IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM BOILERS
Year: 1871

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."-A communi-
cation from abroad by Mark Bartlett, of Trieste, Austria.
Scaled the 12th December 1871, and dated the 8th July 1871.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 8th July 1871.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co.,
Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, "IMPROVEMENTS IN
STEAM BOILERS," a communication to him from abroad by Mark Bartlett,
of Trieste, Austria.
The said Invention relates to steam boilers or generators in which the
water is contained in a number of tubes or narrow compartments, some
or all of which are connceted together so that the water will circulate
freely within them, the said tubes being arranged over a suitable furnace

page_text: or fire-place from which the heat passes between the said tubes or
compartments.
The said Invention relates, first, to means for permitting ready access
to the interior of the tubes in water tube boilers; and, secondly, to a
manner of connecting the said tubes for ensuring a thoroughly free
.circulation of the water within them.
The said improvements relate, thirdly, to water tube boilers con-
structed in sections, each of which consists of a number of tubes with a
chamber with which they all communicate.
The said Invention relates, fourthly, to constructing the boiler with
flat water compartments instead of circular tubes, the said compartments
being of such a section transversely as to hold the water in thin wide
sheets.
.
According to the first part of these improvements I form at each end
of the water tubes and either either inside or outside of the same a screw
thread, and I thereby attach a screw cover to each end of every tube.
These covers can be readily removed and will then leave the tubes fully
open for cleaning or other purposes. Or I may fix these covers per-
manently on the tubes and cut in them small apertures or hand holes
with covers as in ordinary boilers.
To carry into practice the second part of the said Invention I form
near the ends of each water tube holes of convenient size. These holes
are tapped to receive short screwed pipes, whereby cach tube is connected
laterally with those adjacent to it. On these short screwed pipes and
outside of the water tubes into which they are screwed I fit metal
washers, and under these washers I place india-rubber rings to insure
perfect joints.
In the construction of my improved sectional water tube boilers accroding
to the third part of this Invention each section is formed of tubes fitted
into tube plates at each end and opening into water and steam chambers.
These tubes are fitted into the plates by screwing each end of the tube
into the plate and securing it by a nut. I use a number of stay tubes
which have nuts on both sides of the plates as in ordinary boilers. Each
chamber is fitted with a door secured by bolts and nuts or other suitable
fastenings and strengthened by stay bolts passing through the plates.
Openings are made in the doors opposite each water tube for cleaning
and other purposes, these openings being closed by bolts and washer

page_text: plates. Communication between the different sections of the boiler is
established through openings in the end chambers or by means of pipes
outside the said chambers. A tubular steam chamber or receiver is
placed in the uptake to the chimney and connected to the aforesaid end
chambers by suitable pipes; the steam is thereby superheated before
passing to the engine. The boiler is made with a casing of thin boiler
plate, the parts nearest to the fires being lined with fire-bricks, and the
other parts being lined either inside or outside with any suitable pro-
tecting material. To remove soot from the outside of the tubes and
division plates I provide openings in the sides of the boiler, through
which I direct jets of steam upon the said tubes and plates.
In the modification which forms the fourth part of my said Invention
the flat compartments or sheet water spaces are arranged either in a
horizontal, vertical, or inclined position over the furnaces. Each com-
partment or sheet water space is formed of one boiler plate bent to the
required form, and either rivetted or welded along its entire length. If
rivetted the flat compartment must be placed with the joint on the upper
side away from the direct action of the flame. The ends of the com-
partments are formed of boiler plate, flanged or stamped and rivetted.
These ends are placed either inside or outside, as may be most con-
venient. Each end is provided with a hand hole for cleaning and other
purposes, provided with a door as in ordinary boilers. The inter-
communication of these compartments or sheet water spaces is effected
in several ways. In one arrangement openings are formed in their flat
sides which around the opening are bulged or swelled outward, the bulged
portions of the adjacent tubes or compartments being bolted together.
Or a metal ring may be rivetted around the opening between the sides of
the compartments, which are secured together by bolts passed through
the ring. Or the communication may be effected by tubes at the ends
of the water spaces, the sides being strengthened by screwed stay bolts.
Or the sides may have holes with metal rings around them as above
described, the said sides being strengthened by angle irons rivetted to
one compartment only and so arranged as to support the adjacent
compartment.

