IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM BOILERS
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Serkis-bey Ballian, of Constantinople, Chief Engineer
of the Ottoman Empire, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM
BOILERS"
:
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Serkis-bey Ballian at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th November 1880.
SERKIS-BEY BALLIAN, of Constantinople, Chief Engineer of the Ottoman Empire.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM BOILERS."
The improved boiler is constructed of a belt of tubes placed tangentially to one
anotlier, and in the interior of which belt is placed the grate and furnace. Tho
interior of the belt above the furnace is filled with successive rows of vertical tubes
touching one another. Each of these tubes encloses a central tube, the space
between the two concentric tubes being filled with water and is closed at top and
bottom; each tube communicates, with those in its row and each row with the
vertical tubes of the outer belt. From this arrangement it follows that the gases
from tho.combustion pass into the interior tubes placed in the centro of the others
and through the spaces between four adjacent tubes. Around the boiler are placed
superposed horizontal tubes for feeding the boiler; such tubes communicato with
one another and with the vertical tubes, and are connected at the bottom with two
collectors in which the deposits are received. The said tubes are connected at
the top to large horizontal tubes placed at a gradient, and serving as receivers for
the steam.
The whole is enlosed in a strong case provided with a chimney at the top.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Serkis-bey Ballian in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 11th
May 1881.
SERKIS-BEY BALLIAN, of Constantinople, Chief Engineer of the Ottoman Empire.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM-BOILERS."
The improved boiler is constructed of a belt of tubes placed tangentially to one
another, and in the interior of which belt is placed the grate and furnace. The
interior of the belt above the furnace is filled with successive rows of vertical tubes
touching one another. Each of these tubes encloses a central tube, the space
between the two concentric tubes being filled with water, and is closed at top and
bottom; each tube communicates with those in its row, and each row with the
vertical tubes of the outer belt. From this arrangement it follows that the gases
from the combustion pass into the interior tubes placed in the centre of the others
and through the spaces between four adjacent tubes. Around the boiler are placed
superposed horizontal tubes for feeding the boiler; such tubes communicate with
one another and with the vertical tubes, and are connected at the bottom with two
collectors in which the deposits are received. The said tubes are connected at
the top to large horizontal tubes placed at a gradient, and serving as receivers for
the steam.
The whole is enclosed in a strong case provided with a chimney at the top.
But to make my Invention better understood I will now proceed to describe the
same by reference to the accompanying Drawing, in which Figures 1 and 2 are
front elevations, and Figure 3 a plan of my improved boiler; Figure 4 is a
transverse section, Figure 5 a longitudinal section, Figure 6 an elevation, and
Figures 7, 8, and 9 are horizontal sections at different heights of a modification of
the improved boiler.
My improved boiler, shewn in Figures 1, 2, and 3 of the Drawing, is constructed
of a bundle of vertical tubes T, which touch one another, and which are connected
together and are put in communication with one another by means of the small
tubes a, but only with those next them on the right and left, in such a manner as
to form a certain number of independent rows although placed close together.
Each of these tubes encloses another concentric tube b, somewhat longer but of
less diameter, and forming what I call the inner flue in opposition to the curvilinear
quadrangular space contained between four adjacent tubes which I call the outer
flue. On the lower part of each inner flue is formed a shouldered washer, which
fills up the annular space between the bases of the two tubes; the upper end of the
inner flue is screw threaded on its exterior for receiving a screw nut d which
presses on another shouldered washer, thus effecting the hermetic closing of the
tube at both ends. The hollow space between the outer tube and the inner flue
is to contain the water to be converted into steam, which water is thus presented
in the form of a thin hollow cylinder, and submitted to the action of the heat from
the fire on its base and inner and outer surfaces.
Although I may, according to circumstances, give any desired diameter to both
the inner and outer tubes, I have found in practice that the most suitable
dimensions are from two and a half to four inches in diameter for the outer tubes
and about half that diameter for the inner tubes or flues, in order that the sections
of the inner and outer tubes should be the same and that the heat should be equally
distributed.
The back face and the sides of the boiler are composed of the tubes T¹ of the
samo diameter as, but longer than, those herein before described, and form the walls
of the furnace and ash pit by extending down to the foundation plate.

page_text: As the inner flue would be useless in these tubes, since only half their circumference
is exposed to the action of the flame, I replace it by an iron rod e' provided with a
screw nut for effecting the closing of the tube by means of two shouldered washers
similar to those herein before described.
The cylinders having a greater diameter than the water tubes form cisterns into
which is injected the feed water.
