IMPROVEMENTS IN HEAT REGENERATORS
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the
County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
HEAT REGENERATORS." A communication from abroad by Placide Gaillard,
Isidore Haillot, Raoul Radot, and Alexandre Lencauchez, all of Paris, in the
Republic of France.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 30th August 1880.
"
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman. * IMPROVEMENTS IN HEAT REGENERATORS.' A communication
from abroad by Placide Gaillard, Isidore Haillot, Raoul Radot, and Alexandre
Lencauchez, all of Paris, in the Republic of France.
This Invention relating to improvements in heat regenerators consists in con-
structing the same of bricks or blocks of refractory or fire clay of the peculiar form
and arranged and combined together in the manner hereinafter described, whereby
simplicity and economy of construction, an augmentation of heating surface in
apparatus of a given size, and increased durability are obtained.
The bricks are made of a rectangular form with vertical holes or passages
extending through the depth of the brick, so as when the bricks are superposed to
form a series of vertical air passages, and the bricks are provided on two sides
near the top with lateral projections for supporting tiles or slabs of fire clay which
are placed between each two consecutive vertical series of bricks, and form with
the sides of the bricks horizontal flues for the passage of the products of
combustion.
The bricks may be constructed with any required number of holes ; four is found
to be a convenient number. When placed one above another each vertical row of
bricks thus forms four air passages. The bricks are united so as to form longitudinal
walls or divisions by means of liquid fire resisting cement, the different superposed
rows of bricks being by preference arranged to break joint. The longitudinal
walls or divisions forming the vertical air passages are arranged at a convenient
distance apart, and are united by a number of tiers of fire clay tiles of slabs, as
n

page_text: before mentioned, which form the horizontal flues for the passage of the products
of combustion, the whole structure being carried on a base plate of metal or fire
clay suitably perforated, and being contained in a chamber (of fire clay) provided
with conduits for the admission and egress of the air to be heated and of the
products of combustion to and from their respective passages.
The air is admitted
at the bottom and escapes at the top; the products of combustion enter at the top
and follow a zigzag course, traversing the series of horizontal flues, and escape at
the bottom. Removable plugs may be fitted in the walls of the chamber opposite
the horizontal flues for the convenience of cleaning out the latter.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 28th
February 1881.
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN HEAT REGENERATORS." A communication
from abroad by Placide Gaillard, Isidore Haillot, Raoul, and Alexander Lencanchez,
all of Paris, in the Republic of France.
The said Invention relating to improvements in heat regenerators consists in
constructing the same of bricks or blocks of refractory or fire clay of the peculiar
form and arranged and combined together in the manner hereinafter described,
whereby simplicity and economy of construction, an augmentation of heating
surface in apparatus of a given size, and increased durability are obtained.
The bricks are made of a rectangular form with vertical holes or passages
extending through the depth of the brick, so as when the bricks are superposed to
form a series of vertical air passages, and the bricks are provided on two sides
near the top with lateral projections for supporting tiles or slabs of fire clay, which
are placed between each two consecutive vertical series of bricks, and form with
the sides of the bricks horizontal flues for the passage of the products of
combustion.
The
The bricks may be constructed with any required number of holes; four is
found to be a convenient number. When placed one above another each vertical
row of bricks thus forms four air passages. The bricks are united so as to form
longitudinal walls or divisions by means of liquid fire resisting cement, the different
superposed rows of bricks being by preference arranged to break joint.
longitudinal walls or divisions forming the vertical air passages are arranged at a
convenient distance apart, and are united by a number of tiers of fire clay tiles or
slabs, as before mentioned, which form the horizontal flues for the passage of the
products of combustion, the whole structure being carried ou a base plate of metal
or fire clay suitably perforated, and being contained in a chamber (of fire clay)
provided with conduits for the admission and egress of the air to be heated and of

page_text: the products of combustion to and from their respective passages.
The air is
admitted at the bottom and escapes at the top; the products of combustion enter at
the top and follow a zigzag course, traversing the series of horizontal flues, and
escape at the bottom. Removable plugs may be fitted in the walls of the chamber
opposite the horizontal flues for the convenience of clearing out the latter.
And in order that the said Invention may be fully understood I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose shall refer to
the several Figures on the annexed Sheet of Drawings, the same letters of reference
indicating corresponding parts in all the Figures. Figure 1 of the accompanying
Drawings represents a longitudinal section of the improved apparatus; Figure 2
is a transverse section of the same, and Figure 3 a horizontal section corresponding
to Figure 1; Figures 4, 5, and 6 are details hereinafter referred to.
The improved regenerator illustrated in Figures 1, 2, and 3 is constructed with
blocks of fire proof material A. (shown on a larger scale in the detail, Figure 4),
provided with four equal rectangular holes a, and formed on two sides with hori-
zontal projections or ledges n; these blocks are superposed or built up in rows at a
certain distance apart upon a horizontal partition m formed of plates of refractory
material or cast iron perforated with corresponding holes in such a manner that the
holes a form a series of vertical passages or channels.
The blocks A. are cemented together by means of a very liquid fireproof mortar,
care being taken to arrange them in such a manner as to "break joint" in order
to ensure the solidity of the structure. Each of the vertical partitions thus formed
is separated from the adjacent partition by rows of tiles or slabs b arranged hori-
zontally, as shewn in Figures 5 and 6, and resting on the ledges n. The result of
this arrangement is that a series of vertical channels a are formed by the holes in
the blocks for the ascent of the air which is to be heated, and a series of super-
posed horizontal channels c is formed by the slabs b and the sides of the blocks A,
and serves for the passage of the smoke and hot gases.
The apparatus is contained in a casing or chamber B of suitable fire proof
materials provided with an orifice d for the admission of the flames and hot gases
or products of combustion from the apparatus in conjunction with which the
improved heat regenerator is employed, and another orifice e communicating with
a chimney for the escape of the said products. An opening is provided at the
lower part of the apparatus for the admission of cold air to be heated, which subse-
quently escapes through a passage p communicating with the combustion chamber
in which it is to be utilised. Removable plugs are provided in the end walls of
the chamber B, as shown, for the purpose of cleaning the passages or flues c.
The flames and heated gases enter the apparatus at d, and circulate in a zigzag
direction downwards through the horizontal passages c, as shewn in Figure 1, so
as to heat the blocks A; after being thus deprived of heat they escape through the
outlet e into a chimney.
The cold air is admitted to the apparatus at f, its passage being regulated by
means of registers or valves l, and enters a chamber f¹ formed underneath the
perforated horizontal partition m supporting the generator, whence it is distributed
to the vertical channels a. The air then rises in these channels and becomes
gradually heated by its passage through the heated blocks A, after which it escapes
through the orifice p to the combustion chamber.
The number of horizontal or vertical rows of blocks will evidently depend upon
the quantity of air to be heated or gas to be cooled, and it will be readily under-
stood that the number may be changed without affecting either the form or principle
of the apparatus.
This apparatus is not liable to be injured even by exposure to very elevated
temperatures, and is capable of transferring for each unit of surface as much heat
as an apparatus constructed of sheet metal of corresponding thickness of walls.
Lastly, by making it of a suitable amount or area of effective surface it may be
rendered capable of utilizing nearly the whole of the caloric that it receives.
The arrangement of the plugs g opposite each of the passages for the circulation

page_text: of the smoke or hot gases enable the apparatus to be cleaned with facility even
when in operation, an advantage which is not possessed by any other apparatus of
the kind heretofore constructed.
Among the advantages of this improved regenerator may be mentioned the
small number of parts of which it is composed, the number of joints being at
the most not more than one twentieth of the number of joints employed in the
apparatus as heretofore constructed; the joints are, moreover, incapable of opening
as they are all horizontal and strengthened by the triple union.
The power or
capacity also is greater in proportion to its size than that of the apparatus
heretofore employed, and its cost is consequently reduced.
The improved apparatus is capable of numerous applications in the arts, among
which may be mentioned more particularly all metallurgical operations, in which
reheating or melting furnaces are employed, glass furnaces, and furnaces for
chemical products, furnaces employed in the manufacture of lighting gas and the
like, and in general in all operations necessitating the employment of very elevated
temperatures.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original,
and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein before in part
recited Letters Patent is,-
The employment in the construction of heat regenerators of a single pattern or
type of blocks of fireclay of rectangular form perforated with vertical holes and
provided with lateral projections for supporting the tiles or slabs forming the
horizontal channels in the apparatus, substantially as hereinbefore described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have to this my
Specification set my hand and seal, this Twenty eighth day of February,
One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
J. HENRY JOHNSON. (L.S.)