Improved Means for Providing for the Collection and Removal of Saline and other Deposits from Steam Boilers, Evaporators, and the like.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Oct., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 14th July, 1897-Accepted, 14th Aug., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means for Providing for the Collection and Removal of
Saline and other Deposits from Steam Boilers, Evaporators, and
the like.
We, FREDERICK NESFIELD COOKSON of No. 37 Golden Hillock Road, Small Heath,
Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Engineer, and JOHN. STEWART of No. 52,
Albert Road, Heeley, Sheffield, in the County of Yorkshire, Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of our invention to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to improved means for providing for the collection and
removal of saline and other deposits from steam boilers, evaporators, and the like.
The object of it is to prevent deposit of scale or the like from liquids undergoing
evaporation, on the shell of the vessel at or above the level of the fire, such prevention
being secured by providing a special downward extension of the vessel below the fire
level in which, all the deposition incidental to the process of evaporation can take
place. With such special downward extension there is combined a valve or shutter
device by which it can be easily cut off from the evaporating vessel, the two being
practically isolated from each other, in such a way that the extension may be opened
and cleaned out without interfering in any way with the evaporation process.
The invention does not limit us to any particular type of valve or shutter. The
various details of the apparatus as far as regards their construction, may be of any
well known and suitable kind.
The invention is particularly suitable for dealing with brackish water in either
steam boilers or condensers. In making a condenser for extracting a potable water
from the salt laden waters frequently inet with in different parts of the world where
natural deposits of water fit to drink, are unknown, we proceed as follows. The
evaporator of the condenser is a rectangular structure of the independent boiler type,
internally fired, and fitted with fire tubes, smoke stack, liquid feed, furnace and ash
pit. The back and two sides of the evaporator being the portions behind and on each
side of the furnace are extended downwards for a suitable distance below the level of
the fire grate, this distance being-say, the height of the ash pit, and there closed.
These three extensions form the three legs of the evaporator. During the time that
the evaporator is at work, the solids extruded from the liquid, deposit upon the bottom
and sides of the extensions and as even the highest portions of these, are, not above
the level of the furnace, it follows that, deposition upon any portion of the
evaporator plate through which it is required that heat should pass, is and remains
impracticable.
The level of the fire grate is practically that of the bottom of the evaporator for it
is that of three butterfly valves, one for each side and one for the back. Each
valve is pivotted centrally upon a horizontal axis which presents itself outside the
structure so as to be turned as may be required. The valves and valve scatings have
asbestos combined with them so as to pack and keep them packed against the
action of the heat. The normal position of these valves is open in order that the
deposition may take place in the way described.above,

page_text: The clearing out of the three extensions above mentioned requires that the
evaporator proper be isolated therefrom. This isolation is effected by shutting the
valves down upon their seatings. The doors with which the extensions are fitted are
taken off, and the contents and the plates cleaned.; The doors are then replaced and
the valves opened.
The evaporator filler is a pipe entering the evaporator beneath the level of the
valves and standing up to a suitable height.
Dated this 14th day of October 1896
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
Agents for the Applicants.
Improved Means for Providing for the Collection and Removal of
Saline and other Deposits from Steam Boilers, Evaporators, and
the like.
We, FREDERICK NESFIELD COOKSON of No. 37 Golden Hillock Road, Small Heath,
Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Engineer, and JOHN STEWART of No. 52
Albert Road, Heeley, Sheffield, in the County of York, Engineer, 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 :-
By way of an introduction to render our invention and its object quite intelligible
we would remark that all waters contain more or less salts, chiefly the carbonates and
sulphates of lime and magnesia, which at ordinary temperatures are held in solution
(by an excess of carbonic acid gas) in the water, and impart to it a greater or less
degree of temporary hardness. By temporary hardness is meant that which can be
eliminated by merely raising the temperature of the water to boiling point, when the
excess of carbonic acid gas, will be expelled and the said calcareous and magnesian
salts in consequence liberated, and the latter, being no longer soluble in the water,
are at once precipitated; then if such boiled water be filtered or the sediment
otherwise removed the hardness of the water would be diminished in proportion to the
amount of insoluble matters removed.
