IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO STEAM BOILERS AND THEIR ACCOMPANYING DEVICES, AND TO THE RELATION THEREOF TO THE HULLS OF VESSELS, ESPECIALLY OF SMALL STEAM YACHTS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Lloyd Wise, of Chandos Chambers, Adelphi, in
the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO
STEAM BOILERS AND THEIR ACCOMPANYING DEVICES, AND TO THE RELATION
THEREOF TO THE HULLS OF VESSELS, ESPECIALLY OF SMALL STEAM YACHTS."
A communication from abroad by James Brown Herreshoff and John Brown
Herreshoff, both of Bristol, in the State of Rhode Island, United States of
America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Lloyd Wise at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th November 1876.
sex.
WILLIAM LLOYD WISE, of Chandos Chambers, Adelphi, in the County of Middle-
"IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO STEAM BOILERS AND THEIR ACCOMPANYING
DEVICES, AND TO THE RELATION THEREOF TO THE HULLS OF VESSELS, ESPECIALLY
OF SMALL STEAM YACHTS." A communication from abroad by James Brown
Herreshoff and John Brown Herreshoff, both of Bristol, in the State of Rhode
Island, United States of America.
Coil boilers have been long known receiving the feed water at one end of a
considerable coil and allowing the fluid resulting from the reduction to steam of a
portion or the whole of such water to be taken from the other end and utilized.
Such have marked advantages over the ordinary styles.
My foreign correspondents have succeeded in devising a light, safe, and economical
steam generating apparatus employing such construction, and they find it practicable
to put such a boiler of great steam generating capacity in a small yacht.
Instead of the ordinary round form for the coil boiler it is made oblong or oyal
in plan, that is to say, tubes are used of circular or other desired section, but
instead of making the coils as nearly circular as possible they are made oval or
considerably longer than wide. Such boiler, properly cased and supported, is placed
in the narrow hull of a finely modelled yacht, with the longest dimensions of the
coil boiler lengthwise of the yacht, thus providing sufficient boiler power with a
single boiler of this description. A large combustion chamber with double coils
around it is provided, and the water is forced through the coils in succession. A
contracted coil is connected above the cylindrical part. The hottest gases are
retarded by means analogous to those employed in what are known as reverberatory
[Price 6d.]

page_text: furnaces, but provision is made for letting the gases escape freely through the top
of the structure when desired, and access is allowed by the same passages for
cleaning the coils. The lower coils are shielded from too intense action of the heat.
The water from the discharge end of the coils is automatically trapped out to be
thrown away or repumped into the boiler as circumstances may render expedient,
and the feed is made self-regulating.
In carrying out the Invention a continuous coil of lap-welded iron or other pipe,
supplied with water through one end by a pump or other suitable means, has a
second coil mounted concentrically within it, which receives the water from the
outer coil through a connection at the bottom. The inner coil is continued inward
at the top to form a sort of roof, and discharges its mingled steam and water through
a pipe into a tall drum or separating vessel. Below the coils is fire-brick which
may be held in an ordinary cast-iron frame, and which need differ in no respect
from the ordinary fire-brick work around a circular grate, except in a considerable
extension upward at the inner edge, which I term a shield. A cylindrical casing
of stout sheet iron encloses the whole, with a considerable space within, above the
masonry, for an annular up flue. The casing has a conical extension at the top
terminating in a chimney. Within the casing near the top is a curtain or cylinder
of little depth with its upper edge formed inward over the outer coil. An annular
plate slightly domed covers the top coil. A ring valve or cover stops the aperture
between the upper edge of the curtain and the domed annular plate. A turning
valve stops the aperture in the centre of the said plate.
The inner and outer coils are made with their respective convolutions quite
close together near the top but more open below, the spaces between each convolu-
tion and the next gradually increasing downward. A still greater space exists
between the lowermost convolution of each coil and the top of the brick work.
This latter space is controlled by a perforated rim and by a movable series of
jointed plates forming in effect a ring valve or register to cover and uncover
passages by moving it around by means of suitable connections to the exterior.
In case the boiler is of round form instead of oval the valve may be a rigid ring
formed with openings.
The mingled steam and water thrown from the coils into the drum separate in
the latter, and the steam taken from the top is further treated by passing through a
return pipe into a bend or series of bends or convolutions in the upper part of the
combustion chamber from which it rises again through another pipe and is conducted
away to the engine fully dried and preferably in a slightly superheated condition.
A comb-like device is used for removing the soot from the spaces between the
convolutions.
The casing already mentioned is surrounded by an outer casing of thin metal,
and within which the air for the furnace is drawn down from a series of holes near
the top. This casing may be continued further up and the air received through
holes around the chimney. The inner casing and the current of descending cold air
within it protect persons and objects near the boiler from the heat, and utilize the
escaping heat in warming the air which is to pass into the fire. The whole, or a
considerable portion of the top of the casing, whether double or single, should be
easily removable.
If it be not desired to further dry or superheat the steam, the drying pipes may
be dispensed with and the steam taken directly from the top of the drum to the
engine.
In what is esteemed the best mode of operating with sea water, the water should
be sufficiently evaporated in being driven once through the coils. In using pure
fresh water the quantity accumulating in the bottom of the drum may be taken
into the feed pump and compelled to repeat its round several times. But with
hard or muddy water and especially with sea water all thus brought over into the
drum should be allowed to escape and waste..
It is proposed when thus operating to make the discharge self-regulating by
providing the drum with a steam trap.
:

page_text: When it is desired also to regulate the feed water automatically a lever is
connected to a feed controlling valve so that it shall be turned in one direction by
an excess of water escaping from the trap, and in the other direction by the gravity
of a weight or other sufficient force.
The operation of these devices is such that when the feed pump is not supplying
water enough, and nearly all is evaporated in traversing the coil, water will flow out
from the drum in diminished quantity and the feed controlling valve will be opened
by the action of the weight. On thus opening, the water from the feed pump will
traverse the coils more actively and will soon accumulate in the drum and be
discharged more freely therefrom by the action of the trap, thus acting with more
force on the lever of the feed controlling valve and turning it to diminish the feed.
This will compel the feed pump to slow, if it is capable of slowing, or to discharge
a portion through a relief valve or the like if not so capable, in either case reducing
the quantity of feed to the proper amount. The lever of the feed controlling valve
may turn by mere force of impact of the water falling from the trap, or the water
may be retained in a cup-like vessel on the lever's end provided with a limited
orifice for escape, and may act by its gravity as well as the force of impact or by
gravity alone.
It is evidently important with this class of boilers to have the feed constant and
well regulated, and to have the discharge of water correspond with the quantity
brought unevaporated into the drum. The amount of such discharge can be regu-
lated by a stop-cock or valve controlled by the hand of the attendant so as to dis-
charge all the water and waste but a little steam.
.
It is proposed in some cases to automatically regulate the quantity by means of
a pipe from the top of the drum and a pipe from the bottom of the drum joining in
a single pipe supplying the steam to drive an independent pump, which pumps the
feed for the boiler according as it receives steam or water as an actuating fluid.
Many modifications may be made in the details of the apparatus without depart-
ing from the distinctive character of the Invention.
If preferred, in boilers of sufficient magnitude the feed pipe can be greatly elon-
gated and coiled in the space above the close top, so that the water on entering the
outer coil shall have been warmed by the gases there; but it is not esteemed gene-
rally expedient.
The improvements are more particularly adapted for swift steamı yachts, steam
launches, steam fire engines, and like situations where great efficiency wanted
with little space and weight. Except in narrow vessels it is preferred to make the
boilers round.
My foreign correspondents believe some of the novel features of the Invention can
be used to advantage in all places where steam power is required.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Lloyd Wise in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 13th
January 1877.
WILLIAM LLOYD WISE, of Chandos Chambers, Adelphi, in the County of Middle-
sex. "IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO STEAM BOILERS AND THEIR ACCOMPANYING
DEVICES AND TO THE RELATION THEREOF TO THE HULLS OF VESSELS, ESPECIALLY
OF SMALL STEAM YACHTS." A communication from abroad by James Brown
Herreshoff and John Brown Herreshoff, both of Bristol, in the State of Rhode
Island, United States of America.
