Improvements in Water Tube Steam Boilers.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Oct., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 21st July, 1894-Accepted, 1st Sept., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Water Tube Steam Boilers.
I, ALBERT EDWARD SEATON of Wilton House, Holderness Road, Hull, in the
County of York, Civil and Mechanical Engineer and Naval Architect, do hereby
declare the nature of my said invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to a type of steam boiler known as an inclined water tube
boiler, with water box ends, and the primary object of my invention is to so reduce
the weight and space occupied by such boiler and improve the circulation, as to
adapt it to marine purposes.
I effect these objects in the following manner-
I construct my improved boiler in sections with the water tubes arranged in
narrow vertical nests or batteries, so that a number of such sections may be placed
side by side and connected together.
The tubes, as in other boilers of this type, I incline so that they are considerably
lower at their back, than at their front, ends, an arrangement which gives a corre-
sponding inclination (from the perpendicular,) to both the back and front tube plates,
and by making the front of the fore-end water box, vertical or nearly so, the space
in front of the tubes within the water box, is gradually increased towards the top and
in like manuer, by making the back of the after end water box, vertical, the space at
the back of the tubes within the water box is gradually increased towards the
bottom.
The covers, of both the front end and back end water boxes, I construct either
of semicircular, curved, buckled, corrugated, ribbed, or other form of stiffened
plate, so as to dispense with the necessity for stays and thereby leaving a clear
space within the water boxes for the uninterrupted circulation of water and for
the free escape of steam.
The front-end water box, I extend vertically above the tubes and form it into a
pocket to receive one end of a cylindrical water and steam chamber, the diameter
of which I make equal or nearly equal to the width of the water box, so that the
top of the water box at the frout is semi-circular and in line with the top of the
said cylindrical chamber, this water and steam chamber, I extend longitudinally
beyond the aftermost water box and incline it, so that the back end is lower than
the front. I connect the lower and back end of this chamber, with the back water
box by a circulating pipe or pipes placed on about a line with the ends of the
bottom row of tubes in the said water box. The separate sections thus described
I connect together in groups by a transverse cylindrical steam receiver, placed
above the water and steam chambers herein previously referred to, with branches
at or near the front ends of the same and I also connect these separate sections at
their back erds, by a feed pipe or feed pipes, placed transversely or otherwise to
the before mentioned cylindrical water and steam chambers with branches
connecting the same either with the said chambers or with the separate
circulating pipes or into the lower ends of the back water boxes as may be most
convenient.
By the method of construction herein described a number of nests or batteries
of tubes with their water and steam chambers and circulating pipes may be
arranged and placed side by side and connected together or in groups as may be
desired.
In some cases I arrange so that a group of two, three or more nests or batteries
of tubes with their water boxes and connections form one distinct steam boiler,
and in such cases, as for example, where three nests or batteries form a group,

page_text: I construct the middle nest or battery with several rows of tubes less at their lower
ends, than is provided in the outer nests so as to give space for the fire grate, the
fire bars of which would extend in width from the centre lines of the two outside
nests, having a length equal to the distance between the fore and aft tube plates or
thereabouts.
At a convenient distance above the fire grate in the vertical spaces between the
nests or batteries of tubes, I place baffle plates or partitions which prevent the
flame and heated gases ascending such spaces, thereby causing the flame and heated
gases to pass horizontally, diagonally and vertically through the spaces between
the lower water tubes.
I also arrange at a convenient distance from and above the last named partitions
or baffle plates, other and similar partitions or baffle plates, for the like purpose,
so that the flame and heated gases may be directed as desired through the spaces
between the upper water tubes and thence to the uptake and funnel.
I also place fire tiles so as to protect the plates of the front and back water
boxes from the flame and in lieu of a fire bridge, I place fire tiles at the back of
the fire grate at a considerable angle so as to direct the products of combustion
from an horizontal, into an upward and vertical direction. These back fire tiles
I place on a suitably formed bracket which can be utilized to form a support to the
back or backs of the sections placed immediately above the fire grate, and also to
form the back bearer for the fire bars; the outside sections, (the lower ends of
which form the sides of the fire grate) I carry on suitably formed metallic shoes or
brackets placed under the water boxes and so arranged that the longitudinal spaces
between the water boxes may be filled up by fire bricks, sheets of asbestos or other
refractory material. The outer casing and uptake of a group of sections such as
herein described, I form of layers or walls consisting of sheets of asbestos bolted
together with distance pieces, between each layer so as to leave air spaces between
the several layers of sheets. In some cases where weight is not of much moment
I encase such a group of sections forming one boiler, in fire brick or other
suitable refractory material such as is usually employed for setting boilers of
this type.
