Engineers and Mechanics Encyclopedia 1839: Railways: James Viney

A patent for "certain improvements in steam boilers, and in carriages connected therewith”, was taken out on the 2d of November, 1829, by Colonel Viney of the Royal Artillery; the specification of which informs us, that they consist, first, in a boiler made up of a series of cylinders or tubes, placed in succession within each other. The difference between the diameters of the tubes is such as to leave annular spaces between them.

The tubes are made somewhat conical, and they are placed alternately with their wide and narrow ends upwards, so that the spaces between them alternately taper towards the top and bottom. Those spaces which taper towards the top are open at bath ends, and used as flues for the passage of flame, smoke, &c., from a furnace at the bottom of the apparatus; and the spaces which widen towards the top, are closed at both ends, and used to contain water and steam. A communication is introduced, for the passage of steam from one space to another. There are a series of openings for the escape of smoke, and to produce a draft through the flues.

We have only described one of a series of boilers which the patentee proposed to employ when much power is required; and these he arranges in a circular position, or any other which may be found most suitable to the space to be appropriated to the boilers of steam carriages, the propelling of which seems to be his principal aim. The advantages contemplated by this arrangement are the great extent of surface exposed to the heat; but it will be readily perceived that this does not possess the strength of a tubular boiler, as all parts will necessarily be subjected to the same degree of pressure, and the exterior vessel must, from its size, be regarded rather as a cylindrical than a tubular boiler.

The foregoing is what the Colonel (now General) Viney describes as his invention; but he claims, in addition, the doing away with the use of separators and blowing-machines in steam carriages. With respect to the first of these extraordinary prohibitions, we must leave Goldsworthy Gurney to contest the point with the gallant General.

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