IMPROVEMENTS IN HORTICULTURAL BOILERS, SUCH IMPROVEMENTS BEING ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER BOILERS, AND TO APPARATUS FOR HEATING AIR AND OTHER GASES."
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Shaw, of Wolverhampton, in the County of
Stafford, Architect and Surveyor, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
HORTICULTURAL BOILERS, SUCH IMPROVEMENTS BEING ALSO APPLICABLE TO
OTHER BOILERS, AND TO APPARATUS FOR HEATING AIR AND OTHER GASES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Shaw at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st October 1879.
CHARLES SHAW, of Wolverhampton, in the County of Stafford, Architect and
Surveyor. "IMPROVEMENTS IN HORTICULTURAL BOLLERS, SUCH IMPROVEMENTS
BEING ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER BOILERS, AND TO APPARATUS FOR HEATING
AIR AND OTHER GASES."
This Invention relates more especially to improvements in horticultural boilers,
but is applicable also to boilers used for heating water for other purposes, and for
raising steam, and also to apparatus for heating air and other gases.
A boiler constructed according to this Invention is made preferably of copper or
of wrought iron, and consists chiefly of a number of water spaces horizontal
longitudinally, but curved somewhat like a crescent or horn in cross-section, the
said water-spaces being one above another. The highest part of each curved water-
space is at the centre of the boiler, the curve descending from the centre each way.
There are two sets of the said curved water-spaces, each set springing from a
vertical water-space at opposite sides of the boiler and communicating therewith,
and the curved water-spaces of one set are respectively between the curved water-
spaces of the other set, leaving flues between. The unconnected sides of each set of
water-spaces are somewhat back from the vertical water-space on the opposite side
of the boiler, so that the heat rising from the fire or gas at the underside of the
lowest water-space travels first along the curved bottoin of the lowest water-space,
then up between the unconnected side of the said lowest water-space and the
water-space at the side of the boiler, thence between the curved top of the lowest
water-space and the curved bottom of the second water-space, and thus between

page_text: Of course the water spaces
The water-spaces may be
all the said water spaces, and finally out at the top.
and flues are closed in at each end of the boiler.
connected together at one or both ends, and suitable doors or other provision is
made for cleaning out the flues.
If the apparatus is used for heating air, the water-spaces may be left open at
each end for the passage of the air, in which case it is not necessary to connect
them together at the ends.
If the boiler or apparatus is made of copper, the vertical water (or air) spaces
may each form one division with its set of curved water (or air) spaces. If the
boiler or apparatus is made of wrought iron the vertical water (or air) spaces may
be made up of sections bolted or otherwise fixed together, each separate section
being formed in one piece with a curved water (or air) space.
A modification of the above Invention consists in the employment of domes,
convex at their top sides and concave at their bottom sides. The said domes form
water spaces, and communicate with each other, and the heat from the fire or gas
passes up through an opening in the crown of one dome, thence down the flue
formed between the top of one dome and the bottom of another, up between the
circumference of the upper or second dome and the side of the boiler, and thence
between the second and third domes, and up through an opening in the crown of
the third dome, and so on. The boiler side consists preferably of a water jacket,
with which the domes or some of them may be made to communicate.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Charles Shaw, in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 27th March
1880.
CHARLES SHAW, of Wolverhampton, in the County of Stafford, Architect and
Surveyor. "IMPROVEMENTS IN HORTICULTURAL BOILERS, SUCH IMPROVEMENTS
BEING ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER BOILERS, AND TO APPARATUS FOR HEATING
AIR AND OTHER GASES."
This Invention relates more especially to improvements in boilers for heating water
for baths, and for horticultural and for similar purposes, but is applicable also to
apparatus for heating air and other gases, and to boilers for raising steam.
