IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCOMOTIVES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frank Wirth, of the Firm of Wirth and Company, Patent
Agency, of Frankfort-on-the-Main, in the Empire of Germany, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCOMOTIVES." A communication from Fredrick
Reimherr, residing at Constantinople.
Sealed the 4th July 1876, and dated the 28th January 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frank Wirth at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 28th January 1876.
FRANK WIRTH, of the Firm of Wirth and Company, Patent Agency, of Frank-
fort-on-the-Main, in the Empire of Germany. "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCOMOTIVES."
A communication.
It is one of the most important considerations in the construction of locomotives
to protect the fire-box top against the pressure exercised on it. A steam pressure
of 8 atmospheres on the top of a fire-box 14 metres long and 1:1 metres wide is
130,000 kilogrammes. But if a cylinder of almost equal diameter to the breadth
of the fire-box top is placed vertically between the outer and inner fire-box this
cylinder will reduce the pressure on the top of the fire-box one half, and if tho
cylinder he placed so that its foremost side stands almost over the flue plate it will
naturally greatly diminish the downward pressure on the same.
The side walls and the back wall are to be united with the said cylinder by
means of fish plates. The top back plate of the fire-box is supported by stays in
the usual manner. This construction can also be adapted to the boilers when the
upper fire-box top is not flat but semi-circular, and can be applied to all locomotives
without taking out the fire-box. By this construction another end is attained
which is of great value in the firing of locomotives.
By means of a fireproof clay cylinder air is introduced into the fire-box, by which
arrangement a complete combustion and great saving of combustibles are attained;
inferior coal can also be burnt by this arrangement. A further advantage is that
the opening of the blast pipe can be enlarged and the counterpressure on the piston
thereby diminished.
If the speed of the train is 8 meters per second the inner diameter of the fire-
clay cylinder will be 055 metres, and in consequence the cross section of the same
is 0,2375 cubic metres, then 0,2375 x 8 = 19000 cubic metres per second and
1.9, × 3600 = 6840 cubic metres of air per hour are introduced by the cylinder

page_text: into the fire-box. If a locomotive consumes 12 kilogrammes of coals per kilometer
and 22 5 kilogramines 17 3 cubic metres of air are wanted for burning one kilo-
gramme of coals, at a velocity of 8 metres per second, 6228 cubic meters of air are
wanted per hour for burning 360 kilogrammes of coals. This quantity of air is
admitted into the fire-box, and does not weaken the effect by a too great pressure
on the blast pipe. The introduced air is heated by tlie fireproof cylinder so that
the burning gases are not cooled.
The cylinder is made of boiler plate and united with the inner and outer fire-box
by angle irons. For supporting the said cylinder and the side walls of the outer
fire-box a T iron hoop and angle iron are used, and the side walls and the back
wall of the outer fire-box are united by lashes and bolts. In this cylinder another
cylinder of fire-clay is suspended; the latter is cut slanting at its lower end and is
perforated for letting out the air. For heating the external air as it enters the
fire-box four perforated plates of fire-clay are inserted in the cylinder. These
plates rest on the shoulders fixed in the cylinder. To prevent the turning of the
cylinder the same has two lugs inserted between the riveted angle irons. On the
iron cylinder is placed a cast-iron casing, on which slides a circular plate. This
plate is provided with openings corresponding with the openings in the casing, and
is moved by a lever which is provided with a catch fitting into a segment. The
funnel-shaped tube catches the air when the locomotive is in motion and may be
turned in any direction.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Frank Wirth in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 14th July 1876.
FRANK WIRTH, of the Firm of Wirth and Company, Patent Agency, of Frank-
fort-on-the-Main, in the Empire of Germany. "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCOMOTIVES."
A communication from Fredrick Reimherr, a person resident at Constantinople.
"
It is one of the most important considerations in the construction of locomotives
to protect the fire-box top against the pressure exerted on it. A steam pressure of
8%, atmospheres on the top of a fire-box 14 metres long and 1.1 metres wide is
130,900 kilogrammes. But if a cylinder of a diameter almost equal to the breadth
of the fire-box top is placed vertically between the outer and inner fire-box, this
cylinder will reduce the pressure on the top of the fire-box one half, and if the
cylinder be so placed that its front side stands almost over the flue plate it will
naturally greatly diminish the downward pressure on the same.
A further enumeration of the advantages resulting from this arrangement is not
required. The Drawing fully explains the manner in which the side walls and the
back wall are to be united with the said cylinder by incans of fish plates. The top
back plate of the fire-box is supported by stays in the usual manner.
This con
struction can also be adapted to boilers when the upper fire-box top is not flat but
semi-circular, and can be applied to all locomotives without taking out the fire-box.
By this construction another end is attained which is of great value in the firing of
locomotives.
By means of a fireproof clay cylinder air is introduced into the fire-box, by which
arrangement a complete combustion and great saving of combustibles are attained;
moreover, bad coal can be burnt by this arrangement. A further advantage is that
the opening of the blast pipe can be enlarged, and by this means the counter-
pressure on the piston diminished.
If the speed of the train is 8 metres per second, and the inner diameter of the
fire-clay cylinder 0.55 metres, the cross section of the same is 0 2375 cubic metres,
then 0 2375 × S 1.9000 cubic metres per second and 1.9 × 3600 = 6840
cubic metres of air per hour are introduced by the cylinder into the fire-box. If a
locomotive consumes 12 kilogrammes of coal per kilometer and 22 5 kilogrammes
173 cubic metres of air are wanted for burning one kilogramme of coals, at a

page_text: velocity of S metres per second, 6228 cubic metres of air are wanted per hour for
burning 360 kilogrammes of coals. This quantity of air is lead into the fire-box,
and it does not weaken the effect of the engine by a too great pressure on the blast
pipe. The air thus introduced is heated by the fireproof cylinder so that the burn-
ing gases are not cooled.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING,
The cylinder a is made of boiler plate and united with the inner and outer fire-
box by angle irons band c. For supporting the said cylinder and the side walls of
the outer fire-box a T iron hoop d and an angle iron c are used and the side walls
and the back wall of the outer fire-box are united by fish plates and bolts. In this
cylinder another cylinder of fire-clay is suspended; the latter is cut obliquely at its
lower end and is perforated for permitting the escape of air. For heating the
external air as it enters the fire-box four perforated plates g of fireproof clay are
inserted in the cylinder at suitable distances apart. These plates rest on the
shoulders fixed in the cylinder. To prevent the turning of the cylinder the same
has two lugs inserted between the riveted angle irons . On the iron cylinder a
is placed a cast-iron casing, on which slides a circular plate m; this plate is
provided with openings corresponding with the openings in the casing, and is
inoved by a lever n which is provided with a catch fitting into a segment. The
funnel-shaped tube o catches the air when the locomotive is in motion and may be
turned in any direction.
Having thus fully described the said Invention, as communicated to me, and the
manner of performing the same, I wish it understood that I claim,—
First. The cylinder a and the fireproof cylinder in combination with a loco-
motive fire-box, as above described.
Second. The cylinder fin combination with the fireproof plates g, in the manner
and for the purpose set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frank Wirth, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Thirtieth day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-six,
FRANK WIRTH. (L.S.)