Improvements in Apparatus for Regulating the Flow of the Heated Gases in Tubular Boilers.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Dec., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 1st May, 1893-Accepted, 2nd June, 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Regulating the Flow of the Heated
Gases in Tubular Boilers.
I, JOHN OWDEN O'BRIEN, M.I. Mech. E., of the firm of W. P. Thompson & Co.,
of 6 Bank Street, Manchester, Liverpool, and London, in the Counties of Lancaster,
and Middlesex, respectively, Patent Agents (a communication from abroad by
Eugène Scherding, of Rue du Louvre, Paris, in the Republic of France,
Merchant), do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to apparatus placed in the smoke box of tubular boilers
in order to regulate the exit of the heated gases in such a way as to compel them
to be distributed equally through all the tubes.
It has for its object to insure a better utilization of the heat produced by
the combustion and to avoid the frequent deteriorations caused in the various
series of tubes in the boiler as the result of the unequal distribution of the work
of evaporation.
It comprises numerous improvements which have for their object on the one hand
to improve the results obtained by means of the apparatus hitherto employed, and on
the other hand to provide practical means for applying the invention to the various
kinds of tubular boilers most frequently made use of industrially.
All these improvements rest essentially on the three following characteristic
points.
1st. To compel the gases on their exit from the tubes to overcome resistances
proportionate to the height at which they stand in the groups.
2nd. To allow if need be the hot gases to pass direct into the chimney, when it
is necessary to increase the combustion.
3rd. To permit of easy access to the tubes of the boiler when cleaning them.
The description of these various improvements or modifications of the apparatus
will now be given.
The apparatus is composed of a box or hood open at its lower part, and arranged
in the smoke box in such a way that the boiler tubes open into it. The upper
front of this box has a hinged valve which may be operated from the outside and
the front face of this box is provided with slotted guide pieces (or lugs) which
allow it to be fixed at variable distances from the tube plate of the boiler. This
front is formed of two doors hinged on a horizontal axis and which may be opened to
allow access to the tubes of the boiler; and the lower door is provided with a
sliding piece which may be let down more or less to regulate the area for the
passage of the gases to the lower part of the apparatus.
It is understood that the form and arrangements of the apparatus thus arranged
may vary in several ways according to the form and arrangement of the smoke box
in which it is arranged.
Thus for instance the hinged valve situated at the top of the apparatus may be
replaced by a slide valve formed of two gratings placed one over the other in such
a way that the displacement of the upper grating causes the opening or closing of
the interstices of the lower fixed grate.
In the same way the front of the apparatus instead of being composed of two
doors hinged on a common horizontal axis, may have for instance three doors
hinged on three different horizontal axes which may be operated from the outside
by.n
means of handles when it is desired to obtain access to the tubes; in this
manner the space necessary for opening this door is considerably reduced.
In another arrangement the three doors may be made to open in such a way that
the three flaps are raised towards the interior of the apparatus in order to entirely

page_text: -
prevent these doors from projecting externally when being opened, as is necessary
when the smoke box is partially obstructed by the discharge tubes.
Finally. if necessary the front of the apparatus may be closed by means of
metallic shutters movable in. slides and arranged in a similar way to that
employed for closing shops; these strips or shutters are raised by means of
chains which are wound on an upper horizontal axis, which may be operated from
the outside.
In all these modifications, the slight inclination given to the front of the
apparatus facilitates it is true, the passage of the hot gases which traverse it, but
in order to obtain an exact and rational regulation of the passage of the gases the
following peculiar arrangements are preferably employed.
At the back of the front of the apparatus horizontal strips or shutters are
arranged, situated in front of each series of tubes, and these strips have
adjustable sliding pieces which may be moved to or from the tube plate of the
boiler as desired.
In certain cases and more particularly when the flue or chimney opens into the
bottom of the smoke box horizontal strips may be employed against the tube
plate itself, and these strips may be terminated by sliding pieces which can be
drawn more or less forward against the front wall of the smoke box. It is under-
stood that in this case when the boiler tubes are arranged lozenge-wise the above
mentioned metallic strips must be undulated in such a way as not to obstruct the
flow of the gases, and to free completely the mouth of the tubes.
Another means of exactly regulating the flow of the gases for each series of
tubes may also be obtained by simply fitting on the mouth of these tubes, tubular
extensions arranged in a common plate the length of which tubes is progressively
varied so that the longest extensions correspond to the highest rows of tubes, and
the shortest extensions to the lowest rows.
Finally the same result would also be obtained by interposing between each row
of tubes thin sheets of metal the breadth of which varies with the position of
the tubes, and suitably undulated if necessary as has been hereinafter described,
the sections for the passage of the gases for each row of tubes may then be
regulated by varying the position of the plain (unperforated) front plate of the
apparatus.
