An Improved Tube Stopper for Making Tight and Secure Joints in Leaky or Burst Tubes of Marine or other Boilers or like Purposes.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Feb., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 11th Nov., 1889-Accepted, 14th Dec., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Tube Stopper for Making Tight and Secure Joints
in Leaky or Burst Tubes of Marine or other Boilers or like
Purposes.
I, WILLIAM HENRY GALES of 56 High Street Poplar, E. in the County of
Middlesex, Engineers Factor, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This Invention has reference to Tube Stoppers for making tight joints in the
Tubes of Marine or other Boilers that have burst or become leaky without lowering
the steam pressure, especially adapted for use where high pressure steam is used,
as in the case of Triple, Multiple or other class of expansive Engines and for Loco-
motive and other similar purposes, also for Surface Condensers and Refrigerators, so
as to be rapidly and effectively applied with safety and to avoid the danger, trouble
and loss of time that otherwise occurs.
The improved combination and form of apparatus intended to be employed by me
is of a similar class to that known as "Boaz's Tube Stoppers," but having a different
disposition and arrangement as hereafter described.
In the first instance I take and use a central rod and form a washer or collar at
one end of the same and at the other end having a single or double right or left
handed thread; I likewise employ a compression tube and at one or both ends fasten
or fit a metal washer or collar or collars upon it; to the other end of the said tube
I also form a screw or thread either single or double, right or left handed, this tube
is intended to slide over the central rod and the washered ends are caused to be
brought together. Between these movable washers I provide two or more saucers, or
cup or other shaped discs or washers on each end of the Stopper and of such material
as not to be affected by the intense heat or pressure of either water or steam, but
capable of being expanded when the necessary force is exerted upon them so as to
cause their peripheries to come into close contact with the inner surface of the Tubes
when acted upon and thus seal both ends of the same so as to prevent the heated
water and steam under pressure leaking therefrom.
In the case of very high pressure steam being used, it is found that the ordinary
class of India rubber washers or other materials as ordinarily employed do not stand,
I therefore propose to employ by preference in some cases, that the saucers or cup
shaped or other suitable form of discs or washers, referred to, be made of a material
known as Patent "Woodite" or "Whaleite" which has been found by me in practice
for this particular purpose as capable of making a very secure steam and water tight
joint under great pressure and likewise not affected by heat. 1 may also propose to
place a washer or washers either of Vulcanised India Rubber or of other suitable
elastic or other medium of smaller diameter than the said cup shaped discs or
saucers (or other suitable form) and interpose same between them so as to take within
their curved or bollow portions, which apart from assisting in outwardly expanding
them will likewise facilitate in bringing them apart when the pressure given is
released and to assist in the withdrawal of the stopper from the Tube when required.
may in some cases employ "Asbestos or a mixture or composition with other
suitable material either as washers or for the saucer or cup shaped discs referred to
or in conjunction with the Patent, known as, "Woodite" or "Whaleite" referred to,
or separate and distinct therefrom if desired, and may employ other material or
substance in like manner to suit the particular
desired.
purpose
I
"
The hollow parts of the saucer or cup shaped discs or washers (or of other suitable
globular or semi-globular form as may be found most suitable in practice) or the
face or edges of the spherical parts are brought together face to face, their outside

page_text: or external curved parts being acted upon by washers or collars of metal or other
material or composition which are caused to bear or take upon sume when screwed up
or forced against them.
In some cases may propose to employ and screw or fix at the fore end of the
central rod a Tube Scraper and short Brush combined and of the form patented by
me on the 22nd of September 1884 and numbered 12680), or 1 may use another form
or vary same as the case may be, so that in case of corroded inbes it may materially
assist in clearing the way for the expanding Tube to be rapidly got into position to
bo actel upon.
I may propose to use at the other end of the central rod and compression tube
an external cap or washer of metal of larger diameter than the Boiler tube having
an internal washer to fit in the flange of the cap either of "Woodite," "Asbestos
or other suitable or combined material to prevent the escaping steam and water
pressure interfering with the action of the apparatus when in use, the said external
cap or washer being formed with an inward comb to cap over the tube of the
Boiler to which it is applied. A single or double nut would be fitted and provided
to screw onto the central rod or spindle also to screw and net on to the compression
tube. In place of the said compression tube a distance piece with a washer or collar
fastened or fitted on each end may be used also a double nut instead of a single nut
in some cases be preferred.
