IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR HEATING AND CIRCULATING WATER
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Dilworth, of Preston, in the County of Lancaster,
Hot Water Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR
HEATING AND CIRCULATING WATER."
Sealed the 12th April 1878, and dated the 2nd November 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Dilworth at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd November 1877.
WILLIAM DILWORTH, of Preston, in the County of Lancaster, Hot Water
Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR HEATING AND CIRCULATING
WATER.
This Invention of improvements in apparatus for heating and circulating water
has reference to a vertically arranged apparatus, wherein the parts for containing
the water to be heated and circulated are arranged around a fire-place and fuel-
feeding or charging pipe, those water containing sections which surround the fuel-
feeding or charging pipe being placed sufficiently apart in a vertical sense to leave
horizontal flues between each two of them.
The fuel is fed from the top through the feeding or charging pipe, and the
products of combustion passing upwards from below and traversing the horizontal
flues are more effectually utilized than in hot water boilers, such as are at present
usually employed.
The fuel feeding or charging pipe is centrally arranged, and is surrounded by an
annular water space extending from the top of the boiler to the crown of the fire-
box. Around the periphery of this annular water space are arranged at intervals,
one above the other, a series of two, three, or more circular water chambers of
considerable diameter relatively to their depth. The intervals or spaces between
these circular water chambers constitute the horizontal flues.

page_text: The top of each circular water chamber is plain or flat, but the bottom is formed
with radial channels resembling the lower halves of tubes, whose under or outer
surfaces project into the horizontal flues beneath. These convexities on the under
sides of the circular water chambers are for the purpose of increasing the amount
of heating surface, and are arranged radially in order that the products of com-
bustion may impinge against them when passing within the respective horizontal
flues, and may thus be checked in their progress and caused to act more efficiently
against the heating surfaces.
The circular water chambers are provided with vertical openings or passages, so
arranged that the products of combustion may find their way from beneath the
lowermost circular water chamber through its opening to the horizontal flue above,
that is to say, to the space between the lowermost circular water chamber and the
one next above it, thence around the central annular water space to the opening
at the opposite side of the apparatus, through it to the next higher horizontal flue,
and so on until the under side of the uppermost water chamber is reached, when
the products of combustion may pass off through a side flue to the chimney.
The base of the boiler consists of a hollow ring, preferably square, in cross section,
of the same outer diameter as the circular water chambers above described. The
hollow ring does not form a complete circle, the two extremities being arranged at
a distance from each other suited to the width of the furnace door. To the upper
side of the ring are fitted a number of flat hollow boxes rounded at the edges,
provided at their lower outer and upper inner corners with spigot ends.
The lower spigot ends are vertical and fit into vertical sockets on the upper edge
of the ring, and the upper spigot ends are horizontal and fit into horizontal sockets
surrounding the base of the annular water space, which at this point is somewhat
enlarged. By this arrangement water, communication is provided between the
hollow ring and the annular water space above. At that side of the boiler furthest
from the furnace door, two of the hollow boxes, instead of being connected to the
annular water space, are fitted into sockets projecting from the underside of the
lowermost circular water chamber, and each of the circular water chambers com-
municates with the one next above, the connection being made at opposite sides of
the apparatus alternately, thus establishing water communication between the
hollow ring forming the base of the boiler and the entire series of circular water
chambers above.
The annular water space and the circular water chambers, as also the hollow base
ring, are preferably made in two sections or halves, tie upper end of annular
water space and the uppermost circular water chamber being open to the flow pipes
and the hollow base ring to the return pipes through which the heated water is to
circulate.
"
:
In setting up my improved boiler I place it upon a foundation plate or frame of
the kind ordinarily used for beating stoves, the central portion containing the fire-
bars, which may be arranged in the usual manner.
י'
An annular recess or groove surrounding the outer edge of the base ring of the
boiler is sunk into the foundation plate, and within it rest the lower edges of fire-
clay blocks. The fire-clay blocks surround the boiler; and in the case of a small
boiler only two would be required, one on each side, and in such case each of the
blocks might extend vertically from the bottom of the annular groove to the top
of the boiler, and horizontally from the edge of the furnace door frame to the back
of the boiler where the two would meet.
The furnace door frame extends from the foundation plate upon which it rests to
the top of the boiler, and opposite each horizontal flue is a door for allowing access
to the flues.
For large boilers I prefer to employ more than two of the fire-clay blocks. At
the points where the blocks meet they are rabbeted, that is to say, narrow grooves
are made in the edges of the blocks, and strips of sheet metal inserted in the orifice
formed by the meeting. grooves when the blocks are in position. Each side of the
.

