CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF STEAM BOILERS OR GENERATORS, AND IN THE ARRANGEMENT OF FURNACES CONNECTED THEREWITH
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Burrows, of Haigh Foundry, near
Wigan, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer, for the Invention
of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF STEAM BOILERS
OR GENERATORS, AND IN THE ARRANGEMENT OF FURNACES CONNECTED
THEREWITH."
Sealed the 22nd February 1854, and dated the 20th December 1853.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Burrows at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 20th December 1853.
I, JANES BURROWs, of the Haigh Foundry, near Wigan, in the County
of Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF STEAM BOILERS
OR GENERATORS, AND IN THE ARRANGEMENT OF FURNACES CONNECTED THERE-
WITH," to be as follows:-
The first part of my said improvements consists in constructing or
forming such boilers or generators of metallic plates, the ends or sides

page_text: whereof are swelled or formed thicker than the body of the same, in
order to compensate for the loss of strength otherwise occasioned by
punching or forming the rivet holes in the said plates.
The second part of my said improvements consists in forming the
internal flues or other heating surfaces of such boilers or generators of
waved or corrugated metal, in order to give thereto the maximum
amount of strength to resist compression with the minimum amount of
weight, and also to afford an increased surface for the radiation of
heat and consequent generation of steam. The corrugators also cause
an undulatory movement among the gases, &c., thereby effecting a
more rapid absorption of heat therefrom. The corrugations may be
formed either in a circular or a longitudinal directed.
The third part of my improvements consist in placing in the in-
terior of the said internal flue or flues a core or distributor, for the
purpose of disseminating or distributing the gases more equally over
the interior surface of the flue or flues, thereby rendering the whole
of the interior surface of the same effective. This core or distri-
butor may be made either solid, and formed of fire clay or other suit-
able material, or it may be in the form a tube, in which latter case
it may be connected with tubes to the boiler and contain water, and be
thus rendered available as effective heating surface for the generation
of steam. The core may extend from a short way behind the bridge
of the furnace to the other extremity of the same, or in boilers or
generators with detached furnaces, as hereafter mentioned, the core
may extend from end to end of the flue, or nearly so.
The fourth part of my Invention consists in so arranging the furnace
that it shall be detached or separate from the boiler in order to obtain
perfect combustion of fuel before the flames or heated gases, &c. comic
into contact with the flue of the boiler. In this instance it is requisite
so to enclose the furnace as to prevent the radiation of heat in any
but the required direction, and to connect the furnace or furnaces by
a short flue or flues to the internal flue or flues of the steam boiler or
generator.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of tho Letters Patent,
filed by the said James Burrows in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 25th May 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
JAMES BURROWS, of Haigh Foundry, near Wigan, in the County of
Lancaster, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of December, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in tho
seventeenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said James Burrows, Her especial
licence that I, the said James Burrows, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said James Burrows, 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 "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE CONSTRUCTION OF STEAM BOILERS OR GENERATORS, AND IN THE ARRANGE-
MENT OF FURNACES CONNECTED THEREWITH," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said James Burrows, by an instrument in writing
under my hand and seal, 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.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said James Burrows, do hereby.
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement and accompanying Drawings (that is
to say):
My improvements consist, first, in constructing or forming steam
boilers or generators of metallic plates, the ends or sides whereof are
"swelled" or formed thicker than the body of the same, in order to

page_text: compensate for the loss of strength occasioned by the punching or
forming the rivet or other holes in the said plates...
Secondly, in forming the internal flue or flues or other heating sur-
faces of steam boilers or generators of waved or corrugated or ribbed
metal, in order to give thereunto the maximum amount of strength to
resist any given compression with the minimuin of weight, and also to
afford an increased surface for the radiation of heat and consequent
generation-of-steam; the corrugations also cause an undulating move-
ment among the cases, thereby effecting a more rapid absorption' of
heat throughout, this arrangement being particularly applicable to
circular or other tubular-fire-places or furnaces to be employed for
stationary or marine boilers, and the ribbed plates in particular may
be most advantageously employed in the construction. of the fire-
boxes of locomotive engines and boilers and furnaces: in general.
The indentations of the said waved or corrugated metal,. or the ribs,
may be placed either transversely or longitudinally to the said flue or
flues, the transverso direction being, preferable.
Thirdly, in placing in the interior of the internal flue or flues a
core or distributor or cores or distributors for the purpose of more
equally mixing, diffusing, and disseminating the gases, &c., in, over,
and against the interior surface of the said flue or flues, which said
cores or distributors may be either solid or constructed in the form
of a cone or cones, and made from fire clay or other suitable material,
or made in the form of a tuble extending from or near to the fire
bridge or end of the fire grating to the opposite end of the boiler, and
which may be so connected with the boiler as to contain water, and
thereby increase the generative surface, and in any arrangement or
construction wherein two or more flues may be employed. Another
arrangement of the core or distributor may be placed at any convenient
distance from the fire bridge or fire grating, forming the interior of a
passage, connecting the said flues so as to intercept a portion of the
heated air and gases in their passage through or along any one or more
of the said flues, to cause them to pass over or across and into the ad-
joining flue or flues, and mix with a portion of the heated air and gases
passing through or along the adjoining flúe or flues, and vice versa, thus