The process of applying Tube stoppers by this method is to insert them in their
entirety into the tube to be acted upon (with or without the combined Tube Scraper
and short Brush before referred to) at the fore end and by applying a spanner of
special forn for the purpose having two or more arms to readily act upon the nut and
the external washer with the comb working upon the screwed thread formed upon the
central rod when it is caused to traverse forward in its length and the collar provided
thereon acts upon the louse washer which in turn nets upon the cup or other shaped
dises of globular or other form and upon the collar formed with the compression
tube which would when so adapted and employed bring them well together and
compress the same.
Dated this 6th day of February 1889.
FREDERIC H. ROBERTS, C.E.,
Agent for the Patentee, William Hy. Gales.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Tube Stopper for Making Tight and Secure Joints
in Leaky or Burst Tubes of Marine or other Boilers or like
Purposes.
1, WILLIAM HENRY GALES of 56 High Street Poplar E. in the County of Middlesex,
Engineers Factor, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
munnor the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
This Invention has reference to Tube Stoppers for making tight joints in the Tubes
of Marine or other Boilers that have burst or become leaky without lowering the
stuum pressure, especially adapted for use where high pressure steam is used, as in
the case of Triple, Multiple or other class of expansive Engines and for Locomotive
and other similar purposes also for Surface Condensers and Refrigerators, so as to be
rapidly and effectively applied with safety and to avoid the danger, trouble and loss
of time that otherwiso occurs.
The improved combination and form of apparatus intended to be employed is of a
similar class to that known as "Boaz's Tube Stoppers," but having a different
disposition and arrangement as hereafter described.
I lake and use a central rod and form a washer or collar at one end of the same and at
the other end having a single or double right or left handed thread. I likewise employ
a compression tube and at one or both ends fasten or fit a metal washer or collar or
collars upon it, to the other end of the said tube I also form a screw or thrend either single

page_text: or double, right or left handod, this tube is intended to slide over the central rod and
the washered ends are caused to be brought together. Between those movable
washers I provide one, two or more saucers or cup or other similarly shaped discs or
washers on each end of the Stopper and of such material as not to be affected by
the intense heat or pressure of either water or steam, but capable of being expanded
when the necessary force is exerted upon them so as to cause their peripheries to come
into close contact with the inner surface of the Tubes, when acted upon and thus
seal both ends of the same so as to prevent the heated water and steam under pressure
leaking therefrom.
In the case of very high pressure of steam being used it is found that the
ordinary class of India rubber washers or other materials as ordinarily employed do
not stand or sufficiently resist same. I therefore propose to employ by preference in
some cases, that the saucers or cup shaped or other suitable form of discs or washers
referred to be made of Asbestos or a combination of Asbestos suitably formed or
shaped under pressure or of a material known as Patent "Woodite" or "Whaleite"
as found by me in practice capable of making a very secure steam and water tight
joint under great pressure.
1 further interpose a thin metallic washer between the cups to prevent their edges
overlapping when brought together and expanded under pressure and likewise not
affected by heat.
"
In employing or using "Asbestos or a mixture or composition of same with other
suitable material for the saucer or cup shaped discs referred to 1 may employ other
material or substance in like manner to suit the particular purpose desired and formed
under pressure to the shape referred to.
The hollow parts of the saucer or cap shaped discs (or of other suitable globular
or semi-globular form as may be found most suitable in practice) and the edges or
curved parts are brought together face to face, their outside or external curved parts
being acted upon by washers or collars of metal which are caused to bear or take upon
same when screwed up or forced against them. The saucer or cup shaped discs or
washers have an opening formed in their centres and a metallic eyelet or ferrule
rivetted or clenched through same so as to fit freely on and over the rod or spindle.
I further propose to place and surround the external and internal portions of the
curved or cupshaped discs or washers with perforated wire or wire gauze, or with
thin metal secured and bound towards the surrounding edges by means of wire
stitching or other suitable means throughout and further clenched by means of the
metal oyelet or ferrule taking over same.
I may propose to use at the other end of the central rod and compression tube an
external cap or washer of metal of larger diameter than the Boiler tube having an
internal washer to fit in the flange of the cap either of asbestos or other suitable or
combined material to prevent the escaping steam and water under pressure interforing
with the action of the apparatus when in use, and the said external cap or washer
being formed with a "comb to cap over the tube of the Boiler to which it is
applied. A single or double nut would be fitted and provided to screw on to the
central rod or spindle also to screw and act on to the compression tube. In place of
the said compression tube a distance piece with a washer or collar fastened or fitted
on each end may be used also a double nut instead of a single nut.
