US289990A - ctjmmings - Google Patents

Description

2 Sheets-Sheet 1'.

(No Model.)

' `l Y UI.. CMMINGS.e

-PURNAGR Patente@ Deo. l11.11883. j ,2f/(91.

(No Model.)

, Y 2 shets-sneet 2. U. CUMMIN GS.

' FURNAGE.

Patented'ne. 1.1, 1883.

-ZZWJ UNITED STATESY PATENT .OFFICE... l

Ulmen cnMMiNes, oF BUFFALO, New vonk.

FURNACa SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 289,990, datedvDecember 11, 18.83.

, Application filed February 23, 1883', (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

kBe it known that I, Unika OUMMINGS, of the city of Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Furnaces, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in boiler and other furnaces, whereby the combustion of the fuel is rendered more perfect and the formation of smoke is to a large eX- tent prevented.

It is well known that in furnaces constructed in the ordinary manner large volumes of combustible gases arev developed, which escape without being consumed, and which not only involve a heavy loss of fuel, but also materially increase the volumes of smoke which are produced by the furnace. It is also well known that these combustible gases can be consumed and the combustion rendered more perfect by admitting fresh air to the furnace at a point where it can be combined with these combustib le gases, and that the desired result is most perfectly attained when hot airis so admitted to the furnace, because chilling effects, due to the admission of large volumes of cold air to the furnace above the grate, are thereby avoided.

The object of my invention is the construction of a simple and cheap device whereby the heated air can be commingled with the combustible gases generated by the burning fuel on the grate, such device being so constructed that it can be readily applied to furnaces of ordinary construction already in existence; and my invention consists, to that end, of the peculiar construction of the device, which will be hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings, consisting of two sheets, Figure 1 represents a longitudinal section of ya furnace provided with my improvements. Fig. 2 is a cross-section of the same. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal Section, on an enlarged scale, of the air-heating contrivance arranged below the grate. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary top plan view ofthe same. Fig. 5 is a cross-section of the frame 'of the air-heating contrivance. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section, on an enlarged scale, of one of the adjustingj plates'of the same. Fig. 7 is a perspective Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures. l

A represents the grate of a steam-boiler or other furnace; B, the combustionchamber above the grate; b, the fire-door; b', the bridgewall; C, the ash-pit, and c the ash-pit door, all of any suitable and well-known construction.

The air-heating contrvance arranged below the grate in the ash-pit C is composed of a series of metallic plates or slats,` D, which are arranged in such close proximity to the grate that the heat which is radiated downwardly by the burning fuel on the grate is partly absorbed and partly reflected by the plates D, and imparted by the latter to the air which enters from the ash-pit into the space between thegrate and the plates D. The plates D are constructed with journals d', which rest in notches e, formed in side bars,'E, of a frame which is arranged in the ash-pit, and which supports Vthe plates D. The frame E is supported by standards or legs f, and secured in place by set-screws f. The plates D extendas far as practicable across the entire width of the ash-pit, so as to prevent as much as possible the air from entering the space between the plates D and the grate, except through the opening at the front end of the furnace. The plates D are connected by suitable hooks, g, with allongitudinal bar, h, whereby all the plates can be turned simultaneously on their journals, thereby enabling the plates to be placed with their iiat sides toward the grate, as represented in Fig. l, or with their edges toward the grate, as represented by dotted 90 lines in Fig. 3.

I represents an air-heating chamber arranged upon the grate against the bridge-wall b', and open at its lower end, so that a portion yof the air passing upwardly between the grate-bars enters the chamber I. vThe latter is provided at its top with perforations or slots Z, lthrough which the air passes from the chamber I into the flame-space of the furnace.

The chamber I is constructed of cast-iron or other suitable material, and its front side,

ICO

against which the fuel rests, is protected by a Covering, j, of fire-brick or other refractory material.

\Vhen the furnace is in operation, the cold air passes from the ash-pit C into the space between the plates D and the grate A, and a portion of the air passes upwardly through the space between the gratebars in front of the hot-air chamber I, while the remaining portion of the air, after having passed through the space between the grate A and the plates D, passes into the chamber I. The plates D become highly heated by the heat which is radiated downwardly by the burning fuel on the grate, and the air in passing over the plates D becomes highly heated before it passes upwardly between the grate-bars and into the eombustioachamber. The air which enters the hot-air chamber I has passed over the entire series of plates D,and has thereby become highly heated, and this air is further heated by contact with thc hot walls of the chamber I, so that the air which issues into the flamespaee through the openings Z is heated to such a degree that it is in the best possible condition to combine with the combustible gases generated by thc fuel. This hot air combines readily with the combustible gases and completes the combustion thereof, thereby insuring a perfect combustion and a correspondingly high degree of heat, and preventing the formation of smoke. rl`he air which is supplied to the grate and to the namespace of the furnace is by this means heated by that portion of the radiated heat which is wasted in ordinary furnaces, and the heat which is required for raisingthe temperature of the air does not therefore reduce the temperature of the furnace. \Vhen a layer of ashes has aecumulated on the plates D which would interfere with the operation of heating the air by contact with these plates, the latter are turned on their pivots so as to assume the position represented by dotted lines in Fig. 3, whereby the ashes are dumped into the ashpit, when the plates are returned to their former position.

If desired, a stationary plate or plates may be substituted for the movable plates D; but I prefer to employ the movable plates,because a stationary plate or plates would necessitate the raking out of the ashes, which I desire to avoid.

rIhc air-heating eontrivance arranged below the grate and thc air-heating chamber arranged above the grate are both very simple in construction, and can be readily applied to furnaces of ordinary construction without nccessitating alterations in the furnace.

I claim as my invention- The combination, with a furnace-grate, A, and ash-pit C, ot' pivotcd ai r-hcating plates arranged below the grate and above the bottom of the ashfpit, with an opening for admitting the air into the space above the air-heating plates, and mechanism, substantially as described, whereby the pivotcd plates can be simultaneously turned on their pivots for discharging the ashes, substantially as set forth.

URIAII CUMMINGS.

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