IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM BOILERS AND ENGINES."
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Inglis, of Edinburgh, North Britain, and
of Montreal, Canada, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
STEAM BOILERS AND ENGINES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Inglis at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 9th
March 1863.
I, WILLIAM INGLIS, of Edinburgh, North Britain, and of Montreal, Canada,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN STEAM BOLLERS AND ENGINES," to be as follows, that is to say:-
This Invention relates partly to improvements in steam boilers, suitable more
particularly, although not exclusively, for land engines, such improvements
having for object reduced cost, facility for cleaning and repairs, and an efficient
circulation of the water in a direction opposite to that of the fire gases, com-
bined with a disposition of parts inducing the deposit of sediment where it can
do comparatively little injury. The Invention also comprises improvements
in some of the details of land engines, although not exclusively confined to
such engines.
In a modification of boiler embodying the improvements the principal
heating surface consists of a series of parallel tubes with the water inside them
and fitted into end casings, the whole having, by preference, a general cylin-
drical form. This combination is mounted in a position somewhat inclined from
the horizontal, and the furnace is placed beneath the higher portion of the
tubes, whilst the tubes are enclosed by a brick or other casing in such a way

page_text: as to cause the fire gases, after entering amongst them, to pass along them
towards their lower end. At the lower end of the tubes the fire gases enter a
flue communicating directly with the chimney, or pass first in contact with
other external parts of the boiler. The end casings are, by preference, arranged
so as not to be directly exposed to the fire gases. The steam generated in the
tubes passes along them in the opposite direction to that of the fire gases, and
enters from their higher ends into the higher end casing, and thence, by one or
more short tubes or connections into a receiver or vessel placed horizontally,
or nearly so, above, and provided with the usual steam dome. This upper
receiver or vessel also communicates, by one or more tubes or connections at
its other end, with the lower end casing below, and the result of these arrange-
ments is that a very energetic circulation of the water takes place. The water
surface line is in the upper receiver or vessel, and the steam, in rising into
that vessel, carries water up with it from the higher end casing, whilst a
corresponding amount of water returns downwards at the other end into the
lower end casing. A strong current will consequently continually pass through
the tubes exposed to the fire gases and prevent deposits in them, the deposits,
if any, taking place at the turn of the current in either or both end casings,
which casings are not exposed to the fire gases. The cover of one of the end
casings is, by preference, fitted on with flanges and screw bolts, in order that
it may be at any time easily removed to give access to the tubes for cleaning
or repairs; and smoke doors are provided at the side or sides of the tubes to
give access for cleaning the tubes externally, or the tubes may be cleaned by
scrapers or brushes worked through tubes inserted across one of the end
casings. The tubes are disposed in what may be termed open order, in such
a way as to permit of the free passage of the fire gases amongst them, this
being particularly attended to with those directly above the fire. The tubes
may be of any convenient size, being more numerous if small; whilst larger
tubes, made of boiler plate and rivetted, may be used in some cases, being, by
preference, made longer in proportion. The grate is placed sufficiently below
the tubes to insure thorough ignition of the gases prior to their impinging on
the tubes. The grate is also, by preference, made 'wider than the cross width
above occupied by the tubes, and the sides of the furnace are inclined inwards
above the grate, so that the gases impinge upon their intensely heated surfaces,
and smoke is thereby prevented.
.
The improvements in steam engines are applicable to the gear for working
steam admission valves when (as in the "Corliss" engine) such valves are
arranged to close by the action of weights or springs. One improvement
consists in substituting rubber springs or spiral steel springs for the weights or

page_text: blade steel springs hitherto used, the object being to avoid noise and liability
to breakage. In the class of valve gear referred to the valves are opened
against the resistance of the weights or springs, and the closing is brought
about (when giving steam through only part of the stroke) by releasing or
disconnecting the rod or opening detail.
In an improved arrangement of such gear the steam valve rods, which fall
into gear by the action of spring catches, are thrown out of gear by the action
of toe levers or bell cranks applied directly to the valve rods. Each valve rod
may be in two pieces, one part of the rod being made to slide within the other,
the catch plate, when it falls in gear, connecting both together. Each toe
lever is jointed at its heel to the spring catch plate, and at its upper end to a rod,
which can be adjusted by hand, or by the action of the governor, to cause the
release and consequent "cut off" of the steam to take place at the proper time.
The adjusting rods of the toe levers or bell cranks are, by preference, jointed to
levers upon a rocking shaft, by moving which they are all equally and simul-
taneously adjusted, and this adjusting action may be derived from a governor
alone or a governor combined with a spring applied to the rocking shaft,
against which the governor acts in one direction, the reaction of the spring
effecting the opposite adjustment.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Inglis in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 8th
September 1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
INGLIS, of Edinburgh, North Britain, and of Montreal, Canada, Engineer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of March, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-sixth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said William Inglis, Her special licence that I, the said William Inglis, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Willianı
Inglis, my 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 BOILERS AND
ENGINES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William Inglis,

