Tramway and other Steam Engines.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 28th May, 1886
Complete Left, 24th Feb., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 25th Mar., 1887.
Tramway and other Steam Engines.
I, FRANK CHARLES POWELL, of 17 Newcomen Terrace, Coatham, Redcar,
Yorkshire, Civil and Mechanical Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my
invention to be as follows:
My said invention has reference to the use of the exhaust steam from tramway,
marine, and other steam engines, and to its utilization, in combination with heated
air, in the steam boiler furnaces of such engines, to increase the draught, assist
combustion of the waste gases, and prevent or lessen any noise from, or escape of
visible steam or smoke from the chimneys of such engines, and consequent saving
of fuel.
My invention or improvements, consist all as follows:-I form a chamber in the
Flame-box beyond the boiler furnace, into which I lead the exhaust steam of the
engine, or a part of it, by means of a pipe, preferably controlled by a cock or valve.
This chamber, within the flame-box, would communicate with the fire or flame
tubes of the boiler, by means of a series of short conical tubes secured in it and led
towards the inner ends of the boiler tubes. Air also is admitted to the exhaust steam
chamber, by one arrangement, preferably at its lower end, by means of a pipe,
controlled by means of a cock or valve. The flames of the boiler furnace would be
made to impinge or play upon and heat all the outer surfaces of this chamber, so as to
superheat the combined exhaust steam and air within the chamber passing or
exhausting through its said nozzles leading into the flame tubes of the boiler furnace,
where they would increase the draught of the flames and heated gases through the
tubes, and assist the complete combustion of the hydrocarbons left unburned, and
prevent the formation of smoke, and so rarefy the steam or gaseous products that
there would be no visible escape of them from the chimney, and there would be little
or no heat or noise heard from the blast of the exhaust steam from the engine.
By another modification, instead of admitting the air into the superheating exhaust
steam chamber as described, the air may be admitted into a separate superheating air
chamber in front of the exhaust steam chamber, and have the superheated steam
ID C

page_text: nozzles led into a set of escaping air nozzles secured concentrically to them in the
superheating air chamber, these superheating air nozzles being led into or nearly into
the inner end of the tubes of the boiler. All so that the exhaust steam as it is super-
heated would draw and force a current of the superheated air along with it through
the air nozzles into the inner ends of the tubes of the boiler, and so assist the
combustion of the gases from the furnace, while increasing the draught, and forcing
them through the tubes, and assist in keeping the surface of the tubes clean, thus
increasing the evaporating power of the tubes and boiler; while preventing the escape
of visible smoke or vapour, and the avoidance of the usual noise from the escape of the
exhaust steam.
Instead of passing the exhaust steam direct into the said nozzle chamber within the
flame-box, it may be first passed into and through an additional beating chamber
fitted in the furnace flue behind the water or other flame bridge where it would get
partially superheated by the flame impinging on the surfaces of this chamber before
entering the said steam or air nozzle chamber in the uptake or flame-box.
The exhaust steam not used in the new superheating steam and air chambers and
nozzles, would be led into a separate division of either of the superheating steam
vessels before described, or into a separate vessel to act as a blower. The steam from
this division chamber or blower would be led through the fire to give increased
draught and also dissipate the noise or blast of the exhaust steam. Cocks would be
fitted for regulating the proportion of the exhaust steam led to this blower or to the
ash pit furnace, or cold water tank; at the discretion of the engineman. And a
thermometer would be fitted on the hot water feed tank to know when the exhaust
steam should be turned off or on to it and led to the other superheaters or blower.
W. R. M. THOMSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in and Connected with the Steam Boiler Furnaces of
Tramway and other Steam Engines.
I, FRANK CHARLES POWELL, of 17 Newcomen Terrace, Coatham, Redcar,
Yorkshire, Civil and Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement in writing, reference
being had to the accompanying Sheet of Drawings and to the letters and figures
marked, thereon, that is to say:
My said Invention has reference to the use of the exhaust steam from tramway
locomotive, marine, and other steam engines, and to its utilisation, in combination
with heated air, in the steam boiler furnaces of such engines, to increase the draught,
assist combustion of the waste gases, and prevent or lessen any noise, or escape of

