IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF VERTICAL STEAM BOILERS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Alexander Byng, of Ipswich, in the County of
Suffolk, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION
OF VERTICAL STEAM BOILERS."
Sealed the 22nd November 1878, and dated the 15th June 1878.
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Alexander Byng at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 15th June 1878.
HENRY ALEXANDER BYNG, of Ipswich, in the County of Suffolk, Engineer.
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF VERTICAL STEAM BOILERS."
The object of my Invention is improvements in the construction of vertical steam
boilers, whereby greater and more effective heating surface is obtained, and,
consequently greater economy in the fuel employed. For this purpose I construct
the fire-box in the form of a vertical cylinder with two flat faces, commencing
at the top of the fire-box and running out to the circle at the bottom, where
the fire-box joins the outside shell of the boiler, in other words, the horizontal
section (for a portion of the height) is a circle with two parallel segments taken off
I fix in the aforesaid flat faces at successive heights, one above the other, several.
rows of ordinary locomotive boiler tubes, and upon each such row of tubes I place or
fix a flat slab of fire-brick or other fire-resisting material of a D form, so as to fit
between the flat faces and also up against one of the circular parts, the square end
(of the D) reaching only a short distance beyond the last tube of the row, and
leaving a space between it and the opposite circular part of the fire-box. These
slabs or fire-bricks I place alternately against the opposite circular parts, that is,
one to one side and the next above it to the opposite side, and so on. The whole
fire-box is thus divided into a series of chambers, one above the other, and each
communicating on the one side with the chamber below it, and on the other side
with the chamber above it. In the upper chamber so formed I make a lateral
opening to the chimney near the crown of the fire-box.
The top of the fire-box is by preference a dished plate, but may be flat and

page_text: slightly inclined for convenience of making the opening to chimney, and strengthened
with crown stays as usual.
The flame and gases rise from the fire-grate and have to pass backward and
forward in their ascent from chamber to chamber, and in so doing cross all the
tubes, and at each bend will strike the vertical side of the fire-box with great
effect.
In some cases I arrange the tubes and fire-brick slabs so that the flame and gases
traverse the chambers parallel with the tubes, in which arrangement the tubes are
placed far enough apart for the flame and gases to pass between them in rising to
the next upper chamber.
The flat sides of fire-boxes constructed as above described will be sufficiently
supported by the tubes, the holes in the tube plates being slightly conical and the
tubes expanded accordingly; all other parts being of a self-supporting form, no
further staying will be required.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Henry Alexander Byng in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
13th December 1878.
HENRY ALEXANDER BYNG, of Ipswich, in the County of Suffolk, Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF VERTICAL STEAM BOILERS."
The object of my Invention is to improve the construction of vertical steam
boilers to obtain greater and more efficient heating surface, and consequently
greater economy in the fuel employed. For this purpose I construct the fire-box
in the form of a vertical cylinder with two flat faces commencing at the top of the
fire-box and running out to the circle at the bottom, where the fire-box joins the
outside shell of the boiler, in other words, the horizontal section (for a portion of
the height) is a circle with two parallel segments taken off. I fix in the aforesaid
flat faces at successive heights, one above the other, several rows of ordinary
locomotive boiler tubes, and upon each such row of tubes I place or fix a flat slab of
fire-brick or other fire-resisting material of a D form, so as to fit between the flat
faces and also up against one of the circular parts, the square end (of the D)
reaching only a short distance beyond the last tube of the row, and leaving a space
between it and the opposite circular part of the fire-box. These slabs or fire-bricks
I place alternately against the opposite circular parts, that is, one to one side and the
next above it to the opposite side, and so on. The whole fire-box is thus divided into a
series of chambers, one above the other, and each communicating on the one side with
the chamber below it and on the other side with the chamber above it. In the
upper chamber so formed I make a lateral opening to the chimney near the crown
of the fire-box.
The top of the fire-box is by preference a dished plate, but it may be flat and
slightly inclined for convenience of making the opening to chimney, and strengthened.
with crown stays as usual.

