Improvements in Torpedo Boats and other Steam Vessels.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Apr., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 29th Jan., 1900-Accepted, 31st Mar., 1900
PROVIDIUNA.L
Improvements in Torpedo Boats and other Steam Vessels.
I, Dr. ARTHUR EDOUARD BRÉCHOг, of 15, Avenue de Villeneuve, l'Etang,
Versailles, in the Republic of France, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion to be as follows:-
:-
My invention relates to a steam vessel, by preference in the form of a torpedo
boat, without funnel or discharge of smoke; pipes serving for the discharge of
the gases of combustion, such pipes opening out at the back or at any other
suitable point and being arranged under the bridge.
In carrying out my invention the flue at its commencement is bent downwards
and is divided into two pipes, of smaller diameter, which descend beneath the
bridge, this being a great advantage for the vessel because the bridge is less
encumbered and is no longer exposed to smoke. The advantage is still greater
for a war vessel, because it could not be betrayed by a trail of smoke, and also
because the bridge and the batteries could not be rendered untenable by smoke
and even flames through shot piercing the funnels, since the flues like the other
principal portions of the vessel are out of reach of projectiles.
Each of the said pipes is divided below into two channels, one of which leads
directly outside at the bottom and the other of which extends obliquely and
laterally to the upper back part of the vessel.
The rear ends of the latter channels or pipes serving for the discharge of the
gases are fixed, or they can be provided with a jointed end adapted to be moved
from a more or less oblique position into a vertical position when required. Or
these pipes can, if desired, be united at their outer terminal portion so
form a single pipe fixed or provided with a jointed end.
as to
On the bend of the flue where the first named pipes commence is arranged a
box into which water under pressure is introduced by means of a pump. On the
said box are nozzles which enter the said pipes. These nozzles, of conical form
and having a very small aperture at the point, are generally arranged in a circle
and are of a number which is proportionate to the grate surface.
Each of the nozzles opens into a section or cell, so that the action of each
nozzle is distinct, and limited to the cell in which it is arranged.
I can place over the aperture of each nozzle a finely twisted platinum wire,
with projecting spires, which divides the jet of water spray, spreads its zone of
suction and increases the fineness of division of the water which escapes under a
pressure of several kilogrammes. This fine water spray in being discharged
from the pipes under high pressure draws the smoke from the fire-place and
forcibly carries it along, meanwhile washing it and converting it into vapour.
The water, after washing and condensation, flows through the lower channels
whilst the vapours formed and the particles of coal which they still contain con-
tinue on their way through the discharge pipes where they meet in their passage
one or several clusters of nozzles which, like the nozzles already described, dis-
charge water in a fine state of division and under a high pressure.

page_text: The condensation of the vapours is considerably increased by the employment
of jackets which surround each of the discharge pipes and in which cold water
circulates. The cold water enters the said casing through one aperture and leaves
through another. These apertures are in communication with the sea or the
river and each of them is provided with a valve which can be opened or closed
as required.
The pipes are lined internally throughout their whole length at the lower part
with perforated sheet metal beneath which the water flows on its way to the
lower discharge channels.
Near the free end of each of the lower discharge channels is a nozzle or a
cluster of nozzles which project the water under pressure and, by communicating
its movement to the water which has been used, draws the latter outside.
By the condensation of a portion of the vapour I can also obtain water, which
after being filtered through a sponge or other filter, can be utilized. To this end,
water is not injected into the upper part of the upper discharge pipes, and the
water arising from the vapour condensed in this portion of the condenser is
collected; this second part or upper part of the condenser which is most remote
from the point where the vapours are washed contains in fact only a small
quantity of vapour but pure and without particles of coal.
Dated this 29th day of April 1899.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in Torpedo Boats and other Steam Vessels.
I, Dr. ARTHUR EDOUARD BRÉCHOT, of 15, Avenue de Villeneuve, l'Etang,
Versailles, in the Republic of France, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention relates to a steam vessel, by preference in the form of a torpedo
boat, which may be without a funnel or discharge of smoke; pipes serving for the
discharge of the gases of combustion, such pipes opening out at the back or at
any other suitable point.
