Improvements in Apparatus for Generating Steam, for Heating Air. or Water, and for Cooking Purposes.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 10th July, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 8th Apr., 1882-Accepted, 21st May, 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION,
Improvements in Apparatus for Generating Steam, for Heating Air.
or Water, and for Cooking Purposes..
"
1, THOMAS LIBHMAN, of 26, Mawson Street. Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to: be as
follows:-
:
This invention relates to apparatus for generating steam or heating air. for
various purposes such as for producing motive power, for heating rooms or buildings,
and for cooking, and general domestic purposes.
In carrying out my invention I employ a pipe or tube, or a series of pipes or
tubes, placed by preference in a vertical position, the upper ends of the said pipes.
or tubes opening into a chamber for receiving and confining the steam, generated.
by water contained in the vertical pipes or tubes, or for containing the air heated:
by the said pipes or tubes. Inside each of the said pipes or tubes is or are one or
more tubes which may be straight or -shaped or of spiral form for heating the
water or air; the lower ends of both sets of tubes may be provided with flanges to
allow of their being secured to a base-plate:
The required heat may be obtained from the use of petroleum or other oil, or
from coal or water gas, or from a combination of them. The gas is conducted to
the apparatus by means of a pipe, connected to the internal tubes by branches and
regulating valves. The supply of air to support combustion is regulated by a
sliding grid or orifices suitably arranged for the purpose, channels being provided
for carrying off the products of combustion.
For ordinary domestic purposes and for heating rooms, I.find it advantageous to
place a spiral tube inside the vertical pipes or tubes, the said spiral tube com-
municating at each end with the water in the apparatus, so that the heat acts on
the exterior of this tube as well as on tho interior of the straight tube.
When the apparatus is to be used for cooking purposes, the chamber inay be
provided with internal shells and shelves and with doors or covers for affording
access thereto. When heated by air only, the air may be forced in by ordinary
means or by natural draught through orifices at the lower part of the pipes or
tubes.
When the apparatus is to be used for generating steam for power purposes, I.
connect a water receiving tank with the apparatus by means of pipes, the water
being first supplied to the said tank, whence it is conveyed to the apparatus. The
said tank is, by preference, furnished with mechanism for automatically regulating
the water-supply thereto, such mechanism comprising valves attached to the supply-
pipes and tank, worked by a lever or levers communicating with a rod attached to
a piston or float, the whole being actuated by the rise and fall of the water level
in the tank.
With apparatus of this construction coal or coke fires are rendered unnecessary.
Nevertheless I think it advisable to provide for such being employed in case the
oil or gas supply should' fail.
When using the apparatus for domestic purposes for example, it can with this
object in view be arranged to take the place of the ordinary kitchen fire-place, a
fire-grate or grates being placed between the vertical water or air-tubes.
Dated the 10th day of July 1891.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE
SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Generating Steam, for Heating Air
or Water, and for Cooking Purposes,
I, THOMAS LISHMAN, of 26, Mawson Street, Manchester, England, Engineer,
do hereby declare that the nature. of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR GENERATING STEAM, FOR HEATING AIR OR WATER AND
FOR COOKING PURPOSES" and the manner in which the same is to be used, are
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to apparatus for generating steam for heating air or water
and for cooking purposes.
In carrying out my invention I employ a pipe or tube, or a series of pipes or
tubes, placed by preference in a vertical position, the upper ends of the said pipes
or tubes opening into n, reservoir in communication with a chamber for receiving
and confining the steam generated by water contained in the said reservoir and
vertical pipes or tubes; or direct into the said chamber; or into a chamber for
receiving air heated in the said pipes or tubes. Inside each of the said pipes or
tubes is or are one or more tubes which may be straight or shaped or of spiral
form, for heating the water or air.
The required heat may be obtained from the use of petroleum or other oil, or
from coal or water gas, or from a combination of them.
