IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCOMOTIVE ENGINES
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Englebert Théophile Van Hecke (Civil Engineer),
of Courbevoic, near Paris, in the Empire of France, for the Inven-
tion of "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCOMOTIVE ENGINES."
Scaled the 20th April 1869, and dated the 27th October 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Englebert Théophile
Van Hecke at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
his Petition, on the 27th October 1868.
I, ENGLEBERT THEOPHILE VAN HECKE (Civil Engineer), of Courbevoie,
near Paris, in the Empire of France, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCOMOTIVE ENGINES," to be as
follows:-
The novelty of this Invention consists in placing in the smoke
box of a locomotive engine a screen or partition so arranged as to
compel the heat, smoke, and gases from the fuel to pass downwards,
nearly to the bottom of the smoke box, before they pass out at the
funnel, instead of their passing directly from the tubes up the funnel,
as heretofore practised.
The following is an example of the construction and arrangement
of the above-mentioned screen, that is to say, the said screen is formed

page_text: of sheet iron of a suitable thickness. Its front is movable and slightly
inclined. It may be formed of one or two pieces according to the
construction of the interior of the smoke box, but in either case it is
so arranged that it can be quickly opened or removed to allow of the
tubes of the boiler being cleaned. The sides of the screen, which are
only removed when the engine requires repairing, may be fixed to
the tube plate in any suitable manner. The aforesaid screen should
be so arranged as to cover the greatest possible number of tubes, taking
care that the open space or smoke passage is equal to the sectional area
of all the tubes of the boiler, or at any rate equal to one and a half
times the sectional area of the chimney, and the said screen should
be so constructed that it can be raised or lowered to a limited extent,
say one or two inches, and a little practise and observation, will soon
determine the best dimensions to be given to the space; the lower edge
of the movable plate of the screen should be in the centre of the smoke
box.
"
The effect produced by this screen is as follows:-
First. To obtain a greater degree of heat with a smaller consumption
of fuel, as will be readily understood from the following explanation,
that is to say, in locomotives as now generally constructed the heat
from the fire-box has a tendency to rise to the top, and being allowed
to escape freely the tubes are not equally heated all round the upper
portion of their circumference getting the larger share of heat, in
fact the principal part, the heat diminishes gradually in the less
elevated portion of the tubes. Now by the application of the above-
mentioned screen the heat is prevented from escaping in the direct
manner just described, and. is compelled to descend to the level of the
lower part of the screen, thus heating every part of the circumference
of the tubes, and becoming more intense by being concentrated.
Secondly. To prevent the accumulation of ashes incandescent parts
of the fuel against the tube plate, which obstruct the tubes and cause
them to leak, deteriorating the sides of the smoke box, and otherwise
injuring it.
Thirdly. To prevent the incandescent particles of the fuel escaping
from the funnel or chimney, which are actually the cause of so many
fires along the sides of the lines of railways.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Englebert Théophile Van Hecke in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 27th April 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ENGLEBERT
THEOPHILE VAN HECKE (Civil Engineer), of Courbevoir, near Paris, in
the Empire of France, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-seventh day of October, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the
thirty-second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Englebert Théophile Van Hecke, Her
special licence that I, the said Englebert Theophile Van Hecke, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Englebert Théophile Van Hecke, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to
time and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed,
should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands,
and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCOMOTIVE ENGINES,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Englebert Théophile
Van Hecke, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same was to be performed, and cause. the same to be filed
in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Englebert Théophile Van Hecke,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement, that is to say:
This Invention consists in placing in the smoke box of a locomotive
engine a screen or partition so arranged as to compel the heat, smoke,
and gases from the fuel to pass downwards, nearly to the bottom of
the smoke box, before they pass out at the funnel, instead of their
passing directly from the tubes up the funnel as lieretofore practised.
The following is an example of the construction, and arrangement
of the above-mentioned screen, that is to say, the said screen is. forined

page_text: of sheet iron of a suitable thickness. Its front is movable and slightly
inclined. It may be formed of one or two pieces, according to the
construction of the interior of the smoke box, but in either case it is
so arranged that it can be quickly opened or removed to allow of the
tubes of the boiler being cleaned. The sides of the screen, which are
only removed when the engine requires reparing, may be fixed to
the tube plate in any suitable manner. The aforesaid screen should
be so arranged as to cover the greatest possible number of tubes, taking
care that the open space or smoke passage is equal to the sectional area
of all the tubes of the boiler, or at any rate equal to one and a half
times the sectional area of the chimney, and the said screen should be
so constructed that it can be raised or lowered to a limited extent, say
one or two inches, and a little practice and observation will soon
determine the best dimensions to be given to the space.. The lower
edge of the movable plate of the screen should be in the centre of
the smoke box.
The effect produced by this screen is as follows:-
First. To obtain a greater degree of heat with a smaller consumption
of fuel, as will be readily understood from the following explanation,
that is to say, in locomotives as now generally constructed the heat
from the fire-box has a tendency to rise to the top, and being allowed
to escape freely the tubes are not equally heated all round, the upper
portion of their circumference getting the larger share of heat, in fact
the principal part, the heat diminishing gradually in the less elevated
portion of the tubes. Now by the application of the above-mentioned
screen, first the heat is prevented from escaping in the direct manner
just described, and is compelled to descend to the level of the lower
part of the screen, thus heating every part of the circumference of the
tubes and becoming more intense by being concentrated.
Secondly. To prevent the accumulation of ashes and incandescent
parts of the fuel against the tube plate, which obstruct the tubes and
cause them to leak, deteriorating also the sides of the smoke box, and
otherwise injuring it.
Thirdly. To prevent the incandescent particles of the fuel escaping
from the funnel or chimney which are actually the cause of so many fires
along the sides of the lines of railways.
And in order to explain this Invention more completely, I now
proceed to describe the best means I am acquainted with for carrying

page_text: chimney of a locomotive steam engine, shewing my improvements
adapted thereto; Figure 2 is a transverse section through the line A, B,
at Figure 1; Figure 3, a front elevation of the screen above referred to.
At each of the foregoing Figures I employ similar letters of reference
to denote corresponding parts in so far as such parts appear or can be
seen at each of such said Figures respectively A, marks the smoke
box; B, the chimney; C, the tubes of the boiler; D, my improved screen
shewn also detached in elevation at Figure 3; the arrows flight denote
the course the smoke takes after it leaves the tubes and before it passes
out at the chimney.
rliving now fully described and set forth the nature and object of
this Invention, together with the best means I am acquainted with
for carrying the same into practical effect, I would remark in conclusion
that I hereby declare this Invention to consist in, and I claim applying
a screen in the smoke box of a locomotive for the purpose of diverting
the course of the smoko from the tubes before it passes out of the
chimney as above described with reference to the accompanying Sheet
of Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Englebert Théophile Van Hecke,
have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-second day of
April, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred
and sixty-nine.
) Witness,
ENGLEBERT THÉOPHILE VAN HECKE. (L.S.)
VAN DEMYNEKEL,
Avocat.