Improvements in Steam Boilers and Generating Appliances.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Aug., 1891-Accepted, 25th June; 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Steam Boilers and Generating Appliances.
I, FRANCIS ELLERY FITCH, of the City of Elmira, in the County of Chemung,
and State of New York, United States of America, President Elmira Steam
Generating Company, 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 relates to steam generators and their relation with stationary or
portable boilers, but more especially to that class of locomotive boilers in which the
water chamber extends downward around the sides of the fire box, and have what
is technically termed a "water leg."
In this special class of boilers preferred to illustrate, and wherein important
advantages for the improvements are attained, the sediment formed by continued
evaporation in generating the steam, not only settles in the "water leg," but also in
the opposite end or forward part of the boiler, in connection with a locomotive
somewhat in the form as indicated by the dotted line - in Fig. 1 of the
drawings.
Devices heretofore arranged to aid in generating steam, and to relieve the above
described type of boilers of sediment by circulation, fail of complete and substantial
results, because the direction of circulation or current in the boiler has been
transverse to that of the water chamber, and made so by the generating ingress and
egress pipes being both to one side of a transverse central line of the boiler. And
where generators have been made designed for rapid circulation of water in their
pipes, no provision, other than contrary structures to obtain gravitative action in
settling to separate the sediment, have been made under it, and as such settling in a
rapid current is prevented, imperfect results have only been obtained.
From this it may be adduced, that the object of the first part of the invention, is
to arrange for longitudinal circulation through outlying pipes in connection with
improved separating devices to further complete the system, to successfully remove
all the accumulation of sediment anywhere in the water chamber of the boiler, and
thus remove their numerous deleterious effects.
Causes leading to the object of the second part of the invention, arises in
generators as heretofore arranged to quicken steam generation, and to relieve
boilers of this sediment by either transverse or longitudinal circulation, not having
the best effect possible, or that should be attained from the amount of heat
produced, because such have not provided means to retain the full circuit of their
circulation within the highest temperature practicable; the hot water on leaving
one end of the boiler and coming in contact within outside laying pipes on a rapid
moving locomotive in a cold atmosphere, necessarily falls to a lower temperature
before it can enter the generating pipes within the fire chamber at the other end,
where it must reach a certain temperature before expansion into steam again; also
such generators have been in a large measure, impracticable in their application to
a locomotive because of their incompactness and system of outlying pipes, and the
generating mechanism having inadequate support in their connections within the
fire chamber of the boiler.
Thus in the second part, the object of the improvements are to overcome all of
these objections, and to arrange a generator that may be more direct and less
expensive in structure, and to more perfectly meet requirements essential in its
application to the locomotive and all other boilers.
Further description may be had with reference to the accompanying drawings in
which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

page_text: Referring to the first part of the invention,
Fig. 1 on Sheet 1, is a longitudinal, vertical section of a locomotive boiler having
the common tubular arch bars with our improvements in connection therewith.
Fig. 2 is a like view in part of the water grate boiler showing improvements
connected thereto.
Fig. 3 is a vertical section across the fire chamber of the boiler on the line ¹ a¹
Figs. 1 and 2.
Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of the sediment separator.
Fig 5 is a plan view of the separator in its relation with the circulating pipes
and mud drum.
Fig. 6 is a modified view of the separator showing an additional discharge pipe.
Fig. 7 is a plan view of such modified construction of the separator; and
Fig. 8 is a sectional view in detail of the generating pipes ou ²² Fig. 1.
Referring to the second part of the invention illustrative of the modified system
of generating pipe within the boiler,
Fig. 9 on Sheet 2 is a similar longitudinal, vertical section of a locomotive boiler
with the improvements in connection principally within the boiler.
Fig. 10 is a vertical section across the fire chamber of the boiler on the line ³ ³
Fig. 9.
Figs. 11 and 12 are longitudinal, vertical, sectional views, in part, of a boiler
showing a modified construction to that of Fig. 9.
Fig. 13 is a cross sectional view on the line
a Fig. 12.
Fig. 14 is a vertical section across the fire chamber of the latter modified
construction on the line a Fig. 11.
In the drawings, Figs. 1, 2, 3, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, A represents a locomotive boiler as
commonly constructed; its water compartments contractedly extending down to or
on about a level with the fire grate forms the water leg C, and the tubular arch
bars one or more in the manner of c¹ in boiler Fig. 1 extending angularly across its
fire chamber B uniting the throat plate 62 with the crown sheet 63 and consequently
the water in the water leg to that in the upper part of the boiler, and have the
office of maintaining the arch or brick d² that rests upon them.
