Improvements in Water Tube Steam Generators.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 29th June, 1897-Accepted, 21st Aug., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Water Tube Steam Generators.
I, KARL CLEMENS GOBIRE, of 32 Illinois Street, in the City of Chicago, State of
Illinois, United States of America, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention relates to a novel construction in a steam generator, the object
being to provide a device of this description which will gonerate the maximum of
steam with minimum fuel consumption, and in which the circulation and feed
water are so controlled that all the impurities and minerals contained in the water
will be precipitated in a receptacle for that purpose, thus keeping said boiler
always clear of so-called boiler stone.
My invention consists in the features of construction and combinations of parts
hereinafter fully described and claimed.
In the accompanying drawings illustrating my invention:
Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of a steam generator constructed in
accordance with my invention, taken on the line 1-1 of Figure 3.
Fig. 2 is a rear end elevation of my generator.
Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a
vertical longitudinal section of my generator taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 6
and shows the construction as applied to a larger size. Fig. 5 is a rear end elevation
of the same. Fig. 6 is a transverse vertical section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4. Fig. 7
is a diagramatic view illustrating the circulation.
As above stated one object of my invention is to provide a steam generator of
maximum efficiency with minimum fuel consumption. This is obtained by caus-
ing the water to circulate as much as possible through the water tubes with the
most efficient velocity, as thereby it is obviously exposed to the heat in the most
excessiva degree. Another object of my generator is to cause a circulation of, as
nearly as possible, equal velocity through the various parts of the generator with
the exception of a small portion which circulates slowly through the above men-
tioned receptacle for the reception of the mineral impurities usually forming the
so-called boiler stone and which, by means of such slow circulation, permits
the precipitation of such impurities.
"
To these ends my boiler consists of a cylindrical drum A, to the forward end of
which the front water box B is rigidly secured. An opening 1 is cut into the lower
half of the drum A adjacent its forward end which is of equal size with the upper
open end of the box B which is riveted thereto around said opening 1. Connected
at one end with said box B are four sets of water tubes 2, 3, 4 and 5. Said tubes 2
connect the upper middle portion of the box B with the adjacent end of the
drum A, and said tubes 3, 4 and 5 are connected at their other ends with the rear
water box C. Said water box C is entirely independent of the drum A and is
free to move independently thereof, in accordance with the expansion and contrac-
[Price 8d1

page_text: tion of said tubes which obviously cannot coincide with the expansion and cou-
truction of the drum A, being exposed to greater heat. To permit the free
movement of said box C the same may either be mounted upon rollers resting upon
the upper face of the wall 6, as shown in Fig. 1, or by rods 7 suspended from the
beams 8 resting upon the side walls 9 of the furnace or setting, as shown in 5
Figs. 5 and 6.
The grate 6 is situated between the side walls 9, and the front walls 7 and
bridge 8. The said bridge 8 is provided with an upward extension 9" through
which the tubes pass and which extends upwardly to the upper row of the tubes 3
80 that the fire must pass upwardly and over said bridge. A deflecting plate or l
bridge 10 is suspended from below the drum A and extends downwardly to a
The said
point about in alignment with the lower faces of the boxes B and C.
bridge 10 is situated midway between the bridge 80 and the box C and causes the
fire to pass around its lower edge before passing to the chimney, thus giving the
fire a zigzag course and utilizing its energy to the utmost.
A tank 10 resting upon rollers 11 is connected by upwardly extending pipes 12
with the rear end portion of said drum A, said pipes being merged adjacent
said drum when only one drum is employed, and where two drums are employed
Said
rising independently and each connecting one drum with said tank 10.
tank 10 is connected with said rear box C by an elbow 13 rising preferably from 2
the upper middle portion of said tank 10 and opening into the lower middle por-
tion of said box C. Where two drums are employed said elbows 13 rise from the
same at the points where the pipes 12 enter the same and open into said box C
on each side of the middle portion thereof, as shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6.
deflecting plate 14 is mounted in said box C in front of the opening of the elbow 13. 2
Said plate is provided with a flange at its upper end which is secured to the rear
wall of the box C.
