IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM BOILERS OR GENERATORS."
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Hepburn, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster,
Engineer, for the Invention of " IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM BOILERS OR
GENERATORS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Hepburn at the Office
.
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th July 1877.
GEORGE HEPBURN, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer.
PROVEMENTS IN STEAM BOILERS OR GENERATORS."
" IM-.
This Invention relates more especially to marine steam boilers or boilers of large
diameter, and has for its object to provide simple and efficient means whereby
straining and other ill effects, due to the unequal expansion and contraction of the
top and bottom of such boilers or generators, shall be prevented.
For this purpose I construct or form such boilers of two or more annular shells,
preferably two, and join such shells together by means of ring-like connecting pieces
or joints, having a curved, grooved, channeled, or like form in cross section. The
jointing pieces and the shells may be connected together by rivetting.
The curved, channeled, or like form of the connecting piece allows of unequal
expansion and contraction taking place without injuriously affecting the boiler
shells.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said George Hepburn in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 19th January
1878.
GEORGE HEPBURN, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer. "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN STEAM BOILERS OR GENERATORS."
This Invention relates more especially to marine steam boilers or boilers of large
diameter, and has for its object to provide simple and efficient means whereby
straining and other ill effects, due to the unequal expansion and contraction of the
top and bottom of such boilers or generators, shall be prevented.
For this purpose I construct or form such boilers of two or more annular shells,
preferably two, and join such shells together by means of ring-like connecting pieces
or joints having a curved, grooved, channeled, or like form in cross section. The
jointing pieces and the shells may be connected together by rivetting.
The curved, channeled, or like form of the connecting piece allows of unequal
expansion and contraction taking place without injuriously affecting the boiler
shells.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a marine steam boiler or generator, illustrative of
my improvements. Here a, a¹, are two annular shells connected together by
means of the ring-like piece or joint b rivetted thereto. The said piece or joint
b is curved outwards, as shown, for the purpose of allowing of unequal expansion of
the top and bottom of the shells a, a'. The ends c, and flues, and other parts d of
the boiler or generator, are constructed in any ordinary or desired manner.
Fig. 2 is a view showing the shells a, a', connected together by two curved
connecting rings or joints b, b', one inside and the other outside the boiler or
generator.
Fig. 3 shows the shells a, a', connected by an internal curved ring or joint b.
It will be evident that more than two shells, and one curved, grooved, or channeled
ring or joint may be employed in the length of the boiler, that the ring or joint, or
rings or joints may be connected to the shells by rivetting or welding, and that
they may be placed internally or externally, or both, and that the ring or rings may
be constructed in two or more pieces, and that they may not extend completely
round the boiler or over a section only. It will further be ovident that sections or
lengths of the said curved ring or joint may be applied in various parts of boilers,
as for instance, in the lower part of fire boxes.
Having now described and illustrated my said Invention in such manner that
others will be enabled to carry my improvements into effect, I claim, connecting
together the annular shells a of a steam boiler or generator, by means of the ring or
joint, or rings or joints b, constructed and arranged substantially as and for the
purposes set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Hepburn, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, the Seventeenth day of January, in the year of our Lord, One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
Witness to signature of G. Hepburn,
JAMES RADE,
Draughtsman,
132, Windsor St.,
THOS. GEO. MARTIN,
Liverpool.
Engineer,
Island Road,
Garston.
GEO. HET BURN.
(L.S.)