in size downwards is connected by
means of a tube (61) to pipes (c) extending around the upper parts of the door of the
furnace to which the said blower (a) is applied and connected at their lower ends with
the casings (d) of valves (e) of which two are employed in conjunction with the said
furnace. Each of the chambers or boxes (f), provided according to my invention in
conjunction with each of the said furnaces, is preferably formed of cast iron and is
formed so as to surround the sides and upper part of the door (h) of the furnace to
which it is applied and is secured to the frame-work or plate (g) surrounding the said
sides and upper part of such door by means of bolts passed through lugs formed on
such chamber or box and through holes in the framework or plate (g) and provided
with nute. Each of the two valve-casings (d) employed in conjunction with each
furnace of the boiler illustrated in the accompanying drawings is provided with a
projecting tube (d) formed with a screw-thread on its exterior and secured by means
of nuts () in a hole formed in the plate or framework (g) and which, when the
valve (e) in such casing (d) is in a suitable position, places the interior of such
casing (d) in communication with the interior of the chamber or box (f) employed in
conjunction with the said furnace. As is clearly indicated in Figs. 4 and 5 each of
the chambers or boxes (f) is formed with holes or nozzles (f) of which some only are
shown in the accompanying drawings so formed and disposed therein that air or a
mixture of air and steam or spray issuing from them will issue therefrom in currents
or jets each directed towards a different part of the fuel resting upon the grate-bars
of the furnace in conjunction with which such hox or chamber is employed and so be
.distributed as uniformly as possible over the fuel at the rear portion of such furnace,
so that no cooling effect upon parts of such fuel or the plates of the boiler shall be
produced by such jets or currents of air or air and steain or spray. The holes or
nozzles () are arranged chiefly in the upper parts of the walls of the chambers or
boxes (so that the currents of air or air and steam or spray issuing therefrom will
tend to strike the upper surface of the fuel in the furnaces of the boiler and in order
to ensure that air or air and steam or spray shall issue from all the holes or
nozzles (1) of each chamber or box (f) when air or air and steam or spray is supplied
to such chamber or box (f) the parts of the wall of such chamber or box (f) opposite
to the projecting tubes (d) enminunicating with it are not provided with holes or
nozzles (¹).
The ash-pits or spaces beneath the grate-bars of the furnaces of the boiler
illustrated in the accompanying drawings are closed by the plates or frameworks (g).
To each plate or framework (g) are secured two tapering tubes (i) formed of sheet
metal and extending from such plate or framework (g) towards the back of the said
ash-pit or space and each formed so that it first diminishes and then increases in size
from the front to the rear. Opposite to the front of each of the tapering tubes (i)
is placed a nozzle or opening () formed on the lower end of a pipe (k) communicating
with the casing (d) of one of the valves (e), and thus when a portion or the whole of
the current of air and steam or spray supplied to the said casing (d) by means of the
jet or blower (a) with which it is used is allowed to issue from the nozzles or pipes ()
it will enter the said tapering tubes and cause other air to flow along with it through
the said tubes and pass into the ash-pit or space below the grate-bars of the furnace
in conjunction with which such tapering tubes are employed and pass through the
fuel on such grate-bars from below. The valve (e) in each of the casings (d) is formed

page_text: of two end-parts (e) (e) and connecting parts (e) (e), one (e) curved to fit the
interior of the casing (d) in which such valve is mounted and capable of being
made to close either the outlet from the casing (d) in which it is mounted to the
chamber or box () in conjunction with which such valve (e) is employed or the
outlet from such casing (d) to the pipe (k) connected to such casing or to partially
close either of such outlets while partially opening the other as may be necessary
or desirable from time to time. The casing (d) of each valve (e) is closed at one
end, and at the other is provided with a flange (d) secured to such casing by
means of bolts and formed with a central opening and is so arranged that air having
access to the space between the end-piece (e²) of the valve (e) and the closed end of
the said casing (d) will tend to press the end-piece (e¹) of the valve (e) into contact
with the flange (ds) secured to the said casing so that leakage will be guarded
against while the said valve (e) may be easily turned into different positions as may
be necessary or desirable from time to time by means of the handle (e') secured to
the end-piece (e¹) of such valve (e).
