IMPROVEMENTS IN SECTIONAL STEAM BOILERS
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the "International Patent
Office," Southampton Buildings, London, Consulting Engineer, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SECTIONAL STEAM BOILERS."-A
communication from abroad by William Philip Abendroth, John
Griffith, George William Wundram, and Teile Henry Muller, all
of the City, County, and State of New York, United States of
America, Manufacturers.
ealed the 22nd March 1870, and dated the 28th December 1869.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 28th December 1869.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the "International Patent Office,"
Southampton Buildings, London, Consulting Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SECTIONAL
STEAM BOILERS," a communication, to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to certain improvements in steam boilers of the
class technically known as "sectional boilers," and which are composed

page_text: of a series of independent pipes, by preference placed in an inclined
position over the fire-place, and made to communicate with each other
and with a common steam dome in such a manner that each pipe forms
an independent water space, which is exposed to the direct action of the
fire, and from which the steam rises into the common steam dome.
These improvements consist in the arrangement of heads provided
with openings in their sides in combination with the horizontal or
inclined water pipes in such a manner that a side circulation is produced
throughout the whole boiler in addition to the usual up and down or
vertical circulation. Further in the arrangement of heads which
communicate with each other both in a vertical and in a horizontal
direction, and which are placed eccentrically towards the centre lines
of the pipes, to which they are attached in such a manner that a free
circulation of the water takes place throughout the entire series of pipes,
and that the water and steam on rising through the elevated end of one
of the pipes will strike the top plate of the head before being permitted
to rise through the opening in the top of such head to the next head
above or to the steam dome, and that by these means the steam is
disengaged more readily from the water than it would be if the heads
should be placed concentrically with the centre lines of the pipes, in
which case the water and steam issuing from the elevated end of the
pipes rush up together to the next succeeding head. Further in the
arrangement of heads provided with vertical and with horizontal
shanks and with sockets to receive the ends of the pipes, so that while
the heads are set in uniform rows one above another the sockets and
consequently the pipes are " staggered" or set quincuncially. Further
in the arrangement of a water jacket enclosing the inclined pipes and
connecting with the heads through openings in such a manner that an
additional heating surface is created, and at the same time the water is
free to circulate through the pipes, the heads, and the water jacket.
Further in the arrangement of pipes along the side walls of the fire
chamber, so that the said pipes shall be partially embedded in and form
a part of the said walls acting as bearers for the bricks, which are so
formed that they can be readily taken out and replaced for the purpose
of making repairs. Further in the arrangement of tubular brackets
perforated with holes in their sides and inserted between the walls of
the water jacket, and of the heads in combination with the screw bolts
passing through the said brackets in such a manner that the walls of

page_text: the water jacket are relieved from all strain produced by the bolts, and
the circulation of the water and steam is not obstructed. Further in
the arrangement of a top composed of shoes with flat sides to rest upon
the side walls enclosing the boiler, and with inclined sides to support the
bricks which form the arch of the top in such a manner that the said
top is free to expand and contract without exerting an injurious strain
on the side walls.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 24th June 1870.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ROBERT LAKE, of the "International Patent Office," Southampton
Buildings, London, Consulting Engineer, send greeting..
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-eighth day of December, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the
thirty-third year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said William Robert Lake, Her special
licence that I, the said William Robert Lake, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Robert Lake,
my exccutors, 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 SECTIONAL STEAM BOILERS," a communication to me from.
abroad by William Philip Abendroth, John Griffith, George William
Wundram, and Teile Henry Muller, all of the City, County, and State
of New York, United States of America, Manufacturers, upon the con-
dition (amongst others) that I, the said William Robert Lake, 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,

page_text: Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Robert Lake, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawings forming a part of this Specification;-
This Invention relates to certain improvements in steam boilers of the
class technically known as "sectional boilers," and which are composed
of a series of independent pipes, by preference placed in an inolined
position over the fire-place, and made to communicate with each other
and with a common steam, dome in such a manner that each pipe forms
an independent water space, which is exposed to the direct action of the
fire, and from which the steam rises into the common steam dome.
These improvements consist in the arrangement of heads provided
with openings in their sides in combination with the horizontal or
inclined water pipes, in such a manner that a side circulation is pro-
duced throughout the whole boiler in addition to the usual up and down
or vertical circulation. Further in the arrangement of heads which
communicate with each other both in a vertical and in a horizontal a
direction, and which are placed eccentrically towards the centre lines of
the pipes to which they are attached, in such a manner that a free
circulation of the water takes place throughout the entire series of pipes,
and that the water and steam on rising through the elevated end of one
of the pipes will strike the top plate of the head before being permitted
to rise through the opening in the top of such head to the next head
above, or to the steam dome, and that by these means the steam is
disengaged more readily from the water than it would be if the heads
should be placed concentrically with the centre lines of the pipes, in
which case the water and steam issuing from the elevated end of the a
pipe rush up together to the next succeeding head. Further in the
arrangement of heads provided with vertical and with horizontal shanks,
and with sockets to receive the ends of the pipes, so that while the heads
are set in uniform rows one above another the sockets and consequently
the pipes are "staggered," or set quinouncially. Further in the arrange-
ment of a water jacket enclosing the inclined pipes, and connecting with
the heads through openings in such a manner that an additional heating

