IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO STEAM BOILERS OR GENERATORS OF WATER TUBE CONSTRUCTION
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Donaldson, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO STEAM BOILERS
OR GENERATORS OF WATER TUBE CONSTRUCTION."
Sealed the 4th April 1879, and dated the 12th October 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Donaldson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th October 1878.
JAMES DONALDSON, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster.
"IMPROVEMENTS
IN AND RELATING TO STEAM BOILERS OR GENERATORS OF WATER TUBE
CONSTRUCTION."
My Invention relates to the construction of water tube boilers for land and
marine purposes, and in the method of fastening and securing the tubes and
staying the water spaces, and consists,-
First. In the formation and construction of the water boxes or chambers, which
are composed of two tube plates separated by a ring, the ring being of Z or
channel iron section, such as can be obtained from ordinary stock, but of superior
quality, to stand bending into an oblong, square, or round ring, as required for the
water boxes or chambers. By this construction of water box one tube plate can
be put on and rivetted up to the ring before the other plate is fixed, and in the
case of iron or channel iron, where the channel is outside, the other part can be
got at to rivet afterwards.
Second. As in Howard's, Root's, Watt's, and other water tube boilers, two water
boxes or chambers are used, connected together by a series of inclined water tubes.
The water tubes, according to my Invention, are in one piece, and go right through
both water boxes and their four plates, being screwed into the plates, and pro-
jecting through the outside plates, where they are provided with, and their ends
closed by screwed caps, with a suitable washer inside. To enable the tubes to be
readily inserted and screwed into the tube plates one end of the tube is of slightly
increased diameter to the other. Where the tubes pass through the water boxes or
Prins 21

page_text: chambers they are provided with holes or passages, and where the tubes pass
through the tube plates they may be provided with screwed washers if desired.
By this arrangement the tubes act as stays to the water boxes or chambers, and
are readily fixed in position and easily kept tight for high pressures.
Third. The back water box or chamber is brought down so as to form a reservoir
for water below the tubes at that part of the boiler. Above the water boxes, as in
other water tube boilers, I use a cylindrical chamber, by preference of larger
dimensions than the present practice, thereby having a greater surface to throw off
the steam and prevent prining and excessive ebullition. The front of the
cylindrical chamber is connected by tubes to the upper tier of the tube cluster
forming the boiler, and the cylindrical chamber is also connected to the water
boxes or chambers. At the back of the cylindrical chamber there is a pipe or
pipes clear of the fire communicating with the reservoir before spoken of in the
back water box, and connecting the cylindrical chamber with the reservoir so as to
provide for a free downward circulation and supply to meet at all times the
requirements of the lower tubes.
Fourth. As an alternative and in lieu of the cylindrical chamber, and as
specially applicable to marine boilers, I use two rings of plating placed
eccentrically one within the other, the outer one forming the outside shell and
the inner one forming the furnace, and containing the water boxes and tube
cluster. The rings of plating are joined together at the ends forming one
common water space in the usual manner of ordinary cylindrical boilers,
suitable stays being provided where required. The upper portion of the
water space is connected to the upper tier of the tube cluster, and the lowest
portion of the water space is connected to the reservoir or lower part of the back
water box. Above the water space or outside shell I provide a steam chest or
superheater connected to the water space by suitable tubes which form legs.
By this arrangement of boiler I obtain great strength, small dimensions,
efficiency as a steam raiser, efficiency in circulation, minimum weight, a large area
of water level, and all the advantages of the present marine boiler combined with
the advantages of the water tube boiler and the advantages of the locomotive boiler
furnace.
Fifth. Boilers constructed according to my Invention can be set in brickwork.or
provided with iron casings forming suitable uptakes and smoke leads as required.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said James Donaldson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 10th April
1879.
JAMES DONALDSON, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster.
IN AND RELATING TO STEAM BOILERS OR GENERATORS OF
CONSTRUCTION."
"IMPROVEMENTS
WATER TUBE
My Invention relates to the construction of water. tube boilers for land and
marine purposes, and in the method of fastening and securing the tubes and
staying the water spaces, and consists,―
First. In the formation and construction of the water boxes or chambers, which
are composed of two tube plates separated by a ring, the ring being of Zor
channel iron section, such as can be obtained from ordinary stock, but of superior
quality, to stand bending into an oblong, square, or round ring, as required for the
water boxes or chambers. By this construction of water box one tube plate can be
put on and rivetted up to the ring before the other plate is fixed, and in the case
of Z iron, or channel iron, where the channel is outside, the other part can be got at
to rivet afterwards, or the water boxes can be entirely welded up so as to be in
one piece without any rivetting whatever.
