IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM BOILERS OR GENERATORS
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Shepherd, of Polygon Avenue, Ardwick,
Manchester, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM
BOILERS OR GENERATORS."
Sealed the 18th November 1873, and dated the 21st May 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Shepherd at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 21st May 1873.
I, JAMES SHEPHERD, of Polygon Avenue, Ardwick, Manchester,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "Im-
PROVEMENTS IN STEAM BOILERS OR GENERATORS," to be as follows :—
My Invention relates to sectional steam boilers or generators, com-
posed of a number of vessels or tubes by preference of a conical shape,
or of two frustrums of cones joined together at their larger diameters.
The lower forming for the most part the water space, and the upper the

page_text: steam space; and placed in a vertical or nearly vertical position in
rectangular groups; and in such manner as to have free communication
one with another both for the passage of water and steam.
In carrying my improvements into effect I sometimes construct
the sections or tubes with an internal cone, or a diaphragm plate,
dividing the tubes and having an opening for communication both at
the top and bottom thereof, thus providing a means whereby the cir-
culation of the water within the sections or tubes may be promoted.
The feed water entering either at the top or at the bottom by means of a
separate pipe or it may be by both ways combined.
At the bottom of the sections or tubes or underneath the bottom
connecting pipes, or attached thereto, I construct separate down
branches fitted with a moveable or blank flanch, the removal of which
in conjunction with the hand or sight hole in the section or tube gives
great facilities for internal examination and cleaning of the various
sections and pipes forming the boiler or steam generator.
I also employ a collector or trunk pipe into which the steam generated
in the various sections or tubes may be allowed to enter by means of
branch pipes leading from such sections or tubes to the collector or
trunk pipe aforesaid. Such collector or trunk pipe to have an area or
bore considerably in excess of the area or bore cross sectionally of the
branch pipes leading thereto, by means of which excessive area or boro
what is technically termed "throttling" the steam may be prevented.
I connect this collector or trunk pipe to a steam chamber or chambers,
which I place over the crown of the furnace, and when such chamber
or chambers is or are constructed in the pipe or tube form I place it or
them, by preference, transversely with the body of the boiler; but it may
be diagonally or longitudinally; and when more than one chamber or
vessel is used I connect them together by means of junction pipes,
placing the chambers or vessels one height above another somewhat in
the form of steps, as they recede from the body of the boiler, and
resting on a hollow frame or bearer, by which means radiation of heat
from the outer portion of the furnace top is prevented or utilized. Or
the steam chambers may be similarly arranged at the back or sides of
the body of the boiler or in combination. And as the steam chamber
or chambers is or are thereby removed from over the sections or tubes

page_text: comprising the body of the boiler, such sections or tubes can be removed
or lifted with great facility, and are much more convenient for exami-
nation, alteration, or repairs.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said James Shepherd in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 21st November 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
SHEPHERD, of Polygon Avenue, Ardwick, Manchester, Engineer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-first day of May, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the
thirty-sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said James Shepherd, Her
special licence that I, the said James Shepherd, my executors, admini-
strators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said James Shepherd,
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 "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN STEAM BOILERS OR GENERATORS," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said James Shepherd, my executors or administrators,
by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one 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 samo 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 James Shepherd, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the
sane is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in

