Improvements in Tubular Boilers and other Apparatus for High Pressure Heating.
Year: 1888

page_text: Improvements in Tubular Boilers and other Apparatus for High
Pressure Heating.
I SAMUEL SAUNDERS of St. Mary's Heating Apparatus Works, Upper Moss Lane,
Manchester, Heating Apparatus Manufacturer 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 first part of these improvements relate to the construction of a tubular boiler
in which a greater heating surface is exposed to the direct action of the flames and
products of combustion than. in such boilers as hitherto constructed.
In carrying out my invention I construct the boiler of the usual wrought iron high
pressure tubes with bottled or diminished ends, and in the case of say a saddle boiler,
as illustrated by side sectional view in Fig. 1 and end sectional view in Fig. 2 on
the accompanying drawings, I place these tubes, which are marked horizontally
with their sides all in touching contact and in the form of an arch or they may be
arranged in a complete circular or tubular form so as to surround the fire at top, sides
and bottom. The tubes which may be diminished towards their centres as shown in
Figs. 1 and 2, or diminished towards one side as seen in the detached tube Fig. 3,
are so arranged in touching contact to prevent the flames issuing between them
except at the ends where in consequence of the pipes being of smaller diameter the
flames are free to pass into the outer flues d.
These tubes thus arranged and connected together at both extremities by suitable
bends are built in a brick flue or chamber or larger area c so as to form two flues d
along the two outer sides and a fluc e over the crown of the boiler such flues being
preferably separated from each other by slabs of fire-clay f running the length of
the boiler.
At the back extremity of the boiler so constructed a cominunication is made with
the side flues and these latter in turn communicate with the crown flue at the front
of the boiler and so the products of combustion are permitted to play first upon the
inner surface or halves of all the tubes, such products then pass to the outside of the
tubes and finally pass over the upper half of the crown tubes on their way to the
chimney.
Instead of the back of the boiler being bricked up solid as illustrated the flames
may pass out at the end and afterwards return into the side, flues d.

page_text: Cross tubes g in vertical or other positions and either connected to the horizontal
boiler tubes a or to the circulating pipes, may also be employed.
In Fig.
I illustrate a sectional plan and in Fig. 5 a side sectional view of a
shut-off tap or apparatus for stopping the heat from any portion of my improved
high pressure heating apparatus. This improved tap consists of a body with three
h
or four lateral ports ii a plug j with sides cut away leaving a diaphragm or dividing
plate in centre, a cap 1 enclosing the body through which a loose spindle m passes
fitted with handle or squared for key n, the plug is not rigid with the spindle, it has
a recess o cast or cut in its upper part and the spindle has a corresponding squared
end fitting loosely in this recess like a key so that when the spindle is turned it turns
the plug, the spindle has also a valve surface p formed on it which fits against a
valve seating inside the cap and so prevents the escape of water round the spindle,
thus dispensing with a stuffing box. The valve is tightened against its seating by a
nut outside.
This four way tap is connected by two of its branches to the flow and return pipes
of one section or part of the heating apparatus and by its other two branches to the
flow and return parts of say another section or part of the apparatus.
When the plug is in the definite position shown in Fig. 4 the water flows in at
branch number 1 and out at branch 2 but when in the position shown by dotted
lines it flows in at 1 and out at 3 and in again at 4 and out at 2.
In Fig. 6 I illustrate the same arrangement and construction of plug applied to
a three way tap and used say for the purpose of turning the water flowing in at
port 5 to pass out by outlet 6 or (when the plug is in the position indicated by dotted
lines) to pass out by the outlet 7. Fig. 7 is also a sectional plan of a three-way
valve the plug of which is formed to stop one port only leaving the other two
open or it may be turned to such a position as to leave all three open as desired.
Fig. 8 is a sectional plan and Fig. 9 a side sectional view of a pumping-valve to
be used for expelling air when filling my improved high pressure or other similar
heating apparatus with water. The ends 11 and 12 are connected to the return pipe
of the apparatus so that when the apparatus is at work the water in circulating may
flow in at say 11 and out at 12 (the ends 9 and 10 being meanwhile enclosed by
plugs or caps). When it is required to pump water in to the pipes (the caps being
first taken off the plug is put in position shown by dotted lines.
attached to say 10 and so water may be forced through 12 into the pipes, entering the
The pump is
valve again at 11 and flowing out at 9.
The plug and spindle with spindle valve are in this case shown made in one piece
for cheapness (but the separate spindle as described in reference to Figs. 4 and 5
may be used in this and the preceding modifications). The valve seating of spindle
is turned on the bottom of valve body, through which also the spindle passes to the
outside where it is fitted with a washer and nut for tightening up to valve seating
and actuating plug. This arrangement is also applicable to the three and four
way taps hereinbefore described.
The open end of the body through which plug is inserted is then stopped up or
enclosed by a solid screwed cap s, there is thus no stuffing box required. The screwed
cap fits water tight and the spindle valve stops leakage round the spindle.
My improvements further relate to that description of high pressure heating
apparatus heated by furnace coils.
In Fig. 10 I illustrate a side sectional view and in Fig. 11 a sectional plan of my
improved arrangement. In these furnaces as hitherto constructed there has been no
front opening communicating with the fire as the coils have been carried completely
round the inside of the furnace in one direction continuously, passing across the front
close to the fire bottom.
4
In my improved arrangement a front opening t is provided by bending the coils u
only around the three sides where they reach the front or level of the top of the door
casing the heating coils being then carried to the bottom of firegrate at the side and 5
back again thus allowing an opening t into the fire at front.
The expansion of the water in this class of heating apparatus is provided for, as

page_text: illustrated on a small scale in Fig. 12 and upon a larger scale (in section) on Fig. 13,
by fixing the expansion pipe A upon the heating pipes so that the greater portion
stands above the water level which is in a line with the fill pipe B. The expansion
pipe A therefor contains nothing but air above this point, the small pipe C is an
air pipe leading from the top of the expansion pipe and has hitherto been fitted with
a cap in the same way as B₁ on the fill pipe and which cap has been screwed up
tight to prevent the escape of air or water when the apparatus is in action. The
amount of space allowed in the expansion pipe is therefor limited and the air in being
compressed by the expansion of water is capable of exerting sufficient force to burst
the pipes. To obviate this, instead of the cap I fix on the end of the air pipe C the
brass casing D which contains a combined suction valve E as seen in section on
larger scale Fig. 13 and an inverted pressure valve F. The pressure valve F is kept
up against the seating by the arm or lever G which carries on the opposite end a
weight H. The action of this apparatus is as follows:-
When the pressure in the apparatus becomes too great through over heating of
the water the valve F is forced downwards and allows the air to escape when on the
other hand the water cools and condenses a vacuum is prevented by the suction
valve E lifting and allowing the re-admission of air.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of this my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
1st. In a high pressure heating apparatus or boiler constructed of tubes arranging
the component tubes close together to prevent issue of flames and so permitting the
formation of outer flues substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated on the
accompanying drawings.
2nd. The improvements in shut-off taps for high pressure heating apparatus
substantially as herein before described and illustrated on the accompanying drawings.
3rd. The improved arrangement and construction of pump valve substantially as
and for the purpose hereinbefore described and illustrated on the accompanying
drawings.
4th. The improvements in high pressure heating apparatus heated by furnace
coils substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated on the accompanying
drawings.
5th. The improved construction and arrangement of expansion and vacuum
apparatus for high pressure heating apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described
and illustrated on the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 26th day of September 1888.
JOHN G. WILSON,
Patent Office, 55, Market Street, Manchester,
Agent for the Applicant.