Improvements in Steam or other Fluid Bollers.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Sept., 1894-Accepted, 1st Dec., 1894
CUNT LEIE OF PUTTIVATION.
Improvements in Steam or other Fluid Bollers.
We, LUDLOW PATTON PERKINS, GEORGE FREDERICK BUCK, both of 107
Acomb Street, Moss Side, Manchester in the County of Lancashire, Engineers,
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 steam or other fluid boilers in which
tubes each hermetically sealed by welding or other metallic fusion and partly filled
with liquid are used as the principal medium for the transference of heat from the
fire to the liquid within the boiler.
The action, construction and charging of these tubes is fully described and set
forth in the Specifications of Ludlow Patton Perkins and another No. 22272-1892
and No. 14294-1893. In the first named Specification these tubes are used for the
purpose of heating aeriform bodies and the heating of liquids, and in the second
Specification they are used for the purpose of raising steam in boilers under
pressure.
The present invention is for certain arrangements of these sealed tubes, and in
combination with variously shaped shell or vessels containing the liquid from which
it is desired to generate steam or other motive fluid, whereby we say certain
advantages are gained.
Fig. 1 is a vertical section through the shell of a vertical cylindrical boiler
enclosed in an outer case A. The top plate B and the bottom plate D of the
boiler are dished in such manner as will resist the internal pressure. The hermetically
sealed tubes E E are secured into the bottom plate D radially, so that their
lower portions stand sufficiently far apart to insure the furnace gases passing
freely amongst them. The top plate B is provided with a hole or cover C. of
sufficient size to allow of all the hermetically sealed tubes being passed through
it into their places. Thus by simply removing the cover C any of the hermetically
sealed tubes can be readily removed for examination or repair. Some of the
hermetically sealed tubes are carried downward through the deadplate F and are
provided with suitable nuts for gripping it, thus sustaining the weight or a part of
the weight of the shell and its contents.
Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the shell of a vertical boiler enclosed in an
outer casing.
The shape of the shell A forms a frustrum of a cone, the ends B and D being closed
by dished ends of such form as will withstand the internal pressure. A manhole Ę
may be provided in the position shewn. At the lower end a mud collecting drum
or pipe F may be fixed. The grate G is formed around the lower part of the shell
either for its wholo circumference or less, fireholes through the outer casing being
provided in suitable positions. A row of short hermetically sealed tubes H are
fixed in the shell and may be bent in such manner as to protect the lower part of
the shell from the action of the fire. Above these are fixed the main body of the
bermetically sealed tubes immediately above the firebars. Some of the hermetically
sealed tubes forming the main body may be bent down as at K in such manner as
to protect the outer casing from the action of the fire.
Both the hermetically sealed tubes H and the bent down portions of the
tubes K may however be replaced by firebrick. This form of shell not only
enables the hermetically sealed tubes to be fixed at angles proper to their working,
but it enables an internal cone L, made in suitable segments, to be dropped
down inside the boiler and which will be maintained in position by simply
.

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resting upon the ends of the hermetically sealed tubes which project into the water
space of the boiler, and which cone will tend to promote circulation in the boiler,
as is indicated by the arrows. The main body of hermetically sealed tubes are
preferably arranged "hit and miss" fashion so as to as far as possible intercept the
heat of the escaping gases.
When only one chimney flue is used a plate M provided with suitable orifices may
be provided to equalise the draught around the shell.
Fig. 3 shews a half cross section and half end view of a boiler.
Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section through the same.
Referring to these figures it will be seen that a number of hermetically sealed
tubes AA are disposed diagonally in the furnace B and are made to pass through
the two lower sides of a square sectioned shell C in such manner that they cross in the
water and steam space of the boiler and serve to stay the opposite flat sides.
The ends of the shell may be dished as shewn and provided with manholes D or
the ends may be flat and stayed in any ordinary manner.
Fuel is introduced
through the firedoor or doors E in the end of the casing. F. onto the firebars G, air
for combustion being admitted through the door H. The row of bermetically
sealed tubes K may be made fast to the foundation plate so as to sustain and steady
'the weight or a part of the weight of the shell and its apertanances. Doors are
provided in the sides of the casing F to. enable the exterior of the hermetically
sealed tubes to be swept, or if necessary any of them may be withdrawn or renewed
through these openings, and they will also serve to admit cold air if it is desired
to check the generation of steaID. The front and back ends of the firebox B are
shewn protected by firebrick, but some of the hermetically sealed tubes in their
veighbourhood may be so bent as to protect the casing. The boiler may be made
of any length which can be stoked from either one or both ends.
