US1306233A - Assigjktob - Google Patents

Description

J. M. SCHUTZ.

ART OF BURNING FUEL.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 28.1917.

Patented June 10, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

J. M. SCHUTZ. I

ART OF BURNING FUEL.

APPLICATION FILED MAR; 28. 1917.

3 sums-sum 2.

fimaaf p hjqs'c' Patented June 10, 1919.

amas.

J. M. SCHUTZ.

ART OF BURNING FUEL.

APPLICATION FILED MAR: 28, 1911.

1,306,230 Patented June 10, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- 6 fwazkw; 65 QJ EMQM to provide for the certain an :rosnrn MARTIN SCHU'IZ, or omoaeo, ILLINO}S, ASSIGNOR r0 SCHUTZ HAWLEY COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS,

A CORPORATION OF ILLIN 01S.

ART OF BUBNIN G FUEL.

Specification of Letters Patent,

Original application filed February 10, 1917, Serial No. 147,759. Divided and this application filed march 28, 1917. Serial No. 157,939. c

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH MARTIN My invention relates to the production of heat from fuel of various kinds. While I shall describe the same with more particular reference to the combusition of coal, I

desire it to be understood that my invention may be carried out with all other fuels, including gases and oils.

This application is a division of my copending application, S. N. 147,759, filed Februar 10, 1917, wherein the apparatus herein epicted is described and claimed. Further, this application is a continuation in part of my earlier application, S. "N. 802,259, filed November 21, 1913, and S. N. 52,899, filed September 27, 1915, both abandoned in favor of this application. Some of my earlier steps in this art are disclosed .in United States Letters Patents, Nos.

836,145836,219and 751,350.

The object of my invention is toprovide a continuous process of combustion, that shall be suitable for fuel of all kinds, but more es ecially for coal, and which shall be more elficient and desirable than either of the two well-known ways of burning coal, that is, upon grates and in suspension; also toovercome the recognized inefiiciency of the combustion of lump coal, and, at the same time, the coal to such fineness as to admit of its being burned in suspension; further, to produce more heat from a given quantity of any kind of fuel than can be attained by burning the same upon ates, or in suspension; further, to so con not the combustion of the fuel that the incombustible residue shall be reduced to a minimum and extracted or eliminated before the gaseous constituents and products are permitted to enter the fire or heating chamber, thereby to insure a clean fire; further, to make possible the production of a flame which is very desirable in some industries, to-wit, a flame which is devoid of both ash and free ox gen; further, eas control of combustion, so that the degree 0 combusburning not only of obviate the necessity for reducing imperforate surface with an air blast, and

hold. the coal on the surface until the coal is so fardecomposed that I am able to separately dlscharge the gaseous products and the 1ncombust1ble residue. or ash. I thus avoid the necessity for coarse coal, as well as the defects and limitations ofsuspension combustion, and make it not only possible, but practicahto burn, without drying, all of the eoal from a mine, the only requirement being that it be fine enough to be conveyed by a stream of air, steam or as, whlch I preferably employ to feed it to the furnace. This renders possible the eflicient comes from the mine, but also the much coarser coal. Since, as will be later seen, I have an eflective method of fusing and discharging the combustible solids, it will not be so necessary to sort out earthy materials and slate, but I can handle the entire mine run of coal about the size of grain and smaller; and making it unnecessary to carry the crushing operation to the point where either a paste is produced or a dryingoperation make necessary.

In the drawings, which form part of this specification, Figure l is a vertical section of a steam boiler fitted with the apparatus which I prefer to use in carrying out my novel process;-Fig. 2 is a horizontal section thereof on the lines XX and Y-Y- by merely crushing the --same, preferably to the finest coal dust that stack, G, shown in Figs. 1 and 2, are typical and well-known and do not require special description herein.

The means, implements, or devices that I employ in carrying out my process in such or an user of heat are few in number and of simp e construction. They may be considered in thefollowi ng manner:

1stA refractory annulus, such as the substantially cylindrical part, 2, having a top, 3, and a bottom, 5, made of firebrick or other sufficiently refractory material. The top, 3, and bottom, 5, respectively, contain the central openings, 4 and 6. The interlor of thefannulus constitues a primary combustion chamber wherein are conducted the primary steps of the process. The end, 3, containmg the )opening, 4, will be called the open end of the annulus, for through that end the gaseous products of combustion are discharged. The end, 5, will be called the closed end, for from thence the gases find escape through the open end or top. For this purpose the bottom hole, 6, is practically negligible being chiefly for the discharge of the ash, slag orfincombustible residue of the fuel decomposed in the primary combustion chamber.

