IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM BOILERS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Turner, of the Canada Works, Birkenhead, in the
County of Chester, Managing Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN STEAM BOILERS."
Sealed the 22nd October 1878, and dated the 13th June 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Turner at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 13th June 1878.
HENRY TURNER, of the Canada Works, Birkenhead, in the County of Chester,
Managing Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM BOILERS."
This Invention relates to constructing marine, land, and other steam boilers (but
more especially marine boilers), whereby great strength is obtained combined with
lightness and compactness, producing unobstructed circulation of the water during
evaporation, and allowing an easy access for cleaning; the boilers are so arranged
and constructed that expansion and contraction cannot in any way injure the plates
and riveted joints, thus preventing breakage so common to many kinds of boilers
hitherto employed. By these means I produce boilers with great strength, compact
and light, and at considerable less cost than hitherto. For this purpose I construct
my boilers with two parts or shells of cylindrical shape, placed eccentrically one to
the other; the bottom shell or cylindrical tube is fitted with the ordinary boiler
tubes usually employed in multitubular boilers. Some of the tubes form stays for
the end plates of the shell, these tubes being the only parts of the boiler under
compression, the remaining parts of the boiler being under tension. The tubes are
so placed in the shells that a space is left between the bottom of the shell and the
lower row of tubes, for the purpose of examination and cleaning, a man-hole and
door being fitted there for that purpose. The upper part of the shell above the
tubes is principally a steam space. The front tube plate of this bottom shell is flanged
outwards, and is connected to the crown plate of the flame box. This crown plate
forms part of the top or eccentric shell, making the junction between the first portion
of the boiler and the second or top portion. The top shell forms the top of the
1071

page_text: furnace fire-box and steam chest; the shell is also of cylindrical shape. The hori-
zontal centre line, from which the circle is described, following the outside diameter
of the shell, is placed a short distance above the horizontal centre line of the bottom
shell, allowing by these means a sufficient height for the furnace and ash-pit; in the
furnace are fitted bearers and fire-bars.
The back part of the shell is cut away for the flames, gas, and smoke to pass
through the height of the upper row of tubes; this cut-away portion forms the fire-box
of the boiler. The front part of the top shell is made with a water space or pocket
extending across the lower part of the front of the boiler, leaving room for the ash-
pit doors below. Openings are made in this water space or pocket, to which are
fitted furnace doors; these openings are for stoking. The water fills the front water
space to the usual level above the tubes and the crown plate of the fire-box, and
fills also the cylindrical part of the top shell, covering the fire-box plates to the
same level, and also the tube shell or bottom shell. The space above the water level
in both shells is the steam space which communicates from one end to the other of
the boiler.
A
The front and back plates of both shells are stayed in the usual manner and in
every way, of the required strength and according to the pressure.
The thickness
of the shell plates varies according to the diameter and pressure required.
man-hole and door are fitted in the top shell for examination and cleaning
purposes.
The uptake castings and doors and other required fittings are placed at the back
end of the boilers; the uptake is by preference of the dry uptake kind, and made
with suitable air castings.
The boilers are placed horizontally, and if several boilers are used, the front
plates are placed in a straight line, allowing three to five inches space between
them.
The sides of the fire-boxes are made of fire-brick, and built on suitable bearers
or foundations. These fire-brick furnace walls are slightly arched at the top towards
the shells, inclosing the furnace, and the walls extend a little beyond the furnace
back end to form a joint with the lower or tubular shell. The fire-brick walls are
enclosed in wrought or cast iron castings, and doors are fitted on the sides of these
castings which are lined with fire-clay slabs. Spaces are left between the fire-brick
walls or furnace walls and the fire-clay linings; in these spaces are fitted coils, or
a series of pipes or tubes, connected by bent elbows. The feed water passes through
the coils or tubes, and receives a certain amount of heat before entering the boilers.
The heat utilized for this purpose is the heat which passes through the fire-brick
wall, which enters the space wherein the coils or tubes are placed.
