AN IMPROVED MEANS OR METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR CLEANING THE FLUES OF STEAM BOILERS
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Sutcliffe, of Castle Mills, Idle, near Leeds,
in the County of York, Cotton Doubler, for the Invention of "AN
IMPROVED MEANS OR METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR CLEANING THE FLUES
OF STEAM BOILERS."
Sealed the 14th August 1874, and dated the 6th March 1874.
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Sutcliffe at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
6th March 1874.
I, ROBERT SUTCLIFFE, of Castle Mills, Idle, near Leeds, in the
County of York, Cotton Doubler, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "AN IMPROVED MEANS OR METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR
CLEANING THE FLUES OF STEAM BOILERS," to be as follows:-
:―
This Invention relates to the use of means and apparatus whereby the
cleaning or clearing the flues of steam boilers is reduced to a more
mechanical operation, effected at any time when required, and dispenses
"with the necessity of an operative entering the flues; and is especially
valuable and effective for boiler flues within which are circulating pipes and

page_text: other obstructions, which in themselves are the primary cause of deposit
of soot, fine ashes, and dust within the flues, and such pipes render
access to the flues and removal of these deposits the more difficult.
Suppose an ordinary boiler having two internal flues fitted with
"Galloway's tubes" and having an under return flue and side flues,
I employ a pipe communicating with the steam space of the boiler and
extending to the rear end of the boiler, and terminating in a three-way
coupling, from which branch two other pipes into and along the two
internal flues of the boiler to near the bridge, having at this end a T
head pipe, and which is perforated as well as the longitudinal pipe,
the perforations in the latter being made at an acute angle to its
length.
From the "third way" of the coupling referred to extends a pipe,
which terminates in a perforated T end underneath the rear end of the
boiler, by which the soot and dust is driven forwards underneath the
boiler, and the blocking up of the draft passage by a deposit of soot
effectually prevented; or in lieu of this T the perforated pipe may be
continued forward under the boiler to near the front thereof. The side
return flues may be provided with like perforated pipes.
The action and operation is as follows:-On steam being admitted to
the first-named pipe it passes along and through the perforations in the
T head and the perforations in the longitudinal pipes. Being highly
superheated during its passage along the flue pipes it acts as a powerful
blast within the flues. A steam brush, which, aided by the draught
within the flue, sweeps the soot, fine ashes, and dust to and out of the
exit end of the boiler flues, where they are again caught by the blast
'of steam issuing from the perforated T pipe connected with the "third
way" of the coupling, and carried along the under return flue to the
front of the boiler, whereon they are removed or raked out at or through
a small door provided for the purpose. Taps are provided, so that any
one or more of the pipes and T heads may be in operation at one time,
as desirable.
:
.
The side way flues it will be seen may be treated in like manner, and
it will be evident that although, as an example, I have described a two-
flue boiler, that the Invention may readily be adapted to any construction
of flue or flues of boilers, and that compressed air may be used in lieu
of steam,

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Robert Sutcliffe in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 5th September 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ROBERT
SUTCLIFFE, of Castle Mills, Idle, near Leeds, in the County of York;
Cotton Doubler, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Sixth day of March, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the thirty-seventh
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said Robert Sutcliffe, Her special licence that I,
the said Robert Sutcliffe, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said Robert Sutcliffe, my executors, admini-
strators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from
time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein.
expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend,
within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "AN IMPROVED MEANS OR
METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR CLEANING THE FLUES OF STEAM BOILERS," upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Robert Sutcliffe, my
executors or administrators; by an instrument in writing under my, or
their, or one of their hands and scals, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great
Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent.
.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Robert Sutcliffe, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement and accompanying Sheet of Drawings, that is
to say:-
This Invention relates to the use of means and apparatus whereby the
cleaning or clearing the flues of steam boilers is reduced to a mero
mechanical operation, effected at any time when required, and dispenses_
with the necessity of an operative entering the flues, and is especially
valuable and effective for boiler flues within which are circulating pipes

