CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN FURNACES, STOVES, GRATES, AND FIRE- PLACES, AND IN KILNS AND OTHER APPARATUS FOR PREPARING VEGETABLE AND OTHER SUBSTANCES, AND THE GENERATION AND APPLICATION OF HEAT
Year: 1848

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
COLLINS, of Leominster, in the County of Hereford, Architect, send greeting..
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at
Westminster, the Twenty-seventh day of January, in the eleventh year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said John Collins, my exors, admors, and assigns, Her especial license, full
power, sole privilege and authority, that I, the said John Collins, my exors,
adiñors, and assigns, and such others as I, the said John Collins, my exors,
adiñňors, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to
time and at all times during the term of years therein mentioned, should and
lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend; within England, Wales, and the
Town of Berwick upon Tweed, and in all Her Majesty's Colonies and Plantations
abroad, and in the Islands of Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, Sark, and Man, my
Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN FURNACES, STOVES, GRATES, AND FIRE-
PLACES, AND IN KILNS AND OTHER APPARATUS FOR PREPARING VEGETABLE AND OTHER
SUBSTANCES, AND THE GENERATION AND APPLICATION OF HEAT;" in which Letters
Patent is contained a proviso obliging me, the said John Collins, by an instru-
ment in writing under my hand and seal, particularly to describe and ascertain
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, and to cause the same to be enrolled in Her Majesty's High Court

page_text: of Chancery within six calendar months next and immediately alter the date or
the said in part recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same, reference being
thereunto had, will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said John
Collins, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention, and the manner
in which the same is to be performed, are fully described and ascertained in and
by the following statement thereof, reference being had unto the two Sheets of
Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon
(that is to say)-
.
My Invention relates generally to means of producing a more perfect ignition
of the gases and carbonaceous particles evolved during combustion, and a better
distribution and absorption of heat, together with apparatus connected therewith,
and which consists of and may be divided into the following particulars :-.
The first part relates to improvements in the construction of furnaces and
flues applicable to the heating of steam boilers and to other similar purposes.
Secondly, to improvements in the construction of stoves, grates, and other
fire-places for the generation of heat, and the method of absorbing and applying
the same.
Thirdly, to improvements in the flues of stoves and fire-places for the preven-
tion of what is known as down or back smoke.
Fourthly, to improvements in the heating of kilns and other similar chambers
for drying or desiccuting vegetable and other substances, together with apparatus
for regulating the temperature thereof, which is also applicable for the regulation
of heat in other chambers or buildings.
Fifthly, to improvements in apparatus for the separation of vegetable substances
in preparation for and between the process of drying or desiccating.
Sixthly, to the depriving or freeing gases or air of moisture before being
used in kilns or drying chambers.
With regard to the first part of my Invention and the means I adopt to effect
the perfect ignition of the gases in furnaces :-
I do this by causing them in their passage from the furnace to be supplied
with hot or cold air, which together pass through and over perforated diaphragms
placed immediately behind the bridge of the furnace or other point at which
the air may be admitted, by which means the products of combustion and the
air are deflected, thereby causing them to commingle or combine intimately
with each other, the result of which commingling is that the whole of the
hydrogen and carbonic oxide and carbonaceous particles are consumed in their
passage through the flus, therefore preventing the escape of any opake smoke
to the chimney.

