IMPROVE- MENTS IN STEAM BOILERS
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Stephen Alley, of Glasgow, in the County of
Lanark, North Britain, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN STEAM BOILERS."
Sealed the 31st December 1872, and dated the 5th July 1872.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Stephen Alley at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
5th July 1872.
I, STEPHEN ALLEY, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North
Britain, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM BOILERS," to be as follows, that is to say :-
This Invention has for its object to construct steam boilers in an
improved manner, and so as whilst presenting a large amount of heating
surface in a given space, to be simple, easily cleaned or repaired, and
safe.
In what may be termed a boiler element or section as made according
to this Invention there is a central, cylindrical, conical, or other water
space or body, surrounded by an annular flue or fire space, outside of
which there is a water space formed by two concentric shells. The flue

page_text: or fire space is crossed by a number of radiating tubes, the inner ends of
which are fixed in the central body, whilst their outer ends are fixed in
both the outer shells. The outer parts of the tubes thus serve as stays
to the outer shells and cross the water space between those shells. The
inner ends of the tubes are open to the interior of the central body, and
their outer ends are closed or fitted with screwed caps made water-tight by
internal cups of lead or other suitable yielding material; whilst one or
more holes are formed in the parts of the tubes between the two shells.
The water can thus circulate freely through the tubes from the central
body to the outer water space, or vice versa.
For a small boiler of the vertical class, a single clement such as is
herein-before described is taken with the central body and outer shells
vertical, and with the radiating tubes horizontal or slightly inclined; and
this element is surmounted by a water and steam space, traversed by
vertical tubes for the passage upwards of the fire gases from the annular
flue or space crossed by the radiating tubes, the fire-grate being arranged.
at the bottom of such annular space. A steam dome is arranged
centrally on the top of the boiler, and is fixed like a man-hole door so as
to be easily removed when required, and thus dispense with a separate
door.
In the case of marine or other boilers where large power is required a
number of the elements may be combined together with one or more
upper bodies or steam chests, whilst one or more of the elements of a
suitable size may be arranged in the uptake for superheating the steam.
A boiler may also be formed with one or more of the elements in a
horizontal or inclined position. The tubes are made with their inner
ends contracted, and they are introduced from the outside through the
outer shells and into the central body, being fixed in the outer shells by
means of expanding tools, or by being screwed into their places.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her:
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of July, in the year of our .
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the thirty-sixth
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said Stephen Alley, Her special licence that I, the
said Stephen Alley, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said Stephen Alley, 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 BOILERS,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Stephen Alley,"
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 Scal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Stephen Alley, 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 in writing, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawings, that is to say :-
My said Invention has for its object to construct steam boilers in an
improved manner, and so as whilst presenting a large amount of heating
surface in a given space to be simple, easily cleaned or repaired, and
safc.
And in order that my said Invention, and the manner of performing
the same may be properly understood, I hereunto append a Sheet of
explanatory Drawings to be herein-after referred to, and representing
various modifications of [my improved steam boilers. In these Drawings
the same reference numerals are used for marking the same or like parts
wherever they are repeated.
Figure 1 on the Sheet of Drawings represents, partly in clevation, and
partly in section, a combination of two boiler elements as they are
herein-after termed, such elements being placed vertically; and Figures 2

