Improvements in Steam Generators.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 24th May, 1899
Complete Specification Left, 26th Mar., 1900-Accepted, 28th Apr.,
1900
Improvements in Steam Generators.
We, GEORGE FRANCIS GABRIEL DES VIGNES, Mechanical Engineer, of Zoffany
House, Strand-on-Green, Chiswick, and WALTER AMELIUS CLOUD, Engineer of
Claremont Villa, Harvard Road, Gunnersbury, both in the County of Middlesex,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to steam generators of the smoke tube class and has for
its object to obtain an extended area of heating surface, to promote the circulation
of the water, to afford facility for cleaning the tubes and in the event of a
tube breaking or becoming leaky to enable that part of the generator to be cut
out so that it may be repaired or replaced.
In carrying the invention into effect, the body of the generator which constitutes
a steam and water chamber is formed preferably cylindrical and is with the
exception of its extreme ends enclosed within a shell or casing and projecting
downwardly from the body at suitable angles and so as to radiate from the axis
of the body and laterally diverge from each other are arranged two rows
might be more than two, of sectional tube boxes or elements.
or there
These tube boxes are preferably formed rectangular in cross section and are
closely intersected by smoke tubes extending transversely thereof from all sides
so that one set of tubes crosses the other set at right angles thereto and the
sectional tube boxes constituting each row are arranged with two of their angles
in juxtaposition with adjacent boxes so that all sides thereof are exposed and
access may readily be had to the whole of the smoke tubes and with this object
the shell or casing is at suitable intervals provided with doors.
Each of the sectional tube boxes is at its upper end connected with the
body of the boiler by means of a narrow neck opening into the interior of the
body or a pipe may be provided for conducting the steam from said neck to near
the crown thereof and in the latter case adjacent to the ends of said pipes is
provided a flange or baffle plate extending the entire length of the body and the
Jower ends of the tube boxes or sections of each row are connected with a circula-
tion pipe traversing the generator exteriorly of the shell or casing and at its ends
cranked or bent upward and made to communicate with the water space of the
body.
The furnace is arranged beneath and between the two rows of sectional tube
boxes or elements and the ends of this space are closed by means of walls of
refractory material or by a water space or water tubes and the space between the
said rows constitutes the combustion chamber, so that the smoke and products of
combustion play partly upon two angles of the tube boxes of each row and partly
upon the extreme underside of the body and pass through the smoke tubes into
a flue constituted by the shell or casing and thence around the body of the
generator and away to the up-take.
In the event of either one of the sectional tube boxes or elements becoming
injured by the breaking of a tube or otherwise, that particular section may be
readily cut out of the system,

page_text: Although the sections or elements are herein before described as of rectangular
form they might be of other shape, but the rectangular form is for obvious
reasons the preferred one, whilst instead of the narrow neck connection with the
body the tube boxes might be of equal diameter throughout and the upper ends
rivetted to the body.
The steam may be taken off from the end or upper part of the body, or a dome
may be provided for that purpose.
Instead of connecting the groups of elements to one water and steam chamber
as above described, each group may be connected with a separate water and steam
chamber of small diameter, the steam spaces of the chambers, and if necessary
the water spaces, being placed in communication with each other.
By the means hereinbefore described, a convenient form of generator is obtained
which is adapted to generate steam in large volume with great rapidity whilst
by reason of those parts which are subject to the greatest wear being made in
sections, they can easily be renewed or repaired.
Dated this 24th day of May 1899.
VAUGHAN & SON,
Agents for the Applicants.
Improvements in Steam Generators.
We, GEORGE FRANCIS GABRIEL DES VIGNES, Mechanical Engineer, of Zoffany
House, Strand-on-Green, Chiswick, and WALTER AMELIUS CLOUD, Engineer of
Claremont Villa, Harvard Road, Gunnersbury, both 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 :--
Our said invention relates to steam generators of the smoke tube class and has
for its object to obtain an extended area of heating surface, to promote the circula.
tion of the water, to afford facility for cleaning the tubes and in the event of a
tube breaking or becoming leaky to enable that part of the generator to be cut
out, so that it may be repaired or replaced.
In carrying the invention into effect, the body of the generator which constitutes
a steam and water chamber is formed preferably eylindrical and is with the
exception of its extreme en Is enclosed within a shell or casing and projecting
downwardly from the body at suitable angles and so as to radiate from the axis or
other part of the body and laterally diverge from each other are arranged two
rows, or there might be more than two of sectional tube boxes or elements.
These tube boxes are preferably formed rectangular in cross section and are
closely intersected by smoke tubes extending transversely thereof from all sides
so that one set of tubes crosses the other set at right angles thereto and the
sectional tube boxes constituting each row are arranged with two of their angles
in juxtaposition with adjacent boxes so that all sides thereof are exposed and
access may readily be had to the whole of the smoke tubes and with this object
the shell or casing is at suitable intervals provided with doors.
