IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO STEAM BOILER AND LIKE FURNACES
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Williams of Cardiff in the county of Glamorgan
Iron Merchant for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO STEAM
BOILER AND LIKE FURNACES
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Williams at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th January 1883.
JOHN WILLIAMS, of Cardiff, in the county of Glamorgan, Iron Merchant,
'IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO STEAM BOILER AND LIKE FURNACES
This invention has for its object, the arrangement of steam boiler and liko
furnaces, in order to secure more perfect combustion of the fuel, and to abate as
much as possible the formation of smoke.
According to my invention I arrange a hollow chamber or pipe, at the front of
the furnace, attached to, beneath, or forming part of the dead plate, in such manner
that the firebara rest with their ends thereon. This pipe or chamber is suitably
perforated and connected to a steam pipe from the boiler or generator of steam
in such manner that steam may be admitted, bringing with it a powerful current
of air, which rushes upwards through the bars, mingling with the combustion in
the furnace.
"
Behind the bridge I place another hollow chamber or pipe perforated on the side
away from the bridge, and connected with a suitable pipe passing below the bars
through the ash pit and connected as before to a steam jet.
By this arrangement a current of air and steam is mingled with the unconsumed
or partially consumed gases, escaping past the bridge assisting in the combustion of
the same in the combustion chamber, and thus preventing in a great measure their
escape in the form of smoke.
This pipe is preferably connected to iron bridge plates, and may be kept cool by.
circulating water round it if desired.
Suitable regulating cocks or valves are placed to control the passage of steam and
air to the pipes.

page_text: I preferably form the chamber "h" with an inclined face to direct the issuing
gases into the combustion chamber in a more advantageous manner. If desired
tubes may be fitted to the orifices in the chamber.
Steam being admitted at greater or lesser pressure and volume into the pipes "i"
and "g" causes a partial vacuum therein and atmospheric air rushing in through
the open ends of these tubes becomes mingled with the steam which rushes through
chamber "c" and rises up through the bars and through chamber "h" into the
combustion chamber.
Thus the combined blast readily parts with its oxygen and induces more perfect
combustion. The blast from chamber "h" materially assists in ensuring the
combustion of the less volatilized products from the furnace carried over and
escaping past the bridge.
Instead of the jets from the chamber behind the bridge issuing in a parallel
direction into the combustion chamber the holes in the chamber (or tubes fitted to
such holes) may be set at angles to each other so that one jet will impinge on, meet,
or cut up the other and thus make a diffused current of steam and air instead of a
series of independent jets issuing in a parallel direction and gradually mingling
together, The jets of the front chamber under the ends of the bars may also be
so directed if desired.
I am aware of many attempts to supply air by steam jets to furnaces and do
not broadly claim the principle, but having now described my invention and the
best manner known to me of performing the same I would have it understood that
I claim―
Firstly. The hollow perforated chamber "c" attached to or forming part of the
dead plate and arranged with the front ends of the grate bars to rest thereon such
chamber being connected to a pipe or pipes through which air is induced by a
steam jet or jets substantially as described.
Secondly. Placing a corresponding or similar hollow perforated chamber "h"
behind the bridge in the combustion chamber and connected with a pipo or pipes
through which air is induced by a steam jet or jets substantially as described.
In witness whereof I the said John Williams have hereunto set my hand
and seal this twenty second day of June in the year of our Lord 1883
JOHN WILLIAMS (L.S.)