page_text: and 3 are vertical sections of boilers of slightly different form and
consisting each of a single element; whilst Figures 4 and 5 are hori-
zontal sections corresponding to Figures 2 and 3.
In what I term a boiler clement or section as made according to my
Invention there is a central cylindrical, conical, or other water space or
body 2, surrounded by an annular flue or fire space 3, outside of which
there is a water space 4, formed by two concentric or parallel shells 5, 6.
The flue or fire space 3 is crossed by a number of radiating tubes 7, (only
some of which are drawn in in the Figures, the positions of others being
indicated by dotted centre lines), the inner ends of these tubes 7 being
fixed in the central body 2, whilst their outer ends are fixed in both the
outer shells 5, 6. The outer parts of the tubes 7, thus serve as stays to
the outer shells 5, 6, and cross the water space 4 between those shells.
The inner ends of the tubes 7 are open to the interior of the central
body 2, and their outer ends are closed or fitted with screwed plugs or
caps made water-tight by internal cups or rings of lead or other suitable
yielding material; whilst one or more holes are formed in the part of
each tube between the two shells, 5, 6. The water can thus circulate
freely through the tubes 7 from the central body 2, to the outer water
space 4, or vice versa.
For a small boiler of the vertical class a single element of the kind
herein-before described is taken as shown in Figures 2 and 3, with the
central body 2 and outer shells 5, 6, vertical, and with the radiating
tubes 7 horizontal or slightly inclined; and this clement is surmounted
by a water and steam space 8, traversed by vertical or slightly inclined
tubes 9 for the passage upwards of the fire gases from the annular flue or
space 3, crossed by the radiating tube 7, the fire-grate 10 being arranged
at the bottom of such annular space 3.
In some cases, as shown in Figure 2, I arrange a steam dome 11,
centrally on the top of the steam space 8, and I fix it like a man-hole
door so as to be casily removed when required, and thus dispense with a
separate door. As in the case of a man-hole door I make the base of the
steam dome 11 oval, and the opening to receive it being of the same
shape it is entered in one positon and turned partly round so that a
flange formed round it catches inside the steam space S, and it is fixed
by screws 12, tapped through lugs formed or fixed on it.
In the case of marine or other boilers where large power is required a
number of my improved. boiler elements may be combined together with

page_text: one or more upper bodies or steam chests (8); whilst one or more of the:
elements of a suitable size may be arranged in the uptake for--super->
heating the steam. A boiler may also be formed with one or more of
the elements in a horizontal or inclined position; and very convenient
modifications are obtainable either for marine or land purposes by using
what may be regarded as the upper half of a complete element placed
horizontally.
Figures 6 and 7 are vertical sections as at right angles' to each other
of a marine boiler as constructed in the manner just indicated; and
Figures 8, 9, and 10 represent a somewhat similar arrangement for à
land boiler; Figure 8. being an end elevation, and Figures 9 and 10
transverse and longitudinal vertical sections.
In modifications of the kinds shown in Figures. 6 to 10, the fire gases
may be led in various ways through the interstices between the tubes 7, 1
brick partitions or deflectors 13 being introduced wherever it is desired
to divert the gaseous currents from a direct course.
My mode of fixing the tube 7 across or through three shells 2, 5, 6, is
obviously applicable with other than cylindrical forms of those shells;
and by way of example I show in Figures 11 and 12, which are vertical
sections as at right angles to cach other, a marine boiler with horizontal
flat sided flue spaces 3, crossed by the tubes 7; whilst Figure 13 is a
transverse vertical section of a boiler with a single flue space 3, crossed
by tubes 7, each of which is fixed in both shells 5, 6, at each side, the
parts near both ends of each tube between the shells. 5, 6, being
perforated for the circulation of the water.
The tubes 7 are made with their inner ends contracted in manner
substantially as shown in the various enlarged sections, Figures 14 to 20,
and they are introduced from the outside through the outer shells 5, 6,
and into the central body 3 (or other equivalent part), being fixed in
the outer shells by means of expanding tools, or by being screwed into
their places.
Figure 17 shows an arrangement in which two opposite tubes 7, being
in the same line, advantage is taken thereof for holding them in their
places by a strong tie rod 14, which at the same time acts as a
diametrical stay for the boiler.
In Figure 19, the tube 7 is shown as made in two portions, the inner
end of the outer part 17 being contracted, and the outer end of the inner

page_text: part 7 being expanded within the outer part 17, to tie the two parts
together.
In Figure 20 the contraction of the inner end of the tube 7. is shown
as formed by inserting a conical ring 15.
Having thus particularly described my said Invention, and the manner
in which the same is to be performed, I have to state that I do not
restrict myself to the precise details herein described and delineated; but
that what I believe to be novel and original, and claim as the Invention
secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
1. The combining together of the parts of steam boilers, substantially
in the improved manner herein described and delineated.
2. The constructing of a steam boiler with water tubes fixed across a
flue space and a water space, and perforated at the part crossing the
water space, substantially as and for the purposes herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I; the said Stephen Alley, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Second day of January, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three.
Witness,
EDMUND HUNT,
Patent Agent,
Glasgow.
STEPHEN ALLEY. (L.S.)