Improvements in and relating to Steam Generators.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Steam Generators.
I, FREDERICK JOHN BURRELL, Mechanical Engineer, of Saint Mary's House,
Thetford, in the County of Norfolk, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object the construction of a steam generator having
a large proportion of heating surface with a minimum of internal capacity and
within which the water is instantly converted into steam as required by the
engine or motor which it supplies.
In carrying out my invention I provide tubes of any required dimensions in
accordance with the power of the generator to be constructed from such tubes;
the transverse section of my tubes in their initial or first form may be round or
of any other section suitable to longitudinally compress into the new shapes or
sections and also suitable for attachment or combination to form a boiler; the
essential novelty of my invention consists however in converting either of such
initial shapes into new and original shapes as steam generators the transverse
section following from the initial shape or shapes into triangular, quadrilateral,
star-shaped or into any pentagonal external shape, the tubes being in each
case converted from their initial or first shape as commercial tubes
into my improved steam-generator-tubes by longitudinal compression produc-
ing longitudinal depressions, in contra-distinction to tubes compressed into
alternate depressions and the converting of the ordinary commercial or other
tubes into my improved steam-generator-tubes is carried out by means of dies the
matrices of which form the desired longitudinal triangular, quadrilateral, star-
shaped or other pentagonal shaped new external form; by compressing the tube
within its special and particular matrix or die the new steam-generator-tube is
thereby produced, care being taken in the making of the die to so arrange the
meeting faces of the two halves that when the two faces of the die make contact
with each other the tube will receive on its longitudinal external surface the
desired new shape but the members formed within the matrix will not touch on
the inside, a passage being left between the two sides of the folded rib or member
suitable to permit of the flow of a thin film of water or steam with the object
that the thin film of water can be instantaneously converted into steam.
In constructing a boiler from my improved triangular, star-shaped or other
polygonal shaped generating-tubes; the tubes would be connected in any suitable
manner in accordance with the class of boiler to be produced the tubes being also
connected to a water-supply pump or reservoir.
A fire-grate or surface would be provided supplying the required fire which may
be produced from coal, coal-dust, gas, electrical-fire, or any other suitable and
convenient combustible may be used such as petroleum or any mineral oil or
animal oil.

page_text: The new structures or boilers so made in large sizes would be suitable for use
to supply steam to large motors such as traction-engines; locomotive-engines;
marine-engines and the like, and in a similar manner small tubes made from light
material compressed into my new shapes as hereinbefore described can be used in
the make up of small light boilers for use in driving light motor-cars, tricycles
or bicycles by means of a small steam-engine.
2
1000
Improvements in and relating to Steam Generators.
I, FREDERICK JOHN BURRELL, of Saint Mary's House, Thetford, in the County
of Norfolk, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement:―
This invention has for its object the construction of a steam generator having
a large proportion of heating surface with a minimum of internal capacity and
within which the water is instantly converted into steam as required by the
engine or motor which it supplies.
I will now proceed to describe with reference to the accompanying drawings
the manner in which my invention is constructed and used.
Figure 1. Represents a section of tube produced in a form ready to convert
into a triangular shaped generator tube.
Figure 2. Represents the tube Fig. 1 converted into a generator tube.
Figure 3. Represents a section of tube produced in a form ready to convert
into a cross shaped generator tube.
Figure 4. Represents the tube Fig. 3 converted into a generator tube.
Figure 5. Represents a section of tube produced in a form ready to convert
into a star shaped generator tube.
Figure 6. Represents the tube Fig. 5 converted into a generator tube.
In carrying out my invention I provide tubes of any required dimensions in
accordance with the power of the generator to be constructed from such tubes;
the tube shown at Figure 1 represents the initial form suitable for compression
into the completed form shown at Fig. 2; the longitudinal projections A are pro-
vided to facilitate the compression of the tube B into the acute corners shown
at C Fig. 2.
The tube shown at Figure 3 represents in section the initial form suitable for
compression into the completed form shown at Fig. 4; the longitudinal projec-
tions I are provided to facilitate the compression of the complete tube E into
the acute rounded corners shown at F Fig. 4.
The tube shown at Fig. represents the initial form suitable for compression
into the completed form shown at Fig. 6; the longitudinal projections G are
provided to facilitate the compression of the tube H into the acute rounded
corners shown at J Fig. 6.
