Specification of Henry James Ditmars : apparatus for consuming smoke.

  • Ditmars, Henry James.
Date:
1868
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Specification of Henry James Ditmars : apparatus for consuming smoke. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    D Umars' Improvements in Apparatus for Consuming Smoke. tube over which, it is placed. The cone C being fixed in accordance with the foregoing directions the height of the rectificator is at once determined, and the whole will then wear the proportion and general appearance as shown in the illustrations, and be about 35 feet in height from bottom to top. Pig. 2 is an elevation of the apparatus, 5 and shows a door H through which the ash which will collect in that part of the rectificator marked I may be removed. It is sometimes necessary however to surround or .partially so the rectificator with brick or other material, so as to retain the heat and prevent radiation and consequent loss. 10 The action of the apparatus is as follows:—When the fire is first lighted the draught is but slight as in furnaces generally, but sufficient to set all the fuel on fire in a few minutes and the heat to ascend into B, which soon becomes hot and stimulates the draught thereby. The temperature in B very shortly attains so high a heat that it 15 becomes necessary to regulate it by a damper or other suitable contrivance, and if well managed any kind of combustible may then be consumed without the slightest smoke being visible at the wire cap at the top of the chimney. This wire cap and cone have the effect of separating the warm air inside of the tube E from the 20 exterior atmosphere and averting it from the chimney opening. Erom the foregoing it is inferred that when the fire is lighted, and the rectificator has attained a sufficiently high temperature, the pure carbon separates itself from the incombustible gases and ash. The gases pass up through the tube E while the ash falls into that part 25 of the chamber marked I. The pure carbon then fills the whole space of the rectificator and causes a separation between the cold and warm temperature, consequently no heat from the fire is allowed to pass, but is retained in the furnace and there consumes all the smoke. By the adoption of these improved means a great saving is effected 30 in the construction of chimneys, especially for large furnaces, and considerable economy in the quantity of fuel consumed. Having now described and particularly set forth the nature of this Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion that I do not confine or restrict 35 myself to the precise details or arrangements which I have described or referred to, as variations may be made therefrom without deviating from the principles or main features of this Invention; but what I consider