IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM GENERATORS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Plant, of Altrincham, in the County of Cheste
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM GENERATORS."
Soaled the 20th August 1878, and dated the 15th May 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Plant at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 15th May 1878.
GEORGE PLANT, of Altrincham, in the County of Chester.
STEAM GENERATORS."
3%
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
My Invention relates in the first place to steam generators of the "Galloway"
type, having in each case furnace flues connected with an oval or flattened flue, or
with a flue broad as compared with its depth.
Previously to my Invention this broad flue has extended from the furnace, flues
to the rear end of the boiler.
According to my Invention I divide the said flue into a number of sections, each
section by preference containing one ring, that is to say, being in length equal to
about the width of the boiler plate employed. These sections are connected
together by means of comparatively short tubes having the same diameter as the
furnace fluos, or thereabouts, or having diameters suitable to the number employed.
Each section is provided with "Galloway tubes."
The connecting tubes may or may not be provided or formed with central
Galloway tubes or with side water pockets. The forms of the said "sections" as
regards their cross section may be such as previously employed, as for example,
they may be oval, or be of forms consisting of parts of circles joined by straight
lines, or by concave or convex, or of both concave and convex curves.
In some cases may provide the sections, or some of them, with parallel water
tubes of lesser diameter than the ordinary Galloway tubes.
A second part of my Invention relates to sectional boilers; each section consists
of a row of two or more vertical water chambers connected together. The said
water chambers may vary greatly in form; they may be formed of globular-shaped

page_text: parte, connected together by tubes of large diameter, or of conical tubes having
hemispherical ends, or of conically shaped tubes connected together, or of chambers
connected together by clusters of vertical or nearly vertical, parallel, or conical
water tubes.
In one arrangement two hemispherically-shaped vessels formed with flat tube
plates are connected together, by means of a cluster of water tubes, and two, three,
or more of these parts so formed are connected together to form a section. The
lower vessel is connected by means of a large conical tube with a short cylinder,
and the cylinders of the several parts are connected by cross tubes to form a
section. When a number of sections are arranged together the said short cylinders
are connected together, so as to form continuous cylinders in which the sediment
may deposit. These cylinders are sufficiently large in diameter to admit a man to
enter, and access can also be had through the connecting pipes or through man-
holes to the vessels in each section..
In all cases the several sections in a steam generator are connected together by
means of bottom cylinders or water chambers large enough to admit a man to
enter therein.
In some cases the parts of each section are also connected by upper cross tubes.
The several sections are also connected together by means of a cylinder or
of cylinders, forming a steam reservoir or steam reservoirs.
A third part of my Invention relates to vertical boilers.
In one arrangement the generator consists principally of two chambers connected
together by an annular cluster of water tubes. The top of the upper chamber and
the bottom of the lower chamber are nearly hemispherical. The bottom chamber
is connected with, a tube of a large diameter, and preferably of a conical form, in
which the sediment collects. The lower end of this tube may be connected with
a hemispherical or other shaped chamber provided with a man-hole. The upper
chamber is formed with a central flue. The generator is enclosed within a suitable
brick shell, and the fire-grate surrounds the bottom water tube. The heated gases
rise upwards and pass between the water tubes to the central flue.
In a modification of this arrangement a water space formed by an inner and
outer cylindrical shell is substituted for the brick shell, and is connected with the
upper chamber and with the lower water tube.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said George Plant in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 15th November
1878,
GEORGE PLANT, of Altrincham, in the County of Chester,
STEAM GENERATORS.”
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
My Invention relates in the first place to steam generators of the "Galloway"
type, having in each case furnace flues connected with an oval or flattened flue, or
with a flue broad as compared with its depth.
Previously to my Invention this broad flue has extended from the furnace, flues ⚫
to the rear ond of the boiler.
According to my Invention I divide the said flue into a number of sections, each
section by preference containing one ring, that is to say, being in length equal to
about the width of the boiler plate employed. These sections are connected
together by means of comparatively short tubes having the same diameter as the
furnace flues, or thereabouts, or having diameters suitable to the number
employed.
A second part of my Invention relates to sectional boilers. Each section consists
of a row of two or more vertical water chambers connected together. The said
water chambers may vary greatly in form. They may be formed of globular-shaped
parts, connected together by tubes of large diameter, or of conical tubes having
hemispherical ends, or of conically shaped tubes connected together, or of chambers
connected together by clusters of vertical, or nearly vertical, parallel, or conical
water tubes. In all cases the chambers in a section, or the sections in a steam
generator, are connected together by means of bottom cylinders or water chambers
large enough to admit a man to enter therein.
