US849912A - Furnace. - Google Patents

Description

EATENTED A1111. 9, 1907. W. MOGLAVE.

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APPLIGATION FILED 111111.16, 1905.

PATBNTBD APRgs, 1907.

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PURNAGB- APPLICATION FILEI MAR. 16, 1905.

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WILLIAM MCOLAVE, OF SORANTON, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO MCOLAVE- i BROOKS COMPANY, A CORPORATION OFl PENNSYLVANIA.

FURNACE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 9, 1907.

Application filed March 16, 1905. Serial No. 250,469.

To all wlw/'ri t lim/ y concern: l

Be it known that I, WILLIAM McOLAvF., a

'citizen of the United States, residing at Scranton, in the county of Lackawanna and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Furnaces; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

rl`his invention relates to improvements in furnaces, and has particular relation to the structure of the furnace by which air in a heated condition may be delivered to -the products of combustion as they pass from the fire-box and through the flame and smoke-flues of the furnace mechanism. f

The invention comprises certain novel constructions, combinations, and arrangements of parts, as will be hereinafter fully described y and claimed. I

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical central longitudinal sectionl through a steam-boiler furnace constructed in accordance with the present invention, the boiler being shown in elevation. Fig. 2 is a view, partially in top plan and partially in horizontal section, showing the air-conducting flues and chambers. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of a bridge-wall-apertureforming block or brick.

In consuming various kinds of fuel-coal in furnaces it is well known that large quantities of carbon are liberated, which escape before they can be caught by a sufficient quantity of oxygen to produce combustion, and the escape of these particles of carbon forms the dense black smoke which is so objectionable.

rPhe present invention is designed for introducing and properly heating air and delivering it at such a point in the furnace with respect to the products of combustion that the escape of these liberated particles of carbon will be to a large degree prevented.

I am aware that heated air has been delivered. into the combustion-chambers of furnaces or into they ash-pits thereof g but the structure to be described and claimed in this application is such as to enable me to utilize heat units which have heretofore been lost and also so deliver the air thus heated into the column of flame which passes from the pies a similar position.

fire-box into the flue of a boiler-furnace that advantageous results may be obtained in advance of that which has already been accomplished in this line.

I have illustrated in the accompanying drawings the manner in which I prefer to construct furnaces for carrying the principle of the invention into effect and will now describe my improveinents, reference to be had to the said drawings.

I have found in practice that the best results are obtained by constructing ther furnace in suoli a manner that air may bedelivered in a heated condition and either under a natural or forced draft into the stream column of flame and burning products of a furnace as they pass out of the fire-box and over the bridge-wall into the name-flue instead of delivering the air directly into the fire-box or into the ash-pit.

Although the invention is ap licable to any style of boiler-furnace, I will dpescribe the present invention with respect to a returnflue boiler of the usual type, such a boiler being indicated at l in the drawings and being mounted in suitable side or end walls in the usual manner. The 'lire-box 2, however, is

carried well forward of the end of the boiler,

so that a large portion of the arched cover or roofing of the 'lire-box extends in front of the front end of the boiler, and the grate 3 occu- The present invention involves the peculiar construction of the furnace, whereby air may be delivered through the arched top of the 'fire-box, as well as through the speciallyconstruc'ted bridge-wall at the rear end of the fire-box.

iAs seen best in Fig. 1, the greater portion of the fire-box 2, which projects beyond the end of the boiler 1, is formed with a cover or top portion made up of two arches-an inner arch 4 and an upper or outer arch 5. A space 6 is left between these arches, which extends over almost the entire space between the two arches. The front portion of the arch IOO 5 is formed with any suitable apertures 7, y

The space between the arches 4 and 5, at the rear edges thereof, is partially closed by a series of blocks or bricks 8, arranged to have suitable spaces 9 therebetween.

The structure by which theair delivered through the bridge-wall is properly heated also forms an important feature of the present invention. The bridge-wall 11 is extended rearwardly in the furnace from the fire-box to a considerable extent, making the said bridge-wall comparatively thick, and interiorly of the bridge-wall is formed an airchamber 12. The upper surface of the bridgewall is inclined rearwardly and upwardly, so that the rear upper edge of lthe bridge-wall approximates the lower surface of the boiler 1 more than any other portion of said bridgewall. The volume of iiame and burning gases and other products pass from the 'lirebox 2 upwardly over the inclined surface of the bridge-wall and against the under surface of the boiler, when it is more or less deflected and passes over the rear edge of the bridgewall and downwardly into the flame-chamber 13. The volume of flame in this chamber strikes the flame-bed 14, which forms the iloor of said chamber, and then rises again at the rear end of the said chamber 18, so as to pass through the fiues in the boiler. The name-bed 14 is thus in a position to become highly heated under the action of the flames and burning products, and in order to intercept the heat units and make use of them as they tend to pass downwardly through the flame-bed I form a number of air-passages 15, which extend longitudinally through the i lower portion of the said flame-bed. These passages are preferably formed by arranging parallel vertical walls or partitions 16 in the said flame-bed, setting them a sufficient distance apart to make the passages 15 of a proper width to accommodate an ample flow of air beneath the flame-bed. The walls 16, in addition to forming the passages 15, act as conductors for the heat received. from the upper portion of the flame-bed 14 and carry it well downwardly upon each side of each column of air which passes through the passages 15. The columns ofv air thus become thoroughly heated. The passages 15 extend to the rear face of the bridge-wall 11 and communicate with the chamber 12, formed therein, through a series of small passages 17. These passages 17 are usually made of the same width as the passages 15, but are of much less depth and are preferably arranged in alinement with the upper edges of passages 15, as clearly shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

