Improvements in Water-tube Steam Boilers.
Year: 1898

page_text: [Communicated from abroad by JOHN A. STEVENS, of 25, Dutton Street, in the
City of Lowell, State of Massachusetts, United States of America, Engineer.]
Improvements in Water-tube Steam Boilers.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 322, High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, 6, Lord Street,
Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street, Manchester, both in the County of Lancaster,
and Lower Temple Street, Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Civil
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention is more particularly an improvement in water tube boilers and
furnaces therefor, whether land or marine, and relates to my former inventions
in which the baffle walls are arranged parallel to the vertical planes of the tubes.
The objects of my present invention are, primarily, to provide for the utilization
of either half of the furnace independently of the other; to increase the heating.
surface of the boiler; to secure the equal distribution of the heating gases; to
save space and utilize the heat of the gases until they have escaped; to facilitate
cleaning and repair; and, generally, to secure increased economy, efficiency and
convenience of operation.
In the construction, the heating space or furnace is divided into two distinct
compartments, preferably by a water-box wall, so that either half may be worked
at will while the other is developing full power. By this arrangement, in case
of accident to the water circulating and steam generating system, but one half
of the total fire will act to evaporate the leakage and produce scalding steam.
The action of the boiler will be rendered more even than when one large furnace
is employed and the liability of priming will be decreased since the flow of
generated steam will be more constant. The increase in the heating surface and
the economical advantage in the manner of utilizing the heat of the furnace
gases will more fully appear, as will also the general advantage of the construc-.
tion, by reference to the accompanying drawings and description.
In the accompanying drawings, illustrating my invention:
Figure is a transverse sectional view of the construction, in front elevation;
Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view, on the line a-a of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a vertical
sectional view, on the line b-b of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view in
front elevation, of a modified form of the invention; Fig. 5 is a front elevation
of the invention, partially in section, in illustration of a modified form of header
and connections; Fig. 6 is an end elevation, partially in section, of the modifica-
tion shown in Fig. 5.
As shown in the drawings, the chamber limited by the containing walls is
divided into two distinct main compartments by a wall 2, preferably composed
of water boxes extending between and communicating with corresponding front
and rear water legs, and rising from a suitable foundation 5 to the roof baffle 6.

page_text: Each of these main compartments is divided into three passes, by a primary
baffle wall 7 and a secondary baffle wall 9. The baffle wall 7, preferably composed
of water boxes extending between and communicating with corresponding front
and rear water legs, rises from a foundation 8 toward the rpof baffle 6. Baffle
wall 9, preferably composed of water boxes extending between and communi-
cating with corresponding front and rear water legs, extends downward from
the roof baffle 6.
In each division or main compartment, the first of these three passes contains
the grate 10, suitably supported, and a bank of water circulating and steam
generating tubes 11 extending parallel to the baffle walls and having their
respective ends expanded into the front and rear headers 31 and 4. The second
and third passes contain, respectively, the banks of tubes 12 and 13 extending
parallel to the baffle walls and having their respective ends expanded into the
front and rear headers 311 and 4.
The rear headers and water legs are connected with the steam drum 16 by
means of the tubes 17, expanded in place, and the front headers are connected
therewith by nipples 18. This drum is provided with the take-off and escape
valve connections 19 and 20, and with any conveniently placed manholes as 21.
The feed water supply may be introduced through this drum, by means of the
pipes 22, 221, and nipples 22", which register with the tubes 17. The tubes 17
may support the roof baffle 6; which is formed of any suitable nonconducting
material and extends between the baffle walls 9-9, or to such distance as to pro-
vide a sufficient escape from the end passes for the waste gases. The banks of
tubes in the first passes are baffled by means of perforated tiles 40 to the extent
found necessary. The waste gases escape between the tubes 17 of the end passes
and pass thence by the channel 43 through the breeching 41 which is placed
above the drum 16, the escape being regulated by means of a damper 42.
This
The space between the rear headers and the wall 111 permits access for cleaning
and repair, and provides a dry air space which prevents radiation. Air ducts as 0,
made removable, may be placed in this space, through which air may be forcel
by a fan 01, to the lower part of the grate 10, when hot draft is used.
location of such ducts effects the heating of the air passing therethrough, which
tends to increase the economy of the generator. The front headers and water
legs may rest directly upon a supporting wall 23, excepting the front headers 31
for the first passes which are made short to permit charging the fuel. The rear
headers and water legs may rest directly upon the supporting wall 25. A water
box 26, provided with hand hole caps 27, is connected with the rear headers and
water legs by the nipples 28, by means of which the tubes and headers may be
blown out.
