US730653A - Hot-air furnace. - Google Patents

Description

No. 730,653. PATENTED JUNE 9, 1903. J. W. HORNSEY.

HOT AIR FURNACE. APPLIOATION I'ILED APR. 17, 1902.

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- PATENTED JUNE 9, 1903.

J. W. HORNSEY. I .HOT AIR FURNACE.

APPLICATION PILBD'APB. 17, 1902.

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UNr'ran STATES Patented June 9, 1 90.3.

JOHN \V. HORNSEY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

HOT-AIR FURNACE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 730,653, dated June 9, 1903.

Application filed April 17,1902.

To all whom, itmcty concern.-

Be itknown thatI, JOHN W. HORNSEY, a citizen of the United States of 'America, residing at the city of Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hot- Air Furnaces, of which the followingis a specification.

My present invention, which relates to hotair furnaces, contemplates certain improvements in the type of furnace patented to me May 7, 1901, No. 673,397, the said improvements having for their object the simplification of the furnace structure, together with increased efiiciency and economy of space in the installation for drying and for heating.

An important feature of improvement resides in a novel construction whereby the products of combustion are diffused and controlled and retarded or expedited in their passage through the radiating structure, as may be desired, and the flue structure thereby rendered a more uniform reservoir of heat.

The accompanying drawings read in connection with the following description will enable any one skilled in the art to which my invention relates to understand its nature and to practice it in the form in which I prefer to employ it; but it will be understood that myinvention is not limited to the exact construction and arrangement illustrated and described, as changes might be made which would properly be within the scope and'terms of the claims appended hereto.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 shows in vertical section my hot-air furnace embodying my present improvements, the sec tion being taken on the dotted line V V of Fig. 6 to show that the air-flues and the firespaces open at the air-inlet side of the furnace-wall and that the openings 18 of the firespaces areclosed by plugs 19. Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section of the same, taken on the line X of Fig. 1, the line of section showing particularly the plugged openings 18 of the fire-spaces in the opposite walls, as in Fig. 5. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on the line Z of'Fig. 1, showing a plurality of heatditfusing valve-controlled chambers supplementingtheheat-storageflue structure. Fig. 4 is a like section taken through one of the horizontal circuitous air-passages on the line Y of Fig. 1, showing in section the vertical fire-lines. Fig. 5 is a like section taken through one of the horizontal fire-spaces on the line WV of Fig. 1, showing the provision for cleaning the fire-spaces. Fig. 6 shows in elevation the arrangement of the wall-openings for the admission of the air into the heatstorage structure and the arrangement of the wall-openings for cleaning the fire-spaces.

The heat-storage structure is of fire-resist ing material, within which air-passages 1 are formed by slabs arranged in horizontal tiers separated and supported by staggered walls forming vertical fire-fines 2, the walls of which pass successively through the tiers of the air-passages.

Fire-spaces 3 are formed by and between the horizontal slabs, and into these fire-spaces the Vertical fire flues open successively through the tiers of slabs, whereby the firefiues heat the air by radiation and form a heat-storage structure or reservoir, wherein and through certain'passages of which air is caused to constantly pass in comparatively thin volumes independently of andcrossing the flues for the products of combustion, the air in its passage extracting the heat radiated from the walls. In this construction of separate and independent passages and fl'ues, the latter for the products of combustion and the passages for the air'in thin volumes in contact with and between flue-walls, the heat is maintained at a high temperature and the air is rendered absolutely pure and of a high moistu re-absorbing capacity.

In the construction shown. the fire-box 4, which may be adapted for grate-tire, is preferably located directly beneath the heat-storage flue structure, so that the fire-fines of the latter open directly into the fire-box chamber for an updraft. This heat-storage structure is supplemented bya plurality of valvecontrolled heat-retarding chambers 5, into which the fire-fines open and which are supplemented by a chamber 6, having a plurality of valve-controlled chimneys 7, whereby in operating conjointly these valved chambers the products of combustion are caused to be diffused through the circuitous fireflues, and thereby effect a more uniform combustion of the fire products in the perfect diffusion of the heat through the staggered fines.

