IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM GENERATORS
Year: 1885

page_text: I, WALLACE FAIRWEATHER, OE. of 96 Buchanan Street, Glasgow, in the county
of Lanark, Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents, do hereby declare the nature
of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM GENERATORS," and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement, (the same being a communication to me from
abroad by Nathaniel W Pratt and the Babcock and Wilcox Company of New
York, in the United States of America, Steam Boiler Manufacturers
This invention relates to certain improvements in that class of steam generators
known as sectional boilers which for the purposes of this application are embodied
in a type of generator known in commercial circles as the Babcock and Wilcox
Water Tube Boiler and upon which numerous patents have already been granted
This boiler as originally designed contains many parts of great weight and
bulk, and consequently difficulties are met in transporting the same through remote
and mountainous regions adorned with bad roads, and also it has been necessary
to employ a degree of skilled labour in setting up these boilers that cannot always
be found in such remote districts
The object of this invention, therefore, is to avoid these difficulties, by such
modifications of the parts that will divide and reduce their weight and bulk, so
that an easy transportation is made, even on mule back, and upon arrival at their
destination they may be readily assembled and erected without the use of rivets or
bolts or the employment of skilled labour The invention consists principally, in
dividing portions of the generator into separable parts and connecting the same
with expanded nipples adjacent to each other, so as to form communicating passages
through the divided portions of the steam and water spaces.
The invention also consists in certain details of construction, hereinafter fully
described and subsequently defined in the claims
In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1, Sheet 1, represents a side elevation,
partly in section, and Figure 2 an enlarged and detached view of a cross header
and connected tube Figure 3, Sheet 2, is a front elevation, partly in section, of
a generator embodying my improvements. Figures 4, 5, and 6, 7, Sheet 3, are

page_text: detached and enlarged views of certain details thereof Figure 8, Sheet 4, represents
an enlarged elevation, Figure 9, Sheet 4, a vertical section of the same, Figure 10,
Sheet 4, a detached section showing a modified construction designed for cast
metal, and Figure 11, Sheet 4, a vertical section showing a further modification
adapted to sheet or plate metal
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several Figures
In the Drawings, Sbeets 1, 2, and 3, a, a, represent various sections of the steam
and water drum, each section being provided with independent heads, and joined
together by a number of nipples h expanded into the adjacent heads, which may be
flat, convex, or concave in form, the latter however being preferred. A steam
dome m is also shown connected therewith by means of nipples h in the same
manner
The main water tubes e, e, are expanded into the cross headers d at their
respective ends which communicate with the drums a through the intermediate
manifolds band e as shown in Figure 1, Sheet 1, Figure 3, Sheet 2, and in the
enlarged and detached views Figures 4, 5, 6, and 7, Sheet 3
These manifolds are usually composed of cast metál and are connected with each
adjacent part by means of expanded nipples h
The manifold 6 is connected near the rear end of the drum a, the shell of the
lätter being reinforced and strengthened at such connection by a strap n riveted
thereon and which compensates for the metal removed to accommodate the nipples
which are expanded directly into the strap, as more fully shown in the enlarged
view, Figures 4 and 5, Sheet 3
The circulating tubes ff that connect the manifold b with the cross header d of
the main tubes e are expanded directly into such respective parts, or the manifold b
may be dispensed with and the circulating tubes f extended and bent at their
upper ends and expanded directly into the strap n as shown at 8 Figure 3,
Sheet 2
The mud drum g 18 also connected to the rear cross header d by expanded
nipples h, and is also divided into two or more parts which are connected together
by nipples expanded into orifices located near the top and bottom, so that
communication may be maintained when either orifice becomes choked
In generators requiring extreme width of furnace the cross headers d may also
be divided and connected in the same manner, in which case the nipples h are
expanded into the adjacent ends
The flame bridges 2, 2, in connection with the suspended bridge wall & determine
the course of the gases from the furnace to the stack, as shown in Figure 1
Sheet 1
These bridges are composed of cast-iron plates that overlap each other and are
bolted to bars at their respective ends to retain them in place, and they are lined
with projecting fire brick upon their front.
The side walls of the generator may be provided with doors as shown at p.
Figure 1, Sheet 1, and Figure 3, Sheet 2, to attain access to the interior, or to allow
the introduction of a brush or jet in removing an accumulation of ashes upon the
tubes, or other parts
In the drawing Sheet 4, the manifolds or headers d, are shown in rectangular
cross section of varying lengths and sizes to accommodate pipes e of varying
diameter and number, said pipes being usually arranged in series and secured to
the headers at either one or both ends
When secured at one end only, each opposite end may be plugged or closed in
any desirable way or by any suitable device and left free to expand or contract
For convenience of description the side of the header into which the pipes are
secured may be considered the rear side, that opposite the front side, and the
remaining two ades, the top and bottom respectively
The headers are preferably composed of wrought metal and may be produced by
any of the well-known methods employed for analogous forms, as for example, in
the manufacture of tubing or pipes,

