IMPROVEMENTS IN HEATING WATER OR OTHER FLUIDS, AND IN GENERATING STEAM THEREFROM
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Hermann Hirsch, Civil Engineer, of 25, Craven Street,
"
Strand, London, W.C., for the Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN HEATING
WATER OR OTHER FLUIDS, AND IN GENERATING STEAM THEREFROM."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION loft by the said Hermann Hirsch at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 18th September 1876.
"
HERMANN HIRSCH, Civil Engineer, of 25, Craven Street, Strand, London, W.C
'IMPROVEMENTS IN HEATING WATER OR OTHER FLUIDS, AND IN GENERATING STEAM
THEREFROM.
"
My Invention consists in immerging to any convenient extent in the fluid
intended to be heated or to be converted into steam solid particules of any suitable
material, size, or shape (preferring metallic or vitreous substances of globular form),
so as to divide or to break up the fluid mass in numerous and greatly extenuated
layers or films surrounding the immersed solid particules, and thereby allowing the
heat to act upon the so extenuated fluid with increased efficiency by easier over-
coming its molecular resistance. In this manner I render the heating or steam
generating process more energical and more economical than hitherto.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Hermann Hirsch in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 17th March
1877.
5.
HERMANN HIRSCH, Civil Engineer, of 25, Craven Street, Strand, London, W.C.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN HEATING WATER OR OTHER FLUIDS, AND IN GENERATING STEAM
THEREFROM."
My Invention consists in immersing to any convenient extent in the liquid
intended to be heated or to be converted into steam solid or hollow particles of
glass or other vitreous material, or bodies of other material coated with glass or
other vitreous or non-oxidizing covering, and of globular or approximately globular
form, which divide or separate the liquid mass into numerous and greatly attenuated
[Prins 21

page_text: layers or films surrounding the immersed particles, thereby allowing the heat to act
upon the so attenuated fluid with increased efficiency by overcoming its molecular
resistance more easily, and causing a more rapid giving off of steam. The globules
of vitreous or other material may have a hole perforated through each of them in
the manner of ordinary glass beads. In the aforesaid manner I render the heating
or steam generating process more energetic and more economical than hitherto.
In carrying out my Invention any boiler or steam generator may be used without
requiring alteration in shape or design. I fill or partially fill the boiler or steam
generator with the globular vitreous particles, by preference up to within a short
distance of the water level. The size of the globular vitreous particles may vary
considerably with the particular construction of boiler with which they are used.
For those steam boilers in which there are small water tubes or water spaces the
globules may be of small dimensions, say about 1/10th or 1/8th of an inch diameter;
but for boilers where the water tubes or spaces are larger, or where there is likely
to be much deposit from the water evaporated, I prefer to use globules of larger
dimensions.
In the Drawings annexed I have shown two examples of steam boilers merely as
illustrations partially filled with globules of glass or vitreous material.
The boiler shown in section at Figure 1 is an ordinary marine boiler. The
Drawing shows this boiler filled to within a short distance of the water level with
globules of glass or vitreous material.
The boiler shown in section at Figure 2 is an ordinary Cornish boiler with
conical tubes across the internal flue. This boiler is shown to be similarly filled
with globules of glass or vitreous material up to within a short distance of the
water level.
Although in the Drawings I have only shown my Invention as applied to boilers
for generating steam it is also applicable to other boilers.
In some cases the globules or particles may be placed within envelopes inserted
into the boiler.
The water or liquid to be heated is supplied to the boilers as heretofore, and will
at once find its way through the numerous channels fornied by the interstices of the
globules, and thus becomes split up into attenuated layers or films.
Among the numerous advantages to be gained by the introduction of my Inven-
tion are,-
First. The more speedy generating of steam to any desired pressure than has
hitherto been obtained, and the maintenance of such pressure with considerably less
fuel than has previously been necessary.
Second. The effectual and most complete circulation of the water or liquid to be
heated through the existance of an infinite number of continuous interstices or
circulating channels produced by the introduction of the said globular particles,
such interstices necessarily increasing in length or extent according to the number
of globules or particles introduced, the globules also being of glass or vitreous
material, and displacing an equal volume of water or liquid, do not add greatly to
the weight of the boiler when filled.
Third. The preservation of boiler plates, tubes, and stays from incrustation owing
to the enormous increase of surface exposed for the reception of deposit, besides
which the splitting up of the liquid into attenuated layers causes such a constant
action to be kept up in every portion of the vessel that the plating or walls have no
opportunity of collecting the deposit, and I consequently overcome a constant source
of annoyance and danger, and likewise extend the life of the boiler, utilizing to the
fullest extent the expenditure upon fuel where otherwise deposit or scale (when it
gathers in large quantities) renders such expenditure wastful."
Fourth. The prevention of any sudden inrush of cold feed water to the furnace
plates, as the globular or other particles form a perfect filter, and thereby provide a
means for gradual admission, imparting the heat which they retain for a considerable
time to the feed water during its passage through their interstices, and where feed
water is previously warmed, its temperature becomes still higher. I hereby provide

page_text: against the liability to collapse by preventing the sudden cooling of the furnace
plates by the introduction of the feed.
Fifth. The great length of time a boiler or steam generator can be used without
requiring cleaning owing to the greatly increased area of surface produced by the
introduction of the numerous particles exposed to the settlement of floating accumu-
lation, and even when cleaning becomes necessary it is confined almost entirely to
the aforesaid particles or globules, which can be run out and cleaned in such an easy
manner as only glass or vitreous substance or substances having a non-oxidizing
covering can be cleaned.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention and the manner of performing
the same, I would have it understood that I claim as my improvements in heating
water or other fluids, and in generating steam therefrom,--
First. The filling or partially filling of any boiler or steam generator for boiling
or evaporating liquids with solid or hollow bodies or particles of glass or vitreous
substances, as herein described.
Second. The filling or partially filling of any boiler or steam generator for boiling
or evaporating liquids with globular or approximately globular or bead-shaped par-
ticles of glass or vitreous material, or other globular or approximately globular or
bead-shaped bodies coated with glass or vitreous material or other non-oxidizing and
non-soluble covering, as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Hermann Hirsch, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Sixteenth day of March, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-seven.
HERMANN HIRSCH. (L.S.)