The Portland daily press., 1872-08-14
The Latest Improvement in the Genera
ton Of Steam.
Success of the Blanchard Patent.

The ingenuity of inventors has long been tax
ed to produce an apparatus for the generation
OF steam with the least possible consumption
of coal, economy in the use of which has come
to be very important matter of consideration
with boiler makers and manufacturers The
old pattern OF return tubular boilers in which
the whole body of water is heated from the
bottom upward or from the centre, was long
ago discovered to be expensive and various
improvements have from time to timo super
seeded many of the long, old-fa>hioned cylin-
ders aud tubulars, which require more space
and more coal than can be afforded in these
days when land is covered with its price in
greenbackS and coal is reckOned as 40 many
diamonds. The latest invention which meets
the requirements of the times is the Blanchard
Maine State Boiler Company and which has
been introduced into various quarters and
thoroughly tested in several of the largest
manufacturing concerns in New England The
first OF these was put in operation in the works
of the Portland Company in Portland, Me-;
the second contract was made with Barrett
Bros. Of the Maiden Dye Works. near this
city; the third was set up in the factory of the
Boston Leather Board Company ON East Dover
street, and the fourth is now being manufac-
tared for the Dunnell Manufacturing Company
at Pawtucket
The reports of the operation of these boilers
are hghly satisfactory to the owners of the pa
tent and the purchasers. A few days since the
writer had occasion to visit the Boston Leather
Board factory and the Maiden dye-house, at
Maiden, and to examine these boilers Mr.
Barrett has substituted one for two other first
class tubulars which we've formerly required to
do the work of this extensive dyeing establish
ment. The improvements in the Blanchard
boiler consist of a double diaphram running
lengthwise from the fire-box to the opposite
end, and dividing the water into three bodies
through which pass tubes of three, two and a
half and two inches diamater Above the rear
end OF the boiler is placed a blower, operated
BY small, upright engine, by which the heat
first passing through the upper water chamber
is forced downward through the second between
the two diaphrams, and returning is finally ex-
pended in the lowest portion of water in the
boiler. 90
from the furnace, on their way to the smoke
stack, come in contact with gradually decreas-
ing temperatures of water. The effect of this
arrangement is to convey the first degree of
heat through the top of the water whore the
steam is generated, instead of forcing it up
from the bottom through the whole body of
water, as is done in the old tubular boilers
The passage of the heat through the middle
and lower chambers prepares the water for the
generation OF steam In a much more econom-
zeal manner than by the old method. All the
sparks are consumed and all the heat utilized
IN its circuit from the fire-box to the chimney
Inc steam passes upward into a dome or re-
celver, placed longitudinally upon the boiler
III I6Seil is all improvements over all other
Doners. The external surface of both the boil
er and receiver is covered with a thick coating
OF asbestos, which effectually prevents the ra-
diation of heat. The apparatus is exceedingly
compact, occupying one third less space than
would be required by return tubular of the
same capacity, and is less expensive than MANY
OF the improved boilers of the day. The dye-
works consume 100 horse power of steam in
running an engine of 40 horse power, and i'm
the process of preparing dye-stuffs. To obtain
Of ta u.
boilers have been kept under full blast, CON
Stunning three tons of coal per day.
The Blanchard boiler has been set in the
place OF one of these, and accomplishes the
work OF both with less than two tons of coal,
thereby effectng saving of 800 tons of coal
per year The proprietors of the patent claim
this boiler will show fifty per cent more power
with the same weight of coal, than any boiler
with the same heating service in the market
and so well satisfied is Mr.. Barrett with the re-
suit already attained while running at low
pressure, that he has surrendered $500 in gov
eminent bonds, which Mr.. Brown the agent.
deposited as a guarantee for the accomplish
ment OF all that was claimed for the boiler
The testimony of Mr.. Balloon, of the Leather
Board Company, was more emphatic and con-
hrmatory OF the report of the scientific experts
who have examamned the boiler. He has had
one In operation for more than four months
and has tested it under its fullest capacity. He
did not hesitate to declare the boiler had ac-
complished all the saving in the consumption of
coal which was claimed for it. The principal
upon which the Blanchard boiler is constructed
is one which commends itself to scientific and
practical engineers, and to the attention of all
manufacturers and consumers of steam Its
application to locomotivesis admissible and will
result in great saving of steam now used to
heat the water in the tender. Negotiations are in
progress to test its application to locomotives
and steamboats,. Experienced engineers and
hremen who have examined the boiler are
unanimous in the opinion that it will eventual
ly sIpersede all forms of tubular boilers It's
application to locomotives will result in two
fold advantage. Besides saving coal it will
prevent the scattering of sparks and the con-
sumption of acres of Woodland Boston Jour
nal N NN