IMPROVEMENTS IN THE COMBUSTION OF FUEL AND SMOKE
Year: 1841

page_text: HALL'S SPECIFICATION.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME; I, SAMUEL.
HALL, of Basford, in the County of Nottingham Civil Engineer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at West-
minster, the Fourteenth day-of. January, in the fourth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Samuel Hall, Her especial licence, full power, sole privilege and authority,
that I, the said Samuel Hall, my exors, adñiors, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said Samuel Hall, my exors, adññiors, or assigns, should at any.
time agree with; and no others, from time to time and at all times during the
term of years therein. expressed; should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within. England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick upon Tweed, and
also in all Her said Majesty's Colonies and Plantations abroad, my Inven-.
tion of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE COMBUSTION OF FUEL AND SMOKE;".in. which said.
Letters Patent is contained a proviso that I, the said Samuel Hall, shall
cause a-particular description of the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to he performed, to be inrolled in Her said Majesty's
High Court of Chancery within six calendar months next and immediately
after the: date of the said in part recited Letters Patent, as in and by the
same, reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at large appear.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Samuel Hall, do hereby declare that the nature of my Inventions, and the
manner in which the same are to be performed, are fully described and ascer-
tained in and by the following description thereof, reference being had to the
Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the figures and letters marked thereon,
the same letters denoting the same parts in all the figures (that is to say):-
The objects of my Inventions are improvements upon and additions to my
methods and apparatus for more perfectly effecting the combustion of fuel and
smoke, as described in the Specification of my Patent of the Twenty-fourth
June One thousand eight hundred and thirty-six.
.
The first of my present improvements consists in apparatus or machinery for
supplying fuel at the front of the fire-place, when it is a long one, and for
removing it therefrom progressively along and upon the bars towards the back
or bridge thereof, and at the same time raking and clearing the bars.
The second improvement consists in certain means of retarding the con-
sumption of fuel as it becomes carbonized and converted into coke, for the
purpose of retaining an ample quantity in that state for more perfectly effecting
the combustion of the smoke and inflammable gases, as they pass over it, in
commixture with atmospheric air.
The third improvement consists in sprinkling a portion of water upon the
fuel in the front of the fire-place.
The fourth improvement consists in apparatus or means of supplying atmo-
spheric air to certain fire-places or furnaces.
The fifth improvement consists in the preventing of large pieces of fuel
of certain furnaces from passing into the chimnies and escaping from the tops s
thereof.
The sixth improvement consists in taking the heat for heating atmospheric
air from other situations and by other means than those specified by me in my
said recited Patent. The following is a description of the apparatus consti-
tuting the first and second parts of my improvements above mentioned.
Figure 1, Plate I., is a bird's eye view or plan of the apparatus, with the bar B
(shewn in Figures 2, 3, 4, and 5) removed.. Figure. 2 is a view of one side of
it, being taken with its front to the right hand. Figure 3 is a view of the
other side, being taken with its front to the left hand; and Figures 4 and 5:
are front views of it; Figure 4 shewing it with the teeth a, a, a, projecting s
through and above the fire bars, which bars are shewn in section taken across
A', from 1 to 1, as shewn by A", and Figure 5, shewing it with the teeth
lowered, so as to enter only about half way up and between such bars, the bars
being in this figure shewn in section taken across A¹, from 3 to 3, as shewn