But the details of construction may be modified in accordance with the details
of the modification illustrated in Figs. 4, 5, and 6, in which parallel steam drums
are arranged parallel with the planes of the division and baffle walls. These drums
are provided with water boxes 36 which are connected by means of the nipples 35
with the headers or legs into which the tubes and water boxes are expanded as
in the case of the parts 41, 411. Similar connections are provided for the water
legs or headers 21, 71, 91, 31, 31. The upper or steam spaces of the drums are
connected by the tubes 171, and the lower or water spaces of the drums are con-
nected by the tubes 17", by means of which the steam and water of the several
drums are equalized. Suitable non-conducting material 61 covers the.spaces
between the drums and forms a baffle therewith.
'
A water box 29 is placed beneath the front headers and water legs and is con
nected thereto by the nipples 30, the hand-hole caps 31 permitting access for
blowing out and cleaning. The rear headers and water legs may be similarly
connected with a water box 291, placed beneath them and connected therewith by
the nipples 30, the hand hole caps 311 permitting access for blowing out and
cleaning. In this construction the grate 10¹ is provided with a bridge. wall 82
at the rear end thereof.

page_text: As illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, the headers may be either of the box type 31,4",
or of the sectional sinuous type 311, 41..
1
In constructing the boiler, spaces 33 may be left between the sectional headers
at the desired intervals, for the insertion of a hose to clear off soot and similar
deposits upon the heating surfaces...
When the requirements of the boiler and furnace are limited, the principle
of the invention may be embodied as in the modification illustrated in Fig. 4,
in which the chamber limited by the walls 1 is divided into three passes by the
side wall water boxes 2", water box baffle wall 71, and water box baffle wail 9,
which water boxes are expanded into front and rear water legs, as illustrated by the
parts 21, 71, 91.
In the operation of the main construction, the gaseous products of, combus-
tion rise from the grates 10, heating the water boxes 2 and 7, the tubes 11 and 17,
their connecting headers and the steam and water drum. Being baffled by the
tile baffle 40 and deflected by the roof baffle 6, they pass above the respective
baffle walls 7 of these first passes and transversely thereto, into and down the
second passes, heating the water boxes 7 and 9, the tubes 12, the drum and the
headers. Following the direction of the arrows, they pass below the baffle walls 9
thence upward through the third passes, heating the water boxes 9, the tubes 13
and 17, their headers and the drum. Escaping between the tubes 17 of the third
passes, they are conducted along the drum by the passages 43 and out through
the breeching 41. By this course the heat of the gases is utilized in heating the
water circulating and steam generating system up to the point when such gases
finally escape through the breeching.
In the modified construction, as illustrated in Fig. 4, the heated gaseous pro-
ducts rise from the grate 10', heating the water boxes 21, 71, the tubes, headers
and drums of the first pass. Being deflected thence in the direction of the arrows,
by the drums and root baffle, they are carried over the baffle wall 7" into the
second pass, and descending transmit their heat to the water boxes 711, 91, the
tubes and headers of the second pass and the drums connected therewith. They
pass thence under the baffle wall 911, and upward through the outer pass, thence
through the breeching 41; giving up their heat to the water boxes 91, the tubes,
headers and drums in their path.
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
322, High Holborn, London, W.C., Patent Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in water-tabe Steam Eoilers.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS. THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 322, High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, G, Lord Street,
Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street, Manchester, both in the County of Lancaster,
and Lower Temple Street, Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Civil
Engineer, 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:-
-
This invention is more particularly an improvement in water tube boilers and
furnaces therefor, whether land or marine, and relates to my former inventions
in which the baffle walls are arranged parallel to the vertical planes of the tubes.
The objects of my present invention are, primarily, to provide for the utilization
of either half of the furnace independently of the other; to increase the heating

page_text: surface of the boiler; to secure the equal distribution of the heating gases; to
save space and utilize the heat of the gases until they have escaped; to facilitate
cleaning and repair; and generally, to secure increased economy, efficiency and
convenience of operation.
In the construction, the heating space or furnace is divided into two distinct
compartments, preferably by a water-box wall, so that either half may be worked
at will while the other is developing full power. By this arrangement, in case
of accident to the water circulating and steam generating system, but one half
of the total fire will act to evaporate the leakage and produce scalding steam.