2ndA slag or ash pit; such as the chamber, 10, into which residual solids of combustion may fall and be removed, as by a conveyer, 11, 12, and elevator, 13.

3rd-Means for feeding fuel and air tangentially into said annulus; such as the tangential twyers, 28, the feeder, 18, and the pipes or ducts, 26, 27. Crushed coal being the most difiicult to handle and burn, and hence of chief interest, I have herein shown a feeder adapted to the measuring and feeding of that kind of fuel. This feeder is described and claimed in. my copending application, Ser. No. 149,561. It comprises a variable air blower, 19, a cross duct, 20, which receives airthrough the blower elbow, 21,

and fuel through the rotary valve, 22. The fuel is dropped upon the valve, 22, by a variable speed roll, 23, coacting with a regulating gate, 23', whereto the fuel is supplied by a vertical trunk, 24, kept full by a transverse conveye1',25, leading from a fuel bin (not shown). Preferably each feeder, 18, is driven'at variable speeds by its own motor, 18, and is capable of both air and fuel regulation within the limits required for minimum and maximum operatlons of the furnace; and by such means, once regulated, a constant stream of fuel and air may be supplied to the twyers, 28.

4thMeans for supplying any secondary volume of air required for the final combustion of the products from the annulus; towit, an air duct, and devices for regulating the flow therein. The duct may comprise the passage, 14, the pit, 10, into which it opens, and the annular channel, 7, surrounding the annulus, 2, and opening into the fire chamber, E, at the top of the annulus. The pit, 10, and the duct, 7, are joined by openings between the bricks, 9, that support the annulus on the shoulder, 8, of the well, 1. For regulating such flow of air, and hence for regulating the pressure in the fire chamber, E, I emp 0y the damper, H, in the stack, G, together with doors or dampers, 15, 16, at the outer end of the passage, 14, as in the floor, I, of the boiler room.

To initiate the process, with the apparatus shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, I make a small pilot fire,-a lighted torch, burning kindling or the like, within the annulus, 2, at the same time fix the dampers, H, 15, 16, so that there is a small flow of air through the secondary air channel, 7. I then start the feeder l8 and thus begin to blow air into the primary combustion chamber, thereby intensifying and. spreading the starting fire. Then the fue feed gate, 23, is raised over the rotary feed roll, 23; and immediately the crushed coal, passing the valve, 22, is caught by the air blast and through respective pipes, 27, is carried into the annulus b way of the tangential twyers, 28. The mixture of coal and air, being highly inflammable, is instantly ignited by the pilot fire. At such times the feeder is adjusted to supply enough, or nearly enough, air for the substantially complete combustion of the fuel. An intense fire ensues, and very quickly the whole annulus is raised to a state of incandescence. If the coal in the feed trunks, 24, is too wet or too coarse for an easy start, a more inflammable fuel may be temporarily used,

such as dry powdered coal supplied through the device, 24, 24", shown on the trunk, 24.

It is to be noticed that I place the twyers, 28, at tangents to the inner wall, 2', of the annulus and moreover in a plane that is close beneath the overhanging end or top, 3, thereof; and also, that the circular overhanging part, 3, is of a width substantially corresponding to the thickness of the several locity; for example at five thousand to twenty-five thousand feet per minute; accordmg to the work to be done and the size of the annulus, and obviously the deflection of 'the tangential streams by the circular wall,

2,sets up acentrifugal force which causes the fuel, and in large measure the air, to press against the vertical wall, 2", as the mixture describes the whirling or helical paths thereon; and the coal or other fuel, because of its greater weight, is somewhat retarded by friction against the wall, while the air sweeps over it with the effect of a blow torch. As the whole annulus is full of flame, and as the walls of the annulus are intensely hot, it is obvious that the mixture begins to burn the instant it enters the annulus and this combustion under the external restraint of the encompassing annulus proceeds with great rapidity upon the wall thereof as long as oxygen is present to support combustion.

Thus I create-a hot annular wall of considerable longitudinal extent and also a hollow column of fuel and air-;' which column whirls rapidly therein and which, being constan ly initiated or augmented at the twyers adjacent the top or abutment, 3, must needs move or work toward the closed end of the annulus or chamber. Such movement is accompanied by the rapid expansion of the burning mixture of air and liberated fuel gases which, therefore, yield less readily tocentrifugal force and tend to inove or expand toward the axis of the annulus. Also as the downwardly whirling products reach the closed end ofthe annulus they are positively. deflected by the bottom or end, 5. Obviously, this bottom interrupts the further downward sweep of the products and hence their movement from that point is inward, toward the center of the primary chamber. The ultimate avenue of escape for gases is through the stack, G, the damper, H, of which is always part way open at such times. Therefore, the gases and combustible particles from the whirling column on the vertical wall of the annulus, and which continue to whirl helically or spirally, always react when thus interrupted and move up ward or backward along the axis of the annulus. Thus the whirling and burning products are formed into a reacting, inner, whirling column, which expands freely from the bottom, 5, upward past the region or zone of fuel entrance, and whirls out through the opening 4, in the top of the annulus.

