IMPROVEMENTS IN MARINE AND LAND BOILERS AND THEIR FURNACES. AND ALSO OTHER FURNACES USED FOR THE PRO
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Simon Regan, of Leeds, in the County of York,
Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MARINE AND LAND
BOILERS AND THEIR FURNACES. AND ALSO OTHER FURNACES USED FOR THE
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Simon Regan at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
17th May 1867.
I, SIMON REGAN, of Leeds, in the County of York, Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MARINE AND
LAND BOILERS AND THEIR FURNACES, AND ALSO OTHER FURNACES USED FOR THE
MANUFACTURE OF IRON AND OTHER PURPOSES," to be as follows:-
The first part of my Invention has reference to an improved arrangement
of steam boilers, whether for marine or land purposes, and consists of three
vertical cylinders placed concentrically at suitable distances apart dependant
the size of the boiler required. The inner cylinder (which forms part
upon
of the water space) is egg-ended, its lower extremity being connected to a
"blow-off" pipe, which passes through the fire-grate into the ash-pit; this
inner cylinder is connected by means of tubes placed at suitable intervals
Prime Ad

page_text: around its circumference and in an angular position with the middle or inter-
mediate cylinder, and is thus connected with the water space between such
intermediate and outer cylinder. The lower part of the intermediate cylinder
I bulge outwards, and thus form area for the fire-grates, which are placed
within the bottom. I also connect the upper portion of the inner cylinder
above the water level by means of tubes with the intermediate cylinder for
the escape of steam, which may be generated into the main or outer steam
chamber. The upper ends of both the intermediate and outer cylinders are of
egg-end formation, having a chimney passing through them which communi-
cates with the space between the inner and intermediate cylinders. The heat
from the fire passes up this space into the chimney, enveloping the tubes on
its passage as well as acting upon the surfaces of the intermediate and inner
cylinders, thus rapidly generating steam, the tubes (which are of conical
formation, the larger end being flanged for riveting to the intermediate
cylinder,) acting as an efficient stay between the two cylinders; ordinary
boiler fittings are of course used. The fire-bars may be rotary, and fed from
a hopper in a manner described below for boiler and other furnaces.
My furnace door is constructed with an oblong slot or slots near the lower
part of the same, and the admission of air is regulated by means of a slide
operated upon through a lever connected to a box containing mercury (such
box having its fulcrum upon the door), which upon opening the door, the slide
being always opened, is discharged from one end of the box to the other, and
gradually "rights" or restores itself, and in so doing regulates the admission
of air. I further supplement this arrangement by the use of an air box
attached to the inside of the furnace door divided by partition plates, and
which carries the air into the upper part of the gas chamber within the furnace.
I also use a similar hot-air chamber attached to the back of the bridge, and
air is admitted by means similar to those used for the furnace door connected
by rods and levers to the ordinary air valve attached to the bridge. The bars
to be used for the endless chain I propose of three different constructions.
The first has a main web with short projections on either side; these are of
sufficient length to pass between the ribs of the contiguous bars, and in passing
over the pulleys which are placed at either end of the framework carrying the
endless chains they loosen the clinkers and refuse. In some cases I prefer to
make the ribs angular instead of at right angles to the main web, and nearly
touching the ribs of the adjoining bars. A third plan consists in placing a
number of parallel bars with the requisite air space in a frame having gudgeons
or bearers, which are fixed to the endless chains as bearers.
Small stay
pieces are placed at intervals between the bars. The endless chains and bars

