Improvements in and relating to Steam-generators.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 25th July, 1895
Complete Specification Left, 25th Apr., 1896-Accepted, 25th July, 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Steam-generators.
I, JOHN HASKINS LADD, of 116 Queen Victoria Street, in the City of London,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to steam-generators and is designed to provide in a more
efficient and economical manner than heretofore for the generation of steam by the
burning of gaseous fuel.
In the Specification of former Letters Patent granted to J. H. W. Stringfellow
and dated 29th April 1890, No. 6575, there is described the manufacture of au
improved gas which is produced by charging atmospheric air first with hydro-
carbon vapour and then with vapour of water.
Now I have found that such gas
can be very advantageously used for generating steam by introducing it under
pressure into a closed vessel and burning it in direct contact with and under the
water therein.
In my improved steam generator, therefore, I introduce the gas under a suitable
pressure into a closed vessel or boiler in such a manner that the gas will enter the
same below the surface of the water, and, after being ignited, will be diffused
I am
throughout the water so as to very rapidly convert the same into steam.
thus enabled to dispense with the furnaces and fire-tubes usually employed, and to
construct a steam-boiler which will occupy but a small space in proportion to its
power, and in which there will be but little if any loss of heat, as in ordinary steam
generators, by the escape of the products of combustion through a chimney or
funnel, or by the heating of the large quantity of air usually supplied to support
combustion, or by the heating of external brickwork or settings, or by radiation.
Moreover I avoid the dangers and inconveniences due to direct contact of the
flame with the metal of the boiler.
In making a steam-boiler according to my present invention, I combine with a
closed cylindrical or other suitably shaped vessel, a gas-supply pipe so constructed
that the gas can be introduced under pressure into the said vessel below the water-
level therein, and means whereby the gas can then be ignited and diffused
throughout the body of water. In combination with the said supply pipe, I
arrange suitable means whereby back explosion or flashing back of the gas in the
said pipe will be prevented. And I find it advantageous to provide the supply
pipe with a jet or burner to permit of the quality of the gas being tested before it
is used in the boiler.
I preferably arrange within the said vessel one or more tubes or coils of pipe
which are connected with the gas-supply pipe and which are perforated at intervals
throughout their length so that the flame of the gas, when ignited, will issue
therefrom in numerous jets into the water and will very rapidly convert the same
into steam. I also provide an igniting valve or other convenient device whereby
For instance I
the gas may be safely ignited from the exterior of the boiler.
combine, with the gas-supply pipe, in the boiler, a chamber lined with ganister or
other refractory material, and I connect with this chamber a pipe which extends
to the exterior of the boiler and is provided with a suitable valve; this valve is
connected with a similar valve at the junction of the atoresaid distribution-pipe
with the said chamber, in such a manner that when one of the said valves is
opened the other will be closed. When the interior valve is closed and the
exterior valve opened, the gas can be ignited at the latter and will flash back into

page_text: the said chamber and burn therein. When the said chamber is sufficiently heated,
the said valves are turned so as to close the ignition aperture and open the passage
to the distribution-pipe; the ignited gas will then be projected through the
perforations in the said pipe into the water.
The products of combustion in my improved generator mingle with the steam,
and, when used therewith for driving the engine or motor, serve to maintain the
heat of the steam on its way to the engine and in the cylinders.
The pressure which I use for forcing the gas into the said vessel may be that
which is employed for forcing the air through the screens of absorbent material
described in the said former specifications, the apparatus described in those
specifications being connected by a pipe directly with the pipe or burner through
which the gas is introduced into the water-space of the boiler. I prefer, however,
to draw the air through the apparatus for mixing it with the vapours of hydro-
carbon and water in order to generate the gas, and to then force the gas thus
generated into the boiler under a suitable pressure.
Dated the 25th day of July 1895.
JOHN H. LADD.
D. Young & Co.,
11 & 12 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
I, JOHN HASKINS LADD, of 116 Queen Victoria Street, in the City of London,
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 :-
My invention relates to steam-generators and is designed to provide in a more
efficient and economical manner than heretofore for the generation of steam by the
burning of gaseous fuel.
In generating steam by means of gas burnt in direct contact with the water, it
is important that the gas should be of such a nature as to ensure the most perfect
combustion thereof without the aid of any additional supply of air for promoting
its combustion. It is also important that suitable provision should be made
whereby the gas will be ignited as it enters the generator and the ignited gas
will be continuously forced into the body of water in the generator aud distributed
throughout the same.
In the Specification of former Letters Patent granted to J. H. W. Stringfellow
and dated 29th April 1890, No. 6575, and in the Specification of former Letters
Patent granted to me and dated 27th May 1895, No. 10,477, there is described the
manufacture of an improved gas which is produced by charging atmospheric air
first with hydrocarbon vapour and then with vapour of water.
Now have found that gas thus produced can be very advantageously used for
generating steam by introducing it under pressure into a closed vessel or boiler
and burning it in direct contact with and under the water therein; and my said
invention comprises an improved method of generating steam by forcing such gas,
under a suitable pressure, through a chamber situated in the water which is to be
converted into steam, which chamber is previously heated to a high temperature by
means of such gas so that the gas as it enters the same will be ignited, and then
discharging the gas so ignited into the water, so that it will be diffused throughout
the water and will very rapidly convert the same into steam, and the products of
combustion will mingle with the steam and be utilized therewith.
I am thus
enabled to dispense with the furnaces, fire-tubes and chimney or funnel usually