In a boiler composed of sections, such as I have here described, the normal water
line would be fixed a few inches above the bottom at the front end of the
water and steam chamber, which would ensure all the tubes and portions of the
water boxes and tube plates subjected to the action of the heat, being protected
by water. The action of such a boiler would be as follows,―
The products of combustion would pass upwards through the spaces between the
tubes in the several nests or batteries in the direction influenced by the baffle or
partition plates and thence to the uptake and funnel, the water in the tubes would
rise into the front water box and upwards into the water and steam chamber above
the tubes, where it would part with the steam which would pass thence into the
steam receiver where it would be drawn for use in a comparatively dry state. I
provide a baffle plate or screen so as to protect the orifice communicating from the
water and steam chamber to the steam receiver, so as to prevent any water or spray
caused by priming or otherwise, being carried into the steam receiver, the water as
it rises from the tubes through the front water box into the water and steam
chamber having been liberated of its steam, flows along to the back and lower end
of the said chamber, thence down the circulating pipe or pipes into the lower end
of the aftermost water box, and passing again through the tubes in an upward
direction into the front water box and so on. The circulation in the separate and
collective sections thus being complete and continuous, the water evaporated
into steam and used, being made good by the feed pipes placed at the back and
cooler end of the boiler as previously indicated.
Dated this 20th day. of October 1893.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Water Tube Steam Boilers.
I, ALBERT EDWARD SEATON of Wilton House, Holderness Road, Hull, in the
County of York, Civil and Mechanical Engineer and Naval Architect, 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:-
My invention relates to a type of steam boiler known as an inclined water tube
boiler with water box ends, and the primary object of my invention is to so reduce
the weight and space occupied by such boiler and improve the circulation as to
adapt it to marine purposes.
I effect these objects in the manner illustrated in the accompanying sheet of
drawings in which,
Fig. 1, represents an elevation of two of my improved boilers, the left hand boiler
being shewn in section through the water tubes on the line C, D, (Fig. 2,) the
right hand boiler being shewn half as a front end elevation and half in section on
the line E, F, (Fig. 2).
Fig. 2, is a longitudinal section of one boiler taken through the centre of the
middle nest or battery of water tubes.
Fig. 3, is a plan half in section of one boiler, the sectional portion being taken
on the line A, B, (Fig. 2).
Fig. 4, is an end elevation of one boiler taken at the back.
The same letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.
I construct my improved boiler in sections with the water tubes a, arranged in
narrow vertical nests or batteries A, B, C, so that a number of such sections may
be placed side by side and connected together.
The water tubes, a, in each nest or battery A, B, C, as in other boilers of this
type, I incline so that they are considerably lower at their back, than at their
front ends, an arrangement which gives a corresponding inclination (from the
perpendicular) to both the back and front tube plates, and by making the front of
the fore-end water box, d, vertical or nearly so, the space in front of the tubes
within the water box is gradually increased towards the top and in like manner, by
making the back of the after-end water box, e, vertical, the space at the back of
the tubes within the water box is gradually increased towards the bottom.
The covers, f, of the front end and the covers, g, of the back end water boxes, I
construct either of semicircular, curved, buckled, corrugated, ribbed, or other form
of stiffened plate, so as to dispense with the necessity for stays and thereby leaving
a clear space within the water boxes for the uninterrupted circulation of water and
for the free escape of steam.
Each front end water box, d, I extend vertically above the tubes and form it
into a pocket, h, to receive one end of a cylindrical water and steam chamber, i,
the diameter of which I make equal or nearly equal to the width of the water
box, d, so that the top of the water box at the front is semi-circular and in line
with the top of the said cylindrical chamber, this water and steam chamber I
extend longitudinally beyond the back water box, e, and incline it, so that the back
end is lower than the front. I connect the lower and back end of this water and
steam chamber, i, with the back water box, e, by a circulating pipe or pipes į
placed on about a line with the ends of the bottom row of tubes in the said
water box.
The separate sections thus described I connect together in groups by a transverse
cylindrical steam receiver, k, placed above the water and steam chambers i, i, i,
herein previously referred to, with branches 1, at or near the front ends of the
same and I also connect these separate sections at their back ends, by a feed pipe

page_text: or feed pipes, placed transversely or otherwise to the before mentioned cylindrical
water and steam chambers with branches connecting the same either with the said
chambers or with the separate circulating pipes or into the lower ends of the back
water boxes as may be most convenient.
By the method of construction herein described a number of nests or batteries of
tubes with their water and steam chambers and circulating pipes may be arranged
and placed side by side and connected together or in groups as may be desired.