page_text: are put in motion by any convenient motive power by means of suitable
gearing. In fixed furnaces such as are in general use in place of straight
longitudinal bars I use transverse chilled bars supported by longitudinal side
bearers, secured to bridge and dead plate, and pass a joggle shaft from the
door to the bridge underneath the bars supported at either end, and connected
to a bell crank at the dead plate, and by means of a lever, occasionally
used, the clinkers and burnt refuse are separated.
In furnaces for the manufacture of iron I construct an air chamber in the
end of the brickwork; to the front of this chamber is a cast-iron hot-air
chamber, divided into three spaces. Air is admitted at the front by means of
a slide through an oblong slot or slots near the lower part of the chamber, to
which is attached a hand lever for regulating the quantity. The air on
entering the hot-air chamber is directed upwards, then downwards by the
partition plates, and then passing through the slot or slots before named
passes upwards, and afterwards through port holes in the brickwork
horizontally into the furnace above the fuel.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Simon Regan in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
15th November 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, SIMON
REGAN, of Leeds, in the County of York, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Seventeenth day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirtieth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Simon Regan, Her special licence that I, the said Simon
Regan, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Simon Regan, 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 "In-
PROVEMENTS IN MARINE AND LAND BOILERS AND THEIR FURNACES, AND ALSO OTHER
FURNACES USED FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF IRON AND OTHER PURPOSES," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Simon Regan, my executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one

page_text: 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 immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Simon Regan, do hereby declare
the nature of the 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, that is to say:-
The first part of my Invention has reference to an improved arrangement
of steam boilers, whether for marine or land purposes, and consists of three
vertical cylinders placed concentrically at suitable distances apart dependent
upon the size of the boiler required. The inner cylinder (which forms part of
the water space) is egg-ended, its lower extremity being connected to a
"blow-off" pipe which passes through the fire-grate into the ash-pit; this
inner cylinder is connected by means of tubes placed at suitable intervals
around its circumference and in an angular position with the middle or
intermediate cylinder, and is thus connected with the water space between
such intermediate and outer cylinder. The lower part of the intermediate
cylinder I bulge outwards, and thus form area for the fire-grates which are
placed within the bottom. I also connect the upper portion of the inner
cylinder above the water level by means of tubes with the intermediate
cylinder for the escape of steam which may be generated into the main or
outer steam chamber. The upper ends of both the intermediate and outer
cylinders are of egg-end formation, having a chimney passing through them,
which communicates with the space between the inner and intermediate
cylinders; the heat from the fire passes up this space into the chimney,
enveloping the tubes on its passage, as well as acting upon the surfaces of the
intermediate and inner cylinders, thus rapidly generating steam, the tubes
(which are of conical or parallel formation, the ends being flanged for
rivetting, or they may be caulked or drifted in the usual manner,) acting
as an efficient stay between the two cylinders. The chimney I build up from
the top of the intermediate cylinder, and pass it through the outer one,
securing the same by angle iron in the usual way. Upon the top of the outer
cylinder I also place a dome or steam chamber which surrounds the chimney.
From the bottom of the inner cylinder depends a blow-off pipe passing
through the centre of the furnace. Two or more pipes opposite each other
and connected to the water space of the bottom of the boiler also com-
municate with the blow-off pipe, aiding it in such operation, and when the

page_text: blow-off cock is turned off they aid each other in causing free circulation;
ordinary boiler fittings are of course used. The fire-bars may be rotary
and fed from a hopper, or they may be stationary.
My furnace door is constructed with an oblong slot or slots near the lower
part of the same, and the admission of air is regulated by means of a slide
operated upon through a lever or rod connected to a box containing mercury
(such box having its fulcrum upon the door), which upon opening the door,
the slide being simultaneously opened, is discharged from one end of the box
to the other, and gradually "rights" or restores itself, and in so doing
regulates the admission of air. To the bottom of the mercury box I affix a
vertical pin or stud which passes through the end of a slotted lever, the
fulcrum of which is on the front plate of the furnace. The operation of this.
is that when the furnace door is opened the pin coming in contact with one
end of the slot one end of the mercury box is thrown up, discharging the
mercury into the chamber at the back, and so raising the slide which covers
the opening in the furnace door. Upon the furnace door being closed the
stud at the bottom of the mercury box coming to the other end of the slot
the mercury through a channel in the bottom of the box finds its way to
the chamber from which it was discharged until it becomes level, the con-
sequence of this is the opening becomes gradually nearly closed through the
descent of the covering slide. I further supplement this arrangement by the
use of an air box attached to the inside of the furnace door divided by
partition plates, and which carries the air into the gas chamber within the
furnace. I also use a similar hot-air chamber attached to the back of the
bridge, and air is admitted by means similar to those used for the furnace
door connected by rods and levers to the ordinary air valve attached to the
bridge. In front of the bridge I prefer to use a chilled dead plate projecting
some few inches from the front of the bridge. The bars to be used for my
endless chain arrangement for travelling furnace bars I propose to make of
three different constructions. The first has a main web with short projections
on either side; these are of sufficient length to pass between the ribs of the
contiguous bars, and in passing over the pulleys which are placed at either
end of the framework carrying the endless chains they loosen the clinkers and
refuse. Each bar together with its links may if desired be cast in one piece,
a course which I prefer, as involving less expenditure than when cast separately.
The pulleys may also be cast at option, either with spaces on their peripheries
to receive the teeth of the links, or such pulleys may be cast with teeth to pass
into corresponding female grooves on the under side of the links, which latter
course I prefer. To small flues my endless chain can be adapted by the use

