IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO STEAM BOILERS
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Bingley McFarlane, of 21, Sackville St.,
Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, for the Invention of
Sealed the 31st August 1875, and dated the 12th June 1875.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Bingley
McFarlane at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
his Petition, on the 12th June 1875.
I, HENRY BINGLEY MCFARLANE, of 21, Sackville St., Liverpool, in
the County of Lancaster, do hereby declare the nature of tho said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO STEAM BOILERS," to be
as follows:
-
The object of this Invention is,―
Firstly. To increase the heating surface and improve the circulation of
water in that class of boilers known as vertical cylindrical boilers.
And, Secondly. To facilitate the manipulation of and improve the
circulation of water in boilers of large size and when employed on board
ships, and also to add to the safety and durability of such boilers.

page_text: To accomplish this object I construct a vertical cylindrical boiler
having a central furnace surrounded by a water space, but
below
open
the fire-bars, and having also an opening preferably in the centre of the
crown for the escape of the gaseous products of combustion. Surround-
ing this opening I place a series of water tubes, preferably three rows,
descending nearly vertically to a cylindrical or other chamber preferably
in the centre of the furnace, with its axis vertical, and having its top as
nearly as possible on a level with its junctions with the water tubes. I
also connect this chamber by pipes with the lowest part of the vertical
water space of the boiler except in the case of the compound arrange-
ment described hereafter in Part Two, the chief points aimed in the
arrangement being a constant circulation of water through every part
of the boiler and a thorough system of extraction of heat from the
effluent gases by causing them to circulate round and between the pipes
before escaping through the fire-tubo or tubes into the chimney. Of
course the inverse of this plan can be adopted, namely, putting the
furnace or admitting the gascous products of combustion into the centre
of the group of water tubes and placing the exit passage or a ring of
fire-tubes outside the said group of water tubes, and substantially the
same result will be obtained. Above the tube openings in the crown
plate I usually place a perforated baffle plate to prevent priming. It is
attached to the uptake.
2nd. In larger boilers I combine two or more of these vertical boilers
altered to suit the circumstances, with a horizontal boiler, preferably
cylindrical, placed below them. In this case the fire-grate is placed in
a cylindrical fluc traversing the horizontal boiler like that of a single
flued Cornish boiler. Sometimes there are two furnaces, one at each end,
and a water space diaphragm in the centre dividing the flue into two.
At other times there is a fire-door and frame of any usual construction
at one end, while the other end is entirely closed by a water space. The
vertical boilers are arranged on scatings on the top of the horizontal
cylindrical boiler and the base of the central chamber (or omitting this
chamber altogether) the tubes of the vertical boiler descend into the
shell of the horizontal one. Two or more flame tubes carry the flames
and products of combustion from the furnace through the water space
of the horizontal boiler into the tube chambers of the vertical boilers in
such manner that the gases must circulate round and pass between the
water tubes before they can escape through the uptake or chimney hole.

page_text: The bottoms of the vertical boilers are connected with the bottom of the
horizontal boiler by pipes so as to complete the circle through every
part, the water and steam passing from the horizontal boiler up the
water tubes, over the crown plate, down the sides of the vertical boiler,
and thence, by means of the pipes, to the bottom of the horizontal
boiler to recommence the round.
Sometimes, especially on board ship, I support the vertical boilers on
beams arranged in any convenient manner, and extending across on
each side above the horizontal boiler so that the latter can be withdrawn
from under the vertical ones after disconnecting it from the tubes or
central water chamber whenever desirable for repair. The vertical
boilers can also be thus separately removed. For greater convenience in
effecting this operation I usually place a flange of brass or other durable
metal under the vertical boiler bottom and fit a similar flange or seating
to the horizontal boiler; the two are then bolted together.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent
filed by the said Henry Bingley McFarlane in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 11th December 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRY
BINGLEY MCFARLANE, of 21, Sackville Street, Liverpool, in the County
of Lancaster, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twelfth day of June, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in the
thirty-eighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said Henry Bingley McFarlane, Her
special licence that I, the said Henry Bingley M'Farlane, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Henry Bingley
McFarlane, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for

