An Improved Boiler for the Economical Generation of Steam.
Year: 1886

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Boiler for the Economical Generation of Steam.
I, HERBERT BOYD, Doctor of Medicine, native of St. John, New Brunswick,
Dominion of Canada now residing temporarily at 3 Arthur Villas, Hythe in the
County of Kent, England, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention is designed to utilize the entire heat and force of combustion, by
making it take place inside the boiler.
This object is achieved in the following manner. The boiler consists of an outer
skin of sufficient strength to resist all internal pressure, inside of which skin is a lining
constructed of asbestos and soluble glass (silicate of soda) or other non-conducting
substances, moulded under hydraulic pressure into bricks or other required shapes;
and within this lining an inner skin of metal preferably of aluminum, or some metal
not liable to corrosion under the conditions in which it will be placed. This inner
skin will be supported by the asbestos packing and the outer skin, consequently it is
not intended to bear any part of the strain. Within this compound wall forming the
boiler, is placed the combustion chamber, this chamber is as far as possible insulated
from the outer wall of the boiler and is surrounded on all sides by water or steam.
"
From the top of the combustion chamber, pipes lead off to distribute the products
of combustion under the water contained in the boiler proper (in a manner to suit the
requirements of marine or land engines). These pipes from the combustion chamber
terminate in perforated ends or "roses near the bottom of the water in the boiler.
At a higher level than such terminations are placed screens of wire gauze extending
horizontally under the water to still further divide the gases produced by combustion
and prevent ebullition.
Combustion is maintained in the combustion chamber by forcing gas or liquid fuel
into the chamber through a jet. This stream of gas or liquid fuel is made to impinge
on a wire coil rendered incandescent by means of Electricity. Air will at the same
time be forced into the chamber to aid the combustion.
The Gas or liquid fuel and this necessary air are forced into the combustion chamber
by suitable pumps outside the boiler.

page_text: The consumption of fuel is regulated directly by the pressure.
Thus a cylinder open freely at one end is placed in any convenient position. The
open end of this cylinder is in communication with the interior of the boiler at the
point where the greatest pressure exists. In this cylinder a steam and gas-tight piston
will work.
cone.
The piston rod of which at its outer end (i.e. that away from the piston) is connected
to a lever which lever alters the position of a bevelled wheel working on a bevelled
The axle of the bevelled cone will be connected with an eccentric to drive the
pumps, to force in the fuel. The cone will be driven by the engine which works the
Dynamo or other machine to produce the electricity, or from the main engine itself
when in motion or by hand when starting. The pressure inside the boiler would tend
to press out the piston, there being only air pressure above it. This action is regulated
by a spring which can be graduated to the pressure required to be maintained in the
boiler.
When the pressure is exceeded the piston is forced out and the bevelled wheel is
forced by its lever along its square axle and made to approach nearer to the apex of
the cone. Consequently the revolution of the bevelled wheel is decreased and with it
the action of the pumps supplying the fluid.
It is preferable to heat the air supplied for combustion before it meets the gas or
liquid fuel. This may be done by conducting it in a metal coil round the inside of
the combustion chamber.
The fuel may also be so heated before it is ejected on the incandescent coil.
After the boiler is in work and the parts thoroughly heated, a great economy of
fuel may be accomplished by forcing part of the steam generated, through a coil in
the wall of the combustion chamber or inside the said chamber and thus superheating
it, and then passing it through an Electro or Galvanic pile in the combustion chamber
composed of a number of metal plates placed close together, and the alternate plates
made electrically positive and negative by this same machine that renders incandescent
the coil, as after all the parts are heated, less electricity is required to heat the coil.
Where the tubes leave the combustion chamber to distribute the products of com-
bustion under water, there are placed ball valves to prevent a regurgitation of the
water into the combustion chamber.
There is also a communication to be made between the top of the combustion chamber
and the boiler above the water line, to be opened when the fire is extinguished in order
to equalize the pressure inside and out of the combustion chamber.
Dated this 4th day of September 1886.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Boiler for the Economical Generation of Steam.
I, HERBERT BOYD, Surgeon-Major, attached to the 45th Sikhs in the Province of
Rawal Pindee, British India, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :—
This invention is designed to utilize the entire heat and force of combustion by
making it take place inside the Boiler and therefore surrounded by the water to be
operated on.
This is effected by placing the firebox as nearly as possible in the centre of the
Boiler, instead of beneath or outside it, as is usual, and by special arrangements for
the supply of fuel and for the ignition thereof, and for the prevention of conduction.
My improved Boiler has an exterior wall composed of 3 parts viz.:-(1) A true
skin of sufficient strength to resist the internal pressure; outside or inside of which
skin or both outside and inside is (2) a lining or lagging composed of Asbestos and
silicate of Soda or some other efficient non-conducting substances, by preference
moulded by hydraulic pressure into suitable blocks, and (3) an inner skin preferably
of aluminum, delta metal, or of some other metal or substance not liable to oxydise.
This inner skin will be so placed as to be supported by the lining or the true skin, and
will therefore be relieved of any serious strain.
Within this compound wall forming the Boiler is the annular space for water with
an upper chamber for steam, and in or near the centre of the water is the combustion
chamber, which is insulated so far as possible from the outer wall of the Boiler, and
is surrounded on all sides by water or steam.
To the top of the combustion chamber pipes are attached which conduct the products
of combustion and distribute them under the water in the boiler in a manner to suit
the requirements of marine or land engines. These pipes terminate in a perforated
tube or tubes near the bottom of the water in the boiler. Above these terminations
but below the waterline are placed horizontal screens of wire gauze to divide still
further the gases produced by combustion and to prevent ebullition.
Combustion is maintained in the combustion chamber by forcing one or more jets
of liquid fuel or gas into the chamber and causing it to impinge on a wire coil
rendered incandescent by means of an electric current, air being also admitted or
forced in to aid the combustion.
A special form of Governor may be employed if preferred whereby the consumption
of fuel may be directly regulated by the pressure in the following way. A cylinder
open freely at one end is placed in any convenient position having its open end in
communication with that part of the interior of the boiler where the greatest pressure
exists.
In this cylinder a steam and gas tight piston will work, the piston rod of which at

