IMPROVEMENTS IN EXHAUST NOZZLES FOR DISCHARGING STEAM AND GASES UNDER PRESSURE
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Philip Middleton Justice, of 27, Southampton Buildings,
Chancery Lano, in the County of Middlesex, Merchant, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN EXHAUST NOZZLES FOR DISCHARGING STEAM AND GASES
UNDER PRESSURE." A communication from abroad by Thomas Shaw, of Phila-
delphia, in the United States of America.
Sealed the 29th September 1877, and dated the 4th April 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Philip Middleton Justice at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th April 1877.
PHILIP MIDDLETON JUSTICE, of 27, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in
the County of Middlesex, Merchant. "IMPROVEMENTS IN EXHAUST NOZZLES FOR
DISCHARGING STEAM AND GASES UNDER PRESSURE." A communication from
abroad by Thomas Shaw, of Philadelphia, in the United States of America.
This Invention consists in passing the escaping steam and gases from boilers,
valves, and blow-off pipes, through the interstices of woven fabrics, and also between
cylindrical coils of metal or wire, or rings of wire of proper dimensions used either
together or separately, by which means the noisy vibration of the escaping steam
and gases are subdued or prevented from giving to the ear the usual roaring noise
consequent on their discharge under high pressure. The base of the nozzle being
screwed or fastened to the escape pipe with a screw bolt, and a spring usually being
placed at the top of the exhaust nozzle to retain the rings of the spiral coil in their
proper place and exerting a pressure of a pound or two previously to letting the
steam escape between the coil of the wire. By this means the objectionable noise
or "roaring" is obviated.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Philip Middleton Justice in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 4th
October 1877.
PHILIP MIDDLETON JUSTICE, of 27, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in
the County of Middlesex, Merchant. "IMPROVEMENTS IN EXHAUST NOZZLES FOR
DISCHARGING STEAM AND GASES UNDER PRESSURE." A communication from
abroad by Thomas Shaw, of Philadelphia, in the United States of America.
This Invention consists in passing the escaping steam and gases from boilers,
r ervoirs, valves, and blow-off pipes through the interstices of woven fabrics, and
also between the crevices or interstices of cylindrical coils of wire or metal, or rings
of wire of proper dimensions, and either together or separately, by which means the
noisy vibrations arising from the escaping steam and gases are subdued or prevented
from giving to the ear the usual roaring and unpleasant noise consequent upon their
discharge under high pressure. To effect this result I have found it most convenient
to use nozzles of a standard and uniform size, and to enable me to freely discharge
the varying volume and pressures of steam and gases from different sizes of boilers,
reservoirs, steam pipes, and valves, I employ one or more of my nozzles, according to
the volume and the pressure, always being careful to provide a combined area of
opening in my nozzles quite in excess of the combined areas of the valves from which
the steam or gases may escape from the boilers or reservoirs, so that no increased:
back pressure be thrown upon the safety valves by their use.
Where large volumes or high pressures of steam or gases are to be discharged, I
prefer to place in a conveniently arranged chamber or box a sufficient number of
my nozzles to freely discharge through their combined areas of outlet the steam or
gases to be delivered. This box or steain chamber may be of various forms suited
to the conditions in which it is to be placed, but I generally prefer to locate it as
near to the discharge valves as may be, or at the base of the blow-off or discharge
pipe. When applied to steam vessels, this chamber or. box is connected at its base
with the steam discharge pipe. Across this box horizontally I place an intervening
diaphragm plate about midway between the bottom and top. Into this diaphragm
plate I screw the open ends of the nozzles, and the steam or gas escaping through
their open base, and then between the coils of wire or rings of metal, or the woven
fabrics passes almost noiselessly from the upper part of the box or chamber into
the blast or escape pipe above it, or the open air, as may be required, and with which
it is connected.
When these nozzles are attached to the open end of the steam escape pipe which
has been carried into the smoke funnel of high-pressure engines for the purpose of
creating a quick upward draught, I surround the nozzles with a metal sleeve which
may be secured to the base of each, and which extends nearly to its whole length,
but leaving an annular space about the metal coil of wire or helix, of from one half
an inch to one inch, according to the requirements.
These nozzles when applied to the open end of the extension exhaust pipe of a
locomotive, or when screwed into the sides of such pipe, having its upper end closed,
permit the steam to escape freely, but with such a diminished force, that sparks,
cinders, and cokes are no longer ejected from the smoke funnel, and yet from the
great increase of area of escape given by these nozzles to the steam but little if
any back pressure results, whilst a much more uniform and steady, and higher
average draught is maintained than with the ordinary extension pipe in use.
.
