IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCOMOTIVE SPARK ARRESTERS AND CONSUMERS
Year: 1885

page_text: I, WILLIAM HENRY REYNOLDS of 31 Lombard Street in the City of London,
Esquire do hereby declare the nature of said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
LOCOMOTIVE SPARK ARRESTERS AND CONSUMERS" which Invention has been com-
municated to me from Abroad by Louis J. Doyle of Providence Rhode Island in the
United States of America, to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to locomotive spark arresters and consumers wherein
are employed spark return flues communicating between the smoke arch and fire
box together with live steam jets within said flue and has for its principal object
to cause the live steam jets to operate variably according to the varied conditions
of service. Hitherto the steam jets in the spark flues have derived their live steam
directly from the boiler but according to this Invention the jets are coupled to or
supplied by way of the steam pipe by which the cylinders are supplied with steam
so that the force of the said jets will be always proportioned to the blast induced
by the column of exhaust steam from the cylinders it being obvious that the
quantity of sparks to be controlled and conveyed to the furnace will necessarily
be varied according to the variable vacuum induced in the smoke arch by the
variable blast of the exhaust steam and therefore according to this Invention there
is used no more steam than is actually required from time to time and further as
the steam issuing from said jets is more or less pulsatory in its delivery owing to
the intermitting delivery of steam to the cylinders (especially if the latter be
operating when the throttle valve is partially closed) the said steam is more
effective in moving solid particles of matter than would be a continuous jet
delivering the same quantity of steam in a given time and further the delivery
of steam into the fire box is fairly proportioned to the quantity of solid matter
in transit in the return flues the said matter being particles of hot live coals
yielding much inflammable gas which is always effectively consumed if a proper
proportion of steam be commingled therewith It is preferred to arrange a jet
adjacent to the mouth or smoke arch end of the return flue and a second jet
between the first jet and the furnace the smoke arch having its floor inclined or
being of a funnel shape terminating in a passage to the mouth of the return flue

page_text: so that the first or outer steam jet serves as a driving force for forcing the solid
matter and the gases emenating therefrom into the mouth of the return flue and
the second jet within the flue operates not only as a driving force but also as a
force for inducing a vacuum in the return flue thus providing for a complete
control and the effectual delivery into the fire box of such highly heated solid
matters as cannot pass the usual screen in the smoke arch, and also the gases
thereof. To protect the first named jet nozzle from injury I provide it with a
jacket in which water circulates. For the proper control of sparks while the
engine is at rest or whenever steam is not being supplied to the cylinders there
is coupled to the usual blower pipe a jet which will always operate within the
return flue with more or less force proportioned to the blast of steam under which
the blower may be operated from time to time thus not only avoiding waste of
steam but also avoiding the introduction of steam to the fire box in excess of that
which will best contribute to perfect combustion. There should be check valves
in the jet pipes which connect with the cylinder supply pipe for preventing any
dirt and abrasive matter being drawn into the said supply pipe at such times as
the locomotive may be in motion but with the throttle valve closed. Readily
accessible ports having tight but moveable covers are provided at various points
in the spark return flue to enable the interior to be inspected and cleaned.
agitator is arranged to be reciprocated within the said flue being operated from the
cylinder cock shaft or from a special shaft. The return flue at its forward end
beneath the smoke arch has an opening for the introduction of air whenever it
may be deemed desirable to deliver air to the furnace by way of the return flue
the damper which controls the said opening being operated from the cylinder cock
shaft by preference. To provide against unduly wasteful radiation of heat from
the sparks and cinders while in the smoke arch it is lined with fire brick a smooth
surface being afforded by a sheet iron lining overlying the said brickwork. The
ordinary exhaust pipe projects up through the lower part of the smoke arch.
An

page_text: improvements in Locomotive Spark Arresters and Consumers.
