IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM BOILERS AND THEIR FURNACES, AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine,
Lake, & Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM BOILERS AND THEIR FURNACES,
AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH."-A communication from
abroad by Frederick Proudfoot. of Toronto, Canada. Gentleman.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake
at the Office of the. Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 20th February 1873.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co.,
Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM BOILERS AND THEIR
FURNACES, AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH," a communication, to be
as follows:-
According to this Invention I provide a steam boiler with a vertical
air-tight cylinder situated in the boiler and containing the fuel, which
cylinder is flared towards the bottom, and is closed at the top with an

page_text: air-tight door opening inward. A continuous combustion of fuel in the
furnace of a steam generator (after ignition) is produced by forcing one
or more currents of air upon it. The heat and products of combustion
(after they have passed through a horizontal flame chamber) are conveyed
to the water in the boiler by means of a pipe constructed to curve
upwards from the flame chamber above the water mark and return below
the water line, passing through the boiler horizontally and discharging
into the water through a pipe having perforations which increase in size
and number towards the end. The boiler is provided on the inside with
concave projections running through its length on both sides above the
pipes referred to and above the water line, so that the ebulitions of water
above the said pipes and caused by an escape of gas are thrown back
into the middle of the boiler. The dome of the boiler is provided with
concave pieces of iron resting one upon the other, and constructed with
spaces between each and between the sides of the dome to act as addi-
tional deflectors and to prevent priming. Air-tight doors are arranged to
open inwards for the purpose of producing a natural draught when
required.
The aforesaid curved pipe contains a self-acting valve, and below the
water line has perforations increasing in size and number toward the end
so as to distribute generally through the boiler the products of com-
bustion. The valve closes of its own weight when pressure is taken
from the air pump. The said curved pipe containing the valve serves as
an additional preventive to the flow of the water from boiler into the
flame chamber.
The aforesaid air-tight doors in the flame chamber are hinged at the
top and have levers for convenience in opening and shutting them.
I use ordinary transverse boiler tubes to confine the fuel within its
chamber or fire-box. Other tubes from an air pump enter the fire and
flame chambers at the front and rear, and also enter the fuel cylinder.
They contain ordinary cocks to regulate the pressure of air as required.
I use a mud drum, with a cock at the end, to relieve the boiler of refuse
when required.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 19th August 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her, most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of February, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the
thirty-sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said William Robert Lake, Her special
licence that I, the said William Robert Lake, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Robert Lake,
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 AND THEIR FURNACES, AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH,"
a communication to me from abroad by Frederick Proudfoot, of Toronto,
Canada, Gentleman, upon the condition (amongst others) that I,
the said William Robert Lake, 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 William Robert Lake, 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 statement, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawing forming a part of this Specification:-
According to this Invention I provide a steam boiler with a vertical
air-tight cylinder to contain the fuel, which cylinder is flared towards
the bottom, and is closed at the top with an air-tight door opening

page_text: inward. The heat and products of combustion (after passing through a
horizontal flame chamber in the boiler) are conveyed to the water in the
boiler by means of a pipe connecting therewith vertically and curving
downward, and branching horizontally on each side of the flame chamber.
The branches terminate at the end of the boiler, and are provided with
perforations therein which increase in size and number toward the end.
I provide the boiler on the inside with concave projections running
through its length on both sides above the aforesaid branch pipes and
above the water line, so that the ebulitions of water above the said pipes
caused by the escape of steam are thrown back towards the middle of
the boiler. I also provide the dome of the steam boiler with concave
pieces of iron resting one upon the other with spaces between them and
between the sides of the dome to act as additional deflectors, and to
prevent priming. I also provide the fire-box, the flame chamber, and
the fuel cylinder with air-tight doors opening inwardly for the purpose
of producing a natural draught when required.

