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An Interesting Boiler.

6th April 1905, Page 13
6th April 1905
Page 13
Page 13, 6th April 1905 — An Interesting Boiler.
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The accompanying illustration depicts a section through the motor boiler patented by Mr. George H. Mann, of Leeds, late managing director of the Yorkshire Patent Steam Wagon Co., who has had much experience with heavy motor vehicles. The object of his invention is to provide a vertical boiler, free from the defects of some types of vertical boilers which in several notable instances have led to their being discarded in favour of the locomotive type, notwithstanding the fact that the vertical boiler has much to recommend it for motor vehicles when efficiently constructed. It occupies much less space in the length of the vehicle and lends itself to a smart design of wagon. Beyond this, the water level is but little affected by being tilted on an incline, and the tubes, being vertical, are not liable to become choked with flue dust, as the vibration tends to keep them clean. As will be seen, the boiler is of the vertical fire tube type, with the crown plate (A) dished in order to form an upper smoke chamber ; consequently the working water level is the upper ends of the tubes, thus protecting the joints from damage due to excessive heating. The upper portion of the shell surrounding the top smoke chamber is considerably enlarged, so as to increase the s tea m space and to give a large area on the water line (B) as a means to prevent priming. Located on the top of the smoke chamber is a hollow end cover (C) for the reception of exhaust steam, and passing through this cover is a central uptake (D) to the chimney. The cover also carries a depending chamber (E) connected by tubes (FF), arranged. with a central jet (G) opposite the open chimney. The exhaust steam on its passage through these chambers and tubes becomes superheated, and the depending chamber—which is placed directly under the uptake—forms a baffle plate. This aids the efficiency of the boiler by equalising the draught through the tubes instead of allowing the greater proportion of heat to pass through the tubes directly opposite the uptake, which has a tendency to cause unequal expansion and leaky tubes. The end cover may be turned back on a swivel joint to allow for cleaning the fire tubes. The fire hole (H) is at the side, which the patentee claims has an advantage over the central shoot by rendering it impossible for the stoker to fill the fire box to the top with fuel and so to leave insufficient space for proper combustion. It is impossible to settle the controversy between advocates of the several types of boiler : vertical and horizontal ; water tube and smoke tube. Motor vehicle engineers have probably devoted more time to boiler design than to any other part of the structure, and the improvements that have been effected are of the utmost value in practical running. Three years ago the boiler was, in the majority of cases, the curse of a steam vehicle. It was always leaking, or priming, or short of water, or used by the driver as an excuse for latenms. These troubles no longer exist, for boilers will now last at least four times as long as they did in the days when they had insufficient surface, badly-made joints, no provision to combat unequal expansion, and faulty feed arrangements.

Manchester cabmen have followed the lead of the London Association, and are taking lessons in motor driving.

The Bradford (Yorks) Corporation are running a izh.p. De Dion van for parcel delivery in conjunction with their extensive tramway system. George Mann's Patent Vertical Boiler.

Tags

Organisations: London Association
People: George H. Mann
Locations: Manchester, Leeds

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