IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM BOILERS AND FURNACES, IN PART APPLICABLE TO SURFACE CONDENSERS OF MARINE ENGINES
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Marmaduke Wilkin, of 2, St. James's Terrace,
in the Parish of Paddington, County of Middlesex, Gentleman,
and John Clark, of 23, Chippenham Terrace, in the Parish and
County aforesaid, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
STEAM BOILERS AND FURNACES, IN PART APPLICABLE TO SURFACE CONDENSERS
OF MARINE ENGINES."
Sealed the 29th January 1869, and dated the 1st August 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Marmaduke Wilkin
and John Clark at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
with their Petition, on the 1st August 1868.
We, MARMADUKE WILKIN, of 2, Saint James's Terrace, in the Parish
of Paddington, County of Middlesex, Gentleman, and JOHN CLARK, of
23, Chippenham Terrace, in the Parish and County aforesaid, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN STEAM BOILERS AND FURNACES, IN PART APPLICABLE TO SURFACE CONDENSERS
OF MARINE ENGINES," to be as follows:-
This Invention provides 1st, an improved construction of boiler to

page_text: facilitate its conveyance and erection abroad; 2nd, it economises the
consumption of fuel by exposing a larger heating surface than tubular
boilers; 3rd, it increases the generating duty of the fuel by placing it
and the water in closer contact; and, 4th, it simplifies the construction
and adds to the efficiency of marine surface condensers.
In carrying these improvements into effect we form the boiler of a
number of plates or sheets of metal joined two-and-two round their
edges, either by rivets or welding. Through these plates we drill corre-
sponding holes about 6 inches apart, and 12 inches diameter. We place
ferrules or distance pieces between the plates to secure a uniform
distance between them. We take the pairs of plates prepared as above
and pile them above one another to make a series of 20 or more;
distance pieces are placed between each pair as above; we then bind
the series firmly together by bolts passing through the centres of the
said ferrules and embracing the outside plates of the series. Into the
ferrules in the steam spaces or cells, we drill exit holes to allow the
steam to escape to the centres of the ferrules and passing thence round
the binding bolts it passes to the top cell of the series, which may be
made considerably larger than the others. The diameter of the binding
bolts is a little smaller than the inside diameter of the ferrules to
afford a steam passage in the manner described. In horizontal boilers
the one end is to be slightly elevated to assist the exit of the steam
from the several cells to the top cell or main receptacle. The series of
plates will thus form a succession of water or steam cells or chambers
with alternate spaces for heat. The plates may also be united in double
pairs to cause the heat to pass or traverse the several pairs in succession.
Any ordinary furnace to generate heat may be used with this sort
of boiler, but we prefer to construct a furnace with a similar arrange-
ment of double plates secured by bolts and distance ferrules as above
described. The plates are laid in a vertical position on their edges
and farther apart than in the boiler. The fuel is laid or fed upon their
top edges, and the plates are so far apart that the fuel or part of it drops
in between the pairs of plates or water cells. Bars beneath (or other
suitable arrangement), are fitted to prevent the fuel dropping through
from between the said plates till consumed.
The ordinary apparatus of a steam boiler is applicable to the above,
such as safety valves, glass guage, feed, and need not be described.
The same arrangement of double plates with intervening distance

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Marmaduke Wilkin and John Clark in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 1st February 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, MARMADUKE
WILKIN, of 2, St. James's Terrace, Parish of Paddington, County of
Middlesex, Gentleman, and JOHN CLARK, of 23, Chippenham Terrace,
in the Parish and County aforesaid, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the First day of August, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the
thirty-first year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and succes-
sors give and grant unto us, the said Marmaduke Wilkin and John
Clark, Her special licence that they the said Marmaduke Wilkin and
John Clark, their executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as they, the said Marmaduke Wilkin and John Clark, their 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
FURNACES, IN PART APPLICABLE TO SURFACE CONDENSERS OF MARINE ENGINES,"
upon the condition; (amongst others), that they, the said Marma-
duke Wilkin and John Clark, their executors or adminis-
trators, by an instrument in writing under they, 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 we, the said Marmaduke Wilkin and John
Clark, 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:-

