IMPROVED APPARATUS TO LE USED IN STOPPING THE TUBES OF TUbular Steam GENERATORS
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Turner, of Plaistow, in the County of Essex, for
an Invention of "IMPROVED APPARATUS TO LE USED IN STOPPING THE
TUBES OF TUbular Steam GENERATORS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Turner at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 30th January 1882.
JOSEPH TURNER, of Plaistow in the County of Essex.
"
IMPROVED APPARATUS
TO BE USED IN STOPPING the Tubes of TUBULAR STEAM GENERATORS."
The object of this Invention is to provide apparatus which is to be used when it
is desired to stop a leaky or otherwise defective tube in a tubular steam generator,
and the apparatus consists firstly of a tool for clearing away any deposits which
may have formed on the boiler plate at the fire box end of the tube and which if
not removed would prevent a tight joint between the tube stopper and the plate
and secondly in an improved tube stopper for stopping the fire box end of the
defective tube.
The cleaning tool consists of a rod or bar to one end of which is welded or
otherwise firmly secured excentrically of the rod a straight cutter or scraper. The
other end of this rod or bar is threaded to receive nuts by which, when the cutter
is in its proper position, the rod may be tightened up the nuts bearing against a
crosshead or cap placed across or over the mouth of the tube at the sunoke box end.
In order to support the rod in the proper position for the cutter or scraper to
act, I mount loosely on opposite ends of the rod and near the ends of the tube two
excentric discs, the diameter of which will be nearly that of the tube.
The rod is provided with pins which strike against stops so arranged on the.
discs as to allow for a half rotation of the rod in the discs. Similar pins are
When it is
provided in rear of the discs to maintain them in position on the rod.
desired to clear away with this tool any deposits round the boiler plate at the fire box
end of the tube the rod must be turned until the position of the cutter or scraper
which should not exceed in length the larger diameter of the disc corresponds to
that diameter and the cutter and discs are then inserted in the tube. When the
all

page_text: cutter is through the tube a half turn is given to the rod which by reason of the
excentricity of the disc causes the cutter to project beyond the diameter of tho
tube, and the rod is then tightened up by the nuts. On a turn or two being given
to the rod or bar by means of a key, or in any other convenient manner, any lumps
of salt or other deposit will be removed by the scraper. To remove the cutter or.
scraper it will be only necessary to reverse the action above described and withdraw
it from the tube in order to insert the tube stopper.
Instead of the discs being placed one at either end of the tube, they may be
placed from six to eight inches apart, and connected together by suitable bolts and
nuts, or the whole may be cast in one piece. Or the discs cast in one piece as just
described, and provided with central holes may be inserted in the tube aftor the
scraper has been passed through, and pushed to the end of the tube in any
convenient manner. In this case the cutter or scraper will be slightly longer than
in the former case, and the discs will have to be withdrawn first. The tube stopper
consists of a rod provided at one end with an eye to which are attached by a
double joint, lugs on two half discs of metal. The half discs are provided with
asbestos packing, and are arranged to turn back on either side against the rod, in
which position they are inserted into the tubo to be stopped. When they have
passed through the tubo the two half discs will fall outwards and form a complete
disc which when the rod is drawn back will turn up at right angles to its formor
· position, and close the end of the tube. In order to keep the rod in the centre of
the tube I fix thereon excentric guides which support it in its proper central
position when required, and also allow for the raising of the rod while the stopper
is passing through the tube. The other end of the tube is closed by a plain disc
and the stopper is tightened up in the usual manner.
By constructing the stopper as above described I am also enabled to readily
withdraw it in caso it should be inserted by accident in the wrong tube, which is
not unlikely to happen where there are so many tubes.
To effect this withdrawal it will be necessary to loosen the rod, and let the
stopper fall from its vertical to a horizontal position then give the rod slowly a
little more than half a turn, or until one of the half discs falls over and back against
the rod when the stopper can be withdrawn. The excentric guide is so arranged
as to permit of the rod lying close to the bottom of the tube, and thus sufficient
space is allowed for the stopper to pass through.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Joseph Turner in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 29th July
1882.
JOSEPII TURNER of Plaistow in the County of Essex. "IMPROVED APPARATUS
TO BE USED IN STOPPING THE TUBES OF TUBES OF TUBULAR STEAM GENERATORS."
The object of this Invention is to provide apparatus which is to be used when it
is desired to stop a defective tube in a tubular steam generator, and the apparatus
consists firstly of a tool for clearing away.any deposit which may have formed on
the boiler plate at the fire box end of the tube, and which if not removed would
prevent a tight joint between the tube stopper and the plate, and secondly in an
improved tube stopper for stopping the fire box end of the defective tube.
The cleaning tool consists of a rod or bar to one end of which is welded or
otherwise firmly secured excentrically of the rod a scraper. The other end of
this rod, or bar is threaded to receive nuts by which, when the cutter is in its
proper position, the rod may be tightened up, the nuts bearing against a crosshead
or cap placed across or over the mouth of the tubo at the smoke box end.
