CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN' STEAM BOILERS OR GENERATORS
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Edward Gedge, of the Firm of John Gedge
and Son, of No. 11, Wellington Street, Strand, in the County of Mid-
dlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN'
STEAM BOILERS OR GENERATORS."-A communication from abroad by
John Lochhead and Charles Arthur Mathieu, both of San Francisco,
California
aled the 9th August 1867, and dated the 13th February 1867,
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Edward Gedge at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
13th February 1867.'
'I, WILLIAM EDWARD GEDGE, of the Firm of John Gedge and Son, of
No. 11, Wellington Street, Strand, in the County of Middlesex, Patent
Agent; do hereby declare the nature of the said 'Invention for "CERTAIN.
IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM BOILERS OR GENERATORS," a communication to me
from abroad by John Lochhead and Charles Arthur Mathieu, both of San
Francisco, California, to be as follows :—
The object of this Invention is to improve the circulation of the water in
a boiler to expose a large amount of heating surface in a small space, and
to do away with the disastrous effects of explosion by making the boiler in
[Price 8d.]

page_text: small sections of a novel construction. as shewn in the accompanying
Drawing forming part of this Provisional Specification.
This Invention may be divided into two parts, first, the combination of a
heart or centre chamber with two side chambers connected with the centre
chamber by tubes, in order to produce an upward current of steam and water
in the central chamber and a downward current in the side chambers, as
described and shewn in the accompanying Drawing.
Second, a boiler composed entirely of small sections, having a perfect cir-
culation, madein such a way as to admit a current passing up through openings
provided for that purpose at or near the centre of each section, and admit a
downward current to pass through openings at or near, each end of the section,
said openings to beconnected together by anopening running through the whole
length of the section, so as to allow a free circulation throughout the section.
A section may be composed of two tubes and three castings, as shewn in
Drawing, castings being screwed (or otherwise fastened) on the ends of the
tubes; or each section may be cast in one piece if desired. These sections
are held together by rods or bolts passing down through the openings at
centre and at both ends, made for the purpose of circulation. The sections.
are placed together on the top of each other in such a manner that three
openings in one section will correspond, with three openings in another sec-
tion (as shewn in the Drawing) until the required size of boiler is obtained,
small plates or washers being put on the openings on top and bottom of the
boiler, and the rods passed through the washers. and sections and firmly
screwed together, the whole being placed in a sheet-iron casing, the sections
being placed over the fire at the usual distance, the flame passing up through
among the sections in a zig-zag direction towards the chimney, about two-
thirds of the sections being filled with water, the remaining space being
steam room and superheated, surface.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1, a vertical section of boiler. with front plates removed, in order to
show the sections. a are the tubes with castings attached, as represented at
Figure 3; 6. is the steam pipe; c, the bolts running down through the sections
binding them together, the faces of said sections being planed so as to render
them steam-tight. Feed pipes can be introduced anywhere near the bottom
into one or more of the sections. d is the furnace; e, grate-bars; is the ash-
pit; g, the smoke pipe. Figure 2 is an end view of the above, similar letters
referring to corresponding parts, the whole being composed of sections, as
shewn at Figure 3. Figure 3 being composed of two tubes and three castings

page_text: cast on or otherwise fastened to the ends of the tubes, namely, A shewing the
side view of section; B, ground plan of the same, showing holes for passing
rods down through the sections; C being the side view of alternate section, and
D ground plan of the same, grooves being cast vertically in the sides of the
alternate section to allow the rods to pass; the rods passing down through
the centre of the sections in one row and on each side of the section in thenext
row. Figure 4 shewing method of constructing the boiler in sections, com-
posed of one tube and two castings, bolts passing down through sections, as
described in Figure 1, ends of section being elevated over the middle of
furnace to allow the fire to impinge with greator force on the castings, in
order to create an upward current in the centre of the boiler, the sections
being connected by a small steam drum, as shewn at letter b, Figure 5, end
view of Figure 4. Figure 6, views of the sections required to make boilers, as
shewn at Figure 4. Figure 7 showing how the boiler may be made of sections
with one casting and one tube, the the tubes being fastened into a tube
sheet in the usual way; w being the water space; s, steam drum; p, pipe for
returning water that may be carried up steam drum. The tubes being set at
an angle above the furnace, so that the fire may impinge against tube sheet of
boiler plate to cause an upward circulation of water and steam in the same.
Figure 8 being an end view of Figure 7. Figure 9 showing how a current
may be obtained in a boiler of a cylindrical form by means of an outward
chamber and a central chamber, the central chamber hanging down over the
centre of the fire, the fire passing up through upright tubes in centre chamber,
and also passing up in zig-zag between water tubes radiating from central
chamber to outside chamber, and finally passing through fire tubes toward
the chimney. Figure 10 being a ground plan of Figure 9.
Principle and operation of the boiler, namely, upward and downward
currents produced by the parts of boiler exposed to higher degrees of heat
for the upward current and lower degrees of heat for the downward current,
centre part of sections in Figure 1 being exposed to a greater amount of heat,
and the ends of sections, by reason of the fire passing up on each side of
castings over the centre of the fire-place, causing a rapid upward current,
producing a rush of water from the sides towards the centre to supply the
rapid evaporation, the same water that rises up the centre passing towards
the sides to supply the continual demand. On account of the perfect
circulation of this boiler the usual amount of steam room will not be required,
the steam by its levity rising to the upward portion of the boiler, the water
being separated from the steam at the water level of the boiler, and drawn
towards the sides by the downward current, two-thirds of the tubes being

