Improvements in or relating to the Prevention of Smoke in Furnaces.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Apr., 1895-Accepted, 24th May, 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to the Prevention of Smoke in
Furnaces.
A communication from WILLIAM RILEY MILLS, residing at No. 7100, Drexel
Avenue, in the City of Chicago, County of Cook and State of Illinois,
United States of America, Manufacturer.
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT, of 323 High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex,
Chartered Patent Agent, 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 relates to devices to be used cn or applied to furnaces to prevent
the generation and emission of smoke, and while it is more especially adapted to
boiler-furnaces, yet is applicable to other furnaces; and it consists in certain
peculiarities of the construction, novel arrangement and operation of the various
parts thereof, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth and specifically claimed.
The objects of the invention are first, to provide a smoke-preventer, which shall
be simple and inexpensive in construction, strong and durable, yet effective in
operation; and second, such a device by means of which a draft of atmospheric air
may be admitted to the furnace, and so regulated, treated and disposed at or over
the necessary point of the fire as to continuously and automatically supply a fresh
quantity of oxygen at the required point and time, thus preventing the escape of
any material quantity of unconsumed particles of carbon or smoke-gases, which
when once generated cannot be consumed as is well known. Still another object of
my invention is to provide a device for the prevention of smoke, which may be
applied on the outside of the furnace, and in such a manner that no changes in the
furnace walls will be required.
Figure 1, is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of a portion of a boiler-furnace,
showing the smoke preventer applied to the door thereof, and illustrating its
operation and the action of the air on and over the fuel in the grate.
Figure 2, is a perspective view of the smoke preventer showing it connected to
the furnace door, the same being detached from the furnace.
Figure 3, is a central cross sectional view, through the door with the attachment
thereon.
Figure 4, is a view in front elevation, partly in section, taken on line 4, 4, of
Figure 3.
Figure 5, is a view in elevation of the deflecting and adjustable plate used in the
smoke preventer, showing the same detached therefrom and the lever for adjusting
the same. And
Figure 6, is a central cross sectional view of the furnace door and preventer
attached thereto showing a modification in its construction.
A, represents the front wall of the furnace, which is provided as usual with an
opening A, through which is passed the coal or other fuel for the fire on the grate
bars. The construction of the furnace may be of the ordinary or any preferred
kind, but is usually provided with grate bars C, and a bridge-wall C, which
together with the front and side-walls of the furnace form the fire box B, under the
boiler B', when the same is used. To the outer surface of the wall A, is hinged a
door D, which may be made of any desired form and of suitable size to fit the
opening A', in the front wall of the furnace. The door D, is provided as usual with
a guard lining D', which protects the door proper from the effects of the intense

page_text: heat of the furnace. The door D, as well as its lining D', is formed through its
central portion with an opening d, of any desired size, but usually rectangular in
shape, as is clearly shown in Figure. 4, of the drawing. Around the perimeter of
the opening d, and to the outer surface of the door is secured a box F, the lower
portion of which is open as shown in Figures 1, 3, and 6, of the drawing. This box
is formed or provided around its sides and upper edge adjacent to the furnace door
with a flange, through which is passed suitable rivets or bolts for securing the
same to the door. The inner surface of the top of the box F, is provided with an
inclined horizontal floor or partition F', which extends from near the longitudinal
: center of the box, and from side to side thereof inwardly till flush with the inner
surface of the lining D, thus leaving a space between the top of the box and said
floor or partition to which cold air may be admitted through the openings g, in the
top of the box, from whence it may pass into the space between the lining and door,
as will be readily understood by reference to Figure 3, of the drawing. The
openings g, in the top of the box are provided with a sliding door or piece g¹,
having a handle g³, by means of which the said openings are opened or closed.
