IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM GENERATORS, PARTICULARLY APPLICABLE TO MARINE AND TRACTION ENGINES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas James Smith, of the Firm of Robertson, Brooman,
and Company, of 166, Fleet Street, in the City of London, Patent Agents,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM GENERATORS, PARTICULARLY
APPLICABLE TO MARINE AND TRACTION ENGINES." A communication from
abroad by Rémi Legendre, residing at Constantinople, Turkey.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas James Smith at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th February 1877.
THOMAS JAMES SMITH, of the Firm of Robertson, Brooman, and Company, of 166,
Fleet Street, in the City of London, Patent Agents. "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM
GENERATORS, PARTICULARLY APPLICABLE TO MARINE AND TRACTION ENGINES."
Communicated from abroad by Rémi Legendre, residing at Constantinople, Turkey.
These improvements, which are particularly applicable to marine and traction.
engines, have for their principal object to avoid saline and other deposits in the
boiler, at the same time heating the feed water to 150° or 160° centigrade, or more,
and introducing it at this temperature into the generator.
In this Invention the steain chamber communicates by a pipe with a water
reservoir, which is double the size of the boiler, and acts as a purifier or saline
refiner. The steam which comes from this reservoir passes by a pipe and its two
branches through the valve of two cylinders, in which it exercises its motive
power.
The boiler is in communication by a pipe with one of the steam cylinders, in
which the steam acts at full pressure, escaping therefrom by a pipe in the reservoir,.
where it expands.
The expanded steam is conducted by a pipe to the large cylinder, escaping through
another pipe to the condenser, where the steam is partly condensed. The uncon--
densed steam escapes by the chimney to accelerate the draught. A steam pump
cylinder is used to form a vacuum in the condenser, and to carry off the water which
has served for the condensation.
If the temperature becomes too low in the reservoir it can be raised by injecting
a jet of steam by a pipe coming from the dome of the boiler. To prevent this

page_text: lowering of the temperature, or at least to lessen the chance of it, the smoke flues
of the boiler may be so arranged that the gases which come from the boiler pass
into the tubes at the top of the reservoir.
The boiler may be arranged in the reservoir if desired. The reservoir is composed
of a cylindrical body, in which is the tubular boiler. In the reservoir are also two
boiler tubes. These boiler tubes extend outside the base of the reservoir, and occupy
the length of the smoke box and of the fire-box.
The two boiler tubes situated outside the reservoir occupy also the whole length
of the generator. The boiler tubes communicate with each other in front of the
fire-box, and the smoke box communicates with them and also with the reservoir
by a pipe. The four boiler tubes are closed by covers.
Upon the sides of the fire-box are horizontal tubular boilers, and at the top a
vertical tubular bofler, which supply the place of the cross bars at the top of the
fire-place and the walls of the fire-box.
The gases from the fire, after having passed into the tubes of the tubular boiler,
pass under the longitudinal boiler tubes in the smoke box, then under the other
boiler tubes. Arrived near the fire-box the gases rise into the small chimney, and
thence pass into a larger one, as the uptake.
The tubes of one of the small boilers open directly into the chimney; those of the
others into smoke boxes at the ends.
The hot gases from the fire-place penetrate into the two lower ranges of tubes,
and return by the upper tubes, where they are reheated and made to pass into the
tubes of the first small boiler to escape into the chimney.
The water feed is effected through a pipe, and the steam which is produced in
the three small boilers is accumulated at the top part of one of them, and is brought
back by a pipe to the top part of the reservoir. By enlarging the middle of
this
tube a steam dome would be obtained.
The chimney or uptake is furnished with a moveable door to allow the tubes of
the upper boiler to be cleaned. The cleaning of the tubes of the horizontal boilers
is effected from the bottom of the smoke box. The cinders carried into the tubes
are collected in the trenches or culverts at the ends of casings.
There is no water in the front part of the fire-box; an oil distiller is preferably
arranged to the inside plate of the water box, which is replaced by uprights or bars,
and the exterior plate is carried back about 30 centimetres. There is thus on each
side of the door a free space to the top of the boiler tubes. The oil is placed here,
and has time to be carbonized before being thrown in or injected upon the grate.
The arrangement just described is particularly applicable to marine boilers. The
one about to be described is more particularly applicable to road or tramway
locomotives.
The four boiler tubes traverse the cylindrical reservoir, wherein is the tubular
boiler. The gases from the fire-place which pass into the boiler reach the smoke
box; they then return and escape by the little chimney into the larger one.
Above the fire-place is a tubular boiler analogous in arrangement to that of the
boiler previously described; at the same time it presents certain differences. The
smoke box of the vertical tubes has a cover to enable the tubes to be cleaned.
In most cases this boiler is almost completely closed, having only one little
opening in the middle of the cover. Under these circumstances the boiler is heated
by radiation, but if the locomotive which carries this boiler has to traverse a gradient
or inclination the attendant opens a flap of the cover; he has thus a spare boiler
always at his disposal.
A pipe serves for the feed, and another pipe effects communication between the
boiler and the reservoir.
Lastly an oil, distiller is arranged in like manner at the back of the fire-place.
The boilers are furnished with a pump, which serves for desaturation and for
feeding. This pump acts in water heated to 150° or 160°, or more if necessary, to
prevent all incrustation in the boiler.
The water remaining below the piston vapourizes in proportion as the piston.

page_text: rises in the cylinder. When it has arrived at a certain position it opens communi-
cation with four longitudinal openings, by which water is injected and destroys the
steam. In redescending the piston forces out the water beneath it by means of a
valve whatever be the height of its temperature.
In adapting this Invention to a road locomotive it is used in combination with a
special arrangement of motor mechanism, which determines the displacement of the
wheels in front of the centre of gravity by the weight of the boiler to facilitate its
movement and traction.
The steam generator is formed in two parts; a cylindrical casing provided with
tubes is fixed in the interior of the cylinder of large diameter, which acts as a feed
reservoir. The cylinder has a steam dome; it is furnished with two boiler tubes,
which extend to the end of the smoke-box and out from the fire-box; there they
are put in communication with each other by a little tube.
The casing and the feed reservoir communicate by a pipe arranged in. the smoke
box. The steam produced in the casing passes into the reservoir, heats the feed
water to 150° or 160° centigrade, or even more, thereby depriving it of any salts
which it may have held in solution; consequently there is no longer any reason to
fear calcareous deposits in the casings, whence it is always so difficult to remove
them.
The locomotive is carried by four wheels, the two hind ones are driving wheels,
and the front ones carrying wheels; they can in addition form a fore carriage, being
pivoted to turn more easily. The large wheels turn freely at the ends of an axle
fixed to the framework of the driving apparatus by means of supports arranged to
slide upon longitudinal bars. These wheels are formed with a metal centre and
ring piece reunited at the axle box by ribs. The centre is furnished on the outside
with a wooden crown enclosed by a hoop, and held by flanges; it serves to group
the spokes which maintain the exterior felloe. The hoop is necessarily morticed
where the spokes are grouped. In the interior of the centre of the large wheels is
placed and firmly keyed a crown, striated or scored on the inside like a file, in
contact with which a pinion, also striated, turns interiorly.
The pinion is mounted upon a cranked shaft, which receives the direct action
from the engine of the traction locomotive. The cranked shaft turns in an axle
box supported in longitudinal bars. The supports of the axle of the large wheels
leave the cranked axle free to advance or retire upon the wheels, but they force it
to turn to the right or left as far as the cranked axle does, which is guided by the
fore carriages and the longitudinal bars.
The journal of the axle, which is conveniently bulged, is made fast in the box by
means of two screw threaded parts; the journal rides against a leather washer
supported by a buffer. A hole is pierced in the axle box to serve for the introduc-
tion of lubricating oil. This hole is closed by a screw plug or by other means.
It is evident that this traction locomotive is furnished with all ordinary accessories,
steam distributers, valves, manometers, water gauges, springs, &c., &c.; also. for
greater tractive force driving axles coupled together may be employed.
The system can be applied to steamboats by attaching the axle of the paddle
wheels to two metal wheels striated interiorly, the cranked axle being supported
by bearings in two guiding plates which are fastened to the bottom of the boiler,
two pinions striated exteriorly take into the interior circumference of the wheels of
the axle to move them round.
