IMPROVEMENTS IN THE FIRE BOXES OF LOCOMOTIVE AND OTHER STEAM BOILERS
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Slaughter, of the Avonside Iron Works,
Bristol, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE FIRE BOXES
OF LOCOMOTIVE AND OTHER STEAM BOILERS."
Sealed the 18th April 1856, and dated the 25th February 1856.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Slaughter at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the.
25th February .1856.
I, EDWARD SLAUGHTER, of the Avonside Iron Works, Bristol, Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE FIRE
BOXES OF LOCOMOTIVE AND OTHER STEAM BOILERS, to be as follows:-
This Invention consists of improvements in the fire boxes of locomotive and
other steam boilers.
Heretofore, in constructing the fire boxes of locomotive and other steam
boilers, where flat topped or roofed fire boxes have been required, it has
been usual on the interior of the boilers and above the roofs or tops of the
fire boxes to apply strong solid beams bolted to the roofs, in order to support
them and to resist the pressure thereon, which beams have prevented (except
with considerable difficulty) access to the upper surfaces of the roofs when they
have required to be cleansed.
Now, part of my Invention consists of supporting the roofs of fire boxes by

page_text: hollow beams under the roofs, such hollow beams being wholly or only partially
open at the upper parts, yet in all cases so arranged as to admit of the
water of the boiler flowing freely thereto; by which means, not only can
the upper surfaces of the roofs of such fire boxes be readily got at and cleaned,
but the extent of heating surfaces is also considerably increased. One arrange-
ment or construction of such hollow beams for supporting a roof of a fire box
consists of a series of tubular beams which at their ends are connected with
the upper part of the sides of the fire box, and where the dimensions require
it the boiler is tied or stayed transversely, the stays passing through such
hollow beams. The roof is connected to the hollow beams by means of pipes
or passages with flanches at their upper ends which are affixed by rivets.or
otherwise to the roof, and their lower ends are fixed into the hollow beams by
screws or otherwise. In place of the roof being made of flat metal, it may be
undulated to give stiffness, and the hollow beams may be applied, as above
explained, below such roof; or the undulations of the roof may be of such
depth as to obtain sufficient strength, and the undulations constitute hollow
beams without the addition of hollow beams below, in which case each undula-
tion would form a beam, and be fixed at its ends to the upright and flat sides
of the fire box, and the roof in such case would consist of the combination of
a series of such hollow beams open to the interior of the boiler; and such like
undulating roofs may be strengthened by solid beans introduced interior of the
boiler, above the lower interior surfaces of such hollow beams or undulations,
but below the upper surfaces of the undulated roof. The roof, together with
the hollow beams, may be cast in one piece of copper or suitable metal, or may
be made up of sheets fixed together by rivets.
Another part of the Invention consists of improvements in the construction
and use of midfeathers or water partitions of fire boxes of locomotive and
other steam boilers. Heretofore in constructing midfeathers or water partitions
in the fire boxes of locomotive and other steam boilers, it has been usual simply
to construct upright water partitions, dividing in each case the fire box into two
parts.
.
Now, by the present improvements, the midfeathers or water partitions are
constructed in an inclined position in a fire box, and in place of consisting of
a closed position stayed and strengthened by solid stays or bolts, as lieretofore,
the midfeather is made with numerous passages through it, and is tied or
stayed by hollow stays, by which means the fire bars are divided into two sets
of unequal lengths.. The fire over such fire bars is in one case larger at
bottom than it is at top, and over the other fire bars, the fire is less at the
bottom than at the top; and by reason of the midfeather or partition being

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Edward Slaughter in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
25th August 1856.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EDWARD
SLAUGHTER, of the Avonside Iron Works, Bristol, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fifth day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the nineteenth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Edward Slaughter, Her special licence, that I, the said Edward Slaughter, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Edward
Slaughter, 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, excrcise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE FIRE BOXES
OF LOCOMOTIVE AND OTHER STEAM BOILERS," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Edward Slaughter, 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 Edward Slaughter, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following state-
ment thereof, that is to say:-
This Invention consists of improvements in the fire boxes of locomotive and
other steam boilers.
Heretofore, in constructing the fire boxes of locomotive and other steam
boilers, where flat topped or roofed fire boxes have been required, it has been
usual on the interior of the boilers and above the roofs or tops of the fire
boxes to apply strong solid beams bolted to the roofs, in order to support the
them and to resist the pressure thereon, which beams have prevented (except.

page_text: with considerable difficulty) access to the upper surfaces of the roofs when
they have required to be cleansed.
Now, part of my Invention consists of supporting the roofs of fire boxes
by hollow beams under the roofs, such hollow beams being wholly or
only partially open at the upper parts, yet in all cases so arranged as to
admit of the water of the boiler flowing freely thereto; by which means
not only can the upper surfaces of the roofs of such fire boxes be readily
got at and cleaned, but the extent of heating surfaces is also considerably
increased. One arrangement or construction of such hollow beams for
supporting a roof of a fire box consists of a series of tubular beams.
which at their ends are connected with the upper part of the sides of the
fire box, and where the dimensions require it the boiler is tied or stayed
transversely, the stays passing through such hollow beams. The roof is con-
nected to the hollow beams by means of pipes or passages with flanches at
their upper ends which are affixed by rivets or otherwise to the roof, and
their lower ends are fixed into the hollow beams by screws or otherwise. In
place of the roof being made of flat metal, it may be undulated to give
stiffness, and the hollow beams may be applied, as above explained, below
such roof; or the undulations of the roof may be of such depth as to obtain
sufficient strength, and the undulations constitute hollow beams without the
addition of hollow beams below, in which case each. undulation would form
a beam, and be fixed at its ends to the upright and flat sides of the fire
box, and the roof in such case would consist of the combination of a series of
such hollow beams open to the interior of the boiler; and such like undulating
roofs may be strengthened by solid beams introduced interior of the boiler,
above the lower interior surfaces of such hollow beams or undulations, but
below the upper surfaces of the undulated roof. The roof, together with the
hollow beams, may be cast in one piece of copper or suitable metal, or may be
made up of sheets fixed together by rivets.
Another part of the Invention consists of improvements in the construction
and use of midfeathers or water partitions of fire boxes of locomotive and other
steam boilers. Heretofore, in constructing midfeathers or water partitions in
the fire boxes of locomotive and other steam boilers, it has been usual simply
to construct upright water partitions, dividing in each case the fire box into
two parts.
Now, by the present improvements, the midfeathers or water partitions are
constructed in an inclined position in a fire box, and in place of consisting of a
closed partition stayed and strengthened by solid stays or bolts, as heretofore,
the midfeather is made with numerous passages through it, and is tied or

page_text: than it is at top, and over the other fire bars, the fire is less at the bottom than
at the top, and by reason of the midfeather or partition being perforated in
numerous places, the products of combustion from one fire may pass to the
other, and at the same time a much more extended heating surface will be
obtained.
Having thus stated the nature of the Invention, I will proceed more fully
to describe the manner of performing the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
i
Figures 24 and 25 shews a longitudinal and transverse sections of a fire box
of a locomotive steam boiler such as are now in use; and these Figures aro
introduced in order to shew what has long been the construction of the roofs
and beams over the fire boxes of such boilers; and these Figures also show the
ordinary construction and application of a midfeather or water partition in the
fire box of a locomotive or such like steam boiler. a, a, is the flat roof; b, b,
are solid beams connected by bolts c, c, to the roof a, a, as is shewn, and it is
this arrangement of beams which prevents access (without much difficulty)
the upper surface of the roof of the fire box; d, d, is the hollow mid-
feather or water partition which comes up higher at the sides than in the
middle, as is shown.
.
Figures 1 and 2 show a longitudinal and transverse section of the upper
part of the fire box of a locomotive or such like steam boiler. In this
arrangement or construction the roof is made up of a series of undulations open
at top, but of such depth, and so connected and supported at the ends as to
become a strong beam. a, a, a, are the undulations which, in the instance
shown, is composed of one or several sheets of copper riveted together, but it
might, if desired, be of other metal. The front and back ends of the roof are
fixed to the front and back plates a, a, of the fire box, and the sides of the roof
are fixed to cast flanched or angle connecting pieces B, C, which are fixed to
the sides 9, 9, of the fire box, and also to the sides of the interior of the boiler.
by rivets, and the roof thus forms a strong tie to the sides of the boiler.
Figures 3 and 4 show a longitudinal and transverse section of a modification
of the roof previously described, the means of fixing the sides of the fire box
at B, C, being varied from that last described; and one of the undulations is
shown supported by a hollow beam E, fixed transversely across the upper part
of the fire box, the interior of the beam being open at the ends to the interior.
of the boiler, and also by upright tubes or passages D-at intervals, fixed at top

