Improvements in Steam Boilers.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Jan.. 1839
Specification Accepted, 23rd Feb., 1889
[Communicated from abroad by WILLIAM COWLES, of Brooklyn, in the State of New
York, United States of America, Engineer and Naval Architect.]
Improvements in Steam Boilers.
1 HENRY EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 6 Breams Buildings,
Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil 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 that general class of steam boilers in which the water is
caused to circulate from one or more water drums located at the bottom of the
boiler through circulating tubes to one or more steam drums located at or near the
top of the boiler.
It is the object of the invention to provide a boiler of this general class which shall
be light, compact and simple in its construction; in which all of the parts shall be
easily accessible for inspection and repair; in which the circulating tubes can be
separately removed and replaced without disturbing the other parts of the boiler; in
which a maximum steaming capacity will be secured; in which a rapid circulation of
all the water in the boiler is accomplished, thereby permitting salt water to be used
and the boiler to be forced without danger; in which danger from overheating or
from a sudden and unequal beating and cooling will not be occasioned, and in which
the use of screw connections and joints are avoided.
In order to aid in a more ready understanding of the detailed description of the
construction and organization of the boiler which will be hereinafter given, a brief
general description of the organization of the boiler will be first given :
The furnace portion of the boiler consists of a vertically or horizontally arranged
shell, in the lower part of which is located the furnace or furnaces, which is or are
enclosed in plain or corrugated metal plates and are provided with the usual grate
bars, beneath which are located the usual ash pit or pits. Extending rearward from
the lower part of the furnace portion are one or more water drums into which the
feed water is introduced and from which it circulates upward through a large number

page_text: of tubes which communicate with a horizontal steam drum or drums located at or
near the top of the boiler and communicating with a steam chamber at the upper part
of the furnace portion of the boiler. The water as it passes from the steam drum or
drums enters the steam chamber above the furnace or furnaces and falling upon the
crown sheets passes through suitable water legs and is returned to the water drums.
The steam accumulating in the upper part of the steam chamber enters a pipe and is
conveyed to the place of use. The rear end or ends of the furnace or furnaces com-
municate with a casing which surrounds the water and steam drums and the
circulating tubes so that the flame and hot gases pass from the furnace or furnaces
into this casing and circulate freely among the tubes and around the drums which
present a great amount of surface to absorb the heat. Suitable deflectors are located
within the casing and are so arranged as to cause a circulation of the flame and hot
gases through all parts of the casing, and after being thus circulated and the greater
part of their heat absorbed, the gases pass through suitable flues and are conveyed to
the smokestack. The circulating tubes are expanded into the water and steam
drums and are so arranged that any one or more of the tubes can be removed and
replaced without disturbing any of the others or any permanent part of the boiler.
The water drun or drums is or are provided with suitable baffle plates by which
any sediment contained in the water is caused to accumulate in the bottoms of the
water drum or drums, and is prevented from entering the circulating tubes, and
being thus carried to other parts of the boiler. The sediment thus accumulated can
be readily blown off from time to time as may be required.
Referring now to the accompanying drawings, the construction and organization of
the boiler, thus briefly outlined, will be described in detail.
In said drawings:
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a boiler constructed and organized according to the
present invention.
Figure 2 is a front elevation of the same.
Figure 3 is a longitudinal, vertical section of the same taken on the line of
Figure 4.
Figure 4 is a horizontal section of the same taken upon the line 4 of Figure 3.
Figure 5 is a vertical cross-section taken through the furnace portion of the boiler
looking toward the rear.
Figure 6 is a similar view taken through the steam and water drums looking
toward the front of the boiler.
Figure 7 is an enlarged detail view showing the manner in which the circulating
tubes are expanded into the steam and water drums.
Figures 8 to 13 are views similar to Figures 3 and 5 illustrating modifications
which will be hereinafter explained.
Referring particularly to Figures 1 to 6 it is to be understood that the furnace
portion of the boiler consists of a round, oval or rectangular shell A, in the lower
portion of which is located the furnace or furnaces B. As illustrated in these
figures there are two of the furnaces B, but this is purely arbitrary; there may be
one or more of the furnaces. These furnaces extend about half the height of the
shell in which they are located, and are enclosed in metal plates in the usual manner.