In boiler Fig. 2 the grate is composed of tubular water pipes
connect the water chambers of the water leg.
which horizontally
I have thus in the foregoing clause described the boilers as constructed previous
to the addition of these improvements.
This may begin with the cutting off one or more, of the said arch bar tubes c,
and in the first part of the invention reuniting it with a chambered T union f, said
union also rigidly receiving the pipe y which inclines slightly upward in line,
or nearly so, with the draft line of flame from the furnace beneath, and has another
chambered union at its upper end, but lying in a higher plane and nearer
the crown sheet of the boiler, and from which the outlet generating stay pipe h
passing upward through said crown sheet, or the flue sheet as may be desired, opens
connection to the boiler chamber; the chamber h₁ of the unions ff give water
passage through them to the connecting pipes
As insertion of the union f in the arch bar c', does not normally displace it, cir-
culation is restored through it as formerly to the rear part of the boiler, but in
opposite direction to that previous to the connection of the more horizontally laid
generating pipe or pipes with the inclined generating arch bar tubes below them;
in this new connection circulation is instituted from the boiler through the one or
more upper generating pipes in the fire chamber again to the boiler over the crown
sheet such circulation being caused by expansion within the upper generating
layer of tubes, and, in this instance, the circulation, as attained within the boiler, is
particularly over the crown sheet backward to the upper end of the arch bar, or now
newly converted into a secondary stay or feed pipes.
With reference to the water grate boiler in which the arch bar tubes are not
used, and in which the inclined generating pipe 9 cannot directly connect with the
tube of the water grate, connection is made by means of the vertical curved

page_text: pipe and its proper unions, as may be seen illustrated in Fig. 2, Sheet 1 of the
drawings.
Having thus minutely described the generator as arranged within the fire
chamber of the boiler, in the first system of the invention, we will proceed to the
outer arrangement of pipes necessary to complete the circuit of circulation through
the boiler and collect the sediment withdrawn thereby.
In employing the sediment separator m which produces a like effect under the
several modified constructions shown, in the first connection, it is mounted upon the
mud drum R and more fully described hereinafter; said drum is placed at that
point in the circuit where the highest speed of water in the pipes may be attained;
this position in this present arrangement, is forward of the water leg, as may
be seen illustrated in Fig. 1, Sheet 1 of the drawings.
The separator m intercepting the inlet pipes of the generator, as the pipe n
thereof and the pipe P leading thereto, from the third barrel sheet or forward part
of the boiler, has designed by its internal construction the office of forcibly scpa-
rating the sediment reaching it through said pipe, and depositing it in the mud drum
or still water receptacle R beneath.
Continuing the lower end of the arch bar e' or the water grate tube of the
boilers heretofore described, by the union with the feed pipe » respectively,
which passes through the water leg and has circulation with said leg through the
opening in it, the pipe n thence passing forward to the separator m the complete
circuit of pipes is laid referring to either boiler.
With reference to Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings, Sheet 1, it will be seen that
the general shape or contour of the sediment separator is somewhat semi-globular,
or similar to that of an ordinary wash bowl, but provided in its wall with spiral
curvatures, and the opening t through its bottom direct to the mud drum; this
opening may be properly termed the throat of the separator; entering said separator
on a plane with its throat, or nearly so, but to one side of it in the spiral curvature
of the in wall in tangent direction, is the outlet pipe n; also a like entrance of
the inlet pipe P but in a plane one or more pitches higher than the said outlet pipe.