Coil boilers have been long known receiving the feed water at one end of a con-
siderable coil and allowing the fluid resulting from the conversion into steam of a
portion or the whole of such water to be taken from the other end and utilized.
Such have marked advantages over the ordinary styles.

page_text: My foreign correspondents have succeeded in devising a light, safe, and economical
steam generating apparatus employing such construction, and they find it practicable
to put such a boiler of great steam generating capacity in a small yacht.
Instead of the ordinary round form for the coil boiler it is made oblong or oval in
plan, that is to say, tubes are used of circular or other desired section, but instead
of making the coils as nearly circular as possible they are made oval or consider-
ably longer than wide. Such boiler properly cased and supported is placed in the
narrow hull of a finely modelled yacht, with the longest dimensions of the coil
boiler length wise of the yacht, thus providing sufficient boiler power with a single
boiler of this description. A large combustion chamber with double coils around
it is provided, and the water is forced through the coils in succession. A con-
tracted coil is connected above the cylindrical part. The hottest gases are retarded
by means analogous to those employed in what are known as reverberatory furnaces,
but provision is made for letting the gases escape freely through the top of the
structure when desired, and access is allowed by the same passages for cleaning the
coils. The lower coils are shielded from too intense action of the heat. The water
from the discharge end of the coils is automatically trapped out to be thrown away
or repumped into the boiler as circumstances may render expedient, and the feed is
made self-regulating.
The accompanying Drawings represent what my foreign correspondents consider
the best means of fully carrying out all their improvements.
Figure 1 is a central vertical section through one of the boilers and attachments;
Figure 2 is a plan view of the same with the top parts removed; Figure 3 repre-
sents a portion modified; and Figure 4 represents a comb-shaped instrument to be
employed when necessary in clearing the spaces between the several convolutions
of the coils. Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the
Figures.
A¹ is a continuous coil of. lap-welded iron or other pipe supplied with water
through an end 'A by a pump or other suitable means. A³ is a coil mounted
concentrically within A¹ and receiving the water therefrom through a connection A²
at the bottom. The coil is continued inward at the top, as indicated by A4, and
discharges its mingled steam and water through a pipe A5 into a tall drum or
separating vessel C. Below the coils are fire-bricks B, which may be held in an
ordinary cast-iron frame and which need differ in no respect from the ordinary
fire-brick work around a circular grate, except in a considerable extension upward
at the inner edge, as indicated by B', which I term a shield. The masonry may be
of equal diameter to the exterior coil A¹, or considerably greater. A cylindrical
casing of stout sheet iron D encloses the whole with a considerable space within,
above the masonry, for an annular up flue. The casing is marked D, a conical
extension thereof at the top D', and a chimney D. Within the casing D, near the
top, is a curtain or cylinder E of little depth with its upper edge formed inward
over the coil A¹. E² is an annular plate slightly domed covering the top coil O
G is a ring valve or cover which stops the aperture between E' and E2, and H is
a turning valve which stops the aperture in the centre of E. The valve should
be shaped to match the form of the adjacent parts, so as when closed to make a
nearly tight joint. It may be of sufficient area to afford all the draught required
in kindling or quickening a fire, in which case the valve G need be opened only for
cleaning the coils A¹ and A³.
When the valves H and G are closed the hot products of combustion rising from
the fire on the grate m are imprisoned and prevented from any egress at the upper
part of the coils and are compelled to dive under the lower edge of the curtain E.
Furthermore, the coils A', A³, are made with their respective convolutions quite
close together near the top, but more open below the spaces between each convolu-
tion and the next, gradually increasing downward. A still greater space exists
between the lowermost convolution of each coil and the top of the brickwork.
This latter space is controlled by a perforated rim F and by a moveable series of
jointed plates I, forming in effect a ring valve or register to cover and uncover

page_text: passages by moving it around by means of suitable connections to the exterior not
represented. In case the boiler is of round form instead of oval the valve I may
be a rigid ring formed with openings. When this is open a great portion of the
products of combustion find their easiest exit through it and consequently below
the coils and pass up between the outer coil A¹ and the casing D, but small
quantities of the gases will flow out through the considerable openings between
the lower convolutions and less and less through the spaces above. When the
register I is closed the gases can only escape, through those limited openings.
