A NEW OR IMPROVED MODE AND MEANS OF PREVENTING THE DEPOSITION PROVISIONALATION THE DEPOSITION OF SEDIMENT AND INCRUSTATION IN STEAM BOILERS
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Nimmo, of the City of Glasgow, in the
County of Lanark, North Britain, Steel Refiner, for the Invention
of "A NEW OR IMPROVED MODE AND MEANS OF PREVENTING THE DEPOSITION
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Nimmo at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
23rd November 1874.
I, GEORGE NIMMо, of the City of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark,
North Britain, Steel Refiner, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "A NEW OR IMPROVED MODE AND MEANS OF PREVENTING THE
DEPOSITION OF SEDIMENT AND INCRUSTATION IN STEAM BOILERS," to be as
follows:-
This said Invention has reference to a new or improved mode and
means of greatly preventing the deposit of sediment, or the incrusatation
in steam and other boilers; and the nature of the Invention consists in
the formation and use of one or more bags, pads, or "sweeps" (bundles.

page_text: .
"
or pieces of wood preferably covered with some soft material round them)
put loosely within the water of the boiler, and made of cotton waste,
hemp, rope, sacking, or other similar material of a specific gravity, when
saturated rather heavier than water, so as to float and move or circulate
in and with the water so as to agitate it by the ebullition or boiling
motion thereof, and by the shape or configuration of the "sweep
rises and falls and circulates in the water. It is preferred to make
these "sweeps" of a broad flattish thin shape without sharp corners,
as for single or double flued Cornish boilers; they might be from 9 to 18
inches broad, and from 12 to 24 inches long, and 3 or 4 inches thick, to.
pass or circulate through the narrow spaces between these flues and the
shell of the boiler, and between the flues themselves along with the
water, and sweep and keep the sediment in motion or floating in the
water so as to prevent it from settling and depositing while the boiler is
in operation, and may be blown off through the pipe and cock for that
purpose when the boiler is to be stopped or cooled down. But for
multiple tubular boilers these agitating "sweeps" might be made more
numerous, smaller, and thinner to pass between the tubes, and so that
they might to some extent brush or clean the surface of the tubes and
boiler as well as agitate the water and keep the salts and earthy matters
in solution until blown off, as stated, or cleaned at intervals as may be
found necessary.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said George Nimmo in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 21st May 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
NIMMO, of the City of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain,
Steel Refiner, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-third day of November, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the
thirty-eighth year of Her reign, did, for. Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said George Nimmo, Her special
licence that I, the said George Nimmo, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said George Nimmo, my executors, admi-

page_text: nistrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others,
from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein
expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend,
within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "A NEW OR IMPROVED MODE
AND MEANS OF PREVENTING THE DEPOSITION OF SEDIMENT AND INCRUSTATION IN
STEAM BOILERS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
George Nimmo, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause
the same to be filed in the Great Scal Patent Office within. six.
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I; the said George Nimmo, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement, that is to say :-
名:
"
My said Invention has reference to a new or improved mode and
means of greatly preventing the deposit of sediment or incrustation in
steam and other boilers; and the nature of my said Invention consists
in the formation and use of one or more bags, pads, sweeps, or
swabs (bundles or pieces of wood preferably covered with some soft
material round them) put loosely within the water of the boiler, and
made of cotton waste, hemp, rope, sacking, or other similar material, of, a
specific gravity when saturated rather licavier than water, so as to float
and move or circulate up and down in and through or with the water by
its ebullition or boiling motion, and so as to agitate the water to some
extent by the shape or configuration of the "swabs as they rise in and
with the hot currents, and fall or circulate back with the colder
currents of the water. It is preferred to make these " sweeps or
"swabs" of a broad flattish thin shape without sharp angles or corners,
as for single or double flued Cornish boilers; they might be from 9 to 18
inches broad, and from 12 to 24 inches long, and 3 or 4 inches thick, to
pass or circulate through the narrow spaces between the flues and the
shell of the boiler, and between the flues themselves along with the
water, and sweep and keep the sediment in motion or floating in the
water, so as to prevent it from settling and depositing while the boiler is
"

page_text: in operation, and that it may be blown off through the pipe and cock for
that purpose when the boiler is to be stopped or cooled down. But for
multiple tubular boilers these agitating swabs might be made more
numerous, smaller, and thinner to pass between the tubes, and so that
they might to some extent brush and clean the surface of the tubes and
boiler as well as agitate the water, and keep the salts and earthy matters
in solution until blown off, as stated, or cleaned at intervals, as may be
found necessary.
"
In performing or carrying this Invention into practice the small
cylindrical blocks of cork or wood have an annular ring of steel wire or
narrow strips of steel bound round them with wire or otherwise, and
projecting a little longitudinally and circumferentially beyond the block
so as to act as brushes on the parts or surfaces of the boiler where they
touch, and when the metallic brush part is angled screw-wise thesc
66 sweeps or "swabs" would also revolve, and the wood or internal
frame part of the soft pads might be twisted as a screw blade or
boomerang, so as to twirl about within the water where there is room
for them; or these bags or pads might be made smaller than the size
stated so as to have this motion in the narrow spaces also, and they
might be provided with wires projecting out through their outer soft parts
to act as brushes in some cases. And buoy-shaped floats of cork or other
material might be employed with short light chains attached to them, so
that when they moved about with the currents of water in the boiler the
chains would drag over the surfaces and keep them clear of the
sediment. To prevent these "sweeps" from getting into the blow-off
pipes or cocks, wire, or other horns or projections might be made on
them, or a perforated rose or grating might be fixed over the entrances
to these outlet orifices. And to prevent sediment depositing in the hot
feed water pipes near the boilers, small hollow perforated or light wire
brush-shaped balls or wheels may be placed in these pipes to roll about
with the motion of the water in them to prevent deposit.
Having thus 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 what I consider
novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me
by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, the construction or
preparation and use of "sweeps" or "swabs," pads, blocks, brushes, or
agitators floating and sinking or circulating in and through the water in

page_text: steam boilers for the purpose of preventing incrustation or the deposition
of sediment or solid matter therein, all substantially as herein described,
or any mere modification thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Nimmo, have hereunto
set my hand and scal, this Twentieth day of May, in the
year of our Lord One thousand cight hundred and seventy-
⚫ five.