Improvements in Devices for Removing the Ashes from Steam Boiler and other Flues."
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Feb., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 1st Nov., 1897-Accepted, 18th Dec., 1897
16
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Devices for Removing the Ashes from Steam
Boiler and other Flues."
I, JOSEF RITTER VON WENUSCO of 4 Giopergasse, Vienua IX, in the Empire of
Austria, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
This invention relates to ash-ploughs or devices by means of which flues; more
especially those of steam generators, may be entirely freed from the ashes carried
into such flues, whilst the generator is at work and without in any way impeding or
stopping the firing of the furnace.
This device consists of a plough plate, which plate corresponds to the cross-section
of the flue which is to be freed from ash, being provided with grooves or recesses for
projections with which the flue may be provided, such for example as the rivets in
Cornish boilers, and the like.
The under side of this plate is made somewhat beak or bill shaped and is fastened
to four angular feet two of such feet being in front and two behind, thus imparting
to the apparatus as a whole, the form of a plough or sledge. A chain which is
attached in two or three places, can be drawn backwards and forwards, by which
means a thorough cleansing of the flue and the removal of the accumulated ashes,
by direct contact, to the end of the flue (by action similar to that of a snow plough)
can be effected whenever requisite without interrupting the working of the generator.
This chain is carried through both the ash pit in front of the boiler and the
brickwork in the rear; the small round openings required for this purpose may
suitably be stopped with clay plugs, which can readily be removed when it is desired
to use the ash plough.
In order to prevent the ash plough from becoming heated to reduess by direct
action of the flames, the said plough may be covered, when used in flues in which a
very high temperature is produced, by fastening two cast iron carriers, strengthened
by angle pieces, to the upper part of the fire bridge, upon which carriers are placed
iron plates and upon these the fire bricks.

page_text: manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement :—
The present invention relates to ash ploughs or apparatus by means of which flues,
especially those of steam generators, may be freed from the ashes collecting therein
whilst the generator is in use without in any way interrupting or diminishing the
heating effect.
In the accompanying drawing-
Figure 1 shows a longitudinal section and a cross section of a steam boiler furnace
provided with any improved apparatus.
Figure 2 is a detail of the plough detached provided with rollers and
Figure 3 shows a modification.
1
The ash plough as shewn in Figure 1 adapted to a Cornish boiler consists of an ash
plough plate a which corresponds, upon its under side to the cross-section of the flue
to be cleaned; any projecting rivets are provided for by means of notches in the
plate. This plate rests upon four angular feet f which are upwardly bent at their 1
outer ends, and in the case of ash-ploughs of large size are provided with rollers r
(Figure 2) to diminish friction.
Two of these feet are fixed in front upon the plate and one (or in the case of large
ash ploughs, two) behind, thereby imparting to the whole apparatus the form of a
plough or sledge which may be drawn either backwards or forwards by means of the
two chains d, by which means the ashes which have collected may at any time be
directly driven to the end of the flue, thus effecting a thorough cleaning of the Que
without in anyway interrupting the action of the steam generator.
In front the chain is carried through the ash pit of the steam generator and at the
rear through the brick-work of the same, the small circular openings necessary for
this purpose being stopped by means of clay plugs which may readily be replaced
when the apparatus has been used.
In double flue steam generators, in which the extremity of the flues is frequently
conical in shape, the ash plough above described would not be able to pass the
reduced end. To obviate this difficulty I have devised the modification illustrated in
Figure 3 in which the plate a is made to correspond with the reduced cross-section of
the extremity of the tube. Upon this plate are arranged two readily removable
wings h which correspond to the greater innor curvature. Upon these wings are fixed
the two front feet f, whilst at the middle of the plate itself a foot is fixed upon both
its front and rear faces.
The guide pieces K (Figure 3) shewn in section at M N prevent any lateral
displacement or yielding of the readily rotatable wing pieces,
As soon as the two feet arranged upon the wing pieces enter the part, having a
reduced cross section, the moveable wing pieces are raised so as to occupy the
position shown in dotted lines in Figure 3 so that the principal plate « is free to
travel to the end of the conical flue.
In order to prevent the ash plough from becoming over-heated by the flames from
the furnace of a steam generator, the plongh is covered. For this purpose three
bolts are fixed in the fire bridge and are supported by means of angle-irons t. Upon
these bolts rest refractory bricks or the like C thereby forming a protection against
the direct action of the flame.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
1st. An ash plough consisting of a plate corresponding to the cross-section of the
bottom of the flue to be cleaned and arranged perpendicularly thereto, such plate
being provided with feet and being capable of being drawn backwards and forwards.
2nd. For the protection of the above described apparatus against the direct action
of the flame in steam generators where there is a fire-bridge the provision of a
projecting cover above the place where the ash plough ordinarily rests.

page_text: 3rd. For use in conical tubes or flues, au ash plough in which the main plate is
provided with movable wing pieces which adapt themselves to the varying cross-
section of the said flues or tubes.
4th. An ash plough as above described the feet of which are provided with small
5 rollers for the purpose of diminishing friction and facilitating the backward and
for ward motion of the said plough.
Dated this 1st day of November 1897.
HASELTINE LAKE & Co.
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C. Agents for the Applicant.