Improvements in Stoppers for Boiler or other Tubes.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Mar., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 4th Dec., 1889--Accepted, 1st Mar., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Stoppers for Boiler or other Tubes.
I, GEORGE MARTIN KEY of 348 Manchester Road Cubitts Town Poplar E.
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object Improvements in Tube Stoppers for Boilers or other
Tubes that have burst or become leaky so that they can be used without risk to the
Engineer or operator and be rapidly and effectively acted upon.
One particular feature in connection with my Invention is that in the case of a
burst or fractured tube requiring to be stopped, that by forcing the stopper into the
tube at the smoke box or uptake end and to the extent of its length it is caused to
instantly and completely cut off the rush of steam and water toward the operator,
which is instead diverted for the instant toward the combustion chamber end, until
the operation of tightening up is fully completed when both ends are securely
sealed.
The method I propose to adopt to effect this purpose is as follows, I employ a
central rod having a nut screwed on one end thereof to form a stop, and form the
other end of same square with a Whitworth thread thereon, and at about its extremity
formed either square or otherwise for a wrench or key to fit on or into it. I also use
a barrel or tube which I term the "compression" tube, and four collars of either
cast or malleable iron by preference, which are turned down in such a way as to allow
of four rings or washers taking thereon, which would be made of such a material as
to be capable to withstand very great heat and pressure and at the same time be of
sufficient yielding power to readily expand into position within the tube, and I may
employ such material for the purpose as prepared from either vulcanized india rubber
or a mixture thereof with asbestos or other material or materials or such as is known
as " Woodite "
or of metal. The inner collars being tapered inwards having three or
four ribs and leaving a recess for the "compression "tube to slip in or be screwed
in. These ribs are to prevent obstruction in passing same into the tube.
These rings or washers are so moulded or 'shaped as to present a concave and
convex surface. I also place between each pair a thin metal or other washer to form
a position plate for the faces of the rings or washers to work against.
I would also propose to use a shield or guard, this shield or guard may be made in
such a way as to be immediately placed into position by passing it over the lock nut,
the lock nut having a stop and the shield or guard formed in such a way as to be
fixed bayonet fashion, or action, over it.
I may also use a key with three or more handles or spokes to tighten up the whole
apparatus and to save the central rod from turning I use a wrench or key.
Dal
CAL
11.000
GEORGE MARTIN KEY.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Stoppers for Boiler or other Tubes.
GEORGE MARTIN KEY 348 Manchester Road Isle of Dogs County of Middlesex
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 :-
This Invention has for its object Improvements in Tube Stoppers for Boiler or
other Tubes that have burst or become leaky, so that they can be used without 'risk
to the Engineer or Operator & be rapidly & effectively acted upon.

page_text: Referring to the drawings
Figure 1 is a full plan of my Invention shewing Stopper in tube of Boiler ready to
be operated upon.
Figure 2 is a full sectional view of Stopper in Boiler Tube of Fig. 1.
A represents central rod with stop at one end & the other end is screwed with a
Whitworth thread & squared beyond to suit a wrench or spanner.
B. 1. is an iron collar, passed over rod A. This collar is. turned down in such a
way, so as to allow C. 1. which is made of woodite or whaleite or a mixture of asbestos
and india rubber to be placed thereon, this having convex & concave surfaces
with bevelled edges, thus by tightening up brings the bevels to a surface in the
tube.
B. 2. is an iron collar, similar to B. 1. with C. 2. which is made of woodite whalite
or a mixture of asbestos and india rubber placed thereon, with convex & concave
surfaces.
B. 3. is an iron collar turned down similar to B. 2, to allow C. 3. which is made of
woodite whaleite or asbestos and rubber to be placed thereon, with convex & concave
surfaces. This collar has three or more ribs cast. thereon, as shewn in drawing, to
prevent obstruction in passing stopper into tube.
CI
B. 4. is an iron collar, similar to B. 3. to allow C. 4. which is made of woodite
whaleite or a mixture of asbestos and india rubber to be placed thereon, with convex &
concave surfaces, similar to C 1. C 2 & C3, also bevelled edges. This collar is
provided with a check or stop flange, marked thus: B. 5.
D. 1. is an iron plate or disc, which is placed between C1 & C 2. which I designate
a position plate.
D. 2. is another iron plate or disc, which is placed between C. 3 & C. 4, which I
designate a position plate to prevent the bevelled edges from over lapping each
other.
E. is a tube or distance piece, that fits into B 2 & B 3.
F 1. F 2. F 3 & F 4. are rubber rings, placed on either side of D 1 & D. 2. which
are position plates.
G. is a nut, tapped to screw on central rod A.
H. is a stop pin, screwed into nut G.
1. is a guard, which has a slot J, which enables I. to be placed on nut G bayonet
fashion.
Fig. 3. is a plan of my single ended stopper.
Fig. 4. is a sectional plan of Fig. 3.
A. is the central rod, with a stop or nut at its end, screwed & squared beyond at the
other end, similar to rod A Fig. 2.
B 1. is an iron collar turned down, similar to B 1. Fig. 2, which is placed thereon
à disc, with convex & concave surfaces with bevelled edges. Which is made of
woodite whaleite or asbestos and india rubber.
B 4. is an iron collar similar to B 1, to allow C 4 to be placed thereon.
B 5. is a check or stop flange.
C1 & C 4. are discs, made of woodite whaleite or asbestos and india rubber with
convex & concave surfaces & bevelled edges. D 1 being placed between C1 & C 4.
to prevent the bevelled edges from over lapping each other.
F1 & F 2. are india rubber rings, placed on either side of D 1. position
plate.
G. is a nut, tapped to suit central rod, A.
Fig. 5. is nut G. one half (bottom) being round with collar thereon, top half is
squared, to suit any class of spanner or wrench. On the round or lower half, is the
nipple H.
Fi
ig. 6. is the guard or shield I, with slot J.
Fig. 7. is plan & elevation of B. 4 & 5.
Fig. 8. is plan & elevation of B. 3.
3
Fig. 9. & 9 is a plan & elevation of my convex & concave surfaces or discs, with

page_text: Fig. 10. is a plan & elevation of my plates, D 1 & D 2.
Upon reference to my drawings, it will be seen, how, according to my Invention,
the desired object is accomplished, by the device; such as that illustrated & defined
by letters & figures on my drawings; that is to say central rod A, in common with
other rods. A stop being on the end of rod, I place my collar B 1; which is placed
thereon C 1. I then place D. 1 & collar B. 2 with C2 thereon. F 1 & F 2 on
either side of D. 1. Passing tube E. (in common with other tubes), over central
rod, A, it slips into collar B. 2. By slipping collar B 3. over central rod A. slips
over tube E. Collar B. 3. having ( 3, thereon, D 2. being passed over rod A.
Collar B. 4 with collar B 5. which is a stop or check flange, which will determine
the length of tube & likewise will also prevent the operator from inserting the
stopper beyond its destination & will thus prove the joint to be made on the tube
plate, nut G being screwed on, guard I being in position, it will be plainly trace-
able by the letters & figures as described. By the screwing up of the nut a
compressive action will immediately take place. It will be noticed that B. 5 caps
the mouth of tube, which immediately prevents the outrush of smoke, steam &
water towards the operator, thus with guard combined affording a much safer
operation.
It will be noticed that in tightening up the nut, G. the end of stopper in combus-
tion chamber and the end in smoke box, will be compressed which causes the
woodite whaleite or asbestos and india rubber discs with convex and concave
surfaces and bevelled edges to make a sound steam tight joint at both ends
of tube.
I also wish it to be understood that the apparatus shewn in Fig. 3 & 4 will
act in a similar way as that shewn in Fig. 2 & will be a most effective stopper
for stopping ships stern tubes, single ended pipes for gas, water & other
purposes.
I wish it distinctly understood, what I claim as my Invention is the construc-
tion & arrangement of iron collars, as shown in my Drawings concave & convex
shaped discs with bevelled edges made of woodite whaleite or asbestos and india
rubber position plates, rubber rings also guard & nut. My Invention is not
confined to the precise detail dimensions & particulars illustrated in my drawings.
Having now particularly described & 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;
Firstly. Effecting the closing & sealing of burst boiler tubes & the like of
same.
Secondly. The use of woodite, whaleite, asbestos, & vulcanized rubber with other
material or materials.
Thirdly. That is formed in such a shape as convex & concave surfaces with
bevelled edges or its equivalent arranged in manner such as herein set forth &
illustrated & operating for the purposes specified.
Fourthly. The construction & arrangement as herein set forth & as illustrated
in the accompanying drawings.
In Witness whereof I, the said George Martin Key, have hereunto set my
hand this Fourth day of December, in the year of Our Lord, one thousand,
eight hundred & eighty nine.
11
GEORGE MARTIN KEY,