IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM AND OTHER BOILERS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Sydney Pitt, of Sutton, in the County of Surrey, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM AND OTHER BOILERS," A communi-
cation from abroad by Adolphe Collet, Léon Ribourt, and Henry Giraldon, all
of Paris, in the Republic of France, Civil Engineers.
· Sealed the 19th July 1878, and dated the 15th February 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Sydney Pitt at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 15th February 1878.
SYDNEY PITT, of Sutton, in the County of Surrey.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM
AND OTHER BOILERS." [A communication from abroad by Adolphe Collet, Léon
Ribourt, and Henry Giraldon, all of Paris, in the Republic of France, Civil
Engineers.]
This Invention has for its object improvements in steam and other boilers. For
this purpose a boiler is formed of one or more series of slightly inclined tubes,
which I call "vaporizers," ranged one above the other.
The tubes of each series are closed at their lower extremity, and at their other
extremity open into one cominon passage or tube which is perpendicular to them,
and which I call a "collector." This "collector" is closed at its lower end, and at
its upper end opens into a cylindrical or other chamber, which I call a receiver."
Passing down through the "collector" is a division plate or tube which divides it
into two parallel ways or passages.
"
In each of the "vaporizers" is also an inner tube which divides it into two
passages. At the lower ends of these inner tubes are openings, whilst their upper
ends are carried through the division plate of the "collector."
The division plate
has thus carried through it the upper ends of each of the inner tubes of one series
of the "vaporizers."
The division plate descends nearly to the bottom of the "collector," and at its
upper end passes into the "receiver," and is there attached to a transverse division
plate, which is maintained at a distance from its bottom and sides.

page_text: Generally several series of "vaporizers," each series united to its own "collector,"
are connected to one "receiver" in such a manner that the " vaporizers" are all
parallel with one another, and also all the "receivers," and the division plates of
the "receivers are all carried up to the division plate of the "receiver."
"
All the "vaporizers," together with their "collectors" and the lower portion of
the "receiver," are filled with water or other liquid to be vaporized, the water
level being maintained above the top of the transverse division plate of the
" receiver."
The "vaporizers," and some or all of the "collectors," are acted on directly by
the flames and heated gases from a fire. The heated gases play through the spaces
left between them, and afterwards come against the lower part of the "receiver;"
they are then conducted downwards past the "collectors," and led away to a chimney.
By reason of the "vaporizers" being inclined the steam produced in them rises
freely towards the "collectors," and at once passes upwards into the "receiver,"
ant through openings in its transverse partition to the steam chamber above the
water level.
As the steam produced in the "vaporizers " thus passes off an equivalent quantity
of water descends from the "receiver" to the "vaporizers." It passes downwards
from below the partition in the "receiver" into the water passage of the "collectors,"
which is shut off from the rising steam by the vertical partitions before mentioned,
and it enters the ends of the inner tubes of the "vaporizers," and, after traversing
these tubes, passes finally from their lower ends into the outer heated tubes of the
vaporizers."
<<
It will thus be seen that by the above arrangement a double circulation of water
and steam is maintained between the "receiver" (which serves as a reservoir
both for water and steam) and the most heated parts where vaporization takes
place.
"
The vaporizers are coupled to the collectors in such a manner that they can
readily be removed for cleaning or renewal. The lower ends of the "collectors are
also provided with removeable covers to facilitate cleaning.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Sydney Pitt in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 14th August
1878.
SYDNEY PITT, of Sutton, in the County of Surrey. "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM
AND OTHER BOILERS." A communication from abroad by Adolphe Collet, Léon
Ribourt, and Henry Giraldon, all of Paris, in the Republic of France, Civil
Engineers.
This Invention has for its object improvements in steam and other boilers. The
improvements result in the production of a novel form of boiler, which I call the
syphoid vaporiser.
The syphoid vaporiser is composed, as the Drawings indicate, of a series of cylin-
drical tubes A, A, A, called "vaporisers; " they are inclined at a small angle to the
horizontal, and they are arranged one over the other. These tubes are closed at
one end and open at the other, where they enter a conduit which is perpendicular
to them. This conduit B, called the "collector," is closed at the lower part, and at
the upper part enters the vessel C, called the "receiver."
In the interior of the collector B a medial or concentric partition 6 divides it into
two parallel parts or conduits.
