IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM BOILERS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Neale May, of the Firm of Brown and May,
of Devizes, in the County of Wilts, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
STEAM BOILERS."
Sealed the 15th August 1876, and dated the 20th March 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Neale May at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th March 1876.
CHARLES NEALE MAY, of the Firm of Brown and May, of Devizes, in the
County of Wilts. "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM BOILERS."
My Invention relates more particularly to multitubular boilers, and has for its
object effecting the cleaning of the interior of the fire tubes in an efficient manner,
and more rapidly, and with greater facility than heretofore, and it consists
essentially in the employment of a blast of a considerable quantity of steam,
which is directed into the chimney stump or smoke box of the boiler, and by
accelerating the draft clears the surface of the tubes from soot or other deposit.
The steam, which is obtained direct from the boiler, may be conveyed to the
chimney stump or smoke box, and its discharge be effected and regulated in any
convenient manner, but I prefer to adopt the arrangement next herein-after
described.
I enclose the safety valve of the boiler in a chamber or casing, having a pipe
of the maximum diameter admissable, communicating with the chimney stump
or smoke, through which pipe any steam escaping by reason of excess of pressure
is discharged during the ordinary working of the boiler. When, however, I
require to clean the tubes of the boiler I lift the safety valve, say two or more
times, by means of a lever or otherwise, whereby a large volume of steam in
several successive emissions is suddenly projected into the chimney stump or
smoke box, and which by the intensity of the draft created draws away the
whole of the deposit contained in and obstructing the passage of the tubes, and
effectually cleans the same therefrom, or in lieu of utilizing the safety valve
for regulating the emission of the steam I may employ a separate valve in con-
nection with the pipe communicating with the chimney stump or smoke box as
before mentioned, or any other suitable arrangement, whereby steam direct from
the boiler may be projected in emissions of considerable quantity so as by
accelerating the draft to obtain the desired effect.
Price Gid |

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said Charles Neale May in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 16th August
1876.
CHARLES NEALE MAY, of the Firm of Brown & May, of Devizes, in the County
of Wilts. "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM BOILERS."
My said Invention relates more particularly to multitubular boilers, and has for
its object effecting the cleaning of the interior of the fire tubes in an efficient
manner, and more rapidly and with greater facility than heretofore, and it consists
essentially in the employment of a blast of steam in such a considerable quantity as
would not be serviceable or applicable to the purpose of raising steam quickly, which
steam is directed into the chimney stump or any other part of the chimney or smoke
box of the boiler, and by accelerating the draft clears the surface of the tubes from
soot or other deposit.
The steam, which is obtained direct from the boiler, may be conveyed to the
chimney stump, chimney, or smoke box, and its discharge be effected and regulated
in any convenient manner; but the arrangements herein-after described and illustrated
in the accompanying Drawing are adopted by preference.
The Drawing illustrates two alternative modes of applying the Invention to a
portable engine, but it is obvious that the Invention is also applicable to the boilers
of engines of other constructions.
According to one modification I enclose the safety valve a of the boiler b in a
chamber or casing c, having a pipe d of the requisite diameter communicating with
the chimney stump or smoke box e, through which pipe any steam escaping by
reason of excess of pressure is discharged during the ordinary working of the
boiler.
When, however, I require to clean the tubes f of the boiler, I lift the safety
valve a, say two or more times, by the aid of a lever g, pivotted to the casings c,
or by any other suitable means, whereby a large volume of steam in several successive
emissions is suddenly projected into the chimney stump or smoke box e, and which,
by the intensity of the draft created draws away the whole of the deposit contained
in and obstructing the passage of the tubes f, and effectually cleans the same
therefrom.
According to another modification, in lieu of utilizing the safety valve for
regulating the emission of the steam, I employ a separate cock or valve in connection
with the pipe communicating with the chimney stump or smoke box. This
arrangement is also illustrated in the Drawing. is the pipe which passes through
the boiler b, and one end of which terminates in the chimney stump or smoke box e,
whilst the opposite end communicates with the boiler by means of the regulating
cock a¹, provided with a handle h for the facility of its manipulation. The orifice i
of the cock a¹ is made of such an area that when the cock is fully opened the quantity
of steam discharged in a given time is so great that by reason of the intense draft
induced the whole of the deposit contained in and obstructing the passage of the
tubes fis drawn out and they become effectually cleaned therefrom. The blast of
steam thus produced is, however, greater than the maximum jet serviceable for
accelerating the draft in order to raise steam quickly, for which purpose, however,
the same apparatus may be employed by suitably adjusting the degree of opening
of the cock a¹, so as to obtain the requisite maximum jet of steam.
Having now described, and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, I would observe in conclusion that I do not claim generally the use of a steam
jet for accelerating the draft of a steam boiler furnace, neither do I restrict myself
to the precise details described and illustrated, as the same may be greatly varied
in practice without departing from the principle of my Invention, but what I claim
as the Invention secured to me by the berein-before in part recited Letters
Patent is,―

page_text: The mode or inethod of cleaning the interior of the fire tubes of steam boilers by
the employment of a blast of steam directed into the chimney stump or other part
of the chimney or smoke box, the minimum quantity of which steam emitted in a
given time is greater than the maximum jet serviceable for accelerating the draft in
order to raise steam quickly, substantially as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Neale May, have to this my Specification
set my name and seal this Fourth day of August One thousand eight hundred
and seventy-six.
CHARLES NEALE MAY. (LS.)