page_text: by AA, A, Figures 2, 3, 4, and 5, are the fire bars of a steam engine,
fire-place, or other furnace, containing slides s¹, s¹, at those ends of them
nearest to the bridge of the fire-place; one of the bars is shewn separately
by A¹, which is a plan or view of the top of it. A" is a section of it taken
across it from 1 to 1. A is another section of it taken from 2 to 2; and
A is another section of it taken from 3 to 3. There are partitions in the bars,
shewn by dotted lines, of a shape to fit the tops of the slides s', s¹, which slide
on ledges t, t, whereby the parts of the slits u, u, from v to v, can be partially
or wholly closed to regulate the quantity of air passing through those parts of
the slits, for the purpose of increasing or diminishing the consumption of the
fuel when in a state of greater or less carbonization, as it approaches the back
ends of the bars; or, instead of these bars, common bars may be used, thickened
at the back ends of them, as shewn by B', B', whereby the spaces u¹, u¹, extend
only three-fourths or any other portion of the length of the bars. a, a, a, are
iron teeth, which can be depressed below the upper side of the fire bars, or
raised so as to project above them at pleasure, in order to rake them and move
the fuel upon them from the front of the furnace towards the back or bridge
thereof, or otherwise, as required. B, Figures 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, shews a cast
iron bar or frame, in which the teeth a, a, a, are firmly fixed by nuts b, b, b,
screwed on the ends of their shanks, which are passed through slits c, c,
Figure 6.
This bar and the teeth it contains can be not only lowered or
raised, but they can be moved lengthways of the fire bars, from the front to the
back of the furnace, or vice versa at pleasure, by the machinery now to bo
described: C, C, is a frame or carriage, to which six axles are attached, having
a wheel or truck e upon each of them, to move the carriage backwards or
forwards upon the rails D, D, Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. This movement is
effected by the following means:-E, E, are toothed racks, firmly attached to
the rails D, D, by the pillars or supports d, d; and e', e', are pinions which are
keyed on the shaft f, to work in these racks; this shaft is attached by bearings
to the carriage C, C, which carriage is moved on the rails D, D, when the
shaft is turned round by the working of the pinions in the racks E, E. In
order to turn the shaft f conveniently, there is a bevil wheel g keyed on one end
of it, and into this wheel another smaller bevil wheel h is worked, by the turning
of the square shaft i, on which, while it is turned round, such small wheel
slides, moving along with it the carriage C, C, to which it is attached by the
projection from it j; the shaft, when worked by manual labor, is turned
round by the handle k, fixed on one end of it. Having shewn the way in
which the bar or frame B and the teeth fixed in it are moved backwards and
forwards, I now proceed to explain how they are moved upwards and down-

page_text: wards, so as to let the points of the teeth, as above mentioned, project into the
fire upon the bars, or be withdrawn from it, and below the upper side of such
bars. On the carriage C, C, are attached two pillars 7, 1, which pass through
two corresponding holes in the bar B, and give it'a' perpendicular movement,
when, by the means about to be described, it is raised or lowered. In the
middle of the carriage C, C, there is a cross shaft F, on which are fixed the
two arms m, m. In the end of each of these armis, most remote from *the
shaft F, is screwed a'pin n, the head whereof slides in the dovetailed grooves o, o,
of the bar B. There are other similar arms p, p, attached by joints to the
carriage.C, C, in one end of each of which is also screwed a pin'q, similar to
pins n,n; the heads of these pins slide also in a similar way in the grooves ó, o.
The upper ends of the armis m, m, and those of the arms p, p; most remote
from the carriage C, C, are connected together by means of the pins n'and q,
and of a flat bar 2, 7, whereby the arms are always kept parallel with each other,
whether they are in the vertical position shewn by Figure 4, or in the diagonal'
one shewn by Figure 5, ôr; indeed. in any other intermediate position. It is
obvious that, by turning the shaft F, all the arms 'm, in, and p, p, will be put
in motion, and that the frame B, and the teeth a, a, a, fixed in' it may be raised
and lowered at pleasure by the traversing of the 'pins n, n, and q, q, in the
grooves oo. In order to effect the turning of the shaft F with ease, a toothedl
segment G, Figures 1, 4, and 5, is keyed upon it, and in this segment a small
pinion H works; which is turned by the square shaft I, and slides upon it (when
the carriage moves on the rails D, D, in either direction), by the turning of the
handle J. In order to lift the bar B and the teeth a, a, a, with ease, there is a
counterbalance weight K; attached to the shaft F, and for the same purpose
there is a spring L, attached to the carriage C, C; this spring presses upwards
against the above-mentioned bar when first it commences to rise, and consider-
ably assists in the raising of it. M is à bar in front, and N is another at the
back to support the ends of the rails D, D, and carry the shafts I and i by' the
means of the carriages O; O, and P, P. The manner in which the foregoing
apparatus operates is as follows:-When the fuel on the fire bars requires to be
moved from the front towards the back of the fire-place, the carriage C, C; is'
brought to. the front of the ash-pit; the teeth a, a, a, being in a'depressed
situation, as shewn 'by Figure 5; by turning the shaft i in the proper direction.
The bar B is then raised by means of the handle Jso as to project the teeth
a; a; a, above the bars-and into the fuel at the entrance of the fire-place; they
are then caused to traverse along the bars, and thereby to bear along the fuel
from the front towards the furnace bridge, which operation not only clears the
bars but levels the fuel upon them, so as to cause it to cover them uniformly