For. ordinary domestic purposes and for heating rooms I sometimes find it
advantageous to place a spiral tube inside the vertical pipes or tubes, the said
spiral tube communicating at each end with the water in the apparatus so that the
heat acts on the exterior of this tube as well as on the interior of the straight tube.
When the apparatus is. to be used for cooking purposes, the chamber may be
provided with internal shells and shelves and with doors or covers for affording
access thereto. When heated air only is required, the air may be introduced
through orifices at the lower part of the pipes or tubes.
When the apparatus is to be used for generating steam for power purposes, I
connect a water receiving tank with the apparatus by means of a pipe or pipes, the
water being first supplied to the said tank, whence it is conveyed to the apparatus.
The said tank is, by preference, furnished with mechanism, for automatically
regulating the water-supply thereto, such mechanism comprising a valve in the
supply or delivery pipe worked by a lever or levers communicating with a rod
attached to a piston or float in the tank, the whole being actuated by the rise and
fall of the water level in the tank.
With apparatus of this construction coal or coke fires are rendered unnecessary.
Nevertheless I think it advisable when necessary to provide for such being
employed.
When using the apparatus for domestic purposes, for example, it can with this
object in view be arranged to take the place of the ordinary kitchen, fire-place, a
fire-grate or grates being placed between the vertical water or air tubes.
To enable my invention to be fully understood I will describe how it can be
carried into practice by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which,
Figure 1 is a vertical section of an apparatus for generating steam for power
purposes constructed according to my invention and adapted to be heated by means
of gas, the supply tank I use in connection therewith not being shewn.
Figure 2 is an elevation, partly in section, of an apparatus of similar construction.
adapted to be heated by means of gas, oil, coal or coke and shewn connected to the
supply tank.
Figure 3 is a sectional elevation of a modified construction of apparatus.
Figure 4 is a front elevation,
Figure 5 ie a plan, and
Kiure & is loumiind: 1
1
1

page_text: prefer to employ in connection with the apparatuses illustrated in `Figures 2, 3
and 7.
Figure 7 is a sectional elevation of my apparatus adapted for marine use.
Figure 8 is a vertical section of my water heating apparatus adapted for domestio
use and for heating rooms and having an internal spiral water tube.
Figure 9 is a similar view of an air heating apparatus suitable for warming rooms.
Figure 10 is a section at a right angle to Figure 9, and
Figure 11 is a plan of Figure 10.
Figure 12 is a vertical section of a modified arrangement of the apparatus
illustrated in Figures 9, 10 and 11.
Figure 13 is a vertical section of an apparatus suitable for use for cooking
purposes.
G
Similar letters in all the figurés indicate similar or corresponding parts.
Referring first to Figure 1, a is the pipe or tube placed in a vertical position as
shewn, closed at its lower end which rests upon a base plate b; is the reservoir
into which opens the upper end of the tube a; d is the chamber with which the
reservoir c communicates by means of a tube e the chamber serving to receive
and confine the steam generated by water contained in the reservoir e and tube a.
is the pipe or tube (which in this case is of a straight form) placed inside the
tube a for heating the water by means of a series of gas burners g placed at its
lower end. The upper end of the pipe or tube opens into a chamber or flue h
in which are fitted a number of tubes open at each end to the water in the
reservoir c. The chamber communicates by means of a tube with a feed water
j
heater consisting of a vessel & connected by a pipe with a regulating tank herein-
after described with reference to Figure 2 (or with some other suitable main feed
supply) and by a pipe m with the lower part of the tube a. The vessel receives
water from the said tank and is traversed by a number of vertical tubes n through
which passes the waste heat which has travelled through the tube and chamber
and lias thus served to heat the water in the tube a and reservoir c. The products
of combustion entering the channels and containing water become thereby
deprived of their noxious properties, and pass in the direction of the arrows, a
portion being utilized if required to warm the air supplied to the gas burner
the remainder passing off out of the apparatus.
and
Sometimes instead of using the vessel k as a feed water heater employ it for
the purpose of heating the air for the support of combustion.
