An Improved Water Tube Steam Boller.
Year: 1895

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Water Tube Steam Boller.
I, ANTONIN MONTUPET, of 42 Boulevard Bonne Nouvelle, Paris, in the
French Republic, Engineer, 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 employment of "multi-tubular steam generators or boilers in ships is
becoming more and more general, by reason of the advantage resulting from the
compact nature of such boilers, which enables them to produce a considerable
quantity of steam within a narrow space.
The fundamental conditions on which the construction of these boilers depend are
as follows; the expansion of all "elements" (tubes) should be free; and as lively
a circulation of the water to be converted into steam, as well as of the steam in
suspension in the water, should be maintained. Nearly all the accidents that have
hitherto occurred, either in the performance of tests, or where the boilers were in
actual operation in sea-going vessels, must be ascribed to the non-compliance with
either one or the other of those conditions or indeed with both. Where the
constituent elements of the boiler are hindered from freely expanding, more or less
serious leakages are likely to occur, thereby necessitating the stoppage of the
operation of the boiler for the time being; and where the circulation of the water
and steam is not properly provided for there form what may be described as
pockets" of steam which cause the metal to be superheated in parts and render it
liable to burst.
66
It is necessary that the steam generated, in a marine boiler, should vary
quantitively within very wide limits, say, from 15 or 16 kilogrammes per square
meter of heating surface, for economical operation-up to 30 or 35 kilogrammes
or more for the highest speeds.
These requirements can only, however be fulfilled so long as the conditions above
named are strictly complied with; and the more nearly the highest standard of
such compliance is approached, the more active the process of vaporization or steam
generation will prove to be, and the more the figures above given will be
exceeded.
It is also necessary that a marine boiler should be easy to clean and, consequently,
it is imperative that all its parts may be readily inspected and removed from
their places or taken to pieces, if required, so that other corresponding parts in
proper working order may be instantly substituted for them.
It has been the applicant's object to fulfill these desiderata in as perfect a manner
as possible.
The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings
in which;
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a complete boiler constructed in accordance
with this invention; the section being taken longitudinally.
From this figure it will be seen that the improved boiler mainly consists of a
water and steam reservoir or tank A below which a sheet metal chamber B is
secured by rivets or bolts. A partition E divides this chamber into two com-
partments B and C. The boiler chamber B is constructed with metal plates
strengthened by rigid cross ties, similarly to locomotive engine boilers.
Figures 2 and 3 are partial longitudinal sections of the boiling or steam generating
tubes F which, as will be seen, are secured within the partition E, and also in the

page_text: rear wall of the boiler chamber B through which they extend; and, for this
purpose, they carry at their ends on that side, rings G G¹ (Figure 2), soldered
or otherwise suitably secured. These rings are turned taper, so as to form
metallic joints in the corresponding apertures H H¹ the walls or edges of which are
also turned taper and which occupy corresponding situations both in the partition E
and the rear wall of the boiler chamber B; the free ends of the said tubes F being
closed by screw plugs I.
These boiler tubes F are secured in position through the medium of holes or
perforations in the plate E such holes or perforations being provided in
corresponding situations so that, if it be desired to remove a tube, it is only
necessary to undo the plug joint and this may be done in a few minutes.
The tube F may be opened at both ends, whereby their thorough and rapid
cleaning is greatly facilitated, inasmuch as they may be readily removed and
replaced, no matter how often, without their being any fear of a leakage resulting
from the operation.
Within each of the tubes F there is arranged another tube K of smaller diameter,
maintained in a concentric position throughout its length by small collars L made
of thin sheet metal and forming a free joint in front by the aid of another
collar M provided with perforated wings or lugs, by means of which it may be
readily removed.
The boiler tubes F are thus retained in position at their front ends, at two points,
in the partition E and in the rear wall of the chamber B, being at the same time
supported freely at their rear ends. The internal pressure of the boiler acts upon
the whole surface of each of the tubes F, and the greater such pressure, the tighter
the joints of the tubes will be closed.
The portion of the front ends of the tubes F, which is comprised within the
compartment C of the chamber B is perforated at its periphery, the ports O, thus
formed, affording a ready means of communication with the said compartment C.
The furnace grate is placed underneath the series of tubes, taking up the whole
part of its length.
The tubes F being secured in position at one of their ends only are thus enabled
to expand freely, no matter how intense the furnace heat may be.
After the boiler has been filled with water up to the normal level, by heating
the tubes F, the water will rise in each of them by reason of its diminishing
density, and consequently will reach the orifices or ports O, of the said tubes F in
the rear portion C of the chamber B, and then rise to enter the tank or reservoir A.
This displacement of water has for its result the creation of a partial vacuum; but
the water is immediately replaced by water from the compartment B¹ of the said
chamber B, descending through the small internal or circulating tubes K.
As soon as steam begins to be generated, it brings about a very material
diminution in the density of the water comprised between the tubes F and K.
Besides, such steam rapidly rises within the inclined tube F while the water also
rises with an ever increasing speed.
The circulation thus created will be the more energetic the more steam is
generated; and as the sectional area open for the discharge of the fluid veins
(water and steam) issuing from the tubes F may be as large as is requisite or
desirable, such circulation and steam generation will in this arrangement attain a
degree of intensity utterly unknown in other types of steam boilers.
The muddy sediments, usually forming in boilers of this class, cannot collect
here; nor are any salts in suspension liable to be deposited within the tubes; the
very active circulation herein maintained preventing this.
With a view to
facilitating the concentration and expulsion of these muddy impurities or salts, the
partition E of the chest or chamber B is extended into the upper reservoir A, and
on its front side there is arranged a receiver D, the upper edge of which is a few
centimetres below the lowest level of the water in the said receiver D. The water
charged with salts in suspension, rising from the compartment C at the same time
as the steam, passes over the receiver D, and then returns to the compartment B',

