Improvements in Steam Generators.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 19th July, 1892-Accepted, 31st Dec., 1892
•
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Steam Generators.
J, EDWARD AUGUSTUS MAGEE, of 187 Marcy Avenue Brooklyn, Kings
County in the State of New York, one of the United States of America,
Mechanical 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:-
The invention relates to steam generators, and has for its object to provide a
device of the class adapted for all sizes, situations and purposes, carrying any
pressure desired, which shall possess superior advantages in point of simplicity,
durability and general efficiency, and shall give great coolness in the vicinity of
the exterior. With these ends in view, my invention consists in the improved
construction, arrangement and combination of parts which will be hereinafter more
fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.
My invention consists, generally speaking, of a series of compartments arranged
to form one of the walls of a furnace, said compartments being connected in pairs
by means of tubes or nests of tubes that extend into the furnace above the
grate of the same, said tubes serving to maintain the circulation of water between
the several compartments. I provide a steam and water drum or receptacle, the
water space of which is connected with the water-space of the water-leg, while the
steam-space is connected in a suitable manner with the steam-spaces of the several
compartments thereof. The descending water-pipe is provided with an inlet and
with a branch, suitably valved, and provided with a pump by means of which a
water supply may be forced in when desired. The furnace is provided with
suitable doors by means of which access may be had to the generating and
circulating pipes as well as to the fire box and the ash-pit. I provide the furnace
with a water casing or jacket, and if desired, with an intermediate non-conducting
packing of asbestos or other suitable material between said water-jacket and
furnace-casing; such water-jacket being, if desired, set slightly off from the furnace
casing, so as to leave more or less of a dead air space. Outside the water-jacket
I place an additional shell or casing between which and the water-jacket is an air
duct or passage through which air may be carried down and warmed to be supplied
for the purpose of supporting combustion. The interval between this shell and the
water-jacket should be properly stayed and the exterior of the outer shell may be
covered with asbestos cloth, felt or other suitable non-conducting material, to pre-
vent the escape of heat by radiation. The upper end of the water-jacket is
connected with the condenser, and it serves as a distilling retort operated by the
heat escaping from the furnace which would otherwise be wasted or worse than
wasted in heating the surrounding objects.
My invention further consists in certain modifications, all on the same general
principles herein described, and consisting merely in the detailed construction of
the generator.
The accompanying drawings form a part of this Specification and represent what
consider the best means of carrying out the invention.
Figure 1 is a front elevation partly in section of my improved generator.
Fig. 2 is a side elevation partly in section, of the same.
Fig. 3 is a front view of the furnace partly in vertical section.
Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view on a larger scale showing a portion of the
steam generator.
Fig. 5 is an elevation, and Fig. 6 a horizontal section showing the means used
for protecting the front wall of the generator from the heat of the furnace.

page_text: Figs. 7, 8 and 9 are front views illustrating various modifications of my
invention.
Figs. 10, 11 and 12 are side views of the said modifications.
Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in all the figures where they
appear.
Referring to Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4,-1 designates an extended rectangular
body or water-leg; the front plate 2 forms the back face of the furnace. The
front plate 2 and rear plate 3 are connected by means of stay-bolts 4.
The rear
plate is provided with hand-holes 6, surrounded by flanges 7. These flanges
are reinforced by means of strips 8, which may be welded, riveted or otherwise
suitably secured to the flanges 7. This is for the purpose of providing surfaces
of increased width to form seats for the gaskets to be placed between these flanges
and the hand-hole covers. Stay-bolts 4 by which the front and rear plates of the
casing are connected may be threaded into both of said plates. Bolts 10 are
likewise threaded into the front plate 2, for the purpose of further staying it and
strongly retaining in position the hand-hole covers 11. The water-leg 1 is sub-
divided by means of a series of partitions 12, into any desired number of horizontal
compartments 13.
14 represents the steam and water drum, which is arranged above the generator.
