An Improved Contrivance for Regulating the Blast Created by the Exhaust Steam in Locomotive and other Steam Engines.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Feb., 1890-Accepted, 26th July, 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Contrivance for Regulating the Blast Created by the
Exhaust Steam in Locomotive and other Steam Engines.
We JOSEPH RICHARD LEES Engine-driver of 71 Knapp Road, Bromley by Bow,
London, and JOHN JOAN JONES, Schoolmaster, of 417 Mile End Road, London, 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:-
The object of the invention is to place at the service of the driver of a steam
engine, particularly of a locomotive steam engine, an apparatus whereby he may
readily modify and control at will the action of the blast derived from the exhaust
steam, with the view-
Firstly, of economizing the consumption of fuel:
Secondly, of obviating the necessity of closing the dampers which conduces
greatly to the formation of clinkers and to leakages in the tube plate:
Thirdly, of having control over the ejection of burning cinders through the
fannel.
The Invention consists of an adjustment, to the outside or inside of the fixed nozzle
of the exhaust pipe, of a detached telescopic nozzle moveable up and down along
fixed guide-rods and of any suitable appliance such as rods and cog-wheels whereby
this detached telescopic nozzle can be raised, lowered, or held in position at the will
of the operator from the foot-plate of a locomotive steam engine or from any other
convenient position. The dimensions of the telescopic nozzle would necessarily vary
to suit the dimensions of the fixed nozzle, and the appliance for manipulating the
same would likewise vary to suit the dimensions and conformations of each particular
engine.
The Invention will now be more fully explained by reference to the accompanying
drawings
Fig. 1 represents a longitudinal section of an ordinary conical nozzle of the
exhaust pipe, denominated above the fixed nozzle. Were this fixed nozzle of less
approved form such as triangular, quadrilateral, or polygonal, the Invention would
still be equally applicable. a a represent a cross section of a ring or collar adjusted
and secured to the top of the fixed nozzle: the outside periphery of this ring or
collar corresponds with that of the fixed nozzle at the base bb; or, in the case of
10 side cylinder locomotives, its periphery would correspond with that of the fixed
of tele at the point reached by the telescopic nozzle when lowered flush with the top
this
The fixed nozzle. A nozzle made specially to suit this Invention would embody
confering or collar, or it might be made of uniform periphery; but this latter
Formation would be less preferable.
fixeg. Il represents a similar longitudinal section: the dotted lines indicate the
1 nozzle represented in fig. I, and the lines 11 1, 1, indicate the telescopic nozzle
The position when lowered down. The blow-pipe is usually sufficiently distant from
the fixed nozzle to allow of the free play of the telescopic nozzle the full length of
the fixed nozzle; but if not the blow-pipe could be slightly readjusted.
cc c¹ c¹ represent eye-bolts rigidly attached to the telescopic nozzle through
which the guide-rods d d d' d' run: should it be applied to the inside of the fixed
nozzle the upper eye-bolts only would be required. These guide-rods are socketed
over the centre of each shoulder of the exhaust pipe in bars secured by the screw-
bolts ee which hold together the two arms of the exhaust pipe (see fig. II); and
these guide-rods are held in an upright position by eye-bolts secured to the funnel
(see fig. III).
This arrangement would obviate any tension between exhaust pipe and funnel
wing to unequal vibrations.

page_text: In the case of inside cylinder locomotives, these sockets for the guide-rous wound
be carried on a belt secured to the fixed nozzle at a suitable distance from the top.
From this figure the purpose of the ring or collar round the top of the fixed nozzle
will be apparent; for, owing to the tapering conformation of the fixed nozzle and to
the uniform periphery of the telescopic nozzle, the annular interstice would become
larger and larger the higher the telescopic nozzle is raised, and consequently in the
absence of this collar the under current or suction would become greater and greater
and thus would most materially neutralize the action of the telescopic nozzle in
delivering the full force of the blast higher and higher up the chimney or funnel
which is the object aimed at.
Fig. IIª represents a lateral view of a shoulder of the exhaust pipe and shows the
manner in which the guide-rods are socketed.
Fig. III represents a front elevation of the smoke box and funnel of a locomotive
steam engine, and a longitudinal section of the exhaust pipe and telescopic nozzle as
in fig. I with the exception that here the telescopic nozzle is represented half raised.
hh represent screw-eye-bolts attached by nuts to the funnel and adjusted so that the
eyes can be brought perpendicular to the sockets.
ff represent a tooth bar rigidly attached to the telescopic nozzle and acted upon by
the rod and cog-wheel attachments cc whereby the telescopic nozzle can be raised,
lowered, and held in position at will.
Explanatory remarks. The effect of the exhaust in creating a blast is affected by
the position of the orifice of the fixed nozzle in relation to the base of the funnel:
for instance, if the orifice were half up the funnel, the blast would be comparatively
small, and were the orifice level with the top of the funnel it would evidently be
practically nil. Hence, the modifying action of the telescopic nozzle is based upon
this principle, and the utility of the Invention is based upon the following
considerations :-
Firstly, the orifice of the nozzle when fixed must necessarily be placed so that,
were the conditions very adverse such as inferior coal &c., or very great demand by
reason of heavy trains, steep gradients &c., the blast shall prove effective; hence, it is
evident, that without means of modification the same blast when the conditions are
favourable or even ordinary must prove wasteful in various ways.
Secondly, where a suitable means is provided whereby the blast can be regulated
at will, the orifice of the fixed nozzle might be placed not with the view of obtaining
a happy medium but with the view of securing the highest possible result from the
blast to meet unusually, adverse contingencies.
3
1
ie, an
Thirdly, the most usual incans of modifying the blast at present is by clot
but this is found to have a very detrimental effect; for, it cools t
dampers,
and conduces to the rapid formation of clinkers, it fosters the tendency to pri fire, i
by diverting the cold current of air over the fire instead of through the
Occasions an abrupt lowering of temperature in the tube plate which has
damaging effect.
a ver
Inven
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our "hat we
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that v
claim is :-
An application, to the nozzle of the exhaust pipe of locomotives and other stean
engines, of a detached telescopic nozzle moveable up and down at the will of th
operator from any convenient position such as from the cab of a locomotive stear
engine.
A
1
314 Ja of February 1890
February 1800
JOSEPH RICHARD LEES, Engine Driver,
71, Knapp Road, Bromley-by-Bow, London.
JOHN JOAN JONES, Schoolmaster,
417, Mile End Road, London.