I WILLIAM HENRY REYNOLDS of 31 Lombard Street in the City of London
Esquire do hereby declare the nature of this Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
LOCOMOTIVE SPARK ARRESTERS AND CONSUMERS" which Invention has been com-
municated to me from abroad by Louis J. Doyle of Providence Rhode Island
United States of America Gentleman 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 Locomotive Spark Arresters and Consumers wherein
are employed spark return flues communicating between the smoke arch and fire
box, together with live steam jets within said flue, and has for its principal object
to cause the live steam jets to operate variably according to the varied conditions
of service.
Hitherto the steam jets in the spark flues have derived their live steam directly
from the boiler but according to this Invention the jets are coupled to or supplied
by way of the steam pipe by which the cylinders are supplied with steam, so that
the force of the said jets will be always proportioned to the blast induced by the
column of exhaust steam from the cylinders, it being obvious that the quantity of
sparks to be controlled and conveyed to the furnace will necessarily be varied
according to the variable vacuum induced in the smoke arch by the variable blast
of the exhaust steam, and therefore according to this Invention there is used no
more steam than is actually required from time to time, and further as the steam
issuing from said jets is more or less pulsatory in its delivery owing to the inter-
mitting delivery of steam to the cylinders (especially if the latter be operating
when the throttle valve is partially closed) the said steam is more effective in
moving solid particles of matter than would be a continuous jet delivering the
same quantity of steam in a given time; and further the delivery of steam into the
fire box is fairly proportioned to the quantity of solid matter in transit in the return
flues, the said matter being particles of hot live coals yielding much inflammable
gas which is always effectively consumed if a proper proportion of steam be com-
mingled therewith. It is preferred to arrange a jet adjacent to the mouth or smoke
arch end of the return flue, and a second jet between this first jet and the furnace,
the smoke arch having its floor inclined or being of a funnel shape terminating in
a passage to the mouth of the return flue so that the first or outer steam jet serves
as a driving force for forcing the solid matter and the gases emanating therefrom
into the mouth of the return flue, and the second jet within the flue operates not
only as a driving force but also as a force for inducing a vacuum in the return flue
thus providing for a complete control and the effectual delivery into the fire box of
such highly beated solid matters as cannot pass the usual screen in the smoke arch
and also the gases thereof.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section of part of a locomotive illustrating
these improvements.
Figure 2 illustrates in section the water jacketted steam jet tip employed in the
entrance to the return flue.
Figure 3 illustrates an arrangement of the netting within the smoke arch which
can be employed in lieu of that shewn in Figure 1..
-J.
•

page_text: The boiler is marked A. It may be of any convenient construction. In the
example shewn there are tubes a and a fire box b containing a brick arch e the
sections of which are bound together by T headed bolts c¹.
The lower part of the smoke arch d is funnel shaped and terminates at bottom
in a rearwardly inclined "mouth and at its sides and bottom it is filled in with
fire bricks or clay d² for preventing undue radiation of heat from the interior of
the smoke arch and enabling the heat of and gases in the solid matters to be
retained therein for being utilized when delivered into the fire box. For securing
a smooth surface down which the solid matters can freely slide, a sheet metal
facing d³ overlies the interior surface of the fire brick d³.
Within the smoke arch there is the usual exhaust pipe e connected at e¹ with the
exhaust ports of the cylinders.
The usual netting or screen f is employed for preventing the upward escape of
solid matters from the smoke arch. As shewn in Figure 1 this screen extends
from the front upper end of the smoke arch downward and rearwardly to the flue
sheet or head of the boiler above the tubes a and surrounding the top of the
exhaust pipe e and also surrounding such other pipes as may be situated at this
part or the netting can be of an inverted conical form as illustrated in figure 3 so
that it only requires to be perforated for the passage through it of the exhaust pipe.
The steam pipe C passes at its forward end through the boiler head or front flue
sheet, down through the smoke arch to a position proper for convenient connection
with the cylinders.
The said steam pipe C is provided with a steam pipe h with a jet aperture which
"extends downwards into the mouth d¹ of the funnel shaped lining of the smoke
arch. The jet aperture can be of any suitable dimensions but about one sixteenth
of an inch in diameter will generally give good results. The said jet tip is
provided with a water jacket connected as shewn also in Figure 2 by pipes h²
and h³ with the interior of the boiler so as to secure a circulation of water in the
jacket for preventing heat from injuring the tip whenever steam is not being
supplied thereto.