The rear ends of the passages 15 communicate with a transversely-arranged air-distributing chamber 18, which is mounted in the rear portion of the furnace-brickwork, and air is supplied to this chamber through an inletpipe 19, which extends rearwardly therefrom and projects beyond the rear face of the rear furnace-wall. The rear ends ofpassages 15 are reduced in size by partially filling the same with brickwork, as at 16a. This filling is ar ranged at the bottom of the passages 15, so as to leave air-inlet openings 1 6b at the upper ends of the passages 15. Air will thus pass from the chamber 18 through the passages 16bv into the passages 15. The forming of the passages 15 of the depth described and shown is advantageous for two reasons-namely, first, that it makes it possible to bring a large quantity of air in contact with a considerable amount of heated surface, and, second, the passages 15 are deep enough to accommo date any collection of dust or foreign material which may be forced in with the air without any danger of clogging or closing the passages. The pipe 19 preferably enters the wall at a point above the chamber 18 and is bent downwardly, so as to enter the said airchamber 18 from the top, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. A natural draft maybe permitted to carry air through said pipe into the chamber 18 and thence through the passages 15 to the bridge-wall; but I usually prefer to em* ploy a fan, steam, or other blower for forcing air through said pipe and the passages above described. One end of the air-chamber 18 is capable of being opened and is 'normally closed by means of a door 20. Any accumulation of dirt or dust within the chamber 18 may be removed by opening said door. A cleaning-floor is also provided for the air chamber 12 in the bridge-wall 11, the said door being indicated at 21. n

The chamber 12 is formed with a series of outlet-passages 22, which lead therefrom in an inclined direction through the upper portion of the bridge-wall and deliver the air in its heated condition into the stream or column of flame and burning products which pass over the upper edge of the bridge-wall. The outlets of the passages 22 are preferably located a short distance below the upper rear edge of the bridge-wall 11, as clearly indicated in Fig. 1. These outlets may have down- 'wardlyebeveled surfaces at 23 for preventing the lodging of dirt, soot, or products of combustion which may be carried through the flame-flue and over the bridge-wall. Although the brick portion of the upper portion of the bridge-wall may be made by various kinds of brick or other similar material, I find it preferable to form special bricks for facilitating the construction of the air-pas- 'sages 22.

In Fig. 3 I have illustrated a preferable form of brick for supporting the upper portion or edge of the bridge-wall 11. These bricks are constructed with a triangular body portion 55. The upper inclined edge of the body portion is formed with a series of stepped edges or shoulders, as at 56, the stepped portions being theheight of a brick,

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so that the front bricks of the wall 11 can be fitted upon the same, as shown in Fig. 1. The stepped portions 56 are only arranged upon each side of the upper inclined edge of said special brick, so that a groove or inclined channel 57 extends between the said stepped` portions. The under edges ofthe opposite bricks are beveled, as at 58, to contribute to the formation of a smooth channel above each of the special bricks just de# ldent that by vthis construction air may be taken in at the rear of the furnace and passed through the passages 15, which are formed in the base or fla1ne-bed, the said air thus being allowed to intercept a large portion of the heat units which would otherwise merely pass through the flame-bed, after which the air isv delivered into the bridge-wall and inl passing upwardly through the same becomes further heated, so that it is delivered into the :flames and burning products within the furnace in a highly-heated condition, and thus in readiness to combine with the liberated particles of carbon which have not been consumed through the action of the oxygen present in the fire-box. The direction of the passages 22 is such'that the streams of heated air forced through the bridge-wall will strike the volume of iiame which passes over the bridge-wall almost at right angles thereto, and although the said streams of air will then 'be considerably deiiected they will be thoroughly infused and mingled in the mass of flame and burning products which pass over the bridge-wall.