page_text: and to proceed thereon, as its carbonization is. effected as herein-before
explained. When the carriage C, C, has arrived as above mentioned at the
back of the ash-pit the teeth are lowered out. of the fire to prevent their being
-too much heated or injured, and to be ready for being brought forward again
to the front of the ash-pit, while in that depressed situation, for repeating. the
process of bearing away the fuel towards the furnace bridge and raking. the
bars. The fuel, when this apparatus is used, may be supplied to the front of
the fire through the ordinary fire doors, and by hand in the usual-manner.
But another part of this my first improvement consists of apparatus for sup-
plying and replacing the fuel at the front of the fire, on its being moved away
by the above-mentioned process, without admitting cold atmospheric air into the
furnace along with the fuel, as is the case when it is supplied by manual labor
through the usual fire doors. I now proceed to describe the apparatus for this
purpose. Q, Figure 7, is a section of the front end of the boiler. Ris a hopper
for supplying fuel to the fire under it, being in an inclined position over the fire
door S. T is a space between the boiler and the hopper for the admission of
a stream of atmospheric air into the front of the fire-place and over the fuel";
the hopper can be fixed in the inclined position here shewn, or in any other
degree of inclination which may be suitable for directing the fuel in its descent
to the front of the fire-place, to replace the fuel as it is conveyed away by the
process of raking before mentioned. U is a plate on which the fuel slides on
its descent into the fire-place, which can be lowered, when required, to the
horizontal position, shewn by dotted lines, for the purpose of withdrawing the
scoria from the fire, or the fire itself from the furnace, or even, if required, for
feeding the fire occasionally by manual labor through the fire doors in the usual
way. t is a lever fixed to one of the axles s, for the purpose of elevating or.
depressing the plate U. w is a pipe extending the whole width of the fire-
place, perforated with small holes, to convey and sprinkle water occasionally
on the fuel in the front of the fire-place. By the operation of the apparatus
above described, the fuel in the furnace is first ignited and then more and more
carbonised as it is passed along the fire bars from the front to the back of the
fire-place, so that the coke which arrives at the end thereof is nearly, if not per-
fectly, free from inflammable gasses or smoke, while the whole of the other
parts of the fuel, during the different stages of its progress on the bars, are in.
various intermediate states or degrees of carbonisation. When the fuel is
thus and in this state distributed upon the fire bars, it is in a fit state for effect-
ing the combustion of smoke or inflammable gases as they are generated from.
fresh additions of fuel in the front of the fire-place, and passed over it in. com-.
mixture with atmospheric air, whether the air be heated by the means described

page_text: in my said recited Patent or by those herein specified, or in any other way, or
whether, indeed, (as may be desirable in some cases,) it is not heated at all.
My fourth improvement consists in passing atmospheric air to steam engine
or other fire-places through pipes, tubes, or passages within the boilers, instead
of its going through pipes, passages, or flues on the outside of the boilers ;
these means are peculiarly applicable to locomotive or other tubular boilers, as
some of the tubes for conveying the flame or heated gasses from the furnace
and through the water in the boiler to the chimney may be converted into the
tubes. for introducing the air into the furnace, leaving the remaining tubes for
the original purpose of conveying the flame or heated gasses from the furnace
through the boiler to heat the water and generate steam. The same improve-
ment may, however, be practised with other boilers by inserting within them
air-pipes, tubes, or flues, to convey air through the boiler in the same way to
the furnaces or fire-places. In addition to the supply of atmospheric air
through the tubes in the boiler, I also, in locomotive and similar boilers, pass a
quantity of it through small tubes surrounding the fire 'box, as described in my
said before-recited Patent, and I take the air either immediately from the
atmosphere (as it will receive a portion of heat in passing through the small
tubes, owing to their being surrounded by hot water), or it may be taken from
a casing surrounding the boiler and the fire box, as described in my said
Patent, whereby it will receive a portion of heat previously to entering the said
tubes. I also perforate the fire doors with small holes to give a still further
supply of atmospheric air, which (although not heated previously to entering
the fire-place) is not in quantity so great as injuriously to lower the tempera-
ture of the mixture of the aggregate supply of air. Figures, 8, 9, and 10
represent my apparatus as applied to a tubular boiler of a locomotive steam
engine. Figure 8 is a longitudinal section of the engine taken through the
centre. Figure 9 is a transverse section, taken as shewn by dotted lines from u
to u, looking towards the safety valve; and Figure 10 is another transverse
section taken from v to v, looking towards the chimney; a and a', are the usual
pipes or tubes, a¹ being such of them as are converted into air-inlet tubes,
which may be more or less numerous and differently interspersed among the
others, as experience may show to be most efficacious; the pipes a¹ have other
pipes a¹¹ inserted into one of them, to convey atmospheric air through the smoke
or exhausting box A (by which it is partially heated) to such pipes a¹ on its
way to the fire; this air may be taken by the pipes a" immediately from the
atmosphere, as herein shewn, or after it has passed between the chimney and
a casing around it, as described in my said before-recited Patent.
all are
small tubes around the fire; to convey atmospheric air, as above mentioned,