In the accompanying drawing,-
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of a torpedo boat constructed according to
my invention:
Figure 2 is a section on the line C D Figure 1;
Figure is a section on the line A B Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a longitudinal section of a torpedo boat constructed according to
my invention and adapted for use with or without forced draught, there being in
the former case no discharge of smoke.
Figure 5 is a transverse section on the line E F Figure 4.
Figure 6 is a partial horizontal section on the line G H Figure 4.
Figure is a horizontal section on the line M N Figure 4.
Figure S is a detached sectional view drawn to an enlarged scale of the arrange-
ment of smoke box and of the furnace gas distributing flaps or doors hereinafter
described.
In carrying out the invention, as illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the flue
at its commencement is bent downwards and is divided into two pipes, of
smaller diameter A, A, which descend beneath the bridge, this being a great

page_text: advantage for the vessel because the bridge is less encumbered and is no longer
exposed to smoke. The advantage is still greater for a war. vessel, because it
could not be betrayed by a trail of smoke, and also because the bridge and the
batteries could not be rendered untenable by smoke and even flames through shot
piercing the funnels, since the flues like the other principal portions of the vessel
are out of reach of projectiles.
Each of the pipes A, A is divided below into two channels a and b one of
which () leads directly outside at the bottom and the other of which (a) extends
obliquely and laterally to the upper back part of the vessel.
The rear ends of the channels or pipes a, a serving for the discharge of the
gases are fixed, or they can be provided with a jointed end e adapted to be moved
from a more or less oblique position into a vertical position when required.
Or these pipes a, a can, if desired, be united at their outer terminal portion so
as to form a single pipe fixed or provided with a jointed end.
On the bend of the flue where the pipes A A¹ commence there is arranged
a box B into which water under pressure is introduced by means of a pump. On
the said box are nozzles C which enter the pipes A, A. These nozzles, of conical
form and having a very small aperture at the point, are generally arranged in
a circle and are of a number which is proportionate to the grate surface.
Each of the nozzles can with advantage open into a section or cell e as shewn
in Figures 4, 5 and 7 so that the action of each nozzle is distinct, and limited to
the cell in which it is arranged.
I can place over the aperture of each nozzle a coiled platinum wire, which
divides or pulverizes the jet of water, spreads its zone of suction and increases
the fineness of division of the water which escapes under a pressure of several
kilogrammes. This fine water spray in being discharged from the pipes (under
high pressure draws the smoke from the fire-place and forcibly carries it along,
meanwhile washing it and being converted into steam.
The water, after washing and condensation, flows through the lower
channels b, whilst the steam formed and the particles of coal which it still
contains continue on their way through the discharge pipes a, a where they
meet in their passage one or several clusters of nozzles C₁, C which, like the
nozzles already described, discharge water in a fine state of division and at a
high pressure.
The condensation of the steam is considerably increased by the employment
of jackets or casings d, d which surround each of the discharge pipes a, a and
in which cold water circulates. The cold water enters the said casings through
one aperture and leaves through another. These apertures are in communication
with the sea or the river and each of them is provided with a valve which can be
opened or closed as required.
Near the free end of each of the discharge channels b, is a nozzle or a cluster
of nozzles C which project water under pressure and, by communicating its
movement to the water which has been used, draws the latter outside.
By the condensation of a portion of the steam I can also obtain water, which
after being filtered through a sponge or other filter, can be utilized. To this
end, water is not injected into the upper part of the pipes a, a and the water
arising from the steam condensed in this portion of the condenser is collected,
this second part or upper part of the condenser which is most remote from the
point where the steam is washed contains in fact only a small quantity of steam
but pure and without particles of coal.
In the modification illustrated in Figures 4 to 8 the funnel 1) may serve either
for the discharge of the smoke in the case of natural draught or for the discharge
of the colourless gases of combustion in the case of forced draught: this forced
draught is produced by means of the nozzles (injecting water under pressure
into the compartments and thereby drawing in the smoke.
Above the smoke box O are arranged flaps or doors h, h movable upon pivots i, i.
