Apparatus, and Removing Scale therefrom. IN BOILERS, HEATERS AND OTHER APPARATUS AND REMING SC THERE FROM
Year: 1885

page_text: Apparatus, and Removing Scale therefrom.
I, HENRY AITKEN, of Falkirk, in the County of Stirling, North Britain,
Coalmaster do hereby declare the nature of the said invention for PREVENTING
THE FORMATION OF SCALE IN BOILERS, HEATERS AND OTHER APPARATUS AND
REMOVING SCALE THERE FROM to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to preventing the formation of scale in boilers, beaters
and other apparatus and removing scale therefrom.
Water from different sources when heated in boilers, heaters and other apparatus -
forms scale which adheres to the interior of such boilers, heaters and other apparatus,
and the formation of such scale is a cause not only of destruction to the vessel
wherein water is heated or boiled but by its less conductivity and increasing of
thickness of the vessels produces a waste of fuel.
By this Invention not only is such scale prevented from being formed, but scale
when formed may be removed by applying the invention to the vessels on whose
interior it may exist.
This Invention consists of a series of zinc and copper plates placed in the water
in the boiler or other vessel and preferably at or near to the position where the
water comes into the boiler or other vessel.-These plates are fixed together in
the order of one zinc, one copper, one zinc one copper, and so on throughout the
series.
To give an example of applying my Invention I here state that in the case of
an egg-ended boiler of about thirty feet long by five feet in diameter I would use
eight zinc plates and eight copper plates, each plate being six inches by fourteen
inches by one sixteenth of an inch, but I do not restrict myself to any such sizes
or numbers of plates.
After the foregoing arrangement of plates has been in the boiler or other vessel
for a few months the zinc is altered in its character into what I believe to be but
I am not at present sure, is oxide of zinc. When the zinc is in this altered state
my Invention ceases to operate, and it is then taken out of the boiler or other
vessel and fresh zinc plates substituted for them beside the copper plates as at
first. The apparatus is then again placed in the boiler or other vessel. What is

page_text: herein called by me oxide of zinc is valuable and may be utilized whilst the copper
plates appear to be uneffected.
In place of using copper and zinc I may substitute for the zinc, plate of iron, or
of carbon, or of silver. I may use any other substance or substances capable of
producing the necessary action.
In place of using the arrangement in form of plates, I may use metals in small
pieces held in cases or as dust held in bottles or cases, the water preferably hot,
being made to filter through the cases containing the pieces of metal or dust.
The applicant thinks it right to say that at present he is unable to explain the
principle on which this Invention operates, but that it does prevent formation of
scale and will remove the scale after being formed.
J. H. JOHNSON, DAY & JOHNSON,
Petitioner's Agents,
115, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Preventing the Formation of Scale in Boilers, Heaters, and other
Apparatus, and Removing Scale therefrom.
I, HENRY AITKEN of Falkirk, in the County of Stirling, North Britain,
Coalmaster, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention for PREVENTING
THE FORMATION OF SCALE IN ROILERS, HEATERS AND OTHER APPARATUS AND
REMOVING SCALE THEREFROM and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My Invention relates to preventing the formation of scale in boilers, heaters and
other apparatus and removing scale therefrom.
Water from different sources when heated in boilers, heaters and other apparatus
forms scale which adheres to the interior of such boilers, heaters and other apparatus,
and the formation of such scale is a cause not only of destruction to the vessel
wherein water is heated or boiled but, by its less conductivity and increasing of
thickness of the vessels produces a waste of fuel.
By my present Invention not only is such scale prevented from being formed,
but scale when formed may be removed by applying the invention to the vessels
on whose interior it may exist.
My Invention consists of a series of zinc and copper plates placed in the water
in the boiler or other vessel and preferably at or near to the position where the
water comes into the boiler or other vessel. These plates are fixed together in

