IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND WORKING OF STEAM GENERATORS
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Howard Lane, of 117, Palmerston Buildings, Old Broad
Street, in the County of Middlesex, Mechanical Engineer, for an Invention
of IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND WORKING OF STEAM GENERATORS
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Howard Lane at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 13th January 1883.
HOWARD LANE, of 117 Palmerston Buildings, Old Broad Street, in the County
of Middlesex, Mechanical Engineer, " IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND
WORKING OF STEAM GENERATORS
"
My invention relates firstly to steam generators of the sectional type; such, for
instance, as that known as the "Roots' Boiler," and consists in an improved
method of, and means for, establishing communication between the various sections
composing the said generator. According to the method of construction hitherto
usually employed, each water tube is fitted with a cast iron box at each extremity.
Such a box usually presents on its outer face two orifices, one above the other;
the former for communicating by means of a hollow connecting piece with the
section next above, and the latter for connecting that next below. According to
my invention, I construct such a terminal box with only one such orifice on its
outer face, and 1 form and arrange the connecting pieces so that they overlap one
another; two connecting picces each presenting one of their ends opposite the said
orifice in the terminal box, but one behind or upon the back of the other. One
set of studs, bolts or other fastenings thus suffices to secure ends of two
connecting pieces respectively to a terminal box and to connect them with the
orifice thereof.
My invention relates secondly to means for separating the steam when generated,
from the water; for which purpose I adopt the following arrangement. The steam
and water, immediately after rising and passing from the principal heating portion
of the apparatus, is conveyed to a coil arranged within a receiver or chamber. Or,
instead of a coil, I sometimes employ a drum, the periphery of which consists of a
helical or spiral passage or channel partially or wholly open on its inner side.
The inlet hereto is tangential, and the steam and water, entering at considerable
velocity, follow the spiral course of the channel in the coil or drum, during which
operation the water separates itself by centrifigual [sic] force from the steam; the
latter escaping in à comparatively dry state into the receiver for use as may be
required, whilst the separated water is led to the bottom of the receiver. The axis
27

page_text: of the coil or drum being by preference placed vertically, the general direction
imparted to the fluid by the helical passage, is downwards.
My invention relates thirdly to a method of, and means for, causing the major
portion of the impurities contained in the feed water to be deposited in a part or
parts of the apparatus whence such deposited impurities may be readily removed,
instead of permitting thein to be carried by the water into those portions of the
boiler which are exposed to the full hent of the furnace, resulting in the
formation of hard scale and dangerous incrustation. With this object I place
in the lower part of the receiver already referred to, a plate so arranged as
to leave a space between itself and the bottom of the receiver. The space
or chamber thus or otherwise formed is in communication with the coil or coils,
helical drum or drums, before described, and is also connected by a pipe or
otherwise with the lower portion of the steam generator. The water separated
from the steam on leaving the coils or drums circulates through this chamber and
so back to the steam generator; but is kept practically separate from the foed
water until the latter has been heated and treated for the elimination of impurities
in a manner I will proceed to describe. This is effected by admitting the feed
water to the main part of the receiver, where (without serious dilution with the
water separated from the steam and in course of circulation) it comes in contact
with the steam and with the heated surfaces of the chamber formed in the receiver
and of the coils or helical drums. At the same time it distributes itself amongst
and between a quantity of scrap iron, pumice stone or other suitable material,
with which the receiver is to some extent charged. The feed water having been
heated as described (or by other means, if preferred) deposits the major portion of
its impurities which adhere to or become engaged amongst the aforesaid materials
introduced into the receiver. These may from time to time be removed cleaned
and replaced or renewed.
With a view to the further interception of such of the impurities as may not
have been deposited upon or amongst the loose materials before the said feed
water arrives in the principal heating portion of the generator, I sometimes
conduct the feed water in its passage from the receiver to the lower part of the
generator through a pipe which is itself enclosed within the connecting piece or
pipe serving to convey the water passing from the internal chamber of the receiver
to the lower part of the generator. The temperature of the feed water being thus
maintained or increased, the impurities remaining therein continuo to develop
themselves in a solid form, and are precipitated in a mud chamber or other suitable
receptacle, placed at a level below the steam generator. The feed water is now
left in a comparatively pure state and fit for entering into circulation. The mud
chamber may also be charged with scrap iron, puinice stone or other suitable
.material, for receiving and retaining the impurities further deposited by the feed
water, or subsiding generally from the water contained in the body of the
generator. Between the said mud chamber and the principal heating portion of
the generator, I interpose a vessel or chamber wherein the purified feed water,
rising from the lower mud chamber, and the circulating water, descending from the
chamber in the receiver, meet one another and become mingled together before
passing upwards into the principal heating portion of the apparatus.