The transverse section of my improved tubes in their initial or first form may
be round, or of any other section suitable to longitudinally compress into the
new shapes or sections and also suitable for attachment or combination to form a
boiler; the essential novelty of my invention consists in converting either of such
initial shapes into new and original shapes as steam generators, the transverse

page_text: section following from the initial shape or shapes into the triangular, cross-shaped
or star shaped section or into any polygonal shape, I have shown triangular cross
shaped and star shaped transverse sections as completed generator tubes, such
improved tubes represent modifications of my invention, nevertheless I do not
confine myself to the three sections shown at Figs. 2, 4, and 6, as I prefer in some
cases to make my improved steam generator tubes with 6, 7, 8 or more members
in lieu of the three menibers, four members or five members or channels; such
improved tubes being in each case formed in their initial or first shape of a suitable
transverse section to compress into the required improved finished section, the
tubes being in each case converted from their initial or first shape as commercial
tubes into my improved steam generator tubes by longitudinal compression pro-
ducing longitudinal depressions, in contra-distinction to tubes compressed into
alternate depressions, and the converting of ordinary commercial (or the initial)
tubes into my improved steam generator tubes is carried out by means of dies,
the matrices of which form the desired longitudinal triangular, star shaped or
other shaped new external form; by compressing the tube within its special and
particular matrix or die the new steam generator tube is thereby produced, care
being taken in the making of the die to so arrange the meeting faces of the two
halves that when the two faces of the die make contact with each other the tube
will receive on its longitudinal external surface the desired new shape, but the
members formed within the matrices will not touch on the inside, a passage being
left between the two sides of the folded rib or member suitable to permit of the flow
of a thin film of water or steam with the object that the thin film of water can be
instantaneously converted into steam.
The compression of the tube in its initial state within or between dies may be
carried out by any suitable mechanical means, either by passing through tube
drawing dies, or through rolls, or by subjection to hydraulic pressure; in relation
to my improved generator tubes formed from a light initial tube the compression
may be produced between dies actuated by a corrugating machine.
In constructing a boiler from my improved triangular, star shaped or other
shaped generating tubes; the tubes would be connected in any suitable manner
in accordance with the class of boiler to be produced, the tubes being also con-
nected to a water supply pump or reservoir.
The inner constricted area of my improved tubes form a conduit through which
water or other liquid is conveyed and instantaneously converted into steam by the
application of flame or by the application of heated gases to the outer surfaces of
the tubes.
A fire-grate or surface would be provided supplying the required fire which may
be produced from coal, coal-dust, gas, electrical-fire, or any other suitable and
convenient combustible may be used such as petroleum or any mineral or animal
oil.
The new structures or boilers made from my improved tube in large sizes would
be suitable for use to supply steam to large motors, such as traction-engines,
locomotive-engines, marine-engines and the like, and in a similar manner smaller
tubes made from comparatively lighter material compressed into my new shapes
as herein before described can be used in the make up of small light boilers for
use in driving light motor-cars, tricycles or bicycles by means of a small steam
engine.
I am aware that longitudinally corrugated tubes have been used for heating and
cooling purposes with a large interior water passage, but such old style longitu-
dinally corrugated tubes have been utilized for an entirely different purpose to
that for which my improved generator tubes are to be used; it will be observed
that the shell of my improved tubes is many times greater in area than the passage
in such tube and this exceptionally thick shell enables me to accumulate heat
within such thick shell and to thereby produce the require flash or instantaneous
generation of steam by the passage of the thin film of water or liquid through the
narrow passage in the thick shell of heated tube.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1st. A steam generator tube, produced with a narrow three-way passage and a
thick shell for use in producing instantaneous generation of steam by the passage
of liquid through the narrow three-way continuous passage as illustrated and
described in relation to Figures 1 and 2.
2. A steam generator tube produced with a narrow four-way passage and a
thick shell for use in producing instantaneous generation of steam by the passage
of liquid through the narrow four-way continuous passage as illustrated and
described in relation to Figures 3 and 4.
3rd. A steam generator tube produced with a narrow five-way passage and a
thick shell for use in producing instantaneous generation of steam by the passage
of liquid through the narrow five-way continuous passage as illustrated and
described in relation to Figures 5 and 6.
4th. A steam generator tube having six or more narrow radial passages and a
thickened shell for use in producing instantaneous generation of steam by the
passage of liquid through the narrow continuous passages.
5th. A steam generator formed from any desired number of my improved
generator-tubes claimed under Claims 1, 2, 3, and 4 of this Specification.
11
121
1000
ALFRED WILLIAM TURNER,
Consulting Engineer and International Patent Agents,
Cobden Buildings, 67, Corporation Street, Birmingham,
Agent for the Applicant.