IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM BOILERS OR GENERATORS
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake,
and Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM BOILERS OR GENERATORS" communicated to him
from abroad by Alfred Henry Crockford, of Newark, New Jersey, United
States of America
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 13th June 1883.
BOILERS OR
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, and Co, Patent Agents,
STEAM
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
Southampton Buildings, London,
GENERATORS" Communicated to me from abroad by Alfred Henry Crockford of
Newark, New Jersey, United States of America.
This invention relates to improvements in steam generators as hereinafter
described, and consists essentially in the novel construction and arrangement of
parts, whereby important advantages are attained some of which are as follows,
that is to say: (1) a great saving in fuel is effected, (2) the capacity of the boiler
is increased (3) equal expansion of all the parts is ensured (4) the boiler is kept
perfectly clean and prevented from being blistered or burned, and (5) the circulation
of the water is improved
In the accompanying drawing
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a steam generator constructed according to this
invention
Figure 2 is a plan of the main pipes of the same
Figure 3 is a section of a "cross fitting"
Figure 4 is a section of a return bend back outlet.

page_text: the water line by the pipes c, c, and with the rear of the boiler at the bottom by
pipes d, d; the sediment drums and pipes f. f are connected at f¹ with the said
coiled pipes a, a, and the said pipes & leading from the rear of the boiler, and also
with the sediment drum e, all substantially as shown.
The pipes in which the steam is generated may be placed directly over the
fire Figure 1, and having a very small heating surface compared with the boiler,
great economy in fuel is thereby assured, and the pipes being coiled several times,
as in Figure 2, the capacity of the boiler is greatly increased.
One of the most important objects attained by this invention and which is of the
greatest utility, is the increase in the rapidity of circulation
The greatest difficulty is encountered by engineers in keeping the boiler clean
and free from any deleterious matter contained in the water used, which in time
settles on the boiler plates and produces blistering and burning of the sheets, and
moreover the sediment becoming encrusted, and gases forming between the crust
and plates, lift the crust and prevent the water from touching the plates, and when
the comparatively cold water comes in contact with the intensely heated plates,
through the crust breaking or dissolving, an explosion occurs.
In consequence of the rapid circulation produced by this generator, the dirt or
injurious substances in the water are not allowed to settle upon the sheets, but are
kept in motion and removed from the boiler and pipes leaving them perfectly clean
as will be hereinafter shown.
The increased rapidity of circulation I produce by having each of the pipes c, c,
d, d, which communicate with the front and rear of the boiler, of less capacity
than the two coiled pipes a, a combined, which communicate or connect with each
of said pipes c, c, d, à, as at f¹ and g Figures 1, 2, 4. 5 and 6; the effect of this is
to hold the water in the coils over the fire until the water or steam in the said
coils has generated enough power to force its way through the pipes c, c into the
boiler, moving in the direction of the least resistance, and the exit from the boiler
being in the bottom at the rear, as shown in Figures 1 and 5, the power that was
necessary to force the water into the boiler is transmitted and, assisted by the
gravity of the water in the boiler, propels the water and steam out of the boiler at
the rear into the coils a, a beneath the said boiler, in this manner a constant
circulation is maintained
The pipes d d Figures 1 and 5, leading from the rear of the boiler are each met
at Figures 1 and 5 by three pipes viz. the coil pipes a, a converging thereat
and the pipe f leading to the sediment drum e, thus forming a cross-fitting as.
shown in Figures 3 and 5; the pipes d, d leading from the boiler and the sediment
pipes are vertical and may be of equal diameter as in Figure 5, the coil
pipes a, a may be horizontal at the rear of the boiler and each of less diameter
than each of the pipes d, d and ff.
In consequence of the rapid circulation the dirt in the water is not allowed to
settle but is held in suspension. The circulation being from front to rear of the
boiler, as indicated by the arrows on Figure 2, the muddy water flows out of the
boiler through the pipes d d, and meeting the three pipes a, af, Figure 5, flows-
into the vertical pipes f. f, and thence into the sediment drum e until all are
filled; the water is then diverted into the coil pipes a, a and continues to flow into
these coil pipes as long as the sediment pipes and drum are filled.
As the muddy water flows from the boiler through the pipes d, d, and is diverted
into the coil pipes a, a, it passes over the mouth of the sediment pipe and the
mud or dirt held in the water is precipitated by gravity through the pipe f into
the sediment drum & As the water passes over the sediment pipes many times
during the day, the greater part, if not all, of the dirt in the water is deposited in
the sediment drum and the boiler and pipes kept perfectly clean.
As
When it is necessary to clean the sediment drum I provide a blow off i Figures 1
and 5, of suitable size placed in the head of the sediment drum e, as shown.
a further convenience the above mentioned head of the sediment drum may be
fitted and bolted to the end of the said drum after the manner of an ordinary

page_text: gland and stuffing box, as shown in Figure 1 The head of the said drum may
project beyond the brick work of the furnace so as to be accessible.
Another advantage derived from the rapidity of circulation is that the heat is
equalized throughout the boiler and pipes, thus preventing unequal expansion. In
order to protect the sediment drum and conductors from the heat of the fire I
employ a fire-tile as j, m, in Figure 7 attached in a suitable manner.
The coil pipes a, a may rest upon an iron brace k Figure 6, placed preferably
between the fire bridge 8 and conforming to the contour of the said coil pipes, the
The use
ends of the said brace being bricked up in the walls around the boiler.
of but two pipes entering the front and rear of the boiler ensures greater strength
than when more are employed. It will be understood that these improvements are
equally applicable to all kinds of stationary, marine or locomotive boilers, as;
tubular, flue, plain cylinder, and combined tubular and flue boilers
If desirable the said improvements may be used alone, as a steam generator,
a reservoir for water taking the place of the boiler. The boiler is fed in the usual
manner.
Having thus fully described the said invention as communicated to me by my
foreign Correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim.
First. The combination with a steam boiler or generator, of coiled pipes a, a
placed under the boiler or below the crown sheet and over the fire, and connected
with the front of the boiler at the top and the rear of the boiler at the bottom by
pipes c, d of greater diameter than the said coiled pipes, all substantially as set
forth.
Second The combination with a steam boiler or generator, of coiled pipes placed
under the boiler and over the fire, and connected with the front of the boiler at
the top and the rear of the boiler at the bottom by pipes of greater diameter than
the said coiled pipes, and a sediment drum or receptacle e having a removable head
and a blow off, and sediment conductors, all substantially as set forth.
Third. The combination with a steam generator, of a sediment or dirt receptacle e
connected with the said generator by one or more sediment conductors f, the said
conductors meeting the said generator and forming a cross pipe f¹, the head
of the said sediment receptacle being removable and having a blow off i, all
substantially as set forth.
In witness whereof I the said William Robert Lake have hereunto set my hand
and seal this Thirteenth day of June in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty three
WM RORT LAKE (TO)
WM RORT LAKE
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