By thus compelling the burning products to react and pass back through and in substantial parallelism with the initial or outer column and in thermic' contact therewith, I am able to constantly maintain the annulus in an incandescent or sufliciently hot state.

' In other words, I am able to impart thereto,

by radiation from theinner column, enough heat to overcome the cooling effect of the in coming fresh fuel and air: adding to the heat of the initial combustion enough heat from the inner column to keep the wall, 2',

in condition to ignite and begin the decomposition of the fuel from the moment of its entrance to the annulus; and therebv I insure the continuity of the progressive dethrough the hole,

In th time for complete decomposition, especially as such action is aided by. the high temperature of the annulus and by the centrifugally enforced int-in'iacy of contact between the fuel upon the hot wall and the obviously hot air or other supporter of combustion At the beginning, any large pieces of fuel not fully consumed when they reach the bottom, 5, are discharged across thesame and out soon, under the growing intensity of the fire the decomposition of the fuel proceeds to the point of leaving upon the lower walls of the annulus only the ash or incombustible residue of the fuel, while the volatile liquids and the gases and the fixed carbon are taken up by the supporter of combustion or swept out by the great volume of gas -es caping through the open end of the annulus. e same connection it is to be noted that the manner in which I cause the gaseous products of combustion to react (turn backward) within the annulus is of special importance; for thereby the gases are for a longer time retained in the annulus and ample time is allowed for all necessary chemical actions and reactions therein before escape into a fire chamber, such as the chamber, E.

Due to the described condition resulting from the constrained and localized combustion on the Walls of the primary chamber the incombustible residue is fused on such walls, and generally is ultimately liquefied so that it runs freely thereon. Thus the residue or slag finds its way to and upon the bottom, 5, from whence it is swept or flows into the hole, 6, and thus is discharged into the slag pit, 10. This segregation solids upon the walls of the annulus and the discharge thereof from the body of the burning gases, is of great benefit; for thereby the combustibles and the incombustibles (disregarding nitrogen) are completely separated within the primary chamber and before the gaseous products are allowed to escape into the chamber, E; an advantage of great importance whatever the character of the fuel used, and especially in the case of coal and other solid fuels having a large content of ash.

Following the described start of the process and when the last described stage has been reached, I either increase the feed of 6, into the pit, 10. But

of the residual fuel, or out down the volume of air, so that thereafter the primary chamber or annulus receives only enough air for the artial or primary combustion of the fue therein. As previously pointed out no great quantity of heat is required to maintain the incandescence of the walls of the chamber and such restricted primary or artial combustion of the fuel furnishes all t he heat necessary for that purpose; and obviously, all the heat needed to decompose the fuel, liberate its combustible constituents and leave the incombustible solids upon the walls of the chamber to be discharged, as before described. From the time of the reduction of the primary air, a whirling column or stream of partially consumed, intensely hot, gaseous products discharges from the open end of the primary chamber, free from solids other than carbon particles, and ideally ready for advantageous final combustion. When I thus cut down the blast of primary air I immediately open the dampers, 15 or 16, and if need be the stack damper H, and thereby, taking advantage of the stack draft and the lower pressure in the fire chamber, E, provide a secondary supply of air through the channel, 7,' for combination with the products from the annulus. By the proper manipulation of the dampers the exact volume of secondary a1r necessary to make up the deficiency in the primary supply may be thus added to and admixed with the combustibles in the final combustion chamber; from which it follows that the combustion in that chamber is complete, smokeless and of great brilliance, affording a maximum delivery of heat from the-fuel employed and in a form or condition best suited to its efficient radiation and utilization. I