page_text: surface is created, and at the same time the water is free to circulate
through the pipes, the heads, and the water jacket. Further in the
arrangement of pipes along the side wall of the fire chamber, so that
the said pipes shall be partially embedded in and form a part of the said
walls, acting as bearers for the bricks, which are so formed that they can
be readily taken out and replaced for the purpose of making repairs.
Further in the arrangement of tubular brackets perforated with holes in
their sides, and inserted between the walls of the water jacket, and of
the heads in combination with the screw bolts passing through the said
brackets, in such a manner that the walls of the water jacket are relieved
from all strain produced by the bolts, and the circulation of the water
and steam is not obstructed. Further in the arrangement of a top
composed of shoes with flat sides to rest upon the side walls enclosing
the boiler, and with inclined sides to support the bricks which form the
arch of the top, in such a manner that the said top is free to expand and
contract without exerting an injurious strain on the side walls.

page_text: in a horizontal direction through holes a, and in a vertical direction
through holes b, and the holes a and b are both placed eccentrically with
the centre lines of the pipes, so that the water and steam discharging
from the elevated end of one of the pipes will strike the top and side
plates of the head before being permitted to rush out through the
holes a, or up through the holes b. By these means the steam is more
readily liberated from the water than it is if the holes a and b are placed
concentrically with the centre lines of the pipes, and white the water in
striking the tops and sides of the heads is checked in its direct course
the steam liberated therefrom rises through the holes b. and collects in a
common steam dome. By means of the holes a in the sides of the heads
a lateral or side circulation is produced between the pipes D, and the
circulation of the water throughout the boiler is thereby materially
facilitated. The pipes D are enclosed in a water jacket F, which is
composed of three distinct chambers c, d, e. The chamber c extends
in front of the boiler under the clevated ends of the pipes D, and it
communicates with the lateral chamber d, e. These chambers form
the side walls of the boiler and furnace, and they communicate with
the upper rows of the heads E at both ends of the pipes D, and also
with the chamber, which may be made to form the top of the boiler,
and to communicate with the upper rows of the heads E. This last-
named chamber may, however, be omitted, and the upper heads brought
in direct communication with the steam dome. All parts of the water
jacket are thus brought in communication with the pipes D, allowing
the water to circulate freely throughout the entire boiler, and an
additional heating surface is provided, whereby the steam generating
capacity of the boiler is materially increased. The water jacket will
in practice be divided in several distinct sections or chambers, so that
the same can be taken apart with great facility. The chambers are
connected together and to the heads E by the bolts m. To enable each
bolt to throw the pressure caused by its nut directly to the joint between
the inner plate and the adjoining head or chamber a brace n of peculiar
construction may be put in between the plates, as best seen in Figure 2.
This brace is formed by a piece of pipe flanged on both ends, one flange
inward and the other outward, leaving the end leading to the head or
chamber wide open, and it is perforated in its sides with holes o through
which the circulation takes place. By placing this bracket in between
the plates of the chambers or heads all the pressure caused by the nuts

page_text: on the ends of the bolts is conveyed directly to the points between the
different parts, and no piece has to bear more strain than that caused by
the steam pressure, while, if the brackets were omitted, the outer plate
would have to sustain and transfer the strain, which in addition to the
steam pressure would cause a danger of rupturing the same. The
heads E are by preference constructed with vertical shanks b' and
horizontal shanks a', and with sockets c¹ to receive the ends of the
pipes D. The joints between the heads may be made tight by suitable
packing. The water jacket c, d, e, may also be omitted, and instead
thereof pipes D¹ may be placed in the sides of the furnace wall, as
shown in Figures 4, 5, 7, and 8. These side pipes are embedded in the
walls, the bricks used for building the said walls being provided with
indentations to receive the pipes, so that the said pipes will form a
support for the walls, and at the same time the bricks can easily be
removed and replaced when it may be required for making repairs.
The side pipes connect at their ends with heads, which are constructed
like the heads E, and by these pipes the heating surface of the boiler is
materially increased. The top I of the boiler is composed of shoes 7, by
preference made of cast iron, and provided with flat sides, which rest
upon the side walls, and with inclined sides to support the bricks
forming the arch of the top, as shown in Figure 9. By placing the
shoes loosely upon the side walls the top is free to expand and contract
without exerting an injurious strain on the side walls. The said top
will be made in sections, so that it can be readily taken off and replaced
whenever it may be desired. The shoes on the opposite sides of the top
are connected by stay bolts m³, and they may be made with two inclined
faces to support two arches one above the other, so as to leave an air
chamber n between them, and to prevent loss of heat by radiation.
The heated gases and products of combustion on rising from the fire-
place pass over the bridge wall J, which extends half way up between
the pipes D; they then strike the partition wall K, which is built
between the pipes D, and they pass over the second bridge wall L,
which extends half way up between the pipes, as shown in Figures 1
and 7. The fire flues may, however, be also constructed as shown in
Figures 5 and 6, where the last bridge wall I' is built at right angles,
so as to bring the escape flue within the walls of the boiler.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated
to me by my foreign correspondents, I wish it understood that I

page_text: claim, the improvements in sectional steam boilers, substantially as
herein set forth for the purposes specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, the Twenty-fourth day of June, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE. (L.S.)
Witness,
JAMES TEARE.