In this case, instead of the said vessel being supplied with water, air is introduced
through the pipe, is passed therethrough, and is conducted to the burners
through the pipe m which for that purpose would lead to the bottom of tlie tube
instead of into the tube a.
The steam generated by the apparatus is conducted from the chamber & through
the openings p, p to the place where it is to be made use of
q is a pipe provided with a valve r for injecting steam from the chamber d' into
the flue for ejecting therefrom any sooty accumulations. This pipe is fitted with
a plug by withdrawing which the attendant can ascertain how the gases are
working etc.
s is a gauge for indicating tlie water level in the reservoir c.
The apparatus. is provided with the necessary safety valves, pressure gauges, etc.
With an apparatus of this construction the highest pressures can be obtained
and no attention is required beyond the starting and stopping of the apparatus.
No chimney-stack or brick flues are necessary, the space occupied is very small,
no stoking is required, there are no ashes to remove, no smoke or obnoxious
vapours are given off and steam is produced more economically than hitherto.
If gas is unobtainable or if, for other reasons it is desirable to employ oil, coal
or coke for generating the required heat, I can replace the straight vertical
tubes a and shewn in Figure 1, by the arrangement of heating apparatus shewn
in Figure 2 which consists of a furnace g around which the water tube a is arranged
in the form of a jacket, the heating tube leading from the crown of the furnace

page_text: into the flue h.
is the firing door of the furnace which door is preferably
constructed similarly to that hereinafter described with reference to Figures 4, 5,
and 6.
In all other respects the apparatus is similar in construction to that shewn in
Figure 1.
#
I will now describe the regulating tank for supplying the feed water heater k.
u is the tank and is the pipe whereby it is supplied with water; is the valve
in the supply pipe v, and is the lever which is connected to the valve to by a
jointed rod y, nid to the piston or float in the tank by a rod a'.
The level of the water in the reservoir and tank are always alike by reason
of the connection of the latter by the pipe with the water spaces, and by the
pipe t' with the steam chamber d, of the steam producer. When the water in the
reservoir e falls below a given level the water level in the tank also falling causes
the float to descend and open the valve to until the required level is again restored
when the rising of the float will close the valve.
"
u' is a valve in the pipe to shut off the supply of water when required.
The apparatus illustrated in Figure 3 is similar in construction to that herein-
before described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 with the exception that it is
provided with a horizontal heating chamber and tubes a and at each end, the
feed water heater & being placed in the middle of the apparatus between the two.
heating chambers, which are surrounded with water jackets b', communicating
with the vertical water tubes a.
The door which I find it advantageous to apply to this form of my apparatus
and also to cliat illustrated in Figure 2 is constructed as shewn in Figures 4, 5
and 6 with two chambers and w. It is hinged at e' to the front of the furnace.
The chamber is fitted with hit-and-miss gratings for regulating the
admission of air, and the other chamber w' (when gas is used) serves to receive the
gas from the supply pipe a which is jointed at, the joint being in the form of a
cock the axis of which is in a line with the door-hinge so that whenever the door
is opened the gas supply is cut off. When the door is closed the gas enters the
furnace through apertures, into which project the ends of tubes d, from the
air chamber so that air is caused to mingle with the gas as it enters the furnace.
This door is shewn by way of example applied to one of the heating chambers g
of the apparatus illustrated in Figure 3. In this case I provide the lower part of
the said heating chamber with a fire brick floor perforated for supplying a
further quantity of air which is introduced through a hit-and-miss regulating
grating and for allowing coke or coal to be burned in conjunction with gas when
required. If only coal is to be burned, however, I may use fire bars instead of the
perforated fire brick floor e².
If the vessel of an apparatus fitted with these fire doors be used for heating
Fair for supporting combustion, instead of water, the pipe m of the said vessel would
of course be led to the chamber beneath the furnace floor and to the chambers v¹
and Figures 4, 5 and 6.
