IMPROVE- MENTS IN FUEL ECONOMIZERS OR APPARATUS FOR HEATING THE FEED WATER PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATIONERATOR SUPERHEATING
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Christopher Willis, of the Firm of John Willis
and Son, Brass and Malleable Iron Founders, Aldermanbury,
Bradford, in the County of York, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN FUEL ECONOMIZERS OR APPARATUS FOR HEATING THE FEED WATER
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Christopher Willis
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 5th April 1873.
I, CHRISTOPHER WILLIS, of the Firm of John Willis and Son, Brass
3 and Malleable Iron Founders, Aldermanbury, Bradford, in the County
of York, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "Im-
PROVEMENTS IN FUEL ECONOMIZERS OR APPARATUS FOR HEATING THE FEED WATER
OF STEAM GENERATORS OR SUPERHEATING STEAM," to be as follows:―
My Invention relates to heating the feed water of steam boilers, or
superheating steam by an apparatus fixed in the chimney flue, using the

page_text: waste heat from the furnace of the boiler or boilers. For this purpose
I employ cast-iron cylindrical chambers made in two parts, the top
chamber having bosses cast on the top, in which are screwed or fitted a
series of large pipes or tubes made of wrought iron or other metal.
Underneath the top chamber is placed another cylindrical chamber con-
nected to the top chamber by short pipes cast between the bottom of the
top chamber and the top of the bottom chamber. These chambers are
placed in the bottom of the chimney flue, but supported on standards.
Three or more of these chambers are placed at equal distances in the
flue, and are connected together by means of pipes fixed at angles; but
in some cases it may be found necessary to make them straight. In
that case the feed entrance is made on one side of the apparatus and the
delivery on the other.
In the pipes connecting the top and bottom cylindrical chambers are
screwed small copper pipes, but other metal may be used. These
copper pipes pass through the top cylindrical chamber, and up the
centre of the large pipes or tubes, leaving a space for the travel of the
water between the top of the large pipes or tubes and the small copper
pipes for the water to circulate freely through them. These small
copper pipes are open at both ends. The feed water enters at one end
of the top cylindrical chamber, passes up the large pipes or tubes, and
descends through the small copper pipes in the bottom cylindrical
chamber; then through the feed pipe, which conveys it to the boiler.
The water passing downwards through the small copper pipes acquires
additional heat. The bottom cylindrical chambers are fitted up with blow-
off cocks for the purpose of keeping the apparatus free from dirt. The
openings cast in the bottom cylindrical chamber, in which are fitted the
blow-off cocks, are made of the same diameters at the top as the
chamber, and reduced at the end to the diameters of the blow-off cocks,
allowing by these means the sediment to fall in these openings or
recesses previously to being blown off through the blow-off cocks.
The cylindrical chambers and large pipes or tubes are fitted in a frame
fixed in the chimney flue. The large pipes or tubes are so arranged
that the heat strikes every part of the pipes. The pipes or tubes not
being placed in a direct line, but opposite the space left between the
first row of pipes or tubes and the second, the other pipes being fitted in
a similar manner.

page_text: All connections between the feed and delivery and the blow-off cocks
are outside the brickwork, so that they may be easily got at, except in
cases of straight branches. The apparatus serves in like manner for
superheating steam.
The large pipes or tubes are kept free from accumulation of soot or
dirt by means of a scraping apparatus made of three short spiral blades.
These short spiral blades work up and down the pipes or tubes by means
of two or more screws working in nuts fitted in a frame to which the
spiral blades are attached. These screws are actuated by worm wheels
worked by worms. A reversing gear is attached to the scraping
apparatus to bring back the short spiral blades; when they have reached
the top of the large pipes or tubes the screw gear has a very slow
motion, and is actuated by means of a pinion fitted on a shaft, and
gearing in two large bevil wheels. These bevil wheels are fitted on
shafts fixed to the top frame of the apparatus. On these shafts are
fixed the worms working the worm wheels actuating the screws. Under-
neath the worm wheels are fitted brass cups or washers forming the
brass bearings of the screw spindles, and also the oil cups.
The reversing motion is operated by a rod attached to a lever fixed on
a spindle. This lever works a rocking shaft, throwing a clutch in gear
either with the right or left hand bevil wheel, and actuating the pinion
working these wheels. To the lever working the rocking shaft is
attached a rod working between the cross stay of the frame, to which
are fitted the scrapers. On this rod are fixed collars, one at the top,
the other at the bottom for the purpose of reversing the gear working
the spiral scrapers.

