IMPROVEMENTS IN VERTICAL STEAM BOILERS
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Shanks and James Gordon Lyon, Engineers, both
.
of Arbroath, in the County of Forfar, in Scotland, for an Invention of
IMPROVEMENTS IN VERTICAL STEAM BOILERS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Shanks and James
Gordon Lyon at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 28th
February 1881.
JAMES SHANKS and JAMES GORDON LYON, Engineers, both of Arbroath, in the
County of Forfar, in Scotland. "IMPROVEMENTS IN VERTICAL STEAM BOILERS."
Our Invention relates to improvements in vertical steam boilers whereby
simplicity, economy, efficiency, and other advantages are obtained.
In carrying out our Invention the boiler consists of an outer casing or shell
within which, at a suitable distance therefrom, is arranged an inner casing con-
stituting the outer wall of the water and steam space, whilst the inner wall of the
latter is formed by the internal fire box, the sides of which are taper, diverging
downwards. The water and steam space is terminated at its lower part by a.
junction of the outer wall with the fire box at a suitable distance from the bottom,
and at its upper part by a cover of a convex or other convenient shape at a suitable
distance from the top. The upper part of the fire box is made of a form adapted to
ensure the maximum effect being obtained from the products of combustion. For
this purpose we attach to the upper ends of the taper sides of the fire box at the
exterior of the same a tube plate, and connect the space above the said plate with
the space below the bottom of the steam and water space by means of one or more
rows of vertical or inclined tubes, and we make the crown of the fire box by
preference to project or dip in the centre, whereby we obtain increased heating
surface. The products of combustion from the fire are caused to pass beneath the
crown of the fire box, then descend through the tubes which traverse the water
space to the jacket or chamber surrounding the latter, whence they escape by the
chimney; or the products of combustion may be taken from the bottom of the
boiler by a chimney direct without passing through a casing around the boiler.
The fire box may also be provided with conical tubes if desired.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said James Shanks and James Gordon Lyon in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 27th August 1881.
"
JAMES SHANKS and JAMES GORDON LYON, Engineers, both of Arbroath, in the
County of Forfar, in Scotland. IMPROVEMENTS IN VERTICAL STEAM BOILERS."
Our said Invention relates to improvements in vertical steam boilers whereby
simplicity of construction, efficiency of heating surface, combined with economy of
fuel are obtained.
In carrying out our said Invention the boiler consists of the usual outer casing
or shell, and fittings with an external combustion chamber or fire box peculiarly
formed so as to obtain simplicity with the maximum amount of heating surface.
For this purpose the body of the said chamber or box is formed by preference
slightly conical, with an enlargement at the crown in which is formed a conical
recess or indentation. Circulating tubes are connected with the crown of the
box which pass down outside the body of the said box to a circular tube plate
forming the top of the flue in communication with the chimney.
The products of combustion formed from the furnace pass up the chamber
and become radially deflected by the conical indentation in the crown when
they pass down the circulating tubes in connection with chimney flues; the water
circulates about the extension of the combustion chamber and tubes in the usual
manner.
And in order that our said Invention may be fully understood, we shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose shall refer
to the several Figures on the annexed Sheet of Drawings, the same letters of
reference indicating corresponding parts in all the Figures.
Figures 1, 2, and 3 of the accompanying Drawings represent a vertical section,
front elevation, and borizontal section respectively of a vertical steam boiler con-
structed and arranged according to our said Invention.
A is the outer shell or casing of the boiler provided with conveniently arranged
internal strengthening gusset pieces or stays, and fitted with safety valve, gauges,
cocks, and usual appendages B in the combustion chamber of tapering circular
form provided with an enlarged head C, having a conical recess or indentation c
formed in the crown plate c¹; b is the furnace; 6¹, the door for stoking; and b?
the ash pan; D are a series of circulating tubes for the products of combustion
which pass down from the underside of the enlarged head of the combustion
chamber at d to the annular tube plate d' forming the crown of the flue E leading
to the chimney F. The tubes D may be arranged vertically or obliquely so as to
be parallel with the tapering sides of the chamber B.
By this arrangement great effective heating surface is obtained, priming is
avoided, and the tubes are capable of being readily cleansed, whilst all the parts
are of easy access so as to give every facility for repairing. No firebrick deflectors
or linings are used, and therefore all annoyances arising therefrom are avoided.
The products of combustion formed within the chamber B ascend, taking the
direction indicated by the arrow, and are radially deflected by the conical
indentation c in the crown plate, whence they are caused to pass down the series
of tubes D to the annular flue E in communication with the chimney F, by which
the products make their final exit to the atmosphere.
According to a modified arrangement the products of combustion may be caused
to pass from the tubes through a jacket or casing surrounding the boiler, and escape
by a chimney provided at the top of same.
It is obvious that the heating surface of the tubes may be increased by
multiplying the number of tubes, which may be arranged if desired in concentric

page_text: series around the combustion chamber, and communicating with the crown and
flue plate.
Having now described the nature of our said Invention, and the manner in
which the same is or may be used or carried into effect, we would observe in
conclusion that what we consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim
as the Invention secured to us by the herein before in part recited Letters
Patent is,-
The peculiar construction, arrangement, and combination of parts constituting
a vertical steam boiler, substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in
the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, we, the said James Shanks and James Gordon Lyon,
have to this our Specification set our hands and seals, the Twenty sixth
day of August, One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.