IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM BOILERS AND APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH, PARTS OF WHICH ARE APPLICABLE AS A MOTIVE POWER, ALSO IN BOILERS FOR HEATING PURPOSES, AND IN FUEL ECONOMIZERS FOR HEATING THE FEED WATER OF STEAM BOILERS."
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Francis Erskine, of Salford, in the County of
Lancaster, and William Samuel Donby, of Heaton Norris, in the
said County, Iron Founders, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
STEAM BOILERS AND APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH, PARTS OF WHICH ARE
APPLICABLE AS A MOTIVE POWER, ALSO IN BOILERS FOR HEATING PURPOSES,
AND IN FUEL ECONOMIZERS FOR HEATING THE FEED WATER OF STEAM
BOILERS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Francis Erskine and
William Samuel Denby at the Office of the Commissioners of
Patents, with their Petition, on the 27th January 1873.
WC, FRANCIS ERSKINE, of Salford, in the County of Lancaster, and
WILLIAM SAMUEL DENBY, of Heaton Norris, in the said County, Iron
Founders, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM BOILERS AND APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH,
PARTS OF WHICH ARE APPLICABLE AS A MOTIVE POWER, ALSO IN BOILERS FOR HEAT-
ING PURPOSES, AND IN FUEL ECONOMIZERS FOR HEATING THE FEED WATER OF STEAM
BOILERS," to be as follows:-
Our improvements consist, firstly, in a series of peculiarly formed
pipes, which, being connected together, are applicable as boilers for the

page_text: generation of steam, as boilers for heating water for warming buildings
of any description, and as fuel economizers for heating the feed water of
steam boilers; secondly, in the means employed, and apparatus therein
used, for utilizing the waste heat and gases of steam boilers; and, lastly,
in the method of obtaining motive power for carrying out the above-
named object, which power may also be made applicable to other
purposes.
The first part of our improvements relating to steam boilers consists in
a number of cast-iron pipes, formed something like the capital letter U
inverted, cach leg of the pipe having an elbow or bend at the foot or
base, that of the one projecting towards the front, and the other to the
back. Thus presuming that the water enters the base or foot of the left
leg of the first pipe, it passes through the same to the base or foot of the
right leg, and thence through the elbow or bend pointing in an opposito
direction to that on the right leg of a similar pipe connected therewith,
passing through the same to the base or foot of the left leg, thence by
an elbow or bend pointing to the back to the next pipe, and so on in
similar manner through the whole of such pipes as it may be found
necessary to use. The water enters the pipe furthest away from the fire-
box, that is to say, at the pipe subjected to the least amount of heat, and
traversing through each pipe successively to the end of the series, which
terminates at the front end of the fire-box. By this means the tempera-
ture of the water gradually increases until it becomes high pressure
steam, whence it escapes into pipes at a higher level, where it may be
superheated by the waste heat and gases from the boiler, if desired,
before being finally conducted to the engine or engines. The series of
pipes are enclosed in a flue or flues of brickwork, so constructed as to
permit the flames or heated air and gases to come in contact with all
parts of such pipes. The fire-box is constructed within the space between
the right and left legs of the last few sets of the series of pipes through
which the water passes. When the supply of feed water is cut off a
perfect circulation through the pipes is ensured by means of a pipe (in
which is a check valve), which connects the first and last pipes of the
series together.
In the second part of our improvements relating to the utilization of
.
"
1

page_text: propose to conduct to and discharge into the flue or
flues of the tubular, or vice versa, as may be desired, such waste heat
and gases entering the flue or flues immediately behind the fire-box, or
at such other place as may be determined upon.
And we further, cither in our improved boiler or boilers of any other
construction, propose exhausting to as great an extent as possible the
heated air and gases in the flues extending from the boiler or boilers to
the chimney, and discharging the same into the fluc or flues of such
boiler or boilers immediately behind the firc-boxes, or at such other
points as may be desired.
The motive power employed for working the fan or fans which wo
purpose to use for exhausting the heated air and gases we propose
obtaining in the following manner, although it may be derived from
an independent source if so preferred-In the steam pipes connecting
the boiler or boilers with the engine or engines we place a box or casing,
which encloses a wheel or turbine constructed with vanes, against which
the steam acts in its passage through the pipes, such wheel or turbine
being fixed upon a shaft projecting through and supported by bearings,
with stuffing boxes, in one or both sides of the box or casing, is then
connected by straps or gearing with the exhaust fan, to which it gives
the necessary motion to effect the required purpose.
The speed of the wheel or turbine depends upon the amount of steam
absorbed by the engine or engines, and the effective power is determined
by the pressure of the steam and the size of the wheel or turbine used,
such a system of obtaining motive power being applicable for other
purposes than that herein named.
In the third part of our improvements relating to boilers for heating
water to warm buildings we employ pipes similarly formed, connected,
and placed in flues, with fire-boxes arranged in like manner as adopted
in the foregoing description of steam boilers. The pipe subjected to the
least amount of heat is connected by other pipes with the lower part of a
water tank. The last pipe of the series, being at the front end of the
fire-box, is connected by pipes with the upper portion of the water tank;
the result of which arrangement is, that in proportion to the amount of
heat generated in the fire-box on the one hand, and the number of pipes
employed on the other, there will be a more or less rapid circulation of
water passing from the bottom of the water tank through the series of