page_text: the order of one zinc, one copper, one zinc, one copper, and so on throughout
the series.
To give an example of applying my Invention I here state that in the case of an
egg-ended boiler of about thirty feet long by five feet in diameter I would use
twelve zinc plates and twelve copper plates, each plate being six inches by fourteen
inches by one sixteenth of an inch, but I do not restrict myself to any such sizes or
numbers of plates.
After the foregoing arrangement of plates has been in the boiler or other vessel
for a few weeks or months, depending on the nature of the water, the zinc is
altered in its character. When the zinc is in this altered state, my Invention
ceases to operate, and it is then taken out of the boiler or other vessel and fresh
zinc plates substituted for them beside the copper plates as at first. The apparatus
is then again placed in the boiler or other vessel.-The used or spent zinc is valuable
and may be converted into metal or otherwise utilized whilst the copper plates
appear to be unaffected.
In place of using copper and zinc, I may substitute for the zinc, plates of iron,
or I may substitute for the copper, carbon, silver or platinum.-I may use any
other substance or substances capable of producing the necessary action.
In place of using the arrangement in form of plates, I may use metals in small
pieces held in cases or as dust held in bottles, bags, or cases, the water, preferably
hot, being made to filter through the said bags or cases containing the pieces of
metal or carbon.
I think it right to say that I am still unable to explain the principle on which
my Invention operates, but that it does prevent formation of scale and will remove
the scale after being formed.
In order that my Invention may be properly understood and readily carried
into effect, I have shewn upon the annexed drawings one form, as an example of
the many forms, in which my invention may be carried into practice, and the said
drawings of which, I will now proceed to describe:
Figure 1, is a front elevation and Figure 2 an end clevation of one form of
apparatus under which my present Invention may be carried into practice.
My Invention consists in arranging a series of zinc plates a, and copper plates b,
such as that represented upon the annexed drawings and placing the same in the
water in a boiler or other vessel and preferably at or near to the position where
the water comes into such boiler or other vessel.-These plates a, and b, are secured
together preferably at a small distance apart by the bolts and nuts c, in the order
of one zinc, one copper, one zinc, one copper and so on throughout the series, and
the two end bolts and nuts c, or their equivalent secure such series of plates to the
feet d, so that when in position within the boiler or other vessel the said plates are
supported above the mud in the said boiler.
To give an example of applying my Invention, I here state that in the case of
an egg-ended boiler of about thirty feet long by five feet in diameter, I would use
twelve zinc plates and twelve copper plates each plate being six. inches wide by
fourteen inches long and one sixteenth of an inch in thickness, but I do not restrict
myself to any such sizes or numbers of plates, as the same must vary with different
kinds of water.
After the foregoing arrangement of plates has been in the boiler or other vessel
for a few weeks or months, the zinc becomes soft and tender and in this altered
condition is of no further use for my Invention but upon removal from the boiler
or other vessel the said zinc after having been so employed, may be re-made into
metal.
When the spent or used zinc plates have been removed fresh zinc plates are
substituted for them in their respective places beside and between the copper plates
which appear to be unaffected.
In place of using copper and zinc plates in the manner I have herein before
described, I may substitute for the zinc, plates of other substance or substances
capable of producing the necessary action such for example as plates of iron, and

page_text: for the copper I may use plates of silver, plates of platinum or plates of carbon,
such carbon as that obtained from Gaswork retorts having in practice been found
to give good results.
In place of constructing the arrangement in the form of plates as herein before
described with reference to the annexed drawings, I may employ the metals or
carbon in pieces contained in cases, or other receptacles or in the form of dust held
in bottles, cases, bags or boxes preferably made of wire netting, all or any of which
receptacles may be supported on a stool or its equivalent in such position that the
water, preferably hot, is caused to filter therethrough; or I may arrange a series
of zinc plates or a copper rod or vice versa and secure feet thereto in a manner
similar to that hereinbefore described with reference to the annexed drawings.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
First. Preventing the formation of scale in boilers, heaters and other apparatus,
and removing scale therefrom substantially in the manner hereinbefore set forth.
Second. The various arrangements of the elements or agents by which the
prevention or removal of scale is effected all substantially as hereinbefore set
forth.