IMPROVEMENTS IN FURNACES OR APPARATUS FOR THE GENERATION AND COMBUSTION OF GASEOUS FUEL FOR HEATING PURPOSES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Simon, of No. 7, St. Peter's Square, Manchester,
in the County of Lancaster, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN FURNACES
OR APPARATUS FOR THE GENERATION AND COMBUSTION OF GASEOUS FUEL FOR
HEATING PURPOSES." A communication from abroad by Carl Haupt, of
Brieg, Silesia, Prussia, in the German Empire.
Sealed the 12th December 1879, and dated the 25th June 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Simon at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 25th June 1879.
HENRY SIMON, of No. 7, St. Peter's Square, Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster. "IMPROVEMENTS IN FURNACES OR APPARATUS FOR THE GENERATION
AND COMBUSTION OF GASEOUS FUel for Heating PURPOSES." [A communication
from abroad by Carl Haupt, of Brieg, Silesia, Prussia, in the German Empire.]
This Invention relates to an improved construction of furnace or apparatus for
the production and combustion of gaseous fuel wherein the combustible gases pro-
duced by the imperfect combustion of solid fuel in a generating chamber are
immediately brought into intimate contact with a supply of heated air so as to
effect their combustion. For this purpose the gas generator is constructed as a
closed firebrick chamber, having either a flat firegrate, if large coal is used, or a
step-grate for small coal or other small fuel, beneath which a regulated quantity of
air is admitted through a pipe or passage provided with a regulating valve or
damper. The top or roof of the chamber is at such a height above the grate as to
afford a sufficiently deep layer of fuel to produce combustible gases by the imperfect
combustion thereof, with the air entering below. The fuel is introduced through
an opening in the front end, near the roof, which opening is closed hermetically by
a door, and also serves for the introduction of tools for raking the fuel to a level
surface and for breaking up the lumps if it should cake too much. In the roof or
crown of the generator are formed a number of openings leading laterally into longi-
tudinal passages, into the opposite sides of which open flues or passages for the
entrance of heated air, while at the top of the said passages are provided slits or
openings communicating with the space or chamber in which the combustion of the
gaseous fuel is to take place, such space or chamber being either situated directly

page_text: under the boiler or other object to which the heat is applied, or made to communi-
cate with a flue or passage leading thereto.
The atmospheric air for effecting the combustion of the gaseous fuel enters
through side flues into a number of pipes, by preference of iron, which lead up and
down or in a zig zag direction in close contiguity with the combustion chamber,
and open into the beforementioned longitudinal passages. Thus the air, after being
beated by its passage through the said pipes, issues into the longitudinal passages,
and meeting and becoming intimately mixed with the currents of combustible gas
passing in on the opposite side, enters into combustion therewith as the gascous
mixture issues through the before mentioned top slits or apertures into the com-
bustion chamber.
a
The pipes through which the air passes are by preference imbedded in concrete
or brickwork, and between them and the wall of the combustion passage and
chamber is provided a space filled with powdered non-combustible material whereby
any air leaking from the pipes is effectually prevented from passing into such
spaces. The longitudinal passages in which the air and gases meet are, by pre-
ference, extended to the front wall of the furnace, where they are closed by plug
or door, by opening which the passage can be inspected and a tool be introduced
for clearing out any deposit. Also, should it be desired to stop the combustion at
any time, this may be effected by introducing into the passages cylindrical plugs of
fireclay of such a size that they close the side openings through which the air and
gas enter, and also the top slits or openings leading into the combustion chamber.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Henry Simon in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 23rd December
1879.
HENRY SIMON, of No. 7, St. Peter's Square, Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster. "IMPROVEMENTS IN FURNACES OR APPARATUS FOR THE GENERATION
AND COMBUSTION OF GASEOUS FUEL FOR HEATING PURPOSES." A communication
from abroad by Carl Haupt, of Brieg, Silesia, Germany.
