CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN BOILERS AND FURNACES
Year: 1840

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, SAMUEL.
HOWARD, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer, send
greeting..
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain bearing date at
Westminster, the Eighth day of August, in the Fourth year of Her reign, did,
for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said Samuel
Howard, Her especial license, full power, sole privilege and authority, that
I, the said Samuel Howard, my executors, administrators, and assigns, and
such others as I, the said Samuel Howard, my executors, administrators, or
assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and
at all times during the term of years therein mentioned, should and lawfully
might make, use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and the Town
of Berwick upon Tweed, my Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN BOILERS
AND FURNACES;" in which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso obliging
me, the said Samuel Howard, by an instrument in writing under my hand
and seal, particularly to describe and ascertain the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, and to cause the same
to be inrolled in Her Majesty's High Court of Chancery within two calendar
months next and 'immediately after the date of the said in part recited Letters
Patent, as in and by the same, reference being thereunto had, will more fully
and at large appear.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Samuel Howard, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention, and
the manner in which the same is to be performed, are particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following description thereof, reference being
had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked
thereon (that is to say) :-
My Invention of "Certain Improvements in Boilers and Furnaces" consists,
firstly, in certain peculiarities of form and construction, whereby a con-
siderable increase of heated surface is obtained; as also a mode of feeding
the boiler with water when required, and applies to marine, stationary, and
auxiliary boilers. My Invention has reference, secondly, to furnaces, and
consists in certain peculiarities of arrangement and construction, whereby
I am enabled to make an available, use of the gases or vapours emitted
from the fuel in a state of combustion, and thus lessen the amount of fuel
consumed, and also a means of regulating the draft in such furnaces. This
part of my Invention is applicable in all cases where furnaces or fire-places
are used. Now in order to explain and set forth my Invention more at large,
the accompanying Drawing, with the several letters of reference, and the fol-
lowing description thereof, will be found useful. Fig. 1 is a longitudinal vertical
section of my improvements as applied to marine boilers. Fig. 2 is a trans-
verse section of the same in the line a, b. Figures 3 and 4 represent also in
longitudinal and transverse vertical section my improved boiler for stationary
engines; and Figures 5 and 6 are similar views of a common waggon boiler with
my improved auxiliary adapted thereto; in all which Figures similar letters of
reference indicate corresponding parts. I proceed now to describe my improve-
ments as applied to marine boilers. It will be observed on reference to Fig. 2;
that I have shown the boiler as divided into three compartments, marked A, B,
and C, the two outer ones A and C being furnished with a pipe D, through
which the steam generated in each of them is conducted to the chamber E,
which also receives that from the centre compartment B; in this chamber is
placed the steam pipe, as shewn in Fig. 1. F, F, are a series of water
chambers, so formed and arranged with regard to the flues G, G, that the
heat is made to pass through the entire series in a sort of grooved passage or
way, taking a slight rise somewhat in the form of a spiral coil,-as shown in the
section, Fig. 2, so that its progress would constantly tend towards the upper
chambers, and thus a large surface of water would be exposed to the action of
heat, and a rapid generation of steam effected: It will be further perceived,
on reference to the same Figure, that each set of fire-places and flues is con-
tained in a case entirely surrounded with water, thus bringing an additional

page_text: surface in contact with a strong heat for the purpose of generating steam
I come now to notice my apparatus (marked H) for feeding the boiler with
water when required, which I propose doing in the following manner:-a is a
pipe communicating with a cistern or water tank (not shown in the Drawing),
which tank, through the medium of a pipe in connection with the ordinary
feed pipe, receives the overplus of water supplied through this pipe a; water
may enter into the upper part of the cylindrical vessel b. This vessel, it will be
seen is of such a shape that in the centre and at the lower extremity a kind
of neck is formed for the purpose of regulating the admission of water into
the boiler through it by means of the valves c and d; these valves consist
simply of an ordinary piston or collar fixed on to the rod c, or h, and fitting
into a conical seat made in each neck of the vessel b. The action of this
piece of apparatus is as follows:-The lower end of the vertical rod e being
jointed to a lever f, having its fulcrum at g, and this lever having at its other
extremity a rod to which a float is suspended, it will be observed, that as the
level of the water in the boiler sinks, the lower valve d will be opened, being
raised from its seat by the ascent of that end of the lever f which is connected.
with the rod e, consequent upon the depression of the opposite end of the same
lever by the descent of the float; it will therefore be obvious that the boiler is
now enabled to receive a fresh supply of water from the vessel b; as soon as
the upper valve c is opened, which may be done either by a rod on the end of
the chain attached to the rod h, in the hands of the workman, or it may be
done (as shown) in connection with the apparatus for regulating the draft of
the furnace herein-after to be described when we speak of improvements in
furnaces. It will also be understood that as the level of the water in the
boiler rises, the lower valve d will be closed, through the connection shown
between it and the float, and consequently. prevent the admission of more
water; hence we observe, that should it be found requisite to leave off work
for a while, nothing has to be done but just to open the upper valve c by any
convenient means; the boiler may then be quitted, and on returning, it will be
found to have been supplied with just a needful quantity of water. The
advantages of this apparatus consist in the convenience on the one hand of
condensing the steam already in the boiler, and on the other of warming the
water so as to render it easily convertible into steam on resuming work. In
concluding this description of my improvements as applied to marine boilers,
I would remark that, having in the Drawing referred to exhibited an arrange-
ment consisting of three compartments wherein steam is generate:l, and the
produce of each finally collected together into one receptacle cr chamber at
top, I desire it to be understood that the arrangement and construction of

