Improvements in Steam Generators.
Year: 1899

page_text: 1,
Date of Application, 9th Aug., 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Steam Generators.
I, CLAUDE KENNEDY MILLS, of 23, Southampton Buildings, in the County of
London, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (a com-
munication to me from Charles Altmann, of 18, Rue de la Pyramide, Lyons, in
the Republic of France, Engineer) to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is a steam generator having rapid vaporization,
characterized by its method of construction which, by means of simple elements
superposed in variable quantities, enables considerable heating surfaces to be
constructed in a small volume and renders the maintainance easy by the rapid
dismounting and remounting of the said elements.
The said elements may be of any desired dimension and form but they are
always constructed and assembled in the manner indicated in the following
description.
The accompanying drawing shows, by way of example only, a steam generator
constructed according to this invention and composed of two elements.
Fig. 1 is a vertical section of the generator;
Fig. 2 is a plan of an element, half being an exterior view and half being an
interior view.
Each element is composed of two superposed rings ab made of steel or other
metal resisting heat.
The interior face of each ring has circular grooves c, c narrow and deep, seen
on the right side only of Fig. 2, these rings being superposed see Fig. 1, are held
a short distance apart by two circular washers d d placed upon their interior and
exterior, edges and held together by two sets of bolts f f the heads and bolts
of which do not project beyond the surfaces of the metal forming the rings.
The element thus constructed contains a circular channel having a very large
surface formed by the union of the grooves cc and the space g which is left
between the two rings. This channel has at every part, the sides so close together
that the water which circulates therein at a high temperature cannot take. the
spheroidal state.
These elements are placed horizontally one above another with a space h
between them, provided for the passage of the hot gases.
The channels of two successive elements are united by tubes which are placed
alternately to the right and to the left of the elements so that the fluid, water or
steam, which passes through these channels may traverse them in their entire
extent.
.
When the elements thus formed are superposed as in Fig. 1 and provided
with their communications, it will be seen that a continuous channel has been
formed having in cross section a very extended surface, in which water may be
made to circulate by means of a pump delivering into the lower element by the
tube, whilst the hot gases from a furnace may be made to circulate from the
nterior to the exterior of the elements through the spaces which separate them.
The central opening of the upper element is closed partly by a chamber k acting

page_text: to superheat the steam which passes thereto by the bent tube 7; this chamber is
furnished in its interior with helical wings iraversed from the top to the bottom
by the steam which escapes finally by the central-tube m, and passes to the place
where it is utilized.
The furnace, may be constructed to burn coal, coke or oil; it is this laiter
arrangement which is shown in the drawing."
The burners are placed at and send their hot gases into the central space o
whence they pass between the elements into the outer casing p which direcis them
towards the chimney. The outer-casing may be made of refractory material,
but it is preferably formed, as shown in the drawing, of two metal walls between
which the feed water is made to circulate before being forced into the lower
element.
.
The number of elements and their dimensions will depend upon the power of
the generator and the mode of heating the same but the width of the grooves
and of the space g will never attain the limit where the water in circulating would
take the spheroïdal state.
In some cases the elements may be made in the form of discs without an opening
and the hot gases may be made to circulate between these, elements in any
convenient inanner.
Dated this 9th day of August 1900
HARRIS & MILLS,
23, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents.
Improvements in Steam Generators.
I, CLAUDE KENNEDY MILLS, of 23, Southampton Buildings, in the County of
London, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (a com-
munication to me from Charles Altmann, of 18, Rue de la Pyramide, Lyons, in
the Republic of France, Engineer), and in what manner the same is to be
perfornied to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
-
The object of this invention is a steam generator having rapid vaporization,
which by means of simple elements superposed in convenient number, enables
considerable heating surfaces to be constructed in a small volume and renders
the maintenance easy by the facility for dismounting and remounting of the
elements.
The accompanying drawing shows by way of example only a steam generator
constructed according to this invention and composed of two elements.
Fig. 1 is a vertical section on the axis of the generator and Fig. 2 is a plan
of an element of Fig. 1, half being an exterior view and half being an interior
view.
Each element is formed of two rings a; b, made of steel or other metal resisting
heat, the interior face of each ring has circular grooves c, e which are narrow
and deep. These rings, being superposed, are held at a short distance apart by
two circular washers, placed upon their interior and exterior edges and held
together by two sets of bolts f, f. the heads and nuts of which do not project
beyond the surfaces of the metal forming the rings.
The elements thus constructed and furnished with an annular channel having
a very extended surface formed by the grooves and the space 9, are arranged
horizontally one above the other, leaving between them a space h intended for
the passage of the hot gases. The channels of two successive elements are united

page_text: by tubes i which are placed alternately to the right and to the left, in order that
the fluid, water or steam, may traverse them, ihroughout their entire extent.
The upper element is united by means of the bent tube to a superheating
chamber provided with helical wings, through which the steam passing from
the elements, traverses from the top to the bottom and then passes into the
tube m which conducts it to the place where it is utilized.
The water is forced into the elements by means of a pump and enters by the
tube j. The elements are surrounded by a casing p of refractory or other suitable
material, and are heated, according to circumstances, by a furnace consuming
coal, coke or mineral oils; it is the latter which is represented in the accom-
panying drawing. The burners which are placed at send their hot gases into
the central space o, which then circulate completely around the elements and
escape by an opening at the upper part of the casing p.
Mode of working. The water entering by the tube is extremely divided by
the narrowness of the channel formed by the grooves and the space g; in
contact with the large heating surface, produced by these grooves, the water is
immediately vaporized; the steam circulates through all the elements and passing
away by the tube 1, traverses from top to bottom, the helical wings & where it is
superheated before its entry into the tube m.
In order to ensure good vaporization it is necessary that the channel formed
by the grooves and the space g have its sides sufficiently near together so that
the water which is to circulate therein at a high temperature, may not attain
the limit at which it will take the spheroidal state.
With respect to the casing which directs the gases towards the chimney, in
lieu of making it of refractory material, it is preferable to form it, as indicated in
the drawing, of two metallic sides, between which the feed water is first caused
to circulate, in order to heat it before it is delivered to the lower element.
The number of the elements and their dimensions depend on the power required
for the boiler and on its mode of heating; in certain cases they may be in the
form of discs without central openings and the hot gases caused to circulate in
any convenient manner.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1. In a rapidly evaporating steam generator, the combination of evaporating
elements placed horizontally one above the other and each formed by two super-
posed metallic rings, provided with circular narrow and deep grooves and held
together by bolts with washers of convenient thickness placed between them,
tubes connecting such elements together, a tube connecting the upper element
with a superheater for steam having interior helical wings and a discharge tube
arranged in the centre of the helical wings substantially as herein set forth and
for the purpose specified.
2. In a rapidly evaporating steam generator, the construction of a vaporizing
element consisting of the union of two metallic rings having circular narrow
and deep grooves, separated by washers of suitable thickness, to enable the fluid
to circulate substantially as herein set forth.
3. In a
rapidly evaporating steam generator, the combination of vaporizing
elements with a superheater communicating with the last of said elements and
consisting of a cylindrical chamber furnished interiorly with helical wings, in
the centre of which is placed a steam delivery tube substantially as herein set
forth.