IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM BOILERS AND IN THE FURNACES AND GRATES THEREOF THE SAME IMPROVEMENTS IN FURNACES AND GRATES BEING ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER FURNACES AND TO STOVES
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Edward Newton, of the Office for Patents,
66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM BOILERS AND IN THE FURNACES AND
GRATES THEREOF THE SAME IMPROVEMENTS IN FURNACES AND GRATES BEING
ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER FURNACES AND TO STOVES."-A communication
from abroad by Robert Winslow Davis, of Flushing, and Daniel Davis
and Henry Sheldon Anable, of Long Island City, both in the State of
Now Vask Tinited States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Edward Newton
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
6th December 1865.
I, WILLIAM EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM BOILERS AND IN THE FURNACES
AND GRATES THEREOF, THE SAME IMPROVEMENTS IN FURNACES AND GRATES BEING
ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER FURNACES AND TO STOVES," to be as follows:-
These improvements in steam boilers relate to that class of boilers known
as upright boilers. One feature of these improvements consists in constructing
the boiler of an inner upright cylinder and a surrounding cylindrical water

page_text: jacket with an intervening flue or flues entirely surrounding the cylinder, and
forming a means of communication with the furnace placed below the
cylinder, the chimney or uptake being above. The cylinder and water jacket
have one or more water communications between their lower parts and one
or more steam communications between their upper parts, to preserve in both
a uniform level of water and uniform pressure of steam. In order to prevent
the flame and gaseous products of combustion which pass upward between
the cylinder and water jacket from passing too rapidly to the chimney without
yielding up all their available heat to the water in the cylinder and water
jacket, the annular flue space is divided by means of one or more spiral par-
titions to form the space into one or more spiral flues, through which the
flame and gaseous products of combustion are caused to circulate around the
space, and so remain longer in contact with the heating surfaces of the cylinder
and jacket. These spiral partitions may be constructed of angle or plate
iron, but it is preferable to make them of tubing, which by communicating
with the upper and lower parts of the cylinder and shell, and thereby being
always kept supplied with water, and being exposed to the flame and gaseous
products of combustion, are made to serve as a very effective means of
generating steam.
Another feature of the Invention consists in providing inside of the aforesaid
cylinder a series of gas mixing chambers attached to the bottom of the cylinder
and closed at the top, but open at the bottom for the reception of the gaseous
products of combustion from the fuel on the grate, directly over which they
are situated. The combustible gases eliminated from the fuel and any
undecomposed air which passes through the fuel on the grate rise up together
into the chambers and are mixed, and the ignition and combustion of the
gases is thereby effected, and the heat evolved in the chambers (the exteriors
of which constitute heating surface) is thereby made instrumental in generating
steam.
Another feature of the Invention consists in providing the exteriors of the
gas mixing chambers with coverings or shirts of corrugated or other sheet
metal, and the interior of the herein-before mentioned cylinder of the boiler
with a lining of similar sheet metal, between which shirts and lining and the
chambers and cylinder the steam generated from the water in contact with
the chambers and cylinder is allowed to pass upward into the steam room in
the upper part of the boiler without passing through the body of water in the
boiler, and being thereby partly condensed.
Another feature of the Invention consists in furnishing an upright steam
boiler with a central fuel reservoir which is open at the bottom to the furnace

page_text: grate, and in which there is kept a reserve of heated fuel which will descend
by gravitation to the furnace as required, and thereby obviate the necessity
for the frequent feeding of the fire by hand and the opening of furnace doors,
and the consequent admission of cold air over the burning fuel in such quantities
as to interfere with combustion.
Another feature of the Invention consists in constructing a fire-grate for
boiler and other furnaces with bars radiating from a common centre, and
having such a curvature in vertical planes as to give the grate the form of a
basket, and give the intervening spaces between the bars a greatly increased
length as compared with the length of the bars measured directly in a
horizontal plane, and thereby to give a very large area of air passage between
the bars as compared with the horizontal area of the grate. This construction
is also applicable to the grates of stoves.
Another feature of the Invention consists in supporting the grate of a boiler
or other furnace or of a stove upon a central screw, upon or by which it can
be lowered out of the furnace or fire-box for the purpose of removing clinkers
or other refuse of combustion.
Another feature of the Invention consists in the employment in combination
with the before-mentioned fuel reservoir of a steam pipe leading from the steam
room of the boiler directly into the reservoir for the purpose of supplying steam
among the fuel to be decomposed, and by the combustion of its elements,
oxygen and hydrogen, in the furnace to contribute to the heating of the steam
generating surfaces of the boiler and the economy of fuel.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Edward Newton in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 6th June 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME. I, WILLIAM
EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Sixth day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-ninth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said William Edward Newton, Her special licence that I, the said William
Edward Newton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
I, the said William Edward Newton, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all