Figs. 6 and 7 of the drawings show said separator in a somewhat modified form,
it having two departure pipes, one or more pitches higher than its inlet pipe, the
bowl, having greater spiral configuration, allows tangent entrance of the pipes in
the ways of the spiral therein. The relation of these pipes one with the other in
their entrance to the separator chamber, is such in conjunction with the structure
of the bowl, as to institute and maintain a series of rapid circling currents of water
and separation of sediment thereby as follows; the water entering through the
inlet pipe, is led by the circling wall of the separator circling around its throat t
and maintained by the one or more ingress and egress pipes that direct their
discharge and withdrawal in a direct or tangent line with the current thus
instituted; now, as the water rises higher, the wall of the chamber, especially in
form, Figs. 6 and 7, of the separator, permit centrifugal action to take place in
expansion of the current circles, and thus a natural force is attained, driving the
sediment, arriving in the separator, from the outer and swifter currents to the inner
or lesser ones, and finally to the central eddy of the whirling pool thus formed, and
through the throat of the separator into the mud drum; said drum and separator
having small area of connection only through the drum and separator, opening
centrally to the separator, water connection in reaching the drum is stilled, cohesion
of the stilled and lesser currents of water circulating at this point, tend to accelerate
precipitation of sediment from the central eddy of the separator, to the bottom of
the drum beneath. A suitable cap or lids which may be removed at any time
closes the top of the separator, by being fitted thereto in any removable manner
that effectually makes its chamber water tight.
Referring to the invention in the second part, illustrated on Sheet 2 of the
drawings, will now enter an explanation of the modification of construction therein
shown. To the boiler A or the parts thereof in sections shown, is attached a part D
crossing the fire chamber in a manner expressly designed to support the generating

page_text: mechanism, and itself receive firm support from the side walls thereof, by having
its ends passing upon a tubular pipe e lying within a casing e² which passes through
and is expanded into the walls of the water leg. Said part D being made hollow
forming the circulating chamber therein, and having the feed pipes leading
thereto and departing therefrom, may properly be termed, the main generating
head. Inclining upward and directly connecting said head with the crown sheet
of the fire chamber is one or more of the said arch bar tubes, thus converted into
connecting generating stay pipes c² that give circulation from the head upward into
the water chamber of the boiler. Arranged closely below said head, and connected
thereto, by the short feed pipes g²² (sec Figs. 9-10) is a hollow style of union or
separator m that may be in forma compared branching in the form of the letters T & Y
As refers to its incoming and departing outlets, from which the supply pipe P being
connected thereto; (in case the mud drum R is desired situated immediately beneath
the fire grate as seen in Fig. 9, or, to the main head D, as the modified system of
contruction in Figs. 11, 12, 13, 14 illustrate, wherein the separator is arranged in
connection with said pipe at the front under part of the boiler;) turns upward in its
departure from the separator m² or head D, high enough to again turn horizontally
and enter through the flue sheet u, and passing on to the front end of the boiler
near the lower side thereof and parallel therewith: communicating with the
chamber within the separator m² from below, is a still water receptacle or mud
drum R; the short pipe passing through the fire grate uniting said separator
with the drum, facilitates this connection; the drum being supported from beneath
the boiler in any convenient manner.
For the purpose of supplying circulation to the generator from the water chamber
of the boiler, the supply pipe P is provided with a feed opening or mouth recessed
from its forward under side thereof. The position of the separator as here arranged
in connection with the mud drum, requires that the separator m² be provided with
the internal chamber having upward chambers branching therefrom through the
pipes within which the current separates in its upward course to the generating
head, and is retarded or stilled, thus allowing precipitation of sediment to the still
water chamber of the drum beneath.
But in case the said mud receiver or separator be desired positioned at the forward
end of the boiler, at or near the forward end of the supply pipe as heretofore
mentioned by reference to Figs. 11, 12, 13, 14, we have arranged for it a different
construction, and, in which case the heretofore described separator m³ with its
connecting pipes to the head D, may be dispensed with.
I will now proceed to describe this latter modified construction of the separator.
In its application an opening o is made upward through the under forward part
of the boiler, and forms the throat of the precipitator m which is in the form of a
circular cup having an upper external rim w fitted to the curve of the boiler shell,
and clamped by riveting or bolting thereto water tight around said opening from
the water chamber of the boiler.
A. tubular opening from the bottom of the precipitator is provided with a screw
cap which may be thus conveniently removed to clean the precipitator of sediment
by pressure of water or steam flow from the boiler therethrough."
q
Secured to the supply pipe P2 directly over said throat opening to the precipi-
tator, is arranged a separator in connection, which causes the current of water to
flow inward over said opening, thence suddenly up and outward again, before
entering the mouth of the supply pipe, and thus causing the sediment which collects
within the boiler by continued evaporation to precipitate through the opening into
the precipitator therefor.
srepresents the external shell or casing to said separator, its lower extremity of
bell form above which lying across it emerges a part circular configuration which
encircles and encases the supply pipe at its mouth, and opens communication there-
with. An internal projecting rim secured to the lower edge of the casing s
forms a flat ring thereon, the central opening through this ring to the chamber
of the separator is a trifle smaller than the opening or throat o of the precipitator.