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 6th January 1872.
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 Eighth day of July, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the
thirty-fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said William Robert Lake, Her
special licence that I, the said William Robert Lake, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Robert
Lake, my exccutors, 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,
usc, 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," a communication to me from abroad
by Mark Bartlett, of Tricste, Austria, upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said William Robert Lake, my executors or adminis-
trators, 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 Scal 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
Drawings forming a part of this Specification :-
The said Invention relates to steam boilers or generators in which
the water is contained in a 'number of tubes or narrow compartments;
some or all of these are so connected together that the water will
circulate freely within them, and they are arranged over a suitable
furnace or fire-place from which the heat passes between them.

page_text: The said Invention relates, first, to means for permitting ready access
to the interior of the tubes in water tube boilers; and, secondly, to a
manner of connecting, the said tubes for ensuring a thoroughly free
circulation of the water within them.
The said Invention relates,, thirdly, to water tube boilers constructed
in parts or sections, each of which consists of a number of tubes having
at each end a chamber with which they all communicate.
The said Invention relates, fourthly, to constructing the boiler with
flat water compartments instead of circular tubes, the said compart-
ments being of such a shape internally as to hold the water in thin
wide sheets.
According to the first part of these improvements I form at each end
of the water tubes, and either inside or outside of the same, a screw
thread, and I thereby attach a screw cover to each end of every tube.
These covers can be readily removed and will then leave the tubes
fully open for cleaning or other purposes. Or I may partially close the
ends of the tubes either by welding or screwing in pieces, and in these
ends cut hand holes and fit covers to them.
To carry into practice the second part of the said Invention I form near
the ends of cach water tube holes of convenient size; these boles are
tapped to receive short screwed pipes whereby cach tube is connected
laterally with those adjacent to it. On these short screwed pipes and
outside of the water tubes into which they are screwed I fit metal
washers and nuts, and under these washers I place india-rubber rings to
insure tight joints. Or I may make these connecting pipes with flanges
and bolt them to the said tubes.
In the construction of my improved sectional water tube boiler,
according to the third part of this Invention, cach part or section is
formed of tubes fitted into tube plates at each end and opening into water
and steam chambers. These tubes are made fast in the plates by screwing
each end of the tube and securing it by a nut on the outside of the
plates. I use a number of stay tubes, which have nuts on both sides
of the plates as in ordinary boilers. Each chamber is fitted with a
door secured by bolts and nuts or other suitable fastenings, and is
strengthened by stay bolts passing through the plates. Openings are
made in the doors opposite cach water tube for cleaning and other
purposes, these openings being closed by washer plates. Communication
between the different sections of the boiler is established through

page_text: openings in the end chambers, or by means of pipes outside the said
chambers.
In the modification which forms the fourth part of my said Invention
the flat compartments or sheet water spaces are arranged either in a
horizontal, vertical, or inclined position over the furnaces. Each com-
partment or sheet water space is formed of one boiler plate bent to
the required form and either rivetted or welded along its entire length;
if rivetted the flat compartment must be placed with the joint on the
upper side away from the direct action of the flame. The ends of
the compartments are formed of boiler plate flanged or stamped and
rivetted; the flanges are fitted either inside or outside the compartment
as may be most convenient.
Each end is provided with a hand hole
for cleaning or other purposes.
The intercommunication of these compartments or sheet water spaces
is effected in several ways. In one arrangement openings are formed
in their flat sides which around the openings are bulged or swelled
outward, the bulged portions of the adjacent tubes or compartments
being bolted together. Or a metal ring may be rivetted around the
openings between the sides of the compartments which are secured
together by bolts passed through the ring. Or the communication may
be effected by pipes at the ends or sides of the sheet water spaces, the
sides being strengthened by screwed stay bolts.
But in order that the said Invention may be fully understood I will
now proceed to more fully describe the same by the aid of the accom-
panying Drawings, in which I have clearly illustrated the manner of
carrying into practice the several parts of the said Invention herein-
above set forth.
Figures 1 and 2 are a side and end elevation (partly in section) of
boiler tubes, showing the application of the first and second parts of my
Invention to the same.
Figures 3 and 4 illustrate a modification of this part of my Invention.
Figure 5 is partly a front elevation and partly a transverse section,
and Figure 6 is a longitudinal vertical section of a marine boiler con-
structed according to the first and second parts of this Invention.

