Improvements in Boiler Cleaners and Water Heaters.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Jan., 1887
Complete Left, 25th Mar., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 29th Apr., 1887
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Boiler Cleaners and Water Heaters.
1, ALFRED HENRY CROCKFORD, of 213 Seventh Street, in the City of East Newark
and State of New Jersey, United States of America, Inventor, do hereby declare the
nature of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BOILER CLEANERS AND WATER
HEATERS," and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
The several primary objects of this invention are to prevent incrustation of the
shell of a boiler, to produce constant circulation of the water in and through the
same, to remove the foreign matter held in solution in the water, and to heat the feed
water before it enters the boiler. The invention is further designed to provide an
effective and simply constructed device which will secure the several ends desired
and may be readily applied to any description of boiler or water-heater.
In the accompanying sheet of drawings, in which similar reference letters are
employed to indicate corresponding parts, figure 1 is a longitudinal section of a boiler,
taken centrally therethrough and a side elevation of the attachment which forms the
subject of the invention.
Figure 2 is a vertical section of the attachment and pipe connections, taken through
line on figure 3 which is a top view of the water-receptacle or tank of said
attachment; figure 4 is a vertical section of the injector and connecting pipes;
figuré 5 is a side elevation of the expanded or broadened end of the pipe through
which the water flows from the boiler to the water-tank; figure 6 is a front elevation
of said expanded portion. Figure 7 is a sectional view of one end of a boiler,
illustrating one method of arranging the pipes that connect the boiler and water-
tank, and figure 8 is a sectional view of a portion of the pipe leading from the boiler
to the tank and an inserted injector.
In the above described drawings A indicates a boiler, which may be of any size
or construction, with which the attachment may be used.
B is a tank or water-receptacle through which the water passes in its passage to
and from the boiler and into which the cold feed water is pumped, mixing with

page_text: the already heated water in the tank from the boiler, so that the injurious effects
resulting from feeding a cold body of water directly into the intensely heated
interior of the boiler is avoided.
The cold feed water enters the tank B through a pipe which may simply penetrate
the shell of the tank and open into the interior thereof, or may extend straight
down within the tank as indicated in figure 2, or the said feed pipe may be formed
in a coil within the tank.
One advantage of these latter constructions is that the cold water is heated as it
flows downward through the coil or straight pipe and does not lower the temperature
of the water as it might if it came in direct contact with the heated water.
The water-tank or receptacle is connected with the boiler by a system of piping
through which the water from the boiler flows to and from the tank, e indicating the
pipe through which the water passes to the tank, and d the pipe through which the
water passes from the tank, and while but a single pipe is shown in the drawing for
carrying the water to and from the boiler, still two or more of each of said pipes e
and d may be employed in order to convey a greater or less amount of water according
to the capacity of the boiler and tank.
The end of the pipe or pipes c are provided with broadened or expanded ends c¹
arranged within the boiler at about the water-line as indicated, said broadened ends or
receivers, when more than one are employed, being arranged either in a horizontal
line or plane across the boiler on the water-line or in a vertical line one above the
other, the object of this various arrangement being to enable the water and impurities
therein to flow freely into the tank B.
The face of the receiver c¹ may be entirely open or provided with perforations c³
therein, being preferably concave, as indicated in figure 5 by dotted lines; when thus
perforated, the perforations serving to divide any lumps of greasy matter that may be
in the water.
The opposite end of the pipe e extends down within the interior of the tank as in
figure 2 and thereby conducts the dirty water from the boiler down to the bottom of
the tank, where the sediment is precipitated down into the receptacle b¹.
The pipe d, through which the water passes from the tank to the boiler, is preferably
so arranged as to lead and open into the bottom of the interior of the boiler either as
indicated in figures 1 and 7, or in any suitable manner.
The advantage resulting from this carrying the pipe d down near or towards the
bottom of the interior of the boiler is to cause a current below the surface of the
large body of water in said boiler, and by thus agitating the water near the bottom
prevents the precipitation of the sediment upon the boiler sheets and throwing the said
sediment toward the surface permits the same to be drawn into the pipe c and thence
into the tank in which the separation of the sediment and water is effected.
The opposite end of said pipe enters the tank preferably at the top as indicated in
figures 2 and 3, so that the water therein is drawn into the said pipe d from the
surface of the water column in said tank without agitating the water near the bottom
thereof and preventing the deposition of the silt or impurities, or as indicated in
figure 1 by dotted lines, said pipe d may enter the bottom or side of the tank and
extend up within said tank and thus draw the water from the top of the water-
column.
This feature, of leading the currents of the cold feed water which contains many
impurities, and the dirty water from the boiler down to the bottom of the tank, and
drawing the clear water from the top of the water-column in the tank is of great
importance, the sediment being thereby confined to the bottom of the tank and the
silt-chamber, and is not carried to the boiler by the return-current.
By carrying the cold water pipe down through the hot water column in the tank,
the temperature of the cold water is raised, and also by means of the extension of the
pipe e which conveys the hot water from the boiler, the water in the tank kept
much hotter, the pipe acting as a radiator.