When steam is allowed to issue from the blowers (a) it will induce a current of
air through the tubes (6), pipes (e), casings (d) and into the boxes or chambers (f)
or through the pipes (k) or both into such boxes or chambers () and through the
pipes (k) according to the position into which the handles (e) may be turned. When
fresh fuel is to be supplied to either of the furnaces in conjunction with which the
apparatus above described is provided, the handles (e) employed in conjunction with
the valves employed with such furnaces are turned into the position in which they
are indicated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, so that the air supplied to such furnace by means
of the blower (a) and tube (b) used therewith is delivered entirely through the box
or chamber (f) in such furnace and so upon the upper surface of the fuel in such
furnace so as to consume the products arising from such fuel and minimise or guard
against the emission of smoke from such furnace and then as such fuel becomes
incandescent the said handles (e') may be turned so as to first direct a portion of such
air through the pipes (k) used with such furnace to the space beneath the grate-bars
on which such fuel rests and then if it be desirable may be turned into the position
in which the handle shown in Figs. 6 and 7 is indicated so as to place the said
valves (e) in the position in which the valve (e) shown in Fig. 8 is indicated so as to
cause all the air supplied to the said furnace by means of the blower (a) and tube (b)
used therewith to be delivered to the space beneath the said grate-bars and so
enable the more rapid combustion of the fuel upon the said grate-bars to be
effected.
The plate or framework (g) provided to close the ash-pit or space below the
grate-bars of each of the two furnaces of the boiler illustrated in the accompanying
drawings is provided with a removable part (9) ordinarily secured in position by
means of a thumb-screw bearing against it and pressing it against the plate o
framework (g) and screwed through a cross-bar ordinarily resting in hooks provided
upon the plate or framework (g). When the said removable part (g') is removed from
the said plate or framework (g) an opening in such plate or framework (g) is exposed
and such opening then suffices for the supply of air to the said ash-pit. or space
beneath the grate-bars of the said furnace as is requisite when it is impossible or
undesirable for any reason to supply steam to the blower (a) used with such
furnace.
The doors of the furnaces of the boilers illustrated in the accompanying drawings
are shown as being arranged in the ordinary manner and provided with openings
and with perforated boxes for the distribution in the furnaces to which they are
applied of the air which may pass thrrough the openings in such doors.
The pipe (a) by means of which steam is supplied to each blower (a) is provided
with a tap or cock (2) by means of which the supply of steam to the said blower
inay be regulated or shut off as inay from time to time be necessary or desirable.
Instead of the pipes (c), casings (d) and chambers or boxes (f) being arranged in
the manner hereinbefore described the pipes leading to the casings (d) or the
connections between the casings (d) and chambers or boxes () may be provided wita

page_text: nozzles or openings similar to the nozzles or openings ()'provided on the pipes (
and made to deliver currents or jets of air or air and steam' or spray into tubes firs
contracting and then expanding in form and connected to the boxes or charnbers (
in a suitable manner and so be made to induce the movement of other air 'alon
with the currents or jets of air or air and steam or spray issuing from the said nozzle
or openings and passing to the said 'chambers or boxes () or pipes (k) or both t
such chambers or boxes and pipes (4) according to the sitions in which th
handles (e) may be turned, or jets or currents so induced may he caused.in"
similar manner to induce the movement of further quantities of air 'by a suitabl
number of nozzles delivering jets or currents into pipes or tubes first. contractin
and then expanding in form and arranged in a suitable manner to lead the current
of air or air snd steam or spray to the boxes or chambers (f) or the pipes (e) o
both to the boxes or chambers (f) and the pipes (k) according to the positions inte
which the handles (e') may be turned.
The boxes or chambers (may in some cases be formed of pipes bent inte
suitable form.
Instead of each of the boxes or chambers (f) being connected by its lower parts t
the casings (d) through which it receives the current or jet of air or air and steam o
spray induced by the action of the blower (a) used with it the connection between
such boxes or chambers (f) and the said casings (d) may be effected at any other
convenient parts of the said boxes or chambers (f) and in cases in which it may be
desirable each of such boxes or chambers (f) may be connected to only one such
casing (d) or otherwise made to receive by the action of the steam issuing from the
blower (a) used therewith a current of air or air and steam or spray at one
part only.
