IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM BOILERS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Illingworth, of Manchester, in the County
of Lancaster, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM
BOILERS."
Sealed the 1st July 1879, and dated the 21st April 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Illingworth at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st April 1879.
ROBERT ILLINGWORTH, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM BOILERS."
My improvements relate to an arrangement of cylindrical boilers or tubes placed
horizontally in 3 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 horizontal
tubes and become separated in their passage among the vertical tubes, as described
in the Specification of my Patent, No. 3460, dated 2 Sept., A.D. 1876.
I now propose to accomplish the circulation of the water by fixing the vertical
tubes to the sides of the horizontal tubes alternately or zig-zag, and by placing in
each horizontal tube of the middle tier a vertical partition so as to separate the
volume of water ascending by the vertical tubes on one side from the volume of
water descending by the vertical tubes on the other side.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Robert Illingworth in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 17th
October 1879.
ROBERT ILLINGWORTH, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM BOILERS."
This Invention relates to certain improvements upon the arrangement of
cylindrical boilers or tubes placed horizontally in 3 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 horizontal tubes, and become separated in their passage among
the vertical tubes, as described in the Specification of my Letters Patent, No. 3460,
dated 2nd September, A.D. 1876.
'
These improvements consist in accomplishing the circulation of the water by
fixing the vertical tubes to the side of the horizontal tube alternately or zig-zag,
and by placing in each horizontal tube of the middle tier a vertical partition, so as
to separate the volume of water ascending by the vertical tubes on one side from
the volume of water descending by the vortical tubes on the other side.
The accompanying Sheet of Drawing shows a steam boiler embodying my
improvements,―
Figure 1 representing a longitudinal section through the furnace, the boilers
being shown in section.
Figure 2, an end view of same partly in section, and
Figure 3, a sectional plan of same.
Similar letters of reference indicate similar parts in each of the Figures
respectively.
A, B, C, indicate the horizontal tubes or boilers.
D, D, the vertical tubes connecting A, B, and C, together.
E, a vertical web or partition fitted within the boilers A, B, C, as shown,
Fig. 1.
F, the furnace.
G, steam chest or reservoir.
H, supplementary boiler or feed water heater.
I, I, cast iron stanchions.
K, K, wrought iron girders or beams.
L, M, N, flues.
O, O, fire brick arches.
P, P, man-holes.
Q, Q, openings in web E for passage of water.
R, R, arrows denoting direction of current of water.
S, S, arrows denoting direction of current of heated gases and products of com-
bustion.
T, outlet to chimney.
My improved steam boiler is made up of a number of boilers or tubes A, B, C,
placed horizontally in tiers one above another, each horizontal tube or boiler being
connected to the one above or below it by a number of vertical tubes D which are
fixed to the sides of the horizontal tubes alternately or zig-zag in regard to each other,
and also in regard to the vertical tubes of the next boiler, and by this arrangement
the products of combustion in their passage amongst the vertical tubes become
separated and absorbed.
The furnace F 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 O, so

page_text: that the spaces between the tiers may form flues L, M, N, (Fig. 1), and the
entrances and exits 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 A, B, C, in a
transverse direction as indicated by the arrows S, S, S, and finally escape to the
chimney through the aperture T (Fig. 1).
The aforesaid vertical tubes D cross the flues, and the said alternate or zig-zag
arrangement causes the products of combustion in passing through the space between
two vertical tubes to impinge upon the vertical tube in front.
The circulation of the water in the whole arrangement is accomplished by placing
in each horizontal tube of the middle tier a vertical partition E which separates the
current of water ascending by the vertical tubes on the other side, as indicated by
the arrows R, R. This vertical partition E is made of sheet iron of suitable strength,
and at different points in its length spaces or openings Q, Q, Q, Q, (Figs. I and 2)
are made in the top and bottom edges through which may escape in an ascending
or descending direction, as indicated by the arrows R, R, R, R, any water in the
middle tube, the temperature of which may vary from the main current of
ascending and descending water, and by this means the circulation of the water
is not simply from the upper tier to the lowest, but from each and all the tiers
alike.
The whole arrangement of boilers and tubes above described is carried by two
iron beams K, K, which are supported at each end by the 4 cast iron columns I, I.
Each tube has a man-hole entrance P from the side passage. The supplementary
boiler or tube H is 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 ;
it is also used as the receptacle of the deposit from the water and is provided with
a blow off valve as shewn. The supplementary tube G is connected to each tube
of the upper tier of boilers and used as a receiver for steam.
The above described arrangement of boilers and tubes is furnished with the
necessary furnace and other fittings, and the necessary apertures for cleaning and
inspection are arranged in the brick-work.
I would here observe that the boiler above described and shown in the accom-
panying Drawing may have the furnace placed, when convenient or desired, so that
the heat shall pass first under the upper tier and escape finally to the chimney in
the opposite direction to the course indicated by the arrows S, S, S, S.
When two tiers of boilers are used in place of three, the furnace should be placed
so that the heat may pass first under the upper tier, returning to the front by the
lower tier and passing to the chimney by the flue in which the feed water tube is
placed, but in this case this feed-water tube in place of being at the side, as
shown, would be in the same position at the bottom as the steam receiver at
the top.
I would here further observe that my improved steam boiler may be made with
a larger or a smaller number of tubes than I have above set forth and shown in the
Drawings, such tubes being placed in two or more tiers and the lengths and
diameters varied as may be required, and in like manner the size and number of
the vertical tubes may be increased or reduced and their positions varied according
to requirement.
Having now described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention and
in what manner the same is or may be performed, I desire it to be understood
that I do not confine myself to the precise details shown and described, as such
may be varied without departing from the peculiar character of my Invention,
and that what
I claim as of my Invention and as secured to me by the hereinbefore in part
recited Letters Patent is,
Firstly. The novel and peculiar construction and arrangement of a steam boiler,
substantially as herein before described and shown in the annexed Drawings.
Secondly. The arrangement for accomplishing the circulation of the water in the

page_text: said boiler, substantially as herein before described and shown on the accompanying
Sheet of Drawing."
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Illingworth, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty seventh day of September, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.