IMPROVEMENTS IN MULTI- TUBULAR STEAM BOILERS
Year: 1883

page_text: .
LETTERS PATENT to Edmund Edwards, of the firm of Edwards and Co:—,,
Patent Agents and Engineers, of 40, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MULTI-
TUBULAR STEAM BOILERS a communication to him from abroad by Jules
Jean Godot, of Paris, in the Republic of France
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edmund Edwards at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th. March 1883.
"
EDMUND EDWARDS, of the firm of Edwards and Co:-, Patent Agents and
Engineers, of 40, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex *" IMPROVEMENTS IN MULTI-TUBULAR STEAM BOILERS [A communi-
ation to him from abroad by Jules Jean Godot, of Paris, in the Republic of
France]
This invention relates to multitubular steam boilers, and has for its object
improvements in the construction of such boilers, so that they cannot explode, the
circulation of water takes place in independent divisions, separately removeable, so
that they can be readily replaced and cleaned, whilst the. boiler can be enlarged as
desired in any direction, can expand freely, and dry steam is produced from which
any accompanying water has been completely separated.
The improved boiler consists of a lower horizontal feed box or chamber across
the back end of the boiler into which box water is fed in the usual way.
i
Upon this box are fixed a number, which may be varied as desired, of vertical
distributing pipes or boxes provided with holes at their front and back; and
adjacent to each such distributor is arranged a corresponding vertical collecting
pipe or box provided with similar holes.
The corresponding holes in each pair of distributing and collecting boxes are
connected in pairs by inclined tubes of suitable length, diameter, and thickness,"
which form the body of the boiler, being arranged above the fire and each pair of
inclined tubes forming a separate evaporating couple, one tube starting upward
from the distributor and the other returning upward to the collector, and each pair

page_text: being connected together at the front of the boiler by means of a separate coupling
box or union having two openings in front and two at the back as in those first
described.
The holes at the back of the distributors and collectors as well as those at the
front of the coupling boxes just described are of such size that the tubes may be
withdrawn or replaced through them without interfering with any other part of
the boiler.
The holes are stopped by plugs which can be readily removed in order to clean
the tubes.
As each coupling box is entirely independent, and as the distributing and
collecting boxes are fixed at one end only, every part of the boiler can freely
expand.
At the junction of each return pipe with its collecting box, is arranged a
horizontal diaphragm having an opening through it proportioned to the volume of
vapour delivered, the separation of the water carried over by the steam being in
this way assisted.
The diaphragms are made moveable, and are retained in their place by pro-
jections upon the bolts which hold the closing plugs.
Any desired number of the distributors, the pairs of evaporating tubes, and the
collectors, may be used, the boiler therefore being capable of extension or enlarge-
ment in any direction and to any extent; one distributor, one collector, and the
evaporating tubes which unite them, forming each single element of the entire
apparatus.
The several collecting chambers are fixed at their upper part to a horizontal
receiver, of any convenient section, which separates the steam from the water and
is provided with baffle plates which prevent movement of the water brought over.
The separation is facilitated by making the receiver of large diameter and so
diminishing the speed of circulation of the steam in its passage across it.
Two pipes convey the steam from this separating receiver to a steam chamber
or reservoir, and the other tubes bring back to the feed-box any water set free in
the separating receiver.
The steam reservoir is provided with perforated partitions, by which the steam
is finally separated from any remaining water, which collects in the bottom of the
reservoir and passes back through two return tubes to the feed-box.
The steam from the reservoir may be superheated in the usual way before being
used.
The action of the boiler is as follows:-Water passes from the feed box to the
distributing chambers, being distributed through each pair of evaporating tubes
where it is partially vaporized..
The water and steam from each pair then return to the collector without
traversing any other pair, but passing through, the perforated diaphragms which
retain part of the water, and thence entering the separating receiver the baffle
plates in which detain nearly all the remaining water, which returns through the
pipes to the feed-box.
The nearly dry steam then passes into the steam reservoir the perforated
partitions in which detain the last traces of the water which returns to the feed
box through the pipes provided for the purpose which are connected with those
returning from the receiver to the feed-box as already described.
The steam before being used may pass through a super-heater constructed in a
similar manner, the distributing and collecting chambers being horizontal instead
of vertical.
The novel method of construction described may be used in boilers for generating
steam, or for heating feed water, or for a hot water heater, or a heat regenerator.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed.
by the said Edmund Edwards in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
7th September 1883.
EDMUND EDWARDS of the firm of Edwards and Co:-Patent Agents and
Engineers, of 40, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane in the County of
Middlesex "IMPROVEMENTS IN MULTI-TUBULAR STEAM BOILERS" (A communi-
cation to me from abroad by Jules Jean Godot, of Paris in the Republic of
France)
This invention relates to multi-tubular steam boilers, and has for its object
improvements in the construction of such boilers so that they cannot explode, the
circulation of water takes place in independent divisions, separately removeable, so
that they can be readily replaced and cleaned, whilst the boiler can be enlarged as
desired in any direction, can expand freely, and dry steam is obtained from which
any accompanying water has been completely separated.
"
The accompanying drawing is in illustration of the invention. Figure 1 is a
longitudinal section through the axis of a distributor B. Figure 2 is a back view,
with the covers removed. Figure 3 is a longitudinal section through a collector C.
Figure 4 is a front view showing the arrangement of the coupling boxes. Figure 5
is a plan of one evaporating couple.
The improved boiler consists of a horizontal feed box A. upon which are fixed
any desired number, which may be varied as desired, of distributors B provided
with holes at their front and back. Adjoining each distributor is arranged a
collector C provided with similar holes.
The corresponding holes in front of the distributors and' collectors are connected
in pairs by inclined tubes of suitable length, diameter, and thickness, each pair of
inclined tubes forming a separate evaporating couple, one tube starting upward
from the distributor and the other returning upward to the collector. -Each pair of
tubes is connected at the front of the boiler by a coupling box E having four
openings, two in front and two behind.
The holes T in the front of the distributors and collectors, as well as those N in
front of the coupling boxes, are of such size that the tubes can be withdrawn or
replaced through them without interfering with any other part of the boiler. The
holes are stopped by plugs which can be readily removed to clean the tubes.
As each coupling box is entirely independent, the distributors B and the
collectors C are held at only one end and every part of the boiler can freely
expand.
At the junction of each return pipe with its collecting box is arranged a
diaphragm J baving an opening K through it proportioned to the volume of steam
delivered. The separation of the water carried over by the steam is in this way
assisted.
The diaphragms are made moveable and are retained in their places by projections
upon the bolts which hold the closing plugs at the back of the collector.
Any desired number of the distributors, the pairs of evaporating tubes, and the
collectors, may be used, the boiler being capable, therefore, of extension or enlarge-
ment in any direction and to any extent, one distributor B, one collector C, and
the pair of evaporating tubes which unite them, forming each single element of the
entire apparatus.
The several collectors C are fixed at their upper part to a horizontal receiver D
of any convenient section, which separates the steam from the water which it
carries with it, and this separation is facilitated by making the receiver D of large
diameter and so diminishing the speed of circulation of the steam in its passage
through it.

