IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM BOILERS
Year: 1884

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
I, SAMSON Fox, of the Leeds Forgo, New Wortley, Leeds in the County of
York Engineer and Ironmaster, do heroby declare the nature of the said invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM BOILERS" (Communicated to me from abroad by
George Simpson Strong, of the City of Philadelphia, United States of America,
Engineer) and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention for "Improvements in steam boilers, relates first to a combustion
chamber having a corrugated shell, and combined with and interposed between a
fire box or boxes of the boiler and the tube sheet, so as to relieve the boiler and
tubes from undue strains to which they would otherwise be subjected; Second:-
to the special construction of the inner shells of the fire boxes, the end of the
combustion chamber and communicating necks for the purpose of avoiding a
multiplicity of stays and for the further purpose of effectually consuming the gases
emanating from the fuel, and third-to the introduction of air to and its admixture
with the gases as they pass from the fire boxes-Other particulars of my invention
are too fully described hereafter to need preliminary explanation.
In the accompanying drawings. Fig, 1, is a sectional plan of my improved steam
boiler Fig. 2, a vertical section on the line 1, 2, Fig. 1. Fig. 3, part of Fig. 1.
drawn to an enlarged scale. Fig. 4, part of Fig. 2, drawn to the same scale as
Fig. 3.-Fig. 5, a transverse section on the line 3, 4, Fig. 3; and Fig. 6, a transverse
section illustrating a modified form of outer shell for the fire boxes.
It should be understood in the outset that my improvements may be applied to
any steam boiler in which flue tubes are used.
In Figs, 1, and 2, A, and A¹, are two cylindrical fire boxes placed side by side,
the outer shell of the fire box, B, the barrel, D, the combustion chamber, and
E, the system of tubes forming communications between the said combustion.
chamber and the smoke box.
The shell of this combustion chamber is corrugated circumferentially and is
connected at one end to the tube sheet y, the other end being connected to the two
fire boxes in the peculiar manner presently explained.
This corrugated shell of a combustion chamber interposed between the fire box
or boxes of a steam boiler and the rear tube sheet, is a prominent feature of my

page_text: invention, and is of especial advantage, as the corrugations permit the expansion and
contraction to which this part of the boiler is subjected, without disturbing the
integrity of other parts and without straining the tubes.-This feature of my
invention is applicable to steam boilers in which but one fire box is used.
The form of the rear ends m, of the fire boxes I make concavo-convex or dished,
as also the front end n, of the combustion chamber, and the necks p, p 1, which
afford communications between the fire boxes and the combustion chamber are
inclined as best observed in Fig. 3, so that the products of combustion from one
fire box as they enter the combustion chamber will cross the path of the products
of combustion from the other fire box, as indicated by the arrows, and this promotes
the consumption of the gases, especially if judicious firing is resorted to by the
stoker, that is, the alternate firing of the two fire boxes, so that the smoky products
of combustion from one fire box will cross and become intimately mixed with tho
heated and smokeless products of combustion from the other fire box.
Within each fire box, near the front end of the same is secured a hollow bridge K,
preferably of cast steel, the interior of the bridge being in free communication at
both ends with tho water space between the fire box and the outer shell of the
same, and the bridge being also in communication with the tubular fire bars M,
the air from the ash pit L, taking a course through a passage v, under and bebind
the bridge, and becoming mixed with the products of combustion as the latter pass
through the necks p, 21, into the combustion chamber, thereby promoting the
thorough consumption of the gases; and in order to ensure an intimato admixture
with the products of combustion of this volume of air, I subdivide it into sinall
streams or jets by a perforated slab N, of refractory material placed across the
passage v, between the hollow bridge and the dished end of the fire box, this slab,
which may be supported by a perforated plato x, preferably bearing, above, again,t
the rear of the bridge, and below, on any suitable projection on the fire box. The
perforated slab is inclined so abruptly that ashes cannot find a lodgment on it, and
hence its perforations cannot be obstructed.
As regards the outer shells a, a, of the two fire boxes, they are cylindrical, as in
Fig 5, and flattened where they are in contact with each other, the two cylinders
being made to merge into the barrel B, The two fire boxes however may
be contained in one outer shell of the character shewn in Fig. 6, a suitable stay Y,
extending from the top to the bottom of the shell between the fire boxes. In this
case also the said outer shell is made to merge into the barrel B, of the boiler.
The tubular fire bars M, extend from the hollow bridge to the front water space
of each fire box below the usual feed opening w¹, which should be provided with a
door, and there are in the bottom of the fire box two openings y', y', for admitting
air to the ash pit and for discharging ashes therefrom, these openings being
preferably provided with movable doors or valves under the control of the engineer
or stoker; there is also an opening t, in the bottom of the combustion chamber and
this opening should bo provided with a cover which can be removed when access to
tho combustion chamber is required, and when it becomes necessary to cleanse the
interior of the combustion chamber.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1st The combination, in a steam boiler of the locomotive type, of a fire box or
fire boxes and tube sheet, with the circumferentially corrugated shell of a
combustion chamber, interposed between the said box or boxes and tubo
sheet substantially as set forth.
2d The combination in a steam boiler, of the two shells of two fire boxes and that
of a combustion chamber with two inclined necks p, p, one forming a
communication between one fire box and the combustion chamber, and the
other a communication between the other fire box and the same combustion
chamber substantially as described.

