Improvements in Steam Generators.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Apr.. 1894
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Jan., 1895--Accepted, 23rd Mar., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Steam Generators.
I, THOMAS LOWTHER, of Hughesoffka, Government of Ekaterinoslaff, South
Russia, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
:-
This invention has reference to an improved construction of steam generator
designed to afford a large and effective heating surface and capable of being easily
put together and repaired.
My steam generator comprises a number of cylindrical vessels, hereinafter called
drums, arranged horizontally or nearly so with their axes parallel, these drums
being connected at their ends by water tubes that serve to support the various
drums in position and are made of comparatively large size and at their intermediate
portions by a number of smaller water tubes arranged in rows that extend or some
of which extend, in a diagonal direction from each drum to another or others on
one or each side of it, the said drums either alone or in conjunction with suitably
arranged slabs or tiles of refractory material being arranged to form flues of a
zig-zag form through which the flame and hot gases are caused to pass on their
way from the furnace or furnaces to the chimney. The drums are preferably
arranged in two or more vertical rows.
As will be obvious steam generators according to this invention can be constructed
in various forms.
In one arrangement there are fifteen drums arranged in five vertical rows over
two firegrates and furnace flues, the lowest drum in the central row and in each end
row being carried by a girder or other suitable support. The drums in each row
are connected together at the ends by vertical flanged pipes and with the drums in
the adjacent row or rows by diagonal flanged pipes, the intermediate portions of the
drums in the second and fourth rows being connected with the intermediate portions
of the drums in the central and outer rows by two sets of comparatively small
water tubes arranged diagonally in two planes inclined in opposite directions.
These small water tubes may be placed in position and expanded in place from the
interior of the drums access to which is obtained through suitable manholes in
their ends. The two uppermost drums, which may be made larger than the others
and serve as steam drums, are connected together and to the uppermost drum in
the centre row by a number of tee shaped superheater pipes arranged in the upper
part of a flue that is connected with two zig-zag flues leading from the furnaces in
a backward and forward direction and formed by placing slabs or tiles of refractory
material upon some of the inclined rows of water tubes. The feed water is or may
be admitted to the lowest drum in each or some of the rows. The uppermost
and lowermost drum in each vertical row may be connected by an external
circulating pipe or pipes if desired.
In a modified construction the adjacent drums in each row are connected together
by a metal plate made concave on each side to fit the drums and secured in place
by rivets, each strip and the adjacent portions of the drums being perforated at
intervals and fitted with small vertical tubes which can be placed in position and
expanded from the interiors of the drums. In this arrangement each flue may be
separate from the other and the superheater pipes may be dispensed with.

page_text: In another modified construction, the fire grates are arranged at opposite sides or
ends of the generator and the zig-zag flues are so arranged that the flame and hot
gases pass over and under the drums in a direction transverse to the axes of the
drums instead of parallel thereto as in the previous arrangement, and also between
the diagonal water tubes that are not covered by slabs or tiles. The number of
drums in this arrangement may be increased, and the feed may be supplied to
each of the lower drums, excepting the outermost ones, by cross shaped pipes
arranged to be more or less heated by the flame or hot gases passing through the
flues.
In a further modified construction the drums in each vertical row are formed of
corrugated metal plates so arranged as to form the drums proper and narrow
connecting necks or channels that are strengthened by internal stays. The drums
in each row are connected with those in the other rows by large and small inclined
water tubes as in the other arrangement and are arranged to form vertical flues
through which the flame and hot gases flow alternately in an upward and downward
or zig-zag direction from two furnaces placed at opposite sides or ends of the
generator. The uppermost drums may be connected by tee-shaped superheater
pipes arranged in parts of the flues, and the feed water may be supplied to some of
the lowermost drums through cross shaped pipes also arranged in the flues so as to
become heated by the hot gases flowing therethrough.
In each of the arrangements described the drums, connecting tubes and furnaces
are arranged within a metal casing lined with refractory material excepting, it may
be, the ends of the drums which may extend through the casing if desired so as to
facilitate access thereto.
L
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1004
I, THOMAS LOWTHER, of Hughesoffka, Government of Ekaterinoslaff, South
Russia, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
This invention has reference to an improved construction of steam generator
designed to afford a large and effective heating surface and capable of being easily
put together and repaired.
My steam generator comprises a number of cylindrical vessels, hereinafter called
drums, arranged horizontally, or nearly so, with their axes parallel, these drums
being connected together at their ends by water tubes, which serve to support the
various drums in position and are made of comparatively large size, and at their
intermediate portions by a number of smaller water tubes arranged in rows which
extend, or some of which extend, in a diagonal direction from each drum to another
or others on one or each side of it, the said drums either alone, or in conjunction
with suitably arranged slabs or tiles of refractory material being arranged to form
flues of a zig-zag form through which the flames and hot gases are caused to pass
on their way from the furnace or furnaces to the chimney. The drums are
preferably arranged in two or more vertical rows.
As will be obvious, steam generators according to this invention can be constructed
in various forms, some of which I will now proceed to describe with the aid of the
accompanying drawings.

