Improved Apparatus or Appliances applicable to Boilers or Steam Generators for Economising Fuel, Consuming Smoke, and Preventing the Formation of "Clinkers" on the Fire-bars of such Boilers.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Feb., 1895-Accepted, 23rd Mar.,
1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Apparatus or Appliances applicable to Boilers or Steam
Generators for Economising Fuel, Consuming Smoke, and
Preventing the Formation of "Clinkers" on the Fire-bars of
such Boilers.
I, JOHN LOWE MITTON, Longwood near Huddersfield Yorks, Gasworks
Manager, 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 my invention has reference to an improved method of, and apparatus for
use in connection with egg-ended, Cornish, Lancashire and other boilers or steam-
generators. The objects of my said invention being to economise fuel, consume
smoke, to enable steam to be rapidly generated within such boilers, to enable fuel
of interior quality to be used, and to lessen the amount of clinkers forming on the
fire-bars or fire-grates of such boilers.
To carry my said invention into practice I fit or fix the outer end of one or more
tubes of suitable shape and size in and through the brickwork or other setting of
such boilers, this tube or tubes in the case of egg-ended boilers I place or fix
adjacent to the back of the fire-bridge of such boilers where they bend at about
right angles thereto and run contiguous to the inside of and a suitable distance
out through the front wall of the setting, at which point such pipes turn downward
a suitable distance and are carried through the said front wall into the ash-pit a
suitable distance beneath the fire-bars.
In addition to such metallic pipes or tubes for conveying air to the underside of
the grate I fix in and through the upper part of such boilers above the steam
space, or in and through any suitable part of the steam-dome of such boilers one
end of a copper or other suitable metallic pipe of suitable size, such pipe I carry
along outside of and contiguous to the top side of the boiler to the front end of
the boiler, where I connect it to a cross or branch pipe of about the same diameter
having contracted nozzles or outlets, which contracted outlets I fit or fix a suitable
distance within the said conductory air-pipes outside the front end of such boiler
settings, so that the inner ends of such contracted nozzles or outlets will be
parallel or nearly parallel with the bore of such conductory air pipes, one or more
metallic or other suitable taps, cocks or similar appliances being fitted on or to the
vertical or nearly vertical portion of the said branch pipes, or to the vertical or
nearly vertical portion of the said steam pipe above the said branched portion of
the steam pipe for regulating the amount of steam passing into the said conductory
air pipes, or I may use a separate steam pipe for each air pipe or tube, instead of
using a branch pipe, and on or to the top surface of the horizontal or nearly
horizontal portion of the said conductory air pipes at a suitable distance from the
entrance to the ash-pit, and between the said ash-pit entrance and that portion
of the conductory air-pipes where the nozzle of the steam-pipe enters same
I cast on, or I form separately, and fit or fix thereto by solder, rivets or other
suitable means, a rectangular, round or other suitably shaped metallic box-shaped
appliance without a bottom or lower side, and having two or more rectangular
or other suitably shaped slots or apertures formed in or through its top side and
fitted with a brass or other suitable metallic lid or slide, or a slotted metallic lid
or slide, or if the box shaped appliance be circular, with a flat or curved slotted
|lid that can be rotated for regulating the admission of air having the temperature

page_text: Figure 1 is an elevation of the front end of an egg-ended boiler or steam
generator in its setting, shewing one way of applying my invention to such type
of boilers.
Figure 2 is a plan view of a part of the boiler and its setting shewn in front
elevation at Figure 1.
Figure 3 is an elevation of the front end of a Cornish boiler or steam generator
in its setting, shewing one way of applying my invention to such type of boilers.
Figure 4 is a plan view of a part of the boiler and its setting shewn in front
elevation at Figure 3.
On reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings annexed a represents the front
end of an egg-ended boiler or steam generator upon its brickwork or other suitable
setting b, the air-supply pipe c being shewn passing through the side wall 62 of the
brickwork portion of the setting, behind and adjacent to the fire-bridge d where it
bends at about right angles thereto, and lays or runs contiguous to the side of and
through the furnace e, to and through the front of the boiler setting where it
bends vertically or nearly vertically downward a suitable distance, and is bent a
right angles or nearly so to such vertical portion, and carried or led into the
ash-pit where the outlet or nozzle end c² of such air-pipe c is turned upward at
any suitable angle so that it is opposite to, and a suitable distance apart from
the outlet or nozzle end f2 of the air conducting pipe beneath the fire-grate or
fire-bars.
One end of a copper or other metallic pipe g of suitable size being fixed into
and through the top of the boiler above the steam space, and is shewn carried
along the top of the boiler to and a suitable distance down the boiler front where
such pipe is shewn connected or joined to a cross or branch pipe h, the outlet or
tapered nozzle ends 2 of the said branch pipe h being fitted or fixed within the
air-supply pipes c, fat a suitable distance from the ash-pit 2 by screwing, soldering
or other suitable means. A tap, cock, valve or other suitable appliance i being
shewn fitted or fixed on, or to each of the branches in a suitable position, by
means of which appliances the amount of steam passing into and through the
air-conducting pipes c and f may be controlled or regulated.
At Figures 3 and 4, a represents the front end of a Cornish boiler or steam
generator upon a brickwork or other suitable setting b, the air supply pipe c being
shewn passing through the side wall of such setting, across the side flue * at
about right angles thereto, adjacent to and along the outside of the boiler within
the said flue, to and through the front wall 3 of the setting, the outlet end cof
the said air-conducting pipe being turned upwards at a suitable angle so that it is
opposite or nearly opposite to and a suitable distance apart from the outlet end fr
of the air-conducting pipe f beneath the fire-grate or fire-bars e.
A metallic box shaped appliance j without a bottom or lower side having two or

