Improvements in Internally Fired Boilers.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Jan., 1895-Accepted, 30th Mar., 1895
[Communicated from abroad by GEORGE JEROME PERKINS, of Truckee, County
of Nevada, and State of California, Locomotive Engineer.]
Improvements in Internally Fired Boilers.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent
Agents, 45 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This invention relates to steam boilers for locomotive engines, or any other
internally fired boiler, and its object is to provide a steam boiler which shall contain
a relatively large amount of heating surface economically disposed for the
absorption of heat, with such details of construction as will enable the flame to
pass a sufficient distance to consume all gases before being extinguished by the too
rapid reduction of temperature, thereby preventing the escape of smoke and
obtaining perfect combustion; and also to obtain a positive circulation of water,
to prevent or reduce to a minimum, the deposition of sediment, increase facilities
for the removal of such sediment, reduce the expansion and contraction of the
parts due to changes of temperature, thereby lessening its life, materially increasing
the efficiency of the engine by reducing the back pressure on the cylinders by an
enlargement of the exhaust nozzle, obtain a more nearly uniform degree of heat
throughout the length of the boiler, to thereby obviate the use of an extreme
degree of heat as is now required, in the fire box of the present type of locomotive
boiler, by means of a softer action on the fire, and by the same means prevent the
throwing of sparks out of the stack and avoiding the possibility of setting fires
along the track, as is frequently now the case, increase the weight of engine and
thereby add to its tractive power, and effect a material reduction in the consumption
of fuel over the present type of locomotive boilers by means of an increased
quantity and superior quality of heating surface.
With these and other objects and advantages in view, the invention consists of
the construction and arrangement of the several parts which will be more fully
hereinafter described and claimed.
In the drawing:-
Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section of a locomotive boiler embodying the
invention and shown broken away in its length.
Figure 2 is an end elevation of the back end of the tube chamber, the outer
shell being also shown.
Figure 3 is a fore end view of the tube chamber and the outer shell.
Figure 4 is an enlarged detail view showing the joint between the sheets and the
attachment to the latter of the water tubes.
Figure 5 is a detached plan view of the jet tube of the combustion pipe.
Figure 6 illustrates, in longitudinal section, a tube made up of separate sections
connected by screw threads, whereby the parts thereof may be separated or
connected at will, for convenience in positioning the same properly within the tube
chamber, such sectional tube being employed for renewing any worn or damaged
tube.
Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts in
the several views.

page_text: Referring to the drawing, the numeral 1 designates a series of vertical water
tubes having arranged in alternation therewith a series of transversely extending,
diagonal or angularly arranged tubes 2 which terminate in an inner shell or tube
chamber 3 having parallel flat top and bottom sheets 4 and 5, and circular or
outwardly deflected side sheets 6, to resist the collapse in pressure or strain brought
to bear thereon. If desired, the said diagonal or angular tubes may be used
through the side sheets to partially close the space between the outer rows of the
vertical tubes and said sheets in order to prevent the escape of heat.
The said tube chamber 3, as shown, is preferably made of four sheets of metal
with longitudinal seams and extends from the fire box 7 to the smoke box 8, being
practically a continuation of the fire box and crown sheet, which, together with
the transverse water tubes, form a very efficient heating surface.
The water tubes are formed near their extremities with beads 9 by means of a
roller tube expander, which beads act as shoulders to support the sheets of the
tube chamber, and resist the collapse of the same due to the steam and water
pressure between the inner and outer shells.
The said vertical tubes I may be used exclusively if desired and are set in
parallel rows which are spaced longitudiually at suitable distances, and at the back
end are spaced diametrically at suitable distances, conforming to the tube chamber
and closing in towards the forward end, the tube chamber being smaller at the
forward end to increase the draught and the water space and also to obtain
sufficient space between the inner and outer shells to allow the movement of the
forward head or tube sheet, and accommodate expansion and contraction of the
tube chamber, caused by the fire contact with the same and thereby relieve strain
on the seams in the fire box. The forward head may be stayed to the inner shell
by means of longitudinal braces 10. The middle rows of vertical tubes may be
extended below the bottom sheet of the tube chamber as far as desired to-pick up
a lower strata of water and increase the circulation of the same. From the point
where the angular tubes are desired they will alternate with the vertical tubes,
that is, a row of vertical tubes is first arranged, a succeeding row of diagonal or
angular tubes, another row of vertical tubes, and a further row of diagonal or
angular tubes extending across in a direction opposite to the first named diagonal
or angular tubes, and so on in succession. I prefer, as indicated in Figure 1, to
employ the angular tubes in the alternation with the vertical tubes described for
the entire distance from the fire box 7 to the smoke box 8; although, in some.
instances, the vertical tubes may be employed alone at the fire box end of the
boiler, and even for a distance of one-half the length of the chamber 3. The
spaces between parallel rows of the diagonal or angular tubes in the side sheets
may be stayed by the employment of any suitable brace or reinforcing device.