To secure the desired high temperature of the air, perfect combustion and the extraction of every atom of heat possible from the a multiple of vertical fines which open into successive horizontal intersecting spaces, which are common to all the products and within which they are commingled. The walls of these successive fire-spaces form also the walls of the successive air-passages, and the fire products pass into these shallow firespaces toward the exit and into a valve-controlled chamber or chambers, the functions of which are to diffuse-the products of combustion within the staggered flue-passages, wherein the perfect combustion takes place.

To insure the complete extraction of the heat from the products of combustion, it is essential that all the radiating-surface be utilized, and to do this it is necessary that the products of combustion be thoroughly and completely diffused through the fine structure and retarded in their passage in such manner as to prevent their escape until 'as much of their heat as possible has been absorbed. For this purpose it is important that provision be made whereby perfect control may be had over the entrance and passage of the fire products into and through all the staggered llues and successive fire-spaces. The provision which I have shown for this purpose is a plurality of valve-controlled chambers 5, built up with and forming a part of the flue structure and into which all it fire-fines open.

The chambers are preferably provided with valves 8, 9, and 10 for controlling therefrom the products of combustion, and hence the diffusion of the draft through the heat-storage flue structure. In practice the number of such chambers will be governed by the size of the furnace.

When the exits are made by two openings for each chamber, I prefer to use a pair of valves for each chamber, as in Fig. 2, as a means of control over the draft and diffusion through the heat-storage flue structure, the valves of each chamber being preferably operated from opposite sides of the furnace.

In operation it might be found that the products of combustion would have a greater tendency to rise through that part of the fine structure nearest the fire box, which, as shown, is beneath the valved exit 8, and in this case the fire products could be spread through all the lines of the structure by clos ing said valves 8 of the side chamber, partially opening the valves 9 of the middle chamber, and, if necessary, entirely closing the valves 10 of the other side chamber.

By the plurality of chambers and by the opening and closing of their valves the passage of the products of combustion through the heat-storage structure may be diffused, retarded, and expedited, as may be desired, the result being the discharge from each of these valved chambers of the products of combustion at the same temperature at the same or in variable volumes. 7

As the fire-brick of which the flue structure is built is a poor cond uctor'of heat, I find it advantageous to supplement the fire-brick radiating structure with a secondary radiator of metallic walls, and by so doing I can reduce the extent of the fire-brick radiatingsurface. For such. secondary radiator I prefer to employ a plurality of metal tubes 11, arranged within the chamber 6, supplementing the plurality of valved chambers, so that the fire products from the latter will pass around the metallic walls, which. will absorb the heat and transmit it to air passages through said tubes. These tubes open at one of the side Walls of the furnace-closure, their other ends opening into a hot-air-storage chamber 12 at the other side wall, and controlled by valves'13, so as to retard the flow of air through them that it may not enter the storage-chamber at a temperature very much below that passing into said chamber from the air-passages 1 of the fire-brick flue structure.

In the construction shown the products of combustion will leave the furnace at approximately 2,500 to 2,700 Fahrenheit and can be allowed to pass out of the valve-controlled openings of the chambers 5 at any desired temperature, generally about 800 Fahrenheit. There is therefore a cooperative relation between the valved draftcontrolling chambers 5 of the fire-brick flue-radiator and the metallic radiator.

The products of combustion on leaving the fire-brick radiator will pass into and gather in the chambers 5, the valves thereof holding the heat and allowing it to pass out inregulated volumes, and in this function these chambers serve to retain more or less of the heat in contact with and over the surface at which the heat leaves. the hue structure, whereby these valved chambers are caused to form a sort of oven, keeping the top airpassage hot, while protecting the walls of the metallic radiator from heat which would melt them.

Referring to Fig. 1, it will be seen that the air-passages are open at both the closurewalls and that one of said walls is inclosed, so that all these passages open into this closure, which is thereby made a hot-air-storage chamber 12, from which air is supplied for use and may be drawn therefrom by a suction-fan placed in an opening at 14: and which also draws the air through the staggered passages of the heat-storage structure.