page_text: One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the thirty-sixth
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said Christopher Willis, Her special licence
that I, the said Christopher Willis, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Christopher Willis, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with
and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN FUEL ECONOMIZERS OR APPARATUS FOR HEATING THE FEED WATER OF
STEAM GENERATORS OR SUPERHEATING STEAM," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Christopher Willis, my executors or admini-
strators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their
hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of
the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed,
and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six
calender months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Christopher Willis, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement, reference being had to the Drawing hereto
annexed and to the figures and letters marked thereon, that is to
say:-
-
This Invention relates to heating the feed water of steam boilers, or
superheating steam by an apparatus fixed in the chimney flue, and using
the waste heat from the furnace of the boiler or boilers. For this
purpose I employ cast-iron cylindrical chambers made in two parts, the
top chamber having bosses cast on the top, in which are screwed or fitted
a series of large pipes or tubes made of wrought iron or other metal;
underneath the top chamber is placed another cylindrical chamber
connected to the top chamber by short pipes cast between the bottom of
the top chamber and the top of the bottom chamber; these chambers
are placed in the bottom of the chimney flue but supported on standards;
three or more of these chambers are placed at equal distances in the flue
and are connected together by means of pipes fixed at angles, but in
some cases it may be found necessary to make them straight; in that

page_text: case the feed entrance is made on one side of the apparatus and the
delivery on the other.
In the pipes connecting the top and bottom cylindrical chambers are
screwed in small copper pipes, but other metal may be used; these
copper pipes pass through the top cylindrical chamber, and up the
centre of the large pipes or tubes, leaving a space for the travel of the
water between the top of the large pipes or tubes, and the small copper
pipes for the water to circulate freely through them; these small
copper pipes are open at both ends. The feed water enters at one end
of the top cylindrical chamber, passes up the large pipes or tubes and
descends through the small copper pipes in the bottom cylindrical
chamber, then through the feed pipe which conveys it to the boiler,
the water passing downwards through the small copper pipes acquires
additional heat. The bottom cylindrical chambers are fitted up with
blow-off cocks for the purpose of keeping the apparatus free from dirt;
the openings cast in the bottom cylindrical chamber in which are fitted
the blow-off cocks are made of the same diameter at the top as the
chamber, and reduced at the end to the diameters of the blow-off cocks,
allowing by these means the sediment to fall in these openings or
recesses previous to being blown off through the blow-off cocks.
The cylindrical chambers and large pipes or tubes are fitted in a
frame fixed in the chimney flue. The large pipes or tubes are so
arranged that the heat strikes every part of the pipes; the pipes or tubes
are either placed in a direct line or are not placed in a direct line, but
5 opposite the space left between the first row of pipes or tubes and the
second row, the other pipes being fitted in a similar manner.
All connections connecting the feed and delivery and the blow-off
cocks are outside the brickwork, so that they may be easily got at
except in cases of straight branches. The apparatus serves in like
manner for superheating steam.
The large pipes or tubes are kept free from accumulation of soot or
dirt by means of a scraping apparatus made of three short spiral blades;
these short spiral blades work up and down the pipes or tubes by means
of two or more screws working in nuts fitted in a frame to which the
5 spiral blades are attached; these screws are actuated by worm wheels
worked by worms; a reversing gear is attached to the scraping apparatus

page_text: to bring back the short spiral blades when they have reached the top of
the large pipes or tubes; the screw gear has a very slow motion, and is
actuated by means of a pinion fitted on a shaft and gearing in two large
bevil wheels; these bevil wheels are fitted on shafts fixed to the top
frame of the apparatus; on these shafts are fixed the worms working
the worm wheels actuating the screws; underneath the worm wheels are
fitted brass cups or washers forming the brass bearings of the screw
spindles and also the oil cups.
The reversing motion is operated by a rod attached to a lever on a
spindle; this lever works a rocking shaft throwing a clutch in gear
either with the right or left hand bevil wheel, and actuating the pinion
working these wheels; to the lever working the rocking shaft is attached
a rod working between the cross stay of the frame, to which are fitted
the scrapers; on this rod are fixed collars, one at the top, the other at
the bottom for the purpose of reversing the gear working the spiral
scrapers.
But in order that my improvements may be better understood, I will
proceed to describe the same by reference to the accompanying Drawing,
in which Figure 1 represents a side elevation partly shewn in section ;
Figure 2, end elevation partly shewn in section; and Figure 3, plan of ?
the apparatus or fuel economizer; Figure 4 represents a sectional front
view drawn to a large scale of the driving scraping apparatus; Figure 5,
side view, and Figure 6 plan partly shewn in section of the same.
Similar letters of reference are used in all the Figures to represent
similar parts.
2
A, cast-iron chambers having bosses B, cast on the top, in which are
screwed in or fitted the wrought-iron pipes C; in these wrought-iron
pipes pass the small copper circulating water pipes D, which are screwed
in the bosses E, closing the passage of the water between the entrance
passage F and the outlet G; the feed water entering through the inlet a
H passes through the first pipe and travels from pipe to pipe, passing
up the pipes C, and descending through the small copper pipes D (as
shewn by the arrows) into the chambers A, or the feed water passes
through a series of two, three, or more wrought-iron pipes C, receiving
extra heat as it travels onwards, passing on through the delivery pipe O, 3
which conveys it to the boiler. The chambers A are placed near the
bottom of the chimney flue and at equal distances, and are connected