page_text: by flanches and at bottom to the hollow beam by screws or otherwise. It
should be stated, that each or only part of the undulations or indents of the
roof may be similarly supported by a hollow beam; and opposite the end of
each hollow beam, as well as the indents or undulations of the roof of the fire
box, openings may be formed through the sides of the boiler, as shewn at h, h,
in Figure 2, in order that water may be blown through them to remove the
sediment.
Figures 5, 6, and 7 show respectively a horizontal section of the boiler
above the fire box, a longitudinal section of the fire box, and upper part of the
boiler, and a transverse section of the same. In this arrangement the roof of
the fire box is made with undulations or indents, which are supported, and the
upper part of the boiler is stayed transversely, by means of solid beams F, F,
the flanched end of which are fixed to the sides of the boiler by rivets, and the
plates forming the sides of the undulations or indents are fixed to the beams,
as shown; and these indents or undulations may, as in Figure 2, have passages
through the sides of the boiler and screw plugs, as shewn in Figure 2.
Figures 9, 10, and 11 show a plan in section, a longitudinal section, and a
cross section of the roof of a fire box cast in copper of one piece, in such
manner that the whole forms a beam undulating both longitudinally and
transversly, which is fixed respectively to the sides of the boiler, as shewn,
and also to the sides, and front, and back of the fire box. The sides,
back, and front of this fire box are upright as usual, and the roof forms the
means of tyeing the sides of the boiler (above the fire box) together. Figure 8
shews a section when making a somewhat similar roof of separate plates
riveted together.
Figures 12 and 13 show a longitudinal and transverse section of another fire
box in which is applied a midfeather or water partition, according to other
parts of my Invention. In this arrangement the roof is formed with transverse.
undulations a, a, a, the sides of the fire box being fixed by rivets thereto, as is
shewn. H is the midfeather or water partition, which is fixed in an an inclined
position, and is connected with the sides of the fire box, as shewn. This mid-
feather or water partition divides the fire bars into unequal lengths; those
which are to the bottom of the fire next the fire door or opening J, are much
longer than those which are to the fire beyond the midfeather or water par-
tition H; and it is preferred that the fire bars at N should be formed so as to
have less space between them than those at M, as shown in Figures 22 and 23,.
the object being that less air should pass up to the fire above the bars N, than
to the fire bars above M; and in working it is desirable to employ coke on the
fire bars N, and coal or a mixture of coal and coke over M, when there is a.

page_text: midfeather or water partition, but when no midfeather is used then the most
ignited fuel should be raked or moved over the bars N, particularly when
burning uncoked coal or coke and coal mixed. It will be seen by reference to
Figures 12 and 13, that the fire above the bars M is larger at bottom than at
top, and that the fire above the bars N is smaller at the bottom than at the
top; and this arrangement is found peculiarly useful, particularly when com-
bined with the use of numerous openings through the midfeather or water
partition. The fuel is supplied to the fire on the bars N through the opening
G in the midfeather.
Figures 14 and 15 show a longitudinal section and a transverse section of
the upper part of a fire box, which is made of forged iron, or it might be of
sheet iron, rivetted together and fixed to the sides of the fire box, as shewn.
Copper or alloys of copper might be similarly formed and fixed to the upper
parts of the sides of an ordinary fire box.
Figures 16 and 17 show a longitudinal and transverse section of the fire box
of a locomotive or such like steam boiler. In this arrangement the roof of
the fire box is flat, and it is supported by hollow beams E. The fire box is
divided by a longitudinal midfeather or water partition, which is perforated
at numerous places, and is tied or stayed by hollow or tubular stays H. In
constructing such descriptions of roofs the midfeather or water partition may be
omitted, or a midfeather or water partition may be formed transversely, and
either inclined or upright, and plain or perforated. In addition to the hollow
beams E being open to the boiler at the ends, they have also upright tubular
supports D passing into and connecting them with the roof of the fire box.
Figures 20 and 21 show a longitudinal and transverse section of another
fire box, very similar in construction to that shewn at Figures 16 and 17. In
this arrangement, however, there is no midfeather or water partition. The
tubular connections D in this arrangement are fixed to the roof by flanches
rivetted thereto, and their lower ends are secured into the beams E. The sides
of the beams are shown to be tied or stayed together, and the sides of the
boiler are also shown to be tied. There is also provision for blowing out water
and sediment at K, and for introducing a tool or scraper at L, to aid in
cleaning the surfaces. The workman in constructing fire boxes will apply these
variations and details according as he may see fit, and according to the require-
ments of the particular boiler to which the fire boxes are to be applied.
Figures 18 and 19 show a longitudinal and transverse section of the fire box
of a cylindrical boiler having a cylindrical flue through it. In this arrange-
ment the upper part of the fire box over the fire bars, and for some distance
beyond the bridge or ends of the fire bars, is made with undulations to get

page_text: strength, and to increase the extent of heating surface. The remainder of the
tubular flue is cylindrical, as heretofore..
Figures 26 and 27 show a longitudinal and a transverse section of another
cylindrical boiler with an undulating roof, the undulations being supported by
means of hollow beams E, open at their ends to the boiler, and also by con-
necting tubes or passages D, and there are tubes P introduced into the hollow
beams, and plugs K, in order to blow off water and sediment through the
same, and thus to cleanse the lower parts of the hollow beams.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Slaughter, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this 2nd day of Aug, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-six.
EDWARD SLAUGHTER. (L.S.)