IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE BOXES FOR LOCOMOTIVE,. MARINE, OR STATIONARY ENGINES."
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Daniel McIntosh Reid, of the East India Railway, Bengal,
and temporarily residing at Inchicore Lodge, in the County Dublin, Ireland,
for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE BOXES FOR LOCOMOTIVE,.
MARINE, OR STATIONARY ENGINES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Daniel McIntosh Reid at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 5th August 1880.
DANIEL MCINTOSH REID, of the East India Railway, Bengal, and temporarily
residing at Inchicore Lodge, in the County Dublin, Ireland. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
FIRE BOXES FOR LOCOMOTIVE, MARINE, OR STATIONARY ENGINES."
This Invention has reference to the construction and arrangement of apparatus
for protecting the fire boxes of locomotive, marine, or stationary engines from the
injurious effects of the intense furnace heat; and is also designed with a view to
absorbing and economising the heat which by the ordinary arrangements at present
employed goes to waste, especially in locomotives.
To this end I arrange a series of vertical tubes round the fire box, rising from a
small tank suitably placed underneath the fire grate, said tubes extending up
through the fire box and crown plate in such a manner that a free circulation of water
will be maintained through saine from the said tank for the purpose of replacing
that in the tubes which generates into steam, and at the same time to admit of a
free escape of steam as it becomes generated. The said tank, which is fed by one
or more feed pipes from any convenient part of the boiler, is constructed to rest on
springs suitably arranged to admit of its yielding with the vertical tubes as the
latter are forced to expand and contract when affected by the different degrees of
intense furnace heat they may be subjected to. A portion or all the feed water
may be arranged to pass through said tank and vertical tubes, especially when
working heavily, in which case the furnace heat being at its highest intensity will
be the more effectually absorbed by the cool water passing through the vertical
Dries 631

page_text: tubes, and its injurious expansive action on the tube plate and other parts of the
fire box is prevented.
In front of the tube plate I propose to arrange a double row of vertical tubes for
the purpose of more effectually intercepting and absorbing the heat of the hot
gases before passing into the boiler tubes. These gases it is well known pass
through the boiler tubes so quickly as to admit of only a very small portion of
their heat being absorbed.
The direct heating surface of an engine may be thus doubled or trebbled
according to the number of vertical tubes employed, and a corresponding saving is
effected in fuel and fire box repairs, while at the same time the engine's power is
increased to a corresponding extent.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Daniel McIntosh Reid in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 5th
February 1881.
DANIEL MCINTOSH REID, of the East India Railway, Bengal, and temporarily
residing at Inchicore Lodge, in the County Dublin, Ireland. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
FIRE BOXES FOR LOCOMOTIVE, MARINE, OR STATIONARY ENGINES."
This Invention has reference to the construction and arrangement of apparatus
for protecting the fire boxes of locomotive, marine, and stationary engines from the
injurious effects of intense furnace heat, and is also designed with a view to
absorbing and economizing the heat, which by the ordinary arrangements at present
employed goes to waste, especially in locomotives. To this end I arrange a series of
vertical tubes round the fire box, rising from a small tank suitably placed
underneath the fire grate, said tubes extending up through the fire box and crown
plate in such a manner that a free circulation of water will be maintained through
the same from the said tank for the purpose of replacing that in the tubes which
generates into steam as it becomes generated. The said tank, which is fed by one
or more feed pipes from any convenient part of the boiler, is constructed to rest on
springs suitably arranged to admit of its yielding with the vertical tubes as the
latter are forced to expand and contract when affected by the different degrees of
intense furnace heat they may be subjected to. A portion or all the feed water
may be arranged to pass through said tank and vertical tubes, especially when
working heavily, in which case the furnace heat being then at its highest intensity
will be the more effectually absorbed by the cool water passing through the vertical
tubes, and its injurious expansive action on the tube plate and other parts of the fire
box is prevented. In front of the tube plate I purpose to arrange a double row of
vertical tubes for the purpose of more effectually intercepting and absorbing the
heat of the hot gases before passing into the boiler tubes. These gases. it is well
known pass through the boiler tubes so quickly as to admit of only a very small
portion of their heat being absorbed. The direct heating surface of an engine
may be thus doubled or trebled according to the number of vertical tubes employed,
and a corresponding saving is effected in fuel and fire box repairs, while at the
same time the engine's power is increased to a corresponding effect.