. Referring again to Fi s. 1, 2, and 3, it should be noted that I p ace the outlet of the secondary air duct, 7, at the top of the annulus, where the whirling or expanding gases from the latter are certain to intercept the infiowing secondary supply of air. It should also be noted that I lead the secondary air into contact with the outer surfaces of the annulus whereb two important effects are gained; to wit, the air is heated before it enters the final combustion chamber, and conversely the outer walls of the annulus are so far cooled as to insure their stability notwithstanding the extremely hi h temperatures within the annulus; and urther', the absorption of heat from the exterior of the annulus obviates a direct loss of heat, and also, by tending to cool the. internal surfaces of the annulus insures the maintenance of a protecting glaze of slag on those surfaces, against the oxidizing and wearing eflects of the rapidly whirling column of air therein. Still further benefits and results may be mentioned as flowing from the use of the secondarysupply of air and the reduction of the volume of air used in the primary combustion chamber. (a) By reducing the supply of air which must pass through the prlmary chamber, the capacity of the same for fuel gases is increased and hence more fuel ma be burned therein within a given time. i The secondary supply of air is drawn in by the natural operation of the furnace stack,

G, and, by that muchythere is a saving of at the top;. and at. the bottom,-indirectly,'

through the hole, 6, the space, 10, and the channel, 7. Thus I provide a substantially balanced pressure condition above and below the annulus, disturbed only by the somewhat higher pressure in the pit, 10, than in the space, E. By relatively increasing the pressure in the rimary chamber, as by increasing the air ow through the twyers or by increasing the volume of gases evolved in the primary chamber, I am able to cause a flame to burn down through the slag hole and thus make sure of keeping that hole open for the discharge of slag, while easily maintaining the fire in the primary chamber regardless of any fluctuation of the stack-draft in the fire chamber, E. Further under the conditions shown in Fig. 1 there is' a slight upward flow of air from the pit 10, intothe center of the primary chamber due to the difference of pressure and a vortex created by the whirling inner column of gaseous products moving upward within the annulus, such air from the pit aiomg the combustion of those products without disturbing conditions on the walls of the annulus.

Thus far I have described my process as conducted under conditions of natural draft; that is, the draft created by the smoke-stack, G; but- I wish it understood that the process may be worked by forced draft in the secondary air channel, 7. ,To do so the doors or dam ers, 15, 16 are closed and the needed secon ary supply of air-is admitted under pressure from a duct, 29,

that opens into the passage, 14.

The extinguishment of the fire is accomlished by shutting off the supply of air and uel to the primary combustion chamber. At such times all the dampers should be closed to shut off the flow of cold air through the fire chamber. Thus handled the annulus remains hot for a considerable period and at any moment duringl such period the rocess may be reinstate without rekin ing, the annulus being hot enou h to ignite the mixture as soon as the eeder 1s again started.

Our purposeof the air blast to the twyers, 28, is as a vehicle for the coal. It is the least costly, most convenient, and most readily controlled vehicle, and for that reason I have illustrated its use. But I wish it understood that my invention comprehends the feeding of the fuel in other ways, several of which admit of a different feeding of the air or gas required for combustion within the burner.

When dealing with large furnaces, several slag holes (like unto 6) may be provided in the bottom of the annulus. It should also be understood that while I have herein shown simple fuel-laden air twyers, the twyers maybe sub-divided or two separate sets used for separately feeding the air or other gas and the fuel to the annulus. 'When distinct sets are used, I prefer-that thefuel shall enter below the air.

The direct smelting and'reduction of ores and metals'is made possible by my process and apparatus. Further, with such temperatures, as are easily attainable therewith, the use of fluxing materials may be dispensed with, the fusing and final disposal of which fluxes I conceive to be an industrial waste. When desired, other solids may be fedwith, or separately from, the fuel to produce slags or compositions adapted for special uses, w

The implements or facilities therefor, and the process itself being now understood, it becomes apparent that my invention is capable of a wide range of modification, regulation and adaptation in all particulars relating to the fuel, the supply thereof, the primary air supply, the secondary air supply, and the volume and intensity of combustion in both the primary and the secondary or final combustion. chambers of the apparatus.

The furnace illustrated in Fig. 4 is like that of Fig. 1, but the slag pit, 30, is tightly closed within a' wall, 31, and hence separate from. the secondary air channel, 32. The latter is supplied through the passages, 33, 34, terminating at the damper or manhole-door, 37. There is a door, 35, in the wall, 31, to permit the application of a torch in starting the burner. A pressure of gases accumulates in the closed pit, 30, and balances the pressure in the annulus; and no air can enter the annulus from beneath; otherwise the process is conducted in the same manner as before described.

In Fig. 5 I have added a central air, gas, or steam admission duct, 38, whereby to deaway from the annulus liver such combustion aids into the before mentioned vortex in the bottom'of the annulus.

