Improvements in Steam Generators.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Dec., 1888*
Specification Accepted, 8th Jan., 1889
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Steam Generators.
1, CHARLES ALBERT KNIGHT of 107 Hope Street, Glasgow, in the County of
Lanark, Scotland, 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 :-
My Invention relates to steam generators of the well known Babcock and
Wilcox and similar types in which a long drum is made to serve as a reservoir
for water circulating through tubes carried through a furnace or combustion chamber
and communicating with headers or end pieces connected to the drum which also
serves as a collector for the steam disengaged from the water. The present improve-
ments have mainly for object to cheapen and simplify parts of such generators by so
constructing the drum as to permit of direct connection of the end headers to the
drum without the intervention of a connecting water box.
In the accompanying drawings figure is a cross section and figure 2 is a
longitudinal section of the drum for a steam generator constructed in accordance
with the Invention. In this modification of the Invention a connecting saddle A is
formed integral with the drum A¹ by pressing out a portion of one of the plates
composing the drum at the front and rear ends in the form of a pocket having a
straight lower side and vertical or slightly inclined sides and ends terminating at the
line of junction with the cylindrical contour of the main part of the drum. This
pocket or saddle piece is pressed out by suitably formed dies in a hydraulic or other
press and orifices a are thereafter formed by drilling or punching for attachment of
the headers by means of nipples or by expanding the ends of the headers therein.
The saddle piece thus formed may be inclined from front to rear as represented at the
left hand end of the drum figure 2, or be horizontal throughout as indicated at the
right hand end. As shewn by figures 3 and 4 the saddle piece may be pressed to
such an extent that its horizontal underside forms a chord to a segment of the circle
represented by the periphery of the drum, the ends of the saddle bulging outwards
to such an extent as to form a wide base for the formation of a larger number of
orifices a for attachment of the headers. Figures 5 and 6 are similar views of a
modification of the invention in which a saddle piece instead of being formed on is

page_text: attached to the drum A¹ by rivetting. This piece is pressed out of a separate plate
and a piece is cut out of the periphery of the drum at A? and around the edges of the
orifice so formed the pressed plate is rivetted. The saddle piece when attached
constitutes in effect a portion of the drum and it offers greater facility of construction
than the form described with reference to figures 1 to 4. As represented at the right
and left hand ends of the drum in figure 6 the bottom or base of the saddle in which
are formed the orifices a for attachment of the headers may be horizontal throughout
or slightly inclined from front to rear. Figure 5 shows a modified form of the saddle
piece represented in figure 5. In the modifications represented in figures 3 to 6 the
drum is strengthened at the cut part by the saddle being made continuous with it at
the lines, Figures 7 and 8 represent on a sinaller scale a steam generator of the
Babcock and Wilcox type the drum of which is formed with saddle pieces of the
construction described with reference to figures 5 and 6.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a water tube boiler a steam and water drum having formed integral
therewith a water box or saddle for connection of the end headers substantially as
herein before described with reference to figures 1 to 4 of the annexed drawings.
2. In conjunction with the drum of a water tube boiler a water box or saddle
pressed from a single plate of wrought metal and forming integrally with the drum
means for the connection of the end headers substantially as herein before described
with reference to figures 5, 6 and 7 of the annexed drawings.
Dated this Fifth day of December 1888
CRUIKSHANK & FAIRWEATHER,
62, Saint Vincent Street, Glasgow,
Agents.