IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM BOILERS
Year: 1884

page_text: "
I, HENRY TURNER, of Claughton, in the County of Chester Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of the said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM BOILERS,"
to be as follows:-.
My invention relates to the construction of marine, land, and other steam boilers,
but more especially marine boilers, whereby strength is obtained with lightness
and compactness.
The furnaces are so constructed as to be of great efficiency, being gas producing,
gas burning and radiating in principle; unobstructed circulation of the water
during evaporation is obtained.
The boilers are so constructed that expansion and contraction cannot in any way
injure the plates and rivetted joints, thus avoiding the liability to breakage so
common to many kinds of boilers hitherto employed, and whereby a considerable
saving in fuel is obtained and easy access is provided for examination and cleaning.
For this purpose I construct the boilers of a cylindrical form and having a com-
bustion chamber, or several separate combustion chambers, placed at the back end
of the boiler, and having the usual water spaces at the sides and at the back end
and also a number of small tubes and stay tubes, such as are usually employed in
multitubular boilers, and which extend from the front side of the combustion
chamber or chambers to the front plate of the boiler.
There are no furnaces within the cylindrical shell of the boiler, but at the lower
part of the combustion chamber or chambers, a passage or passages are made which
extend to, and pass through the bottom part of the shell plating of the boiler; both
the flange joining the combustion chamber and the flange joining the shell plate of
the boiler are turned outwards from the part of the plate forming the passage; 'the'
hole in the shell plate being made large enough to allow the inner flange to pass
through; and which provides for a large radius in the plate; these passages are
made by preference of a D shape, with the flat side next to the back tube plate
and the curved part towards the back and sides of the boiler; but if required they
can be made of any other shape. The front and back plates, and the combustion
chamber plates, of the cylindrical boiler shell, all of which are under pressure, are
stayed in the usual way.
The herein before described cylindrical boiler shell into which are fitted the
combustion chamber and small tubes is placed sufficiently high, above the ash pit

page_text: floor plates, to allow space for the furnace or furnaces, and is carried by a front
plate which is closely fitted to the lower part of the cylindrical shell, and in which
are made the furnace and ash pit door openings, as also those for the air passage
regulators, and is also carried by a back plate, somewhat similar in shape to the
front plate, but without openings for furnace and ash pit doors &c. Sides are also
provided made of thin plates, and forming with the front and back plates, a
complete casing, of a suitable shape to contain one or more furnaces, as may be
required, and the flame passage or passages into the combustion chamber; it also
forms all necessary air passages, surrounding the whole of the furnace tops, and
sides, and the flame passages from the furnaces -to the combustion chamber or
chambers, all of which are, made of fire clay. in the form of bricks or slabs.
The furnaces have semi-circular tops and flat sides or arched tops and flat sides,
and are made of fire bricks; those forming the sides are made solid but those at,
and towards the top have one or more parallel or tapered holes, passing through
them which holes form a communication between the air casing and the furnace,
and are distributed from the mouth of the furnace to the front part of the flame
passage leading into the combustion chamber.
Division plates are provided on each side of each furnace below the fire clay
bricks having the holes therein; these plates separate the air passages for the
furnaces, (except those for the last row of bricks with holes through them, and
next to the fame passage leading into the combustion chamber,) from the air
passages which are round the fire clay slab junctions between the furnaces and the
combustion chamber or chambers.
Air regulators are provided in the front plate which plate partly supports the
l'oiler, by which regulators the necessary quantity of. air can be admitted into this
part of the air casing and from thence through the holes in the bricks herein before
mentioned into the furnaces. By this means well distributed and partly heated
air will be caused to mix with the gases as soon as they are given off by the coal,
and through the radiating effect of the fire clay bricks, those having holes through
them and which expose angular surfaces like the teeth of a saw to the onward
passage of the gases, thereby breaking up the current or draft and causing air and
gas to mix together, causing them to ignite and produce perfect combustion.