page_text: its outer end is connected to a lever which alters the position of a bevelled wheel
working on a revolving cone. The style of this bevelled wheel will be connected with
an eccentric which works the pumps which force in the fuel; and the cone will be
driven by the engine which works the Dynamo or other machine to produce the
Electricity or from the main engine itself when in motion.
The pressure inside the boiler would press out the piston there being only air
pressure above it.
This action would be regulated by a spring graduated to the pressure required in
the boiler.
When this reserve is exceeded the piston is forced out and the bevelled wheel is
forced by its lever along its square axle, and made to press more forcibly against the
cone. Consequently the revolutions of the bevelled wheel are decreased and with it
the action of the pumps supplying the fuel.
It is preferable to heat the air supplied for combustion before it meets the gas or
liquid fuel.
This may be done by conducting it in a metal coil round the inside or outside of
the combustion chamber.
The fuel may also be heated in a similar manner before being injected on to the
incandescent coil.
After the boiler is in work and the parts thoroughly heated, a great economy of fuel
may be accomplished by forcing parts of the steam through a coil inside or outside
the walls of the combustion chamber and thus superheating it.
Where the tubes leave the combustion chamber to distribute the products of
combustion under water, ball valves are introduced to prevent any reflow or regurgi-
tation of water into the chamber. A communication by means of a conical valve
would also be made between the top of the combustion chamber the external atmosphere
and the steam chamber of the boiler above the waterline, to be opened when the fire
is extinguished in order to equalise the pressure inside and outside the chamber when
blowing off steam, and as an outlet for gases if found necessary.
In the accompanying drawings, the same letters refer to the same parts throughout.
Fig. I. Shows a section of my improved vertical boiler.
Fig. 2. Shows a plan of the same taken at the line R.
Fig. 3. Shows the Governor which regulates the supply of fuel.
A. is the combustion chamber.
B. is the incandescent coil.
C. is the pipe conveying fuel to the combustion chamber.
D. is the pipe conveying air or compressed air to same.
E. E. are pipes leading from the combustion chamber to the bottom of the boiler.
F. is a perforated tube at the lower end of E. E.
G. is the conical valve worked by the screw H.
H. is the screw for opening and closing G.
I. is an exit port for steam and gases opened by the valve G.
J. is an outlet for steam also opened by the valve G.
K. is the non-oxydizable internal skin of the boiler.
L. is the packing or lining between the two skins.
M. is the external skin.
N. N. are the layers of metal gauze.
0.0. is the waterline.
P. is the steam pipe for supplying the cylinder.
V. V. are the ball valves in the ends of the pipes E. E.
R. is the line of section for plan in Fig. 2.
S. is the small cylinder for regulating the action of the Governor.
T. is the regulating spring on the exterior of the cylinder S.
U. is the cone of the Governor.
W. is the lever of ditto.
X. is the bevelled wheel of ditto.
Z, is the eccentric which works the pump.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is :-
:-
1. In a steam boiler an internal combustion chamber surrounded or nearly
surrounded by water or by water and steam, and arranged for the combustion of
liquid fuel or gas in conjunction with an electric current substantially as herein
described and set forth.
2. In a combustion chamber surrounded as aforesaid, the combination of the
incandescent coil B, and of the pipes C. D. E, with the valve G, substantially as
herein described and set forth.
3. In a steam boiler constructed as aforesaid the combination of the non-oxydizable
inner skin K, the lining L, and the outer skin M, substantially as herein described
and set forth.
4. In a combustion chamber (for a steam boiler) heated by liquid fuel, the method
of igniting the fuel and of automatically regulating the supply of fuel and air to feed
the same, substantially as herein described and set forth.
5. In a steam boiler heated by liquid fuel or by gas; or by liquid fuel or gas
combined with an incandescent coil; the general arrangements and combination of
parts, as herein described and set forth.