IMPROVEMENTS IN THE GENERATION OF STEAM
Year: 1838

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
MORGAN, of New Cross, in the County of Surrey, Gentleman, send greeting...
WHEREAS Her présent most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date. at West-
minster, the Third day of November, in the second year of Her reign, did, for
Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto ine, the said William
Morgan, Her especial licence, full power, sole privilege and authority, that I,
the said William Morgan, my exors, adiñors, and assigns, or such others as
I, the said William Morgan, my exors, adñiors, or assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no other, from time to time and at all times during the
term of years therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within England and Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed,
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE GENERATION OF STEAM;"in which said
Letters Patent is contained a proviso that I, the said William Morgan, shall
cause a particular description of the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be inrolled in Her said Majesty's
High Court of Chancery within six-calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said in part recited Letters Patent, as in and by reference
being thereunto had, will more fully and at large appear. :
my
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the
said William Morgan, do hereby declare the nature of my. Invention; and

page_text: the manner in which the same is to be performed, are fully described and
ascertained in and by the following statement thereof, reference being had to
the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the figures and letters marked thereon,
that is to say:-
My Invention relates to certain modes of submitting water to the action of
heat in order to its being converted into steam, whereby the water is forced
through a continuous course, or through two or more courses progressively,
becoming more and more heated until it arrives into the steam chamber or
vessel suitably arranged to receive the same in a state of vapour or approaching
thereto, and give it off to the steam engine or for the purpose required..
The first improved mode consists in submitting the tube or tubes, or such
like instruments, through which the water is forced, to the action of a hot air
bath, produced by the slow combustion of fuel, having its temperature regu-
lated to the required degree of heat, and in such manner that the heat may
be maintained at only such excess above the temperature of the sensible
degree of heat of the steam which it is desired to produce, as will be sufficient
to obtain and maintain the supply of steam of the force desired.
The second improved mode consists in placing the tube or tubes (or such
like instruments) in a metal or other bath in order to obtain as near an
approach as possible to an uniformity of temperature, and to prevent sudden
changes of the temperature of different parts of the tube or tubes through
which the water is passing, the intensity or rapidity of combustion of the fuel
being so regulated as to cause the bath to be confined to such an excess of
temperature above the sensible heat of the steam desired as will maintain the
required supply of steam.
In order to give the best information in my power I will proceed to describe
the Drawings hereunto annexed :-
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
I would in the first place remark, that the objects of the Invention are
modes of submitting the maximum extent of surface of a given quantity of
water to regulated degrees of heat, for I wish it to be understood that
my Invention does not relate simply to the submitting of a stream or streams
of water forced through tubes to the action of heat, but to submitting water to
the action of heat through tubes used either in the combination with a
regulated hot air bath produced by the slow combustion of fuel, or in com-
bination with some other bath whereby a near approach to equality of heating
an be obtained, and sudden variations of temperature in different parts of the
tubes (which from various causes might otherwise take place) be prevented.
I would in the first place remark, that the objects of the Invention are
modes of submitting the maximum extent of surface of a given quantity of
water to regulated degrees of heat, for I wish it to be understood that
my Invention does not relate simply to the submitting of a stream or streams
of water forced through tubes to the action of heat, but to submitting water to
the action of heat through tubes used either in the combination with a
regulated hot air bath produced by the slow combustion of fuel, or in com-
bination with some other bath whereby a near approach to equality of heating
an be obtained, and sudden variations of temperature in different parts of the
tubes (which from various causes might otherwise take place) be prevented.

page_text: And I would further remark, that metallic matter from its greater conducting
power will, as a general rule, be found preferable for such other bath, and
that such medium, or bath, should be liquid under the temperature of boiling
water, and not be liable to sensible evaporation, except at temperatures greatly
in excess of that of any steam which can be required for practical purposes.
In the various Figures of the Drawings the same letters of reference indicate
similar norts wherever they coo
such other bath, and
that such medium, or bath, should be liquid under the temperature of boiling
water, and not be liable to sensible evaporation, except at temperatures greatly
in excess of that of any steam which can be required for practical purposes.
In the various Figures of the Drawings the same letters of reference indicate
similar ports wherever they occur.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING A.
a is
Figures 1 and 2 are transverse sections of a generator drawn on the lines
A, B, and C, D, of Figures 3 and 4, which are plans of the same generator
drawn on the lines E, F, and G, H, of the sections, Figures 1 and 2.
the pipe leading from the feed pump to the tube or pipe b, b, b, b. This pipe
is jointed to the steam chamber c, c, c, the communication therewith being
shut off during the intermission of the process of evaporation by the valve v.
d-d, is the hot air chamber; e, e, the fire box; f, the ash pit; 9, the cold air
valve passage into the furnaces; h, the hot air valve or damper passage
into the funnel; i, the cold air valve; j, plate to arrest water going over
mechanically with the steam, and to cause it to fall on the bottom w, w, of the
steam chamber; k, the hot air valve or damper door; 1, 1, beam acted on by
the air regulator by means of the rod s; o, o, annulus of air, or thermometer
communicating with the float or inverted cylinder r, r, by means of the small
tubes p, q; r, r, the regulating cylinder or float acting on the lever or beam
1, 1, by means of the rod s, for the purpose of closing the valve and damper
placed within the fixed vessel t, t, t; m, n, connecting rods to the valves
i and k; u, a counteracting weight to follow the descent of the inverted regu-
lating cylinder and open the valves; v, the loaded shut-off valve between the
generating tube and the steam chamber; w, w, the bottom plate of the steam
chamber; x, x, the sides and top of the steam chamber; y, y, an outer
covering to the steam chamber; z is a water casing round the hot air chamber;
3, the rod to the loaded valve v; 4, the lever to depress the rod 3 by means of
the weight 5; 6, the safety valve; 7, the conduit pipe for the steam for use;
8, 8, the man-way door and cross bar, &c. &c. It will be seen by following
this enumeration on the Drawing, that, supposing fire to be made in the lower
part of the fire box, and the box to be charged with charcoal, coke, or
anthracite, that hot air will rise through the fuel and envelope the tube
b, b, b, b, which should be charged with water, the feed pumps being in a
state of rest. The water, on receiving a given quantity of heat, will attain
such a degree of expansion as to force open the valve v, and flash into steam in

