Improved Apparatus for Purifying and Heating Air.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Nov., 1893
Comolete Specification Left, 28th Aug., 1894-Accepted, 20th Oct., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Apparatus for Purifying and Heating Air.
CHARLES HENRY ROSHER of 39 Victoria Street S. W. in the County of London,
Civil Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to an improved construction and arrangement of apparatus
for supplying pure dry air, heated to a suitable temperature, to the hot rooms of
Turkish baths, drying closets in laundries and rooms or chambers for drying or
dessicating processes of all kinds; and is also applicable to the warming and
ventilation of theatres, halls or other buildings.
In order to carry out my invention I employ a furnace chamber (preferably
constructed of fire clay material) the external surfaces of which are exposed as far
as practicable within an outer chamber or casing, through which air is made to pass
in contact with the heated surfaces of the furnace chamber.
In cases where necessary, the air before entering the heating chamber, is caused
to pass through a vessel or box containing suitable filtering material for the
removal of dust or other impurities and also as far as possible to remove moisture.
This air filter is so arranged that the filtering medium can be readily removed or
renewed and it may consist of a series of cloths of flannel, cotton wool or other
fabric arranged in interchangeable frames, so that as the outer ones become fouled
and unfit for further use they may be removed in rotation and fresh ones inserted.
The volume of air admitted is regulated by dampers or other devices in
connection with the inlets to or delivery from the heating chamber. The air,
filtered or otherwise, is preferably introduced to the heating chamber, through
several slots or orifices so as to obtain thorough distribution of it over the heating
surfaces.
I arrange the grate of the furnace on a trolley or slide worked on suitable trams
or guides, and provided with firebars and a furnace front and door so arranged as
to form a joint with the front of the furnace chamber, when the latter is in use-
when the trolley or slide is drawn out, the interior of the furnace is accessible for
cleaning purposes or repairs.
In some cases I employ a similar trolley or slide provided in lieu of fire-bars
with a platform upon which are placed fire containers or buckets provided with air
inlets for slow combustion.
When the fuel has been consumed the trolley sliding platform is drawn out and
the fire containers or buckets are replaced with others or recharged with fuel, in
which case, the furnace front would be closed to retain the heat during the recharging
of the containers.
Dated this 28th day of November 1893.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Apparatus for Purifying and Heating Air.
I, CHARLES HENRY ROSHER of 39 Victoria Street S. W., in the County of
London, Civil Engineer, 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:-
My invention relates to an improved construction and arrangement of apparatus

page_text: for supplying pure dry air, heated to a suitable temperature, to the hot rooms of
Turkish baths, drying closets in laundries and rooms or chambers for drying or
desiccating processes of all kinds, and is also applicable to the warming and
ventilation of theatres halls or other buildings.
In order to carry out my invention I employ a furnace chamber (preferably
constructed of fire clay material) the external surfaces of which are exposed as
far as practicable within an outer chamber or casing, through which air is made to
pass in contact with the heated snrfaces of the furnace chamber.
In cases where necessary, the air before entering the heating chamber, is caused
to pass through a vessel or box containing suitable filtering material for the
removal of dust or other impurities and also as far as possible to remove moisture.
This air filter is so arranged that the filtering medium can be readily removed or
renewed and it may consist of a series of cloths of flannel cottonwool or other
fabric arranged in interchangeable frames, so that as the outer ones become fouled
and unfit for further use they may be removed in rotation and fresh ones inserted.
The volume of air admitted is regulated by dampers or other devices in connection
with the inlets to or delivery from the heating chamber.
The air, filtered or otherwise, is preferably introduced to the heating chamber
through several slots or orifices so as to obtain thorough distribution of it over the
heating surfaces.
I arrange the grate of the furnace on a trolley or slide worked on suitable trains
or guides, and provided with firebars and a furnace front and door so arranged as
to form a joint with the front of the furnace-chamber, when the latter is in use.
When the trolley or slide is drawn out, the interior of the furnace is accessible for
cleaning purposes or repairs.
In some cases I employ a similar trolley or slide provided in lieu of fire-bars with
a platform upon which are placed fire-containers or buckets provided with air
inlets for slow combustion.
When the fuel has been consumed the trolley or sliding platform is drawn out
and the fire containers or buckets are replaced with others or recharged with fuel,
in which case, the furnace front would be closed to retain the heat during the
recharging of the containers.
In order that my invention may be more readily understood I append herewith a
sheet of drawings in which
Figure 1 is a sectional plan of the furnace fitted with ordinary fire grate and
surrounded by an outer chamber.
Figure 2 is a cross section on line A, B Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a longitudinal section on line C, D Figure 1, which has a modification
showing my alternative arrangement of furnace with removable fire buckets.
Figure 4 is a vertical section of air filter.
Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 3 a is the furnace the fire bars and frame of which
are made in one piece with or attached to the front. The front a¹ is provided with
a door a² for firing and inspection, the frame of the furnace being carried by
wheels a mounted in bearings at so that the whole may be withdrawn bodily from
the furnace chamber when required.
The furnace chamber is formed by a wall of firebrick b closed with an arch b
and provided with an outlet for the products of combustion 6' communicating with
a chimney or flue 63. Surrounding this furnace is an outer chamber enclosed by
walls and ceiling c which is provided with vertical divisions c¹ and horizontal
perforated plates c'. Access is obtained to the intermediate space above the furnace
for repair or other purpose by means of a manhole or luted door co. The cold air
supply is admitted to this outer chamber by openings c³ preferably at or below the
floor level. The air after being heated by contact with the furnace and division
walls and plates, passes away through openings e¹ communicating with flues (not
shown) by which it can be conducted to any desired point.
The modified arrangement of furnace shewn in Figure 3 is constructed as follows:
A metal platform provided with a furnace front and door is mounted upon wheels

page_text: similar to those described with reference to Figures 1 and 2. Upon this platform
I place one or more fire-buckets a provision being made in the bottom of the
buckets and also in the platform at a' for the air supply for combustion. These
fire buckets are filled with suitable fuel and lighted from the top, and when
exhausted the platform is withdrawn from the furnace chamber and other buckets
with a fresh supply of fuel are put in their place.
Suitable dampers are placed at various points in the apparatus to regulate the
supply of air both for the furnace and for the heating chamber.
The air-filter as shewn in Figure 4 is of the following construction:-A chamber a
of suitable dimensions is provided with inlet and outlet orifices a' and a² for the
admission and exit of the air to be filtered before it passes to the heating chamber.
In the chamber a are placed a series of frames as to which the filtering material a
is attached. These frames are placed loosely in the chamber, the top of which is
provided with a cover a³. Upon removal of the cover a access is obtained to the
chamber and the frames with filtering material can then be withdrawn after use and
others with a new filtering surface inserted.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
1. In an apparatus for heating air the construction of a furnace with removable
fire grate and fire buckets substantially as described.
2. In an apparatus for heating air, the construction of a fire brick furnace
enclosed within an outer chamber the intervening space having vertical and
horizontal divisions of fire brick for the purpose of heating the air in its passage
through the apparatus and serving also as a support to the structure of the furnace.
3. In an apparatus for heating air the combination therewith of an air filter
constructed substantially as specified and for the purpose herein described.
Dated this 28th day of August 1894.
CHARLES H. ROSHER.