Improvements in Steam Generators.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Sept., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 8th June, 1896-Accepted, 11th July, 1896
Improvements in Steam Generators.
We, HENRY SHIELD, Engineer, and DAVID JAMES HOWELLS, Manager, both
of 17 York Street, Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has reference mainly to that class or type of steam generators
usually called "water-tube" boilers or steam generators, that is to say, the type
or class wherein the water to be evaporated passes through tubes subjected to the
action of the fire or fire gases, and the tubes being held in and connected to or in
a vessel or vessels acting as water vessels, or water and steam vessels.
Amongst others, the chief objects of this invention are those of the provision of
a steam generator of the class or type referred to, which shall be capable of raising
and producing steam rapidly, which shall be of small weight as a whole and
compact, and have a relatively light yet strong construction or nature, which shall
produce dry steam, which shall be capable of being made or supplied in sections
and different sizes or powers provided by the addition or multiplication of a
section or sections, and which shall have its parts accessible, and of simple
construction.
According to this invention, the tubes through which the water moves, and
constituting the main heating surface of the boiler, are in the form of loops, the
members of which are disposed vertically one over the other; and these loop-tubes
are held in horizontal water drunis, arranged one above the other, and at either
side of the generator; while the water tubes are used in multiple and in line
endwise, making the steam generator built of sections. The tubes are held by
fastening their ends in any known suitable way to or in the drums, as by expanding
them, and they are inclined, by preference, between the water vessels and the bends,
making vee shaped loop tubes with rounded bends. The water drums are disposed
opposite each other in the generator, and the tubes of one pair at one side may
overlap those of the other pair of druins at the other side; and each set of tubes
of the water vessel at one side, lie between sets of tubes on the other side of the
generator, so that considerable space in a horizontal direction, exists between the
successive sets of tubes. One effect of arranging the tubes in this wise, is, that
when one section is withdrawn, and a tube has to be taken out and another put in
its place, a suflicient space between the different sets of tubes is provided for ready
and easy withdrawal and introduction.
The water drums are made sufficiently large to enable a man to get inside, and
are provided with manholes at the end, and also at the outside, for gaining access
to them. By means of the outside manhole, or two or more manholes or covers,
as the case may be, provision is made for introducing tools from the outside, and
for working them upon the ends of the tubes in fastening and withdrawal.
In the case where several sets or sections of steam generators are arranged
together, one or more of these sections, consisting of upper and lower water drums,
with the bent tubes connecting them, can be readily withdrawn and placed back in
position, by breaking the different joints of pipes connecting them to other parts
or vessels. These horizontal water drums also are connected together vertically
And above
by vertical tubes, forming tube walls at the sides of the generator.
them again there is a water and steam vessel which is connected to the upper drums

page_text: by suitable pipes. This connection may be made by a single branch or branches
of large size (the joint of which can be easily broken when a section is to be taken
out) or by a number of small tubes fastened to one or both drums by nut and
screw joints.
The tube plates of the water drums in which the loop tube ends are secured, are
flattened, and would be disposed practically at right angles to the tubes; or, in
some cases, may be arranged vertically, in which case, the tube ends may be
slightly bent.
In some cases, in connection with the upper steam drum, and the lower side
water drams, we use at each end, or one end, comparatively large "downtake "
pipes, and below the lower water drums we arrange horizontal tubes connected
with the said "downta ke" pipes, and with the water drum by suitable pipes. By
these vertical and horizontal conduits or pipes, water passes down from the upper
steam drum to the side horizontal pipes, and thence to the lower side water
drum.
The generator can be fired from either or both ends; or, from the side or sides; a
sufficient space, in the latter case, being left between the floor and the lower water
drums. Outside the drums and parts described, a suitable casing would be
provided.
The fire gases, in action, would pass up over the bent tubes, and other heating
surface, and thence over the steam vessel out by a suitable chimney or outlet.
Although the invention has more particularly been described, so far, as a steam
generator comprised principally, in respect of its tubular heating surface, of a
plurality of sets or sections of bent tubes and water drums, yet, in some cases, a
steam generator having the arrangement and features of one of such sections, with
the other parts specified, can, if desired, under this invention, be employed and
used as a complete generator in itself.