In said pipe d, or if desirable in the pipe e also, at any suitable point therein, is
arranged an injector e of any suitable or known construction, which is connected with

page_text: the steam space in the boiler by a pipe el, through which steam is supplied to the
injector. The said injector is so arranged that when the steam is blowing through
the same, the water from the tank is drawn into and forced through the pipe d and
into the boiler thus maintaining a circulation of the water from the tank to the
boiler through said pipe, and a return current from the boiler to the tank through the
pipe C. Should it be desirable to accelerate the movement of the return current, an
injector may be inserted in the pipe c, as hereinbefore mentioned and as shown in
figure S.
On the bottom of the tank B is secured or formed a silt or mud receptacle or
drum, which is preferably connected with the main portion of the tank by a narrow
neck the bottom of said portion sloping down to said neck, substantially as
indicated in figures 1 and 2, and thereby preventing any sedimentary deposition on
the bottom of said main portion, causing the gravitation of the silt into the receptacle b¹.
A blow-off 3 is provided in the said receptacle to clean the same.
All of the pipes b, c, d and b³ are provided with suitable valves f
To render the interior of the drum easily accessible a man hole g is provided
as shown in figure 2.
By employing an injector to produce the circulation of the water, the tank etc., may
be placed in any position in relation to the boiler, adjacent thereto or at a distance
therefrom.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: I, ALFRED HENRY CROCKFORD, of 213 Seventh Street, in the City of East Newark
and State of New Jersey, United States of America, Inventor, do hereby declare the
nature of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BOILER CLEANERS AND WATER
HEATERS," and in what manner the same is to be performed, to bo particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
The several primary objects of this invention are to prevent incrustation of the shell
of a boiler, to produce constant circulation of the water in and through the same, to
remove the foreign matter held in solution in the water, and to heat the feed water
before it enters the boiler. The invention is further designed to provide an effective
and simply constructed device which will secure the several ends desired and may be
readily applied to any description of boiler or water-heater.
Referring to the sheet of drawings, filed with my provisional specification and in
which similar reference letters are employed to indicate corresponding parts, figure Lis
a longitudinal section of a boiler, taken centrally therethrough and a side elevation of
the attachment which forms the subject of the invention.
Figure 2 is a vertical section of the attachment and pipe connections, taken through
line on figure 3 which is a top view of the water receptacle or tank of said
attachment figure 4 is a vertical section of the injector and connecting pipes:
figure 5 is a side elevation of the expanded or broadened end of the pipe through
which the water flows from the boiler to the water-tank; figure 6 is a front elevation
of said expanded portion. Figure 7 is a sectional view of one end of a boiler,
illustrating one method of arranging the pipes that connect the boiler and water-tank,
and figure 8 is a sectional view of a portion of the pipe leading from the boiler to the
tank and an inserted injector.
In the above described drawings A indicates a boiler, which may be of any size or
construction, with which the attachment may be used.
B is a tank or water receptacle through which the water passes in its passage to and
from the boiler and into which the cold feed water is pumped, mixing with the already
heated water in the tank from the boiler so that the injurious effects resulting from
feeding a cold body of water directly into the intensely heated interior of the boiler is
avoided.
The cold feed water enters the tank B through a pipe & which may simply penetrate
the shell of the tank and open into the interior thereof, or may extend straight down
within the tank as indicated in figure 2, or the said feed pipe may be formed in a coil
within the tank. One advantage of these latter constructions is that the cold water is
heated as it flows downward through the coil or straight pipe and does not lower the
temperature of the water as it might if it came in direct contact with the heated
water.
The water-tank or receptacle is connected with the boiler by a system of piping
through which the water from the boiler flows to and from the tank, c indicating the
pipe through which the water passes to the tank, and d the pipe through which the
water passes from the tank, and while but a single pipe is shown in the drawing for
carrying the water to and from the boiler, still two or more of each of said pipes c
and d may be employed in order to convey a greater or less amount of water according
to the capacity of the boiler and tank.

page_text: The end of the pipe or pipes care provided with broadened or expanded ends c'
arranged within the boiler at about the water-line as indicated, said broadened ends or
receivers, when more than one are employed, being arranged either in a horizontal
line or plane across the boiler on the water-line or in a vertical line one above the
other, the object of this various arrangement being to enable the water and impurities
therein to flow freely into the tank B.
The face e² of the receiver e¹ may be entirely open or provided with perforations 3
therein, being preferably concave, as indicated in figure 5 by dotted lines; when thus
perforated, the perforations serving to divide any lumps of greasy matter that may be
held in the water.
The opposite end of the pipe c extends down within the interior of the tank as in
figure 2 and thereby conducts the dirty water from the boiler down to the bottom of
the tank, where the sediment is precipitated down into the receptacle '.
The pipe d, through which the water passes from the tank to the boiler, is preferably
so arranged as to lead and open into the bottom of the interior of the boiler either as
indicated in figures 1 and 7, or in any suitable manner.
The advantage resulting from this carrying the pipe d down near or towards the
bottom of the interior of the boiler is to cause a current below the surface of the
large body of water in said boiler, and by thus agitating the water near the bottom
prevents the precipitation of the sediment upon the boiler sheets and throwing the
said sediment toward the surface permits the same to be drawn into the pipe e and
thence into the tank in which the separation of the sediment and water is effected.