Fig. 6 illustrates a furnace well adapted to the burning of oil and gases; and in the part '-3-9 shows that the term annulus, as used herem, comprehends such as are tapered toward either the bottom or the top. This also evidences that in some cases I contemplate dispensing with the annulus inclosing air channel, and feeding the secondary'air when needed through the slag hole 40.

Fig. 7 illustrates means which I sometimes employ for forcibly injecting the secondary'air, such means comprising a series of air-feeding openings or twyers, 42, tangential or radial, as desired and placed at the top ofthe annulus.

In Fig. 8 I have emphasized the fact that although I prefer to continuously discharge the slag through a central or approximately rentral hole in the bottom, the slag may be discharged from the annulus, 44, from its own slag pit, 45, through the duct, 46, from which, it may be drained, either continuously or intermittently. This drawing also illustrates the use of my furnace for delivering its heat to an oven, 47.

Fig. 9 illustrates the adaptation of my invention for use in the fir -box, 48, of 1000- motive and 49 is the usual arch. The bottom of the firebox is closed by a plate, 50, covered with refractory material, 51, except at the openings of the two furnaces. The refractory walls, 51, should rise some distance above the mud ring, 52. Though two are shown, one furnace usually will be sufiicient. For convenience, the annulus, 53, of the fur-- nace is mainly formed of metal, though the firebrick construction may be retained. Eachhas a'slag-pit extension, 54. The two compartments are partially separated by a firebrick ring, 55, which forms the bottom of the annulus and provides the slag hole, 56. The metal annulus has a flange, 57, at the top, and on this rests a firebrick ring, 58, having projections, 59, by which it is centered within the cylindrical space 60. The mixing space, 60, is formed by an upward extension of the firebrick bottom, 51, and is of greater diameter than the annulus 53. Surrounding the annulus is a preferably insulated metal wall, 61. This is spaced and forms the secondary air supply channel, 62, which opens into the chamber or space, 60. The extension, 54, is preferably perforated, as indicated at 63, and is provided with a perfo-' rated drop-bottom, 64. The fuel and air twyers are indicated at 65, and 66 is one of the air-feeding trunks which lead from the fuel and air feeder (not shown). The 0 eration of the furnace is as before descri' ed, except in the matter ofthe disposal of the therein;

slag. The slag which falls from the annulus is caught within the perforated pit and is there granulated by cold air and the vibration ofthe locomotive. A ringi 67, on

each extension, 54, is raised to 0 se the channel, 62, when the fire is extinguished and it is desired to keep the annulus hot and in readiness for the resumption of the fire To one, skilled in the art, certain changes and modifications in my 1m roved process become apparent, hence I 0 not wish to be limited to the exact disclosurethereof.

I claim- 1. The herein described improvement in the art ofburning fuel,- that consists in continuously feeding a mixture of fuel and air and progressively causin the same to assume a spiral whirl un er straint, and coincidentlycauslng all of the gaseous products of combustion to move inwardly and return-within said whirl and discharge lon itudinally outward therefrom, substantially 'as and for the purpose 2. The herein described improvement in the art of burning fuel, that consists in continuously feeding a mixture of fuel and air and progressively causin the same to assume a spiral whirl un er peripheral restraint, and coincidently causing all the gaseous products of combustion to move inwardly and return within said whirl, and continuously discharging the non-combustible solids of the fuel from the region of such return.

3. The herein described improvement in the art of burning fuel, that consists in continuously feeding a mixture of fuel and air and progressively causin the same to assume a spiral whirl un er peripheral restraint, and coincidently causing the gaseous products of combustion to move inwardly and discharge outwardl from within and along the axis of sai whirl, also continuously separating and discharging downwardly the non-combustible solids of the fuel from the hot region of the inward movement of the gaseous products, coin-- cidently heating secondary air by radiation from the peripheral restraining medium and adding said air to the gaseous products, to complete the combustion thereof.

4. The process of combustion which con-.

sists in decomposing the fuel under high temperature produced within itself, in separating by centrifugal force the liquefied constituents of the fuel from the gaseous constitutents and discharging the fusible constituents and the gaseous constituents in axially opposite directions. 7

5. That step of the herein described process that consists in causing a whirling and burning column of fuel-laden air under peripheral restraint to react inwardly and peripheral redischarge its gaseous products outwardly through the plane of its generation, said column acting as the confinin' medium for the dischargmg products, su sta'ntially as and for the purposes 8 ecified.