page_text: 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 "In-
PROVEMENTS IN STEAM BOILERS AND IN THE FURNACES AND GRATES THEREOF, THE
SAME IMPROVEMENTS IN FURNACES AND GRATES BEING ALSO APPLICABLE TO
OTHER FURNACES AND TO STOVES," being a communication to me from abroad,
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William Edward
Newton, 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 Edward Newton, 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 fol-
lowing statement, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and
to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):-
These improvements in steam boilers relate to that class of boilers known
as upright boilers. One feature of these improvements consists in constructing
the boiler with an inner upright cylinder and a surrounding cylindrical water
jacket with an intervening flue or flues entirely surrounding the cylinder, and
forming a means of communication with the furnace placed below the
cylinder, the chimney or uptake being above. The cylinder and water jacket
have one or more water communications between their lower parts and one
or more steam communications between their upper parts, to preserve in both
a uniform level of water and uniform pressure of steam. In order to prevent
the flame and gaseous products of combustion which pass upward between
the cylinder and water jacket from passing too rapidly to the chimney without
yielding up all their available heat to the water in the cylinder and water
jacket, the annular flue space is divided by means of one or more spiral par-
titions so as to form the space into one or more spiral flues, through which the
flame and gaseous products of combustion are caused to circulate around the
space, and so remain longer in contact with the heating surfaces of the cylinder
and jacket. These spiral partitions may be constructed of angle or plate
iron, but it is preferable to make them of tubing, which by communicating
with the upper and lower parts of the cylinder and shell, and thereby being
always kept supplied with water, and being exposed to the flame and gaseous

page_text: products of combustion, are made to serve as a very effective means of
generating steam.
Another feature of the Invention consists in providing inside of the aforesaid
cylinder a series of gas mixing chambers attached to the bottom of the cylinder
and closed at the top, but open at the bottom for the reception of the gaseous
products of combustion from the fuel on the grate, directly over which they
are situated. The combustible gases eliminated from the fuel and any
undecomposed air which passes through the fuel on the grate rise up together
into the chambers and are mixed, and the ignition and combustion of the
gases is thereby effected, and the heat evolved in the chambers (the exteriors
of which constitute heating surfaces) is thereby made instrumental in generating
steam.
Another feature of the Invention consists in providing the exteriors of the
gas mixing chambers with coverings or shirts of corrugated or other sheet
metal, and the interior of the herein-before mentioned cylinder of the boiler
with a lining of similar sheet metal, between which shirts and lining and the
chambers and cylinder the steam generated from the water in contact with
the chambers and cylinder is allowed to pass upward into the steam room in
the upper part of the boiler without passing through the body of water in the
boiler, and being thereby partly condensed.
Another feature of the Invention consists in furnishing an upright steam
boiler with a central fuel reservoir which is open at the bottom to the furnace
grate and in which there is kept a reserve of heated fuel which will descend
by gravitation to the furnace as required, and will thereby obviate the necessity
for the frequent feeding of the fire by hand and the opening of the furnace doors,
and the consequent admission of cold air over the burning fuel in such quantities
as to interfere with combustion.
Another feature of the Invention consists in constructing a fire-grate for
boiler and other furnaces with bars radiating from a common centre, and
having such a curvature in vertical planes as to give the grate the form of a
basket, and give the intervening spaces between the bars a greatly increased
length as compared with the length of the bars measured directly in a
horizontal plane, and thereby to give a very large area of air passage between
the bars as compared with the horizontal area of the grate. This construction
is also applicable to the grates of stoves.
Another feature of the Invention consists in supporting the grate of a boiler
or other furnace or of a stove upon a central screw, upon or by which it can
be lowered out of the furnace or fire-box for the purpose of removing clinkers
or other refuse of combustion.

