IMPROVEMENTS IN BOILERS, AND IN MEANS FOR PRODUCING CONSTANT CIRCULATION OF WATER THEREIN.
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Newton John Suckling, of Market Hill, Maldon,
in the County of Essex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
BOILERS, AND IN MEANS FOR PRODUCING CONSTANT CIRCULATION OF WATER
THEREIN.
"
Scaled the 4th February 1873, and dated the 16th September 1872.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Newton John Suckling
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 16th September 1872.
I, NEWTON JOHN SUCKLING, of Market Hill, Maldon, in the County
of Essex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "Ix-
PROVEMENTS IN BOILERS, AND IN MEANS FOR PRODUCING CONSTANT CIRCULATION OF
WATER THEREIN,
to be as follows:-
"
This Invention relates to improvements in boilers, and consists
principally in so constructing or arranging the tubes as to receive
smaller tubes within them through which water will circulate upwards
or downwards, or downwards only, according to the manner in which
the inner tubes are fitted, the object being to maintain a perfect and
rapid circulation of the water in tubes or water spaces not depending
solely upon the difference of the temperatures of the water therein,
but aided by utilizing the momentum of the currents and the pressure
of steam on the water.

page_text: The mouths of the inner tubes in most cases are spread out or have
bell or cone-mouthed connections on them, and are wholly submerged
in the water, whether the outer tubes be fitted vertically, horizontally,
or inclined.
At or near to one or both ends of each inner tube is a bend to
direct the current, or in lieu thereof a check plate or cup may be used
for that purpose.
The inner tube can be arranged close to the wall of the outer tube
or near to the centre, and a check plate can be used to prevent sudden
uprush of water along with the steam.
In the case of Cornish or other long non-tubular boilers I propose
to arrange a series of tubes in the smoke way, and fit my bent end or
cup end inner tubes in them, preserving in every instance their sub-
mersion below the water level.
According to another method I allow the inner tube to project above
the top of the outer one; or I pass it through the side of the exterior
one, and then turn it down again outside to connect it with the lower
end of the same exterior tube, or to a horizontal tube from which the
vertical, horizontal, or inclined tube or tubes receives its supply. The
water being caused to flow upwards or to return to the lower end of the
exterior tube by the inner tube dipping into the body of water, by the
pressure of steam upon the surface, and by the momentum of the
currents in the outer tube. The exterior descending tube if arranged
in the smoke way would be protected from the direct action of the gases
or fire.
My inner tube or tubes always take the water into them at the upper
part, whether the end or ends be beut or not. This feature, together
with the total submersion of the inner tube or tubes, forms the chief
novelty upon which my Invention is based.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, 3
filed by the said Newton John Suckling in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 13th March 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, NEWTON
JOHN SUCKLING, of Market Hill, Maldon, in the County of Essex, send
greeting.
3

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Sixteenth day of September, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the thirty-
sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Newton John Suckling, Her special licence
that 1, the said Newton John Suckling, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Newton John Suckling, my
executors, administrators, and 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN
BOILERS, AND IN MEANS FOR PRODUCING CONSTANT CIRCULATION OF WATER
THEREIN," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Newton
John Suckling, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should
particularly 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 Newton John Suckling, 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 following statement thereof, reference being had to the accom-
panying Drawings, that is to say :—
This Invention consists of improvements in boilers, and in means for
producing constant circulation of water therein, and it relates principally
to so constructing or arranging the tubes as to receive smaller tubes
within them, through which inner tubes the water will circulate, the
object being to maintain a perfect and rapid circulation of the water
in tubes or water spaces not depending solely upon the difference of
temperature of the water therein, but aided by utilizing the momentum
of the currents and the pressure of steam on the water.
According to my Invention the inner tubes are wholly submerged
in the water, whether the outer tubes be fitted vertically, horizontally,
or inclined, and each of the said inner tubes has at or near one or both
ends a band to direct the current, or in lieu thereof a cup or check plate
may be used for that purpose.

page_text: The inner tube can be arranged close to the wall of the outer tube
or near to the centre, and a check plate can be used to prevent sudden
uprush of water along with the steam.
In the case of Cornish or other long non-tubular boilers I arrange
a series of tubes in the smoke way and fit my bent end or cup end
inner tubes in them, preserving in every instance their submersion
below the water level. The inner tubes always take the water into
them at the upper part, whether the end or ends be bent or not; but
in the case of horizontal tubes one end should be bent upwards so as to
take the water at that end, or the inner tube may be placed in an
inclined position so as to take the water at the higher end. On heat
being applied to the outer or generating tubes the water therein con-
tained is raised in temperature and becoming lighter forms ascending
currents; in this rapid ascent part of the water enters the bend, or is
thrown against the cup or plate fixed at the upper end of the inner
tube. The bend, cup, or plate directs the current through the inner
tube, which current forces the water therein contained before it and
out at the lower end of the inner tube. As rapid ascending currents in
some cases are also passing on the outside of the bends, cups, or plates
fixed at the lower end of the inner tube, the water contained in the
inner tube partakes or endeavours to follow up the upward current in the
outer tube, causing a sucking action at the lower end of the inner tube.
These two combined currents maintain a constant circulation of water
through the inner tube. The bend, cup, or plate possesses all the
advantages of an uninterrupted passage for the entrance or exit of the
water to or from the inner tube, at the same time preventing tho
upward current in the outer tube interfering with the descending
current in the inner tube, as heretofore. The bend, plate, or cup also
gradually changes the direction of the current. When no bend, cup,
or plate is fixed at the upper end of the inner tube the colder or heavier
water enters and passes through the inner tube owing to its lower
temperature.
Figures 1 to 5 represent in vertical section several modifications
of the means I adopt for directing the current of water into and
through the inner tubes, as herein-before set forth. In each Figure
A is the generating tube; B, the inner tube; and C, the bend, cup,
or plate to direct the current. In Figure 1 it will be seen that the
bends at the ends of the tube B are continued for some distance. The

