Improvements in Steam Generators.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 27th May, 1895
Complete Specification Left, 27th Feb., 1896-Accepted, 25th Apr., 1896.
PARATAIVAAN DI MUIFICATION.
Improvements in Steam Generators.
I, HUGH MCPHAIL, of The Towers, Wakefield, in the County of York,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
:―
This invention relates to tubular steam generators so constructed that the steam
can very rapidly pass out of the water from which it is generated into a space
where it will be dried and superheated.
My improved steam generator comprises a number of tubes connected at their
upper and lower ends to a cylinder or a case or box arranged on end and where
necessary having suitable strengthening divisions at intervals, or to a series of
cylinders, cases, or boxes placed one above the other and communicating with
each other through pipe, tube or other connections.
I may have one such cylinder, case or box or series of cylinders, cases or boxes
to form the front and another such cylinder case or box, or series of cylinders,
case, or boxes to form the back of the generator, the sides being closed in by
brickwork or the like, or I may have such a cylinder, case or box or series of
cylinders, cases or boxes at the front and back and sides, or at the sides only.
Each cylinder, case or box or each division or part has an opening and cover plate
or man-hole and cover or two or more such openings and covers to admit of gaining
access to the interior for the purposes of fixing, and replacing the tubes, and for
cleaning and examination of the cylinders, cases or boxes and tubes and for other
purposes. The tubes are preferably arranged in series, and each tube is curved
approximately to the arc of a circle, the ends being bent when necessary so as to
properly enter the holes into which they are to be fixed in the cylinders, cases, or
boxes. The longer series of pipes belonging to the front boxes may be arranged
to interlock with or be attached or fixed by a bridge piece or by ties to the similar
pipes of the back boxes, thereby forming a check to the draught in the centre of
the boiler and serving to disperse the products of combustion more or less towards
the sides, as well as to afford lateral support to the tubes.
A suitable fire grate or grates is or are arranged near the base of the generator
and fire doors are provided at the front or back or both front and back or at the
sides.
The furnace gases pass out through suitable flue openings in the sides or at the
top. Various outlets may be provided at different heights and these may be
opened or closed or used as desired for the purpose of regulating the temperatures.
At the upper end of the generator, or in some other suitable position I provide
a further system of tubes through which the steam passes before arriving at the
stop valve. These tubes may communicate with one or more stop valves. Suitable
mud receptacles are provided. These may be connected by a
generator above described is seen to consist of two or more sections or separate
pipe. The steam
generators connected together at the bottom and at the top.
In some cases
however the cylinders, cases or boxes on one side may be connected by the tubes
with those on one or more of the other sides.
I sometimes provide for passing the feed water through a cylinder or other
vessel, or a pipe or pipes which is in direct communication with the steam
generator. This vessel or pipe or pipes may be placed in a flue of the generator
or otherwise situated so as to be heated by the products of combustion from this
boiler or steam generator or from any other boiler or furnace.

page_text: The steam may also be passed through a coil or pipe in the aforesaid vessel or
pipes.
The water level of my improved steam generator may be varied very considerably
without inconvenience.
Dated this 27th day of May 1895.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in Steam Generators.
I, HUGH MCPHAIL of The Towers, Wakefield, in the County of York,
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 :-
This invention relates to tubular steam generators so constructed in sections or
compartments that the steam can very readily pass out of the water from which it
is generated into a chamber or section where it will be dried and superheated,
while any water carried through and issuing from the generating tubes along with
the steam can return to the water space of the generator without mingling with
the steam in a lower section or compartment of the generator. The said sections
or compartments have their steam and water spaces connected in such a manner
that the steam from each section can ascend directly into the drying or superheating
space without passing through the water of the other sections, and also that the
water separated from the steam rising from the several sections can return to the
water space by independent channels.
My improved steam generator comprises a number of generating tubes connected
at their upper and lower ends to a cylindrical or other case or box having if
necessary suitable strengthening partitions at intervals, or to a series of cylindrical
or other cases, or boxes placed one above the other and communicating with each
other through suitable pipe or other connections.
I sometimes provide one such case cr box or series of cases or boxes to form the
front, and another such case or box, or series of cases or boxes to form the back of
the generator, the sides being closed in by brickwork or the like, and at other
times I provide such a case or box or series of cases or boxes at the front and back
and sides, or at the sides only. Each case or box or each compartment of the
generator has an opening and cover plate or man-hole and door lid or plug or two
or more such openings and suitable closing arrangements therefor to admit of
gaining access to the interior for the purposes of fixing and replacing the tubes,
and for cleaning and examining the cases or boxes and tubes and for other purposes.
The tubes are preferably arranged in series, and each tube is curved approxunately
to the arc of a circle, its ends being bent where necessary so as to properly enter
the holes in the cases or boxes into which they are to be fixed. The said holes
may if desired be bored in an inclined direction in the cylinders or boxes in which
case the ends of the tubes do not require to be specially bent. The longer series
of tubes belonging to the front cases or boxes may be arranged to pass between and
in some cases to be attacbed or fixed by a bridge piece or by ties to the similar
tubes of the back cases or boxes, thereby forming a check to the draught in the
centre of the furnace space and serving to deflect the products of combustion more
or less towards the sides and amongst the tubes. The whole of the tubes of one
side may pass between those of the other side.
A suitable fire grate or grates is or are arranged near the base of the generator
and fire doors are provided at the front or back or both front and back or at the
sides of the furnace.