The shell may be made cylindrical in section, but not so many hermetically
scaled tubes cau be inserted in proportion to the weight and contents of such a shell,
as when a square one is used. This square form of shell used in conjunction with
these hermetically sealed tubes allows of very thin shell plates being used owing to
the number of stays which these tubes form, when applied in the indicated manner.
It also provides when disposed in the manner indicated a large area of water
surface for the liberation of steam in proportion to the quantity of water carried,
and also provides that the hermetically sealed' tubes which have the greatest
surface exposed to the furnace shall have the greatest surface immersed in the
water in the boiler, even with considerable fluctuations of water level. The
intersection of the water by these hermetically sealed tubes crossing will also tend
in a great measure to prevent the water surging, when on board ship in a seaway.
The presence of what virtually amounts to four tube plates in the boiler permits
of the hermetically sealed tubes being placed very close together within the boiler
without the holes through the plates being too close together. The upper sides of
the shell above the water level are at such a slope that the heated gases cannot
impinge upon them, and they therefore need no protective covering.
Fig. 5 is a half cross section and half end view of a similar arrangement of
boiler as Figs. 3 and 4, the shell A being shaped so as to secure most of the same
features and advantages, but room is provided inside the shell on either side of the
nest of hermetically sealed tubes to allow of more readily inspecting and cleaning
the interior of the boiler. Admittance to these spaces is gained through the
manholes B. It is possible with the indicated form of shell to make a boiler
occupy less width than that shewn in Figs. 3 and 4, when using tubes of similar
length..
Fig. 6 is a section of a boiler in which a number of hermetically sealed tubes A
are disposed at a suitable angle above the furnace B. The highest portions of the
tubes are passed through the shell plates C and act as stays between these flat
surfaces. The upper portion D of the shell is enlarged so as to form a steam and
water drum. The euds of the shell are preferably closed by dished ends to suit
the indicated shape of shell. The lower portion E of the shell forms a mud drum

page_text: and is pierced by a firehole F, the sides of which serve to stay the flat portions of
the shell not otherwise stayed by hermetically sealed tubes. The fuel is introduced
through the fireholes onto the firebars G, and the sides of the firebox may be
protected by shorter hermetically sealed tubes H. The door K is for admitting air
for combustion, and the door I in the casing is for sweeping the exterior surfaces
of the tubes or admitting cold air if it is desired to check the generation of steam:
This arrangement greatly facilitates the sweeping of the hermetically scaled tubes,
as they come at a convenient height for the attendant, and the circulation of the
water within the. boiler may be encouraged by inserting vertical plates on either
side of the nest of tubes in such manner that the water will descend against the dished
ends of the boiler and ascend amongst the tubes. The hermetically sealed tubes
are preferably arranged "hit and miss" fashion so that the hot gases impinge upon
their undersides.
Fig. 7 is a section through the shell of a boiler in which the hermetically sealed
tubes are disposed in the furnaces A and B in a similar manner to that described
and illustrated in Fig. 6. The shell C is virtually one made up of two shells
of the type shewn in Fig. 6, being connected together by the steam.space D and
the mud space E.
The passage F through the boiler_allows the ends of the hermetically sealed
tubes acting as stays to be got at. To aid the circulation of water within the
boiler, vertical plates may be arranged on either side of the nest of tubes to divide
the currents, as is described in connection with Fig. 6.
The space E may be protected from the action of the fire by short hermetically
sealed tubes II, bent in such manner as to protect the plate. The sides of the
furnace A & B may be protected by hermetically sealed tubes K.
Fig. 8 is a vertical section through a vertical boiler suitable for use where
portability and quick steam raising power are desired. A great number of
hermetically sealed tubes are disposed in the furnace A above the grate B, their upper
portions passing through the tube plate C, which is stayed towards the centre by
the flue tube D.
