AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR FACILITATING THE MORE PERFECT COMBUSTION OF FUEL, WHEREBY FUNNELS IN STEAM VESSELS, AND CHIMNIES OR SHAPTS FOR FAC- TORIES, MAY BE DISPENSED WITH
Year: 1851

page_text: TRESAHAR JEFFREE, of Blackwall, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain and Ireland,
bearing date at Westminster, the Twenty-first day of August, in the fifteenth
year of Her reign, did give and grant unto me, the said John Tresahar
Jeffree, my exors, admors, and assigns,. Her especial license, full power,
sole privilege and authority, that I, the said John Tresahar Jeffree, my
exors, admors, and assigns, and such others as I, the said John Tresahar
Jeffree, my exors, admors, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and
no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term
of years therein mentioned, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within that part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
called England, the Dominion of Wales, and Town of Berwick-on-Tweed,
and in the Islands of Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, Sark, and Man, and
in all Her Majesty's Colonies and Plantations abroad, my Invention for
"AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR FACILITATING THE MORE PERFECT COMBUSTION OF
FUEL, WHEREBY FUNNELS IN STEAM VESSELS, AND CHIMNIES OR SHAPTS FOR FAC-
TORIES, MAY BE DISPENSED WITH;" in which said Letters Patent there is contained
a proviso that I, the said John Tresahar Jeffree, shall particularly describe
and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, by an instrument in writing under my hand and
seal, to be enrolled in Her said Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six

page_text: calendar months from the day of the date of the said in part recited Letters
Patent, as on reference thereto will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
John Tresahar Jeffree, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following instrument in writing.
My Invention relates to improved apparatus whereby to produce a more
perfect consumption of the gases evolved by the combustion of coals in steam
boilers, and other similar furnaces, than has hitherto been effected. The means
I employ for this purpose in connection with the use of my improved apparatus,
consist partly in admixing common air in due proportions with those uncon-
sumed gases, and partly in what I denominate regenerating those gases, that
is to say, by returning them to the furnace, and thereby restoring or bring-
ing them to such a temperature as to cause their almost total consumption.
In carrying out these improvements, I prefer (where an auxilary power
can be obtained) to dispense with the shaft or funnel used to produce the
draught by artificial means, although some outlet is necessary for the dis-
charge of such gases as are incombustible. Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 of the
annexed Drawings represent my Invention applied to a pair of marine
steam boilers, and adapted to require the aid of auxiliary power. Figure 1*
shews a side elevation of the boilers and apparatus complète; Figure 2, a
plan with the top of boilers removed; Figure 3, one of the boilers in front
elevation, and the other in vertical section through the furnaces; Figure 4, a
horizontal section on the line 1, 1, Figure 1; Figure 5, a longitudinal vertical
section on the line 2, 2; Figure 2 and Figure 6, transverse vertical sections
on the line 3, 3, Figure 2; Figure 7 and 8, some of the parts detached.
The arrangement of the furnaces and flues of these boilers, as far as the up-take,
is of the ordinary character in such boilers, and will not require any particular
description. In carrying out my Invention, I employ an artificial draught,
that is to say, a daught produced by the exhaustion of. a mechanical appliance,
such as a rotary fan, which I find to answer the purpose well. I may here
mention, that I am aware that attempts have been before made to effect a
better combustion of smoke, by mixing air therewith, and returning the smoke
and air when mixed to the furnace; but from the imperfect mixture of the
atmospheric air with the smoke, and from other causes, such attempts have
hitherto signally failed. My arrangements are such as to insure a proper
admixture of air with the gases, by causing them to mingle intimately together,
after which the product is returned to the furnace to be regenerated, by passing