A boiler constructed according to this Invention is made either of cast or wrought
iron or steel, or of brass, or copper, or any suitable material, and consists chiefly of
a number of water-spaces horizontal londitudinally, but curved somewhat like a
crescent or horn in cross-section, the said water-spaces being arranged one above
another. The highest part of each curved water-space is at or about the centre of
the boiler, the curve descending from the centre each way. There are two sets of the
said curved water-spaces, each set springing from a vertical water-space at opposite
sides of the boiler and communicating therewith; and the curved water-spaces of
one set are respectively between the curved water-spaces of the other set, leaving
flues between. The unconnected sides of each set of water-spaces are somewhat
back from the vertical water-space on the opposite side of the boiler, so that the
heat rising from the fire or gas at the underside of the lowest water-space travels
first along the curved bottom of the lowest water-space, then up between the
unconnected side of the said lowest water-space and the water-space at the side of
the boiler, thence between the curved top of the lowest water-space and the curved
bottom of the second water-space, and thus between all the said water-spaces, and
finally out at the top. Of course the water-spaces and flues are closed in at each
end of the boiler. The water-spaces may communicate with each other at
one or both ends; and a suitable door or other provision is made for cleaning out
the flues.
If the apparatus is used for heating air or other gas, the parts described as
water-spaces may be left open at each end for the passage of the air or gas.
The boiler or apparatus may be made in sections and bolted together, or may be
made in one piece to suit the material of which it is made or the convenience of
the manufacturer. When made in segments it is convenient to make each curved
water-(or air)-space, with its proportionate part of vertical water-(or air)-space,
in one separate segment.
Having thus stated the nature of my said Invention, I will now proceed more
particularly to describe the manner of performing the same, and in doing so
will refer to the accompanying Drawings, and to the letters of reference marked
thereon,
Figure 1 is a transverse section on line x, x, of Figure 2; Figure 2 is a longi-
tudinal section; and Figure 3, a sectional plan taken on line y, y, of Figure 2,
illustrating my Invention as applied to a boiler suitable for horticultural purposes.
The boiler is
The Drawing is made to a scale of one and a half inches to a foot.
shewn as I prefer to make it when of cast iron. A is the fire box; B, B, etc., are
the curved water-spaces; C, C, etc., are the vertical water-spaces at the sides of the
boiler, and from which the curved water-spaces B, B, etc., spring; D, D, etc., are
the flues; E, E, is a water-space, shaped as shewn to close in the top of the boiler;
F is a circular flue through the water-space E, E, communicating with the chimney
G. The fire-box is closed in at each end by a water-space A¹, A¹, as shewn by
Figures 2 and 3, one end water-space being formed in a piece with one of the side

page_text: spaces C, as shewn by Figure 3, and the other end water-space being formed in a
piece with the other side water-space, also as shewn. One of the end water-spaces
A springs out from the side of the left hand bottom vertical water space C (see
Figure 1), and the top of it follows the contour of the top of the said left hand
vertical water-space C and bottom curved water-space B, then extends along the
short horizontal line a, and its outer side abuts against the inner side of the right hand
vertical water-space; and the other end water-space A' springs out from the side of
the right hand bottom vertical water-space C (see Figure 1), and the top of it follows
the line a, and then follows the contour of the underside of the bottom curved water-
space B, and the outer side of it abuts against the inner side of the left hand
bottom vertical water-space C. The latter described end water-space is the one
shewn by Figure 1. The ends of the fire-box are thus completely closed in, while
a clear opening is left for cleaning out the flues; R is the inlet pipe, and R¹ the
outlet.
It will be seen by Figure 1 that the boiler is made in sections. The vertical
water-spaces are made to communicate with each other by means of the junctions
at H, H, etc., and the curved water-spaces B, B, etc., are made to communicate with
one another by means of the T pipes and quadrants J, J, J, K, K. The segments
are held together by the said junctions and pipes which are fixed thereto. L is the
fire-hole, and M an opening for clearing the bars N from clinkers, etc. The coal or
coke may be fed through the door L by means of a hopper if desired. The direction
of the gaseous products of combustion through the flues and into the chimney is
shewn by the arrows. O is the ash-pit. The fire bars are shewn extending only
half across the grate in Figure 1 for convenience of illustration. The bars may fill
up a part of the width of the grate only, if the purpose for which the boiler is used
does not require the full area of bar. In this case the remainder of the grate is
covered with a dead plate, or otherwise filled in. P is a door which closes in the
end of the flues D, D, etc. The T pipes, quadrants, and junctions are not shewn
at this end of the boiler, for the sake of simplicity in the drawing. There are a
pair of doors P at each end, one door being on each side of the connections down
the middle of each end of the boiler. The doors may be hinged, or hung on pegs,
or fixed in any suitable manner. The bottoms of the doors are shewn by dotted
lines just below the bottom flue, Figure 1. The chimney G may be of wrought
iron, or brickwork, or other suitable material. The boiler may if desired be cased
in brickwork or ironwork, and with or without an air-space between the case and
the boiler, but in any caso of course suitable provision must be made for cleaning
out the Blues. The end water-spaces may be dispensed with if desired, and the ends
of the fire box filled up with brickwork.
Figures 4, 5, and 6 are respectively corresponding views to those before referred
to, and illustrate my Invention as applied to a boiler for heating water for baths,
or for a small hot house, or for similar purposes. It may be made of copper or
other sheet or plate metal, or of any suitable material, and is shown as if mado in
one piece. The Drawing is made to a scale of three inches to a foot. The arrange-
ment of flues and water-spaces will be obvious upon an inspection of the Drawing.
As the boiler is formed in one piece the pipe connections for the water-spaces are
not necessary. One of the end water-spaces A is shewn carried up to the top of
the boiler (see Figure 5), thus causing the curved water-spaces to communicato
with one another over their whole area at that end. The boiler is shewn as heated
by means of gas, B, B, etc., being "Bunsen" burners; C, C, C, are taps arranged so
that either set or any of the sets of burners can be used as desired.
In burning
gas it is found that when the boiler is cold the vapour of water produced by com-
bustion condenses and collects at the points b, b, etc., in the flues; c, c, etc., are pipes
inserted in the boiler as shewn to convey the water of condensation into the tray D
at the bottom of the boiler, from whence it is evaporated and passes away through
the flues when the same are sufficiently heated. E is an opening through which to
light the gas, and is preferably provided with a door. One end of the boiler is

page_text: shewn completely covered in with an end water-space, and the flues at the other
end are covered in with a door F, hinged or otherwise fixed; but if, instead of gas,
any fuel is used which leaves deposits upon the flues difficult of removal, both ends
of the flues may be covered with doors, a connection being formed up the middle at
one or both ends of the curved water-spaces to place them in communication with
one another at that part.
I have illustrated my Invention with special reference to its use for heating
water, but it is obvious that by leaving the water-spaces open at the ends, air or
other gas may be heated by passing longitudinally through them. When the boiler
is used for raising steam, the curved water-spaces communicate with one another
at each end, and are inclined longitudinally upwards from the fire to assist the
circulation, and a steam chamber or chest is formed at the top of the boiler.
I have illustrated the boiler or heater also with special reference to its manu-
facture, either in segments, as shewn by the Drawings on Sheet 1, or, made in one
piece, as shewn by Drawings on Sheet 2, but it may of course be made in any
convenient manner to suit the materials used, as for instance, if made of copper sheet
it may be convenient to form it in halves, each half having a vertical side water-
space with the curved water-spaces springing therefrom.
Having thus stated the nature of my said Invention and particularly described
the manner of performing the same, I declare that I do not limit myself to the
exact details as shewn, but what I claim as my Invention and desire to secure by
Letters Patent is :-
The construction of apparatus for heating water, or air, or other gases, or for
raising steam, with curved water-(or air)-spaces springing alternately from opposite
sides of the apparatus and placed one above another, such water-(or air)-spaces
having flues passing between them, substantially as herein described and shewn
by the Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Shaw, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Twenty-fourth day of March, in the year of our Lord One thousand
Witness,
STEPHEN WATKINS,
Assoc. M. Inst. C.E.,
Office for Patents,
Wolverhampton.
CHARLES SHAW. (L.S.)