Year: 1897

page_text: OWEN MEREDITH, 2, Beech Road, Rock Ferry, in the County of Chester, Foreman
Boiler Maker, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to vortical boilers of the multitubular type having a tube
plate or tube plates which form part of the boiler shell, and a combustion chamber
which is placed at one side of the boiler and is what is known as a dry back or a
wet back combustion chamber, and consists in forming the combustion chamber
top, tube plate, and bottom, of one plate, and that such bottom should be of greater
breadth than the breadth of such top, and that the additional breadth of it should
project toward the centre of the boiler or extend outside the cylindrical boiler shell
and return to join it, or by anch part of the boiler shell being Hanged out, or by
placing the lower ring of the boiler shell plates a little to one side so as to join the
additional breadth of the dry back combustion chamber bottom.
My invention also consists in forming the upper part of the firebox of hemispherical
shape and the lower part of conical shape having its axis inclined toward the
combustion chamber, and that one side of the crown of such firebox should be
connected to the bottom of a dry back or a wet back combustion chamber by a
tube or otherwise through which the products of combustion pass from the furnace
fire into the combustion chamber thence through the small tubes into the smokebox
and chimnoy.
By my invention the dry back combustion chamber tube plate should be placed
as far from the centre of the boiler as the smokebox tube plate, and as a consequence
the tubes will be longer, and the boiler of greater strongth, and also that the
hemispherical shape portion of the firebox will be less in diameter than the well-
known firebox of hemispherical shape, and as a consequence it will be of greater
strength.
Dated this D1005
I, OWEN MEREDITH, of 2, Beech Road, Rock Ferry, in the County of Chester,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this 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 vertical boilers of the multitubular type wherein the tubes
are horizontal and the combustion chamber possesses a wet or a dry back, and

page_text: consists of a novel form or construction of firebox, and a novel form or construction
of combustion chamber and tube plates.
In the drawings hereto annexed Figure 1 is a sectional elevation, and Figure 2 is
a sectional plan on line A B, Figure 1, of a boiler having a dry backed combustion
chamber. Figure 3 is a sectional elevation, and Figure 4 is a sectional plan on
line CD, Figure 3, of a boiler having a wet backed combustion chamber.
Upon reference to Figures 1 and 3 of the drawings it will be seen that I construct
the lower portion a of the firebox of the boiler of a truncated conical form, the
line of truncation being marked c, and the axis of said cone being inclined
towards the combustion chamber. Above the line of truncation, namely the upper
portion of the firebox, is a perfect hemisphere. Briofly then, my novel firebox
possesses a conical lower portion and a hemispherical upper portion.
Upon reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, which illustrate a boiler
possessing a dry backed combustion chamber, it will be seen that I construct the
lower portion of such combustion chamber in a novel manner, for the following
reasons. I desire to admit the duet which conveys the products of combustion from
the firebox to the combustion chamber without interfering with the length or
number of fire-tubes, and in order to accomplish this object I construct the bottom
of the combustion chamber of greater width thau the chamber itself. 1 bend the
lower part of the tube plate c inwardly towards the centre of the boiler, as far as
the part marked d, and I then bend the plate outwardly as far as the shell of the
boiler, to which it is rivetted. I thus provide sufficient metal to enable me to form
a flanged aperture in the bottom of the combustion chamber to adunit the duct
from the fire-box. It will be seen that by these means I am enabled to dispose the
tube plate o as far from the centre of the boiler as the smoke box tube plate, whereby
I obtain the maximum length of tube.
It will also be seen upon reference to Figures 1 and 2 that the tube plate c and
also the sinoke box tube plate are bent so as to form two surfaces of different
inclination, whereby (as will be seen in Figure 2) two nests of tubes radiate from
the firebox and an unobstructed wedge-shaped space is left between the nests to
facilitate the ebulition of steam. I am aware that similarly bent tube plates have
heretofore been employed in order that the tubes may radiate from the combustion
chamber for the reason stated; and the present invention consists of disposing
both of the said tube plates within the cylindrical circumference of the boiler, so as
to form part of the shell thereof, whereby I can entirely dispense with the stays
which have heretofore been necessary.
Figures 3 and 4 illustrate a manner in which my novel firebox may be fitted
to a wet backed combustion chamber; and it must be understood that the only
novelty which I chain in regard to the boiler shewn in these figures, apart from the
bent tube plates shewn in dotted lines, is the shape of the fire-box.
It must however be understood that the inclined form of tube plates above
referred to is not essential to my invention in so far as it refers to a novel form of
combustion chamber. Such tube plates may be flat, as shewn in dotted lines in
Figure 2.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
clnim is:-
1. The novel form of firebox herein described, the characteristic features of
which are--in combination-the truncated conical lower portion a and the
hemispherical upper portion b, arranged as illustrated in the drawings hereto
annexed.
2. The novel formation of combustion chamber herein described, which consists
in bending inwardly the lower portion of the tube plate c and then bending same
outwardly to the shell of the boiler, whereby the bottom of said chamber is increased
in width, substantially as and for the purpose specified with reference to Figures
and 2 of the drawinge hereto annexed.

page_text: 3. The arrangement--both within the cylindrical circumference of the boiler and
forming part of the shell thereof-of tube plates beut as shewn in full lines in
Figure 2 of the drawings hereto annexed.
Doted this 21st day of August 1808
J. A. COUBROUGH,
Chartered Patent Agent, 10, St. George's Crescent, Liverpool,
Agent for the Applicant.