1860-12-14 The Engineer - James Ferrabee at Smithfield Show

JAMES FERRABEE and Co., Stroud and High Holborn, exhibited specimens of Driving Straps, of O'Neill's Spanner (both advertised in THE ENGINEER), also one of Ryffel's Hygeian Stoves, a very useful invention, adapted for all ordinary situations, particularly for pas- sages, offices, harness rooms, &c. From 5 lb. to 12 lb. of coal will burn from 12 to 24 hours with such regularity that the thermometer will not vary one degree. The stove consists of an outer case or cylinder, and a fire-box, which lifts in and out of the outer case. The firewood is lighted on the top of the coal, and the fire then shut in with the cover of the fire-box; the supply of air being thus out off from the top, a vacuum is produced, which immediately causes a downward draught of the fire to, and an upward draught of the air from, the grate. The two elements meet, and the effect on the lighted firewood is the same as would be produced by a strong pair of bellows used from above. The coal, therefore, ignites very quickly. When this has taken place, and the regulator is partially closed, the fire is fed by highly rarefied air, which not only greatly retards the combustion of the fuel, but actually controls the tire in such a manner that, without losing any of its intensity, it can neither increase or decrease, but continues burning regularly and equally until all the fuel is consumed.