CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN GENERATING AND HEATING STEAM, GAS, AND " PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATIONERATINGTING VAPOURS, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREFOR
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Julian Bernard, of No. 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields,
London, but at present residing at No. 50, George Square, Glasgow, in
the County of Lanark, North Britain, Gentleman, for the Invention of
"CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN GENERATING AND HEATING STEAM, GAS, AND
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Julian Bernard at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 18th
May 1866.
I, JULIAN BERNARD, of No. 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, but at
present residing at No. 50, George Square, Glasgow, in the County of
Lanark, North Britain, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN GENERATING AND HEATING STEAM,
GAS, AND VAPOURS, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREFOR,"
to be as follows, that is to say:―
This Invention consists of three principal heads.
Firstly, it relates to the impregnating or charging suitable materials such as
felted or woven fabrics with water or other fluid suitable for the production of

page_text: steam, vapour, or gas, and to the disposing of such materials in suitable steam,
vapour, or gas generators.
Secondly, it relates to an improved steam boiler generator or superheater,
but which is more especially adapted to the production of steam or vapour,
when the water or fluid from which such steam or vapour is produced is
evaporated in the manner herein-after described.
Thirdly, it relates to an improved method and means of applying heat to
boilers or generators.
In carrying this Invention into practice a generator is made consisting of
a series of compartments which may be either of circular, rectangular, or
other convenient form.
The compartments under one modification are constructed with their upper
and lower alternate ends closed so that a series of either concentric or parallel
or uniform chambers or cells are thereby produced. In each cell which has
its upper end open a circular framing is suspended from a ring or rings, bars,
or other means of support which rest or are fixed to the edges or sides of the
upper part of the chamber or cell, and secured into or around the framing
or support is a layer or layers of some largely absorbent material, such as
rough canvas, felt, or other fabric capable of holding considerable quantities
of water in suspension. The upper part of each frame is provided with a
gutter or tube, into which water is continually admitted in such quantities as
may be required, and the upper part of the absorbent substance is connected to
the tube or gutter, thereby obtaining or receiving a continued supply of water.
Heat is applied to the cells or chambers whose openings are on the lower side
or ends of the generator, and the heat is thus very rapidly conducted through
the plates forming the sides of each cell to the absorbent material containing
the suspended water or other fluid, the water is by this means speedily driven
off into steam, and as the evaporation continues more water is supplied in
the manner herein-before described. It is preferred to apply atmospheric
air in a highly rarified and heated condition for the purpose of generating
the steam in lieu of applying the heat directly, which heated air may be
forced into the generators or heaters by means of a fan, blowing cylinder, or
otherwise. It is to be understood that a vessel similar to the foregoing,
that is, a vessel composed of a series of chambers or cells into which steam
or gas is admitted, may be used for the superheating of steam, gases, and
vapours.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Julian Bernard in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
17th November 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JULIAN
BERNARD, of No. 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, but at present residing at
No. 50, George Square, Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain,
Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eighteenth day of May, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the twenty-ninth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Julian Bernard, Her special license that I, the said Julian
Bernard, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as 1, the
said Julian Bernard, my exccutors, administrators, or assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVE-
MENTS IN GENERATING AND HEATING STEAM, GAS, AND VAPOURS, AND IN THE
MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEBEFOB," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Julian Bernard, my executors or administrators, by
an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner;
the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great.
Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the
date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, tho said Julian Bernard, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, and to the
letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say:―
My said Invention consists of three principal heads.
Firstly, it relates to the impregnation or charging suitable materials such
as felted or woven fabrics with water or other fluids suitable for the production
of steam, vapour, or gas, and to the disposing of such materials in suitable,
steam, vapour, or gas generators.
Secondly, it relates to an improved steam boiler, generator, or superheater,
but which is more especially adapted to the production of steam or vapour

page_text: where the water or fluid from which such steam or vapour is produced is
evaporated in the manner herein-after described.
Thirdly, it relates to an improved method and means of applying heat to
boilers or generators.
In carrying this Invention into practice a generator is made consisting of a
series of compartments which may be either of circular, rectangular, or other
convenient form.
The compartments under one modification are constructed with their upper
and lower alternate ends closed, so that a series of either concentric or
parallel or uniform chambers or cells are thereby produced. In each cell
which has its upper end open a circular framing is suspended from a ring or
rings, bars, or other means of support which rest on or are fixed to the edges
or sides of the upper part of the chamber or cell, and secured into or around
the framing or support is a layer or layers of some largely absorbent material,
such as rough canvas, felt, or other fabric capable of holding considerable
quantities of water in suspension. The upper part of each frame is provided
with a gutter or tube, into which water is continually admitted in such
quantities as may be required, and the upper part of the absorbent material
is connected to the tube or gutter, thereby obtaining or receiving a continual
supply of water. Heat is applied to the cells or chambers whose openings are
on the lower side or ends of the generator, and the heat is thus very rapidly
conducted through the plates forming the sides of each sell to the absorbent
materials containing the suspended water or other fluid, the water is by this
means speedily driven off into steam, and as the evaporation continues more
water is supplied in the manner herein-before described. It is preferred to
apply atmospheric air in a highly rarified and heated condition for the purpose
of generating the steam in lieu of applying the heat directly, which heated
air may be forced into the generators or heaters by means of a fan, blowing
cylinder, or otherwise. It is to be understood that a vessel similar to the
foregoing may be used for the superheating of steam, gases, and vapours,
as well as for effecting other objects where the application of heat is
required.
The accompanying two Sheets of Drawings illustrate my Invention and the
means and manner of carrying the same into effect.
Figure 1 (Sheet 1) is an elevation of the improved beating and generating
apparatus, partly in section; Figure 2 (Sheet 1) is a vertical section of the
same; Figure 3 (Sheet 1) is a horizontal section on the line A, B, on which
the steam pipe C is shewn, though the last named is situated above the
sectional line; Figure 4 (Sheet 1) is an enlarged section of the gutter and

