IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM GENERATORS AND SELF-STOKING FURNACES THEREFOR.
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Vicars, the elder, and Thomas Vicars, the
younger, both of Liverpool, in tlie County of Lancaster, Engineers,
and James Smith, of the same Place, Baker, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM GENERATORS AND SELF-STOKING FURNACES
THEREFOR.
"
-PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Vicars, the
elder, Thomas Vicars, the younger, and James Smith at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with their Petition, on the 23rd
February 1874.
We, THOMAS VICARS, the elder, and THOMAS VICARS, the younger, both
of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Engineers, and JAMES SMITH,
of the same Place, Baker, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM GENERATORS AND SELF-STOKING
FURNACES THEREFOR," to be as follows:-
The main object of our Invention is to provido a steam generator
having one or other of our well-known self-stoking furnaces adapted

page_text: thereto, and combined therewith in such manner that viewed in relation
to each other and together the evaporative efficiency shall be great and
the fuel consumption small. As means for producing the effects above
described we,-
First. So construct a steam generator that water containing tubes &
projecting from the front thercof shall form the top and sides of the
furnace, the front being formed by a box of rectangular or other shape
arranged to receive and support the outer ends of the above mentioned
water tubes.
Second. In combination with the above first part we employ a flue or 1
flues led eccentrically through the lower shell or shells of the generator,
and cause the products of combustion after striking against the water
space front, sides, and top of the furnace to pass through such flue or
flucs, thence along the outside of the shell or shells to the chimney.
Third. We modify the self-stoking furnace for which we received Her 1
Majesty's Letters Patent No. 3166, of the year 1868, as follows:— _We
increase the distance between the fuel feed and fire-bars to about twenty
inches; we employ three or more feeding plungers according to the
quality of fuel used and place them above the furnace doors; this
arrangement allows of a brickwork arch being built between the ash-pit 2
and the plungers. Openings aro left in the end brickwork for doors;
with this arrangement of parts the motion of the fire-bars may bo
advantageously decreased.
The arrangement of steam generator under our Invention which we
prefer consists of three cylindrical shells arranged triangularly one above
and two below connected together by tubes. The top shell extends over
the furnace to the front water box above mentioned. To protect the
top shell from the direct action of the flames and heating gases, tubes
(or a tube) branch out of cach lower shell are continued over the furnace
to form the crown, and attached to the said front water box. From the
front of each of the lower shells tubes project to the front box and form
the sides and part of the top of the furnace. The products of combustion
after striking against the front box and sides and top of the furnace are
deflected down and pass lengthways through flues placed eccentrically
in the shells; after passing through the internal flues the heating gases
are if desired caused to travel forwards and backwards over the outside

page_text: surfaces of the cylindrical shells to the chimney. The tubes forming the
crown and sides of the furnace are preferably inclined.
The form of furnace described under the above third head is that
which we prefer to use in combination with a steam gencrator con-
structed under the first and second heads. A steam generator however
having the improvements described under the first and second heads
may be used with furnaces of ordinary construction.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Thomas Vicars, the elder, Thomas Vicars, the
younger, and James Smith in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
22nd August 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, wc, THOMAS
VICARS, the elder, and THOMAS VICARS, the younger, both of Liverpool,
in the County of Lancaster, Engineers, and JAMES SMITH, of the same
Place, Baker, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-third day of February, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the
thirty-seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto us, the said Thomas Vicars, the elder,
Thomas Vicars, the younger, and James Smith, Her special licence that
we, the said Thomas Vicars, the elder, Thomas Vicars, the younger,
and James Smith, our executors, administrators, and assigns, or suchi
others as we, the said Thomas Vicars, the elder, Thomas Vicars,
the younger, and James Smith, our 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 GENERATORS
AND SELF-STOKING FURNACES THEREFOB," upon the condition (amongst others)
that we, the said Thomas Vicars, the elder, Thomas Vicars, the
younger, and James Smith, our exccutors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under our, or their, or one of our or their hands

page_text: 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 Thomas Vicars, the elder,
Thomas Vicars, the younger, and James Smith, 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 Sheet of 1
illustrative Drawings, and to the figures and letters marked thereon,
that is to say :-
The main object of our Invention is to provide a steam generator
having one or other of our well-known self-stoking furnaces adapted
thereto, and combined therewith in such manner that viewed in relation]
to cach other and together, the evaporative efficiency shall be great and
the fuel consumption small. As means for producing the effects abovo
described we,―
First. So construct a steam generator that water containing tubes
projecting from the front thereof shall form the top and sides of tho
furnace, the front being formed by a box of rectangular or other shapo
arranged to receive and support the outer ends of the above mentioned
water tubes.
Second. In combination with the above first part, we employ a flue or
flues led eccentrically through the lower shell or shells of the generator,
and cause the products of combustion after striking against the water
space front, sides, and top of the furnace to pass through such fluc or
flues, thence along the outside of the shell or shells to the chimney.
Third. We modify the self-stoking furnace for which we received Ier
Majesty's Letters Patent No. 3166, of the year 1868, as follows:-Wei
increase the distance between the fuel feed and fire-bars to about twenty
inches; we employ three or more feeding plungers according to the
quality of fuel used and place them above the furnace doors; this
arrangement allows of a brickwork arch being built between the ash-pit
and the plungers. Openings are left in the said brickwork for doors;
with this arrangement of parts the motion of the fire-bars may be
advantageously decreased.

page_text: The arrangement of steam generator under our Invention which we
prefer, consists of three cylindrical shells arranged triangularly one
above and two below, connected together by tubes. The top shell extends
over the furnace to the front water box above mentioned. To protect
the top shell from the direct action of the flames and heating gases,
tubes (or a tube) branch out of cach lower shell, are continued over the
furnace to form the crown and attached to the said front water box. From
the front of each of the lower shells tubes project to the front box and
form the sides and part of the top of the furnace. The products of
combustion after striking against the front box and sides and top of the
furnace are deflected down and pass lengthways through flues placed
eccentrically in the shells. After passing through the internal flues the
heating gases are if desired caused to travel forwards and backwards
over the outside surfaces of the cylindrical shiolls to the chimney.
The tubes forming the crown and sides of the furnace are preferably
inclined.
The form of furnace described under the above third head is that
which we prefer to use in combination with a steam generator con-
structed under the first and second heads. A steam generator however
having the improvements described under the first and second heads
may be used with furnaces of ordinary construction.

page_text: The general arrangement of parts which we prefer is shown in Figs. 1
and 2; d, top shell projecting over the furnace e connected to the box b
and protected from the flames by the tubes a. Tubes a connect the
lower shells to the box b; g, tubes connecting the upper shell a and
lower shellsf.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention and par-
ticularized the same, so that others will be enabled to carry out our
Invention, we claim,-
First. Forming the top, sides, and front of a steam generator furnace,
substantially as described and illustrated under head one, Figs. 1 and 2.
Second. The combination of parts, substantially as described and
illustrated under head two, Figs. 1 and 2.
Third. The arrangement of parts, substantially as described under
head three.
Fourth. The combination of a steam generator constructed sub-
stantially as described and illustrated under heads and Figs. 1 and 2,
with a furnace constructed substantially as described under head 3.
In witness whereof, we, the said Thomas Vicars, the elder, and
Thomas Vicars, the younger, have hereunto set our hands and
seals, the Twentieth day of August, in the year of our Lord One 2
thousand eight hundred and seventy-four.
In the presence of
J. JOHNSON,
Patent Office,
.
(L.S.)
THOMAS VICARS, THE ELDER.
THOMAS VICARS, THE YOUNGER. (L.S.)
Clayton Square,
Liverpool.