6. That step of t e herein described process that consists in causing a whirling and burning column of fuel-laden air -un-' der peripheral restraint to react inwardly and its gaseous products thence to pass out through the column and through the plane of its generation while discharging the ash in the opposite direction, substantially as feeding fuel and a supporter of combustiontangentially into a refractory annulus thereby establishing a helically moving column of mixture on the wall of said annulus, there burning the mixture, continuously causin the column to react within itself and re ect the incombustibles, sweeping and cooling the annulus by means of an inclosing annulus of air and adding said sweeping air to the gases which emerge from sa1d annulus.

9. The herein described continuous process of combustion which consists in forcibly feedingfuel and a su porter of combustion tangentially Into a re ractoryannulus there- 'by establishing a helically moving column of mixture on the wall of said annulus and burning the mixture on :said wall and then causing the column to react within itself,

and to reject the incombustibles, sweeping and cooling the annulus y means of an inclosing annulus of air, adding said sweeping air to the gases as they emerge from said annulus and meantime controlling the pressure within and without said annulus to insure combustion of the fuel with a minimum of air.

10.'The method of segregating the combustibles and the non-combustible solids of fuel which consists in continuouslyburning the fuel at a slagging temperature in a helical stream or path of determined diameter and of sufficient len desired degree of combustion before discharge of the gases, progressively causing the resultant gaseous products to flow toward the axis of the helix andthence escape, and simultaneously and continuously collecting and discharging the incombustible h to effect the stream of ignited fuel and gases mentioned stream to return; inside of said ing a refractory annulus and maintaining spiral and thence discharge outwardly the initial helix actingas the confining medlum for the discharging stream.

12. The process of burning fuel ,which consists in imparting a helical whirl to sa1d fuel under peripheral restraint and in the presence of internal heat whereby the mcombustibles are fused and centrifugally segregated from the gaseous products, continuously'causing said gaseous products to pass centrally outward through the whirl and into an ultimate zone of combustion, and progressively discharging the fused incombustibles.

13. The herein described improvement in the art of combustion that consists in heating a refractory annulus and maintaining the same in a hot condition while feeding and maintaining therein a rapidly and coaxially rotating burning column of fuel admixed with a supporter of combustion, constantly adding fuel and such supporter to the rotating column at one end of said annulus and thereby causing the column as a whole to move helically and longitudi tudinally toward the other-end of the annulus, resulting in the relatively slow decomposision of the fuel, interrupting such longitudinal movement and causing the progressive separation of the gaseous products and the incombustible residue of the fuel at the zone of such interruption.

14. The herein described improvement in the art of combustion that consists in heatthe same in a hot condition while feeding and maintaining therein a rapidly and coaxially rotating and burning column of fuel admixed with a supporter of combustion, constantly adding fuel and such supporter to thecolumn at one end of said annulus and thereby causing the rotating column as a whole to move longitudinally toward the other end of the annulus, and thus allowing time for the relatively slow decomposition of the fuel, and at a given point in such movement separating the gaseous products from the incombustible residue of the fuel and positively ing'the latter.

15. The herein described method of burning fuel which consists in putting a column of fuel-laden air into rotary motion at relaand progressively dischargof a slag,

direction in a spiral path on the inner highly heated surface of a refractory annulus thereby gasifying and igniting the fuel, deflecting the products toward the axis of the cylinder and causing them to travel in the opposite direction and burn in a spiral path of smaller diameter to and beyond the point of beginning.

17. The herein described method of burning fuel which consists in forming a whirling body of fuel-laden air, igniting the fuel therein, and causing the products of combustion to double back within and to bedischarged outward in a whirling condition from the center of said whirling body.

- 18. The herein described method of burning fuel which consists in setting a column of air into motion at relatively high velocity, adding fuel to the column of air in such quantity that the air is not suflicient to consume all of the fuel, causing the column of fuel laden air to within highly heated refractory annular walls thereby liberating the gaseous constituents of the fuel, igniting the gases and causing their partial consumption thereby forming as the products of combustion, highly heated partially consumed gases and a non-gaseous residue, causing the residue to adhere to the highly heated surfaces and become melted into the form of slag, causing the partially consumed whirling gases to enter and be discharged from the center of the body of fuel-laden air, and thereafter adding air to the discharged gases in suflicient quantity to completely consume all of the fuel.

