Improvements in Ash Ejectors for Steam Vessels.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 4th May, 1897-Accepted, 20th Nov., 1897
Improvements in Ash Ejectors for Steam Vessels.
A communication from abroad by HORACE SEE of 1 Broadway in the City of
New York in the County and State of New York, United States of America,
Naval Architect.
I, FRANCIS JAMES TREWENT of 43 Billiter Buildings, Billiter Street, in the
City of London, Naval Architect, 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 this invention is to increase the efficiency of hydraulic ash
ejectors and to make the same automatic in the important function of starting
into operation after the hydraulic charging has commenced.
In the accompanying illustrative drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation showing
one arrangement of an ash ejector constructed according to this invention.
Figure 2 is a view in plan, partly in section, of Figure 1, several parts being
omitted.
Figure 3 is a side elevation, partly in section, showing how the same ejector
may be operated from two compartments of a vessel separated by a bulkhead.
Figure 4 is a view in plan of Figure 3, several parts being omitted.
Figure 5 shows in sectional side-elevation a modified detail of Figure 1.
Figure 6 is a sectional side elevation of a modified arrangement of ash ejector
constructed in accordance with this invention.
Figure 7 is a section side elevation of a detail of this arrangement.
Referring to Figures 1 to 5, A is an ashes-receptacle, preferably shaped like an
inverted conoid or prism, forming a hopper into which the ashes to be removed
are thrown by means of shovels or otherwise. Said hopper may be provided
with suitable cover.
any
The lower part of the hopper A is connected to a pipe B,
which is in turn, connected to a discharge pipe C. To the base of the discharge
pipe C, is connected the ejector nozzle D of an ejector pipe E, leading from any
suitable force pump. Said nozzle is provided near its conical jet-end, with a
cock F, but a valve may, if desired, be substituted for said cock as hereinafter
described. Connected to said cock is a double-armed lever G, to one arm of which
is secured one end of a spiral spring H, the other end of said spring being secured
to a bracket or frame I, on the pipe C. To the other arm of the lever G, is con-
nected one end of a rod J, having a projection or offset a, and provided at its
other end with a handle b. The rod J passes through a lug c, forming part of a
bracket d, and also passes through a slot e, in an enlarged portion of the
plunger K of a controlling cylinder L, said rod being held in its raised position,
when the offset a rests upon the lug c, by the spring M connected to the end of the
plunger K, which prevents the 'disengagement of the offset from the lug. Con-
nected to the controlling cylinder L is a pipe N, the other end of said pipe being
connected to the ejector pipe E. The pipe N, near the point where it connects
with the controlling cylinder L, is provided with a three-way regulating cock O,
having a handle P

page_text: The operation of the apparatus is as follows:-
When it is desired to elevate the ashes, the cover of the hopper A may if
desired, be first closed. The jet-cock F is closed. The force pump (not shown)
connected to the ejector pipe E is then started and the regulating cock O turned
so that a portion of the water entering the ejector pipe E can pass through the
pipe N and cock O to the controlling cylinder L. When the desired pressure of
water has been obtained in the pipes E and N, the spring M on the end of the
plunger K, (which has been so set as to prevent its moving until the desired
pressure of water has been obtained) will yield to the outward movement of the
plunger K caused by the pressure of water entering the cylinder L through
the pipe N. The outward movement of the plunger K also releases or trips the
rod J, which is in its raised position with the spring H extended. When the
red J has been thus, released, the spring H quickly re-acts and forces the cock F
wide open at the same time drawing down the rod J to the position shown in
Figure 1. A solid jet of water then enters the pipe C through the tapered bore
of the nozzle D, under a very high pressure and with great velocity. The door
of the hopper A if closed is now opened and the ashes thrown into said hopper
from which they pass into the pipe C, where they encounter the jet of water
entering through the nozzle D, and are carried with the water up said pipe and
discharged overboard, through the side of the ship, at any suitable point, this
discharge continuing as long as ashes are thrown into the hopper A.
When the work has been completed, the handle P of the regulating-cock O
is turned so as to allow the water in the controlling cylinder L to escape into the
bilge or elsewhere through a spout S. The rod J is then raised until its pro-
jection a is above the lug e, when the reaction of the spring M forces the
plunger K back and locks the rod with its offset a over the lug c. The act of
raising the rod J also closes the cock and extends the spring H so as to be ready
for another operation.
In all hydraulic ash-ejecting apparatus, in order to start the machine into
operation with certainty, it is necessary that the ejection cock or valve be opened
very suddenly under a great pressure of water, and the construction above
described is specially adapted to such end.
.
