Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Sept., 1886.
Complete Left, 11th June, 1887.
Complete Accepted, 26th Aug., 1887.
I, LINDSAY BURNET, of the firm of Lindsay Burnet and Company, Boiler-makers,
Govan, Lanarkshire, do hereby declare the nature of my invention to be as follows:-
This Invention has reference to a combination of improvements in the construction
of the locomotive type or class of steam boilers, (much used for portable and semi-,
portable steam engines), of the horizontal tubular construction, with a horizontal
cylindrical body and vertical tube plates, and rectangular topped fire-box or fire-boxes
at the front, and end tube plate, smoke-box and funnel at the other or back end.
These improvements are also applicable to other horizontal tubular boilers for torpedo-
boats and for other marine purposes, and will simplify their construction, and make the
boilers to which they are applied most suitable for use with either open ashpit, or with
closed ashpit for forced combustion, and give great facilities for repairing the boilers
and keeping the water space of the fire-boxes clean, and have other advantages over
the boilers of this kind as heretofore constructed, and enable them to be machine
riveted.
The nature and novelty of the improvements comprise a special general construction
of the fire-box end of the boiler, and arrangement or combination of the parts thereof,
which consist all as follows:-In making the body of the fire-box or fire-boxes flat on
top with rounded corners, corresponding to the crown of the front shell of the boiler,
but contracted to the width of the tube plate, and continued down at an angle
widening out downwards at the sides, to give a wide fire-grate surface; and made
semi-cylindrical on the lower side, as is also the shell,-leaving a semi-annular water
space below. The body of the fire-box and that of the front shell of the boiler have
their ends flanged outwards, so that they both can be machine riveted to the front
flat end plate of the boiler, which is made square at bottom, with angle-iron for a
support at base; while the other end of the front shell of the boiler is similarly riveted
by its flange to the flat junction or throat plate, which is flanged out and riveted to the
barrel. The flange at the back end of the fire-box is riveted at top and sides to the
front tube plate; a small part of this flange at bottom with a corresponding part of
the tube plate being cut away and replaced by a separate angle flange piece riveted to
the tube plate and to the bottom of the fire-box on the inner side of the latter, so as to
leave ample room for circulation and cleaning out the lower annular and vertical
water spaces of the fire-box end of the boiler. The flat crown of the fire-box is stayed
to the crown of the front shell of the boiler by longitudinal and transverse rows of
vertical stays screwed into the plates with jam nuts on the outer ends of the stays, and
also on the inside of the plates when preferred, leaving a large water area and steam

page_text: space above the crown of the fire-box. The sides of the front shell above the fire-box
are stayed by similar transverse rows of stays passing between the vertical stays, and
similarly having jam nuts on outside and inside of plates. Sludge hole doors are
fitted a little above the crown of the fire-box in the sides of the front shell of the
boiler, for cleaning the top of the fire-box between these vertical and horizontal
stays, thus preventing the top of the fire-box from getting solidly choked up, as is
the case with ordinary horizontal bridge stays. The sides of the fire-box and front
shell of the boiler would be well secured by closely set short screw stays, preferably
with screw nuts both on the inner and outer ends. The sides of the front shell,
where these stays pass through them, (traversing the tapered water spaces at the sides
of the fire-box), are embossed or creased inwards to forin right angles with the stays,
so that the nuts on the latter may bear truly on the outside of the shell. Screw stays
are also fitted through the lower parts of the tube plate and junction or throat plate of
the fire-box end of the boiler, traversing the lower vertical water space; at the bottom
of which in the throat or junction plate sludge doors are fitted for cleaning out the
semicircular annular water space below the fire-box, the strong construction of which
would prevent the necessity of having more than a few screw stays at wide intervals
apart, and which would allow the lower tube plate end of the fire-box freedom for
expansion and contraction, with the rigid stays above securing the crown of the fire-
box to the upper shell of the boiler. Although the tube plate of the fire-box has been
described as preferably riveted to flanges on the fire-box, the tube plate may have the