Having thus far described the nature of the said Invention, and incidentally
intimated in what manner the same is to be performed, I will now proceed by
reference to the accompanying Drawings to further and particularly describe and
ascertain in what manner tho same is to be performed or carried out in practice,
that is to say:-
Fig. 1, longitudinal section of locomotive fire box, showing the application of my
improved arrangements.
Fig. 2, plan.
a, vertical tubes ranged round the fire box b, extending from small tank c under
the fire grate up through the fire box b and crown plate e. The small tank c is
fed by one or more feed pipes f from any convenient part of the boiler.
A portion or all the feed water should be arranged to pass through this tank c
and vertical tubes a, and thus a free circulation of water through the vertical
tubes a from the bottom is effected to replace that in the tubes which generates
into steam, and at the same time to admit of a free escape to steam as it is
generated. The tank c rests on springs, to admit of its yielding with the vertical
tubes a as they expand and contract with the different degrees of intense furnace
heat they may be subjected to. The object of the double row of vertical tubes a

page_text: in front of the tube plate, as shown, is the more effectually to intercept and absorb
the heat of the hot gases before passing into the boiler tubes g. These gases pass
through the tubes so quickly as to admit of only a very small portion of their heat
being absorbed.
When working heavily all the feed water should be arranged to pass through
tank c and vertical tubes a, by which means the furnace heat, which is then at the
highest intensity, is the more effectually absorbed by the cool water passing up
through the vertical tubes a, and its injurious expansive effects on the tube plate h
and other parts of the fire box is more effectually prevented. The direct heating
surface of an engine may be doubled or trebled, according to the number of vertical
tubes a arranged, and this effects a corresponding saving in fuel and fire box
repairs, while also increasing the engine's power to a corresponding extent.
In the case of new engines excessive expansion in the fire box plates being
prevented by my improvements, the same will admit of steel or iron being profitably
used for fire boxes and boiler tubes.
The steam generating power being much increased, it admits of corresponding
lightness in engines for the power (size of cylinders) required.
The vertical tubes a are tapered and screwed at the top end k, and have a raised
screw at the part passing through the top and bottom plates of the small tank, as
shown in enlarged view, Fig. 3. The threads of all three screws k, l, m, are of the
same pitch, and the tubes are fixed by being screwed up and into the roof plate e,
and into the tank plates, as shown. The tapered screw end screwed in the roof e
forms a joint; and lock nuts, with a little flax, if necessary, form joints on the top
and under the tank c. The portion of the vertical tubes a inside the tank act as
stays, and are, of course, perforated, as shown at p, to admit of a free flow of the
water up the tubes. The bottom ends of the tubes may be permanently plugged
or stopped by caps enclosing the ends, combined with the bottom lock nuts.
Fire box partitions that have heretofore been tried have not proved efficient
owing to their being expensive to keep in repair, and a continual source of trouble
by leaking. This leakage arises from the effects of expansion.
According to my Invention these defects are remedied, and also a free circulation
of water and escape for steam as it generates is provided. It is evident that any of
the tubes can be easily replaced.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature and object of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed or carried out in
practice, I hereby declare that I claim the Invention of "Improvements in Fire
Boxes for Locomotive, Marine, or Stationary Engines," substantially as hereinbefore
set forth and described, and illustrated by the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Daniel McIntosh Reid, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eighth day of January, One thousand eight hundred and
eighty-one
Signature written before me,
Caspurst.
DANIEL M'INTOSH REID. (L.S.)
Ramgary
Asst. Magta.,
8th Jan. 1881.