IMPROVEMENTS IN EFFECTING THE DESTRUCTION OF NOXIOUS VAPOURS OR GASES, AND IN THE APPARATUS OR MEANS EMPLOYED THEREIN
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Timotheus Ignatius Alberdingk, of Amsterdam, Holland,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN EFFECTING THE DESTRUCTION OF
NOXIOUS VAPOURS OR GASES, AND IN THE APPARATUS OR MEANS EMPLOYED
THEREIN."
Sealed the 6th November 1877, and dated the 4th September 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Timotheus Ignatius Alber-
dingk at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th September
1877.
TIMOTHEUS IGNATIUS ALBERDINGK, of Amsterdam, Holland. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
EFFECTING THE DESTRUCTION OF NOXIOUS VAPOURS OR GASES, AND IN THE
APPARATUS OR MEANS EMPLOYED THEREIN."
My Invention relates to an improved method of destroying noxious vapours and
gaseous products, and consists in closing the boiler or vessel which contains the
material to be heated or treated with a cover of any suitable form, maintained in
its seat as nearly air-tight as possible, and having the requisite number of openings
for the admission of fresh air, the supply of which is regulated in order to obtain a
uniform draught.
The vapors generated by the material, together with the fresh air admitted, are
conducted by one or more pipes underneath the bars of the fire which heats the
material, or of any other heating oven, the furnace door and air hole of the ash-pit
being closed as nearly air-tight as possible, in order to prevent the admission of air
at that part.
The inlet in the cover is the only fresh air supply for the fire. The vapours are
also forced by the cold air up to the cover, and through the pipes without any
escape into the interior of the building.

page_text: By the discharge of the mixture of vapours and air exhausted by the draught of
the chimney into the fire, the complete consumption of the vapours generated is
effected, and the combustion of the fuel is improved.
For such substances as require continual supervision, a current of air is directed
through one larger lateral opening upon the surface, which is then sufficiently
visible, such opening affording also facilities for scraping or moving the substances
under treatment, if required.
The degree of opening of this air inlet is adjusted by two or more doors or
valves, placed the one above the other, in order to regulate, together with the
small openings, the temperature beneath the cover, so as to obviate all liability to
the ignition of the emanutions ascending in the cover, the combustion being
arrested in the event of ignition taking place by completely closing the inlet of the
air. For this purpose also, each pipe is provided with a valve, cock, or damper, by
which the communication with the ash-pit can be intercepted; the entrance of air
being thus prevented, the flame is instantly suppressed.
A tank or receptacle may also be provided above, supplied with the same
material in a cold condition, or with water or other cooling agent, the cooling
liquid or agent flowing freely through a canvas or leather tube across the vapors
into the heated mass, whereby the extinction is greatly accelerated.
The pipes on the cover are united into one cross pipe, which may be placed in
direct communication with the chimney for the purpose of conveying away the
noxious vapours, and preventing the injurious escape into the interior of the building
in cases where the furnace door is required to remain open for an undue period.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Timotheus Ignatius Alberdingk in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
4th March 1878.
TIMOTHEUS IGNATIUS ALBERDINGK, of Amsterdam, Holland. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
EFFECTING THE DESTRUCTION OF NOXIOUS VAPOURS OR GASES, AND IN THE
APPARATUS OR MEANS EMPLOYED THEREIN."
My said Invention relates to an improved method of destroying the combustible
noxious vapours or gaseous products which are evolved from various substances,
such for example as oil, fats, varnishes, bones, blood, and the like, when treated in
boilers or vessels, by being subjected to the action of external heat, and it consists
in constructing and arranging the containing boiler or vessel and apparatus in
connection there with in such a manner that the said vapours or gases shall be
conducted, into a furnace, and thereby consumed, the air requisite to support com-
bustion in such furnace being supplied through the boiler or vessel, and introduced
into the furnace with the said vapours or gases.
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood, I shall now proceed
more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose shall refer to the
several Figures on the annexed Sheet of Drawings, the same letters of reference
indicating corresponding parts in both the Figures.
Figure 1 of my Drawings represents a longitudinal section of an apparatus con-
structed and arranged for the purpose of effecting the objects of my Invention ;
and Figure 2 is an end elevation of the same, corresponding to Figure 1.
In carrying out my said Invention, the substance to be treated is introduced into
a boiler or vessel A, which is supported over a furnace B, so as to be heated by the
same, and is provided with a cover C, maintained on its seat as nearly air-tight as
possible, by incans of sand, silicate, fibrous material, or other suitable substance.
The cover is provided with apertures a, a, b, for the admission of fresh air, the
supply of which is regulated in order to obtain a uniform draught, and to raise or
to lower the temperature in the cover, for which purpose the apertures are fitted
with hinged lids, by opening and closing which, as required, the supply may be
controlled at will. The lids with which the apertures a are provided are marked c.
The aperture b also forms a man-bole for giving access to the interior, affording
facilities for scraping or moving the material under treatment, if required, and for
cleaning, unless it be preferred to elevate the cover. This man-hole constitutes the
principal air opening; it should be of a corresponding area to the ordinary air inlet
at & of the ash-pit D; its dimensions in fact play an important part in the process
of combustion, for which purpose the degree of opening is adjusted as required, by
means of two doors or valves e, f, placed the one above the other, or by a greater
number than two, if found desirable. From the top of the cover proceeds a pipe E,
which is bent downwards, and terminates at din the ash-pit D, or two or more
pipes inay be employed, but the pipe or the pipes collectively, as the case may be,
should be of an area at least equal to that of the air inlet at d of the ash-pit D.
If only one pipe is provided, as in the example illustrated, it is placed most
suitably above the main opening b, as shewn.
When also two or more pipes are employed, I prefer to construct this opening in
the centre, as by a judicious arrangement the vapors are better distributed, and the
draught is rendered more regular and uniform.
The fire-door F and the opening d of the ash-pit D below are kept closed as
nearly air-tight as possible, the latter being fitted for that purpose with two sets
of folding doors h, i, placed the one above the other, the closer the contact is, so as
to prevent admission of air at the furnace front, the greater the draught of air
through the main opening b along with the vapors evolved from the material into
the pipe E leading to the fire. This is the main feature of my system, and upon
the degree of attention to it depends the perfect or defective destruction of the
gases.

