Improvements in or relating to Apparatus for Preventing Explosions in Steam Boilers.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Mar., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 21st Dec., 1895-Accepted, 7th Mar., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Apparatus for Preventing Explosions
in Steam Boilers.
1, ROBERT SWINTON, of 15 Abbey Street, Ilkeston, in the County of Derby,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to apparatus for automatically putting the interior of the
boiler in communication with the flue and delivering water, or steam and water, on
to the fire and extinguishing it when the water in the boiler falls below a safe
working level. The apparatus may also be adapted so as to permit the escape of
steam into the flue when the pressure exceeds a certain point irrespective of the
water level.
The body of the apparatus, which is fixed in the interior of the boiler, is formed
by a preferably cylindrical casing of a suitable length, carried by preferably two
stays secured to the crown of the boiler so that its upper end is above and its
lower end below the two extreme points of the working level of the water.
The lower end of this casing is connected by a pipe to the flue or flues and at
the point of delivery into the flue this pipe may be formed so as to spread
the water over the fire, or be fitted with a suitable arrangement for this purpose.
The upper end of the cylindrical casing is provided with a valve seat, and is
closed by a valve fitting on to this seat, contained in an outer casing extending to
near the lower end of, and enclosing the cylindrical casing.
The valve and outer casing are connected to a lever, which may be pivotted
to one of the supporting stays; this lever is provided at one end with a float
formed preferably of firebrick or other suitable material, and at the other end with
an adjustible counter-weight or weights for assisting the float to hold the valve on
the seat.
When the water falls below a predetermined point, it will fail to support the
float in its normal position, and the latter falling will lift the valve from its seat.
Water, or steam and water, will then be able to ascend the outer casing and pass
into the cylindrical casing, and from thence to the flue, and be delivered on to the
fire.
In order to provide for the escape of steam when the pressure exceeds a certain
point, above the valve is a casing, or extension of the lower external casing, which
is put into communication with the inner cylindrical casing hereinbefore described
by a preferably central opening in the valve.
This opening is closed by a preferably inverted valve fitting on to a suitable
seat, on which it is held by a spring of the requisite strength, contained in the
upper part of the upper casing.
Steam is admitted into the upper casing by lateral openings above the valve, and.
if it exceeds the pressure to which the spring is adjusted, the valve is forced
downwards and steam escapes into the cylindrical casing and from thence passes to
the flue.
The space occupied by the spring may be cut off by a partition, above the
lateral openings, provided with an opening for the passage of the valve spindle.
Dated this 20th day of March 1895.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in or relating to Apparatus for Preventing Explosions
in Steam Boilers.
I, ROBERT SWINTON, of 15 Abbey Street, Ilkeston, in the County of Derby,
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 relates to apparatus for automatically putting the interior of the
boiler in communication with the flue; and delivering water, or steam and water,
on to and extinguishing the fire or fires, when the water in the boiler falls below
a safe working level.
The apparatus may also be adapted so as to permit the escape of steam into the
flue when the pressure exceeds a certain limit, irrespective of the water level.
The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings
in which,
Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation showing my improved apparatus applied to a
boiler of the Lancashire or Cornish type, parts only of the latter being shown.
Fig. 2 is a plan of the apparatus.
Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation showing my apparatus as constructed without the
steam pressure valve.
Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the spreader at the end of the delivery pipe.
Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.
The body or fixed part of the apparatus, (see Figs. 1 & 2) which like the
movable parts hereinafter described is placed in the interior of the boiler A as
shown, is formed preferably by a vertical cylindrical tube B of a suitable length.
This tube B is carried by two vertical stays CC the upper ends of which are
secured to the crown A¹ of the boiler, and their lower ends to lugs B₁ on the
tube B.
The position of the tube B, is adjusted so that its upper end is above and its
lower end below the two extreme points of the working level of the water, the
mean working level being indicated by the dotted lines D D.
The lower end of the tube B is connected by independent pipes E to each of
the boiler flues, if there are more than one, the point of delivery being arranged
near the fore end of the flues as shown. Where the pipe E enters the flue it is
fitted with a spreader E' (Fig. 1 & 4) arranged so as to discharge the water, or
steam and water, over the whole of the fire.
The upper end of the tube B is normally closed by a valve F fitting on to a
seat B² on the upper end of the tube B, this valve F is contained in an outer
casing G extending to near the lower end of, and enclosing the tube B.
The valve casing G is connected at H to a lever I, which is pivotted at I¹ to
the vertical stay C. At the end I of the lever I is connected a float J formed
preferably of burnt fireclay or other suitable material, and at the reverse end I³
are one or more counterweights K for assisting the float J to hold the valve F on
the seat B².
When the water falls below the normal position of the float J, the said float will
fall with it and raise the valve F, from the seat B³, thus opening a communication
between the interior of the boiler and the flue.
By reason of the lower open end of the valve casing G being close to or dipping
below the water level, water or steam and water will ascend the said casing, pass
the valve F into the tube B, and be carried thence by the pipe E to the fine and
be delivered by the spreader E' on to the fire or fires, which are thus immediately
extinguished.
In order to provide for the escape of steam when the pressure exceeds a certain

page_text: point (which is not provided for in the arrangement shown in Fig. 3,) above the
valve casing G (Fig. 1) is a casing or extension L of the valve casing G above
the valve F. This casing L is put into communication with the lower part of the
casing G by an opening M in the valve F.
Above the opening M is an inverted valve N fitting on to a seat N¹ formed on
the lower part of the casing L. The valve N is held on the seat N₁ by a spring O,
of the requisite strength, contained in the casing N, and compressed between the
partition P which is formed with an opening for the valve spindle N2, and a
washer N3 on the upper end of the valve spindle.
Steam is admitted above the valve N. by lateral openings Q in the casing L
below the partition P, and when the pressure exceeds that to which the spring O
is adjusted, the valve N is forced downwards and steam will escape into the tube B
and pass along the pipe E into the flue.
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. In apparatus for preventing explosions in steam boilers the combination with
a tube such as B, arranged in the interior of the boiler with its upper end above
the water level and its lower end in communication with the flue or exterior of the
boiler of a valve F, and casing such as G, the latter having its lower end at or
near the low water level substantially as described and illustrated in the accom-
panying drawings.
2. In apparatus for preventing explosions in steam boilers the combination with
a tube such as B, in the interior of the boiler and having communication with the
flue or exterior of the boiler of a valve F, valve casing such as G, and float J,
substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
3. In apparatus for preventing explosions in steam boilers the combination with
a tube such as B, on the interior of the boiler and having communication with the
flue or exterior of the boiler of a valve F, valve casing such as G, lever I, and
float J, substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
4. In apparatus for preventing explosions in steam boilers the combination with
a tube such as B, in the interior of the boiler and having communication with the
flue or exterior of the boiler and a valve F, formed with an opening M, of an
inverted valve N, seat N', and spring such as O, substantially as described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
5. In apparatus for preventing explosions in steam boilers the combination with
a tube such as B, in the interior of the boiler and having communication with the
flue or exterior of the boiler and a valve F, formed with an opening M, of an
inverted valve N, scat N', spring O, and casing L, substantially as described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
6. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the complete
apparatus for preventing explosions in steam boilers substantially as herein
described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated thin 10th day of December 1895
ROBERT SWINTON.
Boult & Wade,
Agents for the Applicant.