The dished form of the shell plate enables the hermetically. sealed tubes to be
sprayed in such manner that the lower ends of those immediately. below the flue
shall be touching, and that the area or space between the tubes in the encircling
rows shall be greater as they become further removed from the draught up the
flue D.
It will be seen that by disposing the hermetically scaled tubes in this
manner not only will the radiant heat of the fire be readily absorbed, 'but the
currents of the heated gases will be properly broken up and caused to flow equally
between the hermetically sealed tubes. E is a firebrick plug dropped upon the
inner circle of hermetically sealed tubes to act as a baffle, it may be in the form of
a cone upon its upper side so that by simply lifting from below, cinders or soot
accumulating thereon will fall down onto the grate below, and it is of such size
that it will pass through the flue D. The shell may be bolted to the tube plate C
at G, and to the flue D at H, so that its removal will enable the portions of the
hermetically sealed tubes within the boiler to be inspected and their exteriors
cleaned. This arrangement enables a comparatively small shell to be used with a
large number of hermetically sealed tubes in conjunction with a large grate surface.
Figs. 9 and 10 show an application of these hermetically sealed tubes to a typical
externally fired water tube boilor. Fig. 9 is a longitudinal section through the'
brickwork setting, and Fig. 10 a cross section through the boiler, and brick setting.
The hermetically sealed tubes A are shewn secured into the steam and water
drum B and project downwards on either side of the firebox C in such manner as to
protect the brickwork sides from the action of the fire which is situated upon the
grate bars D.
The hermetically sealed tubes may be bent in any suitable manner
for carrying out this object, and their upper ends may be secured into the front
water header E or any extension thereof. The addition of these hermetically
sealed tubes to a boiler of this type removes one of their chief objections, namely
the rapid deterioration of the brickwork sides of the furnace.

page_text: 4
Fig. 11 is a cross section through a Lancashire boiler provided with a combustion
chamber A common to the two flues B & C, and extending for any suitable length.
The flat plates forming the top and bottom of this chamber are prevented from
collapsing by means of a number of hermetically sealed tubes D, which are carried
through both plates and secured therein or against, in such manner that the tubes
act as struts. The upper portion of these tubes pass into the water space of the
boiler. By this arrangement a large amount of additional surface may be provided
in this type of boiler.
Fig. 12 is a longitudinal section through the firebox of a locomotive type boiler,
in which a number of hermetically sealed tubes A A are arranged in such manner
as to support and protect from the action of the fire, the brick arch usually placed
within the firebox of this class of boiler. The hermetically sealed tubes applied
in the manner indicated not only may be made to stay the top of the firebox and
to support the brickwork arch, but will augment the heating surface in the firebox
whether the hermetically sealed tubes be used in addition to, or in place of stays
of the ordinary description.
Fig. 13 is a cross section through the firebox of a locomotive type of boiler
which has its sides and back sloped in such manner as to allow of the use of short
hermetically sealed tubes to replace the ordinary solid screwed stays usually
employed, which give considerable trouble by reason of their rapid deterioration,
owing to the action of the fire on their rivetted over ends.
Fig. 14 is a vertical section through a cylindrical vertical boiler having a water
firebox A and an upper combustion chamber B. The lower plate of the
combustion chamber B is stayed to the crown plate D of the furnace by means of
a number of ordinary flue tubes E E. The upper plates F of the combustion
chamber is stayed to the top plate G of the boiler shed partly by the flue H and
by the hermetically sealed tubes K K which project downwards through the
combustion chamber B and the flue tubes E into the firebox A, in such manner
that the heated gases from the furnace first pass up the annular spaces L and
thence through the combustion chamber B to the flue H. The central part of the
plates C and D may be stayed by means of shorter hermetically sealed tubes or a
central flue may be inserted, and which may be provided with means for closing it.
The products of combustion may be allowed to pass through this central flue at
the time of lighting up the fire and afterwards diverted by closing this central
Alue, which may be subsequently opened if it is desired to check the generation of
steam at any time. The damper or slide in this flue may be controlled through
the cleaning door M. By inserting these hermetically sealed tubes within flue
tubes of ordinary description the heated gases will be made to pass in more
intimate contact with the interior surface of the flue tubes, and such surface will
also be protected against overheating.
The drawings upon Sheet 12 shew various details and arrangements of these
bermetically sealed tubes.
