Improved Means and Apparatus for Softening and Purifying Water, and for the Removal and Prevention of Incrustation in Steam and other Boilers.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Feb., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 1st Nov., 1889-Accepted, 14th Dec., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means and Apparatus for Softening and Purifying Water,
and for the Removal and Prevention of Incrustation in Steam
and other Boilers.
I, EDWIN HARRISON, of 15 Wakefield Street, Regent Square W.C. in the
County of Middlesex, Engineering Agent do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows :-
This invention relates to means and apparatus for softening and purifying water in
steam boilers, hot water boilers etcetera, and for the removal and prevention of
incrustation on the interior surfaces of such boilers, pipes etcetera and consists in
the manufacture and employment of an apparatus composed of a number of per-
forated central plates or sheets of copper and zinc of circular or other suitable or
convenient shape threaded alternately on to a central pin or spindle of metal.
Above and below these central plates I mount a number of larger plates or sheets
of perforated zinc or meshed wire as may be desirable of circular, elliptical or
other suitable or convenient shape. These last named plates or sheets being larger
than the central plates or sheets, their margins or circumferences are kept apart
by suitable distance pieces or studs, which also serve as strengthening pillars to
assist each sheet or platform to bear the weight of incrustating. deposits. Top and
bottom outer plates or sheets of perforated zinc or meshed wire are also mounted
on the central pin or spindle, the number varying according to the size of the
apparatus. These top and bottom outer plates or sheets are notched or cut radially
and turned up and down so as to form fan or screw-propeller-shaped sections, the
lower tips of the bottom blades or fan arms forming feet upon which the apparatus
stands when in position upon an insulated base in the boiler. The central pin or
spindle is preferably provided at one end with a hooked head or eye by which it is
easily lifted or carried, the opposite or lower end being furnished with a thumb-screw
attachment for easily and securely fitting the parts together and for facilitating the
disconnection of parts for inspection and cleaning after uso. For large boilers I add
to my beforementioned apparatus further perforated plates which extend in some cases
entirely round and from end to end of a boiler flue or at a suitable distance from the
boiler shell from water-line to water-line for example. These extensions are preferably
made in removeable sections and of larger mesh than the smaller plates so as not to
impede the free circulation of water. Suitable distance pieces or pillars may be
provided to prevent these said extensions from coming into contact with the boiler
plates or tubes, and to give stability to the superstructure of the apparatus. The
whole of the parts are thus held securely together and in contact with each other, the
various metallic plates and sheets above described when in use inducing and
establishing galvanic attractive action under the influence and by the agency of the
heat of the boiling water, and the incrustation or fur, instead of being deposited on
the boiler plates as usual, is deposited upon the apparatus whence it is readily
removed, thereby saving time, labour, and the expense usually attending boiler
cleaning operations. When desired the sizes for domestic use instead of being made
entirely of metallic materials, the parts receiving the incrustating deposits may be
made of asbestos.
Dated this 1st day of February 1889.
E. HARRISON.
Per W. H. Beck,
115, Cannon Street, London, Agent.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means and Apparatus for Softening and Purifying Water,
and for the Removal and Prevention of Incrustation in Steam
and other Boilers.
I, EDWIN HARRISON of 15 Wakefield Street, Regent Square W.C., in the County
of Middlesex, Engineering Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement, reference being had to the
accompanying sheet of drawings and to the letters and Figures marked thereon that
is to say :-
This invention relates to means and apparatus for softening and purifying
water in steam boilers, hot water boilers etcetera, and for the removal and preven-
tion of incrustation on the interior surfaces of such boilers, pipes etcetera, and
consists in the manufacture and employment of an apparatus composed of a number
of perforated central plates or sheets of copper and zinc of circular or other suitable
or convenient shape threaded alternately on to a central pin or spindle of metal.