page_text: The Invention relates to steam boilers or generators of steam or heat
for steam engines and various other purposes, and to that class of the
same composed of a number of similar parts or pieces which being
joined together form what is technically termed sectional boilers or
generators.
In constructing a steam boiler or generator in accordance with my
Invention I employ one or more conically shaped vessels containing
diaphragm plates, or internal cones or not as may be thought most de-
sirable, the larger diameter of the cone being upwards, and to the top of
which is joined another cone (or it may be hemispherically shaped cover).
The lower end of the cone and the upper end of the cover are provided
with flanges for the purpose of connecting therewith the required pipes ;
but belts of angle iron may be rivetted to the cover and cone, or blocks of
cast or other iron may be attached in lieu of the aforesaid flanges. The
lower portions of the cones containing the water and exposed to the
action of the fire, are made of wrought iron, but the upper portion or
cover may be made of either cast or wrought iron, and is provided with
a suitable opening and lid known as a hand or sight hole to facilitate
internal cleaning or inspection.
In the general arrangement of a boiler containing more than one tube
of the aforesaid conical description the sections are placed, by preference,
in rectangular groups and are connected at their lower ends to pipes
through which the feed water enters, and through which the discharge
water passes away when the boiler is emptied. Or it may be that the
several cones are fixed upon a wrought-iron or other tube of larger
dimensions than the pipes previously described, such tube containing
an inner flue and running parallel with the length of the boiler. The
feed water passes from this enlarged tube into the several sections, and
the gases from the furnace, after leaving the external surfaces of
the cones pass through such inner flue on their way to the damper,
whereas when pipes are used the structure rests upon cast-iron or other
buffets or supports, and the gases pass direct from the surface of the
cones to the damper. A series of cast-iron plates, or plates or blocks
of some other material rests on the top edge of the lower cone flanges,
forming a roof to the bottom flue or chamber, thus shielding the joints
of the pipes from contact with the products of combustion. In like

page_text: manner cast-iron plates or blocks, or blocks or plates of fire-clay or
bricks, are fitted in between the top portion of the several cones and
form a roof to the combustion chamber, and thus protect the various
joints (as below) from the action of the gases and leave such joints at
all times accessible. The several tubes or sections are joined one to
another at their top flanges by pipes in manner similar to the arrange-
ment at the bottom. These several branch pipes are connected to a main
or trunk pipe of a much larger diameter than the aforesaid branch pipes,
so as to afford ample means for carrying off the steam generated in the
several sections without throttling or wire drawing the same on its way
to the steam chambers or reservoirs. These steam chambers or reser-
voirs are by preference placed over the roof of the furnace, and when
two or more are used they are placed in tiers one height above another,
and are connected by pipes of the requisite calibre, the steam passing
from the first steam chamber to the second, and from the second to the
third, on its way to the junction or stop valve. Or the steam chambers
may be similarly or otherwise arranged at the back or at the sides of the
body of the boiler or in combination.

page_text: dinally therewith; e, e, are the branch pipes connecting the various
sections or tubes one with another, and also with the main trunk pipe b
and feed water or blow-off pipe c; f, f, and f¹, f¹, are the plates or blocks
which being placed above the blow-off pipe c and its connections and
below the trunk pipe 6 and its connections thus form a chamber or flue
along which the heated gases travel from the furnace ; to the damper k,
and at the same time form a protection for the various joints and con-
nections against the action of such heated gases. In the modified
arrangement shewn in Fig. 4, g is the large tube with internal flue h to
which tube g the various sections are affixed by means of pipes and
flanges or any other convenient method; a¹, a', are the hemispherically
shaped covers for the various sections; and a², a³ are the cast-iron or other
blocks in lieu of the covers being formed with a flange. These blocks a³
may be rivetted or otherwise attached to the covers of the sections (or
belts of angle iron may be used).
I would here observe that various arrangements and modifications
may be made in several portions of the steam boiler or generator here
described, without departing from the peculiar character of the improve-
ments; also that this arrangement or a modification thereof may be
used as a generator of heat for circulatory purposes, and the sections
may be arranged in any convenient form, and in numbers from one to
any number that may be found desirable.
Having thus described my improvements, and means which I adopt
in carrying same into effect, I would have it understood that I do not
confine myself to the exact details shewn and described, as variations
may be made in them without departing from the peculiar character of
my Invention; but what I do claim is, the constructing and arranging
of conically shaped sections or tubes for the generation of steam in such
a manner as to be in connection at their upper portions by means of
branch pipes with a trunk pipe or main, and such trunk pipe or main to
be in connection with one or more steam chambers or reservoirs placed
transversely or otherwise over the furnace, or at the back or sides of the
boiler, whether connected at their lower portions by means of pipes or
other suitable method, or connected with a tube containing an internal flue
through which the heated gases may pass on their way to the damper, in
manner substantially as described.

page_text: Also, the constructing and arranging of one or more conically shaped
tubes or sections for the generation of heat for circulatory or heating
purposes, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Shepherd, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of November, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
three.
Witness,
WILLIAM GADD,
Consulting Engineer,
Agent to the Patentec.
JAMES SHEPHERD. (L.S.)