IMPROVEMENTS IN THE REMOVAL AND PREVENTION OF SCALE IN BOILERS
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Downie, of Salinas City, County of Monterey,
State of California one of the United States of America, Gentleman for an
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE REMOVAL AND PREVENTION OF SCALE
IN BOILERS"
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said George Downie. at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 9th May 1883.
GEORGE DOWNIE, of Salinas City, County of Monterey, State of California, one
of the United States of America, Gentleman "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE REMOVAL
AND PREVENTION OF SCALE IN BOILERS"
My invention relates to certain improvements in the prevention or removal of
scale in steam boilers.
It consists of an infusion, decoction, or other preparation of eucalyptus either.
the wood, bark, leaves, blossoms and capsules or any portion which will produce
the desired effect, said infusion either made separately and afterwards introduced
into the boiler; prepared in the feed water before its introduction into the boiler;
or prepared within the boiler itself, so as to remove any scale which may have
been already formed or to so affect the water as to prevent the incrustation of the
boiler by any substance which may be held in solution or suspension in the water
which is used in the boiler.
There are many modes of applying the eucalyptus, such as boiling the leaves or
other parts, making a cold infusion, or in other ways extracting the desired
substance; which may afterwards be introduced to the boiler. as required either
with the feed water, or by a cup or chamber into which it may be placed and by
suitable cocks admitted to the boiler, or the leaves or other parts may be placed in
a perforated tube, basket, or chamber, which can be introduced into the boiler
through a hand hole or other opening so that the water will act directly upon the
material and extract the valuable portion.
In some cases where there is a heater connected with the boiler, I put the
eucalyptus into the hot water which accumulates within the tank and the infusion
thus made is sent to the boiler by the feed pump or other apparatus. By this
means the heated water intended for use within the boiler is impregnated with the

page_text: properties of the eucalyptus and is thus caused to part with the scale forming
substances which are deposited in a harmless form and' prevented from settling as
scale. In case no heater is employed the eucalyptus may be placed directly into the
boiler, or an infusion may be made separately and then supplied to the boiler when
needed as before described.
If the eucalyptus in the form of leaves, or fine twigs be placed directly in the
boiler it will be preferable to enclose it in a basket, or net work of some convenient
description, to prevent its becoming scattered and so that it may be easily, removed
when it becomes spent.
The charge to be used, and the frequency of its renewal, will depend upon the
size of the boiler and the character of the water used being easily determined by
inspection.
Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure
by Letters Patent, is:
The improved method herein described for preventing and removing scale from
steam boilers, consisting essentially in subjecting the interior of the boiler to the
action of an infusion or decoction of eucalyptus substantially as described.
In witness whereof I the said George Downie have hereunto set my hand
and seal this Sixth day of April A.D One Thousand Eight hundred and
Eighty-three.
Witnesses
S. H. NOURSE
JOSEPH A. BAYLISS
GEORGE DOWNIE (L.S.)