page_text: The flame and gases rise from the fire-grate and have to pass backward and
forward in their ascent from chamber to chamber, and in so doing cross all the
tubes, and at each bend will strike the vertical side of the fire-box with great
effect.
In some cases Iarrange the tubes and fire-brick slabs so that the flame and gases
traverse the chambers parallel with the tubes, in which arrangement the tubesare
placed far enough apart for the flame and gases to pass between them in rising to
the next upper chamber.
The flat sides of fire-boxes constructed as above described will be sufficiently
supported by the tubes, the holes in the tube plates being slightly conical and the
tubes expanded accordingly; all other parts being of a self-supporting form, no
further staying will be necessary.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, I will now describe the
Drawings hereto annexed, which shew examples of some methods for carrying the
same into practice.
Figure 1 is a vertical section; Figure 2 is also a vertical section, but taken at
right angles to the section, Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a sectional plan of a boiler
constructed according to my Invention.
a, a, are the flat faces of the fire-box, of somewhat stouter plate than the circular
parts b, b, and in which are fixed, by any of the known methods, the rows ef
tubes c, c, at successive heights one above the other; d, d, are the slabs of fire-brick
or other fire-resisting material, merely resting on or fixed to the tubes, and placed
alternately against the opposite circular parts of the fire-box, as is clearly shewn in
Figure 1; e is the fire-door; f, the grate.
The flame and gases traverse the chambers, passing from side to side of the fire-
box, in the direction shewn by the arrows, transversely to the rows of tubes, and
escape to the chimney by the opening g.
Figure 4 shews the crown of the fire-box made flat, and strengthened with stay
bars h, in the usual manner; in this form the opening g to the chimney is rather
nearer to the top of the fire-box.
Figures 5, 6, and 7, shew sections of a boiler also constructed according to my
Invention, but in which the flame and gases traverse the chambers formed by the
fire-brick slabs parallel with the tubes, instead of transverse to the same, as in the
arrangement shewn in Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4. In this arrangement the fire-brick
slabs d may be supported by angle iron ledges i and also by blocks / which rest on
the tubes, and may be of cast iron or fire-brick. The slabs are introduced from
below, being formed or divided so as to pass freely up the space between the
circular part of the fire box and the nearest tube.
The letters refer to the same parts in all the Figures.
I have shewn in Figures 1 and 2 the shell of the boiler all in one piece, and
permanently rivetted to the fire-box by the bottom ring, the fire-door ring, and the
opening to the chimney. Suitable openings are made in the shell opposite the ends
of the tubes for the purpose of cleaning or renewing them; covers to such openings
are bolted on.
In Figures 5 and 6 the shell is shewn in two parts joined by angle iron rings and
bolts, the neck to chimney being also fixed to the shell by bolts. By removing the
upper portion of the shell the whole of the fire-box is exposed to view for cleaning
or repairs. When this plan is adopted in Figures 1 and 2 the neck to chimney
will be a solid ring rivetted to the fire-box and fixed to the shell by screws from
the outside, as shewn in Figure 8.
Having now described the nature of my Invention and some of the methods at
present known to me for carrying the same into practice, I would have it under-
stood that I do not limit myself to the precise details berein described or shewn in
the Drawings, as the same may be greatly varied without departing from the
nature of my Invention, for instance, although I have shewn three rows of tubes
one above the other, I do not limit myself to that number, neither do I confine
myself to any particular number or disposition of the tubes in each row; further-

page_text: more the slabs of fire-brick or other fire-resisting material may lie upon or be fixed
to the tubes, or be fixed so as not to touch the tubes, in fact may be in any position
between the rows without altering or departing from the purpose for which they
are introduced; what I claim as novel and of my Invention is the construction of
vertical steam boilers substantially as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Alexander Byng, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Tenth day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
HENRY ALEXANDER BYNG. (LS).