In each vaporiser A there is a concentric tube a, which divides the interior of it
into two parallel conduits. The walls of this tube are perforated near the closed
extremity of the vaporiser, and the other extremity meets the medial partition b of
the collector.
The medial partition b of the collector descends almost to its lower end, and it
receives the ends of the tubes a, a, a, contained in a series of vaporisers; it opens
into the receiver, and passes through the transverse partition c, which has an opening
for the purpose.
Generally several series of vaporizers connected by their collectors are grouped
upon the same receiver in such manner that all the vaporisers and all the collectors
are parallel; the partition c of the receiver receives the upper ends of the medial
partitions 6 of all the collectors.
The whole capacity of the vaporisers with their collectors and a part of the
receiver are filled with water or with liquid to be evaporated, so that its surface
level is above the partition c in the receiver.
The vaporisers are acted upon directly by the fire at D, the flames and the hot
gases licking their side, as also in part the sides of the collectors, as they pass
through the intervals left between them. The hot gases next come into contact
with a portion of the walls of the receiver, then they pass again along the collectors
to at last reach the chimney.
In consequence of the inclination of the vaporisers the bubbles of vapour which
are produced tend constantly to pass into the collector, then they rise immediately.
towards the receiver, following the road which is traced for them by the sides and
the medial partition they pass through the opening in the transverse partition
of the receiver, and enter direct into the vapour chamber above the surface of the
Liquid.
As the bubbles of vapour produced in the vaporiser leave it an equivalent quantity
of liquid leaves the receiver for the seat of evaporation. This liquid, entering
beneath the transverse partition of the receiver, descends by the conduit formed
within the collector, and distributes itself all along the medial partition into the
central tubes of the vaporisers, when it passes through the openings formed in the
sides of the central tubes near the closed extremities of the vaporisers; it comes
finally into contact with the most highly heated parts.
There thus results from this arrangement a double circulation of vapour and
liquid between the receiver, that is to say, the reservoir of vapour and of liquid,
and the most highly heated point, that is to say, the seat of vaporisation.
In short, this arrangement of vaporising tubes placed one over the other, and

page_text: inclined to the horizontal, connected by the collectors which are perpendicular to
them, meeting an upper receiver furnished with their tubes and directing par-
titions, constitutes as a whole the syphoid vaporiser, and realises the following
conditions:-
First. The mass of liquid to be evaporated is divided and brought into contact
with an extended heating surface.
Second. The vapour passes freely as it is produced to the surface level of the
liquid.
Third. The liquid, so to speak, methodically heated passes to the point of
vaporisation to replace the vapour produced.
It will thus be seen that with this apparatus a greater quantity of vapour can be
produced for each unit of heating surface than can be produced by apparatus
previously known; and, besides for an equal amount of heating surface this
apparatus occupies a considerably smaller space.
As details of construction the following points may be referred to. To facilitate
cleaning, taking to pieces, and when necessary the replacement of the vaporisers
which constitute the direct heating surface; they are applied to the collector by a
simple conical socketing, which makes a tight joint.
A central bolt or tie having an attachment in the collector upon its medial
partition fixes the vaporiser at the same time that it secures the cover which closes
its end.
The collectors may either be separate tubes flattened on the sides, where they
receive the vaporisers, or they may be cases formed with flat surfaces, and each
comprising several collectors.
For facility of cleaning the lower parts of the collectors are provided with
openings, to which suitable stoppers or other suitable means for closing, are
provided.
The medial partition is tubular, or has any convenient form, and is generally
removeable.
The receiver generally constitutes the principal capacity for liquid and vapour;
it may, however, be extended by the application of accessory capacities, such as feed
water heaters, and the like.
The entire apparatus is erected in a furnace, the walls of which are of masonry,
or which consist of metallic cases filled with matters which are bad conductors of
heat.
Generally the hearth is so arranged that the fire-grate which supports the fuel is
beneath the vaporisers, then the hot gases ascend amongst this battery of tubes to
the lower part of the receiver; they then re-descend along the back of the collectors,
a partition in fire-brick, or it may be of metal, connecting the collectors the one to
the other, obliging the hot gases to take this path.
The front of the furnace in face of the vaporisers is made in the form of a door to
facilitate access to this part of the apparatus
The details of construction may be varied without departing from the Inven-
tion, but I claim, the construction of the syphoid vaporiser, substantially as
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Sydney Pitt, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Twelfth day of August, in the year of our Lord One thousand
SYDNEY PITT. (L.S.)