IMPROVED BOILER TUBE STOPPER
Year: 1885

page_text: JAMES ROUGH, of N° 7 Lancaster Street, Newcastle-on-Tyne, Boiler Maker
I do hereby declare the nature of my invention for THE IMPROVED BOILER TUBE
STOPPER to be as follows, viz :-
An Invention for more readily and more effectually stopping leaking and burst
boiler tubes while under steam, consisting of an iron rod of of an inch in
diameter, extending to the full length of the tubes, with the back end tapered
to nearly the size of the inside diameter of the tubes, and fitted at the bottom of
the taper, with an india rubber, asbestos, or vulcanite washer, of larger diameter
than the inside diameter of the tubes, and secured to the rod by a screwed collar
on each side. The front end of the rod is also fitted with an india rubber, or
asbestos, or vulcanite washer, and an iron collar on the outside, screwed on. to the
rod, both the collar and the washer being of larger diameter than the inside
diameter of the tubes. The rod is put into the tube to be stopped, until the taper
end, and washer extend beyond the back end of the tube, the rod is then drawn
back, when the washer covers the back end of the tube, and is made perfectly tight
with the taper on the end of the rod by screwing up the iron collar and washer
to the front end of the tube, which also makes tight the front end of the tube.
Dated this 18th dow of Ontaban 1005

page_text: JAMES ROUGH, of 15 Summerhill Street Newcastle-on-Tyne (late of 7. Lancaster St
Newcastle on Tyne) Engineer, I do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
STOPPING LEARY BOILER TUBES WHILE UNDER STEAM and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement:-
My invention consists of a bar of iron (A) or other material, in one length, or in
several parts jointed together by eyes formed thereon to constitute one complete
bar, extending the whole length of the tube, and protruding at front end, when
fixed in place, about 6 inches more or less. This bar, whether in one or more
parts, is screwed at the extreme ends; on the end which is inserted into the tube
is a W. I. nut (B). The object of this nut is to keep in place a C. I. washer (C)
about "thick and of smaller diameter, than the inside diameter of the tube with
a slot hole made in from the centre. The object of this washer is to make a fixed
joint and to ensure that the joint to be made for the stoppage of the leaky tube
at the back end shall be made as near to the end of the tube as is necessary, for
when the stopper is forced through the back end of the tube, this washer being
loose on the bar, falls by its own weight the length of the slot, below the tube end,
and thereby forms a check against the stopper being withdrawn too far when it is
screwed up to form the joints at back and front as described hereafter; next to
this washer is a C. I. plug (D) tapped and screwed on the bar, of smaller diameter
than the inside diameter of tube, with about " flat side to protect the india rubber
or other washer (hereafter described) as much as possible from direct contact with
the fire in combustion chambers, and tapered conveniently down to operate upon
an india rubber, or other flexible washer (E) secured on the bar by this tapered
plug on the one side and by a W. I. washer (F) and nut (G) on the other side.
This india rubber or other flexible washer is of larger diameter than the inside
diameter of the tube, and being flexible, it permits of being inserted & forced up
the tube as shown on Fig. 2. The object of this washer & tapered plug is that
when the india rubber or other flexible washer, has been forced clear beyond the
back end of the tube, and the stopper again withdrawn as far as the moveable
washer, before described, will allow, the india rubber, or other flexible washer,
being larger than the inside diameter of tube, is forced up the taper of the plug,
thereby forming a long joint graduating in thickness until it is compressed at its
extreme end almost to a point when it reaches the edge of the flat side of the plug
about "from the tube end as before described thus reducing to a minimum the
joint remotely exposed to the heat in the combustion chambers as shown on Fig. 3.
Conveniently fixed on the bar, either keyed on, or screwed on, is a square washer
or guide (H) the object of which is to keep the stopper in position while being
inserted and fixed in the tube. On the front end of the bar is a C. I. cap (I) with
spigot to take the tube end and with a lip, grooved for packing the tube end; on
the spigot of this cap is an india rubber or other washer (J) to form a joint on the
tube end. This washer, and the lip on the cap are sufficiently large to form
a joint also on the tube plate. When the stopper is inserted into the tube, as

page_text: described above and shown on Fig. 2 this cap & washer are forced into their place
by a W. I. nut (K) which is tightened up as far as possible, thus acting at once
upon both ends of the stopper, viz:-in forcing back the tapered plug & washer
into the back end of the tube, and forcing forward the cap & washer on to the
front end of the tube and tube plate as shown on Fig. 3 and to hold the bar
from revolving while tightening up, a square (L) is formed on the front end of
bar for spanner.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
1st That my invention contains an improved method of making the joint for the
stoppage of the leaky tube at the back end of tube, as near to the end of the tube
as is necessary by the loose slot washer (C) on the end of bar (A) as described.
2nd That my invention contains an improved method of ascertaining that the
joint for the stoppage of the leaky tube at the back end of the tube has been made
as near to the end of the tube as is necessary, by the loose slot washer (C) on the
end of bar (A) as described.
3rd That my invention contains an improved method of making a joint at the
back end of the tube by the india rubber or other flexible washer (E) of larger
diameter than the tube acting with the tapered plug (D) as described.
4th That my invention makes an improved joint at the back end of the tube,
forming a long joint and graduating it to a minimum by compression with the
tapered plug & so protecting it by the flat side of the plug as to be only remotely
exposed to the heat in the combustion chambers as described, and shown on
Fig. 3.
5th That my invention contains an improved method of making the joint for the
stoppage of the leaky tube at the front end of the tube, by the cast iron cap (I) &
india rubber or other washer (J) on the front end of the bar (A) acting simul-
taneously with the tapered plug (D) & india rubber or other flexible washer (E) on
the back end of the bar (A) as described.
6th That my invention makes a fixed joint at both ends of the tube, viz. by the
slot washer at the back end and the cap on the front end acting simultaneously
by screwing up the nut on the front end of bar, as described & shown on Fig. 3.
7th That my invention contains an improved method of jointing the through
bar (A) when, on account of space in inserting into the tube, it is necessary to have
the stopper in more than one length, the design of my invention being such as to
admit of ready made joints being formed by eyes welded into each other and on to
the through bar, as described.
.