IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM AND OTHER BOILERS AND IN MECHANICAL STOKING APPARATUS."
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Sinclair, of Leith, in the County of Mid Lothian,
North Britain, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM AND OTHER
BOILERS AND IN MECHANICAL STOKING APPARATUS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Sinclair at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 23rd May 1877.
GEORGE SINCLAIR, of Leith, in the County of Mid Lothian, North Britain.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM AND OTHER BOILERS AND IN MECHANICAL STOKING
APPARATUS."
This Invention comprises various improvements in steam and other boilers, and
in mechanical stoking apparatus.
One improvement applicable to all kinds of steam boilers, in which the water
used is of a kind liable to yield deposits when heated, consists in leading the feed
pipe inside the boiler into a box or vessel of any convenient shape, and which has
its bottom immersed a short distance. below the boiler water surface. The feed
water overflows from the top of the box, by preference through small holes, and the
box being of a suitable size the water is considerably heated before thus overflow-
ing. A blow-off pipe is fitted to the bottom of the box for periodically removing
deposits.
Besides separating deposits in the manner described, the feed box prevents the
feed water from coming into contact with any highly heated parts of the boiler
before it is heated.
A second improvement relates to boilers of the vertical cylindrical class used for
boiling rags, or other fibrous paper-making materials. In such boilers steam raised
in a separate boiler is employed, and is led down a central vertical pipe placed
inside a larger vomiting pipe.
The improvement consists in fitting a peculiar mouth-piece to the bottom of the
steam pipe, for the purpose of rendering the action of the issuing steam more
effective in inducing a current of the liquid up the vomiting pipe. The mouth-
piece is formed with an annular space with which the end of the steam pipe com-

page_text: municates by radial openings, and this annular space projects up a short distance
round the bottom of the steam pipe, and terminates in an annular orifice, which is
by preference narrower than the lower part of the space. An enlarged mouth is
fitted to the bottom of the vomiting, and at its contraction or throat leads the
liquid into contact with the annular steam jet.
A third improvement relates to the doors of such boilers, as those herein-before
referred to for boiling rags and the like; and consists according to one modification
in fixing a strong angle-section cast-iron frame round the opening, the door being
made of cast iron, and with a groove which engages with the projecting edge of the
frame, and may be packed with gasket. The door is cast with ribs on its outside,
to which ribs wrought-iron bars are bolted, and the bars are connected by elon-
gated holes to a hinge spindle securely fixed at one side. Shackles or bridles
jointed to spindles at the sides are turned over the bars when the door is closed,
and screws tapped through these shackles serve for tightening the door against
its frame.
The construction described is suitable for low pressures, whilst for higher pressures
the door frame is made of wrought iron, and for still, higher pressures a wrought-
iron plate frame is put inside the boiler, and is rivetted through the boiler shell to
the outer frame.
In the improved mechanical stoking apparatus, the fire bars by preference, con-
nected together in pairs, are made to reciprocate by connecting rods and revolving
cranks, and the fuel is fed to them off a horizontal plate, forming the bottom of a
hopper, by a reciprocating bar worked by connecting rods, which are moved by pins
projecting up from the connecting rods of the fire-bars. These pins, enter slots in
the upper connecting rods, and screw pins entered from the ends are used to
virtually shorten or lengthen the slots, and thereby vary the extent of movement as
required.
The-fire bars are made with slightly rounded tops and with notched sides,
except at the inner end, where they are made without the notches, but with
cavities open underneath to keep them cool. There is also partly beneath and
partly beyond the inner ends of the bars a flat water box for keeping them cool, this
box being made with vertical tubular stays, and being connected by two or more
circulating pipes, with the boiler water space, or with an external tank.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said George Sinclair in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 22nd Novem-
ber 1877.
GEORGE SINCLAIR, of Leith, in the County of Mid Lothian, North Britain.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM AND OTHER BOILERS AND IN MECHANICAL STOKING
APPARATUS."
My said Invention comprises various improvements in steam and other boilers
and in mechanical stoking apparatus.
One improvement applicable to all kinds of steam boilers in which the water used
is of a kind liable to yield deposits when heated, consists in leading the feed pipe
inside the boiler into a box or vessel of any convenient shape, and which may have
its bottom immersed a short distance below the water surface, or which may be
entirely in the steam space. The feed water overflows from the top of the box,
by preference through small holes, and the box being of a suitable size, the
water is considerably heated before thus overflowing. A blow-off pipe is fitted to
the bottom of the box for periodically removing deposits.
Besides separating deposits in the manner described, the feed box prevents the
feed water whilst in a cold state from coming into contact with any highly heated
parts of the boiler.
A second improvement relates to boilers of the vertical cylindrical class used
for boiling rags, esparto, or other fibrous paper-making materials, In such
boilers steam raised in a separate boiler is employed, and is led down a central
vertical pipe placed inside a larger vomiting pipe.