It is common knowledge with engineers and others that if such insoluble matters
as above referred to be allowed to remain in the water, they become deposited as a
hard incrustation on the interior of the boiler, its tubes and other internal fittings,
causing considerable waste of fuel and undue wear and tear of the firebox, owing to
such coating being a very bad conductor of heat. In addition to the salts just
mentioned, water often also contains other salts and foreign matters such as chloride,
sulphate, and carbonate of soda; greasy scum, saud, straw, chips, sawdust, etc., which
although not in any way contributing to its hardness have nevertheless a serious
drawback in that they bring about what is known as "priming," that is, the greasy
nature of the water causes it to be sprayed and carried over together with its particles
of foreign matter by the steam into the steam pipes and cylinder, the danger of which
is obvious.
Our invention relates to improved means for providing for the collection and entire
removal of saline and other deposits from steam boilers, evaporators, and the like.
The object of it is to prevent deposit of scale or the like from liquids undergoing
evaporation, on the interior surface of the vessel or its internal fittings, at or above the
level of the fire.
To effect the object of our invention we provide a special downward extension of
the boiler below the fire level, in which all the deposition or sediment of saline or

page_text: foreign matter incidental to the boiling of the liquid or contained in the water, can
accumulate and then be drawn out or therwise removed entirely, without the progress
of evaporation of the liquid above it being in any way retarded or interfered with.
The invention is particularly useful for dealing with brackish water in either steam
boilers or condensers.
In order that our invention may be clearly understood we will now proceed to
describe it in detail, reference being had to the accompanying sheets of drawings, in
which-
Figure 1 shows a sectional side elevation of a boiler fitted with a pivoted valve
constructed according to our invention,
Figure 2 shows a front elevation of Figure 1.
Figure 3 shows a plan of the pivoted form of the special valve or false bottom.
Figures 4 and 5 show plan and elevation respectively of the bearing pivots for the
pivoted form of the special valve or false bottom.
Figure 6, shows a transverse section of the pivoted form of special valve or false
bottom.
Figure 7 is a sectional side elevation of a boiler fitted with a special valve or false
bottom which works dead level, and
Figure 8 is a transverse section of Figure 7.
Similar reference letters denote different views of the same parts throughout these
drawings.
A is a boiler, which may be of any type, that shown, comprising the shell a,
firebox b, water pipes e, steam dome or super-heater d, smoke box e, chimney f, and
feed-water conduit g.
The present invention constituting the novelty in the construction of the boiler,
consists in providing the special downwards extension B of the boiler A, which forms
an additional chamber or enclosed space on the sides thereof; the purpose of which
is as before stated to afford a receptacle below the level of the fire-bars into which all
precipitates from the water can subside. With such special downward extension there
is combined a valve or shutter device, hereinafter referred to as the false bottom, by
means of which the said chamber can be readily shut off from the evaporating vessel,
so that the two are thereby practically isolated from each other, in such manner that
the extension chamber may be opened and cleaned out without in any way interfering
with the evaporation process.
The invention does not limit us to any particular type of valve shutter or false.
bottom. The various details of the apparatus as far as regards their construction, may
be of any well known and suitable kind, but the construction preferred is that
illustrated in Figures 7 and 8 wherein the false bottom consists of a flat plate or
shutter A with a packing i of rubber or other suitable compressible material that will
form a water-tight joint. Fixed to this plate or shutter h and extending vertically
upwards therefrom are rods or spindles , which pass through the top or cover plate a
of the boiler preferably through stuffing glands, fitted thereon. To operate the said
rods their upper ends may be fitted with handles il or they may be operated, to raise
and lower the shutter, by means of a worm and worm-wheel or by a pulley and chain
or any other known equivalent mechanical device. Around the top of the special
extension chamber Band preferably rivetted thereto is provided the valve seating
It will be noticed that the plate of the valve or false bottom & is of slightly less
width than that of the valve seating; this is to permit the water to pass when the
said valve or false bottom is raised. The handles on the spindles of the false
bottom are screwed or otherwise only temporarily fixed on so as to be capable of
removal when it is desired to take the main cover-plate a' of the boiler off.
