IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF STEAM BOILERS
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Addy Hopkinson and Joseph Hopkinson, both
of the Firm of J. Hopkinson and Co., of Huddersfield, in the County of
YAY THE CONSTRUCTION
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Addy Hopkinson and
Joseph Hopkinson at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 9th
August 1880.
JOHN ADDY HOPKINSON and JOSEPH HOPKINSON, both of the Firm of
J. Hopkinson and Co., of Huddersfield, in the County of York, Engineers.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF STEAM BOILERS."
Our Invention relates to the ends or end-plates of steam-boilers, and consists in
making these ends or plates puckered or corrugated, as hereinafter described, and
in the combination of such puckered or corrugated ends with the other parts of a
boiler, so that the said plates will without any extraneous or auxiliary support have
the required strength and rigidity to resist any strain or pressure which may exist
in the said boiler.
The principle or method of imparting strength and rigidity to metal plates by
puckering, corrugating, or fluting the same is well known, and sheets or plates
corrugated in straight lines are extensively used for various purposes. But hitherto
this principle has not been applied to steam boiler ends, although this manner of
constructing the same affords advantages otherwise unattainable.
In practising our Invention we form the corrugations or puckers in any desired
number, horizontally, vertically, or obliquely, in any direction, across or partially
across the plate, and either straight or curved, but in all cases they must be termi-
nated a sufficient distance within the outer edge or flange of the plate to leave the
The said
same in the proper condition for rivetting in the body of the boiler.
corrugations may be formed to present either their concave or their convex surfaces
to the exterior of the boiler.
By our Invention of a puckered or corrugated end plate we are enabled to improve
and economize the construction of steam boilers, as the said Invention entirely
obviates the necessity for gussets and longitudinal or other stays which have
hitherto been necessary, and which when used are by reason of faulty design
and arrangement or imperfect workmanship very frequently ineffectual.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Addy Hopkinson and Joseph Hopkinson in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 2nd February 1881.
JOHN ADDY HOPKINSON and JOSEPH HOPKINSON, both of the Firm of
J. Hopkinson and Co., of Huddersfield, in the County of York, Engineers.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF STEAM BOILERS."
Our Invention relates to the ends or end-plates of steam-boilers, and consists in
making these ends or plates puckered or corrugated in such a manner that the said
plates will without any extraneous or auxiliary support have the required strength
and rigidity to resist any strain or pressure which may exist in the boiler.
The principle or method of imparting strength and rigidity to metal plates by
puckering, corrugating, or fluting the same is well known, and sheets or plates
corrugated in straight lines are extensively used for various purposes; but hitherto
this principle has not been applied to steam boiler ends, although such manner of
constructing the same affords advantages otherwise unattainable.
In practising our Invention we form the corrugations or puckers in any direction
across or partially across the plate, but they must be terminated a sufficient distance
within the outer edge or flange of the plate to leave the same in the proper con-
dition for rivetting it in the body of the boiler. The said corrugations may be
formed to present either their concave or their convex surfaces to the exterior of
the boiler.
The form and position of the puckers or corrugations in these plates may be
varied, and we have shewn in the accompanyi.. Drawings in front view and
transverse section various examples of our Invention, that is to say, A, A1, A2 A³,
A4, A5, A6, A7, are front views; B, B1, B2, B3, B4, B5, B6, B7, are vertical central
sections, and C is a horizontal section on the line x, x. a, a, a, are the puckers
or corrugations of the said plates; b, b, are the holes for the flue tubes.
In the examples shewn our Invention is applied to the end plates of boilers with
two flues or tubes, but it is obvious that it may be applied in like manner to the
end plates of other boilers.
By our Invention of a puckered or corrugated end-plate we are enabled to
improve and economize the construction of steam boilers, as the said Invention
entirely obviates the necessity for gussets and longitudinal or other stays which
have hitherto been necessary, and which when used are by reason of faulty design
and arrangement or imperfect workmanship very frequently ineffectual.
Having thus fully described our said Invention, and the manner of performing
the same, we wish it understood that we do not limit ourselves to the precise form,
arrangement, or number of the puckers or corrugations in any of the examples
shewn in the Drawing, but we claim,-
A steam boiler with one or both of its ends or end-plates corrugated or puckered,
as and for the purpose specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Hopkinson, for myself and on behalf
of the said John Addy Hopkinson, have hereunto set my hand and seal, this
Twenty-ninth day of January, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and sights one.
Witness,
HENRY H. LAKE,
8, Southampton Buildings,
London, W.C.
JOSEPH HOPKINSON. (L.S.)