AN IMPROVED STEAM BOILER
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Illingworth, of Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, Engineer, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED STEAM BOILER."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Illingworth at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd September 1870.
:
ROBERT ILLINGWORTH, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer.
"AN IMPROVED STEAM BOILER."
My improvement relates to an arrangement of cylindrical boilers or tubes placed
horizontally in tiers one above another, and connected to each other by vertical
tubes, conical or parallel, placed zig-zag in regard to one another, the furnace under
the lowest tier being arranged so that the products of combustion pass in a
transverse direction under the lower and over the upper surfaces of the tubes, and
become separated in their passage among the vertical tubes.
The circulation of the water I accomplish by placing in each vertical tube a
series of funnel-shaped pipes fitting into each other, but with an annular space
between each so that the circulation is not simply from the upper to the lower tier
of tubes, but from each and all the tiers alike
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Robert Illingworth in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 2nd March
1877.
ROBERT ILLINGWORTH, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer
"AN IMPROVED STEAM BOILER,"
The said improved steam boiler is made up of a number of boilers or tubes
A, B, C, placed horizontally in tiers one above another. One end of each tube is
supported by the wall, as shown, and the other ends are carried by an iron beam
Z, and each tube has a man-hole entrance from the side passage Q. Each tier of
boilers is connected to the one above or below it by a number of vertical tubes D,
[Price 4d.]

page_text: the said tubes being conical and placed alternately in regard to cach other, that is
to say, the tubes in connection with one boiler are placed opposite to the spaces not
occupied by tubes in connection with the next boiler of the same tier; for instance,
the tube marked D in Fig. 3 is placed opposite the space F between two tubes in
the next boiler, and by these means the products of coinbustion become separated
and absorbed. The furnace H is placed by preference under the lowest tier of
boilers, and each tier of boilers is divided from the tier above or below it by fire-
brick plates K, so that the spaces between the tiers may form flues M, N, O, Fig 1,
and the entrances and exits O, N, M, of the said flues are so placed that the
products of combustion must pass under the lower and over the upper surfaces of
the boilers in a transverse direction, as indicated by the arrows, and finally escape
to the chimney through the aperture a, Fig. 1. The vertical tubes D before-named
cross the flucs, and the alternate arrangement before named causes the products of
combustion in passing through the space between two vertical tubes to impinge on
the vertical tube in front.
The circulation of the water in the whole arrangement is accomplished by
placing in each vertical tube a number of conical or funnel-shaped pipes X
supported by wings Y cast to the pipes, which are placed one in another, as shown
in the Drawing, but leaving an annuler space between each, where they go one in
another, so that the cooler portions of the water may enter at each annuler space
(see arrows) as well as at the top of the series, and proceed in a downward direction
to the lowest tier, the more heated portions of the water of course ascending along
the sides of the vertical tubes.
By the above means the circulation of the water is not simply from the upper
tier to the lowest, but from each and all the tiers alike. W is a supplementary
boiler or tube connected to each tube of the bottom tier of boilers, and used for the
purpose of receiving the feed water previous to its circulation in the boilers, and
also as the receptacle of the deposit from the water, and is provided with a blow-
off valve, as shown. P is another supplementary tube connected to each tube of
the upper tier of boilers, and used as a receiver for steam.
The arrangement of boilers and tubes before named is furnished with the
necessary brickwork supports, furnace fittings, and apertures for cleaning.
I wish to remark that the boiler above described and shown in the accompanying
Drawing may be made with a larger or smaller number of tubes than shown placed
in two or more tiers, and the length and diameters varied as required, and in like
manner the size and number of vertical tubes may be increased or reduced. For
marine purposes, in place of the brickwork surrounding the boiler a water casing
can be used.
Having now described the nature and particulars of my Invention, and the
means for carrying the same into effect, I wish it to be understood that I do not
confine myself to the precise details shown and described, as they may be varied
without departing from the peculiar character of the Invention, but I claim as my
Invention,―
First. The novel and peculiar construction and arrangement of a steam boiler in
the manner described and shown in the annexed Drawings.
Second. The circulating pipe composed of a series of funnel-shaped pipes fitting
into each other, but with an annular space between each, so that the circulation
may not be simply from the top to the bottom of the pipe, but from different points
in its length.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Illingworth, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Second day of January, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-seven.