Improvements in Steam Generators.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Jan., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 4th Oct., 1892-Accepted, 5th Nov.. 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Steam Generators.
I, RICHARD HEBER RADFORD of 15, St. James' Row, Sheffield in the County
of York, Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM GENERATORS," to be as follows:-
The objects of my invention are to render the heating surface more effective and
at the same time reduce the size and weight of such generators, in proportion to
their evaporative power.
I attain these objects in the following manner, viz. :
My improved steam generator is a cylindrical revolving vessel, the shell of
which I construct either plain, like the shell of an ordinary steam boiler, or with
circumferential corrugations, the depth of such corrugations being regulated to
some extent by the diameter of the shell and pressure of steam to be carried, by
preference I make them as deep as can be conveniently arranged, without having
to resort to staying their surfaces. The ends of the shell I make flat and stay
them well together longitudinally;
suitable bearings on which the vessel revolves, in some cases I employ roller
these ends I provide with trunions and
bearings. Each trunion is accurately turned and bored and fitted with a stuffing
box and gland, through which I pass, on
arrange to turn up inside the vessel so as to draw the steam from the highest
one side, the steam pipe which I
available point above the water level, the steam pipe being stationary the vessel
and trunions revolving round it. Through the steam pipe
small pipes suitably arranged to indicate the water level within the vessel by
pass two or more
means of gauge cocks and glasses or their equivalents.
Through the opposite trunion I pass a feed pipe similarly fitted and arranged
to the steam pipe previously described, only that it is turned downwards instead of
upwards, by making this feed pipe of sufficient area room may be provided for
passing through it, a blow off pipe or scum pipe or both. The safety valve I affix
to a branch on the main steam pipe, placed as near the vessel as can conveniently
be arranged. I also provide spring escape or safety valves fixed in the ends of the
vessel, which may be adjusted to a pressure a little above the ordinary working or
blowing off pressure of the safety valve. I also place in each end a manhole,
where jet gauge cocks may likewise be placed.
distances in the shell plates fusible plugs as a safeguard against the overheating of
I also provide at suitable
the plates.
Under this revolving vessel I place the fire grate, the fire place and the whole of
the shell of the vessel being enclosed in brickwork which, when the corrugations
in the shell of the vessel are large enough to form flues for the products of com-
bustion, may be made to fit close up to the major diameter of the shell. The
chimney or uptake I place so that the heated gases may pass over the top of the
essel.
In this way about three quarters of the whole of its external circumference is
xposed to the fire or heated gases at the same time, that portion which is sub-
ected to the greatest heat, being below the water line.
escribed may be made to revolve in either direction but by preference I cause it
The vessel herein
o revolve in the same direction as the waste gases, so that the water adhering to
he plates as they ascend above the water level will be rapidly evaporated and the
lates when dried become highly heated, the heated surfaces descending on the
pposite side are again brought below the water line and give off the heat
ccumulated during the preceding revolution.

page_text: The speed at which the vessel is made to revolve will be regulated by circum-
stances but it will be sufficient to prevent the plates becoming so hot as to cause
the formation of spheroidal steam on their surfaces (i.e. red hot or nearly so).
I also provide a damper so that the draught may be regulated, and likewise
provision for turning the heated gases into a bye-pass flue to the chimney in cases
where it may become necessary to stop the vessel revolving whilst the fire is large,
such bye-pass taking the heated gases to the chimney without their passing over
the surfaces of the plates above the water line.
The speed at which the vessel is made to revolve may in some cases be so
regulated that the water may, by centrifugal force, be carried up with the plates
some distance beyond the normal water level and in some cases the speed may
be increased until the water is, by centrifugal force, carried round with the
vessel.
In some cases I provide inside the vessel ribs, indentations, small corrugations
or their equivalents placed transversely or otherwise, so as to act like shelves or
buckets to lift the water for some distance above the normal level, the water so
lifted afterwards running or trickling down over the surfaces of the heated plates,
thereby wetting the plates as they rise above the water level and affording facilities
for rapid evaporation.
Dated this 1st Jan 1802
R. HEBER RADFORD,
Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Steam Generators.
I RICHARD HEBER RADFORD of 15 Saint James' Row, Sheffield in the County
of York, Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM GENERATORS" and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :―
The objects of my invention are to render the heating surface more effective
and at the same time reduce the size and weight of such generators, in proportion
to their evaporative power.
I attain these objects in the following manner viz. :-
My improved steam generator is a cylindrical revolving vessel, the shell of
which I construct either plain like the shell of an ordinary steam boiler, or with
circumferential corrugations. The depth of such corrugations being regulated to
some extent by the diameter of the shell and pressure of steam to be carried, by
preference I make them as deep as can be conveniently arranged, without having
to resort to staying their surfaces. The ends of the shell I by preference make
flat and stay them well together longitudinally; these ends I provide with trunnions
and suitable bearings on which the vessel revolves, in some cases I employ roller
bearings, each trunnion is accurately turned and bored and fitted with a stuffing
box and gland, through which I pass on one side, the steam pipe which I arrange
to turn up inside the vessel so as to draw the steam from the highest available
point above the water level, the steam pipe being stationary the vessel and
trunnions revolving round it. Through the steam pipe I pass two or more small
pipes suitably arranged to indicate the water level within the vessel by means of
gauge cocks and glasses or their equivalents.
Through the opposite trunnion I pass a feed pipe similarly fitted and arranged
to the steam pipe previously described, only that it is turned downwards instead of
upwards, by making this feed pipe of sufficient area, room may be provided for
passing through it a blow off pipe or scum pipe or both. The safety valve I affix
to a branch on the main steam pipe, placed as near the vessel as can conveniently
be arranged, I also provide spring escape or safety valves fixed in the ends of the

