A New or Improved Device for Collecting Dirt and Solid Particles within Steam Boilers, and for Expelling the same therefrom.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Aug., 1895-Accepted, 23rd Nov., 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Device for Collecting Dirt and Solid Particles
within Steam Boilers, and for Expelling the same therefrom.
1 GEORGE RUFFUS FORD of Michigan Trust Co. Building Grand Rapids,
State of Michigan, United States of America Machinist, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention 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 a new and useful device for collecting dirt and solid
particles which accumulate within a steam boiler and for expelling the same from
the boiler. The objects of my invention are first, to collect and direct towards a
given point. all solid matter which may float upon the water or be carried in
suspension in the water, to a certain point where the same may be taken up and
carried out of the boiler; second, to form a current which will return to the boiler
the water carried out with the dirt and refuse, leaving the refuse in a settling basin
or drum; third, to provide a plurality of collectors arranged in series one above
the other, so as to apprehend any refuse or material floating either at the top or
below the surface of the water, and to convey the same to a central point from
which the dirt and refuse will be removed from the boiler; fourth, to provide
adjustable collapsible wings which may be expanded when in use and retracted
so as to enable the person to clean the boiler without interfering with the refuse
collector; fifth, to provide in the settling basin or drum a space which is not filled
with water, but which is an open space filled by the steam pressure above the
water into which the refuse is carried, thereby allowing the refuse to be emptied
more freely from the tube which conducts it from the collector to the settling
basin.
These objects I accomplish by means of the mechanism illustrated in the
accompanying drawings in which
Figure 1 shows substantially a side elevation of a boiler with one side partially
cut away in order to show the location of the cleaner within the boiler, and also to
show all the connections between the boiler cleaner, the boiler and 'the settling
drum, and the return pipe.
'
Figure 2 is a cross section of a boiler with the boiler cleaner in position.
Figure 3 is a plan view of the boiler cleaner detached, with the arms extended.
Figure 4 is a plan view of the boiler cleaner with the arms collapsed or closed
together.
Figure 5 is a detail view of the eye and the end of the brace which is designed
to retain the wings of the cleaner in their expanded position.
Figure 6 is an enlarged view of the nut, and a portion of the bolt which attaches
the wing to the pan.
Figure 7 is an enlarged view, partially in perspective of the hub and the hinged
plates to which the wings are secured.
Figure 8 is a perspective view of the boiler cleaner and pan together' with 'the
double adjustment which may be used in connection with my boiler cleaner.
Figure 9 is an enlarged view of the double ball and socket union for adjusting
the pan to the required position in the boiler. This form is useful in marine
engines, but would not be used ordinarily in stationary engines.

page_text: Figure 10 is a side elevation of my boiler cleaner, with a plurality of basins and
a plurality of sets of wings; the sets of wings being placed one above the other
and adapted to carry the refuse to the hub in order to catch the refuse at different
depths of water and in different currents, there being an opening or openings into
the hub which is connected with the discharge pipe for each set of wings.
Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.
B represents the boiler of any ordinary construction, and within the boiler is
placed the boiler cleaner, consisting of wings C, C and the hub P and the modified
form of my invention consisting of a series of wings arranged above each other,
that is, a plurality of sets.
D represents the pipe connecting with the hub and extending to the settling
drum Q, the material gathered by the wings being carried by the force of the
steam through the pipe D into the space T in the settling drum Q.
E represents the braces which are connected at their ends to the wings C, C
retaining said wings in the position shown in Fig. 3 when said wings are in position
to gather the refuse material and convey the same to the central hub within the
pan O, said pan being secured to the wings and beneath the set of wings.
The wings radiating from the central hub supported by the pipe P, serve to
direct the water containing the refuse to the pan O beneath it, from whence it is
conveyed into the pipe P. These wings, therefore, furnish a flaring intake
extending horizontally and flaring from the mouths or inlets which convey the
refuse into the discharge pipe.
R represents the return pipe which opens into the settling drum Q at one end
and at the other end extends into the boiler at a point below the bottom of the
lowest pan of the cleaner.
In order to facilitate the flow of the water and refuse through the hub P and
discharge pipe D, I provide a partition, or other suitable means, shown by V.
