US1275986A

US1275986A - Furnace.

Info

Publication number: US1275986A
Application number: US21253518A
Authority: US
Inventors: Thomas F F Lee
Original assignee: GERTRUDE M LEE
Current assignee: GERTRUDE M LEE
Publication date: 1918-08-13
Anticipated expiration: 1935-08-13

Description

T. F. F. LEE. FURNACE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPLZB, I906. RENEWED JAN. 18,1918- 1,275,986; 11111111 Aug. 13, 1918.

2 SHEETSSHEET l- T. F. F. LEE.

FURNACE.

APPLICATION man SEPT. 2a, 1906. RENEWED JAN. 18.3918.

Patented Aug. 13, 1918.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

1 ve/mfo'c du lll human r mnant enrich,"

relaunch.

specification of Letters tatent. I Patqemtgd, t3, fiwjtfi,

Application filed'September as, wild, Serial No. 336,6?29. ltcnewed January i8, 191%. Serial at. tllhttflh.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, THOMAS F. F. Linn, citizen of the United States, residing at borough of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Furnace, of which the following is a specification. 1 I

My invention relates to down-draft furnaces, and consists in a furnace of new construction and mode of operation, involving new proportions of parts, whereby'a strong,

natural draft is created, promoting the combustion, and the combustion so increased reacts to increase the draft, whereby a high degree of heat is generated with practically perfect combustion of the fuel, the gases and the smoke. I

The essential features of my furnace are the fuel receptacle of brick-work or other refractory material forming the outer, or solid fuel, combustion chamber, into which the solid fuel is fed from above automatically, by gravity or other means, so as to pass down through channels on each side of the boiler to the outer combustion chamber. The boiler is preferably of the horizontal tubular style having an inner, or gas comdill dli

lid

bustion, chamber extending throughout its entire length, in its lower portion, and almost surrounded by water spaces. The edges of the water spaces below do not meet, but leave a longitudinal opening, which may extend friim end to end. Practically speaking only he front portion of this opening is operative in promoting combustion, for that front portion forms a contracted bottom opening between the outer, and the in ner, combustion chambers, extending back to the end of the fire-box where it is closed by the solid brick-work base, or foundation, on which the boiler rests. The proportions of the various openings, chambers and dues hereinafter described in detail are also an important part of my invention,

My invention also lies in the various de-.

tails of construction and arrangement of the.

parts of the boiler, of the grates, of the auxiliary flues, side grates and in the means for supporting parts, and 'the method of supplying the air My invention is shown in a desirable form vation.

in the drawing herewith, in which the ref- .erence letters and numerals of the specifi-' cation indicate the same parts in all the figures. Figure 1 is the vertical cross section of the furnace, shown partially in elev Fig. 2 is'a vertical longitudinal section, with portions of the farther side broken away. Fig. 3 indicates the arrangement of the boilers in a battery.

Tn the figures, 1 indicates the brick-work supporting the boiler and forming at the front end the outer combustionchamber 2, to which the fuel is fed down through the down-draft channels 3, on the sides of'and at the front end of the boiler 4:. These chandill nels may be closed more or less by dampers 5, to regulate the draft and to hold back the fuel, and the fuel may be deliveredthereto through a hopper 6 and chutes 7. lf desired, the side walls may be extended up and above the boiler, and the fuel fed in and burned on top and all around it, therebyproducing superheated steam.

From this description it will be under-- stood that the fuel-containing walls confine the passage of the combustion supporter and the combustion gases before and during at least a substantial portion of their travel through the combustion chamber and the fuel bed so that they percolate between the solid lumps and particles of the fuel.

in the lower portion .of the boiler, the

. inner shell 1.0 forms the inner, or gas combustion, chamber 11 communicating with the tubes 13 through the rear chamber 14% and communicating with the outer chamber through the front portion of the longitudinal opening, which is called herein. the slot,

and this front portion (extending to about suction draft through the main opening or slot.

by the use and application of the grates, the

air is more thoroughly mixed with the gases generated, and they are progressively heated as they rush down through the fuel and through the contracted slot into the inner chamber, where they are consumed almost explosively with intense heat. vSaid grates and the two sets of auxiliary side flues operate in regulating the draft for different conditions of temperature and atmosphere, difierent kinds of fuel, and for shaking down the coke or carbon formed in the upper levels where the gases and volatile substances are generated, and insuring complete consumption thereof.

Toassist the traveling movement of the fuel through the combustion chamber; and over the solids-discharging grate various means have been provided. The inclination of the combustion chamber forms one such means, for it is the inclination of the combustion chamber at an angle from the horizontal that causes the fuel to tumble down toward the discharging grate. At the discharging grate additional means are used to secure the traveling movement of the fuel and to insure its complete combustion.

