IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM AND OTHER BOILERS, MECHANICAL STOKING Apparatus, and SAFETY VALVES
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Sinclair, of Leith, in the County of Mid Lothian,
North Britain, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM AND OTHER
BOILERS, MECHANICAL STOKING Apparatus, and SAFETY VALVES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Sinclair at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th May 1880.
GEORGE SINCLAIR, of Leith, in the County of Mid Lothian, North Britain.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM AND OTHER BOILERS, MECHANICAL STOKING APPARATUS,
AND SAFETY VALVES."
This Invention comprises improvements in and connected with steam and other
boilers, which improvements are for the most part modifications or developments'
of those described in the Specifications of earlier Patents granted to the present
applicant, and numbered 2004, of 1877; 1388, of 1878; and 1704, of 1879.
One of the present improvements relates to boilers of the vertical cylindrical
class used for boiling or bleaching rags, esparto, and other fibrous paper-making
materials, or textile materials and fabrics. In such a boiler as made with the
present improvements there is the usual perforated horizontal diaphragm or false
bottom, below which there is an unperforated diaphragm having a shallow space
between it and the actual bottom of the boiler. The bottom end of the ordinary
central vomiting pipe is fixed to the unperforated diaphragm, and has a flaring or
conical mouth projecting a short distance below that diaphragm. The unperforated
diaphragm has also fixed to it one, two, or more drain tubes projecting down a
little further than the vomiting-pipe mouth; and the liquid which drains through
the materials in the boiler passes through the drain tubes into the bottom space,
but cannot in it rise to a higher level than the bottom of the vomiting-pipe mouth.
Steam is admitted into the bottom space, and occupying the upper part of it heats
the contents of the boiler; the steam also gets into the vomiting pipe and carries
the liquid up it, so as to cause it to pass repeatedly through the materials. At the
top of the vomiting pipe there is a slightly concave deflecting or spreading plate,
or instead thereof there may be a hollow head which is perforated in a suitable
manner to effect a proper distribution of the liquid over the top of the materials in
the boiler. Instead of the ordinary central vomiting pipe there may be two or

page_text: more lateral vomiting pipes, as described in one of the earlier Specifications
hereinbefore referred to.
A second improvement consists in arranging in a boiler of the kind herein before
described, or in a horizontal rotating or other analogous boiler used for treating
paper-making materials, or textile materials and fabrics, a reciprocating ram,
plunger, or piston, or a rotating screw for packing or pressing the materials into
smaller compass, and also for expressing a large portion of the liquid from the
materials when withdrawing the liquid.
A third improvement relates to mechanical stoking apparatus for steam boilers,
and of the kinds described in the earlier Specifications hereinbefore referred to, and
consists in combining with the other parts a series of pokers for breaking through
certain kinds of coals, which cake together and thereby prevent the proper
permeation of air. A grating with short vertical openings is fitted between the
fire bars and the coal-feeding hopper, and pokers or rods are entered through
several of these openings, such pokers being attached to cross bars or blocks sliding
on guide rods, and made to reciprocate by connecting rods from cranks or eccentrics
on the cross shaft which gives motion to the fire bars. In front of the grating there
is a horizontal cross bar on which the pokers slide, and which causes their inner
ends to have an upward inclination, which increases as the pokers are moved
inwards.
A fourth improvement consists in fixing in the middle of the bottom of the
coal-feeding hopper an iron box having a pointed top to cause the coals to be
divided towards each side of it. This box is open at its inner and outer ends, and
its purpose is to give a view of the top of the fire. A perforated plate or grating
may be fixed in the box; or there may be a door for completely closing it when an
inspection is not being made.
A fifth improvement relates to the movable fire bars of the stoking apparatus,
and consists in employing a series of compound bars, each of which comprises a
central and two lateral longitudinal pieces. The central piece is formed with
lateral projections on each side, and the inside of each lateral piece is formed
with projections entering between those of the central piece, or in other words
the adjacent sides of the pieces are made counterparts of each other, but so as to
leave a thin air space between. A projection is formed on the bottom of the.
middle piece at a part which rides over the inner cross bearer, and when this
projection comes on the bearer the central piece is raised relatively to the side
pieces, which tends to clear the air spaces.
