CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN GENERATING AND APPLYING STEAM
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Julien François Belleville, Civil Engineer, of Paris,
in the French Empire, for the Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN
GENERATING AND APPLYING STEAM."
Sealed the 9th December 1856, and dated the 8th July 1856.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Julien François Belleville
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
8th July 1856.
I, JULIEN FRANÇOIS BELLEVILLE, Civil Engineer, of Paris, in the French.
Empire, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "CERTAIN.
IMPROVEMENTS IN GENERATING AND APPLYING STEAM," to be as follows:-
My Invention relates to improvements on the plan for which I obtained
Letters Patent in England, dated 12. November 1852, and consists in a new
arrangement of the tubes in which steam is generated, in the employment in
combination therewith of the furnace or smoke-consuming apparatus, which I
patented in England 9. October 1855, and in a contrivance for regulating the
temperature. The chief peculiarity of my arrangement of tubes for generating.
steam consists in this, that instead of placing them over the furnace or in a
vertical position with respect thereto, as in the plan patented by me 12. Nov.
1852, I arrange them in a horizontal position with respect to the furnace, that
is to say, beside or in a line therewith.
This tubular generator consists of coiled or serpentine pipes, constructed on
the principle of equilibrium applied to instantaneous evaporation of liquids,
whereby steam at any desired degree of pressure may be obtained by the em-

page_text: ployment of a valve for regulating the pressure and feed, and by the consider-
able circulating action carried on in a tube, the surfaces of which are in
proportion to the force obtained, and the diameter as confined as possible. I
generally place the regulating valve (which acts as a safety valve) in the feed
pipe, or pipe which supplies water to the generator, and I employ in connection
with the feed pipe a force pump for bringing the pressure to the proper
starting point. On the feed pipe and between the regulating valve and the
steam generator are a feed cock and a valve, opened by the pressure from the
pump and closed by the pressure from the generator, which prevents the
water escaping from the generator through the regulating valve under any
increase of pressure of steam.
The generator tubes are divided into a fire box and a smoke box (the latter
being behind the former and separated from it by a register.) Each consists of
a number of tubes, which may be interlaced and connected by tie rods fixed at
each end to plates. Spaces are left between the pipes for the passage of heat
and gases. The water from the feed pump enters the smoke box pipes, cir-
culates through them, then through the fire box pipes, where it is converted
into vapour and escapes into an exit pipe. The central pipes of the fire box
may be connected to the side pipes by a T pipe provided with a gauge tap.
The velocity with which the steam circulates through the coils being in
inverse ratio to its density, it will increase as it approaches the exit, therefore
to increase the velocity of the steam where it contains water, the diameter of
the pipe should be less than that necessary for the flow of dry or anhydrous
steam to obtain a given force. The water being heated in the smoke box
tubes, vaporized in the central fire box tubes, and converted into gas with the
loss of its watery particles in the side tubes, it follows, that the water and.
watery steam move in an opposite direction from the heat or towards the
furnace, while the steam moves away therefrom as it loses its watery particles,
so that the surface of reserve cannot attain a high temperature, because it is
at a distance from the fire-place, and in direct contact with the centre in which
are watery steam and water, whereby a proportionate equilibrium of tempera-
ture is maintained. It also follows, that steam cannot escape at an extra-
ordinary pressure, because these coils, which from their position were before
exposed to an intense increase of temperature, are now in contact with coils
which are now undergoing a decrease of temperature.
I now proceed to describe the contrivance for regulating the temperature.
