Year: 1887

page_text: I, HENRY APPLEBY, of the Waterford and Limerick Railway Company, Limerick,
in the County of Limerick, Ireland, Locomotive Engineer, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in or applicable to blast-pipes of the kind
described in the provisional specifications respectively accompanying the applications
for Letters Patent filed 9th May, 1887, No. 6,784, 19th July, 1887, No. 10,128, and
7th October, 1887, No. 13,591; as also in part to blast-pipes of other descriptions
when worked with the exhaust steam from a pair of engines coupled in the usual
manner.
One feature of my present invention consists in forming or providing the blast-pipe
with two main steam-nozzles, one communicating with each cylinder, and the two
being so combined or arranged in relation to each other as to produce the mutual
effect hereinafter described. The discharge orifice of one nozzle may surround that
of the other, and the two nozzles may be arranged at the same or at different levels;
but in either or any case, the jet of steam, as it issues from one of the nozzles, produces
a partial vacuum in the other nozzle and assists in clearing the exhaust passage and
cylinder connected with the latter nozzle of its contents; such effect taking place
alternately in each exhaust passage and cylinder whilst the steam is escaping from
the fellow cylinder. By these means, the 'back pressure' in the cylinders, or the
resistance offered to the movement of the pistons working therein, is diminished and
the effective power of the engines increased.
The principle of action above referred to is partly applicable to engine-cylinders
working independently of one another; that is to say, without having their cranks or
shafts coupled. In such cases, the exhaust steam from one cylinder may be led to a
chamber or condensing tank with which the blast-pipe appertaining to the other
cylinder communicates and which is subjected to the influence thereof.
In the provisional specification accompanying my application for Letters Patent
filed 7th October, 1887, No. 13,591, are described means whereby the area, as also

page_text: the height, of the delivery nozzle of the blast-pipe may be varied. In blast-pipes of
the kind therein referred to and having a central steam-nozzle surrounded by an
annular steam-passage, an intervening air-passage opening from below and provision
for enabling a portion of the steam to escape by way of the outer passage when it is
desired to moderate the draught, it is sometimes expedient to provide means whereby
the length or height of the pipe forming the outer wall of the air-passage above
alluded to may be varied. With this object, I provide the upper extremity of the said
pipe with a tubular extension, arranged to slide telescopically therein or relatively
thereto. Such extension may be rendered adjustable by suitable connections operated
from the exterior of the blast-pipe, or by screwing the additional part to a greater or
less distance into the extremity of the pipe. By the same means, the area of the
collective discharge from the central steam-nozzle and from the air-passage may be
diminished or increased, according to whether the extension-piece he caused to
approach towards or be withdrawn from the extremity of the central steam-nozzle.
My aforesaid provisional specification, No. 13,591 of 1887, also describes means
whereby the effective area for discharge from the central steam-nozzle may be
regulated such means consisting in the use of a baffle arranged immediately
opposite the nozzle-outlet. According to an alternative method of construction, I
form the said nozzle with a contracted outlet, and mount upon a central stem a
conical body which may be operated from below and which may be raised to occupy
a position within the contracted portion of the nozzle-outlet, a reduction of the
effective area of the latter thereupon ensuing.
According to another modification, ] form or provide the outlet from the central
steam-nozzle with one, two or more rings, arranged as continuations of the nozzle,
but disposed at intervals. Under such circumstances, a portion of the gases contained
in the surrounding air-passage is induced, by the action of the steam, to enter the
central passage by way of the spaces intervening between the rings, and, mingling
with the steam, is ejected thereby.
Dabad th 20th day of Navamkan 1987
G. G. M. HARDINGHAM,
191, Fleet Street, London, E.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: I, HENRY APPLEBY, of the Waterford and Limerick Railway Company, Limerick,
in the County of Limerick, Ireland, Locomotive Engineer, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention and in what manner the same is be performed to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to improvements in or applicable to blast-pipes of the kind
described in the specification to Letters Patent dated 9th May, 1887, No. 6,784, and
in the specifications filed in pursuance of my applications for Letters Patent dated
19th July, 1887, No. 10,128, and 7th October, 1887, No. 13,591; as also in part to
blast-pipes of other descriptions when worked with the exhaust steam from a pair of
engines coupled in the usual manner.
In order that my invention may be readily understood, I will proceed to describe
the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, whereof Fig. 1 represents in
vertical section a blast-pipe constructed according to my improved method; Figs. 2
to 4 being views of details hereinafter more particularly referred to.
One feature of my present invention consists in forming or providing the blast-
pipe with two main steam-nozzles a a', as represented in Fig. 1; one communicating
with each cylinder and the two being so combined or arranged in relation to each
other as to produce the mutual effect hereinafter described. The discharge orifice of
one nozzle may surround that of the other, as represented in the present illustration,
and the two nozzles may be arranged at the same level or at different levels; but in
either or any case, the jet of steam, as it issues from one of the nozzles a or a',
produces a partial vacuum in the other nozzle and assists in clearing the exhaust
passage and cylinder connected with the latter nozzle of its contents; such effect
taking place alternately in each exhaust passage and cylinder whilst the steam is
escaping from the fellow cylinder. By these means, the 'back pressure' in the
cylinders, or the resistance offered to the movement of the pistons working therein,
is diminished and the effective power of the engines increased.
The principle of action above referred to is partly applicable to engines working
independently of one another; that is to say, without having their cranks or shafts
coupled. In such cases, the exhaust steam from one cylinder may be led to a
chamber or condensing tank with which the blast-pipe appertaining to the other
cylinder communicates and which is subjected to the influence thereof.
In the specification filed in pursuance of my application for Letters Patent dated
7th October, 1887, No. 13,591, are described means whereby the area, as also the
height, of the delivery nozzle of the blast-pipe may be varied. In blast-pipes of
the kind therein referred to and having a central steam-nozzle surrounded by an
annular steam-passage, an intervening air-passage opening from below and provision
for enabling a portion of the steam to escape by way of the outer passage when it
is desired to moderate the, draught, it is sometimes expedient to provide means
whereby the length or height of the pipe b, Fig. 2, forming the outer wall of the