The
The sixth improvement consists in making the boiler safety valve and parts
connected with it in an improved manner. The passage leading to the valve seat
is made of relatively larger area, say, about four times, the area of the valve-seat
opening being contracted near the valve seat. The valve seat projects above the
bottom of the space or chamber in which the valve is, and it is bevilled externally
so as to leave a very narrow edge at its inner part for the valve to rest on.
valve is formed on the bottom end of a spindle which is guided in a box or frame
above it, and it supports a cylindrical carrier for annular dead weights. The valve
is formed with a flat annular surface to rest on the seat, such surface being broader
than the seat, and the under side of the valve being slightly recessed within the
bearing surface. The outer part of the bearing surface of the valve projects beyond
the seat and is curved; and the object of the described form of the valve is that
when it is opened by the steam pressure, the increased area acted on by the steam
will compensate for the diminution in pressure which the steam experiences in
issuing.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said George Sinclair in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 17th November
.1880.
GEORGE SINCLAIR, of Leith, in the County of Mid Lothian, North Britain.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM AND OTHER BOILERS, MECHANICAL STOKING APPARATUS,
AND SAFETY VALVES."
My said Invention comprises improvements in and connected with steam and
other boilers, which improvements are for the most part modifications or develop-
ments of those described in the Specifications of earlier Patents granted to me and
numbered 2004, of 1877; 1388, of 1878; and 1704, of 1879.
And in order that my present Invention, and the manner of performing the same
may be properly and most readily understood, I will at once proceed to particularly
describe my various improvements with the aid of two Sheets of explanatory
Drawings which are hereunto appended. In these Drawings the same reference
numerals are used to mark the same or like parts wherever they are repeated.
One of my present improvements relates to boilers of the vertical cylindrical
class used for boiling or bleaching rags, esparto, and other fibrous paper-making
materials or textile materials and fabrics. Such a boiler as made with one modifi-
cation of my present improvements is shown in vertical section in Figure 1 on
Sheet 1 of the accompanying Drawings, and in it there is the usual perforated
horizontal diaphragm or false bottom 13, below which there is an unperforated
diaphragm 14, having a shallow space 15 between it and the actual bottom of the
boiler. The bottom end of the ordinary central vomiting pipe 16 is fixed to the
unperforated diaphragm 14, and has a flaring or conical mouth 17 projecting a short
distance below that diaphragm. The unperforated diaphragm 14 has also fixed to
it one, two, or more drain tubes 18 projecting down a little further than the
vomiting-pipe mouth 17; and the liquid which drains through the materials in the
boiler passes through the drain tubes 18 into the bottom space 15, but cannot in it
rise to a higher level than the bottom of the vomiting-pipe mouth 17. At the
centre of the bottom of the boiler there is a pipe connection 19, to which there is
fixed a pipe 20 extending in both directions, and having one end connected to a
steam supply pipe, and the other to a discharge cock or valve for drawing the
liquid off from the boiler. Over the pipe connection 19 there is a circular plate 21
made with a turned-down cylindrical flange which is perforated, and this plate 21
serves to spread the steam, so that it will mix well with the lye or liquid in the
space 15. The steam thus admitted into the space 15 heats the liquid, and the part
of it not condensed in doing so occupies the upper part of the space, and communi-
cates heat through the diaphragm 14 to the contents of the boiler. The steam also
gets into the vomiting pipe 16, and carries the liquid up it so as to cause the liquid
to pass repeatedly through the materials. At the top of the vomiting pipe there
may be the usual concave deflecting plate, or instead thereof there is an improved
device consisting of a hollow head 22, which is fitted with a central inverted cone 23
for spreading the upward current and causing it to forcibly strike the circum-
ferential parts of the hollow head. The hollow head 22 is made with its circum-
ferential part projecting downwards in an annular form, and perforated so as to
distribute the liquid in a suitable manner.