page_text: top of the enclosing walls. Several outlets may be provided at different heights
and these may be opened or closed or used as desired for the purpose of regulating
the temperature in the furnace and in the steam space of the generator.
At the upper end of the generator, or in some other suitable position I provide
a further system of tubes through which the steam passes before arriving at the
stop valve communicating with the main steam pipe and in which the steam is dried
or superheated.
Referring to the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a front elevation of a tubular steam generator constructed according
to my invention, the enclosing walls being removed.
Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same, and
Figure 3 is a sectional plan on the line a, a, Figure 2.
Figure 4 is a sectional elevation, and
Figure 5 is a plan of a modified form of my improved steam generator, and
Figure 6 is a sectional elevation, and
Figure 7 is a plan of apparatus connected with the generator as, and for the
purposes, hereinafter described.
Like letters of reference denote corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
A, A are the water-tubes of the generator; B B are boxes in Figures 1 to 3
and cylindrical casings in Figures 4 and to which the ends of the tubes A, A are
fixed. C is the furnace space; D, D are the fire-bars.
Referring to Figures 1 to 3 the boxes B, B are arranged vertically above each
other in two columns one column at the front and the other at the back of the
generator. Each column contains six boxes, but it is obvious that the number inay
be other than six. E, E' are connecting pipes between the boxes to allow of free
circulation of the water from one box to another. Two such pipes are provided
between each pair of adjacent boxes.
The tubes A, A are arranged in series as shown to connect the upper with the
lower boxes, the uppermost box being preferably connected to the lowermost box
by one series of tubes, and the second from the top with the second from the
bottom by another series, and so on. The tubes project into the furnace space and
preferably the longer tubes of the front of the generator pass between those of
the back and in some instances are tied or locked thereto by a bridge piece or
otherwise. When the tubes are tied they receive mutual lateral support and
stability is ensured.
F is a tubular superheater arranged in the upper part of the generator and
connected to the uppermost boxes B, B by pipes FI and to the stop valve G by a
pipe F. H is the main steam pipe. The superheater may be of any suitable
construction, that shown in the drawing being one consisting of four boxes con-
nected by small tubes through which the steam passes. In lieu of separate boxes
connected by tubes 1 sometimes employ a single box having partitions in it and
tubes communicating between the compartments of the box. J, J are mud drums
arranged beneath and communicating with the lowermost box of one column of
boxes and preferably vertically beneath the connecting pipes E, E¹ of the said
boxes. The said mud drums are connected by pipes J, J with the lowermost box
of the other column of boxes B. K, K are the blow-off pipes, and K' is the blow-off
cock. L is the feed pipe which communicates with the uppermost box B of each
column. Lis the feed valve; M. M are the safety valves; N is the pressure
gauge; and O, O are the water-gauges.
The generator is enclosed in brickwork or other suitable walls, in which is
arranged the fire door or doors and at a suitable height a flue opening or two or
more Hue openings for carrying off the products of combustion. The said openings
which may be at different heights are controlled by dampers by means of which
the temperature of the superheater and upper part of the generator can be
regulated as desired.
In order to return the water from the upper boxes to the lower ones through