The axle is supported in front of the centre of gravity of the main wheels at each
of its ends by a moveable fork which embraces an axle. If one axle descends the
other axle ascends, and inversely. The axle which is made to ascend or descend can
be controlled by a pressure screw, which serves also to fix it. The end of the fire-
box rests upon a support for one-quarter of a circle, which allows it to advance or
retire.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Thomas James Smith in the Great Scal Patent Office on the 17th
August 1877.
THOMAS JAMES SMITH, of the Firm of Robertson, Brooman, and Company, of 166,
Fleet Street, in the City of London, Patent Agents. "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM
GENERATORS, PARTICULARLY APPLICABLE TO MARINE AND TRACTION ENGINES:"
Communicated from abroad by Rémi Legendre, residing at Constantinople, Turkey.
These improvements, which are particularly applicable to marine and traction
engines, have for their principal object to avoid saline and other deposits in the
boiler, at the same time heating the feed water to 150° or 160° centigrade or more,
and introducing it at this temperature into the generator.
The following description with reference to the annexed Drawings clearly explains
the Invention:-
In the arrangement shown in Figure 1, Sheet 1, A represents a tubular boiler in
transverse section. The steam chamber communicates by a pipe a with a water reservoir
B, which is double the size of the boiler, and acts as a purifier or saline refiner. The
steam which comes from this reservoir passes by a pipe b and its two branches C, C¹,
through the valves of two cylinders C and C¹, in which it exercises its motive
power.
The arrangement represented in Figure 2 is a Woolf boiler, to which is added a
feed water reservoir analogous to that in the preceding arrangement.
The boiler A is in communication by a pipe a with one of the steam cylindersC,
in which the steam acts at full pressure, escaping therefrom by a pipe b in the
reservoir B, where it expands.
The expanded steam is conducted by a pipe c to the large cylinder C¹, escaping
through another pipe d to the condenser G, where the steam is partly condensed.
The uncondensed steam escapes by the chimney to accelerate the draught; D repre-
sents a steam pump cylinder to form a vacuum in the condenser, and to carry off*
the water which has served for the condensation.
If the temperature becomes too low in the reservoir B it can be raised by injecting
a jet of steam by the pipe f coming from the dome of the boiler A. To prevent
this lowering of the temperature, or at least to lessen the chance of it, the smoke
flues of the boiler may be so arranged that the gases which come from the boiler A
pass into the tubes g, g, at the top of the reservoir B. The boiler may be arranged
in the reservoir if desired.
Figures 3 and 4 represent in longitudinal and transverse sections an arrangement
of boiler with several boiler tubes; it is composed of a cylindrical body A, in which
is the tubular boiler B. In the reservoir A are also two boiler tubes C, C₁; these
boiler tubes extend outside the base of the reservoir A, and occupy the length of the
smoke box and of the fire-box.
The two boiler tubes D and D¹ situated outside the reservoir A occupy also the
whole length of the generator. The boiler tubes C, C¹, and D, D¹, communicate
with each other in front of the fire-box, and the smoke box D₁ communicates with
C, and C communicates with the reservoir A by a pipe a. The four boiler tubes
are closed by covers.
Upon the sides of the fire-box are horizontal tubular boilers E, E, EU, and at the
top a vertical tubular boiler, which supply the place of the cross bars at the top of
the fire-place and the walls of the fire-box.
The gases from the fire, after having passed into the tubes of the tubular boiler B,
pass under the longitudinal tubes C and C¹ in the smoke box, then under the
other boiler tubes D and D¹. Arrived near the fire-box the gases rise into the small
chimney F, and then pass into the larger one G, as the uptake.
The tubes of one of the small boilers E open directly into the chimney G, those
of the boilers E¹, E¹¹, opening into the little smoke boxes shown at b and b¹.
The hot gases from the fire-place penetrate into the two lower ranges of tubes,

page_text: and return by the upper tubes, where they are reheated, and made to pass into the
tubes of the boiler E to escape into the chimney G.
The water feed is effected through the pipe c, and the steam which is produced
through three small boilers E, E, E, is accumulated at the top part of the boiler E,
and is brought back by the pipe d to the top part of the reservoir A. By enlarging
the middle of this tube a steam dome would be obtained.
The chimney or uptake G is furnished with a moveable door H to allow the tubes
of the upper boiler E to be cleaned. The cleaning of the tubes of the horizontal
boilers B and E" is effected from the bottom of the smoke box. The ciuders
carried into the tubes are collected in the trenches or culverts at the ends of
casings e.
There is no water in the front part of the fire-box. An oil distiller is preferably
arranged at K in the. following manner :-To the inside plate of the water box,
which is replaced by uprights or bars, and the exterior plate is carried back about
30 centimetres; there is thus on each side of the door a free space to the top of the
boiler tubes. The oil is placed here, and has time to be carbonized before being
thrown in or injected upon the grate.
The arrangement just described is particularly applicable to marine boilers. The
one about to be described is more particularly a road or tramway locomotive. This
arrangement is represented in longitudinal section in Figure 5, and a transverse
section in Figure 6.
The four boiler tubes C, C¹, D, D¹, traverse the cylindrical reservoir A, wherein is
the tubular boiler B. The gases from the fire-place which pass into the boiler A
reach the smoke box; they then return, and escape by the little chimney F into the
larger one G.
Above the fire-place is a tubular boiler E, analogous in arrangement to that of
the boiler previously described; at the same time it presents certain differences.
The smoke box of the vertical boiler has a cover g to enable the tubes to be
cleansed.
In most cases this boiler is almost completely closed, having only one little
opening o in the middle of the cover g. Under these circumstances the boiler E is
heated by radiation, but if the locomotive which carries this boiler has to traverse a
a gradient or inclination the attendant opens a flap h of the cover g; he has thus a
spare boiler always at his disposal.
The pipe c serves for the feed, and another pipe & effects communication between
the boiler E and the reservoir A.
Lastly, an oil distiller is arranged in like manner at the back of the fire-place.
The boilers are furnished with a pump which serves for desaturation and for
feeding. This pump acts in water heated to 150 or 160 degrees or more, if necessary,
to prevent all incrustation in the boiler. It is represented in longitudinal section in
Figure 7, and in end view in Figure S.
The water remaining below the piston P vapourizes in proportion as the piston
rises in the cylinder Q. When it has arrived at a certain position P¹ it opens a
communication with four longitudinal openings, by which water is injected and
destroys the steam. In re-descending the piston forces out the water beneath it by
means of a valve R, whatever be the height of its temperature. As will be seen
this pump is characterized by the arrangement of a single clack valve and of પ
single bottom or foundation.
Sheet 2 of the annexed Drawing shows a steam generator constructed upon the
above explained system, which is more particularly applicable to road locomotives
in combination with a special arrangement of motor mechanism which determines
the displacement of the wheels in front of the centre of gravity by the weight of the
boiler to facilitate its movement and traction.
The traction locomotive is represented in longitudinal section in Figure 1, and in
transverse section in Figure 2 of Sheet 2. The generator and the motor mechanism
will be successively described.
The steam generator is formed in two parts; a cylindrical casing provided with

page_text: .
tubes is fixed in the interior of the cylinder G of larger diameter, and which act as
a feed reservoir. The cylinder G has a steam dome H; it is furnished with two
boiler tubes K, K', which extend to the end of the smoke box and out from the fire-
box L; there they are put in communication with each other by a little tube 1.
The casing F and the feed reservoir communicates by a pipe t arranged in the
smoke box M. The steam produced in the casing F passes into the reservoir G,
heats the feed water to 150° or 160° centigrade, or even more, thereby depriving it
of any salts which it may have held in solution; consequently there is no longer
any reason to fear calcareous deposits in the casings F, whence it is always so
difficult to remove them. The cylindrical body of this steam generator is made of
sheet iron or of Bessemer steel.
