Year: 1897

page_text: We, WILLIAM RUFUS and SOPHUS HENRY KRICHAUFF, both of 75, King William
Street, Adelaide, in the Province of South Australia, Engineers, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:
Our invention relates to an improved appliance for preventing the exit or escape
of live sparks and hot cinders from the funnels of locomotives or portable engines,
and the like.
The appliance consists of a series of metal louvres or battens arranged upon
a suitable frame and pivotally supported, the situation of the appliance being in
the smoke-box or smoke chamber of the engine, and the arrangement being such
that the appliance constitutes a division between the outlet of the tubes and the
inlet of the funnel or smoke stack.
The construction of our appliance may be briefly described as follows:-
A support may be made consisting in one or more separate pieces, so as to have
louvres and frames arranged in such a manner as to enable the complete appliance
to be handled in one piece, or a frame may be built up and rivetted to sides of the
smoke-box and the louvres are dropped into their places.
This framework is provided with a slot or recess on two sides opposite to each
other, forming a bearing for louvres now to be described.
These louvres may be made of any kind of metal in such a manner as to
resemble a block letter "Z" in section, that is, having the top and bottom edges
slightly more than 90° to the diagonal.
On the centre of each louvre two space bars are fastened, one on either side,
so as to leave a slight opening between the said louvres and at the same time to act
as a slide and rest for the louvre.
A series of short spoon ended levers which are deflected by the draught or
vacuum caused by the exhaust from the cylinder of the engine, are attached to
certain of the louvres.
At either side of each louvre a metal bar or roller bearing is secured in the above
mentioned slots or recesses. The louvres thus pivotally supported at their ends are
free to move into different positions with every variation of the exhaust caused
by opening the regulator or shifting the lever or reversing gear of the engine.
When the engine is working at its fullest power the spoon ended levers are
deflected upwards taking up all the slack in the louvres, thereby holding the
louvres together until less power is being used, when they are slightly released or
parted so that the cinders that have been driven between the louvres are released
and fall into the smoke-box. The louvre bearings are thrown slightly out of
centre so as to make the top part heavier than the bottom so that they fall back
automatically.

page_text: We, WILLIAM RUFUS and SOPHUS HENRY KRICHAUFF, both of 75, King William
Street, Adelaide, in the Province of South Australia, Engineers, 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 state-
ment:
This invention relates to a certain appliance for preventing the exit or escape
of sparks and hot cinders from the funnels of locomotives or portable engines and
the like.
The appliance consists of a series of metal louvres arranged upon a suitable
frame and pivotally supported, its situation being in the smoke-box or smoke
chamber, and the arrangement is such that the appliance constitutes a division
between the outlet of the boiler tubes and the inlet of the funnel or smoke
stack.
A metal frame is provided for supporting the louvres above mentioned, and
when applied to large smoke boxes is subdivided by means of a centre ridge bar,
so that two sets of short louvres may be used in place of one set, thus reducing
the liability of sagging. The louvres are similar to a block letter Z in section,
and are kept apart from each other by means of space bars arranged in such a
manner as to leave a slight space or opening between adjacent louvres. Several
of the louvres are supplied with short spoon-ended levers which are deflected by
the draft or subsequent partial vacuum which is created by the exhaust steam,
thereby assisting in causing the louvres to oscillate, and thus allowing the smoke
to escape, but at the same time the louvres form an effective barrier whereby the
sparks are arrested so that they eventually drop to the bottom of the smoke-box
instead of being-ejected from the funnel."
We will now proceed to describe our invention in detail, by the aid of the
accompanying drawings, wherein :-
Fig. 1 illustrates the interior of a large smoke-box with double set of louvre
bars divided by a central ridge bar. Fig. 2 is a plan of same.
Figs. 3 & 4, elevation and plan of louvre on larger scale.
. Figs. 5 & 6, sectional end views of louvres, showing position of space bars and
spoon ended lever.
Fig. 7 illustrates the interior of a small smoke box showing single set of louvres
without an intervening ridge bar. Fig. 8, side elevation of same.
Throughout the drawings similar letters of reference are used to denote similar
or corresponding parts wherever they occur.
A is the funnel or smoke stack situated above the smoke-box B. C is the steam
pipe. D is the exhaust. E the boiler tubes. F is the metal frame for supporting
the louvres, and may be held in place by angle irons as illustrated. The metal
frame is preferably built up in sections and bolted or riveted together, leaving a
slot or recess for the louvre ends, as will be understood on reference to Fig. 3, an
open space of sufficient size to prevent the cinders from accumulating at the end of
the louvres being arranged in the structure. G is the centre ridge bar (Fig. 1).
The louvres are shown at H, their ends or edges being turned over at H. At
the end of each louvre a pivot or bearing H2 is fastened, whereby the louvre is 4
supported in the slot of the frame F. The rounded portions of the adjacent louvre
pivots H2 should be sufficiently large to enable them to lie in contact with each
other so as to assist in maintaining the louvres in a parallel position, for which

