IMPROVEMENTS IN BOLLER CLEANERS
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Francis Hotchkiss of Plainfield in the County of
Union, in the State of New Jersey one of the United States of America,
Gentleman, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BOLLER CLEANERS
"
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said James Francis Hotchkiss at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th April 1883.
JAMES FRANCIS HOTCHKISS of Plainfield in the county of Union in the State of
New Jersey one of the United States of America gentleman
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
BOILER CLEANERS"
The invention relates to an improved method of removing impurities or foreign
matters found in the water of steam boilers and which are thrown to the surface
by the ebullition thereof, together with the mechanical appliances for carrying said
method into effect
The operation of the invention is dependent upon the action of the laws of
gravity as applied to waters of different temperatures and to substances of different
specific gravities.
The method employed consists in carrying the impurities raised to the surface
by ebullition below that surface and then upward into a reservoir with an ascending
current induced by the displacement of a descending cooler body of water passing
from said reservoir the said impurities being deposited in the reservoir by
precipitation
The invention is applicable to all classes of boilers as stationary locomotive and
marine
In the drawing Figure 1 is a view in perspective showing the attachment of the
apparatus to an ordinary tubular boiler Figure 2 shows its attachment to a
locomotive boiler Figure 3 is a transverse section on enlarged scale on the line a b
of Figure 2 Figures 45 and 6 show modified forms of the invention as applied to
a locomotive boiler. Figure 7 shows the attachment of the apparatus to a marine
boiler. Figure 8 is a transverse section on line c d of Figure 7. Figures 9 10
and 11 show different arrangements of the apparatus and Figures 12 13 and 14
modifications in the construction thereof as hereinafter described
Similar letters of reference indicate similar parts in the respective figures
A is the boiler upon which as shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, and 11 is placed

page_text: the reservoir B resting upon the base a. The reservoir is a cast iron spherical
vessel of about 18 gallons capacity. It is 16 of an inch in thickness and weighs
about 215 lbs. It occupies when in position with its pipes attached a space 28 to
30 inches long 24 inches wide and 26 inches high C is a funnel which is placed in
In all
the boiler so that its bottom edge is not higher than the low water level
boilers it is advisable to place the funnel as near the back-head (or that farthest
Its mouth or
away from the fire) as possible. The funnel is made of sheet iron
opening is 12 x 15 inches across its greater and lesser diameters and it can be
inserted in any ordinary man-hole but should the man-hole be too small the funnel
may be bent and after insertion restored to its normal state D is the up-flow pipe
suitably tapped into the shell of the boiler at b and coupled at o to a separate
section which connects at d with the apex of the funnel C The upper end of the
pipe D unites with a valve d' into which a separate and horizontal section of the
pipe is screwed the other end of the section being tapped into the nozzle of
the reservoir B The return pipe E is similarly connected to the reservoir B and
to the shell of the boiler The lower end of the return pipe extends as far below
the lower edge of the funnel as the arrangement of flues and tubes will allow
The end preferably should not be placed less than two inches below the said edge
of the funnel and where possible should extend to a point about 8 inches from the
bottom of the boiler. F is the blow-off pipe which is connected with the lower part
of the reservoir B and may be carried in any direction and to any convenient
point of discharge It is preferable to place a valve in the pipe as shown by e
within reach of the engineer. G is a deflector cast as a part of the upper portion
of the reservoir B and extending within the same to about its centre as shown
The purpose of this deflector will be hereinafter described
The
In Figure 3 which represents in cross section the application of the apparatus to
a locomotive boiler two funnels are shown uniting with an inverted T pipe
arrangement of the reservoir and up-flow return and blow-off pipes is substantially
the same as in the application to the stationary boiler The mode of application
can be varied however for instance the up-flow pipe can enter the smoke arch
making connection with either one or two funnels through the front head of the
boiler The return pipe may be introduced through the boiler on the side near the
check valve as shown in Figure 3 or may be passed through the top of the shell in
the more ordinary manner As shown in Figure 3 the two funnels are arranged so
that one is on each side of the dry pipe f the funnels connecting with the single
up-flow pipe Where the dry pipe is not placed centrally and longitudinally of the
boiler a single funnel may be used
In Figures 4 and 5 a different construction and arrangement of funnel is
shown for special application to locomotive boilers to which from the inaccessibility
of their interiors and cramped space the introduction of the ordinary funnel might
be objectionable A bushing d is screwed into the tube sheet and into this the
pipe end of the funnel here lettered C¹ is screwed the up-flow pipe being tapped
into the other end of the bushing The hole in the tube sheet made to receive the
bushing is large enough to admit the funnel end A similar bushing d' is screwed
into the shell of the boiler and to this the sections of the return pipe E are con-
nected In Figure 6 the funnel is shown dispensed with the receiving end of the
pipe being represented by C"
⋅
The application of the apparatus to a marine boiler as represented in Figures 7
and 8 will be sufficiently well understood therefrom and from the preceding
description and need not be further explained
Figure 9 shows the apparatus placed at the back of a stationary boiler when the
low ceiling of the room would not allow of its being placed on top
Figure 10 shows the reservoir placed on a side wall of the boiler as in cases
where the location of the steam drum man-hole etc would prevent its being applied
in the ordinary manner
Figure 11 indicates the connection of the return pipe to a mud drum which
under some circumstances may be advantageous

