IMPROVEMENTS IN BOILER FLUE CLEANERS
Year: 1885

page_text: I, FRED L. MCGAHAN, of Indianapolis, in the county of Marion, State of Indiana,
United States of America, Machinist, do hereby declare the nature of my invention
for IMPROVEMENTS IN BOILER FLUE CLEANERS, 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 improvements in that class of boiler flue cleaners,
which operate by directing a jet of steam through the flue. The objects of my
improvements are to discharge the steam jet with sudden force through the flue,
and to automatically shut off the flow of steam while changing the cleaner from
one flue to another.
To accomplish these objects I attach to one end of a steam pipe, which is con-
nected by a series of flexible couplings with the steam space of the boiler, a nozzle,
having two interior compartments connected by a passage which is closed by a
sliding valve.
One of said compartments is connected with the steam supply pipe, and forms a
chamber in which there is a constant pressure of steam.
The other compartment
terminates in a cylindrical portion which is of a little less diameter than the
interior diameter of the flue, and there are annular openings in the end of said
cylindrical portion near its periphery.
An annular plate, larger than the flue, and having arms which are attached to a
central hub, slides longitudinally on said cylindrical portion, and the valve closing
the passage between the compartments, is connected by a central stem with the
hub of the sliding plate. The steam pressure in the first compartment keeps the
valve closed until the nozzle has been inserted in the end of the flue, the plate
resting against the outside, and a sharp thrust is made, thus pushing the nozzle
forward, but the plate remaining stationary, the valve is pushed open and jets of
steam are suddenly discharged through the second compartment and the openings
before mentioned, along the interior of the flue, and the soot is effectually dislodged
and blown out.
When the cleaner is withdrawn from the flue, the pressure of steam instantly
closes the valve.
It is sometimes desirable to open the valve to blow out any condensed water
which may form when steam is first admitted, before inserting the cleaner in the
flue. For this purpose I attach a rod to the valve, extending backward through

page_text: the rear of the first, or steam, chamber, said rod terminating in a knob or handle
outside the chamber.
For the purpose of handling the cleaner, a sleeve, having handles attached
thereto, is slipped over the first section of the steam pipe next the cleaner, and is
secured by a set screw. By means of these handles the cleaner is firmly pressed
into and against the end of the flue, and is readily transferred from one flue to
another, the flexible couplings permitting the movement of the cleaner in any
direction.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING.
Fig. 1, shows a longitudinal section of the cleaner.
Fig. 2, shows an elevation of the discharging end.
Fig. 3, shows the cleaner connected with a steam boiler. A, is the steam
chamber. B, is the discharge chamber, and, d, the valve closing the passage
between the two chambers. C, is the sliding annular plate mounted on the
discharge chamber and having its hub connected with the valve by the valve
stem, e. ff.ff, are the openings from the discharge chamber through which the
steam passes into the flue. g, is a collar or shoulder on the discharge chamber,
which limits the backward movement of the sliding plate. , is the rod extending
through the steam chamber and outward through the stuffing box, i, for the
purpose of opening the valve from the rear.
J, is a short length of steam pipe attached to the inlet of chamber, A. H, is
the sleeve secured on the steam pipe and having handles k, and l, attached thereto.
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
1st, A flue cleaner consisting of the following elements, namely, a nozzle having
two interior compartments, one of which compartments has an inlet opening for
steam, and the other compartment has a cylindrical portion with discharge
openings therein, a passage between said compartments, a valve closing said
passage, and a sliding plate mounted on said cylindrical portion, and connected
with said valve, so as to open it by the sliding movement of the plate.
2nd, In a flue cleaner, the combination of, the discharge chamber, B, having
annular openings, f, f, the valve, d, and sliding plate, C.
3rd, In a flue cleaner, the combination with the chambers, A, and B, and the
valve, d, of the rod, h, and the stuffing box, i, for the purpose specified.
4th, In a flue cleaner, the combination with chambers, A, and B, valve, d, and
plate, C, of steam pipe, J, sleeve, H, and handles, k, and, l.
Dated this 94th dow of January 1885