The process of applying Tube Stoppers by this method is to insert them in their
entirety into the tube to be acted upon, and by applying a suitable spanner and by
preference one formed with two or more arms, so as to readily act upon the nut and
the external washer with the comb working upon the central rod, which is caused to
traverse forward in its length and the collar provided thereon acts upon the loose
washer which in turn acts upon the cup or other hollow shaped dises and upon the
collar formed with the compression tube which would when so employed bring them
well together and compress and expand them within the tube.
In some cases I may propose to employ and screw or fix at the fore end of th
central rod a Tube Scraper and short Brush combined and of the form patented by me
un the 22nd of September 1881 and numbered 12680, or I may use another form or
.

page_text: vary same as the case may be, so that in case of heavily corroded Tubos that it
may materially assist in clearing the Tube for the expanding Tube Stopper to be
got rapidly into position and acted upon.
In the accompanying Sheet of Drawings-Figure L. represents a sectional elevation
of my improved Tube Stopper as inserted into the Tube of a Boiler and before the
respective parts are put in action to arrest and securely stay a leaky or burst Tube.
Figure 2, exhibits a similar or like partly in section view but with the respective
parts acted upon and the Boiler or other Tube rendered from and to end perfectly
tight and secure.
Figure 3 is a detached view to an enlarged scale of two of the hollow or dished
sancor or cup shaped dises or washers such as I propose and may prefer to employ in
practice.
Figure 4, is a plan of same which would have the perforated wire or wire gauze
or thin metal around the surfaces of the hollow or dished saucer or cup shaped dises
or washers, likowise the metal eyelet or ferrule rivetted or clenching over same
and forming the opening for them to fit freely on the central horizontal rod or
apindle.
The following letters of reference are intended to indicate and refer to like or
corresponding parts to the respective Figures referred to. A, is the Tube plate at
smoke box or front end of the Boiler. B. the Tabe plate at combustion chamber or
hack end. (, Boiler Tube. D, a horizontal central rol of sufficient length so as to
pass throughout the length of the Tule to be stopped, and having a suitable serow or
thread eat thereon to a certain portion of its longth as each end. E, is the compression
tube which slides over and fits on the horizontal central rod or spindle D-the said
compression tabe E, having metal washers F, F, or collars formed or screwed on each
end of same (or may be loose therefrom). G, G, are the hollow or dished saucer or
cup shaped dises or washers, having openings in their centres to permit of their
working freely on the central spindle D, as also do the further metal washers or
collars H, H. K, is a distance piece screwed to or on or may form part of the
washer H. L is the external cap having an inward comb or cover. M, a lack nut
screwed on to one end of the horizontal rod or spindle 1). N, main or acting nut for
the spanner to take and act upon.
It will be seen in the respective views Figures 1 and 2, that instantly the Stopper
is got into position within the Boiler Tube and forcel in until the edges or
annular lips of the cap or comb L, comes into contact with the Tube plate A, and
over the mouth of the Tube, the stopper is then well in position and by applying
a suitable spanner and screwing up or giving but a few turns to the nut N, from
the front of the Boiler, the metal cap L, laps over the Boiler tube and causes
the washers and collars H, H. to traverse on the screwed portion of the horizontal
spindle D, together and toward one another and thoroby flattening or compressing
outwardly within the area of the tube the peripheries of the compressible hollow
saucer or cup shaped washers or discs between them and thereby creating a
perfectly secure and tight joint of the entire tube. When this is effected the cap
or comb may be released to again net upon other tubes, and a nut simply screwed
on to the end of the central rod or spindle in place of same.
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 :-
Firstly. The general arrangement of parts in combination with the form and
shape of saucer or cup shaped hollow washers or discs maio of Asbestos or a combi-
nation of Asbestos or other like or suitable material or substance compressed to the
desired form and as found in practice best suitable to withstand great heat and
pressure, having a thin flat metal washer or disc between; the said hollow saucor
shaped discs being brought face to face and having a contral opening with
a metal eyelet or ferrule let into and rivetted or clenched thereto so as to
enable each to work freely and easily on and over the spindle likewise employing a

page_text: gauze wire or thin metal covering to surround the external and internal portions of
the curved saucer or cap shaped discs suitably secured to the whole. The said
curved saucer or cup shaped discs from their particular form being capable when
acted upon of becoming compressed and flattened together and expanded outwardly
within the circumference of the tube operated upon substantially in manner as herein
illustrated and described.
Secondly. The use and employmnont and addition in some cases if desired of fixing
to the fore end of the central rod a Tube Scraper and short Brush combined and
of the forin patented by me on the 22nd of September 1884 and numbered 12680,
or of a similar or like form in the case of heavily corroded Tubes having to be acted
upon.
Dated this 9th dow of Vamba 1000