AN IMPROVED SMOKE- CONSUMING APPARATUS
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Julien François Belleville, Civil Engineer, of Paris,
in the French Empire, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED SMOKE-
CONSUMING APPARATUS."
Sealed the 25th March 1856, and dated the 9th October 1855.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Julien François Belleville
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
9th October 1855.
I, JULIEN FRANÇOIS BELLEVILLE, Civil Engineer, of Paris, in the French
Empire, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED
SMOKE-CONSUMING APPARATUS" to be as follows:-
My improved smoke-consuming apparatus consists of an inclined grate or
upon suitable
set of furnace bars, fitted into a frame supported at an inclination
framework. The frame is free to move upon its axes, whereby the degree of
inclination may be regulated. The fuel is fed in from the top through
Hopper, shaped somewhat like the frustum of a pyramid, and, falling on to the
inclined grate or fire bars, descends gradually by gravitation, and as fast as the
ignited portion becomes consumed, its place is supplied by the fuel next above
it, and so on. The ashes, scoria, &c. fall into a space left for them at the
bottom of the grate. The bottom of the ash-pit is kept covered with a film or
stream of water. The admission of air to the fire bars is regulated by doors
or registers, so arranged as to cause the currents to pass through the top or
upper part of the grate. Currents of air may also be admitted into the furnace
through apertures at the back of the hopper, and through apertures in the
bridge of the furnace.
The hopper may be so formed as to have only the side presented to the fire
bars inclined, while the front may be vertical, and furnished with openings,
[Price Bil.]

page_text: through which the charge may be examined, so as to ascertain when needful to
add a fresh supply of fuel. The feed of fuel on to the bars may be regulated
by an adjustable register plate at the back of the hopper. Any suitable form
of fire bar may be used, but I prefer a hollow bar with side apertures.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Julien François Belleville in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 29th March 1856.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JULIEN
FRANÇOIS BELLEVILLE, Civil Engineer, of Paris, in the French Empire, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, in the nineteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Julien François Belleville, Her special licence that I, the said Julien
François Belleville, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said Julien François Belleville, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from tiine to time
and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and
lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Inven-
tion for "AN IMPROVED SMOKE-CONSUMING APPARATUS," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Julien François Belleville, my executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their
hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause
the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months
next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Julien François Belleville, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto
annexed, that is to say :-
My improved smoke-consuming apparatus consists of an inclined grate or
set of furnace. bars, fitted into a frame supported at an inclination upon suitable
framework. The frame is free to move upon its axes, whereby the degree of
inclination may be regulated. The fuel is fed in from the top through a hopper,

page_text: shaped somewhat like the frustum of a pyramid, and falling into the inclined
grate or fire bars, descends gradually by gravitation, and as fast as the ignited
portion becomes consumed, and thereby diminished in volume, its place is
supplied by the fuel next above it, and so on. The ashes, scoria, &c fall into
a space left for them at the bottom of the grate. The bottom of the ash-pit is
kept covered with a film or stream of water. The admission of air to the fire
bars is regulated by doors or registers, so arranged as to cause the currents to
pass through the top or upper part of the grate. Currents of air may also be
admitted into the furnace through apertures at the back of the hopper, and
through apertures in the bridge. The hopper may be so formed as to have
only the side presented to the fire bars inclined, while the front may be vertical,
and furnished with openings, through which the charge may be examined, so
as to ascertain when needful to add a fresh supply of fuel. The feed of fuel
on to the bars may be regulated by an adjustable register plate at the back of
the hopper. Any suitable form of fire bar may be used, but I prefer a hollow
bar with side apertures.
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation, and Figure 2 a front view (with part
removed) of an improved smoke-consuming apparatus constructed according
to my Invention. The grate consists of a set of fire bars A, A, fitted into a
frame B, supported at an inclination on axes C, C, on which it is free to move.
D, D, are the bearings for the axes C. C. Instead of a frame as represented,
the grate may be mounted on transverse supports, the ends of which rest
against the sides of the ash-pit, or on other suitable framework. E, E, is a
small grate or set of horizontal fire bars placed below the grate A; F is the
furnace bridge; G, space between the grates A and E, through which the
scoria, cinders, & may be withdrawn while the furnace is at work. H is a
stop plate, or apparatus for partially closing the space G; I is the crown
(which may be in brickwork or cast iron); it serves to keep the fuel hot as it
descends; J, ash-pit, kept covered by a flowing film or stream of water, regu-
lated by a cock; K is the feed hopper, or mouth of the apparatus. The shape
of this hopper is something like the frustum of a pyramid at the lower part.
The peculiar shape given to the hopper is important, as on it the easy and
regular descent of the fuel depends. I prefer the shape shewn in Figure 1, in
which the side presented to the fire bars is inclined while the front is straight.
K' is an iron plate fixed to the grate A; this plate is sharply inclined to assist
the descent of the fuel. L is a register, placed at the back of the hopper, by
raising or lowering which the depth of the mass of fuel on the fire bars can be
regulated; M, M, are registers at the front of the ash-pit; the extent to which
these registers may be opened is regulated by the rack N. These registers

page_text: prevent waste radiation of heat from-the grate. Apertures may be formed in
the crown I near the hopper, for the admission of currents of atmospheric air
to the fire-place; this air feeds the flame and beats it down on the burning fuel,
thereby assisting in consuming the smoke. Currents of air may also be
admitted through the bridge F by curving it upwards in the centre, and con-
structing it of perforated cast iron, as shewn in red, Fig. 1. Figures 3 and 4
shew, in section, a hollow fire bar, which I find well adapted for the object of
my Invention; it is formed with side apertures y, /, through which the air
which enters through the bottom of the bar escapes in a warm state into tlie
-apparatus, while the bar is kept cool by an outward current of atmospheric air.
The apparatus works as follows:--Fuel is placed on the fire bars and lighted,
and fresh fuel introduced through the hopper or mouth K. This fresh fuel
gradually descends as the fuel below it becomes consumed, and its volume
thereby diminished, the combustion being regulated by a register in the
-chimney. As the fuel slides down from the hopper it becomes gradually
heated, and liberates gases, which ignite as they become disengaged, and
combine with the atmospheric air, passing through the fresh or not ignited fuel;
as fast as the fuel slides down it becomes ignited, and cokes, and the residuum
falls on to the bottom of the grate. The mouth of the apparatus is so formed
that the depth of the charge of fuel is greater at bottom than at top. The
fire bars need not be of the precise degree of inclination shewn, but the
inclination may be varied according to circumstances, provided that it is
sufficient to allow of the gradual and continuous descent of the fuel, and of the
depth of fuel being greater at bottom than top.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim, as constituting
my said Invention, the construction of a smoke-consuming apparatus in the
manner herein-before described, and represented in the Drawings annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said Julien Francois Belleville, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, tliis Seventeenth day of March, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six.
Witness,
CH. ARMENGAUD, Ing Civil,
6, Rue Filles du Calvaire, à Paris.
J. F. BELLEVILLE. (L.S.)