IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR THE HEATING OF WATER AND OTHER LIQUID, APPLICABLE TO BATH AND OTHER PURPOSES.”
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Benjamin Waddy Maughan, of 41, Cheapside, in the
City of London, Gas Engineer, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR THE HEATING OF WATER AND OTHER LIQUID, APPLICABLE
TO BATH AND OTHER PURPOSES.”
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Benjamin Waddy Maughan
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd February 1881.
BENJAMIN WADDY MAUGHAN, of 41, Cheapside, in the City of London, Gas
Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR THE HEATING OF WATER AND
OTHER LIQUID, APPLICABLE TO BATH AND OTHER PURPOSES."
And consists in submitting the water or other liquid intended to be heated
simultaneously to the direct and indirect action of heat while in the condition of
streams or sheets, in the manner hereinafter described.
Wheras Letters Patent bearing date December 23rd, 1868 (No. 3917), were
granted to me for "Improvements in Apparatus for the Heating of Water and
other Liquids, Applicable to Bath and other Purposes," constructed and employed
substantially as set forth in my Specification, by exposing thinly divided sheets or
streams to the direct action of the heat applied, and wheras such mode or system,
which I hereinafter term the direct mode or system, has certain defects, viz., first,
the liability of the water under certain circumstances to become charged with
carbon; and
Secondly, the liability of the apparatus to become more or less deranged by the
heat in case of any accidental stoppage of the water or other liquid.
And wheras there is only one other mode or system of heating water or other
liquid, which said mode or system I hereinafter term the indirect mode or system,
and which said mode or system consists in enclosing the water or other liquid
intended to be heated in a container or containers of various constructions through
the substance or substances of which the heat is compelled to pass by conduction
or transmission before it can reach the water or other liquid; and
Wheras this system has also certain defects, viz., first, liability to explosion;

page_text: secondly, liability to derangement by the deposit of saline matters usually termed
fur; thirdly, frequent necessity for repairs and renewals; fourthly, slowness of
operation; and, fifthly, waste of fuel. I have therefore devised a mode by which
I unite the advantages and avoid the defects of both the aforesaid direct and
indirect modes or systems of heating water or other liquid by using at one and the
same time both the aforesaid modes or systems for the purpose of heating water or
other liquid in the manner hereinafter described.
The water or other liquid intended to be heated is conducted through a suitable
pipe, fitted if necessary with a regulating tap or valve, into the upper part of a
chamber or any equivalent receptacle which acts as the heating chamber. This
chamber may be conveniently made of metal or other material capable of sufficiently
resisting heat, and may be covered externally with a substance that is a non-conductor
of heat. The chamber is fitted internally with perforated or interstitial conduits
of a tubular or other formation, which I construct by preference of perforated metal
or woven wire of suitable meshes or interstices. The said tubular conduits may be
formed of any section of a suitable size. When the said conduits are not of tubular
formation I form them by preference of two sheets of perforated metal or woven wire
of suitable meshes or interstices, the said sheets being placed in juxtaposition or in
such a manner as to permit the water or other liquid to flow down or along the
space between them, and also to fill or nearly fill by its natural cohesion and adhesion
the said space. The said tubes or sheets may be placed at nearly any angle
between the perpendicular and the horizontal, and need not necessarily be straight,
but may be formed into concentric or nearly concentric cylinders, ovals, or other
forms. The said sheets may be either both perforated or both of an interstitial
formation, or one only. The said sheets need not necessarily be made of metal, as
any material having suitable meshes or interstices that will also endure the
necessary degree of heat may be employed. The aforesaid perforated or interstitial
conduits may be made to extend wholly or partially between the sides, or between
the top and bottom of the heating chamber. I also, if desirable, cause the water
or other liquid to flow or pass down the space between a perforated or interstitial
sheet of metal or other material placed in juxtaposition and conformable to the
inside of the heating chamber. The water or other liquid may be made to flow
through the perforated or interstitial conduits already described by causing it to
pass through narrow cuts or perforations made in the base or side of a vessel or
reservoir containing the water or other liquid; or any other convenient mode of
supplying and distributing the water or other liquid to the aforesaid perforated or
interstitial conduits may be employed for the purposes of my Invention. I cause
the liquid to be heated by submitting it while flowing in sheets or streams through
the perforated or interstitial conduits to the action of a current or currents of
heated air, or to the action of flame or fire introduced into the heating chamber
through which the water or other liquid is made to pass; the liquid is by this
means made to absorb direct heat through the perforations or interstices of the
conduits, and at the same time indirect heat by the conduction and transmission-of
heat through the substance of which the said conduits are composed.
