IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OF AND APPARATUS FOR EXTIN- GUISHING SPARKS FOR LOCOMOTIVES, FARM ENGINES, STEAMERS, AND THE LIKE MACHINES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frank Wirth, of the Firm of Wirth and Company, Patent
Solicitors, at Frankfort-on-the-Main, in the Empire of Germany, for the Inven-
tion of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OF AND APPARATUS FOR EXTIN-
GUISHING SPARKS FOR LOCOMOTIVES, FARM ENGINES, STEAMERS, AND THE
LIKE MACHINES." A communication from Rudolph Wolf, Manufacturer, and
Arminius Rauschenbach, Engineer, residing at Buckau, near Magdeburg,
in the Empire of Germany.
Sealed the 25th January 1878, and dated the 11th August 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frank Wirth at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 11th August 1877.
FRANK WIRTH, of the Firm of Wirth and Company, Patent Solicitors, at
Frankfort-on-the-Main, in the Empire of Germany. IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MEANS OF AND APPARATUS FOR EXTINGUISHING SPARKS FOR LOCOMOTIVES, FARM
ENGINES, STEAMERS, AND THE LIKE MACHINES." [A communication from Rudolph
Wolf, Manufacturer, and Arminius Rauschenbach, Engineer, residing at Buckau,
near Magdeburg, in the Empire of Germany.]
In all tubular steam vessels, such as the boilers of locomotives, steamboats, and
the like, the draught cross section in the tubes is small with reference to the escaping
gases; and as only a very short chimney can be used, means for producing an
artificial draught are necessary for ensuring complete combustion on the grate, and
for a sufficient production of steam. In most cases the exhaust tube leading off the
waste steam of the engine to the chimney is used for this purpose, and if heating is
begun, or if for the moment the steam vessel has to produce an extraordinarily great
effect, a small blast tube leading to the chimney and supplied with direct steam is
used to effect the desired object.
Spark catchers, so called, of different forms and construction have been devised
for the purpose of destroying the abundant escape of sparks caused by the said
draught-producing apparatus at the outlet of the chimney, but it has beon found

page_text: that these spark catchers have held off the draught, or their effect has been a
dubious one.
Means have been employed for extinguishing the escaping sparks by using the
waste steam of the engine, and apparatus for that purpose have already been pro-
posed; these latter apparatus however have the disadvantage of arresting the
draught, because the steam used for extinguishing the sparks must escape in a
rectangular direction to the direction of the draught in the chimney in order that
it may mingle with the escaping sparks; or the effect is destroyed by reason of the
small openings arranged on the periphery of the chimney becoming obstructed
by soot.
This Invention has for its object to accomplish this spark extinguishing without
the disadvantages mentioned above.
The apparatus constructed according to this Invention does not arrest the draught,
but even favors the same, and has furthermore the great advantage that at the
beginning of heating, or if the engine is stopped, the direct steam let off by the
small blast pipe can be used for increasing the draught as well as for extinguishing
the escaping sparks.
The essential feature of a spark extinguishing apparatus constructed according to
this Invention is as follows, that is to say:-The exhaust tube and blast tube are
not, as heretofore, directed with their outlet upward but downward, and lead the
exhaust steam and the direct blast steam to a moveable funnel-like apparatus fitted
in the bottom of the chimney, with its apex extending downward into the smoke
box, which said apparatus, in consequence of its conical form, leads the steam towards
the chimney.
By this arrangement the exhaust steam assumes the form of truncated cones,
whilst the escaping gases move upward before mingling with the steam.
By this arrangement the draught is greatly increased, and as the gases are from
the bottom of the chimney to the top or exit of the same thoroughly held mixed
with the steam, the sparks are extinguished in a most perfect manner.
A small opening is provided at the apex of the said funnel-like apparatus which is
kept uncovered whilst the engine is at work in order that the said funnel-like appa-
ratus may be always kept free from condensed water, also to keep the smoke box
supplied with a small quantity of steam. A cover is provided moved by any
suitable mechanism to close the said opening during the stopping of the engine and
working of the blast pipe. This closing must be effected in order that the escaping
steam jet is prevented from descending.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Frank Wirth in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 6th February
1878.