The spark return flue D constitutes a conduit below the boiler for the passage of
solid matters from the smoke arch to the fire box. This return flue D is connected
to the downwardly and rearwardly inclined mouth d¹ at the bottom of the smoke
arch and at its forward end said return flue is provided with an enlarged mouth i
similar to return flues as heretofore constructed but the said mouth is provided
with a damper or cover ¹ mounted on an arm which projects from the cylinder
cock shaft E, so that when the latter is rocked or rotated as usual the damper
is opened or closed, but special mechanism may be employed for the purpose if
desired to exclude and admit atmospheric air from or to the said flue at the
desired times. The return flue D is provided with a series of openings k each
provided with a sliding or other cover whereby access may be conveniently had to
the interior of the flue for the purposes of inspection or cleaning. The said flue
is also provided with a reciprocating agitator which is in the form of a long
light and curved or waived rod of iron as shewn, coupled to the cylinder cock
shaft E (or the equivalent thereof) so that whenever the latter rocked or rotated
the rod will be reciprocated and cause a stirring up of any solid matter which
may be lodged within the flue The said flue D is provided near its entrance into
the fire box, with a jet pipe m which extends from the steam pipe C from a point
within the smoke arch and passes downward beneath the boiler above the return
flue, and thence downward and into the said flue its jet tip being situated near
the entrance to the fire box and centrally within the flue. The jet of this pipe
may advantageously be about one sixteenth of an inch in diameter.
A driving
force is gained from the jet h and cooperating therewith the jet m gives an
exhausting force both of which are essential for properly controlling and delivering
into the fire box all the solid matters and gases capable of being conveyed from
the smoke arch to the fire box in a fit condition for combustion. For obtaining
the best results the jet pipes are connected to the steam pipe as shown because

page_text: then the operation of the steam jets is more or less pulsatory or intermitting cor-
responding to the intermitting reception of steam by the cylinders, but it is obvious
that many of the advantages of employing these two jets will accrue even if they.
be coupled directly with the steam space of the boiler.
The former arrangement of the jets and m renders them obviously dependent
upon the supply of steam to the cylinders by way of the usual throttle valve and
as the control and conveyance of sparks is desirable at all times there is introduced
into the return flue, a jet n which is coupled to the usual blower pipe o having its
jet at o' adjacent to the top of the exhaust pipe as usual. This jet n when made
with an aperture of a quarter of an inch in diameter gives good results, the:
diameter of the blower jet o¹ being about 3/ths of an inch. With the several jets
thus organised it will be seen that should occasion require it the blower pipe jet n
within the return flue can be employed in co-operation with either or both of the
other jets, or it can be used alone when no steain is required for the cylinders, but
the fire needs draught. With the throttle valve closed and the engine in motion
the pistons of the cylinders would be liable to induce a vacuum within the steam
pipe and a consequent liability of a suction of abrasive matter through the jet
pipes h and m into the valve chest and cylinders, and to obviate this the pipes h
and m are provided with check valves p of any usual construction so that they
open freely to the outward passage of steam and close as freely when a vacuum
has been induced within the steam pipe.
Whilst it is preferred to employ on a Locomotive all of the several features of
this Invention substantially as described and as shewn in Figure 1, it is obvious
that some of them may be employed separately.
In figure 4 I illustrate a construction and arrangement which slightly differs
from that already described, the fire-box band brick arch c being of a different
form from those shewn in figure 1, and an air-duct or air-ducts p¹ are provided
in the fire-box below the furnace door, and said ducts are guarded at the inner
side by a perforated plate or box 23. Opposite the exit aperture of the spark
return flue D in the fire-box, a deflecting plate q is fixed which is V shaped in
horizontal section so as to divide the incoming stream of sparks, and divert their
course toward the two sides of the fire-box. The spark return flue D here shewn
has a laterally widened mouth D¹ shewn in plan in Figure 5 but it has a central
upward inclined mouth-piece for connection as before described with the down-
wardly and rearwardly inclined mouth-piece at the bottom of the smoke arch.