In the exit pipe I insert an expanding tube, immersed in the steam, fixed at
one end to the pipe and at the other passing through a stuffing box to the out-
side, where it moves a threaded rod fitted to a lever, which works the key, plug,

page_text: or valve of an injection tap, the orifice of which communicates on one side with
a feed pipe, and on the other with the exit. The key or valve is closed by a
spring acted on by the lever. When the steam has reached the desired tem-
perature, the expanding tube which lengthens as the temperature increases,
comes in contact with the rod of the lever, raises the lever, and opens the key
or valve, when a thin stream of water will pass into the steam, which absorbs
the excess of heat and turns it to vapor. The lever and tap are supported by
parallel rods outside the steam pipe, and a balance valve is placed on the
steam pipe, weighted to several atmospheres above the maximum pressure of
the regulating valve. The generator may be mounted in a double casing, con-
structed to allow of due expansion at top and between the casings, cinders or
non-conducting materials may be placed to prevent radiation.
In a convenient position with respect to the generator, I place a furnace or
smoke-consuming apparatus, of the description patented by me 9th October
1855, and the heated gases from the furnace pass through the spaces between
the tubes of the fire box, and circulate among and along the tubes composing
it, and then pass on to the smoke box tubes; the radiated heat from the
furnace also heats the tubes. When the steam in the tubes exceeds the maxi-
mum pressure allowed to the regulating valve, the water ceases to flow in, the
regulating valve rises, and allows the excess to escape in the feed tank, and
keeps up the pressure of the steam; but if a certain volume of steam is
expended, the tension of the latter would diminish and the equilibrium of force
would be broken, therefore, at the same time the water again enters the gene-
rator under the pressure of the valve, until steam is reproduced and the
equilibrium reestablished.
The quantity of water injected is exactly equal to the weight of steam
ejected in the same time, so that the quantity of water left in the generator,
and the quantity of water expelled through the regulating valve into the feed
tank would be in inverse ratio with the steam expended. The feed pump keeps
up a constant pressure on the pipe, and supplies a greater quantity of water
than required by the generator, so that the excess of water works the valve
with every stroke of the piston.
Among the advantages of the new arrangement of generating tubes are,,
that they require no reserve of water or of steam, the water only entering as
the steam passes out; steam, at any desired degree of pressure may be.
obtained by regulating the valve, and almost instantaneously, as required.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Julien François Belleville in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 7th January 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JULIEN
FRANÇOIS BELLEVILLE, Civil Engineer, of Paris, in the French Empire, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eighth day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the twentieth year of Her reign, did,
for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said Julien
François Belleville, Her special licence that I, the said Julien François Belle-
ville, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Julien Francois Belleville, 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 "CERTAIN
IMPROVEMENTS IN GENERATING AND APPLYING STEAM," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Julien François Belleville, my executors or adminis
trators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their
hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain 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 Julien François Belleville, 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 thereof, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed,
that is to say:-
My Invention relates to improvements on the plan for which I obtained
British Letters Patent, bearing date on or about the 12th Nov 1852,
and consists in a new arrangement of the tubes in which steam is generated;
in the employment, in combination therewith, of the furnace or smoke-con-
suming apparatus, for which I obtained British Letters Patent on or about
the 9th October 1855, and also in a contrivance for regulating temperature.
The chief particularity of my present arrangement of tubes for generating
steam consists in this, that instead of placing them over the furnace in a
vertical position with respect thereto as in the plan patented by me on 12th

page_text: November 1852, I arrange them in a horizontal position with respect to the
furnace, that is to say, beside or in a line therewith.
The generator consists of tubes or coiled pipes in any suitable number, bent
into any desired form, and having a greater or less number of cylindrical,
elliptical, or other convolutions, and they may be either horizontal, vertical, or
inclined.
My present Invention is applicable to stationary, marine, and locomotive
engines, also for heating, evaporating, distilling, or other purposes, for which
steam is or may be employed. Among the advantages of employing the smoke-
consuming apparatus, in combination with my present arrangement of gene-
rating tubes, are, that the temperature is more regular, and variations of
pressure resulting from variations of temperature are avoided. In--this-
arrangement also the heat is more fully utilized, and more equally diffused
throughout the fire-box tubes, and the production of steam better regulated.
The steam generator may be of less dimensions, the parts may be easily
.cleaned, and deposit of cinders on the pipes prevented.
