IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM GENERATORS
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Julien François Belleville, of Paris, in the French
Empire, Civil Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM
GENERATORS."
Sealed the 15th May 1860, and dated the 21st January 1860.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Julien François Belleville
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
21st January 1860.
I, JULIEN FRANÇOIS BELLEVILLE, of Paris, in the French Empire, Civil
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN STEAM GENERATORS," to be as follows:-
The improved generators or boilers constructed with my improvements are
composed of several elements or tubes placed vertically and behind each other in
two rows, one on each side of the furnace, and also at the back if desired; the
tubes are united at bottom to two horizontal main tubes; cross tubes running
under the grating of the furnace connect the two horizontal main tubes; the
vertical tubes are arched over towards each other; a partition plate is fitted
over the arch, whereby the flame and products of combustion are made to pass
towards the back of the furnace. Above the partition plate the vertical tubes
are bent in such manner as to form return flues for the flame and products of
combustion, which, after being conducted back through the said flues, escape
Price Bd
A

page_text: into the chimney. The tubes all communicate with one main steam pipe,
and from it the stean passes into superheating tubes placed above or at the
back of the arch formed by the bending of the vertical tubes towards each
other, and again without or at the back of the vertical tubes, and between
them and the wall or casing of the furnace. The steam tubes form as many
small generators as there are-tubes.containing water to the same level in each
of which vaporization is effected separately according to the greater or lesser
degree of heat which they absorb; the superheating tubes may, if desired, be
dispensed with.
My Invention also consists of an apparatus which I term a steam cleanser
and level maintainer ("nineau epurateur.") The objects of this apparatus are
to maintain a constant and uniform level in each boiler or the tubes of each
boiler, and to free the steam of all solid impurities and of water in a liquid
state; it is provided with a float which in indicating approximatively the state
of the level closes the feed pipe; should the steam, from want of firing, not be
of sufficient pressure to balance the pressure and feed regulating valves, and
consequently prevents the continued rise of the water in the generator tubes,
which might otherwise become entirely filled with water, but the float, by
closing the feed cock as soon as the maximum given level in the tubes has
been attained of course prevents the water rising higher therein; whatever the
number of generators, and however active the tiring may be, no more than the
proper amount of water can be admitted into each of them. The apparatus
communicates at its lower part with the bottom of the generator or generators
through a pipe, in which is placed a valve to prevent the water returning from
the generator into the apparatus upon the depression more or less great
produced in the apparatus at every admission of steam into the cylinder or
cylinders. One single apparatus will-be-sufficient-for-any number of separate
boilers or generators working in common-In-such-cases one pipe leads from
the lower part of the apparatus, and is connected through branches with the
lower horizontal tubes of each generator; they will thus be supplied constantly
with water to the same level, whatever difference there may be in the firing.
One main steam pipe communicates through branches with the steam pipe of
every separate generator or boiler. At one of its ends this main steam pipe
communicates with the top of the apparatus. The steam and feed water
branch pipes are furnished with cocks to shut off communication with any one
or more of the boilers.
My Invention also consists of a pressure regulating apparatus. This
consists of a rod or piston charged with weights or a spring or springs; it

page_text: communicates by one of its ends with the interior of the generator or boiler,
so that the pressure, of the steam therein may act upon it; at the other end it
is connected to the handle of the feed pipe. As soon as the pressure exceeds
the maximum intended the feed of water is shut off.
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 21st July 1860.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JULIEN
FRANÇOIS BELLEVILLE, of Paris, in the French Empire, Civil Engineer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-first day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-third 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
Belleville, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said Julien François 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
"IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM GENERATORS," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Julien François Belleville, my executors or administrators, 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 :-
The generators or boilers constructed with my improvements are composed
of several elements or tubes placed vertically and behind each other in two

