An Improved Composition for Preventing Incrustation in Steam Boilers.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 11th June, 1897-Accepted, 17th July, 1897
CUM LEIDIMUIFICATION.
An Improved Composition for Preventing Incrustation in Steam
Boilers.
I, LEWIS LEWIS, of Pontywain, Near Newport, in the County of Monmouth;
Ex-postmaster; 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: -
This invention relates to a composition for preventing incrustation in steam
boilers by dissolving the incrusted particles in the water thus preventing the
adherence of the same to the heated surfaces of the boiler.
My improved composition is made with different kinds of apples mixed with
acorns or oak-apples or with both acorns and oak-apples, and with cider apple
muss, oak-bark and peat ashes.
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"
I prefer to use cider apples in making my improved composition and I find that
apples such as those known by the names of "Bittersweet" Foxwhelp and
Ruffcoat" (Russet) can be used with advantage.
The said fruits and the acorns and oak-apples are preferably gathered when in
their green condition.
The cider apple muss is the refuse of apples from which the cider has been
expressed in the cider mill. This muss will allay the fermentation of the
composition.
I add these three ingredients together, in about the following proportions,
10 gallons of apples, 2 gallons of acorns or oak-apples or both, and 1 cwt. of cider
apple muss, and grind them to a pulp in any suitable mill or pulping machine,
and strain the pulp through a hair-cloth sieve or strainer so as to retain the acorn
or oak-apple shells or other unpulped refuse.
This strained pulp is stored in an open cask, that is to say, in a cask with the
head removed, the surface of the mass being covered with water to prevent or
diminish fermentation.
I also take a strong lye from oak-bark and peat ash dissolved in water. For
this purpose I take oak-bark, such as is used in tanneries, and cut it up into small
pieces, and I also take mountain black peat and burn it to ashes. I mix these two
ingredients together taking equal parts by weight and add pure spring water.
I find that the following proportions give good results. Oak-bark 1 cwt., Peat
ashes 1 cwt., put together into a tank to which is added 20 gallons of pure spring
water. This mixture produces a strong lye which preserves the boiler plates and
tubes.
In preparing the composition for use, I put equal parts by volume of the strained
pulp and ly into casks or other convenient receptacles for storage or use.
It is desirable, if the composition is to be kept in store after casking, that the
bung of the cask should be left out; if the bung is inserted to close the cask for
carriage or transport, it should, on the arrival of the cask at its destination, be
removed from the cask the cask should be opened to prevent or diminish fermenta-
tion and the surface of the composition should be preferably covered with water.

page_text: My improved composition may be mixed with water in a suitable tank and
introduced into the boiler by means of the usual feed-pump or injector.
Its action is such that the adherence of the incrusting particles to the heated
surfaces of the boiler is prevented, and all sediments or deposits are caused to settle
at the bottom of the boiler, so that they can be easily discharged from time to
time through the blow-off cock. The said composition, therefore, prevents
incrustation, so that, in cleaning the boiler, it is not necessary to use chipping
hammers or the like, all that is required being to wash the inside of the boiler with
water by means of a hose and nozzle. The said composition, moreover, keeps clean
the cocks and valves attached to the boiler and prevents sticking of the valves; it
also prevents or greatly diminishes priming.
In the manner above described, I provide a non-corrosive composition which
can be used with all kinds of hard waters and in all kinds of boilers, and which will
keep the boiler clean and preserve the boiler-plates and tubes.
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. A boiler-composition consisting of apples, acorns or oak-apples or both, and
rider apple muss mixed together and ground or pulped and strained and added to a
lve made of oak-bark and peat ash, the ingredients being used in about the propor-
tions herein stated.
2. A boiler composition consisting of apples, acorns or oak-apples or both, cider
apple muss, and a lye of oak-bark and peat ash mixed substantially as and for the
purpose herein stated.
3. The improved boiler composition hereinbefore described.