Second. As in Watts', Sinclair's, and other water tube boilers two water tube
or chambers are used, connected together by a series of inclined water tubes. The
water tubes, according to my Invention, are in one piece, and go right through both
water boxes and their four plates, being screwed into the plates and projecting
through the outside plates, where they are provided with, and their ends closed by
screwed caps or plugs with a suitable washer inside. To enable the tubes to be
readily inserted and screwed into the tube plates one end of the tube is of slightly
increased diameter to the other. Where the tubes pass through the water boxes
or chambers they are pierced by holes or passages, and where the tubes pass
through the tube plates they may be provided with screwed washers if desired.
By this arrangement the tubes act as stays in the water boxes or chambers, and
are readily fixed in position and easily kept tight or high pressures.
Third. The back water box or chamber is brought down so as to form a reservoir
for water below the tubes at that part of the boiler. Above the water boxes, as in
other water tube boilers, I use a cylindrical chamber, by preference of larger
dimensions than the present practice, thereby having a greater surface to throw off
the steam and prevent priming and excessive ebullition. The front of the
cylindrical chamber is connected by a tube or tubes to the upper part of the front
water box. At the back of the cylindrical chamber there is a pipe or pipes clear
of the fire communicating with the reservoir before spoken of in the back water
box, and connecting the cylindrical chamber with such reservoir so as to provide
for a free downward circulation and supply to meet at all times the requirements
of the lower tubes.
Fourth. As an alternative and in lieu of the cylindrical chamber, and as
specially applicable to marine boilers I use two rings of plating placed eccentrically
one within the other, the outer one forming the outside sheel and the inner one
forming the furnace, and containing the water boxes and tube cluster. The rings
of plating are joined together at the ends, forming one common water space in the
usual manner of ordinary cylindrical boilers, suitable stays being provided where
required. The upper portion of the water space is connected to the upper part of
the front water box, and the lowest portion of the water space is connected to the
reservoir or lower part of the back water box. Above the water space or outside
shell I provide a steam chest, connected to the water space by suitable tubes.

page_text: Fifth. Boilers constructed according to my Invention can be set in brickwork
or provided with iron casings forming suitable uptakes and flues as required.
In order that my Invention may be clearly understood, I now proceed to more
particularly set forth the system, mode, or manner in or under which the
same is or may be used or practically carried into effect, and that the same may be
thoroughly defined, I have hereunto attached two Sheets of Drawings marked
with letters and figures of reference corresponding with those in the following
explanation, like letters and figures being used to denote the same or corre-
sponding parts throughout the various views.
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a boiler constructed according to my Invention
designed for land or like purposes.
Figure 2 is a front view; and
Figure 3 is a back view of Figure 1.
Figures 4, 5, 6, and 7 are sections illustrating the methods that I adopt in
attaching the water tubes to the water boxes.
Figure 8 is a sectional elevation of a boiler constructed according to my Invention
designed for marine purposes.
Figure 9 is an elevation showing a half front and a half back view of Figure S.
Figure 10 is a sectional elevation of a boiler, further illustrative of my Invention
and modification thereof, expressly intended for yachts, launches, or torpedo
boats.
Figure 11 is a half front view complete and a half front view with plates
removed of Figure 10.
Figure 12 is a further illustration of my Invention for very small boilers or
water heaters in general.
Figure 13 is a half front and a half sectional view of Figure 12.
Figure 14 is a sectional elevation of a vertical boiler constructed according to my
Invention.