page_text: rows, one on each side of the furnace, and also at the back, if desired. The
tubes are united at bottom to two horizontal main tubes; cross tubes running
under the grating of the furnace connect the two horizontal main tubes; the
vertical tubes are arched over towards each other; a partition plate is fitted
over the arch, whereby the flame and products of combustion are made to pass
towards the back of the furnace. Above the partition plate the vertical tubes
are bent in such manner as to form return flues for the flame and products
of combustion, which after being conducted back through the said flues, escape
into the chimney. The tubes all communicate with one main steam pipe,
and from it the steam passes into superheating tubes placed above or at the
back of the arch formed by the bending of the vertical tubes towards each
other, and again without or at the back of the vertical tubes, and between
them and the wall or casing of the furnace. The steam tubes form as many
small generators as there are tubes containing water to the same level, in each
of which vaporization is effected separately according to the greater or lesser
degree of heat which they absorb. The superheating tubes may, if desired,
be dispensed with.
Whatever
My Invention also consists of an apparatus which I term a steam cleanser
and level maintainer ("nivean epurateur"). The objects of this apparatus are,
to maintain a constant and uniform level in each boiler, or the tubes of each
boiler, and to free the steam of all solid impurities and of water in a liquid
state. It is provided with a float, which in indicating approximatively the
state of the level, closes the feed pipe, should the steam from want of firing
not be of sufficient pressure to balance the pressure and feed regulating valves,
and consequently prevents the continued rise of the water in the generator
tubes, which might otherwise become entirely filled with water, but the float.
by closing the feed cock, as soon as the maximum-given level in the tubes has
been attained, of course prevents-the-water-rising higher therein.
the number of generators, and however active the firing may be, no more than
the proper amount of water can be admitted into each of them. The
apparatus communicates at its lower part with the bottom of the generator or
generators through a pipe, in which is placed a valve to prevent the water
returning from the generator into the apparatus upon the depression, more or
less great, produced in the apparatus at every admission of steam into the
cylinder or cylinders. One single apparatus will be sufficient for number
of separate boilers or generators working in common. In such cases one pipe
leads from the lower part of the apparatus, and is connected through branches
with the lower horizontal tubes of each generator. They will thus be supplied
any

page_text: constantly with water to the same level, whatever difference there may be in
the firing.
One main steam pipe communicates through branches with the
steam pipe of every separate generator or boiler. At one of its ends this main
steam pipe communicates with the top of the apparatus. The steam and feed-
water branch pipes are furnished with cocks to shut off communication with
any one or more of the boilers.
This
My Invention also consists of a pressure regulating apparatus.
consists of a rod or piston charged with weights, or a spring or springs; it
communicates by one of its ends with the interior of the generator or boiler, so
that the pressure of the steam therein may act upon it; at the other end it is
connected to the handle of the feed pipe. As soon as the pressure exceeds the
maximum intended the feed of water is shut off.
Figure 1, Sheet 1, of the accompanying Drawings, is a front elevation;
Figure 2 a longitudinal section; Figure 3 a plan, with the top removed, and
Figure a vertical section taken at the level of the generator of a steam
generator constructed according to my Invention; Figure 5 is a vertical
section of a valve for regulating the pressure and feed. The arrows show the
direction in which the products of combustion travel in their passage from the
furnace to the chimney.
A, A, are tubes in communication with one another. B, B, are main tubes
from whence the tubes A, A, take their supply. B', B', are stoppers or plugs
to allow of the tubes B, B, being cleaned. B", B", are cross tubes forming
communication between the two main tubes B, B. C is an upper receiving
tube, into which the steam enters from the other tubes, as shewn in Figures 2,
3, and 4. D is a pipe for conducting the steam from the receiver C to the
level maintainer E, Figures 1, 2, 3, and 6. a is a float which is connected to
a rod b; c is the float lever; is a tube supporting a feed cock F, which
allows of one of the three openings in the cock being placed in communi-
cation with steam from the generator; e is a balance weight to the float a.
The feed cock F is worked by the float a in conjunction with the lever C
(Figures 1 and 3. G is a feed pipe, which puts in communication the valve
regulating the pressure and feed with the feed cock F (Figures 1 and à).
H is a tube connecting the feed cock with the level maintainer E
(Figure 1) is a stop valve placed between the lower part of the level
maintainer and the generator; J is a pipe connecting the lower part of the
level maintainer with the main tubes B, B; K is a test cock L is a steam
valve; M, steam outlet from the lever maintainer; N is the ash-pit; O are the
dire-bars; P is the feed reservoir from which the water is taken by the feed pump,
:
;

