Improvements in or relating to the Steam Supply Pipes of Steam Whistles, Sirens, Foghorns, and the like.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Feb., 1899- Accepted, 22nd Apr., 1899
Improvements in or relating to the Steam Supply Pipes of Steam
Whistles, Sirens, Foghorns, and the like.
We, JAMES AITKEN, Engineer, 1, Dudley Avenue, and JOHN WILLIAM WHITE,
Engineer, 50, Albany Street, both of Leith, N.B., do hereby declare the nature of
this invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to improvements in the steam pipes leading to whistles,
sirens, foghorns and the like and has for its object to provide simple and efficient
means whereby the water which condenses in the steam pipes, when the whistle
or the like is not in use, is collected and drained away to the boiler, thus ensuring
a constant supply of dry steam in the pipe for use when required, enabling the
whistle or the like to sound immediately and without emitting a shower of water
which is found so objectionable with the whistles of all classes of steam ships as at
present in use.
But in order that our said invention may be readily understood and easily
carried into effect we will proceed to describe the same with reference to the
accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is an elevation of the boilers and funnel
of a steam ship shewing the arrangement of the pipes for draining the condensed
water to the boilers.
Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of that portion of the pipe which supplies the
steam to the whistle or siren.
Referring to the said drawings, in place of securing the whistle, siren or the
like directly to the pipe A supplying the steam thereto, we attach the whistle to
a casing or pipe B of any suitable length within which the upper end of the steam
pipe A can be confined, the said casing being of such a diameter as to form a jacket
by which the water of condensation can be collected. The water thus collected
is led by the tube C from the bottom of the casing to the boiler or boilers D) or
steam source, suitable screw-down non-return valves E being fitted on or near each
boiler where the branches C₁ of the tube Center, as shewn, in Fig. 1, to prevent
steam or water from reaching the jacket by the said drain tube whilst the whistle
is being blown.
Under working conditions the pressure in the whole system of pipes is the same
as the pressure in the boiler. The steam supply pipe A is kept sufficiently clear of
water by reason of the slow but constant upward current of steam which ascends
it to make up for any condensation which occurs in the jacket and as the non-
return valve E prevents any upward current of either steam or water ascending the
drain pipe C, it follows that the specific gravity of condensed water which forms in
the jacket and drain pipes will create a downward current both in the jacket
and the drain pipe C till the column of water in the drain pipe C is of a sufficient
head to overcome the weight of the non-return valve thus enabling it to flow into
the boiler.
Drain cocks e may also be fitted to the branches c¹ if desired.
The non-return valves employed may be of any suitable design or type and be

page_text: situated in such a position upon the boiler as to lead the collected water either into
the water portion of the boiler as shewn or into the steam portion thereof.
By the foregoing arrangement the steam is supplied to the whistle, siren or the
like, through and from the upper end of the internal steam pipe A, which may be
either open-ended or perforated, in a dry state, thus overcoming the disadvantages
experienced with whistles to which the steam is supplied in the ordinary way, as
before mentioned.
By our invention also the whistle steam pipe, being always free from water,
cannot get frozen up.
The essential feature of our invention consists in collecting and draining away
the water of condensation from the steam pipe and we desire it to be understood
that the foregoing merely illustrates one method of carrying out our invention,
and that we do not limit ourselves thereto as it is obvious that the details may be
varied and any mere mechanical equivalent substituted, without departing from our
invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is:―
1. The general arrangement, construction and combination of parts constituting
the means whereby the water which condenses in the steam pipes of whistles, sirens,
foghorns and the like, is collected and drained back to the boiler or boilers,
or steam source, substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described and
shewn in the accompanying drawings.
2. In steam whistles, sirens, foghorns and the like, enclosing the upper end
of the steam supply pipe within a jacket, to which the whistle, siren, or foghorn is
attached, the lower end of which jacket is in communication with the boiler or
boilers by a nipe or pipes having non-return valves; or the mechanical equivalents
thereof; all arranged substantially in the manner as and for the purposes herein-
before described and shewn in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 14th day of February 1899.
JOHNSONS,
Applicants' Agents, 115, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow.