Improvements in Water-tube Steam Boilers.
Year: 1898

page_text: [Communicated from abroad by JOHN A. STEVENS, of 25, Dutton Street. in the City
of Lowell, State of Massachusetts, United States of America, Engineer.]
Improvements in Water-tube Steam Boilers.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of The Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, 322, High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex,
6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street, Manchester, both in the County
of Lancaster, and Lower Temple Street, Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates more particularly to tubular steam boilers and furnaces
therefor, adapted for both marine and land service. The principal objects of my
improvements are to effect complete combustion of the fuel, to secure economical
distribution and utilization of the products of combustion, to provide a large heating
surface for the generation of steam, to arrange steam and water storage drums in the
paths of the heated products of combustion for increasing the heating service and
producing dry or superheated steam, to augment the circulation throughout the steam
generating system and secure free circulation therethrough, to provide for the
precipitation of obstructing matter contained in the circulating water as well as for
the removal thereof, to keep heating surfaces and passages free from deposits and
obstructions, to prevent radiation, and generally to attain a high degree of efficiency,
economy, and stability, as will more fully appear from the following description of the
construction and operation.
My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, of which :
Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of the construction, on the line a-a of Fig. 2;
Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view, on the line b-b of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a partial
vertical sectional view, on the line c-c of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a front elevation and Fig. 5
is a side elevation illustrating a form of header construction; Fig. 6-is a plan of the
baffle construction, employed in the central pass.
In the construction, the chamber formed by the containing walls 1 is divided by
baffle walls 2 into a central compartment or pass forming the main combustion
chamber, and two end compartments or passes respectively divided by the baffle
walls 3. The central compartiment is provided with the furnace grate or fire bars 4,
and contains the banks of water circulating and steam generating tubes 5 connected
with the headers 8 and 9. The said headers are connected with the two central steam
or storage drums 6 by the respective nipples 10 and 11, through the corresponding
water boxes 12. The front headers 8 preferably communicate with a precipitation
drum 14, through the nipples 15. The said precipitation drum is provided with a
tube 16 having nozzles 17 which register with the respective nipples 15 and permit
the circulating system to be blown out by an attachment to the connection 18, and
provides an auxiliary inlet for feed water. It will be understood that this precipitation
drum and its connections may be omitted. The rear headers 9 are connected by the
nipples 19 with a large precipitation drum 20 which is placed at the rear of the grate
and forms a bridge wall therefor. This drum may be placed below the level of the

page_text: grate surface and to the rear thereof, as illustrated by the drum 20¹ which forms an
abutment for the grate and is connected with the rear headers by the nipples 191.
Air ducts 27 and 271 are employed to facilitate coinbustion.
The end compartments or passes are each provided with two banks of tubes 5,
separated by the baffle walls 8, which tubes are connected with the headers 8 and 9.
The headers for the respective banks of tubes of the end passes are connected to
corresponding steam or storage drums 6 by their nipples 10 and 11 and water
boxes 12. The outer banks of tubes and their connections, in the end passes, may
be omitted and the structure accordingly shortened.
The steam drums 6 are supported in hangers 6¹ suspended from channel beams 6"
which are built into the frame work. The said drums have their upper or steam spaces
connected by the tubes 21 and their lower or water spaces connected by the tubes 22,
which facilitate the circulation and equalize the pressure therein. The two central
drums 6 are connected with an auxiliary drum 7 which is employed for the collection
and storage of dry or superheated steam and from which steam is taken off by the
take off pipe 7. The spaces between the drums 6 are covered by bridges or baffles
of non-conducting inaterial 23 which may consist of a foundation layer of tile or
brick work covered by a layer of plastic non-conducting material. Blowers 24 are
supported by the parts 23 and serve to keep the soot moving toward the stack.
The baffle walls 3, extending downward from the corresponding baffles or
bridges 23, may be supported in any suitable or conventional manner. These
baffles 2 and 3 may be constructed of refractory material, but I do not limit myself
to this con-truction as water boxes or a combination of water boxes and refractory
material may be employed.