To this end I provide an ash-pit 25 having clean-out doors 26, to which a limited amount of air may controllably be admitted through the two seriesof small, inclined, lower fiues, or inlets, 28, having dampers 29, under the grate, composed of grate-bars 27 carried on racks 30 and having drop rods 31, at the front, respectively connected on each side to connecting bars 32 having straps 33 connecting them to the main lever 34,

provided with a shaker-bar 35, supported in hanger 36 and outwardly extending through the doors 26, for the shaker handle.

moving or rocking the bars toward the center, to shake down the ashes; but it should be observed that owing to the perfect combustion obtained through the new principle herein involved, there will be no clinkers and merely the ash, or silicon, the coal or fuel contains, which accumulates on the burning coke or carbon in the form of a white ash or powder, easily shaken off by rocking the grates, thereby permitting and continuing the combustion of the coke or carbon.

This grate provides an area for discharging solids, or for discharging the refuse from the fuel during and after combustion. It is apparent, of course, that some means to dis- Any .other suitable means may be provided for charge coke may be employed and thus the furnace kept in continuous operation without clogging.

The side air chambers 40 40 having the upper auxiliary flues 41 provided with the dampers 42 controlling the admission of side chambers is distributed through the entire length of the chamber and passes through the side grates at all points.

Air enters the fuel bed between the lumps and particles of the fuel and in doing so enters the fuel bed in a plurality of streams. This division of the enteringair into a plurality of streams is facilitated by the plurality of inlets between the grate bars.

Inorder to secure a continually operated furnace, air must enter in quantities sufiicient for the combustion of the fuel while traveling. A very slow amount of air entering through the side grates might, in time, if the fuel was stationary cause a fire to creep up through the combustion chamber, even to the top of the chamber; but in this casethe fire might become extinguished at the bottom of the combustion chamber, and the chamber might become so clogged as to finally destroy its method of operation.

By quantities sufficient for combustion of the fuel while traveling I mean, quantities sufiicient to cause the fire to burn up to the air inlets while the fuel is advancing at the normal or adjusted rate through the combustion chamber, maintaining combustion allthe time at ornear the inlets through the side grates.

If the air is insufficient for this purpose the fuel in traveling downward (in case there was enough draft at the bottom of the combustion chamber) would carry along with it the limit of the fire; or, if the inlets of air over the whole grate surface, side and bottom, was cut down to a small degree then, since the fuel would remain nearly stationary, the fire might travel slowly up to the top of the chamber andaway from the bottom, as 'hereinbefore referred to.

The successful operation of this feature of the combustion chamber is largely dependent upon the admission of air through the wall grates in quantities suflicient to cause the fire to travel upward as rapidly as the fuel is traveling downward.

- It will be seen that the inlets in the wall grates are divided into two zones by the brick work of the walls of the furnace. There is an upper zone above the brick work and a lower zone below the brick work. To each zone air is admitted through'a conarness duit terminating in the dampers. Each conduit leads to a plurality of inlets between the grate'bars so that a variation of the and through the inlets between the grate bars of the zone controlled by such dampers.

Since there is an upper and lower conduit it is thus possible to adjust the air admitted through them both in quantities sulficient.

for the combustion oil the fuel and maintain the combustion of the fuel during its travcling movement toward the discharging grate.

The resistance to the passage of air through the upper dampers, conduit and grate inlets is naturally greater than the resistance through the lower conduit and inlets since the air has to pass through a longer bed of fuel. This must be compensated for by decreasing the supply of air entering the lower dampers and allowing it freer access through the upper dampers. In this way the smaller resistance of the fuel bed to the passage of air entering through the lower dampers is compensated for.

The upper and lower dampers may be so adjusted as to secure fire at any level in the combustion chamber that may be desired. The maximum operation of the turnace results from such an adjustment with sufiicient air admitted through both conduits to completely burn the fuel when traveling at its fastest rate (which, cut course,

is slow), through the combustion chamber; and when the dampers are so adjusted as to have the zone of combustion extend from the discharging grate well up into the combustion chamber along the inlets through the wall grates connecting with the upper conduit, best results are secured.

It is obvious that the lower conduit and dampers also regulate the air admitted through the discharging area or opportunity for b coming united with unconsumed a slight drop in pressure, afi 'ecting the gases in the inner combustion chamber and expodites their passage through this inner combustion chamber, through the tubes and up the stack.

Since more air is admitted through the discharging grate, than is required for the coke which is being burned there, this air becomes highly heated in the presence oi? the incandescent coke; and as it passes on through the slot and into the inner combustion chamber its chemical aflinity for carbon and hydro-carbon matters is increased and this facilitates complete combustion.

lit has been found thatthe gases issuing from the surface of the fuel bed, adjacent to the slot, contain a considerable percentage of C0. The additional oxygen supplied through the discharging grate converts these CO gases and the'coke into G0, gases, thereby liberating the maximum amount of heat from the coal.