Above and below these central plates I mount a number of larger plates or sheets
of perforated zinc or meshed wire, as may be desirable, of circular, elliptic or other
suitable or convenient shape. These last named plates or sheets being larger than
the central plates or sheets, their margins or circumferences are kept apart by suitable
distance pieces or studs which also serve as strengthening pillars to assist each sheet
or platform to bear the weight of incrustating deposits. Top and bottom outer plates
or sheets of perforated zinc or meshed wire are also mounted on the central pin or
spindle, the number varying according to the size of the apparatus. These top and
bottom outer plates or sheets are notched or cut radially and turned up and down so
as to form fan or screw-propeller-shaped sections, the lower tips of the bottom blades or
fan arms forming feet upon which the apparatus stands when in position upon an
insulated base in the boiler. The central pin or spindle is preferably provided at one
end with a hooked head or eye by which it is easily lifted or carried, the opposite or
lower end being furnished with a thumb-screw attachment for easily and securely
fitting the parts together and for facilitating the disconnection of parts for inspection
and cleaning after use.
Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying Drawings illustrate in transverse section and
plan respectively an apparatus constructed as above described. A is a copper plate
or disc, on each side of which are zine platos B. The plates A and B are separated
in the centre by metal washers C, and in some cases I introduce between these plates
sponge or asbestos as shewn, at C, the whole being threaded on to the centre pin D.
E are larger plates of perforated zinc, or of meshed iron wire, which are kept apart
by the distance studs F. G are the notched and fan-shaped outer perforated plates
the lower tips of the bottom blades forming feet as before described, and H are outer
washer plates. The perforations in the plates E and G are not shewn in the
Drawings.
The apparatus may be easily lifted or carried by the hook or eye J and the whole is
securely held together by the thumb nut K screwed on to the lower end of the centre
pin D. In some cases instead of constructing this apparatus entirely of metal, the
parts intended to receive the incrustating deposits may be of asbestos, sponge, or
any suitable textile fabric which is manufactured from vegetable products.
For large boilers, I add to my before-mentioned apparatus further perforated
plates which extend in some cases entirely round and from end to end of a
boiler flue tube or at a suitable distance from the boiler shell, from end to end of the
boiler. These extensions may be made in removable sections and preferably formed
of meshed wire so, as not to impede the free circulation of water. Suitable dis-
tance pieces or pillars may be provided to prevent these said extensions from coming
into contact with the boiler plates or tubes, and to give stability to the superstructure
of the apparatus. The whole of the parts are thus held securely together and in
contact with each other.

page_text: Figures 3 and 4 are respectively transverse and longitudinal sections of a Lancashire
boiler having my invention applied thereto. L represents any convenient structure or
frame work of iron rod for example, being insulated from the shell of the boiler by
wooden or other suitable wedge blocks M. To this framework is suspended or
stretched the fine meshed wire or netting N by hooks or other convenient ineans, the
said meshed wire extending over, but not touching, the whole of the internal surfaces
of the boiler and tubes which are below the water line as shown. These sheets of
meshed wire may, in some cases, form extensions of the perforated zinc plates or
meshed sheets E or G of the apparatus shewn in Figures 1 and 2, such apparatus being
supported on an insulated support in the boiler in any convenient manner. But I
prefer to employ separate batteries 0 of any suitable and well known description
which may be supported on the meshed wire platform N¹ and the poles of each battery
may be connected in any suitable manner to any desired points in the meshed wire
structure. I prefer to use meshed wire plates N in large boilers but if desired
perforated zinc plates may be partly or entirely employed in place thereof, the
whole being connected or laced together preferably by means of copper wire con-
nectors and forming an unbroken circuit in connection with the batteries, or with the
apparatus shewn in Figures 1 and 2 as the case may be; the whole when in use
inducing and establishing galvanic attractive action under the influence and
by the agency of the heat of the boiling water, and the incrustation of fur, instead
of being deposited on the boiler plates as usual, is deposited upon the meshed wire,
perforated plates, or sponge, asbestos etcetera, from which it is readily removed,
thereby saving time, labor, and the expense usually attending boiler cleaning
operations.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that.what I
claim is :-
First. The improved means for softening and purifying water, and for the removal
and prevention of incrustation in steam and other boilers which consist in the employ-
ment of plates or sheets of meshed or perforated metal in combination or not with
sponge, asbestos, textile fabrics, or other similar material arranged and applied
substantially as herein before described, and illustrated.
Second. The improved apparatus constructed arranged and applied substantially
as hereinbefore described, and illustrated and for the purposes specified.
Dated this 1st day of November 1889.
E. HARRISON.
Per W. H. Beck,
115, Cannon Street, London, E.C., Agent.