page_text: pipes, from whence it will be conducted back to the upper portion of the
tank through the pipes connected therewith.
In the fourth part of our improvements, relating to economizers for
heating the feed water of steam boilers, the pipes are constructed and
connected in precisely the same form as before described in the arrange-
ment of steam boiler, and they are placed in flues along the side or
underneath the ordinary boiler, or in the flues between the boiler or
boilers and the chimney. The water enters the pipe subject to the least
amount of heat, passing through the whole series direct to the boiler,
the number of the pipes requisite being determined by the temperature of
the waste heat on the one hand, and the amount of water that is required
to be evaporated in a given time on the other hand. There is a connec-
nection by other pipes between the lower part of the boiler and the pipe
by which the water first enters the economizer pipes, in which, in closc
position to the boiler, is placed a check valve, opening towards the
economizer, when the feed water is stopped, by which arrangement we
ensure a perfect circulation of water through the series of pipes at all
times when the boiler is in use, whether the supply of feed water be
continuous or otherwise, the check valve being closed by the pressure of
the feed water when such is passing through the economizer pipes.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Francis Erskine and William Samuel Denby in thic
Great Seal Patent Office on the 26th July 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, wc, FRANCIS
ERSKINE, of Salford, in the County of Lancaster, and WILLIAM SAMUEL 2
DENBY, of Heaton Norris, in the said County, Iron Founders, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-seventh day of January, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the 3
thirty-sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto us, the said Francis Erskine and William Samuel
Denby, Her special license that we, the said Francis Erskine and William
Samuel Denby, our exccutors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as wo, the said Francis Erskine and William Samuel Denby, our executors, 3

page_text: 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, usc, exercise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN STEAM BOILERS AND APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH, PARTS OF WHICH ARE
APPLICABLE AS A MOTIVE POWER, ALSO IN BOILERS FOR HEATING PURPOSES, AND IN
FUEL ECONOMIZERS FOR HEATING THE FEED WATER OF STEAM BOILERS," upon the
condition (amongst others) that we, the said Francis Erskine and William
Samuel Denby, by an instrument in writing under our, or their, or one of
their hands and scals, 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 dato
of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said Francis Erskine and William
Samuel Denby, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement and accompanying
Drawing, that is to say :-
Our improvements consist, firstly, in a series of peculiarly formed pipes,
which being connected together are applicable as boilers for the genera-
tion of steam, as boilers for heating water for waming buildings of any
description, and as fuel economizers for heating the feed water of
steam boilers; secondly, in the means employed and apparatus thercin
used for utilizing the waste heat and gasses from steam boilers; and
lastly, in the method of obtaining motive power for carrying out the
above object, which power may also be made applicable to other
purposes.
The first part of our improvements relating to steam boilers consists in
a number of cast-iron pipes, formed something like the capital letter U
inserted, cach leg of the pipe having an elbow or bend at the foot or
base, that at the one projecting towards the front, and the other to the
back, thus presuming that the water enters the base or foot of the left
leg of the first pipe, it passes through the same to the base or foot of
the right leg, and thence through the elbow pointing in an opposite
direction to that on the other leg to a similar pipe connected therewith,
passing through the same to the base or foot of the left leg, thence by

