US223606A - Island - Google Patents

Description

a Sheets-Sheet 1. 1

'0. F. PIKE. Steam-Boiler Furnaces.

Patented Jan. 13 1880.

INVENTGR.

WI'IA'NESSES.

. N PETERS. PHOTO-LITHQGRAPuER. WASHINGTON n c 8 Sheets-Sheet 2.

G. P. PIKE. Steam-Boiler Furnaces.

No. 223,606. Patented Jan. 13,1880.

WITNESSES.

N. PETERS, PHOYO-LI'IHOGRAPNH, WASHINGTON, D. c.

a Sheets-$het s.- G. F. PIKE.

Steam-Boiler Furnaces. No. 223,606. Patented.Jan.13,'1880;-

INVENTORZ WITNESSES.

NPETEBS, PHOTO-LITNOBRAPNER. WASHINGTON. D C.

I proceeded upon the well-established theory UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES F. PIKE, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

STEAM-BOILER FURNACE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 223,606, dated January 13, 1880.

Application filed October 29, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES F. PIKE, of the city and county of Providence, in the State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in SteamBoiler and other Furnaces, for use with marine, stationary, and locomotive boilers, as well as with furnaces adapted for heating air and other similar purposes, of which the following is a specification.

The prime object of my invention is to economize in fuel, and in the attainment of that end to obviate waste of noxious gaseous'matter, the wasteful development of smoke within the furnace, and the escape or discharge therefrom of solid particles of fuel, such as are eou1- monly termed sparks and cinders.

In the development of my invention I have that perfect combustion within a furnace must of necessity obviate the wasteful discharge therefrom of ignitable matter, whether solid or gaseous, and that with a high degree of combustion no smoke can be produced within a furnace, and therefore none can be discharged therefrom.

In the attainment of these ends I employ welLknown elements which have heretofore been combined and arranged in various ways; and my invention consists in certain novel features in the construction of some of these elements and their arrangement with relation to each other, as particularly hereinafter set forth in my specified claims of invention.

To more particularly describe my invention, I will refer to the accompanying drawings, of which there are three sheets.

Figure 1, Sheet 1, represents, in longitudinal central vertical section, so much of alocomotive boiler as is necessary to illustrate my improvements as applied thereto. Fig. 2,-Sheet 2, is an outline sketch of such a locomotive-boiler. Fig. 3, Sheet 2, is a longitudinal lateral sectional view ofthe fire-box shown in Fig. 1 on line :20 a. Fig. 4, Sheet 2, is a vertical lateral sectional view of the upper portion of the firebox, Fig. 1, on line yy, to show the cross-sectional contour of the rear brick arch and the mode ofmounting-it in position. Figs. 5 and 6, Sheet 3, are, respectively, views, in horizontal and vertical section, of a fire-box embodying my invention and illustrating a variation Wherever such letters of reference are used,

A denotes the fire-box; B, the furnace-door; O, the ash-pan; D, the crown-sheet of the boiler; E, the boiler tubes or lines, and F the usual grate-bars, mounted on lugs a,'projecting from each side wall of the lire-box. Surrounding the sides and ends of the fire-box is the usual water jacket or space b, which communicates with the interior of the boiler. The inner walls, G, of the fire-box are sufficiently separated from the adjacent wall of the boiler to afford, as heretofore, an air-space, c, on both sides and at each end of the firebox. Into this air-space atmospheric air is introduced, as heretofore, under such pressure as may be available.

, In the locomotive fire-box shown I rely upon a funnel-shaped pipe, H, which projects from the advanced end of the fire-box and communicates with the air-space 0, preferably byway I of several ducts c.

In connection with stationary or marine steam-boilers I rely upon blowers or other mechanical devices for attaining the proper induction of air. The main induction air-pipe is provided with a valve, H, whereby muclr or little air may enter, 'as may be required.

I have illustrated two modes of constructing the inner walls of the fire-box. In Figs. 1 and 3 they are composed of fire-clay, constructed in sections 01, secured in position by means of step-lugs c, projecting inward from the inner adjacent wall of the boiler, said step-1n gs being so constructed as to not unduly obstruct the.

These wall-sections d are readily air-space c. renewed from time to time, as occasion may require. The end sections are preferably segmental in horizontal section, as shown, so as to afford free passage of air around the outer corners of the inner wall.