It will be noted that the air is drawn by the suction-fan into and through the tubes 11, and its passage from the tubes is retarded by the valves 13 in order that the air may be highly heated before passing into the storage-chamber, and it is in this chamber that the air is received at varying temperatures and commingled and from which it is taken at a uniform temperature. In this arrangement of the heat-economizer tubes it is important to note that the considerable area of the roof of the draft-regulating chamber or chambers 5 will radiate a large amount of heat that will be utilized to the fullest extent to heat the metallic air-heating tubes. Another feature of importance is the provision of a plurality of chimney-fines 7 in the closure-walls, opening by flues 15 into the chamber of the metallic radiator, the chimneys rising from the closure-walls and surrounding this chamber and each provided with a damper 16, whereby the products of combustion may be retarded and retained within the chamber of the metallic radiator to insure the absorption of the heat by thetubes as completely as possible and to control and regulate the draft from the said chamber, and thereby control and regulate the draft through the valve-controlled chambers. By having a plurality of short chimneys each controlled independentlyby a valve the products of combustion may be carried out any one or more of the said chimneys at the same temperature and in this way effect a uniform diffusion of the fire products around the walls of the metallic radiator.

The valves of chambers 5, which supplement the flue structure and the dampers in the chimney-flues, may, if desired, be so adjusted as to cause all of the products of combustion to pass out of the fire-brick flue struc- Lure through any one or more of the valvecontrolled chambers 5 and out of the metallicradiator chamber through any number of the chimneys, the draft being distributed on all sides of this secondary chamber as may be desired. The object of this method of operation of the chimney-valves is to force the products of combustion to pass for a greater distance around and along the metallic tubes, thus giving a greater opportunity for the absorption of heat.

I have shown a plurality of rows of tubes between the valve-controlled chambers 5 and the valve-controlled chimneys, and I may use a bafiie-plate 17 between the rows of tubes standing out from the closure-wall and extending nearly to the opposite closure-wall, so that the products of combustion passing, say, through the valve-controlled opening 10 of the chamber 5 would then pass to the left around and along the lower row of tubes beneath the baffle-plate to the end of the latter, from which they would rise, pass around and along the upper row of the tubes, and make their exit through the chimneys above the valve 10.

The employment of a plurality of controllable short chimneys surrounding and opening into a chamber common to all and through which the draft of the flue structure is eifected is an important provision in afiording facility to work the furnacewith a draft suited to the flue structure and the desired force of the draft.

I have stated as an important advantage of the furnace that it can be operated continuously; but this is only rendered possible by provision whereby certain of the flues may be kept free from choking. In operating the furnace I have found that the vertical staggered fire-fines 2 are self-cleaning and that the horizontal fire-spaces 3 between the slabs become filled with ashes and stop the draft of the furnace. These fire-spaces are formed by blocks arranged in parallel rows, as in Figs. 1 and 5, which separate and support the slabs, and between these rows of blocks the fireflues open in staggered relation between the slabs. The fire products, therefore, as they pass from the vertical fiues impinge against the slabs above and are deflected horizontally,

and it is this interruption of the vertical direction of the fire products which causes the deposit of ashes within the fire-spaces between the fiue-openin gs. I therefore provide access to these fire-spaces by openings 18 in the closure-walls coincident with the spaces between the rows of blocks and with the fine openings. In the other right-angle closurewall openings 18 are provided coincident with the fire-spaces between the blocks and with the said flue-openings. This arrangement of the blocks in their relation to the rows of flueopenings gives a clear way for introducing a scraper through the closure-wall openings and through the fire-spaces across the fire-flue openings 2 to cause the collected ashes to be pushed and scraped in two directions between the rows of blocks over the flue-openings, through which the ashes fall successively from one fire-space to the other and finally into a chamber common to all the flues, as in.

Figs. 2 and 5.

The wall-openings 18 are provided with suitable closures, as by plugs or bricks 19 tomporarily set in, and can be removed when fire-spaces are to be cleaned.

Referring to Fig. 3, rows of fire-fines are seen opening intothe chambers 5, which are within the closure-walls, and it is from these walls that the chimneys rise and from which the roof extends from the base of the chimneys and forms the closure for the hot-air storage-chamber, and beneath the roof the chimney-flues open into the secondary radiator-chamber. In Fig. 5 is seen the horizontal straight passages 3 for the products of combustion leading through the furnace-closure walls and intersecting the vertical passages for the products of combustion, whereby the ICC ash deposits in these straight passages may be dislodged and carried to and through the vertical flues successively from one straight passage to another to a base-chamber common to all the fiues, the dislodgment being made in lines at right angles to each. other between the rows of blocks.

