IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM BOILERS
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert James, of Poole, in the County of Dorset,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM BOILERS."
Sealed the 30th July 1867, and dated 'the 9th February 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert James at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 9th
February 1867.
I, ROBERT JAMES, of Poole, in the County of Dorset, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM BOILERS," to be as
follows:-
My improvements have reference to the description of boiler known as the
"Cornish boiler," whether single-flued or double-flued.
One of my improvements consists in forming in the flue or flues of such
boilers beyond the bridge of the furnace one, two, or more flat narrow recep-
tacles or chambers forming water spaces arranged in a more or less vertical
position, and extending from the bottom surface of the flue to the top surface
thereof, and to any distance along the said flue or flues; such water spaces
are closed on all sides, and are either formed entirely independent of the flue
of the boiler, being made of such a height as to leave spaces above and below
their upper and lower surfaces and the surfaces of the flue, and they are then,
merely made to communicate with the water spaces of the boiler by means of
short tubes connecting them to the flue; or they are fixed directly to the flue
of the boiler and communicate with the water spaces thereof through apertures

page_text: in the top and bottom surfaces; or such communication may be established by
means of branch pipes connecting the sides of the water chambers both with
each other and with the flue of the boiler. The side surfaces of the water
chambers are either formed flat or corrugated, and they are stayed across, by
preference, by means of short tubes to the interior of which the flames or hot
gases have access.
Another of my improvements consists in forming an annular water chamber
in the flue or flues of the boiler running in a direction parallel with such flue,
and so arranged that the flames and hot gases, can pass along between the
outer surface of such chamber and the surface of the flue, as also through the
central space inside such water chamber. The shells of such water chamber
are by preference made conical or tapering, the outer shell having its smaller
end towards the furnace, while the inner shell has its smaller end away from
the furnace, thus making the annular space in the chamber also of a tapering
form. This annular water chamber extends from behind the fire-bridge to any
required distance down the flue, and is connected thereto by means of branch
pipes at top and bottom, by means of which it is put in communication with
the water spaces of the boiler. Small water tubes are in some cases fixed
across the inner space or flue of the water chamber so as to facilitate the
circulation of the water therein.
Another of my improvements consists in combining both the before described
forms of water chambers in one and the same flue of a boiler, in which case
they are made of a limited length and are placed the one behind the other.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Robert James in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
8th August 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ROBERT
JAMES, of Poole, in the County of Dorset, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirtieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her beirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Robert James, Her special licence that I, the said Robert
James, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said James Robert, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should
at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times

page_text: thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle Man, an Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN STEAM BOILERS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said Robert James, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great
Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after
the date of the said Letters Patent.
:
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Robert James, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, reference being had to the accompanying Sheet of Drawings,
and to the figures and letters marked thereon, that is to say :-
My Invention has reference to the description of boiler known as the
"Cornish boiler," whether single-flued or double-flued.. It consists in forming
an annular water chamber in the flue or flues of the boiler running .in a
direction parallel with such flue, and so arranged that the flames and hot
gases can pass along between the outer surface of such chamber and the
surface of the flue, as also through the central space inside such water chamber.
The shells of such water chamber are by preference made conical or tapering,
the outer shell having its smaller end towards the furnace, while the inner
shell has its smaller end away from the furnace, thus making the annular
space in the chamber also of a tapering form. This annular water chamber
extends from behind the fire-bridge to any required distance down the flue,
and is connected thereto by means of branch pipes at top and bottom, by
means of which it is put in communication with the water spaces of the boiler.
Small water tubes are in some cases fixed across the inner space or flue of the
water chamber, so as to facilitate the circulation of the water therein.
Figures 1 and 2 on the accompanying Sheet of Drawings show the con-
struction of my improved steam boiler. Figure 1 shows a longitudinal section,
and Figure 2 shows a transverse section of the same.
A is a single-flued Cornish boiler, in the flue B of which is fixed an
annular water tube C extending from behind the fire-bridge D of the furnace
to the end of the boiler. This annular tube is composed of an outer shell E,
and one or more inner shells F, both of which are by preference made
tapering, the outer shell E having its smaller end nearest the furnace, while
the inner shell F has its larger end in that direction. The annular space

page_text: formed between the shells is filled with water, and communicates with the
boiler at top through large passages G, G, connecting the shell E of the
annular tube with the boiler flue B; at the bottom the annular tube com-
municates with the bottom water space of the boiler by means of tubes H, H,
shown screwed into tapped sockets I, J, fixed respectively. to the annular tube
and to the boiler flue. By this means the water can freely circulate through
the boiler and the annular water tube, and the steam generated in the latter
is caused readily to escape therefrom into the boiler. If requisite water tubes
may be fixed across the inner shell of the tube C, as shown at K in the section
Figure 3, in order still further to facilitate the circulation of the water through
it; or such transverse water spaces may be made to extend the whole length
of the inner shell, thus dividing it into two, three, or more separate shells, as
shown at K', Figure 4. The shell F may also be stayed at intervals from the
outer shell if requisite. The flames from the furnace being made to pass both
through the central flue F of the water tube, and between the outer shell
thereof and the boiler flue B, will act most effectually in raising the steam in
the annular space; if necessary the passage of the draught through the
central flue F may be more or less retarded by closing up the end thereof to a
certain extent, as shown. Instead of connecting the annular tube to the boiler
at bottom by vertical tubes, as shown, it may be connected by opposite inclined
tubes; also it will be evident that the annular tube C may be divided into
two or more separate lengths, either without any intercommunication excepting
through the connections to the boiler, or they may be made to intercommunicate
by connecting the ends thereof together.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, what I claim is, the employment of one or more
annular water tubes, with or without transverse water spaces placed in the
flues of Cornish boilers and connected to the water spaces thereof, substantially
in manner herein-before set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert James, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Second day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
ROBERT JAMES. (L.S.)