Improvements in and Relating to Steam Generators.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 1st May, 1893
Complete Specification Left, 29th Jan.. 1894-Accepted, 17th Mar., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and Relating to Steam Generators.
I, ARTHUR GEORGE MUMFORD, of the Culver Street Iron Works, Colchester,
in the County of Essex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
My invention relates to an improved construction of water tube boiler, and it
consists in arranging the water tubes in blocks or groups each forming a self-
contained element so that any one of them can be readily removed and replaced,
the object being to facilitate the removal of the boiler in case of accident to the
tubes.
My improved steam boiler consists essentially of a fire box or furnace fitted with
the usual fire bars and bridge, of a series of flat boxes placed in two rows side by
side and in contact with each other, these boxes form the upper part of the boiler,
and of a series of vertical boxes placed side by side and in contact with each other
forming the sides of the fire box or furnace. Each of the boxes forming part of
the top of the fire box or furnace is connected with the corresponding box forming
the adjacent part of the side of the fire box or furnace by a number of curved
tubes.
Each of the boxes forming each side of the fire box or furnace is connected by
a suitable pipe with two or more chambers running the whole length of the boiler.
These chambers are connected by suitable circulating pipes with a collecting
reservoir placed immediately above the elements, and each of the boxes forming
the top of the fire box or furnace is also connected with the collecting reservoir by
means of suitable pipes, the said connecting pipes being fitted with any suitable
form of joints to provide for the ready removal of any element.
To the two elements at the front end of the fire box or furnace is fixed a plate
forming the front of the furnace and it is provided with a fire door and other usual
fittings. The two elenents at the opposite end of the fire box or furnace are closed
by a suitable plate to which is attached a chimney or funnel. The space between
the outer edge of each of the boxes forming the top of the furnace and the top edge
of the adjacent side box is closed by a suitable door.
The lower part forming or enclosing the ash pit is of the usual sheet iron.or
plate work.
ROBT. ED. PHILLIPS, M.J.M.E.,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and Relating to Steam Generators.
I, ARTHUR GEORGE MUMFORD, of the Culver Street Iron Works, Colchester,
in the County of Essex, Engineer, 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 statement :-
My invention relates to
consists in arranging the
contained element so that
an improved construction of water tube boiler, and it
water tubes in blocks or groups each forming a self-
any one of them can be readily removed and replaced,

page_text: the object being to facilitate the repair of the boiler in case of accident to the
tubes.
My improved steam boiler consists essentially of a fire box or furnace fitted
with the usual fire bars and bridge, of a series of flat boxes placed horizontally or
approximately horizontally in two rows side by side and in contact with each other
which boxes form the upper part of the firebox or furnace, and of a series of flat
boxes placed vertically or approximately vertically side by side and in contact with
each other forming the sides of the firebox or furnace. Each of the boxes forming
part of the upper part of the firebox or furnace is connected with the corresponding
box forming the adjacent part of the side of the firebox or furnace by a block or
group of curved tubes, thus forming an element.
The boxes forming the sides of the firebox or furnace are each connected by a
separate pipe with water chambers running the whole length of the boiler. These
chambers are connected by suitable circulating pipes with a steam collector placed
immediately above the elements, and the boxes forming the top of the firebox or
furnace are each connected with the steam collector by means of suitable pipes, the
said connecting pipes being fitted with any suitable form of joint to provide for the
ready removal of the elements.
To the two elements at the front end of the boiler is fixed a plate forming the
front of the furnace which is provided with a fire door and the other usual fittings.
The two elements at the back end of the boiler are similarly closed by a suitable
plate to which is attached an up-take or funnel. The space between the outer edge
of each of the boxes forming the top part of the firebox or furnace and the top
edge of the adjacent side box is closed by a suitable door.
The lower part forming or enclosing the ash pit is of the usual sheet iron or
plate work.
In the accompanying drawings which illustrate my improved steam generator
or boiler :-
Figure 1 Sheet No. 1 is a view in front elevation of my improved boiler one half
being in section, and Figure 2 Sheet No. 2 is a view, partly in section, in side
elevation thereof.
Throughout the views, A. designates the cylindrical steam collector, B the water
chambers, C the horizontal or approximately horizontal boxes forming the top of
the firebox or furnace, C¹ the vertical or approximately vertical boxes forming the
sides of the firebox or furnace, D the group of curved tubes connecting each of
the boxes C with its adjacent box C', E the tubes connecting the boxes C with the
steam collector or reservoir A, E¹ the tubes connecting the boxes C¹ with the water
chambers or vessels B, F the circulating tubes connecting the steam collector with
the water chambers B, G the firebox or furnace, H the bridge, J the doors enclosing
the space between the boxes C and C¹, and K the uptake or funnel.
but
The boxes C are arranged in two rows side by side in contact with each other,"
the boxes in one row being preferably in contact with those in the other row,
when this is not possible the space between the two rows of boxes is closed by
suitable plate work. The boxes C' are placed side by side in contact with each
other on each side of the firebox or furnace. Each of the boxes C on each side of
the boiler is connected with the adjacent box C¹ by a group of curved tubes 1),
the said tubes being of such a curvature that they can readily be withdrawn or
inserted through one or other of the said boxes. It will thus be seen that one box
C, one box C, and one group of tubes D forms a self-contained element.
Each of the boxes C is connected with the steam collector or reservoir A by
meaus of a pipe E, and each of the boxes C' is connected with the adjacent water
chamber B by means of a pipe E¹. In any suitable position in each of the pipes E
and E' are flanged joints e and e¹ respectively. These joints are of the ordinary
type, and their function is to provide a means of disconnecting any one of the
In the construction
elements so that it can be readily removed and replaced.
shown by the accompanying drawings which illustrates a boiler specially adapted
for steam launches and the like there are eight elements, four on each side of the

