Improvements in, and in the Method of Heating Water in, Steam Generators for Street Locomotive and other Engines.
Year: 1886

page_text: Improvements in, and in the Method of Heating Water in, Steam
Generators for Street Locomotive and other Engines.
I FREDERICK GRIDLEY WHEELER of 9 East Twenty-Second Street New York in
the County and State of New York, United States of America, Merchant, 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 present Invention consists in an improved method of applying preliminary
heat to steam generators either stationary or locomotive, but more especially to the
steam generator described in the specification of Letters Patent No. 8974 and dated
June 14th 1884 and is supplementary thereto and in which specification there is
described a system of charging the generator with hot water.
In place of first charging such generator, however, with hot water as described
in said specification, I charge the system to the extent required with cold water, or
water at a comparatively low temperature, in the ordinary or any suitable manner.
I then obtain the initial heating. in the system by the injection from an independent
boiler of superheated steam at high temperature until the entire charge of cold
water, or water at a comparatively low temperature, is heated to the required
degree.
•
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this
specification; in which figure 1 represents a partly sectional side elevation shewing
the Invention applied to a motor for street or other locomotive purposes, or its
generator, of like construction to that in the specification of the aforesaid Letters
Patent; and figure 2 is a partly sectional side elevation of a modification of the
same. Similar letters of reference indicaté corresponding parts in both the figures.
Referring, in the first instance, to figure 1 of the drawings, A is the generator to
which the initial heat is to be imparted by the improved method, and which is
provided with the heating furnace B, having a surrounding water chamber b..
connected to a series of circulating storage tubes c not in contact with the fire-box
as in the specification of the Letters Patent, hereinbefore referred to, or other
storage and circulating tubes otherwise arranged in connection with said water,
chamber. C is a pipe from an independent boiler D of any suitable construction,
ID 21

page_text: stationary or otherwise, for supplying superheated steam to the generator A. The
steam supply pipe C, starting from the dome or upper steam space of the indepen-
dent boiler D will pass through the furnace d of said boiler, and from thence to the
generator A which has been previously charged with cold water, or water at a
comparatively low temperature; or, as shewn in figure 2 of the drawing, the
supply pipe C, starting from the dome or upper steam space of the boiler Ď may
pass through an independent furnace, or through a furnace e of another independent
boiler E, as desired. The pipe C is or should be supplied with one or more suitable
valves for shutting off egress of the steam as required, and when the generator to
which initial heat by superheated steam is required to be imparted, is that of n
street-car or other locomotive, as shewn in figure 1, said pipe C' should be made
adjustable, or attachable, and detachable, to and from the generator, or water
chamber enclosing its furnace, and a cock or valve f be applied where the
connection is made with the generator. This provides for the discharge of
superheated steam through the cock or valve f into the intermediate water
chamber E and from thence into the generating system of the motor car, to rapidly
heat, the water therein through the storage and circulating pipes shewn and
.described in the specification of Letters Patent hereinbefore referred to. This is
continued until the entire charge of unheated water in the generator A is heated
to the extent required. The steam pipe C is, then disconnected and valve f closed,
and the steam pressure in the generator A is afterwards maintained by a small fire
in the furnace B as in the Specification of Letters Patent herein before referred to.
When the generator to which the superheated steam passes is a stationary one
then the pipe C may be a permanent attachment.
The advantages of this improved method of heating water in steam generators
are that the steam for heating can be applied to the generator from a source, either
near or comparatively remote as circumstances. may require, thereby avoiding the
necessity of locating the source of heat at precise. points; and further, the great
economy which will ensue from the fact that the superheated steam in parting
with its latent heat will most rapidly diffuse and communicate the required degree
of heat through the body of water in the generator, whereas in the ordinary
process of heating the water to the boiling point by connection or through the
direct agency of the furnace, this advantage is not obtained and much more time is
consumed.
.
By not being restricted to any precise distance for the boiler which generates
the steam to be superheated from the generator to be charged which may be either
near or remote, a great convenience is afforded.
This improved method or system is, as hereinbefore observed, intended to
supplement that described in the specification of the Letters Patent herein before
referred to, and to serve a more complete purpose for the ends designed in said
Letters Patent thus - it combines the small auxiliary fire for permanent heat with
the herein described means of securing the initial heating of the water without the
combination of an auxiliary fire and an initial charge of hot water, as heretofore
used..
Furthermore, the same system or method is applicable to stationary generators
with great convenience.and advantage by the interposition of a supplementary
furnace between the boiler making the initial steam and the generator or system
to be supplied, and through which the steam may be passed in suitable pipes and
thereby be superheated as required. This mode of applying the Invention is
illustrated in figure 2 of the drawing.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is ;-
1. The hereinbefore described method of heating a charge of cold water, or water
at a low temperature in the generator of a motor for locomotive and other purposes.
which consists in the injection from an independent' generator of superheated

page_text: steam into the water contained in the generator of the motor, substantially as
described.
2. The herein-described method of imparting initial heat to the water in the
generator of a street car or other motor, which consists in the injection of super-
heated steam into and through a water chamber surrounding the fire box of the
generator, and from thence through a series of storage and circulating tubes
connected therewith and arranged for the evolution of steam essentially as
specified.
3. In the method herein described of imparting initial heat to the water in the
generator of a locomotive or motor car, first generating steam in an independent
boiler, then passing it under cover through the furnace of said boiler or through an
independent furnace, and afterwards through an adjustable or attachable and
detachable pipe connection to and through an intermediate water chamber and
from thence to the generator and main water supply, substantially as specified.
4. The combination with the fire-box and water chamber and water circulating
tubes of the generator of the motor, substantially as described, of a separate and
detachable steam generator provided with means adapted to superheat the steam
generator therein, and to transmit such superheated steam to the water in the
generator of the motor for the purpose of initially heating the water in the
generator of the motor, as herein set forth.
5. A locomotive or motor containing the following elements; namely a water
and steain space for the evolution of steam, means for the introduction of super-
heated steam for heating the water within the generator of the motor to the
required degree, and an auxiliary furnace for maintaining the desired temperature
of the water in said generator, substantially as described.