Each cistern communicates with the one next it by the tubes g, and with those
placed on the other side of the boiler by the pipes h; they are also closed by means
of two washers, a rod, and a screw nut.
i, i, are two collecting cylinders which are put in communication (1) by the
pipes,, with the water cisterns, (2) by means of the small tubes 1, 2, with the
tubes T¹ forming the sides of the boiler. Other similar tubes m, m, put these tubes
in communication with the steam chambers o, o, on one side, and on the other
with the water cisterns; each of the tubes consists of a small pipe n fitted to the
tube, which, by means of a screw nut or a screw ring l, is connected to the
tube.
In case one of the water heating tubes should leak it is merely necessary to
unscrew the rings, and to remove in one piece a whole row of tubes, and imme-
diately replace it with another row kept in readiness, unless it be preferred to
simply stop the tubes n, l, by means of a screw cap in place of the rings.
h, h, are tubes connected in the same manner by means of screw nuts p, p, and
serving to establish communication between the cold water cisterns.
From this arrangement it will be evident that the whole apparatus may be con-
sidered as a series of communicating vessels, in which a very active circulation is.
obtained by reason of the great difference of temperature in the various tubes
forming part of the apparatus. The cbullition of the water in the tubes placed
above the furnace holds the matters in suspension until they are drawn along by
the circulating movement and arrive in the tubes at T, 1, n; they then pass into
the horizontal receivers or cisterns f, where they encounter a lower temperature,
and consequently a calmer medium, and they are, by reason of their gravity, pre-
cipitated into the collectors either directly or through the tubes at the moment
of extraction by the cock y for the deposits which have been made in the wall
tubes.
The steam, in proportion as it is produced in the water heating tubes, passes
through the cominunicating tubes r, r, successively into the steam chambers, where,
from the effect of the heat given off by the small inner and outer flues, it gives off
the humidity it contains, allowing the water drawn off to fall back if required, and
which water, by reason of the gradients of these chambers, can easily run off into
the feed water cisterns.
The three upper tubes o¹, o¹, o', of the steam chamber are shorter than the others,
so as to leave a space behind the apparatus, in which space is placed the collecting
chimney serving for the escape of the products of combustion. On the highest
of these chambers are placed the steam pipe, the safety valve, and the steam
gauge.
A double jacket of sheet iron and wood serves to protect the boiler from shocks
and the like, as well as to prevent the radiation of heat, the loss of which is
rendered impossible by the walls of cold water which surround the whole of the
generator.
Two moveable plates of sheet or cast iron 8, 8, forming dampers serve also to
protect the steam chambers from immediate contact with the flame.
In the modification of the improved boiler shewn in Figures 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9,
the hereinbefore described horizontal tubes placed at the sides of the boiler and
serving as the water cisterns, also those arranged in front or above the apparatus
as steam chambers, and the collecting tubes resting on the foundation plate, are done
away with and replaced as follows in each row :-
The tubes a, a, a, without the inner flues, and not submitted to the action of the
fire, form a first outer jacket, serving as the reservoir or cistern for cold water,

page_text: which is conveyed thereto by the tubes b, c, d, e, f, and the tubes h, h, h, which
establish communication between all the different rows.
The tubes g, g, shaped like U reversed and made of a single piece, form the
second jacket, and contain water in their lower part and steam in their upper part.
These tubes are, by means of the tubes t, placed in direct communication with a
cylinder m placed at the top of the arch, either inside or outside, and in which is
collected the steam produced by each row, and on which are placed the safety valve,
the steam gauge, and the steam pipe.
The tube g communicates with the tube a and with all the other tubes of the
row by means of the tubes 8, 8, 8, Figure 4.
Besides the wooden jacket the spaces o, o, o, Figure 7, are filled with sand to form
a wall to prevent the escape of the caloric and for intercepting the passage of the
smoke on the outside.
I reserve the right of causing the products of combustion to circulato alternately
upwards and downwards, as well as of employing several U shaped tubes in one
row, and of causing the smoke to pass under and over each of them before it escapes
to the collecting chimney.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the best means with
which I am acquainted for carrying the same into effect, I would have it understood
that I do not confine myself to the precise details herein laid down, as the same
may be varied without departing from the peculiar character of the Invention, but
what I do claim is,―
The improvements in steam boilers herein before described, and represented in the
accompanying Drawing, or any mere modification thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said Serkis-bey-Ballian, have hereto set my hand
and seal, this Third day of May, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty one.
DAT