1841.] 



THE CIVIL ENGINEER AND ARCHITECT'S JOURNAL. 



.387 



furnace a common furnace is constructed, which receives the coke or charred 

 coal in an incandescent state from the upper bars. 



Thus when coal is thrown into the upper furnace, tlie smoke, in its pas- 

 sage to tlie chimney, has to pass downwards over the clear burning fire on 

 the bottom bars. 



Acramanand Co. (Ko. 1). — This communication is a letter to Mr. Chauter 

 on the last subject, and on the utility of such patent wlien applied to marine 

 engines. Also a list of questions submitted by them to Mr. Thompson, resi- 

 dent engineer, at Liverpool, for the British and North Americau steam-boats, 

 all of whicli are answered in a very satisfactory manner by the latter gentle- 

 man. 



R. Thompson (No. 36). — This is a letter from this gentleman lo Messrs. 

 Acramau & Co., of Bristol, containing a favourable report on the application 

 of Mr. Chanter's plan to the Enterprise steamer, of Glasgow. 



Earl of Dartmouth (No. 7). — This communication is in favoiir of a plan of 

 Mr. Hall, of Leeds, and is the only notice of this principle. This we beUeve 

 is the plan adopted : — A division is formed longitudinally or otherwise in the 

 fire-place, thus forming two furnaces, which are fired alternately, the smoke 

 and gases arising from the fresh fuel in one furnace is destroyed by passing 

 over the bright fire of the other. The noble Earl states that he has applied 

 the apparatus to some boilers in Staffordshire, and it causes them to consume 

 nearly the whole of the smoke. 



J. Juckes (No. 19) is the patentee of a plan for consuming of smoke, and 

 saving of fuel. The method he uses is as follows : — 



" In the centre of a common fire-place he places an apparatus which re- 

 ceives the coal from a hopper, the coals so placed are introduced into the 

 furnace beneath the fire, instead of being thrown in from above and upon 

 the coals under combustion in the usual manner ; by this plan, the gases 

 (arising from the fresh fuel) are destroyed by passing upwards through the 

 coke or charred coal under combustion. 



When the coal so admitted becomes caked, the feeder is again lowered, 

 and a free vent or passage is formed for the admission of fresh air into and 

 through the burning fuel. The patentee is willing to give reference or in- 

 formation. 



R. Rodda (No. 30) is the patentee of a plan for the consumption of smoke 

 and saving of fuel. His method is to divide the furnace into two parts, the 

 fresh coals are put in the first division to coke, and are then thrust back into 

 the second division ; the gases arising from the fresh coal pass through late- 

 ral openings into the second division, where they are destroyed by the bright 

 fire. A stream of fresh air is admitted joining the smoke in the passage, 

 thus rendering it more fit for explosion. 



A list of testimonials from the houses of Messrs. Barclay, Perkins, & Co., 

 Messrs. Truman, Haubury, & Co., and others, accompany the communication. 



Class 4. 



By the introduction of a jet of steam, in conjunction with a jet of 



air, into the furnace of steam boilers. 



W. Bell (No. 3). — This communication is in favour of a plan patented by 

 Mr. Ivison, of the Castle Silk Mills, Edinburgh. The method he uses is to 

 admit a portion of steam through a small pipe into a finely perforated fan 

 branch placed in the furnace, whilst at the same time openings are made into 

 or near the bridge. Through these openings fresh air is admitted, which air 

 and steam mingling with the gases arising from the fuel under combustion, 

 forms an explosive mixture which readily fires, thus destroying the smoke. 



A report from the Manchester poUce accompanies this communication. 



Jlr. Enghsh (No. 9) is the editor of the Mining Journal, Mining Review, 

 &c. In his communication he directs attention to notices of Ivison's and 

 other patents contained in the above works, most of which have been de- 

 scribed in the present papers. 



W. Greaves (No. 13) also notices Ivison's patent, he being agent in New- 

 castle for the said patent. He further advises the use of coals known by the 

 name of Leaze's Main, which, in conjunction with the said patent, produce 

 but little smoke. 



\V. Smith (No. 34) writes that Ivison's patent has been applied to an en- 

 gine belonging to the police-office, Aberdeen ; the smoke is in a great mea- 

 sure consumed, and that a saving of coal is effected. 



Class 5. 



By the use of Anthracite Welch coal (either Langanuoch or 



Jlerthyr) or Coke. 



All the communications which are classed under this head show that fuel 

 of the above description can be procured in any quantity, is perfectly free 

 from smoke, and would be found as economical as the Newcastle or other 

 descriptions of coal. 



Class 6. 

 By the use of compressed Fuel. 



Thomas Oram (No. 26). — This communication states, that the patentee 

 has a method of preparing the compressed fuel, which will emit but little 

 smoke, has a greater power of heat than the best coals, and of a much lower 

 price to the consumer. A sample of the fuel accompanied the communi- 

 cation, a portion of the same has been burnt, and we find but little smoke 

 emitted, but without analysis it would be difficult to form an opinion. 



