IMPROVEMENTS IN THE FITTING OF SURFACE CONDENSER TUBES, AND IN THE TOOLS TO BE USED THEREIN, AND IN THE MEANS OF RETARDING CORROSION IN STEAM BOILERS
Year: 1865

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Alfred Vincent Newton at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 22nd
-
April 1865. A communication from abroad by William Judson, of the
City of New York, United States of America.
I, ALFRED VINCENT NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughtsman, do hereby declare the
naturo of tho said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE FITTING OF SURFACE
CONDENSER TUBES, AND IN THE TOOLS TO BE USED THEREIN, AND IN THE MEANS OF
RETARDING CORROSION IN STEAM BOILERS," to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to provide for some of the difficulties arising
in the construction and use of surface condensers.
The Invention relates, firstly, to the fitting of the ends of the tubes in the
tube sheets so as to allow of their contraction and expansion with variations
of temperature without injury to the tube sheets. For the purpose of packing
the ends of the tubes securely there are made around the holes in the tube
sheets, for the reception of the tubes, concentric annular grooves or recesses
either on the outer face or between the outer and inner faces of the tube
sheets to receive rings, tubes, or cups of elastic material or vulcanized india-
rubber. The tubes are intended to be slipped over the ends of the inserted
metal tubes, and form an elastic packing for them by being severally confined
between the annular groove and a compressing cap applied thereto. The

page_text: annular grooves made in the face of the tube sheets are by preference counter-
sunk, and their bottoms are coned to prevent the lower portion of the rubber
tube from hugging the metal tubes, which they surround, too closely. Over
the ends of the tubular packing, metallic caps, suitably formed to confine their
outer ends, are slipped over the elastic tubes, and forced into close contact
therewith by means of nuts screwed on to the ends of the tubes. When
recesses are used for enclosing the packing rings or cups they are formed with
the aid of tools of a peculiar construction which will be presently described.
There may be one, two, or more of these annular recesses within the thickness
of the tube sheet. It will be necessary to fill these recesses with the packing
before the insertion of the metal tubes, and by the simple insertion of the
tubes they will be retained in place, and form a secure joint. The fastening
of the tubes to the tube sheets may be effected in various ways, one end
being left free to allow of the contraction and expansion of the tubes. A
screwed head may be provided for the tubes, which screw will take into the
tapped hole of one of the tube sheets. Or to save cutting screw threads the
projecting end of the tube may be simply split and doubled back, or a pin
driven laterally through the projecting end will effect the same object. An
advantage consequent on using the recesses cut within the thickness of the
tubo sheets is, that they may be arranged in different planes and will thus
admit of the tubes being brought closer together than when any other mode
of packing is adopted. To prevent any injurious chemical action of the elastic
packing on the metal it is proposed to cover the outer and inner surfaces with
cloth. In order to produce a countersunk groove or recess, or an annular
internal recess communicating with the tube holes an advancing cutter of
peculiar construction is employed. The cutting tool of which a series slightly
differing in shape will be required to rough out, shape, and finish a recess.
may be thus described:-Pendent from a drill head for the purpose of
receiving rotary motion therefrom is a rod the lower end of which is made to
fit the tube holes in the tube sheet, and forms a guide for the cutter which
the pendent rod carries. This rod is slotted through the greater portion of
its length to receive a steel cutter, which is secured thereto by a fulcrum pin.
The cutter has an incline at its back, and this incline is caused to project
beyond the slot by reason of the pressure of a spring which bears upon the
front of the cutter. At the extremity of the cutter is the cutting edge, which
is pointed or chisel shaped according to the work to be done, and projects
through the slot in the rod at a part that is continued down into the guide
which enters the tube sheet. The slotted rod is for a portion of its length
scrowed to receive a hand wheel with an extended boss shaft. As this wheel

page_text: is lowered on the rod its extended boss will press against the projecting
incline at the back of the cutter, and thereby gradually protrude the cutting
edge. The amount of this motion will determine the maximum depth of cut
that the tool is required to make. The length of the cut may be regulated
by fixing an adjustable stop on the guide or lower end of the slotted rod. It
is well known that the rapidity of the oxidation or corrosion of steam boilers
bears some proportion to the purity of the water employed therein, and that
in cases where water supplied from condensers is used the corrosion of the
boilers is excessive. To remedy this it is proposed to present to the feed
water, immediately before or on its entrance into the boiler, granulated or
scrap iron or other metal in order that it may act thereon. The corrosive
action of the water upon the boiler surfaces will thus to a material extent be
arrested or neutralized.