The furnaces are provided with the usual grate bars a, beneath which are ash pits b.
Access is had to the furnaces through suitable doors c, located in the front of the
shell. The sides of the furnaces are removed a short distance from the sides of the
shell, and from each other, so as to provide a water space d, which surrounds
the furnaces down to the level of or slightly below the level of the grate bars, and
thus permits the water to circulate almost entirely around the furnaces.
The space in the furnace portion of the boiler above the furnaces B forms a
steam chamber C, into which the water is discharged from the steam drum (as will
be hereafter explained), and in which the steam accumulates as it is separated from
the water. This chamber is provided with a suitable pipe (preferably perforated
on its upper side), into which the steam passes from the chamber C, and by which
it is conveyed to the place of use.

page_text: .
returned through the water legs g to the water drums, and this circulation will
continue.
As the heated water flows into the steam drum and thence outward into the chamber C
the steam contained theroin will be liberated and will accumulate in the upper part of
the Chamber and be drawn off through the pipe f.
By reason of the construction which has been described the flame and hot
gases are caused to circulate thoroughly and be brought in contact with all of the
circulating tubes and all portions of the steam and water drums, thus presenting a
great surface for the absorption of heat and securing an even heating of the water
in all portions of the boiler."
It will also be observed that the flame and hot gases are, for the most part, carried
into contact with the tubes and drums at right angles theroto, which secures the
most effective beating.
The water drums are provided with baffle plates n, which are arranged as best
shown in figure 6, and extend the entire length of the drums in such position as
to prevent any sediment from being carried from the drums into the circulating
tubes which enter the drums nearest their bottoms. By this means any sediment
contained in the water is prevented from being circulated through the boiler and is
caused to accumulate in the bottoms of the water drums, from which it can be blown
out through blow-off pipes p, located in suitable position for the purpose, or can bo
removed by other means. A similar baffle plate y, is located in front of the mouth of
the steam drum (see figure 3) and serves to direct the steam and water downward
onto the crown-sheets m and prevent water from being carried into the pipe f.
The rear portion of the boiler is provided with a door o, which opens above the
deflector H, and through which access can be had to the interior of this portion of the
boiler for cleaning or for other purposes. A similar door z, is located at the bottom
of the rear portion of the boiler for the removal of soot. The steam and water drums
project rearward through the casing D, which encloses them and the water tubes, and
The top
are provided at their rear ends with man holes having removable covers s.
portion T, of the casing D is made capable of removal without disturbing the other
parts, as indicated in figure 6, so that access can be had to the interior of the casing
for the purpose of removing and replacing any one or more of the water tubes, G,
or for other purposes when necessary.
It will also be observed that the sides of the casing are made of such form as
to allow of the ready removal of the tubes through the top of the casing.
It has been stated that any one or more of the tubes, G, can be removed and
replaced without disturbing any of the others. This can be effected as follows:
Assuming that one of the tubes, a, for example (see Figures 3, 4 and 6), becomes
damaged so that it is necessary to remove it and replace it by a new tube, the boiler
being emptied, the cover portion, T, of the casing, D, will be removed and the covers
of the man-holes in the steam and water drums will be removed so as to permit a
workman to enter these drums. The ends of the tube expanded into the drums will
be cut out by the use of suitable tools and the damaged tube can then readily be
moved to one side and lifted out. A new tube bent to the proper form will then be
lowered into the space between the two rows of tubes and its ends will be sprung into
the openings in the steam and water drums. The tubes will be capable of being easily
sprung sufficiently for this purpose. The ends of the tube will then be expanded into
the openings in the steam and water drums, as shown in figure 7, by the use of a
suitable instrument. In this manner any one or more of the tubes of the whole
series can be removed and replaced at pleasure without disturbing any of the other
tubes or any permanent portion of the boiler.