page_text: of side bearers secured to the sides of the flue in lieu of the tramway requisite
for furnaces underneath the boiler. In some cases I prefer to make the ribs
angular instead of at right angles to the main web, and nearly touching the
ribs of the adjoining bars. A third plan consists in placing a number of
parallel bars with the requisite air space in a frame, having gudgeons or
bearers which are fixed to the endless chains as bearers. Small stay pieces
are placed at intervals between the bars. The endless chains and bars are
put in motion by any convenient motive power by means of suitable gearing.
In fixed furnaces, such as are in general use, in place of straight longitudinal
bars I use transverse chilled bars supported by longitudinal side bearers
secured to the bridge and dead plate, and pass a joggle shaft from the door to
the bridge underneath the bars, supported at either end, and connected to a
bell crank at the dead plate, and by means of a lever occasionally used the
clinkers and burnt refuse are separated and more free combustion effected..
In furnaces for the manufacture of iron I construct an air chamber in the
furnace end of the brickwork; to the front of this chamber is a cast-iron
plate carrying a slide lever and mercury box. Air is admitted at the front by
means of a slide through an oblong slot or slots near the lower part of the
chamber, and to it is attached a hand lever for opening the slide for the
admission of air, the quantity being regulated by a mercury box similar to
that previously described. The air on entering the hot-air chamber is
directed downwards by the partition plate and then upwards, passing
through the hot-air chamber before named, then through port holes in the
brickwork horizontally into the furnace above the fuel.
In order however that my Invention may be the better understood,
reference is made to the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, and to the letters
and figures marked thereon, that is to say:-
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a vertical section of my improved vertical boiler arrangement.
A is the outer, B the intermediate, and C the inner cylinder. It will be
seen that a communication is effected between the inner and outer cylinders
by means of the conical or parallel tubes a, so that the water in the outer
cylinder is in free communication with that in the inner one. The tubes b, b,
also allow of free cominunication between the steam chambers of the two
cylinders. D is the chimney seated on the top of the intermediate cylinder,
and it receives the heat which ascends from the fire-grates E after it has
passed between the inner and intermediate cylinders. The cylinder B it will
be observed is bulged outwards near the bottom to increase the area of grate

page_text: surface The fire-bars may be rotated, being fixed in a suitable frame, and
having a rack-and-pinion motion, as seen by letters e and d. F is a blow-
off pipe secured to the bottom of the inner cylinder and communicating
with the side pipes G, G. Ordinary mechanical means are used in fitting
the various parts of the boiler.
Figure 2 represents the front of a boiler furnace, the door being fitted with
my improvements. A is the mercury box having two chambers a and b
communicating by means of the diagonal passage as well as by a passage seen
in the bottom of the box. It will be seen that the box has its fulcrum upon
the furnace door, and that on one end of it is a slotted arm within which
works a stud which projects from the rod c, the latter in turn being secured to
the slide C. The aperture B for the admission of air is regulated in width by
the position of the slide C which in turn is regulated by the mercury in the
box A. fis a gudgeon fixed to the furnace front, and upon it swings a lever e,
having a slotted end, within which works a stud d projecting from the mercury
box. Upon the door X being opened the stud d comes in contact with the
inner end of the slot and causes the mercury to pass from the chamber 6 to
the chamber a through the diagonal passage; this action raises the slide C,
and the aperture B is opened for the admission of air to the full extent.
Upon the door being closed the stud d approaches the other end of the slot,
and the mercury in order to regain its level percolates into the chamber 6
through the bottom passage, and in so doing gradually closes the opening B.
or nearly so, diminishing the quantity of air admitted as the fuel becomes
more incandescent.
Figure 3 is a vertical section of the furnace door showing the air
chamber D in connection with the same (Figures 4 and 5 being a front
elevation and section also of the air chamber). Letters g show the division
plates; letters h show the back plates against which the air beats; and
the arrows indicate the direction it pursues.
Figures 6 and 7 represent a side elevation and plan of my endless chain
arrangement, and show the class of bar I prefer to use for that purpose.
A, A, are the shafts placed one at each end of the furnace, and upon which
are placed pulleys B, B, for the purpose of carrying the chains C, C.
Letters Dare the bars shown in this case as made distinct from the links into
the sides of which they fit by means of squares, although as previously named
it is preferable to cast each bar with its links; each link is also shown with a
tooth on its under surface to fit into a corresponding recess in the carrying
pulleys. In some cases I cast teeth on the pulleys and corresponding recesses
in the under surface of the links. From the formation of the bars it willbe