page_text: an additional preventive to the flow of the water from the boiler into
the flame chamber. H is a concave projection inside the boiler on both
sides above the water line over the branches I of the pipe F; they
extend the whole length of the boiler so as to deflect the water cast up
within the boiler by the branch pipes I. J, J, are perforations in the
boiler plate under the dome. K, K, are additional deflectors in the
dome, made of concave pieces of iron constructed to rest one above the
other with a space between them and between them and the side of the
dome, so that water driven up into the dome through the perforations J
will be thrown back and thus prevent priming.
L, L, L, are air-tight doors in the fire-box, flame chamber, and top
of fuel cylinder respectively, opening inward and provided with a lever M
for convenience in opening and shutting the same. N is a series of
ordinary transverse boiler tubes constructed to confine the fuel within
its chamber or fire-box C. O is a tube connecting with an air pump
and entering the fuel cylinder B horizontally. P is a pipe tapping the
tube O and entering the fire-box at or near the front end vertically.
Q is a pipe tapping the tube O, and entering the flame chamber at or
near its rear end vertically. The tube O and pipes P and Q are provided
with cocks R to regulate the pressure of air as required. S is an
ordinary mud drum, with a cock at the end to relieve the boiler of refuse
when required.
The operation of the aforesaid furnace and steam generator is as
follows: The fuel is introduced into the fire-box C through the air-tight
door L² in the top of the fuel magazine or cylinder B. As combustion
progresses the fuel feeds the fire-box by falling from the magazine, its
own gravity thus keeping the fire-box supplied.
The air pump being set in motion air is forced into the cylinder B by
the pipe O, and thence passes downward through the fire-box into the
flame chamber and carries the products of combustion through tho
curved pipe F and its branches I into the water in the boiler. The air
passing downward through the fire causes an absorption of the oxygen
in large quantities by the fire, and produces more intense heat than by
an ordinary draught as well as more perfect combustion, and the
continuous pressure drives the nitrogen and gases through the flame
chamber into the pipe F, and compels its final discharge into the water

page_text: through the perforated branches I. When the air pump is in motion
air is forced into the flame chamber at each end, and by the operation of
the cocks the pressure or draught of air can be regulated.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the t
same, I wish it understood that I claim,-
First. A. steam boiler A with a vertically arranged self-feeding fuel
cylinder B, made air-tight, connecting with an air-tight fire-box C and
air-tight horizontal flame chamber D provided with a pipe F, having
perforated branches I as and for the purpose set forth.
Second. The vertical self-feeding air-tight cylinder B made flaring
towards the bottom as and for the purpose set forth.
1
Third. The combination of a steam boiler A, vertical air-tight self-
feeding fuel cylinder B, air-tight fire-box C, horizontal air-tight flame.
chamber D, pipe F, and branches I, connecting the said cylinder, fire- 1
box, and horizontal flame chamber with an air pump by means of the
tube O and pipes P, Q, whereby a continuous current of air is forced
under pressure through the fire and conducted into the water in the
boiler in the manner specified.
Fourth. Providing the fire-box C, flame chamber D, and fuel cylinder 2
B with air-tight doors hinged and opening inwards as described, to be
held and closed by a latch and by air pressure from within as set forth.
Fifth. The air-tight fire-box C having an air-tight door L, combined
with an air-tight flame chamber D having an air-tight door L³, and an
air-tight fuel cylinder B having an air-tight door L' as described to allow 2
of a natural draught in starting the fire.
Sixth. The construction of the pipe F with perforated branches I, and
the arrangement of the pipe and branches within the boiler as and for
the purpose set forth.
Seventh. Providing the pipe F with a self-acting valve G as and for 3
the purpose set forth.
Eighth. The deflectors H arranged over the branch pipes I on each

page_text: Ninth. Providing the steam dome with a series of superposed deflec-
ors K applied and arranged as and for the purpose set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto
set my hand and scal, this Nineteenth day of August, in the
year of our Lord One thousand cight hundred and seventy-
three
Witness,
JA³. EDWARDS,
8, Southampton Buildings,
London.
W". ROB. LAKE. (L.S.)