It is also of importance that the cock or valve be placed near the end of the
ejector-nozzle, for by means of such location a smaller cock or valve can be used,
the tapering end of the ejector being of much smaller diameter than the rest of
the pipe. The smaller, therefore, the valve or cock which can be used, the less
will be the force required to overcome the friction of opening and closing it-
an important consideration where it is desirable to open the cock or valve,
whether by hand or automatically, by a sudden movement and with the utmost
celerity.
In Figures 3 and 4 the apparatus is shown arranged so as to discharge the
ashes from two fire-rooms. In this construction a double hopper A, A, is shown
arranged on each side of a bulkhead R, and connected to the discharge pipe C
said bulkhead being cut away within the hopper. Said hopper is provided on
cach side of the bulkhead, with a hinged lid or cover f. These lids f are con-
nected with each other within the hopper by a chain . By this arrangement
the opening of one of the lids f, causes the other lid to be tightly closed upon its
seat so that the hopper A can be opened to but one fire-room at a time, thereby
compensating for the opening in the bulkhead and making it water tight.
Instead of using the cock F shown in Figure 1, the device shown in Figure 5
may be substituted therefor, in which latter Figure the letter i indicates a valve
placed within the discharge pipe C and closing the orifice of the ejector nozzle D).
Said valve is hinged at j, and provided with a rigid arm k, the end of said arm
being provided with a stud / which slides within a slotted head m formed upon the
upper end of a rod n.
Said rod passes downward through a stuffing-box o, and
its lower end has a sliding contact with a forked arm p of a double armed or bell-
crank lever, said lever being pivoted at r to a lug on the nozzle E. To the other

page_text: arm of the lever t, at the point t, and also to a bracket, may be connected, in
any suitable manner, a spring w, for keeping the valve closed against the
pressure of the water in the pipe E which tends to open said valve. When the
required pressure of water, has been obtained in the pipe E, it will lift the valve i,
thus throwing down the rod n moving the lever in the direction of the arrow, and
compressing the spring connected to said lever. As soon as the water is shut off
from the pipe E, said spring will be released from its compression, the rod n
lifted and the valve i again,closed, by the reaction of said spring. Any suit-
able rod, such as J, or a chain or other device may be connected to the lever t
for opening the valve i either by hand or automatically.
The springs used in the apparatus herein described may be so regulated or
adjusted as to prevent any danger of the pressure of water bursting the pipes, or
the pines may be made strong enough to stop the pump before the pressure of
the water reaches the limit of the pipes' endurance.
If it is desired to operate the apparatus (Fig. 1) by hand instead of auto-
matically as herein described, the pipe N and the cylinder L with its attached
parts, may be dispensed with, and the rod J released or tripped by hand. But
the use of the automatic starting mechanism is deemed preferable.
Referring to Figures 6 and 7 which illustrate an arrangement of ash ejector
which may be automatically started into operation at the desired time, 1 is an
ashes receptacle or hopper, which may be provided with any suitable cover.
The lower part of said hopper is connected to a pipe 2 which, in turn, is con-
nected to a discharge-pipe 3 leading overboard from the vessel at any suitable
point. To the lower part of the discharge pipe 3 is connected an ejector nozzle 4
connected to an ejector-pipe leading from any suitable force pump (not shown)
The point of the ejector-nozzle 4, where it enters the discharge-pipe 3, is pro-
vided with a valve-seat 5, upon which is seated a conical valve 6. Said valve
forms an extension of a stem 7, which is connected to a piston 8, 9, of differential
diameter, located within a cylinder or chamber 10, the portion 8 of said piston
being of greater area than the portion 9. The valve stem 7 is provided near its
lower, end with an enlargement 11 forming a plunger within a recess 12 in the top
of the chamber 10, thus constituting a reverse dash-pot arrangement. Said valve-
stem is provided with hydraulic packing 13, and the differential piston 8, 9, is
also provided with hydraulic packing 14, 15. The packing 14 is secured by a
screw collar 16 and the packing 15 by a screw bolt 17 and washer 18. To the
bottom of the differential piston 8, 9, is connected, by means of the screw-bolt,
if desired, one end of a coiled spring 19, the other end of which may be secured
to the bottom of the cylinder or chamber 10. Said spring is only made strong
enough to overcome the weight of the valve-stem 7 and piston 8, 9 and keep the
valve 6 against its seat when there is no pressure in the pipe or nozzle 4.
Д
two ends
A pipe 20 connects the ejector nozzle 4 with the cylinder 10 below the
the
connects
differential piston, and
of said
a pipe 21
cylinder, above and below said piston. The pipe 21 is provided with
valve 22 held closed by a spring 23 until the desired working
pressure of
water has been obtained in the pipes, when said spring
will yield and allow water to pass through the valve 22 into the upper end
of the chamber 10 above the piston 8, as hereinafter more fully described.
