Improvements in the Production of Induced Draught and the Avoid- ance of Smoke in Marine Boiler Furnaces and Land Furnaces in some cases.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Feb., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 15th Nov., 1898-Accepted, 31st Dec., 1898
Improvements in the Production of Induced Draught and the Avoid-
ance of Smoke in Marine Boiler Furnaces and Land Furnaces in
some cases.
I, BENJAMIN SAMUEL WESTON, Engineer, of 5, Parkholme Road, Dalston, in the
County of London, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
-
High speed in steam vessels being the production and accompaniment of forced
or induced draught, I employ the former to produce the latter, using the open
stokehold system, this I carry out by means of a pipe running through the ship
practically from stem to stern, the ends passing out as low down as may be con-
venient and the centre being raised as near as practicable to the smoke box, or that
point where the heated products of combustion leave the furnace and enter the
funnel (which is here provided with a damper) I connect the smoke box to the
pipe at or near its highest point, by means of a smoke condensing box of suitable
length, provided with the means of controlling the discharge of water through it,
from the forward to the after half of the pipe, in the form of a spray, douche, dashes,
injector, inspirator or otherwise, the whole constituting a system of water draught.
The action is as follows:-The funnel damper is open until the speed of the vessel
produces the necessary suction in the aft pipe and pressure in the forward one,
when it is closed and the products of combustion are drawn through the aft pipe
from the box where they have been saturated and condensed by the discharge of
water from the forward pipe, thus there are four forces each producing draught,
viz: Continuous reduction in the volume of the products, increase of gravity,
the suction of the stern pipe and the discharge of water through it.
When going astern the draught action is the same, although reversed as to
direction through pipes from inlet to outlet, where devices are provided for regu-
lating the suction or pressure, as also at the condenser box and for reversing the
water discharge action through it. To reduce the size of the pipes at the stem
and stern they may be taken through with branches.
In many cases the disposition of the furnaces and the structure of the ship,
would necessitate the pipes being carried horizontally and even outside the ship,
in pipes preferably of D section, from near the ends and taken up with easy bends
and nearly vertical pipes to the condenser box, which may be extended if neces-
sary to meet them. Where from any cause, the stem and stern pipes cannot be
introduced into a vessel as described, (or in the case of land furnaces) I seek to
provide the conditions of suction by mechanical means thus:-A centrifugal fan
or pump acting vertically, is attached to the base of the condenser box, about or
below the water line in such a manner that as the products are drawn through its
centre they are accompanied by the discharge of water as before mentioned, there
being a ring casing so placed as to prevent the return of the products after leaving
the edge of the fan, the pipes to which, for the flow of water through it, are taken
(in the case of the vessel) through the side at the smallest angle possible, the

page_text: openings being fitted with regulating flaps pointing fore and aft, to adjust the
flow of the water at inlet and outlet, if these are of sufficient capacity and the water
taken in at a tangent to the side of a circular casing and discharged from the
centre at the bottom, the products being led into the vortex, the fan may be dis-
pensed with. The higher part of the condenser box may have a casing and cross
tubes to act as a steam superhéater or feed water heater. The pipes, owing to
the volume of water passing through them, may be connected with the steam
condensers.
The stern pipe may be used to eject water in case of leakage.
It will be evident, that with sufficient water and fall, this system is applicable
to land furnaces.
1000
Improvements in the Production of Induced Draught and the Avoid-
ance of Smoke in Marine Boiler Furnaces and Land Furnaces in
some cases.
I, BENJAMIN SAMUEL WESTON, Engineer, of 5, l'arkholme Road, Dalston, in the
County of London, 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:
I seek by the means herein described the avoidance of smoke in marine
furnaces, by a system of water draught, in which the products of combustion,
condensed and saturated by water treatment are reduced to their smallest volume,
and are, by the speed of the vessel, drawn through pipes at the stern and dis-
charged into the water.
Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1, shows side view partly in section, of a
boat fitted to illustrate the means, by which the above object is carried out,
Fig. 2, represents a cross section on the line AB, looking from aft fprward.
Fig. 3, is a half plan, where, for the purpose of clearness of illustrations, the pipes
are shown outside the deck line, instead of following the contour of the ships
side, at stem and stern. Figs. 1, 2 & 3, show the shaped pipe, carried out-
side the ship from stem to stern, marked C, the water entering at the forward
end D, which may be fitted with a valve, there is a valve E, situated at the
junction of the branch pipe F, capable of regulating, or closing the passages of
both pipes, C & F, the F pipe, conveys water to the chamber G, which is fitted in
this case, with a perforated bottom, through which, a spray of water may pass,
discharging into the condenser box H, which receives the products of combus-
tion, through the flue I, from the smoke box K and forming a junction at L,
with the stern pipe M, terminates in an open end at N, the action being as
follows:-
Assuming that the forward valve, at the end D, is open and the pipe, C, M, full
of water, which, upon the necessary speed being attained, will be put in rapid
motion sternwards, due to the momentum of the ship, the damper J, being now
opened and the valve E moved, opening the pipe F and closing C, this shutting
off of the water, in the pipe C, does not stop the rush of water in M, passing out
at N, because a vent has been provided through L, by the opening of the damper
at J.
In relation to the action, we may now consider the following proposition:
The motion of a body through any medium, produces an increase of pressure in