page_text: causing a more perfect commingling of the gases, this arrangement being
perfectly self-acting without requiring the intervention of dampers or any
other regulating apparatus. At any convenient distance from the said
core or distributor; tube plates may be fixed in the said flue or flues,
having small tubes fixed into the said plates, extending to the end or
back of the boiler, or the said core or distributor may consist of a
chamber or chambers, and thereby produce a similar effect; by employing.
two or more flues, connected one with the other by means of the said
core or distributor, and firing or supplying the fires with fuel alternately
or successively, a more perfect and uniform combustion is obtained, and
the various gases become more readily taken up or absorbed by the
volume of heated air, thus preventing the accumulation of non-com-
bustible gases or smoke, this arrangement being particularly applicable
to the double tubed boiler as ordinarily made..
And, fourthly, in so arranging the furnace that it shall be detached
or separated from the boiler in order to obtain the perfect combustion
of the fuel previous to the heated air or gases reaching the flue or flucs
of the boiler; in this arrangement of furnace the core or distributor-
may lie made to extend the whole length or only a portion of the
length of the boiler. In this arrangement it is quite requisite so to
close the furnace as to prevent the radiation of heat in any but the
required direction, and to connect the furnace or furnaces by a short
flue or flues to the internal flue or flues of the steam boiler or generator.
Fifthly, in constructing or forming the internal flue or flues of
steam boilers or generators as near as may be of a perfectly circular
form, by so arranging the plates that the longitudinal edges thereof
intended to form the seams or joints parallel to the axis of the said;
tubes shall meet, and constitute what is termed a "jump joint," and
also the application of a T iron ring or rings, cither at the transverse.
edges of the plates of tubes, or flues forming the seam at right anglès
to the axis of the said tubes or rings, or any other portion of the tubes,
whereby great additional strength is gained to resist compression.
In order more fully to describe the particular nature and processes
of my improvements, and the apparatus connected therewith, I have
attached to these presents three Sheets of Drawings illustrative of the

page_text: same, and have marked thereon letters of reference corresponding with
those in the following description, reference being made thereto.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
In Sheet 1, Fig. 1, is a transverse section; and Fig. 2, a longitudinal
section of part of a boiler shewing the application of the swell in the
plates to the construction of boilers, and to the waved or corrugated
metal to the construction of internal flues; Fig. 3, shews a portion of
a flue, illustrating the manner of uniting or joining together the waved
or corrugated metal by what is termed a "jump joint," with the strip
on the outer side riveted to the joinings of the tube at both its edges;
Fig. 4, is a section taken through the "jump joint" in the plates
forming the flue running longitudinally; Fig. 5, is a transverse section
shewing the passages in the core or distributor, by which the direction
of the heated air and gases are intercepted and conducted into a different
flue or flues; Fig. 6, is a longitudinal section taken through the core or
distributor at the part forming the junction between the flues; Fig. 7,
is a sectional plan or horizontal view of the same. In Sheet 1, Fig. 1,
a, a, a, a, are the swelled edges of the plates forming the ordinary
"lap" joint; b, b, the internal flues; c, c, c, c, a "jump" joint running
the whole length of the flue, the strip being on the outside. In Fig. 2,
a, is the swelled edge forming the joint; b, one of the internal flues; c,
the joint ring and stiffener. In Fig. 3, a is a section of the upper part
of the internal flue, taken across the "jump" joint, showing the joint
ring and stiffener drawn upon a larger scale. In Fig. 4, a, a, is a section
taken through the "jump" joint longitudinally; b, the strip; c, the
joint ring and stiffener, also shewn upon a larger scale. In Fig. 5, a
and b, are the internal flues; c, c, c, the passages communicating direct
with the flue from either side of the distributor; d, the transmission
passage leading from the flue 6 into the flue a; e, e, the transmission
passages leading from the flue a into the flue b; f, is the system of
cores or distributors forming the transmission passages connecting the
flues a and b. In Fig. 6, a shews one of the internal flues, and also a
cross section of the transmission passage c, and cross sections of the
transmission passages e, e, leading from the flue a into the flue b. In

