IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PLUGGING PROVISIONAL SPATION
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Willem Fenenga, of Nieuwediep, in the Kingdom of
Holland, for the Invention of
BOILER TUBES."
IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PLUGGING
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Willem Fenenga at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 23rd November 1876.
WILLEM FENENGA, of Nieuwediep, in the Kingdom of Holland.
IN APPARATUS FOR PLUGGING BOILER TUBES."
"IMPROVEMENTS
This Invention relates to improved apparatus for stopping leaks in tubes of tubular
boilers by plugging without its being necessary to discharge the contents of the
boiler. For this purpose I construct a wooden cylindrical plug of a slightly smaller
diameter than the internal diameter of the boiler tubes to which it may have to be
applied, at each end of which plug is a caoutchouc washer, and outside these
are two metal discs. One of these discs is fixed to one end of a screw bolt that
passes through a central hole in the plug and is provided with a nut outside
the second disc. The end of the bolt projecting beyond the nut is formed to
receive a key on the end of a long rod whereby it can be prevented from turn-
ing round, while the nut is rotated by a spanner having a long rod projecting at
right angles from its jaws. When a tube leaks a disc fixed on the end of a long rod
is in the first instance inserted in order to ascertain the locality of the leak, this
being indicated by a sharp noise as the disc passes over the leak. The distance of
the leak from the end of the tube is marked on the rod of the disc and a corre-
sponding mark is then made on the rod of the before-mentioned key, whereupon the
plug is pushed by means of the latter a corresponding distance into the tube, and
while the bolt is held by the key the nut is turned by the spanner so as to
draw the two metal discs of the plug together, thus expanding the caoutchouc
washers and making them fit water-tight against the sides of the tube so as to stop
the leak.
The end surfaces of the wooden plug are by preference formed with circular pro-
jections which in being forced into the caoutchouc washers will accelerate the ex-
pansion of the latter. These washers need not be compressed to any great degree

page_text: as the wooden plug in becoming soaked with the water leaking through will itself
expand sufficiently to stop the leak effectually.
By my above described Invention a leak may be stopped in about ten minutes,
and thus the delay consequent upon having to empty the boiler or the risk of
scalding in attempting to drive in an ordinary wooden plug in the manner now
practised is avoided.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Willem Fenenga in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 19th May
1877.
WILLEM FENENGA, of Nieuwediep, in the Kingdom of Holland.
IN APPARATUS FOR PLUGGING BOILER TUBES."
“
IMPROVEMENTS
This Invention relates to improved apparatus for stopping leaks in tubes of tubular
boilers by plugging without its being necessary to discharge the contents of the
boiler. For this purpose I construct a wooden cylindrical plug of a slightly smaller
diameter than the internal diameter of the boiler tubes to which it may have to be
applied, at each end of which plug is a caoutchouc washer, and outside these are
two metal discs. One of these discs is fixed to one end of a screw bolt that passes
through a central hole in the plug and is provided with a nut outside the second
disc. The end of the bolt projecting beyond the nut is formed to receive a key on
the end of a long rod whereby it can be prevented from turning round while the
nut is rotated by a spanner having a long rod projecting at right angles from its
jaws. When a tube leaks a disc fixed on the end of a long rod is in the first instance
inserted in order to ascertain the locality of the leak, this being indicated by a
sharp noise as the disc passes over the leak. The distance of the leak from the end
of the tube is marked on the rod of the disc and a corresponding mark is then made
on the rod of the before-mentioned key, whereupon the plug is pushed by means of
the latter a corresponding distance into the tube, and while the bolt is held by the
key the nut is turned by the spanner so as to draw the two metal discs of the plug
together, thus expanding the caoutchouc washers and making them fit water-tight
against the sides of the tube so as to stop the leak.
The end surfaces of the wooden plug are by preference formed with circular pro-
jections which in being forced into the caoutchouc washers will accelerate the ex-
pansion of the latter. These washers need not be compressed to any great degree
as the wooden plug in becoming soaked with the water leaking through, will itself
expand sufficiently to stop the leak effectually.
By my above described Invention a leak may be stopped in about ten minutes,
and thus the delay consequent upon having to empty the boiler or the risk of scald-
ing in attempting to drive in an ordinary wooden plug in the manner now practised
is avoided.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
At each end of the
Fig. 1 shews a sectional view of the before described improved apparatus as
applied to a boiler tube; Fig. 2 shews an end view of the same.
cylindrical wood plug Jare the caoutchouc washers A, A, and passing through
central holes in the plug and washers is the bolt D, having a metal disc G fixed to
its one end bearing against the washer A, while a loose disc H is fitted over its other
end so as to bear against the washer A¹. Upon the screwed end of the bolt is a
nut E which on being screwed up by means of a spanner C causes the discs G, H, to
press against and expand the washers A, A¹, so as to fit perfectly water and steain-
tight against the sides of the tube. Such expansion of the washers is accelerated
by the projecting fillets on the end of the plug J being pressed into the surfaces
thereof,

page_text: The position of the leak in the tube having been ascertained by the instrument K
shewn at Fig. 3 in the manner before described, the plug is introduced by means of
the rod B to such a distance that the leak is confined between the two washers A, A¹.
The nut E is then screwed up by means of the spanner C so as to expand the
washers, the bolt being prevented from turning by the socket of the rod B fitting
on its square outer end.
If the part of the tube in which the leak exists is subjected to a greater heat than
the caoutchouc will stand, the washers A, A¹, may be made of asbestos. Also, instead
of making the plug J of wood it may be of iron, although the former material is
preferable, as in becoming saturated with the escaping water it will swell and con-
sequently itself assist in stopping the leak.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I claim the use for stopping leaks of boiler tubes of appa-
ratus consisting of a plug having at each end an expansible washer, and outside
these two metal discs connected by a screw bolt passing through the plug so that
on screwing up the nut of the bolt the washers are expanded so as to fit steam-
tight against the boiler tube, substantially as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Willem Fenenga, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Sixteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-six
W. FENENGA. (L.S.)