The walls Gr, when composed of fire-clay, as described, are provided with numerous ducts or apertures f, through which the air passes from the air space 0 into the fire-box upon and amongthe burning coals. To assure an impinging or reverberating effect, especially from the upper tier of ducts, they are inclined i-nward and downward, as shown. The air d acts or openings adjacent to the grate are also inclined inward and downward, which prevents their getting clogged with solid matter, and also prevents fine ashes from entering the airspace during intervals of rest. The return of fine ashes to the furnace with the forced air would practically retard combustion.

In order that a desirably uniform delivery of air may be attained through the side ducts as compared with those of the front end, I prefer that these latter be smaller or fewer in number to a given area of wall than those on the sides.

With a view to utilizing the heat generated to as great an extent as is possible, and also to render the side walls of the fire-box suitable for certain classes of furnaces, I substitute for the fire-clay sections a series of strong heavy water-pipes, arranged parallel, one above another, as in a return flat coil, and have these pipes communicate with the water-space of the boiler. This mode of construction is illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, wherein these pipes g are shown in a continuous coil, communicating at each end g with the boiler, to secure an active water-circulation. In large fire-boxes the water in these pipes, if in one coil, would be lia-' ble to become unduly heated; and therefore I would arrange them in two or more separate sections, and have each section independently connected at top and bottom with the waterspaceof the boiler. These pipes are either so closely placed by me with relation to each other as to cause the air passing between them to enter the fire-box above and adjacent to the fuel therein in thin sheets, or they are placed more widely-apart, with lengths of double-concaved fire-brick placed at frequent intervals,to afl'ord between the coincident ends of the bricks the desired air-ducts of such variation in area of opening as may be required.

It will be seen that when the double-concaved tire-brick are interposed between the pipes they will contribute to more fully heat the entering air, and also'that, by a variation of the spaces between the ends of said bricks, the air-ducts may be readily graduated in area to any desired extent.

The brick arches I and I are so dimensioned, formed, and placed with relation to each other as to be interposed between the fire-bed and.

the crown-sheet D of the boiler.

The main or rear brick arch, I, is concavoconvex in cross-section, with the concave surface on its lower side. Its upper surface longitudinally inclines upward from the rear of the fire-box, just below the lower tubes of the boiler, to a point near the crown-sheet, and thence toward the front of the fire-box parallel with the crown-sheet.

The lower longitudinal contour of the rear arch, I, is complex in that from the rear of the 1 which they are in contact.

fire-box it extends upward and forward in a straight line for a portion of its length, and thence curves downward at h to a point at or near the center of the firebox, and thence for a short distance on a straight line, thence upward and forward on a curve, terminating in a straight line parallel with the upper surface of the arch, near its end and overlapping the front arch.

The front arch,-I, extends from the inner front surface of the fire-box from a pointabove the furnace-door downward in a curved line, thence forward, and thence downward at h, its upper surface corresponding in contour with the overlapping surface of the rear or main arch, I.

Between the inner end of the front arch and the down wardly-projecti ng portion of the main arch is the entrance to curved flue, K, eX- tending toward the front, bounded above and below by the brick arches, and on each side by the walls of the water-jacket of the boiler.

These brick arches are constructed in sections uniting on a central longitudinal line common to all of them, and divided laterally as frequently as may be conducive to their being properly molded. Each section is provided at its outer edge with a socket or recess, which receives and engages with studs or lugs projecting from the side walls of,the boiler, with The abutment of the inner edges of each pair of sections serves to firmly bind them in position, as illustrated in Fig. 4. This construction of the arches and the mode of mounting them in position admits of their ready removal for cleaning their backs, and also for cleaning the boilertubes. The sides of the flue may also, in many cases, be lined with tire-brick.

I prefer that the area of the mouth of flue K between the arches be about equal to or a little less than the area of the flue-space of the boiler.

In Fig. 6 I show the funnel-shaped pipe H as communicating with an inclosed ash-pan,

O, with which in turn the air-space c commu-.

nicates, so that said ash-pan serves as an airdistributing chamber, which supplies atmospheric oxygen not only to the space 0. but also to the horizontal grate. Heretofore the front end of the ash-pan has been open, so that air may forcibly enter when the locomotive is inmotion, whereby the usual grate-surface was supplied with air; but the eifect of high speeds has always been to cause an outward or return current of air from some portion of the front opening of the pan, causing the objectionable distribution of live coals upon the road-bed, resulting in frequent injury by tire to ties, trestle-work, and bridges.

IIO

I am aware that below the ash-pan anopenin the furnace.

ash-pan closed with suitable gates, as shown, no such objectionable results can occur; and

a minor feature of my invention consists inthe combinatiomwith a closed ash-pan of a locomotive fire-box having perforated inner walls and an air-space communicating with the ash-pan, of funnel-pipes, as shown, for supplying air under pressure with uniformity to the main grate-surface, and also to the airspace surrounding the inner walls.

In operating a furnace embodying my improvements I prefer that the bed of solid matter or coals at the sides and ends of the box be not so thick as to wholly cover the upper tier of air-ducts, and that said bed of coals be crowning in the center.

In explaining the operation of my furnace, I will first describe whereby I obviate the development of smoke within the furnace.

Smoke is well known to be nothing more or less than watery vapor or steam colored by carbon, which carbon ought to be consumed All fuel contains more or less water, which, when heated, is converted into steam, and if combustion be imperfect the carbon is not consumed, but unites with the watery vapor and passes off as smoke. I intro duce an extensive area of gratesurface, together with an extensive delivery of atmospheric oxygen more or less heated, as described, which, being cold and compact on e11- tering the air-space, and heated and expanded on entering the fire-box among the coals, is fully fitted to eliminate and thinly distribute the Watery vapor as it leaves the fuel, so that it has no appreciable capacity for absorbing or uniting with the carbon from the fuel. Such of the water-vapor as does unite with carbon is so thin or attenuated that thereverberatory efl'ect of the arches and the heat thereof during the passage in the curved flue effectually results in the burning of the carbon, depriving the water T vapor of its coloring-matter,

even if it be not wholly converted into itsoriginal elements.

The central location of the mouth of the combustion-flue is conducive to a desirable admixture of the flame gases and air directly over the fire-bed, because the flames, rising from near both endsof the fire-bed, strike the archesand move toward and merge with the central mass of flame, which rises directly from the fire-bed into the mouth of the flue; and the downwardly-extended curved surfaces on the lower sides of the arches, adjacent to the mouth of the flue, contribute to said mixing effect. The space between the crown-sheet and the straight upper surface of the front portion of the rear arch also serves as a contiuuation of the combustion-flue.

The objectionable wasteful escape of solid particles of unconsumed fuel,commonlyknown as sparks or cinders, is obviated by me as follows: The vacuum induced by the exhaust- .of steam in the smoke-stack may be re duced toa minimum, and in some cases dispensed with entirely, because other means are relied on for supplying atmospheric oxygen to the fire-box, and therefore there is no undue force applied to cause the sparks or cinders to leave the fire-bed. Should the air-pressure as applied by me be so great as to cause some solid matters to rise from the fire-bed, the defleeting surfaces of the arches cause them to be returned for further combustion. The area of the opening of the flue being small in proportion to the area of the fire-bed, only such solid matters as might rise from immediately below would be liable to enter, and they, bein g surrounded by the concentrated heat and flame within the flue K, are exposed to a complete combustion before passing below the crowirsheet of the boiler.

The wasteful escape of noxious inflammable gaseous matter from the furnace is prevented because of extraordinary facilities for consuming it within the fire-box. The gaseous matter cannot ignite untilit leaves the fuel, nor even then until chemically so combined with oxygen as to favor combustion. In my firebox all the fuel is exposed to currents of air under the most favorable conditions having reference to temperature andexpansion. The non-ignited gaseous matter which may rise from the lire-bed strikes the white-hot arches and is deflected upon the surface of the fire,

and commingled with such oxygen as may be at hand by way of the upper tier of air-ducts. and such flame or gaseous matter as passes from either end of the fire-bed up the flue K must twice traverse the length of the fire-box before reaching the boiler-fines, thus retaining the gases in the fire-box for such a time as practically insures their combustion.