page_text: A
owing the calcareous salts to become deposited within the said receiver
ere there takes place no agitation of liquid, so that the said salts may be
adily extracted therefrom. A manhole enables the reservoir A to be thoroughly
eaned out. As shown in Figure 1 of the drawings the boiler chamber B made
of metal plates strengthened by means of cross ties serves as a front face
r the steam boiler so that the latter may take up a minimum space.
uble sheet metal face may however be provided, in order to better retain the heat.
he chamber B also enables the tubes F to be arranged in lozenge shape, so as to
rn the hot gases from the furnace, and the fuel, to the best possible account.
The upper steam reservoir A may be arranged transversely as shown in Figure 1
the drawings, or longitudinally, according to the space available.
The chamber or chest B, constructed or cross-tied metal plates may, in some
ses, be replaced by chests of malleable cast iron or cast steel, without loss of any
dvantages of the boiler.
The taper rings G G of the movable tubes F might also, if necessary, be
ubstituted for by corresponding shoulders g gl as shown in Figure 3, which are
ntegral with the tubes F at predetermined points.
The plugs P which close the orifices J in the front wall of the chamber B are
rranged for closing automatically, their number being preferably as large as
In other words, they should be of conical
ossible, as illustrated in Figure 3.
hape, so as to form a metal joint (or contact between metal surfaces) in those of the
aid orifices J which are also conical. In order to facilitate the arrangement of
be conical plugs P in position, other auxiliary plugs P¹ may be employed, as
shown in Figures 1 and 2, such plugs P being arranged at a certain distance
rom the plugs P', and their number being sufficient to enable the conical
plugs P to be inserted through the apertures which they close and which are
sufficiently large for the purpose, and to be arranged in position within their
corresponding orifices.
The improved boiler is fit not only for purposes of navigation, but may be
used to advantage for land purposes also; and, inasmuch as with this arrangement,
the concussion resulting from the rocking movements of ships may be disregarded,
the tubes F may be a great deal longer than they have hitherto, so as by means of
baffle plates to form return flues, whereby a better utilization of the fuel is ensured.
In such a case the baffle plate or plates are preferably transversely fitted upon the
tubes and serve to divert the gases in their course.
The several parts or elements of the improved steam boilers may, as will be
understood, without departing from the principle of the invention, be made of any
suitable shapes or dimensions and of any metals or materials according to
circumstances.
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. The complete steam boiler, substantially as described above and illustrated by
way of example in the accompanying drawings; and more especially the following
distinguishing features thereof;
1. The combination with a steam reservoir A of an internal chest or chamber B
connected to the said reservoir communicating therewith, and divided into two
compartments B and C by a partition E supporting the rear wall of the said
chest or chamber B, and the front ends of the steam generating tubes F, which
are adapted to be removed and replaced through apertures closed with plug
such as P, and provided in the front wall of the said chest or chamber B
while their opposite ends are retained in position 30 as to ensure the free
expansion of the said tubes F which, through orifices O provided in the
peripheries of their front ends are placed in communication with the compartment (
5 of the said chest or chamber B.
0
2. The arrangement within the steam generating tubes F of circulatio

page_text: tubes K maintained in a position concentric with the tubes F by stiffening
collars L; such circulation tubes having their rear ends so arranged as to
terminate at a certain distance from the bottoms of the said tubes F which on
that side are closed with screw plugs; while their front ends terminate in, or
lead to, the compartment B¹ of the chest or chamber B; such arrangement, in
combination with that referred to in the first claim, ensuring an energetic
circulation of both the water and steam throughout the steam generating parts of
the boiler.
3. The arrangement within the steam reservoir A upon the front face of the
extension of the partition E of the chamber B, of a receiver D, wherein, by
reason of the energetic circulation of the water and steam, obtained through the
combination of the arrangements referred to in the first and second claim
respectively and muddy matters or salts contained in the water converted into steam
are deposited so as to render their eventual discharge easy.
Dated this 30th day of September 1895.
MARKS & CLERK,
18 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.