Dated this 6th day of September 1895.
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON,
15 Water Street, Liverpool, Applicants' Patent Agents.
We HENRY SHIELD, Engineer, and DAVID JAMES HOWELLS, Manager, both
of 17 York Street, Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, 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 has reference, mainly, to that class or type of steam generators
usually called " water-tube boilers or steam generators, that is to say, the type
or class wherein the water to be evaporated passes through tubes subjected to the
action of the fire or fire gases, and the tubes being held in and connected to or in
a vessel or vessels acting as water vessels, or water and steam vessels.
Amongst others, the chief objects of this invention are those of the provision of
a steam generator of the class or type referred to, which shall be capable of raising
and producing steam rapidly, which shall be of small weight as a whole and
compact, and have a relatively light yet strong construction or nature, which shall
produce dry steam, which shall be capable of being made or supplied in sections
and different sizes or powers provided by the addition or multiplication of a
section or sections, and which shall have its parts accessible, and of simple
construction.
According to this invention, the tubes through which the water moves, and
constituting the main heating surface of the boiler, are in the form of loops, the

page_text: members of which are disposed vertically one over the other; and these loop-tubes
are held in horizontal water drums, arranged one above the other, and at either
side of the generator; while the water tubes are used in multiple and in line
end wise, making the steam generator built of sections. The tubes are held by
fastening their ends in any known suitable way to or in the drums, as by expanding
them, and they are inclined, by preference, between the water vessels and the bends,
making vee shaped loop tubes with rounded bends. The water drums are disposed
opposite each other in the generator.
The water drums are made sufficiently large to enable a man to get inside, and
are provided with manholes at the end, and also at the outside, for gaining access
to them. By means of the outside manhole, or two or more manholes or covers,
as the case may be, provision is made for introducing tools from the outside, and
for working them upon the ends of the tubes in fastening and withdrawal.
In the case where several sets or sections of steam generators are arranged
together, one or more of these sections, consisting of upper and lower water drums,
with the bent tubes connecting them, can be readily withdrawn and placed back in
position, by breaking the different joints of pipes connecting them to other parts
or vessels. These horizontal water drums also are connected together vertically
by vertical tubes, forming tube walls at the sides of the generator. And above
them again there is a water and steam vessel, which is connected to the upper
drums by suitable pipes. This connection may be made by a single branch or
branches of large size (the joint of which can be easily broken when a section is
to be taken out) or by a number of small tubes fastened to one or both drums by
nut and screw joints.
The tube plates of the water drums in which the loop tube ends are secured are
flattened, and would be disposed practically at right angles to the tubes; or, in
some cases, practically at right angles to the tubes; or, in some cases, may be
arranged vertically, in which case, the tube ends may be slightly bent.
"
In some cases, in connection with the upper steam drum, and the lower side
water drums, we use at each end, or one end, comparatively large
"downtake
pipes, and below the lower water drums we arrange horizontal tubes connected
with the said "downtake" pipes, and with the water drum, by suitable pipes. By
these vertical and horizontal conduits or pipes, water passes down from the
upper steam drum to the side horizontal pipes, and thence to the lower side water
drum.
The generator can be fired from either or both ends; or, from the side or sides ;
a sufficient space, in the latter case, being left between the floor and the lower
water drums. Outside the drums and parts described, a suitable casing would be
provided.
The fire gases, in action, would pass up over the bent tubes, and other heating
surface, and thence over the steam vessel out by a suitable chimney or outlet.
Although the invention has more particularly been described, so far, as a steam
generator comprised principally, in respect of its tubular heating surface, of a
plurality of sets or sections of bent tubes and water drums, yet, in some cases, a
steam generator having the arrangement and features of one of such sections, with
the other parts specified, can, if desired, under this invention, be employed and
used as a complete generator in itself.
In the drawings illustrating this invention
Figure 1 is a front elevation, partly in section, of our improvements applied as a
triple section steam generator fired from two sides; and Figure 2 is a cress section
at A A Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a cross section of a generator according to this invention, in which
a single set of tubes and water vessels are employed.