page_text: A heated skelp of round pipe may be placed upon a square mandrel and passed
between roller dies, having a corresponding form of groove in cross section; until
the proper reduction and size is made, or by bending plates of metal over a former
and welding the overlapping edges, or as shown in the sectional view, Figure 11,
by allowing the edges of the plate to project when brought together and uniting
them either by riveting or welding
The method by which I prefer to make the headera is by taking a round pipe of
the desired length of the header when completed, and compressing it between
rectangular dies of corresponding or greater length to produce the external form,
then, and while under compression, forcing a square mandrel through the fixed
tube
L
In the method now practised, a heated skelp of round pipe is placed upon a
square mandrel and then passed with the mandrel between roller dies, or is drawn
between the roller dies and a stationary mandrel
When made of cast metal, the headers may be produced by the use of patterns as
shown in the sectional view Figure 10, the raised hand hole seats and ends being
formed at the same operation.
When made of wrought metal the ends of the headers are closed by fitted heads
welded or riveted in place
Through the rear side of the header d holes are cut to receive the pipes e and a
hand hole c is cut through the front side directly opposite each pipe to facilitate
the removal or renewal of the pipes and for cleaning purposes, each band hole being
provided with a removable plate or cover g
Through the top and bottom sides of the headers communicating openings h are
made and arranged at varying distances from the pipe openings, so that the pipes
of the adjacent series or section are placed in a "staggered" relative position when
two or more headers are placed and connected together
The joints between the headers may be made tight by placing a packing between
the adjacent sides and bolting them together by passing bolts through the adjoining
walls or right and left hand screw nipples, or by expanding the ends of short
tubes within the adjoining headers as shown The latter expedient is preferable
Where desirable two or more headers may be joined end to end as shown in
Figure 8
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
1 A steam generator having its cumbersome parts divided into convenient
separable sections relatively connected by, and communicating through interposed
expanding nipples as set forth
2 A steam and water drum composed of two or more independent cylindrical
sections, the adjacent heads being connected by a series of interposed expanded
nipples, distributed over the surface of said heads to form an unobstructed
circulation therein, as described
3 A mud drum composed of two or more sections Joined together by a series of
expanded nipples located near the top and bottom thereof, whereby communication
18 maintained when either becomes choked, as set forth
4 In a water tube boiler, a manifold or header constructed of polygonal tubes
placed side by side and united at several points throughout their length by means
of nipples or thimbles which are secured in the adjoining faces or sides of the said
tubes, substantially as specified.
5 A manifold or header of rectangular cross section provided with openings
through two of its opposite sides, upon one side adapted to receive a series of pipes,
and upon the other or opposite side, removable covers or plates, and also provided
with a series of openings through the top and bottom sides, placed opposite each
other, and at varying distances from said pipe openings, whereby a staggered
relative position of the pipes of two or more communicating manifolds 18 secured.
"
13

page_text: 6 A manifold or header of rectangular cross-section composed of plate or sheet
metal bent to form as described, with longitudinal projecting flanges forming its
Beam or joint, as shown.
7 A steam generator composed of a series of straight headers of rectangular
cross section extending horizontally across the furnace into which a series of
heating tubes are expanded, and intermediate manifolds connecting the cross
headers and an elevated steam and water drum, the whole joined and connected
together by means of expanded nipples.