Fig. 15-shews two hermetically sealed tubes passing through the boiler
plates A and B. The tube to the right is here used as a stay for these plates and
the tube to the left as a strut between them, to prevent the plates being drawn
together as might be the case if a number of stay tubes made fast in the mauner
shewn were used.
Fig. 16 shews three rows of hermetically sealed tubes made tight in the
plates A and B. The lower portions of the tubes C are bent in such manner that
they come close together and may be made to touch so as to offer a more or less
complete barrier to the passage of any flame or heated gases.
Fig. 17 shews another method of making the upper end of hermetically sealed
stay tubes tight in the plate A. By this arrangement it is possible to make both
joints B and C by means of cones, which are drawn up against the edges of parallel
holes prepared for the purpose.
Fig. 18 shews another method of making the upper ends of hermetically sealed
stay tubes tight in the plate A. The joints both at B and C are made in the same

page_text: manner as is shewn in Fig. 17, and the socket D is screwed right and left hand so
as to draw the parts together. The hole in the upper plate may be large enough
to allow the cone at C to pass through.
Fig. 19 shews a method of making the lower ends of hermetically sealed tubes
tight in the plates B and C when they are used as struts in a combustion chamber
or flue. The method of making the joints both at D and E may be by means of
cones as before described.
Fig. 20 shews a method of making tight hermetically sealed tubes in the plate B
when it is not convenient to form solid collars or cones
upon the tubes.
short
sleeve C is brazed upon the exterior of the hermetically sealed tubes and' has its
upper part D slightly cupped so as to hold a ring of the spelter and thus insuring
the joint being sound. The sleeve C is shewn screwed upon its lower side and its
cone E is drawn down upon the edge of the hole in the plate B by means of the
nut F. The nut F may be round instead of hexagonal or square, and may be
provided with slots G on its lower side to enable a key or spanner to turn it. By
using this method of fixing the tubes in the boiler plates, thin tubes may be
employed and they may be placed closer together when round nuts of this
description are used, than when nuts of ordinary description are employed.
Instead of brazing sleeves as described upon these tubes we may prefer to
electrically deposit metal sleeves or collars upon the tubes, and then afterwards
turn or screw the said metal sleeves or collars in any suitable manner for making
them tight where passing through the boiler shell.
Fig. 21 is a plan of the round nut F shewn in Fig. 20, G being the slots
referred to.
"
Fig. 22 shews an hermetically sealed tube A welded into another hermetically
sealed tube B of larger diameter, with a view of further tempering the extreme
beat of the fire before it is conducted to the water of the boiler. This is
accomplished by repeating the cycle of changes which is well known to occur
within these hermetically scaled tubes.
Now we would have it understood that we are aware that tubes such as are used
in the Perkins' system of hot water heating apparatus have before been used in
connection with steam boilers. Such tubes however are endless, to enable a
circulation of highly heated water to flow throughout them, and the apparatus is
closed by means of removeable plugs, and is almost entirely filled with water,
room only being left for the expansion of the water as it becomes heated. There
is no room left for the generation and condensation of steam, as such is not relied
upon as the means for the transference of heat. Such tubes therefore are entirely
foreign and not applicable to the present invention.
We are also aware that it has been proposed to use separate closed tubes, in
which circulation is promoted by means of special devices placed within them with
the view of providing a flow and return for whatever agent is employed. With
tubes charged and used in the manner referred to and indicated in this Specification
it is essential that circulation should be discouraged as far as possible with a view
of insuring that a considerable portion of the liquid with which these tubes are
charged shall remain at the lower end of the tubes and therefore in the neigh-
bourhood of the surface most exposed to the action of the fire. Any device
likely to promote rapid circulation inside these tubes will tend to disturb the bulk
of the liquid which we wish to remain at the fire end of the tubes and to never
leave it..
Now we would have it understood that we do not claim to be the inventors of
these hermetically scaled tubes but that we herein confine ourselves to the use in
certain ways and in combination with certain shaped vessels or boilors of Buch
tubes, charged in the manner and proportion described in the before quoted
Specifications and after these tubes are so charged with liquid they shall be
welded at their open ends whereby the liquid which they contain shall be for ever
sealed within them and cannot therefore leak away.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is
1. A steam or other fluid generator constructed and adapted to act substantially
as set forth and indicated with reference to Fig. 1 of the drawings.