page_text: This Invention provides, first, an improved construction of boiler to
facilitate its conveyance and erection abroad; second, it economises the
consumption of fuel by exposing a larger heating surface than tubular
boilers; third, it increases the generating duty of the fuel by placing
it and the water in closer contact; and, fourth, it simplifies the con-
struction and adds to the efficiency of marine surface condensers.
In carrying these improvements into effect we form the boiler of a
number of plates or sheets of metal joined two and two round their
edges either by rivets or welding. Through these plates we drill
corresponding holes about eight inches apart and one and three-quarter
inches diameter. We place ferrules or distance pieces between each
pair of plates to secure an uniform distance between them. We take
the pairs of plates prepared as above, and arrange them vertically
side by side with corresponding ferrules or distance pieces between each
pair; we then bind the series firmly together by binding bolts passing
through the centres of the said ferrules, and embracing the outside
plates of the series. Into the said ferrules into the steam spaces or cells
we drill holes for allowing the water to enter and the steam to leave.
The water to supply the evaporation of the several cells is conducted
along the centres of the said ferrules from a larger division or cell at
each side of the boiler, and passes by the said holes in the ferrules
to the several cells. In like manner the steam is conducted to a steam
chest or chamber, which may either be on the side or top of the
boiler. The ferrules are made considerably larger than the diameter
of the binding bolts, so that the water and steam may have free passage
around the bolts as described, but where a passage for water or steam
is not required the ferrules are just as large as allow the binding bolts
to pass through their centres, and prevent the plates collapsing when
the said bolts are screwed tight.
We now proceed to describe more particularly the said Invention in
its application to the construction of the ordinary classes of boilers, such
as vertical, locomotive, marine, and stationary, and also marine surface
condensers.
We desire it to be understood (while we prefer the construction
shown) that in certain circumstances the construction or arrangement
of one class may be advantageously used for another class.

page_text: EXPLANATION OF THE DRAWINGS.
The principal parts are lettered and corresponding letters are used for
corresponding parts in the several Figures.
a, the furnace bars; b, the larger ferrules for passing the water or
steam; c, the smaller ferrules for preventing the plates collapsing; d, the
binding bolts; e, the flue; F, the fire or hot air spaces; S, the steam
spaces or cells; W, the water spaces or cells.
Sheet 1, Figure 1, shows a front, and Figure 2 a side elevation of a
vertical boiler. F', F', is the fire which is divided by a central cell.
The fuel may be supported on a row of tubes filled with feed water for
the generating spaces W', W, W³, or upon ordinary fire-bars. W³ is the
main water cell which is supplied by any ordinary feed apparatus in
common use. From the generation of the steam in the spaces 4, 5, 6,
7, 8, 9, 10, 11, the water therein is carried upward by the upward
current of the steam and overflows by the line of ferrules below the
water line, whence it passes down the main water cell W³ and so
continues to flow maintaining an efficient circulation. The steam passes
to the top of the boiler and is conducted by the ferrules to the steam
chest from which it is conducted for use in the ordinary way. Because
the steam is taken from a cell or chamber, the entire height of the
boiler, an improvement is effected to prevent the boiler priming. The
arrows indicate the direction of the currents, as described. Baffle plates
g may be laid between the plates to retard to some extent the rapid
escape of the heated air, and shields to protect the exposed bottom
edges of the intermediate plates from too great an exposure to the fire
may be used. Instead of having the water spaces parallel to the top
the lengths of the several ferrules may be increased towards the top,
thus giving the cells an expanding taper upwards to allow the steam
more freely to rise as it is generated. This and all the other boilers are
understood to be furnished with the ordinary fittings of boilers such as
feed, gauge glass, safety valves, blow-off cock, mud plugs, whistle; and
these being in common use need not be described. The boiler is cased
in iron or brickwork to confine the heat surmounted by a funnel in the
usual way.
Figure 3 shows a side, and Figure 4 an end elevation of a locomotive
boiler and side tanks, which may either contain feed water or liquid fuel
if that is used. The general construction is the same as Figs. 1 and 2,

page_text: but the plates are more numerous and not so large. The furnace is
formed by eight or ten pairs of plates, at the end next the. driver, having
a large oval opening g cut therein. Furnace bars are placed to support
the fuel from dropping between the pairs of plates. The remaining
pairs of plates have a circular opening h, h, about one-third of the width
of the boiler out of the centre, and are placed right and left so that the
hot air in passing through the boiler is made to impinge at right angles
upon each pair of plates in succession. If necessary, these openings may
be increased in number, but should always be placed that the passing
hot air may act as described. The main water cells are placed at each
end as before alluded to in Figs. 1 & 2, and the intermediate cells are
supplied by the line of ferrules at the bottom. In some cases it may be
advisable to lengthen the plates forming the furnace end about two feet
lower down to occupy the space between the axles of the engine, and
instead of cutting the furnace oval aperture out of the plates an opening
like Figure 6 may be made, and the furnace be carried on bars under-
neath the boiler. In order to regulate the draught in the funnel as may
be required we make the top of the exhaust pipe i with a telescopic end
k, so that by raising it level with the top of the funnel the extra draught
is prevented, and it may be increased by lowering it to the position
shown. When the tanks 1, 1, Figure 4, contain liquid fuel, we propose
to discharge it upon the fire by entering steam into the tops of the tanks
and by regulating the entry of the steam we control the exit of the
liquid fuel as may be required. The end of the pipe conveying the
liquid fuel to the fire we furnish with a distributing nozzle or syringe as
in common use.
Figure 5 shows a side, and Figure 6 an end elevation of a stationery
boiler. The general construction is the same as Figs. 1 and 2. It is
furnished with water cells one at each end, and a steam cell at one or
both ends. The passage of the water for circulation and of the steam
is shown by the indicating arrows. The furnace is of any ordinary kind
and is placed below the plates. The hot air passes between the several
pairs of plates, and is carried by the top flue e to the stack. The top
flue is expanded onwards and the opening in the plates is contracted
onwards to equalize the hot air currents. It will be seen by Figure 6
that the plates successively project downwards in the hot air channel
to effect this more thoroughly. The boiler is built in brickwork, and in
certain circumstances a space may be left between the boiler and the
brickwork for examination and repair.

