Improvements in Boiler Tube Stoppers.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Jan., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 26th Oct., 1892-Accepted, 10th Dec., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Boiler Tube Stoppers.
I, JAMES WATSON, of 2, Tancred Road, Stanley Park, Liverpool, in the County
of Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention has for its object an apparatus for stopping boiler tubes.
In carrying out the invention, I provide, at each end of the tube rod, a guide
which is screwed thereto, or, if preferred, the guides may be placed loosely on the
rod and a screwed ring or collar attached to the rod to act as a shoulder for the
end of the guide at the back of the boiler to bear against. A piece of insertion
of any suitable flexible material (such as canvas and rubber) preferably of a flat
or saucer shape is passed tight over the screwed ends of the rod, and a plug of
special shape screwed tightly onto the end of the rod is adapted to secure the
insertion on the end of the guide, while a nut or nuts lock the plug in position.
The tube rod with its attachments is then passed into the leaky tube, causing the
insertion at the foremost end to fold itself round the head of the guide while
passing through the tube. When however the plug and guide, together with the
insertion at the one end of the rod, have passed through to the rear of the tube,
the insertion spreads out, and when the nuts at the front are screwed up, the
insertion at each end is forced or drawn simultaneously into the tube by the screwed
plugs, in the form of cup leathers and held fast by a projection at the end of the
screwed plugs. The guide may be hollowed out and the centre filled with asbestos
or any other suitable material. Pressure from the leaking tube forces the material
through suitable holes in the guide and fills up any small leakage which might
remain.
One or both of the screwed plugs and the peries or guides can, if desired, be
coupled together by a screwed union or the like, in which case they can both be
loosely placed on the shaft. A horse shoe washer can be used for despatch in
tightening up if desired.
thin 5th day of Fobmany 1800
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Patent Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Boller Tube Stoppers.
I, JAMES WATSON, of 2 Tancred Road, Stanley Park, Liverpool, in the County
of Lancaster, Engineer, 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 has for its object an apparatus for stopping leaks in boiler
tubes.
The invention will be understood from the following description, reference being
had to the accompanying drawings, in which,
Figure 1 is a half section partly in elevation showing the apparatus partly pushed
through the boiler tube;
Figure 2, a half section partly in elevation showing the apparatus fixed in
position in the tube;
Figure 3, a view of a slightly modified form of the apparatus ;

page_text: Figures 4 and 5 sections of the apparatus with a hollow tube rod applied
instead of a solid one.
Figure 6 an elevation of the apparatus shewn in Figure 5 partly pushed through
the tube:
Figure 7 an end view of the hollow plug; and
Figure 8 a face view of the metal insertion.
The six first figures are broken in centre to economise space.
If the leak should occur, say in the middle of the boiler tube, the apparatus
shewn in Figures 12 and 4 may be used.
In these Figures, A, is the boiler tube; B B₁ the tube plates at the back and
front of boiler respectively; C, the tube rod screwed at the ends; and D, guides.
These latter may be mounted loosely on the rod C, and coupled together by a
screwed union or the like, or one may be screwed and the other loose on the rod
as shown. E are pieces of insertion of any suitable flexible material, such as rings
of woven asbestos, as shown in said Figures 1, 2 and 4 or flexible metal as shown in
the other figures. These insertions E are passed tight over the screwed ends of the
rod C, and plugs F, F, screwed tightly thereon, are adapted to secure the insertions
on the end of the guides D. The back plugs F have a projection G to receive a
spanner for screwing up purposes; while the front plug F¹ is screwed on to a
sleeve, forming part of the front guide D. H is a lead washer, and a recess
formed in the front plug to receive it. This washer, when the nut I is screwed
tight against it, spreads out and fills up the thread in the rod preventing leakage in
that direction.
The mode of action is as follows:-
The tube rod with its attachments is passed from the front of the boiler into the
leaky tube A, causing the insertion E at the foremost end of the rod to fold
itself round the head of the guide D while passing through the tube (Figure 1).