2. A steam or other fluid generator constructed and adapted to act substantially
as set forth and indicated with reference to Fig. 2 of the drawings.
3. A steam or other fluid generator constructed and adapted to act substantially
as set forth and indicated with reference to Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings.
4. A steam or other fluid generator constructed and adapted to act substantially
as set forth and indicated with reference to Fig. 5 of the drawings.
5. A steam or other fluid generator constructed and adapted to act substantially
as set forth and indicated with reference to Fig. 6.of the drawings.
6. A steam or other fluid generator constructed and adapted to act substantially
as set forth and indicated with reference to Fig. 7 of the drawings.
7. A steam or other Huid generator constructed and adapted to act substantially
as set forth and indicated with reference to Fig. 8 of the drawings.
8. The application of the hermetically sealed tubes referred to herein to existing
externally fired steam boilers of the type indicated in Figs. and 10, in such
manner as to protect the brickwork sides of the firebox and to thereby utilise heat
which is otherwise lost by transmission through the said brickwork.
9. Forming combustion chambers in a Cornish or common to the flues of a
Lancashire boiler, in which a number of the hermetically sealed tubes referred to
herein are so disposed as to act as struts between the upper and lower plates of the
combustion chamber or chambers, and thus prevent collapse, substantially as
described and for the purpose set forth..
10. In the firebox of a locomotive type boiler the application of the hermetically
sealed tubes referred to herein in such manner as to support and protect the
brickarch or baffle, substantially as described.
11. In the firebox of a locomotive type boiler the application of the hermetically
sealed tubes referred to herein to the sloping sides of the box, and which tubes
may be used in place of the ordinary screwed stays substantially as described and
for the purpose set forth.
12. A steam or other fluid generator constructed and adapted to act substantially
as set forth and indicated with reference to Fig. 14 of the drawings.
13. In the tubes of any ordinary tubular boiler, the insertion into them of the
bermetically sealed tubes referred to herein, in such manner that the furnace gases
pass through the annular space formed between the interior of the flue tubes and
the exterior of the hermetically sealed tubes, substantially as described and for the
purpose set forth.
14. In a steam or other fluid generator the method of arranging and securing the
sealed tubes referred to herein to the plates as indicated in Fig. 15 of the drawings,
and for the purpose set forth.
15. In a steam or other fluid generator the method of arranging and securing the
sealed tubes referred to herein to the plates of the generator shell as indicated in
Fig. 16 and for the purpose set forth.
16. In a steam or other fluid generator the inethod of arranging and securing the
sealed tubes referred to herein to the plates as indicated in Figs. 17 and 18.
17. In a steam or other fluid generator the application of the sealed tubes
referred to herein, in such a way that their parts exposed for the absorption of
heat act as struts between the plates of combustion chamber or flues.
18. In a steam or other fluid generator the application of the sealed tubes
referred to herein, the tubes being provided with brazed on collars or sleeves of
the form indicated and described with reference to Fig. 20 of the drawings, and
provided with round nuts as described and indicated with reference to Fig. 21 of
the drawings and for the purpose set förth.
=

page_text: 19. In a steam or other fluid generator the application of the sealed tubes
referred to herein, the tubes being provided with collars of any suitable material
deposited electrically upon their exteriors, such collars being afterwards screwed
or turned in any suitable manner for making a joint in the plates of the generator.
20. In a steam or other fluid generator the application of compound sealed tubes.
of the nature referred to herein, each tube being made up of two or more sealed
tubes welded together or into one another, each separate section being partly
oharged with liquid.
21. In a steam or other. fluid generator the application of the sealed tubes.
referred to herein, in such a way that these tubes serve to support or steady the
shell of the generator and its contents, by attaching their lower extremities in any
auitable manner to the dead plate or foundation ring of the generator substantially
as desoribed.
22. In a steam or other fluid geuerator the application of the sealed tubes.
referred to herein, in which the shell of the generator is of such section that the
sealed tubes pass through the side or sides of the shell in such manner that they
cross one another at any angle within the interior of the shell, substantially and
for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 27th day of Sentember 1801
LUDLOW PATTON PERKINS.
GEORGE F. BUCK.

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