AN IMPROVED PORTABLE HOT WATER BOILER
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Clarke, of Llangollen, in the County of
Denbigh, North Wales, Tin Plate Worker, for the Invention of
"AN IMPROVED PORTABLE HOT WATER BOILER."
Sealed the 28th February 1873, and dated the 4th September 1872.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Clarke at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
4th September 1872.
I, JOHN CLARKE, of Llangollen, in the County of Denbigh, North
Wales, Tin Plate Worker, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "AN IMPROVED PORTABLE HOT WATER BOILER," to be as
follows:-
The object of this Invention is the construction of a portable boiler
for boiling water quickly with a small quantity of fuel, and consists of
an annular casing supported upon a suitable frame, the centre of which
annular casing constitutes a flue, which rises from a cavity formed at its
bottom, and which cavity is designed to receive the fire-grate herein-
after described. This fire-grate consists of a cylindrical frame with a
perforated bottom, and is provided at each side with suitable studs,
which pass through slots in the supporting framework, in order that the
fire-grate may be raised into position in the cavity herein-before men-

page_text: tioned, and there be fixed by such studs being turned into notches
formed in the sides of the slots for the purpose.
4
The water to be boiled is introduced into the annular casing herein-
before mentioned, and thus completely surrounds the fire grate and the
flue proceeding from it, so that the heat is utilized to the greatest
extent.
If it be necessary to heat a larger quantity of water than that con-
tained in the annular casing I arrange another annular casing to fit on
to the top of the first-mentioned one, so that the waste heat and products
of combustion are still further utilized by passing through the centre of
this second casing, which is provided with a suitable cock to empty its
contents into the lower vessel when required.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Clarke in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 4th March 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
'CLARKE, of Llangollen, in the County of Denbigh, North Wales, Tin
Plate Worker, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fourth day of September, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the thirty-
sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said John Clarke, Her special licence that I,
the said John Clarke, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said John Clarke, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to
time and at all times 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 of Man, an Invention for "AN IMPROVED PORTABLE HOT WATER BOILER,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said John Clarke, by
an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, 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

page_text: the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and im-
mediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Clarke, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is *to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement (that is to say) :-
The object of this Invention is the construction of a portable boiler
for boiling water quickly with a small quantity of fuel, and consists of
an annular casing supported upon a suitable frame, the centre of which
annular casing constitutes a flue, which rises from a cavity formed at its
bottom, and which cavity is designed to receive the fire-grate herein-
after described. This fire-grate consists of a cylindrical frame with a.
perforated bottom, and is provided at each side with suitable studs,
which pass through slots in the supporting framework, in order that the
fire-grate may be raised into position in the cavity herein-before men-
tioned, and there be fixed by such studs being turned into notches
provided in the sides of the slots for the purpose.
The water to be boiled is introduced into the annular casing herein-
before mentioned, and thus completely surrounds the fire-grate and
the flue proceeding from it, so that the heat is utilized to the greatest
extent.
If it be necessary to heat a larger quantity of water than that con-
tained in the annular casing I arrange another annular casing to fit on
to the top of the first-mentioned one, so that the waste heat and products
of combustion are still further utilized by passing through the centre of
this second casing, which is provided with a suitable cock to empty its
contents into the lower vessel when required.
And in order that my said Invention may be more thoroughly under-
stood, and more readily carried into effect, I have hereunto annexed a
Sheet of Drawings illustrative of the same, drawn to a scale of about
one-fourth full size, in which Fig. 1 is a vertical section; Fig. 2, an
exterior view; Fig. 3, a plan; Fig. 4, a plan with the upper casing
removed; and Fig. 5, a sectional plan taken on the line a, b, in Fig. 1.
Similar letters of reference refer to similar parts in all the views.
A is an annular casing herein-after called the boiler, constructed of:
tinned plates or copper, or other suitable sheet metal, the centre of

page_text: which constitutes a flue B, which rises from an enlarged part of the flue
or chamber C designed to receive a pan or brasier holding the fire, herein-
after described. This boiler is supported upon a circular sheet metal
frame D provided with folding doors E and F to permit of the intro-
duction of the pan or brasier containing the fuel, which doors can be
secured in their closed position by a bolt or cotter G. H is the fire-
grate, pan, or brasier, herein-after called the fire-grate, constructed by
preference of sheet iron, provided with a perforated bottom I, and made
a little less in diameter than the chamber C, into which it is designed to
be raised, this fire-grate being guided into position beneath the chamber C
by the guides c¹, c²; J, J¹, are two studs or handles projecting from the
lower part of the fire-grate, and passing through two vertical slots K, K¹;
one (K) in the folding doors E and F, and the other K¹ in the part of the
supporting frame D diametrically opposite. Each of these slots K, K', is
provided with a series of knotches L, so that upon raising the fire-grate H
by means of the handles J, J¹, and turning the said handles into the
notches the pan or brasier can be supported at any suitable height in
the chamber C. I find it an advantage thus to be able to regulate the
height of the fire-grate H in the chamber C, as the intensity of the fire
can by that means be regulated, but the greatest economy is obtained
when the fire-grate is raised so as to be entirely within the chamber C;
M is an opening, provided with a lid or cover N, through which the
water is introduced into the apparatus; and O is a tap for drawing
off the water when required.
When a larger quantity of water is required to be heated than that
contained in the boiler A, I arrange another annular casing P, herein-
after called a supplementary boiler, to fit on to the former, the central
portion Q of which supplementary boiler forms a flue similar to the
central part or flue B of the boiler A, but slightly larger in diameter, so
that an extension of the flue B may enter into the flue Q, thus steadying
the supplementary boiler P in its position, and allowing the heated pro-
ducts of combustion that would otherwise escape from the flue B into
the open air to be further absorbed by the water surrounding the flue Q,
whereby great economy of fuel is obtained. Into the bottom of the
supplementary boiler P is fixed a tap R, the bib of which projects
through an opening S in the top of the boiler A, and is turned inwards,
so that when the tap is opened for the purpose of allowing the contents
of the upper vessel to escape into the lower the water is directed against

page_text: the hot flue B, a result which is still further secured by a shoot T fixed
as shown.
The method of using this apparatus may be described as follows:
The lid or cover N being removed the boiler A is filled to the required
height with water. The supplementary boiler, if required, is then placed
in position on the top of the boiler A, having been previously filled in a
similar manner through an opening U provided with a cover or lid V.
The fire is next prepared in the grate H, for which purpose the fire-grate
may be withdrawn and be filled with coal, coke, charcoal, wood, or other
suitable material; and after such fuel is ignited the fire-grate is again
placed in its position beneath the chamber C, and when fairly lit is
raised and fixed by the handles J, J¹, in the body of the chamber, as
described. As the hot water is withdrawn from the boiler A. by the
tap O a fresh supply is obtained when necessary from the supplementary
boiler P through the tap R, which supplementary boiler in turn is filled
through the opening U.
Having thus particularly described the nature of my said Invention,
together with the best methods with which I am acquainted for carrying
the same into practical effect, I wish it to be understood that I do not
confine myself to the precise details, relative proportions or dimensions
of the several parts of the apparatus illustrated in the Drawing, as the
same may be considerably varied without departing from the Invention.
But what I claim is, the construction of a portable water boiling
apparatus, with an upper and lower casing, securing economy of fuel
and portability, combined with a fire-grate supported within an annular
water casing, as and for the purposes described and illustrated in the
accompanying Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Clarke, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this First day of March One thousand eight
JOHN CLARKE. (L.S.)