As a matter of fact, perature attained in the inner combustion chamber and at the opening is very much higher than that of the ordinary furnaces; and this degree of heat is largely dependent upon confluent streams of combustion gases, containing a considerable percent. of CG gases fromthe fuel bed, and a considerable percent. of heated and uncombined oxygen entering through the discharg ng grate. Their confluence at the slot or opening intimately unites the grate and the description heretofore applied to the lower wall grates applies also to the discharging'grate, adjustment of the dampers with regard thereto and to the air entering through the discharging grate.

The discharging grate may be so arranged as to secure the discharge of solids or coke, if desired, at the lower end of the combustion chamber and particularly to tacilitate the discharge ofashes. This discharging function is essential where it is desired to keep the lowerend of the combustion chamber free from any accumulation of solid matter.

Hinged at the lower edges of the side grates, are the comb-grates 426 whose lower edges rest freely on lugs 47 on the outer grate-bar surface, so that when the grateand to prevent it clogging on the sides.

When the furnace is in operation, no fresh coal, or fuel, reaches either the lower grate bars, or the comb-grates, a all the tree gases andvolatile portions of the fuel aradrawn out in the upper levels leaving only the coke or carbon to descend to the combgrates, or the bottom grates, where 1t 15 consumed, while the gases so generated are sucked down through this bed of fuel and into the combustion chamber becoming su- I perlatively heated, and thoroughly mixed so that when combustion is at its height, the

tree gases and the volatile portions of the tuel are being mixed and intermingled with the burning products of the coke, and all thoroughly admixed with air, admitted water legs 17 and arranged substantially.

perpendicularly to the. inner and outer shells. The spacea between the front end of each plate and the end of the boiler 1s preferably slightly'greater than the corresponding space b at the rear. As the greatest heat is applied directly to the front portion of the boiler, the generated steam rushes up through the front spaces a creating a circulation of the water up through the front spaces, and therefore down through the rear spaces 6,; the front spaces being preferably larger, as aforesaid,

ving the water a freedom .of access up in flout and checking it somewhat in the rear, thereby insuring and promoting circulation, which is further promoted by the injection of the feed water through the pipes 51, on both sides of the channels and under the plates; so that the water is first heated as it passes across the rear chamber, and then continuously heated in said channel as it flows toward the front, Where it is rapidly converted into steam economically and at the most desirable points. These plates also reinforce the water legs and are a substan tial' aid to the construction of the boiler, besides producing circulation therein, and preventing the accumulation of dust or sediment.

is the short stack, 56 and 57 are rear doors, for access .to the rear chamber, the inner combustion chamber and the main opening; 58 is a front door to the outer combustion chamber; 59 and 60 indicate respectively the usual drum and one or more steam pipes therefrom; 61 are hand-hole doors to the water-legs; and 62 is the rear head. The boiler is desirably reinforced and braced by braces 63' radiatmg from the inner shell 10 to the outer shell 65.

Fig. 3 is a diagram showing how my invention may be adapted to a battery of boilers. Front openings are provided in the brick-work to admit the air to the side chambers 40, and fines 71 to admit the air to the lower inclined flues 28. Said front openings and fines may be provided with suitable doors or dampers.

An important feature of my invention is the proper proportion of the front portion of the contracted main opening, or slot, to

the inner combustion chamber. The width of this main opening should not be more than one-half the diameter of the inner combustion chamber, nor less than one-quarter of said diameter. From one-quarter to onethird is desirable. For long boilers it should be narrower and longer, and for short boilers shorter and wider, thereby providing the proper length of fire box necessary for longer or shorter boilers. But the total area of the front employed portion of the main opening, or slot should not be substantially more than the working area of the cross section of the inner combustion chamber. By working area I mean the area of the inner combustion chamber which may also be termed an auxiliary chamber or a collecting and distributing chamber, together with the area of that portion of the slot or opening at the bottom of the boiler back of the firing line, 16, which may not be filled up with brick. For this purpose the free portion of the opening may be considered as part of the inner chamber. In other words, the slot is substantially equal in area, to the cross section of the inner chamber. I have spoken of the slot, or operative front portion of the main opening into the inner combustion chamber, and it is therefore evident that said opening may be closed back of the firing line, but it is shown extending to the rear end of the boiler, because easier to'construct.

Among the functions of the inner combustion chamber is that of facilitating complete combustion. The combustion gases issuing from the fuel bed pass into the slot or opening at the bottom of theboiler and into the inner. combustion chamber; In passing through the slot or opening they are brought into more intimate contact which intensifies combustion; and as they pass into the combustion chamber they spread out again through the chamber and, have a further opportunity to become more combustion supporter, resulting in the high degree of heat, heretofore described.

One set of proportions which I have found useful is as follows A tubular boiler havin eighty or ninety tubes each about three inc es in diameter; a fire box five feet long and a slot running the length of the boiler but open at the fire box 'five feet of its length. The area of the slot or opening is therefore four hundred and eighty square inches. The area of the eighty tubes is about the same; possibly fifteen per cent. greater to allow for friction, etc.