When several boilers are employed, the feed water heating apparatuses are only
fitted on the outside or wings of the boilers. The inside spaces are made with
separation fire-brick walls only.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Henry Turner in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 13th December
1878.
HENRY TURNER, of the Canada Works, Birkenhead, in the County of Chester,
Managing Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM BOILERS."
The said Invention relates to the construction of marine, land, and other steam
boilers (but more especially marine boilers), whereby great strength is obtained,
combined with lightness and compactness, producing unobstructed circulation of the
water during evaporation, and allowing an easy access for examination and for
cleaning; the boilers are so arranged and constructed that expansion and contraction
cannot in any way injure the plates and riveted joints, and thus preventing the
leakage so common to many kinds of boilers heretofore employed. By these means
I produce boilers possessing great strength, which are compact and light, and at
considerably less cost. For this purpose I construct my boilers with two parts or
shells of cylindrical shape, placed eccentrically one with the other. The bottom
shell is a cylindrical tube, and is fitted with the ordinary boiler tubes, usually
employed in multitubular boilers. Some of the tubes form stays for the end plates
of the shell, these tubes being the only parts of the boiler under compression, the
remaining parts of the boiler being under tension. The tubes are so placed in the
shell that a space is left between the bottom of the shell and the lower row of tubes,
for the purpose of examination and cleaning, a man-hole and door being fitted
therein for that purpose. The upper part of the shell above the tubes is principally
a steam space. The upper part of the front tube plate of this bottom shell is
flanged outwards, and is connected to the crown plate of the flame box. This crown
plate is part of the top or eccentric shell, forming the junction between the first
portion of the boiler, and the second or top portion. The top shell forms the crown
of the furnace fire-box and steam chest; this shell is also of cylindrical shape. The
horizontal centre line from which the circle is described, following the outside
diameter of the shell, is placed a short distance above the horizontal centre line of
the bottom shell, allowing by these means a sufficient height for the furnace and
ash-pit; in the furnace are fitted bearers and fire-bars.
The back part of the shell is cut away for the flames, gas, and smoke to pass
through at the height of the upper row of tubes; this cut-away portion forms the
fire-box of the boiler. The front bottom part of the top shell forms a water space,
and plates are fitted over the front, in which are made openings, to which are fitted
furnace doors; these openings are for stoking. The water fills the front water space
to the usual level above the tubes and crown plate of the fire-box, and fills also the
cylindrical part of the top shell, covering the fire-box top plate to the same level,
and also the tube shell or bottom shell. The space above the water level in both
shells is the steam space, which extends from one end to the other of the boiler,
The front and back plates of both shells are stayed in the usual manner, and are
in overy way of the required strength, according to the pressure. The thickness
of the shell plates vary according to the diameter and pressure required. A
man-hole door is fitted in the top shell for examination and for cleaning
purposeя.
The uptake casings and doors and other required fittings are placed at the back
end of the boilers; the uptake is by preference of the dry uptake kind, and made
with suitable air casings.
The boilers are placed horizontally, and if several of them are used a space of
three or five inches is left between them, and the front plates are placed in a straight
line across.
The sides of the fire-boxes are made of fire-bricks, and built on suitable bearers or
foundations. These fire-brick furnace walls are slightly arched at the top towards
the shells, inclosing the furnace, and the walls extend a little beyond the furnace

page_text: back end, to form a joint with the lower or tubular shell. The fire-brick walls are
enclosed in wrought or cast iron casings, and doors are fitted on the sides of the
casings, which are lined with fire-clay slabs. Spaces are left between the fire-brick
walls or furnace walls and the fire-clay linings; in these spaces are fitted coils, or a
series of pipes or tubes, connected by bent elbows. The feed water passes through
the coils or tubes, and receives a certain amount of heat before entering the boilers.
The heat utilized for this purpose is the heat which passes through the fire-brick
walls, and which enters the spaces wherein the coils or tubes are placed.
When several boilers are employed the feed water heating apparatus is only fitted
on the outside or wings of the boilers. The inside spaces are made with separating
fire-brick walls only.
But in order to enable my improvements to be better understood, I will proceed
to describe the same by reference to the accompanying Drawings, in which,-
Figure 1, Sheet 1, represents a sectional side elevation of a marine boiler; Figure 2,
Sheet 2, front elevation, partly shewn in section; and Figure 3, Sheet 3, plan of
the same.
Figure 4, Sheet 4, represents a side elevation of feed water heating apparatus.
Figure 5, Sheet 5, represents a sectional side elevation of a steam boiler for steam
launches; Figure 6, sectional front elevation; Figure 7, front elevation; and Figure 8,
plan of the same.
Figure 9, Sheet 6, represents a sectional side elevation of a land boiler; Figure 10,
front elevation; and Figure 11, sectional front elevation of the same.
Similar letters of reference are used in all the Figures to represent similar
parts.
Marine boilers, Figures 1, 2, and 3, Sheets 1, 2, and 3, are constructed as follows:-
A and B are shells constructed in two parts, and of cylindrical shape, placed eccentri-
cally one to the other; the bottom shell or cylindrical tube A is fitted with the
ordinary boiler tubes C, usually employed in multitubular boilers; some of the
tubes D form stays for the end plates E and F. These tubes are the only parts of
the boiler under compression, the remaining parts of the boilers being under tension.
The tubes are so fitted in the shell A, that a space G is left between the bottom of
the shell and the lower row of the tubes, for the purpose of examination and
cleaning; a man-hole H and door I are provided for that purpose.
The upper shell B is principally a steam space, and the front tube plate E is
made with outward flanges J, and connected to the crown plate K of the flame
box L; cross bars M are fitted on the top of the crown plate or plates, or the crown
plates can be made corrugated. The crown plate forms part of the top or eccentric
shell B, and forms a junction between the first portion A and the second or top
portion B, and the top shell forms the top of the furnace fire-box L, and also the
steam chest N; the shell B is placed and fitted a sufficient height above the bottom
shell A to allow for the furnace fire-box and ash-pit O; in the furnace are fitted
bearers P and fire-bars Q.
The back part R of the shell B is cut away to allow the flames, gases, and smoke
to travel to and through the top rows of tubes, and the cutaway portion R forms
part of the fire-box L. The front part S of the shell B forms a water space T.
Plates U are fitted in front of the boiler and over the opening of the furnace; in
the plates are made or cut openings, to which are fitted fire-door frames V and
doors W; the water X fills the shell A to the usual level above the tubes and crown
plate; the spaces Y and Z are steam spaces, which communicate from end to end of
the boiler; the boiler is stayed with stays A¹ in the usual manner, and is in every
way of the required strength, according to pressure. The thickness of the plates
varies according to the pressure and the diameter of the shells; a man hole B¹ is
made in the top shell, to which is fitted a door for examination and cleaning
purposes.
The uptake casings C¹, doors, and other required fittings, are placed at the back
end of the boiler; the uptake is by preference of the dry uptake kind, and made
with suitable air casings.

page_text: The sides D¹ of the fire-box are made of fire-brick, and built on bearers E¹; the
walls are slightly arched, enclosing the furnace, and the walls extend beyond the
furnace back end to form a joint with the shell A; the walls are enclosed in
casings F, which are made of wrought or cast iron. On the sides of the casings
are fitted doors which are lined with fire-clay; slabs and spaces are left between
the furnace walls and the fire-clay, slabs, or linings, in which are fitted a series of
pipes or tubes G₁ connected by elbows H', Figure 4, Sheet 4; the feed water
passes through the coils or tubes G¹, and receives a certain amount of heat before,
entering the boiler or boilers; the heat utilized for this purpose is the heat which
passes through the fire-brick walls D', and which enters the spaces in which is
fitted the feed water heating apparatus or economizer, or I may use in the recess
outside the fire-brick walls non-conducting cement, or silicate cotton, or vegetable
black. When several boilers are employed the feed water heating apparatus is
fitted on the outside or wings of the boilers, but boilers can be fitted without the
feed water heating apparatus, and with only the fire-brick walls enclosing the
furnace. I may also employ a water space arch at the end of the circular part of
the furnace.