page_text: elbow pointing to the back to the next pipe, and so on in similar manner
through the whole of such pipes as it may be found necessary to use, tho
water enters to this pipe furthest away from the firc-box, that is to say,
at the pipe subjected to the least amount of heat, and thence traversing
through each pipe successively to the end of the series, terminating at
the front end of the fire-box; by this means the temperature of the
water gradually increases until it becomes high pressure steam, whence
it escapes into pipes at a higher level, where it may be superheated by
the waste heat and gasses from the boiler, if desired, before being finally
conducted to the engine or engines. The series of pipes are enclosed in
a flue or flues of brickwork so constructed as to permit the flames or
heated air and gasses to come in contact with all parts of such pipes; the
fire-box is arranged between the right and left legs of the last few sets
of the series of pipes through which the water passes; when the supply
of water is cut off from the boiler perfect circulation is insured by means
of a pipe, in which is a check valve connecting the first and last pipes of
the series together. In some boilers it may be desirable to have the
pipes arranged in one continuous flue as before described, in others in
two or more fluse placed side by side or in tiers one above the other, so
as to utilize the heat to the greatest possible extent, the same remarks
being also applicable to boilers for heating purposes, as hercin-after
described.
In the second part of our improvements relating to the utilization of
the surplus or waste heat and gasses from steam boilers, where other
boilers of different construction to the tubular boiler, herein described,
are working in conjunction with the same, the waste heat and gasses
from the former we purpose to conduct to and discharge into the flue or
flues of the tubular boiler, or vice versa, such waste heat or gas entering
the flue or flues immediately behind the fire-box, or at such other place
as may be detrimental upon, and we further, either in our improved
boiler or boilers of any other construction, propose exhausting to as great
an extent as possible the heated air and gases in the Qlues extending from
the boiler to the chimney, and discharging the same into the flue or flues
of such boiler or boilers immediately behind the fire-boxes, or at such
other points as may be desired.
The motive power employed for working the fan or fans which we
purport to use for exhausting the heated air and gases, we propose
obtaining in the following manner-In the steam pipos connecting the

page_text: boilers with the engine or engines we place a box or casing which
encloses a wheel or turbine constructed with vanes, against which the
steam acts in its passage through the pipes, it being understood that tho
wheel or turbino be constructed in such manner that no steam can pass
from the boiler to the engine without causing the same to revolve, such
wheel or turbine being fixed upon a shaft, one or both ends of which
project through shifting boxes in one or both sides of the box or casing,
suitable bearings attached to which being provided, such shaft being
connected by a pulley and strap or gearing with an exhaust fan, to which
it gives the necessary motion to effect the required purpose; the exhaust
fan being placed in a flue or pipe connected with the chimney flue on
boing put in motion by means, as described, draws the waste heat and
gasses from such flucs, and discharges the same into pipes or flues
connected with the boiler furnaces or combustion chambers; the speed of
the wheel or turbine depends upon the amount of steam absorbed by the
engine or engines, and the effective power is determined by the pressure
of the steam and the size of the wheel or turbine used, such a system of
obtaining motive power being applicable for other purposes than that
herein described.
In the third part of our improvements relating to boilers for heating
water to warm buildings we employ pipes similarly formed and placed
in flus with fire-boxes arranged in like manner as adopted in the fore-
going description of steam boilers. The pipes subjected to the least
amount of heat is connected by other pipes with the lower part of a
water tank. The last pipe of the series, being at the front end of the
fire-box, is connected by pipes with the upper portion of the water tank,
the result of which arrangement is that in proportion to the amount of
heat generated in the fire-box on the one hand, and the number of pipes
employed on the other, there will be a more or less rapid circulation of
water passing from the tank through the series of pipes, from whence it
will be conducted back to the upper part of the tank through the pipes
connected therewith.
In the fourth part of our improvement relating to cconomizers for
heating the feed water of steam boilers the pipes are constructed and
connected in precisely the same form as before described in the arrange-
ment of steam boilers, and they are placed in flues along the side or
underneath the ordinary boiler, or in the flues between the boiler
or boilers and the chimney. The water enters the pipe subjected to the