page_text: In distributing the heat generated by combustion 1 also employ a system of
deflectors, placed in the furnace or flues, and so formed as to cause the hot gases
and flame to pass between the deflectors and the object to be heated, confining
it to as small a space as will be requisité for the purposes of.draught, and at the
same time in contact with as much heating surface as may be desirable, and
which will be readily understood by reference to the annexed Sheets of Drawing,
where these improvements are shewn as applied for the purpose of generating
steam in the ordinary steam-engine boiler.
Figure 1 represents a longitudinal vertical section of an internal flue boiler
having the furnace and flues constructed and arranged according to this Inven-
tion. Figure 1 is represented as taken through the line A, B, of Figure 2,
which is a transverse section of the same taken through the line A', B¹, Figure 1,
shewing the front elevation of the bridge and one perforated diaphragın. Figure 3
is a transverse section on the line C, D, Figure 1, shewing a deflector in
elevation. Figure 4 is a transverse section of the boiler through the line E, F,
Figure 1, shewing one of the coils 9. Figure 5 is a transverse section of the
boiler taken through the line G, H, Figure 1, and shews a front clevation of
the part e of the compound bridge e, d. The same letters of reference represent
the parts where they recur throughout these Figures. a is the fuel chamber or
furnace as usually constructed; b, the, fire bars; c, open ash pit; d, the front
part of the compound bridge e, d; e, the back part thereof, which is hollowed
out in order to allow of an uniform supply of air at the upper part and ends of
the bridge e, d, from the chamber m. f is a channel or tube for the purpose of
conveying air from the ash pit or other convenient situation to the tubes P, P,
one only being seen at Figure 1, but their position will be readily understood
by reference to Figure 4. 9, 9, 9, 9, are tubes formed so as to present a large
amount of surface to the action of the heat in the flues or furnace, and are
connected to the horizontal pipes P, P, which are of sufficient area to supply
the whole of the coils, one of which tubes P being in connection with the
channel for other source from whenco the supply of fresh air is drawn. This
channelf opens into a chamber connected with one of the pipes P; the air
entering by reason of the partial vacuum in the chimney is carried over the
coils 9,9, 9,9; descending to the other tube P, is conveyed thence, as indicated
by the arrows, to the chamber m, from which it escapes through the bridge
d, e, into the furnace or flues. In the transverse section, Figure 4, the coils g, g,
are represented as portions of circles or nearly so, and of such dimensions as to
leave a space between them and the boiler, which space, together with the opening z
in the centre, is as nearly as may be of equal area with the space above the
bridge e, d, for the passage of the hot gases from the furnace. By thus con-

page_text: trolling the gases the heat and flame becomes distributed over a large..amount
of flue surface of the boiler. These coils 9, 9, 9, 9, may be made of metal,
fire clay, or other suitable material, the form and number being varied to suit
each particular case. Deflectors h, h, are placed in the internal tube or flue of
the boiler, which deflectors may be of brick, fire clay, metal, or other suitable
material, and may be either solid or hollow, and placed at any part of the flues,
but by preference as represented in the Drawing. When constructed hollow
they are intended for heating and distributing air, or may contain water in order
to generate steam, in which last case I form a communication between the upper
part of the deflector h and the upper part of the flue, forming a water channel
to the upper part of the boiler, as shewn in dotted lines at q, Figures 1 and 3.
These deflectors, when filled with water, I prefer that the lower part should be
open its entire width to the bottom of the boiler, in order to prevent any deposit
taking place within such deflectors.
When these deflectors h, h, are used for heating and, distributing air, I makė
them hollow, with an open slit, as shewn at 8, 'Figure 1, to allow of a sufficient
escape of the heated air to pass out into the flues or furnace, the supply of air
being admitted by any suitable channel, such as the continuation of findicated
by the dotted line, Figure 1.
קי.
I, I, I, are semicircular perforated diaphragms of metal, fire stone, or other
suitable material. These diaphragms, if of metal, it will be necessary that they
should be hollow, and subject to an..internal circulation of air or water. They
havo also perforations for the passage of the air and gases, which I prefer, to be
circular, of about two and three quarter inches in diameter as a maximum, but
smaller when the furnace is, less than thirty inches wide. The position of these
openings in the three diaphragms I, I, I, represented,, are such and so varied
with regard to each other as to deflect and mix or commingle the products of
combustion and air admitted at the bridge or otherwise, and passing over and
through them, thereby causing such products to be thoroughly ignited and
consumed.
1
- A space
is left between the diaphragms I, I, I, and the boiler of a semi-
annular or crescent form, in order to allow part of the products of combustion
to pass in contact with the boiler, in order the more readily to impart heat
thereto. One of these semi-annular openings, together, with the perforations
through one of the diaphragms, I form so that the area therein shall as nearly
as convenient correspond with the area of the passage over the bridge.
When I make these perforated diaphragms hollow it is for. the holding of
water to generate steam or for heating air instead of the coils g, g, g, g, In the
first case the channels or passages.for the circulation.of water are the same as