page_text: water enters the upper bend, passes up the same, then descends down
the tube B, and up the lower bend into the generating tube A, as
indicated by the arrows. In Figure 2 the bends C are not continued.
In Figure 3 a cup C for directing the current is shewn at each end
of the tube B; in Figure 4 I shew cups C connected to the top and
bottom of the tube B by strips c, between which strips are openings
for the water which is directed by the cups; in Figure 5 cups C are
fitted directly to the ends of the tube B, which is formed with wide slots
or openings for the water directed by the said cups.
The cups, bends, or check plate O may be perforated or not, as desired;
they may be attached to the inner tube or to a rod or chain in any
suitable manner, and as has been before stated they may be fitted to
both ends or only to one end of the tube. The inner tube B, with its
bends or cups C, may rest on pins or projections springing from the
side or bottom of the outer tube A, or be suspended by a rod or chain
from the top or side of the outer tube A.
Figures 6 and 7 are respectively a transverse section and a longi-
tudinal section, both partly in elevation, of a steam generator having
internal circulating tubes with cups at both ends, according to one of
the modes berein-before described. A, A, are the generating tubes;
B, B, the circulating tubes; and C, C, the cups on the ends of these
tubes for directing the currents; D is the feed and blow-out pipe; E is
the transverse bottom tube with which the lower ends of the tubes A
communicate; F, F, are auxiliary steam pipes leading from the tubes A
to the main steam pipe G; H, H, are check plates perforated or not in
the tubes A to prevent the uprush of water with the steam. The inner
tubes B are hero shewn as suspended each by a rod a¹ from a cross
bar a which is attached to the upper end of the tube A. This arrange-
ment allows of the cover of the tube A being removed when required.
Instead of the sections of the generator being placed transversely in the
smoke way, as shewn in these Figures, they may if preferred be arranged
so as to stand longitudinally.
Figure 8 represents my Invention applied to a Cornish boiler. A, A,
are a series of tubes arranged in the smoke way, and communicating at
their upper
ends with the main body of water; in these tubes are inner
tubes B fitted with cups C, C, to direct the current of water.

page_text: Figure represents my Invention applied to that class of boiler of
which the Crossland and the Fairbairn boilers are types. The same
letters of reference as in the preceding Figures indicate corresponding
parts.
According to another method of keeping up circulation of water, I
allow the inner tube to project above the top of the outer one, or I pass
it through the side of the outer one and then turn it down again outside
to connect it with the lower end of the same outer tube, or to a hori-
zontal tube from which the outer tubes receive their supply. The water
flows upwards in that portion of the circulating tube which dips into 1
the outer or generating tube and returns by the circulating tube to the
lower end of the said outer or generating tube. The exterior portion of
the circulating tube if arranged in the smoke way would be protected
from the direct action of the gases or fire.
In Figures 10 and 11 I give two diagrams to explain the principle 1
of this mode of keeping up the circulation. A, A, are the outer or
generating tubes, and B, C, E, are the circulating tubes; 6 is the
dipping piece which in Figure 10 is shewn as carried through the
side, and in Figure 11 through the top of the generating tube; D (re-
presented in dots) is a feed pipe which may be used if preferred; H, H, !
are check plates perforated or not to prevent uprush of water with the
stcam.
The manner in which I prefer to carry this mode of keeping up
circulation into practice is represented in Figures 12 to 15; Figure 12
being a longitudinal section; Figure 13 a transverse section; and 2
Figure 14 a back clevation of a sectional steam boiler. Figure 15
shews the arrangement of the furnace. A, A, are the generating tubes;
B, C, E, the circulating tubes; D, the feed and blow-out pipe; e, e,
curved tubes connecting the generating tubes A with the tube E, and
allowing for expansion and contraction of the tubes A; b, b, are the 3
dipping pieces in the body of the water to direct the current. These
dipping pieces are supported by wings a, a, and rods a¹, a¹; F, F, are
the auxiliary steam pipes, and G is the main steam pipe; ƒƒ, are covers
to the pipe D, and g, g, covers to the pipes E; / represents the fire-
bars. The dotted lines i, i, in Figures 14 indicate the inside of the 3
brickwork.

page_text: Should it be inconvenient for want of space in the boiler house to
have the circulating pipes C at the back of the boiler, the sections may
be turned so as to stand transversely in the smoke way, this would bring
the circulating pipes at the side of the boiler. If the circulating pipes
be arranged in the smoke way they will be protected from the direct
action of the gases or fire.
In practice where more than one generating tube is employed it
would be inconvenient to have a feed and circulating pipe to each
generating tube; I therefore enlarge the circulating pipes B, C, E,
while one feed pipe supplies all the sections.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim as
my "Improvements in Boilers and in Means for Producing Constant
Circulation of Water therein,”-
First. Fitting inner submerged tubes B, Figures 1 to 9, with bends,
cups, or equivalent devices O, substantially as and for the purpose herein-
before described and represented in the accompanying Drawings.
Second. The mode or modes of keeping up circulation of water, sub-
stantially as herein-before described with reference to Figures 10 to 14
of the accompanying Drawings.
Third. The general arrangement or combination of parts of sectional
boilers, substantially as herein-before described with reference to Figures
12, 13, and 14 of the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Newton John Suckling, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Seventh day of March One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-three.