Each of the sectional tube boxes is at its upper end connected with the body of
the boiler by means of a narrow neck opening into the interior of the body and a
pipe may be provided for conducting the steam from said neck to near the crown
thereof, and in the latter case adjacent to the ends of said pipes is provided a
flange or baffle plate extending the entire length of the body and the lower ends
of the tube boxes or sections of each row are connected with a circulation pipe
traversing the generator exteriorly of the shell or casing and at its ends cranked

page_text: or bent upward and made to communicate with the water space of the body, or
it might be with a water space provided at the end of the combustion chamber
as hereinafter described.
The furnace is arranged beneath and between the two rows of sectional tube
boxes or elements and the ends of this space are closed by means of walls of
refractory material or by a water space or water tubes and the space between
the said rows constitutes the combustion chamber so that the smoke and products
of combustion play partly upon two angles of the tube boxes of each row and
partly upon the extreme underside of the body and pass through the smoke tubes
into a flue constituted by the shell or casing and thence around the body of the
generator and away to the uptake.
In the event of either one of the sectional boxes or elements becoming injured
by the breaking of a tube or otherwise, that particular section may be readily cut
out of the system.
Although the sections or elements are herein before described as of rectangular
form they might be of other shape but the rectangular form is for obvious reasons
the preferred one, whilst instead of the narrow neck connection with the body the
tube hoxes might be of equal diameter throughout and the upper ends rivetted
to the body.
The steam may be taken off from the end or upper part of the body, or a dome
may he provided for that purpose.
Instead of connecting the groups of elements to one water and steam chamber
as above described each group may be connected with a separate water and steam
chamber of small diameter the steam spaces of the chambers, and if necessary
the water spaces being placed in communication with each other.
And, in order that the said invention may be more clearly understood and
readily carried into effect, we will proceed aided by the accompanying drawings
more fully to describe the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1, is an end elevation partly in section of a steam generator constructed
according to the present invention.
Figure 2, is a side elevation thereof partly in section.
Figure 3, is a side view of one of the sectional tube boxes separately.
Figure 4, is a plan or top view thereof partly in section.
Figure 5, is a vertical transverse section taken immediately before the end of
the furnace or combustion chamber illustrating a modified form of end wall.
Figure 6, is a vertical section taken on the line 1-1 of Figure 5.
Figure 7, is a similar view to Figure 5, illustrating a further modification in
the end wall of the combustion chamber.
Figure 8, is a vertical section taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 7.
Figure 9, is a diagrammatic view illustrating a group of tube boxes of modified
form, and,
Figure 10, is a diagrammatic view illustrating a further modification.
In the several figures in which like parts are indicated by similar letters of
reference, Figures 3, and 4, are drawn to an increased scale with respect to the
other figures of the drawings.
Referring to Figures 1 to 4, a represents the body of the generator which is
preferably cylindrical and constitutes a steam and water chamber and this steam
and water chamber a, is with the exception of its extreme ends enclosed within
a shell or casing c.
Projecting downwardly from the body a, at suitable angles and so as to radiate
from the axis or other part of the body a, and laterally diverge from each other
are arranged two or there might be more than two rows of sectional tube boxes
or elements b, with furnaces arranged between each pair.
These tube boxes b, are preferably formed rectangular in cross section and
are closely intersected by smoke tubes b', extending transversely there of from all

page_text: sides that is from each side to the opposite parallel side so that one set of tubes
crosses the other set at right angles thereto and the sectional tube boxes b, con-
stituting each row are arranged with two of their angles in juxtaposition with
adjacent boxes as shown at Figure 2, so that all sides thereof are exposed and access
may readily be had to the whole of the smoke tubes b', and with this object the
shell or casing c, is at suitable intervals provided with doors c¹.
body
Each of the sectional tube boxes b is at its upper end connected with the body a,
of the boiler by means of a narrow neck 63, flanged and bolted to a corresponding
flange on the body 11. and opens into the interior of said
and a curved pipe a³, fixed with the body a, may be provided
for conducting the steam from said neck to near the crown of the body as
shown by the dotted lines in Figure 1, and in connection with the pipes a²,
of each series of sectional tube boxes b, and adjacent to the ends thereof is
provided a flange or baffle plate a, which is fixed to the body a, and extends the
entire length thereof at the side of the steam outlet a'.
The lower parts of the water spaces of the tube boxes or sections 6, of each row
or series are connected with a circulation pipe at, which traverses the generator
exteriorly of the shell or casing c, and at its ends is cranked and carried upward
and made to communicate with the water space of the body a, or it might be with a
water space provided at the end of the combustion chamber as hereinafter
described and an efficient circulation of water in the tube boxes b, is thus main-
tained.
