IMPROVED MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR ECONOMIZING FUEL AND GENERATING HEAT IN STEAM BOILERS
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Ryburn Buchanan, of All Souls' College,
Oxford, in the same County, for the Invention of " IMPROVED MEANS
AND APPARATUS FOR ECONOMIZING FUEL AND GENERATING HEAT IN STEAM
BOILERS." A communication from abroad by Henry Alexander
Studwell, of Brooklyn, State of New York, United States of
America.
Sealed the 15th June 1875, and dated the 20th February 1875.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Ryburn
Buchanan at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 20th February 1875.
I, THOMAS RYBURN BUCHANAN, of All Souls' College, Oxford, in the
same County, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVED MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR ECONOMIZING FUEL AND GENERATING
HEAT IN STEAM BOILERS," to be as follows:-

page_text: sisting of a device for deflecting or twisting the current of heated gases
and products of combustion in its passage through the flues of a steam
generator. A strip of thin metal, preferably wrought iron, is twisted
somewhat into the form of an auger, the convolutions having more or
less "pitch" as may be desirable or necessary. The width of the strip
before being twisted and the "quickness" of the pitch jointly govern
the diameter of the deflector.
The diameter of the deflector should be a little less than the diameter
of the flue in which it is to be inserted so as to be readily removed, and
it should be a trifle shorter than the tube so as not to reach quite to the
end of the tube next the fire. The object of this is to permit the flame
to enter freely, but in its passage through the flue it progresses spirally,
following the two twisting passages formed by the shell of the flue
itself and the deflector, the latter really dividing the straight cylindrical
flue into two spiral ones.
When the spiral deflector is drawn out to be cleaned it scrapes the
interior surface of the flue clean, thus serving a double purpose as tube
scraper and fuel saver. This deflector detains the heat to some extent,
and by its deflecting qualities causes it to impinge against all sides of
the flue equally, thus more uniformly distributing the heat in its
passage.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Thomas Ryburn Buchanan in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 17th August 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
RYBURN BUCHANAN, of All Souls' College, Oxford, in the same County,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of February, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in the thirty-
eighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Thomas Ryburn Buchanan, Her
special licence that I, the said Thomas Ryburn Buchanan, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Thomas
133

page_text: Ryburn Buchanan, 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 Inven-
tion for "IMPROVED MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR ECONOMIZING FUEL AND GENE-
RATING HEAT IN STEAM BOILERS," a communication to me from abroad by
Henry Alexander Studwell, of Brooklyn, State of New York, United
States of America, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Thomas Ryburn Buchanan, my executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and
seals, 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 Seal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters

page_text: When the spiral deflector is drawn out to be cleaned it scrapes the
interior surface of the flue clean, thus serving a double purpose, a tube
scraper and fuel saver. This deflector detains the heat to some extent,
and by its deflecting qualities causes it to impinge against all sides of
the flue equally, thus more uniformly distributing the heat in its
passage.
The Drawings hereunto annexed shew the manner in which I apply
the improvements above described.
Figures 1 and 2 are respectively side and end elevations of the spiral
deflector or fuel saver.
Figure 3 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of a portion of a
tubular or flue boiler showing the application of the improvement
thereto; and Figure 4 is an end elevation of the same.
1
A, A, represent the heads of the boiler; B; the shell of the same;
and C, C, the flues, one of which is shown in section in Figure 3. D is 1
the deflector inserted in the flue, and a is the space between the front
end and the fire-box of the furnace. The flattened front end of the
deflector D may be perforated as at 6 for the reception of a hook by
which it may be drawn out of the flue.
At Figure 5 is shown the arrangement of the deflector D in a vertical 2
tubular boiler.
The letters of reference designate like parts as in the other Figures.
To prevent the deflector from dropping down through the flue into
the furnace a pin c is passed through the hole b in the flattened end of
the deflector, the ends thereof resting on the projecting end of the flue 2
or on the head of the boiler.
When it is desired to remove the deflector from the vertical flue it is
lifted out at the top.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, I would have
it understood that what I claim is,―
1st. The combined, arrangement of the deflector or fuel saver D, the
boiler A, B, and flue or tube C, substantially as herein described and
shewn by the Drawings annexed.
2nd. The application of the spiral deflector herein shown to detain and
distribute the current of heated gases and flame in the flue or tube of a 3
steam boiler.

page_text: 3rd. Providing the deflector D with a pin c when used in vertical
steam boilers to prevent the deflector from falling down through the
flue.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Ryburn Buchanan, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Fourth day of August, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
five.