page_text: visible steam or smoke from the chimneys of such engines, and consequent saving
of fuel.
And in order that my said Invention, and the maner of performing or carrying the
same into effect or practice may be properly understood, I have hereunto appended an
explanatory Sheet of Drawings, in which the same reference letters are used to
indicate corresponding parts in all the figures where shown. Figure 1, is a
longitudinal section of a type boiler E, suitable for a locomotive or a marine engine,
or other purpose, showing my improvements applied thereto. Figure 2, is a
transverse section taken through the flame-box chamber D, on the irregular line 1--1
of Figure 1. While Figure 3, is a longitudinal section through the flame-box
chamber D, showing to an enlarged scale part of my new or improved arrangement of
superheated steam and air chambers B, C, and conducting nozzles b, c.
Referring to these Drawings, In carrying my Invention or improvements into
practice I proceed as follows:-I fit a chamber or box A in the furnace flue A¹
behind the water or other flame bridge A2, into which I lead the exhaust steam of the
engine, or part of it, by means of a pipe or pipes (a) preferably controlled by a cock
or valve outside. In this chamber A the exhaust steam gets partially superheated by
the flame impinging on the outer surfaces of the chamber. From this chamber A, I
lead the superheated exhaust steam through a pipe or duct B¹ into a separate
chamber B, in the uptake flame-box D, beyond the boiler tubes, where it will be
further heated, and afterwards led to the inner ends of the fire or flame tubes e of the
boiler E, by means of a series of short conical tubes b, as will hereinafter be described.
A chamber C, is fitted in the flame-box D), in front of the exhaust steam chamber B,
and between it and the ends of the tubes e. Air is admitted from the outside to this
chamber by means of branch pipe C₁, controlled by a regulating valve fitted at C²
Figure 1, and gets superheated. The conoidal tubes or nozzles secured to the
steam chamber B, are led through the air chamber C and secured concentrically
within a set of inducing air nozzles c in this chamber C. These air nozzles are led
nearly into, as shown, or it might be directly into, the inner ends of the tubes e, of
the boiler E, all so that the superheated exhaust steam from the vessels A and B would
draw and force a current of the superheated air from the chamber C along with it through
the air nozzles c, opposite or into the inner ends of the tubes e, of the boiler E, and
so assist the combustion of the gases from the furnace, while increasing the draught,
and forcing them through the tubes and assist in keeping the inner surface of the
tubes clean, thus increasing the evaporating power of the tubes and boiler; while
preventing the escape of visible smoke or vapour, and the avoidance of the usual
noise from the escape of the exhaust steam. The exhaust steam not used in the new
superheating steam chambers and nozzles would be carried to a water condenser.
Although not shown in the Drawings high pressure steam would in some cases be
led into the superheating steam vessel B, before described, or into a separate division
of it, to act as a "blower." The steam from this division chamber or blower would
be led to the boiler tubes as hereinbefore described, to give increased draught, show
no signs of steam by superheating, and also dissipate the noise or blast of the blower.
Cocks would be fitted for regulating a proportion of the exhaust steam being led into
the ash-pit F of the furnace F, or cold water tank or condenser, at the discretion of
the engineman. And a thermometer might be fitted on the hot water feed tank to
show when the exhaust steam should be turned off or on to it or led through the
superheaters. An arrangement would be provided for deadening the fire by
conducting a steam pipe carrying the steam by a smaller steam pipe before the safety
valves blow off on to the top of the fire; or one or more smaller tubes would be fitted
to pass through tubes A³ in the water bridge A² conducting the steam from the
exhaust box A in the flue A' over the fire. Although not shown in the Drawings
the boiler E, when thought necessary, would be provided with a water back or
division at the back end E Figure 1, communicating with pipes to the boiler proper,
so as to keep the outside plate E¹ cooler than with a dry plate; and through which
feed to the boiler would be supplied either by gravitation in opening connection
between the boiler and the water back division through two or more pipes on different

page_text: levels, or by an Injector or Pump in the usual way; and when working by
gravitation, a cock would be provided at the highest point of Boiler to allow the air
to pass out whilst the other two pipes shut off the connection to Boiler by cocks or
valves.
The water-bridge would preferably be fitted with a few tubes through it at A³
above. the fire-bar level to improve the circulation of the water low down in the
boiler, and through which the exhaust steam pipes when required may pass to deaden
the fire when blowing off with the boiler full of water.
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 :-
First. The construction, or arrangement and combination, of the improved chambers
and fittings for utilising the exhaust steam in the steam boiler furnaces of tramway
and other steam engines, substantially as and for the purposes herein described, in
reference to and shown in the accompanying Drawings.
Second. In tramway and other steam boiler furnaces, the construction, or arrange-
ment and combination of an exhaust steam superheating box within the furnace flue,
and exhaust steam and air superheating chambers within the flame-box, substantially
as and for the purposes and advantages herein described, in reference to and shown
in the accompanying Drawings.
Third. In the flame-boxes of tramway and other steam boiler furnaces, the con-
struction, or arrangement and combination of exhaust steam and air superheating
chambers, with inducing steam and air nozzles for forcing a current of superheated
exhaust steam and air, opposite or into the inner ends of the flame tubes of the boiler,
substantially as and for the advantages herein described, in reference to and shown in
the accompanying Drawings.
Fourth. In the flame-boxes of tramway and other steam boiler furnaces, the leading
of high pressure steam into the chamber B to be forced in combination with a
current of superheated air from a chamber C, opposite or into the inner ends of the
flame tubes of the boiler, to act as a "blower," substantially as herein described in
reference to and shown in the accompanying Drawings.
Dated this 24th day of February 1887.