IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM GENERATORS
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Panteleymon de Wrady and Konstantin Okouneff, both
of St. Petersburg, in the Empire of Russia, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN STEAM GENERATORS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Panteleymon de Wrady and
Konstantin Okouneff at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th
October 1880.
PANTELEYMON DE WRADY and KONSTANTIN OKOUNEFF, both of St. Petersburg,
in the Empire of Russia. "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM GENERATORS."
Our Invention has reference to an improved construction of steam generators,
wherein only a very thin stratum of water is presented to the heating surface, so
as to take up the heat transmitted through such surface more effectually and
rapidly than is the case with boilers where a comparatively thick stratum of water
is presented to the heating surface, a large proportion of the fire heat being lost in
the latter case on account of the incapacity of the water to transmit the heat
throughout the whole stratum with sufficient rapidity. For the above purpose we
construct the improved steam generator as follows:-
From a steam chamber are suspended a number of tubes situated inside the
furnace, their lower closed ends being by preference enclosed in brickwork. Within
each such tube is a second tube, either of such a diameter as to leave a very small
annular space between it and the outer tube, or, by preference, the inner and outer
tubes are made to fit each other, and in the meeting surface of the one or the other
are made a number of longitudinal grooves extending from top to bottom. At the
upper ends these grooves all communicate with an annular channel connected by a
pipe with the water supply, so that, on water being forced in, it flows in finely
divided streams down the said longitudinal grooves or channels, and in thus being
made to take up heat rapidly from the heated outer tube it becomes converted into
steam more or less superheated by the time it reaches the lower end of the grooves,
and issues thence through openings in the inner tube to the interior thereof, whence
it passes up into the beforementioned steam chamber at top. To allow for the
conversion of the water into steam in the said grooves or channels, these are by
I Doses G71

page_text: preference made of gradually increasing depth from the top downwards, and to
prevent the steam from expanding unnecessarily as it passes from the grooves into the
interior of the inner tube, another tube of tapering form is by preference introduced
into the latter so as to reduce the space therein. By providing a passage extending
from such tapering tube to the outside, where it is closed by a cock, the state of the
steam within the tubes can at any time be tested. The inner and outer tubes are
connected steam tight together at their upper ends by means of flanges secured by
screw bolts, and the inner tube has an extension beyond its flange provided with a
screw thread, whereby the combined tubes are screwed into a socket on the
underside of the steam chamber. In order to allow of the rapid connection and
disconnection of the said tubes for inspection or repair, the said screw threads are
by preference constructed with segments cut out of them in three places so that
they can be disconnected on turning the tube one sixth part round. In order to
enable the tubes to be so removed from the steam chamber without interrupting
the action of the generator, the openings in the latter that communicate with the
tubes are provided with valves having screw spindles passing through the top of
the steam chamber, where they can be actuated by a hand wheel so as to close the
opening into any tube that may have to be removed.
As for the proper action of steam generators constructed as above described, it
is necessary to regulate the feed according to the beat of the furnace and the steam
pressure in the generator. In order that more water may not be forced into the
tubes than can be converted into steam while flowing through them, we effect the
water supply through a regulator of the following construction:-A closed
cylindrical vessel is supplied with the feed water at its lower end through a pipe
provided with a cock and check valve. From this vessel the water passes into the
lower perforated end of a pipe leading upward, and communicating at its upper
end, firstly, with the feed pipe to the steam generator, and secondly, by means of a
valve with an escape pipe leading back to the supply tank. This valve is loaded
by a spring gauge to the exact pressure which it is desired to maintain in the
generator, and on first starting the apparatus the said vessel is charged with
compressed air until the same pressure is attained within it. On now forcing in
the feed water by the. force pump, if the supply be in excess of that required by
the generator the pressure in the vessel will be increased, and consequently the
beforementioned valve will be forced open so as to allow a portion of the supply to
escape back into the supply tank.
The feed pipe communicates by a branch with each of the before described tubes
of the generator, which branches are provided with cocks whereby the supply to
each tube can be regulated exactly according to its evaporating power, which may
vary in the different tubes owing to their not being all heated to a uniform extent
by the furnace.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Panteleymon de Wrady and Konstantin Okouneff in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 5th April 1881.
PANTELEYMON DE WRADY and KONSTANTIN OKOUNEFF, both of St. Petersburg,
in the Empire of Russia. "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM GENERATORS."
Our Invention has reference to an improved construction of steam generators,
wherein only a very thin stratum of water is presented to the heating surface, so as
to take up the heat transmitted through such surface more effectually and rapidly
than is the case with boilers where a comparatively thick stratum of water is
presented to the heating surface, a large proportion of the fire heat being lost in the
latter case on account of the incapacity of the water to transmit the heat through-
out the whole stratum with sufficient rapidity. For the above purpose we construct
the improved steam generator as follows:-
From a steam chamber are suspended a number of tubes situated inside the
furnace, their lower closed ends being by preference enclosed in brickwork.
Within each such tube is a second tube, either of such a diameter as to leave a very
small annular space between it and the outer tube, or, by preference, the inner and
outer tubes are made to fit each other, and in the meeting surface of the one or the
other are made a number of longitudinal grooves extending from top to bottom.
At the upper ends these grooves all communicate with an annular channel con-
nected by a pipe with the water supply, so that on water being forced in, it flows
in finely divided streams down the said longitudinal grooves or channels, and in
thus being made to take up heat rapidly from the heated outer tube it becomes
converted into steam more or less superheated by the time it reaches the lower end
of the grooves, and issues thence through openings in the inner tube to the interior
thereof, whence it passes up into the before mentioned steam chamber at top. To
allow for the conversion of the water into steam in the said grooves or channels,
these are by preference made of gradually increasing depth from the top down-
wards, and to prevent the steam from expanding unnecessarily as it passes from the
grooves into the interior of the inner tube, another tube of tapering form is by
preference introduced into the latter, so as to reduce the space therein. By pro-
viding a passage extending from such tapering tube to the outside, where it is
closed by a cock, the state of the steam within the tubes can at any time be tested.
The inner and outer tubes are connected steam tight together at their upper ends
by means of flanges secured by screw bolts, and the inner tube has an extension
beyond its flange provided with a screw thread, whereby the combined tubes are
screwed into a socket on the underside of the steam chamber. In order to allow of
the rapid connection and disconnection of the said tubes for inspection or repair,
the said screw threads are by preference constructed with segments cut out of them
in three places, so that they can be disconnected on turning the tube one sixth part
round. In order to enable the tubes to be so removed from the steam chamber
without interrupting the action of the generator, the openings in the latter that
communicate with the tubes are provided with valves, having screw spindles
passing through the top of the steam chamber, where they can be actuated by a
hand wheel so as to close the opening into any tube that may have to be removed.
As, for the proper action of steam generators constructed as above described, it
is necessary to regulate the feed according to the heat of the furnace and the steam
pressure in the generator, in order that more water may not be forced into the
tubes than can be converted into steam while flowing through them, we effect the
water supply through a regulator of the following construction:-A closed
cylindrical vessel is supplied with the feed water at its lower end through a pipe
provided with a cock and check valve. From this vessel the water passes into the
lower perforated end of a pipe leading upward and communicating at its upper end,

page_text: firstly, with the feed pipe to the steam generator, and, secondly, by means of a valve
with an escape pipe leading back to the supply tank. This valve is loaded by a
spring gauge to the exact pressure which it is desired to maintain in the generator,
and on first starting the apparatus the said vessel is charged with compressed air
until the same pressure is attained within it. On now forcing in the feed water by
the force pump, if the supply be in excess of that required by the generator, the
pressure in the vessel will be increased, and consequently the before mentioned
valve will be forced open so as to allow a portion of the supply to escape back into
the supply tank.
The feed pipe communicates by a branch with each of the before described tubes
of the generator, which branches are provided with cocks whereby the supply to
each tube can be regulated exactly according to its evaporating power, which may
vary in the different tubes owing to their not being all heated to a uniform extent
by the furnace.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 of the accompanying Drawings shews a longitudinal section through one
of the before described compound steam tubes of our improved steam generator
with part of the steam chamber; Fig. 2 shews a plan; and Fig. 3 a part elevation,
and part vertical section on line A, B, Fig. 2, of the upper part of the tube and
connections to an enlarged scale; Figs. 4, 5, and 6 shew cross sections taken
respectively on the lines C, D, E, F, and G, H; Fig. 7 shews a part elevation and
part section on line A¹, B¹, Fig. 9, of the feed regulator; Fig. 8 shews an elevation
of the upper part thereof at right angles to Fig. 7; Fig. 9 shews a plan of the
same; and Figs. 10 and 11 shew respectively a part elevation and part plan of the
team chamber of the generator with its connections.