page_text: hat medium, immediately in front of the body and a decrease in that following,
his inequality increasing, with the rapidity of the motion of the body through
the medium, the action in this case, of the cleavage of the water, due to the
contour of the ship, stem and stern, does not effect this problem, seeing, that
the stern pipe ends abruptly at N, where this decrease of pressure produces
suction, by the rapidity with which the stern pipe passes through the water and
it therefore follows, that if we conically expand the pipe at N, we augment this
suction, by increasing the inability of the water, to meet immediately behind the
open end of the pipe at N and thus, the decrease of pressure, or the vacuum
produced, seeks to reinstate an equilibrium, by drawing a volume of air through N,
to be continually torn off and broken up by contact with the water surrounding it.
Referring again to the drawings, we may follow the action, assuming this
suction to be taking place, at the end N, of the pipe M. The heated products of
combustion, are drawn from the smoke box K, through I, to the condenser
box H, where they are subjected to the condensing treatment, by the water spray,
which passes through the perforated bottom of the chamber G, supplied by the
pipe F, the products passing thence, by L, through the pipe M, out at N.
The reduction in the volume of the products of combustion, upon condensation,
due to the difference of their temperature and that of the water, may be assumed
to be, about one half and that, therefore, the area of the two stern pipes would
require to be, each one fourth the area of the funnel, plus that, for the water
required in the condensation of the products.
În putting the foregoing into practice, it will be readily seen, that any pro-
jection, upon the stem of the ship at least, would be a great disadvantage, the
forward pipes, would therefore, be preferably carried through, inside the vessel
and of capacity, sufficient only, to convey the water necessary, for the condensa-
tion of the products of combustion, the stern pipes being carried, either inside
through the ship, or outside forming a bilge keel. Fig. 4, shows this arrange-
ment, the same letters being used to indicate equivalent parts, shown also in
section Fig. 5.
As a means of augmenting the suction of the stern pipes, a centrifugal fan,
may be attached to the base of a condenser box, in such a manner, that the con-
densed products, saturated by the water spray, are drawn into its centre and
discharged at its circumference, into a casing connected with the stern pipe, in
order, that it may be used, when necessary, in augmentation of the suction
system previously described. Fig. 6 shows this arrangement, the same letters
being used to indicate its parts.
The ends of the stern pipes, as before mentioned, may be expanded or enlarged,
permanantly, or by mechanical means, to increase suction.
They may be provided with a following cone or stopper, which may be made
capable, of mechanically by hand, or automatically closing the ends of the stern
pipes, when the suction of the water ceases.
They may be provided with the means, for the introduction of water, to assist
in breaking up the volume of escaping products and also, with a partial hood
covering, above the ends of the pipes.
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 1
claim is: :-
1. The suction of the products of combustion, from the boiler flue, or smoke
50 box, by means of the rush of water (due to the speed of the ship) through a pipe,
funnel or equivalent channel, between stem and stern, connected therewith.
55
2. The suction of the products of combustion, through a pipe, funnel or channel,
from the smoke box, to the stern end of the ship, by the action of the water, upon
the end of such pipe, funnel or channel, due to the speed of the ship.
3. The condensation of the combustion products, from the smoke box, by water
treatment, as herein described.

page_text: 4. The use of a centrifugal fan, in connection with the condenser box and
water treatment, to discharge the products and condensing water.
5. The combination, of such suction and water treatment, to produce draught
by water, as herein described.
Dated this 15th day of November 1898.