Boiler

Boiler Boil"er, n. 1. One who boils. [1913 Webster]

2. A vessel in which any thing is boiled. [1913 Webster]

Note: The word boiler is a generic term covering a great variety of kettles, saucepans, clothes boilers, evaporators, coppers, retorts, etc. [1913 Webster]

3. (Mech.) A strong metallic vessel, usually of wrought iron plates riveted together, or a composite structure variously formed, in which steam is generated for driving engines, or for heating, cooking, or other purposes. [1913 Webster]

Note: The earliest steam boilers were usually spheres or sections of spheres, heated wholly from the outside. Watt used the wagon boiler (shaped like the top of a covered wagon) which is still used with low pressures. Most of the boilers in present use may be classified as plain cylinder boilers, flue boilers, sectional and tubular boilers. [1913 Webster]

{Barrel of a boiler}, the cylindrical part containing the flues.

{Boiler plate}, {Boiler iron}, plate or rolled iron of about a quarter to a half inch in thickness, used for making boilers and tanks, for covering ships, etc.

{Cylinder boiler}, one which consists of a single iron cylinder.

{Flue boilers} are usually single shells containing a small number of large flues, through which the heat either passes from the fire or returns to the chimney, and sometimes containing a fire box inclosed by water.

{Locomotive boiler}, a boiler which contains an inclosed fire box and a large number of small flues leading to the chimney.

{Multiflue boiler}. Same as {Tubular boiler}, below.

{Sectional boiler}, a boiler composed of a number of sections, which are usually of small capacity and similar to, and connected with, each other. By multiplication of the sections a boiler of any desired capacity can be built up.

{Tubular boiler}, a boiler containing tubes which form flues, and are surrounded by the water contained in the boiler. See Illust. {of Steam boiler}, under {Steam}.

{Tubulous boiler}. See under {Tubulous}. See {Tube}, n., 6, and 1st {Flue}. [1913 Webster]