IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM BOILERS, OR HEAT AND STEAM GENERATORS, AND IN THE APPLICA- TION OF HEAT
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Weems, of Johnstone, in the County of
Renfrew, North Britain, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN STEAM BOILERS, OR HEAT AND STEAM GENERATORS, AND IN THE APPLICA-
TION OF HEAT."
Sealed the 27th September 1860, and dated the 28th March 1860.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Weems at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 28th
March 1860.
I, JOHN WEEMS, of Johnstone, in the .County of Renfrew, North Bri-
tain, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM BOILERS, OR HEAT AND STEAM GENERATORS, AND IN THE
APPLICATION OF HEAT," to be as follows, that is to say :-
This Invention relates essentially to the arrangement and construction of
vertical flue or tuberlar steam boilers, or heat and steam generators, but it
also applies to heat and steam generators of the horizontal class, as well as to
heating and evaporating apparatus of various kinds.
According to one modification of this Invention, the improved boiler is or
may be vertical with a tube or tubes through it, these tubes or receptacles of
heat being wholly or in part closed at one end, so as to allow the current of
Pine 8d1

page_text: heat and flame to be diffused round the whole of the outside surface of the
boiler, and to cross over the top to the chimney. By this means the heat
from the fire may be absorbed as to prevent its escape till it is reduced
almost to the temperature of the steam, the heat shooting in direct lines from
the fire goes into these tubes or receptacles of heat, and imparts itself to the
water or steam surrounding them, thus acting both as a generator and super-
heater of steam, and vapour or air. One great advantage of this plan is, that
the current of heated air and flame having so large an amount of surface over
which to diffuse itself, taking into account the absorption of the heat by the
tubes or receptacles of heat, and also the outside surfaces of the boiler, there
is little or no risk of burning the boiler. This boiler is or may be placed on
feet high enough to allow the fire to be placed below it, these feet are hollow
or tubular, open to the boiler, and are used as receptacles of deposit from the
water; branches from these tubes may be carried up to or near the level of
the water for the purpose of taking away the scum floating there. Cocks or
valves are or may be placed on these feet or receptacles, for the purpose of
taking away at pleasure both the surface scum and the deposits. A frame
of iron or any other suitable material is used to support the furnace or grate
and this has bearers for supporting an ontside case of iron or any other suit-
able material, leaving sufficient space for the exit of smoke and gases; this
case may be made use of to carry the boiler. These boilers may also be
horizontal, and the tubes or receptacles of heat in it may be either vertical
or horizontal, or inclined vertically or horizontally, or there may be a com-
bination of any or all of these positions,
According to another modification there is a series of tubes or receptacles
of heat, partially or wholly closed at one end, placed in the direction of the
length of the boiler, and running from side to side, the boiler being fired
from below, the flue being carried up to water-mark, and returned over
the top surface of the boiler to the chimney,
Another modification refers to the joining together of any number of
small boilers (not end to end), the spaces between them forming receptacles
of heat, which may be either wholly or partially closed.
Another modification involves a series of concentric cases, so that the
steam and water may be in them all, and having combined with them the
principle of receptacles of heat. In order to regulate the opening of the
receptacle of heat, moveable or fixed stoppers may be made use of.
In all these arrangements, the main object gained is the directing the
pure heat to the heating or evaporating surface, and the retention of it there
until it is wholly or nearly wholly exhausted with economical effect, whilst

page_text: the smoke and other vapours are carried off by a separate channel. The
outside casings of boilers of this class are or may be lined with fire-clay or
other non-conducting material, to prevent the radiation of heat.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Weems in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
28th September 1860.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
WEEMS, of Johnstone, in the County of Renfrew, North Britain, Engineer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the 'I wenty-eighth day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-third year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and graut unto me,
the said John Weems, Her special license that I, the said John Weems,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
John Weems, my executors, administrators, or assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
thereafter 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 Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN STEAM BOILERS, OR HEAT AND STEAM GENERATORS, AND IN THE APPLICA
TION OF HEAT," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said John
Weems, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should par-
ticularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same was to be performed, 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 John Weems, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the fol-
lowing statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, and to
the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :--
My said Invention relates essentially to the arrangement and construction
of vertical flue or tubular steam boilers, or heat and steam generators; but it
also applies to heat and steam generators of the horizontal class, as well as to
heating and evaporating apparatus of various kinds.

