IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM BOILERS
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Wilke, of 3, Crown Villas, Greengate
Street, Plaistow, in the County of Essex, Engineer, for the Inven-
tion of "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM BOILERS."
Sealed the 21st August, 1874, and dated the 23rd February 1874..
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Wilke at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
23rd February 1874.
I, HENRY WILKE, of 3, Crown Villas, Greengate Street, Plaistow, in
the County of Essex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the
IN STEAM BOILERS," "to be as
said Invention for, "IMPROVEMENTS
follows:-
It is well known that if the flame come in contact with certain parts
of the shell of some steam boilers those parts exposed to the action of
the fire may be very injuriously affected. To obviate this I place one or
more water tubes extending from front to back in an inclined position
above the fire and below a main or tubular boiler. The inclined water

page_text: tubes are of less diameter than the main boiler and reach through the
furnace and through what I term a combustion chamber through which
the flame passes before going through the fire tubes of the main boiler
into an uptake in front. From cach of the inclined water tubes one or
more "up" tubes (preferably conical in form) project or are continued
upwards in and through the combustion chamber, and the top or steam
space in these is in communication with cach other and with the steam
chest or steam space of the main boiler, the lower or front end of the
said inclined water tubes being in communication with its water space.
The furnace wholly or partially surrounds the said inclined water tubes,
its roof being bricked over or between the tubes with fire-bricks, so that
within the length of the furnace or space below the main boiler the
flame cannot play upon the shell but must pass underneath and between
the inclined water tubes from front to back and return through the fire
tubes of the main boiler from back to front into the uptake. The sides
of the furnace, and the sides, top, and back of the combustion chamber
are formed of iron casings lined with fire-bricks or otherwise. The sides
of the furnace, and the sides, top, and back of the combustion chamber
are formed wholly or partly by water chambers which may be used as
feed heaters, and which may be open to the atmosphere or closed.
When closed these should have or be provided with a steam space and
a safety valve loaded to less pressure than that in the main boiler, and
sometimes I connect the steam space by a pipe with the steam chest of
the low-pressure cylinder of a combined high and low pressure engine,
and place a valve in the connecting pipe to prevent steam of greater
pressure than is desirable rushing back or into the first named feed
heater.
The accompanying Drawing is furnished as an illustrative example of
the mode of constructing a steam boiler in accordance with the

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Henry Wilke in the Great Scal Patent Office
on the 21st August 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRY
WILKE, of 3, Crown Villas, Greengate Street, Plaistow, in the County
of Essex, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-third day of February, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the thirty-
seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Henry Wilke, Her special licence that
I, the said Henry Wilke, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said Henry Wilke, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM BOILERS," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Henry Wilke, my executors,
or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or
one of their hands and seals, 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 the Great Seal
Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after
the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Henry Wilke, 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:-
The Invention has more especial reference to marine boilers, but is

page_text: applicable to land boilers also. It is well known that if the flame come
in contact with certain parts of the shell of some steam boilers those
parts exposed to the action of the fire may be very injuriously affected.
To obviate this I place one or more water tubes extending from front to
back in an inclined position above the fire and below a main or tubular
boiler. The inclined water tubes are of less diameter than the main
boiler and reach through the furnace and through what I term a com-
bustion chamber, through which the flame passes before going through
the fire tubes of the main boiler into an uptake in front. From each of
the inclined water tubes or from a box or passage in communication
with them one or more "up" tubes (preferably conical in form) project
or are continued upwards in and through the combustion chamber, and
the top or steam space in these is in communication with each other and
with the steam chest or steam space of the main boiler, the lower or
front end of the said inclined water tubes being in communication with
its water space. The furnace wholly or partially surrounds the said
inclined water tubes, its roof being bricked over or filled in between the
tubes or some of them with fire-bricks, so that the shell of main boiler
is protected from the action of the flame which must pass underneath
the inclined water tubes into the combustion chamber and return
through the fire tubes of the main boiler from back to front into the
uptake. The sides of the furnace, and the sides, top, and back of the
combustion chamber are formed of iron casings lined with fire-bricks
or otherwise. The sides of the furnace, and the sides and back of the
combustion chamber are formed wholly or partly by water chambers
which may be used as feed heaters, and which may be open to the
atmosphere or closed. When closed these should have or be provided
with a steam space and a safety valvo loaded to less pressure than that
in the main boiler, and sometimes I connect the steam space by a pipe
with the steam chest of the low-pressure cylinder of a combined high
and low pressure engine, and place a valve in the connecting pipe to
prevent steam of greater pressure than is desirable rushing back or into
the first named feed heater.
Dine Gumichon illustration neomales of the

page_text: A, A, the main boilers, being of the ordinary multitubular type,
having a cylindrical shell with fire tubes through it; B, B, the inclined
water tubes; C, the furnace; C*, combustion chamber; D, uptake in
front for flame and gases; E, E, "up" water tubes at back which may
be situate with the lower part completely within the combustion
chamber, as shewn, or partly or completely buried or imbedded in the
back wall or otherwise behind the back wall or feed heater. F, steam
chest or reservoir of main boilers; G, G, water communication pipes in
front; H, brickwork (in fire-brick) between tubes; H* is a cross wall
(also of fire-brick) resting on the inclined tubes B, and together
with them and the brickwork H preventing the flame from striking
against the shell. I, water chamber used as a feed heater shown only at
back of combustion chamber.
I sometimes place the main boilers in an inclined position instead of
horizontally, as represented.
The construction possesses the advantages of cheapness, lightness,
facility for examination and repair, simplicity of workmanship, non-
exposure of joints to flame, large grate surface, and absence of stays.
The boilers A may conveniently be from about 4 to 8 feet in diameter,
O and the inclined water tubes B may have covers at each end.
It is to be noted that the conical tubes E provide steam space 'above
combustion chamber, and that all steam spaces are connected with cach
other as are also all water spaces.
:
Fire-bricks are so placed between the inclined water tubes or some of
them that the flame (as distinguished from the heat) cannot strike the
shell of the boiler, although the shell is exposed to a certain extent to
the furnace heat.
In each boiler the feed water having entered the shell flows through
openings M at the side of the shell at water level and fills the pocket N
which partly belts the shell and in turn supplies the inclined water
tubes B, B, through the pipes G (see front of boiler); consequently the
same water level obtains in A and E. As the scum may be taken off
from water in A. the water in the inclined and "up" water tubes B
and E is comparatively free from scale or sediment. If desired simple
5 means can be adopted for more effectually promoting circulation in B
and E; for example by an inside return tube, as shewn in dotted lines

page_text: (in Figure 2). This tube may then open at its lower end into or
terminate near a bag L, and the blow-off is in this case taken away from
- here.
The feed heaters may receive their supply from hot well discharge and
be connected to feed suction or feed pumps. When closed feed heaters
are employed, they may be constructed of light material but provided
'with safety valve loaded to only a few pounds per square inch.
-
5. The construction above described admits of modification as follows:
The main boiler A may be protected from the action of the flame in the
manner shown in Figures 4, 5, and 6. At front and back of the boiler
are placed the boxes marked 3, and these are connected by the tubes 1.
The "up" tubes 2 bring steam into main boiler being connected therewith
at or near the water level, and at the same time effect circulation and
also support the brickwork for back of combustion chamber. As the
bottom of main boiler A may be more than five feet above stoke-hole
flooring, its projection over furnace front into stoke-hole will not incon-
veniently affect the manner of firing. Boilers of this make do not
require more space on board ship than ordinary marine boilers, the front
uptakes and the projecting part of main boiler A within stoke-hole
occupying only such room as is on every ship allotted to the boiler
space.
It is obvious that the improved boilers may be constructed in different
proportions to suit the varying arrangements and requirements of
different ships.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the "
-manner in which the same is to be and may be performed, I claim as its
characteristics or features,-
Firstly. The constructing steam boilers with a combination of inclined
water tubes and brickwork applied beneath the shell so as to protect it
from the destructive or direct action of the flame of the furnace from:
playing upon it.
Secondly. The constructing steam boilers with inclined water tubes
applied beneath the shell and extending into or through a combustion
chamber in combination with "up" tubes in and through the com-
bustion chamber, and arranged to afford steam spaces at the upper part
of the said "up" tubes in such manner as to render such inclined and
"up" tubes available as steam generators.

page_text: Thirdly. The constructing steam boilers with inclined water tubes
applied beneath the shell and extending into or through a combustion
chamber in combination with "up" tubes in and along the combustion
chamber, the upper ends of the "up" " tubes communicating with and
entering main boiler at or near the water level in such manner as
to render such inclined and "up" tubes available as steam generators,
sometimes with and sometimes without the further combination or
circumstance of the said "up" tubes serving as supports for back or
roof of combustion chamber, or partly so serving.
"
Fourthly. The supplying the inclined water tubes and their "up'
tubes with feed water direct from the water level of main boiler or
thereabouts.
Fifthly. The constructing the sides of the furnace and the sides and
back of the combustion chamber, the said furnace and chamber being fitted
or provided with inclined water tubes, as herein-above set forth, wholly
or partly of or by water chambers to be used as feed heaters, open or
closed; but if closed, provided with steam space and safety valve (to bo
loaded to a less pressure than that in the main boiler).
And, Lastly. I claim as of my Invention the special combinations and
arrangements of parts herein-above described and represented or indi-
cated in the Drawings as examples for carrying into practice its several
above mentioned characteristics or features.
In witness whercof, I, the said Henry Wilke, have hereunto set
my hand and scal, this Fifteenth day of August, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four.
HENRY WILKE. (L.S.)
HENRY WILKE. (L.S.)