page_text: and other obstructions, which in themselves are the primary cause of
deposit of soot, fine ashes, and dust, within the flues, and such pipes
render access to the flues and removal of these deposits the more
difficult.
Suppose an ordinary boiler having two internal flucs fitted with
"Galloway's tubes" and having an under return flue and side flues,
I employ a pipe communicating with the.steam space of the boiler, and
extending to the rear end of the boiler, and terminating in a three-way
coupling, from which branch two other pipes into and along the two
internal flues of the boiler to near the bridge, having at this end a T
head pipe, and which is perforated as well as the longitudinal pipe;
the perforations in the latter being made at an. acute angle to its
length.
From the third way of the coupling referred to extends a pipe, which
terminates in a perforated T end underneath the rear end of the boiler,
by which the soot and dust is driven forward underneath the boiler, and
the blocking up of the draft passage by a deposit of soot effectually
prevented; or in lieu of this T the perforated pipe may be continued
forward under the boiler to near the front thereof. The side return
flues may be provided with like perforated pipes.!
The Action and Operation is as follows:-On steam being admitted to
the first-named pipe it passes along and through the perforations in the
T head and the perforations in the longitudinal pipes. Being highly
superheated during its passage along the flue pipes it acts as a powerful
blast within the flues. A steam brush, which, aided by the draught.
within the flue, sweeps the soot, fine ashes, and dust to an out of the
exit end of the boiler flues, where they are again caught by the blast of
steam issuing from the perforated T pipe connected with the " 'third
way" of the coupling, and carried along the under return flue to the
front of the boiler, whereon they are removed or raked out at or through
a small door provided for the purpose. Taps are provided, so that any
one or more of the pipes and T heads may be in operation at one time,
as desireable.
The side way flues it will be seen may be treated in like manner, and
it will be evident that although, as an example, I have described a two-
flue boiler, that the Invention may readily be adapted to any construction

page_text: of flue or flues of boilers, and that compressed air may be used in lieu
of steam.
In order that this Invention may be clearly understood reference is
given to Drawings of a steam boiler with two internal flues fitted with
Galloway's tubes, and having my improved apparatus applied thereto,
wherein Fig. 1 is a longitudinal and vertical section; Fig. 2 is a longi-
tudinal and horizontal section; and Fig. 3 is a cross section of same.
A is the pipe communicating with the steam space of the boiler, to
which is connected the three-way coupling B, from which perforated
pipes, C and D branch along the two internal flues, cach terminating
with a T end near the bridge; the perforations being formed at an
inclination so as to direct the sprays of steam in the direction of the
draught of the flue or towards the rear end of the boiler. A third
pipe E is also connected to the coupling B, and extends into the under
flue having a T end, or a series of branches or jets, the ends being open
and directed along the said flue, so that steam issuing therefrom will
pass in the direction towards the front end of the boiler.
The Action or Operation of this Apparatus is as follows:-The pipe A
is provided with a tap, by opening which the steam is turned into and
will pass along the pipes C, D, and E. In passing along the pipes C
and D it becomes superheated and issues out at the perforations in
great force against the surfaces of the flues, sweeping or clearing away
and driving the soot and fine ashes out at the rear ends thereof into the
under flue, where the steam issuing from the branches of the pipe E
again drives said soot and ashes forward to the front end of the boiler,
whence they are removed through or by a doorway or opening provided
for that purpose. Taps may be provided to each pipe, so that any one
or more may be used as required or desirable, or a single tap may-be
made to serve one or more of the tubes, as may be convenient. It will
be seen that the side flues may also be swept out by a continuation of
such perforated pipes, and that they may be applied to all kinds of steam
boiler flues, also that compressed air may be used instead of steam if
preferred.
'
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and shewn
by Drawings and description thereof in what manner the same is to
be performed or carried into practical operation, I would have it under-
stood that I do not confine or restrict myself to any particular con-

page_text: -
struction or arrangement of the apparatus, as this will always depend
upon the peculiar circumstances of the case; but what I claim as of my
Invention, and which I believe to be new, is the method of sweeping
or clearing the flues of steam boilers by means of steam. or compressed
air conducted thereto by pipes, in manner. substantially as shewn and
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Sutcliffe, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twentieth day of August, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four.
ROBERT SUTCLIFFE.. (L.S.)
Witness,
J. W. TASKER,
Clerk to Tasker & Brierley,
Patent Agents,
Halifax & Bradford.