In these two latter cases however, the resistance opposed to the flow of the gases
in consequence of their passage through the extensions or between the metallic
plates above named is somewhat considerable and in order to annul its effect a
blower formed of a tube having holes at its upper end is arranged preferably at the
lower part of the smoke box and into this tube high pressure steam is introduced.
In certain cases the hood or box arranged in one or other of the above described
ways may be closed at its lower end and the hot gases then escape by means of
traps or slide valves arranged at each side of the lower part of the side faces of
the apparatus.
When the smoke box is very narrow, and not so wide at its lower part as it is
at its upper part, as is generally the case in marine boilers, the horizontal axis on
which the door which forms the front is pivoted must be placed in the lower part
of this latter in order to allow of its being let down outside by means of the
opening arranged at this part of the smoke box for the purpose of affording free
access to the tubes.
This simple arrangement also allows if desirable of the valve situated at the
top of the hood or box being dispensed with, as it is sufficient to partially open
the hinged door to afford direct access to the chimney of the whole or part of the
hot gases passing through the groups of tubes.
Finally in certain cases, in place of allowing the hot gases to pass freely into
the smoke box by the lower open part of the apparatus, it is preferable to entirely
close the smoke box at this place and to arrange there a vertical passage or conduit
opening at top into the base of the chimney.
In this manner the direction of the gases is diverted vertically before they reach

page_text: this chimney; a steam blower may be placed either beneath or in the interior of
this vertical conduit in order to regulate as may be desired the force of the
draught.
In order not in any way to obstruct the access to the boiler tubes, the vertical
conduit is arranged on the movable front plate of the apparatus, and is thus lifted
each time with it, when the latter is raised by means of the chains in the manner
hereinbefore-described; any suitable means however may be employed for the
same object.
Dated 1-
L
1000
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Regulating the Flow of the Heated
Gases in Tubular Boilers.
I, JOHN OWDEN O'BRIEN, M.I. Mech. E., of the firm of W. P. Thompson & Co.,
of 6 Bank Street, Manchester, Liverpool, and London, in the Counties of Lancaster,
and Middlesex, respectively, Patent Agents, (a communication from Eugène
Scherding, of Rue du Louvre, Paris, in the Republic of France, 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:-
This invention relates to apparatus placed in the smoke box of tubular boilers
in order to regulate the exit of the heated gases in such a way as to compel them
to be distributed equally through all the tubes.
It has for its object to insure a better utilization of the heat produced by the
combustion and to avoid the frequent deteriorations caused in the various series of
tubes in the boiler as the result of the unequal distribution of the work of
evaporation.
It comprises numerous improvements which have for their object on the one
hand to improve the results obtained by means of the apparatus hitherto employed,
and on the other hand to provide practical means for applying the invention to
the various kinds of tubular boilers most frequently made use of industrially.
All these improvements rest essentially on the three following characteristic
points:
1st. To compel the gases on their exit from the tubes to overcome resistances
proportionate to the height at which they stand in the groups.
2nd. To allow, if need be, the hot gases to pass direct into the chimney, when it
is necessary to increase the combustion.
3rd. To permit of easy access to the tubes of the boiler when cleaning them.
The description of these various improvements or modifications of the apparatus
will now be given, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, on which,
Fig. 1. is a front elevation of the improved apparatus.
Fig. 2. is a vertical section.
Fig. 3. a plan.
Fig. 4. a transverse section of a modification of the valve.
Fig. 5. is a front elevation of an apparatus having three doors, which open
independently.
Fig. 6. is a front elevation.
Fig. 7. a vertical section of an apparatus with three doors which open
simultaneously.
Fig. 8. is a front elevation of an apparatus closed by means of sliding plates.
Fig. 9. is a front elevation.
Fig. 10. a section of an apparatus with bars, or strips for regulating the passage
of the gases.
Fig. 11. shows a modification of the same arrangement.

page_text: Fig. 12 Shows another
cation of the same arrangement.
Fig. 13. shows a vertical section of another means of regulating the passage of
the gases on their emerging from the tubes.
Fig. 14. is a sectional elevation of an apparatus in which the discharge of the
gases takes place sideways.
Fig. 15. is a front elevation.
Fig. 16 a vertical section of an apparatus arranged for marine boilers.
Fig. 17. is a front elevation of an apparatus for directing the gases, before their
discharge into the chimney.