There are likewise air regulators in the front plate which plate forms a support
for the boiler by means of which regulators a sufficient quantity of air can be.
admitted into the air passages which are between the fire clay sides of the furnaces
and the outside thin plate casing, or division plate between the furnaces, and which
plates extend to the back end of the furnaces and which surround the fire clay
slabs forming the flame passage to the combustion chamber or chambers. There is
a vertical division plate at the front side of the before named flame passage which
separates the air casing leading to the furnaces from the air casings which surround
the air passages to the combustion chamber or chambers
The flame passages
which lead to the boiler and which are made of fire clay slabs, are less in size by
several inches all round, than the openings into the boiler, and the top side of these
slabs incline downwards towards the outside, so as to allow the inside top edges to
The fire
be some distance above the bottom of the openings into the flame box.
clay slabs are not in contact with any part of the boiler, a space varying from one
quarter to one half inch, intervening between the fire clay slabs and the plate iron
Air is admitted
passage or passages, which lead to the combustion chamber.
through the regulating valves in the front plate of the casing, and passes along the
air passages which are on each side of the furnaces, up the air casing which
surrounds the fire clay flame passage to the combustion chamber, through the
narrow opening between the plate iron and fire clay slabs; the said air cuts right
across the path (but at a slight upward angle) of the gases, as they emerge from
the contracted space above the bridges and beyond and as they are surrounded by
glowing surfaces, they become thoroughly ignited as they pass into the large space
of the combustion chamber, where they expand and become thoroughly ignited
before doing duty in the tubes and upon the plates of the combustion chamber.

page_text: A dry uptake, with the necessary doors and fittings, air casings, and funnel, is
fitted to the front plate of the boiler in the usual manner.
A cylindrical steam chest can be fitted on the top of the cylindrical shell the two
parts having a flanged pipe to connect them.
The boilers can be made with one, two, three, or more furnaces, as may be
required, and they can also be made double ended and with each furnace having its
own combustion chamber separate from the others.
Furnace and ash pit doors, front and back bearers and fire bars, are to be fitted
to each furnace in the usual manner.
The boilers are placed horizontally and if several boilers are used, they can be
put fore and aft, or side by side, as the cases may require.
.
I can apply a jet of steam in the passage leading to the combustion chamber so
that the steam may be decomposed and the gases thereby produced will when
burning add to the heat of the furnace.
TURNER & BAKER,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: I HENRY TURNER, of Claughton in the County of Chester, Engineer do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM BOILERS
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My Invention relates to the construction of marine, land and other steam boilers,
but more especially marine boilers. whereby strength is obtained with lightness and
compactness.
The furnaces are so constructed as to be of great efficiency, being gas producing,
gas burning and radiating in principle; unobstructed circulation of the water.
during evaporation is obtained. The boilers are so constructed that expansion
and contraction are not so liable to injure the plates and rivetted joints, thus
avoiding the liability to breakage so common to many kinds of boilers hitherto
employed and whereby a considerable saving in fuel is obtained and easy access is
provided for examination and cleaning. For this purpose I construct the boilers
of a cylindrical form and having a combustion chamber, or several separate
combustion chambers placed at the back end of the boiler, and having the usual
water spaces at the sides and at the back end and also a number of small tubes
and stay tubes such are usually employed in multitubular boilers and which
extend from the front side of the combustion chamber or chambers to the front
plate of the boiler.
There are no furnaces within the cylindrical shell of the boiler but at the lower
part of the combustion chamber, or chambers a passage, or passages are made
which extend to and pass through the bottom part of the shell plating of the
boiler; both the flange joining the combustion chamber and the flange joining the
shell plate of the boiler are turned outwards from the part of the plate forming
the passage, the hole in the shell plate being made large enough to allow the inner.
flange to pass through, and which provides for a large radius in the plate. These
passages are made by preference of a D shape with the flat side next to the back
tube plate and the curved part towards the back and sides of the boiler, but if
required they can be made of any other shape, or the back tube plate and the back
and-sides of the combustion chamber, or chambers can be extended until they
meet the outer shell plate of the boiler to which their flanges are rivetted. The
front and back plates and the combustion chamber plates of the cylindrical boiler
shell all of which are under pressure are stayed in the usual way. The herein-
before described cylindrical boiler shell into which are fitted the combustion
chamber and small tubes is placed sufficiently high above the ash pit floor to
allow space for the furnace, or furnaces and is carried by a front plate which is
closely fitted to the lower part of the cylindrical shell, and in which are made the
furnace and ash pit door openings as also those for air passage regulators and is
also carried by a back plate, somewhat similar in shape to the front plate but
without openings for furnace and ash pit doors. Sides are also provided made of

page_text: thin plates and forming with the front and back plates, a complete casing of a
suitable shape to contain one, or more furnaces as may be required and the flame
passage or passages into the combustion chamber; it also forms all necessary air
passages, surrounding the whole of the furnace tops and sides, and the flame.
passages from the furnaces to the combustion chamber, or chambers all of which
are made preferably of fire clay in the form of bricks, or slabs, or of any suitable
material such as. cast iron. The furnaces have semi-circular tops and flat sides, or
arched tops and flat sides and are made of bricks; those forming the sides are
made solid but those at and towards the top have one, or more parallel, or tapered
holes passing through then, which holes form a communication between the air
ductor casing and the furnace, and are distributed from the mouth of the furnace
to the front part of the flame passage leading into the combustion chamber.
