New or Improved Means for Catching the Sparks Escaping from the Chimneys of Locomotive and other Engines.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Dec., 1892-Accepted, 23rd Sept., 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
New or Improved Means for Catching the Sparks Escaping from the
Chimneys of Locomotive and other Engines.
We HEINRICH EISENACH Manufacturer, and KARL GOLLMER, Engineer both
of Küstrin, in the German Empire, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to new or improved means for catching the sparks escaping
from the chimneys of locomotive and other engines.
The occurrence of the many fires constantly caused by the escape of sparks from
the chimneys of locomotive and other engines led us to undertake experiments with
a view to find means for avoiding such a source of danger and in particular to
endeavour to find out the way taken by these sparks on their passage to the chimney
through the flue tubes and the smoke box. After a long and patient investigation
we have been able to construct a spark catcher which is not only theoretically
correct but which will be such in practice that no spark shall escape out of the
chimney and that such a source of danger will be henceforward entirely removed.
As already stated above, the investigation into the way followed by the incandescent
coal particles led us to the result that the same rush generally out of the fire box
through the lower half of the tubes being first powerfully impelled onward, and
outward, and further urged by the exhaustive action of the escaping steam when
they ascend along a slightly curved line upwards through the smoke box and strike
against the upper half of the door of the smoke box whence they enter the
chimney and escape outside. We have further found that after the incandescent
coal particles have left the flue tubes they never proceed at right angles towards
the chimney.
After we had ascertained the direction followed by the coal particles we found
we had to reckon with two important factors: 1. The prevention of the escape of
sparks and 2. The necessity of not interfering with the escape of steam and smoke
in order to avoid an injurious action on the function of the engine. From the
foregoing it will be seen that it will be only necessary to obtain the object in view
to close the front part of the smoke box and to leave the rear part thereof open for
the free passage of the smoke and gases so as not to interfere with the production
of steam. The defects attending spark catchers hitherto constructed, as well as
our own experiments, led us to intercept the above mentioned way which is followed
by the sparks.
In the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1 is a portion of a central longitudinal section of a locomotive engine
showing the spark catcher covering the front chamber only while Fig. 3 is a similar
view showing the spark catcher moved half way into the rear chamber.
Figs. 2 & 4 are vertical sections corresponding to Figs. 1 & 3 respectively.
In order to remedy the defects aforesaid a curved sheet A. furnished with per-
forations of about 4 millimetres in diameter is arranged in the smoke box at an
angle of about 45°, this sheet ascending in front, and being tightly laid against the
upper part of the front wall B of the smoke box as well as against the highest
points of the two outlet pipes C and on the right and left hand side against the
walls D of the smoke box while the same extends rearwardly above the exhaust
pipes such a distance that the free space left as far as the side of the pipes is at
least as large as twice the cross section of the chimney at its narrowest part.
Moreover the lower part of the sheet must not extend below 50 millimetres of the
upper row of boiler tubes. By this arrangement, the escape of sparks is entirely
avoided whatever speed the engine may be travelling at and the rear part of the
smoke box remains fully open for the unimpeded passage of the smoke and gases

page_text: which is a point of paramount importance as regards heating and steam-producing
purposes.
The operation of this contrivance is as follows: The incandescent coal particles
follow after they leave the flue tubes a curved way and strike first against the
door B of the smoke box and subsequently against the perforated metal sheet A,
when they drop from the latter and fall on the bottom of the smoke box from
which they are removed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :
A spark catcher for locomotive and other engines consisting of perforated sheets
of metal or wire gauze arranged in close proximity to one another and closing the
smoke box at its front end only between the exhaust pipes and the front wall of
the smoke box, the rear half of the smoke box being left open for the free passage
of gases substantially as herein described and shown.
Dated this 8th day of December 1892.
HUGHES, SON & Co.,
38, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicants.