IMPROVEMENTS APPLICABLE TO STEAM BOILERS AND FURNACES FOR CONSUMING SMOKE AND ECONOMIZING FUEL IN THE GENERATION OF STEAM, AND IN THE APPARATUS CONNECTED THERE WITH
Year: 1859

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Tapp and James Bryant Tapp, of Chesterfield,
Derbyshire, Engineers, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS APPLICABLE
TO STEAM BOILERS AND FURNACES FOR CONSUMING SMOKE AND ECONOMIZING
FUEL IN THE GENERATION OF STEAM, AND IN THE APPARATUS CONNECTED
THERE WITH."
Sealed the 11th January 1860, and dated the 21st July 1859.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Tapp and James
Bryant Tapp at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their
Petition, on the 21st July 1859.
We, CHARLES TAPP and JAMES BRYANT TAPP, of Chesterfield, Derbyshire,
Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS APPLICABLE TO STEAM BOILERS AND FURNACES FOR CONSUMING SMOKE AND
ECONOMIZING FUEL IN THE GENERATION OP STEAM, AND IN THE APPARATUS CONNECTED
THEREWITH," to be as follows:-
Our said Invention relates, in the first place, to a novel construction and
combination of the internal arrangements of steam engine boilers for promoting
the combustion of the gaseous products of the fuel, and increasing evaporative
effect, and is applicable to the boilers and furnaces of locomotive, marine, and
.stationary engines, and to furnaces of every description.
According to this Invention there are two fire boxes or fire-places placed

page_text: inside the boiler, having separate fire doors, these furnaces or fire boxes are to
be fired up alternately, and the draught reversed by means of dampers which
are opened and closed with rods and levers, or other contrivances, and actuated
by the opening and closing of the fire doors. The fire box or furnace is
divided into two compartments by means of a diaphragm or partition, and the
smoke & gases evolved from the fuel in the green or recently charged fire
passing over the incandescent fuel of the clear fire becomes consumed.
The object of the midfeather or partition is to separate the two fires untill
the smoke and flame rise to a certain point, and at that point they both are
connected by the action of the dampers, the last fire that was charged dis-
charging the gases over the opposite or clear fire, in this manner the smoke
and gases are ignited and consumed. At the end of the fire box a bridge is
situated, the flame and smoke proceeding to this bridge, it is constructed
with an aperture at the centre, and at this point by the proper regulation of
the dampers, the mode of operating which will be hereafter shewn, the flame
and gasses from both fires cross each other before passing into the flame or
mixing chamber which is situated behind the bridge; from this flame or
mixing chamber two tubes run the entire length of the boiler, the flues are then
carried under the boiler on both or on one side of the outer shell, and from thence
to the chimney. In the fire box or fire-place pipes or tubes are placed through
which the water circulates; these pipes or tubes being either parallel or tapering,
their lower surfaces being affixed to the diaphragm or partition, and their upper
surfaces to the top of the fire box or fire-place, they will thus be effective in sup-
porting the fire-place and increasing the heating surface; the two fire box tubes
being connected at top in this mode of construction, and the tapering tubes
passing from the partition or diaphragm to the top of the fire box, these parallel
or tapering tubes being placed either in a vertical, incline, or horizontal position.
We have hereto appended a Drawing delineating another arrangement
and combination, and shewing the contrivance for opening the fire doors,
which contrivance is applicable to both descriptions of boiler. The Figure
represents a half section and half elevation of the boiler. According to
this arrangement there are two tubes A, B, running the length of the
boiler; C is a return flue formed in brick-work under the boiler; D is a
damper in the passage from C to E; E is the flue leading to the chimney; F
is a connection of the two tubes not more than 2 ft. 6 in. long; G, grate bars;
His a fire-door; I is a rod connected by a joint to a lever projecting from the
door at the hinge; J is a lever connected fast to the gudgeon or spindle upon
which the damper moves; K, K, are weights to balance the damper if found
necessary; L is a piston; M is a cup to supply the piston with water. Inside

page_text: passes
the cup is a small tap to regulate the action of the piston. N is a small
balance weight to the piston; O is a long hole in the joint. The objects
attained by this part of our said Invention are, firstly, to effect an absolute
and compulsory charging of the two fires; secondly, to bring the smoke &
gases made in one furnace over and into immediate contact with the other
clear fire. When the fireman opens the fire door H to charge the tube B with
coals, the projecting lever ou the door moves the rod I, which operates the
lever J, in connection with the damper, and the lever K raises the piston L,
which fills with water like a pump, and closes the damper. The fire being
charged the door E is closed, the long hole in the rod I, allowing the lever J
to remain, and the damper to keep shut, so that the smoke from B
through at F, over the red-hot fire in A, and is consumed after the door is
closed; the piston L, moves slowly downward, its rate of speed being con-
trolled by the small tap in the cup; when the damper falls open the lever K
is caught by a spring latch P; the lever K, being made fast, the fire-door H
is now locked untill the piston descends to force back the spring by a small
roller at 7, and the door is again set at liberty for the furnace to be again
charged with coals. The boiler or furnace may be constructed with or without
dampers behind the bridge, and the self-acting locks may be applied to the
furnace doors without the dampers. Either the self-acting lock or the
self-acting apparatus for opening the fire doors is applicable to any boiler or
furnace that has two fires to be charged alternately.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Charles Tapp and James Bryant Tapp in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 14th January 1860.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, CHARLES
TAPP and JAMES BRYANT TAPP, of Chesterfield, Derbyshire, Engineers, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-first day of July, in the year of our Lord
Que thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine, in the twenty-second year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us,
the said Charles Tapp and James Bryant Tapp, Her special licence that we,
the said Charles Tapp and James Bryant Tapp, our executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as we, the said Charles Tapp and James Bryant
Tapp, our executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree

page_text: 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 APPLICABLE TO
STEAM BOILERS AND FURNACES FOR CONSUMING SMOKE AND ECONOMIZING FUEL IN
THE GENERATION OF STEAM, AND IN THE APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH," upon
the condition (amongst others) that we, the said Charles Tapp and James
Bryant Tapp, 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 Charles Tapp and James Bryant Tapp,
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, reference being had to the accompanying Draw-
ings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
Our said Invention relates, in the first place, to a novel construction of the
internal arrangements of steam-engine boilers for promoting the combustion
of the gaseous products of the fuel, and increasing evaporative effect, and is
applicable to the boilers and furnaces of locomotive, marine, and stationary
engines, and to furnaces of every description.
According to this Invention, there are two fire boxes placed inside the
boiler having separate fire doors; these furnaces or fire boxes are to be fired
up alternately and the draught reversed by means of dampers, which are
opened and closed with rods and levers or other contrivances, and actuated by
the opening and closing of the fire-doors. The fire box or furnace is divided
into two compartments by means of a diaphragm or partition, and the smoke
and gases evolved from the fuel in the green or recently charged fire passing
over the incandescent fuel of the clear fire, becomes consumed. The object
of the midfeather or partition is to separate the two fires untill the smoke and
flame rise to a certain point, and at that point they both are connected by the
action of the dampers; the last fire that was charged discharging the gases
over the opposite or clear fire. In this manner, the smoke and gases are
ignited & consumed.
At the end of the fire box a bridge is situated, the flame and smoke pro-
ceeding to this bridge, it is constructed with an aperture at the centre; and
at this point by the proper regulation of the dampers, the mode of operating

page_text: which will be hereafter shewn, the flame and gases from both fires come in
contact with each other before passing into the flame or mixing chamber,
which is situated behind the bridge; this flame chamber is continued the
entire length of the boiler. The flues are then carried under the boiler on
both or one side of the outer shell, and from thence to the chimney. In the
fire box or fire-place pipes or tubes are placed, through which the water
circulates; these pipes or tubes being either parallel or tapering, and placed
either vertical or slightly inclined, having their lower surfaces affixed to the
diaphragm or partition, and their upper surfaces to the top of the fire-box or
fire-place. They will thus be effective in supporting the fire-place and in-
creasing the heating surface; the two fire box tubes being connected at top in
this mode of construction, and the tapering tubes passing from the partition or
diaphragm to the top of the fire box. These parallel or tapering tubes being
either in a vertical, inclined, or horizontal position, and placed at certain
distances apart throughout the entire length of fire box and flame chamber,
and might be continued from one extreme of the boiler to the other. The
boiler or furnace may be constructed with or without dampers behind the
bridge, and the self-acting lock may be applied to the furnace doors without
the dampers. Either the self-acting lock or the self-acting apparatus for
opening the fire doors is applicable to any boiler or furnace that has two fires,
to be charged alternately.
In order that our said Invention may be thoroughly and completely under-
stood we now proceed to describe the several illustrative Figures upon the
explanatory Sheet of Drawings hereunto attached for the purpose of showing
certain modifications under which our said improvements may be judiciously
carried into effect.
Fig. 1, on Sheet 1 of the Drawings accompanying this Specification, illustrates
one modification of our improvements in the construction of boiler furnaces
and apparatus for regulating the supply of atmospheric air to the fuel.
Fig. 1, on Sheet 1 of our Drawings, is a transverse end elevation, one half
of the Figure being shewn in section to shew the internal arrangements.
In this modification there are two fire boxes or tubes A, A', through the
entire length of the boiler, with a fire in each tube; B is the smoke passage
for each tube; E, E, are side flues, formed of brickwork; F is the fire bridge;
G, G, are the fire bars; C, C', are dampers in the side flues; H is a lever
with three arms I, I, I", one arm I of which is attached to the rod K hinged
on the door L; the arm 1' to the piston D, which works in a cylinder M;
the arm 1" to the rod J, which is attached to the damper C; N is a weight
on the arm I", to balance the damper, if required.