page_text: One or two tubes H convey the steam from the separator D to a common steam
chamber or reservoir G, and one or two tubes R bring back to the feed box A any
water set free and retained in the separator. The steam reservoir G is provided
with perforated partitions M, by which the steam is finally separated from any
remaining water, which collects in the bottom of the reservoir G and passes back
to the feed box A through one or two tubes S, which join the return tubes R
descending from the separator D, a depositing vessel I being arranged between the
junction of the tubes R and S and the feed box, in which vessel the feed water
deposits any impurities which it may contain.
The steam from the reservoir G may be super-heated in the usual way before 1
being used.
The action of the boiler constructed and arranged as described and shewn is as
follows:-
Water passes from the feed box A to the distributor B whence it is distributed.
through each pair of evaporating tubes where it is partially vaporized. The water
and steam from each pair then return to the collector without traversing any other
pair, but passing through the perforated diaphragm which retains part of the
water, and thence entering the separator D which detains nearly all the remaining'
water.
n.j
This water returns through the pipes R to the feed box A. The nearly dry.
steam then passes by the tubes H to the reservoir G, the perforated partitions in
which detain the last traces of water which returns to the feed box A through the
tubes S which join the return tubes R.
The steam before being used may be passed through a super-heater constructed
like the evaporating couples described and shewn, but the distributor and collector
being arranged horizontally instead of vertically.
The novel method of construction described may be used in boilers for generating
steam, or for heating water for other purposes, or for a beat regenerator.
. Having now described the invention and the manner in which it is to be
performed, I claim :-
.
First in a multitubular boiler, the combination of the feed box, the distributors,
the pairs of evaporating tubes and coupling boxes, the collectors, the water
separators, and the steam reservoir, with or without the addition of superheating
apparatus, substantially as herein described and shewn,
Second, the method of arranging the evaporating couples so that the circulation
of the water and steam is divided, substantially as described and shewn.
Third, the method of composing the boiler of any desired number of separate
elements each consisting of a distributor, a corresponding evaporating couple, and
a collector, so that each such element is capable of expanding freely and the steam
generated in it passes directly to a separator without passing through any other
evaporating couple, substantially as described and shewn.
Fourth, the method of arranging the diaphragms in the collector at the ends of
the evaporating couples, substantially as and for the purpose described and
shewn.
Fifth, the arrangement of the two separate receivers for separating the water
from the steam, substantially as described and shewn.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edmund Edwards, have hereunto set my hand
and seal this 7th day of September in the year of our Lord 1883.