IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND ARRANGEMENT OF STEAM BOILERS AND FURNACES FOR THE PURPOSES OF CONSUMING SMOKE, ECONOMISING FUEL, AND HEATING THE FEED WATER; AND ALSO IMPROVEMENTS IN CERTAIN VALVES CONNECTED WITH STEAM BOILERS
Year: 1858

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Matthew Matley, Henry Miller,
and Thomas Hall at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
their Petition, on the 6th November 1858.
We, MATTHEW MATLEY, Engineer,, HENRY MILLER, Mechanic, and THOMAS
HALL, Engineer, all of Ashton-under-Lyne, in the County of Lancaster, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION AND ARRANGEMENT OF STEAM BOILERS AND FURNACES FOR THE
PURPOSES OF CONSUMING SMOKE, ECONOMISING FUEL, AND HEATING THE FEED
WATER; AND ALSO IMPROVEMENTS IN CERTAIN VALVES CONNECTED WITH STEAM
BOILERS," to be as follows:-
The first part of our Invention relates to a certain construction and arrange-
ment of steam boilers and furnaces, and consists in connecting the flues in the
boiler together at the end opposite to the fires by means of a connecting flue,
so that the smoke of the "green or recently supplied fire may travel the
entire length of both flues (twice the length of the boiler), and then pass over
the bright or partially burnt fire to be consumed before passing into other flues
and to the chimney; the furnaces are to be "fired up" alternately, and the
draught reversed by means of dampers, which are opened and closed by means
of rods and levers or other contrivances, and actuated by the opening and
closing of the fire doors. In instances where the furnaces and flues are
beneath the boiler, the fires are to be separated by a partition or "mid-
feather" extending nearly to the end of the flue, by which means a similar
effect will be produced.
The second part of the Invention is designed for heating the "feed water,"

page_text: which is effected by a suitable arrangement of pipes situated between the end
of the boiler and the door frame; the water passes through these pipes, which
become heated, and thus heat is imparted to the water before it passes to the
boiler.
Thirdly, the Invention relates to that description of apparatus employed in
connection with steam boilers known as the "diminishing valve." This
improved apparatus consists of a receiver closed at the top, which is furnished
with orifices through which the steam escapes, and is supplied to the box or
chamber in which the whole is enclosed; these orifices in the receiver are
covered by a sliding cylindrical cover or cap (also closed at the top) fitting
over the receiver, and connected at the top to a weighted lever. When the
steam in the box and pipes connected thereto is below the pressure required
(which pressure is regulated by the lever and weight), the weight is enabled
to lift the cover or cap, and thereby allows the steam from the boiler to escape
through the orifices, and supply the chamber until the pressure required in
the chamber and pipes is obtained, when the steam pressing upon the top of
the cap will lift the weight and close the steam orifices until the pressure
again becomes too low.
Lastly, our improvements relate to the apparatus known as a syphon
valve," by which the water of condensation from the pipes in connection with
the boiler, or in other contiguous situations, is collected, and at intervals
discharged. The improved apparatus consists of a vessel or receptacle into
which the water of condensation falls, and which is furnished with an opening
and valve at its lowest point. The apparatus is so constructed, that when the
water has accumulated to a sufficient quantity to overcome an adjustable lever
and weight, the vessel will sink, and by such sinking action or gravity cause
the opening of the valve, and thereby discharge the water to any amount,
which may be regulated by the lever and weight.