Improvements for Increasing the Evaporative Power of Marine and other Steam Boilers and other Vessels, Superheating Steam, Improving Circulation, and in Apparatus connected therewith.
Year: 1894

page_text: This Print is in accordance with the Original Specification as it stands after
Amendment (under Section 11 of the Patents, &c. Act, 1883), as required by
the decision of the Comptroller General of the 17th day of March 1896.
Date of Application, 26th Oct.. 1894
Complete Specification Left, 26th July, 1895-Accepted, 31st Aug., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements for Increasing the Evaporative Power of Marine and
other Steam Boilers and other Vessels, Superheating Steam,
Improving Circulation, and in Apparatus connected therewith.
I, JAMES HODGKINSON of Woden Street, Ordsal Lane, Manchester in the
County of Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention
to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements for increasing the evaporative power of
marine and other steam boilers and other vessels, superheating steam, improving
circulation, and apparatus connected therewith, and is designed for beating water
from the bottom of a boiler, vessel, or other convenient source, or for converting
water or other liquid into steam, evaporative purposes, and delivering the same in
the water or liquid space of a boiler or vessel. This I accomplish by disposing in
the flue or flues of a steam boiler or vessel or other furnace a range or ranges of
pipes in any suitable form. These pipes are placed preferably in the back or
bottom flue of a boiler or flame bed or other furnace. The inlet to the heating
pipes is connected to the bottom or lower end of the boiler or vessel to take water
or liquid therefrom and pass it through the range or ranges of pipes to be heated
or converted into steam and delivered into the water or liquid space of the boiler
either at the front end, back end, or other intermediate point as desired. By this
method of coupling a perfect and continuous circulation is effected by which
For the
incrustation and other detrimental effects will be reduced to a minimum.
purpose of preventing or reducing incrustation and the furring up of the generator
pipes in the flame bed 1 supply the water or liquid from an economiser, or from the
boiler to a settling vessel of any suitable or convenient form, so that by the high
temperature of the water or liquid and the reduced speed of the same by the
increased area of the vessel, into which it is fed, over that of the feed pipe
precipitation takes place, and the water or liquid supplied to the generator pipes,
boiler, or vessel is purer, incrustation and furring up reduced, and the life of the
generator pipes, boiler, or vessel is increased thereby. The settling vessel is
furnished with a mud tap to remove sediment at suitable intervals. The water or
liquid is drawn from the settling vessel through a pipe leading from its upper end
or side, and may be provided with a midfeather to break the connections from
both inlets; the water or liquid being thus taken from a point of rest. The
settling vessel may be made in one or more parts to facilitate cleaning and
repairs.
Another important feature in this invention is that by coupling the bottom of

page_text: or
the boiler to the generator pipes it will prevent the latter becoming empty, increase
their efficiency, and prolong the life of the same. The outlet from the generator
pipes may be fitted with a valve or tap to regulate the heat and flow of the water
liquid, by which the pressure in the generator pipes may be varied beyond the
steam pressure in the boiler or vessel. The outlet pipe may be fitted with a glass
water gauge to allow of the operations through the same being detected; also a
steam gauge to indicate the pressure in the pipes. The inlet to the generator pipes
may be connected to a pump or its equivalent to charge them with water or liquid
and force the same through the said pipes to be heated before entering the boiler
or vessel. In this case the outlet pipe from the boiler or vessel is provided with a
back-pressure valve that will close when the pump or its equivalent is in operation,
and open when the same is out of action, thus forming an auxiliary supply for
protecting the pipes ensuring continuous circulation through them. When the
latter operation takes place the back-pressure valve will open and allow of the pipes
being supplied from the bottom of the boiler or vessel, by which a perfect or
complete circulation will be effected. In lieu of the pump applied to the inlet of
the heating or generator pipes in the flame bed of the boiler the same may be
supplied by an injector, or from any other source, such as, the use of exhaust steam,
live steam, and condensed water, the apparatus returning the same, after super-
heating has taken place, to a point below the water space in the boiler, or for
engine or heating purposes. To prevent the breaking of joints of the heating or
generator pipes I provide adjustable expansion joints or couplings which will allow
of each pipe being removed and replaced readily. Each adjustable expansion joint
is secured to the heating pipes by a lock nut or its equivalent. If desired the joints
may be made by means of caulking. To overcome the liability of the opening of
lap welded wrought iron tubes I employ weldless steel tubes; the ends of which
may be of equal or unequal diameter to the diameter of the tube, which will allow
of a greater number of rows of pipes being placed in the ordinary or usual space.