When the valves H and G are opened the gases can escape freely from the top
without realizing any of the reverberatory furnace effect otherwise due to the
proportioning of the spaces and to the close top and hanging curtain.
The mingled steam and water thrown from the coils into the drum C separate
in the latter, and the steam taken from the top is further treated by passing through
the return pipe J into a bend or series of bends or convolutions J, J, in the upper
part of the combustion chamber M, from which it rises again through the pipe J³,
and is conducted away to the engine fully dried and preferably in a slightly
superheated condition.
The valve G may be simply lifted and lowered bodily by the rods g, or it may
be in several pieces and may be simply moved outward and inward. It should
be sufficiently large to allow the introduction and operation of a comb-like device
(see Figure 4) for removing the soot from the spaces between the convolutions.
K is an outer casing of thin metal exterior to D, and within which the air for
the furnace is drawn down from a series of holes & near the top. This casing may
be continued further up and the air received through holes around the chimney.
The casing K and the current of descending cold air within it protect persons and
objects near the boiler from the heat, and the escaping heat is utilized in warming
the air which is to pass into the fire. The whole or a considerable portion of the
top of the casing whether double or single should be easily removable.
If it be not desired to further dry or superheat the steam the pipes J¹, Ja, J³, may
be dispensed with and the steam taken directly from the top of vessel C to the
engine not represented.
In what is esteemed the best mode of operating with sea water the water should
be sufficiently evaporated in being driven once through the coils.
In using purc
fresh water the quantity accumulating in the bottom of the vessel c may be taken
into the feed pump not represented, and compelled to repeat its round several times.
But with.hard or muddy water, and especially with sea water, all thus brought over
into the vessel C should be allowed to escape and waste.
It is proposed when thus operating to make the discharge self-regulating, as
shown in Figure 1, where the drum C is provided with a steam trap, the float of
which is marked P, and the valve of which is marked p.
When it is desired also to regulate the feed water automatically I arrange a
lever R connected to a feed controlling valve Q so that it shall be turned in one
direction by an excess of water escaping from the trap P, 2, and in the other
direction by the gravity of the weight T or other sufficient force.
The operation of these devices is such that when the feed pump, not represented,
is not supplying water enough, and nearly all is evaporated in traversing the coil,
water will flow out from the vessel C in diminished quantity, and the valve Q will
be opened by the action of the weight T. On thus opening the water from the
feed pump will traverse the coils more actively, and will soon accumulate in the
vessel C, and be discharged more freely therefrom by the action of the trap P, P,
thus acting with more force on the lever R, and turning it to diminish the feed.
This will compel the feed pump to slow, if it is capable of slowing, or to discharge
a portion through a relief valve or the like if not so capable, in either case reducing
the quantity of feed to the proper amount. The lever R may turn by mere force
of impact of the water falling from P, or the water may be retained in the cup-like
vessel on its end, provided with a limited orifice for escape, and may act by its
gravity as well as the force of impact, or by gravity alone.

page_text: It is evidently important with this class of boilers to have the feed constant and
well regulated, and to have the discharge of water correspond with the quantity
brought unevaporated into the drum C. The amount of such discharge can be regu-
lated by a stop-cock or valve controlled by the hand of the attendant so as to
discharge all the water and waste but a little steam.
It is proposed in some cases to automatically regulate the quantity by means
the novel features of which are shown in Figure 3. In this Figure C₁ is a pipo
from the top and C2 a pipe from the bottom of the vessel C joining in a single
pipe C supplying the steam to drive an independent pump, not represented, which
pumps the feed for the boiler according as it receives steam or water as an actuating
fluid. Steam flows quicker than water. So long as the water is nearly all evapo-
rated in the coils steam from the pipe C¹ will flow through the pipe C³, and the
feed pump will operate vigorously. The moment too much water comes over
raising the water level in C water from C will pass out instead of steam through
the pipe C, and being more sluggish in its motions will choke the pumping
mechanism, and the feed will almost stop. Under ordinary conditions a just sufficient
quantity of water will work off to maintain the water level in C even with C³.
