AN IMPROVED MODE OF PREVENTING INCRUSTATION IN AND REMOVING IT FROM STEAM BOILERS
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Davies, of No. 1, Serle Street, Lincoln's Inn,
in the County of Middlesex, and No. 87, St. Vincent Street, in the City
of Glasgow, Civil Engineer and Patent Agent, for the Invention of
"AN IMPROVED MODE OF PREVENTING INCRUSTATION IN AND REMOVING IT FROM
STEAM BOILERS."-A communication from abroad by Josiah Johnson
Allen, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America.
Sealed the 21st April 1868, and dated the 30th October 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Davies at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
30th October 1867.
I, GEORGE DAVIES, of No. 1, Serle Street, Lincoln's Inn, in the County
of Middlesex, and No. 87, St. Vincent Street, in the City of Glasgow, Civil
Engineer and Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "AN IMPROVED MODE OF PREVENTING INCRUSTATION IN AND
REMOVING IT FROM STEAM BOILERS," (a communication to me from abroad by
Josiah Johnson Allen, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of
America) to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in the application to steam boilers of hydrocarbons,
either alone or in combination with other materials referred to hereafter.
By careful and repeated experiments it has been found that hydrocarbons
applied to the interior of a steam boiler will remove incrustation therefrom,

page_text: and prevent its accumulation therein. Ordinary crude petroleum will serve
the desired purpose, and may be applied in the following manner :-After the
water has been blown off from the boiler, and the latter has become com-
paratively cool, a quantity of crude petroleum is introduced by pouring it
through the safety valve or any available opening. The oil finds its way to
and becomes spread over the bottom of the boiler, into which water may be
now introduced through the usual feed opening. As the water flows into the
boiler the petroleum rises with it, and is brought in contact with the entire
inner surface of the shell. When the water has reached the desired altitude
the fire may be applied and steam raised as usual. In a short time after
making this application it will be found on examining the boiler that whatever
incrustation had accumulated in it prior to the introduction of the petroleum
has become detached or loosened from the shell. The application of the
petroleum may be made at intervals of three months, or more frequently as
circumstances may require, the quantity of of petroleum to be used depending
upon the condition of the boiler. The petroleum may be applied in different
ways;
for instance, the interior of an empty boiler may be washed over with
the material, or a coating of paraffine may be applied prior to the introduction
of water. Refined oils may be used, or any of the hydrocarbons or mineral
oils, whether they are obtained from wells or by the distillation of bituminous
coal, shale, or other similar substances. Where salt water is employed in the
boilers it will be well to add, to every gallon of the hydrocarbon about two
ounces of catechu (cutch or terra japonica), or other equivalent material, and
about two ounces of chloride of sodium, carbonate of soda, or other salt, the
hydrocarbon being thereby increased in density so that it will not be confined
to the surface of the water, where it would be wasted by being discharged
through the surface cock.
.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent; filed
by the said George Davies in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
29th April 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS, SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
DAVIES, of No. 1, Serle Street, Lincoln's Inn, in the County of Middlesex,
and No. 87, St. Vincent Street, in the City of Glasgow,, Civil Engineer and
Patent Agent, send greeting..
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirtieth day of October, in the year of our Lord

page_text: One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirty-first year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and graut. unto
me, the said George Davies, Her special licence that. I, the said George
Davies, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
I, the said George Davies, my executors, administrators, 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 MODE OF PREVENTING INCRUSTATION IN AND REMOVING IT FROM
STEAM BOILERS." (a communication to me from abroad by. Josiah Johnson
Allen, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America, upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said George Davies, my executors
or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one
of their hands and seals, 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 George Davies, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement in writing, that is to say :-
This Invention consists in the application to steam boilers of hydrocarbons,
either alone or in combination with other materials referred to hereafter.
By careful and repeated experiments it has been found that hydrocarbons
applied to the interior of a steam boiler will remove incrustation therefrom and
prevent its accumulation therein. Ordinary crude petroleum will serve the
desired purpose and may be applied in the following manner :-After the
water has been blown off from the boiler, and the latter has become com-
paratively cool, a quantity of crude petroleum is introduced by pouring it
through the safety valve or any available opening. The oil finds its way to
and becomes spread over the bottom of the boiler, into which water may be
now introduced through the usual feed opening. As the water flows into the
boiler the petroleum rises with it, and is brought in contact with the entire
inner surface of the shell. When the water has reached the desired altitude
the fire may be applied and steam raised as usual. In a short time after
making this application it will be found on examining the boiler that whatever
incrustation had accumulated in it prior to the introduction of the petroleum

page_text: has become detached or loosened from the shell. The application of the
petroleum may be made at intervals of three months, or more frequently as
circumstances may require, the quantity of petroleum to be used depending
upon the condition of the boiler. The petroleum may be applied in different
ways; for instance, the interior of any empty boiler may be washed over with
the material, or a coating of paraffine may be applied prior to the introduction
Refined oils may be used, or any of the hydrocarbons or mineral
oils, whether they are obtained from wells or by the distillation of bituminous
coal, shale, or other similar substances. Where salt water is employed in the
boilers it will be well to add to every gallon of the hydrocarbon about two
ounces of catechu (cutch or terra japonica), or other equivalent material, and
about two ounces of chloride of sodium, carbonate of soda, or other salt, the
bydrocarbon being thereby increased in density so that it will not be confined
to the surface of the water, where it would be wasted by being discharged
through the surface cock.
Having now described the nature and object of the said Invention for "An
Improved Mode of Preventing Incrustation in and Removing it from Steam
Boilers," together with the manner in which the same is to be performed or
carried into practical effect, I would remark in conclusion that I claim. as the
Invention (communicated to me by the above-named Josiah Johnson Allen),
the application to steam boilers of hydrocarbons either alone or in combination
with other materials for the purpose specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Davies, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-ninth day of April, in the year of our Lord
. One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.
GEORGE DAVIES.
(L.S.)