page_text: these boilers are susceptible of various modifications to suit different circum-
stances; as for instance, the boiler might consist of but one case surrounded
by water, and containing water chambers and flues, as shewn, or i. might
consist of two instead of three (as represented in the Drawing), the forms
and proportions being likewise susceptible of variation as desired. Instead,
moreover, of the water chamber being placed (as exhibited) between the fire-
places, it might be brought down on each side, and the fire-place be put in
the middle.
Having thus described my improvements as applied to marine boilers,
I proceed to show in what consists their application to boilers for stationary
engines, which is represented at Figures 3 and 4. On reference to the former
Figure (which is a longitudinal section of the boiler), it will be seen that the
under side is made to assume a curved form (which might be. varied from that
shewn if found desirable), the object being to increase the heated surface.
I have also in this Figure represented a water feeding apparatus as applicable
to this kind of boiler. My improvements as applied to auxiliary boilers are next
to be described; they are represented at Figures 5 and 6, the former being a.
longitudinal section taken through the centre of the boiler, and the latter a
transverse section in the line e, f. It will be perceived that in these Figures
I have represented a common waggon boiler with the addition of an auxiliary as
at H*, placed underneath, and communicating with it through the pipes I, K.
From the situation of the auxiliary boiler (as seen at Fig. 6), it must be obvious
that all its parts are well exposed to the action of the fire. These auxiliaries
apply also to round boilers with slight variations of form and construction.
Having thus described my Invention of certain improvements in boilers,
and shown how it applies to marine, stationary, and auxiliary boilers, I proceed,
secondly, to set forth my improvements as they relate to furnaces, and here
reference must again be had to Figures from 1 to 6, in all which, as also in
Figures 7, 8, and 9, my improved furnaces are exhibited. Now, although in
the several applications shewn of these my improved furnaces a considerable
variety of form and construction is manifest, yet it will also be evident upon
the slightest reflection that an unity of principle pervades the whole, which is
a method of carbonizing or coking the fuel-previous to its use; or, in other
words, it is a preparatory process to which the fuel is submitted, causing its
component-gases to become separated; their inflammable portions being sub-
sequently passed over a strong fire are thus availably consumed. I proceed
now to explain somewhat more fully how-this_is_effected, and shall refer to
Fig. 3. A fire is first made in the upper and lower fire-places-L and M,
a charge of fuel is then placed upon the carbonizing plate N, and this being

page_text: a
heated, extracts its gases, which in passing over the fire are consumed; the
fuel in a carbonized state is then pressed upon the bars, and the plate
N recharged. At Figures 5 and 6 is represented a furnace embodying
similar advantages to that just described, viz', a thorough consumption of
the gases contained in the fuel, and the equal distribution of heat to all parts
of the boiler, and is here shewn applied to an ordinary waggon boiler with its
auxiliary. In this furnace is shewn an arch within a short space of the boiler,
under which is a passage for the heavy gases. At Figures 7 and 8 is repre-
sented an application of the same principle to stoves, by placing the carbon-
izing or coking plate over the ordinary fire; the gases which rise from the fuel
descend through the aperture shewn in the plate N, and are consumed by
passing over the lower fire. I have, at Fig. 9, exhibited this principle as
applicable to stills, &c., in which is represented peculiarity of construction
at o, whereby the fire-place is contracted and the heat directed more imme-
diately to the centre of the still. I pass on now to speak of the means
whereby I propose to regulate the draft of these my improved furnaces; in
illustration whereof, I again refer to Fig. 3, in which the apparatus for this
purpose is shown at P; the cylindrical vessel i is fitted with a piston k, against
which, water from the boiler, exerts a force when urged by any unusual
pressure of steam in the chamber. This action causes the vertical rod., to
which the piston is attached, to rise, carrying with it one end of the lever m,
having its fulcrum at n; the reverse end is consequently depressed, and, by
the connection shewn through the rod o, closes the ventilator p, as before
remarked. This apparatus is shewn in connection with that for feeding the
boiler with water when required; it will be seen thus, the upper end of the
rod 1, working in.an upright guide, and being attached to the lever q, will, by
its ascent, bring down the opposite end of that lever, which, by union with the
chain passing over a pulley (as shewn) will open the valve c for the admission
of water into the boiler: The reverse action of this last-mentioned 'apparatus
would by this same connection open the ventilator p. This method of regu-
lating the draft to the furnace may, however, be employed quite independently
of any other mechanism, in which case the ventilator p would have to be.
opened by the attendant. Q is a plate for increasing the length of the furnace,
and for dividing the draft to the front and back bars R. and S. The partition
beneath is for the purpose of working the set of back bars S when required.
In Fig. 5, I have exhibited a mode of regulating the draft, somewhat different
in form from that just described, consisting (as may be seen from the Drawing)
of a plate sliding upon pullies or bowls, which may be drawn forth or slidden
back so as to shut out the atmospheric air from either one, two, or all three

page_text: of the chambers below the fire bars at pleasure, and may be used simply by
hand or in connection with apparatus similar to that spoken of above. There
is also a flue on each side of the upper fire-place (one of which is shewn by
dots in Fig. 5), communicating with one of the chambers under the fire bars,
by which air may be introduced. The mode of supplying and regulating the
necessary. draft in those furnaces represented in the other Figures is in the
ordinary way through the ash-pit.
Having thus particularly described my Invention of Certain Improvements
in "Boilers and Furnaces," I desire it to be understood that although in this
my Specification I have been obliged, for the sake of perspicuity, to make
reference to many parts of boilers and furnaces which are not exactly new,
I lay no claim to such parts individually, but merely wish to use them in com-
bination with such improvements as are above stated.
In witness whereof, I, the said Samuel Howard, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eighth day of October, in the year of our Lord One
hand sight hundred and forty