IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM BOILERS
Year: 1870

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Edward Newton, of the Office for
Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil
Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM BOILERS."—A
communication from abroad by John Benjamin Root, of the City
and State of New York, United States of America.
Sealed the 1st November 1870, and dated the 5th September 1870.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Edward Newton
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 5th September 1870.
I, WILLIAM EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery
Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM BOILERS," to be
as follows:-
This Invention relates to what are called water tube steam boilers, the
water spaces of which consist, either wholly or partly of horizontal or
inclined tubes.

page_text: The object of the Invention is, firstly, to provide in a convenient,
simple, and effective manner for the independent expansion and con-
traction of the tubes in the direction of their length by means-of a slip
joint at the ends of the tubes, and whereby every facility is afforded for
the separate removal from the boiler of the tubes when required for the
purposes of repair or otherwise. This part of the Invention is applicable
to different desciptions of water tube boilers.
The Invention also has for its object a more perfect circulation of the
water in various directions as well as to obtain steam dry or free from
water, and to combine with safety or freedom from general or serious
explosion great convenience and simplicity of construction as regards.
the connection of the several tubes of which the boiler is composed. To-
these ends the one part of the Invention consists in a peculiar con-
struction of the slip joint at the ends of the tubes. These tube ends are
preferably constructed with reduced ends and with a screw thread on
the outer portions thereof, and fitted loosely or freely through socket or
stuffing box-like projections on the inner walls of the heads of the boiler
with which the tubes connect, which projections have flanges or shoulders
on their inner ends, whereby a packing space is provided for the tubes at
their ends. The tubes are packed and the heads securely held to them,
with room for independent longitudinal expansion and contraction of the
tubes, and adjustment or independent removal of them when required,
by first slipping into the space surrounding either end of the tube and
between it and the interior of the socket-like projection on the head, up
against the shoulders of said projections, a loose ring of metal; and
outside of this within the same space a packing of vulcanized rubber or
other soft and flexible material, and at the back of such packing a follower
preferably having a washer in front of it, and arranged to fit the screw
thread on the end of the tube. The socket-like projections on the heads
should be made sufficiently large to allow of the tubes at their larger
diameters freely passing through the flanges or shoulders on the inner
ends of said sockets or projections.
The other part of the Invention consists in a special construction of a
water tube boiler, in which the horizontal or inclined tubes are arranged
in series or rows the one above the other, and each vertical series or row
of such tubes is made to communicate with a separate up-take at each
end of the boiler and the several up-takes, which combined form the

page_text: heads of the boiler, and may be constructed to provide tortuous com-
munications for passage of the steam and water, are connected top and
bottom by cross pipes or passages at each or either end of the boiler, and
are held together by bolts passing longitudinally through the cross pipes.
This construction establishes a most perfect circulation for the steam
and water horizontally as well as vertically, and affords great convenience
as regards taking apart or putting together of the boiler, together with
exemption from water being projected with great force or in large
quantities by the steam into the steam space of the boiler..
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Edward Newton in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 4th March 1871.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of September, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy, in the thirty-
fourth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said William Edward Newton, Her special
licence that I, the said William Edward Newton, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Edward
Newton, 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 STEAM BOILERS," being a communication to me from
abroad by John Benjamin Root, of the City and State of New York,.
United States of America, upon the condition (amongst others) that I,.
the said William Edward Newton, my executors or administrators, 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;.