The opposite end of said pipe enfers the tank preferably at the top as indicated in
figures 2 and 3, so that the water therein is drawn into the said pipe d from the
surface of the water column in said tank without agitating the water near the bottom
thereof and preventing the deposition of the silt or impurities, or as indicated in
figure 1 by dotted lines, said pipe d may enter the bottom or side of the tank and
extend up within said tank and thus draw the water from the top of the water-
column.
This feature, of leading the currents of the cold feed-water which contains many
inpurities, and the dirty water from the boiler down to the bottom of the tank, and
drawing the clear water from the top of the water-column in the tank is of great
importance, the sediment being thereby confined to the bottom of the tank and the
silt-chamber, and is not carried to the boiler by the return-current.
By carrying the cold water pipe down through the hot water column in the tank,
the temperature of the cold water is raised, and also by means of the extension of the
pipe c which conveys the hot water from the boiler, the water in the tank is kept much
hotter, the pipe acting as a radiator.
In said pipe d, or if desirable in the pipe c also, at any suitable point therein, is
arranged an injector e of any suitable or known construction, which is connected with
the steam space in the boiler by a pipe e', through which steam is supplied to the
injector. The said injector is so arranged that when the steam is blowing through the
same, the water from the tank is drawn into and forced through the pipe d and into
the boiler thus maintaining a circulation of the water from the tank to the boiler
through said pipe, and a return current from the boiler to the tank through to pipe c.
Should it be desirable to accelerate the movement of the return current an injector
may be inserted in the pipe c, as hereinbefore mentioned and as shown in figure 8.
On the bottom of the tank B is secured or formed a silt or mud receptacle or
drum, which is preferably connected with the main portion of the tank by a narrow
neck, the bottom of said portion sloping down to said neck, substantially as indicated
in figures 1 and 2, and thereby preventing any sedimentary deposition on the bottom
of said main portion, causing the gravitation of the silt into the receptacle b.
A blow-off 3 is provided in the said receptacle to clean the same.
All of the pipes b, c, d, and 63 are provided with suitable valves.
To render the interior of the drum easily accessible a man hole g is provided as
shown in figure 2.
By employing an injector to produce the circulation of the water, the tank etc.,

page_text: may be placed in any position in relation to the boiler, adjacent thereto or at a
distance therefrom.
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 :-
1. In a water-heater the combination of a water-tank or receptacle; a cold water
feed pipe leading down through the interior of said tank toward the bottom thereof
a discharge pipe leading down through the interior of said tank toward the bottom
thereof and adapted to be connected with a boiler to conduct the water therein to said
tank a pipe opening into the top of the interior of said tank and adapted to be
connected with a boiler to conduct the water in said tank from the upper portion of
the water column therein to said boiler, for the purposes set forth.
2. In a water-heater the combination of a water tank or receptacle; a hot water
discharge pipe leading down through the interior of said tank toward the bottom
thereof, and adapted to be connected with a boiler to conduct the water therein to
said tank a pipe opening into the top of the interior of said tank and adapted to be
connected with a boiler to conduct the water in said tank from the upper portion of
the water-column therein to said boiler; and an injector arranged in one or both of
said pipes to accelerate the circulation of water therethrough to and from the tank and
boiler, for the purposes set forth.
3. The combination with a boiler, of a water-tank or receptacle; a feed-pipe leading
from said boiler to said tank and provided with an expanded or broadened end within
the boiler, the end of said feed pipe which connects with or enters the tank extending
down within the same; a discharge pipe leading from the top of said tank to the
bottom of the interior of the boiler; an injector arranged in said discharge pipe and
connected by a suitable pipe with the steam space in said boiler, for the purposes
set forth.
4. The combination with a boiler, of a water-tank or receptacle; a cold water feed
pipe leading to and connected with said tank; a feed pipe leading from said boiler to
said tank and provided with a broadened or expanded end within the boiler, the end
of said feed pipe which connects with the tank extending down within the same;
a discharge pipe leading from the top or upper portion of the interior of said tank to
the bottom of the interior of said boiler, and adapted to convey the water from said
tank to said boiler; an injector arranged in said discharge pipe between the said tank
and boiler and connected by a suitable pipe with the steam space in said boiler; and a
sediment receptacle secured to or formed on the bottom of said water tank, substantially
as and for the purposes set forth.
5. In a water-heater and boiler-cleaner, the combination of a water tank having an
inclined bottom; a silt-receptacle opening into said inclined bottom of the tank and
provided with a man-hole and blow-off; a hot-water discharge pipe leading down
within said tank toward the bottom thereof and said silt-receptacle and adapted to be
connected with a boiler to conduct the water therein to the bottom of the interior of
said tank and a pipe opening into the top of the interior of said tank and adapted to
be connected with a boiler and to conduct the water in said tank from the upper
portions of the water column therein to said boiler, for the purpose set forth.
Dated this Eighth day of January 1907
ALFRED HENRY CROCKFORD.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London,
Agents for the Applicant.