IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND SETTING OF STEAM BOILERS FOR ECONOMIZING FUEL. AND FOR RENDERING THE SAME APPLICABLE NOT ONLY TO THE GENERATION OF STEAM. BUT ALSO TO VENTILATION. THE DISTILLATION OF WATER FOR SHIPS' USE, AND THE DISTRIBUTION OF HEAT FOR GENERAL PURPOSES." PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Matthew Atkinson, of Wandsworth, in the County
of Surrey, Engincer, and Benjamin Ridge, of Putney, in said County
of Surrey, Doctor of Medicine, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND SETTING OF STEAM BOILERS FOR ECONOMIZING FUEL.
AND FOR RENDERING THE SAME APPLICABLE NOT ONLY TO THE GENERATION
OF STEAM. BUT ALSO TO VENTILATION. THE DISTILLATION OF WATER FOR SHIPS'
USE, AND THE DISTRIBUTION OF HEAT FOR GENERAL PURPOSES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Matthew Atkinson and
Benjamin Ridge at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
their Petition, on the 27th September 1855.
We, MATTHEW ATKINSON, of Wandsworth, in the County of Surrey,
Engineer, and BENJAMIN RIDGE, of Putney, in said County of Surrey,
Doctor of Medicine, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND SEITING OF STEAM BOILERS FOR ECONOMIZ
ING FUEL, AND FOR RENDERING THE SAME APPLICABLE NOT ONLY TO THE GENERATION
OF STEAM, BUT ALSO TO VENTILATION, THE DISTILLATION OF WATER FOR SHIPS USE,
AND THE DISTRIBUTION OF HEAT FOR GENERAL PURPOSES," to be as follows:-
The principal features of novelty of these improvements consist, firstly,
in so constructing a boiler, as that it shall expose a considerably larger
amount of heating surface to the action of the heat from the fire in a
given space than boilers as heretofore constructed and employed for the
generation of steam; secondly, in dispensing with the necessity for a
long shaft or chimney, as by these improvements the shaft does not

page_text: generally require to exceed twelve feet in height; thirdly, in a novel
and improved mode of "setting" or combining the fire bars with the
boiler, by which the necessity for "banking" the fire is dispensed with,
and the cooling of the boiler prevented, or at least sufficiently protracted
to admit of the fire being put out instead of "banked," as heretofore;
fourthly, in so constructing and arranging the boiler with respect to the
setting thereof, as that the external atmospheric air is conducted by
suitable conduits into and through the boiler, and becoming heated,
passes off in the form of heated oxygen, free from carbon, and conse-
quently well adapted for the purposes of ventilation; fifthly, in simpli-
fying the construction of the boiler, and thereby lessening the cost
thereof.
The nature of these improvements will, however, be better understood
by the following description of the means by which they may be effected,
that is to say-In constructing a boiler adapted to the above purposes,
we form the same of four principal parts, namely, a hollow bed plate
carrying a circular fire grate capable of oscillating for discharging the
contents thereon, a conical-shaped hollow vessel, having an annular
water space therein with an enlarged opening at the base thereof, which
encompasses the fire grate, the apex of the inner cone terminating in the
form of an inverted conical-shaped tube or chimney, the throat whereof
is contracted at a suitable distance from the surface of the fire bars.
The upper part of the aforesaid tube is furnished with a damper for
regulating the draught, and to the said tube other tubing is affixed to
the desired height for the chimney shaft. The apex of the outer cone
terminates in a short cylindrical-shaped chamber or steam chest sur-
rounding the upper part of the inner cone.
To the under side of the above steam chest we attach a double case or
cylinder of metal, which encompasses the before-mentioned inner conical-
shaped vessel, leaving an annular space or chamber between the two
vessels, and corresponding with an opening formed in the base plate, for
the admission of atmospheric air by a suitable door into such said space,
another or double door being attached to the base plate for the admis-
sion of air to the furnace to support combustion of the fuel. The afore-
said inner and outer vessels are connected together near the bottom
thereof by four or more pipes placed horizontally, and the upper part
of the outer case or double cylinder is connected to the steam chest by
suitable holes formed in the bottom of said chest and the top of the
double cylinder case, by which, when the said vessels are charged with
water, and heat is imparted thereto, the water is enabled to circulate
freely through the same. We propose also as an auxiliary to employ one