page_text: purpose their effective diameters can be increased by the addition of a ferrule or
washer. On each side of the louvre the space bars H³ are arranged, and project
respectively above and below the louvre as illustrated. On the underside of the
louvres and at suitable intervals several spoon-ended levers J are fastened, their
situation when in their lowest position being preferably opposite to the top row
of tubes, but as they are capable of deflection they can be arranged so as not to
interfere with tube cleaning operations. The number of spoon ended levers
will be varied in accordance with the size of the smoke-box and the nature of the
exhaust. When a centre ridge bar is used in large smoke boxes we prefer to
place the louvres at a slope or angle as shown in Fig. 1, but on reference to the
smaller smoke-box shown in Fig. 7 it will be seen that the louvres pass across the
smoke-box horizontally. It will however be understood that their general construc-
tion and arrangement is substantially similar to that shown in the illustrations
previously referred to. On reference to Fig. 2 of the drawings it will be seen that
the frame is built round about the steam pipes C, but the intervening space K
may be fitted with a small metal platform so that sparks cannot escape in its
vicinity. It will also be seen that the frame is likewise built round about the
exhaust pipe D, but in this instance the platform which fills the space L is
preferably made in the form of a well having sloping sides so that it may act as a
receptacle for the steam which falls from the funnel as a result of priming. A
fitting for this purpose is necessary whether the louvres are placed at a slope or
angle, as in Fig. 1, or are placed horizontally, as in Fig. 7.
The action of our appliance is as follows:-
As the steam exhausts from the cylinders through the blast pipe it escapes
from thence with great velocity, finding an exit through the funnel, and thus
causing a partial vacuum, which in its turn has a tendency to draw sparks and
cinders away from the fire together with the smoke, but the suddenness with which
the vacuum is formed results in causing the louvres to oscillate, such oscillation
being further assisted by the subsequent action of the draft upon the spoon ended
levers which are opposite to the boiler tubes. The oscillating movement causes
the space between each of the louvres to open sufficiently to allow the hot air and
smoke to escape, but the sparks are arrested by the horizontal edges of the louvres,
and eventually fall back again into the smoke-box. Any small sparks or particles
of cinder which pass the bottom edge of the louvres are temporarily entrapped in
the appliance and are thereby extinguished before they have an opportunity of
escaping from the funnel.
The space bars form a convenient bearing for the edges of adjacent louvres so
that they do not fall foul of each other or become blocked.
In event of any of the louvres becoming sagged or bent, they can be taken out
of the frame and inverted, the spoon ends having been first removed and re-
arranged on the opposite side of such louvres.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
1. In an improved spark arrestor a series of Z-section louvres (such as H)
provided with pivots (such as H2) and space bars H³ arranged substantially as
described and as illustrated.
2. In an improved spark arrestor comprising the louvres, pivots, and space bars
above claimed, the spoon ended levers J attached to such louvres, substantially
as described and illustrated and for the purposes set forth.
3. In an improved spark arrestor and in combination with the louvres, pivots,
and space bars above claimed, a support or frame (such as F), preferably built up
in sections, for the purpose of engaging the ends of the said louvres as herein before
described.
4. In an improved spark arrestor as above claimed and in combination there-
with, a centre ridge bar (such as G) as and for the purposes set forth.

page_text: 5. The herein described improved spark arrestor, comprising the louvres with
their pivots and space bars, the spoon ended levers, the frame and the centre ridge
bar, arranged substantially as described and illustrated as and for the purposes
set forth as a combination of parts.
Dated this 3rd dor of Ano 1900
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicants.