Improvements in Tube Plates for Steam Boilers, Condensors, and like Vessels.
Year: 1895

page_text: COMT LEIN DIUIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by A. M. BROWN, T. MCKENZIE, and J. WELSH,
all of Johannesburg, South African Republic, Engineers.]
Improvements in Tube Plates for Steam Boilers, Condensors, and
like Vessels.
I, EDWARD CHARLES ROBERT MARKS, of the Firm of Marks & Clerk,
Consulting Engineers and Patent Agents, of 18 Southampton Buildings, Chancery
Lane, London, W.C. 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 improvements in tube plates for steam boilers,
condensors, and other like vessels, my object being to strengthen thin end plates
and to provide therein large and effective bearing or jointing surfaces for securing
the tubes.
In order that my invention and the method of carrying the same into effect may
be the more readily understood, I append hereunto one sheet of explanatory
drawings to be hereinafter referred to."
Figure 1 is a front elevation and Figure 2 a sectional end elevation representing
my improved tube plate.
I make the portion of the plate into which the ends of the tubes are inserted of
a thickness such as A Figure 2, and the remainder of the plate of a thickness such
as B. The thickness A is greater than that of an ordinary tube plate but the
diniension B is less than can be employed in plates of the usual construction.
After the tube holes have been cut or drilled through the thickened portion of
the plate in the usual manner, I cut away the surplus metal around the tube holes
by suitable machine tools in such a manner that a boss C is formed round each
tube. The joint between each tube end and the interior surface of the boss is
made by means of expanding tools or in other ordinary manner.
By the application of my invention I am enabled to obtain a large bearing
surface round each tube for making a tight and durable joint between the tube and
plate. I am also enabled to employ a thinner tube plate in boilers and other
vessels, facilitating the flanging and other operations and giving greater efficiency
in durability and in the transmission of heat. The additional metal provided by
the bosses strengthens the tube plate in addition to giving a large and effective
jointing surface as hereinbefore described.
I do not limit the application of my invention to any type of tubular boiler or
other vessel, but adapt it for marine, locomotive, portable and other boilers, and
for condensors and like vessels in which a joint has to be made between the tubes
and a tube plate.
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. The method of providing a large tube bearing or jointing surface in a tube
plate by the formation of bosses around the tube holes substantially as described.
2. The construction of an end or tube plate having a thickened portion for the
reception of the tube ends the surplus material between the tube holes being cut
away substantially as and for the purposes herein before described and as illustrated
in the accompanying drawings.

page_text: 3. The improved tube plate substantially as and for the purposes herein described
and illustrated.
Dated this 2nd day of July 1895.
MARKS & CLERK,
18 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., and
13 Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents for the Applicant.