Year: 1888

page_text: I, EDWARD SELDEN TOWNSEND KENNEDY, of 716 East 13th Street in the City
of New York in the County and State of New York, Manufacturer, 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:―
The object of my invention is to provide for supporting the steam drying pipes
centrally in the radial steam tubes of the boiler; also to provide increased steaming
capacity in a boiler of given size, by enabling the operator to raise the water line and
thus utilizing a greater number of radial tubes-the lower steam tubes-for water,
thereby protecting such tubes from overheating due to: over-firing; and a further
object is to produce dryer steam than heretofore and to prevent any tendency in this
class of boiler to prime, which might result from over-working and abuse.
In carrying out my invention, I apply perforated plates, each having suitable
supporting lugs and a boss,--to the mouths of the steam tubes and particularly to
those steam tubes into which extend the steam drying pipes, in which case the
perforated plates are slipped over the drying pipes and by their inwardly extending
lugs are thrust into the mouths of the radial steam tubes, all as more fully described
with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which :-
Figure 1 represents a vertical section of the upper portion of a radial-tube steam
boiler with the furnace shell removed, and showing the perforated plates applied to
the upper steain tubes.
Figure 2 represents an inner face view of a perforated plate on enlarged scale.
Figure 3 represents a vertical section through the same.
The stand-pipe A is provided with the closely set radial steam and water tubes
(LI

page_text: The
in the usual manner, and the usual steam discharge pipe B extending with a closed
lower end down into the stand-pipe is provided with the steam-drying pipes b
extending, with open outer ends, into the larger steam tubes «. These drying pipes b
are preferably made in two parts united by a coupling, for convenience in connecting
and removing them from the boiler. The perforated plates or disks C are usually
applied by slipping them over the drying pipes and securing them thereto by a set
screw, in such position that they will cover the mouths of the steam tubes a.
plates or discs C have cast upon their inner faces, a short distance from their
peripheral edges, three lugs having straight outer edges in proper position to fit.
snugly inside of the steam tubes a. A double row of perforations care formed in
the discs and are preferably made flaring from the outer to the inner face of the
disc. A central boss or collar d is cast upon the outer face of the disc and has an
opening e extending through it and the disc, for receiving the steam pipe b. A
set screw is applied to a screw-threaded hole in the boss for securing the disc to
pipe b.
The perforated discs having the large central opening in the boss closed, may be
applied to the mouths of steam tubes a below those which contain the drying pipes,
so as to spray any water, which may be thrown up, into such tubes, but I have
found the perforated dises most useful and advantageous when applied to the steam
tubes containing the drying pipes.
When inserting the drying pipes b, in the radial steam tubes the perforated
discs are slipped over such pipes and are then applied to the mouths of tubes a, so
that their lugs, fit snugly inside thereof, and the set screw is then turned to hold
the disc in place. In this position the discs hold pipes b, exactly in the centre of
tubes a, and thus cause a better flow of steam. Pipe b, by being held at its open
end off from the bottom of tube a, would not readily receive any water which might
be thrown into tube a, while if the pipe sagged, any water in the tube would enter
the pipe and be blown by the steam through it into steam outlet pipe B. The
perforated plates also serve, to a great extent, to prevent water from entering the
tubes a, to whicli they are applied, since water thrown against the plates is broken
into spray, and, to a limited extent might enter the tube in that form where it would
be, quickly converted into dry steam. The perforated plates, however, act to permit
the passage of steam to the exclusion of water, so that steam only is passed off in a
very dry condition. On account of the efficient action of the perforated plates, the
water line can be raised in the boiler from six to twelve inches above that ordinarily
carried and still make dry steam, thus increasing the steaming capacity of the boiler.
Independent of the consideration of raising the water line, however, improved results
are secured.
The area of all the openings in all the perforated plates in any sized boiler, is varied
with the requirements of the case, and may be more or less than the area of the steam
pipe leading from the boiler.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim is
1. In a radial tube steam boiler, the combination with a steam drying tube
extending into the fire-box, of a removable perforated plate applied to the tube for
spraying any water which may be thrown against the mouth of the tube, and thereby
producing dry steam.
2. In combination with the steam tube of a boiler and its internal drying pipe, a
perforated plate applied to the mouth of the tube and supporting centrally the internal
pipe, for the purpose described.
3. In combination with the steam tube of a boiler, a perforated plate provided
with inwardly projecting lugs for supporting it in the mouth of the tube, as
described.

page_text: 4. In combination with a steam tube and its internal pipe, a perforated plate having
inwardly projecting lugs to support it in the tube, and a large central opening for the
passage of the internal pipe, as described.
5. In combination with a steam tube and its internal pipe, a perforated plate
having inwardly projecting lugs, a boss or collar provided with a large opening
and means for securing the collar to the internal pipe, all for the purpose
described.