IMPROVEMENTS IN WATER-HEATING APPARATUS
Year: 1885

page_text: I, JAMES KEITH, of 57 Holborn Viaduct, London E.C. Gas, Hydraulic, Heating,
and Ventilating Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN WATER-HEATING APPARATUS," to be as follows:-
My present Invention is mainly a development of the improvements in hot
water boilers described in the Specification of Letters Patent granted to me
N° 2709 dated 3rd July 1879, and it consists of a novel organisation of parts, and
of improvements in details of construction embracing the application of a gas fire
in a boiler composed of a series of superposed sections, the arrangement of the
sections in such wise that their cross tubes are highly inclined in lieu of being
horizontal, and the combination with the series of sections, which of themselves
consist mainly of heating surfaces containing a small body of water, of a hot water
and steam cylinder or chamber holding a considerable supply of water, and adapted
for connection to hot water coils or similar apparatus in which hot water is
circulated for heating purposes or for supplying hot water or steam for baths or for
culinary or like purposes.
The general arrangement of the improved water heating apparatus is somewhat
similar to that of the sectional boilers illustrated in the Drawings accompanying
the Specification above mentioned. When a fire of solid fuel is employed, a
dumping fire-grate is used, and is loosely fixed in a metal base on which the whole
stands freely, and the fire chamber (which is entirely surrounded by a water
jacket) is deepened and forms the lowest sections of the boiler. These sections are
formed with vertical rows of corrugations surrounding the fire excepting at part
of the back where a fire brick is inserted in a recess provided for it and at the
front where the firing door and clinker door are fitted. In a modification in which
a gas fire replaces a fire of solid fuel, the fire-grate and the lowest section are
dispensed with, and instead a gas burner or burners are fitted of any well known
type, but preferably in the form of an annular pipe or pipes having slits or holes
in them through which the gas and air flows and burns. The annular gas burner
is fitted to slide in horizontally from the front, so that it may be withdrawn, and
when pushed home it is supported at the back by legs or supports formed on it
resting on a ledge or tray fitted into a metal supporting base, the burner in front
being held in position by a loose support from the same tray. An air space is left
underneath the said tray or false bottom of the base between the tray and the
lower feet of the base, so as to permit of the apparatus being set down and worked
safely on a wooden floor when gas is used for firing. The gas burners are lit from

page_text: the firing door in front, which when gas is used has a transparent pane of mica or
other suitable material fitted into the door so that the condition of the gas fire may
be readily observed.
The upper edges or bearing surfaces of the water jacketed fire chamber are inclined
from back to front, the extent of inclination being about equal to the depth of one
of the water sections above. These water sections are in like manner inclined
from back to front, but they form horizontal rows in front and at back. In other
respects they are somewhat similar to the sections of the hot water boilers described
in the specification already alluded to, being connected by cross tubes connecting
the front and back and which therefore are inclined. The sections communicate
with each other only at the four corners where vertical flanged tube-like orifices
are formed, the flanges being formed to the inside amongst the water and faced
up, and a layer of asbestos millboard or similar packing being fitted at the joint
when the sections are laid over each other in erecting the boiler.
Over the uppermost section is placed an enclosed water dome inclined from back
to front to fit the angle of the sections and the upper surface of the fire chamber
or lower sections, while the top of the dome section is perfectly level. The inclined
tubular sections and the dome piece and fire chamber or lower corrugated ring
sections are secured together by long bolts passing down at the four corners through
the water orifices or columns connecting the sections. A cleaning or soot door in
front is formed between the sections. In lieu of a simple dome however I prefer
to fit over the sections a long vertical cylinder or slightly tapered chamber through
the centre of which passes the chimney carrying off the products of combustion.
This cylinder is, for convenience of access to the binding bolts, divided into two
parts connected by a horizontal flanged joint which is faced and kept perfectly
level, the lower portion being inclined and formed to fit the upper inclined section
immediately below it, and having tubular orifices in it communicating with the
water sections below and fitted with seats for bridges which form the bearings for
the nuts of the binding bolts. Near the top of the cylinder inside, a dome-like
diaphragm is fitted extending from the shell of the cylinder to within a short
distance of the chimney tube, and leaving merely a narrow annular passage for the
upward and outward flow of the water round the tube in order that all the water
must flow over the diaphragm at this point, and that all the available heat may be
absorbed by the water. A steam space may also be formed round the top part of
the cylinder with an annular air space all round it. The outlet pipe for the water
is connected to the water cylinder on the upper side of the diaphragm and opens
directly to the atmosphere, and the inlet pipe for cold water is led in preferably at
the back immediately below the diaphragm, and is carried down through the water
in the cylinder to the lower side of the upper section forming the bottom of the
cylinder and the top of the heater, to promote circulation and partially to heat the
inflowing water and thus lessen the risk of injuring the sections of the boiler
which are directly exposed to the fire. When the improved apparatus is employed
for circulating hot water through water coils and the like, the inlet pipe may be
connected to the lower section and the outlet pipe to the water dome.
When used for generating steam at low pressure for cooking or heating purposes,
a steam cylinder with domed top takes the place of the aforesaid water cylinder
and diaphragm, the chimney flue going through it as before. This steam dome or
cylinder is fitted with safety valve, water and steam gauges and other attachments
for steam and feed water supply. Either water or steam cylinder may be jacketed
or formed with a double casing enclosing air.