FRANK WIRTH, of the Firm of Wirth and Company, Patent Solicitors, at
Frankfort-on-the-Maine, in the Empire of Germany. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MEANS OF AND APPARATUS FOR EXTINGUISHING SPARKS FOR LOCOMOTIVES, FARM
ENGINES, STEAMERS, AND THE LIKE MACHINES." A communication from abroad by
Rudolph Wolf, Manufacturer, and Arminius Rauschenbach, Engineer, residing
at Buckau, near Magdeburg, in the Empire of Germany.
In all tubular steam generators, such as the boilers of locomotives, steamboats,
and the like, the draught cross section in the tubes is small with reference to the
escaping gases, and as only a very short chimney can be used, means for producing
an artificial draught are necessary for ensuring complete combustion of the fuel on
the grate, and a sufficient production of steam. In most cases the exhaust tube for
conducting off the waste steam of the engine to the chimney is used for this purpose,
and its heating is begun; or if for the moment the steam generating vessel has to
produce an extraordinarily great effect, a small blast tube leading to the chimney
and supplied with direct steam is used to effect the desired object.
Spark catchers, so called, of different forms and construction have been devised
for the purpose of preventing abundant escape of sparks caused by the said
draught-producing apparatus at the outlet of the chimney, but it has been found
that these spark catchers have obstructed the draught, and their effectiveness for the
desired purpose has been doubtful.
Means have been employed for extinguishing the escaping sparks by using the
waste steam of the engine, and apparatus for that purpose have already been pro-
posed; these apparatus however have the disadvantage of arresting the draught,
because the steam used for extinguishing the sparks must escape in a rectangular
direction to the direction of the draught in the chimney in order that it may mingle
with the escaping sparks; or the effect is destroyed by reason of the small openings
in the periphery of the chimney becoming obstructed by soot.
This Invention has for its object to effect the extinguishing of the sparks without
the above-named disadvantages.
The apparatus constructed according to this Invention does not arrest the draught,
but improves the same, and has furthermore the great advantage that at the
beginning of heating, or if the engine is stopped, the direct steam discharged by the
small blast pipe can be used for increasing the draught as well as for extinguishing
the escaping sparks.
In the accompanying Drawing,
Figure 1 is a transverse section through the smoke box of a locomotive embodying
my Invention; Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of the same parts.
Figure 3 is a vertical section of a portion of my apparatus illustrating the opera-
tion of the said Invention.
A is the smoke' box; B, the chimney placed thereon.
The essential feature of the said spark extinguishing apparatus is as follows, that
is to say:The exhaust tube C and blast tube D are not, as heretofore, arranged
with their outlet upward, but have the same downward, and lead the exhaust steam
and the direct blast steam to a moveable funnel-like apparatus E, which in conse-
quence of its conical form leads the steam towards the chimney.
By this apparatus, as shewn in Figure 3, the exhaust steam arrives in the form
of truncated cones, whilst the escaping gases move upward before mingling with
the steam.
By this arrangement the draught is greatly increased, and as the
gases pass from
the bottom of the chimney to the top or exit of the same while being thoroughly
mixed with the steam, the sparks are extinguished in a most perfect manner.
It must be understood that the small opening F on the bottom of the funnel E is

page_text: held open whilst the engine is at work in order that the said funnel may be always
kept free from condensed water, and the smoke box supplied with a small quantity
of steam, whilst a cover moved by any suitable mechanism covers the opening F
during the stopping of the engine and working of the blast pipe D. This covering
must be effected in order that the descent of the escaping steam jet may be
prevented.
17...
Having thus fully described the said Invention, and the manner of performing the
same, I wish it understood that I claim, in a locomotive or other steam engine, the
combination of the chimney and smoke box with the tube C, tube D, funnel E, and
opening F, arranged in the manner described and represented in the Drawing, and
for the purpose set forth.
-
In witness whereof, I, the said Frank Wirth, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Thirty-first day of January, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-eight.
FRANK WIRTH. (L.S.)