The central pass is partially covered by baffle tiles 25, having perforations 26
therethrough, their shapes being such that the spaces between the tubes of the top
row are partially covered while the tubes themselves are substantially uncovered.
This baffle effects a focusing of the products of combustion in the central pass. It
will be evident that substantially the same function will be performed by supporting
a construction of baffle tiles above or below the top row of tubes of the central pass,
and I may employ such construction when found expedient.
The doors 28 are employed for cleaning, examination and repair.
The feed water is introduced through the tubes 29, within the steam drums 6,
and the branch tubes 30 having the nozzles 31 which communicate with the
corresponding nipples 11. The water passes from these nipples down the headers 9
to the drum 20 or 20¹ and through the tubes 5, passing thence to the drum 14 and
up the headers 8 to the storage drums 6.
The positions of the precipitation drums, out of the direct circuit of the
circulating water, and at the lowest parts of the boiler, secure a precipitation of the
sediment carried by the water, which may readily be blown off. These drums also
serve to hold the headers steady in sea-way when the boilers are used on ship board.
The location of the drum 201 will avoid counter currents and the admixture of steam
and water in the supply of the tubes of the central pass, which would cause them
to deteriorate as the result of a high rate of combustion.
The gaseous products of combustion, rising from the grate in the central pass,
are directed by the baffle walls and baffles in the direction of the arrows, the waste
products passing out by the breeching 30'. It will be observed that the course of
the heated gases is transverse to the direction of the tubes and the several, members
of the water circulating and steam generating system, the locations of which are
such as to receive the direct influence of the heat throughout its entire course.
The header construction may be that illustrated in Fig. 3, in which each vertical
row of staggered tubes is expanded into sectional non-communicating headers 8, or
each bank of tubes may be expanded into box headers 8¹ riveted or welded directly
to the drums 6 and connected together by the tubes 811, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5.
It will be understood that various modifications in the nature of equivalents inay
be made in the details of the construction illustrated and described without departing

page_text: from the spirit of my invention, and I do not, therefore, wish to be understood as
limiting myself to such specific details.
Dated the 23rd day of August 1808
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
322, High Holborn, London, W.C., Patent Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in water-tube Steam Boilers.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 322, High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, 6, Lord Street,
Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street, Manchester, both in the County of Lancaster, and
Lower Temple Street, Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Civil 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 more particularly to tubular steam boilers and furnaces
therefor, adapted for both marine and land service. The principal objects of my
improvements are to effect complete combustion of the fuel, to secure economical
distribution and utilization of the products of combustion, to provide a large heating
surface for the generation of steam, to arrange steam and water drums in the paths
of the heated products of combustion for increasing the heating surface and pro-
ducing dry or superheated steam, to augment the circulation throughout the steam
generating system and secure free circalation therethrough, to provide for the
precipitation of obstructing matter contained in the circulating water as well as for
the removal thereof, to keep heating surfaces and passages free from deposits and
obstructions, to prevent radiation, and generally to attain a high degree of efficiency,
economy and stability, as will more fully appear from the following description of the
construction and operation.
My invention is illustrated in the drawings, filed with my Provisional Specification
of which:
Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of the construction, on the line a-a of Fig. 2;
Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view, on the line b-b of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a partial
vertical sectional view, on the line c-c of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a front elevation and
Fig. 5 is a side elevation illustrating a form of header construction; Fig. 6 is a plan
of the baffle construction, employed in the central pass.
In the construction, the chamber formed by the containing walls 1 is divided by
baffle walls 2 into a central compartment or pass forming the main combustion
chamber, and two end compartments or passes respectively divided by the baffle
walls 3. The central compartment is provided with the furnace grate or fire bars 4,
and contains the bank of water circulating and steam generating tubes 5 connected
with the headers 8 and 9. The said headers are connected with the two central steam
and water drums 6 by the respective nipples 10 and 11, through. the corresponding
water boxes 12. The front headers 8 preferably communicate with a precipitation
drum 14, through the nipples 15. The said precipitation drum is provided with a
tube 16 having nozzles 17 which register with the respective nipples 15 and permit
the circulating system to be blown out by an attachment to the connection 18, and
provides an auxiliary inlet for feed water. It will be understood that this precipita-
tion drum and its connections may be omitted. The rear headers 9 are connected by
the nipples 19 with a large precipitation drum 20 which is placed at the rear of the
grate and forms.a bridge wall therefor. This drum may be placed below the level of

page_text: the grate surface and to the rear thereof, as illustrated by the drum 20! which forms
an abutment for the grate and is connected with the rear headers by the nipples.191.
Air ducts 27 and 27¹ are employed to facilitate combustion.
The end compartments or passes are each provided with two banks of tubes 5,
separated by the baffle walls 3, which tubes are connected with the headers 8 and 9.
The headers for the respective banks of tubes of the end passes are connected to
corresponding steam and water drums 6 by their nipples 10 and 11 and water.
boxes 12. The outer banks of tubes and their connections, in the end passes, may
be omitted and the structure accordingly shortened.
The drums 6 are supported in hangers 6' suspended from channel beans 61 which
are built into the frame work. The said drums have their upper or steam spaces
connected by the tubes 21 and their lower or water spaces connected by the tubes 22,
which facilitate the circulation and equalize the pressure therein. The two central
drums 6 are connected with an auxiliary drum 7 which is employed for the collection
and storage of dry or superheated steam and from which steam is taken off by the
take off pipe 7 The spaces between the drums 6 are covered by bridges or baffles
of non-conducting material 23 which may consist of a foundation layer of tile or
brick work covered by a layer of plastic non-conducting material. Blowers 24 are
supported by the parts 23 and serve to keep the soot moving toward the stack.
The baffle walls 3, extending downward from the corresponding baffles or bridges 23,
may be supported in any suitable or conventional manner. These buffles 2 and 3
may be constructed of refractory material, but I do not limit myself to this con-
struction as water boxes or a combination of water boxes and refractory material may
be employed.
It
The central pass is partially covered by baffle tiles 25, having perforations 26
therethrough, their shapes being such that the spaces between the tubes of the top
row are partially covered while the tubes themselves are substantially uncovered.
This baffle effects a focusing of the products of combustion in the central pass.
will be evident that substantially the same function will be performed by supporting
a construction of baffle tiles above or below the top row of tubes of the central pass,
and I may employ such construction when found expedient.
The doors 28 are employed for cleaning, examination, and repair.
The feed water is introduced through the tubes 29, within the drums 6, and the
branch tubes 30, having the nozzles 31 which communicate with the corresponding
nipples 11. The water passes from these nipples down the headers 9 to the drum 20
or 20 and through the tubes 5, passing thence to the drum 14 and up the headers 8
to the drums 6.
The positions of the precipitation drums, out of the direct circuit of the circu-
lating water, and at the lowest parts of the boiler, secure a precipitation of the
sediment carried by the water, which may readily be blown off. These drums also
serve to hold the headers steady in sea-way when the boilers are used on ship board.
The location of the drum 20¹ will avoid counter currents and the admixture of steam
and water in the supply of the tubes of the central pass, which would cause them to
deteriorate as the result of a high rate of combustion.
The gaseous products of combustion, rising from the grate in the central pass, are
directed by the baffle walls and baffles in the direction of the arrows, the waste pro-
ducts passing out by the breeching 30¹. It will be observed that the course of the
heated gases is transverse to the direction of the tubes and the several members
of the water circulating and steam generating system, the locations of which
are such as to receive the direct influence of the heat throughout its entire
course.
The header construction may be that illustrated in Fig. 3, in which each vertical
row of staggered tubes is expanded into sectional non-cominunicating headers 8,
or each bank of tubes may be expanded into box-headers 81, riveted or welded
directly to the drums 6 an connected together by the tubes 811, as shown in
Figs. 4 and 5.
It will be understood that various modifications in the nature of equivalents may be

page_text: made in the details of the construction illustrated and described without departing
from the spirit of my invention, and I do not, therefore, wish to be understood as
limiting myself to such specific details.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated from
abroad by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
1.
1..
1. In the combination of a boiler and furnace, a pass or combustion chamber and
a grate therein, one or more banks of tubes therein, headers for said tubes, one or
more drums connected with said headers and extending substantially parallel with
the vertical planes. of said tubes, a baffle wall extending substantially parallel to the
vertical planes of said tubes, and means for directing the gaseous products of
combustion into active contact with said tubes and drum or drums and transversely
thereto.
2. In the combination of a boiler and furnace, a pass or combustion chamber, and
a grate therein, a bank of tubes in said combustion chamber, headers for said
tubes, a drum connected with said headers, a second pass or combustion chamber,
a bank of tubes in said second combustion chamber and headers therefor, a drum.
connected with said second headers, a baffle wall substantially parallel to the
vertical planes of said tubes, and means for directing the gaseous products of
combustion into active contact with said tubes and drums and transversely there'o,
as specified.
3. In the combination of a boiler and furnace, a pass or combustion chamber, one
or more banks of tubes in said combustion chamber and headers for said tubes, one
or more drums connected with said headers and extending substantially parallel to
the vertical planes of said tubes, a second pass or combustion chamber, one or more
banks of tubes in said second combustion chamber and headers therefor, one or more
drums connected with said second headers and extending substantially parallel to the
vertical planes of said tubes, a baffle wall between said combustion chambers
substantially parallel to the vertical planes of said tubes, and a passage from said
first to said second combustion chamber, located between said drums and baffle wall
for the gaseous products of combustion, said gaseous products acting transversely to
said tubes and drums and in direct contact therewith.
4. In the combination of a boiler and furnace, a pass or combustion chamber, one.
or more banks of tubes in said combustion chamber, headers for said tubes, one or
more drums. connected with said headers, a second combustion chamber, one or more
banks of tubes in said second combustion chamber and headers therefor, one or
more drums connected with said second headers, a baffle wall between said com-
bustion chambers and substantially parallel to the vertical planes of said tubes,"
for directing the gaseous products of combustion upward into active contact with
said heating surfaces, and a baffle wall dividing said second combustion chamber
and Substantially parallel to the vertical planes of said tubes for directing the.
gaseous products of combustion downward into active contact with said heating
surfaces.
or
5. In the combination of a boiler and furnace, a pass or combustion chamber, one
or more banks of tubes in said combustion chamber, headers for said tubes, one
or more drums connected with said headers and extending substantially parallel
to the vertical planes of said tubes, a second combustion chamber, one or more
banks of tubes in said second combustion chamber, and headers therefor, one
more drums connected with said second headers and extending substantially
parallel to the vertical planes of said tubes, a baffle wall between said combustion
chambers and substantially parallel to the vertical planes of said tubes for directing
the gaseous products of combustion upward into active contact with said heating
surfaces, and a baffle wall dividing said second combustion chamber and substan-
tially parallel to the vertical planes of said tubes for directing the gaseus products
of combustion downward and into active contact with said heating surfaces.

page_text: 6. In the combination of a boiler and furnace, a pass or combustion chainber, and
a grate therein, a second pass or combustion chamber, a baffle wall between said
combustion chambers and baffles for directing the gaseous products of combustion
upward and into said second combustion chamber, a second baffle wall in said second
combustion chamber substantially parallel with said first baffle wall, and baffles, for
directing the gaseous products of combustion downward, an escape pass leading from
said second chamber, a bank of tubes in said first chamber substantially paralle
to said baffle walls, a bank of tubes in said second chamber substantially parallel to
said baffle walis, headers for said tubes, and communicating steam drums connected
with said headers, as specified.
:
7. In the combination of a boiler and furnace, a pass or combustion chamber
one or more banks of tubes therein, headers for said tubes, a second pass or
combustion chamber, a baffle wall between said combustion chambers, substantially
parallel to the vertical planes of said tubes, a second baffle wall for dividing said
second combustion chamber substantially parallel to said first baffle wall, a bank
of tubes in each division of said second combustion chamber, substantially parallel
with said baffle walls, headers for the tubes in said second chamber, and
communicating steam drums connected with said headers, as specified.
8. In the combination of a boiler and furnace, a pass or combustion chamber, one
or more banks of tubes therein, headers for said tubes, one or more drums substan-
tially parallel to the vertical planes of said tubes and connected with said headers, a
second pass or combustion chamber, a baffle wall substantially parallel to the vertical
planes of said tubes between said combustion chambers, a second baffle wall substan-
tially parallel to said first baffle wall which divides said second chamber into two
compartments, a bank of tubes in each of said two compartments substantially
parallel to said baffle walls, headers for said tubes, and drums extending parallel to
the vertical planes of said tubes connected with said headers, substantially as
specified.
9. In the combination of a boiler and furnace, a combustion chamber, a bank of
tubes therein and headers for said tubes, a baffle wall extending substantially parallel
to the vertical planes of said tubes, a drum connected with said headers, means for
directing the gaseous products of combustion into active contact with said tubes and
drum and transversely to said tubes, a feed water pipe within said drum and
connections therefor which communicate with the down-comers of said headers, for
the purpose set forth.
10. In the combination of a boiler and furnace, a combustion chamber, one or more
banks of tubes therein, headers for said tubes, a drum in said combustion chamber
connected with said headers, a baffle wall extending substantially parallel to the
vertical planes of said tubes, means for directing the gaseous products of combustion
into direct contact with said tubes and drum and between said drum and baffle wall,
and a baffle supported by said tubes for focusing said gaseous products of combustion,
substantially as specified.
11. In the combination of a boiler and furnace, a combustion chamber, a bank of
tubes and headers therefor, a drum connected with said headers and substantially
parallel to the vertical planes of said tubes, a precipitation drum at the rear of said
combustion chamber and connected with the rear headers of said tubes, and a
precipitation drum at the front of said combustion chamber and connected with the
front beaders of said tubes, substantially as specified.
12. In the combination of a boiler and furnace, a combustion chamber and a grate
therein, a bank of tubes therein, a drum, a rear header for said tubes connected with
said drum, a front header for said tubes connected with said drum, a precipitation
drum connected with said rear headers and forming a bridge wall for said grate,
and a feed water pipe in said drum and connected with said headers.
13. In the combination of a boiler and furnace, a combustion chamber and a grate
therein, a bank of tubes therein, a drum substantially parallel to the vertical planes
of said tubes, a rear header for said tubes connected with said drum, a front header
for said tubes connected with said drum, a precipitation drum connected with said

page_text: rear headers and forming a bridge wall for said grate, a feed water pipe in said drum
and connected with said headers, a second combustion chamber, a bank of tubes
therein, and headers therefor, a second drum substantially parallel with said first drum
and connected therewith, connecting passages between said second drum and headers,
and a baffle wall substantially parallel to the vertical planes of said tubes and separating
said combustion chambers, as specified.
14. In the combination of a boiler and furnace, a series of substantially vertical and
substantially parallel baffle walls, a series of banks of tubes substantially parallel to
said baffle walls and separated thereby, a series of parallel drums above the combustion
chambers formed by said baffle walls and connected with said tubes, passages
connecting said drums, and bridges or baffles between the same, as specified.
15. In the combination of a boiler and furnace, a pass or combustion chamber and
a grate therein, a second pass or combustion chamber, a baffle wall between said
combustion chambers and baffles for directing the gaseous products of combustion
upward and into said second combustion chamber, a baffle wall within said second
combustion chamber substantially parallel to said first baffle wall and a baffle for
directing the gaseous products of combustion downward, a third pass or combustion
chamber, a baffle wall between said first and third chambers and baffles for directing
the gaseous products of combustion upward and into said third combustion chamber,
a baffle wall within said third chamber substantially parallel to said third baffle
wall for directing the gaseous products of combustion downward, and an escape, as
specified.
16. In the combination of a boiler and furnace, a series of substantially vertical and
substantially parallel baffle walls, a series of banks of tubes substantially parallel to
said baffle walls and separated thereby, a series of parallel drums above the combus-
tion chambers formed by said baffle walls and connected with said tubes, passages
connecting said drums, bridges or baffles between the same, and a superheating drum
connected with said drums.
Dated the 671....
1000
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.
322, High Holborn, London, W.C., Patent Agents for the Applicant.