IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR CONSUMING SMOKE AND ECONOMIZING FUEL
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Denny Ruck, of New Cross Road, in
the County of Kent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR CONSUMING SMOKE AND ECONOMIZING FUEL.”
Sealed the 7th September 1875, and dated the 9th March 1875.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Denny Ruck
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 9th March 1875.
I, WILLIAM DENNY RUCK, of New Cross Road, in the County of
Kent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR CONSUMING SMOKE AND ECONOMIZING
FUEL," to be as follows:-
1
This Invention consists in the application to furnaces, more especially
of steam boilers, of a new or improved apparatus and process for effecting
more perfect combustion of coal and fuels than hitherto, and which

page_text: will consume all smoke and consequently effect a considerable saving in
fuel.
The Invention may be thus described:-By means of a pipe or pipes
passing through the ash-pit air is supplied to the back of the bridge or
bridges of the boiler; the pipe or pipes is or are provided with an inlet
nozzle or nozzles at a place convenient to the outer atmosphere, tho
outlets of which are made in the form of a T, branching off at right
angles to the pipe or pipes. These branches are made sufficiently long
(when required) to touch the sides of the furnace or tube in which it or
thoy are placed, and are provided with openings or slots so fixed or
fitted that the heated air entering the pipe or pipes is discharged from
the openings or slots in the same direction as the smoke travels, thus
supplying oxygen to the carbon or smoke and unconsumed gases, and
effecting thereby a more perfect combustion and consequently greater
heat is produced, thereby saving a large amount of fucl.
In some cases it is preferable to construct a second bridge at a
distance from the first one, according to the length of the boiler; the
pipe or pipes or apparatus are to be fitted or fixed to each of the bridges;
the pipe or pipes applied to the second bridge (by preference) should
terminate with their outlets towards the furnace. Thus, the smoke and
gases will be supplied with oxygen from the air from the two or more
pipes, producing currents in opposite directions, and confining the smoko
and gascs until they are consumed.
I also purpose using hydrogen gas, made preferably by the decom-
position of steam, which is to be conducted to the back of the bridge or
bridges, as well as air, where it will mix with the other gases, and
becoming ignited will consume all carbonaceous matters, and produce a
greater heat to that of the furnace.
Coal gas, preferably with a further admixture of air, can also be used
in connection with the above-described apparatus.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Denny Ruck in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 9th September 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
DENNY RUCK, of New Cross Road, in the County of Kent, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of March, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in the thirty-
eighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said William Denny Ruck, Her special
licence that I, the said William Denny Ruck, my executors, admini-
strators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Denny Ruck,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
usc, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR CONSUMING SMOKE AND
ECONOMIZING FUEL," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
William Denny Ruck, my executors or administrators, by an instrument
in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the
same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Denny Ruck, do hereby
declare the nature of my said 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 consists in the application to furnaces, more especially
of steam boilers, of a new or improved apparatus and process for effecting
moro perfect combustion of coal and fuels than hitherto, and which
will consume all smoke and consequently effect a considerable saving in
fucļ.

page_text: The Invention may be thus described :-By means of a pipe or pipes
passing through the ash-pit air is supplied to the back of the bridge or
bridges of the boiler; the pipe or pipes is or are provided with an inlet
nozzle or nozzles at a place convenient to the outer atmosphere
(preferably in the ash-pit), the outlets of which are made in the form of
a T, branching off at right angles to the pipe or pipes. These branches
are made sufficiently long (when required) to touch the sides of the
furnace or tube in which it or they are placed, and are provided with
openings or slots so fixed or fitted that the heated air entering the pipe
or pipes is discharged from the openings or slots in the same direction
as the smoke travels, thus supplying oxygen to the carbon or smoke
and unconsumed gases, and effecting thereby more perfect combustion,
and consequently greater heat is produced, thereby saving a large amount
of fuel.
In some cases it is preferable to construct a second bridge at a
distance from the first one, according to the length of the boiler; the
pipe or pipes or apparatus are to be fitted or fixed to each of the bridges;
the pipe or pipes applied to the second bridge (by preference) should
terminate with their outlets towards the furnace. Thus, the smoke and
gases will be supplied with oxygen from the air from the two or moro :
pipes, producing currents in opposite directions, and confining the smoke
and gases until they are consumed.
I also propose to use hydrogen gas, made preferably by the decom-
position of steam, which is to be conducted to the back of the bridge or
bridges, together with air, where it will mix with the other gases or a
products of combustion, and becoming ignited will consume all
carbonaceous matters, and produce a greater heat than that of the
furnace.
Coal gas, preferably with a further admixture of air can also be used
in connection with the above-described apparatus.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the
manner in which the same is to be performed, I would remark that I do
not limit myself to the precise details and configuration of parts which I
have described, as the same may be varied or modified without departing
from the principle of my Invention; but what I claim and desire to be a
secured to me by the herein in part recited Letters Patent is, the

page_text: application to furnaces of the new or improved means and apparatus for
consuming smoke and economizing fuel, separately or in conjunction
with the process of supplying hydrogen gas to the furnace, substantially
as herein specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Denny Ruck, havo here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Seventh day of September, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
five.
Witness,
ALEX. PRINCE,
Office of Patents,
4, Trafalgar Square,
Charing Cross.
W. D. RUCK. (L.S.)