The cross sectional area of the inner combustion chamber is approximately the same as the area of the slot or opening. It will be noted that the gases issuing from the surthe naraoeo face of the fuel in the combustionchamber are flattened out in a ribbon-like stream in the opening, and as theypass into the inner combustion chamber to the rear of it they are given a circular cross section.

lly this change in the cross sectional term oi the gases as they pass from one portion of the furnace to another through substantially equal areas, the gases are more inti-L cost of economy. That is, the gases may issue from the boiler at a higher temperature and escape up the stack; or the gases may pass through the boiler at a lower speed and issue at a lower temperature irom the tubes thereby increasing the economical efficiency of the furnace.

From the foregoing description it Will appear that some very important factors and principles of furnace construction have been developed. The quantity of fuel ted to the combustion chamber during normal operation in a given period of time, and the amount of combustion supporter supplied to it are adjusted to the capacity of the boiler with regard to its heat absorbing qualities.

Since the amount of heat absorbed by a boiler depends upon the period of time that the heated gases talre in pasing through the boiler, and since this factor depends upon the height of the stack, and since the controlling area of the slot and of the inner combustion chamber affect these factors, it follows that for any given power output at any efficiency these various factors have substantially a certainadjusted relation to each other. Through the combustion chamber,

the combustion gases should pass at such a speed as Will thoroughly burnv and take up combustible elements of the fuel. Through the slot they should pass "at such a speed as will most intimately intermin them without interfering with their passage to such an extent as to cut down the desired draft. Through the auxiliary combustion chamber ll they should pass at a speed. sullicient'to furnish further facilities for intimate union Without interfering with the necessary speed or passage.

such a speed as will permit them to give up the desired. amount of heat units contained therein. lfhrouglrthe boiler and. through Qappear.

lfhrough the tubes of the boiler they should pass at the stack they should pass at such a speed, and over such a distance, as will enable the foregoing functions to be performed.

it the inlets to the combustion chamber are too small in their gross area, the normal operation of the lurnaceis afrected proper tionately. It the area of the slot or opening is disproportionatelysmall, the volume oil the gases passing through the passageways. of the furnace is reduced. The same would be true if the area of the inner combustion chamber beyond the fire line should be disproportionately small.

if the gross area of the tubes of the gas passageways in the boiler is disproportionately small, the volume of gases passing through the boiler is proportionately diminished and the power output correspondingly reduced. This factor also reduces the elliciency of the Whole apparatus. The combustion chamber, the fuel bed, the inlets for air, the openin or slot, the inner combustion chamber might then all be correspondingly reduced and get as good results. That is, a reduction in the tube area renders unnecessary the proportionately large size of all these other factors, and

their unnecessary cost of construction.

lit the stack has two small a cross-sec- I tional area it has the result of cutting down the volume or gases traveling through the gas passageways. of the. furnace Within a given period of time, andresults in a slug- 7 gish movement thereby cutting doWnthe eiliciency of the apparatus and interfering materially with the character of the combustion.

This factor also reduces the efficiency of the apparatus by reason of the sluggish movement of the gases through the passage- 'Ways of the boiler and the degree of smolry combustion is dependent upon the degree.

toWh-ich the stack area may be reduced below the normal requirements oi the furnace. ll the cross sectional area oil the stack is ,sutficiently reduced, more or less smoke will If the stack is restored to its {proper adjusted area, smolre disappears.

lie

The comments in regard to th e f the stack are also ap licable to its height; and a reduction of t e height would have the same general detects that are produced by reduction of the cross sectional area.

ill the inlet areas oil the fuel combustion chamber are increased, the volume oi burning fuel is diminished and the level to which combustion extends up the combustion chamber is lowered proportionately, resulting in a volume of combustion products unnecessarily diluted by air and correspondingly decreased in temperature.

ll the areas are increased far enough, smoke Will result.

it the area of the slot or opening to the inner combustion chamber disproportionately increased, particularly in width, its function in creating a more intimate union of the confluent streams of combustion gases will be correspondingly lost.

The consequent factors are, a lowering of temperature throughout the apparatus, 'ineluding a combustion chamber; a lowering of the power output of the apparatus; a lowering of the stack temperatures and a consequent reduction of draft, and, if car'- ried far enough, smoky combustion.

The increase in the cross sectional area of the inner combustion chamber will have the effects of permitting an unnecessary expansion of the gases therein, reducing their speed of travel therethrough, of cutting down their temperatures therein and consequently of cutting down the temperatures of the gases entering the tubes of the boiler and passing up the stack, which results in a reduction of the draft which may be compensated for by a corresponding increase in the height of the outlet.

An increase in the gross cross sectional area ofthe tubes produces the result that the gases spread out more in the tubes, and passing more slowly through, cool off to a greater degree. This results in lower stack temperatures and a general reduction of the draft of the furnace and loss ofefficiency.