-
The several sections are also connected together by means of a cylinder or of cylin-
ders forming a steam reservoir or steam reservoirs.
A third part of my Invention relates to vertical boilers.
In one arrangement the generator consists principally of two chambers connected
together by an annular cluster of water tubes. The top of the upper chamber, and
the bottom of the lower chamber are hemispherical, or nearly hemispherical. The
bottom chamber is connected with a tube of a large diameter, and preferably of a
conical form, in which the sediment collects. The upper chamber is formed with a
central flue. The generator is enclosed within a suitable brick shell, and the fire-
grate surrounds the bottom water tube. In a modification of this, arrangement a
water space formned by an inner and an outer cylindrical shell is substituted for the
brick shell,
And in order that my Invention may be fully understood I have appended
hereunto two Sheets of Drawings made (with the exception of the last two Figs.) to
a scale of about one-third of an inch to the foot, and marked with letters of
reference.
Referring to Sheet 1 of the said Drawings, Fig. 1 represents a horizontal section,
and Fig. 2 a vertical cross section of a steam generator constructed in accordance
with the first part of my Invention.
In the said Figs. A, A, are the two furnace flues, and B, B, are the sections into
which the ordinary broad back flue is divided. These sections may be of any cross
section suitable to the "Galloway" type of boiler.
In Fig. 2, and in the four diagrams C, five suitable cross sectional forms are
indicated. Each section is provided with "Galloway" tubes, there being in the
example eight tubes in each section, but this number may be more or less than eight.
The several sections are connected together by means of short tubes or rings d, d,
which are secured to the sections in a similar manner to the furnace flues. In the
example the rings & correspond in diameter to the furnace flues, but it is not neces-

page_text: sary that the diameter should so correspond. Each ring d is provided with a Gallo-
way tube, as indicated.
Figs. 3 and 4 indicate some of the modifications which may be made.
In Fig. 3 the rings & are formed with water pockets in lieu of being provided
with water tubes.
In Fig. 4 each ring d is provided with two Galloway tubes. By increasing the
length of the ring more than two tubes may be applied. These tubes may be ver-
tical or inclined, as considered to be most suitable.
This Fig. also illustrates a further modification. The section B is fitted with a
nuniber of such water tubes as are employed in multitubular boilers: This arrange-
iment might be employed in all the sections, or in one or more of the sections. The
last rearward section in the boiler might be connected with the end of the boiler
by means of such rings as d, or by means of a larger number of fire- tubes of a
smaller diameter than tho said rings.
.
A further modification may be made by connecting the sections by means of 1
one central ring of a comparatively large diameter alternately with the two rings d.
In some cases the number of connecting rings between two sections, or of such rings
and furnace flues might be more than two.
The remaining Figs. in Sheet 1, and Figs. 13 and 14 in Sheet 2, are illustrative
of the second part of my Invention.
--Fig: 5 represents an end elevation, and Fig. 6 a front elevation of one section of a
sectional boiler: In this example the section consists of three pairs of globular
chambers 6, e. Each pair of chambers is connected by means of a tube f, and the
lower chamber is connected by means of a similar tube g with a ring or short tube h.
The three tubes are connected together by cross tubes i, i, and in some cases the
tubes g may be similarly connected together. The rings h are connected by means
of cross tubes j. To form a complete steam generator a number of these sections
are connected together by riveting or attaching together the tubes h so as to form
continuous cylinders, which are provided with man-holes.
•
My intention is that the tubes fand g, and the cylinder formed by connecting
the rings shall be sufficiently large in diameter to admit of being entered for
cleaning or repairs, as herein-before mentioned. To facilitate access to the upper
chambers they may be provided with man-holes if preferred.
In Figs. 7 and 8 the section consists of three taper chambers k formed with
hemispherical tops and connected together by means of cross tubes i, i. The lower a
ends of these chambers are attached to short rings h as in the previous example.
In Figs. 9 and 10 the section consists of six chambers L, l, which are connected
together in manner which is clearly indicated in the Drawings.
In all of these examples the rings h are supposed to be rings of boiler plate pre-
pared to be connected together by means of joint rings which would be riveted to
the meeting edges of two adjacent rings, but this method of connection may be
varied, and if considered to be more suitable, continuous cylinders may be formed
and the chambers be riveted in position thereon.