At each side of the flaring mouth D¹ there are openings r for the admission of air
and a central vertical bolts serves as a lateral deflector for the stream of sparks
and prevents their massing unduly at any one point. The bottom of the smoke
arch is inclined downwardly and rearwardly in straight lines instead of being
curved as in figure 1, and the jet pipe h is arranged and located somewhat
differently from that shewn in figure 1, but it is connected to the steam pipe C
substantially as before described. The spark return flue has no gate or damper at
its front end and no agitator. The jet pipe m instead of being connected directly
with the steam pipe C is connected to the steam chest above one of the cylinders
as shewn, thus affording a varying supply of steam precisely as before described,
but requiring less length of pipe and being more readily connected.
The exhaust pipe e, blower pipe o and its jet o¹ are constructed and arranged in
a manner slightly differing from that shewn in figure 1, but the return flue jet n
which is supplied from the said blower pipe is substantially the same as herein-
before described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
First. The combination with a Locomotive Boiler and a spark [return flue con-
necting the smoke arch with the fire box, of a jet or jets admitting steam by
way of the cylinder steam pipe into the said return flue substantially as described.

page_text: .
Second. The combination with a spark return flue leading from the smoke arch
to the fire-box of a locomotive boiler, of two steam jets within said flue, one
operating as a driver for forcing the sparks from the smoke arch into and along the
flue, and the other inducing a vacuum within the flue between said first jet and
the fire-box substantially as described.
Third. The combination with a spark return flue and a steam jet pipe within the
entrance to said flue, of a water jacket for the tip of said jet pipe substantially as
described.
Fourth. The combination with a locomotive boiler and a spark return flue below
said boiler entering the fire-box, of a funnel shaped smoke arch, communicating
with the return flue by a downwardly and rearwardly inclined passage, and the
exhaust pipe projecting upwardly through the bottom of the smoke arch sub-
stantially as described.
Fifth. The combination with a Locomotive Boiler, of a spark return flue below
said boiler entering the fire-box, and a funnel shaped smoke arch communicating
with the return flue by a downwardly and rearwardly inclined passage, of a live
steam jet pipe situated within the said funuel mouth substantially as described.
Sixth. The combination with the boiler and a spark return flue of a funnel
shaped smoke arch lined with or protected by fire-brick arranged substantially as
described for preventing undue radiation and loss of heat from solid matters while
in the smoke arch, and enabling the said heat to be utilized in the fire-box of the
boiler as set forth.
Seventh. The combination with the Locomotive Boiler spark return flue and
blower pipe, of a steam jet pipe within the return flue, and communicating with
the blower pipe substantially as described, whereby the return flue can be made to
properly operate, whether the Locomotive is at rest or in motion as set forth.
Eighth. The combination with a spark return flue leading from the smoke arch
to the fire-box, and situated below the main portion of the boiler of a Locomotive,
and provided with an open front end, of a damper or gate, at its entrance which is
coupled to a rotating or rocking shaft operated substantially as described for
variably admitting atmospheric air, to the said flue and thence to the fire-box as
set forth.
Ninth. The combination with a spark return flue situated below a Locomotive
boiler, of an agitating rod within the said flue and actuated substantially as and
for the purposes specified.
Tenth. The combination with a Locomotive Boiler, of a spark return flue leading
from the smoke arch to the fire-box above the grate, and provided with a series of
openings at various points of its length, and with moveable covers for said openings
substantially as and for the purpose herein before described.
Eleventh. The combination of the spark return flue, the steam jet within the
said flue supplied by steam by way of the cylinder steam-pipe, and provided with
a check valve which opens freely to the outward passage of steam, but closes under
the influence of a vacuum within the steam pipe substantially as and for the
purpose herein before described.