page_text: together by means of the pipes I, K, L, M, and N; these chambers are
supported on standards P fixed in the bottom of the flue, leaving a
space between the bottom of the flue and the bottom of the chambers A,
forming the soot chamber Q. The pipes or tubes C are so arranged that
the heat strikes every part of the pipes in a direct line opposite each
other, but in some cases the pipes of the second, fourth, and sixth row
are fixed opposite the spaces left between the other rows of pipes and
not in a direct line. The chambers A are fitted up with blow-off cocks
for the purpose of keeping the apparatus free from dirt; the pipes in
which these blow-off cocks are fitted are made at the top of the same
diameter as the openings G, and reduced at the end to the diameter of
the blow-off cocks, allowing by these means the sediment to fall in
recesses of the pipes previous to being blown off; in some cases I only
employ one blow-off cock to the apparatus, all connections connecting
the feed and delivery and the blow-off cock or cocks are outside the
brickwork, so that they may be easily got at.
The apparatus is fitted in a frame R, fixed on brackets cast on the
chambers A; this frame supports the sliding cage T, made in a solid hoop
on which the scrapers U. are fixed, and also supports the top lid S, closing
in the apparatus; the large pipes or tubes C are kept free from accumu-
lation of soot or dirt by means of the scraping apparatus; U, scrapers
made of three short spiral blades or of four short straight arms, having
heads formed like the head of an arrow; these scrapers U work up and
down the pipes or tubes by means of two or more screws V, working in
nuts W, fitted in the frame T, to which the scrapers U are attached;
these screws V are actuated by worm wheels Y, worked by worms Z; a
reversing gear is attached to the scraping apparatus to bring back the
scrapers when they have reached the top of the large pipes or tubes; a
rod a is attached to the lever 6 of the rocking shaft c, and works
between a cross stay fixed to the cage T; on the rod a are fitted collars
d, one at the top and the other at the bottom, for the purpose of reversing
the gear working the scrapers. The screw gear V has a very slow
motion, and is actuated by means of a pinion e, worked by a pulley f,
actuated by a strap; the pinion e is fitted on a shaft g, and gears in two
large bevil wheels h, fitted on a shaft i, fitted in bearings j, fixed to the
top frame S of the apparatus; on the shaft ; are fixed the worms Z,
working the worm wheels Y, actuating the screws W; underneath the
worm wheels Y are fitted brass cups K, or washers forming the brass

page_text: bearings of the screw spindles and also the oil cups. The rod a works
a rocking shaft c, throwing the clutch / in gear either with the right or
left hand bevil wheels h, so that when the clutch is in gear with one
of the bevil wheels h, it actuates the worm Z and worm wheel Y,
working the screw V, and brings the scrapers either up or down; the
bevil wheel not in gear with the clutch / turns loosely on the shaft ;; a
counterweight m is attached to the lever c to balance the weight of the
rod a.
The lifting or lowering of the rod a actuates a fork o, which
throws in or out of gear the clutch /; a weight n, fitted to a lever p,
brings the clutch / in gear with one of the bevil wheels h. The apparatus 1
serves in a like manner for superheating steam.
Having thus described my Invention, and the best means I am
acquainted with for carrying the same into effect, I would have it
understood that I do not confine myself to the precise details shewn and
described, as these may be varied without departing from the peculiar 1
character of the Invention; but what I do claim is,―
Firstly. The method of and general arrangement of apparatus for
heating the feed water of steam boilers or for superheating steam,
substantially as described and represented in the accompanying
Drawing.
Secondly. The application of large wrought-iron pipes or tubes having
circulating pipes fitted within and open at each end.
Thirdly. The scraping apparatus and scrapers, substantially as and for
the purpose herein-before described and indicated.
2
In witness whereof, I, the said Christopher Willis, have hereto set 2
my hand and seal, this Second day of October, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three.
Witness,
WALTER JAS. TURNER C.E.
Patent Agent.
C. WILLIS. (L.S.)