.This effect may be somewhat offset-by increasing the stack to such an extent as will bring the gases through the tubes of the boiler at the required temperature; though this method of correcting the trouble would be a makeshift and result in an apparatus unnecessarily large for a given power output.

An increase in the height or area of the stack within certain limits would have the result of pulling the combustion gases through the tubes of the boiler at a more rapid rate, andthis would have the result of bringing them to the stack at a higher temperature. It would also result in an increase of the air entering the combustion chamber. This increase of air would dilute the combustion gases and reduce their temperature so that as they passed into the tubes of the boiler they would give up less heat.

From this it appears that an increase in the height or area of the stack, within certain limits, will cut down the economy of the furnace and may even be carried far enough to effect efliciency.

There is a limit of height or area, or both for the stack beyond which it loses many -of its desirable functions.

complete combustion .and the highest efficiency obtainable may be secured.

The apparatus may be designed to give the greatest economy from full consumption; orit may be designed to give the maximum power output for a given size furnace, regardless of economy. In practice usually, the furnaces are designed to secure the most practical economy.

From the foregoing description it will appear very clearly that the air admitted to the combustion chamber is regulated by a combination of different factors. First, the character of the fuel, that is, the size of the lumps, and the area of the passageways between them which regulates the amount of air entering through the top of the combustion chamber; second, the area of the inlets which causes the air entering to any particular zone of inlets to be distributed orpass over the whole surface of the zone, and third, the dampers 29 and -ll which regulate the amount of air admitted to the different zones of inlets.

To insure perfect operation the outflow of the draft of air from the inner combustion chamber should be free and unimpeded. To this end, the rear chamber should be of sufficient size to permit the combustion products to pass and reverse freely to the fines or" boiler tubes. The total cross sectional 'area of the tubes should be somewhat larger, pos sibly fifteen per cent. than the total area of the slot or opening to allow for friction, accumulation of dust, etc., in the tubes. The stack 55, should be, if anything, a little larger than a cross section area of the flues. In this boiler, the stack is a mere outlet and is not functionally important as contributing to the draft above the point where the escaping gases cool to the temperature of the surrounding atmosphere; and as the stack products are composed principally of nitrogen and CO which cool rapidly if forced or carried higher than this point, because of the high specific gravity, particularly of the CO they act as a retard or weight upon the induction draft created at the slot or main 110 opening into the combustion chamber, so that a high stack is impracticable and undesirable. The total cross sectional tube area, when determined, thus practically determines the area of the inner combustion 115 chamber, and the main slot or opening.

B the new principle involved, practically perfect combustion of the fuel is obtained. destroying and utilizing smoke, gases and solid portions thereof, generating a. very 120 high temperature with its application to the water in the exposed portion of the boiler initially at "the most important points throughout its entire length.

Another feature of this furnace is the total 125 elimination of all crust, scale, deposit or otherwise in the tubes or other exposed portions of the boiler so that at all times, the heat and gases impinge directly upon the naked iron, thereby greatly increasing the 1 arness ters Patent, is I 1. In a fuel burning apparatus, a combustion chamber through Which the fuel is givena traveling movement, said combustion chamber having fuel confining Walls a refuse discharging area and a gas outlet or the escape of products of combustion, means to substantially confine the combustionsupporter and gases to the body of the fuel and to cause them to travel in the direction of movement of said fuel to the said outlet and discharging area, means for feeding the combustion supporter in regulable quantities to the fuel at intervals along the path of movement thereof, the quantities of the said fuel andof the combustion supporter being so regulated and proportioned relative to each other that the fuel is substantially completelyvburned.

2. In a fuel burning apparatus, a combustion chamber through which the fuel is given a traveling movement, said combustion chamber having fuel confining walls,

a refuse discharging area, and an outlet for the products of combustion; means to cause said products to travel through the fuel bed and through said chamber in the general direction of movement of said fuel, means for distributing the combustion supporter in regulated quantities to the fuel at intervals along zones of combustion, the quantities of said fuel and combustion supporter being so regulated and proportioned relative to each other that the fuel is substantially completely burned. I

3. In a fuel burning apparatus, a combustion chamber through which the fuel is given a traveling movement said combustion chamber having fuel retaining walls, a refuse discharge area and a gas outlet for the products of combustion; means to cause the products of combustion to move 'through the fuel bed and the combustion said chamber in the general direction of movement of said fuel to the gas outlet, means for feeding the combustion supporter to said fuel bed in regulated quantities to zones lccated at intervals along the path of movement thereof, the quantitiesof said fuel and of the combustion supporter being so regulated, distributed, and proportioned relative to each other that the fuel is substantially completely burned.

