Improvements in Flue Scraping Rods for Steam Boilers.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Apr., 1890-Accepted, 9th Aug., 1890
Improvements in Flue Scraping Rods for Steam Boilers.
1, THOMAS REED BUTMAN of Chicago in the County of Cook and State of Illinois,
United States of America, Engineer, 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 :-
This invention relates to certain improvements in flue scraping rods for steam
boilers.
It is well known that the flues of steam boilers when in operation become foul with
soot and ashes thereby impairing their capacity for absorbing heat as well as retarding
the draft, hence the flues have to be often brushed and cleaned out while the boilers
are in use. Ordinarily suitable lengths of gas pipe are employed to operate the
brush and when the boilers are so located that a wall bulkhead, or machinery prevents
the use of a single rod of the full length of the flues, a solid rod of iron is usually
employed formed in sections connected together by looped or hooked ends. The rods
thus joined become easily locked together and consequently require two operators to
successfully use it. Further the diameter of these rods is so small that they are
difficult to grasp firm enough to force through the fouled flue, and also they become
heated by contact with the hot walls of the flues, thereby rendering them difficult to
handle.
The object of my invention is to provide a cheap simple strong and durable rod
overcoming these disadvantages and which will be composed of two or more lengths
of wood or other light and strong non conducting material, the lengths or sections of
which are joined together by one or more universal joints so that the rods can be used
around angles and between partitions to clean the flues and when out of use can be
folded up with the sections or lengths lying parallel and at right angles to the
connecting link of the joint.
And a further object is to provide the brush holding end of the rod with means to
center the brush in the flues and to hold the same in line with the flue when extended
out at the inner end of the flue.
These objects are accomplished by and this invention consists in certain novel
features of construction and in combinations of parts more fully described hereinafter
and particularly pointed out in the claims.
Referring to the accompanying drawings ;-
Figure 1 is an elevation of the preferred construction of rod.
Figure 2 is a similar view of another construction of rod.
Figures 3 and 4, are details of the connecting links of the constructions of figures 1
and 2, respectively.
Figures 5 and 6 are details of the sockets of figures 1 and 2, respectively.
Figure 7 is a section of the brush holding ferrule.
In the drawings, the reference letter a, indicates several lengths of rods of strong
durable wood, or other light, strong non conducting material. One end of one length
of rod forms the handle b, while the opposite end of the other rod or section is
provided with a metal ferrule c, provided with a bore to receive the end of the rod and
with a screw threaded hole d, tapped in its outer end to receive the shank or holder of
the brush. This ferrule is provided with a series of longitudinal radially projecting
wings e, the outer edges of which are adapted to run on and bear against opposite
sides of the inner surface of the flue and center the brush therein, and prevent the
brush from dropping down to the lower side of the flue when pushed out of the inner
end of the fine thereby rendering the operation easy and preventing wear on the
flue and brush, for in the old constructions when the brush was pushed through

page_text: the flue from one end it would pass through the flue and out at the opposite end
and drop down so that the rod would rest on the lower side of the flue, consequently
it was very difficult to draw the brush back into the flue and was very wearing on
brush and end of tube.
The inner ends of the two rods or lengths are fitted with ferrules or sleeves, the
outer ends of which form cases or sockets loosely enclosing the balls ff, rigid on the
opposite ends of the short link or rod g. Each ferrule and case is formed in two longi-
tudinal halves or sections fitting on opposite sides of the rod and secured together
and to said end by rivets, bolts or the like passed through the ferrule sections and
the end of the rod, hence when the rod is being put together the ball f, on one
end of link g, is placed in a socket section and then the other section is placed
thereon and secured, thus forming the complete socket and loosely confining the
ball therein. The edges of these sockets are provided with one or more pairs of
inwardly extending longitudinal slots i, of such size as to allow the connecting
link g to fit therein and lie at right angles to the rod. By this construction the
rods a, can be folded together parallel and the link g, will lie at right angles to
said rods and will lie in slots i, in the ball sockets. The construction of figure one
shows the socket h, provided with a plurality of slots i, so that the rods can be folded
parallel in any direction and from any side and the curved tapered fingers between
the slots are provided with exterior reinforcing ribs j, to strengthen the fingers and
permit cutting the slots. These reinforcing ribs can be dispensed with as for
some cleaning rods, as the socket can be made of cast steel or other strong
material.
In figure 2 the sockets are provided with two oppositely located slots so that the
rods can fold together in two directions only. The connecting link having cross
bars kk, at its ends which cross bars are journaled in the sockets to allow the link to
swing in two directions.
It is evident that various changes might be resorted to in the form and arrangement
of the parts described without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention
hence I do not wish to limit myself to the precise construction herein set forth.
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 :-
1st. The herein described flue scraping rods.
2nd. A flue scraper rod formed in one or more sections and a joint connecting the
sections comprising a pivoted link, whereby the sections can be folded parallel, sub-
stantially as described.
3rd. Two rods having sockets on their ends provided with slots, a link connecting
said ends and confined at its ends in said sockets, whereby the rods can be folded
together parallel and at right angles to the link, substantially as described.
4th. A folding flue scraping rod composed of two or more wooden rods, ferrules on
their ends provided with sockets, a link connecting said rods and at its ends loosely
confined in said sockets, and a ferrule on the end of one rod to receive the brush,
substantially as described.
5th. Two rods and a pivoted or ball socket joints connecting the same, and provided
with one or more slots in its case whereby the rods can be folded together, and
parallel, substantially as described.
6th. Two rods having sockets on their ends provided with slots, reinforcing ribs on
the fingers separating said slots, and the link having balls at its ends loosely confined
in said sockets and connecting the rods, substantially as described.
7th. The combination with a flue scraping rod, of a brush attaching ferrule on the
end of the rod provided with radial wings to center the brush in the flue.
8th. A flue scraping rod having radial wings at its brush receiving end to bear
against the flue wall and center the brush.
9th. The two rods having separable ferrules on their ends provided with separable

page_text: ball sockets having slotted walls, in combination with the connecting link having balls
on its opposite ends loosely fitted in said sockets.
10th. Two rods having bifurcated sockets on their ends, in combination with the
connecting link having cross bars at its ends journaled in said sockets to allow the
5 rods to fold parallel in two directions.
T
1
1 1900
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.