The outer steam tube a, closed at its lower end, is provided at its upper end
with a flange e, by which it is connected steam tight to the flange f of the inner
tube b. This tube has longitudinal grooves or ribs formed on its outer surface,
which fits against the inner surface of the tube a. The grooves are thus made to
form a number of small separate channels, into which water enters through a
passage leading from the supply pipe, an annular channel i being formed at that
point to establish a communication between ; and all the grooves. These are made
to increase in width and depth towards the lower end, as shewn in the sections at
Figs. 1, 4, 5, and 6, in order to allow for the increase of volume, as the water is
converted into steam during its passage down the grooves. The size of the grooves
depends upon the size of the generator or its steam generating capacity. The
object of forming a number of separate longitudinal passages, rather than leaving a
continuous annular space between the two tubes is, firstly, to insure, by the contact
of the two tubes, their accurate concentric position; and, secondly, to present the
water to the heating surface in a very subdivided state, and thus to accelerate its
conversion into steam, and effect the superheating of the latter in the lower part
of the grooves. The lower end of the tube b is open, so that the steam issuing
from the lower ends of the grooves passes into the interior of the tube b on its way
to the steam chamber h. The interior of this tube is rendered of annular section.
by the introduction of a conical tube c, in order to prevent loss by too great an
expansion of the steam on entering, and to keep it as much as possible in contact
with the interior surface of the tube b. The tube c has a bottom p, provided with
openings through which the steam can enter it, and which is supported by a bolt .
The upper end of the tube is bent laterally, as shewn at Figs. 2 and 3, and is
connected to a passage t, formed in a swelling u on the flange f, and provided
externally with a stopcock 7, by opening which occasionally the condition of the
steam in the tubes may be tested.
The flange of the tube b has an extension f¹, on which is formed a screw thread
in three segments, while in the socket k on the generator h are formed three
corresponding female segmental screw threads, so that the tube b, together with

page_text: the tube a attached thereto, can be easily and rapidly connected to or disconnected
from the steam chamber h, by passing the screw threads on fl up the spaces
between the threads on k, and then causing the threads to engage firmly by giving
the tube one sixth of a turn. A metal packing ring m is provided between the
end of f¹ and the socket for rendering the joint perfectly steam tight.
The removal of the steam tubes and the separation of the inner from the outer
one would be required for inspection, cleaning, and repairs. From the arrangement
shewn, it will be seen that in order to inspect the interiors of the tubes it only
requires to remove the screw bolts uniting the flanges and to draw the tube b out
of a.
The size of the tubes and of the water and steam. passages will depend on the
steam producing power required of the generator, on the construction of the
furnace, as also on the description of fuel employed. The smaller the flame, the
larger may be the tubes, and conversely.
The steam chamber is constructed of a capacity corresponding to the power
required, and is provided with all the usual accessories, such as safety valves and
pressure gauges; it is also provided with valves for closing the communication with
the steam tubes hereinbefore referred to. Figs. 1, 3, and 10 shew the connection
of the steam tubes to the steam chamber, and the arrangement and inode of
operating the shut off valves. The valves n seat in a conical seating in the
sockets secured steam tight to the chamber h. They are attached to screw
spindles passing up through the chamber and provided with wheel nuts n¹ by
means of which the valves can be raised or lowered, so as either to admit or
close the communication between the tubes and the chamber.
The steain chamber is first laid upon the bearers g, resting on the brickwork
of the furnace, and the steam tubes are then screwed into the sockets k.