page_text: "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO STEAM BOILERS," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Henry Bingley M°Farlane, my exe-
cutors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or
their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great
Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Henry Bingley McFarlane, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawings and to the figures and letters of reference marked thereon:-
The object of this Invention is-
First. To increase the heating surface and improve the circulation of 1
water in that class of boilers known as vertical cylindrical boilers.
And, Secondly. To facilitate the manipulation of and improve the
circulation of water in boilers of large size, and when employed on board
ships, and also to add to the safety and durability of such boilers.
To accomplish this object I construct a vertical cylindrical boiler A,
Fig. 1, having a central furnace K. surrounded by a water space B, but
open below the fire-bars C, and having also an opening D, preferably in
the centre of the crown, for the escape of the gaseous products of com-
bustion. Surrounding this opening I place a series of water tubes E,
preferably three rows, descending nearly vertically to, and their lower a
ends bent inwards and fixed into the sides of a cylindrical or other
chamber H, preferably in the centre of the furnace, with its axis vertical,
and having its top as nearly as possible on a level with its junction with
the upper tier of pipes E. The sides of this chamber I also connect by
pipes J below the fire-grate with the lowest part of the vertical water
space B except in the case of the compound arrangement described
hereafter in Part 2, the chief points to aim at in the arrangement being
a constant circulation of water through every part of the boiler and a
thorough system of extraction of heat from the effluent gases by causing
them to circulate round and between the pipes before escaping through
the main fire-tube into the chimney. For convenience of access the
ends of the central water chamber may be closed with manhole doors.

page_text: Of course the inverse of this plan can be adopted instead, namely,
admit the gaseous products of combustion from a blast or other furnace
into the centre of the group of water tubes and have the exit passages
or ring of fire-tubes outside the said water tubes, and substantially the
same result will be obtained, but is not so convenient.
2nd. In larger boilers, Fig. 3, I combine two or more of these vertical
boilers A, A, (altered to suit the circumstances) with a horizontal boiler
M, preferably cylindrical, placed below them. In this case the fire-grate
C is placed in a cylindrical flue or flues G traversing the horizontal
boiler M, like that of a single or double flued Cornish boiler. Some-
times there are two furnaces G, one at each end, and a water space
diaphragm in the centre dividing the flue into two. At other times
there is a fire-door and frame of any usual construction at one end,
while the other end is entirely closed by a water space. The vertical
boilers are arranged on seatings on the top of the horizontal cylin-
drical boiler M and the base of the central chamber (or omitting this
chamber altogether) the tubes of the vertical boiler descend into the
shell of the horizontal one. Two or more flame tubes L carry the flame
and products of combustion from the furnace G through the water space
of the horizontal boiler M into the tube chambers K of the vertical
boilers A in such manner that the gases must circulate round and pass
between the water tubes before they can escape through the uptake or
chimney hole D. The bottoms of the vertical boilers A are connected
with the bottom of the horizontal boiler M by external water circulating
pipes I so as to complete the circle through every part, the water and
steam passing from the horizontal boiler M up the water tubes E, over
the crown plate, down the sides B of the vertical boiler A, and thence,
by means of the pipes I, to the bottom of the horizontal boiler M to
recommence the round.
Sometimes, especially on ship board, I support the vertical boilers A
on beams arranged in any convenient manner, and extending across on
each side above the horizontal boiler so that the latter can be withdrawn
from under the vertical ones after disconnecting it from the tubes or
central water chamber whenever desirable for repair. The vertical

page_text: flange or seating to the horizontal boiler; the two are then bolted
together.
Having now particularly described my Invention, and the manner of
carrying it into effect, I claim as my Invention,-
1st. Placing vertical water tubes in the combustion chamber of the
vertical boiler from the crown or upper portion to a water chamber
connected with the shell of the boiler by water tubes below the
furnace.
2nd. Arranging such vertical water tubes that the products of
combustion shall have to pass between them before they can escape up
the fire-tubes or chimney.
3rd. The combination of separate and distinct vertical cylindrical
chambers containing water tubes, with a horizontal cylindrical boiler
placed vertically beneath them containing the furnace tube or tubes.
4th. Supporting the vertical chambers containing the tubes above and
independently of the horizontal boiler upon beams or pillars for the
purposes described.
5th. The general arrangement of steam boilers, substantially as
described in the foregoing Specification or any mere modification
thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Bingley McFarlane, have
set my hand and scal, this Ninth day of December, in the year
of our Lord 1875.
H. B. MCFARLANE. (L.S.)
Witness,
R. M. EVANS,
Clerk in the Office of W. P. Thompson,
Patent Agent,
6, Lord Street,
Liverpool.