By means of a cross pipe 11, having jet nozzles 12. interposed between the
vertical pipes at the entrance into the chamber 3, air may be supplied from a
pipe 13 to the products of combustion issuing from the fire box 7 into said
chamber 3. The jet nozzles 12 form blowers which elongate the flame and
continue the combustion of the gases so as to more effectually consume them and to
more fully utilize their heating effect. The air supplied to the pipe 13 may
conveniently be derived from an air pressure chamber 14 communicating with the
customary air compressing pump on the locomotive, in such manner as to be
supplied with a quantity of compressed air under suitable pressure capable of
being supplied to the pipe 13 at the will of the locomotive engineer or engine
driver. The pipe 13 will be provided with the customary back pressure check
valve 25.
A pipe 15, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 1, may be used from inside of
outer shell to direct the feed water after passing through the check valve, throwing
it upward, and either forward or back and away from the inner shell to catch the
downward circulation, thereby avoiding the precipitation of sediment on the inner
shell at the feed point.
As is plainly seen, the invention can be adapted to any ordinary locomotive

page_text: boiler by removing the tubes and tube sheets, and supplying the tube chamber
filled with transverse tubes, and heads flanged to conform to said tube chamber,
except in case where a new fire box or crown sheet is put in, or radial stay fire
box used, in which case the forward end of the fire box may be made to conform
to the back end of the tube chamber and thereby avoid the necessity of using the
back head, except from the bottom of tube chamber down to form the water leg
in front of the fire box. The tube chamber er inner shell 3 carrying the water
tubes is supported to avoid vibration, by means of braces 16 connected to the outer
shell by rivets which can be readily put in after the inner shell is in position.
Any vertical tube back of where the diagonal or angular tubes begin can be
removed through the top or inside of chamber by bending the same slightly and
passing through the top hole, then straightening and rolling from the top end by
means of a sectional pin for the expander.
Any of the tubes in advance of the diagonal or angular tubes, that is, in advance
of the point where the latter are located, may be renewed by a sectional tube
formed with threads attachably or detachably arranged, whereby the parts thereof
may be separated or connected at will for convenience in positioning the same
properly within the tube chamber. The construction referred to is illustrated in
longitudinal section in Figure 6.
Water and steam spaces 17 surround the tube chamber and fire box, and
18 designates a steam dome having a dry pipe 19 leading therefrom.
By means of wash-out plugs 20 placed in the forward head, or outer shell, the
tube chamber and every tube can be readily reached by hose to be washed out.
The upper part of the tube chamber is readily accessible for repairs and purposes
of cleaning through the dome when the cap thereof is removed, which can be
effected in any of the usual ways.
It will be seen by the arrangement of transverse vertical and diagonal or
angular water tubes, as set forth, that a much larger extent of available heating
surface is had than has hitherto been obtained in locomotive engines, or in boilers
of that character, allowing material increase in the size of the steam exhaust, and
thereby reducing the back pressure and increasing the efficiency of the engine.
The action of the fire in the improved form of boiler in passing through
between the tubes and coming in contact with and passing around each one
separately enables a thorough utilization of the fire and consumption of the gas
before it reaches the forward end of the boiler, whereas in the ordinary boiler the
gas passes directly through the flues and a large percentage escapes unconsumed
through the stack.
The tubes employed in the form of boiler set forth being short in comparison
with the longitudinal tubes hitherto used, the expansion and contraction of the
same, due to changes of temperature, is proportionately reduced, and the fire
contact being the same on the tube chamber as on the tubes, the expansion
and contraction on the chamber should be the same as on the tubes; hence,
there is nothing to loosen the tubes in the holes in the sheets, and the pressure
being on the inside of the tubes, instead of on the outside, as in the ordinary
type of boiler, will have a tendency to keep them tight rather than to make them
leak, consequently they should run longer without repairs and the life of the boiler
be proportionately lengthened.
