IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR STOPPING-UP OR CLOSING THE TUBES OF STEAM BOILERS AND PARTS OF THE TUBE PLATES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Lace, of No. 2, Maugham Terrace, Penarth, in the
County of Glamorgan, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR STOPPING-UP OR CLOSING THE TUBES OF STEAM
BOILERS AND PARTS OF THE TUBE PLATES."
Scaled the 10th August 1877, and dated the 14th March 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Lace at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents on the 14th March 1877.
JOHN LACE, of No. 2, Maugham Terrace, Penarth, in the County of Glamorgan,
Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR STOPPING-UP OR CLOSING
THE TUBES OF STEAM BOILERS AND PARTS OF THE TUBE PLATES."
The object of the Invention is to afford increased facility for closing the tubes of.
tubular steam boilers in the event of their fracture or leakage, also for closing the
connection of the ends of such tubes with the tube plates in the event of leakage at
those parts. For this purpose I employ a rod with two end pieces or discs, each of
which is in size capable of completely closing up the end of the tube for the time
to be closed, and when necessary of closing the connection of such tube with the
tube plate. One of these end pieces or discs is formed solid to slide on the rod, and
so as to be held in position on that rod, as required, by screw nuts. This solid piece
or disc is for the purpose of closing the end of the tube nearest the operator; the
piece or disc at the other end of the rod is connected to that rod by a binge con-
nection, and in parts to fold by joints on such connection, and the object of these
joints and hinge connection is to enable that piece or disc to be readily passed
through the tube to the end of it opposite the operator, and when passed through,
by giving a partial rotation to the rod, the parts of this jointed piece will assume the
position for closing that end of the tube, and the closing of both ends and of the
surrounding parts of the tube plates will be effected by tightening the rod.
India-rubber may be used to aid the close fitting of the parts of the pieces or
discs to the ends of the tubes and tube plates, as well as in forming the joints to
such jointed pieces. A stop to the hinge connection of the rod with this jointed

page_text: piece controls the distance of relative motion. A wooden guide on the stem of the
rod serves to aid in keeping the parts centrally. A cone on the back of the jointed
disc also aids its correct action.

page_text: such ends they may close such tubes and the parts of the plates surrounding them.
The disc is formed as a strong washer with a rim of vulcanized or prepared
rubber b¹, to aid in effecting a close joint around that end of the tube to be stopped
which is next the operator, and it will in most cases be found most convenient for
the operating end to be that in the smoke box. This disc b is formed with a hole
through its centre, by which it may slide freely on the rod a, and when all the parts
are in position it is held correctly against the end of the boiler tube to which it is
applied by a screw nut a³, applied on the screwed end a² of the rod a. The disc c
is formed in two parts, 1 and 2, which are rivetted by rivets c¹ to a washer of vul-
canized or prepared india-rubber d, and this washer at once serves as the joint or
hinge upon which the two parts, 1, 2, fold to facilitate their passage through the
tube to which the apparatus is to be applied, as represented by Figures 4 and 5; and
also when the apparatus is applied and screwed up, to aid in effecting the complete
closing of that end of the tube. This washer d is formed with a hole through it
at its centre for the passage of, and yet so as closely to fit to, the stem e, which at
one end is formed to be connected by pin joint e', with, and so as to turn upon that
end of, the rod a, whilst the other end of this stem e is securely connected by
rivetting or otherwise to the stop piece e. f is a guide formed with two pairs of
forks or horns f¹, ƒ¹, as more clearly seen by the separate views thereof, Figures 14
and 15, for the purpose of holding the inner end of the stem a, or that next tho
stem c of the disc c correctly in its place during the tightening of it up after that
disc has been passed through the tube and turned into position.
Z
In applying such apparatus to a tube, the end of the tube a with the disc c
thereon will be passed into that tube by folding the parts 1, 2, of the disc c and the
washer d towards the joint e', with the stop e resting on the bottom of that tube,
and which stop e for the time acts as a support or shoe for the parts of the disc c
in their passage through the tube. The body of the rod during this time simply
rests between the horns f¹, f¹, of the guide f, with the projection a¹ formed on or
applied to the rod a, resting between the two pairs of horns f³, so that as the disc c
is moved forwards in the tube the guide f may be moved forward with that rod
a, and at the same time the inner end of the rod a will be free to rise between the
horns f¹, to admit of the parts forming the disc c fully passing through the tube,
and out at its end, when that end of the rod a will rest on the lower part of the
opening forming the horns f¹, to support that end of the rod a in a central position,
in order that the parts o may, when drawn up to that end of the tube z, be brought
centrally over it to cover that inner end of the tube 2. When, however, the parts
forming the disc c have been passed through and out at the end of the tube that is
to be stopped the rod a is turned half round so as to cause the parts forming the
disc c to rest in a plane at right angles to that of the rod a, the inner projecting
end e' of the stem e will rest in a corresponding part of the end of the rod a,
formed to receive it, as is more clearly seen by the parts, Figure 1; and then by
means of the rod a, the parts forming the disc c may be drawn close over that end
of the tube to which they are applied, and then the rod a may be further turned
one quarter of a revolution, by which the stop or cross e³ at the end of the stem e
will be turned from the position indicated by Figure 2, to that indicated by Figure
2a, and then by screwing tightly the nut a³ on the screwed part a² of the rod a, the
parts forming the disc c may be drawn close on to the one end of the tube, and on
the surrounding parts, and simultaneously the disc b, on to the other end.
The parts 1, 2, of the disc c are formed conically at 3, and the inside of the stop
e is of a corresponding form, so that when that stop es is borne upon the conical
parts 3, the effect is in the tightening up of the screw rod a, to aid in preventing
the separation of the parts 1, 2, of the disc c.
Having thus described my Invention and means which I adopt in carrying the
same into effect, I would have it understood that I am aware it has heretofore been
proposed to employ stopping apparatus for the purpose of closing boiler tubes by
forming the disc for the closing of that end of the tube farthest from the operator
in several pieces hinged together so as to enable them to fold around the stem to

page_text: which such closing means were applied, whilst such parts forming the closing means
were passed through the tube; and in order to preserve the central position of such
stem during the passage of the closing means carried thereby, and to ensure such
closing means after it has been passed through the tube being drawn correctly over
the end thereof, the stem was formed with a flange to act as a guide in keeping the
axis to the centre of the tube. I do not, therefore, claim the use of discs connected
by a screw, axis, or shaft as closing means to the ends of boiler tubes generally,
but what I do claim is, the arranging apparatus for stopping up or closing the tubes
of steam boilers and parts of the tube plates, whereby the disc for closing the end
of the tube farthest from the operator is formed in two parts, 1 and 2, and when
applied is capable of being held by a stop e², and whereby the screw stem or axis
is supported in its passage in the tube by a guide with horns f¹, f1, all arranged so
as to be capable of being operated, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Lace, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this 6th day of August, in the year of our Lord One thousand cight
hundred and seventy-seven.