Improvements in Smoke Tubes for Multitubular Boilers.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Mar., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 6th Dec., 1895-Accepted, 11th Mar., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Smoke Tubes for Multitubular Boilers.
We, WILLIAM HENRY FOWLER of Calderbank Avenue, Flixton in the County
of Lancaster, Engineer and EZEKIEL GRAYSON CONSTANTINE of 32 Victoria
Street Manchester in the County of Lancaster Engineer do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in the construction of smoke tubes of
multi-tubular boilers, more particularly those of the locomotive type.
In steam boilers of the locomotive & multi-tubular type the smoke tubes are
frequently worn away on their interior surface near the firebox end by the
attrition of small particles of fuel carried off from the fire. This is more
particularly the case when the smoke tubes are of soft metal such as brass or
copper & the fuel is composed wholly or partially of coke.
The defect has been very pronounced in the case of locomotives used on
tramways.
In many instances the smoke tubes have collapsed & ruptured & resulted in
the severe scalding or death of the attendent.
The object of our invention is to prevent the local wasting of the smoke tubes
referred to, thereby avoiding the expense of retubing at such short intervals as
hitherto has been necessary as well as preventing the risk of collapse & danger
to life. For this purpose we propose to use an internal protective ferrule at the
firebox end of the smoke tube.
These ferrules we construct in such a way as to make them elastic & thus
permit of their being easily sprung into position or removed when necessary.
We propose to accomplish this in one of several ways. Either (1) by cutting
one or more slits in the ferrule extending wholly or partially throughout its length,
the slits being either parallel to the axis or inclined (2) by cutting one or more
spiral grooves throughout the whole or part of the length of the ferrule or (3) by
making the ferrule of oval section. Each of these forms of ferrule may or may
not be provided with a flange at the fire end as may be desired.
By the use of these ferrules the immediate portion of the smoke tube at the
fire end is protected from the impact of the hard particles of the fuel carried
forward by the blast & as the ferrules can be easily removed or renewed in
virtue of their elastic character the life of the smoke tubes can be greatly
prolonged & the necessity for repairs obviated. The ferrules may be made of
any convenient metal but preferably of thin hard steel so as to resist wear &
interfere with the throatway of the tubes as little as possible.
We are aware that ferrules are used for the purpose of fixing smoke tubes in
locomotive & other multi-tubular boilers, but such ferrules are employed with the
object of wedging the smoke tube fast in the tube plate whereas the ferrules
referred to in our invention are simply for protecting the interior surface of the
smoke tube from the abrasive action of the fuel.
Dated this 8th day of March 1895
WILLIAM HENRY FOWLER.
EZEKIEL GRAYSON CONSTANTINE.

page_text: Improvements in Smoke Tubes for Multitubular Boilers.
We WILLIAM HENRY FOWLER of Calderbank Avenue, Flixton in the County
of Lancaster, Engineer and EZEKIEL GRAYSON CONSTANTINE of 32 Victoria
Street, Manchester in the County of Lancaster, 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 :-
"
This invention relates to improvements in the construction of smoke tubes of
multi-tubular boilers more particularly of the locomotive type.
.
The object of the invention
to prevent the local wasting on the fireside of the
smoke tubes which sometimes takes place in multi-tubular boilers particularly those
of the locomotive type through the abrasion caused by small particles of fuel,
ashes or grit carried off from the fire by the action of the draught.
This end is accomplished by the use of an elastic shield or ferrule to be used in
conjunction with the ferrule ordinarily employed for wedging or tightening the
smoke tube fast in the tube plate. The elastic ferrules which may be made of any
suitable metal but preferably of steel may be constructed so as to form either
(1) an outer sheath to be fitted between the ordinary "tightening ferrule" & the
smoke tube or (2) an inner lining placed inside the ordinary "tightening ferrule."
The elasticity of the ferrule may be obtained in one of several ways either by
cutting one or more slits extending wholly or partially throughout its length, the
slits being either parallel or inclined; by making the ferrule of oval section
or other similar means. These grooves or slits may be also combined with
corrugations or projections if desired for the purpose of helping to retain the
elastic shield in position. The elastic shield may also be made with or without a
Hange or collar for protecting the end of the smoke tube. By the use of these
ferrules the immediate portion of the smoke tube at the end to which they are
applied is protected from the abrasive action of the particles of fuel, grit
above described, the wear being taken up by the elastic shield which can be
renewed when necessary. By the aid of these ferrules the life of the smoke tubes
is prolonged & the necessity for their renewal greatly obviated.
ash
In order that our invention may be more readily understood we append a sheet
of drawings showing two ways in which the elastic protector shield or ferrule may
be applied.
Fig. 1 shows a longitudinal section & Fig. 2 an end view.
C is the end of the
smoke tube which is fixed in the firebox tubeplate D. A is the elastic shield or
ferrule placed inside the smoketube & between it & the ordinary tightening
ferrule B. In this case the protector ferrule A is rendered elastic by having one
straight slit cut through it from end to end as shown at F Fig. 2 & is held firmly
in position by the tightening ferrule B.
Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section & Fig. 4 an end view showing another
arrangement of the protector ferrule. In this case the protector ferrule or
shield A is placed inside the ordinary tightening ferrule B instead of outside as
in Fig. 1 & is held in position by means of its own elasticity assisted if necessary
by the aid of small projections or corrugations at P to prevent the protector
ferrule being accidentally pushed or drawn out in the operation of cleaning.
Having now particularly described the nature of our said invention & in what
manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we claim is
The use of an elastic protective shield or ferrule in the smoke tubes of
multitubular boilers for the purpose of saving the said smoke tubes
scouring effects of particles of fuel or grit carried over from the fire.
from the
The said

page_text: ferrules being used in conjunction with or without the ordinary "tightening
ferrule "
& rendered elastic & applied in one of the several ways herein before
described.
Dated this 5th day of December 1895.
WILLIAM HENRY FOWLER.
EZEKIEL GRAYSON CONSTANTINE.