IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM GENERATORS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Blake, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster,
Boiler-maker, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM GENERATORS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Blake at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th December 1878.
JAMES BLAKE, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Boiler-maker.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM-GENERATORS."
My Invention relates in the first place to vertical steam generators adapted for
marine or other purposes, and has for its object to obtain strength combined with
generating efficiency. In some cases I make the shell of a cylindrical form having
a domed or hemispherical top, and I make the crown of the fire-box hemispherical in
form. In the centre of the fire box is a hemispherical water-chamber which is connected
with the said crown by means of taper or parallel water-tubes. The fire-box crown or
or shell and the said water chamber may correspond in form to less or more than half-
spheres. The said water-chamber is connected with the main water space by means
of water-tubes below the grate or by means of a water-bottom, or by means of water-
walls or chambers between the grates. The fire-grate may extend entirely around the
central water-chamber, or may be divided by the said water-walls. Upon the top
of the fire-box crown is fixed a cylindrical combustion chamber, which is connected
by radiating fire-tubes with the outer shell of the generator. In some cases I dis-
pense with the said combustion chamber, and connect the fire-box crown by means
of inclined fire-tubes with a shoulder connecting the main shell with the upper
contracted portion of the generator, or I enlarge the said combustion chamber, and
so form it as that the products of combustion are caused to pass between clusters of
vertical or inclined water-tubes. I may make the fire-box crown and the central
water chamber of conical shapes, but I prefer the spherical forms. The aforesaid
combustion chamber may be oval or otherwise than cylindrical, and in some
cases may be on one side of the vertical central line. In all cases I prefer to
leave spaces between the clusters of tubes to permit access to the principal parts

page_text: to me.
A
of the generators. In a stronger form the outer shell is spherical instead of
cylindrical, the combustion chamber being also preferably spherical and concentric.
In modifications of this form of generator I connect together parts of two or more
spheres. In such cases one partly spherical part contains the fire-box, and another
part the fire-tubes, the combustion chamber being internal in some cases and
external in other cases. In one form of generator à spherical shell formed with two
tube plates and inclined fire tubes is connected by a neck with a smaller water
chamber and the fire-box and combustion chamber surround the said neck.
second part of my Invention relates to horizontal boilers. I make the outer shell
partly spherical and partly cylindrical, or partly spherical with a flat front or of
parts of two or more spheres joined together. The generator is formed with
horizontal furnace flues, which are connected at the back within the generator by
means of a combustion chamber, which is provided with conical water tubes, and
is formed with a tube plate, which is connected with the front plate of the shell by
means of return fire-tubes. I prefer to make the walls of the said combustion
chamber of plates spherically bent or moulded. A third part of my Invention con-
sists in forming the internal flues of boilers by connecting together barrel-shaped
rings. A fourth part of my Invention relates principally to part of a former Inven-
tion, for which Letters Patent, dated the Third day of April, in the year, One
thousand eight hundred and seventy five, and numbered 1207, have been granted
In the construction of locomotive boilers I extended the tubes within a
shell-over part of the fire. I now dispense with the said shell, and I form an
arched crown to the back part of the fire-box, the tube-plate being connected with
this crown and with the sides of the fire-box. I prefer to curve the outer shell to
correspond with the curvatures of the fire-box and of the boiler shell and to stay
the outer shell. I connect tubes with the shell in a water-tight manner,
and pass
bolts through these tubes, such bolts being secured outside the said shell. This
method of staying may also be employed in other descriptions of steam generators.
I may employ the arched-crown over a part of the fire in cases wherein the tube-
plate is not brought forwards, in which case the space over the said crown forms a
combustion chamber having an invert-arched bottom with a water space below. A
fifth part of my Invention relates to a part of a former Invention, for which Letters
Patent, dated the Thirty first day of January, in the year One thousand eight
hundred and seventy four, and numbered 396, have been granted to me, and con-
sists in substituting conically shaped or irregular conical shaped fire-boxes for the
fire-boxes of the vertical boilers represented in the Drawings illustrative of my
said former Invention. The cone is vertical, or is inclined so that one side is
vertical, or nearly so, as required for the form of boiler, the two ends being
suitably shaped or flanched for attachment to the combustion chamber and the
outer shell. A remaining part of my Invention relates to horizontal boilers formed
in each case with a back combustion chamber and return fire-tubes, and consists in
the first place in constructing the outer shell in the form of three incomplete
cylinders connected together, and stayed at the points of connection, the furnaces
being in the lower cylinder and the fire-tubes in the middle cylinder; and in the
second place in substituting a return flue or flues or an extension in one or more
parts of the combustion chamber for the said fire-tubes, such flue or flues or
extension being crossed with water-tubes.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said James Blake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 24th June
1879.
JAMES BLAKE, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Boiler Maker.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM GENERATORS."
My Invention relates in the first place to vertical steam generators adapted for
marine or other purposes, and has for its object to obtain strength combined with
generating efficiency. In some cases I make the shell of a cylindrical form having
a domed or hemispherical top, and I make the crown of the fire-box hemispherical
in form. In the centre of the fire-box is a hemispherical water chamber, which is
connected with the said crown by means of taper or parallel water tubes. Upon
the top of the fire-box crown is fixed a cylindrical combustion chamber, which is
connected by radiating fire-tubes with the outer shell of the generator. In some
cases I dispense with the said combustion chamber, and connect the fire-box crown
by means of inclined fire-tubes with a shoulder connecting the main shell with the
upper contracted portion of the generator, or I enlarge the said combustion
chamber and so form it as that the products of combustion are caused to pass
between clusters of vertical or inclined water tubes. In a stronger form the outer
shell is spherical instead of cylindrical, the combustion chamber being also pre-
ferably spherical and concentric. A second part of my Invention relates to
horizontal boilers. make the outer shell partly spherical and partly cylindrical,
or partly spherical with a flat front or of parts of two or more spheres joined
together. The generator is formed with horizontal furnace flues, which are con-
nected at the back within the generator by means of a combustion chamber, which
is provided with conical water tubes, and is formed with a tube-plate which is
connected with the front plate of the shell by means of return fire tubes. A third
part of my Invention consists in forming the internal flues of boilers by connecting
together barrel shaped rings. A fourth part of my Invention relates principally to
part of a former Invention, for which Letters Patent, dated the Third day of April,
in the year One thousand eight hundred and seventy five, and numbered 1207, have
been granted to me.
In the construction of locomotive boilers I extended the tubes
within a shell over part of the fire. I now dispense with the said shell, and I form
an arched crown to the back part of the fire-box, the tube-plate being connected
with this crown and with the sides of the fire-box. I connect tubes with the shell
in a water-tight manner, and pass bolts through these tubes, such bolts being
secured outside the said shell. A fifth part of my Invention relates to a part of a
former Invention, for which Letters Patent, dated the Thirty first day of January,
in the year One thousand eight hundred and seventy four, and numbered 396, have
been granted to me, and consists in substituting conically shaped or irregular
conically shaped fire-boxes for the fire boxes of the vertical boilers represented
in the Drawings illustrative of my said former Invention. A remaining part of my
Invention relates to horizontal boilers formed in each case with a combustion
chamber and return fire-tubes, and consists in the first place in constructing the
outer shell in the form of three incomplete cylinders connected together and stayed
at the points of connection, the furnaces being in the lower cylinders and the fire-
tubes in the middle cylinder; and in the second place in substituting a return flue
or flues, or an extension in one or more parts of the combustion chamber for the
said fire tubes, such flue or flues or extension being crossed with water tubes.