page_text: or more coils of pipes placed in the space between the inner and outer
vessels; the upper end of said coil is fixed to the under side of the steam
chest, and the lower end thereof to the outer casing of the inner double
conical vessel, or to any other suitable part thereof. There is an open-
ing formed through the upper part of the external double cylinder
casing, to which a damper is attached, for regulating the velocity of the
air between the interior and exterior casings of the boiler.
By thus constructing and setting boilers, the heat from the fire is
more beneficially employed than heretofore, and by covering the outside
of the boiler with any substance or material which is a good non-con-
ductor of heat, the full effect of the radiation of the heat is thus secured
and rendered available for generating steam, heating atmospheric air
to be employed for ventilating, and, if necessary, conveying such heated
air to ovens employed for baking purposes, and to cooking apparatus,
and for all other purposes where heat is required.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters l'atent, filed
by the said Matthew Atkinson and Benjamin Ridge in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 27th March 1856.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, MATTHEW
ATKINSON, of Wandsworth, in the County of Surrey, Engineer, and BEN-
JAMIN RIDGE, of Putney, in the said County of Surrey, Doctor of
Medicine, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-seventh day of September, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, in the nineteenthi
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto us, the said Matthew Atkinson and Benjamin Ridge, Her
special licence that we, the said Matthew Atkinson and Benjamin Ridge,
our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as we, the
said Matthew Atkinson and Benjamin Ridge, our executors, adminis-
trators, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND
SETTING OF STEAM BOILERS FOR ECONOMIZING FUEL. AND FOR RENDERING THE
ALSO TO VEN-
THE GENERATION OF STEAM. BUT
TILATION. THE DISTILLATION OF WATER FOR SHIPS USE, AND THE DISTRIBUTION
OF HEAT FOR GENERAL PURPOSES," upon the condition, amongst others,
SAME APPLICABLE
NOT
ONLY TO

page_text: that we, the said Matthew Atkinson and Benjamin Ridge, our
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under our or
their hands and seals, or under the hand and seal of one of us or theni,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Inven-
tion, 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 we, the said Matthew Atkinson and Benjamin
Ridge, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement thereof (that is to say):-
The principal features of novelty of our said improvements consist,
firstly, in so constructing a boiler, as that its heat is more concentrated
from the action of a small fire and from other radiating surfaces in a
given space than boilers heretofore constructed and employed for the
generation of steam; secondly, in occupying a smaller space in proportion
to the power than other boilers; thirdly, in a novel and improved mode
of setting or combining the fire bars with the boiler, by which the
necessity for "banking" the fire is dispensed with, and the cooling of
the boiler prevented, or at least sufficiently protracted to admit of the
fire being put out instead of banked, as heretofore; fourthly, in so con-
structing and arranging the boiler and the pedestal or base on which it
stands, that the atmospheric air shall pass through its centre between
two water chambers, and becoming heated passes off through an appro-
priate outlet in the form of heated oxygen comparatively free from
carbon, and consequently well adapted for the purposes of warming and
ventilation, suitable arrangements being made for regulating the
velocity, temperature, density, or dryness of the air, and by these means
ensuring a continuous supply of fresh air, which can be conveyed into
buildings by wooden conduits instead of hot air pipes, as heretofore;
fifthly, in simplifying the construction of the boiler, and thereby lessen-
ing the cost thereof.
The nature of our said improvements will, however, be better under-
stood by the following description of the means by which they may be
effected, that is to say-In constructing a boiler adapted to the above
purposes, we form the same of four principal parts, namely, a hollow
bed plate carrying a circular fire grate, capable of oscillating for dis-
charging the contents thereon. A conical-shaped hollow vessel, having
an annular water space therein, with an enlarged opening at the base
thereof, which encompasses the fire grate, the apex of the inner cone
terminating in the form of an inverted conical-shaped tube or chimney,

page_text: the throat whereof is contracted at a suitable distance from the surface
of the fire bars. The upper part of the aforesaid tube is furnished with
a damper for regulating the draught, and to the said tube other tubing
is affixed to the desired height for the chimney shaft. The apex of the
outer cone terminates in a short cylindrical-shaped chamber or steam
chest, surrounding the upper part of the inner cone. To the under side
of the above steam chest we attach a double case or cylinder of metal,
which encompasses the before-mentioned inner conical-shaped vessel,
leaving an annular space or chamber between the two vessels, and corre-
sponding with an opening formed in the base plate, for the admission of
air to the furnace to support combustion of the fuel. The aforesaid inner
and outer vessels are connected together near the bottom thereof by
four or more pipes placed horizontally, and the upper part of the outer
case or double cylinder is connected to the steam chest by suitable holes
formed in the bottom of said chest and the top of the double cylinder
case, by which, when the said vessels are charged with water and heat
is-imparted thereto, the water is enabled to circulate freely through the
same. We propose also as an auxiliary to employ one or more coils of
pipes, or upright pipes, placed in the space between the inner and outer
vessels. The upper end of said coil is fixed to the under side of the steam
chest, and the lower end thereof to the outer casing of the inner double
conical vessel, or to any other suitable part thereof. There is an open-
ing formed through the upper part of the external double cylinder casing,
to which a damper is attached for regulating the velocity of the air
between the interior and exterior casings of the boiler. By thus con-
structing and setting boilers, the heat from the fire is more beneficially
employed than heretofore, and by covering the outside of the boiler with
any substance or material which is a good non-conductor of heat, the
full effect of the radiation of the heat is thus secured and rendered
available for generating steam, heating atmospheric air to be employed
for ventilating, and, if necessary, conveying such heated air to ovens
employed for baking purposes, and to cooking apparatus, and for all
other purposes where heat is required.
In order to explain our said Invention as completely as possible, we
now proceed to describe the best means we are acquainted with for carry-
ing the same into practical effect, reference being had to the illustrative
Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the numeral figures and letters of
reference marked thereon respectively, as follows:-
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of our improved boiler; Figure 2 is a trans-
verse and vertical section of the same, through about the middle thereof;