flanges bent and kneed on it to enter and be riveted inside of the end of the fire-box
in a usual manner. For convenience of firing, when preferred, or in large sizes, the
fire-box is made in two or more parts similar to each other and to the fire-box as
already described, with a water space or spaces between them narrower at the level
of the fire-bars and widening to the top of the fire-boxes; and vertically below
each such inner vertical water space is fitted an additional elliptical sludge door, in
the bottom of the front plate of the boiler for cleaning out the bottom of the front
shell between the bottoms of the fire-boxes. The front end plate of the boiler is fitted
with removable screwed-on furnace plate and furnace mouth of any ordinary con-
struction desired; the ashpit being also fitted in front with a hinged closing plate
door, so as to work either as an open air supply, or as a close furnace with forced
air combustion. The fire-grate bars may be arranged to rest on a back cross bar or
plate carrying a vertical back flame wall, sufficiently forward from the tube plate and
ends of the tubes to allow a free admission of the flames to the tubes, and having a
hinged plate below, (to retain all fine ashes and dirt passing over with the flames),
which would be opened from time to time by a rod or handle in front, to allow the
ashes to fall into the ashpit, and close again to regulate the admission of air behind
the bridge; or the fire-bars may, when preferred, rest on a back transverse bar in a
usual manner, riveted to the inside of the tube plate. The usual longitudinal stays
are secured to the front end plate and junction or throat plate of the front shell of
the boiler above the crown through the steam space; and the centre ones over the
crown may be carried right through the boiler to the back end plate, or taken at an
angle and riveted to the front ring of barrel over the tubes, which themselves stay
the lower part of the back and front tube plates. For semi-portable boilers, the
front end and throat or junction plates of the boiler are carried down below the
semi-cylindrical bottom of the front shell and cut square and of their full width at
bottom, with transverse angle-irons riveted along their lower edges for supporting
the front fire-box end of the boiler on any suitable foundation frame or sole plate
of the engine; and the back end may be carried by a flanged bracket bolted or
riveted to the lower part of the smoke-box, and also supported from any part of the
other end of the frame of the engine.
1
ea

page_text: COMPLETE DEPUIFICATION,
Improvements in Steam-boilers.
I, LINDSAY BURNET, of the firm of Lindsay Burnet and Company, Boiler Makers,
Govan, Lanarkshire, do hereby declare the nature of my invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement in writing, reference being had to the accompanying
two Sheets of Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to
say :-
My said Invention has reference to a combination of improvements in the
construction of the locomotive type or class of steam boilers (much used for portable
and semi-portable steam engines,) of the horizontal tubular construction, with a
horizontal cylindrical body and vertical tube plates, and rectangular topped fire-box
or fire-boxes at the front, and end tube plate, smoke-box and funnel at the other or
back end. These improvements are also applicable to other horizontal tubular boilers
for torpedo-boats and for other marine purposes, and will simplify their construction,
and make the boilers to which the improvements are applied most suitable for use
with either open ash-pits, or with closed ash-pits for forced combustion and mechanical
stokers, and give great facilities for repairing the boilers and keeping the water space
of the fire-boxes clean, and have other advantages over the boilers of this kind as
heretofore constructed, and enable them to be machine riveted.
And in order that my said invention and the manner of performing or carrying 'my
improvements into effect or practice may be properly understood, I have hereunto
appended two explanatory Sheets of Drawings in which the same reference letters
are used to indicate corresponding parts in the several figures where shown. Figure 1
sheet 1, is a longitudinal sectional elevation of a semi portable horizontal steam boiler
constructed in accordance with the improvements of my invention. Figure 2 is a
half front end elevation and transverse section taken on or near the line 1--1 through
the fire-box on Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a sectional side elevation of the fire-box
end broken away, corresponding to Figure 1, and showing an ordinary arrangement
of automatic mechanical stoker as fitted to the furnace of my improved boiler.