page_text: similar manner, in which
described with reference to deflectors h, and for air in a
the bridge d, e, is supplied from the chamber m, the air being allowed to escape
in a thin film around the edges of the diaphragms...
It will be observed throughout this description that the principal object is to
deflect the products of combustion and atmospheric air admitted, so as to cause
them to mix intimately together, and, moreover, that these deflectors in all cases
are formed so as to confine or control the passage of the heat and flame through
the flues, and cause such heat and flame to be deflected, and thereby to impinge
on or pass in contact with the boiler plate; and consequently to impart heat
thereto much more rapidly than if, as usual, allowed to take an uninterrupted
course-through the flues to the chimney.
:
Figure 6 represents, a transverse section of a common cylinder boiler, having
the furnace, fitted and constructed according to this Invention, in which it will
be seen that the diaphragm I and bridge d follow the curvature of the boiler,
which is also observed in the several other deflectors employed in conjunction
with the admission of air, the purpose and effect of which being precisely similar
to that already explained with respect to the internal flue boiler it will be
unnecessary to repent."
. Instead of these diaphragms I, I, I, various other deflectors may be used for
the purpose of causing the air and gases to commingle, such, for instance, as a
series of vertical projections erected in a similar situation behind the bridge, or
so placed across the flue or furnace and behind each other as to render the
passage of the products of combustion tortuous by deflection from one projec-
tion to another, thereby subdividing the streams of carbonaceous matter and
atmospheric air, so as to cause them to commingle or mix intimately together
for the purposes before mentioned.
In either case I prefer that a clear space should be left between the boiler and
the deflectors, such as is represented above the diaphragms I, I, I, in order to
produce a shell or sheet of flame, which shall play directly on the heating surfaco
of the boiler, the flame being maintained by the commingling of the air and
gases until the whole of the carbonaceous part of the product be consumed.
I will now proceed to describe the second part of my Invention, which relates
to improvements in the construction of stoves, grates, and other fire-places for
the generation of heat, and the method of absorbing and applying the same.
It consists, first, in making the bottoms of the fuel chambers of stoves and
grates of a slow conducting material, such as fire clay or tile, with slits or
perforations instead of the usual metal gratings, and in making the front part
of the grate, or fire-place of fire clay or other similar material instead of bars,
as usual.

page_text: The second improvement consists in making the back parts of stoves at and
above the fuel chambers of thick masses of similar materials, and placing them
in an inclined position from the top of the fuel chamber upwards, and so as to
lean forward or over the fire or fuel chamber; also in the construction of passages
or channels with deflectors in such backs, so that air may be warmed by passing
through or over them; also in making projections or deflectors, either hollow
or solid, on the exterior of a water box for a similar purpose, such deflectors
being subject to division by means of stages or partitions placed at different
heights on such water box; also in causing hot air to be supplied to the fuel
through the ash pit, and in front of the fire-place, by making a channel from the
back of the fuel chamber, passing by a channel at the sides (or otherwise), to a
chamber in the front, where it issues from perforations immediately in front of
the bars or fire clay substitute, through which it has access to the fire; also
in placing valves for the regulation and admission of air to be heated, either
from an apartment to be heated, or from an external source, the whole of which
will be readily understood by reference to the annexed Drawings.
Figure 7 represents an elevation of a stove or grate constructed according to
this Invention; Figure 8, a plan of the same through the line A, A, Figure 7;
and Figure 9, a vertical section through the line A, B, Figure 8. a, represents
the casing of the grate; b, the fuel chamber and bottom; c, the fire clay back;
d, the induction air channel, communicating with external air source and
regulated by the valve v; e, e, the induction air passages from the chamber to
be heated, which may be closed by means of the valves v', v. An air channel m
is formed at the back part of the fuel chamber, which is only separated by a
thickness of metal from the fuel chamber in order to impart a greater degree
of heat to the air passing through the channel m, which is for the supply of the
fuel during combustion. By reference to the section, Figure 9, it will be seen
by the direction of the arrows that the air, after circulating through the
louble channel m, is conveyed thence by a continuation of the passage m
shewn in dotted lines, to the ash pit 7, which is otherwise closed.
Air
is also admitted by the channel f, which is a cold air passage, to the pas-
sage g, where it is heated and carried round to the front, escaping by the
slits g', thereby supplying warm air for combustion through the fire clay front
or bars. The supply of air admitted by these channels is regulated by
the valve n, the spindle of which projects through the front of the stove for
that purpose.
In order to remove the ashes from under the grate the ash pit q is made in
the form of a drawer, but which should be accurately fitted to prevent the ingress