Division plates are provided on each side of each furnace below the fire clay
bricks having the holes therein, these plates separate the air passages for the
furnaces (except those for the last row of bricks with holes through them and next
to the flame passage leading into the combustion chamber) from the air passages
which are round the fire clay slab junctions between the furnaces and the
combustion chamber or chambers.
Air regulators are provided in the front plate, which plate partly supports the
boiler, by which regulators the necessary quantity of air can be admitted into this
part of the air casing and from thence through the holes in the bricks herein before
mentioned into the furnaces. By this means well distributed and partly heated air
will be caused to mix with the gases as soon as they are given off by the coal and
through the radiating effect of the fire clay bricks. These gases are thus brought
to the necessary state to ensure complete combustion. Those bricks which have
holes through them and which expose angular surfaces like the teeth of a saw to
the onward passage of the gases, break up the current, or draft and cause the air
and gas to mix together causing them to ignite and produce perfect combustion.,
"
There are likewise air regulators in the front plate which plate forms a support
for the boiler by means of which regulators a sufficient quantity of air can be
admitted into the air passages which are between the fire clay sides of the furnaces
and the outside thin plate casing, or division plate between the furnaces and
which plates extend to the back end of the furnaces and which surround the fire
clay slabs forming the flame passage to the combustion chamber or chambers.
There is a vertical division plate at the front side of the before named flame
passage which separates the air casing leading to the furnaces from the air casings
which surround the air passages to the combustion chamber, or chambers. The
flame passages which lead to the boiler and which are made of fire clay slabs are
less in size by several inches all round than the openings into the boiler, and the
top side of these slabs incline downwards towards the outside, so as to allow
the inside top edges to be some distance above the bottom of the openings into
the flame box. The fire clay slabs are mostly not in contact with any part of the
boiler, a space intervening between the fire clay slabs and the plate iron passage,
or passages, which lead to the combustion chamber. Air is admitted through the
regulating valves in the front plate of the casing and passes along the air passages
which are on each side of the furnaces, up the air casing which surrounds the fire
clay flame passage to the combustion chamber, through the narrow opening
between the plate iron and fire clay slabs; the said air cuts right across the path
(but at a slight upward angle) of the gases as they emerge from the contracted
space above the bridges and beyond and as they are surrounded by glowing
surfaces they become thoroughly ignited as they pass into the large space of the
combustion chamber where they expand and their combustion is completed before
doing duty in the tubes and upon the plates of the combustion chamber but the
fire brick slabs of this said passage may be put in contact with the boiler, suitable
holes for the admission of air into this fire brick passage being provided. The
object of this second supply of air being a perfect combustion of the gases and the

page_text: tempering down of the heat to safe working temperature and so to preserve
the plates from injury. A dry uptake with the necessary doors and fittings, air
casings and funnel is fitted to the front plate of the boiler in the usual manner.
-
A cylindrical steam chest can be fitted on the top of the cylindrical shell the
two parts having a flanged pipe to connect them. The boilers can be made with
one, two, three, or more furnaces as may be required, and they can also be made
double ended and with each furnace having its own combustion chamber separate
from the others.
Furnace and ashpit doors front and back bearers and fire bars are to be fitted to
each furnace in the usual manner. The boilers are placed horizontally and if
several boilers are used they can be put fore and aft, or side by side as the cases
may require.
I can apply a jet of steam under the grate and in the air passage leading to the
furnaces and combustion chamber, so that the steam may be decomposed and the
gases thereby produced will when burning add to the heat of the furnace, or
provision for forced draught and small area of grate may be made.
The beforegoing being a general description of the nature objects and purposes
of my Inventions I will now proceed to describe. by the aid of the accompanying
four sheets of Drawings how my Invention may be applied and carried out into
practical effect. The Drawings are marked with letters and figures of reference
corresponding with those used in the following description like letters and figures
being used to denote the same, or corresponding parts throughout the various
siamo and favere
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a steam boiler, or generator, with the
improvements according to my Invention applied thereto.
