IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR THE GENERATION OF STEAM AND THE CIRCULATION OF HEATED WATER
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Gray Smeaton, of Harwood Road, Walham
Green, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer, for the Invention of
"IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR THE GENERATION OF STEAM AND THE CIRCULATION
OF HEATED WATER."
Scaled the 27th September 1872, and dated the 18th July 1872.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Gray Smeaton
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 18th July 1872.
I, JAMES GRAY SMEATON, of Harwood Road, Walham Green, in the
5 County of Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR THE GENERATION OF STEAM
AND THE CIRCULATION OF HEATED WATER," to be as follows:-
The apparatus which forms the subject of this Invention consists in a
combination of the vertical tubular boiler and the cylinder boiler, and

page_text: besides possessing the excellencies of both, it has the advantage of
exposing a greater amount of heating surface to the direct action of the
fire in proportion to the volume of water and the quantity of fuel, thereby
greatly economising the consumption of the latter. The concentric
circles of water tubes which are employed are separated and divided from
each other instead of being arranged in one continuous circle as in the
forms previously adopted, opportunity thus being afforded for expansion
and contraction.
The boiler and tubes may be formed of cast iron, or a portion of cast
iron and the remainder of wrought iron, or of any suitable metal or
metals or combinations of metals, and so arranged that it can be easily
taken to pieces for the purpose of inspecting and repairing when
necessary.
Instead of the fire being fed from the top, as is the case with vertical
tubular boilers as previously constructed, it is fed from the furnace door,
and the flames and gases are compelled to pass through the spaces
between each of the rings of tubes, and between the outer ring and the
external cylinder within which the tubes are contained, and which
cylinder is constructed as a hollow chamber and filled with water, so that
the same shall impinge upon the tubes with the full force of the upward
draught, and also on the cylinder, thus dividing the flames and gases
into thin films, and compelling them to impart a large portion of their
heat, whilst a very small amount of heat will pass off by the smoke
flues.
The boiler may be made of a circular, oval, rectangular, or other
suitable shape, but retaining the vertical form and with a dome-shaped
top, one, two, three, or more rings of tubes being arranged therein
according to the power required, and one, two, or more smoke flues being
placed in connection with a shaft, or otherwise, according to circum-
stances. Such smoke flues are provided with the necessary dampers,
and with doors for cleaning and other necessary operations. The furnace
door is double, with a smoke consuming ventilator, and the ash-pit door
is provided with a similar ventilator for regulating the draught.
The apparatus is supported by a stand, which latter furnishes ample
space for the deposition of solid matter from the tubes and cylinder, and
which may be cleaned out into the same, and removed through openings

page_text: provided at each corner of the stand, such openings being properly
capped. The return water passes into pipes which are placed at the top
of the apparatus, and descend down the sides thereof into the stand or
base of the boiler, the water passing to a lower level than that of the
furnace bars. A stop is provided to prevent the water passing upwards
until it has descended to the necessary level, thus causing the deposit to
be left in the base or stand. When the water has passed the check
levels it rises through elbows with which the pipes are provided to the
cylinder, and through the fire-bars and nozzles furnished for that purpose
to the rings of tubes, thereby obtaining and exercising a direct and easy
vertical action, and conveying the caloric with great velocity.
. The arrangements above described afford the most effectual means for
the circulation of heated water, and for the generation of steam. When
the apparatus is used for the generation of steam the dome top should
be made of greater height, in order to afford chamber room, or the
steam may be conveyed by means of a suitable outlet to a steam
chest.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said James Gray Smeaton in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 18th January 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRÈSENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
GRAY SMEATON, of Harwood Road, Walham Green, in the County of
Middlesex, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eighteenth day of July, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the thirty-sixth
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said James Gray Smeaton, Her special licence that I,
the said James Gray Smeaton, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said James Gray Smeaton, my executors, ad-
ministrators, 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,
"

page_text: within the United Kingdom of Great Britain, and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVED APPARATUS
FOR THE GENERATION OF STEAM, AND THE CIRCULATION OF HEATED WATER,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said James Gray
Smeaton, 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 James Gray Smeaton, 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, reference being had to the Drawings here-
unto annexed, and to, the figures and letters marked thereon, that is
to say:
-
My said Invention consists in the combination and arrangement of
vertical tubes, concentric hollow rings, outer hollow cylinder, and hollow
base in which are fixed hollow or solid fire-bars, the whole forming a
complete, compact, and powerful boiler, the several parts thereof being
so jointed and fitted together that any portion may be easily inspected
and repaired. The apparatus may be constructed of wrought or cast
iron, copper, or any other suitable metal or combination of metals. The
vertical tubes are arranged in circles, and caulked, screwed, or otherwise
fitted to the hollow concentric rings at the bottom, and at the top are
fitted to a flange plate pierced to receive them, and bolted or caulked to
the inner plate of the cylinder. The concentric rings are arranged to
rise one above the other towards the centre, an equal space being left
between each, and instead of being in one continuous circle are sepa-
rated or divided in the middle to allow for free expansion and contraction
of the metals. The rings are supported on the base by upright tubes
which form the connecting waterways between the base and the hollow
rings, which latter are connected together by tubular waterways which
supply the vertical tubes. The outer main cylinder surrounds the vertical
tubes, rings, and fire space, and is equidistant from the outer ring to the
spaces between the rings, and open at the top and closed at the bottom,
and connected by hollow elbows at the front corners to the base on

page_text: which it rests. The top which connects the whole of the apparatus, and
which may be in the form of a dome, or of a cylinder, is fitted to the
outer plate of the main cylinder by flanges and bolts, or otherwise."
The apparatus thus constructed and arranged.is adapted both for the
purposes of generating steam, and also for the circulation of heated water.
When it is used for steam generation, the smoke flue is formed so as to
come up through the centre of the top of the apparatus, which is made
higher than the top of the hot water boiler to form a steam chest. The
heated flue passing up the centre gives greater expansion to 'the steam
generated by the circulation, and the return water is conducted' by pipes
connected to the top cylinder at the water level, and taken down to the
base at the two back corners, the return water being, by this arrange-
ment, completely isolated from those parts of the boiler which are acted
upon by the fire, and the only certain means afforded of producing
perfect circulation, and thereby absolute safety from explosion.
In cases in which the apparatus is used for hot water circulation the
smoke flues are formed to come out at the side near the top of the main
cylinder. The water flows out from the centre of the top, and returns
from the main pipes down the pipes at the back, and into the base at the
two back corners. The base of the apparatus is hollow, and forms a
reservoir for the return water and for the deposit of sediment, and is so
arranged with syphon dips that the whole of the return water must pass
to a level below that of the furnace bars; and under this level, the water
being comparatively quiescent and at a lower temperature than the
circulating water, it will encourage the deposit of sediment, which may
be casily removed by means of mud holes which are provided for that
purpose, and which are fitted with flanged caps of simple construction,
and easily removed and readjusted.
I will now proceed to refer to the annexed Drawings, from which the
nature of my said Invention will be more clearly understood.
Figure 1 is a vertical section of the apparatus; Figure 2, a horizontal
section; and Figure 3, an elevation of the same. In these Drawings
like Figures of reference relate to similar parts.
A is the flow pipe in the boiler; B are the mud holes in the base;
C are the elbows whichi connect the main cylinder with the base; D are
the furnace and ash-pit doors; E, the vertical tubes which connect the

page_text: concentric rings with the base; F, the smoke flues; G, the outer main
cylinder; H, the dome, cylinder, or steam chest; J are the concentric
rings; K, vertical tubes; L, the tubes which connect the rings; M, the
hollow base and reservoir; N, the fire-bars; O, the dead plate; P, the
fire space; Q, the ash-pit; R, the return pipes; S, the soot hole doors;
and T is the top flanged plate.
I should here observe that the apparatus which forms the subject of
my said Invention possesses many important advantages, for instance,
the several parts of which the same is formed can be readily detached
from each other, and cleansed, or any defect made good. The hollow
base, and its peculiar connection with the upper parts, and the arrange-
ment with the water levels, so that all return water must pass below the
level of circulation, and the isolation of the return water from the parts
acted upon by the fire, and the perfect circulation, thereby obtained are
also of great importance, and constitute important features in my said
Invention.
It should also be remarked that great advantage results from the
arrangement of the rings with narrow spaces between them, and between
the outer ring and the main cylinder, so that no part of the products of
combustion can pass off in a large volume without impinging directly on
a surface containing water which has an easy vertical current without
obstruction, and so that all the available heat will be abstracted from
the fire, and conveyed with great velocity by the direct upward
circulation.
It may finally be observed that by means of my said Invention greater
rapidity of action, greater economy of fuel, more perfect circulation, and
greater freedom from the probability of explosion is secured than by any
apparatus hitherto known.
Having thus declared and ascertained the nature of my said Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I would observe in
conclusion that what I consider novel and original and therefore claim
as constituting the Invention secured to me by the said herein-before in
part recited Letters Patent are,-
.
First. The construction and arrangement of the hollow base, sub-
stantially as and for the purposes herein-before described and set forth,
or any mere modifications thereof.

page_text: And, secondly. The combination and arrangement of the several
parts and mechanism herein-before described and set forth, sub-
stantially as and for the purposes aforesaid, or any mere modifications.
thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Gray Smeaton, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of January, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
three.