page_text: The
So far the air heated has simply been for the purposes of combustion.
air heated for the purpose of warming a chamber may either be admitted from
some external source into the channel d, or when ventilation is not required, by
the openings e, e, from such chamber; the air so admitted passes along the sides
of a hot water box H, which in its height is divided into several passages I, I, I,
by stages or partitions k, k, k, causing it to traverse from one end of the box to
the other, during which passage it is brought into contact with projections or
deflectors P, P, P, its course being. such as to cause it. to impinge directly on
the several deflectors, thereby absorbing a great amount of heat; the air so
heated is confined at the upper part by the fire clay top S, and may be conveyed
to any part of the room, where it may be desired to admit it for the purposes of
warming and ventilation. Where it is only necessary to maintain the circulation
for the purpose of warming alone the valve v should be closed, and v³, v¹, opened.
Instead of the deflectors P, P, of the water box being hollow, solid projec-
tions will answer a similar purpose, provided that they be so situated as to deflect
the air from one to the other during its course through the passages.
The fire-clay back c, it will be observed, is placed at an angle, so as to incline
forwards or over the fire, for the purpose of reflecting and radiating the heat
downwards and outwards, but in order to obtain a still further downward
reflection and radiation the front part thereof is serrated so as to present a
series of surfaces still further inclined from the perpendicular.
Instead of employing a water box for absorbing the heat to be imparted to
the air by the deflectors, the fire clay back may be constructed to answer the
purpose. Figure 10 represents a horizontal section of a fire clay stove or grate
back through d, d, Figure 11, which is a back elevation of the same, in which
it will be seen that the air passages are so formed as to cause the air to pursue
a sinuous course, whereby it impinges on or comes in contact with the heating
surface the more readily to absorb the heat therefrom. The deflectors R, R,
may either form separate channels, or may constitute a number of separate
obstructions in the same channel, as represented at R', R'. The regulation
and admission of air is conducted in every respect as in the stove previously
described. Instead of the regular serrations shown at c, the face of the back
may be forined in various other ways, as represented at, Figures 12, 13, and 14,
for the purpose of producing the reflection and radiation of heat in the required
direction.
The third part of my Invention relates to an apparatus for the prevention of
back or down smoke, which consists in the application of an internal tube and
deflector in the chimney of such fire-place; this apparatus is represented in
connection with Figure 9, and in section at Figure 15. a¹ represents the tube,

page_text: which has hinged joints at c, c', for the purpose of readily introducing it into
the chimney without disturbing the fire-place. d'is a diaphragm, on which the
tube a¹ rests, an opening being cut therein to correspond with the diameter of
the tube a¹; the passage for the smoke is therefore confined to the tube, from
which it issues at the top, under the deflector 6', and thence up the chimney.
The deflector 6', although represented conical, is not necessarily so, as it may
be considerably varied, an inverted convex surface answering the purpose; but
in all cases the horizontal area should exceed the area of the tube. In the
event of any back or down draught taking place, the smoke issuing from the
tube, instead of returning, is carried down the space on the outside of the tube a¹;
the down draught producing a slight compression therein acts immediately as
a spring, causing the smoke to ascend the chimney.
:
I will now describe the fourth part of my Invention, which relates to the
heating of kilns or drying chambers, and apparatus for regulating the tempe-
rature thereof. Figure 18 represents a sectional plan of a kiln taken at S, S,
Figure 19, constructed according to this Invention, and in which the products
of combustion, together with the heated air, are admitted below the floor
of the kiln. Figure 19 represents a vertical section taken through the
line D, D. Figure 20, a transverse vertical section through G, G, Figure 19.
Figure 21, a vertical section through H, H, and Figure 22 a plan at A¹; A¹,
in the same Figure. A, A, represents the hot air chamber below the drying
floor; B, the furnace; d, d, the flues, in which are placed the deflectors C, C.
e, e, are the air channels, of any convenient form, and which have communica-
tion with the atmosphere by drains or passages f, f. 9, 9, are tubes through
which the air enters from the channels f, f, the centre tube, being furnished
with deflectors made of discs of sheet iron or other material, supported at
various distances by a wire suspended by a cross bar at the top, causing
the air to impinge against the sides of the tube g¹. The air on issuing
from these tubes, and also from the other channels, is still further deflected
and caused to commingle with and become heated by the hot gases by
contact with the deflectors or lattice work C, C, in the trunk a, a, and
behind the bridge, as seen in plan at Figures 18 and 22. The furnace and
other parts of the kiln which are in use in ordinary will not require further
explanation.
Figures 23, 24, and 25 represent a plan for heating the air for warming
kilns or drying chambers, when such air is kept apart from the products of
combustion, and in which the air is heated by passing through tubes placed
vertical or otherwise, the space on the outside of such tubes being subdivided
into what I term "stages." Figure 23 is a plan taken through B, B, of

