Improvements in Water-tube Steam Boilers.
Year: 1898

page_text: [Communicated from abroad by JOHN A. STEVENS, O 20, Dutton Street, in the city
of Lowell, State of Massachusetts, United States of America, Engineer.]
Improvements in Water-tube Steam Boilers.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 322, High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, 6, Lord Street,
Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street, Manchester, both in the County of Lancaster, and
Lower Temple Street, Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Civil Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows;
My invention relates to water tube boilers and furnaces therefor, adapted for
both land and marine service. Its objects are to provide a compact water-circu-
lating and steam-generating system of large heating surface, in combination with
a mode of handling the products of combustion to best develope and utilize the
energy of the fuel in the creation of steam; to secure the equal or desired dis-
tribution of the heating gases and cause them to travel in close and constant
contact with the heating surfaces; to effectively focus the gaseous products of com-
bustion; to facilitate the circulation throughout the steam generating system and
to avoid condensation; to decrease the danger from accidents; to facilitate cleaning,
repairs and renewals; to so arrange the baffles that they may be changed readily
to the form best adapted for securing the most perfect combustion and utilization
of the particular fuel employed; and generally to secure a high degree of economy
and efficiency in the construction and operation.
My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, of which:
Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view on the line a-a of Fig. 2; Fig. 2 is a
vertical sectional view on the line b-b of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional
view at right angles to the direction of the drums, illustrating a modified form of
my invention; Fig. 4 is a detail view in sectional elevation, illustrating a con-
struction of the division walls; Fig. 5 is a detail sectional plan view, illustrating
the construction of the division wall as shown in Fig. 4.
Referring to the drawings, the steam-and-water drum 1 is connected with each
of the water drums 2 by the banks of tubes 3 and 4, and the down-comers 5.
Bridge or baffle walls 6, made of any suitable refractory material and having their
domes shaped as may be found best adapted for the complete combustion of the
fuel employed, are placed between the banks of tubes 3 and 4 and rise from the
drums 2. The tubes 3 are shown straight and the tubes 4 are shown curved but
it will be understood that the tubes 3 may be bent also and that the form of such
tubes may be modified. The bridge walls are so constructed that they focus the
heating gases and to this end their forms may readily be remodeled to suit the
peculiar fuel employed. Baffles 7 cover the banks of tubes 4 and extend from the
drum 1 toward the drums 2, these baffles serving to focus and insulate the heating
gases and direct them downward along the outer banks of tubes.
A division wall 9 (composed of refractory material, water tubes or boxes, or a.
combination thereof) extends at right angles to the direction of the drums and

page_text: divides the furnaces into two distinct compartments. A second division wall 10
(composed of refractory material, water tubes or boxes, or a combination thereof)
extends at right angles to the division wall 9 and may be employed to further
divide the furnace. These division walls divide the furnace. into four distinct
compartments which may be operated independently or each may be worked while
the others are developing full power. In the construction illustrated in Fig. 1,
the division wall 9 is composed of a combination of refractory material and water
tubes 11 extending between the steam-and-water drum 1 and the water drums 2;
but as illustrated in Figs. 3, 4 and 5 such division wall may comprise water
boxes 12 which extend between and are connected with the water legs 13. These
water legs are designed to extend parallel to the banks of tubes between the
drums as in the case of the tubes. The division wall 10, as illustrated in Figs. 3,
4 and 5, is composed of water tubes 15 which connect the drum 1 with the drum 16.
The spaces. between the tubes are closed by the tiles 17. The drums 2 are con-
nected with the drum 16 by the tubes.18.
The drums 2 and 16 respectively rest upon the hollow supports 19 and 20 which
serve as air ducts and are particularly useful in case of forced draft. The duct of
the support 20 is arranged to supply air to each side of the division walls 9 and 10.
These ducts with the ducts 21 in the division wall 9 and the doors 22 provide
updraft for each of the grates 23, while ducts 24 supply air to the combustion
chamber above the grate. These grates 23 are provided with baffle walls 23 which
protect the adjacent drums and tubes from burning out.
The walls 25 surround the furnace and steam generating system, but the ends
of the drums 1 and 2, the down-comers 5, and the connections for the take off
and escape valve, 27 and 271, are preferably placed without these walls.
The drum 1 is provided with a dry pipe 30 and plates 31 and 32, to prevent
priming and direct the steam along the surface of the drum, assisting in super-
heating the steam.