It is of course to be understood that the deflector H and also such other exposed
portions of the boiler as may be desirable are made of asbestos or other fire-proof and
non-conducting substance w, backed or protected by metal plates. This is indicated
in some of the figures of the drawings, but in others it has been omitted as it forms
no part of the present invention, but is simply an expedient always resorted to in

page_text: The rear or steam generating portion of the boiler consists, primarily, of one or
more horizontal water drums E (two, as shown in the present case) which extend
rearward from a point below the furnaces and communicate at their forward ends
with the water space d by means of water legs; one or more horizontal steam
drums (one as shown in the present case), which opens into the steam chamber C
above the furnaces; and a large number of circulating tubes, G, which extend from
the water drums E to the steam drum F; all of these parts being enclosed in a
suitable shell or casing D, which unites with the rear side of the furnace portion of
the boiler. The water tubes G, of which there are a great number, the number
depending upon the size and capacity of the boiler, are arranged in substantially a
vertical position, but are suitably bent (as best shown in figure 6) so as to accom-
modate themselves to the space in which they are required to be located and to
permit them to be readily connected to and disconnected from the steam and water
drums, and also to allow them to spring as they are expanded and contracted and
thus not injure their connections with the drums. These tubes are arranged in rows,
which extend transversely of the drums; each row containing a plurality of tubes,
as shown in figure 4, with sufficient space between each two rows to permit of the
introduction and removal of any one tube without disturbing any of the others.
The ends of the tubes are united to the steam and water drums by being expanded
into the openings in the drums as shown in figure 7. This expanding is accom-
plished by the use of a suitable instrument well known for the purpose and need
not therefore be particularly described. By this means the use of all screw
connections is avoided, which are very objectionable in boilers of this general class,
particularly where the connections are exposed to great heat and to the action of
salt water.
The furnaces B are provided at their rear ends with openings h, located near
the centre of the furnace portion of the boiler, which communicate with the interior
of the casing D, forming the rear portion of the boiler, and enclosing the steam and
water drums and the circulating tubes. Extending rearward horizontally, from a
point beneath the openings h, is a trough-shaped deflector H, which extends from
the openings h, to the rear end of the boiler and serves to direct the flame and
the hot gases passing through the openings from the furnaces, upward and laterally
so as to cause them to circulato among the tubes in the upper portion of the
casing, after which the greater portion of the hot gases pass downward among the
tubes and around the water drums below. After circulating among the tubes and
around the water drums the hot gases pass beneath a vertical deflecting plate I,
arranged in front of the circulating tubes, and thence upward through flues K,
located at the sides of the boiler, which communicate with the base L, of the
smokestack M. The deflecting-plate I is cut away so as to provide a small space
around the stean drum as indicated at k, through which a portion of the hot gases,
after circulating around the steam drum and the tubes in the upper portion of the
boiler, pass directly to the flues K, and to the base of the stack.
The feed water is supplied to the water drums through pipes l, which communicate
with the rear ends of those drums.
The operation of the boiler thus organized is as follows:
The water drums, the circulation tubes and the water space d, being filled with
water to a height somewhat above the crown-sheets m, of the furnaces, and a fire being
started in the furnace, the flame and hot gases given off from the fire will pass through
the openings h, above the deflector H, and thence circulate upward and laterally among
the tubes & and around the steam drum, a small portion of the hot gases passing out
through the space k to the smokestack. The greater part of the hot gases will,
however, be carried downward among the tubes and around the water drums and pass
beneath the deflecting plate I to the Hues K. As the water in the water drums and
the tubes become sufficiently heated it will circulate upward through the tubes
and enter the steam drum F and flow outward from this drum into the chamber C and
fall upon the crown-sheets m and flow thence into the water space d and be

page_text: boilers of this class. It is of course to be understood that the casing which encloses
the water and steam druins, and the circulating tubes, may be made up partly or
wholly of brickwork or other masonry in those cases where such work is most available
and desirable.
The construction and organization which is shown in figures 1 to 6, and which has
been described, may be considerably modified in many particulars to suit different
local conditions, and to meet different requirements without departing from the
essential features of the invention.
Figures S to 13 illustrate some of the principal changes which may be so made.
In the organization, shown in figures 8 and 9, but a single furnace is employed, and
this furnace instead of being located within the shell A, which forms the steam
chamber C, is located directly beneath the shell, and the water after passing into that
chamber from the steam drum is returned directly to the water drums through the
water legs g instead of passing into the water space d around the furnace and thence
to the water drums. The water legs y are also in this case located in the furnace, and
the feed water, instead of being supplied directly to the water drums, is supplied to
the water legs g. When the water is supplied at this point the jots of incoming
water aid in securing a circulation of the water through the boiler at the com-
mencement of the steam-making operation. In this case also the smokestack is
located at the extreme rear end of the boiler, and the deflecting plate I is located
between two of the rows of tubes, G, about midway of the length of that portion of
the boiler, and is so arranged that a portion of the hot gases and flame pass upward
in front of the plate and through the opening k directly to the smokestack, while the
remaining and larger portion pass downward beneath the plate and thence upward
to the smokestack.