19. The herein described method of burning fuel which consists in injecting fuelladen air into a highly heated annulus chamber at its periphery, the fuel and air being so proportioned that the air is insufficient to entirely consume the fuel, thereby causing the fuel to be partially burned, forming fuel gases at high temperature and causing the incombustible products of the fuel to be segregated within the cylinder in the form discharging the partially burned products of combustion at the center of the cylinder within the entering air into the center of a second highly heated refractory chamber and adding additional air to the discharged products of combustion at the periphery of the second chamber whereby travel in a circular path of air into motion at high velocity, adding to the column of air finely divided fuel in such proportion that the air is insufiicient to fully consume the fuel, directin the moving colthereof causin umn of air into a highly eated refractory cylinder at its periphery and at one end the column ofair to move through the cy inder upon its. inner periphcry to the opposite end thereof in a spiral path at high velocity, whereby the fuel is gasified', ignited and partially consumed and the incombustible residue of the fuel is segregated within the cylinder in the form of slag, causing the burning gases to be deflected toward the axis of the cylinder and to be discharged therefrom at the entrance end thereof within the entering column of air and into the center of a second cylinder,

adding to the discharged products of combustion ad itional air tangentiallyat the periphery f the second cylinder, whereby the additional air and the products of combustion are thoroughly mixed and the fuel is completely consumed.

21. The herein described method of burn- .ing fuel, which consists in setting a column of air into motion at high veloc ty, adding finely divided fuel thereto, directing the col; umn of fuel-laden air into'a highly heated, refractorycylinder at one end and at the periphery thereof, whereby the column -of air is caused to travel through the cylinder to the opposite end thereof and adjacent the highly heated cylindrical wall thereof, whereby the fuel is ignited and gaslfied and the incombustible residue of the fuel is segre ated within the cylinder in the form of a s ag, there deflecting the WhlIllIl products toward the center of the cylin er and causin them to travel to the entrance end thereof within. the outer moving column of fuel laden air and be discharged from the entrance end of the cylinder in a whirling condition.

22. The herein described method of burning fuel which consists in setting a column of fuel-laden air into motion at high velocity, directing the column of fuel-laden air-tangentially into one end of a highly heated rcfractory cylinder which is substantially closed at the opposite end, causing the fuelladen air to move spirally to the closed end of the cylinder, thereby forming a gaseous annulus and deflecting and causing the movement of the ases toward the axis of the cylinder and orcing them to travel to the entrance end of the cylinder through said annulus of fuel-laden air, whereby the entrance end of the cylinder is maintained at high temperature by the heat of the-discharged gases.

23. The herein described method of buming fuel which consists in projecting a continuous stream of fuel into a. highlylieated refractory cylinder at one end thereof, causmg the fuel to travel in a s iral ath to the opposite end of the cylin er w ereby the fuel is dissociated into its gaseous constituents and increased in volume, causing the return of the gaseous constituents to theinitial end of t e cylinder" through the forwardly moving body of fuel, discharging the highly heated gases from the initial end of the cylinder in a whirling and highly heated condition into a. second cylinder,'projecting air into the second cylinder adjacent to the point of entrance o'fvthe heated gases, thereby causing the rapid interminglin of the highly heated gases-and the air w ich results in rapid final combustion at a high temperature. p

24. The herein described method of buming fuel which consists inlputtin' 'acolumn of air into rotary motion," adding finely divided fuel to the exterior of the moving column of air, and thusforming an initial whirlin column of fuel-laden air of relatively arge diameter, heatingthe air and fuel and thereby causing the ignition of the fuel, and causing the products to move inward'li and return within the initial column and t us impart heat to the initial column while discharging from within it.

25. The herein described method; of burning fuel which consists in putting a column of burning fuel-laden air into rotary motion thereby forming a whirling annulus of said fuel-laden air, controlling the annulus to cause its constituents to' travel forwardly in a spiral path of relatively large diameter, deflecting the products toward the center of said annulus, thus causing aseparation of the gases and solids an 7 ermitting the burning gases to escape bacllwardly along the axis of said annulus to a point of discharge beyond the point at which'combustion s initiated, and at the same time withdrawing the solids at a point in the plane of the inward deflection of the said products.

26. The herein described improvement in the art of burning fuel in a continuous manner that consists of settin a quantity of fuel in rotative motionwi i and upon the exterior of a whirling column of an oxygen bearing agent, such as air, and there burning a ort1on thereof and with the heat thus furnis ed decomposin the rest, and thereupon immediatel wit drawing the incombustible solids o the fuel while ermitting the escape of the burning ases rst to the center and thence along t c axis of said column.