Between the valve 22 and the upper end of the chamber 10, a three-way cock 21
is provided in the pipe 21. Said cock is provided with a lever or handle 25 for
operating the same and is so constructed that its plug can be turned so as to
admit water into the chamber 10, or to drain into the atmosphere through the
nozzle 26. The chamber 10 is provided with a drain-pipe 27 for carrying off
any water which may leak past the piston 8, 9.
Located in the pipe 2, which connects the hopper with the discharge-pipe 3,
is an air-valve 28, which may be a spring-check-valve or a valve of any suitable
construction. The air-valve 28, shown in section, detached, in Figure 7 has a
stem 29 provided with a coiled spring 30 within a cap 31, thus constituting a

page_text: spring-check-valve. Heretofore, in ash-ejectors of this class, an air-valve has
been placed on the discharge-pipe 3, above the branch 2, but in practice my
foreign correspondent has found that such location of said valve is not a favor-
able one, as when the lid of the hopper is closed, the ejector does not start in
operation, because of the vacuum created in the pipe 2. This difficulty has been
overcome by locating the air-valvo 28, in the position shown in the drawing and
admitting air through said valve to the pipe 2, thus destroying the objectionable
vacuum in said pipe. The cover of the hopper may thus be kept closed, as is
often desirable, when the ejector is not at work, in order to prevent water or other
objectionable matter entering the ship through the hopper which might happen
if the lid of the hopper were open when the ejector was not in use.
The operation of the apparatus is as follows:
When it is desired to clovate the ashes and discharge the same overboard, the
cover of the hopper 1 may, if desired, be first closed, and the handle 25 of the
cock 24 is then moved into the position shown in the drawing and the force-
pump connected to the ejector-nozzle 4 is started and water forced into said nozzle.
Said water flows then through the pipe 20 into the lower part of the chamber 10,
and from said chamber into the pipe,21. When the pressure of said water is
sufficient to compress the spring 23, the valve 22 will open and allow the water
to pass through the pipe 21 and cock 24 into the chamber 10, above the
differential piston 8, 9. The area of the upper portion 8 of said piston being
greater than the area of the lower portion 9, said piston will be forced downwards
and the conical valve 6 thus released from its scat. The area of the valve and
weight of the valve stem 7 will assist in this downward movement of the
piston 8, 9, and the spring 19 and compression of water below the piston 9 will
prevent a too sudden arrest of the same. When the valve 6 has been thus opened,
à solid jet of water enters the discharge-pipe 3, through the tapered bore of the
nozzle 4, under a very high pressure and with great velocity. The cover of the
hopper 1, if closed, is then opened and the ashes thrown into said hopper, from
which they pass into the discharge pipe 3, where they encounter the jet of water
entering through the ejector nozzle 4 and are carried with the water up through
said pipe and discharged overboard, this discharge continuing as long as ashes
are thrown into the hopper 1.
When the work has been completed and it is desired to close the valve 6, the
lever 25 of the cock 24 is moved into the position shown by dotted line 29. Com-
munication is thus shut off between the ejector-nozzle 4 and the upper end of the
chamber 10, and communication established between said ejector-nozzle and the
atmosphere through the nozzle 26. The presure of water in the chamber 10 will
then be sufficient to elevate the, piston 8, 9, and close the valve G. The conical
or pointed end of said valve in this upward movement, will force out any foreign
matter which may have lodged in the ejector-nozzle 4. The plunger 11 and dash-
pot 12 will prevent the too sudden seating of the valve 6.
This construction presents the advantage of automatically and quickly opening
the ejecting valve of an ash-ejector by simple mechanism.
If it be desired to operate the apparatus by hand instead of automatically, as 4
above described, the chamber 10, and its enclosed parts may be dispensed with and
the stem 7 of the valve made to pass through a stuffing-box outside of the
ejector-pipe 4, said stem being controlled in such case by any of the well known
means for pening and closing valves. But it is deemed preferable to use the
automatic starting mechanism above described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said in-
vention as communicated to me and in what manner the same is to be performed,
I declare that what I claim is:-
-
5
1. In a hydraulic ash-ejecting apparatus, the combination of an ash-receptacle,
or hopper; a discharge pipe; an ejector pipe; and a valve or cock for said 5.
ejector-pipe held closed to the escape of the ejecting water by suitable regulatine

page_text: means adapted to be set to a predetermined pressure; whereby when the pressure
of the water has overcome said predetermined resistance said valve is opened and
the apparatus started automatically into continuous action, substantially as set
forth.
