A NEW OR IMPROVED STEAM GENERATOR
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Imray of N° 28 Southampton Buildings, Chancery
"
Lane, in the County of Middlesex for an Invention of "A NEW OR IMPROVED
STEAM GENERATOR communicated to him from abroad by Albert, Comto de
Dion, Georges Thadée Bouton, and Charles Trépardoux all of Paris, France
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Imray at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 5th October 1883.
"
JOHN IMRAY of N° 28 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, "A. NEW OR IMPROVED STEAM GENERATOR [communicated to
him from abroad by Albert, Comte de Dion, Georges Thadée Bouton, and Charles
Trépardoux all of Paris, France]
This invention relates to a construction of steam generator in such a manner
that a comparatively small quantity of water, being subdivided into thin layers
over extended heating surface and caused to circulate freely, the generation of
steam is rapid and effective,-that the metal of the generator is free to expand
and contract without breaking joints, whilst the parts can be readily separated by
unbolting, thereby giving free access for cleansing or repair, and that the heat of
the products of combustion, on their way to the chimney, is utilised for drying or
superheating the steam and warming the feed water. The generator, which may
be placed on any convenient fire, consists of a cylindrical body surmounted by a
steam dome. Within the body in its lower part is a circular fire shell somewhat
coned in its sides, open at the bottom and domed at the top, this shell being made
with a projecting flange which is bolted to a flange at the lower edge of the body.
Centrally within the shell is fixed a vertical pipe closed at the bottom and open
the top, and numerous small water tubes slightly inclined upwards radiate from the
periphery of the shell inwards to the central tube. From the top of the fire shell
flue tubes extend up through the body of the generator to an annular spice
surrounding the steam dome, between it and an annular tank containing a supply
of feed water. The generator being placed on a fire which heats the interior of
the fire shell and its tubes, the water circulates from the annular waterway
at

page_text: surrounding the fire shell through the small tubes to the central vertical tube, above
which is placed a horizontal deflecting plate to prevent priming by the rapid ascent
of the water and steam bubbles. The products of combustion ascend the flue
tubes to the space surrounding the steam dome where they give part of their heat
to the steam in the dome and part to the feed water in the tank, and then pass to
the chimney. The successive tiers of small tubes in the fire shell are arranged, not
vertically over each other, but in such a manner that the hot gases are broken up
by them as they ascend within the shell, and are thus caused to play over the
whole surface of the tubes. By unbolting the flanges by which the fire shell and
body are jointed together, and unscrewing nuts which secure the vertical flue tubes
to the top of the body, the body of the generator is left free to be lifted off from
the fire shell, so that all the tubes and heated surfaces can be got at for cleansing
or repair.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Imray in the Patent Office on the 1st April 1884.
"
JOHN IMBAY of N° 28 Southampton Buildings Chancery Lane in the County
of Middlesex "A NEW OR IMPROVED STEAM GENERATOR a communication to
me from Abroad by Albert Comte de Dion, Georges Thadée Bouton, and Charles
Trépardoux all of Paris, France
This invention relates to a construction of steam generator in such a manner
that a comparatively small quantity of water, being subdivided into thin layers
over extended heating surface and caused to circulate freely, the generation of steam
is rapid and effective, that the metal of the generator is free to expand and contract
without breaking joints, whilst the parts can be readily separated by unbolting,
thereby giving free access for cleansing or repair,-and that the heat of the products
of combustion on their way to the chimney, is utilised for drying or superheating
the steam and warming the feed water.
Fig 1 of the accompanying Drawings is a vertical section of one form of boiler
or steam generator according to this invention, Fig. 2 is a sectional plan of the
lower part or fire box in which the radiating tubes are arranged, Fig. 3 is a side
view and Fig. 4 a plan of the fire box and smoke tubes shewn separately. Fig. 5
is a vertical section and Fig. 6 a sectional plan of a modified form. Referring to
Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4. A is the outer cylindrical casing having a cover B formed
with a steam dome C from which is led the steam pipe D. The fire box E is some-
what coned made with a central tube F from which a number of inclined tubes G
radiate to the shell of the fire box. The tiers of the tube G are arranged, not
vertically over each other, but in inclined lines as shewn in Fig. 3, so that the
flames within the fire box cannot ascend directly, but have to find their way
through the spaces between the tubes. Above the mouth of the central pipe F is
placed a deflecting plate H. From the top I of the fire box which is convex the
smoke and products of combustion ascend by tubes J into a space surrounding the
dome C within a feed water tank L, which they heat, and thence pass by M to the
chimney. The shell of the boiler is fixed to the fire box by bolts K securing
together their flanges; by undoing these and unscrewing the nuts of the smoke
tubes J, the fire box can be taken out, so that it, as well as its tubes, and the
interior of the boiler, can be thoroughly cleaned or repaired.
According to the construction shewn by Figs 5 and 6, the steam space is formed
in a globular or it may be a cylindrical vessel N connected to the body of the
boiler by tubes O arranged in the intervals between the smoke tubes J, which
ascend from a fire box such as that already described. The generator may be
heated either by a fire or by gas flames, over which it is placed, there being
free access for flame and hot products of combustion through open bottom of the
fire box.
Having thus described the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, as communicated to me by my foreign correspondents,
I claim
First. The construction of steam generator having in the lower part of its
cylindrical body a fire box in which inclined tubes radiate from a central tube,
and from which vertical smoke tubes communicate with a space surrounding a
steam dome or receptacle above the body, substantially as herein described.
Second. Attaching the fire box to the body of the boiler by flanges secured
together by bolts and nuts, and by nuts on the smoke tubes, by undoing which

page_text: the fire box and the body can be separated so as to give free access for cleaning
and repair.
Third. In combination with the generator, a free water tank enclosing the
smoke space surrounding the steam dome or receptacle, substantially as herein
described.
"
In Witness whereof I the said John Imray have hereunto set my hand and
seal this First day of April in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred
and eighty-four.
JOHN IMRAY (L.S.)