Improvements in Steam Generators.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Jan., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 16th Oct., 1889-Accepted, 16th Nov.. 1889
WULTIVATION.
Improvements in Steam Generators.
1, ANDREW STAPLEY of Sugar House Lane, Stratford, London, E. Steam boiler
maker, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:
My invention has especial reference to steam generators such as are employed for
steam launches, tug boats and the smaller class of steam craft, in which connection
the steam generators according to my improvements, as hereunder described, will
distinguish themselves by their utility and by the great advantage obtained by being
able to bring down the centre of gravity lower than is possible with steam generators
as hitherto usually constructed.
In carrying out my invention I arrange the bed plate of the boiler to agree with
the configuration of the floor of the boat, that is, converging from the side walls of
the boiler towards the centre. Within the walls of the boiler is provided a chamber
in which are disposed the boiler tubes; between which chamber and the walls of the
boiler are formed ways or passages to allow of the free circulation of the water
around the boiler tubes.
The fire boxes, of which there are two, are divided by a central pendent water
space or pocket extending below the horizontal lever of the foor line. Within said
water space or pocket is disposed centrally a partition plate or diaphragm whereby
the generator is divided into two parts, the object of which is, that in the event of the
leaking, bursting or otherwise failing of any of the boiler tubes, the fire supplying
heat thereto, may be drawn, and thus facilitate the plugging of the damaged tube or
tubes without stopping the generation of steam which would continue, although at a
diminished rate, by the second fire.
The uptake, which is secured centrally to the top of the internal horizontal flue of
the steam boiler passes upwards through the crown of the boiler and the centre of the
steam dome or steam chest. A door or partition placed in rear of the uptake may be
utilised, if desired, to close said uptake and open the horizontal flue to allow of the
passage therethrough of the products of combustion, which latter would be conducted
away by means of a smoke stack situated at the rear of the generator.
In consequence of the centre water pocket extending below the level of the floor line
of the vessel in which the boiler is fitted, the angle, at which the floor plates diverge,
is determined by the difference of level of said pendent water pocket and walls of the
boiler.
From the foregoing it will be seen that the boiler tubes and fire boxes are, with the
exception of the ash pits, surrounded with a water space, the water within which takes
up, at all points, the heat evolved from the combustion of the fuel, and, inasmuch as
the products of combustion are conducted by a flue and uptake passing through the
upper portion of the boiler, steam space and the steam dome, the steam, generated by
the boiler, becomes superheated.
In the application of my improved generator to launches, cutters, pleasure boats
and the like, said generator, by reason of the central pendent water pocket, would be
supported by the keel of the vessel, the floor plates resting upon a bed of suitable non-
conducting cement, under which conditions all straining of the frame of the vessel
from dead weight would be obviated.
Dated this Sixteenth day of January 1889

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Steam Generators.
I, ANDREW STAPLEY, of Sugar House Lane, Stratford, London, E., Steam-boiler
Maker, 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 :-
My invention has especial reference to steam generators, such as are employed for
steam launches, tug boats and the smaller class of steam craft, in which connection
the steam generators according to my invention will distinguish themselves by their
utility and the great advantage obtained by being able to bring down the centre of
gravity lower than is possible with steam generators as hitherto usually constructed.
And by the hereinafter described and illustrated construction of steam generators
it is possible should an accident happen to one or more of the boiler-tubes.to draw the
fire from that part of the steam generator, and still to keep up the fire in the other
part of the steam generator, thus allowing of the continued production of steam,
although at a diminished rate.
And in order that my invention may be thoroughly understood I have appended
the accompanying sheets of drawings.
In which Fig. 1 is an end view, partly in section, and Fig. 2 is a sectional
elevation, of my improved construction and arrangement of steam generator, the
section in the latter Figure being taken in such a manner as to best illustrate the
invention.
Fig. 3-is-a-section of the steam generator taken along the line a -- Fig. 2.
Fig. 4 is a sectional plan taken along the line-cd-Fig. 1, and Fig. 5 is a sectional
plan taken along the line e - - Fig. 2.
In all these figures similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
The bed-plate A of the boiler is arranged so as to approximately agree with the
configuration of the framework or bottom of the steam launch, tug boat or other
variety of steam craft to which this arrangement or construction of generator is
applicable, that is to say the bed-plate A converges from the side walls of the boiler
towards the centre of the steam-launch or the like. The central part of the bed-
plate A rests upon the keel B, or a piece attached to the keel, and between the
bed-plate A and the timbers or the like forming the framework or bottom of the
steam-launch or the like is interposed a layer of non-conducting cement D or like
material.
In those cases in which two or more boilers are used instead of one boiler only, they
would in like manner be supported on the bed plate, which would approximately agree
with the configuration of the framework as aforesaid.
Within the walls of the boiler is provided a chamber E in which are arranged
the boiler tubes F and between the chamber E and the walls of the boiler are formed
ways or passages G to allow of the free circulation of the water around the boiler
tubes. The water space immediately surrounding the boiler tubes F may be
additionally connected to the ways or passages G by means of short branches or
pipes G².
The space at the lower part of the generator and beneath the chamber E is divided
into two separate fire-boxes H by a pendent water space or pocket I.
The products of combustion pass from the further ends of the fire-boxes H through
the boiler tubes F and into the smoke box J.
Opening into the smoke-box J is a internal flue K which passes through the contre
of the chamber E. This flue K is conically shaped and is arranged, as shown, with
its smaller diameter at the further end of the generator, in order to allow of a
water-space being formed under its further end and between such end and the top
of the fire-boxes H, which arrangement permits of the water being heated by the
products of combustion in the further ends of the fire boxes. This arrangement
is best seen in Figs. 2 and 3.