In some cases I arrange so that a group of two, three or more nests or batteries
of tubes with their water boxes and connections form one distinct steam boiler, and
in such cases, as for the example herein illustrated where three nests or batteries A,
B, C, form a group, I construct the middle nest or battery, B, with several rows of
tubes less at their lower ends, than is provided in the outer nests, A, and C, so as
to give space for the fire grate, m, of which the fire bars, n, would extend in width
from the centre lines of the two outside nests, A, and, C, having a length equal to
the distance between the fore and aft tube plates or thereabouts.
At a convenient distance above the fire grate in the vertical spaces between the
nests or batteries of tubes, I place baffle plates or partitions, o, which prevent the
flame and heated gases ascending such spaces, thereby causing the flame and heated
gases to pass horizontally, diagonally and vertically through the spaces between the
lower water tubes.
I also arrange at a convenient distance from and above the last named partitions
or baffle plates o, other and similar partitions or baffle plates p, for the like purpose,
so that the flame and heated gases may be directed as desired through the spaces
between the upper water tubes and thence to the uptake and funnel, q.
I also place fire tiles r, so as to protect the plates of the front and back water
boxes from the flame and in lieu of a fire bridge I place fire tiles r, at the back of
the fire grate at a considerable angle so as to direct the products of combustion
from an horizontal, into an upward and vertical direction. These back fire tiles r³,
I place on a suitably formed bracket, s, which can be utilized to form a support to
the back or backs of the sections placed immediately above the fire grate, and also
to form the back bearer for the fire bars. The outside sections A. C. (the lower
ends of which form the sides of the fire grate) I carry on suitably formed metallic
shoes or brackets, t, placed under the water boxes and so arranged that the
longitudinal spaces between the water boxes may be filled up by fire bricks, sheets
of asbestos or other refractory material. The outer casing and uptake of a group
of sections such as herein described, I form of layers or walls consisting of sheets of
asbestos bolted together with distance pieces between each layer so as to leave
air spaces between the several layers of sheets. In some cases where weight is not
of much moment I encase such a group of sections forming one boiler, in fire brick
or other suitable refractory material such as is usually employed for setting boilers
of this type.
In a boiler composed of sections, such as I have here described, the normal water
line, w, would be fixed a few inches above the bottom at the front end of the
water and steam chamber, i, which would ensure all the tubes and portions of the
water boxes and tube plates in each nest subjected to the action of the beat, being
protected by water. The action of such a boiler would be as follows:-
The products of combustion would pass upwards through the spaces between the
tubes in the several nests or batteries in the direction influenced by the baffle or
partition plates and thence to the uptake and funnel, the water in the tubes would
rise into the front water box and upwards into the water and steam chamber above
the tubes, where it would part with the steam which would pass thence into the
steam receiver where it would be drawn for use in a comparatively dry state.
I provide a baffle plate or screen, u, so as to protect the orifice, v, communicating
from the water and steam chamber to the steam receiver, so as to prevent any
water or spray, caused by priming or otherwise, being carried into the steam
receiver, the water as it rises from the tubes through the front water box into the
water and steam chamber having been liberated of its steam, flows along to the back

page_text: and lower end of the said chamber, thence down the circulating pipe or pipes into
the lower end of the back water-box, and passing again through the tubes in an
upward direction into the front water box and so on. The circulation in the
separate and collective sections thus being complete and continuous, the water
evaporated into steam and used being made good by the feed pipes placed at the
back and cooler end of the boiler as previously indicated.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is,
1. In a water tube steam boiler the arrangement and combination of parts and
appliances by means of which the boiler is divided into sections, nests or batteries
of tubes, each section being provided with narrow water boxes so constructed and
formed that the front water box is enlarged at the top for the free escape of steam
into the steam chamber and the back water box being enlarged at the bottom for
the free flow of water into the tubes as supplied by the downcast from the water
chamber, such water boxes being provided with covers of semi-circular, curved,
buckled, corrugated, ribbed or other form of stiffened plate so as to dispense with
the necessity for stays thereby leaving a clear space within them for the uninter-
rupted circulation of water and for the free escape of steam, likewise extending the
front end water box in each section above the tubes and forming it into a pocket to
receive one end of the cylindrical water and steam chamber, also forming the lower
ends of the water boxes in the respective sections and placing the tubes therein so
as to leave a space for the fire place and door under the tubes of the central
section or sections and between the tubes of the outer sections in the manner and
for the purposes substantially as herein described and illustrated.
Dated this 20th day of July 1894.
R. HEBER RADFORD,
Agent for the Applicant.