The water-space of said drum is connected by means of a descending pipe 15, with
the lowermost compartment 13 of the water-leg. The pipe 15 is provided at or
near its upper end with an inlet pipe 16, through which water, properly forced by
a feed-pump, not shown, may be supplied to the generator. The pipe 15 is also
provided with a branch pipe 17, which is suitably valved and connected with a
pump 17ª by means of which the passage of water downward from the water-
space of the drum 14, may be forced when desired in order to increase the
circulation.
The lowermost compartment, 13, of the water-leg is connected with the one next
above by means of a series of bent pipes or tubes, or nests of bent pipes or
tubes 18, which are extended into the furnace above the grate 19. The second
compartment 13 is similarly connected by pipes or tubes 18 with the third com-
partment, which latter is in like manner connected with the fourth compartment,
and so on, according to the number of compartments into which the water-leg is
divided. The top of each compartment, except the bottom one, is connected by
means of ascending steam-pipes 20 with the steam-space of the drum 14, the bottom
compartment being connected as above described with the water-space of said
drum. The pipes 18, as will be observed, are located directly in the fire-box of
the furnace, and it will be observed that collectively they have a very large surface
exposed to the heat of the fire and of the escaping gases.
The front plate of the furnace has a door 21, through which access may be had
to the pipes 18, in the interior of the furnace. It is also provided with the usual
fire-door 22, and ash-pit 23.
In order to protect the front plate of the water-leg from the effects of excessive
heat, I provide it with the device which has been illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 of
the drawings. This protecting device consists of a series of pins 24, which have
been suitably inserted into said front plate, around the holes into which the
pipes 18 are to be expanded. Around these pins I form a webbing or net-work 25
of wire, and the pins and net-work together form a means for retaining a layer 26,
of fire clay or similar refractory material, which will soon set and harden, and
which will be baked by the action of the fire in the furnace. It is obvious that
this protecting device is applied before the pipes 18 are expanded or otherwise
secured in the holes or openings which have been provided for their reception..
In lieu of the device illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 and above described, an ordinary
wire netting might be used, but it is obvious that such netting would have to
be punched with holes registering with those provided for the reception of the
pipes.18.
In the operation of this form of my invention, the water passes from the water-

page_text: space of the drum 14 to the lowermost compartment of the water-leg; thence through
the pipes 18 to the compartment next above, a partial conversion of the water into
steam taking place in the passage of the water through the said pipes 18. All or
nearly all of the steam will pass from the second compartment through the pipe 20
to the steam-space of the drum 14, and the water will pass through the second set
of pipes 18 into the third compartment. The steam which has been generated
during the passage of the water through the second set of pipes 18 will pass from
the top of the third compartment through the pipe 20 to the steam space of the
drum 14. The water will now pass through the third set of pipes into the fourth
compartment, which, in the accompanying drawings has been shown as the top one,
and from which the steam and any water that may remain passes upward into the
drum 14, through the third pipe 20, which is to be made of sufficiently large
diameter to enable both steam and water to pass through. The steam space of the
drum 14 is of course to be connected with the engine in the usual manner, and a
sufficient supply of water to compensate for the steam expended is introduced through
the pipe 16. The delivery end of this tube is directed downward to impel the
circulation by the force of the jet of feed water received.
Adjacent to the furnace casing is placed a water jacket or receptacle 27, between
which and the furnace casing a non-conducting packing of asbestos or other suitable
material may be placed if desired; such packing, however, has not been shown in
the drawing. In any case, owing to the importance of ensuring perfect separation
between the surfaces of the water jacket and the furnace casing, an intermediate
dead air space of limited extent will remain, which will practically answer the same
purpose as such packing. The lower end of the water jacket is to be suitably
connected with a source of water supply. I propose, at sea, to receive the water of
the ocean in this jacket, controlled by a valve as required and to blow off when
sufficiently concentrated. Its upper end is connected by the pipe 27" with the
condenser, not shown.
