IMPROVE- MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF STEAM BOILERS
Year: 1857

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Jason J. Palmer at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 26th March
1857.
I, JASON J. PALMER, of the City and State of New York, United States of
America, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF STEAM BOILERS," to be as follows:-
The nature of my Invention or improvement consists in so forming a boiler,
and so shaping and placing the flues therein, that a very great effect is
produced from a comparatively small quantity of fuel, and for that end that
an increased quantity of heat shall act upon a small quantity or surface of
water, and in such a part of the boiler as to cause the water to be constantly
thrown upon the hottest parts of the boiler, where steam will be generated
the fastest, and also keep the entire water in the boiler in continual cir-
culation, thereby to a great extent removing liability to danger from low
water. The form of boiler to which I have thus far contemplated the appli-
cation of my improvements is that called the box boiler, but they can be
adapted to others. Directly in rear of the furnace I place a series of vertical
water tubes, connecting the main water chamber above with a water chamber
below, which lower one will usually extend forward only to the ash-pit under
the fire. These water tubes will stand seperate from each other to allow the
heat to circulate freely about them, and between them and the fire I place a
perforated fire plate to effect the twofold purpose of breaking up and render-
ing most effective the flame, &c. and of preventing the intense heat from
striking in a body upon the front water tubes and soon burning them out.
After the heat has been carried through among these tubes to the rear end

page_text: of the boiler, it passes into a fluc extending across the rear end, and then into
side flues, one on each side, by which it is carried back to the front end, and
thence up the front or sides into the smoke pipe. This rear and these side
flues are placed in the water chamber much nearer the fire chamber than the
outside of the boiler, and hence, there is a much less body of water between
them and the fire chamber and on the outside of them, consequently this
small body of water having the main fire chamber upon one side, and these
return flues upon the other, must be constantly subjected to a greater degree
& quantity of heat than that in almost any other portion of the boiler, and
will therefore be thrown into more energetic action. These flues also extend
up or over the top of the fire chamber on each side, about one quarter the
width of such chamber, so that as the small body of water is thrown into
rapid circulation, it is forced or carried up on to that part of the boiler surface
directly over the fire, and where, as a matter of course, steam is generated the
most rapidly. These flues are generally of the greatest extent toward the
bottom to have the heat most effective there; and their upper parts extending
up and over the fire chamber may be either an actual extension of the flue
that is open for the circulation of the heat, or may be made of a plate or
plates of metal to guide the circulating water up on to the fire as stated.
The lower parts of such flues may be shaped to suit circumstances, but as to
those parts of the side flues that are in front of the lower water chamber and
by the side of the fire, I prefer to expand them underneath the fire grate, as
such expansion does not interfere with their convenience, and secures additional
heat, as they will be continually imbedded in the hot cinders and ashes. In
boilers which do not allow the use of the vertical tubes, I place the perforated
fire plate horizontal, so as to disturb and effectually seperate the flame, &c.
before it passes into the rear and side flues. The steam chamber on the top
of the boiler is surrounded by the smoke chamber, and from this rises the
smoke pipe. This pipe rises in the middle, and about it is an annular concave
reflector, which throws the heat down upon the top of the steam chamber,
and thus assists in keeping the steam in such chamber at a high temperature.
I claim the use of the flues extending as described, and in combination
therewith the vertical water tubes and the reflecting arrangement of the steam
chamber, the whole designed for the purposes set forth.