992 Transactions of the American Institute. 



March 10, 1870. 



Prof. S. D. TiLL.MAX, in the chair; Robert Weir, Esq., Secretary. 



Steam Boileks. 



The Cluiirman remarked that tlie ordinary course of proceedings 

 would be changed this evening, in order to give all the time po.^.^ible 

 to the discussion on steam boilers. 



Mr. James Montgomery then took the floor and spoke at length 

 on the construction of steam boilers, and pointing out what he con- 

 sidered erroneous modes, especially those which did not provide for 

 a constant circulation of the water within the boiler. lie explained 

 the construction of his well-known boiler which had been in practical 

 use many years. It was an improvement on the celebrated boiler of 

 the late Dr. Eliphalet Nott, formerly president of Union College. In 

 Dr. Nott's boiler the flame and heated gases were brought in contact 

 with small tubes containing water. The etfect was to carry the water 

 rapidly to the upper part of the boiler, which was supposed to find 

 its way back toward the bottom of the boiler through the water 

 tubes near the shell of the boiler; but experience had shown that the 

 water did not return readily through these tubes, and the consequence 

 was numerous explosions. He claimed to have overcome the diffl- 

 culty, by making separate passages for the descent of the heated 

 water, which passages were not in contact with the fire. He used 

 vertical water tubes, and placed a dia]>hragm between the tubes at 

 about half their height, and caused the flame and heated gases to first 

 strike the upper part of the water tubes, and then descend and return 

 between the lower parts of the same tubes, thus economizing the 

 heat. The water was found to circulate with great rapidity in his 

 boiler. 



The Chairman stated that a very simple and eflective mode of pro- 

 ducing circulation in boilers containing upright fire tubes, had been 

 patented by Mr. Hicks, which consisted in inclosing the upright 

 tubes in a cylinder of thin metal, placed at such distance from the 

 shell of the boiler as to allow the water to descend freely between it 

 and the shell. Tliis seemed a cheap and simple mode of securing a 

 rapid circulation of water in boilers of otherwise old style of con- 

 struction. 



In response to queries, Mr. J. K. Fislier said that linings and 

 diaphragms used to aid circulation were invented by Jacob Perkins, 