Outside and adjacent to the water jacket I place a shell or outer casing 29,
closed tightly at its upper and lower ends; between this shell and the water jacket
there is an intermediate space, as 30. The shell 29 is provided near its upper end
with an opening 31, which is so connected with an air supply, it may be with a
blower, not shown, that air will be drawn or forced downward through the space 30
from whence it passes under the water jacket, and upward through the grate of the
furnace, thus supplying oxygen for the purpose of supporting combustion.
The walls of the water jacket are to be stayed and braced or held properly
apart by means of stays 31"; a few stays, as 31', are extended as shown, and
serve to hold the water-jacket at just the proper distance from the non-conducting
clothing which forms the outer surface of the furnace as well as from the
surrounding shell 29. The latter may, when desired, be covered with non-
conducting material of any suitable character, such as asbestos cloth, felt, or
the like.
The device thus constructed, in addition to utilizing the radiant heat for the
purpose of heating the water for distilling and other purposes, has the advantage
of avoiding uncomfortable heat in the vicinity of the furnace. This last I consider
especially important when the device is employed in confined spaces, as on board
vessels, and the like, which are frequently rendered uncomfortable by the heat
radiating from the furnace.
I shall now proceed to briefly describe the several modifications of my
invention:
In the form illustrated in Figs. 7 and 10 of the drawings, the water-leg or
casing, here designated by 33, is provided with compartments arranged in pairs, the
lower one of each pair being designated by 34, and the upper one by 35. The
casing is provided at its ends with passages 36 and 37, the former of which is con-
nected with the water-space, and the latter with the steam space of the steam and
water drum. The lower compartment of each pair communicates with the passage 36.
and-the upper compartment of each pair in like mauner communicates with the

page_text: passage 37. The compartments of each pair are connected by the nests of tubes 39
which extend into the furnace of which the water-leg forms the back wall. It will
be seen that the operation of this device is practically the same as that of the
preferred form of my invention above described, the water passing from the water
space of the drum to the compartments 34, thence through the generating pipes 39
into the compartments 35, thence to the passage 37, and from the latter to the
steam space of the drum. The main object of my invention, which is to
cause the constant circulation of water through the generating pipes, is thus
attained.
In the form illustrated in Figs. 8 and 11, two vertical pipes or water-legs 40
and 41, are connected respectively with the water-space and the steam-space of
the drum. The pipe 40 is provided with laterally extending chambers 43, between
which chambers 44 extend laterally from the pipe 41. The chambers 43 and 44 are
connected in pairs by the pipes 45, which extend into the furnace. Here again the
operation is the same as above described, the water passing from the drum through
the pipe 40 into the chamber 43, thence through the generating pipes 45 to the
chambers 44, from whence the steam thus generated is conveyed to the steam
space of the drum.
The third modification of my invention illustrated in Figs. 9 and 12, presents
apparently a different structure, but as will be found, the operation is precisely the
same. In this case the water-leg or casing which is designated by 46, is divided
by vertical partitions 47 into a series of compartments 48. The compartment 48
at one end of the casing is connected by a descending pipe 49, with the water space
of the drum 52. Each of the other compartments is connected by means of a
pipe 50 with the steam-space of said drum. The several compartments are con-
nected in pairs by means of the generating pipes 58, which extend forwardly into
the furnace. In this case however, the said generating pipes are preferably
arranged in an inclined position, as will be seen in Fig. 9, in order to facilitate the
passage of water and steam. The water passes from the drum 52 to the compart-
ment 48 at one end of the casing; thence through the generating pipes 58 to the
next compartment, and so on through the several compartments to the compartment
at the opposite end of the casing.
The pipes 50 convey the steam from the intermediate compartments to the steam
space of the drum, and the pipe 50", leading from the last compartment 48, conveys
the steam and water to the steam-space of the drum 52.
Those familiar with the art to which my invention pertains, will readily appreciate
the advantages derived from the same. In each of the forms of my invention a
constant circulation of the water is kept up, and the generating pipes through
which the water passes for the purpose of being converted into steam, have
collectively a surface of an extent which is not usually found in steam generators.
The consequence is that steam is generated very rapidly, while at the same time
the space occupied by the entire apparatus is not necessarily very large.
