Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Apr., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 12th Jan., 1893-Accepted, 18th Feb., 1893

page_text: of the tube-joints, while owing to each element being connected with the upper
longitudinal boiler through but one rigid junction-piece or trunk, such element is
enabled freely to expand in all directions so that none of the metal parts are warped
or distorted.
Any suitable fire-grate may be employed in connection with this boiler, whether
horizontal or inclined, with or without steps or offsets according to the nature of the
fuel employed, or the surplus heat of a puddling or other furnace may be used in
heating the boiler.
Whatever the preferred method of heating the boiler, the first element serves as
a flame deflector, and care should be taken in all cases that the lower portions of the
elements, where incrustations and mud collect never come in contact with the fire or
the hot gases.
The various elements are parallel to each other and at right angles to the
direction of the products of combustion as they escape from the furnace, the course
of the gases being as follows. After issuing from the furnace the flame runs along
both the upper portions of the elements and the underside of the longitudinal or
upper boiler. At the rearmost element the gases descend and take a serpentine
course through each of the sets of tubes in succession and, upon reaching the
foremost set they pass underneath the element casings and then away through the
chimney.
The same arrangement is applicable whether one, two, three or more elements are
employed in a boiler, which will accordingly be referred to as of the "simplex,"
"duplex," "triplex" or "multiplex" type.
The diameter of the tubes is preferably not the same in all the elements but
should be proportional to the average gas temperature (determined by computation)
existing in that element so that the tubes in each succeeding element necessarily
decrease in diameter.
This result is obtained either by steadily diminishing the number of tubes in the
bundle, or, when it is desired to provide practically the same heating surface in
each of the different elements, by employing tubes successively decreasing in
diameter.
By this arrangement better heating is secured, at a given rate of speed of the
flow of the gases.
-
A further advantage of this arrangement may be explained somewhat as
follows; The longer a heating tube of uniform diameter throughout; or in other
words, the larger the difference between the temperature of the gas or smoke at the
entrance of the tube and its temperature at the opposite end of the same; the
greater is the loss of effective heating surface, as the tube is entirely filled with gas
only at the inlet end, while at the outlet the gas occupies but part of its capacity,
and this part varies very much in the same proportion as the temperature of the
gas. Owing to this partial occupation of the tube by the gases flowing from the
furnace the effectiveness of the heating surface is reduced to a proportionate extent;
and by decreasing the difference of temperature in the respective sets of tubes from
one element to the next, i.e. by providing a greater number of such elements, better
advantage may be derived from the heating surface, and the ideal desideratum of
bringing all parts of a heating surface into actual contact with the heating gases, is
more nearly approached.
Thus in the "simplex" type of this improved tubular boiler the alteration in the
temperature will all take place in one stage; in the "duplex" type, the same is
accomplished in two stages; in the "triplex" type in three stages, and so forth.
66
"
"
It is however possible to cause the same action to be produced in a simplex
boiler in two stages, in a "duplex" boiler in three or four stages; in a "triplex
boiler in four five or six stages, the flow of the gases being so regulated, that at
each stage they only pass through, say, one half of a set of tubes. This can readily
be accomplished by means of vertical walls or partitions arranged at the point where
each stage is completed.
Where the surplus heat from puddling or other furnaces is utilized the flues may

page_text: be arranged in the same manner as is explained above, or if preferred the different
elements of short length may be arranged one behind the other so that the current
of gas first passes through the pipes, then in the second stage flows in contact with
the outer casing, and in the third stage envelops the whole of the upper boiler.
Where the saving of space is an object, the elements may be superposed one
above the other, in which case the upper element may be constructed as or provided
with a steam-chest or else a longitudinal boiler may, as previously described,
extend over the arrangement, so that the gas follows the same course as before
explained.
To enable the heating tubes to be freed from cinders there is provided in the side
walls, a man-hole for each element, provided with a preferably double wrought iron
door. The inner door-plate is protected by a suitable insulating medium, such as
cement, fire-clay, asbestos or the like. The pipes being very short, may be readily
kept clean. The space between every two benches or sets of such boilers need only
be large enough to allow of the sets of tubes to be withdrawn and readily cleaned
when required. The side chambers or flues in which the gases, or heated products
of combustion as they leave the tubes, alter their direction, are accessible from the
ash-pit or channel from which through man-holes the farther part of the space
underneath the elements is reached.
Steam may be supplied by means of the well-known " Crampton" pipe which
extends throughout the steam-chamber. The boilers may be supplied with water
through the front wall of the upper boiler by means of a long pipe which at a point
situated below the water-level is provided with a considerable number of
perforations, whereby the cold water is evenly and quickly distributed.
This improved boiler may in practice have a heating surface measuring as much
as 200 square metres and stand 15 atmospheres of pressure.
The before described apparatus may be varied without departing from the spirit
of the invention.
Dated this 21st day of Anril 1899
ALFRED J. BOULT,
Chartered Patent Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Steam Boilers.
A communication from WITKOWITZER BERGBAU and EISENHÜTTEN
GEWERKSCHAFT, of Witkowitz, in the Empire of Austro-Hungary.
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex,
M.I. Mech. E., & Chartered Patent Agent, 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 :-
"
The subject of this invention is a steam-boiler consisting of one or more short
horizontal sections or "elements each of which is separately connected with a
boiler placed over all of them and extending longitudinally. This connection is
rigid and is obtained by one single tube for each element, while the connection
between the cells is produced through the medium of their respective sediment or
mud-receivers or pockets below which are connected by means of a suitable flexible
pipe made of either wrought iron or copper. This latter connection is to serve the
purpose of equalizing the temperature of the water contained in the several
elements of the tubular boiler and so as to create a current.
The invention, will be best understood by reference to the accompanying
drawings in which the invention is illustrated as applied to the following forms
of boilers,-
1) A simplex "boiler. i.e. one provided with a single "element,"

