Improvements in Steam Boilers and Steam Condensers.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Sept., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 4th Dec., 1897-Accepted, 22nd Jan.,
1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Steam Boilers and Steam Condensers.
JOHN STEEL DIXON SHANKS, 42, Brougham Street, Belfast, Mechanical Engineer,
JOHN MACCORMAC, 41, King Street, Belfast, Merchant, ROBERT KELLY, Junior,
41, Donegall Street, Belfast, Solicitor, do hereby declare the nature of this in-
vention to be as follows: -
In water tube boilers to provide a means for producing great power in small
space, and to provide the maximum of strength with the minimum of weight, and
we effect these purposes in the following manner.
We use two or more rectangular boxes of steel or other suitable material, placed
apart but connected together by a number of cylindrical tubes of steel, or other
suitable material, the ends of which are let into holes in the walls of the boxes,
and secured by being expanded into grooves in the walls of the holes. Into and
passing through these tubes, are tubes of smaller diameter, they extend to and
beyond the outer wall of rectangular box, and are secured by being screwed into
outer wall and fixed by lock nuts.
T
One or more cylindrical chambers are used to receive the steam from the tubes
and rectangular boxes.
The tubes, both inner and outer, are deeply indented longitudinally by flutings,
which extend to a short distance from each end, the ends being truly cylindrical
and plain, and the ends of inner tubes being screwed.
This combination is enclosed in a metallic casing lined with fire clay blocks.
The fire is placed at one end of and underneath the tubes, and the gases from
it after passing through the spaces surrounding the larger tubes, pass into a
chamber and through the smaller tubes to the chimney.
In Lancashire and Cornish boilers we flute the internal flues and the barrel of
shell, and in multitubular cylindrical boilers the tubes only are fluted, and secured
to the holes in plates by expanding or any other well known method, the ends of
tubes being plain for a short distance.
In steam condensers we use the same arrangement of fluted tubes, one inside
the other, and both joined and secured to rectangular boxes, as in the water tube
boilers; the exhaust steam passing into the boxes, and the space between the outer
and inner tube, the condensing water surrounding the outer tube, and passing
through the inner.
The combination being enclosed in a water tight casing.

page_text: Improvements in Steam Boilers and Steam Condensers.
JOHN STEEL DIXON SILANKS, 42, Brougham Street, Belfast, Mechanical Engineer,
JOHN MACCORMAC, 91, King Street, Belfast, Merchant; ROBERT KELLY, Junior,
41, Donegall Street, Belfast, Solicitor, do hereby declare the nature of this in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly des-
cribed and ascertained in and by the 'following statement:
In water tube boilers and other boilers, to provide a means for producing great
power in small space and to provide the maximum of strength with minimum of
.weight.
In water tube boilers we use a number of tubes of small diameter and any con-
venient length; there is an outer and an inner tube, that is, a small tube is placed
inside one of larger diameter, and the water of the boiler is contained in the aunular
spaces between them. These tubes may be plain and cylindrical, but to provide
for greater heating surface in the boiler, we flute longitudinally, except a short
'distance at ends, either one or both the tubes. We provide for the reception of
the ends of tubes vertical rectangular boxes or headers and into holes in the faces
of boxes, the larger and outer tubes are inserted and fixed by being expanded, and
we prefer as further security, to form grooves in the walls of holes into which the
tubes can be forced by the expander tool.
The inner tubes extend to the outer walls of the vertical headers and are secured
thereto in the following manner. Holes are bored in the outer walls of the headers,
of sufficient diameter to allow of the larger tubes being freely passed through
them; these heles are then tapped out to receive a plug of brass or other suitable
material, the plug being taper and screwed to fit the thread in the hole of header.
The plug is, bored out and screwed to take screwed end of of inside tube and can
be further secured by a lock nut; but preferably we employ the following manner
of securing the inner tube to the outer wall of header. The plug is bored out
parallel and to a diameter larger than that of the inner tube, the ends of which
are turned on the outside to a taper and screwed on inside to take a hollow plug
which is screwed on outside to fit the screwed hole of tube, the neck of this plug
under its head is turned taper. A ring preferably of copper, is fitted into the plain
hole of brass plug having its inner side of the shape of a double cone.
The taper
end of inner tube is let into taper of copper ring and when the hollow plug is
screwed up the copper ring is compressed between the inner tube and cone of plug
and expanded against the hole in brass plug; the combination making a water and
steam tight joint, and permitting of casy removal for repairs or cleaing. We
make the ends of all the tubes larger in diameter than the body of same for the
purpose of easy removal.
The tubes and headers, we make preferably of mild steel, and the headers may
be two or more as desired, and we use a cylinder or cylinders over them for
collecting the steam.
The headers and tubes are encased in walls of fire clay, supported by steel or
iron plates, the fire being underneath the nest of tubes; the gases froin it pass
through the spaces between the outside tubes into a chamber, then through the
inner tubes to the smoke box and chimney.
The tubes we place preferably raised at one end but they may be horizontal.
The outside tubes are fluted on the outside only, the inside being plain; the
inner tube being fluted inside and out.
In Lancashire and Cornish boilers, we flute the furnace and internal flues
longitudinally and in short lengths up to a short distance from the cylindrical

page_text: joints, the flutings being inside and outside of the plates. The shell plates being
fluted in same manner but on the outside only, the water side being plain. In
cylindrical multitubular boilers, we flute the plates of furnaces longitudinally,
and the small tubes also inside and out, and the latter we secure to the tube plates
by the same method as we use for the inner tube of the water tube boiler, with the
exception of the brass plug, the copper ring being pressed against the walls of
holes in tube plate direct.
In steam condensers we use the same arrangement of fluted tubes, one inside the
other, and both joined and secured to rectangular boxes as in the water tube boiler
and both tubes being fluted inside and out; the exhaust steam passing into the
boxes or headers and the space between the outer and inner tube, and the conden-
sing water surrounding the outer tube, and passing through the inner tube, and this
combination being enclosed in a water tight casing.
The accompanying drawings will serve to illustrate the foregoing statement.
Whereon on Sheet 1, Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a water tube boiler, where A. A¹
are headers. B.B.B. the tubes. C the steam receiver C₁ the furnace C" the cas-
ing. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of same, where similar letters refer to the same
parts as in Fig. 1.
Sheet 2, Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of portion of header and outer and inner
tube and manner of securing same to header, where A is header B.B. the tubes.
D the brass plug D¹ the tapered hollow plug. 1" the copper washer.
Fig. 4 shows section of outer and inner tube with flutings.
Sheet 3, Fig. 5 is an elevation of a steam condenser where A. A' are the headers,
B.B.B. the tubes, E the outer casing and F. F the steam and water pipes.
Fig. 6 is an end elevation of condenser where similar letters refer to similar parts
as in Fig. 5.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what wo
claim is:
1. In watertube boilers, the combination of a tube within a tube, one or both
being fluted longitudinally, or both plain placed horizontally or slightly inclined,
joined to headers in the manner described and for the purpose stated.
2. In Lancashire and Cornish boilers the fluting longitudinally of the plates of
furnace, internal flues and cylindrical shell in the manner described.
3. In cylindrical multitubular boilers, the fluting of plates longitudinally of fur-
naces, the fluting of the small tubes, and method of securing same to tube plates
substantially as described.
4. In steam condensers, the combination of a tube within a tube, fluted or
plain, joined to headers and enclosed in casing, substantially as described and
for the purpose stated.
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