page_text: Figures 7 and 8 are a front and side elevation (partly in section) of a
set of water tubes with end chambers, according to the third part of my
said Invention.
Figures 8, 8, show the washer plates for closing the openings in tho
doors of the said chambers.
Figure 9 is a longitudinal vertical section, and Figure 10 is partly a
front elevation and partly a transverse section of a marine boiler
constructed according to this part of my Invention.
Figures 11 to 18 illustrate various methods of constructing the flat
tubes or water, compartments which I use instead of the ordinary,
round tubes in water tube boilers.
Figure 19 is partly a front clevation and partly a transverse section
of a marine boiler constructed according to this part of my Invention.
Figure 20 is a longitudinal vertical section of the same on the line ×, ×,
Figure 19. Like letters indicate the same parts throughout the
Drawings.
In Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4 a, a, are the water tubes, which are formed
of wrought iron or other suitable metal, and may be of any required
length and diameter.
In Figures 1 and 2 I have shown the ends of these tubes closed by
caps 6 formed with an interior screw thread which fits a corresponding
screw thread on the exterior of the tubes a.
In the modification of my Invention illustrated in Figures 3 and 4
the end of the tube is partially closed by the interior flange a', which
is either welded or screwed in the tube; the aperture left within this
flange forms a convenient hand hole, which allows access to the tubes.
for cleaning or otherwise. The caps or covers b, which are formed of
wrought iron or malleable cast iron, are in this case secured by the
screw bolt b', as shewn. In these Figures c, c, are the short connecting
pipes screwed into the holes a³ of the water tubes a. c¹, c', are the
metal washers; c³, c³, the nuts; and c³, c³, the india-rubber rings or
washers.
Figures 7 and 8 shew clearly the manner of constructing the boiler
with water and steam chambers d, d, at both ends of the water tubes a.
The said tubes are properly fitted in holes in the plate a³, and secured by
the screw nuts e. a³, a³, are the stay tubes, with nuts e¹ on both sides
of the plate d', as shewn in Figure 8; f, f, are the stay bolts for

page_text: strengthening the said chambers; 9, 9, are the openings made opposite
each of the water tubes to allow access thereto for cleaning and other
purposes. The washer plates g' for these openings and the devices for
securing them are drawn to an enlarged scale in Figures 8º, 8°.
Figures 11 and 13 are longitudinal sections, and Figures 15 and 17
are exterior side views of my flat tubes or water compartments for water
tube boilers.. h is the body of the compartment or tube, formed of a
single plate; ', ', are the ends, fastened thereon by rivets, as shown, or
otherwise properly secured; h³, h³, are the hand holes with their washer
plates ; i, i, i, are the intercommunication holes through the sides of
the compartments h. In Figure 12, which is partly a transverse section
and partly an end view of these compartments h, I have shown tho
sides of the compartments bulged at around these holes, the bulged
portions of the compartments being secured together by bolts j. In
Figure 14, which is a similar view, I have shewn metal rings / placed
around the holes i, the said rings being secured to and between the sides
of the compartments by the bolts j passing through the said rings.
In Figures 15 and 16 I have shewn small pipes at the ends of the water
compartments for effecting the communication between the same; and
in Figures 17 and 18, which are a side view and transverse section,
I have shown small tubes c secured in the sides of the flat tubes or water
compartments h in the same manner as those shewn in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4.
In Figures 15 and 16 the compartments are shown strengthened by stay
bolts m.
1.
In constructing boilers either with ordinary water tubes or with the
flat sheet water spaces I.place a tubular steam chamber or receiver n
in the uptake to the chimney, as shewn in Figures 5, 6, 9, 10, 19, and
20, and connect it to the aforesaid tubes and chambers or sheet water
compartments by suitable pipes or passages n'; the steam is thereby
superheated before passing to the engine.
The boilers are made with a casing o of thin boiler plate, the parts
nearest the fires being lined with fire-bricks p, and the other parts being
lined either inside or outside with any suitable protecting material. For
land boilers a casing of brickwork will be used.
To permit the ready removal of soot from the outside of the tubes or
compartments and division plates, I provide openings 7 in the sides of
the boilers or in the tube plates, through which I direct jets of steam
upon the said tubes, compartments, and plates.

page_text: Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, and the manner in which the same is
to be performed, I claim,-
First. The contrivances for permitting ready access to the interior of
the tubes of water tube boilers, as herein described, and as illustrated in
Figures 1, 2, or 3, 4, of the accompanying Drawings.
Second. The short lateral connecting pipes, as herein described, for
connecting the water tubes of a boiler in such a manner as to ensure a
free circulation of the water in the same.
Third. The combination with the tubes of a water tube boiler of the
aforesaid end covers and short lateral connecting pipes applied to the
said tubes, as herein specified, and for the purposes set forth.
Fourth. A water tube boiler which has its tubes secured in the plates
of end chambers, into which they open, and which is made in parts or
sections fitted and secured together, and provided with passages for their
intercommunication, as herein set forth.
Fifth. A boiler constructed with a series of flat tubes or sheet water
compartments constructed and secured together with provision for their
intercommunication, as herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Sixth day of January, in tno
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two.
Witness,
W. J. LOWE.
W. ROB. LAKE. (L.S.)