IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM BOILERS
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM BOILERS."-A communication from abroad by
Herman William Ludors, of Philadelphia, County of Philadelphia,
and State of Pennsylvania United States of America.
Sealed the 1st February 1870, and dated the 3rd September 186
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville
Clark at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 3rd September 1869.
I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM BOILERS," to be as
follows:-
This Invention relates to new and important improvements in steam
boilers, and consists of a series of tubes made of any suitable metal,
length, and diameter, and set longitudinally at any desired angle or
inclination in an ordinary brick or masonwork furnace. The ends of:

page_text: these tubes are connected with horizontal tubes in a novel manner, and
provision is made for the expansion and contraction of the metal.
The Invention further consists in the construction, arrangement, and
combination of parts as herein-after more fully described.
In the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, Figure 1 represents a vertical
longitudinal section of the boiler through the line x, x, of Figure 2
showing the position of the generating tubes, the furnace, and the
central steam chamber; Figure 2 is a front end elevation; Figure 3 is
a rear end elevation; Figure 4 is a detailed view showing the method of
connecting the inclined tubes at their ends; Figure 5 is a cross section
of Figure 4 through the line y, y. Similar letters of reference indicate
corresponding parts.
A represents the "arch" or wall by which the generating tubes,
steam drums, and furnace are enclosed and supported; B represents the
generating tubes. As indicated in Figures 2 and 3 the boiler is made
in two upright sections, each system of inclined tubes being connected at
each end by the bolts C, as illustrated in Figures 4 and 5. It will be
seen that the heads of the bolts are held by lugs or shoulders in the
tubes and pass through caps D so that those tubes are drawn by nuts E
to the short sections of tubes F which are cast on and form a part of the
horizontal tubes G represented in Figures 2 and 3. H represents vertical
pillar tubes with which the horizontal tubes are connected. These
vertical tubes extend up from the lower tier of generating or inclined
tubes and connect at the front end of the boiler directly with the two
outer steam drums by curving the ends inward, as seen in the Drawing.
At the rear end of the boiler these vertical tubes H (one of which is
placed at each corner) are connected by a cross tube I, which supports
the tubular stands J which form the connection with the steam
drums. K represents the two outside drums, and L the middle 'drum;
m represents the front transverse tubes or manifolds. These it will
be noticed are of peculiar formation; while their lower sides are
horizontal for securing their respective tiers of generating tubes their
upper sides incline upward toward the vertical corner tubes H so as
to allow of a free discharge of steam from the generating tubes.
n represents the rear transverse tubes or manifolds, which rest in a
horizontal position. These tubes are cast in longitudinal sections, which
are connected by ball-and-socket joints secured together by bolts which
run through the sections from the centre and through the vertical

page_text: tubes H, on which they are fastened by screw nuts, as seen in the
Drawing. The steam will be discharged from the elevated ends of the
generating tubes into the transverse tubes m, from them into the front
upright pillar tubes H, and from them into the two outside steam
drums K. At the rear end of those drums it will be seen that they are
connected with the middle drum L by the transverse pipe O, and the
steam finds its way into this drum L through this pipe O. This cross
pipe O is so elevated that the water which is carried up with the steam
into the two outside drums K will descend into the vertical tubes and
find its proper level in the boiler, thus producing a circulation in the
boiler. The steam after entering the drum L is discharged for use from
the pipe P at the front end of the boiler. It is seen that the steam is made
to pass twice the length of the boiler, and on its return through the
central drum it is thoroughly dried and prepared for use. The water is
introduced into the vertical tubes H at the back end of the boiler through
the cross pipe R. S represents the furnace or fire-box; T is the bridge
wall. The smoke and unconsumed products of combustion pass from
the boiler through the aperture U at the rear end. By making the rear
horizontal tubes in sections and connecting them by ball-and-socket joints
the regidity usually so ruinous to tubular boilers is avoided, expansion
and contraction being thereby provided for. It will be seen that the
generating tubes are so connected with the horizontal tubes that any one
of them may be removed for repairs or exchange without disturbing the
others, and that a thorough and active water circulation is kept up
through the generating tubes and the outside drums. The generating
tubes may be readily exchanged as regards their positions in the boiler;
they may be turned over or changed end for end so as to present new
surface to the more intense heat, and the boiler as regards its general
features is so constructed as to best secure any especial required service,
all the advantages of a sectional boiler being secured by this arrangement.
In making a smaller class of boilers I may elect to set the tube manifolds
upright and connect them to a transverse or horizontal pipe at the top
of the front end of the boiler, and at the lower end to set the water
connections upright and attach. them at their bottom ends to a mud
pipe, and at the top to a transverse return water pipe, these con-
nections being carefully fitted with ball-and-socket joints as before
described to compensate for unequal expansion. Instead of these
there may (in this modification) be only two steam drums, one of which