page_text: Figure 24; which is a vertical section of this apparatus taken through B, B, in
Figure 23; and Figure 25, a transverse section through A, A, in Figure 23.
a, a, represent the outside walls of the flues; b, b, the partitions for dividing
the flues into separate stages in order to abstract the greatest possible amount
of heat from the products of combustion which pass through the flues' d, d, d,
these being deflected against the tubes g, g, g, by 'the deflectors q, q, q;
internal deflectors are also placed within the tubes g, g; g, formed of discs C, C;
of metal or other material, suspended on wires as before explained; for the
purpose of deflecting the air passing through the tube, which is supplied from
channels f, f.
P
The central wall z of this heating chamber is represented as being composed
of fire clay or other suitable substance, and having air channels 9', g',.in the
centre for the passage of air, subject to deflection by the cross bars k, k.
'The whole of these air passages open into a chamber Y at the top, for the
purpose of equalizing the temperature of the air so passed, and previous to its
application for the purposes of desiccating, in which it is regulated by the damper
and disperser H. Instead of the disc deflectors c, c, 'the tube g, g, may have
a core formed in the centre, and forming part or attached to the tube, as at 'P, P..
Figure 26 represents a horizontal section of another of my heating apparatus,
taken through A, A, Figure 27, which is a vertical section through A, A,
Figure 26. Figure 28 is a transverse vortical section through B, B, Figure 26;
and Figure 29 is a transverse vertical section through C, C, Figure. 27.
a, a, represent the outside walls of the heating chamber, the air passages in
this instance being formed between the wall a, a, and plates of metal i, i; which
have suitable projections b, b, cast or otherwise, formed thereon for the purpose
of deflecting and heating the air in the channels f, f; deflectors b, b, are also
formed on the out or flue side of i, i; in order to deflect and abstract the heat
from the gases passing through the flues: The central air heater t, t, is formed
solely of metal, and furnished with deflectors as represented.
A series of deflectors is placed over the furnace, these radiating and impart-
ing by contact heat to the air passing through the channel, thence to the
vertical passages, from which it is collected and conveyed to the drying chamber
or kiln. It will be observed that the flues d, d, are also divided into stages by
partitions 9, 9, as before.explained, for the purpose of abstracting the greatest
possible amount of heat from the gases. In this case, as also in the last, the
vertical metal air channels are formed in separate pieces between the par-
titions 9, 9, which are of a bad conducting material, thereby preventing the
heat of the lower part being conveyed to the top, which would take place were
the metal continued 'throughout.
.:

page_text: Instead of the air tubes or channels being in separate pieces between
the stages, they may be in one continuous length, having the external
passages divided as described, but preference is given to the first-described
mode.
I will now proceed to describe the apparatus I employ to regulate the
temperature of kilns or drying rooms, which is also applicable to the regulation
of temperature of other buildings or chambers. Figure 30 represents an
elevation of this apparatus, and Figure 31. a plan of the same; it consists of
two bulbs or vessels A and B, of glass or other suitable material; the bulb A
has but one opening, and that at its lower part, while the vessel B is furnished
with an orifice at its upper part also, and represented by a short stem g, turned
over to prevent dust entering; this bulb B has also an opening at the bottom,
these lower openings. being connected by a close tube H in such a way as to
allow the passage of liquid from one bulb to the other. C is a centre or axis
fixed to the tube H, and supported by a bracket I; a rod D connects the tube
Hand the valve E placed in the main air channel, which is represented as
being closed.. F is a weight placed on one arm of the tube, and so fitted. that
it can. be readily shifted to various distances from the axis C, in order to
balance the bulbs A and B. The red lines indicate the position of the several
parts when the valve E is open for the passage of air, and when in the position
indicated by the black lines the valve E will cross the air passage, and couse-
quently close it. The bulbs A and B are partially. filled with a fluid, which, if
volatile, such as water, I introduce a film of oil on the surface where the
external air is allowed to act, thereby preventing evaporation; this is repre-
sented by the yellow colour in B; the fluid in these two bulbs A and B has a
free communication from the one to the other by the connecting stem II. The
whole of this apparatus is placed within the kiln or heated chamber (the rod D
leading to the valvė E in the air passage), and while the chamber is at a
proper temperature. the nut F is adjusted by means of the screwed stem at a
point distant from the centre of oscillation, so that the valve will be closed
when the bulbes are in equilibrium; any further increase in the temperature
will expand the air contained in the bulb A, forcing the water or other fluid
through the stem H into the other bulb B, the increased gravity of which, from
the influx of the fluid, will cause it to preponderate, thereby opening the valve
E by the depression of the rod D, and admitting a supply of cold air to the kiln
or chamber in which the apparatus is placed; consequently the temperature
will be immediately reduced, the effect of which will condense the air in the
bulb A, when the pressure of the external atmosphere, which again enters by
the tube 9, on the surface of the liquid in the bulb B, forcing it back into the