page_text: Figs. 1, 2, & 3 illustrate one arrangement of steam generator according to this
invention, Fig. 1 being a half front-elevation,
Fig. 2 a vertical cross section, taken partly on the line A A and partly on the
line B B of Fig. 3; and
Fig. 3 a longitudinal section on the line C C of Fig. 2.
In this arrangement there are fifteen drums 1 arranged in five vertical rows over
two furnaces 2 and their flues 3, the lowest drum 1 in the central row and in each
outer row being carried by a girder or other suitable support 4, which may also
serve to carry the fire grates 2ª as shown. The drums in each row are connected
together at their ends by vertical Hanged pipes 5 and at their intermediate portions
by small vertical water tubes 6; they are also connected at their ends with the
drums in the adjacent row or rows by diagonal flanged pipes 7, the intermediate
portions of the drums in the second and fourth rows being connected with the
intermediate portions of the drums in the central and outer rows by two sets of
comparatively small water tubes 8 arranged diagonally in two planes inclined in
opposite directions. The small water tubes 6 & 8 may be placed in position and
expanded in place from the interior of the drums, access to which is obtained
through suitable man-holes 9 in their ends. The two uppermost drums 1*, which
may be made larger than the other drums and serve as steam drums, are connected
together and to the uppermost drum in the centre row by a number of tee-shaped
superheater pipes 10 arranged in the upper part of a flue 11 that is connected with
the uptake 11 and with two zig-zag flues 12 & 13, which lead from the furnaces 2
in a backward and forward direction as indicated by the arrows (Fig. 3) and are
formed partly by the drums and partly by slabs or tiles 14 of refractory material
placed upon some of the inclined rows of water tubes 8 for a part of the length of
such rows as shown. The feed water is or may be admitted to the lowest drum in
each or some of the rows: in the example illustrated the lowest drum of the second
and fourth rows are provided with inlets 15 for feed water. The uppermost and
lowermost drum in each vertical row may be connected by an external circulating
pipe or pipes if desired.
In the modified arrangement shown half in front elevation and half in cross-
section in Fig. 4, the adjacent drums 1 in each row are connected together by a
metal plate or strip 16 made concave on each side to fit the drums 1 and secured in
place by rivets, each plate 16 and the adjacent portions of the drums being perforated
at intervals and fitted with small vertical tubes 6, which can be placed in position
and expanded from the interiors of the drums. In this arrangement each of the
flues 12 and 13 of the two halves of the steam generator may be in connection with
a separate uptake, and the superheater pipes 10 be dispensed with, as shown. The
feed water inlets 15 in this arrangement are at the front ends of the lowest drums
in the central and outer vertical rows of drums. In other respects the arrangement
is similar to that shown in Figs. 1, 2 & 3.
Fig. 5 shows in vertical cross section, another modified construction of steam
generator in which the two furnaces 2 are arranged at opposite sides of the generator
and the zig-zag flues 12 & 13 are so arranged that the flame and hot gases pass as
indicated by the arrows, over and under the drums 1 in a direction transverse to the
axes of the drums instead of parallel thereto as in the previous arrangements, and
also between the diagonal water tubes 8 that are not covered by slabs or tiles 14 the
hot gases finally passing off through a chimney 11ª common to the two flues. The
number of drums 1 may be increased in this arrangement, and the feed may be
supplied to each of the lower drums 1, excepting the outermost ones, by cross
shaped pipes 17 arranged to be more or less heated by the flame or hot gases passing
through the flues 12 & 13.
Fig. 6 is a vertical cross section, and
Figs. 7, 8, 9, & 10 sections on the lines D D, E E, F F, & G G, respectively of
Fig. 6, showing a further modified construction of steam generator according to
this invention in which the drums in each vertical row are formed of corrugated

page_text: connecting necks or channels 19, which are strengthened by internal stays 20. The
drums in each row are connected with those in the other rows by large and small
inclined water tubes 7 & 8 respectively as in the other arrangements, and are
arranged as shown to form vertical flues 12 & 13 through which the flame and hot
gases flow alternately in an upward and downward or zig-zag direction, as indicated
by the arrows, from two furnaces 2 placed at opposite sides of the generator. The
uppermost drums may be connected by tee-shaped superheater pipes 10 arranged in
parts of the flues 12 & 13, and the feed water may be supplied to some of the
lowermost drums 1 through cross-shaped pipes 17 also arranged in the said flues so
as to become heated by the hot gases flowing therethrough.
Fig. 11 shows in cross section a construction of steam generator having a single
furnace and corresponding to one half of the steam generator shown in Figs. 1, 2,
& 3 except that each of the groups of tubes 6 & 8 connecting each of the drums to
adjacent drums; consists of three sets of tubes of which the centre one is composed
of straight tubes and the other two of curved tubes, the object being to increase
the strength of the generator.
Figs. 12 & 13 show in cross section, constructions of steam generators similar to
those shown in Figs. 1 & 5 respectively but with the groups of tubes 6 & 8 each
composed of three sets of tubes as in Fig. 11.
In each of the arrangements hereinbefore described, the drums, connecting tubes,
and furnaces are arranged within a metal casing 21 lined with refractory material
excepting, it may be, the ends of the drums, which may extend through the casing
if desired so as to facilitate access thereto.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A steam generator comprising a number of drums arranged parallel with each
other in two or more vertical rows and connected together at their ends by water
tubes of comparatively large size and at their intermediate portions by smaller
water tubes arranged in rows which extend or some of which extend in a diagonal
direction from each drum to another or others on one or each side of it, the said
drums either alone or in conjunction with suitably arranged slabs or tiles of suitable
refractory material being arranged to form a flue or flues of a zig-zag form through
which flame and hot gases pass on their way from the furnace or furnaces to the
chimney substantially as herein before described with reference to the drawings.
2. My improved steam generators constructed and arranged substantially as
herein before described with reference respectively to and shown in Figs. 1, 2 & 3;
in Fig. 4; in Fig. 5; and in Figs. 6 to 10 inclusive of the accompanying drawings,
or modified according to Figs. 11, 12 & 13.
Dated this 23rd day of January 1895