If desired, the side sheets of the tube chamber may be strengthened by means of
angle or T-irons 22 riveted to the outside of the same, with washers 21 between to
allow the circulation of water, or the said sheets may be corrugated.
The device can be applied to any boiler at about the same cost of a new set of
tubes, the tube ends being all submerged, no safety fire ends or special grade of
tubes is required. This device is applicable to either locomotive, marine, or
stationary service.
It having been demonstrated by experiment that the best results are obtained by
extending the water tubes throughout the entire length of the tube chamber in the
vertical and diagonal disposition shown and in practice such construction will be

page_text: carried out, but, if preferred, the diagonal tubes may be omitted at any desired
point. In this construction the side sheets of the inner shell must be braced to
prevent their collapse. No such provision is necessary where the tubes extend
throughout the length of the tube chamber alternately in vertical and diagonal
relation as previously intimated.
The pipe 11 with its jet nozzles 12 may enter the tube chamber from any
convenient point, front, rear, or side, so long as they effect the result of discharging
smoke consuming jets amongst the water tubes at the required points.
Instead of supplying air to the smoke consuming tube 11 and its jet nozzle 12,
steam may be supplied with the like effect of furthering the consumption of the
gases and elongating the flame.
.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is:
1. In a locomotive steam engine or other boiler, the combination with a fire box,
of a tube chamber, a series of vertical and diagonal water tubes, the latter disposed
in alternation with the said vertical tubes, the successive series of diagonal tubes
being arranged in reverse directions, substantially as and for the purposes
specified.
2. In a locomotive steam engine or other boiler, the combination with a fire box,
of a tube chamber having flat top and bottom sheets and outwardly deflected sides,
of a vertical series of water tubes bracingly attached at their ends to the said top
and bottom sheets, and a series of diagonal water tubes attached bracingly at their
ends to the outwardly deflected sides, the diagonal tubes being reversely disposed
in succeeding order, and having a vertical series of tubes arranged between them,
substantially as described.
3. In a locomotive steam engine or other boiler, the combination with a fire box,
of a tube chamber composed of two or more overlapping sheets of metal, said tube
chamber being flat at top and bottom and deflected outward at opposite sides, and
having its upper surface a continuation of the crown sheet of said fire box and
nearly on a level with the same, and communicating at one end with the fire box
and at the other end with the smoke arch, and a series of vertical and diagonal
water tubes, the diagonal tubes being reversely disposed and interspersed with the
vertical tubes, which latter are bracingly attached at their ends to the said flat top
and bottom, substantially as specified.
4. In a locomotive steam engine or other boiler, the combination with a fire box,
of a tube chamber, a series of water tubes arranged therein in vertical and
transverse angular positions, jet nozzles entering the said tube chamber for the
admission of air or steam to aid the combustion and means for controlling the
supply of air or steam to said jet nozzles; substantially as and for the purposes
specified
5. In a locomotive steam engine or other boiler, the combination with the fire
box, of a tube chamber, a series of water tubes arranged therein, jet nozzles
entering the said tube chamber and an air supply reservoir for supplying air to the
jet nozzles, the connection between the reservoir and the jet nozzles being
provided with a back pressure valve; substantially as and for the purposes
specified.
6. In a locomotive steam engine, or other boiler, the combination of a fire
box, a tube chamber having its surface a continuation of the crown sheet of said
fire box and substantially on a level with the same and communicating at one end
with the fire box and at the other end with the smoke arch, water tubes arranged
vertically and diagonally or angularly in transverse directions, and an end head or
sheet at each end of the tube chamber to connect the same with the fire box and
outer shell, the forward end being provided with wash-out holes for the removal of
sediment, and the said water tubes being provided near their extremities with
beads or shoulders; substantially as and for the purposes specified.

page_text: 7. In a locomotive steam engine or other boiler, the combination with a fire box,
and a tube chamber having its bottom side flattened, of a vertical series of water
tubes bracingly attached at their lower ends to the flattened bottom of the tube
chamber, the end tubes terminating about flush with the said flattened bottom, and
the intermediate tubes projecting a short distance beyond the flattened bottom into
the water space, substantially as described, for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 28th day of January 1895.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.