.
A
Said box B is divided into three compartments, a middle compartment 15, and
two side compartments 16, by means of the plates 17 which extend upwardly from
the bottom of said box and converge at their upper ends radially toward said a
opening which is divided into threo parts thereby. Parallel vertical plates 18
extending longthwise of said drum A, for about one-fourth of its length, aro
mounted in said drum A and are riveted at their lower ends to the upwardly pro-
jecting edges of said plates 17. Said plates 18 abut against the head of said
drum A at their forward ends and at their other ends are provided with outwardly
extending segmental flanges 19 which are adapted to abut against the cylindrical
shell of said drum. A horizontal perforated plate 20 provided with downwardly
extending flanges adapted to be secured to the upper ends of the plates 18, is
mounted between said plates and forms what may be termed a strainer over the
middle division of the opening 1. In this manner said drum A may be said to
be divided into three compartments, the main or largest of which communicates
with the middle compartment 15 of the box B and the smaller of which commu-
nicate with the compartments 16 of said box B. The upper edges of said plates 18
are level with the water line of the boiler while said perforated plate 20 extends
some inches above the same.
The said tubes 2 are connected with the middle compartment 15 of said box 13
and are curved upwardly therefrom, entering the drum A at the rear end portion
of the channel formed between the plates 18. For purposes of description I con-
sider it advisable to give the number of tubes in each of said sets 2, 3, 4 and 5,
though it will be understood that I do not limit myself to any particular number
in any set. In Figs. 1, 2 and 3 I have shown seven of said tubes 2. Below the
same, the tubes 3, twenty-three in number, enter said middle compartment 15 and
extend at a gradual incline toward said box C, the uppermost row thereof entering
said box C adjacent its upper end. The tubes 4, of which there are fifteen on each
side, enter said side compartments 16 of said box B, their rear ends being con-
nected with said box C in such a manner that the ends of the lowermost row thereof
are in alignment with the rear ends of the lowermost row of said tube 3, and extend

page_text: from said box C toward said box B at an upward incline corresponding with the
incline of the tubes 3. The tubes 5, of which there are seven on each side, aro
parallel with said tubes 4 and enter said side compartments 16 below the same.
I will now proceed to describe the circulation, and for the purpose of making
this clear I have illustrated the same by Fig. 7 which is diagramatic. In this
fig. I have represented the main, circulation by heavy lines and the slower
circulation by proportionately light lines as nearly as this was possible.
Beginning with the "oint a which lies in the channel between the plates 18 the
water will pass downwardly into the middle compartment 15 of the box B through
the opening 1 and the tubes 2, as represented by the lines b, b, to the tubes 3
Here it will turn to
through which it will pass to the box C as indicated by line c.
the sides and enter the tubes 4 through which it will pass to the compartiments 16
of the box B as indicated by the line d. From said compartments 16 said water
will pass upwardly through the side divisions of the opening 1 as indicated by
line c.
The velocity of the circulation when the generator is in full operation,
which is here presumed, is sufficient to cause said water to rise high above the
water line W so that it will always cover the perforated plate 20 through which a
large part will pass in a comparatively finely divided state which will permit the
steam globules contained therein to liberate themselves. It will be obvious that
there will be a constant suction at the point a, owing to the rapid rise of the water
in the tubes and in the side compartments of the box B, and unless said perforated
plate 20 is provided this suction would tend to draw the water which has just
passed through the tubes down again before a large portion of the steam globules
have been liberated, and thus the tubes, instead of being supplied with water to the
utmost extent, would be filled with a larger quantity of steam than is advantageous
or desirable. From the point above the water line W said water will flow as
indicated by the lines f, g, h, i, j, k and m, owing to the fact that it will seek its
wn level. A portion of the water in a gradually decreasing quantity, as indicated
by the last named lines respectively, will turn and flow back toward said point a
and join the constant flow of the lower strata which, so to say, form an undertow.