page_text: 4) A boiler heated by the waste gases and heated products of combustion leaving
a puddling or other furnace, and
5) A boiler heated by a gas furnace.
Figs. 1, 2 and
the simplex boiler.
are respectively a vertical section, a plan and a cross section of
Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are respectively a vertical a horizontal and a transverse section
of the duplex boiler.
Figs. 7, 8 and 9 represent a triplex boiler in a vertical horizontal and cross
sections.
Figs. 10, 11 and 12 illustrate the arrangement of a simplex boiler intended for
use in connection with a puddling furnace, being respectively a vertical a horizontal
and a cross-section thereof.
Figs. 13, 14 and 15 represent the improved simplex boiler as applied to a gas-
furnace also in vertical horizontal and cross sections, and
Figs. 16 17 18 and 19 are detail views on an enlarged scale of parts of an
element.
Each element consists of a short cylinder a closed by preferably flat plates a' all
at both ends and containing a number of wrought iron or other heating tubes b
extending through it in a direction parallel to the axis of the cylinder. The tube-
ends may or may not be flanged where they join the end plates of the cylinder and
they may be set in square, hexagonal or other form.
If good feed water is employed, depositing not too hard a sediment, the two tube-
plates may be turned back or flanged and rivetted to the boiler wall or casing.
Where however bad feed-water is used, in which the pipes are liable to be entirely
obstructed, the group or set of tubes is arranged to be slid out of the cylinder for
which purpose an angle iron ring e with bolts or screws d (Fig. 18) and a loose
plate with other bolts or screws d¹ (Fig. 19) are provided. As shown in
Figs. 16 and 17 the joints formed by these bolts or screwe may be protected by cast
iron or equivalent caps for by brick-work or masonry, applied to an angle iron
ring, against the action of the hot products of combustion. Caps fare secured to
the bottom-plate by means of bolts 'r and keys or wedges s, the intermediate spaces
between the cap segments being covered by strips of asbestos board t (Figs. 18
and 19).
This element of a tubular boiler is provided in its lower part with a sediment or
mud-receiver or pocket which is the means of connecting between them the various
elements of a boiler, where more than one element is employed, the connection being
completed by pipes (Fig. 7) inserted between the mud-receivers and enabling
water to circulate underneath. For the purpose of cleaning the heating tubes and
removing the mud and scale therefrom, access to the element is afforded, both from
below, through the mud-receiver g opening into a longitudinal passage underneath
and from above through the upper longitudinal boiler and the junction tube hor
trunk connecting the upper and lower boilers or boiler and section and in the
tubular boiler, but the omission of one central row or tier of tubes, there is formed
a passage for facilitating the removal of mud and scale.
The comparative shortness of the elements and the resulting practical uniformity
in the size and extent of the tubes and outer casing, guarantee the lasting tightness
of the tube-joints, while owing to each element a being connected with the upper
longitudinal boiler i through but one rigid junction-piece or trunk, such element is
enabled freely to expand in all directions so that none of the metal parts are warped
or distorted..
Any suitable fire-grate may be employed in connection with this boiler, whether
horizontal or inclined with or without steps or offsets according to the nature of the
fuel employed, or the surplus heat of a puddling or other furnace may be used in
heating the boiler.