And in order that my Invention may be fully understood I have appended here-
unto two Sheets of Drawings marked with letters of reference, to which Drawings
reference will be made hereinafter. Fig. 1, Sheet 1, made to a scale of about three
quarters of an inch to the foot represents a vertical section through the centre of a
steam-generator constructed in accordance with my Invention; and Fig. 2 repre-
sents a horizontal section of the same. The lower part of the outer shell a is made

page_text: cylindrical in form, the top part being hemispherical. The fire box b is principally
hemispherical in form, and in the centre thereof is a hemispherically formed water
chamber c, which is connected with the fire-box crown by means of radiating taper
water tubes d, d, and with the lower part of the water space by means of horizontal
water tubes or walls e, e, which divide the fire-box into two furnaces. Access to the
two furnaces is had through the fire-doors f. f. A cylindrical combustion chamber g
is fixed to the crown of the fire-box and occupies a central position within the
ɛylindrical shell a. From the said chamber fire tubes h, h, radiate to smoke boxes
or flues i, i, on the exterior of the shell. In the example the tubes h are arranged
in two clusters, each extending around about one third of the circumference of the
shell a, so that two vacant spaces are left, through which access can be had to the
space below the tubes. Access is had to the interior of the water chamber c
through a man-hole on the under side. The fire box and the central water chamber
may correspond in form to less or more than half spheres. The said water chamber
may be connected with the lower surrounding water space by means of water tubes
below the grate or by means of a water bottom instead of by the water walls e, e,
in which case the fire grate may or may not extend entirely around the said water
chamber. It will be seen that this generator is well adapted to withstand internal
pressure, as it consists almost entirely of a combination of cylindrically and hemi-
spherically moulded plates, and has no flat surfaces requiring to be stayed. I an
enabled by the means indicated to construct a generator of increased strength and
less weight of material. Fig. 3 illustrates a modification. In this example a
shoulder extends around the upper part at j, and is connected-by-inclined water_
tubes k, with the crown of the fire-box, which is a more complete hemisphere than
in the case of the previous example. Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate a further modification;
the crown of the fire-box is connected with a large cylindrical combustion chamber,
through which pass vertical water tubes l. The products of combustion issue from
the combustion chamber through four openings m into a suitable smoke box or flue
which is formed around the shell of the generator; the number of such openings
may be varied. The tubes 7 may be inclined if preferred. In this example the
central water chamber and the water tubes are omitted from the fire-box, but they
may be added thereto if desired. In any of the examples the fire-box or the
fire-box crown and the internal water chamber may be conically shaped, but I
prefer the spherical forms. The combustion chambers may be oval, conical, or
partly spherical, or to be of a strong form otherwise than cylindrical, and in some
cases may be excentric to the centre of the outer shell; Fig. 6 is illustrative of a
generator in the form of a sphere having two flat sides or tube plates, which are
connected by inclined water tubes; this generator requires a brick-work seating,
the furnace being exterior. A mud chamber p extends downwards through the
furnace. A spherical or cylindrical steam chamber may be added, in which case
the body of the generator may be filled or nearly filled with water. It will be
seen that the intention is in all cases to dispense with the necessity for the
employment of flat surfaces requiring to be stayed otherwise than by the tubes.
Figs. 13 and 14 in Sheet 2 illustrate the second part of my Invention. The outer
shell of the generator consists of a short cylinder with a flat front and a hemi-
spherical back. Two internal furnace flues r open into a combustion chamber 8,
which is formed of plates spherically bent with the exception of the front or tube-
plate as will be seen from an inspection of the Drawings. Fire-tubes t extend from
the front or tube plate of the chamber a to the front plate of the boiler, at which
point they open into a suitable smoke-box. The combustion chamber is provided
with conical water tubes. This form of generator may be modified by dispensing
with the cylindrical portion of the shell as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 14,
or by forming the shell of portions of spheres connected together. The form of the
combustion chamber 8 may be varied, but I prefer the indicated form; Figs 15
and 16 illustrate the third part of my Invention; Fig. 15 represents a portion of
an internal flue formed of barrel shaped rings riveted or connected together end to
end; Fig. 16 represents a flanched barrel shaped ring. The remaining Figs. on

page_text: Sheet 2 are illustrative of the fourth part of my Invention; Fig. 17 represents a
longitudinal section of the fire box end of a locomotive boiler; and Fig. 21 repre-
sents on the right-hand side of the centre line a vertical section of the front part of
the fire-box, and on the left a corresponding section of the back part thereof, the fire
tubes not being represented in the latter section. The back part of the fire-box is
lower than the front part, and has an arched crown, over which the front ends of
the tubes are extended to a tube-plate t. The front plate of the fire-box is in the
form of a semi arch connected with the top of the plate. The outer shell of the
boiler is curved inwards up to the tube plate to correspond with the form of the
back part of the fire-box, as seen to the left in Fig. 21; the front part is made as
usual. To stay the part of the shell over the said back part of the fire-box I
enclose the stay bolts in tubes u, which are connected with the said shell at each
end, so that the water has not access to the said bolts whereby their durability is
increased. This method of staying may also be employed in other descriptions of
generators. Figs. 18 and 22 represent a modification wherein a combustion
chamber of the cross sectional form indicated in the upper part of Fig. 22 is formed
over the back part of the fire-box, and is furnished with water tubes; Fig. 19
represents a modification wherein the back portion of the fire-box is arched.