A portion of the water, however, as indicated by the lines n, o, p, is drawn
toward the pipe 12 and passes down the same, as indicated by the line into the
tank 10 where the feed water, indicated by line r, is added, and gradually mixes
with said water from the drum A. From this tank 10 said water passes through
the elbow 13 into the box C and impinges against the deflecting plate 14. This
water having a lower temperature than the water already contained in said box C,
must not come directly into contact with the front wall thereof as it would there-
by cause the same to crack as it is exposed to a very high temperature, and I havo
therefore provided said deflecting plate 14 which obviously protects said front wall.
In said box said water gradually mixes with the hotter water and becomes hotter
thereby, but never sufficiently hot to rise and mix with the water just passing from
the tubes 3 into tubes 4, and then gradually passes into the tubes 5 where it is first
subjected to a comparatively mild temperature during the first one-third of the
length of said tubes, then to a higher and then to a radiant heat where its tempera-
ture is so increased as to equal that of the water having passed through the tubes 3
and 4, and in this state passes into the compartments 16 of the front box B where
it rises and mixes with the last mentioned water, as indicated by lines and u.
It will be obvious that the suction caused by the tendency of the water of the
tubes 5 to rise, is communicated to the pipe 12 through the tank 10 and thus
causes the suction at the rear end of the drum A ahove referred to. It will thus
be seen that I obtain an auxiliary circulation which does not in any manner inter-
fere with my main circulation, while it is of the utmost advantage as will be
obvious from the description hereinafter contained.
I desire further to call attention to another great advantage in my generator.
It will be noted that I have provided a plate 22 extending along the upper portion
of the drum A rearwardly from the front head thereof about one-third or more of
its length, thus preventing the steam from passing directly to the exhaust port 23

page_text: and forcing it to pass rearwardly to a point where the water is more quiet. This
will permit said steam to be freed from water and thus it is dry when leaving said
drum A. It will also be noted that the passage of the steam is in the same direc-
tion as the flow of the hottest water so that the latter is accelerated and not
hindered. Again, the fact that the water in the rear portion of the drum A
remains very quiet for a period is also very advantageous, as it enables the steam
globules to liberate themselves and thus hinders fonnung which so frequently
occurs in water tube boilers and causes them to draw water which quickly destroys
the engines.
Then again, I have so constructed my boiler that every portion is calculated to
co-operate with every other portion to obtain the most desirable results. Thus,
it is very common and, in fact, invariably the case among water tube boilers that
the intake and outlets from the water tubes are sufficient to accommodate the volume
of water in the tubes to pass therethrough with the same velocity as it passes
through the tubes. This, however, is due to the construction, as no means are pro-
vided for permitting openings of the necessary sizes to be made.
Thus, by my
construction in securing the front water box to the drum A, I have provided prac-
tically the only means for obtaining the desired result. It will be obvious that in
order to obtain a uniform circulation throughout the intake to and outlet from the
tubes must as nearly as possible equal the total areas of the tubes which it feeds
and relieves. But the friction in the tubes must be taken into consideration in
this calculation and as this is estimated to decrease the velocity therein about ten
per cent. the said intake or down draught opening and outlet must be decreased
about ten per cent. in area, so that the velocity of the circulation therethrough will
coincide with the velocity in the tubes. In this manner I prevent the foaming con-
sequent upon a too rapid circulation at the outlet in proportion to the tubes, and
the intense suction within the tubes consequent upon too large an outlet in pro-
portion to the intake. It will be obvious that the circulation in the tubes should
always be rapid so as to prevent the settlement of boiler stone therein.
It will be seen from the above that my circulation is as nearly perfect as it has 3
thus far been possible to obtain it, and I will now proceed to describe the manner
in which this circulation affects the impurities contained in the water and causes
them to collect in the tank 10 where they can be blown off at intervals through the
blow-off pipe 24.
It is a well-known physical law that the sediment contained in an agitated body 3
of liquid will settle at those points at which the agitation is least felt, so that in a
steam generator the impurities will naturally settle in those parts which are least
exposed to the heat and in which the water is consequently least agitated, which
is always in the lowest portion.