page_text: the steam-chamber, which will have been heated by the action of the 'heat
in the air chamber d, d, d, impinging against its bottom plate, w, w. The
feed pump being then set in motion, successive charges of water will be thereby
forced through the tube b, b, b, b, in sufficient quantities to maintain a regular
supply of steam for the required use; and, supposing the extent or the
surfaces of the heating tube and the degree of heat to which it is subjected
are properly determined, an amount of water equal to the feed water will be
evaporated in the tube, and ascend in a state of vapour into the steam
chamber. Previously to lighting the fire it is desirable that the bottom
plate w of the, steam chamber c, c, be covered with water to the depth neces-
sary for the formation of so much steam as will be required to fill the chamber.
In such case the valve v is not absolutely necessary, but I prefer to use the
valve in all cases. The weight 5 of the valve v when used, "should be so
placed on, its, lever 4, that, together with the pressure in the steam chamber
on the upper surface of the valve, the water within the tube will be subjected
to such compression as may be desired. When the feed pump is at work, the
valve v may be kept open. As tubes and surfaces exposed to intense heat are
liable to injury or destruction, and especially when they are not covered or
contain water, and as the very principle of this modification is to render
combustion, as perfect as possible, and, to derive the greatest; advantage from
the caloric envolved; it is essential that the rapidity of combustion and the
intensity of the heat in the hot air chamber should be subjected to regulation.
The Drawing shows a mode in which this regulation may be made self-acting.
The annulus o, o, is suspended from the under side of the steam chamber,
where the ascent of the heat is unimpeded by the pipe or tube b, b, and it is
made to communicate by means of the small tubes p, q, with the inside of the
inverted cylinder or float r, r, which is partially immersed in mercury con-
tained in the vessel t, t. Now, as the air contained in the annulus o, o, will
expand with increased heat, and again contract with any loss of temperature,
it will by expansion raise the inverted cylinder r, r, by pressing against the
under side of its upper end, and by so doing move the extreme ends of the
beam 1, 1, from 1 to 2, or to any intermediate position, according.as the air is
more or less expanded. By this action it will cut off or diminish the supply
of oxygen to the under side of the grate, by totally or partially closing the air
valve 9, as well as the damper passage h, such valves g and damper being so
fitted as to be moved easily, and require but little power. On the temperature
of the air in the annulus falling below the degree required to preserve the
proper temperature in the hot air chamber, it will, by its contraction, allow
the weight u, which is made to be fixed to any part of the beam, so as just to

page_text: the flues; e, the furnace; f, the ash-pit; 9, the ash-pit door; h, the damper
passage in the funnel; i, the cold air damper; k, the hot air damper; m, n,
the rod to move the dampers; (9), handle for raising or depressing the rod
m, n; r, set screw to secure the rod m, n, in its position; v, the loaded shut-
off valve between the generating tube and the steam chamber; w, w, the
bottom plate of the steam chamber; x, x, the sides and top of the steam
chamber; y, y, an outer covering to the steam chamber; (3), the rod to the
loaded valve v; (4), the lever to depress the rod (3) by means of the weight
(5); (6), the safety valve; (7), the conduit pipe for the steam for use; (8),
the man-way door and cross bar, &c. &c. In this arrangement it will be seen
that as the combustion is carried on by the usual process in common furnaces,
the tubes and chamber are guarded by a bath from the intensity and inequality
of the heat generated thereby. The bath being in a close vessel, allowance
should be made for the expansion of the material of which it is composed.
Dampers are shewn with rods and levers to work them, in order to enable the
person attending the fire to increase or diminish its intensity. When hand
regulation of the combustion in the furnace is resorted to, as in this arrange-
ment, a thermometer should be conveniently placed to indicate the temperature
of the bath.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of per-
forming the same, I would remark that I do not confine myself to the precise
arrangement or shapes, nor to any particular dimension of the parts, provided
the peculiar features of my Invention be retained. And I would have it
understood that I make no claim to any of the parts separately; but what I
claim as my Invention is,―
First, the mode as aforesaid, of submitting to the action of a heated air
bath obtained by the slow combustion of fuel, a stream or streams of water
passing through a tube or tubes, or such like ways, for the purpose of being
converted into steam, as described in respect to Drawing marked A. And,
Secondly, I claim the mode as aforesaid, of submitting a stream or streams
of water (passing through a tube or tubes, or such like ways) to the action of
a heated bath or medium of metal, or other suitable material, for the purpose
of being converted into steam, as described in respect to Drawing B.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Morgan, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Third day of May, One thousand eight hundred
and thirty-nine.

page_text: AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Third day of May, in the year
of our Lord 1839, the aforesaid William Morgan camé before our said Lady
the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification aforesaid,
and all and every thing therein contained and specified, in form above written.
And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped according to the tenor of
the Statute made for that purpose.
Inrolled the Third day of May, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and thirty-nine.