Improvements in Steam Generators.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Mar., 1891-Accepted, 11th Apr., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Steam Generators.
We, JAMES JOSEPH BUSH, of 54, Richmond Street, in the City of Newark, in
the County of Essex and State of New Jersey, U.S.A., Engineer, and THOMAS
FRANCIS POWERS, of 765, Marcy Avenue, in the City of Brooklyn, in the County
of Kings and State of New York, U.S.A., Engineer, 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 relates to improvements in steam-generators, the primary object
thereof being to prevent incrustation of the shell of the boiler, to produce a constant
and positive circulation of the water through the same, and to provide means
whereby the water in the boiler is heated to a high degree, and steam generated
much more rapidly than under ordinary circumstances; all of which is accom-
plished by an economical and simply constructed device, without adding greatly to
the cost of the boiler.
The invention is fully disclosed in the following Specification, of which the
accompanying drawing forms a part, wherein similar letters of reference indicate
like or equivalent parts wherever found throughout the several views, and in
which
Figure 1, represents our improvement applied to an ordinary tubular boiler;
Figure 2, represents the same applied to a locomotive boiler;
Figure 3, is an end view of the construction shown in Fig. 2, on the line y—y,
part of the outer casing and the pipe connections being broken away;
Figures 4, 5 and 6, show details of the apparatus employed;
Figure 7, represents a modification of the construction shown in Fig. 1, as applied
to the boiler, and
Figure 8, represents such modification detached therefrom.
Referring to the drawing: A, indicates the boiler, parts of the side wall being
broken away, showing the tubes arranged therein, and the application of my
improvement.
The
Below the boiler, in proximity thereto, and within the combustion or flame
chamber is arranged my improved water-heater and circulator B, consisting in this
case of a series of pipes communicating at the front with a pipe C, by means of an
elbow coupling D, the construction of which is shown in Figs. 4, and 5, and at the
rear end with a pipe E, by means of a somewhat similar coupling F.
difference between the couplings D, and F, being that the latter is provided with
an opening or passage in its lower side which is in communication with the mud-
drum G, by means of a pipe H. Each of these couplings D, and F, are also
provided with passages or openings J, which are normally closed by screw-plugs K,
and by removing these plugs at any time the operator is enabled to see through
and clean, any or all of the pipes of the series, if cleaning should from any cause
necessary.
The pipe E, is provided with a continuation L, which enters the boiler at the
rear and near the bottom thereof, and the pipe C, is provided with a continuation
which enters the boiler at the front, and near the top thereof, near or above the
water-line, and valves M and N, are provided by which the communication between
the boiler and the series of pipes B, may be cut off, or the flow of water there-
through regulated.
It will be seen on reference to Figs. 4 and 5, that all the pipes of the series B,

page_text: communicate in coupling D, with the pipe C, by means of gradually curved passages
and that this is also true of the communication of said pipes with pipe E, in
coupling F, and by this construction means are provided for the constant flow
of the water through said pipes and couplings with the least possible friction and
obstruction.
At the point where the passages for the pipe E, and the pipes of the series B,
communicate in coupling F, and directly below the pipe E, is placed the pipe H,
which communicates with the mud-drum G, and by this arrangement all sediment
and other similar substances are deposited in said drum, by the constant circulation
of the water, the arrangement of the passages in the coupling being such that the
sediment and other substances become separated from the water and drop by
gravity into the pipe H, and drum G, as the water passes over the passage or
opening with which the pipe H, communicates.
The separate pipes of the series B, may be connected with the couplings D,
and F, in any desired manner, but we prefer to connect them as shown in Figure 4,
in which these pipes are connected with couplings D, at the front of the boiler by
an ordinary screw-thread joint, and with the coupling F, at the rear of the boiler,
by means of a slip or expansion joint, whereby means are provided to admit of the
expansion and contraction of said pipes. These expansion joints may be made in
any preferred form, the one shown consisting of a packing ring of any proper
material, held in place by a screw-threaded cap O; the coupling being provided
with a corresponding screw-threaded projection through which the pipes pass. By
arranging the expansion joints at the rear of the boiler they are removed from the
direct action of the heat of the furnace or fire-box, and less liable to be affected
thereby.