My improved method of generating steam is based on the principle of
maintaining the equilibrium of internal and external pressures while producing
rapid evaporation of liquids. In order to obtain steam at any desired pressure
I employ a valve for regulating the pressure and feed. A peculiarity of my
arrangement consists in the considerable circulating action carried on in tubes,
the surfaces of which are in proportion to the work to be done, and their
diameter as limited as may be.
I now proceed to describe my Invention more particularly, and the manner
in which the same is carried into effect, with reference to the annexed
Drawings.
Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of an arrangement of apparatus for
the generating of steam, constructed according to my present Invention;
Figure 2, a plan with a portion of the casing of the apparatus removed;
Figure 3, a front view, partly in section; Figure 4, a section through C, D,
of Figure 1; Figure 5 is an elevation, partly in section, shewing the valve and
appurtenances for regulating the feed.
The steam generator is fed with water from a feed pump (worked by the
engine) through a feed or supply pipe, in direct communication with a
weighted valve, or other suitable contrivance for regulating pressure. The
valve acts also as a safety valve. The feed pipe is in communication with a
-force pump, which may be worked by hand, in order to bring the pressure to
the proper starting point. In the feed pipe, between the regulating valve and
the generator, is a valve, which is opened by the pressure from the pump, and

page_text: closed by that from the generator, and also a feed cock.
The valve just
referred to prevents the escape of the water in the generator through the
regulating valve, if the pressure of steam happens to undergo slight increase,
as when a stoppage takes places. A is the supply or feed pipe; U, feed pump;
V, regulating valve.
The generator tubes are divided into two general sets, one in the fire box
and the other in the smoke box. The coils of pipes in the fire box are shewn
arranged in an oblong form, as at D, E, E'; the side coils are interlaced with
the central coils, and arranged in two sets, a common channel being left
between them. H, H, H, are rods at top and at bottom, which are bolted at
each of their ends to cross plates H', traverse the sets of coils, connect them
and hold them in their proper positions in such manner, that on looking at the
front of one of the sets six vertical tubes and five spaces or flues would be
seen in a straight line throughout the length of the fire. box.
The smoke box is behind the fire box, in a compartment at the bottom or
foot of the chimney; these two parts of the generator are separated by a par-
tition M. The smoke box is here shewn as consisting of two sets of coils
B, C, of the same form as those of the fire box, their coils are interlaced in
such manner as to leave equal spaces for the passage of the heating gases
between their straight portions. These pipes are connected by tie rods.
When the water from the feed pump enters the smoke box at A, it circulates
first in the coils B and C, then from back to front in the coils D, in the
central portion of each constituent part, then returns from front to back in the
side coils E, E¹, (which are connected with the central coils by a T or branch
pipe F, the steam then passes out at E, E¹, into a delivery pipe G, placed
near the chimney; on the T pipe F is fitted a gauge tap F¹, for testing the
state of the steam when desired, and thence regulating the fire.
The velocity of circulation in the coils is in inverse ratio with the density
of steam, whence it results that the current acquires an invariably increasing
velocity as it approaches the exit; therefore in order to increase the velocity of
the current in those portions of the tubes which contain water and watery
steam, or steam combined with water, their section should be less than that
considered necessary for the obtaining of a flow of anhydrous steam sufficient
for a given force. In its course, the water is heated in the coils B, C, of the
smoke box, is next nearly converted into vapour in the central coils D, and
is finally rendered anhydrous, or deprived of its watery particles and converted
into gas or gaseous steam in the coils E, E¹. In this arrangement the course
of the water and the watery steam is in a reverse direction to that of the heat,
for the former are carried towards the furnace, while the steam, as it becomes

page_text: anhydrous, or deprived of its watery particles, is carried away from the furnace
in such manner that the portion of pipes which is considered as a reserve
surface cannot attain a very bigh temperature, for not only is it distant from
the furnace, but it is, moreover, in direct contact with the central course of
circulation in which water or watery steam circulates. Proportional equili
brium of temperature is thus established between the three courses of circula-
tions, whence the last of the coils E, E', (representing nearly all the reserve
surface,) will not be raised above the range of a suitable temperature. In no
case can the steam leave the generator at an unduly elevated temperature,
because the coils, which from their position are exposed to a progressive
increase of temperature, are interlaced, and in contact with coils the temperature
of which is diminished inversely. This constitutes one of the principal features
of my new arrangement.
