IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF HEATING APPARATUS, AND IN THE APPLICATION OF HYDROCARBON OR OTHER VOLATILE OILS OR SPIRITS FOR HEATING PURPOSES, AND GENERATING STEAM
Year: 1873

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPEICFICATION left by Samuel James Ditchfield,
George Watson, and John Childs at the Office of the Commissioners
of Patents with their Petition, on the 13th June 1873.
We, SAMUEL JAMES DITCHFIELD, of Seaham Harbour, in the County
of Durham, Coal Fitter, GEORGE WATSON, of the same Place, Oil
Manufacturer, and JOHN CHILDS, of Seaham Harbour, aforesaid,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF HEATING APPARATUS, AND IN THE
APPLICATION OF HYDROCARBON OR OTHER VOLATILE OILS OR SPIRITS FOR HEATING
PURPOSES, AND GENERATING STEAM," to be as follows:-
We employ what we term generators as herein-after more fully
described, and we place in them hydrocarbon or other volatile oil or
spirit supplied from a store tank. The generators are fitted with sponges
to absorb the oil from the store tank, over which sponges a steady and
regular current of compressed air is passing from the compressed air
chamber. The said generators are encircled by a trough or steam jacket
filled with hot water or steam.
Our method of constructing and using our improved apparatus, will
be fully understood by reference to the accompanying Drawings, which

page_text: shew one application of our improvements as we employ them on board
ship, marked with corresponding letters, and explained as follows:-
"A." Pipe fitted with stop-cock for filling the store tank with the oils
or spirits.
"B.” Store tank for oils or spirits fitted with regulating guage.
"C." Generator, fitted with divisions to cause the air to circulate in a
serpentine manner over and through the sponges, which are held by
rings fitted half-way up between the said divisions. The said generator
being the receiver of the required quantities of oils or spirits, and
atmospheric air, which in it commingle, the oils or spirits being
introduced by means of the supply pipe "E," connecting store tank
with the generator, and the air being supplied at the opposite side of the
generator through the pipe marked "E2." The air thus charged passes
through the exit pipe marked "F," through the stop valve or self-acting
throttle valve, through the pipe and stop taps marked "G," through and
out of the leading pipes "I," into the furnaces where the light is
applied.
The object of the stop valves or self-acting throttle valves marked
"F2," is to prevent the possibility of an accident, and they are so
constructed as to remain open when there is a given pressure of
carburetted atmosphere, and to close when the pressure is less than the
given minimum. The stop tap is fixed to enable the engineer to reduce
the pressure of carburetted atmosphere or to shut it off entirely. The
ordinary furnaces may be used but instead of being charged with coal,
they are charged with coke or in some cases with asbestos.
"J." A donkey boiler (with cylinder of donkey engine marked "K")
fired with coal in the usual way, to enable the engineer to work air
pumps marked "O" until such time as steam is raised in the main
boiler, the said air pumps forcing air through pipe "P" to the
compressed air chamber "Q." When steam is raised in the main
boiler the steam may be blown off from the donkey boiler "J," and by
means of a connecting rod the said air pumps "O" may be worked
from the main engine shaft.
The air pumps marked "R," are likewise worked by means of
eccentric sheaves fixed on main shaft of main engines, or by rods