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Edward Gedge in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 10th August 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
EDWARD GEDGE, of the Firm of John Gedge and Son, of No. 11, Wellington
Street, Strand, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirtieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said William Edward Gedge, Her special licence that I. the said William
Edward Gedge, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
I, the said William Edward Gedge, my executors, administrators, and 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
IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM BOILERS OR GENERATORS," a communication to me
from abroad by John Lochhead and Charles Arthur Mathieu, both of Sau
Francisco, California, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
William Edward Gedge, my executors or administrators, by an instrument
in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in
what manuer 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, the said William Edward Gedge, do hereby
declare the nature of the 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 Sheet of Drawing
hereunto annexed, and forming part of this Specification, and to the figures
an: letters of reference placed thereon, similar letters of reference being
placed upon and denoting similar parts where such parts appear or may be
seen at each of the Figures respectively:-

page_text: This Invention consists in improving the circulation of the water in a
boiler, also in exposing a large amount of heating surface in a small space,
and in doing away with the disastrous effects of explosion by making the
boiler in small sections of a novel construction, as shewn in the annexed
Sheet of Drawing.
This Invention may be divided into two parts, firstly, the combination of a
heart or centre chamber, with two side chambers connected with the centre
chamber by tubes, in order to produce an upward current of steam and water
in the central chamber, and a downward current in the side chambers, as
herein-after described and illustrated on the Drawing hereto annexed.
Secondly, a boiler composed entirely of small sections, having a perfect
circulation made in such a way as to admit a current passing up through
openings provided for that purpose at or near the centre of each section, and
admitadownward current to pass through openings at or near each end of the
section, said openings to be connected together by an opening running through
the whole length of the section, so as to allow a free circulation through-
out the section. A section may be composed of two tubes and three castings,
the castings being screwed (or otherwise fastened) on the ends of the tubes, or
each section may be cast in one piece if desired; these sections are held
together by rods or bolts passing down through the openings at centre, and
both ends inade for the purpose of circulation. The sections are placed
together on the top of each other, in such a manner that three openings in
ore section will correspond with three openings of another section, as shewn
in Drawing, until the required size of boiler, small plates or washers
being put on the openings on top and bottom of the boiler, and the rods
passed through the washers and sections and firmly screwed together, the
whole being placed in a sheet-iron casing, the sections being placed over the
fire at the usual distance, the flame passing up through the sections in a zig-
zag
direction towards the chimney, about two-thirds of the sections being
filled with wator, the remaining space being steam room and superheating
surface. A boiler on this principle may also be constructed of sections
composed of one tube and two castings, combined and arranged as illus-
trated at Fig. 4 of the annexed Sheet of Drawing.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1, a vertical section of boiler with front plates removed in order to
shew the sections

