Improvements in or connected with Separating Sparks and Solid Particles from Gases Discharged from Steam Generators.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Separating Sparks and Solid
Particles from Gases Discharged from Steam Generators.
I, JOHN THOM, of 237, West George Street, Glasgow, in the County of Lanark,
Consulting Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention has reference to means for separating sparks and solid particles from
the gases delivered from steam generators.
According to this invention, the gases and smoke, delivered from the steam
generator, are given a centrifugal action within the funnel or chimney, or uptake;
and, by means of this centrifugal action, and suitable apertures in the side of the
funnel, the sparks, and solid matters contained in it, (the smoke and gases) are
thrown to one side, and pass out of the funnel, through these openings, into a
receptacle or receiving chainber, outside.
In apparatus or construction of parts, according to this invention, the funnel of
the steam generator is provided internally, with a spiral diaphragm, web, or
equivalent formation, over and about which the smoke and gases discharged from
the steam generator pass; while, in the slides of the chimney, there are slits or
openings, which, in some cases, have projecting parts above them; and then, outside
the chimney, there is a second casing, with an opening or door at the lower end;
while the upper end, that is the top of the annular space, is open; or, in some cases,
this part may be closed.
This construction may be extended from the lower part to the upper part of
the funnel, or, of a portion only of the funnel; and the spiral diaphragm, or web, or
inclined devices, or other parts for producing the centrifugal action of the gases, may
be in double or single sets.
In one case, the spiral or centrifugal device is adapted to fit inside the ordinary
funnel; in which case, openings are provided in it above the device, and a chamber is
provided outside same, into which the ashes pass. This chamber may be within the
outer skin or shell of the main funnel; while the spiral device is formed round the
central donkey funnel.
In another case, the spiral device or vanes are made larger in diameter than the
funnel proper, and placed below it; while the collecting chamber is disposed round
the device, and the lower end of the main funnel.
According to a further modification, the vanes or blades of the device are made
inore or less pear shaped, that is they are lower at the centre than at the periphery.
The effect of this is, that the ashes strike the blade at an angle, and in such a manner
as to cause them to be thrown centrifugally, and thereby to assist in their separation
from the gases and collection.

page_text: Improvements in or connected with Separating Sparks and Solid
Particles from Gases Discharged from Steam Generators.
I, JOHN THOM, of 237, West George Street, Glasgow, in the County of Lanark,
Consulting 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 reference more particularly to means in connection with, or
the construction of funnels of steam generators of ships, whereby the solid
particles, such as cinders, sparks, etcetera, delivered from the generators to the
funnels are separated from the gases in conjunction with which they pass from the
generators, and are collected in and prevented from being carried out and discharged
from the funnel tops.
The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings which
illustrate it;
Figure 1 of the drawings being a vertical section shewing a steam ship funnel
provided with the improvements; and Figure 2 a plan in section taken through the
line A A Figure 1; while Figure 3 shews a modification, in sectional elevation.
The funnel shewn may be assumed to be supported upon the uptake or smoke box
of the boiler, of which x may be taken to be the upper plate. The lower part of the
funnel proper consists of a tube a; and the upper part b, also consists of a tube, and
this may be taken to represent the normal size, and constitutes the main body or
portion of the internal tube of the funnel; but the lower tube a is of larger diameter
than that of b. The lower edge of the part 6 is disposed some distance above the
upper edge of a.
Round the lower part of the part b, and round the part a, and
within the space between b and c, there is a tubular casing c, closed at the top
and bottom, and forming an annular chamber about these parts. And then again
outside of this chamber, and the upper part b, there is a cylinder d of even
diameter throughout. The central tube e shewn in these figures represents a funnel
within the main funnel, it being that used in connection with a donkey boiler, as
commonly employed in ships.
Within the lower part a there is a spiral diaphragm or web f, consisting of two
plates or blades extending between the upper edge of a, and the donkey boiler
funnel e, and carried down in spiral form, so far that they together make a spiral
diaphragm having one half a revolution in the tube a.
At the lower part of the annular chamber or cylinder c, there is a shoot h,
through which the matters deposited in this annular chamber can be taken
away.
In action, the gases and sinoke, sparks, cinders, etcetera, as delivered from the
steam generator, enter the tube a of the funnel directly on leaving the smoke box,
and pass up through this part, in a spiral direction, and thus a centrifugal movement
is imparted to both the gases and solids; with the result that as they are
discharged or liberated from the upper end of the part a, the inertia of momentum
of the solid and heavier matters, causes them to continue in the same direction, and
to pass into the space outside a, which they are free to do, by way of the gap between
the upper end of a and the lower end of b; and this being out of the line of draught
up the portion b of the funnel, they fall down, and are collected in the annular
chamber, while the gases and smoke pass on, and, ridded of solid and heavier
matters of the kind referred to, pass on upwards through b.
The lower portion a is made of larger diameter than the upper portion b as stated.
By this construction, compensation for the obstruction due to the presence of the

page_text: spiral diaphragms f, is provided, and the draught is not impeded or impaired;
and also, the likelihood of the smaller solid cinders, ash, etcetera, as they pass
between the upper edge of a and the lower edge of 6 being carried up with the
gases into b, is diminished.
The construction described may be provided in duplicate, one above the other,
if desired; and the blades or diaphragms fare, according to a modification, so
constructed that their inner edges at the centre, where they touch the outer edge
of e, are at a lower level than the outer edges, forming a kind of conical spiral
diaphragm, whereby the ashes, etcetera, strike the blades or diaphragms at an angle
and are caused to be thrown centrifugally towards a thereby assisting their separation
from the gases.
In the modification shewn in Figure 3, the lower portion or tube a is made
of the same diameter as the upper part b; while outside this tube and the lower
part of b, and within the outer cylinder d, the casing c, substantially as set forth
with reference to Figures 1 and 2, is provided. The construction, however, set forth
with reference to and shewn in Figures 1 and 2 may be used with considerable
advantage, and is considerably more efficient than that just described, inasmuch as
the area for the rising gases through the funnel, and the draught generally, is not
diminished, whereas in the construction in Figure 3 it is somewhat cramped and
interfered with.
This invention is specially applicable to all ships where the boilers are hardworked,
and with a strong draught, and where it is desired to emit no sparks or ashes as in
war ships and craft, and passenger vessels.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1. The herein described construction of steam generator funnel, comprising within
it, at the lower part, a tubular portion a, having an internal spiral diaphragm or
vanes f; a space between the upper edge of a and the lower edge of b; and an
enclosing case c, forming a collecting chamber round the said parts; substantially
as set forth.
2. The herein described construction of steam generator funnel, namely a funnel
having at the lower part a tubular part a, with an internal spiral diaphragm or
vanes f, and being larger than the upper funnel portion proper, b; and a space
between the upper edge of the part a, and the lower edge of b; substantially as and
for the purposes set forth.
Dated this 2nd day of M... 1000
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON,
Applicant's Patent Agents, 15, Water Street, Liverpool.