page_text: my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or
their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascer-
tain 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 William Inglis, 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
in writing, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, and to the
letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
My said Invention relates partly to improvements in steam boilers, suitable
more particularly, although not exclusively, for land engines, such improve-
ments having for object reduced cost, facility for cleaning and repairs, and an
efficient circulation of the water in a direction opposite to that of the fire
gases, combined with a disposition of parts inducing the deposit of sediment
where it can do comparatively little injury. My said Invention also comprises
improvements in some of the details of land engines, although not exclusively
confined to such engines.
And in order that my said Invention, and the manner of performing the
same, may be properly understood, I have hereunto appended three Sheets of
explanatory Drawings, to be herein-after referred to, and representing arrange-
ments embodying various modifications of my improvements.
On Sheet 1 of the accompanying Drawings four modifications of my im-
proved boiler are shown, Figures 1, 3, 5, 7, being longitudinal vertical sections,
and Figures 2, 4, 6, 8, transverse vertical sections partially in end elevation.
Figures 9 and 10 on Sheet 2 of the Drawings represent in transverse and
longitudinal vertical section, and upon an enlarged scale, a modification
differing very slightly from that represented in Figures 3 and 4.
In all these modifications the principal heating surface consists of a series
of comparatively long parallel tubes A with the water inside them, and fitted
into end casings B, C, this combination being mounted in a position somewhat
inclined from the horizontal. Excepting in the modification represented in
Figures 7 and 8, the furnace D is placed beneath the higher portion of the
tubes A, whilst the tubes are enclosed in a brick or other casing E in such a
way as to cause the fire gases, after entering amongst them, to pass along
them towards their lower ends. At the lower end of the tubes A the fire
gases enter a flue F communicating directly with the chimney, but which
may, if preferred, be made to pass first in contact with the other external

page_text: parts of the boiler. The end casings B, C, are, by preference, arranged so as
not to be directly exposed to the fire
gases.
In the modification represented in Figures 7 and 8 the furnace D is placed
above the inclined tubes A, and the fire gases, after passing along beneath the
upper receiver H of the boiler, descend amongst the tubes A at their higher
end, and then pass along them towards their lower end, and finally proceed
along the flue F to the chimney, as in the other modifications. In this modi-
fication it is intended to introduce a forced air current under the grate. The
steam generated in the inclined tubes A in the several modifications passes
along them in the opposite direction to that of the fire gases, and enters from
their higher ends into the higher end casing C, and thence, by one or more
short tubes or connections G, into one or more upper receivers or vessels H
placed horizontally, or nearly so, above, and provided with the usual steam
dome I. The upper receiver or receivers H communicate, by one or more
tubes or connections J at the other end, with the lower end casing C below,
and the result of these arrangements is that a very energetic circulation of
the water takes place. The water-surface level is in the upper receiver or
receivers H, and the steam, in rising into the same, carries water along with
it towards the higher ends of the inclined tubes A into the higher end casing B,
and into the receiver or receivers, whilst a corresponding amount of water
returns downwards at the other end into the lower end casing C, and thence
into the lower ends of the inclined tubes A. A strong current will conse-
quently continually pass through the inclined tubes A, which are exposed to
the fire gases and prevent deposits in them, the deposits, if any, taking place
at the turn of the current in one or both end casings B, C, which casings are
not directly exposed to the fire gases.
In the modifications represented in Figures 5 and 6 and in Figures 9 and 10,
the covers K of the end casings B, C, are fitted on with flanges and screw
bolts, in order that they may at any time be easily removed to give access to
the tubes A, for cleaning or repairs; and smoke doors are provided at the side
or sides of the tubes A, to give access for cleaning the tubes externally. When
the tubes A are in two or more rows in height they are, by preference, dis-
posed in what may be termed "open order" in such a way as not to check
the free passage of the fire gases amongst them. This arrangement will be
clearly understood from Figure 7, wherein it will be observed that only the
uppermost tubes are placed opposite the spaces between the tubes below them,
the others being disposed in vertical rows, between which rows the fire gases
can pass directly upwards. The inclined tubes A may be of any convenient,
size, being. more numerous if small; whilst in some cases, as shown in