This Invention relates to an improved construction of furnace or apparatus for
the production and combustion of gaseous fuel wherein the combustible gases pro-
duced by the imperfect combustion of solid fuel in a generating chamber are
immediately brought into intimate contact with a supply of heated air, so as to
effect their combustion. For this purpose the gas generator is constructed as a
closed firebrick chamber, having either a flat firegrate, if large coal is used, or a
stepgrate for small coal or other small fuel, beneath which a regulated quantity of
air is admitted through a pipe or passage provided with a regulating valve or
damper, or the supply of air may be injected by means of a steam or other known
blower. The top or roof of the chamber is at such a height above the grate as to
afford a sufficiently deep layer of fuel to produce combustible gases by the imperfect
combustion thereof with the air entering below. The fuel is introduced through
an opening in the front end, near the roof, which opening is closed tightly by a
door, and also serves for the introduction of tools for raking the fuel to a level
surface, and for breaking up the lumps if it should cake too much. In the roof or
crown of the generator are formed a number of openings leading laterally into
longitudinal passages into the opposite sides of which open flues or passages for the
entrance of heated air, while at the top of the said passages are provided slits or
openings communicating with the space or chamber in which the combustion of the
gaseous fuel is to take place, such space or chamber being either situated directly
under the boiler or other object to which the heat is applied, or made to com-
municate with a fuel or passage leading thereto.
The atmospheric air for effecting the combustion of the gaseous fuel enters
through side flues into a number of pipes, by preference of iron, which lead up and
down, or in a zig-zag direction in close contiguity with the combustion chamber,
and open into the before mentioned longitudinal passages. Thus the air, after being
heated by its passage through the said pipes, issues into the longitudinal passages,
and meeting and becoming imtimately mixed with the currents of combustible gas
passing in on the opposite side, enters into combustion thero with as the gaseous
mixture issues through the before mentioned top slits or apertures into the com-
bustion chamber.
The pipes through which the air passes are, by preference, imbedded in concrete
or brickwork, and between them and the walls of the combustion passage and
chamber is provided a space filled with powdered non-combustible material whereby
any air leaking from the pipes is effectually prevented from passing into such
spaces. The longitudinal passages in which tho air and gases meet are, by
preference, extended to the front wall of the furnace, where they are closed by a
plug or door, by opening which the passage can be inspected, and a tool can be
introduced for clearing out any deposit. Also, should it be desired to stop the
combustion at any time, this may be effected by introducing into the passages
cylindrical plugs of fireclay or other suitable refractory material of such a size that
they close the side openings through which the air and gas enter, and also the top
slits or openings leading into the combustion chamber.

page_text: combustion of gaseous fuel; Fig. 2 is a transverse section on the line X. X ; and Fig. 3
is a sectional plan on the line Y, Y, of Fig. 1; Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are similar views
shewing the apparatus applied to a double flued boiler; and Figs. 7, 8, and 9 are
similar views showing its application to a form of elepbant boiler. In all these
Figures similar parts are indicated by similar reference letters. The generator G
has a firegrate (of ordinary kind, as shewn in Figs. 1 and 4, or of stepped kind, as
shewn in Fig. 7, or it might be partly of both kinds) under which is admitted a
limited supply of air so as to generate inflammable gases by the imperfect com-
bustion of the fuel. An opening C, for feeding and raking the fuel, may be fitted,
as shewn in Figs. 1 and 4, for a door to close tightly, or it may be a plain opening,
as in Fig. 7, to be closed by a mass of fuel when small coal or dust is used.
the crown of the generator are apertures H, leading into passages covered by
slabs P, between which are openings in the form of slits o for the ascent of thin
layers of the mixed gas and air into the boiler flues. The air admitted in
regulated quantity to horizontal flues a flows through a number of bent pipes b,
arranged in the side walls as above mentioned to the passages under the slabs p,
thus becoming heated before it mingles with the combustible gas, so as to produco
flame as the mixed gases ascend through the slits o. The slits can be more or less
closed by introducing from openings f, at the front of the boiler, round bars or pipes
made of fireclay or other refractory material.
In
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent, I
claim in respect of apparatus for the generation and combustion of gaseous fuel,-
First. The construction and arrangement of the gas generator with apertures H
in its crown leading to passages in which the gases are mingled with heated air
so as to enter into combustion therewith, as herein described with reference to the
accompanying Drawings.
Second. In combination with the gas generator and apertures referred to in the
preceding claim the slits o through which the mixture of gas and air rises in
thin sheets of flame, as herein described with reference to the accompanying
Drawings.
Third. The construction and arrangement of the flues & and pipes b for supplying
heated air to mingle with the combustible gases, as herein described with reference
to the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Simon, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twentieth day of December, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.
HENRY SIMON. (L.S.)