In Figs. 11 and 12 the section consists of three pairs of chambers m, each pair.
being connected together by means of a cluster of water tubes. The lower chamber
is connected by. a tube with the ring h. The said water tubes may be larger or
smaller in comparative diameter than indicated, and may be parallel or taper as
preferred. The upper.chamber in each pair is provided with a man-hole o, and the
mountings of these man-holes are connected together by means of branches p, the
cross water tubes j completing the connection.
4.
The connecting branches p may be dispensed with, or the upper chambers may
be otherwise connected together. In this example the rings h are flanched for con-
venience of connection. In all cases the several sections forining a generator are
suitably connected with a cylinder or with cylinders forming a steam reservoir or
treservoirs, and such cylinder or cylinders may aid in strengthening the connection
of the sections, or of the chambers, or not, as preferred..
Figs. 13 and 14 in Sheet 2 illustrate the manner in which six sections may be

page_text: combined together to form a steam generator. These Figs. also illustrate a variation
which may be made. in any of the previous examples. The chambers in each
section are connected together by means of a cylinder r, which is provided with a
suitable man-hole at 8. The cylinders of the sections are connected together by
means of water tubes t, t; the upper chambers are provided with man-holes at u, u,
and are connected by steam pipes v, v, with two steam cylinders or chambers D, D,
which are formed with man-holes in order that they may be entered when
desirable.
The method of connecting the sections with the cylinders D may be varied, and
they may be less or more than two such cylinders.
The positions of the man-holes, or the sections, and the forms of the sections and
other details may be varied so long as the general form and construction of the
chambers, the tubes or cylinders h and ?, and the connections therewith, large
enough to be entered are retained, also there may be less or more than three
rows of chambers in each section, and less or more than six sections in each
generator.
Figs. 15 and 16 are vertical sections which illustrate the remaining part of my
Invention. In Fig. 15 E is a chamber of a nearly hemispherical form, which is
formed with a tube plate and is connected by means of water tubes w with a lower
chamber F. The chamber F is connected by means of a taper tube a with a chamber
G, which in the example is nearly hemispherical in form. The chambers E and G
are formed with suitable man-holes, not represented in the Drawings, and the
chamber E is formed with a central flue or smoke stack y. The generator is
enclosed within a brickwork shell, and is provided with a fire-grate indicated at z.
The fire surrounds the tube x, and the heated gases rise upwards through the space
between the chamber F and the brickwork, and pass between the tubes w to the
flue y. The sediment tends to collect in the lower chamber G, whence it may be
discharged by the usual means, and when necessary, access may be had through
the man-hole to the interior of this chamber, and thence through the tube x to the
chamber F. The chamber G may be dispensed with, and the tube x may be formed
with a man-hole, and may also be extended downwards as in the next example,
illustrated by Fig. 16. In the last-named Figure the upper chamber E is pro-
portionately larger in diameter, and is connected with an outer shell a', and with
the tube plate is connected an inner shell 61, and between these two shells is a water
space. This water space is connected with the sediment tube x by means of water
tubes c. A fire-door is formed in the shells, and the fire surrounds the upper.
part of the tube x as in the previous example, the important differences being that
the brickwork is dispensed with, the generator is made more complete, and the
heating surface is increased.
Having now fully set forth and indicated the nature of my said Invention, and
methods whereby the same may be carried into effect, I would have it to be under-
stood in conclusion that I claim,--
First. The steam generator, constructed substantially as set forth and indicated
when describing the first part of my Invention.
Secondly. The sections B fitted with "Galloway" or other water tubes, and formed
and connected together substantially as set forth and indicated herein-before, and in
and by the accompanying Drawings.
Thirdly. The sections, to be connected together to form a sectional boiler of the
forms and construction substantially as set forth and indicated when describing the
second part of my Invention.
Fourthly. The sections consisting of chambers or steam generating units con-
nected together and to bottom cylinders which can be entered, the connections of
the said units with the said cylinders being comparatively large, substantially as and
for the purposes set forth and indicated.
Fifthly. The steam generator, substantially as set forth and indicated with
reference to Figs. 13 and 14 of the accompanying Drawings.

page_text: And, lastly. The steam generators, formed and arranged substantially as set forth
and indicated when describing the last part of my Invention.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Plant, havo hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Thirteenth day of November, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
Signed and scaled by the said George
Plant in the presence of
EDWARD K. DUTTON,
Agent to the Patentee,
St. Ann's Churchyard,
Manchester.
GEORGE PLANT. (L.S.)