The tubo stopper consists of a pair of semicircular flaps connected by a double
joint to a rod such flaps being arranged to lie back against the rod while being
inserted in the tube and to fall outwards when through, thereby presenting a disc
which when the rod is drawn back will turn up against and close the end of the
tube, the rod being then tightened up by screws as before explained with reference
to the scraper.
In the accompanying Drawing Fig 1 is a sectional elevation of a fire tube with
the scraping tool in position to remove any deposit from the boiler plate: Figures 1ª
and 1b being respectively an end view and a cross section taken on the line xx
Fig: 1 of the tube and scraper.
Figures 2, 3 and 4 refer to the tube stopper Fig: 2 being a sectional elevation
of a tube with the tube stopper passing through. Fig: 3 a sectional plan of a tube
with the tube stopper in the position preparatory to closing the tube: and Fig: 4 a
sectional plan showing the tube stopped.
The same letters refer to corresponding parts in all the Figures.
A is the tube, B the boiler plate at the fire box end of the boiler, B₁ the plate at
the smoke box end of the boiler. The cleaning tool consists of a rod C a scraper c
and a supporting cone c' or a disc.-As before explained the scraper c is set
excentrically of the rod C.-The supporting cone c¹ or disc is also mounted
excentrically on the rod C and its diameter is nearly that of the tubo A, as seen at
Fig: 1-The rod C is provided with a pin c² (see Fig: 1b) which works in a
groove or recess c³ formed across the cone c¹
When it is desired to clear away with the cleaning tool C any deposits round
the boiler plate at the firebox end of the tube the rod is first turned until the
position of the scraper c which should not exceed in length the larger diameter of
the cone c¹ corresponds to that diameter and the scraper and cone are then
inserted in the tube. So soon as the scraper is through the tube a half turn is
given to the rod which by reason of the position of the rod in the cone causes the
scraper to project beyond the diameter of the tube as seen in Fig 1.-The rod
is then tightened up by the nuts a a which bear against the cross head or cap
piece 6 placed across or over the smoke box end of the tube A. Upon giving a
turn or two to the rod C by means of a key or in any other convenient manner
any deposit on the boiler plate B round the tube A will be removed by the scraper c.
To remove the scraper it will be only necessary to loosen the nuts, turn the scraper
in the reverse position and withdraw it from the tube previous to inserting the
tube stopper.

page_text: Referring now to the tube stopper, D is a rod formed at one end with an eye d,
the other end being threaded. To the eye d is pivotted a link piece d'to which in
turn are pivotted at right angles thereto the lugs d of two semicircular flaps E.
The flaps will thus be capable of turning back on either side of the rod (see Fig: 2)
in which position the stopper is inserted in the tubo to be stopped.
When the stopper is completely through the tube the two flaps fall outwards and
form a complete disc (see Fig: 3) which when the rod is drawn back will turn
up at right angles to its former position and close the end of the tube (see Fig: 4).
In order to keep the rod in the centre of the tube so as to ensure the proper closing
of the same I fix on the rod an excentric guide ƒ (see the front view Fig: 30)
which supports it in its proper central position when required and also allows for
the raising for the rod D while the stopper is passing through the tube (see Fig: 2).
The smoke box end of the tube is closed by a crosshead or cap band the stopper is
tightened up by the nuts a as described with reference to Fig: 1.
In order that all joints shall be made perfectly tight I use asbestos packing
which I let into grooves or recesses formed in the edges of the flaps E and cap bas
shewn at g.
If desired the cap b may be provided with a rod h which will serve to push the
cap b forward on the rod D to close the smoke box end of the tube when the
stopper is being inserted thus avoiding any risk of scalding or burning the hands
of the stoker or other person engaged in stopping the tube.
This rod which may
be screwed into the cap b, or to a separate plate or disc mounted on the rod D
may be removed when the stopper is tightened up.
By constructing the stopper as above described I am also enabled readily to
withdraw it in case it should be inserted by accident into the wrong tube which is
not unlikely to happen where there are many tubes.
To effect this withdrawal it will be necessary to loosen the rod and let the flaps
fall from the vertical position of Fig: 4 to the horizontal position shewn at Fig: 3.
The rod is then slowly rotated a little more than half a turn, until the flaps E fall
apart and back against the rod D (see the diagram Fig: 5). As the excentric
guide fis arranged it will permit of the rod (when thus turned) lying close to
the bottom of the tube and thus sufficient space will be allowed for withdrawing
the stopper.
Having now described the nature of my Invention of "Improved Apparatus to
be Used in Stopping the Tubes of Tubular Steam Generators" and explained the
manner of carrying the same into effect I would here remark that I am aware
hinged flaps have been already used in tube stoppers and I therefore make no
claim for hinged flaps per se, I am also aware that a guide has been employed to
keep the stopper rod in a central position on the tube and I therefore do not intend
to make any claim for a guide for that purpose but what I wish it to be understood
that I claim is
First: A cleaning tool constructed substantially as herein described and shown
with reference to Figures 1. 1. and 1b. of the Drawing for the purpose set forth.
Second: The apparatus for stopping defective tubes in tubular steam generators
constructed and arranged substantially as herein described and shown with
reference to the remaining figures of the Drawing.
In witness whereof I the said Joseph Turner have hereunto set my hand
and seal the Twenty eighth day of July in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty two.