27. The herein described method of conjecting fuel-laden air into a highly heated annulus chamber atits "periphery, and the charging the partially' burned fuelland air being so proportioned that the air is insuflicient to entirelyconsume the ture and causing the incombustible residue of the fuel to besegregated upon the walls of? said chamber .inthe form of a'slag, disroducts of combustion at the center of the cylinder within the entering air and into a second re-" fractory chamber there adding-addltional air to the discharged gaseous products to complete thecombustion thereof,'and' continuously withdrawing the slag from the walls of said chamber to prevent its esca c with said products and its accumulation in the said chamber.. 28. The process of fuel combustion that V consists in continuously forming and maintaining a whirling and forwardly moving hollow column of burning fuel-laden air, directing the movement of said column and causing its gaseous products to return within it, thereby maintaining inothe forwardly moving portion of the column a temperature suflicient to liquefy the fuel ash, and cansing the movement of the liquefied ash toward the axis of the column, and there continuously removing the liquefied ash.

29. The process of fuel combustionthat consists in continuously forming and maintaining a whirling and forwardly moving hollow column of burning fuel-laden air, directing the movement of said column and causing its gaseous products to return along its axis, thereby maintaining in the forwardly moving portion of the column a temperature sufficient to liquefy the ash of the fuel and causing the collection of the liquefied ash and its movement toward the axis of the column, continuously removing the liquefied ash, and then continuously admixing further air with the gaseous products emerging from the confinement of the initial column to assist in the combustion of said products. a

30. The process of combustion that consists in continuously forming and maintaining in longitudinal movement a whirling hollow column of burning fuel-laden air at a temperature adequate to fuse and liquefy the incombustible solids of the fuel, interrupting the longitudinal travel of said column and causing its gaseous products to return along its axis and find escape through it in the opposite direction, and thus forming an inner burning column confined by the hollow column and which imparts heat to the hollow column and thus maintains said adequate liquefying temperature therein, and thereby also causing the separation and collection of the liquefied incombustible whirlin solids and continuously discharging the 31JThe processv of combustion that consists in continuously forming and maintainfuel, thereby causing the fuel to be partially burned, forming fueLgases at high temperaing 1n longitudinal'downward movement a hollow column of burning fuel laden air ata temperature adequate to fuse and liquefy the incombustible solids of the fueL'interr'upting the longitudinal travel of said column, and causing its gaseous products' to return and find escape therethrough, in the opposite direction and thus forming an inner burning column confined by the hollow column and which imparts heat to the hollow column and thus maintains said adequate liquefying temperature therein, and thereby also causing the separation and collection of the liquefied incombustible solids and continuously discharging the liquefied solids from the bottom of said column, and thuspreventing the suppression or interruption of the process.

32. A method of combustion which consists in generating a whirling forwardly moving hollow column of burning fuel-laden air, then causing the gaseous products to re turn within and be laterally confined by the forwardly moving column and to paSs beyond the plane of generation, and in the course of movement separating and discharging the ash.

33. A method of continuous combustion which consists in generating a whirling forwardly moving hollow column of burning fuel-laden air, separating and discharging the ash, causing the gaseous products to return within the forwardly moving column in thermic contact therewith and to pass beyond the plane of generation.

34. A method of combustion which consists in generating a whirling forwardly moving hollow column of burning fuel-laden air, causing the gaseous products to return within the forwardly moving column in thermic contact therewith, and to pass beyond the plane of generation, and in the course of movement of the column away from and returning to the plane of generation separating and discharging the ash.

35. A method of combustion which consists in generating a whirling forwardly moving hollow column of burning fuel-laden air, causing the gaseous products to return within the forwardly moving column in thermic contact therewith and to pass be yond the plane of generation, and in removing the ash adjacent the zone of reverse movement. H

36. A method of combustion which consists in generating a whirling forwardly moving hollow column of burning fuel-laden air, separating and centrally discharging the ash, causing the gaseous products to return within the forwardly moving column under the lateral confinement thereof, beyond the Plane of generation.

37. A method of combustion which consists in generating a whirling longitudinally moving column of burning fuel-laden air, causing the gaseous products of the same to react and pass back and through the plane of the generation of the column in thermic contact with the forwardly moving column, in the course of such motion removing and discharging the ash, and thereafter adding suilicient air to assist in completing combus- 4 tion. c

38. A process of combustion which consists in generating and maintaining oppo-- sitely movin whirling columns of fuelladen air in t ermiceontact one within the other, and one at a higher temperature than and to pass a the other, and in maintaining a zone throu h the whirling columns at a temperature su cient to slag the non-eombustiblecontent of the fuel and in removing theslagged noncombustible.

39. A method of combustion which consists-in first nerating a forwardly moving whirling co umn of burning fuel and air, then causing the gaseous products to return as a whlrhng body co-axial with and in thermic contact with the forwardly moving column and to pass outward through the plane of the latters generation and in the course of movement removing and dischargin the ash.

testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 14th da of March, 1917 JOSEPH TIN SCHUTZ.

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