IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM BOILERS
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Wye Williams, of Liverpool, in the County
Palatine of Lancaster, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN STEAM BOILERS."
Sealed the 20th February 1863, and dated the 8th September 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Wye Williams
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 8th September 1862.
1. CHARLES WYE WILLIAMS. of Liverpool, in the County Palatine of Lan-
caster, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM BOILERS," to be as follows:-
My Invention is designed to increase the evaporative effect of steam boilers,
and consists in substituting for the ordinary long tubes or flues employed in
locomotive, marine, and other steam boilers. sets or series of short tubes or
flues of a circular, rectangular, or other form, at short distances apart. each
set or series being fitted into tube plates or face plates like those into which
the long tubes aforesaid are inserted. The object of this arrangement is to
increase the number of tube plates or face plates against which the flame and
hot gases generated in the furnace strike. as I have found by experiment that
tube plate or face plate surface, exposed to the direct action of the flame and
hot gases, is much more efficient than the interior surface of the tubes them-
selves in transmitting heat to the water within the boiler.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Charles Wye Williams in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 6th March 1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CHARLES
WYE WILLIAMS, of Liverpool, in the County Palatine of Lancaster, Gentleman,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eighth day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-seventh year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Charles Wye Williams, Her special licence that me, the
said Charles Wye Williams, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said Charles Wye Williams, 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 Charles Wye Williams, 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 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 Charles Wye Williams, 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 thereof, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto
annexed, that is to say:-
My Invention is designed to increase the evaporative or vaporizing effect of
steam ailets, and consists in substituting for the ordinary long tubes or Blues
employed in locomotive, marine, and other steam boilers sets or series of short
tubes or flues of a circular, rectangular, or other form, at short distances apart,
the ends of each set or series being fitted into tube plates or face plates like
those into which the long tubes aforesaid are united. The object of this
arrangement is to increase the number of tube plates or face plates against
which the flame and hot gases generated in the furnace strike, as I have

page_text: found by experiment that tube plate or face plate surface exposed to the
direct action of the flame and hot gases is much more efficient than the
interior surface of the tubes themselves in transmitting heat to the water within
the boiler.
The annexed Drawings illustrate the manner in which the series of short
tubes or flues and face plates may be constructed.
Figure is a vertical section, and Figure 2 a plan or view from above of
these short tubes, each of which is about two to four inches in diameter, like
ordinary tubes, but only eight to ten or twelve inches in length or thereabout,
according to the space allowed for their insertion. Each series of tubes is
inserted into and between two vertical face plates. Thus the heated current from
the furnace passing through one set of these short tubes strikes with a direct
action against the next face plate in which the second series of short tubes is
inserted, and so on in succession through the remaining series, whatever may
be their number.
In place of circular or cylindrical tubes I sometimes introduce a series of
rectangular short flues. Figure 3 is a vertical section; Figure 4, a side
view; and Figure 5, a plan or view from above of these flues, each of which
may be about two to four inches in width, eight to ten or twelve or more
inches in length, and two to four feet deep, according to the size and height of
the boiler. Each series of these flues is inserted between two face plates, as
above described with reference to the tubes. The spaces between the several
series of flues or tubes, and which spaces in succession are open to receive the
current of heated products from the furnace, I make about four to six inches
in length; the current from one set of such tubes or flues crossing this space
and striking with direct action against the face plate in which the succeeding
series is inserted, and so on, according to the number of series of such flues or
tubes. In the case of short boilers where it is necessary to take up the heat in
the shortest time and space, and with the view of enlarging the heat-receiving
area of each succeeding face plate, I make the several tubes or flues of a cone
or tapered shape, instead of cylindrical or parallel, thus enlarging the orifice of
the outgoing current from each tube or flue, and the heat-receiving area of the
face plate against which the heated current is to strike.
Figure 6 represents a view looking from above of those cone-shaped or
tapered tubes or flues, the ends of such tubes or flues at which the heated
A repre-
current issues being larger or wider than those at which it enters.
sents the latter, and B the former.
In furtherance of the same object, and particularly in short boilers, I some-
times cause the several series of such tubes or flues to be so placed that the

page_text: exit end of each, instead of being opposite and in the direct line of the
succeeding tube or flue, shall be opposite the part of the succeeding face plate
which intervenes between its tubes or flues, by which means each current of
heated products is caused to strike the portion of the next face plate between
the receiving ends or orifices of the next succeeding series.
Figure 7 is a view looking down on such indirect series of tubes or flues.
With the view and for the purpose of facilitating the process of cleaning,
repairing, or renewing such tubes or flues, I sometimes make each series of
tubes or flues into a distinct and separate vessel, which may be removed or
replaced at will.
Figure 8 represents on an enlarged scale one of these separate vessels with
its tubes, and Figure 9, one of such with its flues, and shewing the manner in
which it may be secured after having been set in its proper place.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention. and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim the construction of
boilers with sets or series of short tubes or flues of a circular. rectangular, or
other form, at short distances apart, each set or series being fitted into tulie
plates or face plates like those into which the long tubes aforesaid are
inserted.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Wye Williams, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Fifth day of March, One thousand eight
CHARLES WYE WILLIAMS. (L.S.)