IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PREPARATION OF AND MODE OF CONSUMING FUEL."
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Nicholas Demetrius Spartali, of Liverpool, in the
County of Lancaster, Steam Ship Agent, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PREPARATION OF AND MODE OF CONSUMING FUEL."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Nicholas Demetrius
Spartali at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 1st April 1878.
I, NICHOLAS DEMETRIUS SPARTALI, of Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, Steam Ship Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PREPARATION OF AND MODE OF CON-
SUMING FUEL," to be as follows:-
The object of this Invention is to effect an economy in the generation
of heat, whether for domestic or manufacturing purposes.
This object I
attain by the use in fire-places or furnaces in combination with suitable
hydrocarbons of slag or metalliferous residue derived from blast and

page_text: other iron furnaces, from furnaces of rolling and plate mills, and from
equivalent sources, I make an artificial fuel by combining with slag or
metalliferous refuse (reduced to small particles) coal, coke, slack, cinders,
shale, pitch, tar, or hydrocarbon oil, or two or more of these substances,
and I consolidate the same into blocks by moulding with pressure or
otherwise. The slag in this compound will serve to retain the heat
generated by the combustion of the hydrocarbon, and thus an intense
fire may be economically obtained.
A similar result may be secured by using the slag in lumps in open
or closed fire-places in the following manner :-In order to heat a marine
boiler I place a mixture of slag and coke or coal in the centre of the
long furnace, using bituminous coal in the front and back of the same.
Tho flame and heated gases from the bituminous coal in front will strike
upon the heated slag and the temperature of the gases being raised they
will mingle with and effect the more perfect combustion of the gases
from the second mass of coal as they pass the bridge into the combustion
chamber.
In firing a vertical boiler I make a bottom layer of bituminous coal,
and above it I place a layer of slag or metalliferous refuse, on to which I
charge coal or coke from time to time and thereby ensure the main-
tenance of an intense fire. I may use the same materials in a reduced
state in combination with gas or hydrocarbon oil admitted thereto by
jets, and burned, if desired, in the presence of a blast of air or steam, or
of the two combined.
SPECIFICATION filed in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters 25
Patent, and of an Order of the Lord Chancellor, by the said
Nicholas Demetrius Spartali in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
11th October 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, NICHOLAS
DEMETRIUS SPARTALI, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Steam 30
Ship Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the First day of April, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the thirty-

page_text: sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Nicholas Demetrius Spartali, Her
special licence that I, the said Nicholas Demetrius Spartali, my exe-
cutors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Nicholas
Demetrius Spartali, 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, use, 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 PREPARATION OF AND MODE OF CONSUMING FUEL,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Nicholas Demetrius
Spartali, 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 on or before the Fourteenth day of
October One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Nicholas Demetrius Spartali, 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, reference being had to the Drawing
hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that
is to say) :-
The object of this Invention is to effect an economy in the generation
of heat, whether for domestic or manufacturing purposes. This object I
attain by the use in fire-places or furnaces in combination with suitable
hydrocarbons of slag or metalliferous residue derived from blast and
other iron furnaces, from furnaces of rolling and plate mills, and from
equivalent sources, which slag or metalliferous residue or refuse possesses
the property of retaining heat, I make an artificial fuel by combining
with the slag or metalliferous refuse (reduced to small particles) coal,
coke, slack, cinders, shale, pitch, tar, or hydrocarbon oil, or two or more
of these substances, taking care that the iron present in the slag or in
the metalliferous refuse employed shall represent some twenty-five per
cent. of the combination. The mixed substances I consolidate into
blocks by moulding with pressure or otherwise. The slag in this
compound will serve to retain the heat generated by the combustion of
the hydrocarbon, and thus an intense fire may be economically obtained.