page_text: more rectangular shaped slots or apertures formed in its top side and fitted with a
lid or slide, or a slotted lid or slide being cast on, or attached by any suitable
means to the upturned portion of each air-conducting pipe at a suitable distance
from the flue e², at the front end of such boiler for the purpose of regulating the
admission of air having the temperature of the surrounding atmosphere to the sai!
conducting air pipes.
On reference to the drawings it will be readily understood that by opening or
closing the said cocks or valves more or less steam will be admitted from the boiler
through the pipes and into air-conducting pipes c and for accelerating or
diminishing the supply of heated air to the underside of the fire-bars.
When steam is used with heated air it will be understood that a mixture of
heated air and steam is caused to enter the fire by passing upward between the
fire-bars.
When the taps or cocks i are closed or turned off it will be understood that air
alone will enter the pipes c, and during its passage through such pipes become
warm or heated, and when emerging from the outlet end c² of the pipe c will
impinge against the heated air issuing from the outlet end of the air conducting
pipe, thus causing such heated air to spread beneath the fire-grate or fire-bars,
and to enter the fire by passing upwards between the said fire-bars.
When the lids on the top side of the air-boxes j are operated so as to open the
top side of such appliances, or to uncover or partially uncover the slots or
apertures in the top, ends or sides of such appliances air having the temperature
of the surrounding atmosphere will be drawn through such openings into the air-
conducting pipes c, f by the heated air, or heated air and steam passing through
such pipes, so that the mixture of heated air and steam issuing from the outlet ends
of the pipes or tubes on one side will impinge against the heated air, or mixture of
heated air and steam issuing from the outlet ends of the pipes or tubes on the
opposite side, spread beneath the fire-bars or fire-grate, and enter the fire by
passing upwards between such fire-bars, aud by this means rapidly increase the
generation of steam, eliminate smoke, and lessen the formation of clinkers on, and
their adhesion to the fire-bars of such boilers.
The said air conducting pipes c, f may be fitted with a suitable tap, cock, valve,
or a slotted plate with a suitable lid, or a suitable lid or cover at their inlet
ends e, f, or in any convenient position for regulating the admission of air to the
interior of such pipes.
The mode of arranging such air-conducting pipes, steam pipes and air-inlet boxes
in connection with Lancashire boilers or steam generators being somewhat similar
to that herein described in connection with egg-ended and Cornish boilers, there
being two or more air conducting pipes to each flue as may be expedient, according
to the length of the fire-bars or fire-grate.
The air conducting pipes may be of wrought iron, cast iron, or brass of suitable
thickness, and the steam pipes of copper, brass or other suitable material, and
their diameters in suitable proportions according to the size of boiler, type of
boiler and quality of fuel and water used.
The metallic air-inlet boxes with slotted sides or ends, and plain or slotted lids
or covers being supplementary to Patent 20,911 dated 23rd December 1890.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed declare that what I
claim is
1st. The application to and combination with egg-ended and Cornish boilers or
steam generators of one or more metallic tubes or pipes for conducting air to the
underside of the fire-bars or fire-grate, the outlet ends or nozzles of the pipes on
one side of the boiler inclining upwards upwards, and a short distance from the
outlet ends of the air-conducting pipes on the other side of the boiler, a metallic
pipe or pipes conducting steam from such boilers to the interior of such air-
conducting pipes, and a metallic air-inlet box being cast on, or attached by any

page_text: suitable means at any suitable angle to each air conducting pipe in the manner and
for the purpose as herein substantially described, set forth and illustrated at
Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the drawings hereunto annexed.
2nd. The application to and combination with Lancashire steam. boilers, and
other steam generators of one or more metallic tubes or pipes for conducting air
to the underside of the fire-bars or fire-grate, the outlet end or nozzles of the pipes
on one side of the boiler inclining upwards beneath each fire-grate towards, and a
short distance from the outlet ends of the air conducting pipes on the other side of
the boiler, a metallic pipe or pipes conducting steam from such boilers to the
interior of such air conducting pipes, a metallic air-inlet box being cast on, or
attached by any suitable means at any suitable angle, and in a convenient position
to each air-conducting pipe, in a similar manner to that described in connection
with Cornish and egg-ended boilers or steam generators as herein substantially
described, and for the purposes set forth.
Dated this 6th day of February 1895
JOHN NEWTON,
Longport, Staffs, Agent for Applicant.