Figure 2 is an end view of Figure 1 shown half in section through X X
Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a sectional elevation of a double ended steam boiler, or generator.
with the improvements according to my Invention applied thereto.
Figure 4 is an end view of Figure 3 shown half in section through X X
Figure 3.
As above stated my Invention relates to the construction of steam boilers, or
generators more especially marine boilers, and the Drawings hereto annexed show
examples of a single and double ended steam generator suitable for marine use..
With reference to Figures 1 and 2-The steam generator herein shown consists
of a cylindrical shell A with flat ends A1 A2 and two combustion chambers BB
at the back end of the boiler and having the usual water spaces at the back end,
and at the sides' of, and between the combustion chambers. The front of the
combustion chambers B B are provided with tube plates C and the front end
plate A¹ of the boiler forms another tube plate and between these tube plates there
are a number of tubes and stay tubes D such as are usually employed in multi-
tubular boilers. There are no furnaces within the shell of the boiler but between
the combustion chambers B B and the shell A and passing through the shell A
there are passages E, which are formed by the back tube plate C and the back and
sides of the combustion chaibbers B B being extended until they meet the bottom
of the outer shell plate A to which their flanges are rivetted. The front and back
plates and combustion chamber plates are all stayed in the usual way.
The cylindrical boiler shell A. with its combustion chambers B B and multi-
tubes D is placed sufficiently high to allow of the furnaces hereafter described and
is supported by a front plate F which is closely fitted to the lower part of the
cylindrical shell A (and in which are formed openings for the furnace doors G and
ashpit door openings H and also openings I for air passage regulators) and is also
supported by a back plate J similar in shape to the front plate F but without

page_text: openings for the furnace doors and regulators. Side plates K are provided extend-
ing between the front plate F and back plate J. These plates F J and K enclose
a space which contains the air casings or ducts M M the two furnaces L L and the
flame passages E' E' into the combustion chambers B B. The furnaces L L and the
flame passages E¹ E¹ and the air passages a of the furnaces L L are all formed of
fire clay in the form of bricks, or slabs, the furnaces L having semi circular tops and
flat sides formed of fire bricks, the side bricks being solid and those towards the
top having angular surfaces inside the furnaces like the teeth of a saw and being
provided with holes a for the passage of air to the furnaces from the air casings M.
These holes a are distributed over the crown of the furnaces L from the mouth of
such furnaces to the front part of the flame passages E.
Division plates b are provided on each side of the furnaces L extending (below
the fire clay bricks having the holes a) between the plate F and division plates b
which are provided at the back of the furnace. These plates bb' separate the air
casings M M and air passages a for the furnaces L L (except those for the last row
of bricks with holes a through them and next to the flame passages E¹ leading into
the combustion chambers) from the air passages M¹ which are round the lower part
of the furnaces and the air holes a' which are round the fire clay slab junctions
between the end of the furnaces L and the combustion chamber and -flame
passages E. The diaphragm plate 6 devides the furnaces and air casings.
Air regulators are provided over the openings I in the front plate F to regulate
the quantity of air admitted into the casings or ducts M and air regulators are
provided over the openings I in the front plate F to regulate the quantity of air
admitted into the casing or ducts M¹. The air passing from the casings M through
the holes a into the furnaces and from the casing M through the end holes a into
the back of the furnaces and through the holes a¹ into the flame passages E' into
the combustion chambers. By this means well distributed and partly heated air is.
caused to mix with the gases as soon as they are given off by the heated coal and
through the radiating heat of the fire clay bricks. Those bricks which have holes
through them and which expose angular surfaces like the teeth of a saw to the
onward passage of the gases tend to break up the current, or draught and.cause
the air and gases to mix together causing them to ignite and produce perfect
combustion.
The air regulators of the openings I which may be those of any known, or
suitable type admit a sufficient quantity of air into the casing -M' and thence to
the end holes a and the holes a' to the flame passages El into the combustion
chambers B B, the air through the holes a¹ cuts right across the path of the gases
as they emerge from the contracted space above the bridges in the furnaces and as
the gases are surrounded by glowing surfaces they become thoroughly ignited as
they pass into the combustion chambers, where they expand and their combustion
is completed before doing duty in the tubes D and upon the plates of the combustion
chamber.
•
.
-
A dry uptake with necessary doors and fittings air casings and funnel is fitted to
the front plate of the boiler in the usual manner.
A cylindrical steain chest can also be fitted over the boiler in any convenient
usual manner.