The liability of the water under certain circumstances to become impregnated
with carbon is prevented by its adhesion to the outer surfaces of the conduits, and
the mode of construction and arrangement herein described also enables inaterials
of extra thickness to be used, thus rendering the apparatus more durable, and less
liable to derangement from the application of heat during the absence of the water
or other liquid. It will also be evident that as the water or other liquid does not
dwell in the conduits any longer than it takes in its passage through them, no
facility is afforded for saline matters to become deposited, whilst the perforated or
interstitial nature of the conduits render explosion impossible. Also that as every
advantage is taken, both directly and indirectly, to impart heat to the water or
other liquid the greatest rapidity of action is ensured, and by utilizing very nearly,
if not quite, all the heat generated, great economy of fuel is effected.
I prefer to use as a source of heat rows of gas jets or petroleum burners, or a

page_text: suitable furnace arranged in the heating chamber, between or below the conduits
herein before described, and such jets, burners, or furnaces, may be protected by a
plate of metal or other suitable material placed on each side, and by a similar plate
or shield fixed at a short distance above them for the purpose of intercepting and
diverting any of the liquid which might otherwise drop upon them. But any other
convenient mode of generating and applying the heat may be used, so as to cause
the heat to come in contact with the said conduits, and the water or other liquid
contained within them in the manner herein before described. In some cases it
may be found convenient to heat the currents of air before they are introduced
into the heating chamber, instead of employing the jets of flame or furnace in the
heating chamber itself.
The liquid when heated as above described flows into a trough or reservoir, in
which it is collected, from which it may be conveyed away for use for bath and
other purposes.
It will be obvious that the hereinbefore described conduits, as well as being of a
perforated or interstitial nature, may also be made with slots extending partly or
wholly from top to bottom, or may be made by wires, whether straight or otherwise,
arranged in the form of a tube, or may be made by a combined arrangement of
slots, perforations, or interstices of any suitable form; or the tubular conduits may
be of spiral formation, or any other suitable formation may be used which will so
situate or arrange the water or other liquid as to enable it to be heated by at one
and the same time direct and indirect heat, as herein before described.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Benjamin Waddy Maughan in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
30th July 1881.
BENJAMIN WADDY MAUGHAN, of 41, Cheapside, in the City of London, Gas
Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR THE HEATING OF WATER AND
OTHER LIQUID, APPLICABLE TO BATH AND OTHER PURPOSES.”
And consists in submitting the water or other liquid intended to be heated
simultaneously to the direct and indirect action of heat while in the condition of
streams or sheets, in the manner hereinafter described.
"
Whereas Letters Patent bearing date December 23rd, 1868 (No. 3917), were
granted to me for Improvements in Apparatus for the Heating of Water and
other Liquids, Applicable to Bath and other Purposes," constructed and employed
substantially as set forth in my Specification, by exposing thinly divided sheets
or streams to the direct action of heat applied. And whereas such mode or system,
which I hereinafter term the direct mode or system, has certain defects, viz., first,
the liability of the water under certain circumstances to become charged with
carbon; and, secondly, the liability of the apparatus to become more or less
deranged by the heat in case of any accidental stoppage of the water or other
liquid. And whereas there is only one other mode or system of heating water or
other liquid, which said mode or system I hereinafter term the indirect mode or
system, and which said mode or system consists in enclosing the water or other
liquid intended to be heated in a container or containers of various constructions,
through the substance or substances of which the heat is compelled to pass by
conduction or transmission before it can reach the water or other liquid. And
whereas this system has also certain defects, viz., first, liability to explosion ;
secondly, liability to derangement by the deposit of saline matters usually termed
fur; thirdly, frequent necessity for repairs and renewals; fourthly, slowness of
operation; and, fifthly, waste of fuel. I have therefore devised a mode by which
I unite the advantages and avoid the defects of both the aforesaid direct and
indirect modes or systems of heating water or other liquid, by using at one and
the same time both the aforesaid modes or systems for the purpose of heating
water or other liquid in the manner hereinafter described:
The water or other liquid intended to be heated is conducted through a suitable
pipe, fitted if necessary with a regulating tap or valve, into the upper part of a
chamber or any equivalent receptacle which acts as the heating chamber. This
chamber may be conveniently made of metal or other material capable of sufficiently
resisting heat, and may be covered externally with a substance that is a non-
conductor of heat. The chamber is fitted internally with perforated or interstitial
conduits of a tubular or other formation, which I construct by preference of
perforated metal or woven wire of suitable meshes or interstices. The said tubular
conduits may be formed of any section of a suitable size. When the said conduits
are not of tubular formation I form them by preference of two sheets of perforated
metal or woven wire of suitable meshes or interstices, the said sheets being placed
in juxtaposition or in such a manner as to permit the water or other liquid to flow
down or along the space between them, and also to fill or nearly fill by its natural
cohesion and adhesion the said space. The said tubes or sheets may be placed at
nearly any angle between the perpendicular and the horizontal, and need not
necessarily be straight, but may be formed into concentric or nearly concentric
cylinders, ovals, or other forms. The said sheets may be either both perforated
or both of an interstitial formation, or one only. The said sheets need not
necessarily be made of metal, as any material having suitable meshes or interstices

page_text: that will also endure the necessary degree of heat may be employed. The aforesaid
perforated or interstitial conduits may be made to extend wholly or partially
between the sides or between the top and bottom of the heating chamber.