page_text: some portion of it through the fire, while another portion is passed through
what I denominate a regenerating bridge. A is the rotary fan, by which the
flues are exhausted; this takes the smoke from the up-take B, by a channel C.
The fan A also forces the fires, by throwing its blast into the ash-pits of each.
The ash-pits and furnaces have closed doors, which prevent the ingress of the
external atmosphere. The course of the flues D and E to the up-take B of
the boilers, may be readily traced in the horizontal section, Figure 4. These
flues terminate in separate compartments of the up-take B, it being divided by
a vertical partition a into two equal parts. A horizontal partition b is placed
immediately under the opening of pipe C, into the up-take B, having a valve
or flap c fitted between it and the top or cover of the up-take; this valve, when
placed in the position shewn by dotted lines, permits a free draught from both
halves of the up-take B; but when moved to one side, as represented in the
Drawing, it confines the exhaustion of the fan to one side or the other, depend-
ing on which side of its central line it is moved. By thus moving the valve
on cither side, the exhaustion of the fan is exerted on the flue of either boiler
as required, for the purpose to be hereafter explained. F, F, are the discharge
pipes for the incombustible gases which escape through them, and they may
have vent at the sides of the vessel, or at any more convenient or appropriate
point. These flues are carried through the steam chest, in order to abstract
as much heat as possible from the gases discharged. The opening of the
flues F, F, in the up-take are situated at a lower level in the up-take B than
the channel C; the more combustible products, by reason of their less specific
gravity, tending to rise above those less combustible, or altogether incombustible,
which escape at F, F; valves or throttles d, d, are placed in flues F, F, by which
to regulate the discharge of the incombustible gases at pleasure. Air for the
support of combustion is admitted by a passage G, situate on a chamber above
the fan A; this air may be drawn from the stoke hole or other area it may be
desired to ventilate, and is regulated by a valve e, by which it may be properly
apportioned; the air entering at G mixes at once with the products of the
furnace, entering by pipe C; the arrangement of these openings and the passage
to the fan, together with the action of that apparatus, producing a thorough
incorporation of the air and gases. The nature of this part of the apparatus
will be best seen in the cross section of the fan, Figure 7. The trunk from
the fan is divided into two channels, H and I; the one, H, leading to the ash-pits
of furnaces K, K; and the other passage, I, leading to the ash-pits of furnaces
L, L. These channels H and I are each fitted with valves F and G, which
may be regulated or closed at pleasure, by gearing shown for that purpose.

page_text: Each of the passages H and I are also separated into two channels, H', H,
and I, I', which is simply to distribute their contents to the furnaces. The
channels H', H', and I, I', as will be seen, are conducted through the flues
D and E of their respective boilers, in order to maintain the heat of the
currents passing in those channels H' and I', at as high a temperature as
possible, before they enter the fire. The air and products of combustion thus
returned to the ash-pits, in addition to the passage afforded through the fire
bars for their admission to the fire, have admission through a "regenerating
bridge," which consists of a metal plate M, of the full length of the bridge,
having brackets h, h, as seen at Figure 8, separately represented. These
brackets are such as to keep the plate M at a distance from the ordinary bridge
i, and in an inclined position, so that a space of about an inch in width is left
between the two, for the emission of the air and returned products of com-
bustion. The incline of the regenerating bridge M should be sufficient to cover
a passage through the bars greater than the opening of emission at the top of
the bridge. The fire lying against this inclined bridge causes it to become of and
maintain a great heat, and is transmitted through the metal to the air and gases
passing within or between the bridges. The products of combustion, being pro-
perly mixed with a due proportion of atmospheric air, and thus regenerated or
heated, attain a highly inflammable state, producing the combustion of so much
thereof as is capable of being consumed. The air and gases which do not find
egress through the bridge pass up through the fire-bars, conducing to the com-
bustion of the fuel in the furnace. These products at the same time become
regenerated or re-heated, thereby facilitating their consumption, as desired.
In order to maintain the action of this apparatus, the auxilary power to be
applied to the fan A consists of a small engine, which will require a
separate boiler in order to get up the steam; or, if this be effected by hand
power, steam may afterwards be obtained from the main boilers to drive
the small engine. A continuous action of the fan A is to be maintained
during the use of the main boilers, to produce the necessary current through
the furnaces K, K, and L, L. Under ordinary circumstances the currents
proceed from each and all the furnaces to the fan chamber by their several
flues D and E, and back by the channels II and I, as described. The valve
C is at this time in the position shown by the dotted lines in Figure 2,
permitting a free exhaustion from both halves of the up-take B. It was
before mentioned that the air for the support of combustion was taken in at G.
Now, on account of the continual ingress of air at this point, a proportionate
quantity of air or unconsumable products must be discharged, and this