Figure 2 is an enlarged inverted plan, and Figure 3 is a corresponding vertical
section of a modification of the mouth 17 of the vomiting pipe 16 designed to
secure a regular action between the steam and the liquid. The mouth 17 is made
with a plate across it in which there are formed or fixed near the circumference a
number of short tubes 24 which dip down into the liquid; whilst the middle part of
the plate is perforated for the passage of the steam; the liquid and steam thus

page_text: enter the vomiting pipe by separate openings so as not to interfere with each other,
and the steam is made to act more effectively by the entering at the middle.
· Instead of the ordinary central vomiting pipe (16) there may be two or more
lateral vomiting pipes, as described in one of my earlier Specifications hereinbefore
referred to. This modification is shown in vertical section in Figure 4 on Sheet 1
of the accompanying Drawings, the lateral vomiting pipes being marked 26, whilst
the other parts which are the same as in the first modification are marked with the
same reference numerals.
The second of my present improvements consists in arranging in a boiler of the
kind hereinbefore described, or in a horizontal rotating or other analogous boiler
used in treating paper-making materials, or textile materials and fabrics, a recipro-
cating ram, plunger, or piston; or a rotating screw for packing or pressing the
materials into smaller compass, and also for expressing a large portion of the liquid
from the materials when withdrawing the liquid. This improvement is shown as
applied to a rotating horizontal cylindrical boiler in Figure 5, on Sheet 1 of the
accompanying Drawings, this Figure being a longitudinal vertical section. A
screw shaft 27 is placed in the centre of the boiler with one end passing out
through a stuffing box and trunnion, and with pulleys 28 on it for an open and a
crossed driving bolt. A piston disc 29 guided on longitudinal ribs 30 fixed on the
inside of the boiler shell is carried on the screw shaft 27 with an internally screwed
centre, and by these means the piston disc 29 is moved longitudinally in either
direction by the rotation of the shaft 27.
The third of my present improvements relates to mechanical stoking apparatus
for steam boilers, and of the kinds described in my earlier Specifications herein before
referred to, and consists in combining with the other parts a series of pokers for
breaking through certain kinds of coals which cake together and thereby prevent
the proper permeation of air: This improvement is shown in Figures 6 and 7 on
Sheet 2 of the accompanying Drawings, Figure 6 being a vertical longitudinal
section, as taken through one of the furnaces of a horizontal cylindrical steam
boiler having two internal furnaces, and Figure 7 being a front elevation corre-
sponding to Figure 6. The fire bars 31 are made to reciprocate longitudinally by
a crank shaft 32, to which their front ends are connected by rods 33. A grating 34
with short vertical openings is fitted between the firebars 31 and the coal-feeding
hopper 35, and pokers or rods 36 are entered through several of these openings,
such pokers 36 being attached to a cross bár 37 which is connected at its ends to
lovers 38, centered on studs 39 fixed at the upper parts of the hopper sides. The
levers 38 are made to vibrate so as to give a reciprocating motion to the pokers 36
by pins 40 on wheels or discs 41 on the crank shaft 32 (only one of these levers 38
and wheels 41 being shown in the Figures). Each pin 40 as it moves round engages
with a notch in an arm 42 jointed to the lever 38 and imparts an inward move-
ment;
and the pin afterwards acts on one arın 43 of a bell-crank lever, and causes
the other arm 44 of that lever to move the lever 38 outwards again. The inner
part 45 of the dumb plate, which is above the grating 34, is made removable so as to
be easily renewed when necessary; it is formed with bars 46, which form inward
continuations of the bars of the grating 34 and protect that grating. The pokers 36
slide on the bottoms of the openings in the grating 34 in such a way that their
inner ends assume a more upward inclination when moved inwards, by which
they more thoroughly break up any caked coal.
The fourth of my present improvements is also shown in Figures 6 and 7, and
consists in fixing in the middle of the bottom of the coal-feeding hopper 35 an iron
box 47 having a pointed top to cause the coals to be divided towards each side of
it. This box 47 may be open at both the inner and outer ends, or it may have a
perforated plate across it, or a door; its purpose being to give a view of the top of
the fire, so that the fireman can at any time easily ascertain the condition of
the fire.