page_text: According to one modification of this Invention, the improved boiler is or
may be vertical, with a tube or tubes through it. These tubes or receptacles
of heat being wholly, or in part, closed at one end, so as to allow the current
of heat and flame to be diffused round the whole of the outside surface of the
boiler, and to cross over the top to the chimney. By this means the heat from
the fire may be as absorbed as to prevent its escape till it is reduced almost to
the temperature of the steam. The heat shooting in direct lines from the fire
goes into these tubes or receptacles of heat, and imparts itself to the water or
steam surrounding them, thus acting both as a generator and superheater of
steam and vapour, or air. One great advantage of this plan is, that the
current of heated air and steam having so large an amount of surface over
which to diffuse itself, taking into account the absorption of the heat by the
tubes or receptacles of heat, and also the outside surfaces of the boiler, there
is little or no risk of burning the boiler. This boiler is or may be placed on
feet high enough to allow the fire to be placed below it. These feet are hollow
or tubular,open to the boiler, and are used as receptacles of deposit from the
water. Branches from those tubes may be carried up to or near the level
of the water for the purpose of taking away the scum floating there. Cocks
or valves are or may be placed on these feet or receptacles for the purpose of
taking away at pleasure both the surface scum and the deposits. A frame of
iron, or any other suitable material, is used to support the furnace or grate,
and this has bearers for supporting an outside case of iron, or any other
suitable material, leaving sufficient space for the exit of smoke and gases.
This case may be made use of to carry the boiler. This boiler may also be
horizontal, and the tubes or receptacles of heat in it may be either vertical
or horizontal, or inclined vertically or horizontally, or there may be a
combination of any or all of these positions.
According to another modification, there is a series of tubes or receptacles
of heat partially or wholly closed at one end, placed in the direction of the
length of the boiler, and running from side to side; the boiler being fired
from below, the flue being carried up to the water-mark, and returned over
the top surface of the boiler to the chimney.
Another modification refers to the joining together of any number of
small boilers (not end to end) the spaces between them forming receptacles
of heat, which may be either wholly or partially closed.
Another modification involves a series of consentric cases, so that the
steam and water may be in them all, and having combined with them the
principle of receptacles of heat. In order to regulate the opening of the
receptacles of heat, moveable or fixed stoppers may be made use of.

