Improved Water Tube Boiler.
Year: 1889

page_text: ate of Application, 2nd July, 1889-Accepted, 14th Sept., 1889
Improved Water Tube Boiler.
We, JOHN TAYLOR, of Troy, Rensselaer County, New York, U.S.A., Mechanical
Draughtsman, and TOM HERBERT TAYLOR, of St. Catherines, Ontario, Canada, Paper
Maker do hereby declare the nature of our invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
In the annexed drawings in duplicate-
Figure 1 represents a vertical longitudinal section through our improved boiler.
Figure 2 is a front end elevation of the boiler partly in section on broken line y-y
figure 1.
Figure 3, is a rear end elevation of the boiler partly in section on line x-x
figure 1.
Figure 4 is a detail view of one of the water legs showing handholes and ends of
retaining rivets. Figure 4 and the remaining figures are drawn on an enlarged
scale. Figure 5 is a vertical section of the parts shown in figure 4 on the broken
line on said figure, and representing a handhole plate in longitudinal section.
Figure 6 is a view in side elevation of a portion of a flame deflector showing the
nipple connections, and in section two water tubes. Figure 7 is a vertical section
through the parts shown in figure 6 on line x-x and showing a water tube passing
through the thimbles.
Figure 8 is a side elevation of the upper end of deflector B². Figure 9 is a
sectional view on line a-a figure 8 showing a water tube expanded into one of the
deflector plates and representing a handhole plate in cross section. Figure 10 is a
vertical cross section of the steam tube taken on broken line - and showing the
ends of the nipples connecting it with one of the plates of the rear leg. Figure 11 is
a central longitudinal section of the tube shown in figure 10, taken on broken
line and detached from the leg. Figure 12 is a view similar to figure 11
showing a modified form of head for the steam tube. Figure 13 is a detail sectional
view of a modified arrangement of the rear water leg, steam pipe and steam
drum.
Figures 14 and 15 are respectively transverse and longitudinal sectional views of a
modified arrangement of steam pipe and connections.
Fig. 16 is an enlarged sectional view of the rear leg support.
Our invention is an improvement in water tube boilers and its objects are to
improve the construction of the water legs and flame deflectors thereof, and the
connections of the steam drum with the legs and deflectors; also to provide means
whereby dangerous explosions are prevented, and to these ends the invention consists
in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described
and claimed.
Referring to the drawings by letters; A designates the foundations and enclosing
walls of the boiler, preferably made of brick. B designates the front water log,
and B¹ the rear water leg of the boiler. B2 designates a hollow water holding flame
deflector partly supporting the grate and serving the purpose of a bridge wall,
and B is a flame deflector also hollow and suspended upon the enclosing side walls A
between deflector B2 and rear leg B. The front leg B and deflector B² support the
grate A² which may be of any suitable construction. A3 and A* are doors closing
openings through the front leg B by which access is had to the grate and ash pit.
The water tubes C lead from one leg to the other, the ends of the tubes being inserted
through apertures in the inner walls or plates of the legs and expanded to make
water-tight joints therewith.
The deffectors are provided with short thimbles C¹ the ends of which are expanded

