Improvements in and connected with Steam Generators.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Jan., 1890-Accepted, 1st Mar., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Steam Generators.
We LEBRECHT STEINMÜLLER and CARL STEINMÜLLER, both of Gummersbach, in
the German Empire, Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to certain improvements in and connected with steam
generators such as are described in the English Specifications No. 11,105 of 1884
and No. 5,868 of 1889 and is applicable to either marine or land types.
We will now fully describe our invention in reference to the accompanying four
sheets of drawings (in which the same letters of reference indicate like parts) and
which clearly illustrate our present improvements:-
Figure 1 is a front view of a marine boiler.
Figure 2 is a vertical section on line ab of figure 1.
Figure 3 is a front view of a land boiler.
Figure 4 is a vertical section on line ed of figure 3.
Figure 5 is a vertical section through the furnaces of a marine boiler.
Figure is a longitudinal section of an upper boiler.
Figures 7 and 8 are cross sections on lines e fand g. h respectively of figure 6.
Figure 9 is a sectional plan on line . of figure 10.
Figure 10 is a cross section on line ik of figure 9.
Figure 11 is a cross section of a marine upper boiler.
Figure 12 the same shown inclined.
Figure 13 is a view of part of the front water chamber with openings for tube
cleaners.
Figure 14 is a sectional plan on line 7 m of figure 13 showing a cleansing strut.
Figure 15 is a vertical section on line no of figure 16 showing a set of tubes.
Figure 16 is a partial front view showing a set of tubes.
Figure 17 illustrates the method of removing and re-placing tubes.
Figure 18 is a part elevation of a water chamber showing its inner and outer
covers.
Figures 19 and 20 are vertical sections on lines p, gands respectively of figure 18
showing tubes and outer covers of a water chamber.
Figure 21 is a part sectional plan on line t u of figure 18 showing certain tubes and
the water chamber.
Figure 22, is a front view and Figure 23 a side view of a large inner cover.
Figure 24 is a front view and Figure 25 a side view of a small inner cover.
Figures 1 and 2 show a number of inclined boiler tubes t t with their ends secured
in the walls of the front and back water chambers A A' in the usual manner, and
these tubes are bounded or enclosed at the sides and partly above as shown in figure 5
by rows of water tubes t¹ fixed close to one another and likewise terminating in the
water chambers.
The front and back water chambers are connected by one or more steam and water
reservoirs CC hereinafter called the "upper boiler" which are in some cases such as
the marine boiler illustrated in figures 1, 2 and 5, partially exposed to the heating
gases.
The heating surface therefore consists chiefly of thin tubes and a small part of the
surfaces of the water chambers and upper boilers. In the case of land boilers the
upper boiler or boilers C is or are not always thus exposed to the heating gases but may
be set clear as illustrated in figures 3 and 4. These upper boilers C may be cylindrical
or conical. According to our improvements the conical form is chosen in order to

page_text: utilize the otherwise wasted space resulting from the inclination of the tubest and t
towards the back; by adopting the conical form the height of the boiler at the back
is made the same as at the front and the entire height of a generator with a conical
upper boiler or boilers is thus considerably less than that of a generator with a
cylindrical upper boiler or boilers of like capacity.
The side walls of a generator are protected against radiation by an easily removable
shell faced with any suitable non-heat-conducting substance. By this construction
any number of boilers can be placed in close proximity to one another and thus a
saving of space is effected.
In cases where the tubes are very numerous or where the grouping is so wide that
it cannot be efficiently heated direct from one grate area, or where it is not possible
to place as many rows of tubes one over the other as are necessary for the economical
utilization of the heating gases on one ascent, or when it is not possible to arrange
several ascents for the gases one behind the other, the fire box is divided by one or
several partitions conveniently arranged and constructed as hereinafter explained
consisting of tubes t' fixed and lying so close to one another as to constitute as it
were a wall of tubes and thus each fire can serve independently; by this construction
also the efficiency of the boiler is increased. Such an arrangement is shown in
figure 5, in which case there are two fire boxes M M' each heating first an enclosed
group or pile of tubes N and then a second pile N¹ separated from N by a partition U
consisting of a double row of close boiler tubes ¹t. Between the two inmost.
groups of tubes N¹ N₁ is the ascending passage O for the gases between the inmost
partition tubes t¹ t¹. Thus the heating gases from the fireboxes as indicated by the
arrows ascend through the group of tubes N then pass over the partition U formed
of double rows of tubes descend through the group of tubes N' and finally
ascend the passage O between the sets of tubes to smoke box P as shown in figure 5.