The impurities coutained in the water which usually form boiler stone consists 4
of sulphate of lime, carbonate of lime and carbonate of magnesia, and these will
not coagulate or crystalize until the temperature of the water has reached two
hundred and ninety degrees Fahrenheit, so that it cannot form until the generator
is in good operation and then the circulation in the exposed portions is so rapid
that they cannot settle and are consequently carried with the water and gradually 4
thrown into the less agitated portions. Thus the impurities rising with the water
from the side compartments 16 of the box B will be partially carried toward the
rear end of the drum A and will settle wherever the water is sufficiently quiet,
which would obviously be only in the vicinity of the pipe 12. Thus as they leave
the main circulation these impurities would be gathered by the auxiliary circula- 50
tion and thus carried from the drum A into the tank 10. It will be obvious that
wherever the circulation makes a sharp turn there will be a dead point at which
said sediment has an opportunity to settle. In the tank 10 the water makes a
sharp turn upwardly and here it is obvious that a large portion or, in fact, nearly
all of the impurities carried down from the drum A will settle. This precipitation 55
of the impurities in the tank 10 is, however, greatly aided in another manner.
is well known that by adding cold water to hot water holding impurities or sedi-
It

page_text: ment in suspension, the cold water in sinking will carry the sediment to the
bottom. This is practised by almost all housekeepers in cooking coffee and I
have applied it with great success to my generator, being the first, so far as I am
advised, to use it in this connection. It will be noted that the feed water pipe 25
is very small and enters the tank 10 at one end and above the middle thereof. The
cold water is admitted through this pipe and flows horizontally through the body
of hot water, gradually sinking to the bottom of said tank and carrying the sedí-
ment with it. Owing to the small size of the pipe the water admitted thereto is
insufficient to agitate the large body of water contained in said tank to an extent
sufficient to stir up the sediment. The circulation through the elbow 13 is so slow
that it will not carry any sediment with it except the ingredients above referred
to in solution and which cannot settle until heated to the degree necessary to co-
agulate or crystalize them. A small portion of the sediment contained in the main
oirculating body of water will, however, leave the same as said water passes through
said box C from the tubes 3 to the tubes 4 as said water is obliged to make a sharp
turn. In practice I have found that a portion of this sediment will remain in the
bottom of the box C and in the rearmost ends of the tubes 5, but is always soft and
slimy and easily removed. A small portion also remains in the drum A adjacent
the pine 12, in the form of fine crystals of carbonated magnesia, but the remaining
portions of the generators are always perfectly clean.
As the construction shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6 amounts practically to a duplica-
tion of the construction shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, a detailed description of the
same will be superfluous. It may be well to mention, however, that a pipe 26 as
shown in Fig. 4 may be substituted for the plate 22 and that a steam drum 27 is
preferably employed where two drums A are used.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the saine is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. In a steam generator, a drum having a front water box dependent therefrom,
a rear water box independent of said drum, tubes between said front and rear water
boxes, and a sediment tank having separate connection with said rear water box
and with said drum.
2. In a steam generator, a drum provided with a water box dependent therefrom
and adapted to receive the ends of the tubes, said box being divided into a plurality
of compartments each of which has a separate connection with said drum, said
compartments being respectively adapted to receive and deliver water from and to
Baid drum.
3. In a steam generator, a drum, a water box dependent therefrom and divided
into a plurality of compartments, oppositely inclined tubes connected at their other
ends with an independent water 'box connected with said compartments of said
first named box, and an opening in said drum corresponding in size with the upper
end of said box which is secured thereto around said opening.
4. In a steam generator, a drum provided at its forward end portion with an
opening, flanged plates mounted in said drum adjacent said opening and dividing
aid drum into three compartments, a water box secured to said drum adjacent
aid opening and corresponding in size at its upper end with said opening, parti-
ions in said box dividing it into a plurality of compartments having separate
communication with said compartments of said drum, upwardly inclined tubes
onnected with one of said compartments of said box and at their other ends with
n independent water box, and upwardly inclined tubes passing from said
ndependent water box to the other compartments of said first named box.