The standard size for these nozzles which I prefer, has the helix or wire coil of a
diameter of about 2 inches externally, and about 12 inches in length, and the
nozzle is thus made:-I take a metal tube or hollow cylinder, usually 2 inches inside
diameter, closed at its upper end, and pierced with bolos or apertures on all its sides
whose aggregate area shall be greatly in excess of the area of the tube itself. The
lower or open part of this tube has a thread cut on it for convenience sake, and has
also a collar into which the base or one end of an iron or brass wire helix is secured,

page_text: which helix surrounds and fits the whole length of the iron tube, and is surmounted
with a cap of metal, into which the upper end of the wire coil is also secured. This
helix or coil I usually make of No. 9 or 10 hard or spring brass wire, which I crimp
or wave before coiling it closely and tightly about a mandrill of the same size as the
exterior diameter of the perforated tube, which it is then placed about.
The object of this crimping or waveing, which is important, is to supply natural
crevices of opening between the coils of the wire even when closely wound together,
from which the steam shall escape noiselessly but freely whilst the gradual lift of
the wire helix or coil will provide for any increased or sudden escape of large
volumes of steam. To prevent a too sudden lift of the coil, which would create con-
siderable noise, a check spring surmounts the cap at the top of the helix, and is
controlled by a bolt carried from the close end of the pierced pipe through the cap
and centre of the check spring, and also through a small cap surmounting the same.
The upper end of this bolt has a screw cut on it, and a nut; thus regulates the force
necessary to be given to the spring. This check spring may, if necessary, be placed
on the inside of the pierced tube by a slightly different arrangement not necessary
to describe; other forms of arrangement of the different parts may be used, and
also different sizes of tubes and wire, without materially altering the results.
The wires may be coiled about ribs or upright standards, as in Fig. 2, and
larger wires, as also shown in this Fig. 2, in annexed Drawings, wherein similar
letters of reference indicate similar parts in all the Figures.
Fig. 1 shows a vertical section of nozzle with the perforated pipe A, with its
upper end closed as stated, and pierced with a bolt, which carries check spring B,
which is regulated in its force by nuts D, D, resting in cap E. The wire coil
or helix G, G, surrounds this perforated tube A, and is secured as shewn at the top
and bottom. Surrounding this helix is a sleeve H, to induce a quick upward
draught of the steam as it escapes from the orifices of the steam tube A, and thence
through the crevices of the helix G, G. In this Fig. 1 the check spring is shown
inside the steam tube.
Fig. 2 is a vertical section of nozzle for high pressures, with heavier wire helix G, G,
which surrounds vertical open ribs K, K, K, allowing the freeest possible escape of
steam. In this Fig. 2, the check spring B surmounts the cap L on the outside of
nozzle.
Fig. 3 shows a nozzle with the helix G, G, surmounting a steam chamber M, across
the lower part of which is stretched a woven fabric O, and beneath which a
light spring P is secured as shewn, which presses against the woven fabric to
prevent its vibration as the steam passes upwards through it from the annular steam
chamber R, which, permitting a sudden expansion of the steam from its pipe con-
nection at S, aids in deadening the noise of its escape.
What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,
1st. The employment and construction of helices G, G, Figs. 1 and 2, made of
rings or annulars, or of wire crimped or otherwise to form natural crevices of opening
when coiled, and as shown in Drawings, and with or without an outer sleeve H, H,
as shewn, and whether such helices surround tubes or ribs, or whether they be used
inside of such tubes or ribs, or without either tubes or ribs for the purpose of formning
a quioting nozzle through which steam and gases under pressure may be passed
without the usual noise and roar, substantially as before stated, and as shewn in
Drawings annexed.
2nd. The employment of a woven fabric O, with or without spring P, to distend
the same as shown in Fig. 3, so that steam and gases escaping through said woven
fabric from the steam chamber beneath it shall pass quickly and without the usually
noise, substantially as stated and shewn in Drawings, Fig. 3.
3rd. The employment of helices as shewn and described, Figs. 1 and 2, by attaching
them to the upper end of exhaust extension pipes in locomotives and other high-
pressure engines, or by attaching them to openings in the sides of said extension
pipes when the upper end is closed, for the purpose of so dividing the column of

page_text: steam that it shall not have the power to lift out of the smoke box of the engine
live sparks, cinders, or coals, when such engines are at work.
4th. The general arrangement, construction, and combination of these helices
with perforated tubes, ribs, standards, check springs, bolts, nuts, sleeves, and steam
chambers, substantially as set forth in the Drawings annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said Philip Middleton Justice, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fourth day of October, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
PHILIP MIDDLETON JUSTICE. (L.S.)