Improvements relating to Blast Pipes of Locomotive Engines.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Apr., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 26th Oct., 1896-Accepted, 12th Dec., 1896
Improvements relating to Blast Pipes of Locomotive Engines.
I, RICHARD JENKINS, of 6, Cyril Crescent, Roath, Cardiff, Locomotive
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to the blast pipes of locomotive engines.
According to this invention a conical funnel, open at both ends, is placed around
the blast pipe between which and the funnel is a space provided by distance picces,
or the equivalent thereof.
Extending down to below the upper end of the said funnel is a second funnel
which narrows above the first or lower funnel and subsequently spreads as it extends
further upwards. At its upper end the second or upper funnel again contracts and
fits into the base of the chimney of the engine. The lower end of the lower funnel is
below the centre of the series of tubes of the boiler. By the exhaust of steam
through the blast pipe, a current of air is induced upwards between the blast pipe
and the lower funnel. Similarly, a like current is induced between the upper and
lower funnels. Accordingly, such of the boiler tubes as are not affected by the
current induced between the blast pipe and the lower funnel, are affected by the
current induced between the upper and lower funnels. Hence a draught is
maintained in a greater number of the tubes than hitherto.
Towards its upper end the upper funnel has apertures made at intervals round
it. Around this part is placed a sleeve similarly perforated. It is supported on, a
suitable ledge and is capable of being rotated, either from the foot-plate or other-
wise. When the sleeve is moved so as to bring the apertures therein to coincide
with those in the funnel, communication is thereby afforded between the smoke box
and the chimney.
Similarly, when the sleeve is moved so as to bring the apertures therein inter-
mediate between the apertures in the funnel, the said communication is cut off. By
this provision the draught is capable of being regulated, and the consumption of
coal may be reduced by such regulation.
DL 1
11000
NICHOLAS WATTS,
Bristol, Chartered Patent Agent.
Improvements relating to Blast Pipes of Locomotive Engines.
I, RICHARD JENKINS, of 6, Cyril Crescent, Roath, Cardiff, Locomotive
Engineer, 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 has reference to the blast pipes of locomotive engines.
According to one arrangement comprised in this invention, a conical funnel, open:

page_text: at both ends, is placed around the blast pipe between which and the funnel is a
space provided by distance pieces, or the equivalent thereof.
Extending down to below the upper end of the said funnel is a second funnel
which narrows above the first or lower funnel and subsequently spreads as it
extends further upwards. At its upper end the second or upper funnel again
contracts and fits into the base of the chimney of the engine. The lower end of
the lower funnel is below the centre of the series of tubes of the boiler. By the
exhaust of steam through the blast pipe, a current of air is induced upwards
between the blast pipe and the lower funnel. Similarly, a like current is induced
between the upper and lower funnels. Accordingly, such of the boiler tubes as
are not affected by the current induced between the blast pipe and the lower
funnel, are affected by the current induced between the upper and lower funnels.
Hence a draught is maintained in a greater number of the tubes than hitherto.
Towards its upper end the upper funnel has apertures made at intervals round
it.
Around this part is placed a sleeve similarly perforated. It is supported on a
suitable ledge and is capable of being rotated, either from the foot plate or other-
wise. When the sleeve is moved so as to bring the apertures therein to coincide
with those in the funnel, communication is thereby afforded between the smoke box
and the chimney. Similarly, when the sleeve is moved so as to bring the apertures
therein intermediate between the apertures in the funnel, the said communication is
cut off. By this provision the draught is capable of being regulated, and the
consumption of fuel may be controlled.
Referring to the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 represents, in transverse
vertical section, and Fig. 2, in longitudinal section, the blast pipe and part of
the smoke-box end of a locomotive engine fitted with the improvements constituting
this invention.
Surrounding the upper part of the blast pipe a is a conical funnel b between
which and the blast pipe a are distance pieces c, providing an annular space between
the blast pipe a and the funnel b.
Extending down beyond the upper end of the funnel 6 is a second funnel & which
narrows above the funnel 6 and subsequently spreads as it extends further upwards.
Towards its upper end the funnel d again contracts, and, at its upper extremity, it
fits into the base of the chimney e of the engine.
The lower end of the funnel b is below the centre of the series of boiler tubes f,
and the lower end of the funnel d is above the said centre. By the exhaust of
steam through the blast pipe a a draught is induced upwards in the space between
the blast pipe and the funnel b. Also in the space between the funnels b and d.
Accordingly, such of the boiler tubes in which a draught is not induced by the
current between the blast pipe a and the funnel b, have a draught induced by the
current between the funnels band d. Thus an effective draught is created in
the boiler tubes and a corresponding effect is produced in the furnace.
Towards its upper end the funnel d has apertures y provided in it at intervals in
a circular series. Closely surrounding this part is a sleeve / similarly perforated,
as seen more particularly at Fig. 3 which represents a horizontal section on the
line,, Fig. 1. The sleeve h, which is supported ou a ledge d' provided on the
funnel d, is capable of being turned round through the medium of the lever i
connected to the sleeve and capable of operation from the foot-plate or otherwise.
When the sleeve h is turned, so that the apertures ; made in it are intermediate
between the apertures g of the funnel d,-that is to say, not opposite them, com-
munication between the smoke box and the chimney e, by way of the apertures j'in
the sleeve h and the apertures g in the funnel d is blocked. Similarly, when the
sleeve is turned so that the apertures g and j coincide, that is to say, are opposite.
one another, communication is free from the smoke-box through the said apertures
to the funnel d and the chimney e.
The sleeve h serves as a damper to the communication between the smokebox
and the chimney e by way of the apertures g in the upper part of the funnel d and
assists to control the consumption of fuel.

page_text: At Fig. 4 in the accompanying drawings is represented, in transverse vertical
section, the blast pipe and part of the smoke-box of a locomotive engine, illustrating
a modification of my invention. Fig. 6 is a cross section in the line a, a, Fig. 5.
In this modification, in which the letters of reference indicate corresponding parts
to those shown in Figs. 1. 2. and 3, the upper funnel d is made in two parts, the
lower of which is conical, and the upper cylindrical. The sleeve his worked about
the apertures g of the funnel d by the lever i in the same way as in the arrangement
above described with reference to Figs. 1. 2. and 3. As illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6,
the sleeve h is arranged to be turned from the front of the smoke-box. It may,
however, be readily adapted, by means of connecting levers, to be worked from the
foot-plate.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inveu-
tion, and the manner in which the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a locomotive engine, the provision, in the smoke-box, of open ended funnels
such as b and d shaped and arranged in relation to the blast pipe and the boiler
tubes, substantially as hereinabove described with reference to Figs. 1 to 3,
inclusive, of the accompanying drawings, for the purposes specified.
2. The modification hereinabove described with reference to Figs. 4 to 6,
inclusive, of the accompanying drawings, in which the upper funnel d is made in
two parts of which the lower is conical and the upper cylindrical.
3. Iu a locomotive fitted about the blast pipe with funnels b and d as set forth
in the claim first aforesaid, or as in Claim 2, the provision of apertures in the upper
part of the funnel d and a similarly pierced sleeve such as h supported on a ledge
such as d', or other suitable support, and capable of being turned round the grated
part of the sleeve d which it closely fits, substantially as hereinabove described
with reference to the accompanying sheets of illustrative drawings, for the purpose
specified.
Dated this 24th day of October 1896.
NICHOLAS WATTS,
Bristol, Chartered Patent Agent.