IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM BOILERS
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Ashton, of Birkenhead, in the County of
Chester, Boiler Maker, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM
BOILERS."
Scaled the 20th October 1871, and dated the 22nd April 1871.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Ashton at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
22nd April 1871.
I, HENRY ASHTON, of Birkenhead, in the County of Chester, Boiler
Maker, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN STEAM BOILERS," to be as follows:-
My Invention relates to steam boilers of the vertical tubular class, and
has for its main objects, (1) to provide large heating surfaces for the
flames and heating gases to act upon in boilers of moderate height, (2)
to ensure efficient circulation of the water, (3) to admit of easy access
for examining, cleaning, and repairing, (4) to separate water and foreign
matter from the steam and ensure when required a supply of dry steam

page_text: for power engines and other purposes, and (5) to provide efficient means
for removing soot and solid matter from amongst the tubes. For these
purposes I construct the shell of a cylindrical form, preferably with a
dome shaped top, and form the fuel chamber near the bottom within
the outer line thereof. The fire-grate is circular or ring like in plan, 5
and is divided into sections by water tubes or otherwise if desired. The
crown of the fire chamber is arched or curved and there passes there-
through one, two, or more, I prefer two flues of considerable area.
These flues lead into the space surrounding the vertical tubes, called the
flame chamber. The tubes are secured in tube plates at bottom and top, 1
the top plate being a sufficient distance below the water line.
In practice I prefer to form a large central water tube extending from
the top tube plate downwards to or below the fire-bars, it serves for the
ascending current of water. An annular space between the tubes and
the shell serves for the descending current of water. The central water 1
space is not indispensable. In any case the flames and heated gases are
caused to travel horizontally around amongst the tubes before escape
into the waste flue, funnel, or chimney, a vertical partition plate being
interposed for the purpose.
Steam is conveyed from the top of the boiler by a pipe, usually bell 2
mouthed, and such pipe is led downwards through the waste gases,
thence by a bend or connection upwards still amongst the waste gases,
and finally to the place where it is to be used. In this way it is dried
and superheated. To provide for the certain removal of water and
foreign matter, angular plates are in some instances fixed in the 2
descending pipe, and a well is provided to collect, and valves to with-
draw the water or substance carried over. Soot and other matters
deposited amongst the tubes in the flame chamber is removed there-
from by admitting steam through a perforated pipe.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-second day of April, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the thirty-
fourth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Henry Ashton, Her special license that
I, the said Henry Ashton, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said Henry Ashton, my executors, admi-
nistrators, and assigns, should in 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, usc, 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 Henry
Ashton, 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 Henry Ashton, 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, reference being had to the accompanying, three
Sheets of illustrative Drawings, and to the figures and letters marked
thereon, that is to say :-
My Invention relates to steam boilers of the vertical tubular class, and
has for its main objects, (1) to provide large heating surfaces for the
flames and beating gases to act upon in boilers of moderate height, (2)
to ensure efficient circulation of the water, (3) to admit of easy access
for examining, cleaning, and repairing, (4) to separate water and foreign
matter from the steam and ensure when required a supply of dry steam
for power engines and other purposes, and (5) to provide efficient means
for removing soot and solid matter from amongst the tubes. For these
purposes I construct the shell of a cylindrical shape, preferably with a
dome shaped top, and form the fuel chamber near the bottom within
the outer line of the shell. The fire-grate is circular or ring like in
plan, and is divided into sections by water tubes or otherwise if desired.
The crown of the fire chamber is arched or curved, and there passes

page_text: provided and used if desired for closing f; h, vertical water tubes,
secured in the tube plates, marked respectively the bottom one i and the
top one j; ks, central water tube extending from the top tube plate j
downwards below the fire-grate c; l, annular water space formed im-
mediately within the shell a, the said space extends downwards below
the fire-grate c and communicates freely through the horizontal water
tube d with the central water tube k. The arrows show the direction of
the circulation of the water. When the central water tube k is not
employed it is convenient to dispense with the horizontal water tube d.
The flames and heating gases passing through fand f¹ as mentioned, or
through one or the whole of the flues are caused to travel horizontally
in the flame chamber g for the purpose of retarding their escape, and
allowing them to part with their heat before escape through the opening
m into the waste flue, funnel, or chimney, here marked n, and the
means which I employ for this absolutely necessary retardation of the
flame and heating gases consists of the novel and essential vertical
partition plate o. The arrows show the course of the flames and heating
gases; p, bell-mouthed steam pipe, led from the steam space down-
wards and then upwards, within the waste flue n conducting the steam
in the manner shewn tends to dry and superheat it, but it will be obvious
steam may be taken direct from the steam space; q, perforated anti-
priming plates, angular plates are shown on Sheet B; r, well with blow-
off valve; 8 shows a pipe with perforations or nozzles for injecting steam
and inducing air into the flame chamber for the purpose of removing
soot and cleaning the flame chamber g; tare doors for allowing easy
access for cleaning, examining, and repairing.
Sheet B contains views of a pair of marine boilers of larger size than
those shown on Sheet A, but constructed in substantially the same
manner. Fig. 6 is a plan and horizontal section, the latter at the
line E, E; Fig. 7 a side elevation and vertical section, the latter at the
line A, A; Fig. 8 a vertical transverse section at the line B, B; Fig. 9
a horizontal section at the bent line C, D, and Fig. 10 a view in side
clevation of part of a boiler with part of the steam pipe removed to show
the angular plate. In these views like letters denote the same parts.
a, shell; b, fuel chamber; c, fire-grate; d, horizontal water tubes placed
at right angles, and dividing the fire-grate cinto four sections, four doors
being provided; f, f, f, flues; g, flame chamber; h, vertical water
tubes; i, bottom tube plate; j, top tube plate; k, central water tube,
and 7, annular water space, these being connected and in free commu-

page_text: nication through d; m, opening for escape of gases; n, waste gases fluc,
funnel, or chimney; o, partition plate; p, steam pipe within the funnel
n; p as here shown is divided by the partition plate p¹ and is provided
with an angular anti-priming plate q, more than one plate may be used;
r, well; 8, steam injecting cleaning pipe; t, doors.
On Sheet C, Figs. 11, 12, and 13, show a single boiler constructed in
accordance with my Invention without the central water tube described
above and shewn on Sheets A and B, Fig. 11 being a side elevation;
Fig. 12 a horizontal section at the line B, B, and Fig. 13 a vertical
section at the line A, A. a, cylindrical shell; b, fire door; c, fire-grate ;
d, fire chamber. A steam jet d is provided for inducing combustion
and tending to keep the tubes and flue clean, and also for cleaning the
flame chamber; e, water tubes secured in plates f,g; h, flame chamber
i, plate for causing the gases to travel horizontally and part with their
heat before cscape into the chimneyj; k, annular water space. The
arrows show the course of the flames and heating gases.
i
Figs. 15, 16, and 17, are views similar to Figs. 12, 13, and 14, but of
a smaller boiler, the part varied being the plate i which here forms the
segment of a circle. The same letters of reference used on Figs. 12, 13,
and 14, are marked on equivalent parts in Figs. 15, 16, and 17.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention and particu-
larized the same by various modifications from which others will be
enabled to carry my improvements into effect, I claim, the combinations
and arrangements of parts, substantially in the manner and for the pur-
poses set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Ashton, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, the Nineteenth day of October, in the year
In the presence of,
J. T. KING,
Patent Agent,
Liverpool.
HENRY ASHTON. (L.S.)