page_text: among and above the fuel. As the draught of the atmospheric air through the
fire bars, as well as through the air tubes a¹ and a, is very slight when the
engines are stopped, and no steam from them passes up the chimney, I apply
a pipe w and a valve a to the boiler to pass a portion of steam, while the
engines are at rest, up the chimney, for the purpose of producing a draught of
air in the same way as is effected by the steam which escapes through the
exhausting pipe or pipes of the engines when they are in activity. As this part
of my improvements would cause a waste of fuel while the engines are at rest,
I make another addition to the apparatus to compensate for such waste, or
rather to render the steam generated by it available. This consists of a pipe a¹,
applied also to the boiler, to pass the steam generated by such fuel (which would
otherwise be wasted as above stated), into a system of pipes placed within the
water in the tender, thereby heating it previously to its entering into the boiler,
and thus forming a component part of my apparatus. D, Figure 11, are the
pipes. is a chamber into which their upper ends are inserted. is a similar
chamber, into which their lower ends are fixed in the same manner. 11 is
a pipe to be connected with a to pass the steam into the upper chamber b; and
is another pipe to convey away into the atmosphere, from the lower
chamber b', the water which results from the condensation of the steam. I
place another valve y, Figure 8, to the boiler, with a lever z attached to it,
which is properly weighted, so as to allow the waste steam to pass through the
pipe into the tender, instead of escaping into the atmosphere through the
safety valve, and at the same time to prevent the pressure of the steam in the
boiler from being too much lowered. The steam may, however, if required,
be passed with much greater velocity through the pipe a¹ into the tender, by
reducing the weight on the valve y, either by sliding the weight on the lever =
towards the spindle of the valve y, or by any other means. To the direct advan-
tages, videlicet, the better combustion of fuel and smoke obtained by the
operation of this part of my improvements while the engines are at rest, may
be added several other or collateral advantages, one of which is the avoiding of
the intolerable stencli produced by the decomposition of the steam on the
stoppage of the engines, owing to its finding its way into the ignited fuel in
the fire box, instead of being drawn from it up the chimney; and another
advantage is the preventing of the unpleasant noise arising from the rush of a
great quantity of high pressure steam through the safety valve into the atmo-
sphere.
•
My fifth improvement consists of a bent metallic plate B, B, B, Figures 8 and
10, which leaves a space C, C, C, between it and the sides and top of the smoke
box A; this plate is perforated with a great number of small holes, their aggre-
gate area being equal at least to the area of the chimney; but I prefer them.