Above the uppermost row of tubes a number of metal plates qq figure 2 may be
fixed with intervals between them which allow of the distribution of the heating
gases over the whole length of tubes, and a chimney to lead off the heating gases is
arranged either in front of or above the upper boiler; or the usual brick arching or
other refractory covering may be applied above the tubes as in figures 3 and 4. The
water circulates in an upward direction through the boiler tubes t and through the
front water chamber A into the upper boiler C and through this into the back water
chamber A' and back into the boiler tubes t'as shown in figures 2 and 3.
Figure 2 shows an arrangement by which the current of steam and water is
conducted into the upper boilers through one or more rising tubes b, to the lower
parts of which inside C below the water level one or more tubes or chambers R is or
are attached leading back to the back water space A', and to the upper part above the
water level in the steam chamber one or more tubes or chambers D are attached
leading back for a certain distance and opening into the steam space.
anti-
The separation of the mixture of steam and water begins in the rising tube b before
the water has risen above the water level in C, because the heavier water flows for the
most part through the chambers R under the water level back towards the water
space A The mixture which enters the upper chamber D will contain very little
water which runs out at the end of D or through separate openings or silts in the
bottom thereof and falls back on to the surface of the water, whilst the dry steam
escapes into the steam chamber and may be taken up through a perforated or
priming" pipe H to the steam pipe in the usual manner. In a land water tube boiler
such as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 the end chambers A A' are connected by one
or more upper boilers C and an arrangement is made therein whereby dry steam is
produced and at the same time the water contents are not greatly agitated by the water
in circulation, and thus sediment in the feed water will settle in the upper boiler and
can be blown out of the mud receptacle E in the usual way.
The stream of steam and water rising from the water chamber A enters the upper
boiler C through the rising tube and passes through the chambers D and R
respectively arranged over and under the water level as described, and leading the

page_text: former towards the steam chamber the latter towards the return column J, and
in this case the parts D and R are themselves connected by a number of tubes R¹
such as are illustrated figure 4.
::
The water carried over enters the chest D wherein are fixed louvre plates S
from which it runs off and falls through the connecting tubes R¹ towards the
lower chamber R whilst the steam escapes dry into the steam chamber and pipe
as described.
In order to prevent as far as possible agitation of the water and at the same time
to obtain dryness of the steam in an upper boiler of a water tube generator with
undivided end chambers A A₁ in some cases we connect a chest D with the front
rising tube the bottom plate D' thereof being inclined and at its hinder end either
quito under water as shown in figures 6, 7 and 8 or only partly immersed as shown in
figures 9 and 10.
The steam and water are separated by the flow of the water in the chest D above
the water level as indicated by the direction of the arrow figure 6, the steam escapes
dry into the steam chamber from the end of the chest D antl thence preferably through
a tube such as II to the steam pipe, whilst the circulating water becomes gradually
mixed with the water of the upper chamber close to the opening of the return water
column J and flows into the tube system again through the back water space A¹ as
indicated by arrows in figure 6.
When a marine boiler becomes inclined as indicated in figure 12 a single circulation
column would not work when the water over it rises beyond a certain height and
consequently the steam would not be dry.
By introducing a partition T in the chest D (which may if desired be extended
across the upper boiler as illustrated) above the two circulation columns b this evil is
obviated and a regular circulation of the water ensured.
In all tubular boilers it is important that there should be adequate provision for
thoroughly cleansing the fire side of the tubes. A part of the present invention
consists in a means of readily effecting this purpose. To this end in broad fronted
boilers such as that illustrated in figures 3 and 4 we provide holes in convenient
positions at either side of the group of tubes which are large enough to insert clearing
devices such as are hereinafter specified, and normally closed by well fitting flaps
For boilers of considerable length from front to back where the increased height and
length of the firebridge L figure 4 renders it impossible to clear the whole length of
tubes from one end only these holes are provided both at the back and front. In
marine boilers such as are illustrated figures 1, 2 and 5 the fronts of which only are
accessible according to our invention near the partition which separates the fire boxes
and their super-posed tubes from the adjacent group of tubes we fix short tubes m
which pass through the water space A; or one or more tubes of the partition consisting
of a double row of tubes t¹ t may be left out to provide openings for short tubes m.
These short tubes are not stays but serve for the introduction of cleaning tools into the
air spaces between the tubes by which the tubes can be cleaned, and we use these short
tubes in combination with a perforated bent tube n which is introduced as shown in
figure 14, and through the perforations of which jets of steam are forced on and
between rows of tubes so that the outsides of all tubes in that row can be cleaned along
their whole length. We are aware that short tubes have been used before for the
introduction of scrapers or other cleaning tools and we lay no claim to their use except
as above appears.
The tube partitions hereinbefore referred to would be objectionable if defective
tubes could not be changed when required from the front end of the boiler which end
alone is usually accessible.
According to our invention we make provision for removal by the following
method of construction.
The tubes which form the partitions must be firmly fixed in the walls of the water
spaces. According to this improved construction they are made of smaller diameter
at one end than at the other so that there may be a proper thickness of material left

page_text: in the tube plate between the large end of one tube and the small end of the adjoining
one, the large and small ends of the tubes lying close together and being alternated
as shown in figures 15 and 16.
To preserve equal areas the smaller ends may be made oval as illustrated at k in
figure 16.
Tubes are set in from and can be drawn out from the front end of the boiler in
the following manner :-
Any tube which lies with its large diameter to the front is first drawn out, then the
neighbouring tube to be drawn out which has its smaller end to the front of the boiler
is struck back through the water space A¹ till a piece can be cut off it of such length
that the shortened tube can pass between the inner walls of the water spaces A A' as
shown by the shaded tube in figure 17. The shortened tube is then manipulated so as
to face a full sized opening through which it may be drawn out. A new tube before
being widened by an expander is introduced in the same way-that is through the
neighbouring opening and finally the tube first. removed can again be introduced
and fixed.
In order to make tight closure of the walls of the water spaces small covers are
introduced through the larger tube openings and fixed so as to give tight closure
internally. These covers are provided with round grummets and packing may or
may not be used.
Beyond the grummet ha rim or flange h² stands out on each side as shown in
figures 24 and 25.
The closing of each of the larger tube openings is effected by a cover 9 with flanges
on the sides / but none on the sides ³, so that the cover can be introduced through
the tube opening see figures 22 and 23. The flange 2 projecting on two sides forms
the seating on the inner side of the front plate. The bolts of the covers are screwed
and upon them externally plates are fixed which enter the tube openings and between
these plates and the front of the boiler is placed packing, then the outer nut is screwed
up on the bolt and by this external tightening efficient closure is effected.
The shape and size of all inner covers is such that the adjoining side flanges h² ²
almost touch one another so that the covers cannot turn.
Although the foregoing description has reference chiefly to generators of the water
tube type and the drawings illustrate the same, wo wish it to be understood that the
application of certain parts of our invention is not limited to such generators only
but is applicable also to any steam generators having an upper boiler or boilers as
hereinabove defined.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. In water tube boilers such as are hereinbefore referred to, enclosing or bounding
the ordinary water tubes so far as required by water tubes closely arranged as illus-
trated at communicating with the end water spaces, and also where desired dividing
them longitudinally into separate groups as required by similar closely arranged
water tube partitions constructed substantially as specified and for the purposes set
forth.
2. In water tube boilers separating the fire grates and their superposed groups of
ordinary water tubes from adjoining groups of tubes by tube partitions such as U U
extending longitudinally between and communicating with the end water spaces
and arranging spaces for the passage of the heating gases substantially as set
forth.
3. The construction of tube walls and partitions U as hereinabove specified con-
sisting in the arrangement of tubes lying close to one another and having their
alternate ends narrowed or reduced in diameter whereby the strength of the tube
plate is not diminished and removal may be readily effected as set forth more par-
ticularly in reference to figures 15, 16, 17 and 19.

page_text: 4. In water tube boilers with inclined tubes the application of a conical upper
boiler or conical upper boilers connecting the end water spaces as and for the purposes
set forth.
5. In a steam generator having an upper boiler or boilers the combination there-
with and arrangement therein of one or more rising tubes such as 6 communicating
with chambers or tubes D and R above and below water level respectively, connected
together by tubes R', the upper chamber D being provided with internal louvre
plates S all constructed and arranged as and for the purposes herein before described
and illustrated.
6. In a steam generator having an upper boiler or boilers the combination there-
with and arrangement therein of a rising pipe such as 6 communicating at its upper
part with an enclosed chamber D open at its free end and having an inclined base or
division plate D' substantially as and for the purpose setforth in reference to
figures 6 and 10.
7. The combination with and arrangement within the upper boiler of a marine
steam generator of rising pipes b b an upper chamber D provided with a partition T
and chambers R below water level, or any mere modification thereof, substantially as
and for the purposes set forth in reference to figures 11 and 12.
8. For cleansing the outer or fire sides of the tubes of water tube boilers the pro-
vision in combination with short tubes such as m passing through the water spaces in
convenient positions as above set forth of a special perforated blowing pipe such as is
illustrated at n figure 14.
9. The herein before described construction and application of covers for tube access
holes substantially as settorth in reference to figs. 22 to 25.
10. The use in a steam generator of any or of a combination of any two or more
of the essential features of the invention hereinabove described claimed and illustrated
n the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 25th day of January 1890.