page_text: least amount of heat, and passes through the whole series direct to tho
steam boiler, the number of pipes requisite being determined by the
temperative of the waste hoat on the one hand, and the amount of water
that is required to be evaporated in a given time on the other hand.
There is a connection by other pipes between the lower part of the
boiler and the pipe by which the water first enters the economizer pipes,
in which in close position to the boiler is placed a check valve opening
towards the economizer when the food water is stopped, by which
arrangement we ensure a perfect circulation of water through the series
of pipes at all times, whether the supply of feed water be continuous or
not, the check valve being closed by the pressure of the feed water when
such is passing through the economizer pipe.
In order that our Invention may be more clearly understood we have
hereunto attached two Sheets of Drawings, having similar letters of
reference marked upon corresponding parts of the apparatus, in which
Fig. 1, Sheet 1, is a side elevation of the steam boiler; Fig. 2 is a plan
of bottom pipes and flues of the boiler; Fig. 3, a plan of the upper pipes
and flucs; Fig. 4, a front elevation, partly in section, shewing the brick
flues and pipes therein with their connections; Fig. 5, a front elevation
shewing cast-iron front and fire-doors; and, Fig. 6, a back view of the
pipes and flues.
The water first enters the boiler through pipe a connected with the
first pipe b of the series c forming the boiler, circulating through the
pipes in the lower flue d, and ascending through the ripe e the upper
flucf, thence through the remainder of the pipes c to the fire-box end,
where it is supposed to be transformed into high-pressure steam, which
is conducted by the pipe g into the steam receiver h, and thence by the
pipe k regulated by the valve 2 to the steam engine, the feed water being
cut off. Circulation is ensured by the check valve m opening, thus,
open communication between the first and last pipes n and b, and
causing a more or less rapid flow of water through the series which
would be continuous until the water was exhausted, or the feed water
again supplied, when tho check valve m would again be closed. The
flues & are constructed of fire-brick, the space between the pipes c and
the arch and sides of such flucs is as small as possible compatible with
room for cleaning purposes.
In the arrangement of boiler as illustrated there are two fire. boxes,

page_text: Fig. 5 shows the cast-iron frame" and doors & covering the front of the
top flucsf. The frame is removeable, either wholly or in part,
affording ready access to the flues f for repairs or cleaning purposes,
access to the lower flues & being had either at the back or front, as may
be most convenient. In this arrangement the heated gases unite at the
end of the two upper flues f, and ascending into to the lower flue f¹,
Fig. 2, pass to the front end of the boiler, and thence through the
adjoining fluefs to the chimney t, the object of such arrangement being
to ensure perfect combustion by alternate firing, the smoke and products
of combustion from one fluc meeting the heated gases from the other,
tending to this end.
In Sheet 2, Fig. 1 is a sido clevation of the economizer pipes c, flucd,
and its connection with the chimney t, and a front view of the boiler A
and pipes connected therewith; Fig. 2 is a plan, showing the economizer
pipes c, the plan d, the side flue f, dampers w and x, boiler A, and
chimney t. The water first enters the economizer at pipe c'; and thence
through the usual pipes c to the pipe a', which in turn is connected by
other pipes and valves b¹ and b² with the boiler A; the feed water being
stopped and valve 6 being open there will be a constant flow of water
from the boiler through the check valve m, and by pipe & to the first
economizer pipe c', and so through the series back to the boiler; the side
flue fis for use when the economizer is required to be cleaned or repaired,
in which case the damper u is opened and damper x closed, the current
being thus shut off from the economizer, passing direct to the chimney ;*
at other times the side fluef would be shut off from connection with the
boiler.
In some cases it may be advisable to place with the flues underneath
and between the pipes a fire-brick arch extending the whole or any part
of the length of the series of pipes in such manner that the smoke, heat,
and flames may not be brought in direct contact with the pipes except
to such extent as may be found desirable, provision being made to admit
of a small body of air into the space occupied by the pipes c. By such
means the brickwork being once heated the pipe c would be acted upon
more uniformily and with no liability to their being coated with soot or
other deposit as they would in an open fluc.
Having thus fully described the nature of our said Invention, and the
manner in which the same is to be performed, we desire it to be distinctly

page_text: understood that we do not confine ourselves to the precise details herein
set forth, as the same may be modified without departing from the
principle thereof; as for instance, the pipes forming the boiler and
economizers in place of each pipe being complete in itself, having elbows
or bends at the foot of each leg, it may be desirable to employ pipes with
straight ends, turned to fit in corresponding sockets of a foot piece which
shall be of such construction on the several pipes being connected with
the usual foot pieces as to establish a thorough connection in like
manner as herein described.
With reference to the use of a wheel or turbine enclosed in a casing
placed in the pipes between the engine and boiler so as to gain motivo
power from the steam on it passage from the latter to the former wo
have not illustrated any particular system, as the principle embodied in
our claim admits of so many means of appliance, any one of which
would be equally effective.

page_text: 5th. The arrangement of the arch within the flue underneath and
between the pipes c.
In witness whereof, wc, the said Francis Erskine and William
Samuel Denby, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this
- Twenty-second day of July, in the year of our Lord One thousand-
eight hundred and seventy-three.
Witness to the signatures of the said
Francis Erskine and William
Samuel Denby,
J. H. TRAVIS,
Heaton Moor,
Nr. Stockport.
FRANCIS ERSKINE. (L.S.)
W. S. DENBY.
(L.S.)