In another modification I provide both for superheating and circulation at the
same time in which case I place in the flue behind the boiler a nest of pipes in the
form of a coil or otherwise, and take a supply of steam from the boiler and pass it
through said pipes for the purpose of superheating and return same to the boiler
unless not required for engine or heating purposes, thus ensuring a continuous
circulation through the pipes or coil when steam is not required for any purpose
outside the boiler, which protects the pipes from the action of heat and prevents
their destruction. The pipes in the flame bed underneath the boiler or vessel are
carried by bearers of special formation made in parts to allow of easy filment and
adjustment; the bearers being secured in any convenient manner.
In adapting my invention to marine boilers the pipes are placed in the combustion
chamber, or in the uptake, funnel, or in the combustion chamber alone if desired.
The said pipes may be in tiers, rows, or coils; the inlet to the same may be from
the bottom end, side, or front below the water line and delivered after passing the
pipes or coils at a point below the water line to secure circulation. The same
invention is equally applicable to double ended marine boilers. In another form of
this invention for marine, stationary, and other boilers, or for purposes of
circulation the pipes are charged with water or liquid and sealed; the outer length
or lengths passing along the inside bottom end or water space of the boiler for the
purpose of giving off heat to the water or liquid in the boiler and return the water
or liquid to the pipes to be re-heated, thus forming a continuous circulator by the
same water or liquid in the pipes; any waste being supplied by a pipe from any
convenient source or cistern provided for the purpose. It will be seen that this is
a safe-guard against the water or liquid being run off by the breakage of pipes as
in other systems, and the pipes will be relieved of the usual internal pressure.
Dated October 25th 1894.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION (AMENDED).
Improvements for Increasing the Evaporative Power of Marine and
other Steam Boilers and other Vessels, Superheating Steam,
Improving Circulation, and in Apparatus connected therewith.
I JAMES HODGKINSON of West High Street Machine Works, late of Woden
Street, Salford, Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer, 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 and accompanying drawings :-
-1
This invention relates to improved means for increasing the evaporative power of
marine and other steam boilers for superheating steam and for improving circulation
in such boilers.
In carrying my invention into effect I dispose in the flue or flues of a steam
boiler or other furnace, a range or ranges of pipes of any suitable form. These
pipes are placed preferably in the back or bottom flue of a boiler or flame bed or
other furnace.
The inlet to the heating pipes is connected to the bottom or lower end of the
boiler or vessel to take water or liquid therefrom and pass it through the range or
ranges of pipes to be heated or converted into steam and delivered into the water
or liquid space of the boiler either at the front end, back end or other intermediate
point as desired. By this method of coupling a perfect and continuous circulation
is effected by which incrustation and other detrimental effects will be reduced to a
minimum. The said range of pipes might also be connected to the feed as well as
to the bottom of the boiler, and the pipes might also be utilised to superheat steam
drawn from the boiler and either returned thereto or used for motive or heating
purposes. For the purpose of preventing or reducing incrustation and the furring
up of the generator pipes in the flame bed, I supply the water or liquid from an
economiser or from the boiler to a settling vessel of any suitable or convenient
form. The settling vessel may be made in one or more parts to facilitate cleaning
and repairs. By coupling the bottom of the boiler to the generator pipes as, set
forth the latter will be prevented from becoming empty and their efficiency and
durability increased.
Under a modification 1 provide both for steam superheating and circulation at
the same time, in which case I place in the flue behind the boiler a nest of pipes in
the form of a coil or otherwise and take a supply of steam from the boiler and pass
it through the said pipes for the purpose of superheating and return the same to
the boiler when not required for engine or heating purposes, thus ensuring &
continuous circulation through the pipes or coil when steam is not required for any
purpose outside the boiler, which protects the pipes from the action of heat and
prevents their destruction.
The pipes in the flame bed underneath the boiler or vessel are carried by bearers
of special formation made in parts to allow of easy alignment and adjustment the
bearers being secured in any convenient manner.
In adapting my invention. to marine boilers the pipes are placed in the
combustion chamber or in the uptake, funnel or in the combustion chamber alone
if desired.
To render my invention properly understood I will now proceed to describe the
same more particularly and with reference to the annexed two sheets of illustrative
drawings.
On Sheet 1.
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal side view of a double flued boiler with the brick setting
in section so as to allow the arrangements of pines constituting my invention to be

page_text: Fig. 2 is a view of one of the bearers which support the pipes.
Fig. 3 is a view of one half of a pipe joint.
Fig. 4 shows the settling chamber which I apply preferably to the pipe by
which the water is drawn from the front of the boiler.
Fig. 5 is a section of the screwed pipe union joint.
On Sheet 2.
Fig. 6 is a front end view of the boiler with the brickwork in section and my
improved arrangement of pipes exposed to view.
Fig. 7 is a view of the back end of the boiler showing the coils for superheating
steam.
The boiler is marked A and the supporting brickwork B.
The series of heating pipes in the flue beneath the boiler is marked C. The
water drawn from the bottom of the boiler is circulated through this series of
pipes, absorbing the heat from the products of combustion passing through the
Alue the heated water being evaporated and finally returning as steam of high
temperature into the boiler."
To take the water from the foot of the boiler I provide a pipe D furnished with.
a back pressure stop valve D¹. The inner end of the pipe D projects into the foot
of the boiler. The pipe D is led into the front of the flue and is connected to the
first branch of the series of pipes C. The passage of the water through the
pipes C may be traced by the arrows placed on the pipes the arrows in full lines
showing the passage of the water to and fro in the pipes C next to the spectator
while the dotted arrows indicate the passage of the water in the pipes behind.
The water from the pipe D traverses the first lower branch of the series C to the
rear of the flue, then crosses over on the same level by the cross pipe C and
returns to the front of the flue. Here it passes round the bend C to the next
level and after traversing the length of pipe to the rear crosses over by the cross
pipe C on the same level to the pipe on the opposite side. From this pipe it
passes round the bend C4 to the next level and so on through the successive cross-
over pipes and bends C5, C6, C7, C8, C' to the uptake pipe E by which it is led
back in the form of steam to the lower part of the boiler as clearly indicated in
Figs. 1 and 6. The high temperature imparted to the water in the pipes C. causes.
its rapid evaporation so that it returns in the form of steam of high pressure to
the boiler. This high pressure thus conducted to the bottom of the boiler rapidly
raises the temperature of the contents of the boiler, the heat picked up in the flue
being thus returned direct to the boiler instead of passing away and being lost.
The economical results of this arrangement have already been practically proved.
in the case of a number of boilers now at work.
The circulation thus set up can be preserved for any length of time during the
working of the boiler.
Instead of drawing the water to traverse the pipes C from the bottom of the
boiler through the pipe D as described I might reverse the circulation by emptying.
the pipes C and opening the valve H thereby allowing the water to enter the
pipes C by the pipe E and after traversing the said pipes to enter the boiler by
the pipe D. In the latter case the valves H. and D are stop valves only. The
circulation in either direction is perfectly automatic when once started.
By another
modification I might connect a pipe D leading from the feed or from the usual
economiser to the pipe D and conduct the feed water direct to the pipes C either
letting it enter the boiler by the pipe E as steam or forcing it through the entire
range of pipes into the boiler as heated feed water. When the feed water is thus
passed into the pipe D the back pressure valve D₁ by closing automatically
prevents the feed water from entering the boiler at that point. I might also use.
the pipes C as steam superheaters by admitting steam from the steam dome or
from the fitting M via the pipe D³ downward to the pipe D through which it
passes to the pipes C and thence up the pipe E to the boiler, or if required the
said superheated steam may be used for engine or heating purposes.
A sight feed
might be attached to the pipe D³ and the lower stretch of D to allow of the effects

page_text: of the currents being noted. The pipes C are supported in the flue by the stands
or bearers F which are shown in front view in Fig. 2.
The said stands consist of a bottom block 1 to which I secure a bridle 2 by a
cottar 3 passing through the sides of the block. Parting pieces 4 keep the pipes C
at their respective distances and by driving in the cottar 3 the whole can be
tightened up and drawn closely together. The joints between the flanged bends
connecting the ranges of piping Care fashioned as to one half in the manner
shown in Fig. 3 the tapered portion 5 entering a similarly tapered recess in the
other half and so creating a fluid tight joint.