page_text: Another feature of the Invention consists in the employment in combination
with the before-mentioned fuel reservoir of a steam pipe leading from the steam
room of the boiler directly into the said reservoir for the purpose of supplying
steam among the fuel to be decomposed, and by the combustion of its elements,
oxygen and hydrogen, in the furnace to contribute to the heating of the steam
generating surfaces of the boiler and the economy of fuel.
In the accompanying Drawings, Fig. 1 is a central vertical section of a
steam boiler in which all the features of the Invention are shewn; Fig. 2 is
a horizontal section of the same in the plane indicated by the line x, x, in
Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a plan of the grate and base of the boiler; Fig. 4 is a plan
of the yoke which supports the grate.
A is the inner or main upright cylinder of the boiler, and B is the surround-
ing upright cylindrical water jacket. The water jacket is composed of two
upright cylinders a, b, united at top and bottom, and arranged concentric with
the cylinder A, and it extends upward some distance above and downward
some distance below the cylinder A, with which it is connected near the
bottom by the short water pipes c, c, and at the top by the steam pipes d, e,
the pipe d being the pipe through which the steam passes to the engine or
other apparatus where it is to be used. The water jacket rests upon the
horizontal base plate C, which is supported upon suitable standards D, D, and
the cylinder A is attached to the jacket by angle irons f, f, or any suitable
means which are strong enough to bear the weight of the cylinder and the
water contained in the boiler. The portion of the jacket B which extends
downward below the cylinder A forms the sides of the furnace E, within
which is arranged the circular grate G. The portion of the jacket which
extends upward above the cylinder A forms the sides of the smoke box F for
the reception of the gaseous and fuliginous products of combustion, which pass
upward from the furnace through the annular space left between the cylinder
A and the water jacket. The jacket and cylinder are covered by a plate H¹,
which forms the top of the smoke box, and on which is placed the chimney or
uptake I. The exterior periphery of the jacket B is surrounded with a casing
of felt g, g, and wooden staves h, h, which are held in place by hoops i, i, the
casing serving to prevent loss of heat by radiation. There may be a further
addition of one or more water jackets of similar character to B arranged
outside of and surrounding it. H, H, are pipes arranged spirally within the
flue space I, between the cylinder A and water jacket B, to form partitions
for dividing the space into a series of spiral flues, through which the flame and
gaseous products of combustion from the furnace circulate around the boiler

page_text: and gradually ascend to the smoke box F and the chimney or uptake. These
pipes in order to properly divide the flue space I must be of a diameter to fit
the space snugly. Their lower ends are connected with the lower part of the
water jacket B, and their upper ends with the upper part of the same, so that
they are always kept filled with water to the same level as the cylinder A and
water jacket. As the exteriors of the pipes are exposed to the flame and
heated gaseous products of combustion, the water in contact with their inner
surfaces is rapidly converted into steam, which ascends into the the steam space
in the upper part of the water jacket B. Instead of these pipes H, H, spiral
partitions of angle or other iron may be arranged in a similar manner to divide
the flue space I into a series of spiral flues, but the pipes are preferable, as
by forming a means of generating steam they economize the heat from the
ascending flame and gases of combustion. J, J, are the gas mixing chambers
of upright cylindrical or other suitable form, closed at their upper ends and
open at their lower ends, which are secured in openings in the bottom of
the cylinder A, in which they are arranged in a circle, as shown in Fig. 2,
at equal distances apart and at equal distances from the centre of the cylinder.
Portions of the gases arising from the fuel ascend into these chambers with
air which passes through the fuel without entering into combustion, and as
the exterior surfaces of the chambers are heated by the combustion within
them steam is generated from the water in contact with them. The carbonic
acid resulting from the combustion within the chambers descends by its greater
specific gravity, and passes out from the chambers to the flue space I, and
passes upward to the smoke box and chimney or uptake.
The metal of which
i, i, are the shirts of sheet metal which are placed around the chambers J, J;
and I, 1, is the sheet metal lining of the cylinder A. These shirts and lining
should preferably be corrugated, as shown in Fig. 2, though they may be
plain if fitted loosely to the chambers and cylinder.
they are composed may be very thin. The shirts and lining should be left
open at the bottom for the entrance of water between them and the chambers
J, J, and cylinder A. The water so entering is in a measure insulated from
the main body of water in the cylinder A; and as it is converted into steam
by the heat of the chambers and cylinder, such steam circulates upward to
the steam space in the upper part of the boiler without passing through the
main body of water in the cylinder, and its place is taken by water entering
at the bottom of the shirts and lining. L, L', is the central fuel supplying
reservoir, all but the upper part of which consists of a vertical cylinder L open
at top and bottom, and extending right through the cylinder A, and connected
with the top and bottom thereof. The upper part of the reservoir is com-