The fifth of iny present improvements relates to the movable firebars (31) of the
stoking apparatus, and consists in employing a series of compound bars, each of which

page_text: comprises a central and two lateral longitudinal pieces. Figure 8 on Sheet 2 of the
accompanying Drawings is a plan of the complete compound bar 31; Figure 9 is a
side elevation of the middle piece, and Figure 10 is a side elevation of the compound
bar, but showing scarcely anything but one of the side pieces. The central piece 48
is formed with lateral projections on each side, by preference of the shape shown;
and the inside of each lateral piece is formed with projections entering between
those of the central piece 48, or in other words the adjacent sides of the pieces are
made counterparts of each other, but so as to leave a thin air space between.
projection 49 is formed on the bottom of the middle piece 4S, at a part which rides
over the inner cross bearer, and when this projection comes on the bearer the
middle piece becomes raised relatively to the side pieces, which tends to clear the
air spaces.
.
A
The
The sixth of my present improvements consists in making the boiler safety valvo
and parts connected with it in an improved manner, as shown in vertical section
in Figure 11 on Sheet 2 of the accompanying Drawings. In this improved
arrangement the passage 50 leading to the valve seat 51 is made of relatively
larger area say, about four times, the area of the valve-seat opening being
contracted near the valve seat. The valve seat 51 projects above the bottom 52
of the space or chamber in which the valve 53 is, and it is bevilled externally, so
as to leave a very narrow edge at its inner part for the valve to rest on.
valve 53 is formed on the bottom end of a spindle 54, which is guided in a box or
frame 55 above the valve, and the spindle supports a cylindrical corner 56 for
annular dead weights 57. The valve 53 is formed with a flat annular surface to
rest on the seat 51, such surface being broader than the seat, and the under side
of the valve being slightly recessed within the bearing surface. The outer part of
the bearing surface of the valve 53 projects beyond the seat 51, and the object of
the described forms of the valve and seat is that when the valve is opened by the
steam pressure the increased area acted on by the steam will compensate for the
diminution in pressure which the steam experiences in issuing. In the modifi-
cation shown in Figure 11 the escaping steam passes off upwards through the frame
or casing 55, but in some cases this casing 55 will be closed at the top, and the
steam will pass off by a lateral branch pipe communicating with the lower part of
the casing below the weights.
Having thus particularly described my said Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I have to state that I do not restrict myself to the
precise details herein described or delineated, but that what I believe to be novel
and original, and claim as the Invention secured to me by and in terms of the
hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is,-
1. The constructing of vertical cylindrical boilers for boiling or bleaching rags,
esparto, and other fibrous paper-making materials, or textile materials, and fabrics,
substantially in the improved manner hereinbefore described with reference to
Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying Drawings.
2. In boilers of the kind shown in Figures 1 and 4 of the accompanying Drawings
the making of the bottom space (15) into which the steam is admitted with
draining tubes (18) for the liquid or lye to enter it from the space between its top
and the perforated diaphragm (13), but with such tubes (18) dipping so as to
retain steam in the upper part of the space (15), the bottom mouth of the vomiting
pipe also dipping into the same space (15), so that the steam may force the liquid
up the vomiting pipe, substantially as herein before described.
3. The fitting of the central vomiting pipe of a boiler for treating paper-making
materials, or textile materials, and fabrics, with a hollow head (22), such as is
herein before described with reference to Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings.
4. The arranging in a boiler used for treating paper-making materials, or textile
materials, and fabrics, a reciprocating ram, plunger, or piston, or a rotating screw,
substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described.
5. The combination with mechanical stoking apparatus of pokers arranged and
operating substantially in the manner and for the purposes herein before described.

page_text: 6. The constructing' of the coal-feeding hoppers of mechanical stoking apparatus
with angular topped boxes (47), through which the tops of the fire can be observed,
substantially as hereinbefore described.
.
7. The improved compound fire bar hereinbefore described with reference to
Figures 8, 9, and 10 of the accompanying Drawings.
8. The improved combination of safety-valve details herein before described with
reference to Figure 11 of the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Sinclair, have hereunto set my hand
and scal, this Fifteenth day of November, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty.
Witness,
EDMUND HUNT,
Patent Agent,
Glasgow.
GEORGE SINCLAIR. (L.S.).