page_text: separate channels I provide a series of downwardly extending concentric
pipes Q, QQ Figure 1 within the connecting pipes E' and having annular
spaces between them. The smallest pipe Q₁ is connected by its upper flanged end
to the bottom of the uppermost box and the next larger pipe Q is similarly
connected to the second box, and the third pipe Q to the third box, all three
pipes terminating within the fourth box, although they may if desired extend
below the fourth box or not so low.
Within the connecting pipes E I provide a similar but reversed arrangement of
concentric pipes adapted to direct the steam upward, or in lieu of such pipes I
provide a pipe or uptake P leading from each of the second, third and fourth boxes
and terminating at about the level of the middle of the first, second and third
boxes respectively. It will be observed that the flanges of the pipes Q'Q' and Q³
close the pipes E.
In the modification of my invention illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 the cylindrical
shells B, B are arranged with their axes vertical. One of the said shells is shown
divided into four compartments by means of three division plates R, R, R each of
which is perforated at the centre and furnished with a short upwardly extending
pipe P open at both ends as shown. Q, Q, Q* are concentric pipes secured to the
said plates R and extending downward into the lowest compartment of the shell.
These pipes have precisely the same function and operate in the same way as
the corresponding pipes described with reference to Figure 1.
In some instances I omit the partitions or division plates and the pipes connected
thereto.
In the other vertical shell I have shown a series of funnels or cones S, S arranged
one above the other, just below the upper ends of the several series of generating
tubes. Each cone has a short central downwardly extending pipe or neck S¹ and
in some instances has perforations S2 near the rim or periphery. A narrow annular
space is left between the rim of each cone and the shell B to allow the steam to
ascend freely up the sides of the shell. These cones may be supported by arms or
brackets attached to the shell B, and be so arranged that they can be lifted to
admit of gaining access to the ends of the generating tubes. The water separating
from the steam issuing from the ends of the generating tubes falls into the cones
and passes out through the central apertures and returns to the water space without
mingling with the steam issuing from the lower series of tubes. The steam ascends
around the outside of the cones between the cones and the shell B. The two
shells B, B are connected at the top by a pipe B' and at the bottom by pipes B, B³.
The superheater F is somewhat similar to that above described. It will be
observed that the ends of the tubes A and those of the superheater are bent as
required to properly enter the shells B, B. This generator is furnished with all
the accessories usual in steam generators.
When required for export I prefer to construct the shells B, B in sections
furnished with external flanges at their ends which can be bolted or riveted together
after arriving at their destination. This construction will be readily understood
without illustration.
In some instances the cylinders, cases or boxes on one side of the generator are
connected by the generating tubes with those on one or more of the other sides of
the generator instead of with those on the same side as shown in the drawings.
The water level of my improved steam generator may be varied very considerably
without risk or inconvenience.
I sometimes provide for passing the feed water through a cylinder or other
vessel, or a pipe or pipes which is in direct communication with the steam generator.
This vessel, or pipe or pipes may be placed in a flue of the generator or otherwise
so as to be heated by the products of combustion from the steam generator or from
any other boiler or furnace, or it may be heated solely by the steam and water
from the generator with which it is connected. This apparatus serves also to
purify the water before the latter enters the generator.
In Figures 6 and 71 have shown such a feed water heater and purifier to be

page_text: sed in connection with the steam generator. T is the shell of the heater and
urifier and T is the inlet pipe for the cold water, which pipe may if desired be
itted with a nozzle for spreading the water in a shower. L is the outlet pipe for
he heated water passing to the generator, the said pipe L being preferably
connected to the shell T at a point about midway between the ends of the
atter. T, Tare bent tubes extending through the heater and connected at their
ends to chambers or boxes T³, T³ fixed to the shell T at opposite sides thereof.
HH are branches of the main steam pipe connecting the latter pipe with the
chambers or boxes T3; H2, H* are stop valves in the said branch pipes H¹, H',
and H³ is a stop valve in the main steam pipe H between the ends of the branch
pipes, so that by adjusting the openings of the valve H2, H3, H³ the whole or a
portion of the steam can be passed through the pipes T in the heater and utilized
for heating the feed water to the desired temperature.
By these means also the temperature of the steam can be modified or regulate!
as may be desired before the same is utilized.
V is a pipe connecting the steam space of the generator with the upper part of
the feed water heater and purifier. It will thus be seen that the heater will
have a water space and a steam space like the generator, the water level being
substantially the same in both vessels, and that the heater will serve also as an
auxiliary steam generator. The water entering the heater through the pipe T¹
falls in a shower through the steam space of the heater into a conical receiver T',
and thence through a pipe T leading from the said receiver to near the bottom of
the heater. In its fall through the steam space, the water will be very rapidly
heated and will be subsequently further heated by contact with the tubes T. The
high temperature obtainable in this heater ensures the separation from the water
of the lime and magnesia salts held in solution and these will be precipitated in the
bottom of the heater and can be discharged when required through the blow-off
pipe T. By these means the generator is kept largely free from scale and will
work longer without cleaning and be more efficient and economical than would
otherwise be the case. The internal tubes T of the heater are also largely
protected from scale and deposit by the conical receiver T.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what
I claim is
1. A tubular steam generator so constructed in sections or compartments that
the steam from the generating tubes is free to rise into a drying and superheating
section while the water carried into the upper sections or compartments with the
steam coming from the generating tubes can return to the water space through
independent channels, substantially as and for the purpose described.
2. A steam generator consisting of a shell and generating tubes connected with
the shell at two points, and a tubular superheater also connected with the shell,
substantially as described.
3. A steam generator constructed with boxes or shells divided into compartments
by partitions, and with generating tubes connecting the said boxes or compartiments,
substantially as described.
4. The combination with such a steam generator of the concentric tubes or of
the concentric tubes and the tubes P substantially as, and for the purpose,
specified.
5. The combination with a steam generator such as that referred to in Claim 3
of a feed water heater and purifier or auxiliary generator connected with the steatn
and water spaces of the generator and fitted with internal steam heating pipes,
substantially as described and for the purpose specified.
6. A steam generator constructed substantially as described with reference to
Figures 1 to 3, or to Figures 4 and 5 with or without the feed water heater and
purifier constructed substantially as described with reference to Figures 6 and 7,
of the accompanying drawings.

page_text: 7. A steam generator constructed substantially as described with reference to
Figures 4 and 5 but having the shells B constructed in sections furnished with
external flanges at their extremities and connected by bolts or rivets, substantially
as described, and for the purpose specified.
Dated this 27th day of February 1896.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, Lendon, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.

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