Improvements in Devices for Increasing the Heating Effects of Boiler and other Furnaces.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Dec., 1897-Accepted, 5th Feb., 1898
Improvements in Devices for Increasing the Heating Effects of Boiler
and other Furnaces.
I, HORACE SEE, of 1, Broadway, in the City and State of New York, United
States of America, Engineer, 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:-
The object of the invention is to increase the heating effect of the products of
combustion in a furnace upon a suitably located closed chamber.
The invention consists in a partition or screen of perforated or reticulated
material, which is to be so disposed with reference to the chamber to be heated
as that the products of combustion from the furnace are retarded in proximity
to said chamber, and are thus caused to exercise an augmented heating effect
thereupon.
In the drawings hereunto annexed I illustrate the application of this invention
to a water tube boiler, and also to a crucible for the melting of metals.
In the said drawings, Fig. 1 is a half transverse section of a water tube boiler,
and Fig. 2 is a horizontal half section of the same. Fig. 3 is a plan view of one
of the wire netting frames or screens showing a double partition formed of
wire netting of different mesh. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal partial section of one of
said frames. Fig. 5 is a vertical section of a simple form, of crucible furnace
arranged to confine the flame in proximity to the outer surface of the crucible.
Similar letters of reference indicate like parts.
Referring first to Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive:"
A is the furnace grate; B the ashpit; C the lower water or mud drum; D the
upper water or steam drum; E water tubes connecting drums C and D; F the
inner casing of the boiler; G the outer or air casing; and H the uptake to
the funnel or stack.
The air enters the ashpit B from the space between the casings F G, thence
passes through the grate A and between the water tubes E and finally goes to
the uptake H.
In a boiler of this construction it is desirable to retard the flame and hot gases
while passing between the tubes E and in this way to augment the heating effect
upon said tubes. Therefore I provide a screen or partition L of wire netting
or other perforated or reticulated material on the uptake side of said tubes. This
screen, in accordance with well known laws, acts as a substantial barrier to the
passage of flame through it, while it also operates mechanically to reduce the area
of the passage, and so to retard the gases therein. The consequence, as I have
determined by careful practical tests, is that the heat of the escaping products

page_text: of combustion becomes concentrated and retained around the tubes and the steam
making quality of the generator is thus materially improved and enhanced
While I do not herein limit myself to any particular mode of arranging the
wire netting partition or of securing it in place, I will describe one arrangement
thereof which is practicable and preferable in the special circumstances in which
my invention is herein shown.
The wire netting partition which extends completely across the space leading
to the uptake so that all the products of combustion must pass through it, may be
composed of three rectangular angle-iron frames as J, K, I. Each frame is filled
with iron or steel wire netting M, secured therein in any suitable way. The size
of mesh of the netting will depend upon the extent of retardation of the hot
current desired. I have found in a marine boiler of the type here represented,
having a total escape area immediately adjacent to the tubes of eighteen and one-
half square feet on each side, that netting of No. 16 wire with meshes of about
one eighth inch in size (No. 8. mesh) works efficiently.. Instead of a single thick-
ness of wire netting in the frame I may use two or more thicknesses, either of the
same netting or of netting of different sized wire and different areas of mesh.
Thus in Figs. 3 and 4 I illustrate a partition frame having two thicknesses of
wire netting; that at M being of smaller size and greater fineness than that at N.
The coarse netting here acts to support and strengthen the finer netting.
In order to place the frames J, K, I in position, I provide ways or channels O
of angle-iron along the tops' and bottoms of the external series of tubes E. I also
provide a door Q in the front wall P of the boiler, and another door R in line
therewith in the outer casing G. The openings closed by these doors are to be
of such size that when both doors Q R are opened the three frames J, K, I may
be successively inserted in the ways O, so that they are retained thereby in proper
position just outside the external line of tubes as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.
.
Referring to Fig. 5, U is the fire space of an ordinary crucible furnace, and V is the
grate. S is a crucible having a cover T and supported above the fire space. The
reticulated partitions L, which may be arranged in frames J substantially as
already described, are placed in the uptake passages and also in close proximity
to the walls of the outer periphery of the crucible, so that they operate to confine
the flame in the narrow space between them and the crucible periphery. I do
not limit myself to the particular arrangement of crucible furnace and netting
shown in this drawing, which is introduced here simply for the purpose of illus-
trating how my invention may be applied to any chamber in proximity to the
walls of which it is desired to confine the products of combustion.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
.f
1. In combination with a furnace and a closed chamber heated by the products
of combustion therefrom, a partition of reticulated or perforated material, arranged
substantially as set forth, in proximity to said chamber, whereby the flame and hot
gases from said furnace are retarded in the space between said partition and said
chamber, as, and for the purpose, set forth.
2. In combination with the furnace and tubes of a water tube steam boiler a
partition of reticulated or perforated material interposed between said tubes and
the chimney or escape duct and operating to retard in the space surrounding
said tubes the flame and hot gases from the boiler furnace, as, and for the purpose,
set forth.
3. In combination with a furnace and a chamber heated by the products of
combustion therefrom, a reticulated or perforated partition constructed and
arranged substantially as herein set forth and made in detachable sections, as,
and for the purpose, set forth.
.
4. In combination with a furnace and a chamber heated by the products of
combustion therefrom, a reticulated or perforated partition constructed and

page_text: arranged as hereinbefore described and made of two or more thicknesses or per-
forated or reticulated material, as, and for the purpose, set forth.
Dotad this 14th day of December 1807
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
HORACE SEE.
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.