page_text: pipe Q, through which the water or other fluid is distributed to the absorbent
fabric or material, which for brevity I will call the "fluid holder; " Figure 4*
(Sheet 1) represents an enlarged view of a portion of a "fluid holder" where
the fabric or material forming it is shewn in section. The top edges h, h, are
parted so as to form a hollow space, into which the fluid is delivered from
the gutter, and from which it is taken up and absorbed throughout its entire
extent; Figure 5 (Sheet 1) represents a carrier or foundation plate on which
the several combined parts forming the apparatus are placed and secured.
The outlines Figure 6 and 6', on Sheet 2 of the Drawings, represent a
hollowed or chambered plato on which the generator is placed in lieu of a
furnace, and may be employed when the apparatus is to be heated by means
of gases or heated air instead of ordinary fuel; Figure 7 (Sheet 2) repre-
sents an elevation of a part or portion of the fluid holder shewing the manner
and means by which it is secured together and retained in proper position.
with relation to other parts; d represents a metallic strip with an eye taking
on to the hook I; e represents a wire or cord for securing the materials as
shewn. Figures 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 on the same Sheet represent a special
adaptation and arrangement of the generator and parts connected therewith,
whereon the improved system is carried out with horizontal flues; Figure 8
is a side elevation, partly in section, on line C, D; Figure 9 is a plan in
partial section; Figure 10 is a transverse section on the line E, F; Figure 11
is likewise a transverse section of the fire-box on line G, II; Figure 12
represent a furnace door which may be placed on Figure 11. In this
arrangement the "fluid holder" or holders are arranged and distributed in
the generator T, and limited to it, the fire-box U being taken up by the
furnace and water space. K, K, K, on the various Figures represent flues,
and L, L, L, shew the recesses or spaces in which are contained the fluid
holders M, M, M. These latter are suspended or held by the hooks 1, 1, 1,
by means of straps 2, 2, 2, which together with the wires 3, 8, 3, retain the
fluid holder in the proper position relatively to the other parts. The manner
in which these latter parts are held and secured together is more fully shewn
in Figure 7, Sheet 2. The gutter or pipe N is shewn in section in Figure 2,
and in an enlarged form at Figure 4. R, R, R, represent pipes furnished
with suitable cocks for taking away and regulating the quantity of water in
the generator; S, S, is a pipe which descends into the spaces or recesses L, L,
for the purpose of conveying the steam into the main pipe C. The fluid
holders being parted for these pipes as well as the feed pipes a plate O is
secured to the gutter N in order to prevent the fluid from being improperly
distributed on issuing from the feed pipe Q. P, P, P, are rings which serve

page_text: the
purpose of rendering the spaces L, L, steam-tight as shown; the lower
extremities of theso spaces are secured by being rivetted together in the
manner illustrated. Q, Q, Q, represent feed pipes provided with suitable
cocks or valves for the purpose of regulating the supply of liquid to the "fluid
holders." The fire-box, Figure 11, containing the furnace and water space
are attached to the part T by the flanges V and V. W is a feed pipe, and
W is a pipe which establishes a communication between the two parts and
regulates the distribution of water in them. The pipe a forms the steam
communication between the two parts. The gutters N, N, are specially
formed and adapted to this arrangement, as shewn in plan, Figure 9. A pipe
leads from the feed pipe W (but which is not shewn in the Drawing, for
conveying the water to the gutters. This modification of the apparatus is
furnished with cocks similar to and for the same purpose as that shewn on
Sheet I. at Figures 2 and 3, both varieties of forms of the apparatus being
furnished with suitable guages and safety valves. f, f, indicate a superheater
which can be employed in connection with this arrangement, the advantages of
using which is readily understood. When dispensed with an ordinary hood
or smoke box is made use of, and which may be attached by a flange g to the
generator. The dotted line z, z, indicates the opening or flue for carrying
away the products of combustion. (The same letters indicating a space for
the same purpose at Figure 8 on Sheet 2 of the Drawings); but which
may be arranged in any position as found convenient when the latter arrange-
ment is adopted. By the use or employment of these "fluid holders" any
sediment or substance which may be deposited or formed after the formation
of steam, either from fresh or salt water, will be deposited or formed in such
holders instead of the generators. The metal forming such generators will
thus be kept free from incrustation or deposits which so seriously impair their
heat-conducting power. When the fluid holders get inconveniently charged
or saturated with such impurities the holders can be readily removed either
by washing them or by their entire removal and substituted by others.
consider my Invention to be specially adapted for generating steam or vapour
when mineral oils, gas, or spirits are employed as a means of heating, as well
as for ordinary fuel. And I wish it to be understood that I do not confine
or limit my claim to the precise manner of carrying out this Invention, as
shown on the Drawings, the main object of my Invention being to obtain a
large amount of heating and evaporating surface for producing a large volume
of vapour or steam in an extremely limited space.
I
Having now described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention,
and how the same is to be carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion

page_text: that I do not limit or confine myself to the precise details shown on the
Drawings, as the same may be varied or modified; but what I do claim is
the use and employment of absorbent fabrics described and referred to as the
"fluid holders," substantially as described and illustrated.
In witness whereof, I, the said Julian Bernard, have to this my Speci-
cation set my band and seal, the Seventeenth day of November, One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
J. BERNARD. (L.S:)