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| Most of the patents prior to 1836 were lost in the Dec. 1836 fire. Only about 2,000 of the almost 10,000 documents were recovered. Little is known about this patent. There are no patent drawings available. This patent is in the database for reference only.
“Francis Coffin, and Charles C. K. Beach, of Boston, Massachusetts. Patented June 29th, 1829.
A Cylinder of iron or copper is made of such length and diameter as may be determined upon; a second cylinder of the same length, but two, or more, inches less in diameter, is placed within the first, and a hoop of metal inserted at each end, to fill the space between the two. This hoop is rivetted, and made steam-tight, and a space of one inch, or upwards, is, of course, left between the two cylinders. This space is to be kept full of water, for the supply of the revolving boiler, that is to be contained within the outer case, which the patentees denominate the heater.
The heater may vary in its form; it is intended sometimes to make it egg-shaped, and to increase the space at the upper part, so that in a transverse section it would be somewhat in the form of a new moon. A boiler of this kind may be constructed without being enclosed in brick work and is particularly adapted to steam-boats.
Through the top of the heater, two, or more, perforations are made, for the passage of smoke and flame from the fuel. Cast-iron heads are made to close the circular ends of the heater, and in these there are man holes and such other openings as may be necessary. A cylindrical boiler is placed within and extends the whole length of the heater; this boiler is supported upon hollow gudgeons, which proceed from the centre of each of its heads, and pass through suitable openings in the iron plates which close the ends of the heater. Upon these gudgeons the boiler is made to revolve. For this purpose they rest, when the boiler is full, upon the openings in the heads of the heater; but as one of the ends is, to a certain extent, susceptible of being elevated and depressed, the opening in the head through which the gudgeon passes is lengthened upwards, the gudgeon, or rather the pipe which passes into it, resting upon an apparatus, to be presently described.
Under the boiler is a furnace, and ash pit, built up with brick work, in the manner of other cylindrical boilers.
By means of a force pump, the heater is kept constantly filled with water, and from this it passes into the boiler through one of the hollow gudgeons. Through the other gudgeon the steam escapes to supply the engine. One of these gudgeons is, we have said, capable of being elevated and depressed. This is effected by a lever with a long and short arm, which extends horizontally over the boiler. The short arm is connected to the gudgeon of the boiler, which is capable of elevation; and upon the long arm is hung a weight, which is an exact counterpoise to the weight of the boiler, and the contained water, when sufficiently filled. When the quantity of water diminishes, the weight on the lever preponderates, and this, by a proper connexion with the force pump, increases the stroke of the latter, and consequently the supply of water.
Instead of the heater before described, it is proposed sometimes to surround the boiler with metal tubes, running longitudinally with it, having connecting pipes at their ends, to convert them into a continued tube, into one end of which the water is forced, whilst from the other it passes into the boiler, through its gudgeon, as from the heater. These tubes are kept in their places by resting on hollows in the cast-iron furnace heads, and are surrounded by the arched brick work of the furnace.
The boiler is made to revolve by the motion of the steam engine, a toothed wheel which carries it being secured by screws on to one of the gudgeons. By means of proper gearing, the rapidity of the revolution is placed under the command of the engineer.
The heater is always full, but it is obvious that the boiler, continually revolving, requires but little water, say from 4th to Myth of its capacity, thus leaving almost the whole of it for steam room.
The boiler containing so little water, is heated in a few minutes, whereas, in the common boiler, the body of water is so great that it requires a very long time to get up the steam, and at a great expense of fuel.
The danger of bursting, in the common boiler, from being unequally heated, and from the great body of boiling water within, is justly considered imminent. The revolving boiler is always equally heated, and the volume of water, being comparatively nothing, the danger is proportionably decreased.
What we claim as new, in the foregoing specification, as being of our inventions, are:
1st. The revolving boiler, as entirely new and hitherto unknown; and we claim the exclusive use of it, with or without the heater, and with or without the pipes; it being, in either case, much superior to any known method of generating steam.
2nd. The heater, which surrounds the boiler and supplies it with boiling water.
3d. The pipes answering the same purpose as the heater.
4th. The manner of suspending the boiler at one end, by which contrivance it feeds itself."
Journal of the Franklin Institute Vol. 6, Sept. 1829 pgs. 197-198
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