page_text: 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 I, the said William Edward Newton, do hereby
declare the nature of the 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 hereunto
annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to
say):
This Invention relates to what are called water tube steam boilers, the
water spaces of which consist either wholly or partly of horizontal or
inclined tubes.
The object of the Invention is, firstly, to provide in a convenient,
simple, and effective manner for the independent expansion and con-
traction of the tubes in the direction of their length by means of a slip
joint at the ends of the tubes, and whereby every facility is afforded for
the separate removal from the boiler of the tubes when required for the
purposes of repair or otherwise. This part of the Invention is applicable
to different descriptions of water tube boilers.
The Invention also has for its object a more perfect circulation of the
water in various directions, and the obtaining of steam dry or free from
water, moreover, while ensuring safety or freedom from general or serious
explosion it is designed to secure great convenience and simplicity of
construction as regards the connection of the several tubes of which the
boiler is composed. To these ends the one part of the Invention consists
in a peculiar construction of the slip joint at the ends of the tubes, to
which reference under a different construction is made in the Spe-
cification of a Patent obtained by me on behalf of the originator of the
present improvements dated June Ninth One thousand eight hundred
and seventy. The tubes are preferably constructed with reduced ends,
and with a screw thread on the outer portions thereof, and fitted loosely
or freely through socket or stuffing box-like projections on the inner
walls of the heads of the boiler with which the tubes connect, which
projections have flanges or shoulders on their inner ends, whereby a
packing space is provided for the tubes. The tubes are packed and the
heads are securely held to them with room for independent longitudinal
expansion and contraction of the tubes, and adjustment or independent

page_text: removal of them when required by first slipping into the space surrounding
either end of the tube, and between it and the interior of the socket-like
projection on the head up against the shoulders of said projections a
loose ring of metal, and outside of this within the same space a packing
of vulcanized rubber or other suitable soft and flexible material, and at
the back of such packing a follower preferably having a washer in front
of it, and arranged to fit the screw thread on the end of the tube.
The socket-like projections on the heads should be made sufficiently
large to allow of the tubes at their larger diameters freely passing
through the flanges or shoulders on the inner ends of the sockets or
projections.
The second part of the Invention consists in a special construction of
a water tube boiler in which the horizontal or inclined tubes are
arranged in series or rows the one above the other, and each vertical
series or row of such tubes is made to communicate with a separate
up-take at each end of the boiler and the several up-takes, which
combined form the heads of the boiler, and may be constructed to
provide tortuous communications for passage of the steam and water are
connected top and bottom by cross pipes or passages at each or either
end of the boiler, and are held together by bolts passing longitudinally
through the cross pipes. This construction establishes a most perfect
circulation for the steam and water horizontally as well as vertically,
and affords great convenience as regards taking apart or putting
together of the boiler, together with exemption from water being pro-
jected with great force or in large quantities by the steam into the steam
space of the boiler.
Having thus specified the object and nature of the Invention, its
description will be proceeded with in reference to the accompanying
Drawing.
Fig. 1 represents an end elevation of a water tube steam boiler (shewn
partly in section) constructed in accordance with the Invention; Fig. 2
is a vertical longitudinal section of the same; Fig. 3 is a face view,
and Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section at right angles to the face of one of
the up-takes or sectional portions of either head of the boiler detached;
Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view (taken in the direction of the length
of the boiler) through the end of one of the water tubes, and shewing its
connection with the sectional head or up-take; and Fig. 6 is an interior

page_text: without disturbing the heads of the boiler or up-takes composing. the
same.
In the Drawing A, A, represent the water tubes of the boiler, and
which are here represented as being set inclined, and so that the upper
tubes or tubes furthest from the fire or upper portions of certain of them
constitute steam spaces that may or may not be in communication with
a steam drum above; C is the furnace or fire-place; D, the masonry in
which the boiler is set; and D¹, the chimney or up-take for the draft.
The tubes A, A, which may be of wrought metal are arranged one above
the other in a succession or series of vertical rows running side by side,
and each vertical series or set of tubes is made to connect at both ends
with a separate up-take E of cast iron. These up-takes for the steam
and water are arranged side by side_to_provide_for_their_independent-
connection with each vertical series or row of tubes, and to form close
heads at the ends of the boiler. To make them fit snug and close the
one against the other they may be constructed with facings on their
sides, or be slightly socketted and suitably dressed. Holes a, a, arc
made in the outside walls of these up-takes opposite either tube, but of
slightly larger diameter than the tubes to provide for the independent
insertion and removal of the tubes one by one without disturbing the
heads of the boiler; and these holes are closed by lids or plates b, b, of
parallelogramic form, and of a size to constitute a covering on the
outsides of the up-takes, to which they may be secured by 'screw bolts
arranged to pass through or between adjacent pairs of the plates, which
latter carry interior projections c, c, that serve to establish a tortuous
'communication, and to present opposing surfaces for the steam and
water that operate to check the upward current of water and steam, and
cause the steam to make a tortuous travel without passing longitudinally
through the tubes, whereby dryer steam is produced and priming
avoided. These interior projections c, c, may be dispensed with at the
back of the boiler, and also those below the water line in front of it, or if
preferred they may be dispensed with altogether. Such a chambered
construction of the up-takes is not here claimed as new, but to secure a
more perfect circulation horizontally as well as vertically, or in various
directions, and to facilitate putting together or taking apart of the