The regulator Figs. 7, 8, and 9, for keeping the generator constantly supplied with
the exact amount of water required, consists of a reservoir or chamber a in which
is a pipe 62 passing through the top and bottom of a and closed at bottom by a
screw cap n while the upper end opens into the head d². The pipe has at its
lower part lateral openings 8, through which water enters the pipe from the
chamber a in order to pass to the boiler, the openings being surrounded by a
strainer g² to retain any solid impurities. The head d² consists firstly of a branch
pipe leading to the generator, into which the water passing up the pipe 62 enters
at certain pressure indicated by the pressure gauge få. As the water flows through,
its pressure acts against the underside of the valve 2 which is pressed down on its
seat by a lever acted on by a spring gauge o². The reservoir or chamber a² is
first charged with compressed air at a pressure corresponding to that which it is
desired to maintain in the steam generator, the charge of air being such that the
water level stands just above the openings 82 of the pipe b. Any increase of pressure
caused by the forcing in of more water in a given time than is required for con-
version into steam in the generator will cause the valve to be forced open and
thus to allow of the escape of the superfluous quantity of water through the pipe n³
back to the supply reservoir.
The water is forced by the feed pump into the chamber a² through the pipe 83
provided with check valve v³ and cock h³ and opening into the chamber at c².
The water passes from the feed pipe ; provided with stop cock e³ to the steam
tubes of the steam generator, as shewn in the plan at Fig. 11; the pipe j being
supported on standards b¹ and having branch pipes ¹ leading to each of the steam
tubes, provided with regulating cocks j³.
The separate regulation of the water supply to each of the steam tubes a is
necessary on account of the difficulty, with the existing imperfect modes of heating,
of maintaining all the steam tubes at a uniform temperature.
Any description of fuel may be used with this generator, but in constructing the
furnace it should be so arranged as to heat the tubes with the greatest possible
uniformity.
The mode of working with the steam generator is very simple. The fire is

page_text: lighted and the water is immediately admitted into the steam tubes. As the heat
increases the water supply is increased in proportion, and as soon as the full furnace
heat is attained the water supply to each tube is regulated separately by the
cocks j³.
With large generators there must always be sufficient water in the regulator at
starting to give the necessary supply until the pump begins to work, that is, until
sufficient steam has been generated to start the same. With small generators the
regulator may be supplied by a hand pump.
The essential advantages of the above described construction of steam generators
are, 1st, that they occupy a comparatively small space; 2nd, that they are of less
weight than ordinary generators, as they contain no water; 3rd, they are not liable
to explosions; 4th, they allow of the water supply being regulated according to the
heat generated; 5th, they can be repaired without interrupting their action; 6th,
they afford considerable economy of fuel.
The construction of steam tubes and the regulator, which constitute the principle
parts of the Invention can readily be applied to any description of steam boiler, such
as to stationary steam generators for factories, as also for marine boilers of all kinds;
they may also be used with advantage for utilising the waste heat of blast
furnaces.
Having thus described the nature of our Invention and in what manner the same
is to be performed, we claim,-
First. The use in steam generators of a steam generating tube consisting of an
outer and an inner tube between which are formed longitudinal grooves or channels
through which the water supply is caused to flow in divided streams, and in which
it is converted into steam before passing from the lower ends of such channels into
the interior of the inner tube, substantially as and for the purposes herein described
with reference to Figs. 1 to 6 of the accompanying Drawings.
Second. In steam generating tubes, such as are referred to in the preceding claim,
forming the longitudinal channels of increasing width and depth towards the lower
end to allow for the conversion of the water into steam, substantially as herein
described.
Third. In combination with steam generating tubes, such as are referred to in the
preceding claims, the use of a tapering tube situated within the inner tube and
communicating at its upper end with a testing cock, substantially as and for the
purposes herein set forth,
Fourth. Connecting the steam generating tubes to the upper steam chamber or
reservoir by means of male and female screw threads formed in segments, and
spaces between them, substantially as described with reference to Figs. 2 and 3 of
the Drawings.
Fifth. The combination of a number of steam generating tubes, such as are
referred to in the preceding claims, with a steam chamber or reservoir, and a feed
water regulator arranged substantially as herein described.
Sixth. The construction of feed water regulator consisting of an air vessel into
which the feed water is forced, communicating with the steam tubes of a steam
generator, and provided with a valve so arranged as to allow of the escape of the
superfluous feed-water when the pressure in the regulator exceeds the maximum
degree, substantially as herein described with reference to Figs. 7, 8, and 9 of the
Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Konstantin Okouneff, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this First day of April, in the year of Our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty-one
KONSTANTIN OKOUNEFF. (L.S.)