Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 19th July, 1887
Complete Left, 19th Apr., 1888
Complete Accepted, 13th July, 1888
1, HENRY APPLEBY, of the Waterford and Limerick Railway Company, Limerick,
Ireland, Locomotive Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in blast-pipes for locomotive and other
boilers in which a steam-jet or blast-usually the exhaust steam escaping from the
cylinders is employed for inducing the requisite draught through the furnace and
heating tubes, and in the means whereby such draught may be varied and regulated
according to the duty to be performed. My invention is, however, applicable under
other circumstances where it is desired to set a body of air in motion with the aid of
a steam-jet. When applied to a locomotive or other boiler, I sometimes provide means
whereby 'live' steam may be conveyed from the boiler direct to the blast-pipe for use in
creating a draught when the engine is standing and when exhaust steam from the
cylinders is not available for the purpose.
A blast-pipe constructed according to this invention consists of a central steam-
nozzle of suitable height or length provided at some distance below its upper or
delivery extremity with a series of lateral passages which lead to an annular passage
surrounding, and by preference extending some distance above or beyond the
extremity of, the central nozzle. Between the central nozzle and the outer steam-
passage is an annular chamber open to the atmosphere below and serving to convey the
air or other gases surrounding the lower portion of the apparatus to a point where
they become subjected to the influence of the steam issuing from the central nozzle.
The outer annular steam-passage is fitted with an annular valve, whereby the escape
of steam from the main supply pipe through such supplementary passage may be
partially or wholly intercepted. By means of suitable connections, such regulating
valve may be operated from the foot-plate of the locomotive or other convenient
position.
Assuming my improved blast-pipe to be applied to a locomotive, the apparatus
occupies the usual position in front of the outlet-ends of the fire-tubes; the air-inlet
to the intermediate passage being at or about the level of the lower fire-tubes, and the

page_text: upper extremity of the outer steam-passage being at or about the level of the upper
fire-tubes. Under these circumstances, the draught through the lower and upper
tubes is equalised. When the outer or supplementary steam-passage is closed, the
whole of the exhaust steam is forced through the central steam-nozzle; and the blast,
owing to such concentration, is intensified. Furthermore, the jet acts with greater
effect upon the gases drawn from below through the intermediate passage. When, on
the other hand, the outer steam-passage is partially or fully opened, a portion of the
steam escapes through such supplementary passage, the collective area for delivery is
increased and the blast is modified. Moreover, the portion of the steam which escapes
by way of the outer or supplementary passage has no effect upon the gases contained
in the smoke-box until the upper extremity of the blast-pipe is reached; at which
point the influence of the current, already diffused, is comparatively ineffective.
In conjunction with a blast-pipe of the kind hereinbefore described, I sometimes
employ means whereby the apparatus may be worked with 'live' steam conveyed
direct
For this purpose, I provide the apparatus near its base with a
lateral nozzle to which a steam-pipe may be attached, and whereby the blast-pipe may
be worked when exhaust steam from the cylinders is not available for the purpose.
When it is desired to render the action of the apparatus automatically adjustable, I
provide means whereby the annualar valve, controlling the escape of steam through
the outer passage of the blast-pipe, is opened or closed as the steam rises above or falls
below its normal pressure; such means being operated by steam supplied from the
boiler.
G. G. M. HARDINGHAM,
191, Fleet Street, London, E.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in and Connected with Blast-pipes.
I, HENRY APPLEBY, of the Waterford and Limerick Railway Company, Limerick,
Ireland, Locomotive 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 relates to improvements in blast-pipes for locomotive and other boilers
in which a steam-jet or blast-usually the exhaust steam escaping from the cylinders-
is employed for inducing the requisite draught through the furnace and heating tubes,
and in the means whereby such draught may be varied and regulated according to the
duty to be performed. My invention is, however, applicable under other circumstances
where it is desired to set a body of air in motion with the aid of a steam-jet. When
applied to a locomotive or other boiler, I sometimes provide means whereby 'live'
steam may be conveyed from the boiler direct to the blast-pipe for use in creating a
draught when the engine is standing and when exhaust steam from the cylinders is
not available for the purpose.