4:. In a fuel burning apparatus, a combustion chamber through which the fuel is given a traveling movement said combustion chamber having fuel retaining walls, a refuse dischar e area and a gas outlet for the products o combustion, means to move aid fuel in regulated quantities along zones said products of combustion through the said fuel through the combustion chamber in the same general direction to the gas outlet, means for supplying the. combustion supporter to said moving fuel in regulated quantities, at intervals along the path of movement thereof, the quantities of said fuel and of the combustion supporter being so regulated and proportioned and distributed relative to each other thatthe solid fuel and CO gases are substantially completely burned; and means to vary the quantity of combustion supporter supplied to each zone.

5. In a fuel burning apparatus, a combus tion chamber through Which the fuel is given a traveling movement, said combustion chamber having fuel confining walls and a refuse discharging area, a Wall of the combustion chamber having-an opening for the escape of products of combustion, means to substantially confinethe combustion sup-- porter and gases to the body of the fuel and i to cause them to travel in the direction of movement of said fuel to the said opening and discharging area, means for feeding the combustion supporter in regulable quantities to the fuel at intervals along the path.

of movement thereof, the quantities of the said fuel and of the combustion supporter being so regulated, distributed, and proportioned relative to each other that the fuel is substantially completely burned; said gas outlet being constricted in area to coiiperate with and assist the flow of gases from said combustion chamber.

6. In a fuel burning apparatus, a combustion chamber through which the fuel is given a traveling movement, said combustion chamber having fuel confining Walls, a refuse discharging area and an outlet for the products of combustion; means to cause them to travel through the fuel bed and through said chamber in the general direction of movement of said fuel, means for distributing the combustion supporter in regulable quantities to the fuel at intervals along the path of combustion, the quantities of said fuel and combustion supporter being so regulated and proportioned relative to given a traveling movement, said combustion chamber having fuel confining Walls, a refuse discharge area and a gas outlet for the products of combustion; means to cause the said products of combustion to move through the fuel bed and the combustion chamber in the general direction of movement of said fuel to the gas outlet, means for supplying the combustion supporter to at intervals along the path of movement thereof, the quantities of said fuel and of the combustion supporter being so regulated and proportioned relative to each other that the fuel is substantially completely burned; said gas outlet being constricted in area to regulate the required flow of gases from said combustion chamber.

8. In a fuel burning apparatus, a combustion chamber through which the fuel is given a traveling movement said combustion chamberhaving fuel confining walls, a"

refuse discharge area and a gas outlet for the products of combustion; means to move said products of combustion through the said fuel bed and through the combustion chamber in the same general direction to the gas outlet, means for supplying the combustion supporter to said moving fuel in regulated quantities to zones located at intervals along the path of movement thereof, the quantities of said fuel and of the combustion supporter being so regulated and proportioned relative to each other that the fuel is substantially completely burned; and means to vary the quantity of combustion supporter supplied to each zone saidgas outlet being constricted in area to regulate the required flow of gases from said combustion chamber.

9. In a fuel burning apparatus, a boiler having tubes, a combustion chamber through which the fuel is given a traveling movement, saidcombustion chamber having-fuel confining Walls, a refuse discharging area and a gas outlet for the escape ofproducts of combustion; means to substantially confine the combustion supporter and gases to the body ofthe fuel and to cause them to travel in the direction of said fuel movement to the said opening and discharging area, means for feeding the combustion supporter in regulable quantities to the fuel at intervals along the path of movement thereof, the quantities of the said fuel and of the combustion supporter being so regulated and proportioned relative to each other that the fuel is substantially completely burned;

said boiler tubes having a combined area suflicient to allow the free passage of gases from said outlet.

10. In a fuel burning apparatus, a boiler having tubes, a combustion chamber through which the fuel is given a traveling movement, said combustion chamber having fuel confining walls, a refuse discharging area,

and a gas outlet for the products of combustion, means to cause them to travel through the fuel bed and through said chamber in the general direction of, said fuel movement, means for distributing the combustion supporter in regulable quantities to the fuel, at intervals along the path of combustion, the quantities of said fuel and combustion supporter being so regulated and proportioned relative to each other that the fuel{ is substantially completely burned; said gas outlet being constricted in area to regulate the required flow of gases from said combustion chamber, said boiler tubes having a combined area suiiicient to allow the free passage of gases from said outlet. i

11. In a fuel burning apparatus, a boiler having tubes, a combustion chamber through which the fuel is given a traveling movement, said combustion chamber having fuel confining walls, a refuse discharge area and a gas outlet for the products of combustion; means to cause the said products of combustion to move through the fuel bed and the combustion chamber in the general direction of movement of said fuel to the gas outlet, means for supplying the combustion supporter in regulated quantities to the fuel at intervals along the path of movement theresaid boiler tubes having a combined area suf'licient to allow the free passage of gases from said outlet.

