IMPROVEMENTS IN SADDLE BOILERS FOR HEATING APPARATUS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Benjamin Harlow, of Macclesfield, in the County of
Chester, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SADDLE BOILERS
FOR HEATING APPARATUS."
Sealed the 27th November 1877, and dated the 29th May 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Benjamin Harlow. at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 29th May 1877.
BENJAMIN HARLOW, of Macclesfield, in the County of Chester, Engineer. "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN SADDLE BOILERS FOR HEATING APPARATUS."
The object of this Invention is the construction of a saddle boiler for heating
purposes, which shall afford a large heating surface, which shall require no brick-
work in fixing, and to which the supply of air can be admitted and regulated to the
greatest nicety so as to pass underneath and through the fuel instead of being
allowed to pass over it as heretofore.
Now this Invention consists of a saddle boiler formed in half-sections or seg-
ments, each forming a distinct boiler, and an equal number of which are arranged
on either side of the fire-place, which thus occupies the centre. These sections or
segments may each have one or more channels or flues formed in them in the
direction of their length, and which, when the segments are placed together, form
a continuous flue or flues running the entire length of the boiler. These longi-
tudinal flues may communicate together in the end segments, which thus constitutė
'double terminal ends, and effectually increase the heating power of the boiler.
The sections or segments, herein-before described, are connected together, and
also secured in position by a branch of the flow and return pipes.
The front of the fire-place is fitted with a vertical sliding door, which affords
facilities for feeding the furnace, and for admitting air underneath and through the
fuel, and for regulating the supply of such air.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Benjamin Harlow in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 29th
November 1877.
BENJAMIN HARLOW, of Macclesfield, in the County of Chester, Engineer.
PROVEMENTS IN SADDLE BOILERS FOR HEATING APPARATUS."
"IM-
The object of this Invention is the construction of a saddle boiler for heating
purposes, which shall afford a large heating surface, which shall require little or no
brickwork in fixing, and to which the supply of air can be admitted and regulated
to the greatest nicety, so as to pass underneath and through the fuel instead of
being allowed to pass over it as heretofore.
Now this Invention consists of a saddle boiler formed in half-sections or seg-
ments, each forming a distinct boiler, and an equal number of which are arranged
on either side of the fire-place, which thus occupies the centre. These sections or
segments may each have one or more channels or flues formed in them in the
direction of their length, and which, when the segments are placed together, form a
continuous flue or flues running the entire length of the boiler. These longitudinal
flues may communicate.together in the end segments, which thus constitute double
terminal ends, and effectually increase the heating power of the boiler.
The sections or segments, herein-before described, are connected. together, and
also secured in position by a branch of the flow and return pipes..
The front of the fire-place is fitted with a vertical sliding door, which affords
facilities for feeding the furnace and for admitting air underneath and through the
fuel, and for regulating the supply of such air.
And in order that this my said Invention may be the more readily understood
and carried into practical effect, I have hereunto annexed a Sheet of Drawings
illustrative of my improvements in saddle boilers, and I will proceed to describe
the same, reference being had to the letters of reference marked thereon, which are
used to denote similar parts in all the views.
Fig. 1 is a front perspective sectional view of a saddle boiler constructed in
accordance with my Invention, and taken upon the line a, b, in Fig. 2.
Fig. 2 is a sectional plan upon the line c, d, in Fig. 1.
Fig. 3, a back perspective view.
Fig. 4, a perspective sectional view of one of the segments.
Figs. 5 and 6 are modifications of Fig. 4, and Fig. 7 a perspective view of the
boiler front, shewing my improved vertical sliding door.
It will be observed that this my improved saddle boiler consists of a series of
distinct cast-iron segments A arranged on each side of the fire-grate B, one of which
segments is seen detached in Fig. 4, and is formed with two flues through it marked
respectively C and D.
In forming the front segment I shorten the centre limb so as to allow the flame
and products of combustion to pass round it, as seen in plan, Fig. 2, and in the
back segment I shorten the limb nearest the fire-grate B, so as to allow the flame
and products of combustion to enter the first flue C from the fire-grate B. The
segment thus formed I arrange on each side of the fire-grate B, as seen in plan,
Fig. 2, so that the products of combustion are compelled to follow the course indi-
cated by the arrows. After leaving the segments the flame and product of com-
bustion enter the terminal ends E, which, it will be noticed, also form a waterway
end, against which the flames impinge immediately upon leaving the grate B.
An aperture F, formed in each of the terminal ends E (seen best in the back view,
Fig. 3) through which the products of combustion finally issue into the chimney.
These segments and seminal ends thus formed and arranged are connected together,
and communicate with each other internally by branches G from the return pipe E,
and similar branches I upon the flow pipe J. I also prefer to cast a passage through
each segment marked K (or lugs may be formed upon the outside of each segment)
through which, when all the segments are in position, I pass a long bolt, thus

page_text: effectually binding the whole together. The space between the segments imme-
diately over the fire I close by fire tiles L, which are readily removable for cleaning;
and it will be obvious that a feed hopper may be arranged anywhere along the top
by taking out one or more of such tiles. Similar covers M are provided for the
terminal ends E, which in this case I prefer to form of metal, and which give great
facilities for clearing out the flues at the back. I also provide soot doors N to the
front of the boiler (seen best in Fig. 7) which give equal facilities for cleaning out
the flues from the front.
It will be obvious that this my improved saddle boiler possesses a large amount
of effective heating surface, whilst its sectional character enables it to be readily
enlarged at any time; for instance, by introducing one or more pairs of segments
between the front and back segments illustrated. In this way the boiler may be
increased in size, according to the power required.
The segments may be set upon a cast-iron base plate, or brickwork or masonry
may be used, as the flame in its course is entirely enclosed by the water contained
in the boiler. After the boiler is fixed I prefer to enclose it with a coating of non-
conducting material.
In Fig. 7 I shew my improved vertical sliding door O, which is suspended in the
casing P by chains Q, and counterbalanced by weights R. This form of door
possesses advantages, as it enables the stoker to admit the requisite air at the
bottom of the door when it passes into and through the fuel instead of over the
fuel as in previous arrangements, so tending to deaden the fire. I do not, however,
confine myself to this description of door for the furnace.
Instead of the flues running side by side through each segment, as seen in Fig. 4,
I sometimes construct them one above the other, as indicated in Figs. 5 and 6, in
which such flues are marked S and T respectively.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of this my said
Invention, I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to the precise
details, relative proportions, or dimensions of the various parts, nor to the precise
form or number of the flues through the segments, as the same may be considerably.
varied without departing from the Invention; but what I claim is, constructing a
saddle boiler in segments, and bolting and connecting the same together, substan-
tially as herein-before described, and illustrated on the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Benjamin Harlow, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
BENJAMIN HARLOW. (L.S.)