page_text: furnace door frame has a vertical rib projecting from it, which enters corresponding
grooves in the edges of the blocks..
For large boilers metal bands or hoops may be employed for bracing the blocks
together, and a frame above the blocks may be bolted down to the foundation
plate.
For small boilers, where only two blocks are employed, the latter may be bolted
down to the foundation plate without any top frame.
The exteriors of the blocks may be made more or less ornamental by being ribbed
fluted, or having any suitable pattern moulded upon them.
My improved boiler, constructed and encased with fire-clay blocks as above
described, may be readily moved from place to place without disturbing brickwork,
and my apparatus in addition to heating water may, owing to its compactness, be
utilised as a stove for warming the apartment in which it is placed
The interior of the fuel-feeding or charging pipe is charged with fuel till it is
full, and the aperture at the top of the annular water space is closed with a lid
or cover, so as to prevent access of air from the top of the boiler during combustion.
The products of combustion from the furnace below will find their way between
the flat hollow boxes, which connect the base ring with the annular water space,
and will impinge against the under side of the lowermost water chamber, thence
finding their way to the horizontal flues in succession and to the chimney, as already
described.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Dilworth in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 30th April
1878.
WILLIAM DILWORTH, of Preston, in the County of Lancaster, Hot Water
Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR HEATING AND CIRCULATING
WATER."
This Invention of improvements in apparatus for heating and circulating water
has reference to a vertically arranged apparatus, wherein the parts for containing
the water to be heated and circulated are arranged around a fire-place and fuel-
feeding or charging pipe, those water containing sections which surround the fuel-
feeding or charging pipe being placed sufficiently apart in a vertical sense to leave
horizontal flues between each two of them.
The fuel is fed from the top through the. fuel-feeding or charging pipe, and the
products of combustion passing upward from below and traversing the horizontal
flues are more efficiently utilized than in hot water boilers, such as are at present
usually employed.
In the accompanying Drawings, Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the improved
apparatus or boiler for heating and circulating water; Fig. 2 is a sectional view of
the same; Fig. 3 is a plan; Fig. 4 a sectional plan on the line A, B, of Fig. 1;
Fig. 5, a sectional plan on the line C, D, of Fig. 1; and Fig. 6 is a top view of the
circular water chamber d¹.
Like letters of reference indicate like parts in all the views.
The boiler shewn in the Drawings and herein-after described is constructed in
two sections or halves.
a is a fuel feeding or charging pipe centrally arranged and surrounded by an
annular water space b extending from the top of the boiler.to the crown of the fire-
box c.
Around the periphery of the annular water space b are arranged at intervals,
one above the other, a series of three circular water chambers d, d', and d².
intervals or spaces e, e, between these circular water chambers constitute the
horizontal flues.
The
The top of each of the circular water chambers d, d', d², is plain or flat, but the
bottom is formed with radial channels f resembling the lower halves of tubes,
whose under or outer surfaces project into the horizontal flues e beneath. These
radial channels or convexities on the under sides of the circular water chambers
are for the purpose of increasing the amount of heating surface, and are arranged
radially (see Figs. 3 and 6), in order that the products of combustion may impinge
against them when passing within the respective horizontal flues, and may thereby
be caused to act more efficiently upon the heating surfaces.
1
The circular water chambers and d² are provided with vertical openings or
passages (see Fig. 6) arranged alternately at opposite sides of the boiler, so that
the products of combustion may find their way from beneath the lowermost circular
water chamber d² through its opening to the horizontal flue above, that is to say, to
the space e between the lowermost circular water chamber d² and the one next
above it d', thence around the central annular water space b to the opening at the
opposite side of the apparatus, through it to the next higher horizontal flue, and so
on until the under side of the uppermost water chamber is reached, when the
products of combustion may pass off through a side flue to the chimney.
The number of circular water chambers may be varied according to the height or
power of boiler required, the central annular water space and fuel-feeding pipe being
made of such a height as to suit the altered conditions.
I prefer to make the fuel-feeding pipe of a gradually widening form from the
top downwards (see Fig. 2), so as to prevent the fuel therein from getting jammed
and choking the interior of the tube.