The apparatus shewn in Figs. 1 and 2 is composed of a hood A open at its lower
part, and arranged in the smoke box B in such a way that the boiler tubes open
into it. The upper front of this hood A has a hinged valve C which allows the
gases to pass directly into the chimney when necessary, and the front face of this
hood is formed of a frame G in which are mounted two hinged doors H H' on the
horizontal axis I, which may be opened to allow access to the tubes of the boiler.
The upper door H is held closed by means of a bolt J, and the lower door H¹ is
provided with a sliding plate K which may be let down more or less to regulate the
area for the escape of the gases to the lower part of the apparatus.
In order to allow of the passage of the gases being regulated on their emerging
from each row of tubes the frame G is provided with slotted lugs E which allow
of its being fixed at variable distances from the tube plate F of the boiler.
It will be seen therefore that the effect of the apparatus is to cause the hot gases
emerging from the tubes to be deflected towards the bottom and to flow round the
lower edge of the sliding plate K, before escaping into the chimney D, as shown by
the arrows in Fig. 2.
It is understood that the form and arrangements of the apparatus which allows
this result to be obtained may vary in several ways according to the form and
arrangement of the smoke box in which it is arranged.
When the height of the smoke box does not permit of the movement of the
hinged valve C. it may be replaced by a slide valve formed as shown in Figs. 3
and 4. of two gratings L M placed one over the other in such a way that the
displacement of the upper grating L causes the opening or closing of the inter-
stices of the lower fixed grate M.
In certain cases the apparatus may have three doors H. H'H' Fig. 5, hinged
on three horizontal axes which may be operated from the outside by means
of handles hhh when it is desired to obtain access to the tubes.
In this case
the upper valve C. may be dispensed with as it is sufficient to open the upper door H
in order to afford the gases direct access to the chimney when that is necessary
in order to increase the draught.
The three doors H. H' H may even be made to open as shown in Figs. 6
and 7. towards the interior of the apparatus as is necessary when the smoke box
is partially obstructed by the steam discharge tubes.
h² which operate
that they may be
An upper valve C
In the arrangement shown in Figs. 6 and 7. the crauks
the doors are connected by a coupling rod j in such a way
opened simultaneously to allow of the tubes being cleaned.
allows as in the preceding case of the gases being turned directly into the
chimney when desired.
There may also be employed for closing the front of the apparatus metallic
shutters P. P P P³ movable in lateral slides Q. as shown in Fig. 8.
These
strips or shutters are raised by means of chains S, which are wound on an
upper horizontal axis R which may be operated from the outside by means of
the pinion T arranged on its end.
In order to obtain an exact and rational regulation of the passage of the
gases emerging from each group of tubes the following various peculiar arrange-
ments are preferably employed.
In the arrangement shown in Figs. 9 and 10, horizontal strips or shutters a
are arranged at the back of the front of the apparatus and in front of each

page_text: series of tubes, and these strips have adjustable sliding pieces which may be
moved to or from the tube plate F of the boiler as desired.
In this arrangement the upper valve C is dispensed with and in order to allow
the hot gases to have direct access to the chimney, when that is necessary, the
upper door H of the apparatus is very narrow and is hinged to the top of the
hood A and may be opened from the outside by means of the axis d and the levers e
and fas may be seen in the drawings; in the same way the lower door H' is hinged
on axes g arranged at the lower part of the apparatus, and may also be operated
from the outside by means of the lever N, and a sector O. enables its opening to be
regulated as may be necessary. Finally a steam blower formed of a tube k
perforated with holes, allows of the draught being accelerated where that is
advisable.
When the flue or chimney D opens into the bottom of the smoke box B as shown
in Fig. 11, horizontal strips a. may be employed against the tube plate F itself,
and these strips may be terminated by sliding pieces b. which can be drawn more
or less forward against the front wall of the smoke box B. It is understood that
in this case when the boiler tubes are arranged lozenge-wise the above mentioned
metallic strips a must be undulated in such a way as not to obstruct the flow of the
gases, and to free completely the mouth of the tubes.
In the arrangement shown in Fig. 12 the means of regulating the flow of the gases
for each series of tubes may also be obtained by interposing between each row of
tubes thin sheets of metal the breadth of which varies with the position of the
tubes, and suitably undulated if necessary as has been herein-before explained; the
sections for the passage of the gases for each row of tubes may then be regulated
by varying the position of the front plate m of the apparatus which is preferably
fixed to the door of the smoke box B.
The same object may be obtained by means of the arrangement shown in Fig. 13
in which, tubular extensions n arranged in a common plate p are fitted opposite the
mouths of the tubes, the length of these extensions being made to vary progressively
so that the longest ones correspond to the highest rows of tubes, and the shortest
extensions to the lowest rows.
The front plate m serves as in the preceding cases for regulating the opening for
the passage of the gases.