And in order that this invention may be readily understood, I will proceed to
describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, whereof Figures 1 and 2
represent, in longitudinal and transverse section respectively, the smoke-box-end of a
locomotive engine furnished with a blast-pipe constructed and applied according to my
improved method. In Figures 3 and 4 is represented, to an enlarged scale, and in fuller
detail, the mode in which I prefer to construct the blast-pipe itself; the former of these
being a sectional elevation and the latter a part plan and part horizontal section. The
blast-pipe consists of a central steam-nozzle a, of suitable length, provided at some
distance below its upper or delivery extremity with a series of lateral passages a', which
lead to an annular passage a surrounding, and by preference extending some distance
above or beyond the extremity of, the central nozzle a. Between the central nozzle
and the outer steam-passage a' is an annular chamber b, open to the atmosphere below and
serving to convey the air or other gases contained in the lower portion of the smoke-
box into the blast-pipe, where .they become subjected to the influence of the steam
issuing from the central nozzle a. The outer annular steam-passage a² is fitted with
an annular valve a³, whereby the escape of steam from the main supply-pipe through
such supplementary passage may be partially or wholly intercepted. The annular
valve a is furnished with studs at which work in slots as in the outer casing as, and,
by means of suitable connections (as indicated by way of example in dotted lines in
Figures 1 and 2), may be raised or lowered from the foot-plate of the lecomotive or
other convenient position. The outer casing a is securely attached to the flange a',
and does not partake of a rotative movement.
If preferred, admission to the outer passage a' may be through ports controlled by a
valve having openings to correspond, the valve or regulator partaking of a rotative
movement instead of a vertical motion-as the escape of steam by way of the outer
passage is varied.
Assuming my improved blast-pipe to be applied to a locomotive, the apparatus occupies
the usual position in front of the outlet ends of the fire-tubes; the air-inlet to the
int rmediate passage b being situated at or about the level of the lower rows of fire-
tubes, and the upper extremity of the outer steam-passage a* being at or about the level

page_text: of the upper rows of fire-tubes. Under these circumstances, the draught through the
lower and upper tubes is equalised. When the steam-passage a² is closed, the whole of
the exhaust steam is forced through the central nozzle a; and the blast, owing to such
concentration, is intensified. Furthermore, the jet acts with greater effect upon the
gases drawn from the lower portion of the smoke-box through the intermediate
passage b. When, on the other hand, the steam-passage a' is partially or fully opened,
a portion of the steam escapes through the supplementary passage a², the collective
area for delivery is increased, and the blast modified. Moreover, the portion of the
steam which escapes by way of the passage a' has no effect upon the gases contained
in the smoke-box until the upper extremity of the blast-pipe is reached, at which level
the influence of the current, already diffused is comparatively ineffective.
In conjunction with a blast-pipe of the kind herein before described, I sometimes
employ means whereby the apparatus may be wholly or partially worked with 'live'
steam from the boiler. For this purpose I provide the apparatus, near its base, with a
nozzle to which a steam-pipe may be attached, and whereby the blast-pipe may be
worked when exhaust steam from the cylinders is not available for the purpose.
When it is desired to render the action of the apparatus automatically adjustable,
I provide means such as illustrated in Figure 5, whereby the annular valve a³, or its
equivalent, is opened or closed as the steam rises above or falls below its normal
pressure, such means being operated by the varying steam-pressure in the boiler. cis
the rod whereby motion is communicated to the blast-pipe regulating valve; the said
rod been worked by automatic apparatus consisting of a steam-cylinder d containing
a piston d' fastened to the shaft or rod c. The steam-passages d' d³ are normally
closed by a slide-valve d; the latter being attached, by means of suitable connections,
to the free end of a coiled or bent tube e, to which steam is admitted from the boiler by
way of the pipe e¹. The slide-jacket of the cylinder d is supplied with steam from the
boiler by means of the pipe f. The movement of the free end of the tube e in either
direction, as variation in the internal pressure takes place, causes steam to be admitted
to the steam-cylinder d upon one side or the other of the piston and thus operates the
regulating valve of the blast-pipe.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 claim :-
:-
1. The improved blast-pipe constructed substantially as herein described and having
a central steam-nozzle, a surrounding annular steam-passage communicating therewith
and an annular valve arranged to work in an axial direction or rotatively and serving
to control the escape of steam by way of the said supplementary passage.
2. In a blast-pipe of the kind referred to in the preceding claiming clause, the use
of an annular valve operating substantially as herein described for controlling the flow
of steam from the central nozzle to the surrounding supplementary passage.
3. Operating the regulating valve of a blast-pipe of the kind before referred to from
the boiler, substantially as herein described, whereby the blast is automatically con-
centrated or diffused according to whether the steam in the boiler falls below or rises
above its normal pressure.
4. The employment of automatic apparatus constructed substantially as herein
described with reference to Figure 5 and serving to operate the valve of a regulating
blast-pipe as variations in the boiler pressure occur.
Dated this 13th day of &„mil 1000
G. G. M. HARDINGHAM,
191, Fleet Street, London, E.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.