page_text: When the fireman opens the fire door L to charge the fire tube A with
coals, the projecting lever on the door moves the rod K which operates the
lever H in connection with the damper, and the lever I' raises the piston D
in the cylinder M, the lower end of which is immersed in water or other fluid
contained in a cup or vessel. There is a valve placed in this cylinder which
closes as soon as the cylinder has become filled with the water or fluid con-
tained in the cup or vessel, acting on the principle of the common pump.
Moving a small tap to empty the fluid contained in the cylinder into the cup
or vessel, the piston in its descent pressing it gradually through the tap, and
being entirely regulated thereby. The fire being charged, the door L is closed,
the slot in the rod allowing the arm 1 to remain and the damper to keep shut,
so that the smoke from A passes through over the red-hot fire in A', and is
consumed. After the door is closed, the piston-D-moves-slowly-downward,
controlled in its descent by the small tap, presses upon the arm 1', and forces
the ball or weight N upon the arm I", beyond the centre of gravity, when it
falls, opening the damper C by its movement. The arm l' is caught by a
spring catch, the arm 1' being thereby made fast; the fire door Lis now
locked until the piston D descends low enough to force back the spring catch
and set the door at liberty for the furnace to be again charged with coals.
The same arrangement is applied to the fire door in the fire tube A', and the
damper connected therewith.
Figs. 2 and 3 on Sheet 1 of our Drawings, shew another modification of
our improvements in the construction of boiler furnaces; Fig. 2, on Sheet 1, is
a transverse end elevation, one half being shewn in section to shew the internal
arrangements; Fig. 3 on Sheet 1, of our Drawings is a transverse longitudinal
section.
In this arrangement the fire box A, A', extends through the entire length of
the boiler; B is the partition or diaphragm; E, side flue; F, fire-bridge;
G, G, grate bars; H, fire door; I, I, I, tube supporting fire box and partition
or diaphragm. The same apparatus for opening and closing the dampers in
connection with the fire doors, as described in Fig. 1, Sheet 1, is applicable
to this modification.
Figs. 4 & 5, on Sheet 1 of our Drawings, shew another modification
of our improvements as applied to marino boilers. Figure 4 on Sheet 1 is a
transverse end clevation, shewn one half in section to shew the internal
arrangements; Fig. 5 on Sheet 1 is a longitudinal section.
In this arrangement there are two fire-boxes A, A', extending into the boiler,
with two fires in each fire box; B, B', are the partitions or diaphragms for
dividing the fires and separating them from each other; D, is the fire bridge;

page_text: C, the outlet over the bridge for the gases and smoke; G, G, are the grate bars;
E, E, E, the tubes supporting the fire-box roof and partition or diaghragm;
F, F, fire doors; H, H, &c., are return horizontal tubes from the chamber J
to the smoke box I; K is the door into the smoke box; L is the uptake into
the chimney; N, the steam chamber. The horizontal tubes H, H, to be
made of wrought iron, brass, or copper, or steel, as may be determined; the
same may be readily renewed when required, without interfering with any other
part of the boiler. The same apparatus for opening & closing the dampers
in connection with the fire doors, as described in Fig. 1, Sheet 1, is applicable
to this modification.
The objects of our said Invention are the ready combustion of the gases
evolved from the burning fuel, economy in the consumption of fuel, and rapid
generation of steam. The vertical or inclined tubes form a stay or support to
the fire box, roof, and partition, being rivetted to each. The water and steam
are caused to circulate freely throughout the boiler by means of the beat
acting upon the vertical or inclined tubes, thereby keeping the roof of the fire-
box or top of the tubes free from corrosion, and preventing the accumulation
of sediment. The fire box or tubes are likewise stayed by angle or T-iron
around the same. The pressure is considerably reduced on the roof of the
fire box caused by the reduction of area through the insertion of the vertical or
inclined tubes.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of our said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried
into effect, we may observe, in conclusion, that we do not confine or restrict
ourselves to the precise details or arrangements which we have had occasion
to describe or refer to, as many variations may be made therefrom without
deviating from the principles or main features of our said Invention; but
what we consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as
the Invention secured to us by the herein-before in part recited Letters
Patent, is,-
Firstly, the general arrangement and construction of boilers operating either
in combination with, or separately, with suitable apparatus to reverse the
draught over the fires alternately, thereby passing the gases from the green or
recently charged fire over the clear or bright fire.
Secondly, the arrangement of self-acting dampers cither to turn the current
of heated air or gases alternately from fire box to fire box, or to regulate the
admission of air to supply the furnaces underneath the fire bars, as herein-
before described.
Thirdly, the arrangement & construction of the lock or spring catch in com-

page_text: bination with the apparatus to compel alternate charging of the fires at a given
period, as herein described & set forth.
Fourthly, the arrangement or combination of fire box or flues with tubes
vertical, horizontal or slightly inclined from the perpendicular, attached to the
roof of fire box and partition or diaphragm, with or without the self-acting
dampers acting in combination with the fire-doors, substantially as herein
described and set forth.
Fifthly, the arrangement and construction of boilers, in which the fire box
runs the entire length of the boiler, or assumes the form of one or more tubes
beyond the fire bridge, operating in combination with the self-acting apparatus
and dampers.
In witness whereof, we, the said Charles Tapp and James Bryant Tapp,
have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Twelfth day of January,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred-and-sixty.-
Witness,
M. HUNTER,
131, Fleet Street.
CHARLES TAPP.
(L.S.)
JAMES BRYANT TAPP. (L.S.)