IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM STREET CARS OR LOCOMOTIVES
Year: 1884

page_text: I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of the firm of A. M. and Wm. Clark, of
53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Fellow of the Institute of Patent
Agents, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
STEAM STREET CARS OR LOCOMOTIVES." and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and. by the following
statement:-
This Invention relates to street cars or locomotives.
The Invention consists mainly, first, in the combination of a firo box for
supplying the requisite heat to produce the steam, or sustain that already produced,
with a water chamber in contact with the fire box and a system of water tubes
communicating therewith, not in contact with the fire box; second, in the
combination of a fire box and smoke flue, with a water box of special construction,
the smoke flue being turned downward into the water box under the car, the box
catching and retaining the surplus products of combustion; and third, in the
combination of the exhaust pipe of the engine, with a spraying device for
condensing the steam, and a steam jet pipe with a smoke flue and water box, all of
which will be fully described hereinafter.
In the Drawings Figure 1 represents the side elevation of a street car engine
having the Invention, applied thereto, showing a side view of the tubes on one
side. Figure 2, an end view of the same partially in section. Figure 3, a plan
view of the fire box partially in section, showing smoke flue and tube connections.
Figure 4 a plan view of the water box, exhaust chamber, and the connection of
the exhaust chamber and smoke flue with the water box. Figure 5, a longitudinal
section on an enlarged scale of the water box, and the parts immediately connected
therewith. Figure 6 is an end elevation of one of the hoods connecting the tubes.
To enable others skilled in the art to make the Invention and properly use the
same, I will proceed to describe fully its construction and manner of operation.
A represents an engine, the actuating mechanism of which may be of any proper
construction, this portion of the same forming no part whatever of the present
Invention. B, Figures, 1, 2 and 3, represents a small fire box located beneath the
engine at one end of the same, having an inner wall or shell b, of copper or other
metal, and an outer wall or shell 61, of steel or iron, with intermediate water
chamber as shown. These shells are provided with proper stays or bolts, in a
manner well understood. C, C, Figures 1, 2 and 3, represents a short pipe of
comparatively small size leading from the front side of the water chamber to the
rear end of the large pipes D, D, the two being united by a flange connection of
proper construction, in a manner well understood. E, Figures 1, and 2 represent
hoods or return bends, fully illustrated in Figure 6, consisting of a casting having

page_text: a central tube like portion e and portions e' e¹, with openings e² e adapted to
receive and connect the ends of adjacent pipes by flanges as shown.
By means of these hoods or return bends, the front ends of the pipes D D, are
united to the front ends of the pipe F, F, as shown in Figure 2, thus making a
connecting extension in both series of pipes.
G, G, Figure 2, represent hoods or return bends of similar construction at the
opposite end, by means of which the rear ends of the pipe F, F, are united to the
rear ends of the pipe H, H. I, I, Figure 2, represent lioods or return bends of
similar construction at the opposite end, by means of which the front ends of the
pipe H, H, are united to the pipes J, J. K, K, Figure 2, represent hoods or return
bends of similar construction at the opposite end, by means of which the rear
ends of the tubes J, J, are united to the upper enlarged tubes or domes L, L.
M, M, Figure 2, represents a pipe leading from the lower sides of the dome or
domes L, L, at their forward ends, back to the sides of the water chamber, as shown.
By means of the pipes C, C, and M, M, the water chamber is connected to each
end of the tube system through the domes, this construction forming a perfect
circulation when the water volume contained therein is subjected to the action
of heat.
N, N, Figures 1 and 2, represent auxiliary pipes leading from the upper side of
the water chamber into the upper side of the domes L, L, as shown, by which the
circulation of water through the domes is accelerated, because it more directly
connects the domes with the water chamber.
A single fire box and a single water chamber is employed in connection with two
systems of tubes, a system being located on each side of the engine as shown, .both
systems being connected through the dome or domes.
O, Figure 1, represents, à cock, by means of which both systems of tubes are
supplied with water through the water chamber.
P, Figures 1, 3, 4, and 5, represents the smoke flue, consisting of a pipe of
suitable length, which extends in a circuitous line from the fire box to the water
box beneath the car, the discharge end of the same opening on the surface of the
water as shown in Figure 5.
'
Q, Figure 1 represents a small steam pipe extending from one of the domes, the
discharge end of which opens into the smoke flue at any suitable point in its length.
By means of this construction a jet of steam may be thrown into the chimney,
and the steam being of lower temperature than the products of combustion, the
latter will be cooled, and carried forward into contact with the water box and
there further cooled.
•
R., Figures 1 and 5, represents the water box before referred to, into which
discharges the smoke flue-and-the-exhaust steain-pipe-as-shown.-
· S, Figures 1 and 2, represents a water tank above the system of hot water pipes
and disconnected therewith, containing cold water to supply the condensing system.
s¹, Figures 2 and 5, represents a pipe by which water taken from the tank S, is
discharged through the spraying device into the water box beneath the car.
The spraying device it will be observed, is provided with a cone s² Figure 5, for
dividing the water stream, and discharging it equally on all sides.
Figure 5, represents a basin for receiving the water from the spraying
device s², which device itself receives water through the pipe s¹ from the tank S,
located at the top of the engine as shown in Figures 1 and 2.
The interior basin is provided on the outer edge or flange with apertures
through which the overflow water escapes and passes down into the bottom of the
water box, whence it is returned through the injector pipe 2 to the tank S. By
this construction the basin r, will be kept full of water, while the water below it
'may be returned to the tank.
Figure 5, represents a chamber adapted to receive the overflow water from the
basin through openings in the flange as shown in Figure 4.
Figure 5 represents an ejector pipe, by means of which the water in the
chamber, is returned to the tank S.