The action of the boiler will be rendered more even than when one large furnace
is employed and the liability of priming will be decreased since the flow of
generated steam will be more constant. The increase in the heating surface and
the economical advantage in the manner of utilizing the heat of the furnace
gases will more fully appear, as will also the general advantage of the construc-
tion, by reference to the accompanying drawings and description.
In the drawings, filed with my Provisional Specification illustrating my
invention:
Figure 1 is a transverse sectional view of the construction, in front elevation;
Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view, on the line a-a of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a vertical
sectional view, on the line b- of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view in
front elevation, of a modified form of the invention; Fig. 5 is a front elevation
of the invention, partially in section, in illustration of a modified form or header
and connections; Fig. 6 is an end elevation, partially in section, of the modifica-
tion shown in Fig. 5.
As shown in the drawings, the chamber limited by the containing walls 1 is
divided into two distinct main compartments by a wall 2, preferably composed
of water boxes extending between and communicating with corresponding front
and rear water legs, and rising from a suitable foundation 5 to the roof baffle 6.
Each of these main compartments is divided into three passes, by a primary
baffle wall 7 and a secondary baffle wall 9. The baffle wall 7, preferably composed
of water boxes extending between and communicating with corresponding front
and rear water legs, rises from a foundation 8 towards the roof baffle 6. The baffle
walls 9, preferably composed of water boxes extending between and communi-
cating with corresponding front and rear water legs, extend downward from
the roof baffle C.
In each division or main compartment, the first of these three passes contains
a grate 10, suitably supported, and a bank of water circulating and steam
generating tubes 11 extending parallel to the baffle walls and having their
respective ends expanded into the front and rear headers 3 and 4. The second
and third passes contain, respectively, the banks of tubes 12 and 13 extending
parallel to the baffle walls and having their respective ends expanded into the
front and rear headers 3 and 4.
The rear headers and water legs are connected with the steam drum 10 by
means of the tubes 17, expanded in place, and the front headers are connected
therewith by nipples 18. This drum is provided with the take-off and escape
valve connections 19 and 20, and with any conveniently placed man.holes as 21.
The feed water supply may be introduced through this drum, by means of the
pipes 22, 221 and nipples 22", which register with the tubes 17. The tubes 17
may support the roof baffle 6, which is formed of any suitable non-conducting
material and extends between the baffle walls 9-9, or to such distance as to pro-
vide a sufficient escape from the end passes for the waste gases. The banks of
tubes in the first passes are baffled, by means of perforated tiles 40 to the extent
found necessary. The waste gases escape between the tubes 17 of the end passes
and pass thence by the channel 43 through the breeching 41 which is placed
above the drum 16, the escape being regulated by means of a damper 42.
The space between the rear headers and the wall 111 permits access for cleaning
and repair, and provides a dry air space which prevents radiation. Air ducts as O,

page_text: This
made removable, may be placed in this space, through which air may be forced,
by a fan O, to the lower part of the grate 10, when hot draft is used.
location of such ducts effects the heating of the air passing therethrough, which
tends to increase the economy of the generator. The front headers and water
legs may rest directly upon a supporting wall 23, excepting the front headers 3¹
for the first passes which are made short to permit charging the fuel. The rear
headers and water legs may rest directly on the supporting wall 25. A water
box 26, provided with hand hole caps 27, is connected with the rear headers and
water legs by the nipples 28, by means of which the tubes and headers may be
blown out.
But the details of construction may be modified in accordance with the details
of the modification illustrated in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, in which parallel steam drums
are arranged parallel with the planes of the division and baffle walls. These drums
are provided with water boxes 36 which are connected by means of the nipples 35
with the headers or legs into which the tubes and water boxes are expanded as
in the case of the parts 41, 41. Similar connections are provided for the water
legs or headers 21, 71, 91, 31, 31. The upper or steam spaces of the drums are
connected by the tubes 17, and the lower or water spaces of the drums are con
nected by the tubes 17", by means of which the steam and water of the several
drums are equalized. Suitable non-conducting material 61 covers the spaces
between the drums and forms a baffle therewith.
A water box 29 is placed beneath the front headers and water legs and is con-
nected thereto by the nipples 30, the hand hole caps 31 permitting access for
blowing out and cleaning. The rear headers and water legs may be similarly
connected with a water box 29', placed beneath them and connected therewith by
the nipples 30, the hand hole caps 311 permitting access for blowing out and
cleaning. In this construction the grate 10¹ is provided with a bridge wall 32
at the rear end thereof,
As illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, the headers may be either of the box type 31,411,
or of the sectional sinuous type 3", 4'.
