IMPROVEMENTS IN VERTICAL STEAM BOILERS
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Clarke, of the Hermitage, Gateshead on Tyne,
Engineer, and William Mather Swanson, of Willington on Tyne, Shipbuilder,
for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN VERTICAL STEAM BOILERS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Clarke and William
Mather Swanson at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 18th
March 1880.
WILLIAM CLARKE, of the Hermitage, Gateshead on Tyne, Engineer, and WILLIAM
MATHER SWANSON, of Willington on Tyne, Shipbuilder. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
VERTICAL STEAM BOILERS."
Our Invention relates to vertical steam boilers, and consists of a peculiar con-
struction of the same, whereby we obtain a large heating surface and free circulation
of the water, a series of concentric rows of tubes being set vertically between
suitable tube plates in the upper part of the enclosing fire box, through which
tubes the water is caused to circulate. The upper tube plate forms the crown of
the fire box. The lower tube plate forms the top of a water chamber, the bottom
of which may be rounded, and which is provided with one or more branch tubes
communicating with the water space between the fire box and the outer cylindrical
shell of the boiler, so that when steam is being raised a circulation of the water
takes place downward in this space between the fire box and the outer shell of
the boiler, thence inward through the branch tubes to the water chamber under
the lower tube plate and upward through the tubes.
The chimney opens from the middle of the upper tube plate, and the products of
combustion reach it by passing around the successive concentric rows of tubes.
By this arrangement we obtain large and effective heating surface, simplicity in
construction, and facility for repairs.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Clarke and William Mather Swanson in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 18th September 1880.
WILLIAM CLARKE, of the Hermitage, Gateshead on Tyne, Engineer, and WILLIAM
MATHER SWANSON, of Willington on Tyne, Shipbuilder. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
VERTICAL STEAM BOILERS."
Our said Invention relates to vertical steam boilers, and consists of a peculiar
construction of the same, whereby a large heating surface is obtained together
with a free circulation of the water in the boiler, whilst at the same time great
facility is afforded for effecting repairs upon any portion of the boiler when
required.
In carrying out our said Invention we arrange a series of concentric rows of
tubes vertically between suitable tube plates in the upper part of the enclosing
fire-box. The upper tube plate forms the crown of the fire-box, and the lower
tube plate forms the top of a water chamber, the bottom of which may be rounded,
and which is provided with one or more branch tubes communicating with the
water space between the fire-box and the outer cylindrical shell of the boiler.
When therefore steam is being raised a circulation of the water takes place down-
ward in the said space between the fire-box and the outer shell of the boiler, thence
inward through the branch tubes to the water chamber under the lower tube plate,
and upward through the tubes.
The chimney opens from the middle of the upper tube plate, and the products of
combustion reach it by passing around the successive concentric rows of tubes.
By this arrangement we obtain large and effective heating surface, simplicity in
construction, and facility for repairs.
And in order that our said Invention may be fully understood, we shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose shall refer to
the several Figures on the annexed Sheet of Drawings, the same letters of reference
indicating corresponding parts in all the Figures.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings represents a vertical section of a boiler
constructed according to our said Invention, and Figure 2 is a horizontal section
of the same taken along the line 1-2, Figure 1.
A is the outer shell of the boiler; B is an inner shell, forming with a tube plate
or crown C, the fire-box of the boiler. From the tube plate C extend downwards
a series of concentric rows of vertical tubes D which terminate in a lower tube
plate E, the latter forming the top of a water chamber F, which communicates by
means of branch tubes G with the main water space H between the fire-box B and
the outer shell of the boiler. The chimney I opens from the centre of the upper
tube plate C, and the products of combustion from the fire grates at b are caused
to envelope the water chamber F and pass around and between the tubes D on
their way to the chimney I, so that a large amount of effective heating surface is
obtained. By the arrangement moreover of the vertical tubes and water spaces and
passages, a circulation of water takes place when steam is being raised, the water
passing downwards through the space H, thence inwards through the branch
tubes G to the water chamber F, upward through the tubes D (all is indicated by
the arrows in Figure 1), and then again downward through the space H, and so on
in succession, repeating the course herein before described.
In addition to the advantages hereinbefore referred to the boiler is characterized
by simplicity of construction, and great facility is afforded for effecting repairs of
any portion of it when required.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of our said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, we would observe in conclusion that what we consider to be novel and original

page_text: and therefore claim as the Invention secured to us by the hereinbefore in part
recited Letters Patent is,-
The combination in a vertical steam boiler of the water chamber F and the
vertical tubes D and branch tube or tubes G, both communicating between the
said water chamber and the main water space H, all substantially as and for the
purposes hereinbefore described.
In witness whereof, we, the said William Clarke and William Mather Swanson,
have to this our Specification set our hands and seals, this Tenth day of
September, One thousand eight hundred and eighty.
WILLIAM CLAККЕ,
(L.B.)
WILLIAM MATHER SWANSON. (L.S.)