page_text: in apertures in the side plates to make water tight joints. These thimbles are of
sufficient diameter to permit tubes C to be passed therethrough as shown.
The apertures in the legs receiving the ends of tubes C are preferably arranged
in quincunx or "staggered" order as shown in figures 2 and 3, so that the individual
tubes in each successive horizontal row are above the spaces between the individual
tubes in a row beneath thus causing the flames and heated gases to take a zig zag
course in rising between the rows of tubes.
Water is supplied through inlets D in the lower portions of the deflectors and rear
leg. The arrows in figure 1 indicate the course of the heated gases from the grate,
these pass up over deflector B2 below deflector B³ and out over the top of the rear
leg. A large amount of heat is thus applied to the water holding tubes and legs,
and the water heated therein expands and rises in the rear leg to the tubes C and as
the latter incline upwardly passes through these into the front leg, over the grate,
and from the front leg it enters tubes C leading back to the top of the rear leg,
being vaporized in said tubes, and from thence escapes into tube C³ along which
it travels over the grate to the superheating steam drum C and thence is conducted
off for use.
A comparatively small amount of water is admitted to the deflectors to
keep the metal thereof from excessive heating and to utilize the heat thereof. The
water in deflector B³ circulates to the upper end thereof and through tubes C* into
the upper end of the rear leg where it vaporizes; while the water circulates from
deflector B2 through tubes (15 into the front leg and mingles with that emitted from
tubes C.
We are aware that inclined legs provided with water chambers have been connected
by inclined water tubes passing over the grate and leading to a steam drum or dome,
but the legs were made up of cast iron boxes laid one upon another and connected
by nipples, the tubes being of rolled or drawn metal, and experience has demonstrated
that the unequal expansion of wrought and cast metals makes it impossible to
construct a durable water tube boiler with the legs formed of cast iron.
Our improvement consists in making the legs, as well as the deflectors of rolled
or wrought metal plates, preferably steel, that is of a metal substantially homogeneous
with that of the tubes. By reference to figures 4 and 5 it will appear that the logs
are made up of two plates, a and b, which are united by numerous rivets d which
pass through sleeves the sleeves serving to keep the plates separate from each
other while the rivets when headed down prevent the plates spreading. The rivets
might be threaded as indicated in figure 9 and engage with correspondingly threaded
apertures in the plates to prevent movement of the plates relatively to each other.
It is preferable to insert and expand the water tubes in one plate of the legs after
the same are formed, and we provide oblique hand holes a¹ in the outer plates, each
of which is cut obliquely in order to render two tube ends accessible therethrough.
By this construction the ends of the tubes can be conveniently expanded in the legs,
or the latter repaired and cleaned.
The holes are closed by hand-hole plates a resting against the inner side of the
leg plate as shown in figures 5 and 9. The heads of bolts a³ are inserted at a slid
to the end of slot a and their stems inserted through the holes in saddle aⓇ the ends
of which rest upon the outer side of the leg plate. Nuts a' turned on the threaded
ends of the bolts draw the plates a² closely against the leg plates.
In figures 6 and 7 the deflectors are shown enlarged in detail, they are also formed
of two metal plates like the legs and secured together in substantially the same
manner, except that the thimbles C₁ strengthen and prevent spreading of their
plates. The plates a and b are secured together at their edges by flanged strips b¹
which may be riveted to the edges of the plates as shown at rivet or welded
together as shown at 63 figures 7 and 9. We provide hand holes in the legs and
deflectors opposite the ends of each tube and we provide a hand hole in the rear leg
opposite the thimbles C which connect the rear leg with the steam pipe C³ as shown
in figure 1. In figures 10, 11, and 12 the connections of the rear leg and steam pipe
are shown enlarged, two short nipples C are first expanded at one end in the
head of the steam pipe and then the other ends thereof are inserted in apertures

page_text: in the plate 6 of the rear leg and expanded therein. The head of the steam pipe
may be inserted in any well known manner, in figure 11 we show it welded in
without any angular flange while in figure 12 it is provided with either an inner or
outer flange.
The steam pipe C³ may be secured to the steam drum C8 in substantially the same
manner as to the rear leg as indicated in figure 1, or it may be secured as indicated
in figure 13, in this the drum is elevated above the steam pipe and connected thereto
by a short inclined joint J the head of the steam pipe being inclined also to properly
receive the end of the joint. In figures 14 and 15 we use a continuous pipe K which
passes through the steam pipe C³ being tightly jointed in the heads thereof, and is,
or may be, secured at its opposite ends directly to the steam drum and rear water
log. This pipe has a lower series of perforations ; at one end inside pipe C³ and an
upper series of perforations k at its other extremity in said pipe, so that water
condensed in pipe K can escape into pipe 03 through perforations and dry steam
escape from said pipe C³ into the steam drum through the perforations k in said
pipe K. The rear leg is supported on a truck resting upon the foundation plate g
which enables it to travel back and forth to accommodate the expansion and contraction
of the water-tubes. Any well known form of truck may be employed, but we prefer
a simple roller g¹ resting upon plate g and supporting a truck frame g² carrying the
leg, substantially as indicated in figure 1, the roller is kept from displacement by
lugs g on the frame which permit a slight movement of the roller beneath the
frame.
The man hole F in the side walls of the boiler enclosure may be opened for access
to the interior thereof.
The plates forming the rear leg may be bent outwardly at bottom forming an
enlarged space or mud chamber for collecting refuse matter, to which access is had
through a man hole in the outer plate.
The device for preventing dangerous explosions is as follows and is applicable to
any boiler having a series of water tubes directly above the fire or grate; we simply
make one or more of the water tubes, preferably located centrally of the lower part
of the group composing the boiler, weaker or of less tensile strength than the other
tubes. The weak tubes are tested to resist a pressure greater than that required in
the normal use of the boiler, while the other parts of the boiler and tubes are tested
to resist a still greater pressure than the weak tube could bear. Obviously therefore
if the pressure in the boiler should for any reason exceed the resisting power of the
weak tube, it would, being the weakest point of the boiler, yield and being immediately
over the fire and always filled with water, and comparatively cold water, would escape
first, which would put out and deaden the fire, and thus reduce the steam pressure
of the boiler and relieve it of the dangerous pressure with little or no damage except
the destruction of the single tube and drenching of the fire.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is;-
1. A water tube steam boiler consisting of a group of inclined water tubes, a
single water chamber at each end of the group into which the individual tubes all open
formed of sheets of wrought metal united at their edges and centrally cross-stayed, a
row of horizontal water tubes connecting the upper parts of the chambers with each
other, a steam drum and connections leading thereto from the upper part of one of
the water chambers, water supply pipes leading into the lower part of a water chamber,
and a flame deflector extending transversely of the group of water tubes, consisting
of sheets of wrought metal united at their edges to form a single water chamber having
a lower supply and upper discharge pipe, and centrally cross stayed and provided
with tube receiving thimbles passing transversely through the chamber, substantially
as described.
2. In a water tube boiler the combination of inclined water tubes supported at their
ends by front and rear legs; with a flame deflector consisting of metal plates secured

page_text: together to form a water chamber, tube receiving thimbles passing through the
chamber, inlet water connections leading to the water chamber of the deflector and
outlet connections leading to the steam pipe, substantially as described.
3. In a water tube boiler having a front and rear water leg and a superheating
steam drum having solid welded heads and expanded nipple connections by which
one end of the tube is connected with one of the water legs and the other to the steam
drum substantially as described.
4. The combination of the front and rear water legs, the water tubes connecting
the same and the hollow water containing flame deflector between said legs; with the
steam drum located between the front leg and deflector above the grate and
communicating with the rear water leg, substantially as and for the purpose
described.
5. The combination of the front and rear water legs, the intermediate hollow water-
holding flame deflector, and the grate supported on said deflector and front leg ; with
the inclined water tubes connecting the front and rear legs and passing through the
deflector but not communicating therewith, substantially as described.
6. The combination of the front and rear water legs and the intermediate water
chamber flame deflectors; with the water tubes connecting said legs and passing
through the upper portion of one deflector and through the lower portion of the
opposite deflector but not communicating with either, substantially as described.
7. The combination of the stationary front water leg and the rear water leg having
an enlarged mud chamber at bottom and mounted on a movable support; with the
water tubes connecting said legs, the flame deflector, the steam drum located between
the front leg and deflector, and the connections between said drum and rear water leg,
substantially as described.
8. In a boiler, a water circulating tube located above the grate and in the water
space of the boiler and formed to be of less strength than the other parts of the boiler
whereby it will break when subjected to undue steam pressure without injury or
danger to the other portions of the boiler,. substantially as and for the purpose set
forth.
9. The combination of the front and rear water legs and the intermediate hollow
water-holding flame deflectors provided with horizontal hand-holes at their upper
ends with the tubes connecting the front and rear legs and passing through the
deflectors, substantially as described.
10. The combination of the front and rear water legs and intermediate water-holding
deflectors; with the water tubes connecting said legs and passing through said
deflectors; the steam tubes leading from the deflectors and front leg to the top
portion of the rear leg, and the steam drum and pipe located above the deflectors and
tubes and communicating with the rear water leg, substantially as described.
11. The combination in a tubular boiler, of the water legs and steam drum; with
a fragile water tube located above the grate and connecting the water legs of the
boiler and constructed to be of less tensile strength than the remaining tubes for the
purpose and substantially as described.
12. The combination of the front and rear water legs and the intermediate water
containing deflectors; with the water tubes connecting the legs but not communicating
with the deflectors, the tubes connecting the deflectors respectively with the front
and rear legs and the steam drum communicating with the rear leg, substantially as
specified.
13. A hollow water leg for tubular boilers having its inner plate perforated in
"staggered" order for the reception of the ends of the water tubes, and its outer
plate provided with oblique hand-holes, substantially as and for the purpose
specified.
14. The combination of the front water leg, the rear water leg having an enlarged
mud chamber at bottom and resting on a movable support, the water chamber
deflectors between said legs, the water tubes passing through but not communicating
with said deflectors and connecting the front and rear legs, the water supply pipes
to said legs and deflectors, the steam drum located between the front leg and deflector

page_text: above the grate, the steam tube connecting said drum with the rear leg and the steam
connections between said legs and deflectors, substantially as set forth.
15. A water leg for tubular boilers composed of wrought metal plates riveted
together to form water tight chambers, the inner plate having openings in it for the
reception of the water tube ends, made in "staggered" order, and the outer plate
having oblique hand-holes opposite a pair of openings in the inner plate, in combination
with the obliquely arranged hand-hole plates closing said holes, all substantially as
and for the purpose set forth.
JOHN TAYLOR,
Inventor.
TOM H. TAYLOR.