The improvement consists mainly in fitting a peculiar mouth-piece, herein-after
particularly described, to the bottom of the steam pipe for the purpose of rendering
the action of the issuing steam more effective in inducing a current of the liquid up
the vomiting pipe.
A third improvement relates to doors and door fittings for boilers, such as those
last herein-before referred to, which receive rags or other materials to be treated
under pressure.
A fourth portion of my improvements relates to mechanical stoking apparatus, in
which the fire-bars, by preference connected together in twos or threes, are inade to
reciprocate by connecting rods and revolving cranks, and the fuel is fed to them
off a horizontal plate forming the bottom of a hopper by a reciprocating bar or
pusher worked by connecting rods coupled to the fire-bar connecting rods in a
simple manner, admitting of easy adjustment.
The fire-bars are of a peculiar improved form, and there is partly beneath and partly
beyond the inner ends of the fire-bars a flat water box for keeping them com-
paratively cool.
And in order that my said Invention, and the manner of performing the same,
may be properly understood, I hereunto append three Sheets of explanatory Draw-
ings, to be herein-after referred to in describing my improvements. In these
Drawings the same reference numerals are used to mark the same, or like parts,
wherever they are.repeated.
Figure 1, on Sheet 1 of the accompanying Drawings, is a longitudinal vertical
section, as taken at the furnace. end of a Cornish boiler, and through one of the flues
thereof. The pipe 1, by which the feed water enters the boiler is at the top, and
projects down into a box 2, inside the boiler, and shown in side elevation in Figure
1; whilst Figure 2 is an end view of it. The water overflows from the box 2, into
the boiler space through a number of small holes 3, near the top. A number of
tubes 4, are fixed through the box 2, for the free access of the steam to insure tlie
rapid heating of the feed water, and so that matters in the water, and which are

page_text: caused to deposit by being heated may be separated before the feed water overflows
from the box. The box 2, is formed with an inclined bottom, and a blow-off pipe
5 is attached to the lower end for periodically blowing out deposited matters,
whilst a door 6 is provided at the end to give access for cleaning the interior.
A baffle plate 7, indicated by dotted lines, is fixed just below the bottom of
the feed pipe 1, to prevent the stirring up of deposited matters by the inward
current of feed water.
The improved mechanical stoking apparatus, forming a fourth part of my
Invention, being shown on Sheet 1 of the accompanying Drawings will be most
conveniently described in this place.
Figure 1 already referred to shows one modification, and a slightly different
modification is shown in Figures 3 and 4, which are respectively a front elevation
and a longitudinal vertical section, whilst Figures 5 to 8 show a fire-bar and Figure 9
the adjustable connecting rod for working the pusher at the bottom of the coal
hopper 8. This hopper 8, is of a common form, having a vertical sliding door 9,
which can be adjusted in height to allow more or less coal to pass into the furnace,
being connected to a counterweighted lever 10 (Figure 2). At the bottom of the
hopper 8 and sliding on a horizontal plate 11 there is a reciprocating pusher 12
(made with thin side pieces 13 projecting inwards to prevent it from canting when
drawn outwards), and this pusher 12 has jointed to it a connecting rod 14 made
and worked as herein-after explained. The fire-bars 15 rest and slide on a front
bearer 16 and upon a round bearing bar 17 near their inner ends, and they are
made to reciprocate by being connected in twos or threes to cranks 18 on a transverse
horizontal shaft 19 carried in front of the boiler end in bearings upon standards 20
fixed upon an iron foundation piece 21. Each set of two or three bars is jointed
by a cross pin to the inner end of a connecting rod 22, the outer end of which is
forked to get it on the crank 18, screw pin 23 being used to enclose the crank in
the fork, and serving also to give motion to the upper connecting rod 14 which
works the pusher 12. This upper connecting rod 14 is shown enlarged and in plan
in Figure 9, and is made with a slot 24 at least as long as the full stroke due to the
crank 18, whilst an adjusting pin 25 is screwed-in from the end, and by setting this
in or out the vertical pin 23, projecting from the lower connecting rod 22, up through
the slot 24, can be made to give the pusher 12 more or less movement. The crank
shaft 19 is driven by means of a pinion 26 and spur wheel 27 from a first motion
shaft having fast and loose pulleys 28 for a driving belt, or it may be driven by a
chain and pulley or otherwise: The fire-bars 15 are of an improved form,
which will be clearly understood from the enlarged views, Figures 5 to 8, Figure 5
being a plan, Figure 6 an end elevation, Figure 7 a side elevation, and Figure 8 an
inverted plan. At their inner ends the fire-bars 15 work without touching over a
transverse water box 29 fixed across the furnace or flue, and which may be plain as
in Figure 1, or formed with vertical tubular stays as in Figure 4.