In sectional boilers of the "Root" or similar description, I prefer to arrange the
pipe or pipes conveying the steam and water from the top of the principal heating
portion of the apparatus to the steam receiver through or along the upper part of
the brickwork or other chamber enclosing the said generator; so that the said
pipe or pipes shall he exposed to the heated products of combustion. The roof of
this chamber may, if preferred, be carried by or supported from these connecting
pipes. Similarly, the receiver may be partly or wholly exposed to the heat; or
may be arranged so as to be exposed thereto or shut off therefrom by means of
dampers, or other suitable appliances, at the option of the user.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent and of
an Order of the Lord Chancellor filed by the said Howard Lane in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 20th July 1883.
HOWARD LANE of 117 Palmerston Buildings Old Broad Street in the County
of Middlesex Mechanical Engineer "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND
WORKING OF STEAM GENERATORS
"
My invention relates firstly to steam generators of the sectional type; such, for
instance, as that known as the "Roots' Boiler," and consists in an improved method
of, and means for, establishing communication between the various sections com-
posing the said generator. According to the method of construction hitherto
usually employed, each water tube is fitted with a cast iron box at each extremity.
Such a box usually presents on its outer face two orifices, one above the other; the
former for communicating by means of a hollow connecting piece with the section
next above, and the latter for connecting that next below. According to my
invention, I construct such a terminal box with only one such orifice on its outer
face, and I form and arrange the connecting pieces so that they overlap one
another; two connecting pieces each presenting one of their ends opposite the said
orifice in the terminal box, but one behind or upon the back of the other. One
set of studs, bolts or other fastenings thus suffices to secure ends of two con-
necting pieces respectively to a terminal box and to connect them with the orifice
thereof.
The
My invention relates secondly to means for separating the steam when generated
from the water; for which purpose I adopt the following arrangement.
steam and water, immediately after rising and passing from the principal heating
portion of the apparatus, is conveyed to a coil arranged within a receiver or
chamber. Or, instead of a coil, I sometimes employ a drum the periphery of which
consists of a helical or spiral passage or channel partially or wholly open on its
inner side. The inlet thereto is tangential, and the steam and water, entering at
considerable velocity, follow the spiral course of the channel in the coil or drum,
during which operation the water separates itself by centrifugal force from the
steam; the latter escaping in a comparatively dry state into the receiver for use as
may be required, whilst the separated water is led to the bottom of the receiver.
The axis of the coil or drum being by preference placed vertically, the general
direction imparted to the fluid by the helical passage, is downwards.
My invention relates thirdly to a method of, and means for, causing the major
portion of the impurities contained in the feed water to be deposited in a part or
parts of the apparatus whence such deposited impurities may be readily removed,
instead of permitting them to be carried by the water into those portions of the
boiler which are exposed to the full heat of the furnace, resulting in the formation
of hard scale and dangerous incrustation. With this object, I place in the lower
part of the receiver already referred to a plate, so arranged as to leave a space
between itself and the bottom of the receiver. The space or chamber thus or
otherwise formed is in communication with the coil or coils, helical drum or drums,
before described, and is also connected by a pipe or otherwise with the lower
portion of the steam generator. The water separated from the steam on leaving
the coils or drums circulates through the chamber and so back to the steam
generator; but is kept practically separate from the feed water until the latter
has been heated and treated for the elimination of impurities in a manner I will
proceed to describe. This is effected by admitting the feed water to the main part
of the receiver, where (without serious dilution with the water separated from the

page_text: steam and in course of circulation) it comes in contact with the steain and with
the heated surfaces of the chamber formed in the receiver and of the coils or helical
drums. At the same time it distributes itself amongst and betweon a quantity of
scrap iron, pumice stone or other suitable material, with which the receiver is to
some extent charged. The feed water having been heated as described (or by other 5
means if preferred) deposits the major portion of its impurities, which adhere to
or become engaged amongst the aforesaid materials introduced into the receiver.
These may from time to time be removed, cleaned and replaced or renewed.
.
With a view to the further interception of such of the impurities as may not
have been deposited upon or amongst the loose materials before the said feed water 1
arrives in the principal heating portion of the generator, I sometimes conduct the
feed water in its passage from the receiver to the lower part of the generator
through a pipe which is itself enclosed within the connecting piece or pipe serving
to convey the water passing from the internal chamber of the receiver to the lower
part of the generator The temperature of the feed water being thus maintained 1
or increased the impurities remaining therein continue to develop themselves in
a solid form, and are precipitated in a mud chamber, or other suitable receptacle,
placed at a level below the steam generator. The feed water is now left in a
comparatively pure state and fit for entering into circulation. This mud chamber
may also be charged with scrap iron, pumice stone or other suitable material, for
receiving and retaining the impurities further deposited by the feed water, or
subsiding generally from the water contained in the body of the generator. Between
the said inud chamber and the principal heating portion of the generator, I interpose
a vessel or chamber wherein the purified feed water, rising from the lower mud
chamber, and the circulating water, descending from the chamber in the receiver,
meet one another and becoine mingled together before passing upwards into the
principal heating portion of the apparatus.
In sectional boilers of the "Root" or similar description, I prefer to arrange the
pipe or pipes, conveying the steain and water from the top of the principal heating
portion of the apparatus to the steam receiver, through or along the upper part of
the brickwork or other chamber enclosing the said generator; so that the said pipe
or pipes shall be exposed to the heated products of combustion. The roof of this
chamber may, if preferred, be carried by or supported from these connecting pipes.
Similarly, the Receiver may be partly or wholly exposed to the heat; or may be
arranged so as to be exposed thereto or shut off therefrom by means of dampers, or
other suitable appliances at the option of the user.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 represents a side view partly in elevation and partly in section of a
steam generator of the sectional type embodying my improvements; one side of
the casing enclosing the generator being removed. A is the fire grate B the bridge
and C a deflector, beneath which the products of combustion pass to the combustion
chamber D. Thence the heated gases circulate amongst the tubes or sections
composing the generator passing around the end of the baffle plates E E, as
indicated by the arrows 1, 2- Having arrived in the upper part of the chamber
enclosing the generator, they separate into two streams. One of these passes as
indicated by the arrows 3, 4 around one end of the generator, through inner tubes
arranged longitudinally in the sections and open at both ends, and out at the
opposite ends as shewn by the arrows 5, whence the gases ultimately escape to the
chimney F. The other stream passes in the direction of the arrow 6, through a
multitubular feed under heater G, and similarly finds its way to the chimney F.
The damper H regulates the flow of the gases in the latter direction. In instances
where the sections are not provided with internal fire tubes, it will of course be
understood that the gases are not necessarily separated into two streams in the
manner described. Ench pile of sections is connected at its upper extremity, by
means of a pipe I, to a coil or drum J, arranged within a receiver K The pipe I

page_text: is by preference fitted with an expansion joint i. The steam and water enter this
drum tangentially and escape therefrom; the former upwards and outwards
through the orifices jj and the latter downwards to the bottom of the receiver
and beneath the plate L placed in the lower part of the said receiver. The water
thus separated from the steam is prevented by the plate L from mixing freely
with the feed water introduced to the receiver above the said plate; but is recon-
ducted to the steam generating portion of the apparatus by means which I will
proceed to describe with reference to figure 2.-K is one extremity of the steam
receiver, from the bottom of which, and consequently from the chamber formed
beneath the plate L, a pipe M passes to the lower portion of the steam generator
or drum N, and conveys thither the water herein before referred to as having been
separated from the steam. Within the pipe M is arranged another pipe Ŏ both
extremities of which are open the upper end being in the receiver K at the level
the feed water is intended to assume in the receiver whilst the lower end is open
to a mud chainber P placed at a level below the steam generator. A portion of the
Receiver K above the plate L is charged with a quantity of scrap iron, pumice
stone or other suitable inaterial, Q; and the mud drum P is similarly furnished.
The Action is as follows:-The Receiver K being beated by partial exposure of its
surface to the interior of the fire chamber, and the coils or drums J being also
heated by the steam issuing from the pipes I, the feed water arriving from the
heater G and entering the receiver K say at the point k is rapidly raised to a high
temperature and deposits the major portion of its impurities which adhere to and
become engaged amongst the material Q-The feed water then overflows the upper
extremity of the pipe O-and, during its passage to the lower drum P, its
temperature is maintained or increased by the surrounding water contained in the
pipe M. The further impurities developed in a solid form during the passage of
the feed water through the pipe O adhere to or become engaged amongst the
material contained in the chamber or drum P.-The purified feed water sub-
sequently rises into the chamber N, where it meets and mingles with the circulating
water descending by the pipe M from the Lower portion of the receiver K beneath
the plate L and thence passes into circulation.
