Improvements in Steam Boilers.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Aug., 1891-Accepted, 19th Sept., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Steam Boilers.
We, WALTER BAKER FOWLER, Mechanic of 81 Garden Street and LEWIS
SAUNDERS, of 50 Lowell Street Express Agent, both in Lawrence, County of
Essex, State of Massachusetts, United States of America, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
Our invention relates especially to vertical boilers for marine engines, it being
designed to enable extremely light material to be employed in the construction of
the boiler-tubes to effect rapid generation; and it consists in certain novel features
hereinafter fully set forth the object being to produce a simpler, cheaper and more
effective device of this character than is now in ordinary use.
The nature and operation of the improvement will be readily understood by all
conversant with such matters from the following explanation.
In the accompanying drawing
Figure 1 is an elevation of our improved steam-boiler, a portion of the fire-box
and tubes being broken away;
Figure 2 is an elevation enlarged showing the inner circulation tubes;
Figure 3 is a vertical transverse section enlarged of one of the circulation-tubes
showing the method of attaching the heads and circulation-ducts;
Figure 4 is a similar view illustrating a modification;
Figure 5 is a horizontal section taken on line xx in Figure 1 and
Figure 6 a vertical transverse section showing a modification in the formation
of the main cylinder.
Like letters and figures of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different
figures of the drawings.
A represents the fire-box and B the boiler considered as a whole. The said
boiler comprises a central or body portion, C, which is arranged vertically in the
fire-box and which has its lower end closed by an inwardly depressed-head d, of the
form shown in Figure 3 and hereinafter described.
On the top of the cylinder, C a steam-chest D, is mounted into which the said
cylinder opens and from said chest a steam discharge pipe, f, leads.
Vertical supplemental circulation-tubes, 9, are arranged around the body C, and
enter the same near its top and bottom.
Arranged in a circle around the body, C, and alternating with the supplementary
pipes, g, there is a series of vertically arranged circulation-tubes F, shown in detail
in Figure 3. These tubes are of such length that they overlap the steam chest
slightly. Each tube comprises a metallic cylinder having its ends closed by inwardly
depressed heads, d, secured by rivets h, in the said cylinder.
Each head, d, is provided with an inwardly projecting annular flange, i, which
reinforces that portion of the cylinder. Horizontal ducts j, are turned into the
cylinder through the said flange and open flush with the heads, d, said reinforcing
flange enables very light material to be employed in constructing the body of the
cylinder and prevents the same from breaking where the ducts are tapped in.
Draft-tubes, k, connect centrally through the heads, d. One of the tubes F, is
tapped centrally by a pipe, m, through which the water supply is pumped into the
boiler. Said pipe is provided with a cock, p.
A gauge-pipe, g, taps the chest, D, and is connected by a branch, r, with the
supply, m, said pipe, q, is also connected by a branch t, with the main cylinder, C,
said branch passing centrally through the head, d, of said cylinder.
Ports, v, open into the said cylinder flush with the said head and into the chest, D,

page_text: to receive the horizontal circulation ducts j, whereby the tubes F, are mounted on
the body.
A trap, w, is connected with the lower end of the pipe 9 for receiving refuse from
the boiler.
To reinforce the tube F, which is tapped by the supply m, a collar, 15, (see
Figure 3) is shrunk on to the said tube and the said port tapped therethrough.
Instead of the said collar a reinforcing ring may be disposed within the tube F, and
effect the same result as the head flange, i, if desired. Said flanges, i may be
omitted from the head, d, as shown in the modification illustrated in Figure 4, and
the tube reinforced at its ends by a collar, 16, shrunk on the outer side. The
boiler is filled by water pumped into the supply m. Fire being started in the fire-
box the water in the body C, circulates through the tubes 9, and between the said
body and the tubes F, also through the pipes tq into the chest D.
A large surface is exposed to the action of the heat and by the peculiar
construction described very light material can be employed in forming the tubes
enabling the water in the boiler to be rapidly heated.
In the form shown in Figure 6 the main cylinder, C, is not secured directly to
the chest D. The said chest has a lower head, d, of the form shown in Figure 4.
An inner circulation pipe, H, is threaded and turned centrally into the bottom
head of the chest.
The cylinder, C, has its ends closed by inwardly depressed heads, d, of the
form shown in Figure 4, or provided with reinforcing flanges as in Figure 3, as
preferred.
The tube, H is turned through the upper head, d, of the said cylinder which is
thus connected with the chest by the said tube and supported thereby.
The lower end of the tube H, is closed by a depressed head in like manner.
The said tube is provided within the cylinder C, with two sets of circulation
openings, 25, and 26. Said openings being respectively disposed at the top and
bottom of the tube H, a constant circulation of water is maintained from the
cylinder through upper openings, 25, down through tube, H, out of openings, 26
into cylinder.
The efficiency of the boiler is greatly increased by this arrangement and the
condensation effected in the chest, D, is drained by the pipe, H, to the bottom of
the cylinder.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is :-
First. A vertical boiler comprising a cylindrical body closed at one end and
enlarged at the opposite end to form a steam chest; a series of circulation pipes
opening into opposite ends of the said body; a series of circulation tubes having
their ends closed by inwardly depressed heads connected by draft-heads and
horizontal ducts flush with the said head and opening respectively into the said
chest and the lower end of the said body, all being combined and arranged
substantially as described.
Second. A. vertical boiler comprising a cylindrical body; a steam-chest at one
end thereof; supplemental water-pipes opening at both ends into the said body;
vertical circulation tubes arranged around said body; horizontal ducts connecting
the said tubes with the chest and body, a supply for the said tubes; a discharge
for the said chest ; and pipes connecting the body, supply and chest, substantially
as specified.
Third. The boiler tube, F, provided with the inwardly depressed heads, d,
having reinforcing flanges, i, the pipe k, connecting the said heads; and the
circulation ducts, j, entering the said tube through said flanges and flush with the
heads, substantially as described.
Fourth. A fire-box in combination with a vertical boiler mounted therein and
comprising a main cylinder provided with a steam-chest; circulation tubes opening

page_text: into the said chest and cylinder draft-tubes connecting the heads of the said pipes;
a supply-opening into one of the said circulation tubes; a discharge for the said
chest and pipes connecting the said chest and supply and the main cylinder,
substantially as described.
Fifth. A boiler-tube having inwardly depressed heads secured therein;
reinforcing flanges projecting inwardly from the said heads;
a draft-tube
connecting the said heads and circulation ducts opening through the boiler-tube
flush with the heads.
Sixth. A boiler-tube having its ends closed by inwardly depressed heads
connected by a draft-tube; reinforcing rings shrunk on the said boiler-tube and
circulation ducts opening into the tube through the said rings.
Seventh. A boiler-tube having its ends closed by inwardly depressed heads, the
said tube being reinforced adjacent to the said heads to receive circulation ducts.
Eighth. In a boiler-tube, a steam-chest; a vertical tube opening through the
bottom thereof; a main cylinder enclosing the said tube and supported thereby
and circulation openings in the said tube within the cylinder.
Ninth. In a boiler-tube, the chest, D, and tube H, secured in the bottom
thereof and provided with circulation posts 25, and 26, in combination with the
cylinder, C, supported by and enclosing the said pipe, substantially as described.
Tenth. The main cylinder and steam-chest in combination with a tube disposed
in the said opening and opening through the bottom of the said chest, the said
tube having circulation ports, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated the 17th dere of An 1801
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants