IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF STEAM BOILERS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Walker, of the Grove, Southwark, in the
County of Surrey, Engineer and Boiler Manufacturer, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF STEAM BOILERS."
Sealed the 29th December 1877, and dated the 4th July 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Walker at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th July 1877.
JOHN HENRY WALKER, of the Grove, Southwark, in the County of Surrey;
Engineer and Boiler Manufacturer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF
STEAM BOILERS."
This Invention relates to certain improvements in the construction of tubular
steam boilers, and the object is to produce a better circulation of water than in
boilers of the ordinary construction, so that the heat evolved from the fuel will be
taken up with greater facility, and a considerable economy of fuel will be conse-*
quently effected. To this end 1 construct a square of quadrangular casing, open at
both ends, and in this I arrange the tubes in any convenient number of horizontal
series, one above another, but in such a manner that the tubes of each series are
at right angles to those of the series iminediately above or below them.
This quadrangular arrangement of tubes is placed inside a cylindrical or other
suitably-shaped casing, and is canted at an angle as if resting on one of the corners,
and is permanently fixed in this position. The effect of this will be that all the
tubes in whichever direction they run will be placed at such an angle that one end
will be higher than the other.
When the quadrangular casing with its tubes is properly secured in the outer
casing or envelope, the space between the two cases will be the water space of the
boiler, the tubes also forming water spaces, which will be exposed to the heat from
the fire-place, which is situated immediately below them.
As the heated gases from the fire pass up among the tubes they will heat the
water therein, and cause a rapid circulation of the water through the tubes from one
side of the boiler to the other.

page_text: Sometimes I fix above the upper or higher ends of the tubes inclined baffle plates,
which will prevent the water from dashing about and the boiler from priming, but
will not injuriously affect the circulation.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Henry Walker in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 4th
January 1878.
JOHN HENRY WALKER, of the Grove, Southwark, in the County of Surrey,
Engineer and Boiler Manufacturer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF
STEAM BOILERS."
This Invention relates to certain improvements in the construction of tubular
steam boilers, and the object is to produce a better circulation of water than in
boilers of the ordinary construction, so that the heat evolved from the fuel will be
taken ур with greater facility, and a considerable economy of fuel will be conse-
quently effected. To this end I construct a square or quadrangular casing, open at
both ends, and in this I arrange the tubes in any convenient manner, such as in
horizontal series, one above another, but in such a manner that the tubes of each.
series are at right angles to those of the series immediately above or below them.
I would here remark that in speaking of a horizontal series of tubes I do not
mean to imply that the tubes are mathematically horizontal when in the boiler, but
that they are arranged horizontally in the quadrangular casing in which they are
fixed. The tube holes being bored in the side plates of the casing, and the tubes
placed therein at right angles to the side plates, the tubes may be fixed therein
with great facility and in a perfectly sound manner, which could not be done
(except with some difficulty) if the tubes were inclined to the sides of the quad-
rangular casing.
This quadrangular arrangement of tubes is placed inside a cylindrical or other
suitably-shaped casing, and is canted at an angle, as if resting on one of the corners,
and is permanently fixed in this position. The effect of this will be that all the
tubes in whichever direction they run will be placed at such an angle that one
end will be higher than the other, and a perfect circulation of the water will be
insured.
In the accompanying Drawing,
Fig. 1 is a vertical section taken through the boiler, the furnace a and up-take b
being shown in section, and the quadrangular tube casing c being shown in eleva-
tion. This section is taken on the line A, A, of Figures 2 and 4.
Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of the boiler taken through the fire-box in the line
1, 2, of Fig. 1..
Fig. 3 is another horizontal section of the boiler, taken through the lower part of
the quadrangular casing c, and in the line 3, 4, of Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 is another horizontal section, taken through the water space or upper part
of the boiler above the top of the quadrangular tube casing, and in the line 5, 6, of
Fig. 1.
Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken through the external boiler casing d, d, the
internal parts, such as the furnace a, the up-take b, and the quadrangular tube
casing c, being shown in elevation. The section in this instance is taken in the

page_text: direction of the dotted lines B, B, in Figures 3 and 4, or at an angle of forty-five
degrees to the section, Fig. 1.
When the quadrangular casing c with its tubes is properly secured in the outer
casing or envelope d, the space between the two cases will be the water space of
the boiler, the tubes also forming water spaces which will be exposed to the heat
from the fire-place a, which is situated immediately below them.
As the heated gases from the fire pass up among the tubes in the quadrangular
casing, they will heat the water therein, and cause a rapid circulation of the water
through the tubes from one side of the boiler to the other, as indicated by the arrows
in Figures 1 and 5.
Sometimes I fix above the upper or higher ends of the tubes inclined baffle plates,
which will prevent the water from dashing about and the boiler from priming, but
will not injuriously affect the circulation. These baffle plates are shewn at c, e, in
Fig. 5, and they may be made cither with straight edges, or notched out as shewn
in the Figure.
By means of the above-described arrangement of parts there will be a very rapid
circulation of water throughout the boiler.
In order still further to prevent the priming of the boiler, I fix a long, flat baffle
plate f, Fig. 5, in the water space above the upper ends of the water tubes. This
plate will deflect the water to the rear of the boiler, but will not interfere with
or injuriously affect the circulation.
In the Drawing I have shown the tubes of the quadrangular casing as in several
horizontal series, arranged alternately at right angles to each other; it will be
obvious however that, if desired, all the water tubes may be arranged in the same
direction, in which case it will be necessary to tilt the quadrangular casing c on one
of its sides, instead of on one of its corners, as shown in the Drawing; I do not how-
ever prefer this arrangement, although it may be convenient to use it occasionally
for small or cheap boilers.
Having now described my Invention of "Improvements in the Construction of
Steam Boilers," and having explained the manner of carrying the same into effect,
I claim as the Invention secured to me by Letters Patent as aforesaid, the com-
bination with an external boiler casing of a quadrangular tube casing, through
which the heated gases produced by the combustion of the fuel are made to pass
from the furnace to the exit flue, and in which casing are secured several sets of
water tubes at right angles to the sides of the casing, which is so arranged that one
of its sides or corners is higher than the opposite side or corner, so that the tube
casing being permanently fixed in a canted or tilted position, the ends of the water
tubes on one side will be higher than the opposite ends, as and for the purpose
herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Walker, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, the Fourth day of January, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
J. H. WALKER. (L.S.)