When not required the above described valves or false bottoms are raised up to the
cover-plate, thus leaving all the special extension chamber quite clear to receive saline
or other matter precipitated from the water. When it is desired to draw off the
sediment which may have accumulated in the said chamber, it is only necessary to
lower the false bottoms down on to the seatings, and the weight of water above will

page_text: make a dead tight joint. The false bottoms having been duly lowered or closed, a
tap, situated at any convenient part of the special extension chamber, is turned on
and thereby the water is drawn off from the said chamber leaving only the sediment.
The doors are then opened and the sediment removed with a scraper.
A modification in the construction of the valve, shutter device or false bottom is
illustrated in Figures 1 to 6, in which it takes the form of a butterfly valve k, pivoted
at its centre on spindles, the ends m of which pass through the cover-plate or door n
of the special chamber B and are squared or bored to receive a key by means of which
the false bottom is turned either open, or, closed as required. The said key can be
adjusted by a fly-nut on a screw so as to prevent shrinkage when closed.
A flap spring or thin sheet metallic packing may be substituted for the india rubber
packing under plate of valve or false bottom if found preferable.
Access to the interior of the special extension chamber is preferably obtained by
providing the removeable door n, which may be either bolted on as shown or hinged
or secured in any other convenient manner.
In making a condenser for extracting a potable water from the salt laden waters
frequently met with in different parts of the world where natural deposits of water
fit to drink are unknown, we proceed as follows, The evaporator of the condenser is
a rectangular structure of the independent boiler type, internally fired, and fitted
with fire tubes, smoke stack, liquid feed, furnace and ash pit. The back and two
sides of the evaporator being the portions behind and on each side of the furnace, aro
extended downwards for a suitable distance below the level of the fire grate, this
distance being-tay, the height of the ash pit, and there closed. These three
extensions form the three legs of the evaporator. During the time that the
evaporator is at work, the solids extruded from the liquid, deposit upon the bottom
and sides of the extensions and as even the highest portions of these, are, not above
the level of the furnace, it follows that deposition upon any portion of the evaporator
plate through which it is required that heat should pass, is and remains
impracticable.
The level of the fire grate is practically that of the bottom of the evaporator for it
is that of three butterfly valves, one for each side and one for the back. Each valve
is pivoted centrally upon a horizontal axis which presents itself outside the structure
so as to be turned by a key or otherwise as may be required. The valves and valve
seatings may have asbestos combined with them so as to pack and keep them packed
against the action of the heat. The normal position of these valves is open in order
that the deposition may take place in the way described above.
The clearing out of the extensions above mentioned requires that the evaporator
proper be isolated therefrom. This isolation is effected by shutting the valves down
upon their seatings. The doors with which the extensions are fitted are taken off, or
opened, the contents removed and the plates cleaned. The doors are then replaced
and the valves or false bottoms opened.
The evaporator filler is a pipe entering the evaporator preferably below the level
of the valves and standing up to a suitable height; but it may be above as shown
in dotted lines.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. In combination with a boiler or evaporator, one or more water-tight chambers
or compartments below the level of the fire, for the collection of sediment from
the liquid above, substantially as described and shown.
2. In combination with a boiler or evaporator, one or more water-tight chambers
or compartments below the level of the fire, for the collection of sediment from
the liquid above, and a valve or false bottom either turning on a pivot or operated
by a direct level action constructed substantially as described and shown.
3. The combination of water-tight compartment, with valve or false bottom,

page_text: constructed and operating substantially as and for the purposes herein described and
set forth.
Dated this 14th day of July 1897.
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
No. 22, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane. London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.