page_text: air-passage above alluded to may be varied. With this object, I provide the upper
extremity of the said pipe with a tubular extension, such as b¹, arranged to slide
telescopically therein or relatively thereto. Such extension may be rendered adjustable
by suitable connections operated from the exterior of the blast-pipe, or by screwing
the additional part to a greater or less distance into the extremity of the pipe b. By
the same means, the interior of the part being conical, the area of the collective
discharge from the central steam-nozzle a and from the air-passage 12 may be
diminished or increased according to whether the extension b¹ be caused to approach
towards or be withdrawn from the extremity of the central nozzle a.
My aforesaid specification, No. 13,591 of 1887, also describes means whereby the
effective area for discharge from the central steam-nozzle may be regulated; such
means consisting in the use of a baffle arranged immediately opposite the nozzle-outlet.
According to an alternative method of construction, I form the nozzle a with a
contracted outlet, as illustrated in Fig. 3, and I mount upon a central stem ca conical
body which may be operated from below and which may be raised to occupy a
position within the contracted portion of the nozzle-outlet; a reduction of the effective
area of the latter thereupon ensuing.
According to another mode of construction, illustrated in Fig. 4, I form or provide
the outlet from the central steam-nozzle a with one, two or more, rings, such as a*
Under such
arranged as continuations of the nozzle, but disposed at intervals.
circumstances, a portion of the gases contained in the surrounding air-passage b² is
induced by the action of the steam to enter the central passage by way of the
spaces intervening between the rings, and, mingling with the steam, is ejected"
thereby.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed, I claim :---
of
1. In a regulating blast-pipe of the kind herein referred to, the employment
a duplex central steam-nozzle whereof the members respectively communicate with
the cylinders of engines coupled in the usual manner and so arranged in relation to
one another that the discharge of steam from each member alternately produces a
partial vacuum in the other member.
2. In a regulating blast-pipe having a central steam-nozzle, a surrounding annular
steam-passage and an intervening gas-passage, providing the upper extremity of the
gas-passage with a tubular extension substantially as described with reference to
Fig. 2, whereby the height and effective area of the said passage may be varied and
the discharge therefrom adjusted.
3. For regulating the effective area of the central steam-nozzle of a regulating
blast-pipe of the kind herein referred to, the employment of a conical body, such as c,
mounted upon a central stem and operating substantially as described with reference
to Fig. 3 of the accompanying drawings.
4. In a regulating blast-pipe of the kind herein referred to, providing the upper
extremity of the central steam-nozzle with one or more rings, such as a*, arranged
as continuations of the said nozzle, substantially as described with reference to Fig. 4
of the accompanying drawings and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 16th day of August 1888.
G. G. M. HARDINGHAM,
191, Fleet Street, London, E.Ü.,
Agent for the Applicant.