Figure 4, sheet 2, is a longitudinal sectional elevation of a semi-portable horizontal
steam boiler showing some differences in the details from that shown on the Figures
in Sheet 1. Figure 5 is a half front elevation and a transverse section the latter
taken on or near the line 2--2 through the fire-box in Figure 4; and Figure 6 is a
half horizontal section taken over the fire-box on the line 3--3 of Figure 4.
Referring to these Drawings.-the nature and novelty of the improvements
comprise a special general construction of the fire-box end of this class of boiler, and
arrangement or combination of the parts thereof, which consist all as follows:-In
making the body A A³ of the fire-box or fire-boxes flat on the top at A with
rounded corners at the sides, corresponding approximately to the shape of the crown B
of the front shell B B' of the fire-box end of the boiler; but contracted to near the.

page_text: width of the front tube plate A at top where these curves join the two sides A¹, and
continued down at an angle widening out downwards at the sides, to give a wide
fire-grate surface at the lower part; and made semi-cylindrical on the lower side A',
as is also the shell outside at B¹, B', leaving a semi-annular water space b¹ below.
The body A A¹, of the fire-box and that B B¹ of the front shell of the boiler, have
their ends flanged outwards at a, b, so that they both can be machine riveted to the
front flat end plate C of the boiler, which is made square at bottom, with angle-
irons C for a support at base Z; while the other end of the front shell B B¹, of the
boiler is similarly riveted by its flange bb to the flat junction or throat plate EE,
which is flanged out at E' and riveted to the outside of the front end of the barrel F
of the boiler. The flange a at the back end of the fire-box is riveted at top and
sides to the front end tube plate A2; a small or short part of this flange a¹ at bottom
with a corresponding part of the tube plate A³, is cut away, and replaced by a separate
angle flange piece a³, riveted to the tube plate A2, and to the inside of the bottom of
the back end of the fire-box, so as to leave ample room for circulation and cleaning
out the lower annular water space 61, 61, and vertical water spaces 62, 63, of the fire-box
end of the boiler next the throat plate E. The flat crown A of the fire-box A A¹ is
strongly stayed to the crown B B, of the front shell B B', of the boiler, by both
longitudinal and transverse rows of vertical stays s, s, screwed into the plates A, B,
with jam nuts on the outer ends of the stays, (and it might be also on the inside of
the plates when preferred), leaving a large water area and steam space at B2 above the
crown A A of the fire-box from which the steam may be drawn off dry from
horizontal perforated tubes T without the necessity for steam domes. The sides of
the front shell B B₁ above the fire-box are stayed by similar rows of transverse
stays 2, 3, passing between the vertical stays 8, 8, and similarly screwed through the
side plates B¹, with jam nuts s¹ on outside, and it might be with nuts on the inside of
plates, as shown particularly in Figures 4 and 5, especially when the outer shell B, B¹,
is made of two plates, an upper plate for the crown, and a lower plate for the side
and under part, riveted or jointed together by double lap plates at on the inner and
outer sides. Sludge hole doors e, e, are fitted a little above the crown A A, of the fire-
box in the sides of the front shell B B¹, of the boiler alternately on the opposite sides
between the stays s, s², for cleaning the top of the fire-box between these vertical and
horizontal rows of stays s, 83, thus preventing the top AA of the fire-box from
getting solidly choked up, as is the case with ordinary horizontal bridge stays on top
of fire-box. Sludge hole doors e may also be formed in the front plate C when this is
found more convenient for cleaning, over the fire box A, A¹. The angled sides of
the fire-box A, A¹, and sides B₁ of the front shell B B₁ of the boiler are well secured
by closely set short screw stays c, preferably with screw nuts both on the inner and
outer ends. The sides B of the front shell B B¹, where these short stays c pass
through them, (traversing the tapered water spaces at the upper sides of the fire-box),
are embossed or creased inwards at c¹ to form right angles with the stays c as shown
in Figure 2, but they might be embossed outwards as shown in Figure 5, so that the
nuts on the outer end of each stay c may bear truly on the outside surface of the
shell B B. Short screw stays e¹ e¹ are also fitted through the lower vertical parts of
the tube plate A³ of the fire-box A A', and junction or throat end plate EE of
the body A A¹, of the boiler, traversing the lower vertical water spaces 62, 63, at the
bottom of which space in the throat or junction plate E a sludge door or doors e
are fitted for cleaning out the semi-circular annular water space 6¹ below the fire-