page_text: The inlets in the cover are the only fresh air supply for the fire, and this air
entering in a cold condition forces the warm air, combined with the vapors,
through the cover into the pipe E, without any escape into the interior of the
building. This rush of cold air renders the surface of the material visible where
its descending current is directed; this is most important for such substances as
require continual supervision.
The discharge of the mixture of vapors and air exhausted by the draught of the
chimney underneath the bars into the fire effects the complete consumption of the
vapors, and also intensifies the heat, thus causing a saving in fuel.
The pipe E is provided with a valve, cock, or damper k, which is maintained
closed in commencing the question, with the view of accelerating the heating
action until the vapors begin to be evolved. Up to that moment the fresh air has
been supplied by the air hole d of the ash-pit D; as soon as the evolution of the
vapours commences, the doors h, i, are closed, and the damper k and the doors e, f,
are opened to the required extent.
The temperature in the cover should be made dependent upon the liability to
ignition of the emanations ascending in the cover.
In the event of ignition taking place, their communication with the fire can be
intercepted by means of the damper k, and the entrance of air being prevented in
this manner, the flame is instantly suppressed.
A tank or receptacle placed at a higher level may also be provided, supplied with
liquid (for example) of the description under treatment in a cold condition, or
with water or other cooling agent, which may be directed through a flexible tube
or hose across the vapours into the heated mass, whereby the extinction will be
greatly accelerated.
A skilled attendant will be able to determine to what degree the temperature
may be carried without danger of the ignition of the gaseous products, a thermo-
meter being provided in the cover for the purpose of indicating the temperature
within.
The temperature is regulated by leaving open, or partially open, in addition
to the main aperture 6, one or more of the aperture a, for the entrance of
cold air.
Care should however be taken to minimize the supply through the apertures a,
so as to avoid diminishing the intensity of draught through the main opening b,
which would cause an injurious escape from the apparatus.
In cases where the furnace front is required to remain open for an undue period,
or for charging coals and stirring the fire, the supply of air through the cover
should be temporarily reduced.
In order to provide against any unforseen contingency, the pipe E is connected
to a pipe H fitted with a valve or damper 1, and which is placed in direct communi-
cation with the chimney for the purpose of conveying away the noxious vapors
if necessary.
In treating substances, such for example as oil and fats, the emanations from
which are liable to ignition at a temperature of from 230° to 240° Celsius, it is
desirable to so arrange the apparatus that, in the event of an explosion occuring,
the cover shall be lifted from its seat, the same returning into its place by means
of guides as soon as the pressure is relieved. With my process, however, the
liability to accidents from this cause is reduced to a minimum, since in boiling
linseed oil (for example) at a temperature exceeding 300° Celsius, its gaseous product
in the cover only attains 175° during the short space of time requisite for supplying
fuel to the furnace when the doors e, f, are partially closed.
It is preferred to make the cover C of an inclined form, as shewn, in order that
the condensed emanations may descend along its sloping sides instead of falling
into the body of the vessel.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into effect, I
would observe in conclusion, that what I consider to be novel and original, and

page_text: therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part recited
Letters Patent is, effecting the destruction of combustible noxious vapours, or
gaseous products evolved from substances when treated in boilers or vessels under
the action of external heat, by constructing and arranging the containing boiler
or vessel and apparatus in connection therewith in such a manner that the vapours
or gases shall be conducted into a furnace, and be thereby consumed, the air requisite
to support combustion in such furnace being supplied through the boiler or vessel,
and introduced into the furnace with the said vapours or gases, all substantially as
herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Timotheus Ignatius Alberdingk, have to this
my Specification set my hand and seal, this Twenty-sixth day of February,
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
TIMOTHEUS IGNATIUS ALBERDINGK. (LS.)