page_text: The apparatus may be attached in many ways in addition to those represented
in the respective figures and which might be suggested by the construction of the
boiler its arrangement in the room etc Thus for instance the mode of attachment
of the apparatus to an ordinary flue cylinder or upright boiler would be governed
by the exigencies of the case As upright boilers vary greatly in the disposition
of their internal parts no general rule can be laid down for the application of the
apparatus to them and special directions might be necessary in each case while the
general principle of the invention and the substantial construction of its parts
would be adhered to The difficulty found in keeping upright boilers clean and of
obtaining access thereto renders the use of the apparatus therewith specially
important
Figure 12 shows a modification in the shape of the reservoir
As here repre-
sented the upper part is cylindrical while the lower connecting portion is funnel
shaped the blow off pipe joining with the bottom of the funnel
Figure 13 shows a further modification the lower part of the reservoir being of
spherical construction
Figure 14 shows a modified form of funnel with its connections
The operation of the apparatus is as follows
As soon as the water in the boiler becomes heated currents are established
These currents are formed by the hotter and therefore lighter water flowing upward
and away from the source of the greatest beat while the colder and denser water
flows to the source of heat to replace the other and in its turn become heated
In all boilers where fire is applied at one end the currents established will be
upward and from the fire on the surface and downward and towards the fire in
the lower part of the boiler Communication being established between the boiler A
and reservoir B the water forced into said reservoir is subject to a pressure common
to both it and the boiler-water and as long as its density and specific gravity
remain the same as those of the water in the boiler (consequent upon equal
temperature) there will be an equilibrium established in the boiler reservoir and
pipes and no circulatory motion through the same will occur But as a body of
water removed from actual contact with the greater body of heated water in the
boiler the reservoir-water begins to cool and gathering density in cooling overcomes
the equilibrium established and commences to descend the return pipe At the
same moment the funnel admits an inflowing upward column of water which
seeks to again establish the former equal condition and the circulation once begun
will continue indefinitely As the impurities are thrown to, the water-level by
ebullition they are received within the funnel and carried below the water level up
the pipe D and deposited in the reservoir B The fall of the temperature of the
water holding the impurities in suspension causes them to be precipitated to the
bottom of the reservoir and the water returned to the boiler is practically clear
The circulation continuing all the water of the boiler ultimately passes through the
reservoir where it is kept still and free from the agitating currents in the boiler
The most favorable conditions are therefore insured for the precipitation and
deposit of sediment The sediment once deposited in the reservoir can be removed
through the blow pipe as often as necessary
In order to prevent agitation of the water within the reservoir by obstructing
the current of water through the same, I provide the deflector G before referred
to. The deflector serving to check the flow of water ensures a still place for the
precipitation of sediment. It is well known that deposits and incrustations seek
the quietest part of a boiler and my invention provides a quiet place for their
accumulation outside of the boiler itself and removed from heat and its agitating
effects whence they can be readily removed as fast as they accumulate
It is apparent that a spherical or equivalent shape of the lower part of the
reservoir permits of the accumulation of sediment within a small area and that it
is readily discharged through the connecting lower pipe The addition to the
reservoir of the deflector is an important improvement In order to allow air to
pass from one side of the deflector to the other. I have found it necessary to

page_text: In the absence of
Another advantage
perforate the upper part thereof One small hole is sufficient
such provision the reservoir in operation becomes air bound
in the use of the deflector is that the length of the course taken by the water
through the reservoir is increased and this together with the retardation of the
water by the deflector gives greater time for the precipitation of sediment than
would be allowed were a lively and direct current through the reservoir permitted
The deflector also as before stated directs the course of the sediment downward
and the sediment once having been given this direction will not again take an
ascending course Another advantage of this invention consists in the placing of
the mouth of the funnel so as to face the firing end of the boiler whereby to
obstruct and receive the surface current flowing from the said end of the boiler
Having described my invention I claim
1 In a sediment collector for steam boilers a spherical reservoir or its equivalent
having a base piece and a blow off pipe connected with the lower part of said
reservoir combined with a funnel suspended within the boiler with its mouth in
the line of water and steam an up flow pipe attached to said funnel and to the
reservoir and a return pipe united to the reservoir and reaching into the boiler to
a plane below that in which the lower edge of the funnel is placed substantially as
and for the purposes set forth
2 In a sediment collector for steam boilers the combination with a spherical
reservoir or its equivalent provided with an internal diaphragm and with a blow
off pipe of a funnel suspended within the boiler with its mouth in the line of water
and steam and facing the firing end of the boiler and up flow and return pipes
and suitable valves all arranged substantially as and for the purposes set forth
3 As an element in a sediment collecting apparatus for steam boilers a spherical
reservoir or its equivalent baving a downwardly extending diaphragm and openings
for the circulating and blow off pipes an opening for one of the circulating pipes
being at the upper part of each side of the reservoir opposite a side of the diaphragm
and the opening for the blow off pipe being at a lower part of the reservoir
substantially as and for the purposes set forth
4 As an element in a sediment collector or boiler cleaner a reservoir provided
with a deflector perforated at its upper part to prevent air binding as specified
5 In a sediment collecting apparatus for steam boilers the combination with the
boiler tube sheet and an externally and internally threaded bushing of a sediment
receiving funnel or pipe and an up flow pipe each screwed into an end of the
bushing at opposite sides of the tube sheet substantially as and for the purposes
set forth
$
6 The method hereinbefore described of removing impurities or foreign matters
found in the water of steam boilers
TAMDO ΓΡΑΝΟΙΣ ΠΟΤΟΙΚΙΑΣ
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