page_text: The flue K instead of being conical might be made cylindrical or parallel, or of
any other suitable shape.
To the upper part of the flue K is attached the vertical uptake or chimney L,
which is arranged so as to pass through the crown of the boiler and through the steam
chest M. Instead of the uptake or chimney L being vertical and attached to the
central portion of the upper part of the flue K, as shown, it may be inclined and
attached to any portion of the length of the flue K. The plate separating the steam
chest M from the steam space N is cut away as shown at O so as to leave a small
space for the steam to pass from the steam space N to the steam-chest M, and to
cause such steam to come in contact with the uptake L, heated by the passage of the
products of combustion from the flue K, by which arrangement the steam is super-
heated.
The steam chest is provided with a pipe which leads the steam from the steam chest
to the engine in which it is to be used, and with a safety valve, both of which are not
shown in the figures of the appended drawings.
The flue Kis divided into two halves by means of a partition plate P fitting
tightly into the same, which is cut away at its further end, or that part immediately
under the uptake L, to facilitate the passage of the products of combustion into tho
uptake L.
The smoke box J is also divided into two halves by means of a division plate Q,
removeable at will, and each half of the smoke box communicates with one half of
the flue.
By the above described arrangement and construction, the steam generator is
virtually divided into two separate portions each independent of the other, to a
certain extent. Should one or more of the boiler tubes leak or get damaged in
one part of the generator the fire would be drawn from the fire-box beneath it or
them, the tube or tubes stopped, and a piece of sacking or other object inserted
in the corresponding half of the flue to prevent the passage of the products of
combustion from the other half. Thus it will be seen that the fire may be kept
up in the other fire-box, the products of combustion from which will pass from the
Alue into the uptake, without going into the other half of the flue or into the boiler
tubes connected therewith.
The products of combustion may pass along the flue K, and by a pipe or chimney
fixed to the further end of the generator into the air, as will be soen by reference to
Fig. 2, where part of the pipe or chimney is shown in dotted lines. To allow of this
I remove the transverse plate R attached to the partition plate P, and shut off the
uptake or chimney L from communication with the air.
The partition plate P of the flue K is attached to the division plate of the
smoke-box by means of two bolts or screws, or otherwise, so as to be easily
removeable.
I prefer to stay the crown or upper part of the boiler by means of two long bolts S
running the whole length of the generator and fixed on either side of the uptake, and
also by means of two gussets or angular plates T, placed centrally at both ends of the
steam generator and attached to the boiler by means of angle-irons U. The sides of
the boiler shell and the sides of the fire-box are stayed in the usual manner.
The upper part of the uptake is hinged in the usual manner, and the lengths may
be increased by making it of a telescopic construction.
The feed-water is first supplied through the manholes V, Fig. 1, and the loss due
to the generation of the steam is from time to time compensated for or supplied by
means of a donkey-pump and inspirator, which may be placed at the front and back
of the generator at any part of the water space.
The angle at which the parts of the bed-plate diverge is determined by the
difference of level between said pendent water pocket and the walls of the boiler,
which difference depends upon the configuration of the frame-work of the steam-
launch or the foundation the generator may have to stand on.
From the foregoing description it will be seen that the boiler tubes and fire-boxos,
with the exception of the ash-pits, are surrounded with a water-space, the water within

page_text: which takes up at all' points heat from the products of combustion due to the burning
of the fuel, and since the same are then passed through the internal flue and uptake,
parts of which are in contact with the water, they give up more of their heat to the
water.
In the application of my improved steam generator to steam launches, tug-boats
cutters, pleasure boats, and the like, said generator by reason of the central pendent
water pocket would be supported by the keel of the vessel, the bed-plate resting upon
a layer of suitable non-conducting cement, under which conditions all straining of the
framework of the vessel from dead weight would be obviated. In addition to this, by
means of the above described arrangement and construction, the centre of gravity is
brought down lower than is possible with generators as usually constructed and fixed,
which increases the stability of the vessel, and on account of the lower position I am
enabled to use a longer length of chimney owing to part of it being within the
generator itself, and at the same time-reduce the length of the uptake outside the
generator.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
First In stean-launches, tug-boats and the like class of steam craft supporting
the weight of the boiler upon the keel of the same, substantially as and for the
purposes described herein and illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
Second-In steam generators the arrangement of two fire-boxes H., boiler tubes F',
the smoke box J, the conical flue K divided into two halves by means of a partition
plate P, and-a-chimney or uptake, substantially as and for the purposes described
herein and illustrated by the accompanying drawings:
Third: In steam generators passing the uptake or chimney through the steam-
chest, and causing the steam from the steam-space to come in contact with the
uptake, substantially as described herein and illustrated by the accompanying
drawings.
Fourth: The arrangements of water spaces surrounding the fire boxes H, boiler
tubes F, and flue K, substantially as described herein and illustrated by the accom-
panying drawings.
Fifth-The improved steam generator for steam-launches, tug-boats and the like
class of steam craft, substantially as described herein and illustrated by the accom-
panying drawings.
.
0175
18th day of October 1889.
JAMES STEVENSON,
Gray's Inn Chambers, 20, High Holborn, London, W.C., Agent for Applicant.