Any ordinary type of controlling mechanism may be provided for governing the admission of air through the aperture 7, and I have illustrated a plate 32, mounted upon the arched cover or top of the fire-box and formed with a series of apertures spaced to coincide with and fit upon the aperture 7. Slidingly mounted upon the plate 32 is a slide 33, which is also provided with apertures corresponding to those of plate 32, the said slide being adapted to be moved for having its apertures coincide with the apertures of plate 32. If it is desired to cut off a portion of the flow of air, it is only necessary to move the slide 33 longitudinally to a greater or less extent for reducing the size of the inlet-openings. Any suitable means may be employed for controlling the action of the slide 33, and I have illustrated in the drawings a simple and preferable mechanism for this purpose comprising a rock-shaft 34,k mounted in a bracket 35 and provided at its rear end with a crank-arm 36, which is connected by the link 37 with slide 33. The outer or front end of the shaft 34 is also provided with a crank-arm 38, which overhangs the front of the furnace. A depending rod, as at 39, maybe secured to the free end of the crank-arm 38, and the voperator of the furnace can easily grasp and pull down or push up said rod '39 for changing the position of the slide 33.

While it is evident that., a natural draft may be employed at the rear of the furnace for supplying air to the bridge-walls and passages in the name-bed, it is preferable to use a forcing means at this point. When, however, a natural draft is sufficient, it is only necessary to leave the rear end of the pipe 19 open, and the natural suction produced by the movement of the flames and products of combustion beneath the boiler will of course draw the air through the said passages and bridge-wall.

For supplying forced draft to the bridgewall I preferably employ a steam-jet 40, which is located opposite the open end of the pipe 19 and connected with piping 41, which communicates with any suitable source of steam-supply. When a blower of this kind is employed, it is preferably supplied with superheated steam from a coil of pipe 43, disposed intermediate the length ofthe pipe 41 and arranged in a recess 42, formed in the rear wall of the furnace adjacent to the fire-brick lining 44. A valve 45 is preferably located in pipe 41 adjacent t-o the blower for controlling the passage of steam thereto. The valve is preferably provided with an operating-lever 50, which is pivoted adjacent to the valve and is normally maintained in a lowered inoperative position by a weight 51. A chain 52 is connected with the lever 50 and is passed over the furnace tothe front, suit-- able pulleys being provided for supporting th'e chain for obviating friction. A suitable adjustable screw 53 is arranged at the front of the furnace and engages the front end of the chain 52 in such manner that the setting of the screw will operate to lift the lever 50 or permit the same to drop, according to the direction of the operation of the screw.

An aperture or apertures 49 may be formed in the arch 5 for permitting access to the space 6 for facilitating the removal of foreign substances.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A furnace structure, comprising inclosing walls arranged to form a fire-box and a flame-chamber, a hollow bridge-wall arranged between the fire-box and the iiamechamber, means being provided for affording ICO communication between the interior of the bridge-wall and the name-chamber, air heating and conducting passages being formed in the Hoor of the flame-chamber, each of said passages being reduced in size at its ends and enlarged at its intermediate portion, each of the said passages communicating with the interior of the bridge-wall at one end, and means for delivering air to the other end of each of said passages.

2. A furnace structure, comprising inclosing walls arranged to form a iire-boX and 'a flame-chamber, a hollow bridge-wall disposed between said 'lire-box and {lame-chamber, the bridge-wall being formed with means of' communication between its interior and the furnace-inclosure, air heating and conducting L passages communicating with the interior of the bridge-wall, each of said passages being formed small at each end and enlarged intermediate its length, a distributing-chamber disposed transversely of the name-chamber and communicating with the ends of the air heating and conducting passages farthest distant from the bridgewall, and means for supplying air to said distributing-chamber.

3. In' an air-feeding mechanism for furnaces, the combination with a furnace-inclosure, of a hollow bridge-wall arranged therein and dividing the saine into a fire-box and a name-chamber, a iame-bed arranged in said chamber and formed with a plurality of longitudinally-arranged parallel passages, a transversely-arranged air-chamber communicating with said passages, each of the passages being relatively small at the point of communication with the air-'chamber and relatively large beyond the air-chamber, means for supplying air under pressure to the air-chamber, means of communication between said passages and the interior of said bridge-wall, and means for delivering air from the bridge-wall to the furnace-inclosure.

4. In an air-feeding mechanism for furnaces, the combination with a furnace-inclosure, a hollow bridge-wall arranged therein, of air-heating passages formed in the floor of the fnrnace-inclcsure and communicating with the interior of the bridge-wall, a supply-chamber arranged transversely of and communicating with the endsof said passages farthest from the bridge-wall, the bridge-wall being provided with means of 'communication between the interior of the bridge-wall and the furnace-inclosure, and

an air-supply pipe extending from outsidecomplete the air-passages along said grooves,

and means for delivering heated air through the said grooves into the flame-chamber of the furnace.

6. A furnace structure, comprising inclosing walls and a bridge-wall formed therein, said bridge-'wall being made hollow, ap-

proximately triangular bricks or blocks arranged across the upper edge of the bridgewall each of said blocks having a plurality of stepped shoulderedportions leaving a space between them and top bricks fitting upon said shouldered portions and completing passages in connection with the spaces of the triangular blocks or bricks and means for delivering air in a heated condition through the said passages.

In testimony whereof I a'HiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

VILLIAM MCCLAVE. Witnesses:

CAssELL SEvERANcE, JOHN L. FLETCHER.

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