IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR CLOSING LEAKY TUBES OF LOCOMOTIVE BOILERS AND SIMILAR STEAM GENERATORS
Year: 1884

page_text: 1 JULIUS BUCHENHEIM, of Kiel, in Germany, do hereby declare the nature of said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR CLOSING LEAKY TUBES OF
LOCOMOTIVE BOILERS AND SIMILAR STEAM GENERATORS," and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement :-
My Invention has for its object to tighten fire or smoke tubes which have
become leaky, without rendering the operation obnoxious by the escape of steam.
The tightening is effected while the boiler is at work, the packing surfaces being
kept constantly cool by the circulation of water, so as to render the same more
durable and enable the boiler to be worked uninterruptedly.
In the accompanying Drawing which illustrates the Invention, Fig. I, is an
axial section of a tightening or closing appliance placed in a tube. Figs. I and Ib,
are end views of the same and Figs. II and III, represent modifications.
The apparatus chiefly comprises a spindle C provided at each end with a screw
thread, and carrying the sleeves or discs d₁ d₂, d₂, d, two of which are adapted to
move in the direction of the axis.
The inner discs d₁, d, rest against shoulders y of the spindle C, and an india-
rubber ring or disc f is placed between the discs d₁, d₂, as well as between the
discs d, d, as shown.
The disc d has an eccentric neck a fitting into a loose sector or plate, 7 secured
by the pin i.
For tightening a leaky smoke tube, the tool is introduced into the tube from the
smoke box so as to place the sector g at the bottom or right side of the tube;
the packing discs d₁, d₂, and d., d₁, are in close proximity to the ends of the tubes.
The tightening at the front end d. d. is effected by the compression of tho
rubber disc or ring f by means of the screw nut e, which when turned will press
the disc d' against the stationary disc (1³.
The rear end of the tube is tightened by turning the spindle C by means of a
key applied to the square hond A, which operation will cause the excentric neck
of the disc d, to fit tightly into the sector g and to press the same against the wall
of the tube until the disc d can no longer take part in the turning of the spindle,
but will screw itself as a nut along the spindle, so as to press against the stationary
...

page_text: disc d. In consequence of this pressure, the packing disc or ring f is made to fit
tightly against the inside of the tube so as to ensuro a good packing.
After both ends of the tubo have been thus tightly closed, the leaky tube will
be gradually filled with water, which is allowed to enter through the apertures w
of the inner disc d., da so as to keep the packing comparatively cool and protect
the same.
In order to render the same tool applicable for various lengths of tubes, the
disc №³ may be made adjustable by means of screw nuts p, p, see Fig. II", and
where the space for introducing the tool into the tube would otherwise be
insufficient, a spindle made of two parts may be used, such as indicated by
Fig. III.
"
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 :
In apparatus for closing leaky fire or smoke tubes :
1. The combination of a spindle C, with a disc d' having an eccentric neck x,
and a loose sector g fitting ovor said neck, said disc being mounted on the
spindle C and adapted to be moved axially along the spindle by the turning of the
latter.
2. Inner discs d. d., perforated for the purpose of cooling the packing surfaces.
3. The combination of outer discs d₁, d, with perforated inuer discs d₂, da, and
packing rings or discs situated between the said discs, two of the discs d₁, d
ds, d, being adjustable along their axis by means of screws.
The whole substantially as described.