In these two last arrangements a steam blower & allows of the combustion of
the grate being increased as may be desired.
In certain cases the hood A is formed at its lower end in the manner shown in
Fig. 14. and the hot gases then escape by means of traps or slide valves arranged
at each side of the lower part of the side faces A of the apparatus. An upper
valve allows of direct access to the chimney D being given to the gases, and the
front plate V of the apparatus is hinged so as to allow of its being turned back to
enable the tubes to be cleaned.
Figs. 15 and 16 shows the application of this system to a very narrow smoke
box B such as used in marine boilers. In this case the door H which forms the
front of the apparatus is hinged on the lower axes g so as to allow of its being
let down outside by means of the opening which receives the door of the smoke
box B.
By this simple arrangement the upper valve c may be dispensed with, as it is
sufficient to partially open the door H to afford direct access to the chimney of the
hot gases, the position of this door being able to be adjusted according as may be
desired by means of a sector O.
In the arrangement shown in Fig. 17, in place of allowing the hot gases to
escape by the lower open part of the apparatus, it is preferable to entirely close
the smoke box at this place and to arrange there a vertical passage Y or conduit
opening at top into the base of the chimney D.
In this manner the direction of the gases is diverted vertically before they reach
this chimney; a steam, blower may be placed either beneath or in the interior of

page_text: this vertical conduit Y in order to regulate as may be desired the force of the
draught. In this case the front plate of the apparatus is formed as before of
shutters P P P moving in slides Q and the conduit is arranged on the lowest
shutter P in such a way as to be lifted each time with it, when the latter is
raised by means of the chains S and roller R in the manner hereinbefore described
as regards Fig. 8 any suitable means however may be employed for the same
object.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
In an apparatus arranged in the smoke box of tubular boilers and intended to
regulate the escape of the hot gases.
1st. The combination of a fixed casing or hood such as A arranged in such a way
that the boiler tubes open into the same and which is open at its lower part and
provided with a hinged valve C at its top with an adjustable frame such as G
having doors H H' closing the front part of the hood and which may open outwards
or inwards, revolving on one or more horizontal axes such as I, the lower door H'
being provided with an adjustable plate K, round which the gases escaping from
the tubes are caused to pass before entering the chimney; substantially as herein-
before explained and shown in Figs. 1. 2. 5. 6 and 7.
2nd. In combination with the hood A and the adjustable frame with its
doors H H', a valve formed of two sliding grates such as L and M in order to
allow of a direct escape of the hot gases into the chimney substantially as herein-
before described and shown in Figs. 3 and 4.
3rd. The combination of a fixed casing or hood such as A, into which the boiler
tubes open, and which is open at its lower part and provided with an upper
valve C, with an arrangement of shutters such as P closing the front part of the
hood, and capable of sliding in lateral slides such as Q, by means of chains
winding up on an upper roller R substantially as hereinbefore described and shown
in Fig. 8.
4th. The combination of a fixed hood such as A, into which the boiler tubes
open and which is open at its lower part, with an arrangement of doors H H¹
hinged on axes arranged respectively in the upper and lower parts of this hood,
and which are provided internally with horizontal strips of adjustable width such
as a, the upper door H allowing a direct access to the chimney being given to the
hot gases, substantially as herein-before described and shown in Figs. 9 and 10.
5th. The combination with the hood A herein before described of horizontal
sheets such as diminishing in width from the top to the bottom of the apparatus,
and which are interposed between each row of tubes for the object of regulating
the space left for the passage of the hot gases, substantially as hereinbefore
described and shown in Figs. 11 and 12.
6th. The combination with the hood A herein before described of tubes or
tubular extensions such as n arranged opposite each tube and decreasing in
length from the top to the bottom of the apparatus in order to regulate the size
of the passage for the hot gases, substantially as hereinbefore described and shown
in Fig. 13.
7th. The combination with a hood such as A, closed at its lower part, and
provided with a valve C and a door V of an arrangement of lower lateral slide valves
such as U intended to permit, and to regulate the escape of the gases, substantially
as hereinbefore described and shown in Fig. 14.
8th. The combination with a hood A having an upper valve C, of an arrange-
ment of a door H hinged on axes such as arranged at the bottom of the above
mentioned hood, a sector enabling the opening of this door to be regulated
substantially as herein before described, and shown in Figs. 15 and 16.
9th. The combination with a hood A closed at its lower part, of a vertical

page_text: passage Y, intended to divert the gases before their entrance into the chimney and
which is arranged in such a way as to be able to be raised with the sliding
shutters P forming the front of the hood above named, substantially as herein-
before described and shown in Fig. 17.
Dated this 28th day of April 1892
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.