page_text: bulb A, thereby regaining its original equilibrium, and consequently closing
the valve E, preventing any further influx of cold air.
It will also be readily understood that this apparatus may be easily varied
for the admission of warm air for heating the kiln or chamber by simply
changing the position of the crank on the end of the valve axis, and with
which the rod D is in connection. It may also be adapted. for the continual
admission of hot or cold air, by adjusting the apparatus in equilibrium, while
the valve E is half open, any sensible variation in the temperature of the
chamber causing an influx of the fluil from A to B, or from B to A, either
opening the valve still further or partially closing the passage, so as to increase
or reduce the quantity of warm or cold air admitted thereby. I sometimes
use an apparatus of this description for similar purposes, but in which both
bulbs are closed from the external atmosphere, in which case one of the bulbs
only is submitted to the action of the heated chamber, the other being in a
different, and as near as possible unchanging temperature. In this apparatus
the variation of temperature will produce the expansion or contraction of the
air in the bulb submitted to its action, and eonsequently a corresponding com-
pression in the opposite bulb, into which a portion of the fluid will be expelled,
causing it to preponderate, thus opening or closing the valve E for the admis-
sion of warm or cold air, as before explained.
This apparatus may be adapted for the regulation of temperature of a kiln
or other chamber by controuling the admission of warm or cold air, or for the
admission of air to furnaces, &c., where the temperature ranges below six hun-
dred degrees Fahrenheit; but above that temperature I prefer the use of a
pyrometer wire, as represented in Figure 19, where the expansion and con-
traction is employed to give motion to a bell crank lever, the long end of which
is connected with the spindle of a valve W, which it actuates, as may be
required for the admission or exclusion of cold air.
The fifth part of my Invention relates to an apparatus represented.at
Figure 32, for separating the several parts of hops in preparation for and sub-
sequent to the process of drying or desiccating. It is as follows:-A represents
a hopper, into which the hops are placed after having been dried in the kiln ;
B, B, a box forming the body of the machine, in which is fitted a hollow
cylinder H, H, three-fourths of the circumference of which is formed of longi-
tudinal bars, having openings between; this cylinder is lined with wire cloth
or other suitable material. A solid cylinder C is mounted in bearings within
the cylinder H, II; this is also furnished with the longitudinal bars, which are
cased with wire cloth. This cylinder C may be actuated by means of a winch
handle on the spindle thereof, on which is placed a pulley for the purpose of