page_text: may be connected with the transverse steam pipe in front. At the back
the two drums may be connected by a steam pipe on the top, and by
connecting pipes to the return water pipe below. Where the two steam
drums are employed the outlet for the steam will be at the front from
the drum which is not connected with the transverse steam pipe.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 2nd March 1870.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, İ, ALEXANDER
MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Third day of September, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the thirty-
third year of Her reign, did; for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Alexander Melvillo Clark, Her
special licence that I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, my exe-
cutors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Alexander Melville Clark, my executors, administrators, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM BOILERS," a com-
munication to me from abroad by Herman William Lüders, of
Philadelphia, County of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania,
United States of America, upon the condition (amongst others) that I,
the said Alexander Melville Clark, my executors or administrators, by
an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and
seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
cause the same to be filed in the Great Scal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement, reference being had to the Sheet of
Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked
thereon (that is to say):-
:-
This Invention relates to new and important improvements in steam
boilers, and consists of a series of tubes made of any suitable metal,
length, and diameter, and set longitudinally at any desired angle or
inclination in an ordinary brick or mason work furnace. The ends of
these tubes are connected with horizontal tubes in a novel manner, and
provision is made for the expansion and contraction of the metal.
The Invention further consists in the construction, arrangement, and
combination of parts as herein-after more fully described.
In the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, Figure 1 represents a
vertical longitudinal section of the boiler through the line x, x, of
Figure 2 shewing the position of the generating tubes, the furnace, and
the central steam chamber; Figure 2 is a front end elevation; Figure 3
is a rear end clevation; Figure 4 is a detailed view shewing the method
of connecting the inclined tubes at their ends; Figure 5 is a cross
section of Figure 4 through the line y, y. Similar letters of reference
indicate corresponding parts.
A represents the "arch" or wäll by which the generating tubes,
steam drums, and furnace are inclosed and supported; B represents the
generating tubes. As indicated in Figures 2 and 3 the boiler is made in
two upright sections, each system of inclined tubes being connected at
each end by the bolt C, as illustrated in Figures 4 and 5. It will be seen
that the heads of the bolts are held by lugs or shoulders in the tubes
and pass through caps D, so that those tubes are drawn by nuts E to the
short sections of tubes F which are cast on and form a part of the
horizontal tubes G represented in Figures 2 and 3. H represents
vertical pillar tubes with which the horizontal tubes are connected.
These vertical tubes extend up from the lower tier of generating or
inclined tubes, and connect at the front end of the boiler directly with
the two outer steam drums by curving the ends inward, as seen in the
Drawing. At the rear end of the boiler these vertical tubes H (one of
which is placed at each corner) are connected by a cross tube I, which

page_text: supports the tubular stands J which form the connection with the steam
drums. K represents the two outside drums, and L the middle drum;
Im represents the front transverse tubes or manifolds. These it will be
noticed are of peculiar formation; while their lower sides are horizontal
for securing their respective tiers of generating tubes, their upper sides
incline upward toward the vertical corner tubes H, so as to allow of a
free discharge of steam from the generating tubes. n represents the
rear transverse tubes or manifolds, which rest in a horizontal position.
These tubes are cast in longitudinal sections, which are connected by ball-
and-socket joints secured together by bolts which run through the
sections from the centre and through the vertical tubes H, on which
they are fastened by screw nuts, as seen in the Drawing. The steam
will be discharged from the elevated ends of the generating tubes into
the transverse tubes m, from them into the front upright pillar tubes H,
and from them into the two outside steam drums K. At the rear end of
those drums it will be seen that they are connected with the middle
drum L by the transverse pipe O, and the steam finds its way into this
drum L through this pipe O. This cross pipe O is so elevated that the
water which is carried up with the steam into the two outside drums K
will descend into the vertical tubes and find its proper level in the boiler,
thus producing a circulation in the boiler. The steam after entering
the drum L is discharged for use from the pipe P at the front end of the
boiler. It is seen that the steam is made to pass twice the length of the
boiler, and on its return through the central drum it is thoroughly dried
and prepared for use. The water is introduced into the vertical tubes H
at the back end of the boiler through the cross pipe R. S represents the
furnace or fire-box; T is the bridge wall. The smoke and unconsumed
products of combustion pass from the boiler through the aperture U at
the rear end. By making the rear horizontal tubes in sections and
connecting them by ball-and-socket joints the rigidity usually so ruinous
to tubular boilers is avoided, expansion and contraction being thereby
provided for. It will be seen that the generating tubes are so connected
with the horizontal tubes that any one of them may be removed for
repairs or exchange without disturbing the others, that a thorough
and active water circulation is kept up through the generating tubes and
the outside drums. The generating tubes may be readily exchanged as
regards their positions in the boiler; they may be turned over or
changed end for end, so as to present new surface to the more intense

page_text: heat, and the boiler as regards its general features is so constructed as
to best secure any especial required surface, all the advantages of the
sectional boiler being secured by this arrangement. In making a smaller
class of boilers I may elect to set the tube manifolds upright, and con-
nect them to a transverse or horizontal pipe at the top of the front end
of the boiler, and at the lower end to set the water connections upright
and attach them at their bottom ends to a mud pipe and at the top to a
transverse return water pipe, the connections being carefully fitted
with ball-and-socket joints as before described to compensate for unequal
expansion. Instead of these there may (in this modification) be only
two steam drums, one of which may be connected with the transverse
steam pipe in front. At the back the two drums may be connected by a
steam pipe on the top and by connecting pipes to the return water pipe
below. Where the two steam drums are employed the outlet for the
steam will be at the front from the drum which is not connected with
the transverse steam pipe.
Having described the nature of the Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be
protected by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, -
First. The inclined generating tubes B, the vertical pillar tubes H,
the transverse tubes m and n, and the drums K, K, and L, combined and
arranged substantially as herein shewn and described for the purposes
set forth.
Secondly. Arranging the manifolds in an upright position with two
instead of three steam drums, and with the connection arranged sub-
stantially as herein described for the purposes. set forth.
Thirdly. Such an arrangement of the steam generating tubes of a
steam boiler that any one tube may be removed, exchanged for another,
turned over, or changed end for end, substantially as and for the purposes
described.
Fourthly. Producing a circulation of water in a steam boiler by re-
turning the water through a steam drum and drying or superheating the
steam by passing it through another steam drum, substantially as
described.
Fifthly. In combination with a tubular steam boiler the end mani-
folds with inclined upper surfaces, and the sectional end tubes or

page_text: manifolds n connected by ball-and-socket joints, substantially as de-
scribed.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this First day of March, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy.
.
AT
+
Witness,
W. CLARK,
53, Chancery Lane.
TATUTTA
(4.8.)