IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR FIXING, REMOVING,
Year: 1854

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Aitchison, Lieutenant in the Royal Navy, of
14, Manor Street, Cheyne Walk, Chelsea, in the County of Middlesex,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR FIXING, REMOVING,
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Aitchison at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 20th'
January 1854.
I, EDWARD AITCHISON, Lieutenant in the Royal Navy, of 14, Manor Street,
Cheyne Walk, Chelsea, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS, IN APPARATUS FOR FIXING,
REMOVING, AND PLUGGING TUBES OF TUBULAR STEAM BOILERS," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object apparatus by which tubular flues of steam
boilers may be with more facility fixed, and when defective removed or plugged.
The apparatus for fixing a tubular flue in a steam boiler consists of a bar,
having at one end a cone screwed thereto, and at the other the bar is formed
with a screw, and another cone is slided over, so that when a tubular flue has

page_text: been introduced into its place in a boiler, and the bar passed through it, by
causing the two cones to approach cach other the two ends of the tube will be
opened out, and thereby fixed. The same bar is used for removing a tubular
flue; but in place of the cones before mentioned a nut is used with a shouldered
instrument small enough to pass through the hole in the boiler, but by reason
of the shoulders acting on the end of the tube when the rod is drawn (by
screwing up a nut with projections on the screw at the other end of the rod).
the tube will be withdrawn. When a tube is to be plugged, the rod used has
pistons or projections fixed thereon by screws at each end and intermediately,
which being forced into a tubular flue 'the same will be plugged.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Edward Aitchison in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 20th
July 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EDWARD
AITCHISON, Lieutenant in the Royal Navy, of 14, Manor Street, Cheyne Walk,
Chelsea, in the County of Middlesex, send greeting.
. WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, in the seventeenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Edward Aitchison, Ier special licence that I, the said Edward Aitchison,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Edward
Aitchison, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR
FIXING, REMOVING, AND PLUGGING TUBES OF TUBULAR STEAM BOILERS," upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Edward Aitchison, by an instru-
ment in writing under my hand and seal should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was
to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the
said Letters Patent:

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Edward Aitchison, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement
thereof (that is to say) :-
This Invention has for its object apparatus by which tubular flues of steam
boilers may be with more facility fixed, and when defective removed or
plugged. The apparatus for fixing a tubular flue in a steam boiler consists of a
bar, having at one end a cone screwed thereto, and at the other the bar is formed
with a screw and another cone is slided over, so that when a tubular flue has
been introduced into its place in a boiler and the bar passed through it, by
causing the two cones to approach each other the two ends of the tube will
be opened out, and thereby fixed. The same bar is used for removing a
tubular flue; but in place of the cones before mentioned a nut is used with a
shouldered instrument small enough to pass through the hole in the boiler,
but by reason of the shoulders acting on the end of the tube when the
rod is drawn (by screwing up a nut with projections on the screw at the
other end of the rod) the tube will be withdrawn. When a tube is to be
plugged, the rod used has pistons or projections fixed thereon by 'screws at
each end and intermediately, which being forced into a tubular flue the same
will be plugged.
Having thus stated the nature of my Invention, I will proceed to describe
same applied thereto. Figure 2 represents the instrument in the act of spreading
the ends of the tubes, and thereby rendering the joint steam tight. Figure 3
shews a plan by which the ordinary ferrule may be inserted for the same purpose.
Figure 4 is a section of a tube with my apparatus for removing the same applied
thereto; and Figures 5 and 6 represent an apparatus for plugging tubes, when
from any cause such an operation becomes necessary. In Figures 1 and 2, 'a
represents the tube or flue for the passage of the flame in an ordinary.steam
boiler; b, the boiler plates which receive the ends of the tubes; c, a bar, having
at one end a cone d, fixed thereto by means of the screw d', and at the other
end another cone e, which is made to approach or recede from the cone dat
the opposite end of the tube, by means of the handle f, which, travelling in, the
thread of the bar c, presses, when turned in one direction, against the sliding tube

page_text: or barrel h, and thus causes the cones d and e to approach each other. When
the cones have been inserted sufficiently.far to spread the ends of the tubes, the
strain is first taken off by reversing the motion of the handle f, and the cones d
and e being then removed (the former being left square for that purpose), the
apparatus may be withdrawn from the tube, and the process repeated as often.
as may be necessary. In Figure 3, a is the tube; b, the tube plate; and c, an
ordinary ferrule, such as is commonly used in fixing the tubes of marine and
other steam boilers. Hitherto these ferrules have been driven in with drifts or
.sockets formed for this purpose, and it not unfrequently happens that under
these circumstances the ferrules are considerably damaged by the violence
exerted. With my arrangement I bring a steady and uniform pressure to bear
upon the ferrules at each end at the same time, and thus insert two ferrules
with far less trouble and in less time than under ordinary circumstances. In
Figure 4, a is the tube; b, the tube plate; and c, a bar for removing defective
or other tubes from steam boilers. When a. tube requires to be withdrawn, I
cause the ends, which have been rivetted over to prevent the escape of steam, to
be beaten up to their original diameter, and when this is done I place at one
end a cap d, which is drilled to receive the end of the rod or bar C, and having
attached the rod thereto by means of the nut e, I pass the outer end through a
strong iron saddle, and bring the handle f to bear upon its upper surface" by
means of the screw f', formed on the end of the rod or bar c; when yielding to
the pressure of the screw the tube will gradually be drawn in the direction of
the saddle, and thus be easily removed. In Figures 5 and 6 will be seen an
arrangement for stopping or plugging tubes when requisite; a is the tube;
b, the tube plate; and c, a bar, having at either end and at its middle threads
cut, which operate on the discs d, d, in such manner as to cause them to
approach nearer to or separate farther from each other, as may be required.
Between these discs I place hemp or other suitable packing, so that when these
discs or plates of metal are caused to come towards each other, such packing
receives pressure thereby, and extends outwards, and fills up the space betwee
the peripheries of the discs and the inside of the tubes, and thus prevent
the passage of water, steam, or flame.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I would have it understood that I do not intend to confine
myself to the precise details herein given, as the same may be slightly varied
without departing from my Invention. But what I claim is,―
First, the fixing the flues of steam boilers by the means and in the manner
herein explained.
1 ...

page_text: Secondly, the mode of withdrawal of defective flues of steam boilers, as
herein explained.
And, thirdly, the method of plugging the tubular flues of steam boilers, as
explained.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Aitchison, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twentieth day of July, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four.
Witness,
JNO. ALCOCK.
E. AITCHISON, R.N. (L.s.)