Improvement in Locomotive, Marine, and other Boilers.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Apr., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 12th Jan., 1894-Accepted, 17th Mar., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvement in Locomotive, Marine, and other Boilers.
I FRANCIS WILLIAM WEBB of Chester Place, Crewe, in the County of
Chester, Mechanical Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
My invention relates to an improvement in the tube plates of locomotive & other
boilers, my object being to prevent the leakage which at present occurs at the ends
of tubes when fixed to rigid tube plates. My invention consists in making what is
commonly understood as the "tube plate," in two parts, one of which is securely
rivetted to the boiler barrel as at present, having a hole cut out of its centre large
enough to receive the second portion or that part into which the ends of the tubes
are fixed. This second part is made in such a manner that it is free to slide
longitudinally in the fixed portion as the boiler & tubes expand or contract, thereby
relieving the ends of the tubes of that strain which takes place when they are fixed
in a rigid tube plate at both ends, at the same time it is prevented from being blown
from its position in case the tubes give way, by a collar formed on that part of the
tube plate which projects inside the boiler. Fig. 1 is given to further explain the
principle of my invention, but it must not be taken as representing the actual
details in carrying it out.
A is the barrel of the boiler. B the fixed part of the tube plate which is securely
rivetted to the boiler barrel.
C is the second part of the tube plate to which the ends of the tubes c, c, c, c, c,
are fixed.
C' is the lip on the tube plate C to prevent it from being blown out.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvement in Locomotive, Marine, and other Boilers.
I FRANCIS WILLIAM WEBB, of Chester Place, Crewe, in the County of
Chester, Mechanical Engineer 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:-
My invention relates to an improvement in the tube plates of locomotive &
other boilers, my object being to prevent the leakage which at present occurs at
the ends of tubes when fixed to rigid tube plates. My invention consists in making
what is commonly understood as the "tube plate," in two parts one of which is
securely rivetted to the boiler barrel as at present, having a hole cut out of its
centre large enough to receive the second portion or that part into which the ends
of the tubes are fixed. This second part is made in such a manner that it is free
to slide longitudinally in the fixed portion as the boiler & tubes expand or contract,
thereby relieving the ends of the tubes of that strain which takes place when they
are fixed in a rigid tube plate at both ends; at the same time it is prevented from
being blown from its position in case the tubes give way, by a collar formed on
that part of the tube plate which projects inside the boiler. In order that my
invention may be more readily understood, I will proceed to describe the same in
detail, by means of the drawing annexed hereunto.

page_text: smoke box end.
Fig. 1 represents a vertical section through part of a locomotive boiler at the
Fig. 2 is a front view of the same.
A is the boiler barrel: B is that part of the tube plate referred to above which
is securely attached to the boiler by the angle iron ring a. C is the moveable
portion of the tube plate to which the ends of the tubes c c c are fixed, & which is
free to slide longitudinally in the fixed part B as the expansion & contraction of
the tubes may require. C¹ is a lip formed on the plate C to prevent it from being
forced out of its position in the event of the tubes giving way. D is packing of
any suitable form & material for making a steam & water tight joint, in order that
no steam or water may leak out of the boiler at that part. This packing is secured
in position by the ring E which is made of such a form that when it is tightened
against the plate B by the studs eeee it presses the packing against the tube
plate C in such a way as to make a steam & water tight joint. I would have it
understood that I do not limit myself to the exact details shown & described, as
many slight changes might be made therein without departing from the principle
of my invention.
Having now particularly described & ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, & in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :
The smoke box tube plate of a boiler made in two parts: an outer & inner one
-the outer one being firmly secured to the boiler & having a packing device for
making a joint: the inner one, which carries the ends of the tubes, being loose &
free to slide in the outer part.
Dated this 11th dow of Janua
1004