Year: 1886

page_text: I, WILLIAM SEYMOUR, of 25, Bromfield Street, Lower Grangetown Cardiff, in
the County of Glamorgan 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:-
My invention relates to an improvement in the means for and the method of
stopping leaks in the tubes of steam and other boilers, and provides for the effectual
stoppage of the leak without sacrificing the heating efficiency of the tube.
1
The methods of dealing with a leaky tube in vogue up to the present time have
consisted in a plugging of the tube at each end in as rapid and thorough a manner
as possible, the threatening nature and probable as well as possible consequences
of a leaky tube being tacitly regarded as quite sufficient to justify the destruction
of the tube. as part of the effective heating surface of the boiler provided that it
can be made tight once more in the shortest possible time.
Now with my invention a leak in a tube can be stopped easily and quickly,
and the heating surface of the tube will remain, practically, as effective as it was
before the leak shewed itself.
In carrying my invention into effect, I provide a short length of metal tube, or
a ferrule, which forms the stopper. The external diameter of the stopper is slightly
less than the internal diameter of the tube to be repaired. A taper longitudinal
slot is formed in the stopper, and a wedge of the same taper as the slot, is provided,
of a length and width sufficient to expand the stopper; and with it to make up
tight to the internal surface of the tube.
The stopper and wedge are pushed into the leaky tube, until the stopper is held
evenly over the leak. The wedge is driven into the slot or the stopper onto the
wedge until the stopper has been expanded to make contact with the inner face of
the leaky tube.
In order that my invention and the means by which the same may be carried
into practical effect, may be thoroughly understood, I will proceed to describe the
same in detail referring in so doing to the accompanying drawings which are to be
taken as part of this specification and read therewith, and in which like parts are
marked throughout the figures in which they occur with the same reference letter.
Fig. 1 represents in longitudinal elevation a leaky boiler tube to which my
invention has been applied.

page_text: Figs. 3 and 4 are respectively, elevation and perspective view, of the drift
I employ for driving the stopper up.
Figs. 5 and 6 are, respectively, plan and side elevation of a wedge, and
Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a loosening.bar."
AA represent the plates of the boiler..
B is a boiler tube in which there has been formed a leak b.
C is the stopper, and c the taper longitudinal slot formed therein. The length
of the stopper must be sufficient to allow it to take a practical and trustworthy
bearing upon the sound surface of the tube-
D is the wedge of the same taper as the slot c, and made of the same thickness
of metal as the stopper. It has a stop d' formed on its smaller end to prevent
it coming out whilst the stopper is being driven into position.
I make a bed for the wedge to lie in by forming a series of tabs c¹ upon the
inner surface of the stopper which project towards each other from the adjacent
edges of the slot.
An alternative construction of bed is to slit the ferrule longitudinally and rebate
both edges as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 2.
I do not confine myself to any particular metal in which to make my stopper,
but make use of any one which may be peculiarly adapted to the purpose of my
invention.
The head of the drift has a notch e¹ formed in it to allow it to pass over the
end of the wedge.
Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a hooked bar which may be used for the purpose
of releasing the wedge. The notch e¹ in the head of the drift is made of á
sufficient depth to pass over both wedge and bar.
I do not confine myself in the use of my invention to the particular construc-
tions of drift and hooked bar described and illustrated as this may be varied but
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 devices for stopping a leak in a boiler tube without destroying the heating
power of the said tube the combination of a metal ferrule or stopper the external
diameter of which is less than the internal diameter of the boiler tube having
. a taper longitudinal slot formed therein with a wedge of the same taper as said
slot lying therein and of a length equal to the expansion of the ferrule or stopper
within the boiler tube substantially as described with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
2. In combination with a ferrule or stopper and a wedge to be used for the
purpose of stopping a leak in a boiler tube the drift and withdrawing hook either
or both the former having a radial slot formed in its head to enable it to be passed
over the end of said wedge and hook substantially as described with reference to
the accompanying drawings.
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
Agents for the Applicant.