page_text: Figure 3 is an horizontal section through the line A, B, at Figure 2;
Figure 4 is an horizontal section through the line C, D, at Figure 2;
Figure 5 is a top plan view of the base plate upon which the boiler
stands Figure 6, a partial sectional elevation of the boiler and base
plate, shewing the mode of arranging and actuating the oscillating fire
grate Figure 7 is another view of the base plate. At each of the fore-
going Figures we employ similar letters of reference to denote corre-
sponding parts, in so far as such parts appear or can be seen at each of
the said Figures respectively.
A, A, is a conical-shaped hollow vessel, having an annular water space
therein and surrounding the fire box B, the top of which is in the form
of a dome, at the crown whereof there is an opening, from whence pro-
ceeds a taper conduit. C, the upper part or feeding box e of which pro-
trudes through the crown of the dome D that encloses the boiler and the
steam chest. The upper part of the conduit C has a cover E hinged
thereto, by opening which the fire below may be fed or charged with
fuel. G is a smoke flue, connected to the feeding box c. and a damper
at E, to regulate the draught in said flue; I, I, is the outer casing
of the boiler; and K, K, is another cylindrical casing placed concentric
to the outer casing I, I, and inner conical casing A, leaving an annular
space or chamber at L between these two last-mentioned casings K and
L and base plate or box N, for the passage of atmospheric air, which
enters through an opening furnished with doors M in the base plate N,
as at Figure 7; an outlet pipe O being connected to the said air chamber,
and furnished with a damper at P, for regulating the quantity of air
admitted into and through such said chamber. Q, Q, are a series of
pipes, the lower ends whereof are connected to the casing A, and the
upper ends to the top of the chamber L, thus exposing an immense sur-
face of water to the action of the heat in the chamber L, and keeping up
a brisk circulation of water in the boiler, and by these means, preventing
incrustation of the boiler. R, R, are a series of short pipes (better seen
at Figure 4), for connecting together the water spaces between the casings
A and B and K and I, thus completing the thorough and entire circu-
lation of the water in the boiler. The fire grate T is so constructed as
to oscillate upon pivots at *, see Figures 2 and 6, by means of a rod U,
and levers and handle V affixed thereto for that purpose, at Figure 1.
W is a small door for the admission of air to the fire grate to support
combustion of the fuel; and X, X, are larger doors for clearing out the
ash-pit. By thus constructing boilers, and employing heated air to
assist in imparting heat to the water, the fire is more beneficially
employed than heretofore, and by covering the outside of the boiler with

page_text: any substance or material which is a good non-conductor of heat, the
full effect of the radiation of the heat is thus secured and rendered
available for the generating of steam.
A barometer is attached to the
outlet of the hot-air.chamber, and a dial to denote the degree of expan-
sion of the hot air therein. When it is desired to adapt a boiler to th
purposes of warming and ventilation, we then employ steam jets con-
nected to the boiler to exhaust the air therefrom, and by these means to
cause a continuous current of fresh air to be admitted and heated to any
desired degree of temperature; and in this manner large rooms and public
buildings may be warmed and ventilated with healthful air at a trifling
cost, as only one fire is required for both the above purposes. And
further, by these means the engine rooms in ships may be kept as cool
as the external atmosphere, and if necessary, by suitable arrangements,
air heated as above may be conveyed to ovens employed for baking pur-
poses and cooking apparatus generally; and this arrangement will also be
found well adapted for drying purposes. Y is a pipe for feeding the
boiler with water; and Z is a cock for drawing off from time to time any
sediment which may accumulate in the boiler.
Having now described the nature and object of our said improvements,
together with the best means we are acquainted with for carrying the
same into practical effect, we would remark, in conclusion, that we claim
as our Invention the constructing of boilers in the manner above
particularly set forth, and represented by the Drawing hereunto
annexed, and for the purposes above stated, as constituting improve-
ments in the construction and setting of steam boilers, for economizing
fuel, and for rendering the same applicable not only to the generation
of steam, but also to ventilation, the distillation of water for ships' use,
and the distribution of heat for general purposes.
In witness whereof, we, the said Matthew Atkinson and Benjamin
Ridge, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Twenty-sixth
day of March, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and fifty-six.
Witness,
ALEXR. PRINCE, Patent Agent,
MATTHEW ATKINSON. (L.S.)
BENJN. RIDGE.
4, Trafalgar Square, Charing Cross.
(L.S.)