Improvements in Water Heaters.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Sept., 1888
Specification Accepted, 12th Oct., 1888
Improvements in Water Heaters.
A communication from EDWARD GURNEY, of the City of Toronto, in the County of York,
in the Province of Ontario, Canada, manufacturer.
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex,
M.I.M.E. 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 :-
The object of the invention is to construct a strong durable and gas-tight sectional hot-
water heater through which the water will circulate with the least possible friction,
and secure full benefit from the entire heating surface; and it consists first, in forming
water spaces around the ash-pit and doors of the heater, the said new water spaces
being fully connected with and arranged to form part of the other water spaces;
secondly, in connecting the return pipes with the water section surrounding the ash-pit
so that the return water shall enter the heater at the point where the temperature of
the water is the lowest thirdly in forming the ash-pit section with a hollow bottom
and communicating with the hollow sides of the section and with an extension
chamber or chambers formed in the section and extending beyond the main body of
the boiler, so that the return pipes may be entered through the crown of the
extension chamber; fourthly, of a section having its top and bottom plates arched
inwardly, the vertical portion connecting the top and bottom plates being curved and
a bead cast on the outer edge of the bottom of each section to overlap the section on
which it rests; fifthly, of a disc-shaped valve pivotted on the centre of the top section,
and having a series of holes made through it to correspond with the centre smoke-
flues in the top section which flues should be an equal distance apart; and sixthly, in
inserting between the sections a continuous strip of asbestos or other suitable
material the said strip being shaped so as to extend above the surface of the rings
forming the independent water-leg joints; substantially as hereinafter more particularly
explained.

page_text: Fig. 1 is a perspective outside view of this improved heater.
Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are enlarged sectional perspective views showing the formation and
construction of the lower sections of the heater.
Fig. 5 is a perspective top view of the top section of the heater.
Fig. 6 is a perspective sectional bottom view of one of the middle sections of
the heater.
Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the section next to the top section showing the
damper.
Fig. 8 is a view of one of the sections of the heater showing a strip of asbestos or
other suitable material to form a joint between the sections.
Fig. 9 is a cross section of the packing.
In figs. 1 to 5 A represents the water spaces which are all connected together in
each section and all the water spaces in the various sections are connected together by
the vertical legs B which are themselves connected to and form part of the water
spaces A. It will be noticed that the water spaces extend around the side and bottom
of the ash-pit C and around all the openings formed for the doors D thus materially
increasing the heating surface of the heater.
The return water pipes F enter the water space A surrounding and forming the
bottom of the ash-pit C. By thus introducing the return water into the water space
at the coolest point in the heater a better circulation is maintained, as the back
pressure which is sometimes produced by the water being overheated is entirely
avoided as the water surrounding the ash-pit fully contributes its share towards the
warning of the water within the heater.
In fig. 2 E represents the bottom plate of the section which is curved on a large
sweep to connect with and form an integral part of the bottom of the chamber H.
G is the bottom of the ash-pit. A space is left between the plates E and G into
which the water from the return pipes which enter the chamber H flows freely over
the curved surface of the plate E into the said space. This sheet of water between
the bottom of the ash-pit and the floor prevents the floor from being charred or burnt
by the heat from the bottom of the grate. The water conveyed into the said space is
much cooler than the water in any other portion of the boiler as it enters directly from
the return pipe at the lowest temperature and then ascends through the water-legs into
the upper sections.
On reference to fig. 6 it will be noticed that the top plate I of the section is arched
inwardly and that the bottom plate is likewise arched inwardly. It will further be
noticed that the portions of the sections marked J lying between the horizontal and
vertical portions of the section are curved on a large casy sweep. These curved lines
permit a free circulation of water through the section to the various water legs B thus
overcoming in a great degree the tendency to friction common in other hot-water
heaters. The water entering through the water-legs into the section rises to the top
of the section and finds curved lines both at the top and bottom leading to the
exits. The water rising to the top constantly meets with curved surfaces as it goes to
the centre and returns from the centre to the several points of egress.
In addition to the advantage of the free circulation mentioned an important
advantage in the manufacture of the section is secured. While experimenting in
making the sections of the boiler it was found that when made in sharp angles the
amount of core material was small in proportion to the amount of iron running over
its surface and that consequently the surface of the core would be carried away, thus
causing the castings to be imperfect but by adopting long sweeping curves as described,
the rounded surfaces have a strong tendency to preserve intact the surface of the core.
I am therefore enabled to reduce the quantity of iron in the section and secure greater
efficiency at a less price than could be done were the sections formed angular. The
inwardly arched top and bottom plates permit the casting to spring when subjected
from any cause to unequal expansion and contraction, and they better resist the
internal pressure.
By casting a bead L on the outer bottom edge of the section
instead of on the top of the section the joints between the sections are completely
covered and hidden.