In Figs. 4 and 5, we have shown our improvement applied to a locomotive boiler,
and as will be seen on examination, but slight modification is required to adapt the
construction herein before described to this form of boiler. In this form, the water
chamber usually surrounds or partially surrounds the fire-box of the boiler, and the
pipe E, is shown as communicating with the water-leg or chamber near the lowest
point thereof, and it then extends upward, preferably outside of the fire-box, and
enters the same in the upper part thereof, and in proximity to the under surface of
the crownsheet, which here corresponds with the lower outer wall of the boiler
in Fig. 1. In this construction the main features are the same as in Fig. 1. An
additional compound coupling, however, is employed, as P, a plan of which is shown
in Fig. 6, and the expansion joint hereinbefore described may be formed either in
coupling P, or D. In this case we have shown but two pipes in the series B, but
it is evident that a greater number may be employed, as may also a valve N, as
shown in Fig. 1.
The construction shown in Figa. 7, and 8, involves a modification of that shown
in Fig. 1, in which, in place of the couplings D, at the front end of the boiler, is
substituted a water-box or chamber, which, when in position, fits snugly between
the front end of the boiler, and the furnace-wall, completely closing the space
between the boiler head and such wall in such manner as to prevent the heated
products of combustion from the flame chamber or fire-box, from passing directly
upward into the escape flue or smoke-stack, and to compel the same to pass under
the boiler and back through the tubes or flues thereof, before entering such smoke-
stack. Heretofore it has been the custom to close the space between the boiler
head and enclosing arch for this purpose by an arch made of fire-brick or other
refractory material, which arch of course necessarily absorbs a large amount of the
heat generated in the flame-chamber or fire-box. In this form of our improvement,
by putting this water-box or chamber D, in the place of such arch, the purpose of
the arch is as fully accomplished, and in addition, the heat that was before utterly
wasted, assists materially in the generation of steam.
For convenience in cleaning the same, and also the series of pipes B, this water-
box or chamber D, is provided with a hand-hole S, in the usual form, and the

page_text: plugs K, or if preferred short-pipes communicating with said water-box or chamber
in which said plugs are inserted, pass entirely through the front wall of the furnace,
as shown in Fig. 7, and the holes into which these plugs K. fit are in line and
register with the pipes B, and the corresponding holes in the coupling F, so that
when the plugs K, in the coupling F, and the water-box or chamber D, are
removed, an unobstructed view can be had through such pipes, and any sediment or
other obstruction lodged therein easily removed, and by extending the plugs K, of
the water-chamber D, or the pipes in which the same are inserted and passing them
through the front wall of the furnace, as shown in Fig. 7, such inspection and
cleaning of the pipes B, may be much more easily accomplished, than if they were
not so extended.
Many other modifications of the construction shown and described may be added
without departing from the scope of my invention. A single pipe may be substituted
for pipes E and L, or for pipe C, and the continuation thereof, and the valves M
and N, may be omitted. We have shown in each of the Figs. 1, 2, and 3, two sets
of the series of pipes B, with the necessary couplings and corresponding pipes
communicating therewith, and with the upper and lower parts of the boiler, at
opposite ends thereof; but we may employ but one of such sets or series, or any
convenient number thereof. We may also employ any number of pipes in the
series B, and it is possible to secure good results by a single pipe, communicating
with the lower part of the boiler at one end thereof, and extending beneath, and
entering the same again near the top, and this form of construction is regarded as
coming within the scope of this invention.
With the system shown and described, however, much better results are
produced. The capacity of the pipe E, should in all cases equal the capacity
of all the pipes of the series B, with which it communicates, and this is also
true to some extent of the pipe C. By the employment of the series of pipes B,
Isecure a large heating surface, and divide the flowing water into small branches,
which greatly aids in heating the same, and in the production of steam, and by
forming the communication between the series of pipes and the opposite ends
of the boiler by means of a single pipe, I avoid cutting or tapping the boiler
more frequently than is absolutely necessary, or no more than would be required
if the series of pipes were not employed.
We are aware that the idea of heating water and generating steam by means
of pipes communicating with opposite ends of the boiler and arranged in coils
in the fire-box or flame-chamber, or at the sides thereof, is well known, and do
not claim the same as our invention. By the construction herein described,
however, there is a positive, direct, continuous and unobstructed flow of water
in a single direction. by means of a pipe or pipes which communicate with the
lower part of the boiler at one end thereof, and extending under and beneath
the same enter it again at the opposite end and near or above the water-line.
