IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF STEAM AND OTHER BOILERS
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Fisken, of Stamfordham, in the County of
Northumberland, Minister of the Gospel, and David Fisken, of the
same Place, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
Sealed the 24th April 1868, and dated the 25th October 1867:
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Fisken and David
Fisken at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their Petition,
on the 25th October 1867.
We, WILLIAM FISKEN, of Stamfordham, in the County of Northumberland,
Minister of the Gospel, and DAVID FISKEN, of the same Place, Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF STEAM AND OTHER BOILERS," to be as follows, that is to
say :--
The boiler, whose ultimate form is that of an upright cylinder, we construct
of a series of sections each of which somewhat resembles a multiform wedge.
The accompanying Drawing shews the ideal form of this wedge with cross
sections in the fire-box, the water space, and steam space. We connect these
sections at the centre by as many cross ties as possible consistent with the free
passage of smoke and gases, and we connect them around the outer circle at
the bottom by a tube for the reception and equalization of water, placing the
junction of this tube in each wedge section above the mud hole in each except
those in which the fire-door occurs. We also connect the steam space of each
wedge section with a common duct which may be made as large as the wants

page_text: We also
of such steam receivers and conductors are known to require.
connect the different sections in the fire-way with cross stays solid or hollow,
or both solid and hollow, which stays have the effect of imparting the strength
of the whole to each individual section whilst the hollow ones will have the
effect of adding to the heating surface of the boiler. In addition to the stays-
in the fire-way stays may be placed in the water space solid or hollow, or both
solid and hollow, by which stays each section will become sufficiently strong
of itself. We make the sections as numerous as possible so that each shall
contain as small a body of water as practicable, circulation being secured by
the differential thicknesses of the water exposed to the heating surfaces.
Our Invention may be variously modified, different forms being given to the
sections, straight lines being substituted for curves, and vice versa, but any
modification by which wedge forms or approximations thereto may be built up
in a similar way we regard as modifications of our Invention. Thus the
ultimate form may be a square, or hexagon, or indeed any regular or irregular
figure whatsoever. The wedges instead of being all alike may be. of different
dimensions, whilst the mode of forming the fire-doors, the water feed, and the
steam receivers, and duct, may also be largely varied, but these variations are all
consistent with our Invention. The connection of the wedges at the centre
may also be varied, being filled with water or simple ties, but both or either
we regard as modifications of our Invention. Besides the stays and ties
herein-before mentioned there may also be a ring or rings, or a square, or
hexagonal binder on the outer shell of the boiler. The fire spaces between
the wedge sections which from the accompanying sketch will be seen to be
widest near the fire and to be gradually narrowed towards the smoke escape
and they may also be variously modified by introducing different forms of lines
into the sections. Thus instead of the curve shewn on the Drawing the
sides of the wedge may be straight, instead of being bevilled they may be
upright, but such variations and modifications are only different forms of ou
Invention
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Fisken and David Fisken in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 25th April 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, WILLIAM
FISKEN, of Stanfordham, in the County of Northumberland, Minister of
the Gospel, and DAVID FISKEN, of the same Place, Engineer, send greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fifth day of October, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirtieth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
us, the said William Fisken and David Fisken, Her special licence that we,
the said William Fisken and David Fisken, our executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as we, the said William Fisken and David
Fisken, our 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 STEAM AND
OTHER BOILERS," upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said
William Fisken and David Fisken, our executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under our, 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 calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said William Fisken and David Fisken, do
hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
The boiler, whose ultimate form is that of an upright cylinder, we construct
of a series of sections, each of which somewhat resembles a multiform wedge.
The Drawing accompanying the Provisional Specification shows the ideal
form of this wedge with cross sections in the fire-box, the water space, and
steam space. We connect these sections at the centre by as inany cross ties
as possible consistent with the free passage of smoke and gases, and we connect
them around the outer circle at the bottom by a tube for the reception and
equalization of water, placing the junction of this tube in each wedge section.
above the mud hole in each, except those in which the fire-door occurs. We
also connect the steam space of each wedge section with a common duct which
may be made as large as the known wants of such steam receivers and con-
ductors are known to require. We also connect the different sections in the
fire-way with cross stays, solid or hollow, or both solid and hollow, which stays
have the effect of imparting the strength of the whole to each individual
section, whilst the hollow ones will have the effect of adding to the heating
surface of the boiler. In addition to the stays in the fire-way, stays may be