With reference to Figures 3 and 4 the steam generator herein shown is a double
steam generator fired at both ends possessing like features and of similar type to
that set forth with reference to Figures 1 and 2.
I would have it understood that I do not confine myself to the precise details
shown in the Drawings as these may be modified without departing from my
Invention and parts or portions of the Invention above set forth may be employed
separately under my Invention. For instance although I have set forth the
furnace covering as made of brick, or iron blocks it may be made of any suitable
material which will give equivalent results. Blocks of cast iron having suitable
projections upon them on or in which fire clay is placed or held may be employed

page_text: .
This affords a strong furnace cover and shield and can readily be repaired by
re-lining with fire clay, or like material. In some cases it may be necessary, or
desirable to form the furnace cover, or shield without holes therein. In this case
air may be otherwise introduced, or all the necessary secondary supply may be
made to pass through the apertures in the ducts leading to the combustion
chambers. The irregularities of the blocks of the furnace crowns may be varied
in form from that shown in the Drawings without departing from my Invention
so long as the result herein-named is effected. It will be evident that cylindrical
water vessels, or other vessels of this type may be employed, such as water vessels
with flat stayed sides and semi cylindrical top and bottom are applicable to be
employed with my Invention.
By the use of my Invention, the following are amongst others some of the
advantages, effects and results which are obtained. I.am enabled to obtain great
heating surface for given weight. By the use of a radiating, or refractory cover to
the fire strong and hot gases are given off thereby facilitating the combustion of
the fuel. By supplying air and distributing it as set forth the combustion is
furthered, or completely ensured and by again supplying air before the products
from the furnace arrive in the combustion chamber a two fold result is obtained,
namely the extra supply ensures substantially complete combustion of the gases
and delutes them so as to reduce the heat of the combustion before entering the
combustion chamber to a safe working temperature, thereby obviating any
deleterious effects upon the plates of the combustion chambers. Thus the high
temperatures which if applied to boiler plates direct are liable to damage them,
but which is necessary to generate and bring the gases from the fuel to an effec-
tive combustible heat is thereby obtained, but without the detrimental effects.
A furnace provided with an arch and sides, shields the fire from the bottom of the
boiler and thereby secures a good circulation of the water. The positioning of the
air regulating devices in the front plate of the boiler affords an easy and ready
means of governing the amount of air required.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
First. Constructing steam boilers or generators of the return tubular type with
dry furnaces' formed with their sides and crowns of brick, or equivalent material
in which spaces are provided for the admission of air, as and for the purposes
set forth.
..Second. Constructing steam boilers, or generators with dry furnaces formed with
sides and crowns of brick, or equivalent material in which holes, or spaces are
provided for the admission of air and also holes, or spaces for the admission of
air at the termination of such furnaces for completing the combustion of the
unconsumed portions of gas and for reducing the temperature of the combustion
as and for the purposes set forth.
Third. Steam boilers, or generators constructed of a tube filled water vessel
having a combustion chamber and chambers surrounded with water spaces therein
and a dry furnace, or furnaces of brick, or other suitable material beneath the
water vessel, as and for the purposes set forth.
Fourth. The combination in a furnace of a steam generator, or boiler of the type
herein described of sides and crown formed of fire brick, or equivalent material and
provided with holes or spaces for the admission of air and a duct of fire brick or
equivalent material leading therefrom to a combustion chamber having holes, or
spaces for the admission of air, for the purposes set forth.
Fifth. The use in steam boilers or generators of the type herein described of a
fire brick, or other equivalent material cover, or shield between the furnaces and
the bottom of the water vessel whereby the plates thereof are protected and the
circulation of the water can be ensured, for the purposes described..
°

page_text: Sixth. In steam boilers, or generators of the type herein described forming the
space, or spaces between the furnace casing and the water vessel into a duct, or
ducts for air and providing such ducts with regulators, as and for the purposes
set forth.
Seventh. In steam boilers, or generators of the type herein described providing
separate air ducts for the furnace and combustion chamber flame passage and
capable of regulation, as and for the purposes set forth.
Eighth. The construction and arrangement of steam boilers, or generators
consisting of the water vessels, combustion chambers and air ducts and passages, as
set forth with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the Drawings and Figures 3 and 4
of the Drawings.
Ninth. The irregular construction and formation of the interior of the crown of
the furnaces, as and for the purposes set forth.
Tenth. Applying and distributing air to furnaces having sides and crown
constructed of the type herein set forth, as and for the purposes described.
Dated this fifteenth day of Santamber 1885