IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM BOILERS, AND IN THE MODE OF SUPPLYING THE SAME WITH WATER
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to. Alfred Vincent Newton, of the Office for
Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Mechanical Draughtsman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
STEAM BOILERS, AND IN THE MODE OF SUPPLYING THE SAME WITH
WATER." A communication.
Sealed the 14th June 1853, and dated the 12th April 1853.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Vincent
Newton at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 12th April 1853.
I, ALFRED VINCENT NEWTON, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM BOILERS, AND IN THE MODE
OF SUPPLYING THE SAME WITH WATER," to he as follows:-
These improvements relate, first, to the protection of the fire plates
of the furnaces of locomotive steam boilers against the intense heat of
the burning fuel. The lower portion of the water space, surrounding
the furnace, is cut off by a division plate from the rest of the
boiler, and it is connected with the water tank by an open pipe or other
channel, in such manner that the water of the tank is constantly in

page_text: open and free communication with the isolated water space, whereby
the fire plates are kept cool, the heat being abstracted from the plates
by the water, which is then fed into the boiler through a suction pipe,
by means of water feeding apparatus.
The improvements relate, secondly, to the use of a secondary com-
bustion chamber, supplied by a current of air to complete the combus-
tion of any inflammable gases that may escape unburnt- from the
fire-box. This secondary chamber of combustion is connected on one
side with the fire-box, or principal' combustion chamber, by a short
tapering flue, and at the other side with the ordinary flues of the
boiler.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Alfred Vincent Newton, in the Great Seal
Patent Office, on the 12th October. 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
ALFRED VINCENT NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery
Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughtsman, .send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twelfth day of April, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the sixteenth
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, Her special
licence that I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, my executors, admi-
nistrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Alfred Vincent
Newton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time.
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an In-
vention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM BOILERS, AND IN THE MODE OF
SUPPLYING THE SAME WITH WATER," being a communication from a
foreigner residing abroad, upon the condition (amongst others) that I,

page_text: the said Alfred Vincent Newton, by an instrument in writing under my
hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature
of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be per-
formed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the
said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement, reference being had to the
drawing hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked
thereon (that is to say):
This Invention has for its object, firstly, the protection of the fire
plates of the furnaces of locomotive steam boilers against the intense
heat of the burning fuel, and consists in isolating the lower portion of
the water space surrounding the furnace from the rest of the boiler, and
in connecting it with the water tank by a pipe or other channel, in such
manner that a constant and free communication will be maintained.
between the tank and the isolated water space, whereby the fire plates
will be kept cool by the circulation of water in the water space, and
the heat abstracted by the water from the plates will be rendered
available for the generation of steam. The locomotive and tender,
represented in partial sectional elevation in the accompanying drawing,
are similar in their general external features to those in common use,
the boiler a, being of the tubular variety, and surmounted by a steam
dome b, over the fire box. c.
The Invention relates, secondly, to a mode of effecting a more perfect
combustion of the fuel than heretofore, and for this purpose a second
combustion chamber is provided, into which a current of air is injected,
which, mingling with the inflammable gases of combustion, will-facilitate
their burning. Into this second combustion chamber, which is shewn
at d, the ordinary tubular, flues of the boiler run, and it is supplied
with a current of air through an opening e, in its bottom. The
chamber d, is connected with the fire box or principal combustion
chamber c, by a short tapering flue f: The fire box is surrounded by

page_text: a water space g, in the usual manner, but the lower portion g', of this
space is separated from the upper portion by a diaphragm or partition
plate i, placed a foot more or less above the top of the grate bars.
The lower portion g', of the water space separated from the rest of
the boiler, is connected by a pipe h, with the water tank k, of the
tender, which keeps it full of comparatively cool water, that protects
the inner or fire plates of this part of the boiler from the intense heat
of the burning fuel adjacent to them.
In order that the heat abstracted from the fire plates of the boiler
by the water thus supplied from the tank may be rendered available
in the generation of steam, this part of the water space is connected
with the suction pipe m, of the pump which feeds the boiler, and which
draws the heated water out of the space y', to allow of its replacement
by cooler water from the tank, to be in its turn heated and passed
through the pump into the boiler.
In order that the coolest water may be left in contact with the fire
plates, and the hottest pumped into the boiler, the supply pipe h, from
the tank, enters near the bottom, while the discharge pipe m, of the
pump communicates with the top of the space g¹. The water may be
either sucked or forced through this space.
This arrangement not only provides for keeping the fire plates cool
while the engine is in motion, but it also provides for keeping these
plates cool when the engine is standing still, by the free circulation
which will take place between the tank and the water space g', through
the pipe h. Various changes may be made in the form and arrangement
of the parts, to adapt them to different circumstances, or to suit the
views of different constructors, as the Invention is not dependent upon
either form or arrangement, so long as the lower part of the water
space is kept isolated from the rest of the boiler, and in free commu-
nication with the water reservoir.
As there is comparatively little pressure in the lower or isolated part
of the water space, stay bolts are not required to strengthen it, and
consequently the fire plates will present a smooth surface, and uni-
formity of thickness, which will greatly retard their burning out.
Having now described. the Invention of "Improvements in steam

page_text: boilers, and in the mode of supplying the same with water," as commu-
nicated to me by my foreign correspondent, I wish it to be understood
that under the above in part recited Letters Patent I claim,
First, isolating the lower portion of the water space surrounding the
furnace from the upper portion thereof, and connecting it with the tank
of feed water, in such manner that the water will circulate in contact
with the fire plates to cool them, and be itself heated preparatory to
being pumped into the boiler. And, secondly, the general arrange-
ment of the parts herein-before described, for generating steam in
locomotive boilers.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-sixth day of Sep-
tember, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred
and fifty-three.
5
Witness, J. W. MOFFATT,
66, Chancery Lane.
A. V. NEWTON. (L.S.)