In the operation, the heating gases, rising from the grates 23, pass from the
combustion chambers A into the combustion chambers B, and thence pass down-
ward along the outer bank of tubes to the escape passages C and thence to the
breeching D. The baffles focus these gases and direct them along the water
circulating and steam generating system in direct contact therewith. The flow
through the steam generating and water circulating system is upward from the
water drums through the banks of tubes to the steam-and-water drum, within
the furnace, and thence downward by the down-comers, without the furnace, to
the water drums.
It will be understood that minor changes may be made without departing from
the spirit of my invention and that the usual details of construction may be
employed.
I, WILLIAM PHillips THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 322, High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, 6, Lord Street,
Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street, Manchester, both in the County of Lancaster, and
Lower Temple Street, Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Civil Engineer, de
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be

page_text: performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
My invention relates to water-tube boilers and furnaces therefor, adapted for
both land and marine service. Its objects are, to provide a compact water-circu-
lating and steam-generating system of large heating surface, in combination with
a mode of handling the products of combustion to best develop and utilize the
energy of the fuel in the creation of steam; to secure the equal or desired dis-
tribution of the heating gases and cause them to travel in close and constant
contact with the heating surfaces; to effectively focus the gaseous products of com-
bustion; to facilitate the circulation throughout the steam generating system and
avoid condensation; to decrease the danger from accidents; to facilitate cleaning,
repairs and renewals; to so arrange the baffles that they may be changed readily
to the form best adapted for securing the most perfect combustion and utilization
of the particular fuel employed; and generally to secure a high degree of economy
and efficiency in the construction and operation.
My invention is illustrated in the drawings filed with my Provisional Speci-
fication of which:
Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view, on the line a-a of Fig. 2; Fig. 2 is a
vertical sectional view, on the line -b of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional
view, at right angles to the direction of the drums, illustrating a modified form of
my invention; Fig. 4 is a detail view in sectional elevation, illustrating a con-
struction of the division walls; Fig. 5 is a detail sectional plan view, illustrating
the construction of the division wall as shown in Fig. 4.
Referring to the drawings, the steam-and-water drum 1 is connected with each
of the water drums 2 by the banks of tubes 3 and 4, (Figs. 2 & 3) and the down-
comers 5 (Fig. 1).
Bridge or battle walls 6, made of any suitable refractory material and having
their domes shaped as may be found best adapted for the complete combustion of
the fuel employed, are placed between the banks of tubes 3 and 4 and rise from
the drums 2 (Figs. 2 & 3). The tubes 3 are shown straight and the tubes 4 are
shown curved, but it will be understood that the tubes 3 may be bent also and
that the forms of such tubes may be modified (Figs. 2 & 3). The bridge walls
are so constructed that they focus the heating gases and to this end their forms
may readily be remodeled to suit the peculiar fuel employed. Baffles 7 cover the
banks of tubes 4 and extend from the drum 1 toward the drums 2, these baffles
serving to focus and insulate the heating gases and direct them downward along
the outer banks of tubes (Figs. 2 & 3).
A division wall 9 (composed of refractory material, water tubes or boxes, or a
combination thereof) extends at right angles to the direction of the drums and
divides the furnace into two distinct compartments (Fig. 1). A second division
wall 10 (see Fig. 3) (composed of refractory material water tubes or boxes, or a
combination thereof) extends at right angles to the division wall 9 and may be
employed to further divide the furnace (Fig. 3). These division walls divide the
furnace into four distinct compartments which may be operated independently
or each may be worked while the others are developing full power. In the con-
struction illustrated in Fig. 1, the division wall 9 is composed of a combination
of refractory material and water tubes 11 extending between the steam-and-water
drum 1 and the water drums 2; but as illustrated in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, such
division wall may comprise water boxes 12 which extend between and are con-
nected with the water legs 13. These water legs are designed to extend parallel
to the banks of tubes between the drums, as in the case of the tubes. The division
wall 10, as illustrated in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, is composed of water tubes 15, which
connect the drum 1 with the drum 16. The spaces between the tubes are closed by
the tiles 17 (Figs. 4 & 5). The drums 2 are connected with the drum 16 by the
tubes 18 (Fig. 3).