The base of the boiler consists of a hollow ring h, which may be square in cross
section, and may have the same outer diameter as the circular water chambers above

page_text: described. I prefer, however, to make it somewhat less in diameter so as to allow
a space, as shewn in Figs. 2 and 4, between it and the brickwork surrounding the
boiler. The hollow ring h does not form a complete circle, the two extremities
being arranged at a distance from each other suited to the width of the furnace
door. To the upper side of the ring are fitted a number of flat hollow boxes i,
rounded at the edges, provided at their lower ends and at their upper inner corners
with spigot ends j, j.
The lower spigot ends jare vertical and fit into vertical sockets k on the upper
edge of the ring h, and the upper spigot ends j¹ are horizontal and fit into horizontal
sockets surrounding the base of the annular water space b, which at this point is
somewhat enlarged. By this arrangement water communication is provided between
the hollow ring h and the annular water space b above.
The annular water space bis formed at its base with two hollow projecting
arms,, provided with sockets m, m, into which spigot ends n, n, on the lower side
of the circular water chamber dare fitted. Similar spigot ends n, n, on the lower
side of the next higher circular water chamber d' are fitted into corresponding
sockets, on the circular water chamber d². below, and the same arrangement is
continued between each two of the circular water chambers until the topmost water
chamber is reached, the connection being made at opposite sides of the apparatus
alternately, thus establishing water communication, firstly, as between the hollow
ring h, forming the base of the boiler and the annular water space b, and, secondly,
between the annular water space b and the entire series of circular water
chambers d², d, and d..
The upper end of the annular water space b and the uppermost circular water
chamber are open at o, o, to the How pipes, the hollow base ring h being connected
at p, p, to the return pipes through which the water is to circulate.
My improved boiler may be set up in ordinary brick work, or may be placed upon
a foundation plate or frame q, the central portion containing the fire-bars P which
may be arranged in the usual manner.
An annular recess or groove s surrounding the outer edge of the base ring h of the
boiler is formed in the foundation plate, and within it rest the lower edges of fire-
clay blocks t. The fire-clay blocks surround the boiler, and, in the case of a small
boiler only two would be required, one on each side, and in such case each of the
blocks might extend vertically from the bottom of the annular grooves to the top
of the boiler, and horizontally from the edge of the furnace door frame u (see Fig. 4)
to the back of the boiler where the two would meet.
The furnace door frame may extend from the foundation plate upon which it rests
to the top of the boiler, and opposite each horizontal flue a door or soot box may
be provided for allowing access to the flues.
For large boilers prefer to employ more than two of the fire-clay blocks t.
At the points where the blocks meet, they are rabbetted, that is to say, narrow
grooves are made in the edges of the block t and strips of sheet metal v inserted in
the orifices formed by the meeting of the grooves when the blocks are in position.
Each side of the furnace door frame has a vertical rib w projecting from it, which
enters corresponding grooves in the edges of the blocks t.
For large boilers metal bands or hoops may be employed for bracing the blocks
together, and a frame above the blocks may be bolted down to the foundation
plate.
For small boilers, where only two blocks are employed, the latter may be bolted
down to the foundation plate without any top frame.
The exteriors of the blocks may be made more or less ornamental by being
ribbed, fluted, or having any suitable pattern moulded upon them.
My improved boiler, constructed and encased with fire-clay blocks, as above
described, may be readily moved from place to place without disturbing the brick-
work, and my apparatus in addition to heating water may, owing to its compact-
ness, be utilized as a stove for warming the apartment in which it is placed.
The interior of the fuel-feeding or charging pipe a is charged with fuel till it is

page_text: full, and the aperture x at the top of the annular water space b is closed with a lid
or cover y (see Fig. 2), so as to prevent access of air from the top of the boiler
during combustion. The products of combustion from the furnace below will find
their way between the flat hollow boxes i, which connect the base ring h with the
annular water space b, and will impinge against the under side of the lowermost
water chamber d³, thence finding their way to the horizontal flues in succession and
to the chimney as already described.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention and the manner in
which I prefer to carry it into practical effect, I would have it understood that what
I consider to be novel and original and therefore claim as the Invention secured to
me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is as follows (that is to
'say),-
1. The combination with a central tube or pipe, through which fuel is supplied to
a fire-place below, of water chambers, arranged one above another, with communi-
cating horizontal flues e between them, substantially as described and shewn in the
Drawings for the purposes set forth.
2. Constructing the water chambers, as described and shewn at d, d², d², in the
Drawings.
3. The combination of parts constituting the improved boiler for heating and
circulating water, constructed, arranged, and operating substantially as herein-before
described and shewn in the Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Dilworth, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-ninth day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
WILLIAM DILWORTH, (L.S.)