IMPROVEMENTS IN BOILERS
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Read, of No. 167, Old Street, in the
Parish of Saint Luke's, in the City of London, Hot Water Engineer,
for the Invention of “IMPROVEMENTS IN BOILERS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Read at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
6th December 1878.
I, THOMAS READ, of No. 167, Old Street, in the Parish'of Saint
Luke's, in the City of London, Hot Water Engineer, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BOILERS," to be
as follows, that is to say :-
My Invention relates to improvements in the class of boilers generally
known as saddle boilers, and consists in arrangements whereby the
whole of the internal and external surfaces of the boilers are exposed to
the action of the fire or to that of the heated products of combustion,
thereby producing a maximum of heating effect from the fuel consumed.

page_text: My improved boiler is made by preference in the shape of an ordinary
gas retort, open at one end and closed at the other with the exception
of a space or spaces which are left for the escape of the smoke.;
1 The fire-bars or grate which may be made either of solid iron or of
hollow circulating tubes, are placed inside the boiler leaving sufficient
space underneath them for an ash-pit.
By preference I enclose the boiler in a case of metal of such
dimensions as will leave a sufficient space at the back of and all round the
boiler for flues. This flue space is divided by metal or other wings or
flue partings in such a way that the heated products of combustion pass 1
through the spaces left at the back of the boiler before-mentioned into
the smoke box, thence pass underneath the boiler towards the front
when the current is divided, part passing to each side of the boiler and
running horizontally by means of the wings or flue partings backwards
and forwards, until they reach the chimney or vent by which they
escape into the atmosphere. The front of the outer case is fitted with
fire and ash-pit doors, and also with soot doors communicating with the
flues for the purpose of cleansing when necessary.
The boiler is also fitted with ordinary flow and return pipes and mud
or draw-off cocks, when it is intended to be used for the purpose of a
heating by the circulation of hot water..
By the addition of a steam chest my improved boiler may be also used
with advantage for the economical generation of steam.
With the arrangement proposed my improved boiler is portable and
does not require brickwork setting; but it may when required be fixed
in brickwork in the usual manner, care being taken to have the wings or
flue partings properly arranged to cause the smoke and heated products
of combustion to travel towards the chimney in the manner described.
I also provide a damper or valve to allow the escape of the smoke
direct to the chimney when the fire is first kindled, instead of forcing it a
to traverse the flues in the manner described, which if the draught were
not strong and the water cold might be attended with some difficulty.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Thomas Read in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 6th June 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
READ, of 167, Old Street, in the Parish of Saint Luke's, in the City of
London, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Sixth day of December, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the
thirty-seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said Thomas Read, Her special
licence, that I, the said Thomas Read, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Thomas Read, 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 BOILERS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Thomas
Read, 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, 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 Thomas Read, 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 :--
My Invention relates to improvements in the class of boilers generally
known as saddle boilers, and consists in arrangements whereby the
whole of the internal and external surfaces of the boilers are exposed
to the action of the fire or to that of the heated products of combustion,
thereby producing a maximum of heating effect from the fuel consumed.
My improved boiler is made by preference in the shape of an ordinary
flat bottomed gas retort, one at one end and closed at the other with

page_text: the exception of a space or spaces which are left for the escape of the
smoke.
The fire-bars or grate which may be either of solid iron or of hollow
circulating tubes, are placed inside the boiler leaving sufficient space
underneath them for an ash-pit.
By preference I enclose the boiler in a case of metal of such
dimensions as will leave a sufficient space at the back of and all round
the boiler for flues. This flue space is divided by metal or other wings
or flue partings, in such a way that the heated products of combustion
pass through the space or spaces left at the back of the boiler before-
mentioned into the smoke box, thence pass underneath the boiler towards
the front when the current is divided, part passing to each side of the
boiler and traversing horizontally by means of the wings or flue partings
backwards and forwards, until they reach the chimney or vent by which
they escape into the atmosphere. The front of the outer case is fitted
with fire and ash-pit doors, and also with soot doors communicating with
the flues for the purpose of cleaning when necessary.
The boiler is also fitted with ordinary flow and return pipes and mud
or draw-off cocks when it is intended to be used for the purpose of
heating by the circulation of hot water.
By the addition of a steam chest my improved boiler may be also used
with advantage for the economical generation of steam.
With the arrangement described my improved boiler is portable and
does not require any brickwork setting; but it may when required be
fixed in brickwork in the usual manner, care being taken to have the :
wings or flue partings properly arranged to cause the smoke and heated
products of combustion to travel towards the chimney in the manner
described.
I also provide a damper or valve to allow the escape of the smoke
direct to the chimney when the fire is first kindled, instead of forcing it a
to traverse the flues in the manner described, which if the draught be
not strong and the water cold might be attended with some difficulty.
My Invention will be better understood by reference to the annexed
Drawings in which the letters refer to the same part in each Figure.
Fig. 1 shews a view of the boiler complete in case; Fig. 2, the boiler
with case removed; Fig. 3, a longitudinal section of boiler and flues,
and Fig. 4, a vertical section of boiler and flues.

page_text: A is the boiler; B, the fire-box; O, the ash-pit, both of which are
fitted with doors D, by which to supply fuel and regulate the draught;
E, the opening in the back of the boiler which allows the smoke and
products of combustion to pass from the fire-box B to the flues; F, the
chimney or vent; G, the flues which conduct the smoke and heated
products of combustion around the outer surface of the boiler; H, the
wings or flue partings which cause the heated products of combustion
to traverse the outer surface of the boiler until they escape by the
chimney or vent F; I, small soot doors fitted in the front of the boiler
case by means of which the flues may be cleaned out when required;
K, the flow pipe which conducts the hot water to the pipes used for
heating; L, the return pipe through which the cooled water returns to
the boiler to take up a fresh supply of heat to be again discharged by the
flow pipe K. The arrows shew the course traversed by the smoke and
heated products of combustion on their way to the chimney. It will be
seen that by this arrangement the whole of the inner and outer surfaces
of the boiler are exposed either to the direct action of the fire or to that
of the heated products of combustion.
Having described the nature of my Invention and the manner of
carrying the same into effect, I wish it to be understood that I do not
confine myself to the precise details herein described and shewn so long
as the general principle of my Invention be adhered to; but what I
claim and desire to secure by these Letters Patent is,―
Firstly. The novel shape of the boiler as described and shewn.
And, Secondly. The particular mode of conducting the heated products
of combustion over the outer surface of the boiler by means of wings or
flue partings as described and shewn in the Drawings annexed, Figs. 1,
2, 3, and 4.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Read, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Sixth day of June, in the year of our