IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR INCREASING THE HEATING SURFACE OF STEAM BOILERS, AND ENSURING THE RAPID AND ECONOMICAL GENERATION OR PRO- DUCTION OF STEAM IN THE SAME
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention of
"IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR INCREASING THE HEATING SURFACE OF STEAM
BOILERS, AND ENSURING THE RAPID AND ECONOMICAL GENERATION OR PRO-
DUCTION OF STEAM IN THE SAME." A communication from abroad by Charles
C. Holton, of Chicago, Illinois, United States of America.
Sealed the 20th December 1878, and dated the 17th October 1878.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th October 1878.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents;
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR INCREASING THE
HEATING SURFACE OF STEAM BOILERS, AND ENSURING THE RAPID AND ECONOMICAL
GENERATION OR PRODUCTION OF STEAM IN THE SAME." A communication from
abroad by Charles C. Holton, of Chicago, Illinois, United States of America.
The object of this Invention is the construction of a device to be placed in
the furnace or fire-box of steam boilers for the purpose of increasing the heating
surface, and securing economy in the generation of steam by utilizing the heat that
would be otherwise absorbed by the walls surrounding the combustion chamber of
the boiler; and the said Invention is designed to afford means for effecting these
purposes more efficiently than has heretofore been practicable.
The nature of my Invention consists in placing in the fire-box of a steam boiler
a series of pipes arranged in such a manner as to enclose three sides of the fire-box,
giving the same the appearance of a cage, the said pipes having proper connection
and communication with the steam and water spaces of the boiler or water-heating
and steam-generating apparatus, whereby a large amount of water-circulating and
heating surface is presented to the free flame and gases of the fire, and thus the
water is heated and steam generated very rapidly, and a great saving in fuel is
effected by utilizing heat which is in part lost with the ordinary arrangements.
:

page_text: The said Invention is adapted for marine as well as land boilers in all cases
where economy of fuel is desirable and additional heating surface required.
Practical experience has proven that a large amount of fuel is saved by its employ-
ment. It is therefore highly advantageous for the boilers of steamships, not only
because of its economy in the generation of steam, but also in respect of the saving
of time and labor in handling coal, and the opportunity it affords for utilizing part
of the space heretofore required for fuel for the accomodation of freight.
The said Invention will be found to afford a very convenient means for increasing
the actual working capacity of steam boilers.
The said Invention is illustrated in the accompanying Drawing, in which Figure
1 is a front view of a steam boiler with the fire-front removed, and Figure 2 a side
elevation of the same with the brickwork removed.
A represents a steam boiler, and B the brickwork inclosing the same; C repre-
sents the main circulating pipe, one end of which is inserted in the front flue sheet
of the boiler A at x. This pipe C is conducted back from the front end of the
boiler, passing between the boiler and the brickwork inclosing the same until the
point is reached where the bridge wall is usually located, where the pipe C takes a
downward direction until it is about four inches below the bottom of the boiler; it
then runs transversely to the opposite side of the furnace, where it takes an upward
direction until it is level with the same pipe on the opposite side of the boiler;
thence it extends horizontally to the front end of the said boiler, as shown in
Figure 2 of the Drawing, and thence upward until about six inches above the top
of the boiler; then it extends across and downward to form the siphon end D of
the pipe C, the same being inserted in the front flue sheet of the boiler at y, at a
point just below the water line.
I arrange vertically a series of short pipes or tubes a which I term drop pipes.
The upper ends of these drop pipes are inserted at regular intervals in the under
side and horizontal part of the main circulating pipe C. These pipes inclose both
sides and the back ends of the grate bars. The lower ends of the pipes a extend
downward to a point slightly below the level of the grate bars, and pass through
horizontal plates which are perforated to receive the lower ends of the said drop
pipes, the said perforated plates being arranged on both sides of and level with the
grate bars for the purpose of holding the lower ends of the drop pipes in position,
and preventing the passing of the cold air from the ash-pit up and around them.
The lower ends of the drop pipes a are provided with caps, which may be
removed for the purpose of clearing out any sediment or other matter which may
collect in the said pipes.
The main circulating pipe C is provided with suitable valves for closing the
connection between the boiler and the circulating attachment.
The main difficulty to be overcome in a device of this nature is to provide for
keeping up a continuous and regular circulation from the point at x, where the
water passes from the boiler into the pipes enclosing the combustion chamber until
it is again returned to and discharged into the boiler at y in the form of steam.
It is evident that the water in the circulating and heating attachment will be
converted into steam much more rapidly than the water in the boiler. The effect
of this action will be to so increase the pressure of steam in the upper or discharge
end of the pipe C that it will slightly exceed the pressure in the boiler. This being
the case the water in the boiler at the syphon end of the pipe C is gradually forced
away or displaced by this excess of pressure, and the steam generated in the
circulating device is gradually and continuously fed or discharged into the boiler
below the water line.
By having the discharge end of the pipe C enter the boiler at a point below the
low-water line the water in the boiler is caused to act as a check to the syphon end
of the pipe C, and prevents the water which has passed from the boiler at a into
the pipes from again entering the boiler at y through the circulating attachment
excepting in the form of steam. If the syphon or discharge end of the pipe C
entered the boiler at a point above tho water line the water would sometimes rush

page_text: through the circulating pipes, that is to say, it would have a spasmodic and irregular
action, and by heavy firing the water would be forced out of the circulating device,
a vacuum would be formed, and the pipes burned.
An important feature of this Invention is the insertion in the boiler of the
syphon or discharge end of the main circulating pipe at a certain point below the
water line, and in such a manner as to insure a continuous circulation through the
pipes inclosing the fire-box. Near the top of the syphon end of the pipe C is
attached an ordinary glass water gauge for permitting observation of the height of
the water, which rarely rises at this point to the same level as the water in the
boiler.
Steam can be first raised with this Invention in much less time than would
otherwise be practicable.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I do not limit myself to the precise construction and arrangement of the pipes
inclosing the fire-box, as shown in the Drawing, but may vary or modify the same
in any manner which will not involve a departure from the essential principle or
feature of my Invention, that is to say, the discharging of the steam generated in
the circulating pipes into the boiler below the water line; and I claim the improved
apparatus consisting of a main circulating tube or pipe with a syphon end and
vertical or other suitable pipes or tubes, and so arranged in combination with the
boiler that water is taken from the same by the main pipe and returned in the form
of steam to the said boiler through the syphon end of the said main pipe, as and
for the purposes specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.