Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 9th May, 1887
Complete Left, 8th Feb., 1888
Complete Accepted, 9th Mar., 1888
Draught Created thereby.
We, HENRY APPLEBY, Locomotive Superintendent, and JOHN GEORGE ROBINSON,
Works Manager, both of the Waterford and Limerick Railway Company, Limerick,
Ireland, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in blast-pipes for locomotive and other
boilers in which a steam-jet or blast is employed for inducing the requisite draught
through the furnace and heating tubes, and in the means whereby such draught may
be varied and regulated according to the duty to be performed. Our invention is,
however, applicable under other circumstances where it is desired to set a body of air
in motion with the aid of a steam-jet.
Assuming our invention to be applied to a locomotive engine, the blast-pipe
occupies the usual position in the smoke-box in front of the outlet ends of the fire-
tubes. It is provided with openings for the intake of air at about the level of the
lower tubes, and it extends upwards to about the level of the upper tubes. The
openings above referred to communicate with an annular chamber or air-passage
surrounding the central steam-nozzle. This chamber is itself surrounded by a casing,
the space intervening between the two forming a channel for conveying away steam
supplied to the lower end thereof through passages leading from the central steam-
nozzle. The delivery orifice of the external passage is preferably some distance
above that of the central nozzle. It will thus be understood that when both the
central and the external steam passages are in operation, air is drawn in at the lower
part of the apparatus, and is ejected at the top in an annular stream; the same
surrounding the jet of steam issuing from the central nozzle, and being surrounded
by the annular body of steam escaping from the external annular passage. The
external casing is formed with a seating, and is mounted upon the lower portion of
the apparatus in such a manner as to be capable of being rotated. In its seat are
formed ports corresponding with the passages leading from the central steam-nozzle.
When the ports coincide with the passages, steam is free to escape by the annular

page_text: passage; but, upon the external casing being, rotated, the supply of steam to the
external or annular passage is partially or wholly intercepted, and the collective area
of the steam-passage or passages is diminished with the effect of intensifying the
blast and increasing the draught. By means of suitable connections, the external
casing may be rotated and the action of the apparatus regulated from the foot-plate of
the locomotive or other conveniently accessible position.
According to an alternative method of construction and working, we provide means
whereby the openings forming the air-inlet to the lower portion of the apparatus
may be partially or wholly closed; provision being made for controlling such air-inlet
from the foot-plate of the locomotive, or otherwise as may be requisite. When the
air-inlet is closed, the action of the apparatus is not directly exerted upon the air
contained in the lower portion of the smoke-box, being more immediately effective
upon the air surrounding the upper extremity of the blast-pipe. Under such
circumstances, the draught through the lower fire-tubes is diminished.
The means above referred to for controlling the passage of air through the
apparatus may be employed either in combination with, or independently of, the
means herein before described, whereby a portion of the exhaust is deflected from
the main or central steam-nozzle and discharged through a supplementary passage
with the object of modifying the intensity of the blast.
G. G. M. HARDINGHAM,
191, Fleet Street, London, E.Č.,
Agent for the Applicants.

page_text: Improvements in Blast-pipes and in Means for Regulating the
Draught Created thereby.
We, HENRY APPLEBY, Locomotive Superintendent, and JOHN GEORGE ROBINSON,
Works Manager, both of the Waterford and Limerick Railway Company, Limerick,
Ireland, 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 :-
This invention relates to improvements in blast-pipes for locomotive and other
boilers in which a steam-jet or blast is employed for inducing the requisite draught
through the furnace and heating tubes, and in the means whereby such draught may
be varied and regulated according to the duty to be performed. The invention is,
however, applicable under other circumstances where it is desired to set a body of air
or other gas in motion with the aid of a steam-jet.
In Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings is represented, in longitudinal
and transverse section respectively, the smoke-box end of a locomotive engine
furnished with a blast-pipe constructed and applied in accordance with our invention.
In Figures 3 and 4 is represented to an enlarged scale and in fuller detail the mode
in which we prefer to construct the blast-pipe itself, the former of these being a
sectional elevation and the latter a part plan and part horizontal section.
The improved blast-pipe a consists of a central steam-nozzle a', which in the
present instance communicates with the exhaust ports of passages from the steam-
cylinders. Surrounding the nozzle a' is an annular chamber or air-passage a², the
latter being in turn surrounded by a casing a³, forming a space at through which a
portion of the exhaust steam may at times be diverted when it is desired to diminish
or moderate the intensity of the draught through the boiler-furnace and heating
tubes. Openings a' for the intake of air are provided at or about the level of the
lower rows of tubes, the delivery crifice of the blast-pipe extending upwards to or
above the level of the higher rows of heating tubes. Although we prefer to use a
comparatively short central steam-nozzle a¹, as represented in the accompanying
drawings, the length of the same may be varied at will, and may, if preferred,
terminate in the same plane with the air-passage a² and with the outer steam-
passage a. The external casing a³ is formed with a flanged seating a, and is
mounted upon
the lower portion of the apparatus and retained in place by a flanged .
ring a (Figure 3) in such a manner as to enable the upper part a³ to be partially
rotated upon the lower part of the apparatus. The ring a" is secured to the upper
flange of the blast-pipe a by means of bolts a". a" is a cap which may be advantageously
applied to and which may revolve with the outer casing a³ for the purpose of
excluding ashes or dirt from the working face of the latter. In the seating a are
formed ports a' corresponding with passages as leading from the central steam-nozzle a¹
to, the outer steam-passage a*. When the ports a coincide with the passages a³,.

