An Improved Device for Closing the Tubes of Water Tube Boilers in Case of Rupture.
Year: 1899

page_text: An Improved Device for Closing the Tubes of Water Tube Boilers
in Case of Rupture.
We, SYLVAIN LOUIS RAVIER and ARMAND JANET, both of 29, Rue des Volon-
taires, Paris, in the Republic of France, Engineers, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object to provide an efficient device for automatically
and efficiently closing the tubes of water tube boilers in case of rupture whatever
may be the condition of the tube ends.
For this purpose we employ material or metal such for example as lead or lead
alloy which is soft enough to apply itself closely to the edges of the openings
of the tube ends even if they be irregular. We place these pieces in front of
the openings of the tubes so that in case of rupture of the tube they are caused
by the current of water or steam to apply themselves to the edges of the said
openings, thus stopping the passage of water or steam into the tube.
To guard against the soft metal employed melting in case of overheating we
may employ a core of a metal which fuses with difficulty (such as bronze, steel,
iron, or the like) and cover this with soft metal, or with a sufficiently firm non-
metallic material such as prepared leather, vulcanised rubber, fibre, or the like,
so that even in the unlikely case of the soft material fusing or being destroyed
or disintegrated by overheating, the hard portion or core will still stop the tube
when necessary, although in a less perfect manner.
When the device is to be applied to a tube in a "Temple boiler" in accordance
with this invention, the said device may be composed of a body or core of a
material fusing with difficulty and of a hemispherical shape and be connected
to a rod of the same kind of material, and the said body or core be covered with a
cover of soft metal or material of corresponding shape and be maintained in front
of the tube by its rod engaging with the tube, and by a bar mounted in front of
the row of tubes.
When the device is applied to a tube in an "Oriolle boiler" the constructional
arrangement may be similar to that aforesaid except that the bar is not used as
the device is provided with an extension to rest against the cover or jacket of
the boiler or against a part formed on the cover or jacket.
When the device according to this invention is applied to a tube in a "Belle-
ville boiler" the shape of the device can be that of a disc with curved edges some-
what like a clack valve, resting at its edge in a groove, wherein it can move as
upon a hinge, and which holds it in place in front of the tube opening jointly
with the rod on the device engaging with the tube itself.
As aforesaid, these devices may be made entirely of soft metal or material
or of a material fusing with difficulty and having soft metal or material applied
thereto. In both cases the outer form can be the same for same type of boiler

page_text: but the device can be varied according to the type of boiler to which the device
is applied.
Dated this 23rd day of May 1899.. ·
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.
An Improved Device for Closing the Tubes of Water Tube Boilers
in Case of Rupture.
We, SYLVAIN LOUIS RAVIER and ARMAND JANET, both of 29, Rue des Volon-
taires, Paris, in the Republic of France, Engineers, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particu-|
larly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention has for its object to provide an efficient device for automatically
and efficiently closing the tubes of water tube boilers in case of rupture whatever
may be the condition of the tube ends.
For this purpose we employ material or metal such for example as lead or lead
alloy which is soft enough to apply itself closely to the edges of the openings
of the tube ends even if they be irregular. We place these pieces in front of
the openings of the tubes so that in case of rupture of a tube they are caused
by the current of water or steam to apply themselves to the edges of the said
openings thus stopping the passage of water or steam into the tube.
To guard against the soft metal employed melting in case of overheating we
may employ a core. of a metal which fuses with difficulty (such as bronze, steel,
iron, or the like) and cover this with soft metal, or with a sufficiently firm non-
metallic material such as prepared leather, vulcanised rubber, fibre, or the like,
so that even in the unlikely case of the soft material fusing or being destroyed
or disintegrated by overheating, the hard portion or core will still stop the tube
when necessary although in a less perfect manner.
The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention as adapted for three
different kinds of boilers.
Figure 1 represents a device according to this invention applied to a tube in a
"Temple boiler."
The said device is composed of a body or core a of a material fusible with
difficulty and of a hemispherical shape and connected to a rod 6 of the same or
similar material. This body or core is enveloped in a cover c of soft metal or
material of corresponding shape.
This device is maintained in front of the tube by its rod engaging with the
tube itself and by a bar & mounted in front of the row of tubes.
<<
Figure 2 represents a device according to our invention applied to a tube in
an Oriolle boiler." The constructional arrangement is similar to that shewn
in Figure 1 except that the bar d is not used, as the device is provided with an
extension e to rest against the cover or jacket f of the boiler or against a part
formed on the cover or jacket.
Figure 3 represents a device according to this invention applied to a tube in a
'Belleville boiler" the shape of the device in this case is that of a disc with
curved edges somewhat like a clack valve, resting at its edge in a groove, wherein
it can move as upon a hinge and which holds it in place in front of the tube
opening jointly with the rod b engaging with the tube itself.
As aforesaid these devices may be made entirely of soft metal or material

page_text: or of a material fusing with difficulty and having soft metal or material applied
thereto. In both cases the outer form can be the same for same type of boiler
but the device can be varied according to the type of boiler to which the device
is applied.
In certain boilers of the "Belleville," "Niclausse" and like types in which
the tubes are not independent of each other but are arranged in series, each series
constituting an element, instead of providing a closing device at each end of each
tube, one of the said closing devices can be placed at each extremity of each
element or group of tubes.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of this inven
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is:
-
1. An automatic device for stopping tubes or elements of water tube boilers,
the characteristic feature of the device consisting of the stopping parts made of
soft metal which is capable of applying itself against the edges of the orifices of
the tubes or of the elements, regardless of any irregularities thereof substan-
tially as herein described.
2. An automatic device for stopping tubes or elements of water tube boilers,
the characteristic feature thereof comprising a core made of a material which is
not easily fusible and covered with a layer of metallic or non-metallic plastic
material capable of moulding or applying itself against the edges of the orifices
of the tubes or elements regardless of any irregularities thereof substantially
as herein described.
3. Stopping devices for automatically closing the tubes of water tube boilers,
in case of rupture, substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated by the
accompanying drawings.
Dated 1.
1011
R 123 1
1000
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.