page_text: employed, and to construct a steam-boiler which will occupy but a small space in
proportion to its power, and in which there will be no smoke and but little if any
loss of heat, as in ordinary steam-generators, either by the escape of the products
of combustion through a chimney or funnel, or by the heating of the large
quantity of air which usually requires to be supplied to support combustion, or by
the heating of external brickwork or settings, or by radiation. Moreover I avoid
the danger and inconveniences due to direct contact of the flame with the metal
of the boiler.
My improved steam-generator has in the water-space thereof a chamber which
is lined with refractory material and with which is connected a pipe for the supply
of gas thereto, and another pipe or tube extending to the exterior of the generator
for the purpose of permitting the ignition of the gas in the said chamber at
starting; a perforated distributing pipe or multiple-jet burner is also connected
with the said chamber, whereby the ignited gas is diffused throughout the body of
water, suitable controlling valves or cocks being provided for governing the flow
of the gas through the said pipes respectively.
In the accompanying drawing
Figure 1 is a longitudinal central section,
Figure 2 a transverse section on the line x, x, Figure 1, and
Figure 3 an underside view, illustrating one form of my improved steam-boiler
or generator.
A is the generator; B is a chamber lined with ganister or other suitable
refractory material and arranged in the water-space of the said generator.
C is a pipe for the supply of gas to the chamber B. D is a tube extending
from the chamber B to the exterior of the generator for permitting the ignition
of the gas in the said chamber at starting. E is the perforated pipe or
multiple-jet burner whereby the ignited gas is diffused throughout the water in
the boilre.
The supply-pipe C is provided with a controlling valve or cock C₁ and with a
check-valve or back-pressure valve F; and a suitable device, such, for instance,
as a bundle of rods or tubes of small diameter placed side by side, is arranged
at G to prevent flashing back of the gas into the supply-pipe Č. The tube D is
provided with a controlling valve or cock D' situated outside of the boiler A.
The pipe E is also provided with a controlling valve or cock E', the operating rod
or spindle E of which extends through the shell of the boiler, a fluid-tight joint
being made by means of a stuffing-box E. An arm or lever a on the said rod or
spindle E' is connected by a link o to the operating arm or lever c of the valve or
cock D', so that the two cocks D¹, E' can be simultaneously operated; the said
cocks are, moreover, so constructed that when one of the same is open the other is
closed, and vice versa.
-When
The operation of my improved apparatus is as follows, that is to say:-
the cock C on the supply-pipe C is opened, and the interior valve E' is closed and
the exterior valve D' opened, the gas can be ignited at the latter and will flash
back into the chamber B and burn therein. When the said chamber is sufficiently
heated to ignite the incoming gas, the said valves D', El are turned so as to close
the ignition-aperture and open the passage to the distribution-pipe E; the ignited
gas will then be projected through the perforations in the said pipe into the
water.
It is advantageous to provide the gas-supply pipe C with a jet or burner to
permit of the quality of the gas being tested before it used in the boiler.
The products of combustion in my improved generator mingle with the steam,
and, when used therewith for driving the engine or motor, serve to maintain the
beat of the steam on its way to the engine and in the cylinders. A much larger
proportion of the heat generated is, therefore, utilized than is the case where the
products of combustion are allowed to escape into the atmosphere.
I can, if desired, make the chamber B of larger dimensions relatively to the
size of the generator, than I have shown in the drawing. It may be advantageous,

page_text: in some cases, to make the said chamber of such length that the gas will be entirely
hurnt therein and the gaseous products of combustion will pass into the water
through the perforated pipe E, the length of which will be proportionately less, in
an arrangement such as is shown in the drawing.
The pressure which I use for forcing the gas into the boiler may be that which
is employed for forcing the air through the gas-generator described in either of
the said former specifications, the said gas-generator being connected by a pipe
directly with the pipe C through which the gas is to be introduced into the water-
space of the boiler. I prefer, however, to draw the air through the apparatus for
charging it with the vapours of hydrocarbon and water in order to generate the
gas, and to then force the gas thus generated into the boiler under a suitable
pressure by means of a pump or compressor or other suitable contrivance.
When my improved steam-generator is combined with the apparatus for making
the gas as above described, the production and utilization of the gas will be carried
on simultaneously.
I can, if desired, use more than one perforated distributing pipe in the boiler.
Or I can use one or more coils of perforated pipe, or equivalent devices for
diffusing the ignited gas or the gaseous products of combustion throughout the
body of water in the generator.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, declare that what I
claim is:-
First. The improved method of generating steam, consisting in forcing gas of
the kind herein before referred to, under the requisite pressure, through a chamber
situated in the water to be converted into steam, and previously heated to a high
temperature by means of such gas, in which chamber it becomes ignited, and
discharging the ignited gas into the water so that it is burnt in direct contact
therewith, substantially as hereinbefore described.
the
Second. The modification of my improved method of generating steam, wherein
gas is burnt within the chamber in the water-space of the generator and the
gaseous products of combustion pass through the perforated distributing pipe into
the water, substantially as described.
Third. In a steamn-generator, a chamber in the water-space thereof lined with
refractory material and connected with a supply-pipe for gas, with a pipe or tube
for permitting the ignition of the gas from the exterior of the generator, and with
a perforated pipe or multiple-jet burner situated below the water-level, which
pipes or tubes are provided with suitable controlling valves or cocks, substantially
as and for the purposes herein before described.
Fourth. In a steam-generator, the combination of the perforated pipe or
multiple-jet burner extending from the chamber within the water-space, a cock
or valve between the said chamber and the perforated pipe or burner, a pipe
extending from the said chamber to the exterior of the generator and provided
with a controlling valve or cock, and means for simultaneously operating the said
cocks or valves so that when one is opened the other is closed, substantially as and
for the purposes hereinbefore described.
Fifth. A steam-generator constructed with means for supplying gaseous fuel
thereto and burning it in contact with and under the water therein, substantially
as described with reference to the accompanying drawing.
Dated the 20th day of April 1906
JOHN HASKINS LADD.
D. Young & Co.,
11 & 12 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.