In constructing the boiler, spaces 33 may be left between the sectional headers
at the desired intervals, for the insertion of a hose to clear off soot and similar
deposits upon the heating surfaces.
When the requirements of the boiler and furnace are limited, the principle
of the invention may be embodied as in the modification illustrated in Fig. 4;
in which the chamber limited by the walls 1' is divided into three passes by the
side wall water boxes 211, water box baffle wall 7", and water box baffle wall 9",
which water boxes are expanded into front and rear water legs, as illustrated by the
parts 21, 71 91
In the operation of the main construction, the gaseous products of combus
tion rise from the grates 10, heating the water boxes and 7, the tubes 11 and 17,
their connecting headers and the steam and water drum. Being baffled by the
tile baffle 40 and deflected by the roof baffle 6, they pass above the respective
baffle walls 7 of these first passes and transversely thereto, into, and down the
second passes, heating the water boxes 7 and 9, the tubes 12, the drum and the
headers. Following the direction of the arrows, they pass below the baffle walls!
thence upward through the third passes, heating the water boxes 9, the tubes 13-
and 17, their headers and the drum. Escaping between the tubes 17 of the third
passes, they are conducted along the drum by the passages 43 and out through
the breeching 41. By this course the heat of the gases is utilized in heating the
water circulating and steam generating system up to the point when such gases
finally escape through the breeching.
In the modified construction illustrated in Fig. 4, the heated gaseous pro-
ducts rise from the grate 10', heating the water boxes 211, 71, the tubes, headers
and drums of the first pass. Being deflected thence in the direction of the arrows,
by the drums and roof baffle, they are carried over the baffle wall 7" into the
second pass, and descending transmit their heat to the water boxes 71, 911, the

page_text: tubes and headers of the second pass and the drums connected therewith. They
pass thence under the baffle wall 9, and upward through the outer pass, thence
through the breeching 41; giving up their heat to the water boxes 9, the tubes,
headers and drums in their path.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated
from abroad by my foreign correspondent I declare that what I claim is:-
1. In the combination of a boiler and furnace, a division wall which separates
the furnace into two distinct compartments, a baffle wall parallel with said división
wall in each of said compartments, a bank of tubes parallel to said walls in each
pass formed by said division and baffle walls, headers for said tubes, a steam and
water drum connected with said headers, a grate in each of said passes, and an
escape from each of said passes, located above the respective baffle walls and trans-
verse thereto, substantially as specified.
2. In the combination or a boiler and furnace, a water box division wall which
separates the furnace into two distinct compartments, a water box baffle wall
parallel with said water box division wall in each of said compartments, a bank
of tubes parallel to said walls in each pass formed by said division and battle
walls, headers for said tubes and water boxes, a steam and water drum connected
with said headers, a grate in each of said passes, and an escape from each of said
passes located above the respective baffle walls and transverse thereto, sub-
stantially as specified.
3. In the combination of a boiler and furnace, a water box division wall which
separates the furnace into two distinct compartments, a water box battle wall
parallel with said water box division wall in each of said compartments, a bank
of tubes parallel to said walls in each pass formed by said division and baffle
walls, headers for the respective ends of said tubes and water boxes, a steam
and water drum located above one set of said headers and connected thereto, a
series of tubes connecting said steam and water drum and the other set of said
headers, a roof baffle located above said passes, and an escape passage from each
of said passes between said roof baffle and said baffle walls, substantially as
specified.
4. In the combination of a boiler and furnace, a division wall which separates
the furnace into two distinct compartments, a baffle wall parallel with said
division wall in each of said compartments, a bank of tubes parallel to said walls
in each pass formed by said division and baffle walls, headers for the respective
ends of said tubes, a steam and water drum located above one set of said leaders
and connected thereto, a series of tubes connecting said steam and water drum and
the other set of said headers, a roof baffle located above said passes, and an escape
passage from each of said passes between said roof baffle and said baffle walls,
substantially as specified.
5. In a boiler and furnace, a division wall which separates the furnace into two
distinct compartments, a baffle wall parallel with said division wall in each of
said compartments, a second baffle wall parallel with said first baffle wall in each
of said compartments, an escape passage from each of the passes formed by said
.division and first baffle walls located above said first baffle walls and an escape
passage from each of the passes formed by said first and second baffle walls located
beneath said second baffle walls substantially as specified.