page_text: rd The combination, in a steam boiler of two fire boxes, the shells of which havo
dished ends, with a combustion chamber the shell of which has also &
dished end, and with two necks p, p', all substantially as specified.
th The combination of the fire box, its dished end and outlet, with the hollow
bridge K, which bears the relation described to the said outlet, and the air
passage v, between the bridge and dished end of the combustion chamber all
substantially as set forth.
th The combination of the fire box, its outlet, the hollow bridge K, and
passages v, with the abruptly inclined perforated slab N, the several parts
bearing the relation described to each other as set forth.
Dated : 2011

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
I, SAMSON Fox, of the Leeds Forgo, New Wortley, Leeds in the County of
York Engineer and Ironmaster, do hereby declare the nature of the said invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM BOILERS" (Communicated to me from abroad by
George Simpson Strong, of the City of Philadelphia, United States of America,
Engineer) and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention for "Improvements in steam boilers, relates first to a combustion
chamber having a corrugated shell, and combined with and interposed between a
fire box or boxes of the boiler and tho tube sheet, so as to relieve the boiler and
tubes from undue strains to which they would otherwise be subjected; Second:-
to the special construction of the inner shells of the fire boxes, the end of tho
combustion chamber and communicating necks for the purpose of avoiding a
multiplicity of stays and for the further purpose of effectually consuming the gases
emanating from the fuel, and third-to the introduction of air to and its admixture
with the gases as they pass from the fire boxes-Other particulars of my invention
are too fully described hereafter to need preliminary explanation.
In the accompanying drawings. Fig, 1, is a sectional plan of my improved steam
boiler Fig. 2, a vertical section on the line 1, 2, Fig. 1. Fig. 3, part of Fig. 1.
drawn to an enlarged scale. Fig. 4, part of Fig. 2, drawn to the same scale as
Fig. 3.-Fig. 5, a transverse section on the line 3, 4, Fig. 3; and Fig. G, a trausverso
section illustrating a modified form of outer shell for the fire boxes.
It should bo understood in the outset that may improvements may be applied to
any steam boiler in which flue tubes are used.
In Figs, 1, and 2, A, and A¹, are two cylindrical fire boxes placed side by side,
the outer shell of the fire box, B, the barrel, D, the combustion chamber, and
E, the system of tubes forming communications between the said combustion.
chamber and the smoke box.
The shell of this combustion chamber is corrugated circumferentially and is
connected at one end to the tubo sheet y, the other end being connected to the two
fire boxes in the peculiar manner presently explained.
This corrugated shell of a combustion chamber interposed between the firo box
or boxes of a steam boiler and the rear tube sheet, is a prominent feature of my

