IMPROVE- MENTS IN STEAM BOILERS
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert. Readhead, of Gateshead-upon-Tyne, in
the County of Durham, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN STEAM BOILERS.”
"
Sealed the 1st December 1874, and dated the 4th June 1874.
"
t
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Readhead at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
4th June 1874.
I, ROBERT READHEAD, of Gateshead-upon-Tyne, in the County of
Durham, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM BOILERS," to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in improvements in steam boilers whereby the
steam is raised in them with greater rapidity and with a much less
quantity of fuel than heretofore.
Three or more tubes running parallel with the sides of the boiler are
placed therein in the water space, and connected with two pipes, one at
each end thereof.
When the steam has been raised as usual in a boiler fitted with this
apparatus, instead of being allowed to pass direct to the engine it passes

page_text: through one of the before-mentioned pipes, and thence through the
tubes into the pipe at the other end thereof, and which is connected to
the steam pipe of the engine connected with the boiler. By this means
the water contained in the boiler and which surrounds the "steam
tubes" absorbs any latent or waste heat contained in the steam passing
through the tubes, and becomes much more quickly heated and con-
verted into steam than it otherwise would have been, and thus effecting
considerable economy in the consumption of fuel in the furnace of the
boiler.
"
The pipes connected with the "steam tubes are provided with
suitable valves, so that should it be desirable to prevent the steam from
entering the tubes as in the case of an accident to the latter, they can
be closed and the steam passed direct to the engine as at present.
It will be readily understood that the "steam tubes and pipes
connected therewith can be applied to any description of boiler whether
tubular or otherwise.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Robert Readhead in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 3rd December 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ROBERT
READHEAD, of Gateshead-upon-Tyne, in the County of Durham,
Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fourth day of Junc, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the
thirty-seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said Robert Readhead, Her
special licence that I, the said Robert Readhead, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Robert
Readhead, 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

page_text: Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM BOILERS," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Robert Readhead, my executors 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 Robert Readhead, 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 Drawings
hereunto annexed and to the figures and letters marked thereon, that is
to say :-
My said Invention consists in improvements in steam boilers whereby
the steam is raised in them with greater rapidity and with a much less
quantity of fuel than heretofore.
According to my Invention I place a series of three or more tubes or
pipes in the water space of a boiler in such a position as to be parallel
with the sides of the same, and connect them with two pipes one at each
end, one of which pipes, which for reference I will call the "entrance
pipe," leads from the steam dome to conduct the steam to the before-
mentioned tubes, and the other or "exit pipe" to take the steam from
them through the steam space, and thence to the pipes connected with
the engine.
When steam has been raised as usual in a boiler constructed according.
to this Invention, it is admitted into the "entrance pipe" by means of
suitable valves, and passes thence through the tubes in the water space"
to the exit pipe, from which it passes to the steam pipe of the engine to
which the boiler is connected. By this means the water contained in
the boiler and which surrounds the "steam tubes" absorbs any latent or
waste heat contained in the steam passing through the tubes, and
becomes more quickly heated and converted into steam than it otherwise
would have been, the excessive cooling of the steam being prevented by
its passing through the "exit pipe" which runs through the steam space
of the boiler. A considerably economy in the consumption of fuel in
the furnace of the boiler and of time in getting up steam is thus
effected.

page_text: The entrance and exit pipes are provided with suitable valves for
regulating the entrance and exit of the steam, as will be well understood
by persons conversant with mechanical arrangements.
It will be readily understood that this Invention can be applied to any
description of boiler, and that the tubes and pipes may be constructed of
any suitable material.
I will now proceed to refer to the accompanying Drawings from
which the nature of my said Invention will be more clearly understood.
A is the boiler; B, the steam dome; C, C, the steam tubes in the
water space of the boiler; D, the entrance pipe for conducting the
steam from the steam dome B to the tubes C, C, and which is provided.
with a valve at d, and E the exit pipe through which the steam is con-
ducted from the tubes C, C, to the engine, and which is provided with
the stop valve e.
Having thus described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I would
observe in conclusion that what I consider novel and original and there-
fore claim as constituting the Invention secured to me by the herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent is, the employment of a number of
"steam" tubes running through the water space of a steam boiler in the
manner and for the purposes herein-before set forth and described or
any mere modifications thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Readhead, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this First day of December, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four.]
Witness,
R. S. MORDAUNT VAUGHAN,
Patent Agent,
Darlington.
ROBERT READHEAD. (L.S.)