The locomotive is carried by four wheels; the two hind ones are driving wheels,
and the front ones carrying wheels; they can in addition form a fore carriage, being
pivoted to turn more casily. The large wheels A, A, turn freely at the ends of an
axle C, fixed to the framework of the driving apparatus by means of supports a,
arranged to slide upon the longitudinal bars D. These wheels are formed with a
metal centre and ring piece b, reunited at the axle box C by ribs d, d. The centre
is furnished on the outside with a wooden crown c enclosed by a hoop f, and held
by the flanges b; it serves to group the spokes g, g, which maintain the exterior
felloe h; the hoop fis necessarily morticed where the spokes are grouped. A tire
placed when hot upon the felly gives to the whole a solidity which is proof against
anything. In the interior of the centre of the large wheels is placed and firmly
keyed a crown k, striated or scored on the inside like a file, in contact with which a
pinion, also striated, turns interiorly.
The pinion is mounted upon a cranked shaft E, which receives the direct action
from the engine of the traction locomotive; this cranked shaft E turns in an axle
box supported in the longitudinal bars D. The supports a of the axle of the large
wheels A leave the cranked axle free to advance or retire upon the wheels A, A, but
they force it to turn to the right or left as far as the cranked axle does, which is
guided by the fore carriage and the longitudinal bars.
The axle box presents a special arrangement, as seen in longitudinal section,
Figure 3, and in transverse section, Figure 4.
The journal m of the axle, which is conveniently bulged, is made fast in the box
by means of two screw threaded parts n and n¹; the journal rides against a leather
A hole
washer c supported by the buffer n.
is pierced in the axle box to serve
for the introduction of lubricating oil; this hole is closed by a screw plug q or by
other means,
It is evident that this traction locomotive is furnished with all ordinary accessories,
steam distributers, valves, manometers, water gauges, springs, and other necessaries.
Also, for greater tractive force, driving axles coupled together may be employed.
Figures 3 and 4, Sheet 1, show an apparatus based upon the same principle
applied to steamboats. K represents the axle of the paddle wheels of the boat; it
carries fixed upon it two metal wheels L, L, striated interiorly. The cranked axle M,
being supported by bearings in two guiding plates N which are fastened to the
bottom of the boiler, carries two pinions P furnished with striated tires, striated
exteriorly, and take into the interior circumference of the wheels L of the axle K to
move them round.
The axle M is supported in front of the centre of gravity of the main wheels Lat
each of its ends by a movable fork Q. which embraces an axle O. If one axle M
descends the other axle O ascends, and inversely. The axle O, which is made to
ascend or descend, can be controlled by a pressure screw, which serves also to fit it.
The end of the fire-box rests upon the support R for one one-quarter of a circle, which
allows it to advance or retire.
The boiler of the tramway locomotive may also be arranged with two boiler tubes,
two purifiers or refiners, and one reservoir, the upper part of the opening being
furnished with a filter.
This arrangement of tramway locomotive may be established with coupling

page_text: wheels. For this purpose I arrange a ring at the end of one of the connecting rods,
which permits it it to rise and fall during the travel without touching the axle. A
rack suitably arranged permits the lifting of the after carriage to facilitate turning
round in a limited space.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I declare that I claim,—
First. The addition to a boiler of a reservoir, the empty part of which serves as a
steam reservoir, so that the cold water of the reservoir is raised to a temperature
sufficiently high to prevent the formation of deposits upon the tubes of the boiler,
and to permit the employment of the steam at high pressure in the cylinders, and
an artificial draught by the escape of a portion of the steam in the chimney, sub-
stantially in the manner described and shown in the accompanying Drawings.
Secondly. The different fittings to the boilers herein described and shown in the
Drawings.
Thirdly. The system of desaturation pump, with a single bottom and a single
valve, as described and shown.
Fourthly. The combination, as herein described, of the motor mechanism, and
particularly of the striated nave wheels, with the pinion striated of the axle tree,
which constitutes the point of moveable support of the boiler, as shown.
Fifthly. The arrangement of axle boxes of road locomotives, described and
shown.
Sixthly. The supports of the axle of the motor wheels, described and shown.
Seventhly. The arrangement described of a movable fork supporting the cranked
axle in advance of the centre of gravity of the large wheels in steamboat engines.
Eighthly. The general arrangement and combination of parts of steam generators
herein described, aud substantially as shown in the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas James Smith, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of August, One thousand eight hundred
and seventy-seven.
T. J. SMITH (L.S.)