Improvements in Steam Generators.
Year: 1893

page_text: Complete Specification Left, 5781 Jan. 19-pied, for many
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Steam Generators.
I, WERTER CHAPIN HIGGINS of Norwich in the County of New London and
State of Connecticut, United States of Amerion, Manufacturer, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statomont :—
This invention is in generators of the sectional type, and has for its object
the improvement of the draft-flues, to the end that the calorio products of com-
bustion may be most completely utilized.
Figure 18 a central vertical sectional view, out from front to rear, of a
generator embodying said improvements, and Figs. 2 and 3 aie_cross-sectional
views of such a generator on lines - and -, respectively, of Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view similar to Fig. 1, but taken on line x-x of
Fig. 3.
Fig. 5 is a front view of the generator with the front plate that supports the
several doors removed, and Fig 6 18 a vertical cross-sectional view of the
generator, taken on lino z-z of Fig. 4, looking toward the front.
Figs. 7 and 8 are respectively front and edge views of said front section
dotached. Fig. 9 is a vertical sectional view of the same, and Fig. 10 a cross-
section on line - of Fig. 7.
In Fig. 11 is shown the inuer face of the rear section of the generator, and in
Fig. 12 a vertical sectional view of the same on line z- of Fig. 13, which
latter view is a cross-sectional view on line - of Fig. 11.
Fig. 14 shows in cross-section on line 2-z of Fig. 11 the rearmost section and
the one next adjoining it.
Figs. 15 and 16 are respectively front and rear face views of the generator-
section next to the car, forming the back-plate of the fire-pot; and Fig. 17 is a
vertical sectional view of the same.
Fig. 18 is a cross-section of said section on line - of Fig. 15.
In Figs. 19 and 20 what is termed the "intermediate "section is shown in
front elevation and central vertical section, and in Fig. 21 is shown a cross-
section of said intermediate section on line - of Fig. 19.
In generators of this class the front and rear sections and the section next
adjoining the rear aro as a rule the same in all sizes, the heating or steaming
capacity of the generator being varied by providing more or less of the inter-
mediate sections, Fig. 19, as the case may require.
In the annexed drawings, 25 denotes the front section; 20, the intermediate
sections, 27, the section next adjoining the real section, and 28 the rearmost
section. Each and all of these several sections are in a large degree hollow to
provide liberal water-space, and said space is connected throughout the entue
series of sections by manifold couplings and pipes 29, 30, and 31 in the manner
usual in this class of generators, thus providing a most perfect system of water
connection. The front section 25 is formed with properly-disposed openings for

page_text: feeder, ash-pit, and flue-cleaning doors and is preferably recessed on its inner face,
as at 32, Figs. 4 and 10, to increase somewhat the capacity of the fire-pot Upon
the outer face of the front section 25 is bolted a plate or shield 33, having hinged
thereto an ash-pit door 34, a feeder-door 35. through which the fire-pot may be
eached, and 'doors 36, 37, by means of which the various draft-flues may be
readily reached for cleaning.
The rearmost section 28 may be formed as a simple plate upon its outer face,
but the inner face is preferably recessed throughout the greater portion of its
length, as at 38, and within this 1ccess, extending nearly to the upper end thereof,
are two projecting walls 39, also hollow to provide the water-space and serving to
cut the recess 38 into three vertical chambers or flues 40, 41, the cential one of
which is by preference somewhat wider than the side flues for a reason that will be
apparent, as I shall proceed to describe the complete draft system. The rear walls
of section 28 arc foimed with an opening 42, leading outward from the central
chamber 40 and providing an outlet for smoke, &c Section 27 18 formed with a
cross-wall 43, extending upward to a point about level with the tops of chambers 40
and 41, (see Figs 1 and 4,) and upon the rear face of said section are vertical
walls or ribs 44, Fig. 6, coincident in position and size with those of the rear
section already described. The cross-wall 43 of section 27 serves a double purpose.
Its inner or front face provides a substantial back for the fire-pot of the generator,
while its rear face forms one wall of my improved draft-flues, as 1 shall explain
presently.
The inner face of said cross-wall is formed at proper points with projecting
bosses 45 to receive the rear ends of the grate-sections 46, which latter inay be of
any approved construction. Each of the intermediate sections 26 19 formed with
an opening extending well upward, and in the upper portion thereof 18 centrally
located a pendent water-section 47 of the form of an inverted truncated cone,
which is connected by pipes 48 with the water-space in the sides of section 26, as
best illustrated by Figs. 19 and 20 of the drawings. The form and arrangement
of these water connections are such as to insure an unobstructed flow of water
npward as said water becomes heated and seeks to rise, and attention may also be
called here to the fact that the lower walls of all the doors and flues of my
generator are purposely formed with an upward pitch to allow the freest possible
escape of the heated wator as it attempts to pass upward. Section 27 may, if
desired, be provided with one or more cones 47 and lateral pipes 48 in the space
immediately above the cross-wall 43. I have here shown two such connections;
but they may be omitted altogether, if desned, or a greater or less number
provided. The extreme upper portion of each of the desoribed sections is formed
with a water-chamber 49, and the extreme lower end is similaily formed with water
spaces or chambers 50.
When the several generator-sections are assembled and the grate is in place, the
described opening in the sections 26 is cut by said grate into two compartments,
the upper one of which forms the fire-pot and the lower one the ash-pit of my
generator. (See Figs. 1 and 4)
Beneath the floor of the ash-pit the several intermediate sections, as well as the
front section 25, are chambered to form water-spaces 51, that extend entirely
across the generator. Between these water-chambers 51 and the chambers 50 at
the extreme lower portions of the intermediate sections two intervening hollow
walls 52, 53, extond from front to real, forming three horizontal flue-spaces that
lead at their rear ends into the described vertical flues 40 and 41 At their front
ends said horizontal flucs lead into a chamber 54, extending across the lower
portion of the front section 25, as best understood by reference to Fig. 3 of the
drawings.
At the entrance to the upper end of the central flue 40 is hung a damper 55,
which may be opened or closed by means of an operating-handle of any convenient
form located outside the generator When this damper is opon, as in Fig. 1, the
products of combustion find a direct and easy exit downward through the central

