Improvements in Furnaces for Burning Tan and other Refuse Material.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Jan., 1890
Complete Specification Left. 22nd Oct., 1890-Accepted, 22nd Nov., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Furnaces for Burning Tan and other Refuse
Material.
I CHARLES ARMITAGE BROWN, Engineer, of 2 Regent's Park, Exeter in the County
of Devon, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an improved construction of furnace for burning tan and
similar waste products, such, for example, as trash, the refuse of the sugar cane.
In order to burn such materials efficiently, it is found desirable to supply the same
continuously to the furnace, and in regulated quantity.
To this end I build the furnace of any approved construction, with vertical pockets
or chambers in the side walls, for the reception of the tannin refuse which is to be
burned on the furnace bars. These pockets or chambers have a horizontal opening at
bottom, of a width about equal to the length of the fire bars, and situate a few inches
above their level. The pockets are made with parallel sides, which are continued
vertically downwards to within say a foot of the fire bar level, where the pocket takes
a curve that terminates at the horizontal opening above mentioned. In these pockets,
the tan or other combustible material is packed, and a lid, preferably weighted, which is
intended to press like a piston upon the tan, closes the top of each pocket. The fire
is lit in the usual manner in the furnace, and the tan exposed to its heat in the pockets
is gradually consumed, giving place to a fresh supply, which is pressed downwards
towards the fire bars by the constant pressure of the covers.
Side access is gained to the pockets through flues which open to the front of the
furnace and are closed by doors. These flues permit of the insertion of a rabble to
break up the tan, should it be found to cake and clog, and provide for its downward
flow under the pressure of the covers.
By this arrangement of furnace, it will be understood that a constant supply of
combustible material may be delivered to the furnace in a manner which will ensure
the maintenance of a uniform combustion of fuel.
It may be remarked that the invention admits of two or more furnaces being
arranged side by side. In such case, the pockets formed in the inner walls may
discharge into two adjacent furnaces, the capacity of the pockets for the reception of
fuel being for this purpose correspondingly increased.
Dated this 22nd day of January 1890.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Furnaces for Burning Tan and other Refuse
Material.
I (HARLES ARMITAGE BROWN, Engineer, of 2 Regent's Park, Exeter, in the County
of Devon, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
This invention relates to an improved construction of furnace for burning spent tan
and similar waste products, such, for example, as trash, the refuse of the sugar cane.
In order to burn such materials efficiently, it is found desirable to supply the same
continuously to the furnace, and in regulated quantity.
To this end, I build the furnace of any approved construction, with vertical pockets
or chambers in the side walls for the reception of the tannin or other fibrous refuse
which is to be burned on the furnace bars. These pockets or chambers have a

page_text: horizontal opening at bottom, of a width about equal to the length of the fire bars, and
situate a few inches above their level. The pockets are made with parallel sides, which
are continued vertically downwards to within, say, a foot of the fire bar level,
where the pocket takes a curve that terminates at the horizontal opening above
mentioned. In these pockets, the tan or other combustible material is packed, and a
lid, preferably weighted, which is intended to press like a piston upon the tan, closes
the top of each pocket.
In the accompanying drawing,
Fig. 1 shews in plan, or top view, my improved furnace for burning spent tan and
other fibrous material.
Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of the same, taken on the line 1. 2 of
Fig. 1 ; and
Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken on the line 3. 4 of Fig. 1.
A A are the walls of a rectangular brick furnace. B is the furnace bed ; C the roof
of the furnace; and D D are the pockets for the reception of the fibrous fuel to be
consumed. These pockets consist of broad flattened tubes of cast iron, open at top
and bottom, and they are embedded in the side walls, to protect them from the heat
of the furnace. These pockets discharge into the combustion chamber through a
curved broad mouthed passage formed in the side walls. E E are covers which fit
easily the pockets, and put a continuous pressure upon the fuel contained therein,
so as to ensure an equable discharge of fuel onto the fire bars. F F are rabble
holes made in the front of the furnace, and leading to corresponding end openings in
the pockets. These rabble holes are closed by doors, and they permit of the insertion
of a rabble to break up the fuel, should it be found to cake or clog, and thereby
provide for its downward flow under the pressure of the covers.
The fire is lit in the usual manner in the furnace, and the spent tan or equivalent
material exposed to its heat in the pockets is dried before its discharge onto the fire
bars to be consumed. The gradual discharge of the dried fuel gives place to a fresh
supply, which is forced down towards the fire bars by the pressure of the covers E.
This arrangement of furnace, it will be understood, provides for a constant supply
of combustible material to the combustion chambers, in a manner which will ensure a
steady combustion of fuel, and the maintenance of a practical uniform generation
of heat.
It may be remarked that the invention admits of two or more furnaces being
arranged side by side. In such case, the pockets formed in the inner walls may
discharge into the combustion chambers of two adjacent furnaces, the capacity of the
pockets for the reception of fuel being for this purpose correspondingly increased.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
The means above described with reference to the drawing, for ensuring a continuous
flow, into the combustion chambers of tan and other refuse burning furnaces, of the
fuel supplied thereto, as and for the purpose above set forth.
Dated this 22nd day of October 1890.
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.