IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM BOILERS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
STEAM BOILERS." A communication from abroad by Stephen Johnson Gold,
of Cornwall, in the County of Litchfield, State of Connecticut, and Cornelius
Boudinott Gold, William Hoyt Scott, and Edward Beach Crowell, of the
City, County, and State of New York, both in the United States of
America.
Sealed the 2nd May 1879, and dated the 14th November 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville Clark at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th November 1878.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent. " IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM BOILERS." [A communication
from abroad by Stephen Johnson Gold, of Cornwall, in the County of Litch-
field, State of Connecticut, and Cornelius Boudinott Gold, William Hoyt Scott,
and Edward Beach Crowell, of the City, County, and State of New York,
both in the United States of America.]
This Invention is an improvement in the class of steam generators having a series
of water receiving pipes which extend through a portion of the fire chamber and
connect with the steam space.
The Invention has for its object to secure the maximum area of heating surface
which shall be fully exposed to the free action of the flame and heat, together with
the greatest compactness of parts taken as a whole, to the end that the generation
of steam may be effected quickly and continued rapidly with due regard to economy
of fuel by an apparatus occupying a comparatively small space.
The main portion of the boiler consists of a plain vertical cylindrical shell having
one or more concentric rows of vertical tubes which pass through the top and
bottom of the boiler. A cylinder projects downward from the contre of the head

page_text: forming a well, the bottom of which is near the fire. Radial pipes are screwed into
this cylinder, which pipes for convenience in putting the boiler together are arranged
in spiral rows. Upon the outer end of each pipe is screwed an elbow, that receives
a vertical pipe which extends upward through one of the vertical tubes first men-
tioned, and is connected with a short tube that extends into the steam chamber
through the head of the boiler. As many radial and vertical pipes are connected
with the well at the bottom of the boiler as there are tubes in the outer row, but I
do not limit or confine myself to this arrangement or proportion of pipes and tubes
or flues.
The boiler thus described is set in a suitable arch or casing over a fire grate, and
in such relation to the latter that the fire is quite near the bottom of the well and
lower row of tubes. By this improved construction of boiler a great amount of
pipe surface is exposed to the action of the fire so as to generate steam first in the
pipes. The steam thus made is conducted directly through the pipes to the steam
room of the boil without passing through the water contained by the body of the
boiler. In th manner steam may be generated before the water in the main
portion of th
joiler becomes thoroughly heated. This feature is particularly
valuable in ste fire engines and in the boilers of steam boats, and in other places
where it is req ed to generate steam quickly.
It is obvious
may project ove
may also be ge
being fed with
known means.
hat a boiler having a water leg may be provided with pipes which
the fire and communicate with the steam room of the boiler. Steam
erated in the pipes and be stored in a suitable reservoir, the pipes
ater by means of an injector or pump, or by any other of the well
It will be noticed that the steam is discharged downwardly into the steam
chamber. By this device I effect the separation of steam from the spray, should any
be carried upward in the tubes, as the water drops while the steam expands and fills
the steam room, from which it may be drawn without carrying with it particles of
water.
By this improved method of generating steam a maximum amount of steam is
produced by heating a minimum amount of water, and a great saving in fuel is also
effected.
The Invention is not limited to the particular form of boiler herein described, as
the drop or well may have other forms, or be dispensed with and pipes substituted
for it, or the water may be taken in tubes projecting from a water leg at the sides
of the fire box, or it may be forced directly into the pipes in which the steam is
generated.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
3rd May 1879.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM BOILERS." A communication from
abroad by Stephen Johnson Gold, of Cornwall, in the County of Litchfield,
State of Connecticut, and Cornelius Boudinott Gold, William Hoyt Scott, and
Edward Beach Crowell, of the City, County, and State of New York, both in
the United States of America.
This Invention is an improvement in the class of steam generators having a series
of water receiving pipes which extend through a portion of the fire chamber and
connect with the steam space. The Invention has for its object to secure the
maximum area of heating surface which shall be fully exposed to the free action of
the flame and heat, together with the greatest compactness of parts taken as a
whole, to the end that the generation of steam may be effected quickly and con-
tinued rapidly with due regard to economy of fuel by an apparatus occupying a
comparatively small space.
In the accompanying Drawing Figure 1 is a vertical section of the improved
boiler, and Figure 2, an inverted plan view thereof. The same letters of reference
serve for the two Figures..
A is the main portion of the boiler, which in the present case consists of a plain
vertical cylindrical shell having one or more concentric rows of tubes a which pass
through the upper head B and lower head C. A cylinder D projects downward
from the centre of the head C, forming a well, the bottom of which is near the fire.
Radial pipes E are screwed into the cylinder D, and for convenience in putting the
boiler together these pipes are arranged in spiral rows. Upon the outer end of each
pipe E is screwed an elbow F that receives the vertical pipe G which extends
upward through the tube a, and is connected by a return bend b with a short
tube c that projects into the steam chamber of the boiler through the upper
head B.
There are, in the example shown, as many radial and vertical pipes connected
with the well at the bottom of the boiler as there are tubes a in the outer
row, but this arrangement or proportion of pipes and tubes or flues may be
varied. The boiler thus described is set in a suitable arch or casing over a
fire grate, and in such relation to the latter that the fire is quite near the
bottom of the well and lower row of tubes. By such construction a great
amount of pipe surface is exposed to the action of the fire, and steam is generated
first in the pipes. The steam thus made is conducted directly through the pipes to
the steam room of the boiler without passing through the water contained by the
body of the boiler. In this manner steam may be generated before the water in the
main portion of the boiler becomes thoroughly heated. This feature is particularly
valuable in steam fire engines and in the boilers of steam boats, and in other places
where it is required to generate steam quickly. It is obvious that a boiler having
a water leg may be provided with pipes which may project over the fire and com-
municate with the steam room of the boiler. Steam may also be generated in the
pipes and be stored in a suitable reservoir, the pipes being fed with water by means
of an injector or pump, or by any other of the well known means.
It will be noticed that the steam is discharged downwardly into the steam
chamber. By this device I effect the separation of steam from the spray, should any
be carried upward in the tubes, as the water drops while the steam expands and
fills the steam room, from which it may be drawn without carrying with it particles
of water. By this improved method of generating steam a maximum amount of
steam is produced by heating a minimum amount of water, and a great saving of
fuel is also effected.

page_text: The Invention is not limited to the particular form of boiler herein described, as
the drop or well may have other 'forms, or be dispensed with and pipes substituted
for it, or the water may be taken in tubes projecting from a water leg at the sides
of the fire box, or it may be forced directly into the pipes in which the steam is
generated.
Having described the nature of the Invention, and the manner of performing the
same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be protected by the herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
1st. A boiler having a drop well or water leg, and pipes projecting therefrom, and
communicating with the steam chamber.
2nd. The combination with the boiler or water holder A of the centrally arranged
drop-well.D, and the pipes E radiating therefrom and extending upward through
the fire tubes or spaces, and projecting into the steam space, as shown and
described.
3rd. The combination with a water reservoir of a water heater, and tubes
radiating therefrom, and a steam chamber with which said tubes connect.
4th. The combination of a downwardly discharging steam pipe e with a boiler or
steam reservoir, substantially as and for the purposes specified.
In witness whercof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Third day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine.