Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 28th June, 1888
Complete Specification Left, 29th Apr., 1889
Complete Specification Accepted, 8th June, 1889
JAMES BONTHRONE Brewer, and ROBERT BAROLAY BONTHRONE, Engineer both of
Newton House, Falkland Fife N.B. do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to bo as follows:-
This invention has reference to an improved system of promoting the combustion
in furnaces of steam Boilers and other furnaces generally, with special reference to
the furnaces in that type of boiler known as the "Haystack."
The improvements consist, first, in constructing the fire-grate so as to give a
maximum air-admission area through it to the fuel, and, second, in admitting air to
the furnaces above the fuel, in a certain manner, under certain conditions, and to
certain or all of its parts, in order that as each volume of gas is evolved from the fuel,
it may be met with its equivalent volume of oxygen, completely intermixed with it
and its complete combustion produced, thereby utilising to a greater extent the
"possible" heat in the gaseous portion of the coal, and preventing the formation of
smoke and consequently its emission from the chimney.
First, with reference to the form of fire-grate the improvement herein consists in
constructing the fire-bars, so as to give a greater, more free, more regular and
minute distribution of the air, to each part of the fuel, while at the same time
maintaining the strength and durability of the bar. Instead of making the bars
single as is common, in which case they must have considerable thickness, and
consequently weight, to give the necessary strength and rigidity, we construct it in
the form of a built girder, that is such that one bar is in reality made up of five, (or it
may be a greater or less number) bars or ribs, joined together at short intervals by
distance pieces. By this construction, the thickness of each constituent rib of the bar
can be made extremely narrow, and consequently light, while the combination makes
up a bar sufficiently strong and rigid. The result is a larger air supply and in a more
subdivided form, and therefor a greater combustion per unit area of fire-grate.
Second, with reference to the admission of air above the fuel, according to one
arrangement of our improvements, as applied to a boiler of the "Haystack" type, in
which the furnaces are quadrant shaped, with generally one charging door placed

page_text: towards the side, wo insort through the outside circumferential water-space a number
of tubes, and adinit air to the furnaces through these tubes. The air might be admitted
under pressure, but preferably not. The number of tubes is such as to give a cortain
proportion between their aggregate area, and the area of the fire-grate, also such as
to facillitate as far as possible the subdivision of the air by the distributors as herein-
after described. In addition to these tubes through the water space, wo fix by
screwing or otherwise to the inner end of each tube, a distributor in the form of a
pipe of suitable material, having preferably narrow slits extending along its length, or
it may be with a suitable number of small holus. The object being to subdivide the
air and facillitate its complete intermixture with the gases.
The length of these distributors is proferably equal to the full width of tho annular
Aluo space through which the gases pass.
We regulate the admission of air through these tubos, by a suitable arrangement of
valve or valves, placed preferably at their outer ends.
According to another arrangement of our improvements, we employ a continnons
distributor in the form of a pipe of suitable material, placed lengthwise in the middle
of the flue space which is annular, having a suitable number of narrow slits, or it may
be small holes, extending along its length.
The air is conducted to this distributor by means of, first, one or more upright
tubes passing from boneath up through the fire-grate, at either, or both, of the front
corners of the furnace, or, second, by means of a tube led through the charging door
of the furnace, or it may be by means of the two combined.
Dated this 26th day of June 1888.