The couplings between the screwed portions of the piping are preferably made
as in Fig. 5 the part 6 of the interior of the coupling being chased so as to present
a shoulder at 7. Thus when the threaded end of the pipe C is screwed in, the end
of the pipe abuts against this shoulder and crushes the metal edges together so
that a securely fluid tight joint is obtained. For further security I prefer to caulk
the outer part of the coupling. The settling chamber or trap shown at Fig. 4
might be attached to the pipe D where it leaves the boiler or conducts from the
fced so as to arrest and retain matter in the water. The trap consists of a hollow
chamber G having a mid-feather G¹ extending from the top downwards as shown
in dotted lines, but stopped short some distance from the bottom which consists of
a pocket with sloping sides as shown.
A haud hole G covered by a plate permits of access to the trap to remove the
precipitated dirt. A pipe G³ is connected to the foot and is provided with a
sludge cock through which mud can be blown out of the trap. As shown in Fig. 6
the pipe E which generally speaking forms the outlet from the pipes C may be
fitted with a back pressure and stop valve H by which the flow of water and steam
and the pressure in the pipes C may be caused to vary from the steam pressure in
the boiler. The same pipe E may also be fitted with a safety valve I pressure
gauge J and thermometer K all as appearing most clearly in Fig. 6.
In addition to or in substitution for the heating and circulation of the water by
the pipes C as described I might superheat steam led from the boiler by conducting
the same through the zig-zag arrangement of pipes L shown in Figs. 1. and 7
of the drawings.
The piping L is arranged in the flue behind the boiler and is fully exposed to
the heated products of combustion coming from the furnace grate. The steam is
led from the dome or from the interior of the fitting M by the pipe L' to the top
of the zig-zag piping L and after passing through the piping from the top to the
bottom is either led away to be used for motive or heating purposes through the
valve O or it might be returned to the boiler via the pipe L which is shown in
Fig. 1 as being connected to the downwardly projecting length of the pipe E
which has already been referred to as returning to the boiler. The steam having
been superheated and expanded by the heat acquired from the piping L on being
discharged into the colder water in the lower part of the boiler heats the water
and increases the steam making power of the generator.
The invention may be applied either to land or marine boilers the described
principle being retained although the arrangement might be varied to suit the
different circumstances under which the improvements are applied.
In another form of this invention for marine, stationary and other boilers, or for
purposes of circulation the pipes are charged with water or liquid and sealed, the
outer length or lengths passing along the inside bottom or water space of the boiler
for the purpose of giving off heat to the water or liquid in the boiler and returning
the water or liquid to the pipes to be reheated, thus forming a continuous circulator
of the same water or liquid in the pipes; any waste being supplied by a pipe from
any convenient source or cistern provided for the purpose.
It will be seen that this is a safeguard against the water or liquid being run off
by the breakage of pipes as in other systems, and the pipes will be relieved of the
usual internal pressure.
I would remark that it is of the essence of my invention that the water or steam

page_text: from the superheater when it returns to the boiler is discharged therein and not
passed through the boiler in closed tubes.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is.
1. The general arrangements and means for creating and maintaining automatic
circulation from the lower part of the boiler through a series of heating pipes to
another point in the boiler, for the purposes and substantially as described and
:shown.
2. As means for increasing the steam producing power of a boiler, for super-
heating steam and for promoting economy of fuel, the arrangements of pipes. C
placed in the flue beneath or at the back of the boiler and receiving circulating
and returning water steam from and to the boiler or to the engine or other
steam user in the manner and substantially as described and illustrated.
and
ог
3. As means for promoting the efficiency of steam boilers, the arrangement of
water circulating pipes C, receiving water from the lower part of the boiler or
from the feed water source or economiser through a pipe D and circulating, heating
and returning the water either as water or as vapour through a pipe E to the
boiler or vice versa substantially as herein described and shown.
4. The improved form of separable pipe bearer F to support the pipes C as
herein described and shown.
5. The improved mud trap or separator G for precipitating and removing
impurities in the water fed to the circulating pipes substantially as described and
shown.
6. In combination with the aforesaid water circulating pipes C or apart from
such water circulating pipes the superheating steam piping L situated behind the
boiler and employed for the purpose of superheating the steam supplied to an
engine or for heating purposes or in the alternative employed to impart increased
heat to the contents of the boiler in the manner and substantially as described and
shown.
Dated the 25th day of July 1895.
-
EDMUND CHADWICK, F.I.C.P.A.,
Agent.