page_text: boiler, though it will be obvious that the number of elements used will depend upon
the size of the boiler. The elements are so arranged that they can be removed
from or introduced into their place through the furnace, but it will be apparent
that in boilers not intended to be used in such confined spaces as necessitates the
removal and introduction of the elements through the furnace, the group of tubes
connecting the two boxes of each element may be arranged in various other ways
without departing from the principle of my invention.
The steam collector or reservoir A is connected with each of the water chambers
B by means of the circulating pipe F preferably arranged at the front end of the
boiler. The steam collector or reservoir A is provided with any suitable type of
safety valve, stop valve or regulator and pressure gauge.
y
suitable
When the feed water is pumped or injected into but one of the water chambers B,
I prefer to connect the two chambers by a pipe such as preferably arranged at time
back end of the boiler.
and any
The furnace G is provided with a door
of fire
arrangement
bars, and the bridge H is preferably made of a sufficient height to pass up between.
the groups of tubes of the last two elements at the rear end of the boiler, though
it may be arranged in any other manner to suit the fire grate and the position of
the exit of the hot gases.
The space between the edges of each of the boxes C and C¹, is closed by a
suitable door or plate J, and the front and rear ends of the boiler and also the lower
part forming or enclosing the ash pit are of the usual sheet iron or plate work L.,
suitable doors being formed either at the sides or ends of the boiler for giving
access to the tubes D for the purpose of sweeping their exterior surfaces.
The uptake or funnel may be arranged at either end of the boiler or in case of a
double ended boiler in the centre thereof as found most convenient in practice.
The following are some of the advantages claimed for this construction of
boiler:
(1.) Increased heating surface owing to the great width of firegrate obtainable.
(2.) Dereased surface to the of obtaddition of
further elements.
(3.) Easy removal and replacement of any defective element.
(4.) Perfect freedom for the expansion and contraction of the tubes.
(5.) Facility with which boilers of any power can be constructed by mere
duplication of parts.
wish it to be particularly understood that I do not limit myself to the precise
details of construction hereinbefore described and illustrated by the accompanying
drawings, but that I hold myself at liberty to make such changes and alterations
as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of invention.
my
I am aware that prior to the date of my invention steam generators or boilers
have been constructed which consist essentially of a steam collector and two water
chambers or vessels each connected with the steam collector by a series of tubes,
and I do not claim such broadly as my invention, but 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 :-
1. The improvements in and relating to steam generators substantially as
herein before described and illustrated by the accompanying drawing.
2. The hereinbefore described combination of parts constituting a new and
improved water tube boiler, the elements of which can readily be removed and
replaced.
3. In a steam generator consisting essentially of a steam collector and one or two
water chambers connected together by tubes, arranging the tubes in groups to
form self-contained elements, as and for the purpose hereinbefore described.
4. In a steam generator of the type herein before described, constructing and
arranging the self-contained elements so that any one of them can be disconnected
and removed through the furnace front, as set forth.

page_text: 5. In a steam generator of the type herein before described consisting essentially
of a steam collector and one or two water chambers connected together by tubes
arranged in groups forming self-contained elements, mounting the tubes in the
boxes C and C' so that they can be withdrawn and inserted through either of the
said boxes as hereinbefore set forth.
6. In a steam generator of the type herein before described consisting essentially
of a steam collector and one or two water chambers connected together by tubes
arranged in groups forming self-contained elements, providing the boxes or
chambers into which the groups of tubes run with removable covers to provide for
obtaining access to the ends of the said tubes, as hereinbefore set forth.
7. In a steam generator, the combination of the steam collector A, the water
chambers B, the circulating pipes F, the elements, each consisting of the boxes C
and C and the group of tubes D, and of the connecting pipes E and E¹ each
provided with a joint such as e and e respectively, all combined, arranged and
operating, as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 22nd day of January 1894.
ROBERT E. PHILLIPS, M.I.M.E.,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.