Improved Apparatus for Preventing the Explosion of Steam-boilers and for similar Purposes.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Mar., 1887
Complete Left. 13th Dec., 1887
Complete Accepted, 20th Jan., 1888
Improved Apparatus for Preventing the Explosion of Steam-boilers
and for similar Purposes.
1, BENDIX MEYER of Gleiwitz, Prussia, German Empire, Manager, do hereby
déclare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to apparatus for preventing the explosion of steam-boilers.
With safety valves as heretofore constructed it sometimes happens, when the steam
exceeds the pressure for which the valves are adjusted that the valves do not lift enough
to provide sufficient area of opening for the discharge of steam. The valves also easily
jam and are thereby rendered inoperative.
Furthermore the stoker is sometimes led to overweight the valves in consequence of
leakages, thereby endangering the safety of the boiler.
The safety apparatus which forms the subject of this invention is intended to obviate
these defects, and either to replace the ordinary safety valves or to be used in
conjunction therewith.
The improved apparatus comprises a closed casing within which is arranged a
valve-like plate loaded by a weight or by spring pressure, so that it normally closes,
by means of packing, a passage leading to the boiler, whilst when a certain maximum
steam pressure is exceeded the plate yields and the escaping steam blows away the
packing. The load acting upon the plate can then no longer so control the plate that
the latter closes the said passage. In this particular the improved apparatus
differs materially from an ordinary safety valve but its general arrangement corresponds
to a certain extent with that of such a safety valve.
In the improved apparatus, however, the plate, hereinafter termed the valve plate,
does not directly close the opening which communicates with the boiler, but between
it and the edge of the said opening is arranged a ring of asbestos or other packing
material. Upon the rod of the valve plate acts a weighted lever. The down motion
of the valve rod is limited by a collar which bears upon a screw inserted in the cover
of the casing.
During the normal operation the weighted lever maintains the valve plate with its
packing firmly against the edge of the opening. As soon, however, as the admissible

page_text: steam pressure is exceeded, the valve plate is raised and the steam escapes to the
outlet blowing away the packing with it. The collar on the valve rod then bears upon
the said screw so that the valve plate remains permanently so far removed from the
opening that all the steam can escape from the boiler.
It is desirable to affix a pipe to the discharge outlet. which conveys the escaping
steam to the furnace so as to extinguish the fire at the same time.
The said screw serves as a guide to the valve rod and enables the downward motion
of the latter to be limited so that the packing ring is compressed as much as is
admissible, but that after its removal the valve plate remains sufficiently far from the
edge of the opening.
It is evident that this limitation of stroke can be provided for at any other point of
the apparatus, for example the throw of the weighted lever can be limited, or on the
valve plate may be arranged projections which strike against corresponding projections
on the casing.
It will be readily understood that existing safety valves can be converted into safety
apparatus of the described kind, by limiting the stroke of the valve spindle in a
suitable manner, so that after a packing is inserted the valve proper serves as a
closing device, and after the removal of the packing the valve opening is kept
permanently open.
The valve plate can be guided either by means of vanes or by webs or ribs which are
arranged in the casing.
Instead of directly loading the valve plate by a weight through the medium of a
lever, a spring can be employed to press the plate in the described manner against the
opening.
Provision must in this case be made for limiting the stroke of the plate.
Furthermore the valve plate itself can constitute a spring and be compressed by a
knob fixed to the cover of the casing. When the said casing is being closed the said
knob causes the spring plate to bulge enough to hold the packing; whereas on the
steam pressure being exceeded the said valve plate yields and the packing is thrown
out, but the opening remains constantly open.
In every case the sectional area necessary for the escape of the steam is ensured by
the described means, and the jamming or overloading of the valves or valve-like closing
parts is obviated.
The loading of the valve plate must be adjusted to such a pressure that the apparatus
operates before the limit of elasticity of the several parts of the boiler is reached when
the steam pressure increases, and before danger of explosion arises.
1
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Apparatus for Preventing the Explosion of Steam Boilers.
and for similar Purposes.
I, BENDIX MEYER, of Gleiwitz, Prussia, German Empire. Manager, 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:-
My invention relates to apparatus for preventing the explosion of steam boilers.