page_text: discharge, during the above-mentioned state of the arrangements, will take
place at both the discharge passages F and F'. Supposing now that it is
desired to stoke or add fuel to the furnaces of either boiler, say, for example,
K, K, it then becomes necessary to make an alteration in the several air and
flue passages. For this purpose the valve c must be moved so as to confine
the exhaustion of the pipe C to that side of the up-take B into which the
flue D leads from the furnaces K, K; to be stoked. The valve D of flue F
should also be closed. At the same time, with the alteration of the foregoing
valves, the passage H from the fan to the furnaces K, K, should be cut off by
the valve preventing the transmission of any of the products of cumbustion
to the furnaces being stoked or having coals fed into them, the operation of
stoking causing considerable augmentation to the non-consumed gases passing
off from those furnaces. The effect of the arrangement of the valves before
reverted to is this:-Air for the support of combustion will enter the open doors
of the furnaces being stoked; the whole of the exhaustion of the fan A is
confined to those furnaces K, K, by reason of the interference of the valve c;
the products of combustion therefore pass through flue D up that side of
the up-take into which it leads, thence to the fan; where an additional quantity
of air admitted at G becomes mixed with them, and the whole transmitted
thence by channel I, and I', I', to the furnaces L, L. The fires in these
furnaces having obtained a bright incandescent state, will be well fitted for the
combustion of the smoke so transmitted to them. It must be remembered
that during this time no exhaustion of the fan conduces to the draught
of these furnaces, the whole effect thereon being produced by the urging of the
fan blast. The pressure of the fan blast forces the products of combustion of
fires K, K, through fires L, L, where they are consumed; any air and incom-
bustible products are forced through the flue E into the other half of the
up-take, and out at the flue F. By this the whole of the smoke emitted will
be consumed; any products passing off, being invisible and of a specific gravity
greater than air, will float along the water. The operation of stoking
furnaces L, L, and the action of the apparatus thereon, is precisely similar
to that described, but the currents pass in an opposite direction by reason of
the opposite change in the valves. The valve c is moved to confine the
draught of fan to that side of the up-take to which the flue E of furnaces L, L,
lead. The valve F in channel H is opened, and the valve G of channel I closed.
The exhaustion now passes through fires L, L, flue E, to fan A, where the
products of combustion have a due admixture of air at G; they are then forced
thence through the now incandescent fires K, K, where the combustible

page_text: portion is consumed, and the remainder forced through flue D into up-take B,
and out at F, it being observed that the flue F' is now closed. Care should
be taken that no more air be admitted at G than is necessary to produce the
perfect combustion of the products, as the effect of such admission of air would
not only tend to decrease the temperature in the ash-pits of the fires, but would
also militate against the perfect combustion of the gases, and would have the
effect of discharging them from the discharge flues F, F'; this admission of air
should be most.carefully regulated at G by the valve e. In examining the
cross section of fan, Figure 7, and the other Figures representing it, it will be
observed that the air and products from the furnaces are admitted to the
chamber N. The chamber N has a partition k, over and above which the
products of combustion and the air admitted at the valve e pass, as shewn by
the arrows, and from which they proceed by two passages 1, 1, to each side of
the fan case, into which they are drawn by the rotation of that apparatus.
The effect of this partition and valve is to cause the proper admixture of the
products from, the furnaces and the air before they come within the action of
the fan, by which action, when mixed, they are returned to the furnaces
Z, Z, K, K, as before shewn. In order that. the access of too much air may
not take place at the fire doors while stoking, they are each fitted with a rising
flap P, P, worked by a handle m; this flap P is fitted to a box R, forming a
mouth-piece for the fire door S. When the fires are to be stoked or fed, the
coals or other fuel are first thrown into the box or mouth-piece R, while the
flap P is down. When required, these coals or other fuel are pushed forward
with a rake nearly fitting the opening on mouth of the furnace R, and so
distributed on the fire. In boilers for land engines constructed on this prin-
ciple, the auxiliary, engine may be dispensed with, as the steam may be got
up by hand power applied to the fan A, which may be afterwards driven by
the engine, or a chimney may be employed to get up the steam. In like
manner motion may be communicated from the main engines in steam vessels,
where the motion of such vessels is continued for a great length of time,
but in no instance where frequent stoppage is necessary, in which cue an
auxiliary power is imperative, according to the foregoing illustration.
A further improvement in the regenerating bridge is shown in Figures 9,
10, and 11, Sheet B, which represent an ordinary Cornish or flue boiler
having my improved regenerating bridge fitted thereto. This is adapted for
the better combustion of smoke where a chimney or funnel is used to pro-
duce the necessary draught. Figure 9 represents the boilers in longitudinal
vertical section; Figure 10 a transverse section of the line 5, 5; and Figure 11,