page_text: A thin concave disk y, of a trifle larger diameter than the mouth or opening i of
the ring, is suspended inverted over it within the chamber of the separator, and
receives support in such suspension by small arms y branching from it out to the
inner walls of said separator; said disk lying in a little higher plane than the ring
of the separator shell, a fountain or current channel is formed around about between
them, and the disk acts as a bar to the sediment following the reciprocating water
currents thus instituted and indicated by the crooked arrow :.
Where boilers consume exceedingly dirty water, it may be desirable in connection
with the second part of the invention as above set forth, to open further communi-
cation from the head D to the water leg C, Figs. 11 & 14, provision is therefor
made for connection to the head D, by a pipe at the flattened part H at the lower
side thereof; again, connection may be desired to the generating head from without
the boiler. Provision is therefor made by the stay pipe e which passes from the
head D through the casing e of the water leg, and having a plug e closing said pipe
opening in the absence of any such connection.
As the generating pipes, or mechanism, within the fire chamber presents a great
area of heating surface, which quickly imparts heat to the water coming in contact
within them, it expands and becomes ligher than the strata over it; it therefor rises,
and the water above in the boiler descends through the feed pipe and separator, and
this, in its turn being expanded, is made to rise.
There is thus a continued current of the heated water upward into the rear part
of the boiler, and a counter current of the colder water downward from the forward
part.
It is evident that farther numerous slight changes might be resorted to in the
construction of the separators, and their connecting pipes, also of the system of
generating pipes within the fire chamber, hence 1 do not wish to be limited strictly
to the forms herein shown and described, but consider myself entitled to all such
changes as fall within the spirit and scope of this, my invention.
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, relating to the first part of the invention as follows:
First. The improved steam generator herein described, in which is combined a
boiler having the water leg C forming a water chamber at the sides of the fire
box, heating pipes connecting one or more of the arch bar tubes and boiler, and
arranged within the said fire box, a sediment separator in connection with a mud
drum arranged at the side of said boiler, and a pipe connecting the separator and
water leg with the arch bar tube, and a pipe connecting said separator with the
forward part of the boiler, substantially as shown and described.
Second. The improved steam generator combining therein a boiler having a
water leg, a centripetal separator and drum, arranged at the side of said boiler, and
heating pipes connecting the boiler within the fire chamber, and a pipe connecting
one or more of said heating pipes to the water grate, and pipes connecting said
separator and water leg with the water grate and forward part of the boiler,
substantially as shown and described.
Third. In combination with the boiler having a water leg a centripetal separator
and drum, heating pipes disposed within the fire chamber and connected to the
boiler within said chamber, and by a pipe through the water bars to said separator,
and a pipe connecting said separator and boiler, substantially as shown and
described.
Fourth. In a steam generator for locomotive boilers the combined feed and
discharge pipes adapted to support generating tubes below the crown of the fire
box, and provide connecting pipes for circulation to and from the boiler and
generating tube, substantially as shown and, described.
Fifth. In a steam generator for locomotive boilers having a water leg, the
combination with the boiler of one or more generating arch bar pipes, a secondary
genorating pipe connecting said arch bar pipe and the boiler, and a pipe or pipes

page_text: connecting the under part of the boiler with the generating arch pipes, substantially
as shown and described.
Sixth. In a steam generator for locomotive boilers having a water leg, the
combination with one or more generating arch tubes connected to the water leg of
the boiler, of the one or more generating tubes arranged angularly thereto and
above them, both generating pipes, in a series of one or more, being disposed onc
above the other within the fire box, and circulating feed and discharge pipes
connecting the generating pipes and boiler, and disposed to give current circulation
longitudinally within the boiler, substantially as described.
Seventh. In a steam generator for locomotive boilers, the combination of a feed
pipe connected to the under part of the boiler, a separator connected to said feed
pipe, and a drun connected below the separator, substantially as described.
Eighth. In steam generating appliances a centripetal sediment precipitator,
having peripheral increasing spiral innwalls, to allow centrifugal current expansion
within its chamber, substantially as described.
Ninth. In generating appliances to steam boilers a centripetal sediment
separator, having increased circular innwalls rising from a central opening down-
ward through its bottom, with inlet and outlet pipes disposed to discharge
tangentially at its inner periphery in line of spiral or horizontal circulation
instituted thereby, substantially as described.