page_text: seed that as they turn round the pulleys the webs of two contiguous bars
will form angles with each other and thus break the clinkers. Ordinary
gearing connected to the outer shaft causes the bars to travel, and in the
event of its being desired to remove a bar the pins securing its links to
those adjoining are readily removed. The links themselves have of course
alternate male and female ends, and the under sides are curved to accommo-
date themselves to the carrying pulleys.
Figure 8 shows the internal furnace flue in general use for boilers with
my side bearer arrangement for carrying the endless chains & cross bars as
before explained revolving on suitable axles. The bearer is also shown
in Figure 9.
Figures 10 and 11 show vertical section and plan of my transverse arrange-
ment of bars a resting on side bearers and in notches in the joggle shaft b
which passes up the centre bearing in the bridge and front dead plate, and
receives occasionally a slight reciprocatory motion in order to loosen the
clinkers. The bars may be kept at proper distances apart by means of nibs
cast on their sides. It will be seen that the air chamber arrangement
previously referred to is here used (see Figure 10) at the bridge, the back or
reflecting plate c being perforated at the top, and the top plate & deflecting
the air into the flue. e is a dead plate at the bridge end let into the bridge,
its lower extremity resting upon a projection of brickwork. I prefer to
make this dead plate, as also all the castings which are exposed to the fire,
of chilled cast iron.
Figure 12 shows a front view of the bridge dead plate with the hole for
the joggle shaft and the air passage in the lower part of the bridge.
Figure 13 is a side elevation of the joggle shaft.
Figures 14 and 15 show a section and front elevation of my iron furnace
arrangement to which I apply as before stated my slide arrangement, such
slide a being opened by means of a hand lever b. I also attach a mercury
box c to the slide a, as in the case of boiler furnaces. The air admitted
through the opening A is directed downwards by means of a division plated,
and then passes upwards within the hot-air chamber e, and through the
ports or perforations in the brickwork f between the chamber and the
furnace, thereby becoming considerably heated, and thence it passes into
the furnace and more perfect combustion is effected.
.
Having now fully described and ascertained the nature of my Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I wish it to be under-
stood that what I claim as and of my Invention is,—-
Firstly, vertical boilers constructed in the manner shown and described.

page_text: Secondly, gradually regulating the supply of outer air to furnaces by the
means shown and described.
Thirdly, the partial heating of the air used for the support of combustion
by means of the hot-air box arrangement shown and described.
Fourthly, the system of travelling webbed bars carried by two endless
chains and the transverse bars with a joggle shaft shown and described.
Fifthly, the general bridge arrangement consisting of a projecting chilled
dead plate and hot-air chamber, arranged as shown and described.
And, lastly, the arrangement for regulating the admission of air to
furnaces used in the manufacture of iron and other purposes as shown
and described without in any case confining myself to the precise details
shown.
In witness whereof, I, the said Simon Regan, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fourth day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
Witness,
J. W. BULMER,
Clerk to P. H. Sharp,
Patent Agent,
Leeds & Bradford.
SIMON REGAN. (L.S.)