Figure 3 is an end view and figure 4 a side elevation showing my improved
method of and means for establishing communication between the sections com-
posing the generator. a is a tube screwed in the terminal box b; the outer face of
this box has an orifice over which one end c' of the hollow connecting piece c is
fitted. On the opposite face of c¹ is fitted the end c³ of a similar hollow connecting
piece c. A bolt and nut d secure these connections to the box b; the inner end
of the bolt being socketed in the interior of the box, or engaging with a cross bar
arranged transversely within the orifice thereof. The joints between the parts c³
and cand between c' and b are respectively furnished with a washer of suitable
soft packing.
Figure 5 shews in end view and figure 6 partly in side elevation and partly in
vertical section a modified arrangement of such connections. In this case, the
tube a is screwed to a head b, provided as to its exterior face with lugs b' and
external fastenings d for securing the connecting pieces c, c* In this instance it
will be observed the extremities of the connecting pieces are concentric with the
water tubes a; and that three external bolts are employed for securing the parts
together, instead of one central internal bolt. If the sections be arranged one
directly above the other, as in figure 3, instead of being zigzagged as in figure 5, it
will be found more convenient to apply two or four bolts than to apply three.
Figure 7 shewa in end view and figure 8 partly in side elevation and partly in
vertical section an adaptation of my construction of connections to sections
traversed longitudinally by inner or fire tubes. In this case a is the water tube
screwed in the back face of the box b; a' is the inner or fire tube mounted in a
stuffing box formed in the front face of the box b. The connecting pieces c are
cranked laterally so as not to interrupt the free flow of the heated gases entering
or issuing from the fire tubes a¹. The connecting pieces are secured to the box b

page_text: by means of the bolt & socketed in the said box at d. By the use of connections
constructed and arranged as described, the flow of the water in course of circulation
in the boiler is facilitated and rendered more uniform, in consequence of the stream
flowing from one section not being opposed in direction to that issuing from the
upper end of the connecting piece communicating with the section next below.
Figure 9 shews an alternative arrangement wherein the upper end of each con-
necting piece c is outside the lower end of the connecting piece next above, instead
of being inside the same as in figure 8. In the latter case in order to remove tho
connecting picces, it would be necessary to cominence at the bottom of a pile of
sections; whilst, according to the arrangement shown in figure 8, the connecting
pieces appertaining to the upper sections would have to be removed first.
Having thus fully described the nature of my invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed I claim First-The use, for connecting the sections of
sectional boilers, of hollow connecting pieces, such as c, each provided with three
packed faces perpendicular to the axes of the sections, and having their upper and
lower ends respectively arranged inside and outside those of the connecting pieces
next above and below, substantially as described with reference to figures 3 to 8;
whereby the flow of the enclosed fluid in course of circulation is facilitated, and
uniformity in the pattern of the connecting pieces is preserved.
2ndly The use for the like purpose of the modified construction and arrangement
of connecting pieces having thoir upper and lower ends respectively outside and
inside those of the connecting pieces next above and below, substantially as
described with referenco to figure 9; whereby uniformity in the pattern of the
connecting pieces is preserved.
3rdly The use for separating the steam from the water, of apparatus enclosed
within the main receiver and consisting of the drum with tangential inlet and
spirally formed interior, and having separate steam and water outlets; constructed
and operating substantially as described with reference to figures 1 and 2.
4th The improved mode of working, by which the feed water, although exposed
to the heat of the steam and of the gases under combustion, is not permitted to
enter the generative portion of the apparatus or to mingle freely with the water in
course of circulation, until the impurities contained in the former have become
developed in a solid form and deposited in a chamber or chambers suitably adapted
and arranged for their reception and retention and whence they can be readily
removed substantially in the manner described.
5thly The combination of parts for effecting the object described in the last
preceding claim, consisting of the divided receiver K the feed water pipe O, the
surrounding circulating-water pipe M and the lower chamber P; all arranged and
operating substantially as described with reference to figures 1 and 2
In witness whereof I the said Howard Lane have hereunto set my hand and -
seal this nineteenth day of July in the year of our Lord A.D. 1883.
"'
HOWADD