box. The strong circular construction of this water space 61 61 prevents the necessity
of having more than a few rows of short screw stays c³, c, at wide intervals apart, and
which would allow the lower tube plate end A³ of the fire-box freedom for expansion and
contraction, with the rigid vertical stays above securing the crown A of the fire box AA¹,
to the upper shell B B of the boiler. Although the tube plate A2, A3, of the fire-box A, A¹,
has been described as preferably riveted to flanges a, a, on the fire-box, the tube
plate A' may in some cases have its flanges bent and kneed on it as at A³ to enter and
be riveted inside of the end of the fire-box A A¹, without flanges in the usual manner
as shown in Figures 4 and 5. This arrangement admits of the fire-box A A¹,

page_text: having front flanges a made strong and bolted on the outside of the front plate C,
for the removal and insertion of the whole fire-box A A', and front tube plate A²,
through this front plate C, for repairs or otherwise.
The front end plate CC, of the boiler A A', is fitted with a removable screwed-on
furnace plate C and furnace charging mouth 03, of any ordinary construction
desired, which may be made with one in the centre, as shown in Figures 1 and 2,
or one on each side as shown in Figures 4 and 5, and these mouths C3 might he
formed on a level with the bars, or higher up when desired, as in locomotive boilers,
those in the Drawings being shown as fitted with ordinary balanced doors C; the
ash-pit D being also fitted in front with a hinged closing plate D¹ and door D³, so as
to work either as an open air supply, or as a close furnace with forced air combustion.
The fire-grate bars may be arranged to rest on a back cross bearer or plate 1
carrying a vertical back flame wall f, sufficiently forward from the tube plate A2 A2,
and front ends of the tubes t to allow a free admission of the flames to the tubes, and
having a hinged plate g, below (to retain all fine ashes and dirt passing over the
bridge F2 with the flames), which would be opened from time to time by a rod or
handle g', g', in front to allow the ashes to fall into the ashpit D and having retaining
notches for retaining the plate close or in different positions for the admission of air
behind the bridge when that was desired; or the fire-bars fmay, when preferred, rest
on a back transverse bar in a usual manner, riveted to the inside of the tube plate as
shown particularly at f, in Figures 4 and 5. The usual longitudinal stays S are
secured to the front end plate C and junction or throat plate E, of the front shell B, B',
of the boiler, above the crown A, A, through the steam space B2; and the centre
ones S¹ over the crown A A, may be carried right through the boiler to the back end
plate G, or taken at an angle as shown at S2 and riveted to the front ring of barrel F
as shown at S in Figures 1 and 2, or they may be screwed at their inner ends to
strong snugs at S", riveted to the barrel F of the boiler as shown in Figures 4 and 5,
over the tubes t, which themselves stay the upper part of the front tube plate A³, and
the lower part of the back tube plate G which may have its upper side stays S³
similarly riveted at S at an angle to the barrel F of the boiler as shown in
Figures 4 and 5, and sludge doors C₁ may be formed in the lower part of the back
tube plate G for cleaning out the barrel F of the boiler below the tubes t; and when
required additional short stays ell may be screwed to the front tube plate A³, A², and
riveted by flanges to the barrel F of the boiler, under the tubes t and over the vertical
water space 62 when required, as shown in Figure 4. A manhole door F2, would
preferably be fitted either over the centre of the barrel F as shown in Figures 4 and 5,
or to the one side as shown in Figures 1 and 2. For the semi-portable boilers, the
front end plate CC, and throat or junction plates E E, of the boiler are carried down,
below the semi cylinder botton B₁, B¹, of the front shell below the fire-box A A¹, and
cut square and kept of their full width at bottom with transverse angle-irons at C' E¹
riveted along their lower edges for supporting the front fire-box end of the boiler on
any suitable foundation or frame, or sole-plate of the engine at Z; and the back end
of the barrel F of the boiler may be carried by a flanged standard bracket which
may be bolted or riveted to either the barrel F or the lower part of the smoke-box H
near the tube plate G of the shell or barrel F of the boiler, this standard being also
supported from any part of the other end of the horizontal frame or sole plate Z of the
engine. The smoke box H may be of an ordinary construction with hinged or
removable end lid H¹, easily secured and loosened in an ordinary manner with hand
screws outside, and fitted above with the throat branch H' for supporting the chimney,
which in some cases, as shown in Figure 4, may have a swivelling damper H' fitted
in it.