page_text: A similar result may be secured by using the slag in lumps in open or
closed fire-places in the following manner:-In order to heat a marine
boiler I place a mixture of slag and coke or coal in the centre of the
long furnace, using bituminous coal in the front and back of the same.
The flame and heated gases from the bituminous coal in front will strike
upon the heated slag, and the temperature of the gases being raised
they will mingle with and effect the more perfect combustion of the
gases from the second mass of coal as they pass the bridge into the com-
bustion chamber. This arrangement is illustrated in the accompanying
Drawings at Fig. 1, which shews a marine boiler in longitudinal section.
The grate is divided into three parts 1, 2, 3, in the middle division of
which (2) the slag or metalliferous refuse is heaped up so as to intercept
to some extent the flames and heated gases proceeding from the division I
of the grate. When the mass of slag has become red hot it will serve to
heat and ignite the gases passing over it and thus ensure the combustion
of the gases evolved from the fuel contained in the division 3 by mingling
with the same in their passage through the boiler.
In firing a vertical boiler I make a bottom layer of bituminous coal,
and above it I place a layer of slag or metalliferous refuse, on to which
I charge coal or coke from time to time and thereby ensure the main-
tenance of an intense fire. This mode of applying the Invention is
illustrated at Fig. 2, which shews a central section of a vertical boiler.
When the fire is ignited the slag may be charged through a door 4 in
the central flue or chimney shaft, and upon this mass when it has been
brought to a red heat the fuel, whether coal or coke, may be charged
from time to time. I may use the slag or metalliferous refuse in a
reduced state in combination with gas or hydrocarbon oil admitted
thereto by jets and burned, if desired, in the presence of a blast of air
or steam, or of the two combined. This is illustrated at Fig. 3, where
the pipe 5 may represent the gas or oil supply pipe, and the pipe 6 a
steam or air blast pipe.
When applying the Invention to domestic purposes I line the grate
with fire-clay, fire-bricks, or tiles. In the grate I place lumps of the
slag or metallic refuse, and combine therewith a sufficient quantity of
coal or coke to raise by its combustion the slag to a red heat. I then
from time to time supply carbon fuel to the heated mass and thereby
maintain at a small cost an efficient fire; or I burn in the grate the fuel
compound prepared as above described.

page_text: Instead of using solid carbon fuel I may charge the fire-place with
lumps of the slag or metalliferous refuse and introduce gas to the fire-
place, as illustrated at Figures 4 and 5, which represent a front view and
vertical section of a domestic fire-place prepared for this purpose; Fig. 4*
is a plan view showing the gas burner detached. a is the gas burner,
forming a portion of the fire-grate; 6 is an elbow pipe, forming the
central stem of the burner, and into it a gas jet c is introduced. The
elbow pipe b is open to the atmosphere, and when the gas is ignited
there will be an indraught of air to give intensity to the flame. Above
the fire-place and leading to the uptake is a conical reflector d, made by
preference of fire-clay or of plumbago. This reflector will serve to
reflect the heat into the apartment while the gases of combustion are
free to escape up the chimney.
A modification of this grate is shewn at Fig. 6, where the conical
reflector d is provided with a damper e suspended from a chain ƒ which
is carried by guide pullies and furnished with a counterweight g; by
adjusting this damper the draught can be regulated with the greatest
nicety.
Fig. 7 shews in longitudinal vertical section another form of domestic
stove, in which the slag or metalliferous refuse may be employed in
connection with gas jets or a spray of petroleum oil. In this instance
the gas jet o is introduced at the back of the stove through a back
plate h of metal or fire-clay; an inclined grate i is provided, which may
be partially closed to regulate the admission of air to the fire-place;
below the grate is a combustion chamber k, into which the gas jet o
projects, and the floor of this chamber is pierced with holes for the
passage upwards of air from the ash-pit 7. The front of the stove I make
circular or semicircular, and provide swing doors for closing the same
when required. The opening in the crown of the stove for the passage
) outwards of the flame and gases of combustion to the chimney m is
capable of being closed by a sliding door n, the adjustment of which
will regulate the draught of the fire; o is a cover connected to a counter-
weighted chain and used to close an opening through which the fire may
be fed or air admitted if required.
Another form of domestic stove in which I propose either to burn my
improved compound fuel or to employ the slag or metalliferous refuse in
lumps in combination with coal or coke, as described with reference to

page_text: Figures 1 and 2, is shewn in longitudinal section at Fig. 8. This stove
consists of a kind of fire-clay retort, open at its front end and furnished
at its inner end with a bend leading directly to the chimney. An
opening is made in the floor of the retort for the reception of a segment-
shaped grate p, in rear of which is an inclined bed q for the reception of t
the slag, coal, or coke being laid on the fire-bars; in the crown of the
retort is an opening (closed by a cover r) through which the slag is
charged on to the bed of the retort, and the coal or coke, as a fresh
supply is required, may be thrown on to the grate through the front
opening. By burning fuel in this stove charged with slag as described 1
the slag will be quickly heated to redness, and besides absorbing the
heat which would otherwise escape to the chimney and be lost it will
serve to heat the gases of combustion as they pass over it and thereby
ensure the consumption of the same in the stove.
Having now set forth the nature of my Invention of "Improvements 1
in the Preparation of and Mode of Consuming Fuel," and explained the
manner of carrying the same into effect, I wish it to be understood that
under the above in part recited Letters Patent I claim,-
First. The improved manufacture of fuel above described.
Secondly. Utilizing the heat derived from solid and liquid hydro- 2
carbons and combustible gases by the use of the slag or metalliferous
waste, or similar manufactured metalliferous compound, obtained and
applied as above described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Nicholas Demetrius Spartali, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, the 29th Twenty-ninth day of 2
September, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred
and seventy-three.