page_text: 73, represents one of a series of openings through the water box near its top,
which openings are adapted to furnish the necessary draught and to allow the
escape of any excess of water which may be accumulated.
T Figure 5 represents the discharge end of the exhaust pipe, which is so attached
to the spraying device as to deliver the steam into the falling water, and thus
obtain the desired condensation.
U Figure 4 represents an enlarged chamber into which the exhaust steam is
delivered from the cylinders by which its force is weakened, its outlet being
through pipe T.
V, V, Figures 1 and 2 represent pipes leading from the tops of the domes into a
central pipe X from which the supply of steam for the cylinders is drawn in any
proper manner.
The operation of the Invention is substantially as follows:
The water chamber and tube system having been supplied with water either
cold or hot, through the cock O until the domes L L, are half full of water, and
the fire box having been supplied with fuel, .the following operation will result
under the action of heat.
The water in the water chamber surrounding the fire-box will be caused to pass
through the various pipes and hoods to the domes, and then back again to the
chamber, a continuous circulation of heated water thus being maintained.
The steam generated under the action of the heat will accumulate in the domes,
and be drawn.off as needed through the central pipe X to the cylinder on each side
of the car.
As the water is thus diminished in volume the pressure of steam is increased,
this results from the increase in the area of the evaporating surface, and the
elevation of the temperature of the water.
-
The surplus products of combustion from the fire box, are carried downward
through the smoke flue into the water box beneath the engine, and then discharged
upon the water surface.
'
By means of this action, a large portion of the smoke and gases is caught and
retained. The draft is increased at any time if desired, by the proper use of the
steam jet in the smoke flue. The exhaust steam from the cylinders is first
discharged from the cylinders into the large chamber U between them to lessen its
force and then through the spray of the spraying device, by which it is condensed
into the water box:
Some of the advantages of the described construction are as follows:-By the
employment of a system of tubes in the manner described, the heat of the water
volume is perfectly maintained, and the circulation easily effected.
By locating the main portion of the circulating system out of contact with the
fire-box, the portion in contact therewith is kept covered with water, and the steam
generator or space where the water assumes the form of vapor or steam being kept
entirely distinct from the fire-box, renders it impossible for the steam to come in
contact with the heated surface, or for explosive conditions to occur.
By discharging the surplus products of combustion.and the exhaust steam
through a condensing medium into a water box beneath the car, the objection of
escaping smoke or steam is avoided.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1 The combination of the fire-box for supplying the requisite heat to produce
the steam, or to sustain that already produced in a separate stationary boiler, with
a water chamber in contact with the fire box and a system of water tubes
communicating therewith, not in contact with the fire-box, substantially as
described.
2nd In combination with the water chambers surrounding the fire-box, the
circulating system of pipes and tubes, and the auxiliary pipes M, M and N, N, as
described

page_text: 3rd The water box having the basin; the chamber, and the ejector pipe as
described.
4th A double system of water tubes communicating through separate steam
domes or a single dome, the whole connected with a common discharge to the
cylinders.,
5th A steam street car or locomotive containing the following elements, working
in combination, substantially as herein described, namely, a fire box and
surrounding water chamber, a tube system connected with the water chamber,
and an engine taking steam from the tube system, a smoke conductor or chimney
communicating with the water-box, a steam jet in the chimney to eject and cool
the products of combustion, and regulate the chimney draught, a water tank and
spray to condense exhaust steam, and ejector pipe to return the water of the water-
box to the tank, all as set forth.
6th In a steam street car or locomotive the combination substantially as herein
described, with the chimney and water box of a steam jet for cooling the products
of combustion, ejecting the same into the water box, and regulating the draught of
the chimney as set forth.
7th In a steam street car or locomotive the combination substantially as herein
described, with the water box and tank, of an ejector for returning the water of
condensation to the supply tank as set forth.
8th In a steam street car or locomotive the arrangement between the engine
cylinder and the water spray of the enlarged exhaust chamber U, substantially as
shown and described.
9th In a steam street car or locomotive, the water box R, constructed with an
interior water basin r, the flanges of which have openings to allow the descent of
the surplus water into the bottom of the box R, substantially as herein shown and
described.
r
10th The combination of the fire-box .and the smoke flue with the water-box
having perforations as described whereby the products of combustion will be
discharged upon the top of the water, as and for the purpose described.
11th In combination with a water chamber in contact with the fire-box; and a
system of water tubes not in contact with the fire-box, a cock O, for receiving a
heated water supply from a stationary boiler as described.
12th In combination with the steam jet pipe Q, the flue P, and the water box R,
having the series of openings ³ as described.
13th A steam generator for street cars consisting of a fire-box, a system of water
tubes remote from the source of heat; and a steam dome, substantially as
described,
× 14™ In combination with a steam dome supplying a locomotive or street car
engine, a reservoir or connected water tubes remote from the source of heat, and
forming a storage and circulating system for water heated before entering the
tubes, to a degree which shall evolve steam.
15th In a street car engine carrying a water-box beneath the same, a tank with
spraying device, and an exhaust pipe adapted to discharge its steam into the
opening of the spraying device, as described.