It is important to take the fluid to drive the pump from a point above the
bottom of the vessel C, or in the other mode of regulating the feed to have the
float P operate above the bottom so that a sufficient quantity will be constantly
retained in the vessel C to dissolve any salt or analogous solid matter which is
·liable to be thrown into it under some conditions.
Many modifications may be made in the details of the apparatus. Importance
is attached by my foreign correspondents to the form of the separating vessel C as a
tall chamber or stand pipe, and to the extension of the pipe A³ considerably down
into the same to diminish the chances of the water moving across and escaping
with the current of out-going steam. Importance is attached to the opening of the
spaces between the convolutions near the bottom of the coils to make it easier for
the gases to pass out through the same than to pass at higher points, because it
tends to discharge the coolest gases first, and retains the hottest to be further
utilized. Importance is attached to the curtain E and cover E1, E2, as further means
to the same end, and to the valves G, H, I, as means for modifying the action. When
the valves are closed the hottest gases are retained and utilized until they become
cooled. Importance is attached to the shield B₁ as a means of protecting the lower
part of the coils from too intense heat, which might be destructive, especially when
the engine is stopped and the fire in full glow. Importance is attached to the pro-
visions for driving the feed pump by steam, in which water is mingled from the
bottom of the separating chamber in varying proportions, so as to effect both the
automatic control of the quantity discharged and the automatic control of the feed
according to the evaporating efficiency of the fire at the time. Importance is
attached to the superheating pipe J, J, as an adjunct of the separating vessel C drying
the previously purified steam, and importance is attached also to the inward contrac-
tion A of the coil as a means of efficiently utilizing with or without the super-
heating pipe both the radiant heat and the heat derivable from connection. In
some situations it is proposed to use only one coil, but always with the feed water
introduced by preference at the top or wherever the heat is least, and therefore
subjecting the mingled steam and water in the last of its rapid passage to a higher
temperature.
I can if preferred in boilers of sufficient magnitude greatly elongate the feed
pipe A, and coil it in the space above the close top, so that the water on entering
the outer coil A¹ shall have been warmed by the gases there; but this is not
esteemed generally expedient.
The improvements are more particularly adapted for swift steam yachts, steam
launches, steam fire engines, and like situations where great efficiency is wanted
with little space and weight. Except in narrow vessels it is preferred to make the
boilers round. It is believed some of the novel features of this Invention can be
used to advantage in all places where steam power is required.

page_text: Having described the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, as communicated to me as aforesaid, I hereby declare that I
claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters.
Patent-
1st. The coil boiler described having one or more coils of oblong form, or with
the dimensions n, n, materially greater than the dimensions o, o, substantially as
and for the purposes herein specified.
2nd. The combination with a narrow hull of the oblong coil boiler described,
having the longer dimensions arranged longitudinally of the hull, as and for the
purposes specified.
3rd. The curtain E and top E¹, E2, with means H for opening and closing the
same, in combination with a coil boiler and a flue for the rising of the gases around
the same, as herein specified.
4th. The construction of a coil boiler with the openings or spaces between the
convolutions increasing gradually from the top downward, as and for the purposes
specified.
5th. In combination with one or more enclosing coils A¹, A³, the top coil A*
adapted to serve therewith, as herein specified.
6th. The valve H in combination with the top coil A¹ and one or more enclosing
coils below, as herein specified.
7th. The ring valve G in the close top E, E¹, E², arranged, as shown, to allow not
only the escape of the products of combustion, but also the cleaning of the coils by
reaching downward through the opening, as herein specified.
8th. The valve I controlling the space below one or more enclosing coils in
combination with the casing D and means for closing the top of the combustion
chamber, as specified.
9th. In combination with one or more enclosing coils A¹, A³, the shield B¹ within
the base, as and for the purposes specified.
10tb. In combination with a coil boiler and a separating vessel C the pipes C¹, C²,
C3, adapted to lead the mingled water and steam to an independent feeding appa-
ratus, as and for the purposes specified.
11th. In combination with a coil boiler and separating vessel a steam trap
adapted to trap out the water from such separating vessel, as herein specified.
12th. The combination of the trap P, vessel C, and coil A¹ with a device R for
regulating the quantity of water fed to the coil, as herein specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Lloyd Wise, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twelfth day of January, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
W. LLOYD WISE. (L.S.)