I
In the arrangement of my apparatus for marine use illustrated in Figure 7 I
dispense with the feed water heater and form the heating chamber y of a single
tube which may be provided with a central partition g dividing it into two
chambers if requiring to heat the apparatus at both ends. Or if the partition be
not employed and the tube be stopped at one end the apparatus can be heated
'from the other end alone.
The products of combustion pass off from the flue through a chimney 2. The
heating chambers are fitted with suitable doors (not shewn) such for example as
that represented in Figures 4, 5 and 6
1
'
Instead of arranging the steam cliamber d horizontally as in Figures 1, 2 and 3
arrange it vertically and surrounding the chimney h².
When this arrangement of apparatus is intended to be used for heating air it' is
provided with an air inlet to the space between the tubes b¹ and g covered by a
hit-and-miss grating shewn in dotted lines.
30_
2
..

page_text: It will be obvious that two or more apparatuses can be grouped together, it
being only necessary to provide suitable connections for this purpose.
In the domestic heating apparatus illustrated in Figure 8 the water tube a and
heating tube ƒ are arranged similarly to those in Figure 1 but the tube a opens
direct into the chamber which is partially filled with water. The apparatus is
fitted with a central spiral tube c¹ communicating with the lower part of the water
tube a and with the lower part of the chamber d so that the heat acts on the water
in the tube c as well as on that in the tube a. The apparatus is heated by
means of a Bunsen or other suitable gas burner 9 fed by a gas pipe d' entering a
closed box el forming the base of the apparatus, the said box being provided with a
door fitted with a hit-and-miss grating for regulating the admission of air to the
burner J. The fumes are carried off through the tube h³ into the chimney of the
house or into any other suitable flue.
The chamber d is provided with apertures through which the vapour or steam
can be conducted away.
The air heating apparatus illustrated in Figures 9, 10 and 11 is shewn provided
with a shaped heating tube placed in a vertical air-tube a opening into a
perforated chamber d which may be of any required design. The box el forming
the base of the apparatus contains a Bunsen or other gas burner 9 the heat and
products of combustion from which pass through the tube and are delivered into
a tank o of water or other suitable liquid which deprives them of their noxious
properties.
The said tank is fitted with a tap h¹ for withdrawing the liquid therefrom and
with a handle for removing if necessary the tank from the box. The box is
provided at fwith a movable door and a hit-and-miss slide or orifices for the
passage of air to the burner g. The air to be heated enters the tube a through
perforations in its lower part and egresses from the chamber d through the
perforations therein.
gl is a tube connecting the two legs of the n-shaped tube at the lower part
for increasing the draught through the tube and causing the unused gas to be
taken up at the inlet.
Iuetead of both legs of the n-shaped tube being contained in one air or water
tube a, a separate tube a can be employed for cach leg as shewn in Figure 12, the
two-tubes a opening into one air or steam clamber d.
In this case I find it advantageous to place cross tubes in the inlet leg of
the shaped tube fso as to present a large heating surface to the air entering
through the holes k. a' is an opening to allow the tank o to be supplied with
water, the said tauk in this case forming part of the box e'. This arrangement of
apparatus is especially suitable for use in halls, churches and other large buildings.
The apparatus adapted for cooking purposes represented in Figure 13 is
constructed with two sets of tubes a and heating tubes and two gas burners g
each arranged in the manner herein before described and shown in Figures 9, 10
and 11. The chamber d is divided by a partition into two compartments one of
which is fitted with a chamber o' having shelves p' for the reception of victuals to
be baked or roasted by air heated in the right hand tube a, the said victuals being
introduced through a door g'; p is the outlet for the air.
}
The other compartment is fitted with a perforated chamber fitted with
shelves m' for the reception of victuals to be cooked by the steam generated from
the water heated in the left hand tube a, the said victuals being introduced through
a door n¹
is a tap for drawing off hot water and m' is a pipe, provided with a funnel-
shaped mouth and a valve, for supplying the apparatus with water; the funnel
mouth is at the proper level of the water in the apparatus so that, the said level can
never be exceeded and may be in connection with a water supply..