The drums 2 and 16 respectively rest upon the hollow supports 19 and 20, which
serve as air ducts and are particularly useful in case of forced draft (Fig. 3). The

page_text: duct of the support 20 is arranged to supply air to each side of the division
walls 9 and 10 (Fig. 3). These ducts with the ducts 21 in the division wall 9
and the doors 22 provide up draft for each of the grates 23, while ducts 24 supply
air to the combustion chamber above the grate (Fig. 1). These grates 23 are
provided with baffle walls 23 which protect the adjacent drums and tubes from
burning out (Fig. 2).
The walls 25 surround the furnace and steam generating system, (Fig. 3) but
the ends of the drums 1 and 2, the down-comers 5, and the connections for the
take off and escape valve, 27 and 271, are preferably placed without these walls
(Fig. 1).
The drum 1 is provided with a dry pipe 30 and plates 31 and 32, to prevent
priming and direct the steam along the surface of the drum, assisting in super-
heating the steam (Figs. 2 & 3).
In the operation, the heating gases, rising from the grates 23, pass from the
combustion chambers A into the combustion chambers B and thence downward
along the outer banks of tubes to the escape passages C and thence to the breech-
ing D. The baffles_focus these gases and direct them along the water circulating
and steam generating system in direct contact therewith. The flow through the
steam generating and water circulating system is upward from the water drums
through the banks of tubes to the steam-and-water drum, within the furnace, and
thence downward by the down-comers, without the furnace, to the water drums.
It will be understood that minor changes may be made without departing from
the spirit of my invention and that the usual details of construction may be
employed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated
from abroad by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is:-
1. In the combination of a boiler and furnace, a water drum, a steam-and-water
drum, a bank of tubes connecting said water drum with said steam-and-water
drum, a second bank of tubes connecting said water drum, with said steam-and-
water drum, a single baffle or bridge wall between said banks of tubes, a com-
bustion chamber, and means for directing the gaseous products of combustion into
contact with said drums and tubes, substantially as specified.
2. In the combination of a boiler and furnace, a water drum, a steam-and-water-
drum, one or more down-comers connecting said drums, two banks of tubes con-
necting said drums, a single baffle or bridge wall between said banks of tubes,
said bridge wall forming with said tubes and steam-and-water drum a combustion
chamber, a main combustion chamber, and means for directing the gaseous pro-
ducts of combustion into contact with said drums and tubes, substantially as
specified.
3. In the combination of a boiler and furnace, a steam-and-water drumj, a
water drum, a bank of tubes connecting said drums, a second bank of tubes con-
necting said drums, a bridge wall between said banks of tubes, said bridge wall
forming with said tubes and steam-and-water drum a combustion chamber, a main
combustion chamber, and a baffle above said tubes extending from said steam-
and-water drum toward said water drum, whereby the gaseous products of com-
bustion are focused and directed into contact with said drums and tubes, sub-
stantially as specified.
4. In the combination of a boiler and furnace, a steam-and-water drum, two
banks of tubes directly connected therewith and extending to a common point of
communication, a single baffle or bridge wall between, said banks of tubes, a
combustion chamber formed by said bridge wall with said tubes and drum, a main
combustion chamber, and means for directing the heating gases into contact with
said tubes and drums, substantially as specified.
5. In the combination of a boiler and furnace, a pair of water drums, a steam-
and-water drum, a bank of tubes connecting each of said water drums with said

page_text: steam-and-water drum, a second bank of tubes connecting each of said water
drums with said steam-and-water drum, a bridge wall between each pair of banks
of tubes, a main combustion chamber, and means for directing the heating gases
into contact with said tubes and drums, substantially as specified.
6. In the combination of a boiler and furnace, a pair of water drums, a steam-
and-water drum, two banks of tubes connecting each of said water drums with
said steam-and-water drum, a bridge wall between each pair of said banks of tubes,
said bridge walls extending from said water drums toward said steam-and-water
drum, baffles above said banks of tubes and extending from said steam-and-water
drum toward said water drums, and a main combustion chamber, substantially as
specified.
7. In the combination of a boiler and furnace, a pair of water drums, a steam-
and-water drum, down-comers connecting said steam-and-water drum with said
water drums, two banks of tubes leading from each of said water drums to said
steam-and-water drum, a bridge wall extending from each of said water drums
toward said steam-and-water drum between the banks of tubes connecting said
drums, baffles located above said banks of tubes and extending from said steam-
and-water drum toward said water drums, a primary combustion chamber located
between said bridge walls, and a secondary combustion chamber located between
each of said bridge walls and said steam-and-water drum, substantially as specified.