,
In these arrangements of my improved fire-box A A¹ described, Figures 1 and 2 or
4 and 5, the ash-pit door D is shown mounted on horizontal hinges to its front
closing-in plate D¹, (suitable for either natural or forced draught combustion) and
would be fitted with a retaining lever and notched quadrant or other equivalent device,
so as to set and retain the door D' in any position required to regulate the admission
of air under the grate bars f, or full open for cleaning out these or the ash-pit D.

page_text: In Figures 1 and 2 a new mode and means is shown of admitting and heating the
air to be admitted to the upper part of the fire box; above the furnace bars f forming
a narrow entrance air channel, fitted with a regulating door at i, right across the
upper part of the front furnace plate C³; and a few inches in front of this air opening
and plates C, inside the fire-box A, A¹, I fit an angled or curved corrugated baffle
plate reaching down to near the furnace door (so that all the air admitted gets
highly heated in passing in over the surface of this plate i up and down as indicated
by the arrows, before entering the fire-box over the fire and grate bars f; and this
arrangement of heating the air is suitable either for natural draught or for forced
combustion.
Referring to Figure 3, on sheet 1, this shows the application to my improved fire
box A A¹ of one of the most common mechanical stokers, with its endless chain of
furnace bars J, actuated over its outer actuating and transmitting barrels J¹ and J',
with fuel hopper J³, in front, and fire brick lining;,, over the entering fuel and on
the inner face front plate C³, for the double purpose of igniting the entering fuel and
protecting front plate C², from burning. This example is given to show how my new
construction of fire-box A A', with its high front open end without water space,
particularly lends itself to the application of this or any of the ordinary mechanical
stokers in use.
For convenience of firing, when preferred, or in large sizes of steam boilers, the
fire-box A, A¹, may be made in two or more parts similar to each other and to the
fire-box as already described, and as shown in transverse section in Figure 3A,
with a water space 6", or spaces between them narrower at the lower level of the fire-
bars and widening out towards the top of the fire-boxes, equivalent to the side water
spaces b¹.
my Invention and
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of
in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
:-
First. The general construction, or arrangement and combination of the parts, of
portable or semi-portable horizontal tubular steam boilers, substantially as and for the
purposes and advantages described, in reference to and shown in the accompanying
Drawings.
Second. The general construction, or arrangement and combination of the parts of
the fire-box end A A', B B³, of portable or semi-portable horizontal tubular boilers
with screw stayed flat tops A A, B B, and semi-circular annular bottom A¹, A¹, B', B³,
riveted by flanges a a and b, b, to their end plates A³, C and E, substantially as and
for the purposes and advantages described, in reference to and shown in the accom-
panying Drawings.
Third. In portable or semi-portable horizontal tubular steam boilers, the con-
struction of the fire-box or boxes A A', flat on top A A, narrowed to the width of the
tube plate A, and having angled sides widening out to a semi-circle below at A¹ A'
to give a wide furnace grate f,f, all open at the front end for receiving a portable
furnace plate C, substantially as and for the purposes and advantages described, in
reference to and shown in the accompanying Drawings.
Dated th: 11th
L T
1087