IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM BOILERS AND FURNACES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN STEAM BOILERS AND FURNACES." A communication from abroad by Andrew
Elvin, of Paterson, in the County of Passaic, State of New Jersey, United
States of America.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Alexander Melville Clark at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 29th October 1879.
:
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent.
A com-
"IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM BOILERS AND FURNACES."
munication from abroad by Andrew Elvin, of Paterson, in the County of Passaic,
State of New Jersey, United States of America.
The object of this Invention is to furnish steam boilers and furnaces, so con-
structed that they may be easily, conveniently, and cheaply built and repaired,.
which will secure a rapid circulation of water, a rapid and abundant generation of
steam, and a more perfect combustion of gases than boilers and furnaces constructed
in the usual way.
The Invention consists in constructing a steam boiler with a
longitudinal flue extending therethrough filled with vertical tubes, and provided
with braces or partitions, the whole detachably secured within a shell, as herein
after described. Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings is a sectional side eleva-
tion of the improved boiler taken through the line 2-2, Figure 2; Figure 2 is a.
sectional plan view taken through the line x-x, Figure 1; Figure 3 is a sectional
end elevation taken through the line y-y, Figure 2; Figure 4 is a perspective view.
of a grate for burning petroleum.
.
'
A represents the outer shell of the boiler, which is made cylindrical in form;
B is the inner or flue shell, which is made with a flat bottom and top, and curved
or semi-cylindrical sides, as shown in Figure 3. The flue B is made smaller than
the shell A so as to leave a water space all around it, as shown in Figures 1, 2,
and 3.
.
'
The middle parts of the heads of the shell A are cut away to receive and fit upon
the flue B. The flue B and the heads of the shell A are provided with flanges so
that the said flue may be secured to the said shell detachably by screw boits or
equivalent means, the joints being packed with copper packing or other suitable
packing.

page_text: The interior of the flue B is filled with vertical tubes C, the ends of which pass
through and are secured in holes in the top and bottom plates of the flue B, so that
the water may circulate through the said tubes freely. The space between the side
tubes C and the curved sides of the flue B is divided up into compartments by
vertical bridges or partitions D attached to the said curved sides. The partitions D
may be made solid, but I prefer to make them hollow and open upon the side next
the outer shell A, opening into the water space. The furnace E may be placed
beneath the boiler, and the products of combustion may be led into a chamber at
the rear end of the boiler through the flue B into a chamber at the forward end of
the boiler, and thence into the smoke stack F; or they may be led back through
a flue along the top of the boiler and thence into the smoke stack; or the furnace E
may be placed at the end of the boiler, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, or in any other
desired position, the only essential point being that the products of combustion
must pass through the flue B and thus come into direct contact with the tubes C.
With this construction the partitions or bridges D detain the products of combus-
tion, cause their gases to be thoroughly consumed, and throw the said products of
combustion into currents and eddies, causing them to circulate around the tubes C
and thus heat the water in the said tubes very quickly, generating steam rapidly
and abundantly, and causing a rapid circulation of the water. With this con-
struction the tubes C can be easily and conveniently inserted in the shell of the
flue B, and the said flue then inserted and secured in the shell A.
With this construction also when repairs become necessary the flue B can be
readily detached from the shell A and the repairs easily and conveniently made,
and the flue B can then be inserted in the shell A and again secured in place.
When petroleum is to be used as a fuel the grate G is used, which grate is made in
the form of a half rectangular pyramid, with its three inclined sides rebated or
grooved to form series of shoulders or steps, as shown in Figure 4. The petroleum
is introduced upon the top of the grate G and is consumed as it flows down over
the series of shoulders or steps.
A grate thus constructed spreads the oil into thin sheets and gives a large com-
bustion surface, so that the combustion will be rapid and thorough. In this case
the air to support combustion is introduced into the furnace E through openings in
the front of the furnace, which openings are provided with sliding or other suitable
dampers H, so that the entrance of air may be regulated as required.
Having described the nature of the said Invention and the manner of performing
the same I declare that what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent
is,-
1st. A steam boiler whose inner or flue shell B is provided with flat top and
bottom, curved sides, and partitions D, as shown and described.
2nd. A steam boiler whose flue B is provided with a flat top and bottom, curved
sides, and partitions D, in combination with the vertical water tubes C, as herein
shown and described.
3rd. In a steam boiler furnace the grate G made with one vertical and three
inclined sides, and having the inclined sides rebated or grooved to form shoulders
or steps, substantially as herein shown and described, to adapt the furnace for
burning petroleum, as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty ninth day of October, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.