IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM BOILERS
Year: 1857

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Cater, of Anchor Terrace, in the Borough of
Southwark, Boiler Maker, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM
BOILERS."
Scaled the 30th June 1857, and dated the 21st January 1857.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said. Henry Cater at the
Office of the Commissioners for Patents, with his Petition, on the 21st.
January 1857.
I, HENRY CATER, of Anchor Terrace, in the Borough of Southwark, Boiler
Maker, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN STEAM BOILERS," to be as follows:-
The object of my Invention of improvements in steam boilers is so to con-
struct and arrange the flucs thereof as to abstract as nearly as possible all the
heat that is carried away by the gases and vapors evolved from the fuel
during combustion before allowing such gases or vapors to escape into the
chimney.
In order to effect this object, I cause the vapors and gases from the fire-
place to pass through a series of tubes placed in the lower part of the boiler,
and which are therefore surrounded with water. The gases and vapors, after
having given off a portion of their caloric to the water surrounding these
tubular flues, escape from the end thereof into a chamber or space at the other
end, and are then made to return again through another set of tubular flues of
less diameter than the former set.
This second set is placed in the boiler above the first, and is also surrounded
with water, so that the latter will extract from the vapors or gases that pass:

page_text: along the second set of tubular flues a considerable portion of the caloric that
may have escaped the action of the first set.
By this means a greater portion of the heat that is generated in the
fire-place is utilized than in ordinary boilers, and a considerable economy of
fuel is consequently effected, and the length of boilers may be greatly reduced!
without endangering their efficiency.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
.
by the said Henry Cater in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 21st
July 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRY,
CATER, of Anchor Terrace, in the Borough of Southwark, Boiler Maker, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-first day of January, in the year of our Lord'
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven, in the twentieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Henry Cater, Her special license that I, the said Henry Cater, my
excentors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Henry
Cater, my executors, 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, 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 STEAM BOILERS,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Henry Cater, by an,
instrument in writing under my hand and seal, 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 date
of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Henry Cater, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the Drawing hereunto annexed, and to the
letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):-
The object of my Invention of "Improvements in Steam Boilers" is so to
construct and arrange the flues thereof as to abstract as nearly as possible all

page_text: the heat that is carried away by the gases and vapors evolved from the fuel
during combustion before allowing such gases or vapors to escape into the
chimney.
In order to effect this object, I cause the vapors and gases from the fire-
place to pass through a series of tubes placed in the lower part of the boiler,
and which are therefore surrounded with water. The gases and vapors, after
having given off a portion of their caloric to the water surrounding these
tubular flues, escape from the ends thereof into a chamber or space at the
other end, and are then made to return again through another set of tubular
flues of less diameter than the former set. This second set of tubular
flues is placed in the boiler above the first set, and is also surrounded with
water, so that the second set of tubular flues will extract from the vapors or
gases that pass along them a considerable portion of the caloric that may have
escaped the action of the first set. By this means a greater portion of the
heat that is generated in the fire-place is utilized than in ordinary boilers,
and a considerable economy of fuel is consequently effected, and the length of
boilers may be greatly reduced without endangering their efficiency.
In order, however, that my Invention may be clearly understood, I have.
shewn in the accompanying Drawing the arrangement of parts which I prefer,
for effecting the object of my improvements..
Fig. 1 is an end elevation of a steam boiler set in masonry or brickwork;
iron casing lined with fire bricks may, however, be employed for marine or
portable boilers. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the same, shewing the
mode of arranging the tubular flues; Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section,
taken in the line 1... 2, of Fig. 2. a, a, a, a, are the external parts of an
ordinary cylindrical boiler; b, b, are the grate bars of the furnace; c, the dead
plate; d, the bridge; and e, e, the flue beneath and at the sides of the boiler.
The heat and gaseous products of combustion pass from the flue e up into a
space or chamber f, made in the bottom and near to the back end of the boiler,
and from whence lead the lower set of tubular flues g, g, which conduct the
heated gases to another space or recess h at the front end of the boiler. A
second set of tubular flues i, i, of lesser diameter than the former set g,
conducts the smoke and gases back through the boiler to a smoke box j at the
rear end of the boiler, and from thence the gases escape into the chimney.
From the foregoing description it will be seen that my improved steam
boiler consists of a combination of the cylindrical and tubular boiler, and that
the flame and heat is taken from the bottom and conducted along tubular
flues, during which time the water surrounding the tubular flues will. abstract
a portion of the caloric contained in the gases, and while the latter are

page_text: returning along the second set of-tubular flues, which are of lesser diameter
than the former, a considerable portion of the caloric still remaining will be
given off to the water in the boiler surrounding the flues. By thus causing
the gases to pass in a circuitous or serpentine direction through sets of tubular
flues varying in size, and whereby a large amount of heating surface can be
obtained, a greater amount of heat is given off from the gaseous products of
combustion than in other constructions of steam boilers. It will be seen on
referring to the Drawing that doors k and are adapted to the ends of the
boiler for the purpose of enabling the attendant to get at the tubular flues
when required: I would also observe, that if desired, provision may be made
for the admission of air to the spaces f and h, in order to promote or assist the
combustion of the gases. This object may be effected by making openings in
the doors and ; but openings may be made in other places if preferred.
of
Having now described my Invention of "Improvements in Steam Boilers,"
and the manner of carrying the same into effect, I would observe, in conclusion,
that I do not mean or intend to confine myself rigidly to the precise arrange-
ment or construction of parts lierein shewn and described, although I have
found by experience that the arrangement herein set forth is the most efficient
any that I have tried; I do not mean or intend to claim the exclusive use
of tubular flues in steam boilers; but that which I consider to be new in the
improved steam boiler herein described and shewn, and désire to claim as the
Invention secured to me by. Letters Patent as aforesaid is, the combination
with a cylindrical boiler of tubular flues varying in size as may be required,
and whereby a larger amount of heating surface is obtained than heretofore,
the several parts being so arranged that the flamic is taken from the bottom of
the boiler and conducted in a circuitous or serpentine direction through
tubular flues, as shewn and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Cater, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, the Seventeenth day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven.
Witness,
J. W. MOFFATT,
66, Chancery Lane.
HENRY CATER. (L.S.)