IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM BOILERS
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Matthews, of Dunwear Villa, Bridgwater,
in the County of Somerset, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
STEAM BOILERS."
Sealed the 19th January 1875, and dated the 19th October 1874.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Matthews at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
19th October 1874.
I, JAMES MATTHEWS, of Dunwear Villa, Bridgwater, in the County of
Somerset, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "Im-
PROVEMENTS IN STEAM BOILERS," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to the construction of vertical steam boilers of
cylindrical form with an internal cylindrical fire-box. Within the fire-
box I make a water pocket of cylindrical or slightly tapering form
projecting down from the crown of the fire-box to such a distance above
the fire-bars as affords room for the combustion of the fuel thereon, there
being thus formed outside the pocket and inside the fire-box an annular

page_text: space open at bottom to the fire. Through the middle of the pocket I
carry a vertical smoke tube leading to a smoke chamber or chimney on
the crown of the boiler, and to prevent the too rapid passage of the
products of combustion through this tube I provide at its lower mouth a
baffle plate of refractory material, which I suspend by a rod extending
up the smoke tube to a lever, whereby the baffle plate can be adjusted
in position. I also, besides the central smoke tube, provide several other
smoke tubes extending from the crown of the fire-box to the smoke box
or chimney above, and serving for the passage of products of combustion
from the annular space surrounding the pocket in the fire-box.
In order to ensure circulation of water through the boiler and water
pocket a number of bent tubes are arranged in the fire-box in a radiating
manner, connecting the bottom of the water pocket with the outer water
casing surrounding the fire-box.
The smoke box at the crown of the boiler, which receives the products
of combustion from the tubes rising from the fire-box, is preferably of
conical form, wide at the base and tapering to an aperture of smaller
diameter at the top, on which aperture is fixed the chimney. This
conical smoke box may be enclosed in a cylindrical casing, through
which the feed water is transmitted on its way to the boiler, thus serving
as a feed heater.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Matthews in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 10th April 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
MATTHEWS, of Dunwcar Villa, Bridgwater, in the County of Somerset,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Nineteenth day of October, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the
thirty-eighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said James Matthews, Her special
license that I, the said James Matthews, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said James Matthews, my exe-

page_text: cutors, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS
IN STEAM BOILERS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, tho said
James Matthews, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should par-
ticularly 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, the said James Matthews, 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 thereof, reference being had to the accompanying
Sheet of Drawings, and to the figures and letters marked thereon, that
is to say:-
This Invention relates to the construction of vertical steam boilers of
cylindrical form with an internal cylindrical fire-box. Within the fire-
box I make a water pocket of cylindrical or slightly tapering form
projecting down from the crown of the fire-box to such a distance above
the fire-bars as affords room for the combustion of the fuel thereon, there
being thus formed outside the pocket and inside the fire-box an annular
space open at bottom to the fire. Through the middle of the pocket I
carry a vertical smoke tubo leading to a smoke chamber or chimney on
the crown of the boiler, and to prevent the too rapid passage of the
products of combustion through this tubo I provide at its lower mouth a
baffle plate of refractory material, which I suspend by a rod extending
up the smoke tube to a lever, whereby the baffle plate can be adjusted
in position. I also, besides the central smoke tube, provide several other
smoke tubes extending from the crown of the fire-box to the smoke box
or chimney above, and serving for the passage of products of combustion
from the annular space surrounding the pocket in the fire-box.
In order to ensure circulation of water through the boiler and water
pocket a number of bent tubes are arranged in the fire-box in a radiating
manner, connecting the bottom of the water pocket with the outer water
casing surrounding the fire-box.

page_text: The smoke box at the crown of the boiler, which receives the products
of combustion from the tubes rising from the fire-box, is preferably of
conical form, wide at the base and tapering to an aperture of smaller
diameter at the top, on which aperture is fixed the chimney. This
conical smoke box may be enclosed in a cylindrical casing, through 5
which the feed water is transmitted on its way to the boiler, thus serving
as a feed heater.
Fig. 1 shews a vertical section of a steam boiler with my before
described improvements applied thereto; Fig. 2 shews a sectional plan
on line X, X, Fig. 1.
From the crown of the fire-box A a water pocket B of cylindrical or
slightly tapering form descends to within such a distance of the fire-
bars C as to leave sufficient room for the fuel. From the bottom of the
pocket B a central cylindrical smoke flue D ascends to the crown plate E
of the boiler, communicating with the smoke chamber F above it, and a
baffle plate G connected by a rod H to a lever I serves to regulate the
draught through the smoke flue D. Other smoke tubes K connect the
top of the fire-box A with the crown plate E in the ordinary manner.
The bottom of the water pocket B is connected by bent water tubes L :
with the annular water space M of the boiler, whereby a perfect
circulation of the water from the space M, through the tubes L, and
up through the pocket B is insured, while the annular water space in
the pocket B acted upon by the flames and hot gases passing both
through the smoke tube D and against the outer surface of the pocket,
operates most effectually in combination with the water tubes L in
utilising the heat of the furnace.
The fire-hole ring N is by preference formed with a projecting lip N¹
on the lower part in order to prevent the stoking tools wearing away
the edge of the fire-box plates.
The smoke box F is made of conical form, as shewn, and surrounding
it a chamber O is constructed, through which the feed water is made to
pass on its way to the boiler.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that I
do not claim generally the use of bent water tubes for connecting the

page_text: Third. The use in vertical steam boilers of the chamber O surrounding
the smoke box F for heating the feed water, substantially as herein
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Matthews, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Seventh day of April, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five.