AN IMPROVED FURNACE AND APPARATUS FOR THE DESSICATION OF COAL OR FUEL, AND UTILIZING ITS PRODUCTS FOR COOKING, HEATING, AND LOCOMOTIVE PURPOSES
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Jackson, of No. 1, Willow Brook Road,
Peckham, in the County of Surrey, for the Invention of "AN
IMPROVED FURNACE AND APPARATUS FOR THE DESSICATION OF COAL OR FUEL,
AND UTILIZING ITS PRODUCTS FOR COOKING, HEATING, AND LOCOMOTIVE
PURPOSES."
Sealed the 2nd May 1876, and dated the 4th November 1875.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Jackson at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 4th November 1875.
I, WILLIAM JACKSON, of No. 1, Willow Brook Road, Peckham, in
the County of Surrey, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion for "AN IMPROVED FURNACE AND APPARATUS FOR THE DESSICATION OF COAL
OR FUEL, AND UTILIZING ITS PRODUCTS FOR COOKING, HEATING, AND LOCOMOTIVE
PURPOSES," to be as follows :-
My Invention consists of various arrangements whereby the distri-
bution of gas separated from coal or other fuel may be used to
advantage in combination with atmospheric air.
•

page_text: I construct a furnace instead of the ordinary furnaces, where the coal
or fuel is thrown on the fire or furnace bars, and I adopt a system
similar to that used in the manufacture of gas. I arrange a retort
inside the furnace to hold the coal or fuel for producing of gas, I
construct under it a fire-place to produce heat, which I supply with 5
the coke or breeze obtained from the retort.
The gases passed from the retort through water into a tank to separate
the tar from it, but the great object of my Invention is to pass the gas
into a reservoir cast on the front and back of the furnace, or it may be
separated therefrom, by which means I am able to mix in large pro- 1
portions the atmospheric air to be combined with the gas, which is
passed through a plate constructed over the reservoir.
I affix a pipe to act as a conductor of the air in such a position as
to heat it, this uses up the waste heat after it has done its work; and
I introduce it into the reservoir in its hot state by means of a cap 1
placed on the mixer for the introduction of the air alone.
For cooking purposes I construct an oven, portable or fixed, as may
be required, with a hot plate; and by a similarly constructed reservoir
I complete my apparatus for this purpose.
This improved furnace by a simple modification in its construction 2
will be also applicable for locomotive purposes by means of employing
compressed air with the same arrangements, as before described.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Jackson in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 4th May 1876.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME,'I, WILLIAM
JACKSON, of No. 1, Willow Brook Road, Peckham, in the County of
Surrey, send greeting.
2
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fourth day of November, in the a
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in
the thirty-ninth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and
successors, give and grant unto me, the said William Jackson, Her

page_text: special licence, that I, the said William Jackson, my executors, admi-
nistrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Jackson,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time 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 Invention for
"AN IMPROVED FURNACE AND APPARATUS FOR DISSICATION OF COAL AND FUEL,
AND UTILIZING ITS PRODUCTS FOR COOKING, HEATING, AND LOCOMOTIVE PURPOSES,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William Jackson,
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 William Jackson, 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 statement, that is to say:—
My said Invention consists of various arrangements whoreby the
distribution of the several products separated from coal or other fuel
may be used to advantage in combination with atmospheric air.
I attach hereto Drawings of my said Invention, whereby its appli-
cation and working is the more clearly shewn.
In its application to stationary, marine, or locomotive boilers, either
horizontal or vertical, I construct my furnace upon a different principle
to the ordinary boiler furnaces, for whereas they have a flat space with
bars extending along the bottom of the furnace I construct a slanting
shaft, and have my bottom bars, except in vertical engines, to extend
but a short way in the furnace. In this furnace, directly beneath the
boiler, I fix a retort made of cast iron or other material, in which I
place the coal or fuel for the process of dessication; this is effected by
the fire of the furnace, which being once lighted, can be supplied by the
braes or coke from the retort. The gas is generated by this means :—
I convey to a condenser placed by the side of the furnace, or in any
other convenient position. I then convey the gas to a holder, and from

page_text: boiler, the same letters of reference for same parts are used as in
Figure 1 and 2 before described.
Figure 5 and 6 shew reservoir and hot plate for cooking and heating
ovens. In Figure 5, I is the reservoir, in which is fixed the perforated gas
pipe J; K is the hot plate above; and L, the air mixer. In Figure 6, M is
the gas pipe; N, the reservoir; O, the hollow columns; P, the front
bars, through which the hot air passes; and Q, the passages in the sides
at back of stove.
Figures 7 and 8 shew an alternative form of condenser; this condenser
has its interior divided into a number of compartments S, S, S, S, and S,
through which the gas has to circulate in its passage from the induction
pipe T to the eduction pipe U; there are also two sets of disc plates V
in each compartment for further condensing the gas; W is an overflow
pipe for carrying off any excess of water; X is a pipe for testing
the contents of the compartments and for any collection of air to be
passed off.
Having thus described the nature and object of my said Invention,
and illustrated its working by the appending Drawings, I would observe
in conclusion that I do not confine myself to the precise details herein
given, as they may be varied in certain cases without departing from
the principle of my Invention; but I declare that what I claim and
desire to be secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters
Patent is, the improved furnace and apparatus, and methods of con-
struction of the same for dessication of coal and fuel, and for utilizing
its products for cooking, heating, and locomotive purposes, substantially
as herein-before described and as illustrated on the Drawings, or any
mere modification thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Jackson, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Fourth day of May, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
WILLIAM JACKSON. (L.s.)