page_text: Sheet 2, Figure 7, shows a side and Figure 8 part of a front elevation
in section of a marine boiler. The boiler is constructed in double set
with the funnel placed between in the ordinary manner. The distance
ferrules, stay bolts, and self-acting fuel feed are only shown upon one
half, but the other half is precisely or similarly furnished. The ferrules
for these boilers are made much larger in diameter, and are provided
with more stay bolts, say 4 or more, see b'. The bottom row of ferrule
supports the fire-bars which may be horizontal. The upper ferrules are
not placed over each other, but divided distance so as the hot air may
impinge more thoroughly upon them. The top of the boilers is stayed by
through binding bolts and distance ferrules as described under Figs. 1
and 2. Every third pair of plates is carried lower down, and the inter-
vening spaces, say from 12 to 15 inches wide, form the furnaces as shown
in Fig. 8. To supply these furnaces with fuel, when it is not liquid
fuel, we furnish each with a scoop g, having a tapered nose and two half
covers on the top. The said scoops are below the level of the stoke room
floor. The fuel is filled into the said scoops, the half lids are turned
down, and by power derived from the engine the revolving shaft h and
chain i propels it under the burning fuel. The scraper k is then turned
down and the scoop is withdrawn by reversing the revolving shaft h,
leaving the fresh fuel deposited on the fire-bars, thereby saving the bars
from waste from overheating, and consuming the smoke of the fresh fuel
by passing it through the stratum of hot fuel above it. The half covers l, l,
do not quite meet in the centre, but allow a passage for the shank of the
scraper k. All the joints of the scoop are made flush to allow the fuel
to slide freely out. The rollers m, m, assist in the general working of
the apparatus. The front of the boiler is cased in any well understood
method to confine the hot air where wanted. n is a special apparatus for
reducing the temperature of the stoke room; it consists of a pipe o, with
branches p, p, furnished with several spray nossels. The pipe o is
supplied with cold water by a force pump worked by the engine so that
by turning the pump into gear a fine spray or shower is thrown over the
stoke room, and in the act of falling or evaporating secures the end in
view. This is specially needed for steam ships in hot lattitudes, but
may be advantageously used in other cases.
Figure 9 shows three full-sized sections of ferrules we use for water or
steam cells to secure steam-tight joints. a is turned in the ends to fit
into the hole in the plates; the corners b, b, are left in and cut into the
sharp edge of the hole in the plates; c is another, arrangement of fer-

page_text: rule, same as the last, but having the entering edge tapered; d is
another arrangement of ferrule, having the meeting edge bevelled,
which bevel becomes flattened when the binding bolts are screwed up.
Holes of any convenient size are drilled in the said ferrules to allow
the passage of the water and steam as referred to in Figures 1 and 2. The
said ferrules may be made of iron, copper, or other suitable metal.
Figure 10 shows full-size section of ferrules we use for marine boilers.
In these the taper passes through the plate and enters a correspond-
ing taper in the other ferrule. In certain conditions rust cement such
as is well understood with engineers may be used in making a joint with
these ferrules.
In constructing surface condensers for marine engines we prefer to
place the series of plates horizontally, allowing a free passage for the
cold water in which the ship is sailing to circulate in the spaces appro-
priated for the hot air in the preceding description. The plates may
also be made thinner and be placed closer together than in the arrange-
ment shown for the boilers.
Having thus described and ascertained the nature and object of our
said Invention, and explained and illustrated the means which we
propose to employ in carrying the various improvements into effect in
practice, we hereby further declare that we do not absolutely restrict
ourselves to the precise forms and arrangements of the parts of the
boilers, furnaces, and condensers shown upon the Drawings and
explained in the Specification, as the details may be modified in both
respects without departing from the principles thereby illustrated, and
upon which the said improvements are based.
In witness whereof, we, the said Marmaduke Wilkin and John
Clark, have hereunto set our hand and seal, this First day of
February, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred
and sixty-nine.
MARMADUKE WILKIN.
(L.S.)
JOHN CLAKK.
(L.S.)