The pressure being greater in the outgoing current through D, than in the
incoming pipe R. a space filled with the steam is formed at one side of the upper
end of the settling drum, and into this space the refuse and water is discharged
from the pipe D, the same settling to the bottom of the settling drum, substantially
as shown.
In order to make the wings collapsible, or so that they may be folded up, I
hinge the same to the hub piece through the hinged plate For other suitable
means, and then attach them to the basin by means of a bolt 2 extending through
the wing and through the slot I of the pan, the construction being fully shown in
Figs. 3 and 4, and when a plurality of pans are used the wings are placed above
each other and the pans above each other in the manner shown in Fig. 10 and the
bolt 2 would then extend through one wing of each series, it being understood that
in a cleaner having a plurality of wings in the series there is one bolt and slot for
each wing, but when a series of wings are placed one above the other the bolt may
be extended so that it will reach from the top to the bottom of the series of wings
as shown in said Fig. 10.
When the operator desires to clean the boiler the rods E, E are lifted from their
position, and the wings are collapsed or shut together as shown in Fig. 4.
3 represents the thumb nut used for securing the bolt 2 in position. Above each
pan there is a hole or a series of holes extending into the hub P. These holes are
shown by S Fig. 10. The object of the holes is to allow the refuse collected in the
pans to be sucked up and carried out through the discharge pipe.
In the case of marine boilers where an adjustment is required, I use the double-
ball and socket joint shown in Fig. 9 by G-G; the same is also shown in
Fig. 8.
It will be understood that the pressure of the discharge pipe is greater than the
pressure upon the return pipe, the return pipe penetrating the boiler to a point
below the bottom of the lowest pan.
The construction causes the steam to form a steam space in the settling drum

page_text: whenever the settling drum is provided with a partition or other means as shown.
in Fig. 1, and as above described.
Instead of using a partition U, as above described a short cylinder or other
means may be used to surround the opening of the discharge pipe D in the
cylinder and inasmuch as the pressure in the outgoing pipe is greater than that
exerted upon the boiler through the incoming pipe, the water which is carried up
through D will be again returned to the boiler through R.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what.
I claim is :-
:-
1. The combination with a steam boiler, of a cleaner consisting of a central
hollow hub, a plurality of vertically arranged radiating arms or plates, a basin
supported beneath the bottom edges of the vertically arranged radiating arms or
plates, a discharge pipe arising from and engaging with the hollow hub and
extending to a settling drum, a settling drum provided with a partition or other
means for leaving a steam filled space at the top thereof into which the refuse is
discharged from the drum, and a return pipe reconveying the water to the boiler,.
all constructed substantially as described.
2. The combination with a steam boiler, of a cleaner consisting of a central
hollow hub, a plurality of radiating vertical plates or wings hinged to the said
central hub, a pan or basin beneath the said wings, and suitable means for
expanding or collapsing the said wings substantially as and for the purpose
described.
3. The combination with a steam boiler, of a boiler cleaner consisting of a
central hollow hub, a plurality of wings hinged to the said hub, a pan attached to
the said hub beneath the said wings and provided with slots, bolts or rods attaching
the wings to the pan through said slots, and suitable means for retaining the said
wings expanded, and said wings adapted to collapse or shut together when not in
use substantially as described.
4. In combination with a boiler cleaner consisting of a pan, a hollow hub, wings
extending from the said hub directing the refuse to the said hub, openings into the
said hub for the reception of the refuse and water, a conduit pipe and a double-
ground connection whereby the said boiler cleaner may be adjusted to apy
required position, substantially as described.
5. In a boiler cleaner, a skimmer comprising a body or pan presenting a vertically
disposed well having two or more mouths or inlets, one above the other, a
horizontally disposed flaring intake at each of said mouths, in combination with a
discharge pipe extending from the lower part of the said well to a settling
chamber, and a return pipe, all constructed and arranged substantially as
described.
6. In a boiler cleaner, the combination of a series of pans, one above the other,
a series of wings or plates for each pan, openings above each pan into the central
hub or tube, an outlet pipe extending from said hub or tube to a settling basin
adapted to receive the refuse carried by said pipe, and an inlet pipe adapted to.
return the water from the settling basin to the boiler, substantially as described.
Dated this 14th day of August 1894.
HERBERT HADDAN & Co.,
18 Buckingham Street, Strand, London, W.C.,
Agents to Applicant.