The organization shown in figures 10 and 11 is substantially the same as that shown
in figures 8 and 9, except that in this case the water drums are extended forward
beneath the grate bars and communicate with the steam chamber C by a large number
of vertical pipes, v, in addition to the water legs g.
The organization shown in figures 12 and 13 illustrates the application of the
invention to the well-known type of "Scotch" boiler. This organization is much
the same as that shown in figures 1 to 6, but in this case the shell A is enlarged, so
that both the steam and water drums communicate directly with it. In this caso also
there are three smaller furnaces employed which are of cylindrical form, and formed
of corrugated plates, these furnaces being entirely within the shell A, so as to be
entirely surrounded by the water therein. The feed water in this case is supplied to
the water drums the same as in the organization first described.
In all of the organizations shown the pressure within the steam and water drums,
will tend, as will readily be seen, to separate the drums, that is, move them away from
each other. To counteract this, the drums are connected at their rear ends by the
bars g, which form a triangle connecting the three drums as shown. In the organi-
zation shown in figures 12 and 13, these tie bars are required only at the rear ends
of the drums, as the forward ends are held in position by the rear plate of the shell A.
In the other organizations the water legs and the tubes formu ties to connect the
forward ends of the water drums to the shell A, and the water drums are connected
to each other by a horizontal tie bar g.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed as cominunicated to me
by my foreign correspondent I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In a steam boiler the combination with horizontal water and steam drums, and
vertical or substantially vertical circulating tubes connecting said drums, of the
shell A communicating with said drums and forming with the steam drum a steam
chamber C, substantially as described.
2. In a steam boiler the combination with horizontal water and steam drums, of
vertical or substantially vertical circulating tubes connecting said drums, and located
in rows with space between adjacent rows for the removal and insertion of any one

page_text: tube without disturbing any of the others, and the shell A communicating with said
drums and forming with the steam drum a steam chamber C, substantially as
described.
3. In a steam boiler the combination with horizontal water and steam drums, and
vertical or substantially vertical circulating tubes connecting said drums, of the
shell A communicating directly with said steam drum and forming a steam
chamber C, and with said water drum or drums by a water leg or legs, substantially
as described.
4. In a steam boiler the combination with horizontal water and steam drums, of
vertical or substantially vertical circulating tubes connecting said drums, and located
in rows with space between adjacent rows for the removal and insertion of any one
tube without disturbing any of the others, the shell A communicating directly with
said steam drum and forming a steam chamber C, and communicating also with said
water drum or drums by a water leg or legs, substantially as described.
5. The combination with the steam drum F and the steam chamber C, of the
baffle plate y for directing the steam and water downward from the mouth of the
steam drum, substantially as described.
6. The combination with the water drum or drums, and the vertical or substantially
vertical circulating tubes G, of the battle plate or plates n for arresting the sediment
in the water drum or drums, substantially as described.
7. The combination with the horizontal steam and water drums, and the vertical
or substantially vertical circulating tube G of the shell A, the water leg or legs, and
the feed water pipe or pipes, entering said water leg or legs, substantially as
.described.
8. The combination with the horizontal water and steam drums and the vertical, or
substantially vertical, circulating tubos, of the casing D enclosing the same, and the
horizontal deflector H, substantially as described.
9. The combination with the horizontal water and steam drums and the vertical, or
substantially vertical, circulating tubes, of the casing D enclosing the same and the
vertical deflector 1, substantially as described.
10. The combination with the horizontal water and steam drums and the vertical,
or substantially vertical circulating tubes of the casing D enclosing the same, the
horizontal deflector H and the vertical deflector I, substantially as described.
11. The combination with the water drum or drums and the vertical, or sub-
stantially vertical, circulating tubes G, of the baffle plate or plates n for arresting the
sediment in the water drum or drums, and the blow-off pipe or pipes, substantially as
described.
Dated this 22nd day of January 1889.