Figure 10 on Sheet 2 of the accompanying Drawings is a vertical section of a
boiler for treating fibrous paper-making materials as fitted with my second
improvement. The vomiting pipe 30 is formed with a faucet-like enlargement 31
down into which the steam pipe 32 projects.
An improved mouth-piece 33 is fixed on the bottom end of the steam pipe 32, and
is made as shown enlarged and in section in Figure 11, or as similarly shown in
Figure 12. The mouth-piece is formed with an annular space 34, with which the
end of the steam pipe 32 communicates by radial openings 35, and this annular
space projects up a short distance round the bottom of the steam pipe and
terminates in an annular orifice.36 which is by preference narrower than the lower
part of the space 34. At the throat or contraction where the enlarged bottom 31
joins the vomiting pipe 30 the liquid, which drains through the perforated diaphragm
37 and enters the enlarged bottom 31, is led into contact with the annular steam jet
issuing from the orifice 36, and is directed up the vomiting pipe 30 in a forcible and
`effective manner. A few perforations are made in the lower part of the vomiting

page_text: pipe 30 to promote an improved circulation of the liquid through the materials
lying near the centre of the boiler.
Figure 13 is an elevation of a boiler similar to that shown in section in Figure 10,
but as provided with a modification of the improved doors and fittings comprised
in the third part of my Invention. The parts are shown enlarged on Sheet 3 of the
accompanying Drawings, Figure 14 being a plan of the door, Figure 15 a side or edge
view, and Figure 16 an inverted plan. Figure 17 is a plan of the frame, and Figure.
18 is a vertical section of the combined parts. A strong angle-section cast-iron
frame 38 is rivetted round the opening, and the door 39 is made, of cast iron; and
with a groove 40, which engages with the projecting edge 41 of the frame 38, and
may be packed with gasket. The door 39 is cast with ribs 42 on its outside, to
which ribs wrought-iron bars 43 are bolted; and these bars 43 (of which one is
shown separately in side and edge view in Figures 25 and 26) are connected by
elongated holes to a hinge spindle 44 held by eye bolts 45 at one side. Shackles or
bridles 46 jointed on the hinge spindle 44 at one side and on a similar spindle 47 at
the other side are turned over the bars 43 when the door is closed, and screws 48
tapped through the outer ends of these shackles 46 serve for tightening the door 39
against its frame 38, 41.
The construction just described is suitable for low pressures. For higher pressures
I make the frame 38, 41, of malleable iron, and of the form shown in section in
Figure 19, and I make the cover of stronger proportions. For still higher pressures
I make the cover as shown in Figures 20, 21, and 22, which are respectively a plan,
a side or edge view, and an inverted plan, the ribs 42 on the outside being more
numerous, whilst ribs 49 are also added on the inside. The frame 38, 40, for the
highest pressures is made as shown in plan in Figure 23, and in section with the
other parts in Figure 24. It is of malleable iron and is fixed by two rows of rivets,
whilst a strengthening frame 50 of malleable iron is also applied to the inside of the
boiler shell 51, the rivets being passed through both inner and outer frames 50, 38,
The fourth part of my Invention is herein-before described with reference to
Sheet 1 of the accompanying Drawings.
Having thus particularly described my said Invention and the manner of
performing the same, I have to state that I do not restrict myself to the precise
details herein described or delineated, but that what I believe to be novel and original
and claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters
Patent is,―
1. The placing of a box in the interior of a steam boiler, into which box the feed
water is first led, and in which it is heated before overflowing into the main boiler
space substantially as and for the purposes herein-before described.
2. The fitting of an improved mouth-piece, substantially such as is herein-before
described with reference to Figures 10, 11, 12, on Sheet 2 of the accompanying
Drawings, to the bottom end of the steam pipe in boilers of the kind herein-before
referred to in connection with such mouth-piece.
3. The making of the boiler door and accessory parts in any of the improved
modes herein-before described with reference to Figures 14 to 26 on Sheet 3 of the
accompanying Drawings.
4. The combining of the parts of mechanical stoking apparatus, substantially in
the improved manner herein-before described with reference to Figures 1, 3, 4, on
Sheet 1 of the accompanying Drawings.
5. The arrangement of the connecting rods whereby both the fire-bars and the
pushers are worked from the same cranks, and the constructions of the con-
necting rods and means of adjusting the stroke of the upper one as herein-before
described.
6. The improved form of fire-bar shown in Figures 5 to 8 on Sheet 1 of the
accompanying Drawings.

page_text: 7. The arrangement of the broad transverse water box (29) placed beneath and
beyond the inner ends of the reciprocating fire-bars, as herein-before. described.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Sinclair, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Nineteenth day of November, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
Witness,
EDMUND HUNT,
"Patent Agent,
Glasgow.
GEORGE SINCLAIR. (L.S.)