When, however, the back plug F and guide D, together with the insertion at one
end of the rod, have passed right through the tube, the insertion spreads out,
and, when the nut I at the front of the boiler is screwed up, the insertion E at
each end is forced or drawn simultaneously into the tube somewhat in the form of
a cup leather by means of the plugs, the said insertions folding themselves round
the plugs, and completely stopping the tube, as depicted in Figures 2 and 4. They
are held fast by the projections or steps ¹.
When leakage takes place at the end or ends of the tube, say, at, the point h²,
Figures 3 and 5, where the tube passes through the tube plate, rings 6 of soft
metal, asbestos, millboard or other suitable material are placed on the plugs (or
the periphery of the rings may be formed with grooves thereon) the woven
asbestos insertion rings are replaced by insertion E of thin. flexible or springy
metal (Figures 3, 5, 6 and 8) and the plugs F formed with through holes if desired
as shown in Figure 7. The mode of action is similar to the foregoing. The nut I
at the front of the boiler is screwed, up, the plugs draw the,plates E' tightly against
the tubes, expanding the latter and, stopping the leak. A washer of asbestos E'
(Figure 5) may be inserted, if desired, between the plates or springs E' and, the
guides D. If the leak be at one end only of the tube, the rod C can be unscrewed
from the plug after use and withdrawn together with the guides, leaving the plug
in the back end of the tube held firmly by the metallic plates or springs. Any
number of plugs can thus be put in, making use of the same rod for all the tubes.
In such case a strong washer, can be used in place of the plug F(Figure 3) if
desired. The same plugs can be used over and over again, the aforesaid guides
and rod being used as a ram to force out, the plug. I do not limit myself to. the
shape of the metal insertion depicted in Figure 8 as an. insertion. of. any suitable
shape may be used.
The guides D may be hollowed out (Figure 1) and the centre filled with asbestos
dust or any other suitable material. The pressure from. the leaking tube. forces
the material through suitable holes in the guide D and fills up any small leakage
which might remain

page_text: The advantage of making the tube C hollow, is that the heating surface of the
boiler tube is only partly lost, as the heated gases can pass through the tube, which
thus becomes a temporary boiler tube.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to he performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
1. An apparatus for stopping leaks in boiler tubes of marine or other multibular
boilers, in which a piece of insertion of any suitable flexible or springy material,
such as woven asbestos, metal or the like, of larger diameter than the internal
bore of the tube, and mounted concentrically between a plug F and a guide D.
secured on a central operating rod C at one end of the tube, and a like ring of
similar material mounted between a similar plug and guide loosely placed on the
aforesaid spindle at the other end of the tube, are adapted to be simultaneously
brought towards one another and to be pressed or squeezed by their respective
plugs against the inner walls of the tube, substantially as and for the purposes
described.
2. In apparatus of the kind described, the combination, with a central operating
tube rod, having a flexible or springy insertion of woven asbestos, metal or other
suitable material, mounted at one or both ends thereof, of means whereby the
insertions are drawn or forced into and squeezed against the inside of the boiler
tube to stop the leak while such means allow perfect freedom for the insertions to
be passed through the tube from the front to the back of the boiler, preparatory
to stopping the leak, substantially as described.
3. In apparatus for stopping leaks in boiler tubes, forming the central operating
spindle hollow, whereby the heated gases can pass through the tube which thus
becomes a temporary boiler tube.
4. The improvements in apparatus of the kind described for stopping leaks at
one end of the boiler tube, for example, between the tube and the tube plate,
substantially as set forth, whereby, after repairing the leak, the central operating
rod can be withdrawn from the tube and used in connection with stopping the
leaks of other tubes.
5. The general combined arrangement and construction of parts substantially as
described.
ribed.
26th day October 1902.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of Liverpool, Manchester, Nottingham, and London, Patent Agents.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of Liverpool, Manchester, Nottingham, and London, Patent Agents.