The furnace d, is arranged beneath and between the two rows of sectional
tube boxes or elements b, and the ends of this space are closed by means of
walls e, of refractory material and the space *, 'between the said rows of tube
boxes constitutes the combustion chamber, so that the smoke and products of
combustion play partly upon two angles of the tube boxes b, of each row and
partly upon the underside of the body a, and pass through the smoke tubes b',
into a flue *, constituted by the shell or casing e, and thence around the body a,
of the generator and away to the uptake 2
By the arrangement of parts hereinbefore described, in the event of either
one of the sectional tube boxes or elements b, becoming injured by the breaking
of a tube b', or otherwise that particular section may be readily cut out of the
system by disconnecting the same from the steam and water chamber and circula-
tion pipe and closing the connection by the aid of caps or stoppers or a spare
element may be substituted for that removed.
Although the sections or elements b, are hereinbefore shown and described as of
rectangular form they may be of other suitable shapes and for example as those
hereinafter described with respect to Figures 9, and 10, but the rectangular form
is for obvious reasons the preferred one whilst instead of the narrow neck con-
nection 62, with the body a, the tube boxes bh, might be of equal diameter through-
out and the upper ends rivetted to the body as indicated by the dotted lines in
Figure 1.
The steam may be taken off from an outlet such as a', located at the end or
upper part of the body or a dome (not shown) may be provided for that purpose.
Instead of connecting the groups of elements to one water and steam chamber a,
as hereinbefore described, each group may be connected with a separate water
and steam chamber of small diameter the steam spaces and if necessary the water
spaces of the chambers a, being placed in communication with each other as will
be readily understood without the aid of drawings.
In the example given at Figures and 6, the end wall of the furnace d, instead
of being formed of brickwork as hereinbefore described is constructed of a number
of vertically disposed water tubes e, communicating at their upper and lower ends
with water chambers e¹, connected by circulation pipes 2, with the water space
of the steam and water chamber a.
In the example given at Figures 7, and 8, the end wall of the furnace is com-
posed of a water space or chamber e, at its upper and lower ends connected with

page_text: the water space of the steam and water chamber a, by means of circulation
pipes ².
In the example given at Figure 9, a group of sectional tube boxes b, of modified
form is shown.
In this case, the tube boxes b. are triangular in cross section and the smoke
tubes are arranged at right angles with the base of the triangle in order to afford
proper access thereto and consequently do not cross each others path and it is
therefore obvious that this form of tube box although to some extent answering
the purpose in view, is inferior to that herein before described.
In the example given at Figure 10, the smoke boxes are formed cylindrical in
cross section and the smoke tubes b', although they are necessarily fewer in number
than in the arrangement herein before shown and described with respect to
Figures 1 to 4, yet cross each other in a similar manner.
By the means hereinbefore described, a convenient form of steam generator is
obtained which is adapted to generate steam in large volume with great rapidity
whilst by reason of those parts which are subject to the greatest wear being
made in sections they can easily be renewed or repaired.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is: -
1. A steam generator comprising a steam and water chamber, two or more
rows or groups of depending radially disposed independent sectional tube boxes
or elements placed in circulation with the steam and water chamber and each
provided with a number of smoke tubes passing transversely therethrough, sub-
stantially as herein shown and described and for the purpose stated.
2. A steam generator comprising a steam and water chamber, two or more rows
or groups of depending radially disposed independent sectional tube boxes or
elements transversely intersected by smoke tubes and at their upper ends con-
nected with the steam and water chamber by narrow necks and at their lower ends
connected with circulation pipes communicating with the water space of the steam
and water chamber, substantially as herein shown and described and for the
purpose stated.
8. A steam generator comprising a steam and water chamber, two or more
rows or groups of depending radially disposed independent tube boxes or elements
transversely intersected by smoke tubes and at their upper ends provided with
narrow necks connecting with pipes leading to the upper part of the steam and
water chamber and at their lower ends connected with circulation pipes communi-
cating with the water space of the steam and water chamber and baffle plates
arranged longitudinally of said chamber adjacent to the mouths of the pipes
leading from the necks of the elements, substantially as herein shown and
described and for the purpose stated.
4. A steam generator comprising a steam and water chamber, two or more
rows or groups of depending radially disposed independent sectional tube boxes or
elements of rectangular shape in cross section arranged angle to angle and inter-
sected with smoke tubes and placed in circulation with the steam and water
chamber, substantially as herein shown and described and for the purpose stated.
Dated the 5th day of March 1900
VAUGHAN & SON,
Agents for the Applicants.