page_text: to be equal to double its area, or even more, so as to give a free passage of all
gaseous matters through them into the space C, C, C, on their way from the
box A to the chimney, and at the same time to prevent the passage from the
former to the latter of any large pieces of fuel.
My sixth improvement consists in the placing of the pipes used for heating air
previously to its entrance into the front of certain fire-places, as specified in my
aforesaid Patent, not only in the chimney or in a chamber leading thereto, but
in the placing of the said pipes, or in any part of the flues of the boiler through
which the flame or heated gases circulate on their passage from the furnace to
such chimney or chamber; and this improvement extends to any other means
whatever of heating air for the combustion of smoke and gases, by its being sent
into the entrance of the fire-place to pass from the front to the back thereof
over the fire.
Having described the nature of the improvements which are the subjects of
this Patent, I will proceed to explain the extent of my claims.
First, I claim the mode of applying an apparatus, as herein-before described,
for conveying the fuel from the front to the back of furnaces or fire-places to
which it is applicable, and for raking and clearing the fire bars, and also for
levelling the fuel; and I claim the working of this apparatus by power as well
as by manual labor, by any of the well-known mechanical means of applying
such power, and of throwing the machinery in and out of gear, as required.
Second, I claim the method of retarding and regulating the consumption of
the fuel when carbonizing, or when in the state of coke, by means of bars
having slits in or projections on them, which slits, or the spaces between the
bars formed by the projections upon them, extend only parts of the lengths of
such bars, and by means of slides, which may partially or wholly close a portion
of those ends of the slits which are nearest the bridge of. the fire-place, as
herein-before described, or any other means of decreasing or regulating the
supply of atmospheric air, and the consequent consumption of fuel when in the
states of carbonization above mentioned.
Third, I claim the mode of applying to a feeding hopper a moveable plate,
capable of being lowered for allowing the scoria or fire to be taken out of the
fire-place, or for supplying the fuel in the usual way through the fire doors, or
other purpose, as herein delineated.
for any
Fourth, I claim the means of sprinkling the fuel in the fire-place with water
by the apparatus herein described.
Fifth, I claim the placing of the pipes for heating the atmospheric air (to
effect the better combustion of fuel and smoke) in any part of the flues leading
from the fire-place to the chimney, being an addition to my claim in my afore-
said Patent,.for placing such pipes in the chimney or in a chamber leading

page_text: thereto. And I further extend this claim to any other means whatever of
heating air to effect the combustion of smoke or gases by being sent into the
entrance of the fire-place to pass from the front to the back thereof over the
fire.
-
Sixth, I claim the method of applying the pipes or tubes for the admission
of air to the fires of locomotive and other similar boilers by the placing of them
within the box usually called the smoke or exhausting box," and within the
boiler, as well as around the fire box, as herein described. I also comprize in
this claim the method of applying air pipes, tubes, or flues within other, boilers,
to convey the air through them in a similar way to the furnaces or fire-places
as herein-before described.
Seventh, I claim the application of the apparatus, consisting of pipes and
valves, for the two following purposes, videlicet:-First, for the passing of steam
through the chimneys of locomotive steam engines when they are stopped, in
order to produce, when that is the case, as well as when they are in activity,
such a draught or current of air through the fire, and through the pipes or
tubes within the boiler, as is necessary to effect the requisite combustion of
fuel and smoke. Second, for the passing of steam into and through the
insides of a number of pipes, passages, or channels placed within the water
contained in the tender, to heat such water previously to its entering the boiler,
in order to prevent the waste of fuel which would otherwise take place from
the first of these two parts of my Invention, as comprized in this claim.
Eighth, I claim the surrounding of the smoke or exhausting box with a
space containing water, not shewn in these Drawings, in the same way as the
fire box is surrounded; but this claim I only make when in combination with
all or any of my methods of supplying air herein-before described for the
combustion of fuel and smoke, and when consequently forming a part of this
Invention as a whole.
Ninth, I claim the means of preventing large pieces of fuel from entering
into the chimneys of locomotive or other engines, and escaping from the tops
thereof by means of perforated metallic plates, as herein-before described. I
may here observe that I do not limit my claims herein contained to the precise
apparatus and means herein-before described and claimed by me, for many
variations therein may be made which as substantially and essentially comprize
my improvements as those herein particularly delineated.
In witness whereof, I, the said Samuel Hall, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-fifth day of June, One thousand eight hundred

page_text: AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Twenty-fifth day of June, in
the year of our Lord 1841, the aforesaid Samuel Hall, Esquire, came before
our said Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification
aforesaid, and all and everything therein contained and specified, in form
above written. And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped according
to the tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.
Inrolled the Fourteenth day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and forty-one.