page_text: and into which the regulating valve Y throws any excess of water supplied
by the pump at each stroke of the piston Q (Figures 2 and 4) is a partition
plate forming the bottom of a return flue; R, R, are doors to enable the
return flue to be cleaned; S, S, are stays for supporting the chimney; T is a
casing of masonry or brickwork; U is a metal covering filled with felt or
other non-conducting material; V is the furnace door; X, X, are sight holes;
Y is the valve for regulating the pressure and feed; Z, Z, are tubes for super-
heating the steam. During the working the valve for regulating the pressure
and feed placed on the feed pipe being loaded to the desired pressure,
water enters by the supply cock F into the lower part of the level maintainer,
raises the stop valve I, and the water enters into the lower main tubes B, B,
from whence it rises gradually and simultaneously into all the tubes A, A, and
at the same time into the level maintainer; until the tension of the steam
which is generated in proportion to the ascent of water in the heated tubes
becomes equal to the load on the regulating valve. The steam re-acting on
the water prevents it momentarily from continuing to enter the level main-
tainer, and consequently from rising further in the tubes A, A. The steam
which is formed in the upright portions of the tubes A, A, is dryed in the
upper parts of the said tubes, from whence it passes off as fast as wanted into
the level maintainer, and thence to an engine, or otherwise, for use.
leaving the feed cock F, the water may pass directly into one of the two lower
main tubes; in such case the stop valve I is pierced with a small hole,
through which the water in the generator may communicate with the level
inaintainer, and raise it therein as fast as it ascends in the generator, in order
that the float may act on the feed cock.
After
The basis of my inexplosible boiler is founded upon the principle of equili-
brium in the communicating tubes or vessels, and the principle of equilibrium
of the forces applied to the vaporisation of liquids; the principle of equitibrium-
of the forces inay be realised by the aid of a feed and pressure regulating
valve of any form or arrangement of parts, or by other. means, and among
others of the following shewn at Figure 6, where a rod or piston is loaded
with weights or springs, one end of this rod is open to the pressure of steam in
the generator, and at the other end it acts on a feed cock. This rod is not to
be employed with, but as a substitute for, the regulating valve.
Description of Figure 6.--A' is a cylinder furnished at top with a stuffing
box B and flange C; D is a rod or piston, the lower part of which enters the
-cylinder A, Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4, and the upper part has attached to it the
key of the feed cock. E' is a plate fixed to the rod D; F, F, are columns or