page_text: vessel, which may be adjusted to a pressure a little above the ordinary working or
blowing off pressure of the safety valve. I also place in each end a manhole where
gauge cocks may likewise be placed. I also provide at suitable distances in the
shell plates fusible plugs as a safe-guard against the overheating of the plates.
Under this revolving vessel I place the fire-grate, the fire place and the whole
of the shell of the vessel being enclosed in brickwork, which, when the corrugations
in the shell of the vessel are large enough to form flues for the products of com-
bustion, may be made to fit close up to the major diameter of the shell. The
chimney or uptake I place so that the heated gases may pass over the top of the
vessel. In this way about three quarters of the whole of its external circumference
is exposed to the fire or heated gases at the same time, that portion which is
subjected to the greatest heat being below the water line. The vessel herein
described may be made to revolve in either direction but by preference I cause it
to revolve in the same direction as the waste gases, so that the water adhering to
the plates as they ascend above the water level will be rapidly evaporated and the
plates when dried become highly heated, the heated surfaces descending on the
opposite side are again brought below the water line and give off the heat
accumulated during the preceding revolution. The speed at which the vessel is
made to revolve will be regulated by circumstances but it will be sufficient to
prevent the plates becoming so hot as to cause the formation of spheroidal steam
on their surfaces (i.e. red hot or nearly so). I also provide a damper so that the
draught may be regulated, and likewise provision for turning the heated gases into
a bye-pass flue to the chimney in cases where it may become necessary to stop the
vessel revolving whilst the fire is large, such bye-pass taking the heated gases to
the chimney without their passing over the surfaces of the plates above the water
line.
The speed at which the vessel is made to revolve may in some cases be so
regulated that the water may, by centrifugal force, be carried up with the plates
some distance beyond the normal water level and in some cases the speed may
be increased until the water is, by centrifugal force, carried round with the
vessel.
In some cases I provide inside the vessel ribs, indentations, small corrugations
or their equivalents, placed transversely or otherwise so as to act like shelves or
brackets and heat conductors, to lift the water for some distance above the normal
level, the water so lifted afterwards running or trickling down over the surfaces
of the heated plates, thereby wetting the plates as they rise above the water level
and affording facilities for rapid evaporation.
The nature of my invention will be better understood on reference to the
accompanying sheet of drawings in which―
Fig. 1 is a front elevation shewn in section through the centre line of the
trunnions and
Fig. 2 is a side elevation shewn partly in section.
The same letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views :-
a,
is the revolving vessel.
b, b, b, are the circumferential corrugations.
c, c, are longitudinal stays by which the ends of the vessel, when made flat, are
stayed together.
d, d, are the trunnions upon which the vessel revolves.
e, e, are roller bearings.
f, is the stuffing box in the trunnions.
9, is the gland in the same.
h, is the steam pipe.
i, i, are two small pipes for indicating the water level inside the vessel.
j, is the water gauge glass.
k, is the feed pipe.
1, is a blow off or scum pipe.
m is the safety valve

page_text: ט }
r, is the chimney.
s, is the damper for regulating the draught and for diverting the heated gases
into bye-pass flues when the vessel is not revolving.
t, is the bye-pass flue or flues for the heated gases.
u, is the fire bridge.
r, is an air port, provided with a valve below the fire-bars.
wo, is a rim on which the vessel turns on the roller bearings, the inside of which.
is formed with internal spur gear.
X, is a pinion working the last named gear by which the vessel is turned.
The arrows indicate the direction of the waste gases in passing from the fire
place to the chimney and also the direction in which the vessel revolves.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed 1 declare that what I
claim is,
1. In a revolving cylindrical steam generator, the particular construction,
arrangement and combination of parts and appliances by means of which the
heating surface is rendered more effective, by being made to pass alternately above
and below the water level within the vessel, so that during each revolution of the
vessel the plates which form the heating surface as they rise above the water level
are exposed to the heated gases as they pass from the fire-place, along flues
arranged circumferentially about the vessel, to the chimney, the water adhering to
or trickling down their inner surfaces being thereby rapidly evaporated and the
steam super-heated. The plates forming the heating surface being thus dried,
take up a large amount of heat transmitting the same to the water as they pass
below the water level on completing the revolution and so on continuously in
successive revolutions, in the manner and for the purposes substantially as herein
described and illustrated.
2. The construction, arrangement and combination of parts and appliances by
means of which the size and weight of a steam generator may be reduced in
proportion to its evaporative power in the manner and for the purposes substantially
as herein described and illustrated.
Dated this 2nd dor of October 1899
R. HEBER RADFORD,
Applicant.