I now proceed to describe the apparatus or contrivance for regulating
temperature.
In the pipe G, or in any other part of the delivery, I insert an expanding
rod or tube, immersed in the current of steam; this rod or tube is fixed at
one end to the interior of the delivery tubes, and at the other passes through
a stuffing box to the outside, where it acts through a screw or threaded stem
on a lever, which works the key, plug, or valve of an injection tap, the fluid
way of which communicates on one side with the feed pipe and on the other
with the steam outlet. The valve or plug is kept closed by means of a spring,
and is moved by means of the lever in the direction of its axis, in order to
open the fluid way of the tap. This rod or tube expands or lengthens as the
temperature increases; its action is as follows:-The distance between
the tube and the stem of the lever having been previously regulated,
then, when the steam reaches a particular point, the tube or rod comes
in contact with the screw or stem of the lever; when the steam goes
beyond that point, the expanding tube, becoming lengthened or expanded
in direct proportion with the increase of temperature, gradually lifts the lever,
and thence the key or plug of the injection tap, when a thin stream of water
will penetrate into the current of steam corresponding to the difference between
the pressure in the feed pipe and that in the steam outlet pipe, which
difference results from the loss due to the friction occasioned by the rapid
circulation of steam in the numerous convolutions of the coils. The water
thus injected becomes vaporized, absorbing the excess of heat of the steam, and
the steam continues to enter until the temperature descends sufficiently to
contract the expanding tube and remove it from the lever, on which it will
then cease to act, and the injection tap will be closed by the pressure of the

page_text: spring on the plug. The opening and closing of the injection orifice are thus
regulated according to the rise and fall of the temperature of the steam. To
regulate the time for the injection of water into the steam, the expanding tube
should be brought nearer to or further from the lever. Fig. 6 is a front
elevation of this contrivance; Fig. 7, vertical section; Fig. 8, section through
line X, X of Fig. 7; Fig. 9, view of tap detached; Fig. 10, section through
line 1, 2, of Fig. 9; Fig. 11, section through line 3, 4, of Fig. 10.
A is the expanding rod, fixed at B to the delivery pipe, and passing through
the stuffing box c to the outside; E is the lever; D, screw for regulating
position of rod and lever; F, injection tap; 9, its plug or valve. The lever
and tap are mounted in standards L, L, parallel to and outside of the steam
delivery pipe. These standards are not very liable to expansion on account of
their position, but they should be at least equal in length to the expanding
tube; they are fixed at one end to the tube G. I is a steam valve on the
delivery pipe, weighted to some atmospheres exceeding the maximum pressure
of the feed regulation valve.
The generator is shewn in the Drawings as provided with an inner and outer
casing. The inuer casing may be made of sheet iron, with angle pieces P
solidly secured but allowing for expansion. The space Q between the inner
and outer casings is filled in with cinders or other non-conducting media, to
prevent outward radiation of heat. The top R of this casing is composed of
arched or convex plates of cast or sheet iron, bound with angle iron, and covered
with cinders, or other material non-conductor of heat; or, the casing may be
of brickwork, and the top or dome of iron, bound with angle iron. The genera-
tor is mounted on feet O, O, of angle iron, between which spaces T, T, are
left, in which the cinders drawn in by the gases drop, and whence they may
easily be withdrawn, the passages L under the bridge and register having to be
opened for the purpose; or, the sides, dome, and fire bridge are made in fire
brick, and constitute the inner casing, as at K, having an outer casing of sheet
iron bound with angle iron at top.