page_text: Improvements in Waterheating Apparatus.
I, JAMES KEITH of 57 Holborn Viaduct in the City of London, Gas, Hydraulic,
Heating and Ventilating 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:—
My present invention is mainly a development of the improvements in hot
water boilers described in the Specification of Letters Patent granted to me
N° 2709 dated 3rd July 1879, and it consists of a novel organisation of parts, and
of improvements in details of construction embracing the application of a gas fire
in a boiler composed of a series of superposed sections, the construction of the
sections in such wise that their cross tubes are highly inclined in lieu of being
horizontal, and the combination with the series of sections, which of themselves
consist mainly of heating surfaces containing a small body of water, of a hot
water and steam cylinder or chamber holding a considerable supply of water and
adapted for connection to hot water coils or similar apparatus in which hot water
is circulated for heating purposes or for supplying hot water or steam for baths or
for culinary or like purposes.
In the accompanying drawings which illustrate my invention figures 1 and 2
are vertical sections at right angles to each other of a modification of my improved
water heating apparatus in which a gas fire is used, and figure 3 is a horizontal
section at the lines X - - - - - X, in figure 1. Figure 4 is a vertical section and
figure 5 is a front elevation of a modification of the water heater in which a fire
place for solid fuel replaces the gas fire of the first modification, and in which a
modified form of water and steam vessel is shown fitted in connection with the
heating apparatus, the steam vessel being also separately shown in figure 6 which
is a horizontal section at the line Y
Y in figure 5. Figure 7 is a vertical
section of an improved water heater or boiler of small size, figure 8 is a horizontal
section of the same at the line Z
Z in figure 7 and figures 9 and 10 are
-----
views of details hereinafter referred to.
The general arrangement of the improved water heating apparatus apart from
the water vessel on the top, is somewhat similar to that of the sectional boilers
illustrated in the drawings accompanying the Specification of my patent No 2709
of 1879 above mentioned.
Where a fire of solid fuel is employed as in the example shown in figures 4 to 8
a dumping fire grate A is used, and is loosely fixed in a metal base B on which
the whole apparatus rests, and the fire chamber, which is entirely surrounded by a
water jacket c is deepened and is formed by the two lowest sections C. C¹ of the
boiler. These sections are formed with rows of vertical corrugations surrounding
the fire excepting at part of the back where a firebrick D is inserted in a water
jacketed recess provided for it, and at the front where the firing door E and clinker
door E¹ are fitted. In the modification shown in figures 1, 2 and 3 in which a gas

page_text: fire replaces the fire of solid fuel the fire grate (A) and the lowest section (C) are
dispensed with, and a cluster of gas burners F of any well known type are
employed but by preference of the form shown in the drawings and fitted within
a modified form of the base B. The upper water sections C of the water heating
apparatus are of the same construction and are fitted in the same way, as herein-
after described, in the different modifications, the number of sections being
variable, and the water heaters or boilers H on the top of the sections being
interchangeable.
In the gas fire arrangement shown in figures 1, 2 and 3, the burners f, f1 of the
cluster forming the gas fire are screwed into annular tubes g, g¹ to which gas is
supplied by two separate pipes G, G¹, the one G, connected to the tube g, supplying
the inner circle of burners f, and the other G¹, connected to the tube gl supplying
the outer series of burners f¹, and the two pipes G, G¹, being provided with
separate cocks so that either series of burners or the whole may be used according
to the temperature required. The tubes supporting the burners are secured in a
front door plate B¹ of the metal base B and fitted to slide out or in on a ledge or
tray B2 and when pushed home as shown the burner arrangement is supported at
the back by fins or feet upon a flange of the tray or false bottom B³, and the
door B¹ closes air tight against the front of the base. An air space B³ is left
underneath and around the tray or false bottom of the base and from this space
the air enters through orifices b, through the central orifice B' and between and
around the tubes g, g¹, and partly enters the usual air holes in the burners f, f¹,
to burn with the gas while a portion passes up between the burners to supply the
necessary oxygen for effecting complete combustion at the top of the burners. The
gas burners may either be lit by means of a small pilot light burning at the end
of a gas pipe g², to which gas is constantly supplied or from the door E¹ which is
fitted with a pane of mica or other transparent material in order that the condition
of the gas fire may at any time be observed.
The upper edges or bearing surfaces c¹ of the water jacketed fire chamber are
inclined from back to front, the extent of inclination being preferably about equal
to the depth of one of the water sections C' above. These water sections are in
like manner inclined from back to front but their joints or meeting surfaces are
horizontal at front and back of the heated. In other respects they are similar to
the sections of the hot water boilers described in my earlier Specification above
referred to being formed with cross tubes c² connecting the front and back which
instead of being horizontal are inclined-The sections C communicate with each
other only at the four corners (or at other like points according to the configuration
of the sections in plan) where vertical flanged tube-like orifices C³ are formed, the
flanges c³ being on the inside amongst the water and being faced up. A layer of
asbestos millboard or similar packing may be fitted at the joint when the sections
are laid over each other in erecting the boiler. When the heating apparatus is
made as shown in figure 7 in the form of a boiler without a separate water or
steam vessel there is placed over the uppermost section C an enclosed water
dome I inclined at its lower face from back to front to fit the angle of the sections
and the upper surface of the fire chamber or lower sections, while the top of the
dome section I is perfectly level. The top or cover of the dome is rust jointed to
the lower part. The inclined tubular sections C₁ the dome piece I and the fire
chamber or lower corrugated ring sections C, C¹, are secured together by long
bolts J passing down at the four corners through the orifices or water columns
connecting the sections as shown particularly in figures 6, 8, 9, and 10. Cleaning
or soot doors K are fitted between the several sections C². Over the uppermost
tube section C2, is fitted a perforated distributing plate L, to prevent direct outflow
of the hot products of combustion of the solid or gaseous fuel.
In lieu of a simple dome I, in some cases fit over the sections C³, as shown in
figures 1 and 2 a long vertical cylinder or slightly tapered chamber H through
the centre of which passes the chimney M carrying off the products of combustion,