forwards from back to front, Fig. 23 representing a vertical section of the boiler
barrel looking towards the fire-box; Figs. 20 and 24 illustrate a further modifica-
tion. In this example the cylindrical shell or barrel of the boiler extends over
the back part of the fire-box, and the said back part is enclosed within an arched
outer shell, the principal intention being to dispense with the cross-staying and to
obtain greater strength; Figs. 25 and 26 represent an example wherein the arched
part of the fire-box is completed into a circle so as to form a water bottom below
the fire-grate. Although this part of my Invention is applicable principally in the
construction of locomotive boilers it may be applied in the construction of fixed or
semi portable boilers; Figs. 7 and 8, in Sheet 1, are illustrative of the fifth part of
my Invention; Fig. 7 represents a vertical section of a boiler constructed in
accordance with a part of my aforesaid former Invention of the year 1874 with the
exception that the fire-box is conically shaped. The said fire box consists of a cone,
which has its point and base cut-off diagonally with reference to its axis, so that
when fixed in position its axis is inclined. The fire-box is or may be formed of one
plate, and be flanched for connection with the combustion chamber and outer shell.
In Fig. 8 the fire-box is. connected with the combustion chamber by means of a
crown piece, which is formed with a neck for attachment to the said chamber;
Figs. 9 and 10 are illustrative of the remaining part of my Invention. It will be
seen that the outer shell is formed by connecting together three incomplete
cylinders, or in other words, by connecting together parts of two cylinders by
means of cylindrically curved plates as indicated in Fig. 10, which is a vertical
cross section. The points of connection at v, v, are connected together by means of
stays w in the manner indicated when describing, Figs. 17 and 21, or are stayed
by other suitable means; the furnace flues x are in the lower part of the boiler, the
fire tubes are in the central part, and the upper part serves partly as a steam
reservoir. The generator represented is designed to be fired from both ends, the
furnaces opening into a central combustion chamber y. In some cases I may
extend the said combustion chamber in each direction, and fix vertical or inclined
water tubes in such extensions as hereinbefore mentioned. The generator may be
constructed to be fired from. one end only, in which case the combustion chamber y
would be at the rear of the boiler.
Having now fully set forth and indicated the nature of my Invention, and
methods whereby I carry the same into effect, I would have it to be understood
that I claim,
First. The steam generators of the formations and constructions, substantially
as set forth and indicated hereinbefore, and in and by the accompanying Drawings.
Secondly. The vertical steam generators suitable for marine purposes, in which

page_text: the use of flat surfaces requiring to be stayed is avoided, substantially in the
manner set forth and indicated.
Thirdly. The partly spherical horizontal boiler, substantially as set forth and
indicated when describing the second part of my Invention.
Fourthly. Forming the internal flues of steam generators by connecting together
barrel-shaped rings, substantially of the form indicated.
Fifthly. With reference to boilers of the locomotive type forming the back
portion of the fire-box with an arched crown, and extending the tubes over such
crown, substantially as set forth and indicated.
Sixthly. The partly-arched fire-box with the upper combustion chamber, sub-
stantially as and for the purpose set forth with reference to Figs. 18 and 22 of the
Drawings.
Seventhly. The method of staying by means of bolts excluded from contact with
the water, substantially as set forth and indicated.
Eighthly. The conically-shaped fire-box, substantially as and for the purpose
indicated with reference to the fifth part of my Invention.
And, lastly. The tri-cylindrical constructions of horizontal boilers, substantially
as set forth and indicated.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Blake, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Twenty third day of June, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy nine.
Signed and sealed by the
said James Blake in
the presence of
EDWARD K. DUTTON,
Agent to the Patentee,
St. Ann's Churchyard,
Manchester.
JAMES BLAKE. (L.S.)