Instenil of each of the furnaces of a boiler being supplied with currents of air by
ineans of a separate blower and tube, one blower (a) and tube (b) similar to those
herein before described may be provided for use with both or all of the furnaces of
the said boiler and connected in any suitable manner to the boxes or chambers (f)
employed in such boiler.
When the boxes or chaunbera (f) illustrated in the accompanying drawings are to
be applied to furnaces in which it is unnecessary or undesirable to supply air' from
the lilowers (a) to the spaces beneath the grates or grate-lars supporting the fuel in
such furnaces, the pipes (k) and tubes (i) are dispensed with, and the casings (d) of
the valves (e) are only formed with outlets to communicate with the chambers or
boxes (), the valves (e) then serving to control the distribution of the air-currents
induced by means of the blowers (a) to the different sides of the said furnaces.
According to a modification of my invention, I dispense with the use of a steam-jet
or blower or steain-jets or blowers and employ a chamber or chambers similar to that
or those hereinbefore described and simply place such chamber or chambers in
communication with the atmosphere or other supply of air either at atmospheric or
higher pressure so that air may pass through it or them to the fuel in the furnace to
which this modification of my invention is applied.
The boxes or chambers (employed in accordance with this modification of my
invention are similar and arranged similarly to those illustrated in the nécompanying
drawings; but are obviously employed without the blowers (a), tubes (b), pipes (e),
casings (), valves (e) and pipes () and tubes (i) and are simply placed in
communication with the air outside the furnaces to which they are applied or in
communication with any suitable supply of air at atmospheric or higher pressure."
Apparatus arranged according to my invention for the supply of air above the hars
or grate of the furnace of a steam-boiler or other similar furnace may in any cases in
which it may be desirable be employed in conjunction with any arrangement's of
apparatus enabling forced draught or induced draught to be employed.
It is obvious that in the application of my invention to different furnaces the nozzles
or holes () of the boxes or chamber (employed will require to be arranged in
different directions and also that in every case the said nozzles or holes (f) must be
arranged; to, direct the air issuing from them towards different parts of the region of

page_text: the furnace at which air can be most advantageously supplied for the combustion of the
gaseous or other matters issuing from the fuel.
The arrangements provided in accordance with my invention are simple in
construction and simple and easy to control and very efficient in preventing smoke
from being produced by the furnaces to which they are applied and when arranged
to supply air below the grate-bars or grates supporting the fuel being consumed in
the furnaces to which such arrangements are applied are also very effective in
promoting the combustion of fuel therein.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, declare that what I
claim is:
1. For use in supplying air to the furnace of a steam-boiler or other similar
furnace, a box or chamber which is placed and made to extend around the sides and
upper part of the door of such furnace and formed with holes or nozzles so disposed
as to direct towards different parts of the fuel in such furnace the jets or currents of
air or air and steam or spray issuing from such holes or nozzles and is arranged in
combination with a suitable arrangement of steam-jet or blower to supply air
to such box or chamber substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore
described.
2. For use in supplying air to the furnace of a steam-boiler or other similar furnace
with an ash-pit or space beneath the grate or grate-bars thereof a box or chamber
which is placed and made to extend around the sides and upper part of the door of
such furnace and formed with holes or nozzles so disposed as to direct towards
different parts of the fuel in such furnace the jets or currents of air or air and steam
or spray issuing from such holes or nozzles and is arranged in combination with a
suitable arrangement of steam-jet or blower to supply air to such box or chamber
and is arranged in conjunction with means to conduct air from the said arrangement
of steam-jet or blower to the ash-pit or space beneath the grate or grate-bars
of the said furnace substantially as and for the purposes herein before described.
3. For use in supplying air to the furnace of a steam-boiler or other similar
furnace, a box or chamber which is placed and made to extend around the sides
and upper part of the door of such furnace and formed with holes or nozzles so
disposed as to direct towards different parts of the fuel in such furnace the jets
or currents of air or air and steam or spray issuing from such holes or nozzles and
is placed in communication with the atmosphere or any suitable supply of air
at atmospheric or higher pressure, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore
described..
Dated this Twanty with ..
1005
HOWARD CHEETHAM,
Manchester, Agent of the Applicant.