page_text: This cylinder is, for convenience of access to the binding bolts J, divided into two
parts H and H connected by a horizontal flanged joint h, which is faced and kept
perfectly level, the lower portion H³, being inclined and formed to fit the upper
inclined section C³, immediately below it, and having tubular orifices in it com-
municating with the water sections below and fitted with seats for bridges j, which
form the bearings for the nuts 1, of the binding bolts J as shown in figures 6 and 9.
Near the top and inside. of the cylinder H, a dome-like diaphragm N is fitted
extending from the shell of the cylinder to within a short distance of the chimney
tube M, and leaving merely a narrow annular passage n for the upward and
outward flow of the water round the tube M in order that all the water may be
forced to flow over the diaphragm at this point, and that all the available beat
may be absorbed by the water. A steam space O, is also formed round the top
part of the cylinder with an annular air space 01, all round it. The outlet pipe P,
for the water is connected to the water cylinder H on the upper side of the
diaphragm N in which a pocket N₁, is formed for draining into said pipes and it
opens directly to the atmosphere, while the inlet pipe Q for cold water is led in
preferably at the back immediately below the diaphragm N, and is carried down
through the water to the bottom of the cylinder H, or into the water columns of
the section at the back to promote circulation and to partially heat the inflowing
water and thus lessen the risk of injuring the sections of the boiler which are
directly exposed to the fire. When the improved apparatus is employed for
circulating hot water through water coils and the like, the inlet pipe Q1, may be
connected to the lower section C¹ and the outlet pipe P¹, to the water dome I, as
shown in figure 7.
When the apparatus is used for generating steam at low pressure for cooking or
heating purposes, a steam cylinder H³, H³, with domed top as shown in figures 4,
5 and 6 takes the place of the water cylinder H, the chimney flue M, going through
a stuffing box m in the top of the steam vessel. The steam dome or cylinder H³ is
fitted with a safety valve l, water gauge , steam pipe 12, and feed water supply
pipe and valve 13, the last being operated by a ball lever 1, by means of which the
normal water level is uniformly maintained. Either water or steam cylinder may
be jacketed or formed with a double casing enclosing air. The steam dome or
cylinder H2, may be fitted in connection with the water heater or boiler provided
with the gas fire arrangement while the hot water cylinder H may be connected
with the boiler provided with the fire chamber for burning solid fuel. When the
gas fire arrangement is used the regulation of the gas supply may be effected
automatically by any suitable apparatus acted on according to variations of the
pressure of the steam or of the temperature of the water.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1. The combination of parts constituting the improved water heating apparatus
herein described under the several modifications and with reference to the
drawings annexed.
2. The combination with a boiler or water heating apparatus composed of a
series of superposed sections, of a metal base having a gas fire arranged to heat up
said sectious substantially as herein described with reference to the drawings
annexed.
3. In water heating apparatus the improved heating sections with inclined cross
tubes constructed substantially as herein described with reference to the drawings
annexed.
4. A boiler or water heater composed of a fire chamber adapted for burning
gas or solid fuel, a series of superposed heating sections with inclined cross tubes
and a dome section arranged and combined, substantially as herein described with
reference to the drawings annexed.

page_text: 5. The combination with a boiler or heater consisting of a fire chamber or gas
fire base and a series of superposed heating sections of a water cylinder or a steam
dome substantially as herein described with reference to the drawings annexed.
6. The combination with a sectional boiler of the improved water heating vessel
or cylinder provided with a diaphragm between the hot water outlet and the cold 5
water inlet pipe the latter being carried down through the water in the cylinder,
substantially as herein described with reference to the drawings annexed.
Dan 11 1
1000