page_text: steam is free to escape by the annular orifice a*; but, upon the external casing being
partially rotated, the supply of steam to the external passage a is partially or wholly
intercepted, and the collective area of the steam-passage or passages is diminished,
with the effect of intensifying the blast and increasing the draught. It will thus be
understood that when both the central and the outer or supplementary steam-passages
are in operation, air and products of combustion are drawn in at the lower part of the
apparatus and are ejected at the top in an annular current, the same surrounding the
jet of steam issuing from the central nozzle, and being surrounded by the annular
body of steam escaping from the outer annular passage. When, however, the latter
is closed, the whole of the exhaust steam is concentrated so as to issue through the
central nozzle, the blast being thereby rendered sharper and the draught intensified.
By means of suitable connections, such as the longitudinal rod 6 (Figure 2),
lever 61, spindle and lever 6³, the last-named engaging with a stud or arm a
projecting from the external casing a³, the said casing may be partially rotated. and
the action of the apparatus regulated from the foot-plate of the locomotive or other
conveniently accessible position. The rod b may be actuated by screw-gearing
operated by means of a hand-wheel.
We sometimes provide means whereby the openings as provided for the admission
of air and products of combustion through the lower portion of the apparatus to the
internal annular chamber may be partially or wholly closed. A blast-pipe thus
provided is represented in vertical section in Figure 5 and in part section and part
side elevation in Figure 6; the same comprising a disc-valve c formed with openings
corresponding with the openings a and furnished with suitable connections, such as
the levers and spindle c³, for enabling the said disc to be so rotated that its solid
portions cover the openings a³. The said dise or equivalent controlling appliance
may be operated from the foot-plate of the engine or otherwise in a similar manner
to that employed for regulating the flow of steam through the supplementary passage.
When the admission of the gases through the openings a' is cut off, the action of the
apparatus is not directly exerted upon the gaseous contents of the lower portion of
the smoke-box; being more immediately effective upon the gases surrounding the
upper extremity of the blast-pipe. By partially instead of wholly closing the
passages a, the action of the apparatus may be modified and the draught through
the lower fire-tubes regulated.
The means above referred to for controlling the passage of air through the apparatus
may be employed either in combination with or independently of the means herein-
before described, whereby a portion of the exhaust is deflected from the main or
central steam-nozzle and discharged through a sulppementary passage with the object
of modifying the intensity of the blast.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, we claim :—
1. The improved means substantially as herein described for modifying and
regulating the effective action of a blast-pipe having a gas inlet below the steam
delivery nozzle, by permitting a portion of the steam to escape by way of a
supplementary passage temporarily opened to a regulated extent for the purpose.
}
2. For use with a locomotive, the improved means substantially as herein described,
whereby the effective action of the blast may be readily varied from the foot-plate or
similar conveniently accessible position; such means comprising a main steam-nozzle,
a supplementary steam-passage surrounding the same, an intervening air-passage,
provision for opening communication between the central and the outer steam-passages
and suitable connections for working the apparatus from the operator's position.
3. The improved blast-pipe constructed substantially as herein described and having
a central or main steam-nozzle, an annular steam-passage surrounding the same, an
intervening passage for the conduct of the air or other gases to be operated on, and
means for partially or wholly intercepting the escape of steam through one of the
steam-passages, whilst correspondingly augmenting or concentrating the delivery
through the other passage.

page_text: 4. In a blast-pipe provided with a central or main steam-nozzle and a supplementary
steam-passage surrounding the same, the improved means substantially as herein
described for enabling a portion of the steam to escape by way of the latter passage;
such means consisting of a casing a³ mounted to rotate as a disc-valve upon its
face a and to open communication from the main pipe a through the passages as and
ports a to the interior of the casing a*.
5. For use in, and in combination with, the smoke-box of a locomotive or similar
fire-tube boiler, a regulating blast-pipe, such as herein described, having at about
the level of the lower fire-tubes openings on all sides for the admission of the air or
other gases to be exhausted or operated on, substantially as and for the purposes
set forth.
6. Providing a blast-pipe of the kind referred to in the third claiming clause hereto
with means whereby the passage of air or other gases through the annular space
intervening between the central or main steam-nozzle and the outer or supplementary
passage may be partially or wholly intercepted and the effective action of the apparatus
upon the gases surrounding the base thereof modified.
G. G. M. HARDINGHAM,
191, Fleet Street, London, E.C.,
Agent for the Applicants.
G. G. M. HARDINGHAM,
191, Fleet Street, London, E.(.,
Agent for the Applicants.