page_text: boiler, and to effect a better action generally, and make advantageously
available the employment of separate up-takes for each vertical row of
tubes, as herein-before described; the up-takes E have cast on their top
and bottom ends at either or opposite ends of the boiler a horizontal
passage or tubular projection F constituting, when the several up-takes
are fitted together horizontal or cross pipes, that establish a free com-
munication between the several up-takes, and which extending across
the ends or heads of the boiler are closed at their ends by plates or
bonnets d, d, also through which horizontal screw bolts e provided with
nuts on the outsides of the bonnets are passed to hold the several
up-takes together, and to make tight and secure the heads of the boiler
with every facility by unscrewing the nuts from the ends of the bolts for
taking the boiler apart as required. The slip joint at the ends of the
water tubes A, A, is constructed as follows:-The ends of the tubes are
or may be contracted, leaving a shoulder, as at f, and have a screw
thread cut upon the outer portions g of them. On the inner walls of the
hollow heads of the boiler or separate up-takes E composing the heads
are socket or stuffing box-like projections ½, having flanges or shoulders i
on their inner ends of a size that will admit of the tubes fitting freely
through them, and so that on removing the lids or plates b, b, the tubes
may be separately entered or withdrawn from the boiler by passing them
through the up-takes or head of the boiler. These sockets h in con-
junction with the reduced extremities of the tubes provide a packing
space for the tubes at their ends, and the tubes are packed and the heads
of the boiler securely held to them, with provision for independent
longitudinal expansion and contraction of the tubes, and adjustment or
removal of them, as required, by first slipping into the space surrounding
either reduced end of the tube, and between it and the interior of the
socket up against the shoulder i a loose ring k of metal, and outside of
this a packing m of vulcanized rubber or other flexible material, and at the
back or outside of such packing fitting a follower n, which may have
interposed between it and the packing a washer o, and which follower is
arranged to fit the screw thread on the end of the tube, and should be
provided with lugs r, r, to facilitate its being screwed on or off after
access is obtained for the purpose by removing the lid or plate 6 that
faces it. This screw follower it is preferred to make of cast iron, so that
in case of its sticking it may be readily broken by the blow of a hammer
and a new follower be substituted therefor.

page_text: Having now set forth the nature of the Invention of "Improvements
in Steam Boilers," as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent,
and explained the manner of carrying the same into effect, I wish it to
be understood that under the above in part recited Letters Patent, I
claim,―
First. The construction and combination of parts whereby the water
tubes of a boiler are provided with a slip joint at their ends, substantially
as and for the purposes herein set forth.
Second. The construction of water tube boilers with chambered heads
composed of independent up-takes, which admit of the withdrawal and
insertion of the water tubes through the same, such up-takes being
provided or formed at their ends with cross pipes or passages and secured
or held together, essentially as described.
-In-witness whereof-I, the-said-William-Edward Newton, have-here-
unto set my hand and seal, the Fourth day of March, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one.