page_text: JAMES BONTHRONE, Brower ROBERT BAROLAY BONTHRONE Engineer both of
Falkland Fife N.B. 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 invention has reference to an improved system of promoting the combustion
in furnaces of steam boilers, and other furnaces generally, with special reference to
the furnaces in that type of boiler known as the "Haystack."
The improvements consist, first, in constructing the fire-grate so as to give a
maximum air-admission area through it to the fuel, and, second, in admitting air to
the furnace above the fuel, in a certain manner, under certain conditions, and to
certain or all of its parts, in order that as each volume of gas is evolved from the fuel
it may be met with its equivalent volume of oxygen, completely intermixed with it and
its complete combustion produced, thereby utilising to a greater extent, the "possible"
heat, in the gaseous portion of the coal, and preventing the formation of smoke and
consequently its emission from the chimney or funnel.
First, with reference to the form of fire-grate, the improvement herein consists in
constructing the fire-bars, so as to give a greater, more free, more regular, and
minute, distribution of the air to each part of the fuel, while at the same time
maintaining the strength and durability of the bar. Instead of making the bars
single as is common, in which case they must have considerable thickness and
consequently weight to give the necessary strength and rigidity, we construct it in
the form of a built girder, that is such that one bar is in reality made up of five or it
may be a greater or less number of bars or ribs, joined together at short intervals by
distance pieces. By this construction the thickness of each constituent rib of the bar,
can be made extremely narrow, and consequently light while the combination, makes
up a bar sufficiently strong and rigid.
The result is a larger air supply and in a more subdivided form, and therefor a
greater combustion per unit area of fire-grate.
Second, with reference to the admission of air above the fuel, according to one
arrangement of our improvements, as applied to a boiler of the "Haystack" type, in
which the furnaces are quadrant shaped with generally one charging door placed
towards the side, we insert through the outside circumferential water space, a number
of tubes, and admit air to the furnaces through these tubes.
The air might be admitted under pressure but preferably not; The number of
tubes is such as to give a certain proportion, between their aggregate area and the
area of the fire grate, also such as to facilitate as far as possible the subdivision of
the air by the distributors as hereinafter described. In addition to these tubes
through the water space, we fix by screwing or otherwise, to the inner end of each
tube, a distributor in the form of a pipe of suitable material, having preferably narrow
slits extending along its length, or it may be with a suitable number of small holes j
The object being to subdivide the air and facillitate its complete intermixture with the
gases,

page_text: The length of these distributors, is proferably equal to the full width of the annular
flue space, through which the gasos pass. We regulate the admission of air through
these inbes, by a suitable arrangement of valvo or valves, placed proferably at their
outer ends.
According to another arrangement of our improvements, we employ a continuous
distributor, in the form of a pipe of suitable material placed lengthwise in the middle
of the flue space which is annular, having a suitable number of narrow slits, or it may
be small holes, extending along its length; The air is conducted to this distributor by
means of, first, one or more upright tubes, passing from beneath, up through the fire-
grato, at either or both of the front corners of the furnace, or second, by means of a
tube led through the charging door of the furnace, or it may be by means of the two
combined.
In order that our invention may be more clearly understood we now describe the
drawings hereunto annexed.
Sheet 1 shows two forms of the fire-bar in section, plan, and elevation; constructed
according to our present specification.
Figs. 1. 2. 3 and 4 are sections at A. B. C. D. E. F. and G. H. in Fig. 9. respectively.
Figs. 5. 6. 7 and 8 are sections at I. J. K. L. M. N. and O. P. in Fig. 11,
respectively.
In Fig. 9. the bar is made up of three constituent ribs, in Fig. 11. it is made up of
fivo.
Sheet 2 shows one arrangement of our improvements, for the air admission to the
furnaces of the "Haystack" type of boiler. Fig. 12 is a part vertical section through
the furnace of such a boiler. Fig. 13 is a sectional plan of one furnace: In
Figs. 12 and 18. a. a. are the tubes insorted through the circumferential water
space, b. b. are the distributors placed in the anunlar flue space, having slits s..
extending along their length. c is the charging door of the furnace, d 1 and d 2 are the
fire-bars shown in outline as arranged in this type of boiler.
Having now particularly described, and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that
what we claim is.
(1) The construction and arrangement of fire bar, as hereinbefore described, and
shown in drawings, as applied to (a) furnaces of the "Haystack" and "vertical"
types of steam boiler, (b) furnaces of the horizontal type of boiler, and (c) furnaces
generally.
(2) The admission of air to furnaces of the "Haystack" and "vertical" types of
boiler, in a subdivided form, through small slits or holes by means of (a) radial tubes
as shown in drawings and (b) a segmental tube or tubes placed in the annular uptake,
with holes or slits as hereiubefore described.
Dutad this 10th day of Avril 1889.