By this arrangement the entire pressure of the water within the boiler aids in
the circulation thereof through the pipes E, the series of pipes B, and the com-
municating pipe C.
With the arrangement of the water-heating and steam generating pipes in the
fire-box and flame chamber as herein described, and having them communicate with
the lower part of the boiler at one end thereof, and with the upper part at the
opposite end, after passing directly under or along its sides, great advantages are
obtained in that the flames freely surround and encircle the pipes, the water
therein is quickly and easily heated, owing largely to the use of a series of
pipes, all of which are in direct communication with the boiler, and the rapidity
of the circulation of the water is greatly increased. The water is taken from
the lowest part of the boiler, and after passing through the pipes is forced back
into the boiler, as will be understood, and the enculation is such as to prevent any
deposition of dirt or foreign substances on the inner surface of the boiler, all such
substances being deposited in the mud-drum, as hereinbefore set out.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is
1. The combination with a boiler, or a water-heater and steam-generator con-
sisting of a pipe or series of pipes, as B, arranged immediately below the boiler and
in the fire-box or flame-chamber, communicating through a coupling at one end with
a pipe which communicates with the boiler at or near the bottom thereof, and at
the other end through a coupling or water-box, as D, with a pipe which com-
municates with the boiler at or near the top thereof, substantially as shown and
described.
2. The combination with a boiler, of a water-heater and steam-generator con-
sisting of a series of straight pipes B, arranged immediately below the boiler and
in the fire-box or flame-chamber, communicating through a compound coupling at
one end with a single pipe which also communicates with the boiler at or near the
top thereof, and at the other end through a compound expansion coupling with a
pipe which communicates with the boiler at or near the bottom thereof, substantially
as shown and described.
3. The combination with a boiler, of a water-heater and steam-generator con-
sisting of a series of straight pipes as B, arranged immediately below the boiler and
in the fire-box or flame-chamber, communicating through a compound coupling at
one end with a single pipe which also commumicates with the boiler at or near the
top thereof, and at the other end through a compound expansion coupling with a
pipe which communicates with the boiler at or near the bottom thereof, the said
couplings being also provided with passages, as J, in a direct line with the pipes of
the series, substantially as shown and described.
4. The combination with a boiler, of a steam-generator consisting of a series of
pipes B, arranged immediately below the boiler, the couplings F, and D, the
pipes E, and C, and the mud-drum G; the pipe E, being in communication with the
boiler at one end at or near the bottom thereof, and the pipe C, being in communication
therewith at the opposite end, and at or near the top thereof, each of said pipes
being also in communication with each of the pipes of the series B, by means of
curved passages in the couplings F, and D, said couplings being also provided with
passages, which communicate with the pipes B, in a direct line, substantially as
shown and described.
5. The combination with a boiler, of a steam-generator consisting of a series of
pipes B, arranged immediately below the boiler, the couplings F and D, the pipes E
and C, and the mud-drum G; the pipe E, being in communication with the boiler
at one end at or near the bottom thereof, and the pipe C, being in communication
therewith at the opposite end, and at or near the top thereof, each of said pipes
being also in communication with each of the pipes of the series B, by means of
curved passages in the couplings F and D, said couplings being also provided with
passages J, which communicate with the pipes B, in a direct line, and the mud-
drum being in communication with the pipe E, by means of a passage through
coupling F, in a direct line therewith, substantially as shown and described.
6. The combination with a boiler, of the steam-generating pipes B, the expansion
couplings F, the coupling D, and pipes C, and E, the construction being such that
there is a direct communication froni the lower part of the boiler at one end, and
the upper part of the boiler at the other end, through said pipes and couplings,
substantially as shown and described.
7. The combination in a steam-generator of a coupling having a series of longi-
tudinal passages entering the same at one end and communicating with the central
vertical passage, a series of longitudinal passages entering at the opposite end, and
communicating with the first named passages in a direct line therewith, substantially
as shown and described.
8. The combination with a boiler, of a series of pipes B, arranged beneath the
same, the coupling provided with passages with which the pipes B communicate,

page_text: the passages closed by the plugs K, and the passages with which the pipes E and H,
communicate, said series of pipes being in communication with the boiler, substan-
tially as shown and described.
Dated this Ninth day of March A D 1891
CRUIKSHANK & FAIRWEATHER,
62, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Agents.