Improvements in Apparatus and Appliances for Obtaining More Perfect Combustion of Fuel in the Furnaces of Steam Generators.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 15th May, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 11th Jan., 1892-Accepted, 13th Feb., 1892
Improvements in Apparatus and Appliances for Obtaining More
Perfect Combustion of Fuel in the Furnaces of Steam Generators.
1, SETH TAYLOR, of 173 Ellesmere Road, Sheffield, in the County of York,
Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature. of my said invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS AND APPLIANCES FOR OBTAINING MORE
PERFECT COMBUSTION OF FUEL IN THE FURNACES OF STEAM GENERATORS,"
to be as follows:-
The object of my invention is to economise fuel and 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,
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 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 clay and of metal
combined.
This air-box is provided with an opening or openings for the admission of air
below the fire bars in the front of the bridge and also with 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.
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 horizontal metallic partition plates, so
arranged that the air admitted at the lower front part of the air-box, has to traverse
backwards and forwards several times before it reaches the upper part of the bridge
and makes its exit into the furnace, thereby becoming much more highly heated
than is the case in air-boxes or hollow fire bridges as ordinarily constructed.
The horizontal partition plates which form the zigzag passages previously
referred to being so attached to the front of the air box as to form heat
conductors.
In cases where I employ a metallic air box 1 should cast these plates forming
the air passages with the front plate of the air box whereby the heat taken
up by the front plate would be better conducted to the interior of the air-box.
The back plate I should in some cases cast separately so as to form a lid or door
to the air-box.
In some cases where cross or rocking fire bars are employed I conduct the air
from the front of the furnace to the air-box by means of two tubular side bearers
and where the draft is not strong enough to induce a sufficient flow of air
through the bridge I employ a steam or air jet or blast to assist the same.
I am aware that many inventions have been patented for conducting and 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 steam or air jet to induce or accelerate the current of
air through the bridge the essential feature of my invention being the particular
construction of the air-box or fire bridge by means of which I obtain a larger
amount of heating surface in the air passages than is obtained by the apparatus of
a similar kind at present in use.
Dated this 13th day of May 1891.
R. HEBER RADFORD,
Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus and Appliances for Obtaining More
Perfect Combustion of Fuel in the Furnaces of Steam Generators.
I, SETH TAYLOR, of 173, Ellesmere Road, Sheffield, in the County of York,
Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS AND APPLIANCES FOR OBTAINING MORE
PERFECT COMBUSTION OF FUEL IN THE FURNACES OF STEAM GENERATORS,"
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
The object of my invention is to economise fuel and minimise the production of
smoke and effect this by obtaining more perfect combustion of fuel by means of
my improved apparatus and appliances.
Although my invention is applicable to various types of steam generators,
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 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 clay and of
metal combined.
This air-box is provided with an opening or openings for the admission of air
below the fire bars in the front of the bridge and also with 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.
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 partitions so arranged that the air
admitted at the lower front part of the air-box, has to traverse backwards and
forwards or upwards and downwards several times before it reaches the upper part
of the bridge and makes its exit into the furnace, thereby becoming much more
highly heated than is the case in air-boxes or hollow fire bridges as ordinarily
constructed.
The partitions which form the zigzag passages previously referred to being so
attached or connected to the front of the air-box as to form heat conductors.
In cases where I employ a metallic air box I should cast these plates forming
the air passages with the front plate of the air-box, whereby the heat taken up by
the front plate would be better conducted to the interior of the air-box.
The back plate I should in some cases cast separately so as to form a lid or door
to the air box.
In some cases I conduct the air from the front of the furnaces to the air box by
means of a pipe or pipes and when cross or rocking fire bars are employed the air
may be conveyed through hollow side bearers and where the draught is not strong
enough to induce a sufficient flow of air through the bridge I employ a steam or air
jet or blast to assist the same.
In some cases where I do not employ a pipe or pipes to convey the air from the
front of the furnace to the bridge I cover the opening or openings for the admission
of air to the front of the air-box with a fine grating or with wire net or gauze to
prevent dust and ashes being drawn into the air passages.
I am aware that many inventions have been patented for conducting and 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 steam or air jet to induce or accelerate the current of
air through the bridge, the essential feature of my invention being the particular
construction of the air-box or fire bridge by means of which. I obtain, a larger
amount of heating surface in the air passages than is obtained by apparatus of a
similar kind at present in use.

page_text: As a modification of the foregoing arrangement in some cases I obtain a still
further amount of heating surface in the air passages than is obtained by the
apparatus herein described by constructing the air box and bridge with one or more
ports through which the flame and heated gases may pass direct from the front to
the back of the bridge such ports being constructed so as to double the heating
surface of the partitions forming the air passages.
The nature of my invention will be better understood on reference to the
accompanying two sheets of drawings in which :-
Fig. 1. represents a longitudinal section taken through the centre of the furnace
of a steam boiler fitted with a metallic air box.
Fig. 2. being a cross section of the same taken on the line A. B.
Fig. 3. is a plan, part of the bridge above the fire bars being in section and
Fig. 4. a back elevation of the bridge looking towards the fire bars, the lid or
door being removed.
Fig. 5. is a section and
Fig. 6. is an end elevation illustrating the modified arrangement herein lastly
described.
The same letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.
u. is the air box in the fire bridge.
1. b. are openings for the admission of air in front of the same.
c. is an air pipe which may in some cases be utilized as a bearer or may be
dispensed with altogether.
d. is an opening or openings at the back of the bridge for the exit of heated air.
e. e. are metallic partition plates arranged horizontally which act as heat
conductors and form zigzag passages for the air on its way through the air box to
the fire bridge.
is a port or ports through which the flame and heated gases may pass direct
from the front to the back of the bridge.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the
nature of my
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that
what I claim is,
(1.) In the furnace of a steam boiler constructing the fire bridge with an air box
or air chamber provided with partitions by means of which I obtain a large amount
of heating surface in the air passages of the same in the manner and for the
purposes substantially as herein described and illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4. Sheet 1. of
the accompanying drawings.
(2.) In the furnace of a steam boiler constructing the fire bridge with an air box
or air chamber provided with partitions and ports by means of which I obtain a
large amount of heating surface in the air passages of the same in the manner and
for the purposes substantially as herein described and illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6.
Sheet 2. of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 8th day of January 1892.
R. HEBER RADFORD,
Agent for the Applicant.