In this arrangement I have shewn how the apparatus can bo arranged to take
the place of an ordinary kitchen fire place, the fire grate n being placed between

page_text: i
the vertical-tubes a as shown so that the heat from a fire can be used instead of gas
when required. The heat from the-fire enters the tubes, through inlets o³, o³
provided with dampers, not shewn in the drawing.
Above the grate n' is a covering plate p² in which is an opening provided with a
damper for shutting off the draught through the usual flue when requiring to
make use of the cooking apparatus, either or both of the dampers of the inlets o
being at the same time opened according to whether it is required to use one or
both sides of the apparatus.
.
By opening the damper a portion of the heat can pass to the exterior of, and
assist in heating the chamber d, the products of combustion passing away through
the chimney.
The front of the apparatus between the tubes, a is fitted with doors (not shewn
in the drawing) and the box or base el is provided with a water tank and is other-
wise constructed in the manner hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 9,
10 and 11.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:
:-
(1.) An apparatus for producing steam and heating air or water consisting
essentially of a vertically placed tube or tubes, the upper end or ends of which
open into a reservoir communicating with a chamber for receiving and confining
the steam generated by water contained in the said reservoir and tube or tubes, or
direct into the said chamber, or into a chamber for receiving air heated in the said
tube or tubes, one or more straight, n-shaped, or spiral tubes being placed inside
each of the first named tubes for heating the water or air therein, substantially as
set forth and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
(2.) In apparatus for producing steam, the combination of the tubes a and f,
reservoir c, steam chamber d, flue, feed water heater k and water channels o and i
all arranged substantially as, and for the purpose, described and as illustrated in
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings.
(3.) The modified arrangement of the apparatus claimed in the preceding
claiming clause, in which the water tube a is arranged around a furnace in the
form of a jacket, substantially as and for the purpose set forth and as illustrated in
Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings.
(4.) The modified arrangement of the apparatus claimed in the first claiming
clause in which a heating chamber g, jacket and tubes a and are employed at
each end, substantially as set forth and illustrated in Figure 3 of the accompanying
drawings.
(5.) The combination with the apparatus for producing steam herein described
and illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3, of the regulating tank u fitted with the
supply pipe v, valve u, float and connecting lever and roda x, y, a' substantially
as set forth and represented in Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings.
(6.) The use in combination with apparatus for producing steam, of the door
illustrated in Figures 4, 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings, comprising the two
chambers v, r, air inlets y³, ', gas supply pipe a³ having a joint 6' in the form of a
cock the axis of which is in a line with the door hinge, apertures and tubes *
substantially as set forth.
(7.) The modified arrangement of the apparatus adapted for use for marine
purposes or for heating air, in which a feed water heater is dispensed with, and the
chamber dis arranged vertically around a chimney h³ leading from the flue h
substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in Figure 7 of the
accompanying drawings.
(8.) The domestic heating apparatus illustrated in Figure 8 of the accompanying
drawings comprising the tubes a, and c', chamber d, box e¹ and burner g sub-
stantially as set forth.
:

page_text: (9.) The apparatus for heating air illustrated in Figures 9, 10 and 11 of the
accompanying drawings comprising the tubes a and f, perforated chamber d and
box e, containing the tank o and gas burner g, substantially as set forth.
(10.) The modified arrangement of the apparatus claimed in the 9th claiming
clause, in which a separate tube a is employed for each leg of the -shaped tube,
the two tubes a opening into one air or steam chamber d and the inlet leg of the
tube being provided with cross tubes substantially as hereinbefore described
with reference to Figure 12 of the accompanying drawings.
(11.) The cooking apparatus illustrated in Figure 13 of the accompanying
drawings comprising the tubes a and f, the box e and the chamber d containing
the cooking chambers and, o, substantially as set forth...
(12.) The combination with a cooking apparatus constructed of tubes a and ƒ, a
box e and a chamber d containing cooking chambers and o, of the fire grate n
communicating by means of the passages o,o with the interior of the tubes,
substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 13 of the
accompanying drawings.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.