Upon reference to the Drawings it will be seen that my Invention consists,―
Firstly. In the formation or construction of the water boxes or chambers A, B,
which are respectively composed of two tube plates a, a, b. b, separated by a
ring C of Z iron section of good quality to stand bending into an oblong, square,
or round section. Upon referring to Figures and 5 the construction of the
water boxes will be clearly understood, and it will be seen that the tube plates a¹
or b' can be rivetted to the Z iron C before the plates a and bare fixed, and the
plates a and b can be easily rivetted to the Z iron afterwards, or the water boxes
can be entirely welded up. The water boxes A and B are connected together by a
series of inclined water tubes D, which are formed in one length, and go right
through both water boxes A and B, and their four plates a, a¹, and b, b¹, (seo
Figures 4, 5, 6, and 7). The connection between the tubes D and the water
boxes A, B, may consist in screwing the tubes D through the plates a, a, b, b¹, as
shown at Figure 4, the ends of the tubes D projecting the outside plates a, b, where
they are provided with and their ends closed by the screwed caps or plugs E, the
tubes D boing also provided with suitable washers d, d, e, e'. In the modifica-
tion shown at Figure 5, instead of screwing the tubes D through the tube
plates a, a, b, b¹, I use conical soft metal (such as copper) nuts f, f, g, g¹, screwed
on to the tube D, and wedging into the tapered or countersunk holes in the tube
plates a, a, b, b¹. In the modification shown at Figure 6 it will be seen that the
copper cup nuts f, f¹, g, g', are formed with a lip, and so that they can be expanded
by the steel ferrules h, h', i, . In the modification shown at Figure 7 it will be
seen that the tubes D are formed with collars, and sprung out by the internal
ferrules, ¹, to make joint with the tube plates a, a, b, b. It will be seen
that the tubes D are open to the water boxes A, B, through the holes or
perforations F, G.
Upon reference to Figures 1, 2, and 3, it will be seen that the back water box B

page_text: I is a
is brought down so as to form a reservoir H for water below the tubes D.
cylindrical chamber which I construct by preference of larger dimensions than
usually found in water tube boilers which serves as the water and steam chest.
The front of the cylindrical chamber I is connected to the water box A by the
pipe J. The back of the cylindrical chamber I is connected by the pipe K to the
reservoir H before spoken of, thus providing a thorough circulation throughout
the boiler. This construction of boiler is especially suitable for land and like
purposes.
Upon reference to Figures 8 and 9 it will be seen that in constructing marine
boilers according to my Invention I use a cylindrical casing I, formed of two rings
of plating l, m, placed eccentrically one within the other, the outer ring 1 forming
the outside shell, and the inner ring m forming the furnace and combustion chamber,
and containing the water boxes A, B, and the tube cluster D. The shells l, m, are
joined together at their ends, forming the water chamber I, suitable stays n being
provided where requisite. The upper portion of the water chamber I is connected
by the pipes J to the tube box A, and the lowest portion of the water chamber I is
connected to the tube box B of the pipes K. Above the chamber I I provide a
steam chest L, connected to the chamber I by suitable legs M.
Upon reference to the modification shown at Figures 10 and 11, particularly
provided for yachts, launches, and torpedo boats, it will be seen that the water
boxes A, B, may form part of the main shell of a boiler, such as shown, the tubes D
connecting the front and the back of the boiler, which is also provided with
ordinary fire return tubes N connecting the combustion chamber O with the
uptake P, thereby obtaining great heating surface compared to the size and weight
of the boiler.
Upon reference to the modification shown at Figures 12 and 13 it will be seen
that water legs A, A¹, B, B', may be substituted for the water boxes A, B. The
legs A, B, and A¹, B¹, being connected by the tubes D and D', this arrangement
being used for very small boilers or water heaters in general.
Upon reference to Figure 14 it will be seen that water tubes as illustrated at
Figures 4 to 7 can be applied to vertical cylindrical boilers.
By the arrangement and construction of boilers according to my Invention I
obtain great strength, small dimension, efficiency as a steam riser, efficiency in
water circulation, minimum weight, and a larger area of water level; and in
reference to Figures 8 and 9 I obtain all the advantages of the marine boiler com-
bined with the advantages of the water tube boiler and the advantages of the
locomotive boiler furnace.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and shown the system, mode, or manner in or under which the same is or
may be used or practically carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion that
what I consider to be novel .and original, and therefore claim as the Invention
secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
Firstly. The construction and arrangement of water tube boilers, substantially
as described at Figures 1, 2, and 3 of the accompanying Drawings.
Secondly. The various methods of connecting water tubes to water boxes of
water tube boilers as herein-before defined, and such as illustrated at Figures 4, 5, 6,
and 7 of the accompanying Drawings, or any modification thereof.
Thirdly. The construction and arrangement of water tube boilers, substantially
as described, and as illustrated at Figures 8 and 9 of the accompanying Drawings,
or any modification thereof.
Fourthly. The construction and arrangement of water tube boilers, substantially
as described, and as illustrated at Figures 10 and 11 of the accompanying
Drawings.
Fifthly. The construction and arrangement of water tube boilers, substantially
as described, and as illustrated at Figures 12 and 13 of the accompanying

page_text: Sixthly. The construction and arrangement of water tube boilers, substantially
as described, and as illustrated at Figure 14 of the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Donaldson, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Ninth day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine.
JAMES
(L.S.) DONALDSON.