2. In an ash-ejecting apparatus, a starting mechanism consisting of a starting
cock or valve provided with a lever for opening and closing the same, said lever
being provided with a spring and a rod, the rod having an offset; in combination
with fixed support for said offset; as and for the purposes set forth.
3. In an ash-ejecting apparatus, an automatic starting mechanism, consisting
of a starting cock or valve provided with a lever for opening and closing the
same, said lever being provided with a spring and a rod, the rod having an offset;
in combination with a fixed support for said offset and a hydraulic cylinder and
plunger, and a spring on said plunger; whereby when the pressure in said
cylinder is sufficient to compress the spring on its plunger the offset on said rod
is disengaged from its support and the starting cock or valve, is forced open by
the spring on its lever, substantially as set forth.
4. In an ash-ejecting apparatus, a hopper provided with two charging doors
connected by a chain so that the act of opening one, door draws the other door
shut and one ejector serves for two separate compartments, substantially as and for
the purposes set forth.
5. In an ash ejecting apparatus, the combination of an ash receptacle or
hopper; a discharge pipe; an ejector pipe or nozzle, provided with a single dis-
charge opening; a valve for soid opening provided with a stem extending down-
wards through said pipe or nozzle; and means substantially as described,
connected to the lower end of said stem for operating said valve.
6. In an ash-ejecting apparatus, the combination of an ash-receptacle, or
hopper; a discharge-pipe; an ejector-pipe; a valve for said ejector-pipe provided
with a stem; a cylinder or chamber; and a differential piston in said chamber
connected to said valve-stem and adapted to be moved by the pressure of the
ejecting water.
7. In an ash-ejecting apparatus, the combination of an ash-receptacle, or
hopper; a discharge-pipe; an ejector-pipe; a valve for said ejector-pipe provided
with a stem; a cylinder or chamber; a differential piston in said chamber con-
nected to said valve-stem and adapted to be moved by the pressure of the ejecting
water; and a spring connected to said piston to take the weight of the same.
8. In an ash-ejecting apparatus, the combination of an ash-receptacle, or
hopper; a discharge-pipe an ejector-pipo; a valve for said ejector-pipe; and an
independent valve provided with a closing spring and arranged within an exterior
pipe connected to said ejector-pipe, so that the opening of said independent valve
by the pressure of the water in said exterior pipe will effect the opening of the
valve in said ejector-pipe.
9. In an ash-ejecting apparatus, the combination of an ash-receptacle, or
hopper; a discharge-pipe; an ejector-pipe; a valve for said ejector-pipe provided
with a stem; a cylinder or chamber provided with a differential piston con-
nected to said valve stem; a pipe connecting said ejector-pipe with said chamber;
and valve in said pipe held closed until the desired pressure of ejecting water
has been obtained.
10. In an ash-ejecting apparatus, the combination of an ash-receptacle, or
hopper; a discharge-pipe; an ejector-pipe; a valve for said ejector-pipe, pro-
vided with a stem; a chamber or cylinder provided with a differential piston
connected to said valve stem; a pipe connecting said ejector-pipe with said
chamber and provided with a cock; and a lever or handle for operating said cock
for the purposes set forth.
11. In an ash-ejecting apparatus, the combination of an ash-receptacle, or
hopper, a discharge-pipe; an ejector-pipe; a valve for said ejector pipe, provided
with a stem: a chamber or cylinder provided with a differential piston connected
to said valve-stem; a pipe connecting said ejector-pipe with said chamber; a

page_text: valve in said pipe held closed until the desired pressure of the ejecting water has
been obtained; a three-way cock in said pipe; and a lever or handle for operating
said cock for the purposes set forth.
12. In an ash-ejecting apparatus, the combination of an ash-receptacle, or
hopper; a discharge-pipe; an ejector-pipe; a pipe connecting said ash-receptacle
with said discharge-pipe; and an air valve located in said connecting pipe and
held to its seat by a spring until a vacuum forms in said pipe, when it auto-
matically opens, as and for the purposes set forth.
13. In an ash-ejecting apparatus, the combination of an ash-receptacle, or
hopper a discharge-pipe: an ejector-pipe; and a valve for said ejector-pipe
provided with a pointed or conical end for the purposes set forth.
14. In an ash-ejecting apparatus, the combination of an ash-receptacle, or
hopper: a discharge-pipe; an ejector pipe; a valve for said ejector pipe provided
with a stem; and a dash-pot and plunger for said valve, for the purposes set forth.
Dated this 4th day of May 1897.
J. C. MEWBURN & ELLIS,
55 and 56 Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.