6. In a boiler and furnace, a water box division wall which separates the furnace
into two distinct compartments, a water box baffle wall parallel with said division
wall in each of said compartments, a second water box baffle wall parallel with
said first baffle wall in each of said compartments, an escape passage from each
of the passes formed by said division and first baffle walls located above said first
baffle walls, an escape passage from each of the passes formed by said first and
second battle walls localed beneath said second baffle walls, in combination with
a water circulating and steam generating system, substantially as specified.

page_text: 7. In a boiler and furnace, a water box division wall which separates the
furnace into two distinct compartments, a water box baffle wall parallel with said
division wall in each of said compartments, a second water box baffle wall parallel
with said first baffle wall in each of said compartments, a bank of tubes parallel
to said walls in each pass formed by said division and baffle walls, headers for
the respective ends of said tubes, a steam and water drum located above one set
of said headers and connected thereto, a series of tubes connecting said steam and
water drum and the other set of said headers, a roof baffle located above said
passes, an escape passage between said roof baffle and each of said first baffle
walls, and an escape passage beneath each of said second baffle walls, substantially
as specified.
8. In a boiler and furnace, a water box division wall which separates the furnace
into two distinct compartments, a water box baffle wall parallel with said division
wall in each of said compartments, a second water box baffle wall parallel with said
first baffle wall in each of said compartments, combining with end walls, to divide
each compartment into three passes, a steam and water drum connected with said
water boxes, a roof baffle located above said passes, an escape passage located
between said roof baffle and each of said first baffle walls, an escape beneath each
of said second baffle walls, and an escape passage from said third pass, substantially
as specified.
9. In a boiler and furnace, a division wall which separates the furnace into
two distinct compartments, a baffle wall parallel with said division wall in each
of said compartments, a second baffle wall parallel with said first baffle wall in
each of said compartments, combining with end walls to divide each compartment
into three passes, a bank of tubes parallel to said walls in each of said passes,
headers for the respective ends of said tubes, a steam and water drum located
above one set of said headers and connected thereto, a series of tubes connecting
said steam and water drum and the other set of said headers, a roof baffle located
above said passes, an escape from the first of said passes located between said roof
baffle and said first baffle walls an escape from the second of said passes located
beneath said second baffle walls, and an escape from the third of said passes
adjacent to said steam and water drum, substantially as specified.
10. In a boiler and furnace, a division wall which separates the furnace into
two distinct compartments, a baffle wall parallel with said division wall in each
of said compartments, a bank of tubes parallel to said walls in each pass formed
by said division and baffle walls, headers for the respective ends of said tubes, a
steam and water drum connected with said headers, an escape passage above
each of said baffle walls and beneath said steam and water drum, and. a water box
connected with the base of said headers, substantially as specified.
11. In the combination of a boiler and furnace, a pass or combustion chamber
and water boxes closing one side thereof, a water box baffle wall parallel with
the aforesaid side of said chamber, a second water box baffle wall parallel with
said first baffle wall, said baffle walls and the end wall forming three communi-
cating passes, a roof baffle located above said passes, a bank of tubes in each of
said passes, headers for the respective ends of said tubes, and a steam and water
drum connected with said headers, substantially as specified.
12. In a boiler and furnace, a pass or combustion chamber and water boxes
closing one side thereof, a water box baffle wall parallel with the aforesaid side
of said chamber, a second water box baffle wall parallel with said first baffle wall,
a bank of tubes located in each of said passes, headers for the respective ends of
said tubes, a steam and water drum connected with said headers, and a water
box connected with the base of the respective headers, substantially as specified.
13. In a boiler and furnace, a combustion chamber and a wall closing one side
thereof, a baffle wall parallel with the aforesaid side of said chamber, a second
baffle wall parallel with said first baffle wall, combining with an end wall to forin
three communicating passes, a bank of tubes located in each of said passes,
headers for the respective ends of said tubes, a steam-and-water drum connected

page_text: with said headers, and a water box connected with the base of the rear headers,
substantially as specified.
14. In a boiler and furnace, a combustion chamber and a wall closing one side
thereof, a baffle wall parallel with the aforesaid side of said chamber, a second
baffle wall parallel with said first baffle wall, combining with an end wall to form
three communicating passes, a bank of tubes located in each of said passes,
headers for the respective ends of said tubes, and communicating steam and water
drums connected with said headers and forming a roof baffle for said passes, as
specified.
Dated the 27th day of Decamhan 1000
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
322, High Holborn, London, W.C., Patent Agents for the Applicant.