The pipe A of which the passages A2, A3, A form a continuation, extends to a

page_text: pipe which opens into the smoke box 0 above the flaps or doors h. h for deliver-
ing the colourless gases of combustion into the funnel D after condensation.
The water from the washing and condensation passes off through the discharge
apertures b, b; they are closed by a screw valve or an automatic valve.
Two angle irons k, kare fixed on the opposite side walls of the funnel; these
irons are placed above the lateral edges of the two flaps or doors h, h.
The section of the compartments of each part of the serpentine passage is such
that the nozzle which projects water under pressure into each of them allows of
obtaining the maximum draught for a given pressure. The manometric depres-
sion produced increases in exact proportion to the number of nozzles brought
into action.
The operation is as follows:-
For natural draught the two flaps or doors h, h are moved into the posi-
tions, in this vertical position the flaps or doors close the mouths of the
branches j, j of the condenser and the smoke rises vertically, as usual, in the
funnel D.
For forced draught, whether the vessel is required to travel at a high speed
and consume its smoke or whether it is required to consume its smoke whilst
travelling at a lower speed, the flaps or doors h, h are brought into the inclined
position shewn in Figures 5 and S. In this inclined position the flaps or
doors, huncover the mouths of the condenser and close the funnel D.
The nozzles being put in action the smoke is then drawn through the mouth
of the condenser A, the steam formed by the contact of the water with the hot
gases continues its passage through the condenser receiving the compressed water
from the nozzles and the shower without pressure from one or two pipes; the
water from the condensation and washing is deposited, charged with all the
molecules of coal contained by the smoke, in the bottom of the condenser whence
it is drawn outside either through the apertures b, b by means of nozzles forming
ejectors or through a centrifugal pump.
When the flaps or doors h, h are in the inclined position their lateral edges
are located under the angle irons k, k and the inner edge of one of the flaps or
doors, is located beneath the inner edge of the other flap or door, in such a
manner as to perfectly close the funnel.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:--
1. The improved steam boat, discharging neither smoke nor steam, in which
a fine water spray under high pressure at the commencement of the flue causes
a draught, the intensity of which can be regulated as required, at the same time
that the particles of coal carried along are arrested and discharged into the water
underneath the boat, substantially as set forth and illustrated in the accompany-
ing drawing.
2. In the spraying apparatus referred to in the first claiming clause the
arrangement of the projecting nozzles in distinct sections of the discharge pipes,
substantially as herein before described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawing.
3. In the apparatus referred to in the first claiming clause, the condensing
apparatus which allows of rapidly condensing the steam formed in the first part
of the apparatus and of getting rid of all traces of smoke, on the one hand by
the injection of an abundance of cold water spray at high pressure, and on the
other hand by causing the said steam to pass into a lateral pipe covered with a
jacket in which cold water circulates, substantially as herein before described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawing.
4. In the apparatus claimed in the first claiming clause the arrangement allow-
ing of collecting purified water at the outlet of the condenser, substantially as
berein before described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

page_text: 5. The system of forced draught and consumption of smoke by water under
pressure injected by nozzles into a condenser, substantially as set forth.
6. The division into compartments, by partitions of a given height, of each of
the branches, or of one or two branches only of the condenser and the arrange-
ment in each of the said compartments of a nozzle injecting water under pressure,
substantially as set forth.
7. The use as required of pipes conveying water under pressure into one or
more branches of the condenser, which water is caused to fall in a shower in order
to hasten the condensation and decrease the expenditure of water under pressure,
substantially as set forth.
S. The arrangement of the condenser opening into a flue through two super-
posed apertures with flaps or doors permitting the mouths of the condenser to
be shut in order to allow natural draught, or to be uncovered so as to close the
Hue and work with forced draught by means of water injected by the nozzles as
soon as the mouths of the condenser are uncovered, substantially as hereinbefore
described and illustrated in Figures 4 to 8 of the accompanying drawing,
9. The discharge of the water from the condensation and washing out either
through the apertures m, m by means of nozzles forming ejectors, or through a
centrifugal pump, substantially as set forth.
Dated the 29th day of January 1900.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.