I also if desirable cause the water to flow or pass down the space between a
perforated or interstitial sheet of metal or other material placed in juxtaposition,
and conformable to the inside of the heating chamber. The water may be made
to flow through the perforated or interstitial conduits already described by causing
it to pass through narrow cuts or perforations made in the base or side of a vessel
or reservoir containing the liquid, or any convenient mode of supplying and
distributing the water to the aforesaid perforated or interstitial conduits may be
employed for the purposes of my Invention.
I cause the water or other liquid to be heated by submitting it while flowing
in sheets or streams through the perforated or interstitial conduits to the action of
a current or currents of heated air, or to the action of flame or fire introduced into
the heating chamber through which the water or other liquid is made to pass. The
water or other liquid is by this means made to absorb direct heat through the per-
forations or interstices of the conduits, and at the same time indirect heat by the
conduction and transmission of heat through the substance of which the said
conduits are composed. The liability of the water under certain circumstances to
become impregnated with carbon is prevented by its adhesion to the outer surfaces
of the conduits, and the mode of construction and arrangement herein described also
enables materials of extra thickness to be used, thus rendering the apparatus more
durable and less liable to derangement from the application of heat during the
absence of the water or other liquid. It will also be evident that as the water or
other liquid does not dwell in the conduits any longer than it takes in its down-
ward passage through them, no facility is afforded for saline matters to become
deposited whilst the perforated or interstitial nature of the conduits render
explosion impossible. Also that as every advantage is taken, both directly and
indirectly, to impart heat to the water or other liquid, the greatest rapidity of
action is ensured, and by utilizing very nearly if not quite all the heat generated
great economy of fuel is effected.
It will be obvious that the hereinbefore described conduits, as well as being of a
perforated or interstitial nature, may also be made with slots extending partly or
wholly from top to bottom, or may be made by wires, whether straight or otherwise
arranged in the form of a tube, or may be made by a combined arrangement of
slots, perforations, or interstices of any suitable form, or the tubular conduits may
be of spiral formation, or any other suitable formation may be used which will so
situate or arrange the water or other liquid as to be enable it to be heated by at
one and the same time direct and indirect heat, as herein before described.
I prefer to use as a source of heat rows or gas jets, or petroleum burners, or a
suitable furnace arranged in the heating chamber between or below the conduits
herein before described, and such jets, burners, or furnaces may be protected by a
plate of metal or other suitable material placed on each side, and by a similar plate
or shield fixed at a short distance above them, for the purpose of intercepting and
diverting any of the liquid which might otherwise drop upon them. But any other
convenient mode of generating and applying the heat may be used so as to cause
the heat to come in contact with the said conduits, and the water or other liquid
contained within them in the manner herein before described.
In some cases it may be found convenient to heat the currents of air before they
are introduced into the heating chamber instead of employing the jets of flame or
furnace in the heating chamber itself.
The liquid when heated as above described flows into a trough or reservoir in
which it is collected, from which it may be conveyed away for use for bath and
other purposes.
Having now described my Invention and the manner in which it is to be
performed, I would have it understood that I do not confine myself to the precise
parts which I have described for my process of heating water or other liquid, as

page_text: the same may obviously be varied without departing substantially from my
Invention, but what I claim is the use of the improved apparatus constructed and
employed substantially as herein described, for the purpose of heating water or
other liquid by the combined direct and indirect action of the heat applied.
In witness whereof, I, the said Benjamin Waddy Maughan, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
BENJAMIN WADDY MAUGHAN, (L.S.)