12. In a fuel burning apparatus, a boiler having tubes, a combustion chamber through which the fuel is given a traveling movement, said combustion chamber having fuel confining walls, a refuse discharge area and a gas outlet for the products of combustion; means to move said products of combustion through the said fuel bed and through the combustion chamber in the same general direction to the gas outlet, means for supplying the combustion supporter to said moving fuel in regulated quantities at intervals along the path of movement thereof, the quantities of said fuel and of the combustion supporter being so regulated and proortioned relative to each other that the fuel is substantially completely burned, and means to'vary the quantity of combustion supporter supplied at the various intervals; said gas outlets being constricted in area to regulate the required flow of gases from said combustion chamber, said boiler tubes having a combined area suflicient to allow the free passage of ases from said outlet.

13. In a fuel urning apparatus, a boiler having tubes, a stack, and a combustion chamber through which the fuel is given a traveling movement, said combustion chamber having fuel containing walls, a refuse tities to the fuel at intervals along the path of movement thereof, the quantities of the said fuel and of the combustion supporter being so regulated and proportioned relative to each other that the fuel is substantially completely burned; said gas outlet being constricted in" area to regulate the required volume of gases from said combustion chamber said boiler tubes having a combined area sufficient to allow the free passage of gases from said outlet, said stack being proportioned in its area and height to create the required movement of gases through said furnace and boiler tubes.

14;. In a fuel burning apparatus, a boiler having tubes, a stack, and a' combustion chamber through which the fuel is given a traveling movement, said combustion chamher having fuel confining walls and a refuse discharging area, an exit opening in said chamber for the products of combustion, means to cause them to travel through the fuel bed and through said chamber in the general direction of movement of said fuel, means for distributing the combustion supporter in regulable uantities to the fuel along the zone of com ustion, the quantities of saidfuel and combustion supporter being so regulated and proportioned vrelative to each other that the fuel is substantially completely burned; said gas outlet being constricted in area to effect the proper flow of gases through said combustion chamber, said boiler tubes having a combined area sufficient to allow the free passage of gases from said outlet, said stack being proportioned in its area and height, to move the required volume of ases at a required velocity through said furnace, gas outlet and boiler tubes.

15. In a fuel burning apparatus, a boiler having tubes, a stack,- and a combustion chamber through which the fuel is given a traveling movement, said combustion chamher having fuel confining walls, a refuse discharge area and a gas outlet for the products of combustion, means to cause the said products of combustion to move through the fuel bed and the combustion chamber in the general direction of movement of said fuel to the gas outlet, means for supplying the combustion supporter to said fuel bed in re quired quantities along the path of move ment thereof, the quantities of said fuel and of the combustion supporter being so regulated, proportioned and distributed relative to each other that "the fuel is substantially completely burned; said boiler tubes having a combined area sufficient to allow the free passage of gases from said outlet, said stack proportioned in its area and height to efficiently cooperate with all parts of said fuel burning apparatus.

16. In a fuel burning apfiaratus, a boiler having tubes, a stack, a com ustion chamber chamber in the same general direction to the gas outlet, means for feeding the combustion supporter to said moving fuel bed in quantities so-regulated as to effect a proper admixture of same, at intervals along the path of movement thereof, the quantities of said fuel and of the combustion supporter being so regulated and proportioned, relative to each other that the fuel is substantially completely burned, and means to vary the quantity of combustion supporter supplied; said gas outlet being'constricted in area to effect the fiow of the required volume of gases through said combustion chamber; said boiler tubes having a combined area sufiicient to allow the free passage of gases from said outlet, and said stack so proportioned in its area and height as to efi'ectually cooperate with the other essential parts of said fuel burning apparatus.

17 In a-fuel burning apparatus, a combustion chamber having fuel retaining walls, containing a refuse outlet, an outlet for the gaseous products of combustion, located in the neighborhood of said refuse outlet, an inlet for supplying fuel and inlets for the supplying of combustion supporter; means to cause the fuel, combustion supporter and gaseous products of combustion to move in the same general direction, as a substantially commingled bodyof solid and gaseous matter, from the supplying sources of both to said refuse and gas outlets, means to so distribute the combustion supporterto said fuel column, from the fuel supply source to and through the refuse discharging area, that the decreasing solid carbon content of the fuel column and the increasing volume of gaseous. roducts are constantly supplied with com ustion supporter, each in the quantity required for substantially complete oombustio 18. In a fuel burning apparatus, a combustion chamber through which the fuel is given av traveling movement, said combustion chamber having fuel retaining walls, a refuse discharge area and a gas outlet for the products of combustion; meansto cause the said products of combustion to move through the fuel bed and the combustion chamberin the general direction of move ment of said fuel to the gas outlet, means for supplying the combustion supporter to said fuel bed 1n regulated quantities at intervals along the path of movement thereof, the quantities of said fuel and of the combustion supporter being so regulated, distributed and proportioned relative to each other that the fuel is substantially completely burned.