I employ in connection with my arrangement of steam generator a furnace
or smoke-consuming apparatus, constructed on the same principle as that
patented by me 9th October 1855 (Figures 1, 2, and 3). a is a grate,
consisting of fire bars fitted in a frame 6, mounted on pivots c, and free to
move thereon, by which means the fire bars may be inclined as required.
The pivots care in a bracket or framework d; or instead of the frame,
cross pieces may be used, resting at their ends on the sides of the ash-pit.
e is a smaller grate at the bottom of the larger grate, and having fire bars
mounted in a frame f, free to move on a pivot g in such manner that the

page_text: highest part of the grate may be lowered by means of a lever or arm h, and a
space left between the two grates sufficiently large for the removal of cinders,
scoriæ, &c. The lever his centred at i. j is a hook, in which the end of the
lever h catches when the smaller grate is raised; k is a plate for carrying the
small grate when lowered, and at the same time for stopping the fall of the
fuel into the ash-pit; l, ash-pit, through which a stream of water should be
kept continuously flowing; m, hopper or feed-mouth, the back of which, as
seen at Figure 1, is sharply inclined in the direction of the grate for the regular
descent of the fuel; n is a moveable register at the back part of the hopper,
by means of raising or lowering which the thickness of the layer of fuel may
be regulated; o is a moveable feed plate at the top of the grate a and below
the hopper; this plate is more sharply inclined than the grate. Between the
bottom of the hopper and this feed plate a space is left for testing the regu-
larity of the descent of the fuel. p, p, are doors at the front of the ash-pit, opened
or closed to any desired extent by means of a rack. These doors prevent the
radiation of heat from the grate in that direction.
The fuel falls down the grate piece by piece, and as each fragment becomes
consumed and diminished in volume it gives place to the next piece resting
on it, which drops down, and so on, until all the fuel descends gradually down
the incline. The more active the combustion the faster the descent.
As the fuel leaves the hopper it becomes gradually heated, and liberates the
gases which it contains, little by little; these gases ignite and combine with
fresh air which has only come in contact with fuel that has not ignited.
The fuel becomes ignited as it descends and converted into coke, being dimi-
nished in volume until at length only the residuum remains in the lower grate e.
When the furnace is first in action the heap of fuel is thicker at bottom
than at top, widening out towards the bottom.
I do not confine myself to the angle of inclination shewn, nor to the par-
ticular arrangement of fire bars described; but I claim, in this part of my Inven-
tion, the combination of my improved generator with a furnace constructed in
the plan patented by me 9th October 1855, in which the fuel is made to fall
gradually down an inclined plane, becoming consumed as it falls, and so feeding
the fire, in the manner explained.
The heated gases on leaving the furnace pass in streams into the small flues
or passages between the coils of the fire-box pipes, and circulate around, along,
and among all the tubes, and after having yielded the greater portion of their
beat among the fire-box pipes, the gasses pass from the bottom to the top part
of the smoke-box pipes, in contact with which they abandon all their prac-
tically serviceable caloric. The heat radiating from the furnace acts also on

page_text: the tubes of the fire box and passes into the spaces, the hot rays reach all the
coils, but diminish in intensity in proportion to their distance from the furnace.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-The fire having been lighted
and the valve V properly regulated, the feed pump is set to work, when the
water will be fed into the generator tubes, become heated, and converted into
vapour as it passes through the coils, until the tension acquired by the steam
so produced is in equilibrium with the maximum pressure to which the regu-
lating valve is weighted, and when a little beyond that point then the water
ceases to flow into the generator, and the regulating valve is opened by the
excess of pressure from the steam, whereby equilibrium is restored, and all the
water supplied by the feed pump returns into the cistern X (Fig. 5) from
which the feed pump is supplied with water; the steam is thus kept at the
proper pressure. If a volume of steam should have been expended for any
purpose the tension of the steam becomes diminished to a like degree and the
equilibrium would be disturbed, but at the same time the pressure of the
valve being then greater than that of the steam, the valve would fall, water
would again flow into the generator until a fresh volume of steam equal to
that expended had been produced, and equilibrium thus restored. The feed
is exceedingly rapid, and the quantity of water which enters the generator is
exactly the equivalent of the weight of steam which is given off in the same
time, so that the quantity of water fed into the generator is in proportion with
the quantity of steam expended. The quantity of water returned into the
cistern X through the valve V is in inverse ratio with the quantity of steam
expended.
