Improvements in Boilers for Heating Apparatus Operating by Circulation of a Fluid.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 28th June, 1888
Complete Specification Left, 5th Jan., 1889
Complete Specification Accepted, 5th Feb., 1889
Improvements in Boilers for Heating Apparatus Operating by
Circulation of a Fluid.
We, JAMES HARTLEY and JOHN ECOLES ASPINALL Boiler Makers and Hot Water
Engineers of Hyde in the county of Chester, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows :-
Our invention consists of the introduction of a midfeather or tube box into tho
upper part of Boilers of the ordinary vertical circular type. This midfeather may
be constructed in several different forms but the form we prefer is as follows. It
is circular in form and of a diameter to allow about one inch of annular space
between itself and the inside of the Boiler firebox. In depth it is about one eighth
part of the height of the firebox and it is hollow. Copper or other firetubes pass
vertically through it and these tubes are preferably from 2 to 3 inches diameter
and are secured and caulked in the ordinary manner. The midfeather is placed in
as high a position in the Boiler as the necessary connections will allow and is
connected below by one or more pipes with the usual annular water space of the
Boiler. It may rest on these pipes or may be suspended by brackets resting on the
upper edge of Boiler or in any convenient way. From the upper part of the mid-
feather an outlet water pipe or pipes is or are connected leading directly to the
"flow" pipe of the system or it or they may lead simply into the upper part of
the Boiler. Thus it will be seen that the water fills the midfeather and surrounds
the fire tubes.
When the midfeather is constructed and placed as above described the flue and
chimney are placed as usual so that all the heated gases must pass around the
midfeather or through the tubes, but the firing up hole or door is placed in one
side of the Boiler and below the midfeather.
A door to allow of cleaning the top of the midfeather and the tubes is placed
either centrally or at one side of the usual top cover.
In special cases or when applied to existing Boilers with firing holes placed
centrally in the top cover we make the midfeather in the form of a ring or with
an extra large tube in the middle to allow the fuel to pass through and in this case
we prefer to close this central hole with a damper after firing up.
Dated thi. 27th day of June 1888.
EDGAR CONISTON MILLS,
Agent to the Applicants.

page_text: Improvements in Boilers for Heating Apparatus Operating by
Circulation of a Fluid.
Wo, JAMES HARTLEY and JOHN ECCLES ASPINALL Boiler Makers and Hot Water
Engineers of Hyde in the County of Chester, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
Our invention consists of the introduction of a midfeather or tube-box into the
upper part of Heating Apparatus Boilers of the ordinary vertical circular type.
In the accompanying drawings Figs. I and II shew respectively a sectional elevation
and a sectional plan of one form of our invention in which there is only one connection
for inflow to the midfeather and only one connection for outflow, and in which the
firing-up door is in the side of the Boiler and below the midfeather.
Figs. LLL and IV shew respectively a sectional olovation and sectional plan of
another form of our invention in which there are two connections for inflow to
milfeather and two for outflow.
These Figs. also show the form of midfeather wo adopt when the Boiler is fired
centrally at the top or in some cases when our invention is applied to existing
Boilers.
In all the Figs., the same reference letters refer to the same parts.
A is the interior of the furnace of the Boiler, the grate and lower portion not being
shewn. is the annular water space, e the flue leading to chimney, d the hot water
"flow" pipe and e the top cover. (Fig. 1) is the firing-up door. B is the mid-
feather insorted as shown into the upper part of the furnace. It can be formed of
wrot' iron welded or rivetted, or of a cast iron outer box with iron or copper tubes or
the whole can be cast in one piece including the tubes. The water space 6' is
intersected by the vortical fire tubes g, g. In addition to passing through these tubos
the hot gases can play around the midfonther in the annular apace between it and the
side of the furnace.
h, h, are the inlet pipos to the midfeather, supplying it with water from the annular
Boiler water space b, and i, i, are the outlet pipes returning the water to the highest
point of the space b.
In the arrangement as shown in Figs. I and II it will be observed there is only one
inlet and one outlet at an opposite point to the inlet these being sufficient in the case
of smaller Boilers to supply and support the midfeather. In Figs. III and IV there
are two inlets and two outlets, placed at right angles to the inlots so as to compel the
walor to traverse the midfeather. In some cases we support the midfeather by a
suspending bracket from the upper edge of the Boiler or in other convenient way in
addition to supporting it by its inlet and outlet pipos.
In some cases we form the outlet pipe i projecting slightly into the Boiler flow pipe
as shewn in dotted lines at k, Fig. 1V.

page_text: In Figs. III and IV the centre fire tube of the midfeather B is shewn considerably
larger so that the midfeather takes the form of a ring. The object of this is that the
cover e, may be used for firing up and in this case we form a damper or baffle-plate 1,
preferably depending from said cover e. It does not come into contact with the
midfeather but approaches sufficiently near to check the gases passing through the
central hole and to distribute them in proper proportion through the outer tubes and
space.
In either form the door e, also allows access to the midfeather and tubes for
cleaning them.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is,―
•
I. A midfeather with water space and provision for the circulation of the water
through the same, inserted into the upper part of the furnaces of Heating-Apparatus
Boilers, substantially as, and for the purposes herein before described and illustrated
in the accompanying drawings.
II. A midfeather with water space and fire tubes for Heating-Apparatus Boilers,
substantially as, and for the purposes herein before described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
III. Connecting the midfeather with the Boiler water-spaco by means of inflow and
outflow pipes, substantially as, and for the purposes herein before described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
IV. A midfeather with large contral hole to allow of firing up Boilers from the top,
substantially as, and for the purposes herein before described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
V. The removable Damper or Baffle-plate to distribute the current of hot gases
when the Midfeather is formed with large centre-bole, substantially as, and for the
purposes herein before described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
VI. Inserting the end of outflow pipe from midfeather into the end of "flow" pipe
from the Boiler, substantially as and for the purposes herein before described, and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings. .
Dated this 4th day of January 1889.
EDGAR CONISTON MILLS,
Agent to the Applicants.