Improvements in and relating to the Construction of Steam Generators.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Dec., 1889-Accepted, 22nd Feb., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to the Construction of Steam
Generators.
I, JOSEPH HENRY RICKER, residing at Lock Haven, in the County of Clinton, and
State of Pennsylvania, one of the United States of America, Manufacturer, 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 :-
The invention relates to improvements in Tube Steam Boilers, and its objects are to
distribute the expansion of the tubes equally and prevent strain on the boiler-heads;
to permit the boiler to be taken to pieces or dismantled very rapidly and easily, and
as easily put together again, so that it can be transported rapidly and with facility
from place to place; to permit any tube or section to be separately detached and
replaced or repaired as necessary; and to allow the boiler to be thoroughly and
quickly blown off or flushed from the steam dome downward.
The boiler, as hereinafter described, is of quite simple construction, very effective
and can be constructed cheaply.
In the accompanying drawings-
Figure 1, represents a perspective of a tube boiler resting on a furnace and
embodying the invention;
Figure 2, is a side elevation of the same;
Figure 3, is an end elevation of the same;
Figure 4, is a detail longitudinal section of one end of a tube to show the securing
bolt and connected parts;
Figure 5, is a detail facing view of one end of a tube ;
Figure 6, is a detail perspective view of two pipes and the end sections to which
they are attached and illustrating the construction of the boiler;
Figure 7, is a detail in section of one of the sections of the head, the tube and
means for securing it in the head.
Referring to the drawings by letter, A, designates the upper part of a furnace, of
any suitable construction and, B, designates a tube boiler embodying the invention
super-imposed on said furnace.
The vertical end walls or heads, C, C₁, of said boiler are composed of the cells,
steam chambers, or sections, c, c¹, respectively, each of said inner sections having
horizontal upper and lower edges and parallel side edges inclined, as shown in
Figure 3, until near the said upper and lower edges when said edges rise and descend
vertically. But each of the outer of said sections has its outer edge vertical. This
construction, as seen in the said figure, permits the sections to be placed together to
form a rectangular wall.
By this peculiar structure each section is of substantially the same size, and each
one, though matched and closely fitted to is separate from the other ones adjacent.
There is thus ensured not only a peculiarly strong and compact structure, but a
uniform and regular flow through the entire system of sections, heads and tubes.
The sections, when in place, are bound together by the lower and upper mani-
folds, D, D, respectively, at opposite ends and the upper and lower cross-bars or
supports, d, d', each of which is vertically opposite its manifold, the vertical tie-
bolts, E, which pass through the projecting ends of said manifolds and cross-bars are
secured by nuts, e.
In the arrangement of the manifolds and cross-bars I am governed by the number
of horizontal rows of tubes, where an uneven number is used, as in the drawing, the
manifolds will come at opposite ends, and where an even number is used, they will
come at the same end. The position of the cross-bars will of course, be changed in
1:1

page_text: c.
F, F, are steam boiler tubes extending between and connecting the chambered end
walls, C, (, each section, c, c', having the adjacent ends of two of said tubes connected
to and opening into it. The ends of the tubes are held in place by the following
means F has its ends rebated at, f, so that one end fits into and abuts against a
section chamber, c, of one head and the other end in like manner fits into and abuts
against a section, c', of the head at the other end of the boiler, a metal gasket. or
packing, f, fitting between the rebated end of each tube and its abutting" section.
Each tube end is provided with a circumferential in-standing rebate, f, Figures 4 and 5,
having the opposite notches,, cut in it, and depressions, 2, on a line on the inner
face of said Hange, and at right angles to said notches; the flange, 4, at the end of
each tube ensures the snug fit of the tube in its appropriate hole, e, in the section to
which it belongs.
By having only two tubes enter each section there is secured a perfect and evenly
distributed circulation through the tubes, sections, &c., since there is but one inlet and
one outlet for each section. And by this construction not only is a perfect and even
circulation obtained throughout the entire structure, but in flushing or blowing off each
tube and each section is sure to have the full force pass through it, so that the result
attained is a complete cleansing of the boilers.
G, is a T-shaped bolt having the shank, g, threaded at its outer end and the
oppositely standing arms, g', 9, at its inner end. The said shank passes through
openings in the walls of the adjacent chamber or section, c, or, c', and in a washer, g²,
preferably convex on its outer surface, and is engaged by a nut, g³, to the outer side
of said washer; a suitable gasket or packing, y, being interposed between the section
and washer. In fitting the tube, F, in place, the notches, f¹, of the flange, f, are
passed over the arms, g¹, of the bolt, and the bolt is then given about a quarter turn so
that the ends of said arms will fall into the depressions, and the arms of the bolt
will hold against the inner surface of the flange and the tube will bind against the
section with which it communicates; the nut, 93, of course being turned up to make
it bind as tight as desirable, the packing or gasket, f, aiding to ensure the proper
tightness of the joint. At any time, when necessary for repair or other purposes, any
one or more of the sections of either head can be very easily and quickly removed and
replaced. This feature of easy removal and replacement of the several parts of this
boiler is one of very great value, rendering the boiler very serviceable and durable as
well as in the long run very cheap.