When the engine is put in action it sets the feed pump to work, which
keeps up a continuous pressure in the feed pipe, and supplies a greater quan-
tity of water than needful for the generator. The excess of water supplied by
the pump just jerks or lifts the valve at every stroke of the piston, which
indicates that the pressure in the supply pipe is at least equal to the weight of
the valve and the pump is in good order. To stop the engine the steam tap
must be turned off.
This new construction of generator is particularly secure on account of its
not retaining any reserve of water or steam, water can only penetrate therein
in proportion to the expenditure of steam; any reserve of steam is quite
useless, as the generator instantly produces at any pressure and in any quantity
the required volumes of steam up to the maximum point of vaporization. If,
accidentally, one of the generator tubes should happen to rend the current of
steam in it at the time would pass through the leak instead of going on
through the pipe, and would escape through the chimney; and if the escape

page_text: were very considerable, all that would happen would be a stoppage of the
engine. There being no reserve of water to heat, as soon as the fire is lighted
the engine can be set in action. Economy of fuel results from these points.
The steam produced is gaseous, and contains less caloric than saturated
steam does. Steam is employed at a high pressure so as to have a great elas-
ticity. The conductibility of the metal which the generator is made of is better
utilized, and the particles of water being rapidly renewed against the inner
sides of the tubes, the caloric is absorbed by their conversion into steam almost
as fast as it is transmitted through the metal.
In ordinary steam boilers, the nearly stagnant body of water which presses
against all the surfaces in contact with the heating gasses is a bad conductor
of heat, so that in such boilers a very small portion of the conducting property
of the metal is turned to good account.
In my improved generator steam may be obtained at various pressures by
regulating the weight of the regulating valve, and at higher temperatures than
those which correspond to its tensile force, on account of its not being produced
in contact with an excess of liquid. Saturated steam instead of gaseous steam
may, if preferred, be obtained in my generator, but the latter is the more
advantageous.
This Invention is characterized by the improbability of explosions, the
great economy of fuel, reduced weight and dimensions, rapid production of
steam after the furnace has been ignited, production of "dry" or anhydrous
steam at any pressure; also by the means afforded of immediately increasing
or decreasing the pressure by altering the charge of the feed-regulating valve;
and of considerably augmenting the work of the engine if required; in case of
an increased resistance by the regularity of feed and consumption of smoke,
ready means of managing the fire, little need and easy mode of repairs. The
generator is especially applicable for marine purposes, not only on account of
its safeness, but also of the means it affords for employing high pressure and
very expansive steam, whereby fuel is considerably economized, and a given
quantity of fuel would thus be sufficient for much longer voyages than at
present.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim,-
First, the improved position and arrangement of the tubes in which the
water or other liquids are to be converted into steam, herein-before described.
Second, the combination in connection with my improved method of obtain-
ing steam, of a smoke-consuming apparatus or furnace constructed on the plan
patented by me the 9th October 1855.

page_text: Third, the improved arrangement for regulating temperature, herein-before
described, and represented in the Drawings annexed.
And, fourth, the general arrangement of the whole apparatus and its appur-
tenances, herein-before described with reference to the Drawings annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said Julien François Belleville, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twentieth day of November, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six.
Witness,
CH. ARMENGAUD, Ingenieur Civil,
Boulevard de Strasbourg, No. 23,
à Paris.
J. F. BELLEVILLE. (L.S.)