page_text: Whatever the preferred method of heating the boiler, the first element serves as
a flame deflector, and care should be taken in all cases that the lower portions of
the elements, where incrustations and mud collect never come in contact with the
fire or the hot gases.
The various elements are parallel to each other and at right angles to the
direction of the products of combustion as they escape from the furnace, the course
of the gases being as follows,-After issuing from the furnace, the flame runs along
both the upper portions of the elements and the underside of the longitudinal or
upper boiler (see the arrows Figs. 7 and 8). At the rearmost element the gases
descend and take a serpentine course through each of the sets of tubes in succession
and upon reaching the foremost set they pass underneath the element casings and
then away through the chimney.
The same arrangement is applicable whether, one, two, three, or more elements
are employed in a boiler, which will accordingly be referred to as of the "simplex,"
duplex," "triplex" or "multiplex" type.
66
The diameter of the tubes is preferably not the same in all the elements but
should be proportional to the average gas temperature (determined by computation)
existing in that element so that the tubes in each succeeding element necessarily
decrease in diameter. This result is obtained either by steadily diminishing the
number of tubes in the bundle or when it is desired to provide practically the same
heating surface in each of the different elements, by employing tubes successively
decreasing in diameter.
By this arrangement better heating is secured, at a given rate of speed of the
flow of the gases.
A further advantage of this arrangement may be explained somewhat as
follows, The longer a heating tube of uniform diameter throughout, or in other
words the larger the difference between the temperature of the gas or smoke at the
entrance of the tube and its temperature at the opposite end of the same, the greater
is the loss of effective heating surface, as the tube is entirely filled with gas only at
the inlet end, while at the outlet the gas occupies but part of its capacity, and this
part varies very much in the same proportion as the temperature of the gas. Owing
to this partial occupation of the tube by the gases flowing from the furnace, the
effectiveness of the heating surface is reduced to a proportionate extent; and by
decreasing the difference of temperature in the respective sets of tubes from one
3 element to the next, i.e. by providing a greater number of such elements, better
advantage may be derived from the heating surface, and the ideal desideratum of
bringing all parts of a beating surface into actual contact with the heating gases, is
more nearly approached.
Thus in the “simplex" type of this improved tubular boiler the alteration in the
temperature will all take place in one stage; in the "duplex" type, the same
is accomplished in two stages; in the "triplex" type in three stages and so
forth.
"
"
It is however possible to cause the same action to be produced in a "simplex
boiler in two stages, in a "duplex" boiler in three or four stages, in a "triplex
boiler in four, five or six stages, the flow of the gases being se regulated, that at
each stage they only pass through, say one half of a set of tubes. This can readily
be accomplished by means of vertical walls or partitions arranged at the point where
each stage is completed.
Where the surplus heat from puddling or other furnaces is utilized, the flues may
be arranged in the same manner as is explained above, or if preferred the different
elements of short length may be arranged one behind the other so that the current
of gas first passes through the pipes, then in the second stage flows in contact
with the outer casing, and in the third stage envelops the whole of the upper
boiler.
Where the saving of space is an object, the elements may be superposed one
above the other, in which case the upper element may be constructed as, or provided
with, a steam chest or else a longitudinal boiler may, as previously described,

page_text: extend over the arrangement so that the gas follows the same course as before
explained.
To enable the heating tubes to be freed from cinders there is provided in the side
walls, a man-hole for each element provided with a preferably double wrought iron
door. The inner door plate is protected by a suitable insulating medium such as
cement. fire-clay, asbestos or the like. The pipes being very short, may he readily
kept clean. The space between every two benches or sets of such boilers need only
be large enough to allow of the sets of tubes to be withdrawn and readily cleaned
when required. The side chambers or flues m in which the gases or heated products
of combustion as they leave the tubes, alter their direction, are accessible from the
ash-pit or channel n from which through man-holes o the farther part of the space
underneath the elements is reached.
Steam may be supplied by means of the well-known "Crampton " pipe p (Fig. 4)
which extends throughout the steam-chamber. The boilers may be supplied with
water through the front wall of the upper boiler by means of a long pipe which at
a point situated below the water level is provided with a considerable number of
perforations, whereby the cold water is evenly and quickly distributed.
This improved boiler may in practice have a heating surface measuring as much as
200 square metres and stand 15 atmospheres of pressure.
The before described apparatus may be varied without departing from the spirit
of the invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion as communicated to me by my foreign correspondents, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is,-
1. A. steam-boiler consisting of one or more short horizontal tubular sections or
elements a connected with one or more longitudinal boilers i extending over them
by means of one tubular connection substantially as described and illustrated with
reference to Figures 1 to 6 of the accompanying drawings.
2. The arrangement of boiler elements such as characterized in the first claim
either side by side in front or behind each other or one above the other in such a
manner that they are situated at right angles to the direction or course of the
combustion gases the casing of the first element serving at the same time as a
flame-deflector whereby the gases are compelled to take a zigzag course so that
after they have passed the space between the upper surfaces of the cases of the said
elements and the lower surface of the casing or jacket of the longitudinal boiler,
they descend on their arrival at the last or rearmost element of the series and pass
in the form of a spiral current through the bundles of tubes and back to the first or
foremost element whereupon they return to the rearmost element in doing which
they travel in contact with the lower surface or wall of the case of the tubular
boiler and then pass away into the chimney whereby thorough contact between the
gases and the casing tube and bottom part of each element is ensured substantially
as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
3. In steam boiler elements such as characterized in the first and second claims
the arrangement of protecting caps faround the edges or over the screws d d by
means of which the bottom-plates are secured to the wall of the casing of the
element for the purpose of enabling the bundle or series of tubes to be removed
bodily and of protecting the junction-screws from being burned by the fuel-gases
rushing into the tubes past the wall of the casing substantially as described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
4. In boilers such as characterized in the second claim the arrangement of
elements or cells of tubular boilers the heating tubes of which are reduced in
diameter to correspond with the average temperature of the gases prevailing at the
time and with the proper distribution of the gases in the tubes according to the
various temperatures that may be required in each element substantially as described
and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
5. In tubular boilers such as characterized in the first claim the arrangement of

page_text: a partition in the element or cell which enables two gas-currents to form in its
heating tube and to flow in opposite directions substantially as described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 11th day of January 1893.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.