page_text: together, the faces of said sections being planed so as to render them steam-
tight; feed pipes can be introduced anywhere near the bottom into one or
more of the sections. d is the furnace; e, grate-bars; f, ash-pit; and g.
smoke pipe.
Fig. 2 is an end view of the above, similar letters referring to correspond-
ing parts, the whole being composed of sections, as shewn at Fig. 3.
Fig. 3, sections composed of two tubes and three castings, cast on or other-
wise fastened to the ends of the tubes. A, side view of section; B, ground
plan of same, shewing holes for passing rods down through the sections and
slots for circulation of water; C, side view of alternate section; D, ground
plan of same, grooves i being cast vertically in the sides of the alternate
section to allow the rods to pass. The rods passing down through the centre
of the sections in one row, and on each side of sections the next row.
Fig. 4 shews a method of constructing the boiler in sections composed of
one tube and two castings, bolts passing down through sections, as described
in Figure 1, and the ends of the sections being elevated over the middle of
the furnace to allow the fire to impinge with greater force on the castings
in order to create an upward current in the centre of the boiler, the sections
being connected by a small steam drum, as shown at letter b. Fig. 5 end
view of Figure 4.
Fig. 6, views of the sections required to make boilers, as shewn at Figure 4.
A, side view of section; B, ground plan of same; C, side view of alternate
section; D, ground plan of C; h, holes for rods or bolts; i, vertical grooves;
j, holes for circulation of water.
Fig. 7 shews how a boiler may be made of one casting and one tube, the
tubes being fastened into a tube sheet in the usual way, w being the water
space; s, steam drum; p, pipe for returning water that may be carried up
steam drum. The tubes are set at an angle above the furnace, so that the
fire may impinge against tube sheet of boiler plate to cause an upward
circulation of water and steam in the same. Fig. 8 is an end view of
Figure 7.
Fig. 9 shews how a current may be obtained in a boiler of a cylindrical
form by means of an outward chamber and a central chamber, the central
chamber hanging down over the centre of the fire, the fire passing up through
upright tubes in centre chamber, and also passing up zig-zag between water
tubes, radiating from central chamber to outside chamber, and finally passing
through fire tubes towards the chimney. Fig. 10 is a ground plan of
Figure 9.

page_text: Upward and downward currents produced by the parts of boiler exposed to
high:r degress of heat for the upward current and lower degrees of heat for
the downward current, the centre part of sections in Figure 1 being exposed
to a greater amount of heat than the ends of sections by reason of the fire
passing up on each side of castings over the centre of the fire-place, the result
is a rapid upward current producing a rush of water from the sides towards
the centre to supply the rapid evaporation, the same water that rises up the
centre passing towards the sides to supply the continual demand. On account
of the perfect circulation of this boiler the usual amount of steam room will
not be required; the steam by its levity rising to the upward portion of the
boiler, and the water being separated from the steam at the water level of
the boiler, and drawn towards the sides by the downward current, two-
thirds of the tubes being filled with water, the remaining third being
steam room and superheating surface.
ADVANTAGES.
This boiler when made in sections, as shewn Figures 3 and 6, has many
advantages over the ordinary boiler.
Firstly, in the enormous strength obtained on account of the small capacity
of the sections combined with their cylindrical form, explosion of the boiler
as a whole being impossible, a simple rupture of one tube being all that can
possibly happen, the result of which would be in all probability the putting
out of the fire, causing a little delay to introduce another section.
Secondly, the advantage of enlarging the boiler when required by merely
adding more sections.
Thirdly, the portability of the boiler for transportation.
Fourthly, the expansion and contraction of the different parts of the
boiler being provided for by the peculiar construction of the sections.
Fifthly, the facility with which the boiler may be taken apart and cleaned,
or a new section introduced.
Sixthly, the small proportion of room the boiler takes up in comparison
with its power.
Seventhly, the economy of fuel by the fire passing upward in a zig-zag
direction among the tubes on the reverberatory principle, heat being
applied to the best advantage and acting on thin tubes.
Having now described the nature of the Invention communicated to me as
aforesaid, and the manner in which the same is carried into practical effect, I

page_text: desire it to be understood that I do not claim the making of a boiler in
sections; but what I do claim is, the peculiar construction of the sections in
order to admit of the circulation of the water within them and to allow of
their being connected together in one grand whole, in such a manner as to
admit of their expansion and contraction caused by the varying degrees of
heat.
Neither do I claim the placing of horizontal water tubes over the fire; but
what I do claim is, the method of producing a perfect circulation within them
when so placed by directing the heat against the centre chamber of the double
tubes and having them horizontal or against the end chamber of the single
tube by elevating that end of the section of the tube.
Nor do I claim the connecting of cast and wrought iron together by
casting; but what I do claim is, the uniting together boiler tubes by castings
for the manufacture of my sectional boilers.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Edward Gedge, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Tenth day of August, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
W. E. GEDGE (L.S.)