page_text: a detached view of the bridge at back. This regenerating bridge is placed in
the position of the ordinary bridge, but is so constructed as to occupy the
whole area of the flue leading from the fire. It consists of two metal plates
V, W, united by a series of tubes p, p, p, which form openings for the passage
of the products of combustion in passing from the fire to the flue of the boiler.
The fire lies against the lower part of the front plate V of the bridge, which
imparts considerable heat thereto. This heat is transmitted to air contained
within the bridge, which is admitted by the pipe X, or other suitable channel.
By reference to the detached back view of the bridge, Figure 11, it will be seen
that the back plate W is thickly studded with small perforations, through which
the air in the bridge finds egress, being urged by the draught of the chimney.
The heat and products of combustion, in passing through the tubes p, p, while
the fire is in a bright incandescent state, impart to and maintain the tubes
P.P, at a high temperature, which is partially communicated to the air passing
through the bridge, and which is consequently emitted at a high temperature
to the flue. In stoking a fire fitted with this regenerating bridge, the action is
this: Coals being thrown on the fire, a dense smoke is evolved, which, by
contact with the boiler, is either cooled down, or does not, under ordinary
circumstances, attain a temperature calculated to produce combustion; such,
therefore, for the most part, passes off unconsumed. To remedy this, the beat
of the tubes p, p, and regenerating bridge, are called into action; the uncon-
sumed gases in passing through the heated tubes become regenerated or
heated to such an extent, that on emerging into the flue Y, and meeting at
the same time the necessary quantity of air, and thoroughly uniting therewith,
perfect combustion takes places. Instead of tubes p, p, p, to receive and
communicate the heat to the products of combustion, other metallic surfaces
may be arranged and employed for that purpose; by this means the smoke
evolved during the supply of fresh fuel to the fire becomes thoroughly con-
sumed. The admission of air to the bridge, and also to the ash-pit, should
be regulated by means of valves, so as to conduce as much as possible to the
thorough consumption of the gases produced, which, however, can only be
arrived at by practice in each individual boiler.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I desire it to be understood that I do
not confine myself to the precise arrangements herein-before described, as
minor modifications must necessarily be made to suit different sorts of boilers;
neither do I make any claim to any parts of the apparatus taken separately;
but I claim the apparatus combined and arranged substantially as herein-
before set forth, wherein the products of combustion having been intermixed

page_text: with atmospheric air, are then returned by the action of a fan blast, or other-
wise, to the furnace, and are for the most part consumed; and I claim the
apparatus herein-before described, and denominated a regenerating bridge.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Tresahar Jeffree, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-first day of February, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-two.
JOHN TRESAHAR (L.S.) JEFFREE:
Signed, sealed, and delivered in the presence of
Feb 21, 1852.
CHAS. JOHNS.
Enrolled the Twenty-first day of February, in the year of our Lord.One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-two.