Each chamber or section, c, of the heads has the adjacent ends of two tubes, F,
thus connected to it, but the opposite ends of the said two tubes are connected to
different chambers or sections so that any tube, F, may have both its ends detached
and may be removed from the boiler, for any necessary purpose by detaching the
washer nut, &c. on the outside end of said tube, and the gasket and washer at the end
of the other pipe in the same section when one pipe and one section can be removed,
while the other section to which was connected will be stayed by the remaining
tubes. This is clearly illustrated in Figure 6.
The upper row of tubes, F, have each one end secured to the manifold, D, by the
same means as the tubes are secured to the sections, their opposite ends being secured
to the upper row of sections, cl, while the lower row of tubes have each one end
similarly secured to the manifold, D', and to one of the lower row of sections, c.
H, is the steam dome preferably in the form of a horizontal drum or hollow cylinder,
and connected on the underside at its ends by pipe, I, to the centre upper tube, F, and
the equalizing steam pipes, I, from the outer set of tubes which enter at the crown;
and above the water line. In the drawings these pipes are shown at each end of the.
boiler, namely, the central connecting pipe and the outside, equalizing pipe. The
discharge or blow-off cock, ¹, is shown at the lower end of the boiler..
In blowing off the proper cocks are opened, and the water is forced from the dome
through the manifold, heads and pipes downward in a zig zag flow, effectually
removing with it, all sediment, mud, and deposit of every kind.
The tubes, F, are preferably inclined slightly, downward in the direction of the
down-tlow of the stream, in order that the latter may more easily clean them.

page_text: It will be obvious to all skilled in the art to which this invention belongs, that by
means of this invention as above described, the boiler can be made as large or as
small as may be desired by merely increasing or diminishing the number of sections
in each head and tubes to correspond, because when the boiler is increased in size the
added sections fit to and match with those already in, and when decreased in size
the remaining sections will fit and match together.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is.
1. A sectional steam boiler having its rectangular heads composed of independent,
closely fitting sections or chambers, as described, combined and connected with tubes
in such a manner that.each section has two pipes connected with it, but which two
at the opposite ends are connected with different sections, whereby the flow upwards
or downwards is regular and even through the entire system.
2. In a tube steam boiler, the combination of the heads, C, and, (, respectively,
composed of the closely fitting sections, c, c', the connecting tubes, F, the dome, H,
and pipes connecting the same to the tubes, and the tie-rods, E, manifolds, D, D',
cross-pieces, d, d¹, and means for securing the sections and tubes together, all in the
manner and for the purposes set forth.
3. In a tube steam boiler, the combination of a drum shaped steam dome above
the boiler, the end walls or heads composed of the closely fitting sections, the tubes
connecting the sections at opposite ends and inter-communicating from top to bottom
through said sections and the equalizing pipes connecting the dome with the top
tube of each inter-communicating series of tubes and sections, substantially as
specified.
4. In a steam boiler, the combination with the walled chamber or section forming
part of an end wall or head, of a steam tube rebated at its ends and fitting into and
against said chamber or section and provided with a circumferential inward standing
flange notched at opposite points, and the T, or bolt having its shank threaded at the
outer end and opposite arms to, pass into said flanges and the nuts to engage said
threaded shanks and bind the end of the tube against the sections, substantially as
described.
5. In a sectional boiler, as described, the tubes each rebated at the end and also
having in-standing and notched flanges at the ends, combined with the head, and a
T-bolt, washer, gasket, and nut, whereby each pipe can be made steam-tight at the
joint.
6. The combination of the pipes, 1', which enter the dome at its top or crown,
with the tubes, F, and with the dome, in the manner and for the purposes set forth.
7. A tube boiler having heads in sections matching and closely fitted together and
united by manifolds and cross-bars and bolts, and the tubes connecting said sections,
each having at each end an in-standing flange and held by T-bolts and nuts washer
and gasket to the section whereby the boiler can be readily taken apart, added to or
transported, substantially as specified.
8. In a boiler as described, the combination of the sectional heads with the
manifolds, D, D¹, and cross-bars or supports, d, d³, said manifolds and cross-bar.
arranged as shown and described, and the tie-bolts, the tubes, T-bolts, nuts, washers,
and gaskets, as described, connecting said heads, whereby the boiler can be added to
or reduced in size, substantially as specified.
415
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.