page_text: In all these arrangements the main object gained is, the directing the pure
heat to the heating or evaporating surface, and the retention of it there until
it is wholly or nearly wholly exhausted with economical effect, whilst the
smoke and other vapours are carried off by a separate channel. The outside
casings of boilers of this class are or may be lined with fire-clay, or other
non-conducting material, to prevent the radiation of heat.
And in order that my said Invention of "Improvements in Steam Boilers,
or Heat and Steam Generators, and in the Application of Heat," may be pro-
perly understood, I shall now proceed to describe the several Figures on the
two Sheets of explanatory Drawings which I have hereunto appended, for the
purpose of showing certain modifications under which my improvements may
be carried out in practice, that is to say, Figure 1, on Sheet 1, of the accom-
panying Drawings is a vertical sectional elevation of a steam generator
adapted for motive power, and other generally similar purposes. Figure 2 is
a transverse section corresponding to Figure 1. In this modification of my
improvements the boiler A is arranged in a vertical position, and as compared
with its diameter, it is of considerable height. The boiler is of an annular
figure, the central tubular passage B extending completely through it. The
boiler is arranged within the cylindrical structure of brickwork C, the central
tubular opening being over the furnace D, which is built with the lower and
contracted portion of the brickwork. The upper part of the brickwork extends
inward forming a cupola, through which the funnel or chimney E rises. The
lower extremity of the boiler has riveted to it the vertical pipes F. In this
modification there are three of these pipes, but any other convenient number
inay be applied. These pipes open into the body or annular portion of the
boiler, and they serve as receptacles for the sediment which is deposited by
the water. The earthy impurities which are in the water settle down and
collect in the pipes F, which are, to a great extent, beyond the influence of
the heat of the furnace. The advantage of this arrangement is, that the
solid sedimentary matters as they are thrown down do not collect on that
part of the boiler which is exposed to the action of the heat, which causes
these solid matters in boilers of the ordinary construction to adhere firmly
to the boiler, forming a hard non-conducting material interposed between
the heat arising from the fuel and the water to be heated. The sedimentary
matters are drawn off the pipes F from time to time by means of the taps G,
or other convenient valvular apparatus.
Another mode of arranging these hollow columns is to cast the lower part
of the boiler with four columns arranged in a rectangular figure. These
columns are united in pairs at the sides of the furnace D, by means of a solid

page_text: or open web of metal, which is protected internally by the brickwork, or
other non-conducting lining of the fire-place. Opening out from the upper
end of the boiler A, in a lateral direction, are the pipes H, to one of which
is fitted a safety-valve, and the other conveys the steam to the engine, or
other purpose for which it may be required. The central tubular passage
through the boiler is closed at the upper end by the fire-clay slab or
tile I. The object of this arrangement is to check the heated current as it
rises from the furnace and prevent it from passing away through the boiler
before its heat is imparted to the surrounding metal, which partially encloses
the water. This closing of the upper opening causes the cylindrical passage B
to form a chamber or receptacle of heat, and this distinctive feature in the
arrangements which I shall have occasion to describe, forms an important
feature of my present Invention.
The heat as it ascends into the chamber B, being checked in its egress,
besides more effectually heating the surrounding water, serves also to
impart an additional quantity of heat to the steam contained in the annular
space above the water. After ascending to the top of the chamber B, the
heated current and gaseous matters descend and pass up round the exterior
of the boiler, and away out by the chimney E. In this way the full heating
properties of the burning fuel are utilized before the gaseous current is
allowed to reach the chimney.
Figure 3, on Sheet 1 of my Drawings, represents a vertical section of the
upper and lower parts of a boiler arranged according to another modification
of my improvements; Figure 4 is an irregular transverse section of the same,
taken through the boiler, and across the furnace. The boiler A is cylindrical
in figure, is arranged on end, and has passing through the shell the tubular
passages B. The boiler is surrounded
the brickwork C, in the lower part
of which is the furnace D. The brickwork is carried up over the upper end
of the boiler, and forms a dome, into which the chimney E opens. The
boiler is supported on the hollow columns F, in which the sediment is
collected, and drawn off by cocks G, which are carried out through the brick-
work C. These hollow columns may be connected to each other by means of
horizontal pipes entering at the lower parts, so that one tap or valvular
apparatus will suffice for drawing off the sedimentary matters. The pipes H
are arranged in manner similar to Figure 1, for the egress of the steam and
to admit of the arrangement of a safety valve. The heat chambers or spaces B
are enclosed at the upper part by the metal cover 1, which arrests the escape
of the heat in an upward direction, as before described in reference to
Figure 1. The arrows show the direction of the heated currents on their way

page_text: to the chimney E, in which a damper J is arranged for controlling the egress
of the gaseous current and the draught through the fire.
Figure 5 is a vertical section, showing another arrangement of a vertical
boiler; Figure i is a transverse sectional plan of the same. The right and
left hand portions of the boiler delineated in Figure 5 are sectioned in different
planes, so as to show clearly two of the hollow legs or columns on which the
boiler stands. In this modification the boiler A is of an annular figure, but
the central opening B is of a tapering or conical form, so that the heat as it
ascends from the furnace D,impinges against the converging or slightly over-
hanging sides of the opening B. The boiler is enclosed by the structure of
brickwork or other suitable material C, the cupola or dome of which is built
without any opening. The heated current therefore ascends from the furnace
to the dome, imparting its heat to the interior of the boiler. At the upper
part the current passes downwards outside the boiler to the lower part, where
it passes off by the lateral flue J to the chimney K. In this circuitous path,
which the gaseous current is caused to take, the heat is fully abstracted
therefrom before it reaches the chimney. The lower part of the boiler A
opens into the slightly diverging tubular legs F, in which are fitted the
cocks G, for drawing off the sedimentary deposit. In addition to this
arrangement, there is also fitted in this boiler a scum collector, for arresting
the lighter floating particles and causing them to descend.
This scum
collector consists of the pipe L, which is carried down into one of the tubular
legs F, the upper end of the pipe is of a funnel shape. In this part there is
fitted a vertical metal plate M, which is carried down into the funnel part of
the apparatus. The plate extends very nearly across the space between the
shell and the internal part of the boiler. The surge or ebullition of the water
causes the scum or frothy impurities to float against the plate M, by which
they are arrested and caused to descend the pipe L, and deposited in the
tubular leg F. This form of boiler, owing to its general arrangement, is
exceedingly well adapted for superheating the steam, as a body of highly
heated vapour collects in the closed dome, and imparts its heat to the upper
part of the boiler.
The Figures on Sheet 2 of the accompanying Drawings represent my
improvements as applied to horizontal boilers, and to the application of heat
in warming and ventilating buildings, and other generally similar puposes.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section of a horizontal boiler, arranged
according to one modification of my improvements; Figure 2 is a sectional
end elevation; and Figure 3 is a plan corresponding to Figures 1 and 2.
The horizontal egg-ended boiler A has formed in it the vertical tubular

page_text: passages B, which extends through the shell of the boiler. The boiler is
supported laterally on the brickwork C, which is built in so as to divide the
space surrounding the boiler into two flues,extending longitudinally with the
upper and lower surfaces of the boiler. The heat evolved from the burning
fuel in the furnace D passes along beneath the boiler, and in its progress it
also ascends into the heat chambers or spaces B. These chambers are closed
at the upper part by the fire-clay slabs I, so that the confined heat is imparted
to the surrounding water spaces. The return current passes round the back-
ward end of the furnace, and returns over the upper surface of the boiler to
the front end where it passes away by a lateral flue to the chimney. By the
arrangement of the chambers B, a large amount of heat, which would
otherwise be allowed to escape into the chimney, is utilised, and at the same
time the steam isalso superheated by the presence of the highly heated vapour
in the upper partofthe several chambers. Another mode of arranging boilers
upon this principle, which in some cases may be found advantageous, is to
dispose them radially or at right angles to one another, and so enclose the
intervening spaces that they may form receptacles of heat.
Figures 4 and 5 on Sheet 3 of the accompanying Drawings represent a
sectional elevation and plan of a stove or heating apparatus adapted for
heating buildings. This modification consists, by preference, of a cylindrical
metal shell A, in which are arranged a number of vertical tubes B; these
tubes open out through the ends of the shell A. The apparatus is arranged
on end in a brickwork or other suitable casing C, at the lower part of
which is the furnace 1); this part of the brick work or casing is divided off
from the space below the cylinder A, by the partition or bridge E. The
space F, immediately below the cylinder A, communicates by the lateral
passage G, with the external air; in this passage or duct is fitted a damper or
valve H for controlling the admission of the external air. The upper ends of
the tubes B open into the chamber I, which communicates with the room or
series of rooms to be heated. The heat of the burning fuel, or other heating
medium, traverses round the cylinder .\, and after imparting its heat thereto
escapes by the lateral passage J into the chimney. This heated current is
prevented from passing at once into the passage J, by the intervention of the
wall or partition K, which causes the current to make a complete circuit
round the cylinder A before it reaches the egress aperture. These stoves may
be made very portable and used for drying new buildings, deseccating materials,
heating greenhouses, and for various other similar purposes, and where gas is
readily obtainable it may be used as the heating medium. The current of
pure
air flows in through the inlet passage G, and passes up through the tubes

