IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM BOILERS
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Ernest August Bourry, of St. Gallen, in the
Canton of St. Gallen, Switzerland, Civil Engineer, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM BOILERS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Ernest August Bourry
-
. at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 16th September 1873.
I, ERNEST AUGUST BOURRY, of St. Gallen, in the Canton of St. Gallen,
Switzerland, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM BOILERS," to be as follows:-
By means of these improvements steam of any required pressure can
be safely generated, as undue strains involving explosion or collapse are
prevented, and any eventual disruption is localized; the employment of
masonry is diminished or completely avoided; the weight of a boiler of
a given power is lessened; while every part can be easily examined,
cleaned, and replaced.

page_text: My improvements consist in building up steam boilers out of a
number of small tubes, preferably of three different diameters. The
largest sized tubes, by preference four in number, are so adjusted as to
form the four corners of the boiler, and they are set parallel to one
another. To each of these four tubes, which I term "corner tubes," are
jointed or fitted the ends of two sets or rows of tubes of a smaller dia-
meter, forming an angle of ninety degrees with each other. Each end
of each of these tubes is jointed by any known means to one of the four
corner tubes, and they may be formed with longitudinal ribs, which are
brought into mutual contact. The rows thus formed constitute the sides
or walls of the boiler, the four rows resulting in a box of a square or
nearly square cross section, with sides consisting of the smaller tubes,
which I hence term the "side tubes," in contradistinction to the above-
mentioned " corner tubes." A certain number of such side tubes lying
opposite and parallel to each other are then connected to each other by
means of yet smaller tubes. These smallest tubes crossing the inside of
the box, formed as above stated, result in rows of tubes respectively
parallel or at right angles to the outer side tubes, and which said smallest
tubes I term the 86 cross tubes."
An alternative mode of constructing the sides of the boiler would
also consist in forming them out of a plate suitably corrugated and fitted
against another flat plate, or out of two corrugated plates.
A box thus built up, with the corner tubes set horizontally may be
suitably jointed to one or more horizontal main boilers lying above it,
the congeries of tubes being made to receive the fire-grate and the fire-
gases evolved therefrom; or the corner tubes may be set vertically, if it
be wished to construct a vertical boiler.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Sixteenth day of September, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the
thirty-seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said Ernest August Bourry, Her
special licence that I, the said Ernest August Bourry, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Ernest August
Bourry, 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 Ernest August Bourry, 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 Ernest August Bourry, 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 thereof, that is to say :-
-
By means of these improvements steam of any required pressure can
be safely generated, as undue strains involving explosion or collapse are
prevented, and any eventual disruption is localized; the employment of
masonry is diminished or completely avoided; the weight of a boiler of
given power is lessened; while every part can be easily examined,
cleaned, or replaced.
My improvements consist in building up steam boilers out of a
number of small tubes, preferably of three different diameters. The
largest sized tubes, by preference four in number, are so adjusted as to
form the four corners of the boiler, and they are set parallel to one
another. To each of these four tubes, which I term "corner tubes," are
jointed or fitted the ends of two sets or rows of tubes of a smaller dia-
meter, forming an angle of ninety degrees with each other. Each end

page_text: 66
of each of these tubes is jointed by any known means to one of the four
corner tubes," and they may be formed with longitudinal ribs, which
are brought into mutual contact. The rows thus constitute the sides or
walls of the boiler, the four rows resulting in a box of a square or nearly
square cross section, with sides consisting of the smaller tubes, which I
hence term the "side tubes," in contradistinction to the above-mentioned
corner tubes." A certain number of such "side tubes" lying opposite
and parallel to each other are then connected to each other by means of
yet smaller tubes. These smallest tubes, crossing the inside of the box
formed as above stated, result in rows of tubes respectively parallel or at
right angles to the outer "side tubes, and which said tubes I term the
cross tubes."
cr
An alternative mode of constructing the sides of the boiler would also
consist in forming them of a plate suitably corrugated and fitted against
another flat plate, or out of two corrugated plates.
A box thus built up, with the "corner tubes" set horizontally, may
be suitably jointed to one or more horizontal main boilers lying above.it,
the congeries of tubes being made to receive the fire-grate and fire-gases.
evolved therefrom; or the "corner tubes" may be set vertically, if it is
wished to construct a vertical boiler.
Having thus set forth the nature of my Invention, I will now proceed
to explain, by means of Drawings, the precise modes of carrying out the
same
In the accompanying Sheet of Drawings the same letters denote the
same parts in all the Figures from Fig. 1 to Fig. 18 inclusively.
"
"
The Figures numbered from 1 to 10 represent the units of the
structure of my boiler. The said Figures thus show the shapes of
the different tubes, their approximately correct proportions, and also the
different modes I employ for jointing and connecting the same. In all
these ten Figures what I term the " corner tubes are denoted by A, A;
the side tubes"
€6
by B, B; and the " cross tubes by C, C, C. The
"corner tubes are each and all formed with four "set offs or faces,
two of which are to receive the ends of the "side tubes," while in the
other two there are made holes tapped for screw plugs. By means of
these holes access is obtained to the joints for tightening and examining
the same, as also for cleaning the "side tubes as well as the " corner
tubes" themselves. The "side tubes" have two faces opposite each
"
"
"

page_text: "
"
other, one for receiving one end of the respective cross tubes," the
other for the corresponding screw plug. The said "side tubes
are also
made with two ribs e, e, in order to induce a fair bearing longitudinally,
while keeping them sufficiently apart to afford enough substance
between the holes bored in the "corner tubes" for the reception of the
said "side tubes."
"
In Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4 the joints are made by means of ferules. In
Figs. 1 and 2 the ends of the "side tubes are tapped, and a ferule
screwed in in such wise as to project somewhat beyond the thickness of
the faces on the "corner tubes," being suitably set by means of any
known kind of tube expander, the smaller joints of the "
with the "side tubes" being similarly made.
cross tubes"
Fig. 3 shows a ferule screwed at the end, which enters the smaller
tube, and is formed with a shoulder bearing against the inside surface of
the larger tube.
Fig. 4 indicates another kind of joint which may be employed. The
hole at the side is tapped out with the same screw die, and a ferule is
screwed through from the outside.
Though the last two kinds of joints are only figured with reference
to connecting the "cross tubes" to the "side tubes," it is evident that
they can also be applied to connecting the "side tubes" with the
" corner tubes."
Another mode of forming the said joints is shewn in Figures 5 and 6.
This consists in fitting the ends of the smaller tubes into the sides of the
› larger tubes, and making the joints solely by means of the expander.
In some cases only one end of a given "side tube" has to be con-
nected with a "corner tube," the other end being closed up. This is
shewn in Figure 7, in which g is a plug screwed in the tube B, two or
more holes bored into the outside face of its flange being used to obtain
a hold by a key, while a lug corresponding with a depression on the face
of the corresponding "corner tube "keeps the end of the same in its
proper place.
I have now described and illustrated what I term the units of my
form of boiler, and sundry modes I prefer of connecting the same,
though it is obvious that other joints known to those conversant with

page_text: end out of the opening p, returning between the "cross tubes," and then
coming out again at q or in front. This combination, as it affords a
shorter boiler, is more suited for marine purposes; and in order to obtain
a neat appearance in front a suitable plate lined with brickwork can be
applied.
"
Fig. 15 is a sectional elevation, and Fig. 16 a sectional plan of an
upright boiler, in which the return current of the water passes down the
outside of the boiler proper by means of special tubes. E, E, indicate
these current tubes, A, A, being as before the "corner tubes;" B, B, the
"side tubes;" C, C, C, the "cross tubes;" h, the fire-grate; 1, the
ash-pit.
The usual water level. would be at about x. The circulation
would take place down the pipes E, E, and up again through the two
corner tubes" connected to the same by the elbows at their bottom
ends. Just below the lowest of the connecting tubes m, m, there is
fitted a horizontal partition to the above-mentioned two "corner tubes,"
in order to check the flow of the water up that side, and to compel it to
run over to the opposite side through the corresponding "cross tubes,"
and into the other two corner tubes, then up them, and finally
returning. The "side tubes" surrounding the grate and unconnected
with "<
cross tubes" are fitted with transverse plates d, d, reaching from
their open ends nearly to the closed ends, so as to leave spaces for the
water coming through the outer or cooler halves to return over the
inside and hotter halves. The course of the current of water is indicated
by numerals.
Fig. 17 is an elevation, and Fig. 18 a plan of a vertical boiler some-
what differing in construction from that last described. This form has
no extraneous current tubes, the down flow being obtained in the
corner tubes" themselves by means of the partition plates f, f, see
Fig. 7, which do not reach quite up to the water level nor down to the
bottom of the tubes. As in Fig. 15, the flow upwards of the water is
checked by a small partition medway between the lowest row of " cross
tubes" and the water level. As the water level reaches about as high
as the cross tubing the necessary steam space is provided by means of a
series of spherical domes, screwed direct on the outside of the " corner
tubes," and also connected together at top. The "side tubes" sur-
rounding the fire-place and unprovided with "cross tubes" are fitted
with a partition halving their cross section, as in Fig. 15, with the
difference that the short semicircular tubes (see Figs. 8, 9, and 10) are

page_text: alternately passed through the partition plates f, f, from one side to
another. The corner tubes are here fitted with blow-off cocks n, n.
The plates 8, 8, serve to jacket the boiler, a sufficient air space being left
between them and the tubes, and they may also be suitably lagged;
r, r, are feet made to fit over the bottoms of the " corner tubes," other
letters indicating details the same as those in the forms of boilers already
described.
Instead of or as equivalents for the said combinating of tubing, as
described, I may also combine one corrugated plate to a flat plate, or a
pair of such corrugated plates, forming thereby intermediate tubular
spaces; but I do not recommend this combination.
Having now fully set forth the nature and mode of carrying out my
said Invention, I declare that what I claim and desire to secure by
Letters Patent is, the mode of constructing steam generators with
corner tubes,"
," "side tubes," and "cross tubes" in combination or not
with larger barrels, essentially in the mode and for the purposes as
described.
65
In witness whereof, I, the said Ernest August Bourry, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Tenth day of March, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
four.
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