page_text: placed in the water space, solid or hollow, or both solid and hollow, by which
stays each section will become sufficiently strong of itself. We make the
sections as numerous as possible, so that each shall contain as small a body of
water as practicable, circulation being secured by the differential thickness of
the water exposed to the heating surfaces.
Our Invention may be variously modified, different forms being given to the
sections, straight lines being substituted for curves, and vice versa, but any
modification by which wedge forms or approximations thereto may be built up
in a similar way we regard as modifications of our Invention. Thus the
ultimate form may be a square or hexagon, or indeed any regular or irregular
figure whatsoever. The wedges instead of being all alike may be of different
dimensions, whilst the mode of forming the fire-doors, the water feed, and the
steam receiver and duct may also be largely varied, but these variations are
all consistent with our Invention. The connectiou of the wedges at the centre
may also be varied being. filled. with water or simple ties, but both or either
we regard as modifications of our Invention. Besides the stays and ties
herein-before mentioned, there may also be a ring or rings or a square or
hexagonal binder on the outer shell of the boiler. The fire-spaces between
the wedge sections, which from the accompanying sketch will be seen to be
widest near the fire and to be gradually narrowed towards the smoke escape,
may also be variously modified by introducing forms of lines into the sections.
Thus instead of the curve shown on the Drawing, the sides of the wedge may
be straight, instead of being bevelled they may be upright, but such variations
and modifications are only different forms of our Invention.
And in order that our Invention may be more fully understood and more
readily carried into effect, we will now proceed to describe the same, reference
being had to the accompanying Drawings.
Figure 1 is a plan of the boiler having the chimney removed;. Figure 2 is
a plan of the boiler inverted, shewn partly in section; Figure 3 is a sectional
elevation; Figure 4 shows the boiler on a brick foundation; Figure 5 shows
a section through the line A, B, Figure 3.
a, a, a, are the sections shown in position in the plan, Figure 1. The
circle formed by their junction at a¹, a¹, a¹, is the limit of the smoke box;
through the spaces formed by their junction within the limit a¹, a¹, a¹, the
smoke and gases ascend from the grate underneath and collect in the box b,
shown in section in Figure 3, on the top of which is placed the chimney b¹.
Within the limit line above named, a³, a¹, a', the sections are hollowed
towards the central line a³, a³, the form of the contraction is shown in the
sectional elevation Figure.3. The line a³ is a few inches above the water

page_text: line A, B, Figure 3, from which point to the top is the steam space of each
section, the combination of the whole constituting the steam space of the
boiler. If it is considered desirable to increase this space the receiving pipe
or duct C, Figure 3, can be proportionately enlarged or the sections can
be made having sufficient height above the water line. It is evident that
from the line a¹ to the extremity of the boiler no smoke or hot gas can pass
upward, the sections being so formed that no smoke or hot gas passes the
water line A, B, at the top or beyond à circle equal in diameter to a¹, a¹.
From this point downwards to the fire-box, the form of the section is con-
tinually contracting, and the space for smoke and gases is continually
expanding until at the top of the fire-box E the area of the smoke space is
equal to the area of the boiler less the ends of the wedge sections a³, shown
in Figures 2 and 3. The top of the boiler beyond the limit line a¹ is thus a
series of sectors of a circle; these sectors are continued parallel downwards to
the water liue A, B, the section at which line is shewn at Figure 5. Within
the limit line a' the superficial area of each section is less than a sector of
a circle, as seen in Figure 5, and leaves a space f between each section, by
which the smoke and hot gases can escape into the smoke box b. Beneath
the water line A, B, a vertical section anywhere would give a figure
approximating to a triangle, except at the ends at a², which are nearly
parallelograms. A space in each section n, n, at the bottom receives the
water which passes into it through the water pipe D, see Figure 3. The
division in which the fire-door occurs is shortened thereby.
The wedge sections of the form shown in the Drawing when put together
make an upright cylindrical boiler; but it is obvious that the form of the
different portions may be so varied that any figure may be produced by their
junction. For the purpose of increasing the strength and the heating surface
of the different portions we insert stays s, & in them, which may be made either
solid or hollow as the circumstances or views of the user may require; these
stays may be inserted either in the water space or fire space, or both. We
also insert stays s¹, st, between the ends of the different portions by which the
whole is bound together. This effect we increase when necessary by putting
a binding ring outside the boiler.
Figure 4 shows the boiler rested on a fire-place built of brickwork, which
makes no alteration in the above description beyond shortening each portion
by the water space n, n, and the water pipe D being in this arrangement
placed outside instead of underneath the boiler.
Having now described the nature of our Invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed, we declare that we claim as secured to us by the

page_text: herein-before recited Letters Patent, the method whereby a boiler may be
formed of wedge sections united together and stayed, as herein-before
described and shown, and any modification of the same.
In witness whereof, we, the said William Fisken and David Fisken,
have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Twenty-first day of April,
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.
WILLIAM FISKEN. (L.S.)
DAVID FISKEN.
(L.S.)