page_text: B where it gets heated, and from the chamber I it is conveyed by the pipe L,
to the part where the heat is required. The current of heated air after circu-
dating through the apartments or places to be heated, may, if found desirable,
be caused to return back to the chamber F, below the heating apparatus and
so made to circulate again through the tubes B. The return current of air
passes back to the inlet chamber F, through the tubular way M, the passage
of which is controlled by the damper or valve N. The opening and closing of
this damper or valve N, as well as the others which are used in conjunction
with my improvements, may be arranged to act automatically, so as to admit
or allow of the egress of a given quantity or predetermined volume of cold or
heated air to pass through or away from the apparatus. The heating appa-
ratus may be arranged with the tubes disposed either vertically, horizontally,
or in an angular direction as may be found most convenient or advantageous.
The space around the tubes B, may also be rendered available for heating
water or generating steam, or these water or steam spaces may be arranged
concentrically, if such a disposition of the parts is desirable. These several
improvements are adapted for raising and superheating steam under the most
economical conditions, as well as for the useful application of heat evolved
from the combustion of fuel or gas.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, I would observe, in conclusion, that what I consider novel and
original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent, is,―
First, the general arrangement and construction of boilers, or steam gene-
rating apparatus by means of which the heat evolved from the burning fuel is
more effectually economised, and is applied to the raising of steam and super-
heating it before the gaseous current is allowed to pass into the chimney as
herein-before described and shown in the accompanying Drawings.
Second, the system or mode of arranging and constructing steam generators
with internal tubes or flues which are wholly or partially closed and serve as
heating chambers. The heated current arising from the burning fuel passes
into these chambers and is absorbed by the extended surface of the boiler
presented thereto, so as to raise considerably the temperature of the sur-
rounding water and impart additional heat to the steam as herein-before
described and shown in the accompanying Drawings.
Third, the system or mode of arranging and constructing my improved
steam generators with tubular feet or columnar supports which serve to receive
the sediment deposited by the water and prevent the incrustation of the

page_text: boiler at the part which is in contact with the fire as herein-before described
and shewn in the accompanying Drawings.
Fourth, the system or mode of arranging and constructing horizontal steam
generators with vertical tubes or flues which are partially or wholly closed so
as to form heating chambers as herein-before described and shown in the
accompanying Drawings.
Fifth, the system or mode of arranging and constructing boilers adapted for
heating and ventilating buildings in which a series of tubes or spaces is
surrounded by steam or hot water through which tubes, the air or other fluid
to be heated is caused to pass as herein-before described and shown in the
accompanying Drawings.
Sixth, the system or mode of arranging and constructing steam generators
of the vertical and horizontalkinds in which the upper part of the casing above
the heating tubes forms a dome as hereinbefore described and delineated in
Sheet 1 of the accompanying Drawings.
Seventh, the system or mode of arranging and constructing apparatus for
heating air and of causing the current of heated air to return and circulate
wholly or partly through the building and apparatus alternately, for the
purpose of warming and ventilating the building,also its application to heating
storehouses, drying and dessicating all kinds of raw materials and manufac
tured goods as herein-before described and shown in the accompanying
Drawings Sheet 2, Figures 4 and 5, or any mere modification of the said
arrangement.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Weems, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-sixth day of September One thousand
eight hundred and sixty.
JOHN WEEMS. (L.B.)