While I have shown the vertically-staggered fire-flues opening directly into the chamber of the fire-box, obviously the fire-box may be arranged outside of the fine structure.

I have shown and described a construction of furnace employing an updraft, but do not wish to be confined to this direction of the draft.

While I have described a plurality of valved chambers supplementing the fine structure, whereby the heat may be diffused through the flue structure, obviously a single valved chamber would be within the scope of the claims,by reason of having the same diffusing function as a plurality of valved chambers.

I claim 1. In an air-heating furnace, a fire-box, a fire-brick structure, a plurality of circuitous fiues therein for the products of combustion in communication with a fire-chamber common to all, circuitous passages for air independent of and crossing the flues for the products of combustion, and a plurality of valved exit-fines whereby the products of combustion are caused to be diffused through the fines of said structure.

2. In an air-heating furnace, a fire-box, a fire-brick structure, a plurality of circuitous fines therein for the products of combustion in communication with a fire-chamber common to all, circuitous passages for air independent of and crossing the dues for the products of combustion, a plurality of valved chambers for diffusing the products of combustion through the lines of said structure and a plurality of valved eXit-fiues into which the valved chambers commonly discharge.

3. In an air-heating furnace, a fire-box, a fire-brick structure, a plurality of circuitous fiues therein for the products of combustion in communication with a fire-chamber common to all, circuitous passages for air independent of and crossing the fines for the products of combustion, controllable outlets for the products of combustion, and chambers between said outlets and the fire-fines having controllable discharge-openings.

4. In an air-heating furnace, the combination of a plurality of circuitous flues for the products of combustion, valve controlled heat-diffusing chambers communicating with said lines and through which the products of combustion are compelled to pass, controlla ble outlets for the products of combustion beyond said chambers,and air-passages crossing the heat-dilfusing chambers.

5. In an air-heating furnace and in combination with a fire-box, a fire-brick structure the walls of which form separate and inde-' pendent sets of lines and passages, one set for the passage of the fire products and the other set for the passage of air, each set of dues and passages arranged in zigzag courses crossing each other, valve-controlled chambers into which the fire-fines open, and a plurality of controllable exit-fines surrounding said chambers.

6. In an air-heating furnace, a fire-box, a fire-brick structure, a plurality of circuitous flues therein for the products of combustion in communication with a fire-chamber common to all, circuitouspassages for air independent of the lines for the-products of combustion, a plurality of outlets for the products of combustion, chambers communicating with the fire-fines having controllable'discharge-openings and other air-passages between the chambers and outlets.

'7. In an air-heating furnace and in combination, a fire-box, a fire-brick structure the walls of which form separate and independent sets of flues and passages,one set for the passage of the fire products and the other set for the passage of the air, each set crossing each other in zigzag courses, chambers into which the fire-fines open, a plurality of controllable exit-fines surrounding said chamber, a storage-chamber into which the airpassages open, and a plurality of metallic fines for air arranged across the chamber into which the fire-flues open and opening into the hot-air-storage chamber.

8. In an air-heating furnace, andin combination, a fire-box, a fire-brick structure the walls of which form separate and independent sets of dues and passages, one set for the passage of the fire products and the otherset for the passage of air, each set of fines and passages arranged in zigzag courses crossing each other, a plurality of chambers supplementing the exit-openings of the fire-fines, valves controlling exit openings in each chamber, a chamber common to said valved openings, a plurality of chimneys the dues of each opening into the latter chamber. 9. In an air-heating furnace and in combination with a fire-box, a flue structure of fireresisting material having vertically staggered dues for the fire products and passages for air crossing the fire-fines, a plurality of valved chambers supplementing the flue structure for diffusing the fire products through the flue structure, and a valve-controlled chamber supplementing the heat-diffusion chambers for controlling the draft through the latter.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN W. I-IORNSEY.

Witnesses:

A. E. H. 'JoHNsoN, GUY H. JOHNSON.

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