Improved Means for Preventing Oxidation in Steam Boilers.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Jan., 1892-Accepted, 13th Feb., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means for Preventing Oxidation in Steam Boilers.
I PETER DECKER, of 53 West Avenue, Norwalk, in the County of Fairfield
and Sate of Connecticut, United States of America, Oysterman 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:-
The flues of land and marine boilers are found to corrode rapidly as well as other
interior parts in many instances where quick speed engines are connected directly to
the boiler by steam and feed water pipes.
Experiment has shown, that excessive oxidation of the interior of a boiler used
to generate steam, is frequently due to electrolytic action, resulting from currents
of electricity pervading the water in the boiler, and which are generated by the
friction of the working parts in a quick speed engine, an electric circuit being
established between the boiler and engine through the steam pipe and feed water
pipe connecting the same.
The object of my invention is, to prevent the excessive oxidation of the interior
parts of a steam boiler, due to electrolysis, and it consists in the introduction of an
electrical insulator, in one of the pipes extending between the engine and boiler,
whereby the current of electricity is broken between them, and the oxidation of the
boiler interior from electrolysis is prevented.
My invention further consists in the combination of parts, as is hereinafter
described and claimed.
While the insulation is effective to prevent injury to all types of boilers that are
attached to quick speed engines, so as to break an electric circuit between them, it
is herein shown and described in connection with a marine boiler of the vertical
type, and a vertical quick speed steam engine.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this
Specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all
the figures.
Figure 1 is a side view partly in section, of a vessel amid-ships broken away at
each end, an upright boiler therein, a vertical steam engine, a pump, water supply
tank therefor, a steam pipe, and a water supply pipe both extending from the
boiler and in connection with the engine, and also showing the improvement applied
to a joint in the water feed pipe.
Figure 2 is an enlarged longitudinal section of the water feed pipe, broken
away on each side of the improved insulating joint shown in connection with this
pipe; and
Figure 3 is a transverse section of parts taken on the line 3 in Figure 1.
A represents an upright steam boiler located in the hull of a vessel B ; C, is an
upright quick speed steam engine; D, a hot well to receive water from the tube
condenser E, through which the exhaust steam of the engine traverses and which
tube is exposed to the water of floatage.
The boiler A, is connected to the engine by a steam pipe F, shown broken, the
usual steam controlling valve being removed therefrom as well as the safety valve
for the boiler; these omitted features may be of any approved form, and as they are
not necessary to illustrate the invention are not shown.
The pump G, has its plunger a, connected with the main shaft D', of the engine,
by an eccentric b, and the pump is fed with water from the tank or hot well D, by
a connecting pipe c.
The several parts briefly described are of well known form in common use, and
are shown to facilitate an understanding of the invention which consists in the intro-
duction of an insulating joint preferably in the water feed pipe I, that extends
between the boiler A, and pump G.

page_text: As shown in Figure 2, the pipe I, is divided into two parts, and at the opposing
ends is provided with a radial flange e, on each terminal, which flanges are similarly
perforated for the reception of securing bolts
There is a joint ring or washer /, introduced between the flanges e, which is made
of any good non-conductor of electricity, that will also provide a water-tight joint
for the pipe I.
Around each of the bolts g, a sleeve i, is placed, and washers m, are located
between the flanges e and bolt heads, and nuts n, said washers being placed upon the
bodies of the bolts to insulate them from the flanges, the sleeves and washers being
formed of a non-conductor of electricity to secure that end.
The insertion of the insulators as explained, will prevent a current of electricity
from passing through the boiler from the engine, and consequently will obviate
electrolytic action in the boiler, which would result if such insulating means was
not provided.
It will be evident that an equally beneficial result will be afforded if the steam
pipe F, is severed and connected by flanges that are completely insulated from each
other, hence I do not desire to confine the location of the insulators for the
flanges and bolts to the feed water pipe, although preference is given to such a
location of the same.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is,―
1. An electric insulator introduced in a pipe connection between a steam boiler
and a steam engine to break an electric circuit between them, substantially as
described.
2. An electric insulator for a steam or water pipe extending between a steam
boiler and a steam engine, consisting of an insulating joint located between opposing
flanges on the pipe sections, a sleeve of non-conducting material on each bolt-body,
and a washer of non-conducting material under each head and nut on said bolts,
substantially as described.
Dated this 19th down of Ta 1000
PETER DECKER,
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.