Steam boilers for steam launches, represented in Sheet 5, Figures 5, 6, 7, and 8, I
construct in a manner somewhat similar to marine boilers, as herein-before described.
A and B are cylindrical shells placed eccentrically one to the other; the bottom
shell A is fitted with boiler tubes C and tubes D, forming stays for the end plates E
and F; the shell B is principally a steam space; and the front tube plate E is
flanged and connected to the crown plate K of the flame or fire-box L. Cross
bars M are fitted on the top of the crown plate, or the crown plate or plates are
made corrugated; the shell B is fitted a sufficient height above the bottom shell A
to allow for the furnace fire-box and ash-pit O. Fire-bars Q are fitted on bearers P;
a fire-door is fitted to a fire-door frame V, which is fixed to the front plates U,
closing the front opening of the fire-box; the boiler is stayed with stay A¹; a
man-hole B¹ is made in the top shell B for examination and cleaning purposes.
The sides D' of the fire-box are made of fire-bricks and built on bearers E';
the walls enclose the furnace, and extend beyond the furnace back end to form a
joint with the shell A. A feed-water apparatus, herein-before described, may be
fitted to the boiler.
Land boilers, represented in Sheet 6, Figures 9, 10, and 11, I construct also with
two shells A and B, placed eccentrically one to the other, as herein-before described
for marine and launch boilers. The bottom shell A is fitted with tubes C, from four to
four and a half inches, or more, in diameter, some of the tubes D forming stays for
the end plates E and F. The tube plate or plates E is or are flanged and secured
to the crown plate or plates K of the frame or fire-box L. The crown plate or
plates is or are fitted with cross bars M, or are made corrugated; the top shell B is
fitted a sufficient height above the shell A to allow for stoking and for the ash-pit.
Fire bars Q are fitted on bearers P, and a front plate or plates U is or are fitted
over the front opening of the fire-box; in the plate or plates are fitted stoking
door frames V and doors. The back part of the top shell B is cut away to form
the flame or fire-box chamber, and allow the flames, gases, and smoke to pass
through the top rows of tubes. The boiler is stayed with stays A¹, and strong
washers I' are fitted over the ends of the stays against the outsides of the end
plates X and F. The spaces Y and Z above the water line are steam spaces, which
extend from end to end of the boiler; a blow-off pipe J¹ is fitted in front of the
boiler, which is provided with the usual fittings, and a man-hole H¹ and door are
fitted in the bottom part and in the end plate F for examination and cleaning.
The sides of the fire-box are made of fire-clay bricks and built upon bearers E¹;
the walls extend beyond the furnace back end to form a joint with the shell A and
enclose the furnace. The shell A is supported on standards K' and the shell B by
the front plate or plates U, doing away with the usual brickwork setting. The
walls are enclosed by casings F, and the feed-water apparatus, herein-before
described, may be employed. The boiler is covered with felt and wood casing.

page_text: I may also construct boilers for locomotives, traction, and other engines as
described, but the fire-box is enclosed on the sides by plates, or by plates lined with
fire-clay slabs.
Having thus described my improvements, and the best means I am acquainted
with for carrying the same into effect, I would have it understood that I do not
confine myself to the precise details shewn and described, as they may be varied
without departing from the peculiar character of the Invention, but what I do
claim is,―
Firstly. The arrangement, construction, and employment of steam boilers made
with two cylindrical shells placed eccentrically one with the other, the bottom shell
being the cylinder in which are fitted the boiler tubes, and also forming a portion
of the steam receiver and connected to the cylindrical top shell, which forms the
crown of the furnace, the fire-box, and the other and principal portion of the steam
receiver or steam chest, substantially as and for the purpose herein-before described,
and represented by the annexed Drawings.
Secondly. Constructing the sides and divisions of the boiler furnaces and fire-
boxes of clay bricks or slabs, substantially as herein-before described, and represented
in the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Turner, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Sixth day of December, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-eight.