Tenth. In combination with the centripetal separator, having peripheral inwalls
of the increasing spiral form rising from a central opening downward through its
bottom, of the inlet and outlet peripheral discharging pipes, disposed to tangentially
discharge into and from the spiral ways in the wall of the separator, substantially
as set forth.
Eleventh. In generating appliances the combination substantially as herein set
forth, of a centripetal sediment separator having inner increasing spiral configura-
tion, and pipes disposed to tangentially discharge into and withdraw from the ways
of the inn wall of the separator, and about a central opening downward through its
bottom, a still water receptacle beneath the separator with like opening upward,
wherein vertical action in precipitation of sediment from the separator is
accelerated, by cohesion of still and circulating water through the opening,
substantially as described.
Twelfth. In a steam generating appliance for boilers, the combination of a
centripetal sediment separator, a pipe leading from the under forward part of the
boiler to said separator, and connected to said separator to tangentially discharge
therein, and a pipe or pipes leading from the separator to the generating pipes, and
connected to said separator to tangentially withdraw therefrom, substantially as
set forth.
Thirteenth. In a steam generator for boilers the combination for a centripetal
separator, having inner peripheral ways of increasing spiral configuration, and a
pipe or pipes leading from the under forward part of the boiler to the separator,
and from the separator to the generating tube, and connected to said separator to
tangentially discharge into and withdraw from in the peripheral ways of the in-
wall of the separator, substantially as set forth.
And to the second part of the invention as follows.
Fourteenth. In steam boilers and generating appliances thereto, the combination
of the generating head arranged within the fire chamber, and supported from the
side walls thereof and connected thereto, substantially as described.
Fifteenth. In steam boilers and generating appliances, the combination of the
head supporting pipes e e supported in the walls of the water leg, of the generating
head connected to said supporting pipes, substantially as described.
Sixteenth. The improved steam generator herein described, in which is combined
a boiler having a water leg, a generating head arranged within the fire chamber
and connecting the side walls thereof, one or more generating pipes connecting said
head and crown sheet, one or more supply pipes connected to said. head, and a
separator connected to said supply pipe, substantially as described.

page_text: Seventeenth. The improved steam generator combining therein a boiler, a
generating head connecting the side walls of the boiler, and a supply pipe leading
from said head through the flue sheet to the front of the boiler, and one or more
generating pipes leading from said head to the crown sheet of the fire chamber,
substantially as set forth.
Eighteenth. In connection with steam generators, a sediment separator having
upward reciprocating water currents to a supply pipe leading therefrom within.
the boiler to the generating head, substantially as described.
Nineteenth. In steam generating appliances, the combination of the supply pipe,
horizontally arranged, within the boiler, and open at the bottom side thereof and
in combination therewith, substantially as described.
Twentieth. In generating appliances to steam boilers, the supply pipe P²
arranged within the boiler and parallel therewith, and connecting the water
chamber of the boiler with the chamber of the generating head within the fire box
substantially as described.
Twenty-first. In steam generating appliances, the combination of the generating
head D, the supply pipes the separator connected to the head by said supply
pipes, and the mud drum connected to said separator, substantially as described.
Twenty-second. In generating appliances to steam boilers, the supply pipe P
located within the boiler parallel therewith, and connecting the water chamber of
the boiler with the chamber of the separator, and said separator connected to the
mud drum and generating pipe, substantially as described.
Twenty-third. In generating appliances for steam boilers, the combination with
the boiler having the opening through the barrel sheet thereof to its water
chamber, and the mud precipitator attached to the boiler over said opening,
substantially as described.
Twenty-fourth. In steam generating appliances, and boilers, the combination of
the supply pipe and separator located within the chamber of the boiler near the
opening o in the boiler shell, and the mud precipitator connected thereto over said
opening, substantially as described.
Twenty-fifth. The combination with the boiler chamber, of the supply pipe
having the recess or mouth k, of the separator connected thereon, and the concave
disk connected within said separator, substantially as described.
Twenty-sixth. The combination of the supply pipe having the opening k, the
separator covering said opening, the concaved disk below said opening to the supply
pipe, and the opening i to the separator covered by said disk, and opening into the
mud precipitator, substantially as described.
Dated this 15th day of June 1891.
FRANCIS ELLERY FITCH.