page_text: flue 40 and outward through the smoke-opening 42. When, however, said damper
is closed-as, for example, after the fire is well started-the products of com-
bustion, as they come in contact with said damper, are checked and deflected to
the right and loft hand and of necessity pass downward through the side flues 41,
and are guided toward the front of the generator through the side horizontal flues
until they entor the cross-chamber 54 of the front section 25. Said products then
pass around into the contral horizontal flue and finally are duected to the rear of
the generator, whence they readily pass upward through the cential vertical flue 40
and outward through the smoke-opening 42, the course of the draft being indicated
by arrows in Figs. 1 to 4.
In this invention the water at the top and sides of the generator receives direct
heat from the capacious firo-pot, and as the products of combustion pass therefrom
down the flues 41 and are gradually exhausted of caloric said products are brought
into effective contact with the cooler waters at the bottom of the generator, thus
utilizing said products most economically and exhausting therefiom all or nearly
all of their available caloric parts before the residue of said products pass oft
through the smoke-opening.
Another advantage may be noted in my present generator in the fact that the
ash-pit is formed integral with the several boiler-sections instead of separate there-
from, thus effecting a saving of time and expense in assembling the generator.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performned I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A sectional heater provided with a series of vertical draft-flues communicating
with each other at top and bottom, one of which is provided with an exit and the
bridge-wall is above said exit, and a damper between the top of the wall and the
exit, substantially as set forth
2. A sectional heater provided with a series of vertical and horizontal draft-
Hlues communicating with each other at the top and at the front of the heater, the
horizontal flues being on the same plano and one of the vertical flues being pio-
vided with an exit, and a damper between said exit and the file-pot, substantially
as set forth.
3. In a sectional generator, in combination, front, rear, and intermediate sections,
and a section adjacent to the rear section having a cross-wall, as set forth, vertical
draft-flues between said cross-wall and rear-section, a system of draft-flues lending
to and connecting with each other at the front of the generator, and a damper at
the entrance to one of said vertical fluos, all being substantially as herem
described.
4. In a generator, in combination, front and Lear sections and a multiple of
intermediate sections, the rearmost of which is provided with a cross-wall forming
a flue-chamber between said wall and rear section, which chamber is divided by
vertical partitions into three flues, the middle one of which has a smoke-outlet, as
set forth, each of the intermediate sections being formed with horizontal flues corre-
sponding in number and position with the said vertical flues and the front section
being formed with a transverse chamber into which the several horizontal flues
lead, all being substantially as described, and for the purpose specified.
Dated this 12th dex of Tanu 1902
WERTER CHAPIN HIGGINS.
Wm. P. Thompson & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.