5. In a steam generator, a drum provided at its forward end portion with an
pering, flanged plates mounted in said drum adjacent said opening and dividing
aid drum into three compartments, a water box secured to said drum adjacent said
pening and corresponding in size at its upper end with said opening, partitions in
aid box dividing it into a plurality of compartments having separate communica-

page_text: tion with said compartments of said drum, upwardly inclined tubes connected with
one of said compartments of said box at their other ends with an independent water
box, upwardly inclined tubes passing from said independent water box to the other
compartments of said first named box, and a sediment tank connected with said
independent water box and with the adjacent end of said drum.
6. In a steam generator, a drum, a water box dependent therefrom, an indepen-
dent water box below said drum adjacent its other end and movable with relation
theroto, tubes inclined upwardly from said first named box connecting the same
with said independent box, tubes inclined upwardly from said independent box
connecting same with said first named box, a sediment tank adjacent said indepen-
dent box, a pipe connecting said sediment tank with said independent box, a
deflecting plate in said independent box before the entrance of said pipe, feed water
and blow-off pipes connected with said sediment tank, and a pipe connecting said
sediment tank with said boiler.
7. In a steam generator, a drum connected with water tubes mounted below the
same and extending between two water boxes one of which is movable with relation
to said drum, and a sediment tank adjacent said movable box, movably mounted
with relation to said drum and having separate connection with said drum and with
said movable box.
8. In a steam generator, a drum connected with water tubes mounted below the
same and extending between two water boxes one of which is movable with rela-
tion to said drum, a sediment tank adjacent said movable box movably mounted
with relation to said drum and having separate connection with said drum and said
box, a blow-off pipe on said tank for blowing off the sediment collected therein,
and a feed water pipe connected with said tank and entering the same above the
middle.
9. In a steam generator, a drum divided at one end into a plurality of compart-
ments by means of plates extending to about the height of the water line, a per-
forated plate extending above the water line between said plates, and openings in
said end of said drum below said plates to establish communication between the
same and the water tubes.
10. In a steam generator, a drum divided into a plurality of compartments, a
water box connected with said drum and divided into a plurality of compartments
having separate communications with said compartments of said drum, a plurality
of tubes connecting one of said compartments of said first named drum with a
movable box mounted adjacent the other end of said drum, a plurality of tubes
connecting said movable box with said other compartments of said first named hox
and entering said movable box at levels corresponding with the points at which
said first named tubes enter the same, a plurality of tubes below said last named
tubes and parallel therewith extending between said boxes and entering said last
named compartments of said divided box, and connection between said lower end
of said movable box on a level with said lowest tubes and the adjacent end of said
drum for establishing communication between the same and said box whereby a
portion of the water will be caused to circulate through said lowest tubes, tho
lower portion of said movable box and the adjacent end of said drum.
11. In a steam generator, a plurality of water tubes connected at their ends with
water boxes, one of which is connected with the drum and is divided into a plurality
of compartments through which the water is adapted to pass in opposite directions
to and from said tubes.
12. In a steam generator, a plurality of water tubes connected at their ends with
water boxes, one of which is connected with the drum and is adapted to feed water
to and receive water and steam from said tubes, a plurality of compartiments in
said drum, and connection between said compartments of said drum, and said
water box whereby said compartments of said drum are separably connected with
different series of tubes through said water box, and are adapted respectively to
deliver and receive water to and from said tubes.
13. In a steam generator, a drum connected with water tubes and divided into

page_text: three compartments, two of which are adapted to receive the water after passing
through the tubes and to deliver it above the water line of said drum, and a per-
forated plate over said other compartment above the water line over which said
water from said other compartments is adapted to pass.
14. In a steam generator, a sediment lauk situated below the same and out of
reach of the fire and having separable connection with the drum and the water
tubes, a blow-off pipe in said tank, and a feed pipe connected therewith and enter-
ing the same above the middle so as to deliver the feed water in such a manner
as to cause it to carry sediment contained in the water in said tank with it to the
bottom.
Dated this 29th day of May, 1001.
KARL CLEMENS GOEHRE.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.