page_text: '
In fig. 7 M represents a disc-shaped damper pivotted in the centre of the section N.
O are a series of holes made in the damper M the centres of which holes are made in
a circle struck from the centre and pivot point of the damper. P represents the
centre flues in the section N. These flues correspond with the holes O.and their
centres are in the same circle as the centres of the holes O. Qis a handle permanently
or detachably connected to the damper M and extending outside of the section N.
Rand S are two stops projecting above the surface of the section N at such points
that when the damper M is turned by the handle on its pivot so as to bring a pin T
fastened to the damper against the stop R the holes O register with the flues P thus
leaving them full open and when the damper M is turned on its pivot so as to bring
the pin Tagainst the stop S the centre flues P will be completely covered by the
damper M. In this way the centre flues will be opened so as to give the full draft of
the boiler for kindling or other purposes, and when closed to retain the heat as long
as possible in the lower sections. Any desired condition of draft may be had by
adjusting the damper at any desired point between the stops R S. By the adoption
of this damper I am enabled to reduce the area of the smoke-flues thereby checking
the draft and forcing the products of combustion to escape through the outer smoke-
flues.
In fig. 8 B represents the water-legs which extend through the section A. Around
each water-leg is placed a hollow ring V made of lead or other compressible material
which ring fits into a groove formed around each water-leg B. W represents the
improved packing which is preferably made of asbestos and formed substantially in
the shape shown in fig. 9 so that its base shall rest on the section and its apex project
above the rings V. It is of course not necessary that the packing W should be made
exactly in the form shown in fig. 9 but that shape is thought preferable; it is necessary
however that the top surface of the packing shall extend above the top surface of the
rings V. This packing W it will be seen extends completely around the section and
is a continuous piece or if made in sections the sections must overlap each other at
the joints, in order that a continuous close joint may be formed. When the sections
are placed on each other and bolted together the packing W will first bo compressed
until the rings V find their bearing consequently a perfect gas-tight joint is formed
between the sections as well as independent water-joints around the water-legs.
A great advantage of this invention is the case with which the sections may be
secured together, in fact it is not necessary to employ skilled hands to erect the
heaters when the sections are once properly fitted. Any one can place the rings V
and packing W in position and bolt the sections together.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. A hot-water heater composed of hollow sections communicating with a hollow
section surrounding the ash-pit and forming an integral part of the water-space in the
heater substantially as and for the purpose specified.
2. A hot-water heater composed of hollow sections communicating with water
spaces formed around the doors of the heater and constituting an integral part of
the water spaces in the heater substantially as and for the purpose specified.
3. A hot-water heater composed of hollow sections communicating with water
spaces formed around the doors of the heater and with water spaces formed in the
sections surrounding the ash-pit substantially as and for the purpose specified.
4. A hot-water heater having a hollow section formed around the ash-pit and
communicating with all the water spaces in the heater, in combination with the return
pipe communicating with the hollow section surrounding the ash-pit so that the water
shall enter the heater at the point specified.
5. A hollow ash-pit section having a water-space formed in its bottom and
communicating directly with all the other water spaces in the boiler and with the
return pipe or pipes substantially as and for the purpose specified.
6. A hollow ash-pit section having a water-space formed in its bottom and

page_text: communicating directly with all the water spaces in the boiler and with an extension
chamber or chambers formed in the section and having a hole or holes pierced in its
or their crown to receive the return pipe or pipes substantially as and for the purpose
specified.
7. A section having its top and bottom plates arched inwardly the vertical portion
connecting the top and bottom plates being curved on a long easy sweep substantially
as and for the purpose specified..
8. A section having its top and bottom plates arched inwardly the vertical portion
connecting the top and bottom plates being curved on a large easy sweep and a bead
cast on the outer edge of the bottom of each section to overlap the section on which
it rests substantially as and for the purpose specified.
9. In a sectional hot-water boiler having a series of vertical smoke-flues made in
its centre, in combination with a disc shaped damper pivotted in the centre of the
section and having holes pierced through it to correspond with the smoke-flues in the
section the whole being arranged substantially as and for the purpose specified.
10. In a sectional hot-water boiler having a series of vertical smoke-flues I made
in its centre, in combination with a disc-shaped damper M pivotted in the centre of
the section and having holes O pierced through it to correspond with the smoke-
flues in the section N, stops R and S extending above the section N a pin T and a
handle attached to the damper M the handle extending to the outside of the
section N substantially as and for the purpose specified.
11. In a hot-water sectional boiler having joints formed around its water-legs by
compressible rings V the combination of the compressible packing W placed on the
section and extending above the top surfaces of the rings V substantially as and for
the purpose specified.
12. A hot-water heater constructed substantially as herein specified.