page_text: posed of a short cylinder L' (Fig. 1), which is attached to the top plate H¹.
At the top of the cylinder L' there is a tight fitting horizontal slide M, which
is opened for filling up the reservoir with coal or other fuel, but closed at all
other times. When the slide is open it opens a communication at m (Fig. 1)
between the reservoir and chimney or uptake I, in order that any gases or
smoke rising from the furnace or the fuel in the reservoir may be drawn into
the chimney by the draft, and so be prevented from entering the boiler room.
The bottom of tins fuel reservoir being always open the grate is kept supplied
with fuel, which descends by gravitation as fast as that on the lower part of
the grate is consumed, and that above descends to take its place. Active
combustion of the fuel only takes place as far up as the bottom of the fuel
reservoir, for when the slide M is closed the only provision for the ingress of
air is through the grate or by openings n, n, in the sides of the furnace just
above the grate, the fuel in the reservoir being out of the draft. Any gases
or vapours that might be generated by the heating of the fuel in the lower
part of the reservoir would be caused by the draft to escape downward into
the fire and be consumed. The openings n, n, are provided with external
shutters p, p, which may be partly opened to a greater or less extent to admit
a regulated supply of air above the fuel on the grate for the purpose of
inflaming the carbonic oxide. These openings n, n, may be so large that
when their shutters are wide open sufficient cold air may be admitted above
them to check combustion whenever desired. The circular grate G has a
circular central opening q and a series of radial openings 7, r, between which
are formed radial bars s, s. The vertical section of this grate in a radial
direction is such that the bars have a downward curvature almost to the
outer circumference of the grate, and then turn up vertically or nearly so,
as shown in Figure 1, to such height that the outer margin of the grate is
nearly of the same height as the inner one around the opening q. This
curved form of the bars gives them and the openings r, r, between them
a length very much greater than the width of the grate measured in a
horizontal direction, and in this way provision is afforded for a greater
supply of air through the grate than if the bars were flat. The grate
thus constructed has the character of a basket, which may be lowered
vertically out of the furnace E for the purpose of removing clinkers or
such refuse of the fuel as cannot be raked out between the bars by the
insertion of prickers or other stoking irons under the bed plate C. Before
thus lowering the grate the fuel should all have been allowed to descend
into it, and be as nearly as possibly consumed. This grate is sup
ported by a yoke P, which has in its central hub a boss or screw thread which

page_text: fits to a vertical fixed screw S, the lower end of which is secured in a stationary
cross piece Q, attached to the standards D, D, or to any other fixed support.
The yoke, of which Fig. 4 is a plan view, has three or more
radial arms w, w, on which there are vertical ribs which enter into the
spaces 7, 7, between the grate bars, so as to compel the grate to turn with it
upon the screw for the purpose of being raised and lowered into and from the
furnace. On the top of the screw there is firmly secured a small stationary
grate R, of a form resembling a cog wheel, and of an external circumference
to fit loosely to the opening q of the grate G. The upper surface of this
central grate R is level with the surrounding portion of the grate Ģ when
the latter is up to its proper operating level, above which it is prevented from
rising either by the yoke P coming in contact with a stop upon the screw S, or
by the thread of the screw being cut away at a proper height. Under the
grate there is an ash-pan T.
U (Fig. 1) is the steam pipe for admitting steam among the fuel in the
reservoir L, L; this pipe is connected with the upper port or steam space
of the boiler, and passes through the upper part L' of the reservoir, and its
extremity is formed into a nozzle v, from which the steam issues in one or
more jets among the fuel. In order to provide for the closing of this pipe
while introducing fuel into the reservoir, or at any other time, a portion of the
pipe is brought through the plate H to the exterior thereof, and this portion
is furnished with a stop-cock u. The steam issuing from this pipe among the
fuel in the reservoir circulates among and through the fuel and thus becomes
superheated, so that on its issuing from the bottom of the reservoir into the
furnace it is at once decomposed, and its elements, oxygen and hydrogen,
enter into combustion with the fuel in the furnace and contribute to the
heating of the boiler and the economy of fuel.
Having now described the Invention which has been communicated to
me as aforesaid, and having explained the manner of carrying the same
into effect, I claim as the Invention secured to me by Letters Patent as
aforesaid,
First, the boiler composed as herein set forth of an upright inner cylinder A,
and surrounding connected upright water jacket B, with annular intervening
flue space I, forming communication between a furnace below and a chimney
or uptake above.
Second, in combination with the upright inner cylinder and surrounding
upright water jacket, I claim the spiral partition for dividing the annular
space between such cylinder and water jacket into spiral flues.

page_text: Third, the use of a gas mixing chamber constructed and arranged within
the inner cylinder for the purpose set forth.
Fourth, the shirts i, j, and lining 1, applied around the gas mixing
chambers J, J, and within the cylinder A, as and for the purpose herein
specified.
Fifth, the fuel supplying reservoir L, L', arranged within an upright boiler
as and for the purpose herein specified.
Sixth, the grate G constructed and applied to a boiler or other furnace or
to a stove as herein described.
Seventh, supporting the grate of a boiler or other furnace or stove upon a
vertical screw as herein shewn.
Eighth, in combination with a fuel supplying reservoir provided in a steam
boiler, I claim a steam pipe leading from the boiler into the reservoir as and
for the purpose herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Edward Newton, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, the Fifth day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
Witness,
J. W. MOFFATT,
66, Chancery Lane.
W. E. NEWTON. (L.S.)