page_text: :
actuating a fanner D, the reverse direction of motion indicated by the arrows
being produced by simply crossing the driving band between the pullies.
"The hops, as they pass from the hopper A, are carried by the cylinder C in
the direction of the arrow, the friction between the wire surfaces crushing and
breaking up the hops which pass through the meshes of the wire cloth into the
chamber below, and during its descent it is subject to a current of air from
the fanner D, which carries the lighter portion to a distance, while the bine
and heavier parts fall immediately beneath or near the box B, and any extra-
neous matters or portions of the hops that may not have been sufficiently dried
to be readily separated are carried round to the opening F, where they are
suffered to escape, and may be further subjected to the kiln and again treated
as described. The bine which has been thus separated from the hop may also
be further dried, when it is placed in the hopper G of a small mill, having a
solid conical cylinder, with external cutters working within a hollow cylinder
I, having similar cutters; this mill is actuated from the main shaft of the
machine, the action of the cutters reducing and separating the bine, which is
received in a drawer, or it may be allowed to fall into the chamber below, and
subjected to the current of the air from the former, and may then be mixed
with the hops.
By the use of this machine it will be evident the hops may be removed from
the kiln when sufficiently dried, but before the bine has attained the same
point, to produce which at one operation is in most cases prejudicial to the
hop; the bine is therefore separated, as before explained, and subjected to a
further operation of drying to complete the process.
The sixth and last of my improvements consists in the use of sulphuric acid,
quick lime, chloride of calcium, or other hygrometical substances for drying
air to be used for the desiccation of hops and malt.
In the application of these substances I place them in trays or chambers,
and pass the air through or over the surfaces thereof. When sulphuric acid
is employed I make the trays or containing vessels of lead, and arrange them
one over the other, with tubes and stop-cocks in the bottom, so that when the
acid shall have become dilute, the trays need not be removed, but may be run
off by these tubes, and be again concentrated by heat.
Having described the nature of my Invention, and the manner in which the
same is to be performed, I would have it understood that I do not confine
myself to the precise details herein contained, so long as the peculiar character of
my Invention be retained; but what I claim with regard to the first part of
my Invention is the introduction of deflectors or diaphragms behind the bridge
of furnaces for heating steam and other. boilers, which deflectors or diaphragms

page_text: constitute obstructions so placed as to prescribe a 'sinuous course for the pro-
ducts of combustion and the streams of air, the contact with and consequent
deflection causing them to commingle or mix intimately together, and 'as
herein-before described with reference to Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6.
..Secondly, I claim employing the coils of pipes for heating air as deflectors,
causing the heat and flame to impinge on or pass in contact with the boiler
plate. I also claim the deflecting diaphragms h, h, placed at or near the end
of the internal flue, for the purpose of deflecting the heat and flame on to the
upper surface of the fluc, and confining the passage to an area approximating!
that of the passage over the bridge, as before described.
With regard to the second part of my Invention, which relates to stoves, I
claim, first, forming the bed and front of the fuel chamber of fire clay, with a.
number of perforations, instead of metal bars, as usual. .
Secondly, I claim the several arrangements of channels by which hot air is
supplied for combustion.
Thirdly, I claim placing deflectors in the several passages for warming air,
either in the stove back itself or on the water box, and also the different stages
for dividing the surrounding passages of such water box.
Fourthly, I claim inclining the backs of stoves or grates forwards at any
angle less than eighty-five degrees with the horizon, when in combination with
the serrations on the front, for the purpose of producing a greater-downward
radiation.
Fifthly, I claim, introducing a pipe into chimneys in combination with a
deflector for the purposes before mentioned, all of which are herein-before
described and set forth with reference to Figures 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14,
and 15.
With regard to the fourth part of my Invention, I claim, first, the admission
of air to the flues of the furnaces used for heating kilns or other drying cham-
bers, in which the products of combustion are admitted to the interior of the
kilns or drying chambers, and also the placing deflectors in the flues of furnaces
for heating kilns or other chambers for the purpose of causing the air to mix
intimately with the products of combustion, as herein-before described with
reference to Figures 18, 19, 20, 21, and 22.
Secondly, I claim employing perforated bottoms of fire clay for kiln fur-
naces instead of fire bars, as usual.
Thirdly, I claim dividing the flues of furnaces for heating kilns or drying
chambers into "stages," and also adapting deflectors to those flues for the pur-
poses herein-before mentioned, and also placing deflectors within the air

page_text: passages for the purposes herein-before described with reference to Figures
26, 27, 28, and 29, and 23, 24, and 25.
Fourthly, I claim the apparatus herein-before described, and represented at
Figures 30 and 31, for the purpose of regulating the admission air to kilns or
other chambers, so as to maintain a uniform temperature therein, or any modi-
fication of such apparatus.
With reference to the fifth part of my Invention, I claim seperating the
parts of hops by means of the apparatus described, and represented in
Figure 32, and also the application of a fan or blowing machine for such
purpose.
With reference to the sixth and last part of my Invention, I claim the use
of hygrometric means for the purpose of drying air used in the desiccation of
hons and in malt. kilns.
JOHN (L.B.) COLLINS.
Signed, sealed, and delivered in the
presence of
Enrolled the Twenty-seventh day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and forty-eight.