I am well aware that brick arches have heretofore extended from front to rear of the firebox and been provided with a more or less centrally-located o1' ening; also, that watertables and brick arches have been located at the front portion of the fire-box, extended midway therein, co-operating with a rear brick arch to afford a passage between their coincident ends; also, that in liquid hydrocarbon furnaces oppositely-extended brick arches have been slightly overlapped for overlying grate like pans containing the liquid fuel, but not so as to practically afford a combustion-flue between their coincident surfaces, nor were they employed in connection with perforated inner walls and a surrounding air-space; also, that water-tables operating as arches have been heretofore arranged within a fire-box. overlapping and affording a passage between their coincident surfaces; but such tables are incapable of being highly heated, and they are not, therefore, the equivalents of the brick arches as used by me; also, that in boiler fireboxes, intended to coke the fuel prior to incan descence, and to burn the gases thus eliminated, a combustiolrflue has been'employed between o\'erla )ping arches, and that air has been admitted through a bottom grate-surface, and also at the end of the fire-box adjacent to the entrance of said flue. Such an arrangement differs from mine, because in said prior arrangement the lower arch operates mainly as the top wall of a retort for heating the main mass of fuel, whereas in mine the mass of burning fuel is supplied with oxygen from all sides, and both of the arches are highly heated to enable them more fully to contribute to the combustion of gaseous matter in contact therewith.

I am also aware that heretofore boiler fireboxes have communicated with combustionfiues extended beneath the boiler and lined with fire-brick; but such fluesliave been so constructed that but one side of the fire-brick lining was exposed to heat, whereas with my brick arches the upper and lower surfaces of both are exposed for attaining the highest possible degree of heat without wasteful radiation. Said prior arrangement further difiers from mine in that the oxygen supplied other than by the usual grate-surface is admitted at the end or entrance to the return-flue remote from instead of adjacent to the fuel, as in my furnace; also, that furnace-doors have heretofore been hinged at the top and arranged to open inward, to serve as deflectors for air rushing into the box at time of feeding; but 1 know of no prior overlappin garches pro ided with the deflecting surfaces shown, nor any which afford the central flue extending toward the front of the tire-box.

I am also well aware that heretofore coils of water-pipe have been placed within tire-pots of stoves and furnaces of various kinds; but I know of no prior arrangement of such pipes for affording spaces through which atmospheric oxygen was forced into the fire-box, and such pipes constitute a portion of my apparatus only in so far as they sery e as the side walls of a fire-box embodying the surrounding air-space and means for forcing into said space and-between said pipes into and upon the fuel ample supply of atmospheric oxygen when used in combination with the overlapping arches.

Having thus described my invention, Iclaim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentr- 1. The furnace, substantially as shown and described, containing the following elements, constructed and arranged as follows, to wit: outer walls, a grate, perforated inner walls affording side grate-surface, an air-space between said walls communicating with pipes for the forcible induction of atmospheric oxygen, a front brick arch extending to or near the central portion of the fire-box, and a rear brick arch, which overlaps the front arch to afford between their coincident surfaces a combustion-flue, whereby the Volume of flame, gas, and air from all parts of the fire-bed is concentrated centrally at the mouth of the combustion-flue, the admixture of gas and air assured by reason of said central concentration above the fire-bed, and combustion of the gases assured in their passage through the flue and above the arches, as set forth.

2. A boiler-furnace walled in part by the flue-sheet and the crown-sheet of the boiler, provided with a grate, outer side Walls, inner perforated side and end walls, an air-space between said outer and inner walls, and two brick arches interposed between the crownsheet and grate, which overlap each other and afford a combustion-fiue'between them leading upward and away from the flue-sheet, substantially as described, whereby the brick arches are maintained at a high degree of heat for aiding in burning the mixture of gas and air and the combustion of solid and gaseous matter practically confined to the fire-box beneath the crown-sheet and prior to entering the boiler-flues, as set forth.

3. In aboiler-furnace, a pair of brick. arches, affording a combustion-flue, and having downwardly-curved surfaces on each side of the entrance to said flue, substantially as described, whereby the flames and unconsui'ned combustible matter rising from or near the ends of the furnace are deflected toward the center of the fire-bed and exposed to favorable mixing conditions prior to entering the combustionflue, as set forth.

4. The combination, with a closed locomotive ash-pan, of the perforated fire-box walls, the air-space surrounding said walls and con]- muni'cating with the ash-pan, and a funnelpipe for conveying air under pressure into the ash-pan and air-space, substantially as described.

CHARLES F. PIKE.

Witnesses:

JOHN G. PURKIS, SANFURD U. HOVEY.

Images