With safety valves as heretofore constructed it sometimes happens when the steam
exceeds the pressure for which the valves are adjusted that the said valves do not lift.
enough to provide sufficient area of opening for the discharge of steam. The valves
also easily jam and are thereby rendered inoperative. Furthermore the stoker is
sometimes lead to overweight. the valves in consequence of leakages, thereby
endangering the safety of the boiler.
The safety apparatus forming the subject of this invention is intended to obviate
these defects, and either to replace the ordinary, safety valves or to be used in
conjunction therewith.
The improved apparatus comprises a closed casing within which is arranged a
valve like plate loaded by a weight or by spring pressure so that it normally closes
by means of packing a passage leading to the boiler, whilst when a certain maximum
steam pressure is exceeded the plate yields and the escaping steam blows away the
packing. The load acting upon the plate can then no longer control the said plate to
cause the latter to close the said passage. In this particular the improved apparatus
differs materially from an ordinary valve.
In the accompanying drawing various arrangements of the safety apparatus are
represented.
Figure 1 is a central section of the improved apparatus.
Figures 2 to 4 represent modifications of the same.
In the apparatus constructed according to my invention the plate hereinafter
termed the valve plate, does not directly closes the opening o of the casing B which
communicates with the boiler but between it and the edge of the said opening is
arranged a ring of asbestos or other packing material. Upon the rod of the valve
}
plate acts a weighted lever H. The down motion of the valve rod is limited by a
collar m which bears upon a screw pinserted in the cover D of the casing B.
During the normal operation, the weighted lever I maintains the valve plate with
its packing e firmly against the edge of the opening o. As soon, however as the
admissible steam pressure is exceeded, the valve plate is raised and the steam escapes
through the outlet blowing away the packing e. The collar on the valve rod m then
bears upon the said screw so that the valve plate 6 remains permanently removed so
far from the opening that all the steam can escape from the boiler.
It is desirable to affix a discharge pipe to the outlet f which conveys the escaping
steam to the furnace so as to extinguish the fire at the same time.

page_text: The said screw p serves as a guide to the valve rod g and enables the downward
motion of the latter to be limited so that the packing ringe is compressed as much as
is desired to make a tight joint but after removal of the said packing the valve plate
will remain suspended a sufficient distance from the edge of the opening.
It is evident that this limitation of stroke can be provided for at any other point of
the apparatus, for example the throw of the weighted lever H can be limited, or on the
valve plate may be arranged projections which strike against corresponding projections
on the casing B.
AL
It will be readily understood that existing safety valves can be converted into safety
apparatus of the kind above described by limiting the stroke of the valve spindle in a
suitable manner, so that after a packing is inserted the valve proper serves as
closing device and after the removal of the packing the valve opening. is kept
permanently open.
The valve plate b can be guided either by means of vanes y arranged on the plate
as shown in Figure 1, or as shown in Figure 2, by webs or ribs which are arranged
in the casing B.
Instead of directly loading the valve plate 6 by a weight through the medium of a
lever a spring can be employed to press the plate in the described manner against
the opening o.
Provision must in this case be made for limiting the stroke of
the plate.
Furthermore the valve plate itself can constitute a spring as shown in Figures 3
When the
and 4 and be compressed by a knob a fixed to the cover A of the casing B.
said casing is being closed the said knob n causes the spring plate to bulge enough
to hold the packing; whereas on the steam pressure being exceeded the said valve
plate b yields, and the packing e is thrown out, but the opening remains con-
stantly open.
In every case the sectional area necessary for the escape of the steam is ensured by
the described means and the jamming or overloading of the valves or valve-like closing
parts is obviated.
The loading of the valve plate must be adjusted to such a pressure that the apparatus
operates before the limit of elasticity of the several parts of the boiler is reached when
the steam pressure increases, and before danger of explosion arises.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
A safety apparatus for steam boilers, which is characterized by a rigid or yielding
valve plate within a casing communicating with the interior of the boiler, being,
either by a weight or spring load, or by making use of its own elasticity and by
inserting a packing ring e, so pressed against the edge of an opening o communicating
with the boiler that the packing is kept in its place, but is removed when the pressure
of the steam causes the plate or the spring or weight by which it is pressed upon its
seat to yield, the said plate being then permanently suspended from the opening o
substantially as and for the purpose specified.
Dated this 12th day of December 1887.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.