Class 7. 

 Parties possessing plans, but at present unexplained. 



Dez Maurel (No. 6). — Of this we cannot do better than give the following 

 translation : — 



" Invention of an apparatus to prevent chimnies taking fire, exempts them 

 from cleaning or sweeping, and which does not allow any soot to escape from 

 the top. 



" The inventor proposes to make the following demonstration : — There 

 will be constructed, at the expense of the committee, a chimney, of which 

 the tower is to be 20 feet high, and made of wood. 'The part nearest the 

 fire shall be tarred in order to demonstrate the impossibility of its taking 

 fire ; and the upper part shall be whitened, in order to be assured of the 

 nullity of action of the smoke destroyed by the apparatus. 



" In the fire are burnt pit-coal, wood shavings, oil, and essence of turpen- 

 tine, and after this the apparatus shall be taken away, and in less than half 

 an hour the white part of the tower will be entirely coloured. The a]>paratus 

 (of which the price is very moderate) is of long duration, and requires but 

 one minute to clean it." 



Mr. Eugene de Varoe (No. 8). — This memorial showeth that he hath in- 

 vented an apparatus by which the soot or carbonic portion of smoke is de- 

 stroyed, and the gaseous portion rendered harmless ; it is easy of adaptation; 

 chimney-sweepers are rendered unnecessary ; an impossibility of overheated 

 flues ; would render the atmosphere of London as pure and serene as the 

 cities of the continent, and would give an additional security to life and pro- 

 perty. Has performed experiments before men of science, and would feel 

 honoured by the commands of the Court of Common Council to perform such 

 experiments as would demonstrate the utility of the invention. 



\V. H. Griesbach (No 14) showeth, that if 50/. be placed at his disposal 

 (in consideration of his time and expences), and the use of a steamer, he has 

 no doubt of removing the nuisance complained of. The expense of the ex- 

 periment to be borne by the parties interested. In the event of success, a 

 sum of money (the amount previously determined) to be paid to him ; and 



further, did he not receive an answer to his communication, dated the 



day of , he should leave for the continent in a few days. 



\\. Miller (No. 22) showeth, that he has discovered a method of preparing 

 coal by a simple process, which has the desired effect, and should be happy 

 to submit some coals thus prepared, at any time, in London. 



John Parsons (No. 28) showeth, that he has invented a plan, by which the 

 nuisance complained of may be got rid of, as also the inconvenience arising 

 from smoky chimnies of houses in general. That his plans have been tested, 

 and found perfect ; and he would be glad to explain to any person appointed 

 ly the committee. 



Reddell Brothers, (No. 31) show that they are in possession of a plan by 

 which the object cotUd be gained ; that it is very simple and self-evident 

 upon explanation, and they would be happy to give such explanation to any 

 person appointed by us. The plan would meet with the cordial support of 

 the fire insurance companies and of the public generally. 



John Williams (No. 38) showeth, that he has tried different experiments, 

 and at last succeeded in finding one perfect, which would completely do 

 away with the nuisance complained of; and, if allowed a httle time, he in- 

 tends publishing a treatise on the subject, the profits of which he purposes 

 giving to some institution in the part of the country where he resides. 



W. Wood (No. 40) showeth, that he has invented a plan which would 

 have the desired effect, is easy of application, and, in the case of stationary 

 engines, would be much cheaper than the methods used at present. He 

 would be happy to show his plans to any person appointed by us at a few 

 days' notice. 



R. J. Brinley (No. 4 a) refers to an article in the 7th volume of Chambers' 

 Edinburgh Journal, in which there is a thing detailed calculated to effect the 

 object required, and would be happy to lend us the volume in question. 



Class 8. 

 General Complaints, but no remedy proposed. 



S. Ansell (No. 2) complaining chiefly of the annoyance arising from the 

 ropes of the Birmingham railway at the Euston station, and the Blackwafl 

 railway, through the eastern part of the metropoUs. 



Misokapnos (No. 21), complaining of the deficiency in height of the 

 chimney belonging to Jlessrs. Calvert's brewery. 



At the same time your Committee feel we should not do justice to the 

 several parties if we did not annex the whole of their plans and communi- 

 cations to this report, and to state, after a careful perusal of the same, that 

 it appears to us to be highly desirable that the nuisance arising from the 

 smoke of steam- engines and manufactories should be abated, and that we 

 have no douljt a remedy may be found which will remove the annoyance 

 complained of, and be a'ttended with economy to the owners of steam-engines 

 and manufactories generally ; and under this conviction we recomtnend this 

 hon. court to present petitions to both Houses of Parliament, complaining of 

 such nuisance and annoyance, and praying that a law may be passed to pre- 

 vent a continuance of the same. 



And we are further of opinion that this Report should be printed, and 

 copies thereof sent to the members of the legislature and of this hon. court, 

 to the authorities of Birmingham. Sheffield, Glasgow, and all the other large 

 mamifacturing towns likely to be affected by smoke from steam-eng'nes ; and 