19. In a fuel burning apparatus, a combustion chamber through which the fuel is given a traveling movement, means for assisting the forward traveling movement of the fuel and ashes in said combustion chamher, said combustion chamber, having fuel retaining walls, a refuse discharge area and a gas outlet for the products of combustlon; meansto cause the said roducts of combustion to move through t e fuel bed and the combustion chamber in the general direction of movement of said fuel to the gas outlet, means for supplying the combustion supporter to said fuel bed in regulated quantities at intervals along the path of movement thereof, the quantities of said fuel and of the combustion supporter being so regulated, distributed and proportioned relative to each other that the fuel is substantially completely burned.

20. Ina fuel burning apparatus, a combustion chamber through which the fuel is given a traveling movement, said combustionehamber having fuel retaining walls,

a refuse discharge area and a gas outlet for the products of combustion; one of said walls consisting of a Water cooled surface, an auxiliary chamber for the reception of combustion products within it, means to cause the said products of combustion to move through the fuel bed and the combustion chamber in the general direction of movement of said fuel to the gas outlet,.

means. for supplying the combustion supporter to said fuel bed in regulated quantities at intervals alon the path of movement thereof, the quantlties of'saidfuel and of the combustion supporter being so regulated, distributed and proportioned relative to each other that the fuel is substantially completely burned.-

21. In a fuel burning apparatus, a combustion chamber through which the fuel is given a traveling movement, said combustion chamber having fuel retaining walls,

a refuse discharge areaand a gas outlet for the products of combustion; one of said walls consisting of a water cooled surface, an auxiliary chamber for the reception'of combustion products Within it, boiler tubes communicating therewith, means to cause the said products of combustion to move through the fuel bed and the combustion chamber in the general direction of movement of said fuel to. the gas outlet, means for supplying the combustion supporter to said fuel bed in regulated quantities at intervals alon the path of movement thereof, the quantities of said fuel and of the combustion supporter being so regulated, distributed and pro ortioned relative to each other that the uel is substantially completely burned.

22. In a fuel burning apparatus, a combustion chamber through wiich the fuel is to the gas outlet, means for supplying the combustion supporter to said fuel bed in regulated quantities at intervals along the path of movement thereof, the quantities of said fuel and of the combustion supporter being so regulated, distributed and proportioned relative to each other that the fuel is substantially completely burned.

23. In a fuel burning apparatus, a combustion chamber having fuel retaining walls, containing a refuse outlet, an outlet for the gaseous products of combustion, located in the neighborhood of said refuse outlet, an inlet for supplying fuel and inlets for the supplying of combustion supporter, means to cause the fuel, combustion supporter and gaseous products of combustion to movein the same general direction as a substantially commingled body of solid and gaseous matter, from the supplying sources of both to said refuse and gas outlets, means to so distribute the combustion supporter to said fuel column, from the fuel supply source to and through the refuse discharging area, that the decreasing solid'carbon content of the fuel column and the increasing volume of gaseous products are constantly supplied with combustion supporter, each in the quantity required for substantially complete combustion, means for assisting the forward traveling movement of the fuel and ashes in said combustion chamber.

24. In a fuel burning apparatus, a combustion chamber having fuel retaining walls, containing a refuse outlet, an outlet for the gaseous roducts of combustion, located in the neig borhood of said refuse outlet, one of said walls consisting of a water cooled surface, an auxiliary chamber for the reception of combustion products within it, an inlet for supplying fuel and inlets for the supplymg of combustion supporter, means to cause the fuel, combustion supporter and gaseous products of combustion to move in thesame general direction as a substantially commingled body of solid and gaseous matter from the supplying sources of both to said refuse and gas outlets, means to so distribute the combustion supporter to said fuel column, from the fuel supply source to and through the refuse discharging area, that the decreasing solid carbon content of the fuel column and the increasing volume of gaseous products are constantly supplied with combustion supporter, each in the quantity required for substantially complete combustion.

25. In a fuel burning apparatus, a combustion chamber having fuel retaining walls. containing a refuse outlet, an outlet for the gaseous products of combustion, located in the neighborhood of said refuse outlet, one of said walls consisting of a water cooled surface, an auxiliary chamber for the reception of combustion products within it, a gas outlet between said combustion chamber and said auxiliary chamber in the neighborhood of the ash discharge area, an inlet for supplying fuel and inlets for the supplying of combustion supporter, means to cause the fuel, combustion supporter and gaseous products of combustion to move in the same general direction, as a substantially com mingled body of solid and gaseous matter, from the supplying sources of both to said refuse and gas outlets, means to so distribute the combustion supporter to said fuel column, from the fuel supply source to and through the refuse discharging area, that the decreasing solid carbon content of the fuel column and the increasing volume of gaseous products are constantly supplied with combustion supporter, each in the quantity required for substantially complete combustion.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

. v THOMAS F. F. LEE.

Witnesses:

FLORENCE NELsoN, ED ARD HARTUNG.