IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR REMOVING THE SCUM FROM THE SURFACE OF THE WATER IN STEAM BOILERS
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John William Kenyon, of Chorlton upon Medlock,
in the County of Lancaster, Boiler Inspector, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR REMOVING THE SCUM FROM THE SURFACE
OF THE WATER IN STEAM BOILERS."
Sealed the 2nd July 1867, and dated the 3rd January 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John William Kenyon
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the.
3rd January 1867.
J, JOHN WILLIAM KENYON, of Chorlton upon Medlock, in the County of
Lancaster, Boiler Inspector, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR REMOVING THE SCUM FROM THE SURFACE
OF THE WATER IN STEAM BOILERS," to be as follows:-
My improvements consist principally in a novel mode of connecting the
"scummer" with the shell of the boiler, whereby the "scummer" is permitted
to float on the surface of the water. The improved scummer is made of a.
circular or any other suitable form, the body being hollow and made of metal,
the lower part being immersed in the water, and the upper, preferably of a
conical form, being floated above the surface of the water. To the upper part
of the floating body of the scummer is attached an outer shell of metal in
such a manner as to leave an annular space between the said shell and the
float for the passage of the scum, the lower part of the shell being formed

page_text: into a curved lip projecting from the body of the float, or otherwise formed to
collect the scum from the surface of the water. The scummer is suspended
freely by a ball-and-socket or other suitable joint from the end of a hollow
lever or radius rod, the fulcrum of which is attached to the shell of the boiler,
the joint and fulcrum being suitably formed for the passage of water from
the scummer, the fulcrum being connected with a discharge pipe and a valve
in the usual manner. The lever may be fitted with weights to adjust the line
of flotation of the scummer, and the body of the scummer may be made of a
form or material not adapted to float on the water excepting when partially
balanced by weights on the lever.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John William Kenyon in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 2nd July 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
WILLIAM KENYON, of Chorlton upon Medlock, in the County of Lancaster,
Boiler Inspector, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Third day of January, One thousand eight hundred
and sixty-seven, in the thirtieth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her
heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said John William
Kenyon, Her special licence that I, the said John William Kenyon, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John
William Kenyon, 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 REMOVING THE SCUM FROM THE SURFACE OF
THE WATER IN STEAM BOILERS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I,
the said John William Kenyon, by an instrument 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.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John William Kenyon, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to

page_text: be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement and accompanying Drawings (that is to say) :-
My improvements consist principally in a novel mode of connecting the
"scummer" with the shell of the boiler, whereby the "scummer" is permitted
to float on the surface of the water. The improved scummer is made of a
circular or any other suitable form, the body being hollow and made of metal,
the lower part being immersed in the water, and the upper, preferably of a
conical form, being floated above the surface of the water. To the upper part
of the floating body of the scummer is attached an outer shell of metal in such
a manner as to leave an annular space between the said shell and the float for
the passage of the scum, the lower part of the shell being formed into a
curved lip projecting from the body of the float, or otherwise formed to collect
the scum from the surface of the water. The scummer is suspended freely
by a ball-and-socket or other suitable joint from the end of a hollow lever or
radius rod, the fulcrum of which is attached to the shell of the boiler, the
joint and fulcrum being suitably formed for the passage of water from the
scummer, the fulcrum being connected with a discharge pipe and valve in
the usual manner. The lever may be fitted with weights to adjust the line
of floatation of the scummer, and the body of the scummer may be made of a
form or material not adapted to float on the water excepting when partially
balanced by weights on the lever.
In order that the details of the Invention may be more readily described,
and that this present explanation and description may be easily understood,
I have attached hereunto a Sheet of Drawings having letters of reference
marked upon the various Figures.
Referring now to the said Drawings:-Fig. 1 is a vertical section through
a scummer constructed according to this Invention and shewn about half size
in the Drawing; Fig. 2 represents a cross section of a boiler fitted with the
improved scummers and drawn to a scale of about one inch to a foot; and
Fig. 3 is a horizontal and longitudinal section through the said boiler drawn
to the same scale as Fig. 2, and shewing a plan view of the scummers in
position in the boiler.
In Fig. 1 a, a, is the floating body of the scummer made of copper or any
other suitable material and of a hollow form; b is a pipe to admit steam to
the interior of the float to prevent its collapsing from the external pressure;
c is a metal plate or shell which is connected to the float by means of the
bolts or rivets d, d, or in any suitable manner, so as to form an annular
"mouth "e for the entrance of the scum; f is a "ball-and-socket" joint which
constitutes the connection between the floating scummer and the hollow radius

page_text: rod or pipe g, which said radius pipe is attached at one end to the pipe h
carried in bearings i (in Figs. 2 and 3) attached to the shell of the boiler.
The pipe is free to rock in its bearings to accommodate itself to the move-
ments of the float, or the said pipe may be fixed and the radius pipe may be
connected thereto by a suitable joint which will admit of the necessary motion
of the said radius pipe. The connection of the scummer with the discharge
pipe by means of the "ball-and-socket" joint f and the "rocking pipe "
allows the said scummer to accommodate itself to the varying level of the
water in the boiler and at the same time to maintain the annular mouth e in
a horizontal position, and at all times in a position with reference to the
surface of the water suitable to the removal of the scum. To assist in main-
taining a horizontal position the lower part of the scummer may be loaded, as
shewn at k. In Fig. 2 the scummer is shewn partially suspended by a chain
from a weighted lever, by means of which the line of floatation of the
scummer may be adjusted. In Figure 3 two scummers are shewn fitted in a
boiler, but any suitable number, from one upwards, may be used, according to
the size of the boiler. The pipe h is connected to the discharge valve 1 by a
suitable joint or "gland" which will allow the said pipe to rock in its bearings,
as above described. The body of the scummer may be formed of any suitable
material and may be solid instead of hollow, as shewn in the Drawings, or
the cavity in the interior may be filled with wood or any suitable material,
in which case the steam is not admitted to the interior. In the case of a
material, being used to form the body of the scummer which will not float in
water, the scummer is partially suspended by means of the weighted lever, or
in any other suitable manner, as is well understood.
The action of the apparatus is as follows, namely, when it is desired to
"blow-off" the scum from the surface of the water, represented by m in
Figs. 1 and 2, the valve is opened, on which the scum is driven into the
annular mouth of the scummer by the pressure of the steam, and passing
through the joint f and radius rod or pipe g in the direction of the arrows, as
shewn in Fig. 1, is discharged through the pipe h and the valve into a dis-
charge pipe outside of the boiler. The action of the improved scummer herein
described is such that the scum is "skimmed" from the surface of the water
with the advantage of causing a comparatively small waste of water, in
consequence of which advantage the scum may be frequently blown off.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and means for
carrying the same into practical effect, I will now distinctly define the extent
of my Invention, and for this purpose I wish it to be distinctly understood
that I claim as novel,-

page_text: First, any form of "boiler scummer" adapted to float in the water and to
rise and fall therewith, and being connected with the discharge pipes outside
of the boiler by means of pipes and joints situated in the steam space.
Secondly, connecting floating "scummers" with the discharge pipes outside
of the boiler by means of hollow radius rods or pipes suitably formed for the
passage through them of the scum, and jointed at one end to the scummer,
and at the other to a fixed discharge pipe, or attached to a rocking pipe, for
the purpose herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John William Kenyon, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this First day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
Signed and attested by the said
John William Kenyon, in the
presence of
EDWARD K. DUTTON,
Patent Agent,
JOHN WILLIAM KENYON. (L.S.)
Manchester.