IMPROVEMENTS IN SELF-ACTING ASH REMOVERS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frank Wirth, of the Firm of Wirth and Company,
Patent Solicitors, at Frankfort-on-the-Main, in the Empire of Germany,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SELF-ACTING ASH REMOVERS." A
communication from Richard Sickel, Doctor of Philosophy, of Nörten, in the
Empire of Gerinany.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frank Wirth at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st April 1878.
FRANK WIRTH, of the Firm of Wirth and Company, Patent Solicitors, at
Frankfort-on-the-Main, in the Empire of Germany.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN SELF-
ACTING ASH REMOVERS." [A communication from Richard Sickel, Doctor of
Philosophy, of Nörten, in the Empire of Germany.]
This
Steam boilers with flue fires appear to have advantages over those with outside
firing on account of the larger boiler surface exposed to the fire and flames.
however is not the case, as the pipes become more or less charged with ashes, this
being chiefly owing to the fact that the draught opening at the end of the boiler is
about equal to two-thirds of the capacity of the boiler tubes, thus one-third of the
draught space in the boiler tubes is filled with ashes before the draught is strong
enough to carry them away.
My said Invention consists of an apparatus constructed in such a manner that
when placed in a boiler tube or the like prevents the accumulation of ashes by
causing the draught to sweep them away. This apparatus consists of a cone-shaped
centre piece, pointed at one end and growing larger at the other; on the outside of
this cone a series of fin-shaped or spirally-formed wings are fastened, all meeting at
the smaller end of the cone, and extending spirally backwards to the larger end of
Two or more of these pins are made of sufficient length to support the
the saine.
ED

page_text: cones in the centre of the tube. It will thus be seen that the draught passing along
the tube is sent from the centre to the sides; at the same time all particles of
carbon carried along by the draught are ignited by coming in contact with the red-
hot apparatus.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Frank Wirth in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 30th September
1878.
FRANK WIRTH, of the Firm of Wirth and Company, Patent Solicitors, at
Frankfort-on-the-Main, in the Empire of Germany. "IMPROVEMENTS IN SELF-
ACTING ASH REMOVERS." A communication from Richard Sickel, Doctor of
Philosophy, of Nörten, in the Empire of Germany.
Steam boilers with flue fires apparently have advantages over those with outside
firing by reason of the larger surface exposed to the fire and flames. This however
is not the case, as the pipes become more or less charged with ashes, chiefly because
the draught opening at the end of the boiler is about equal to two-thirds (/s) of the
capacity of the boiler tubes; thus one-third of the draught space in the boiler tubes
is filled with ashes before the draught is strong enough to carry them away.
My Invention relates to an apparatus constructed in such a manner that when
placed in a boiler tube or the like it prevents the accumulation of ashes by causing
the draught to sweep them away. This apparatus consists of a cone-shaped centre
piece, pointed at one end and increasing in size toward the other; on the outside of
this cone a series of fin-shaped or spirally-formed wings are secured, all of them
meeting at the smaller end of the cone and extending spirally backwards to the
larger end of the same; two or more of these fins are made of sufficient length to
support the cone in the centre of the tube. It will thus be seen that the draught
passing along the tube is sent from the centre to the sides. At the same time all
particles of carbon carried with the draught are ignited by contact with the red-hot
surfaces of the said apparatus.
My improved ash remover is represented in the accompanying Drawing, in
which,-
Figure 1 represents a boiler tube a provided with a cone centre 6 placed with its
pointed end against the draught, and supported in any convenient manner in the
centre of the tube; this cone causes the fire to play against the sides of the tube,
which is the chief object of my Invention.
Figure 2 is a section through the line x, x, and shews the space o through which
the draught passes.
Figures 3 and 4 represent one of iny cone ash removers provided with four fin-
shaped spirally-formed wings A, B, C, D, attached to the cone G and meeting at the
smaller end F of the said cone. These fins bave the offect of causing the draught

page_text: driven from the centre to the sides of the tube by the cone G to pass down the sides
of the said tube spirally, as shewn by the arrows, Figure 4.
Figure 5 is a section through the line y, y, Figure 3, and represents one of my
finned ash removers lying in the flame tube of a boiler.
These ash removers can be made of any suitable material and of any required
diameter and length.
Having thus fully described the said Invention, and the manner of performing
the same, I wish it understood that I claim a conical ash remover, either with or
without spiral fins, as above described, and as shewn in the Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frank Wirth, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
FRANK WIRTH. (L.S.)