8. In the combination of a boiler and furnace, a steam-and-water drum, two
banks of tubes directly connected therewith and extending to a common point of
communication, a bridge wall between said banks of tubes extending toward said
drum, a division wall extending downward from said drum, a main combustion
chamber formed by said walls, and means for directing the gaseous products of
combustion therefrom into direct contact with said drums and tubes, substantially
as specified.
9. In the combination of a boiler and furnace, a steam-and-water' drum, two
banks of tubes directly connected therewith and extending to a common point
of communication, a bridge wall between said banks of tubes, a combustion
chamber located between said drum and bridge wall, a baffle above said banks of
tubes and extending downward from said drum, and a division wall extending
downward from said drum and forming with said bridge wall a main combustion
chamber, substantially as specified.
10. In the combination of a boiler and furnace, a water drum. a steam-and-
water drum, two banks of tubes connecting said drums, a bridge wall between said
banks of tubes and extending from said water drum toward said steam-and-water
drum, a baffle above said tubes and extending from said steam-and-water drum,
toward said water drum, a drum and a division wall comprising water passages
connected therewith and with said steam-and-water drum, a combustion chamber
and a grate therein between said walls, substantially as specified.
11. In the combination of a boiler and furnace, a water drum, a steam-and-
water drum, two banks of tubes connecting said drums, a bridge wall between
said banks of tubes and extending from said water drum toward said steam-and-
water drum, a baffle above said tubes and extending from said steam-and-water
drum, toward said water drum, a water drum, and a division wall comprising
water tubes connected therewith and with said steam-and-water drum, tubes con-
necting said water drums, and a combustion chamber between said walls, sub-
stantially as specified.
12. In the combination of a boiler and furnace, a pair of water drums, a steam-
and-water drum, two banks of tubes connecting each of said water drums with
said steam-and-water drum, a bridge wall extending from each of said water
drums toward said steam-and-water drum, between the corresponding banks of
Lubes, a division wall extending downward from said steam-and-water drum and
forming with said bridge walls two combustion chambers, substantially as specified.
13. In the combination of a boiler and furnace, a pair of water drums, a steam-
and-water drum, two banks of tubes connecting each of said water drums with

page_text: said steam-and-water drum, a bridge wall extending from each of said water
drums toward said steam-and-water drum, between the corresponding banks of
tubes, baffles above the said banks of tubes extending respectively from said steam-
and-water drum toward the respective water drums, and a division wall forming
with said bridge wall two distinct combustion chamber, substantially as specified.
14. In the combination of a boiler and furnace, a pair of water drums, a steam-
and-water drum, two banks of tubes connecting each of said water drums with
said steam-and-water drum, a bridge wall extending from each of said water drums
towards said steam-and-water drum, between the corresponding banks of tubes,
baffles above said banks of tubes extending from said steam-and-water drum toward
the respective water drums, a drum and a division wall comprising water tubes
connected with said drum and said steam-and-water drum, and tubes connecting
said division wall drum with said water drums, substantially as specified.
15. In the combination of a boiler and furnace, a pair of water drums, a steam-
and-water drum, two banks of tubes connecting each of said water drums with said
steam-and-water drum, a bridge wall extending from each of said water drums
toward. said steam-and-water drum, a division wall substantially parallel to the
direction of said bridge walls, and a division wall substantially at right angles to
the direction of said bridge walls, said bridge and division walls dividing the
furnace into four distinct compartments, substantially as specified.
16. In the combination of a boiler and furnace, a pair of water drums, a steam-
and-water drum, two banks of tubes connecting each of said water drums with
said steam-and-water drum, a bridge wall extending from each of said water
drums toward said steam-and-water drum, between the corresponding banks of
tubes, baffles above the banks of tubes extending from said steam-and-water drum
toward the respective water drums, a division wall substantially parallel to the
direction of said bridge walls, and a division wall substantially at right angles to
the direction of said bridge walls, said bridge and division walls dividing the
furnace into four distinct compartments, substantially as specified.
0311 1
1000
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
322, High Holborn, London, W.C., Patent Agents for the Applicant.