page_text: supports screw-threaded at their upper ends, they receive the plate E' and are
fixed in the flange (; G is a helical spring placed round the rod D, compressed
at will between the plate E' and a movable plate H by means of the nuts I, T.
The orifices of the feed supply cock and the length of the lever of the key
are regulated in such manner that the cock is fully open when the plate of the
piston rests on the flanges on the supports F, F, and is closed when the piston
is raised by compressing the spring from bottom upwards to an extent
which corresponds with the pressure fixed. The cylinder A being put in
communication with some part of the level maintainer or of the generator (but
by preference with those parts containing water), the pressure in the generator
acts on the piston which rises when the pressure of the steam overcomes the
resistance of the springs. The piston rises gradually until the steam has
attained its maximum pressure previously fixed upon, and which corresponds
with the degree of closing of the cock. The supply then ceasing the pressure
cannot be increased. The reverse takes place when the fire slackens, the pressure
decreases in the generator, the piston descends by the pressure of the spring
until the plate of the piston rests on the column flanges. If then the fire is
revived the pressure increases, and the piston ascends to its normal position.
When the feed cock is more or less closed, the excess of water supplied by
the pump escapes by the ordinary regulating valve, which thus becomes an
overflow valve. The piston for regulating pressure may be substituted
together with an overflow valve for the regulating valve. Where the
generators are supplied direct from a reservoir or other source without the
intervention of pumps, the pressure regulating piston may be substituted for
the regulating valve without the aid of an overflow valve..
The construction of my boiler admits of the employment where required of
superlicating tubes Z, which are arranged laterally, and by preference hori-
zontally behind and above the generating tubes which surround the furnice,
or in one or other of these positions as desired. These tubes may be of any
size and any suitable shape, and may take the steam at one or several points,
but by preference from the upper part of the level maintainer. This mode of
arranging the superlicating tubes enables the steam to be superheated for any
purposes, such as for carbonization, combustion, distillation, and without
exposing them to a rapid deterioration, as the generating tubes serve as a
screen and prevent them from becoming oxydized.
Figure 1, Sheet 2, is a vertical elevation; Figure 2, a longitudinal section;
Figure 3, a sectional plan; and Figure 4, a transverse section of a steam
generator constructed in a somewhat modified form to that before described,

page_text: and is more especially adapted for use where the water contains calcareous
materials insoluble in acids; straight instead of arched tubes are here cm-
ployed. The upper part of the tubes is furnished with an opening for cleaning
whereby the tubes may be cleaned without the necessity of removing them
from the casing. A superheating apparatus may be added of
any desired
construction at the upper part of the generator, through which the steam may
be made to circulate before being used, but after it has left the level main-
tainer. A, A, are the vertical communicating tubes; B, B', are lower main
tubes upon which the tubes A, A, are fixed, and from which they take their
supply of water; C is an upper receiver in which the steam from each tube is
received; D, D, are horizontal tubes connecting the vertical tubes A with the
upper receiver C; E is a tube forming a communication with the lower main
tubes B, B; F, F, are screw plugs fitted to the upper ends of the vertical
tubes A, which are carried through the casing for the purpose of cleaning;
G is the level maintainer which is in communication with the upper receiver
C, and at its lower part with the bottom of the generator; H is a float, which,
according as the water rises or falls, opens or shuts the feed cock L; I, I, are
tubes for superheating the steam; J is a pipe forming a communication
between the level maintainer and the superheating tubes; K, outlet from the
superheater; L. is a feed cock, the key of which is worked by the float lever;
M is a pipe leading from the feed pump; N is a pipe leading the feed water
to the lower part of the generator; O, O', are partitions for directing the pro-
ducts of combustion on each side of the generating tubes A, A ; P, P, are doors
and openings for cleaning the exterior of the tubes A, A; Q is the chimney.
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 as my improve-
ments in steam generators;
First, the method-of-arranging and connecting together the tubes in the
furnace, and the arrangement for cleaning the same, as herein-before described,
with reference to Figures 2, 3, and 4, Sheet 1, and Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4,
Sheet 2, of the accompanying Drawings.
Second, the means and appliances for effecting a communication between
the different parts of the generator and between any number of generators,
similarly constructed in the manner and for the purposes herein-before
described and illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.

page_text: Fourth, the construction and employment of a pressure-regulating apparatus,
acting essentially in the manner herein-before described and illustrated in the
accompanying Drawings.
Fifth, the construction and employment of tubes for superheating the steam
as herein-before described and illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Julien François Belleville, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-third day of June, One
thousand eight hundred and sixty:
Witness,
CH. ARMENGAUD, J., Ing. Civil,
Boulev de Strasbourg, No. 23,
à Paris.
J. F. BELLEVILLE.
(L.S.)