CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM BOILERS
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Smedley, of Holywell, in the County
of Flint, Gentleman, for the Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS
IN STEAM BOILERS."
Sealed the 9th August 1853, and dated the 26th March 1853.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Smedley at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 26th March 1853.
I, THOMAS SMEDLEY, of Holywell, in the County of Flint, Gentleman,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVE-
MENTS IN STEAM BOILERS" to be as follows:-
My improvements consist, firstly, in employing a malleable alloy in
the construction of steam boilers, which alloy is subject to less oxidation
than iron or copper; and, secondly, in employing such alloy in the con-
struction of the fire boxes or furnaces of boilers made externally of
other metals.
The alloy I recommend is composed of copper and zinc, and may be
varied in any proportions not exceeding 45 p. ct of zinc, but the pro-
portions I consider as most suitable are 66 per cent. of copper and
34 per cent. of zinc.

page_text: In applying my Invention to the usual boilers of locomotives, that
portion called the fire box may be made either of rolled sheets or cast
plates of the before-named alloy, or it may be used to cast the entire
fire box in one piece, without leaving any apertures in such casting for
bolts or tubes, which I prefer being afterwards drilled out of the solid
metal. If made in plates, they may be either first of all cast in moulds,
and afterwards hammered or rolled, or both, if necessary, to the sizes and
shapes required, or they may be cast only in moulds of requisite form
and shape; and I would here observe that these plates may be rolled
or hammered when in a heated state, say at a red heat, when the
copper therein does not exceed 64 per cent. or thereabouts.
When adapting my Invention to the ordinary marine boilers, the
whole of the furnace portion, comprehending the sides, roof, ash-pit,
and water bridge, and some distance in the flue beyond the bridge,
where acted on by the flame, may be constructed of sheets or plates
manufactured from the said alloy.
But locomotive, marine, and other steam boilers may be wholly con-
structed of my before-named alloy, although it is principally serviceable
for such parts of boilers as are most acted on by the fire, for which
purposes it has never before been employed. I am aware, however,
that the same or a similar metallic alloy has been used for locomotive
boiler tubes, for which application I make no claim.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and how
the same is to be performed, 1 do declare that I claim-
The construction of steam boilers (exclusive of locomotive boiler
tubes) made wholly or in part of a malleable alloy of copper and zine,
as described.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-sixth day of March, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the
sixteenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Thomas Smedley, Her special licence
that I, the said Thomas Smedley, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Thomas Smedley, my executors, ad-
ministrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others,
from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein
expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend,
within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN
STEAM BOILERS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Thomas Smedley, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the
same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Thomas Smedley, do hereby de-
clare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement.
My improvements consist, firstly, in employing a malleable alloy in
the construction of steam boilers, which alloy is subject to less oxidation
than iron or copper; and, secondly, in employing such alloy in the con-
struction of the fire boxes or furnaces of boilers made externally of
other metals.
The alloy I recommend is composed of copper and zinc, and may
be varied in any proportions not exceeding forty-five per cent. of zinc,
but the proportions which I consider as most suitable are sixty-six per
cent. of copper and thirty-four per cent. of zinc.
In applying my Invention to the usual boilers of locomotives, that
portion called the fire box may be made either of rolled sheets or cast
plates of the before-named alloy, or the alloy may be used to cast the
entire fire box in one piece, without leaving any apertures in such

page_text: casting for bolts or tubes, which I prefer being afterwards drilled out of
the solid metal. If made in plates, they may be either first of all cast
in moulds, and afterwards hammered or rolled, or both, if necessary, to
the size and shapes required, or they may be cast only in moulds of
requisite form and shape; and I would here observe that these plates
may be rolled or hammered when in a heated state, say at a rod heat,
when the copper therein does not exceed sixty-four per cent. or there-
abouts.
When adapting my Invention to the ordinary marine boilers, the
whole of the furnace portion, comprehending the sides, roof, ash-pit,
and water bridge, and some distance in the flue beyond the bridge,
where acted on by the flame, may be constructed of sheets or plates
manufactured from the said alloy.
But locomotive, marine, and other steam boilers may be wholly con-
structed of the before-named alloy, although it is principally serviceable
for such parts of boilers as are most acted on by the fire, for which
purpose it has never before been employed. I am aware, however, that
the same or a similar alloy has been used for locomotive boiler tubes,
for which application I make no claim.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and how
the same is to be carried into effect, I do declare that what I claim is,
namely,―
The construction of steam boilers (exclusive of locomotive boiler
tubes) made wholly or in part of a malleable alloy of copper and zinc,
as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Smedley, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this 10th day of August, in the year
of our Lord 1853.
THOMAS SMEDLEY. (L.s.)