page_text: Fig. 7, a and b, are the internal flues; d, the transmission passage
leading into the fluc a; the other passages e, c, are shewn by dotted
lines; f,, are the fire grates; g, g, small tubes fixed into tubes
plates h, h, extending to the end of the boiler.
In Sheet 2, Fig. 1, is a transverse section of a boiler, taken through
the line A, B. Fig. 2, a and b, are the internal flues; c, c, perforated
distributors, through which the heated air and gases pass to the flues
and core. Fig. 2, is a longitudinal section; a, is the corrugated in-
ternal flue; b, the fire grate; c, the perforated distributor; d, the core
or tube connected with the boiler at c, c, e; f, a passage through which
a portion of the heated air and gases are admitted into the external
flue 9. Fig. 3, is a longitudinal section; a, is the corrugated internal
flue; b, the fire grate; c, perforated distributor; d, d, d, cones placed
at convenient distances within the flue a.
In Sheet 3, Fig. 1, represents a transverse section of part of a
corrugated or ribbed metallic plate a, a, shewing the strengthening
ribs b, b, which may be rolled in a longitudinal, transverse, or
diagonal direction, as preferred, and may be raised or rolled upon
one or both sides of the plate, either opposite to cach other or
alternately upon each side of the plate, the object being in all such
purposes for which they may be employed, to attain as near as may be
the maximum amount of strength in combination with the minimum
amount of weight, together with the great increase or extension of the
heating surface when used for steam boilers, furnaces, fire-boxes, or
other heating purposes. In Figure 2, is shewn a longitudinal sectional
plan view of a tubular boiler, with two plain parallel flues, as ordinarily
made, and also exhibiting the application of the system of distributing
cores a, a, as herein-before explained, and of the ribbed plates at b, b,
to the construction of the tubular flues. Fig. 3, shows the sectional
portion of a fire-box of a locomotive engine, and exhibits the applica-
tion of the ribbed plates a, a, to the construction of locomotive fire-
boxes or furnaces.
Having thus described the nature and object of my said improve-
ments, together with the manner of carrying the same into practical
effect, I would remark, in conclusion, that I claim as my Invention,-

page_text: First, the constructing or forming steam boilers or generators of
metallic plates, swelled or thickened at the sides or edges or other
parts, for the purpose and in the manner above particularly set forth
and described and exhibited in Sheet 1, of the Drawings annexed at
Figure 1, a, a, a, a.
Secondly, forming the internal flue or flues, or other heating surfaces
of steam boilers or generators of waved or corrugated metal, as
exhibited at Sheet 1, Fig. 2, and Sheet 2, Figs. 2 and 3; and also
forming or constructing boilers and furnaces in general, or any parts
thereof, and more particularly the furnaces or fire-boxes of locomotive
engines, of ribbed metal plates, as exhibited at Sheet 3, Figs. 1, 2,
and 3, and above particularly set forth and described.
Thirdly, placing in the interior of the internal flue or flues a core or
distributor or cores or distributors, forming passages for the purposes
and in the manner above particularly set forth and described, and as
exhibited in Sheet 1, Figs. 5, 6, and 7, at f, f,f, a modification of which
is also shown in Sheet 2, Figs. 2 and 3, at d, d, d, d, d.
Fourthly, in so arranging the furnace that it shall be detached or
separated from the boiler.
And, lastly, the constructing or forming the internal flue or flues of
steam boilers or generators of as near as may be a perfectly circular form
in the interior, by so arranging the plates of which they are composed
that their longitudinal edges shall meet and constitute "jump joints,"
and also the application of teo or angle iron joint rings, either at the
transverse edges of the plates of tubes or flues, as shewn in Sheet 1,
Figs. 1, c, c, c, c, and also at Figures 3 and 4, at b and c, or at any
other portion of the tubes or flues where additional strength is required
to resist compression.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Burrows, have hereunto
set my hand and scal, the Twenty-fourth day of February, One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-four.
JAMES BURROWS. (L.S.)