page_text: invention, and is of especial advantage, as the corrugations permit the expansion and
contraction to which this part of the boiler is subjected, without disturbing the
integrity of other parts and without straining the tubes. This feature of my
invention is applicable to steam boilers in which but one fire box is used.
The form of the rear ends m, of the fire boxes I make concavo-convex or dishel, s
as also the front end n, of the combustion chamber, and the necks 2, p 1, which
afford communications between the firo boxes and the combustion chamber are
inclined as best observed in Fig. 3, so that the products of combustion from one
fire box as they enter the combustion chamber will cross the path of the products
of combustion from the other fire box, as indicated by the arrows, and this promotes 1
the consumption of the gases, especially if judicious firing is resorted to by the
sker, that is, the alternate Gring of the two fire boxes, so that the smoky products
of combustion from one fire box will cross and become intimately mixed with the
heated and smokeless products of combustion from the other fire box.
Within each fire box, near the front end of the same is secured a hollow bridge K, 1
preferably of cast steel, the interior of the bridge being in freo communication at
both ends with the water space between the fire box and the outer shell of the
same, and the bridge being also in communication with the tubular fire bars M.
the air from the ash pit L, taking a course through a passage v, under and behind
the bridge, and becoming mixed with the products of combustion as the latter pass
through the necks P, P1, into the combustion chamber, thereby promoting the
thorough consumption of the gases; and in order to ensure an intimate admixture
with the products of combustion of this volume of air, I subdivide it into small
streams or jets by a perforated slab N, of refractory material placed across the
passage v, between the hollow bridge and the dished end of the fire box, this slab, s
which may be supported by a perforated plate x, preferably bearing, above, against
the rear of the bridge, and below, on any suitable projection on the fire box. The
perforated slab is inclined so abruptly that ashes cannot find a lodgment on it, and
hence its perforations cannot bo obstructed.
As regards the outer shells a, a, of the two fire boxes, they are cylindrical, as in 3
Fig 5, and flattened where they are in contact with each other, the two cylinders
being mado to mergo into the barrel B, The two fire boxes however may
be contained in one outer shell of the character shewn in Fig. 6, a suitable stay Y,
extending from the top to the bottom of the shell between the fire boxes. In this
case also the said outer shell is made to merge into the barrel B, of the boiler.
The tubular fire bars M, extend from the hollow bridge to the front water space
of each fire box below the usual feed opening w', which should be provided with a
door, and there are in the bottoin of the fire box two openings y', y, for admitting
air to the ash pit and for discharging ashes therefrom, theso openings being
preferably provided with movable doors or valves under the control of the engineer
or stoker; there is also an opening t, in the bottom of the combustion chamber and
this opening should be provided with a cover which can be removed when access to
the combustion chamber is required, and when it becomes necessary to cleanso the
interior of the combustion chamber.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the naturo of my mid
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1 The combination, in a steam boiler of the locomotive type, of a fire box or
fire boxes and tubo sheet, with the circumferentially corrugated shell of a
combustion chamber, interposed between tho said box or boxes and tule
sheet substantially as set forth.
2 The combination in a steam boiler, of the two shells of two fire boxes and that
of a combustion chamber with two inclined necks p, p, one forming a
coinmunication between one fire box and the combustion chamber, and the
other a communication between the othor fire box and the samo combustion
chambor substantially as describod.

page_text: rd The combination, in a steam boiler of two fire boxes, the shells of which have
dished ends, with a combustion chamber the shell of which has also a
dished end, and with two necks p, p³, all substantially as specified.
The combination of the fire box, its dished end and outlet, with the hollow
bridge K, which bears the relation described to the said outlet, and the air
passago v, between the bridge and dished end of the combustion chamber all
substantially as sot forth.
b The combination of the fire box, its outlet, the hollow bridge K, and
passages v, with the abruptly inclined perforated slab N, the several parts
bearing the relation described to each other as set forth.
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