IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM BOILERS FOR MARINE ENGINES
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Mordue, Marine Draughtsman, in the
Employ of Messieurs Robert Stephenson and Company, Engineers,
of the Town and County of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM BOILERS FOR MARINE ENGINES."
Sealed the 15th January 1869, and dated the 28th October 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Mordue at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
28th October 1868.
I, THOMAS MORDUE, Marine Draughtsman, in the Employ of Messieurs
Robert Stephenson and Company, Engineers, of the Town and County of
Newcastle-upon-Tyne, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM BOILERS FOR MARINE ENGINES," to be as
follows:-
This Invention is particularly applicable to compound marine engines
with surface condensation and where very high pressures and economy
of fuel are required.
These improved boilers consist of a main cylindrical portion containing
the usual tubes, also of one or more cylindrical or other shaped portions

page_text: containing the furnaces, also of a combustion chamber uniting the
furnaces to the tubes passing through the main portion of the boiler,
then through the superheating tube or tubes placed in the steam chamber,
and thence to the chimney or funnel. The water space surrounding the
furnaces is connected to the main portion of the boiler by one or more
water tubes, and also to the water spaces surrounding the combustion
chamber. By this improved arrangement or combination the main
portion of the boiler is reduced in diameter and a higher pressure may
be safely used, a large capacity for steam is obtained, and by the peculiar
construction of the furnaces and their outer shells a considerable amount
of staying is avoided, which is of great advantage when surface con-
densation is used. These improved boilers are very simple in construction
and offer great facilities for repairing and cleaning.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Thomas Mordue in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 19th January 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
MORDUE, Marine Draughtsman, in the Employ of Messieurs Robert
Stephenson and Company, Engineers, of the Town and County of
Newcastle-upon-Tyne, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, hearing date the Twenty-eighth day of October, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the thirty-
second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Thomas Mordue, Her special license that
I, the said Thomas Mordue, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said Thomas Mordue, 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 BOLLERS FOR
MARINE ENGINES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Thomas Mordue, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should par-

page_text: ticularly 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 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 Thomas Mordue, 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 (that is to say) :-
This Invention is particularly applicable to compound marine engines
with surface condensation and where very high pressures and economy
of fuel are required.
These improved boilers consist of a main cylindrical portion containing
the usual tubes, also of one or more cylindrical or other shaped portions
containing the furnaces, also of a combustion chamber uniting the
furnaces to the tubes passing through the main portion of the boiler,
then through the superheating tube or tubes placed in the steam chamber,
and thence to the chimney or funnel. The water space surrounding the
furnaces is connected to the main portion of the boiler by one or more
water tubes, and also to the water spaces surrounding the combustion
chamber.
And in order that my Invention may be fully understood and, readily
carried into operation, I will proceed to describe the two accom-
panying Sheets of Drawings in which several modes of performing
my Invention are represented.
On Sheet 1, Figure 1 is an end elevation of one of my improved steam
boilers for marine engines; Figure 2, a longitudinal section through the
line A, B, on Figure 1; Figure 3, a transverse section through the
line C, D, on Figure 2; and Figure 4 is a longitudinal section through
the line E, F, on Figure 1.
In these views a is the outer shell of the main cylindrical portion of
the boiler containing the usual tubes b, b, and the superheating tube or
tubes c, which dry the steam in the steam space above the multitubular
part of the boiler. The main cylindrical portion of the boiler is connected
to the water space of the furnace chambers d, d, by means of the branch
pipes e, e; these chambers may be circular, as shewn, or of any other
convenient or ordinary shape. The flues f. f, are placed by preference
eccentrically within the furnace chambers d, so as to allow more water

page_text: are
are
space above the flues than below. The fire-grates g and bridges
placed as usual in the flues f, and the back end of both the flues
united in the combustion chamber i, which is provi ed with one or more
vertical water tubes j to heat the water and to promote its circulation
from the lower to the upper part of the boiler. The arrows in Figure 4
indicate the direction of the products of combustion passing from the
fire-grates over the bridges through the combustion chamber i, then
through the multitubular portion of the boiler, thence through the super-
heating tube or tubes c, and thence to the chimney or funnel k. It is
evident that by supplying fuel to the two grates alternately the smoke
will be to a great extent consumed in the chamber i.
On Sheet 2, Figure 5 represents an end elevation of two boilers
combined, each portion being similar to that shewn on Sheet 1, and
Figure 6 is a side view of the same. In these views the superheating
tubes c are connected together by the saddle 1, from which the funnel k
rises.
Figure 7 is an end elevation of a boiler constructed according to a
modification of my Invention, and Figure 8 is a side view of the
In this instance the furnace chambers d, d, are placed at each
side instead of under the main cylindrical portion a.
same.
Figure 9 is an end elevation of another modification of my improved
boilers, and Figure 10 is a side view of the same. In this instance I
have shewn three furnace chambers d combined with one main cylindrical
portion a.
The foregoing description and Drawings will be sufficient to illustrate
the peculiar character of my Invention, but I wish it to be distinctly
understood that I do not intend to limit myself to the details herein
set forth, as the same may be considerably varied or modified according
to the size and construction of the vessel to which my improved stçam
boilers are applied.
The principal advantages resulting from these improved arrangements
or combinations of the various parts of steam boilers are, that the main
portion of the boiler is reduced in diameter and consequently a higher
pressure may be safely used, also that a large capacity for steam is
obtained, and that by the peculiar construction of the furnaces and their
outer shells a considerable amount of staying is avoided, which is of great
advantage when surface condensation is used. These, improved boilers

page_text: are very simple in construction and offer great facilities for repairing and
cleaning.
Having thus stated the nature of my Invention, and described several
modes of carrying the same into operation, I declare that I claim,-
First. The improved arrangements and combinations of the various
parts of steam boilers for marine engines, as shewn and described.
And, secondly. The separate furnace chambers marked & when applied
to steam boilers for marine engines.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Mordue, have hereto set
my hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of January, One thousand
eight hundred and sixty-nine.
THOMAS MORDUE. (L.S.)