page_text: Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, larger tubes, made of boiler plate and rivetted, may be
used, being, by preference, longer in proportion.
In the construction of the furnace D, when intended for burning coal, the
grate is (excepting in the modifications shown in Figures 7, 8,) placed suffi-
ciently below the tubes A to insure thorough ignition of the gases prior to
their impinging on the tubes. The grate may be made wider than the cross
width above occupied by the tubes A, and the sides of the furnace D
may
be
inclined inwards above the grate, so that the gases may impinge upon their
intensely heated surfaces and insure complete ignition and prevent smoke.
When the grato is not of an increased width the same end may be obtained
by partially roofing in the furnace D with fire-brick, as shown in Figures 1,
3, 5, 10.
My improvements in steam engines are applicable to the gear for working
steam admission valves, when (as in the "Corliss" engine) such valves are
arranged to close by the action of weights or springs. One improvement
consists in substituting rubber springs or spiral steel springs for the weights
or blade steel springs hitherto used, the object being to avoid noise and liability
to breakage. The application of this improvement is shown upon Sheet 3 of
the accompanying Drawings, Figure 11 being a side elevation showing one
modification. The admission valves of the steam cylinder A are actuated by
rocking spindles B, having levers C on their ends. The lower ends of these
levers C are actuated by rods D from the rocking disc or wrist plate E, which
last is worked by the eccentric rod F, and which, by the rods G, also actuates
the exhaust valve levers H. The upper ends of the admission valve levers C
are linked to discs I, which work in the dash pots J, used in this class of valve
to prevent concussion. The discs I are formed with spindles which work
through the backs of the dash pots J, and are connected together by the rubber
spring X, one spring thus serving for both valves. In Figure 12 a spiral steel
spring Y is shown as applied in a similar way, excepting that it is connected
to the same ends of the valve levers C as the rods D, as it reacts expansively,
whilst the rubber spring X reacts by contracting.
Figures 13 and 14 are sections, at right angles to each other, showing
another way of applying a rubber spring X, the two dash pots J being in this
case formed in a single casting placed centrally, and the spring X being placed
in a central tube, upon which the discs I can work. In this class of engine
the steam admission valves are opened against the resistance of the springs or
weights, and the closing is brought about (when giving steam through only.
part of the stroke) by releasing or disconnecting the parts.
In Figures 11, 12, two modifications are shown of improved adjustable

page_text: releasing gear, forming part of my said Invention. In the modification shown
in Figure 11 each rod D has jointed to it a catch L, acted on by a spring, and
arranged to lay hold of the block M, jointed on the pin of the valve lever C,
and arranged to slide on the end of the rod D. The catch L has jointed to it
a toe.lever or bell crank N, which bears on the block M and lifts up and
releases the catch at the proper time. The toe lever N is connected by a
link P to a lever Q, adjustable by the governor rod R, or it may be by hand.
It will be seen that the relative motions of the parts will cause the release to
take place at an earlier or later period of the stroke, according to the adjust-
ment of the lever Q, to which both links P are jointed. In the modification
shown in Figure 12 the rod D is fitted to slide in a short rod M, jointed to the
valve lever C, and is held in gear by a spring catch plate L, acted upon by a
toe lever N, as in the other modification. The links P (Figure 12) are jointed
to spindles S, having right-handed and left-handed screw threads, and adjusted
by means of a hand wheel T, internally screwed to correspond. When the
adjustment is effected by means of the governor (as in Figure 11), a spring
may be introduced to act in the opposite direction to the
governor.
Having thus particularly described my said Invention, and the manner in
which the same is or may be performed, I have to state that I do not restrict
myself to the precise details herein described and delineated; but that what I
believe to be novel and orginal, and claim as the Invention secured to me by
the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, is,-
1. The arranging or combining of the parts of steam boilers, substantially
as herein-before described.
2. The applying of rubber springs or spiral steel springs to "Corliss
similar valve gearing, substantially as herein-before described.
3. The arranging or combining of the release or cut-off details of "Corliss'
valve gearing, substantially as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Inglis, have hereunto set my.
hand and seal, this Seventh day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.
Witness,
EDMUND HUNT, Patent Agent,
28, St. Enoch Square, Glasgow.
WILLIAM INGLIS. (L.B.)