Within the box and near its outer or upper corner is located a rod or bar G, which
is preferably square in cross section in its central part, but is formed cylindrical
near its ends in order to allow it to turn within its bearings, which are in the
sides d', of the box. On this bar or rod is secured an adjustable deflecting plate H,
which is of sufficient size to fit snugly within the box, and normally to rest its
lower portion on the bottom edge of the opening d, in the furnace door. The side.
edges of the plate H, when the same is in its normal position will rest on the
cleats, which are cast or otherwise provided on the inner surface of the sides d'
of the box. To one end of the bar or rod G, which extends through one side of
the box is secured a spring lever or hand-piece I, which is provided on its surface
adjacent to the box with a catch or projection i, to engage the teeth on the ratchet.
piece K, which is secured to the outer surface of one of the sides of the box. The
rear portion of the box F, may be provided with an opening, through which the
fire may be seen when the plate H, is raised.
In Figure 6, of the drawing, is shown a modification in the construction of
the smoke preventer, which consists in forming the box F, by omitting therefrom
the horizontal and inclined floor F', which is shown in Figure 3, of the drawing.
When this modification is used the upper portion of the box is extended on a
horizontal line through the opening in the furnace door, till flush with the inner
surface of the lining as shown, and in order to economize in the use of material, the
rear or outer portion of the box is sometimes omitted, so as to give it substantially
the form shown in Figure 6, of the drawing.
Just above the opening A', in the front,wall of the furnace is placed one or more
steam pipes L, which terminates at the inner surface of the said wall, and is so
deflected as to cause the steam, which is passed therefrom to meet and combine
with the volume of air admitted through the opening A', and regulated by means
of the deflecting plate H. The steam pipe M, may be provided with a jet so that
a quantity of steam admitted through the pipe may be discharged with considerable
force into the fire box, and may also be regulated as to quantity. By raising the
lever or hand-piece I, the plate H, may be raised to any suitable extent, and there
held by the spring-lever I, engaging with the ratchet teeth on the piece K, thus
admitting the draft of air under the lower portion of said plate, which air will pass
directly over the fire, and can be so directed by the deflection of the plate H, that
it will supply a sufficient quantity of oxygen to the point of the fire at which the
same is required, as to cause perfect combustion, thereby preventing the escape of
unconsumed particles of carbon and smoke gases. By using a jet or jets of steam
discharged over the opening A¹, into the fire box, the same will mingle with the
atmospheric air, and will so distribute, dispose and otherwise treat the same, as to
create complete combustion, which is the main object to be attained in order to
prevent the formation of smoke. While a spring-lever I, engaging with the teeth
of the ratchet-piece K, to adjust the plate H, has been shown, yet my correspondent

page_text: does not wish to be limited to said means to adjust the same, as he may employ
other means therefor, without departing from the spirit of my invention. It is also
apparent that the jet of steam is not always required, but can be used as the nature
of the fire and fuel may demand.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :
1. The combination with the door of a furnace having a central opening in and
through its guard lining, of a box secured to the outer surface of the door around
said opening, an inwardly deflecting and adjustable plate hung within the box and
normally resting on the edge of the bottom of the opening in the door, substantially
as described.
2. The combination with a furnace door, having an opening therein and through
its guard lining, with a box secured to the door around said opening, a deflecting
and adjustable plate within the box, said plate being secured to a rod or bar, the
said rod or bar having its bearings in the sides of the box, and a spring-lever
secured to one end thereof and adapted to engage suitable ratchet-teeth and to
regulate the angle of the deflection and to lock the plate at said angle, substantially
as described.
3. The combination with the door D, having the guard lining D¹, and central
opening d, through both, the box F, secured to the door around said opening, the
partition or floor F, within the box, the openings g, and the sliding-door gl, in the
top of the box, the bar or rod G, having its bearings in the sides of the box and
provided with means to turn the same, and the plate H, fixed on the bar or rod G,
and normally resting on the lower edge of the bottom of the opening in the door,
substantially as described.
Dated thio 22nd day of Anril 1893.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.