Abstract: A long-lasting hot water boiler. The boiler has a lower drum with a first pass fire-tube for generating combustion gases, an upper drum with a second pass fire-tube bundle for the gaseous products of combustion, and a lined fire reversing chamber for directing the gaseous products from the first pass to the second pass. The reversing chamber liner includes a saddle piece and a turnaround piece which cooperate to protect vulnerable weld joints adjacent the reversing chamber and which maintain proper positioning even after weld pins melt. The upper and lower drums are interconnected by an expansion joint which permits unequal thermal expansion of the drums, and a bypass circulation system prevents thermal shocking of the boiler.

Abstract: A boiler assembly having a unique burner box construction and a modular heat exchanger. The burner box has a primary diffuser upstream from a plurality of burners for evenly distributing a flow of air to and around the burners. The burner box also has a secondary diffuser downstream from the burners for mixing the fuel-air mixture exiting the burners with the air which flowed around the burners to create a final fuel-air mixture which can sustain stable and quiet combustion. The heat exchanger comprises a plurality of sections which define passageways for the combustion gases and circulating fluid. Reticulated ceramic cylinders are located within some of the combustion gas passageways immediately downstream of the burners to enhance heat transfer.

Abstract: A boiler having a first pass furnace and a set of second pass tubes, a reversing recess proximate to the furnace and tubes for reversing the flow of gases between the furnace and tubes, and a rear access door providing access to the recess, in which there is an integral, self-sustaining reversing chamber sized and configured to fit within and be removably held within recess. The chamber is enclosed by walls on all sides thereof except the side facing the recess which is open and concave. The chamber is formed of loosely-packed ceramic fibers with air entrapped between said fibers to provide greater insulation.

Abstract: A multi-fuel boiler is provided in which coal is burned in combination with oil or gas in such manner that the particulate emission from the coal, normally relatively high, is reduced to a level comparable to oil. In one example, coal of a quality that would normally burn with a Bacharach smoke spot test number of 6 can be burned with a test number below 2.This is accomplished by utilization of a horizontal oil or gas flame directed across the flue gas exit of the combustion chamber in opposition to the flow of coil combustion gases to change the normal flow pattern of the combustion gases. This creates turbulence, which provides additional combustion time at combustion temperatures in the presence of excess air.

Abstract: An aluminum deck structure, of the general type in which floor joists support and are secured to transverse decking members, is characterized by an assembly arrangement permitting rapid and inexpensive installation of decking members on floor joists without tools or fasteners, and allowing considerable thermal elongation and contraction of long decking members such as are used in platform tennis courts or other playing surfaces. In the deck structure, extruded aluminum decking members are formed with a floor plate and two depending vertical legs having bearing flanges and horizontally opposed latching members at their lower ends. Extruded aluminum floor joists have longitudinal ribs along their top supporting surfaces with pairs of notches in the ribs to receive the vertical legs of a decking member. The notches form opposed latching surfaces which meet and then snap into interlocking engagement with the latching members on the vertical legs as the legs descend into the notches.