The water-jacket which is placed adjacent to the furnace enables the radiant
heat to be utilized for the purpose of raising the temperature of the water for
distilling, while the surrounding shell forms an air-duct in the passage through
which air will be warmed prior to entering the furnace for the purpose of support-
ing combustion. These devices, in addition to the utilization of radiating heat,
have the important advantage of preventing discomfort resulting from radiant
heat.
The bent form of the pipes 18 allows the whole to be exposed to the hot products
of combustion while returning the water into the chamber or compartment 13
contiguous to the one from which it has flowed.
1 desire it to be understood that while I have shown several forms to which my
invention may be reduced, I do not limit myself to the same, inasmuch as, various
other modifications might be made without departing from the principle or sacrificing
the advantages of my invention.
Parts of this invention may be used without the whole. Thus the stays 31ª

page_text: and 31 may be omitted or modified, and the water-jacket or outer shell 29, or both,
inay be omitted and the heat allowed to radiate freely from the furnace casing.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a steam generating apparatus, the combination with a furnace, of steam-
generating pipes, compartments or chambers connected by said pipes, pipes to carry
off the steam to be used independently from the several compartments or chambers,
and means as a separating drum and a pipe leading from the water space thereof
for separating the water and returning it to the boiler, all substantially as herein
specified.
2. A steam generator having a series of compartments connected by bent pipes
extending into the furnace, the ends of the series being connected respectively with
the water-space and the steam-space of a separating drum or receiver, substantially
as set forth.
3. A steam generator comprising a furnace, a water leg or column forming a
wall of the same, and having a series of compartments, steam generating tubes
connecting said compartments, in pairs and extending into the furnace, and a drum
having its steam and water-spaces independently connected with separate compart-
ments of the generator, substantially as set forth.
4. The combination of a steam generator having a series of compartments, steam
generating tubes connecting said compartments in pairs and extending into the
furnace, connection between one compartment and the water-space of the receiving
drum, and a connection between a higher compartment and the steam-space of
said drum, substantially as set forth.
5. The combination of a water-leg or column having separate compartments,
a furnace, return pipes connecting the compartments in pairs and extending
forward into the furnace, a steam and water drum and connection between the
water-space of the latter and one compartment of the generator, an inlet-pipe
for feed-water near the upper end of such connection, and connections between
the steam-space of the drum and the remaining compartments of the generator,
substantially as set forth.
6. In a steam generator, the combination of a furnace, a water-leg forming
the back wall of the same, and having a series of compartments, circulating or
generating pipes connecting such compartments in pairs, netting or holding
material attached to the front wall of the water-leg around and between such
generating pipes, and a covering of refractory material attached to such netting
or holding device, substantially as set forth.
7. In a device of the class described, the combination with the furnace of a boiler
having water tubes or other efficient steam generating surfaces, a non-conducting
wall exterior thereto, and a surrounding water reservoir or receptacle exterior to
the whole, the lower and upper ends of which are adapted to be connected respec-
tively with a source of supply and with a condenser, substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
S. In a device of the class described, the combination with the boiler proper of a
water-jacket or receptacle, the lower and upper ends of which may be connected
respectively with a source of supply and with a condenser, an outer shell or casing
placed adjacent to said outer jacket or receptacle arranged to allow the partial
vacuum or draught of the furnace to draw the air downwardly through the space
between the said outer casing and the water-jacket or receptacle for the purpose of
supplying hot air to support combustion, substantially as set forth.
9. The combination of a furnace, a water-jacket, an exterior shell or casing
placed adjacent to said water-jacket, and forming an air-duct or passage, the water-
leg having suitable compartments, the circulating and generating pipes connecting
said compartments in pairs, the steam and water-drum, the pipe connecting the
water-space of the latter with the lowermost compartment of the water-leg, and

page_text: having a supply-pipe near its upper end, and connections between the remaining
compartments and the steam space of the drum, substantially
Dated this 13th day of June 1892.
as set forth.
EDWARD AUGUSTUS MAGEE.
W. Lloyd Wise,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Applicant's Agent.