Referring in the first instance to Figures 1 and 2, a are the loop or U tubes,
arranged in rows one outside the other. bare respectively the lower and upper
horizontal water drums or cylinders in which the loop tubes a are held. are

page_text: drum c.
flattened parts of these water drums bb, constituting tube plates to the tubes a,
and to which they are disposed at right angles, as shewn in the drawings. c is a
steam drum common to the three sections of the generator, that is the three sets
of tubes and water drums; and d are pipes connecting the upper drum b with the
e are pipes connecting the lower part of the drum with the upper
part of the drum b. The drums and are provided with manholes aud
covers at each end as shewn, by means of which access is had to their interior
from the ends; and there are also, in some cases, other manholes 64 and hand
holes, provided on the front of the drums, by which access to the drums and
tube ends is had from the front of the generator, namely, for inspecting and
attending to same.
Along the sides of the generator, pipes are provided, by which feed water is
supplied to it, they being connected to the lower drums 6 by pipes ; and these
pipes, at each end of the generator are also connected to the steam drum e by the
vertical pipes, horizontal pipes, and vertical pipes j, these pipes serving the
double purpose of a means of conveying any water that may pass into that dran,
down to the pipes f, and also of acting as a support to the drum c.
The boiler shewn in Figures 1 and 2 is fired at either side by separate furnaces k,
between which is provided a wall or bridge of brickwork; and upon the upper
tubes of the lower half of the nests of tubes a, there are brick or fire tiles m, by
which the gases from the furnace are prevented from passing straight over and
between the tubes to the funnel, but are directed between the upper edge of the
bridge and the outer end of the tiles m; and then above the upperm ist row of
tubes there are other tiles n, which direct the gases back from the central part of
the generator, along the tubes into the space above. This space, as well as the
sides of the generator, are enclosed in a casing o, within which the steam drum
disposed.
is
In lieu of using a lot of small pipes d for connecting the upper drum 61 with the
steam drum c, a single branch pipe connected by flanges, as shewn in dotted line,
can be employed; in which case, any of the sections comprising upper and lower
drums and b, and the sets of tubes a and d connecting them together, can be
removed or taken out by merely breaking the joint of the said connections without
disturbing the other sections.
The furnaces in the example shewn are fired at the front, this being most
convenient in a generator of the size shewn, but in a generator of smaller dimensions,
consisting of say, one or two sections, as for instance in the case shewn in Figure 3,
the furnace may be fired from the sides.
In action, the circulation of water will take place upwards from the lower water
cylinder b, through the pipes a, into the upper cylinder &, where the steam would
be liberated; and the return flow of water to the lower drum will take place
through the pipes e. The steam liberated in b¹, flows by way of the pipes b into
the drum e; and in the cases in which such drum is placed within the casing of the
generator the steam therein will be dried, or slightly superheated.
In the modification shewn in Figure 3, a single section steam generator fired at
one side only is shewn. In this case, the bridge is carried up in the form of a
wall at the back, and the furnace gases pass from the space between the upper
tiles and upper drum 1 directly into the tunnel p. In this case also, the steam
drum c is placed directly above water cylinder or drum, and is connected with it
by a branch d. It is also supported at each end from the lower water tubes / by
a diagonal pipe i at each side. In this case, as above described, this generator is
fired as shewn from the front, but if desired it may be fired from the side.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. A water tube steam generator comprising upper and lower water drums or

page_text: cylinders bb, and return or U tubes a, having their ends connected to the lower
and upper drums respectively, and arranged in rows one within the other;
substantially as set forthi.
2. A water tube steam generator comprising upper and lower water drums or
cylinders b b¹, and return or U tubes having their ends connected to the lower and
upper drums respectively, and arranged in rows one within the other, a steam
drum c connected with the upper water drum, a furnace or furnaces, and fire tiles
or slabs m and n on the tubes a; substantially as set forth and shewn in the
drawings.
3. The water tube steam generator having its parts arranged, combined, and
adapted to operate particularly as set forth with reference to and shewn in
Figures 1 and 2; and in Figure 3, respectively, of the drawings.
Dated this 6th day of June 1896
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON,
15 Water Street, Liverpool, Applicants' Agents.