Improvements in Means for Promoting the Circulation of Water in Steam Generators.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Mar., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Dec., 1892-Accepted, 28th Jan., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means for Promoting the Circulation of Water in
Steam Generators.
I JOHN RICHARD RHODES of Gorphwysfa, Prestwich, in the County of
Lancaster, Oil Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention is applicable principally to steam generators of the "Galloway"
type that is to say to so called steam boilers having cross water tubes in the
furnace flues. In the working of such steam generators it is of advantage that
there shall be an active circulation of water. Previously to my invention the
upper ends of "Galloway" tubes have been provided with metal cowls which have
extended above the water line and have ejected the rising currents of water
outwardly the cowls preventing the return of water downward into the upper
mouths of the tubes and promoting the regular upward circulation of the water.
I have found that although these cowls answer their intended purpose when the
water level is not much below the upper ends of the cowls they cease to act
efficiently when the water falls below its normal level or below a level which in
practice ensures efficient action. To remedy this defect is the object of my
invention. I provide the water tube with a cylindrical or suitably shaped head
which I may make in two sections secured together and which constitutes an
upward extension of the tube and is secured in place by means of bolts or screws
or by means of a bolt passing through the water tube and held by a cross bar at the
inlet mouth of the tube. The said head extends above the water level and is
A tube extends downward from the
contracted or partly closed at the upper end.
contracted mouth of the head to a point below the low water level.
The head may be made of cast iron and the inner tube of wrought iron or steel
or the inner tube or spouting pipe may be cast or formed in one piece with the
Above the
upper section of the head, but I do not confine myself in this respect.
said head is a dome shaped or suitably formed cap or baffle plate which deflects
the issuing water downward and it may be outwardly away from the head.
As the lower end of the said tube is below the low water level it cannot become
completely uncovered and the steam which accumulates in the annular space
within the head will in its efforts to escape drive out water through the inner tube
and as such water can only be replaced by water rising from below a quick
circulation is promoted.
I prefer to expand or trumpet mouth the lower end or inlet mouth of the inner
tube and I may provide a pipe which will permit of the escape of steam generated
in the head and discharge such steam upward into the said tube.
In some cases I apply an extension pipe to the lower end of the Galloway
tube either alone or in combination with the appliance already described the
office of such extension pipe being to promote circulation in the lowest part of the
water space:
Dated this 22nd day of March 1909
E. K. DUTTON & Co.,
5, John Dalton Street, Manchester, Agents.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means for Promoting the Circulation of Water in
Steam Generators.
I JOHN RICHARD RHODES of Gorphwysfa, Prestwich, in the County of
Lancaster, Oil Merchant, 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 and accompanying drawings:-
---
My invention is applicable principally to steam generators of the " Galloway"
type that is to say to so called steam boilers having cross water tubes in the
furnace flues. In the working of such steam generators it is of advantage that
there shall be an active circulation of water.
"
Previously to my invention the upper ends of "Galloway tubes have been
provided with metal extensions which have extended above the water line and have
ejected the rising currents of water outwardly the extensions preventing the return
of water downward into the upper mouths of the tubes and promoting the regular
upward circulation of the water. I have found that although these extensions
answer their intended purpose when the water level is not much below their upper
ends, they cease to act efficiently when the water falls below its normal level or
below a level which in practice ensures efficient action.
To remedy this defect is the object of my invention.
To enable my invention to be fully understood I will now proceed to describe
the same more particularly with reference to the annexed drawing which is a
sectional view of the arrangement constituting my improvement.
In the said drawing a indicates the section of the flue and 6 the section of the
"Galloway" tube or other cross water tube. Upon the top of the water tube >>
I place a dome c which may be in two parts joined by bolted flanges as shown or it
might be formed in one part. This dome is secured to the upper end of the water
tube by set screws d or it might be secured by means of bolts, or of a tie bolt
passing through the water tube and held by a cross bar at the foot of the tube.
The normal level of water in the boiler is indicated by the line e in the drawing
and the dome c stands above this level as shown. A tube f is screwed or otherwise
secured to the top of the dome the said tube extending downward to a point
somewhat below the low-water level of the boiler indicated by g. The tube fis
open at both ends and the lower end-which is preferably flared as shown―
occupies that portion of the Galloway or water tube which most exposed to the
flame and products of combustion being the point where the most steam is
generated. Above the upper opening of the tube and covering over the top of
the dome is a saucer shaped baffle plate or cap k secured to the top of the dome by
the studs h or by other suitable means.
I also provide a J shaped steam pipe the longer arm i of which extends
upward into the crown of the dome while the shorter arm is in line with the
centre of the tube f and terminates in a conical nozzle 2 as shown. The steam
pipe may be secured to the side of the tube f by a jamb nut as shown or by any
other suitable means. I may apply a restricting ring above the nozzle or I
may form the part so that the cross sectional area at is reduced in order to
increase the effect of the current issuing from the nozzle. When my invention is
at work the steam bubbles forming rapidly in the cross tube b rise to the upper
part of the dome and the steam in the dome together with the water is forced up
the central tube foverflowing back into the boiler through the space between the
crown of the dome and the deflecting saucer k.
The function of the steam pipe i is to assist and regulate this ascent of the
mingled steam and water in the tube f. The steam in the upper part of the dome
enters the pipe i through the open top of the longer armi and rushing upward
through the nozzle assists to maintain the regularity of the upward rush.

page_text: The slight throttling of the tube just above the steam nozzle concentrates the
current at this point and gives more efficiency to this forcing action of the steam
jet. The water issuing from between the cap k and the dome is deflected downward
and outward, and priming is thus prevented. As the lower end of the tube f is
always below the low-water level of the boiler it can never become completely
uncovered and the steam which accumulates in the dome will in its efforts to escape
drive out the water through the tube f and as such water can only be replaced by
water rising from below, a constant circulation is promoted. As the saucer shaped
cap k can be set at any required distance from the dome by adjusting or changing
the studs h the annular efflux area can be made to correspond exactly with the
area of the tubef so that a syphon like action is set up which materially assists the
circulation and is continuous even when the water in the boiler has sunk
considerably below the normal level.
I sometimes apply my invention to the water pockets with which some internal
flues are provided.
The dome may be made in one piece or it may be made in two pieces joined
together as shown and it may be made wholly or partly of cast iron or of wrought
iron or of steel. The inner central pipe may be formed separately and be
fixed to the dome or it might be cast or otherwise formed in one piece with
the dome.
Although I consider that the use of the steam pipe assists the working of my
invention, nevertheless its use is not absolutely essential and it might be dispensed
with. Also the contracting ring in the pipe might be shaped or formed in any
suitable manner or it might be dispensed with altogether.
I am aware that Letters Patent number 3897 of the year 1876 have been
granted to a David Davidson for an extension of the "6 Galloway" tube and I
therefore do not claim the mere application of an upward extension piece to the
water tube.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is.
1) The general arrangement construction and combination of parts comprising
my improved means for promoting the circulation of water in steam generators
substantially as hereinbefore described and shown.
"
2) As means for promoting circulation of water in steam generators, the dome c
connected to the upper part of the "Galloway or other cross water tube the said
dome being provided with a central circulating tube and adjustable deflecting cap k
formed substantially as described and shown.
3) In combination with apparatus of the indicated nature for promoting the
circulation of water in steam generators a steam pipe fed from the upper part
of the dome and discharging upward into the circulating passage so as to
assist and regulate the ascending current of water substantially as described
and shown.
Dated this 21st day of December 1899
E. K. DUTTON & Co.,
5, John Dalton Street, Manchester, Agents.