IMPROVEMENTS IN JET APPARATUS APPLICABLE TO EJECTING SOLIDS AND SEMI-LIQUID MATERIALS
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Ducat Robertson, of Palace Chambers, in the City
of Westminster, Mechanical Engineer, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN JET APPARATUS APPLICABLE TO EJECTING SOLIDS AND SEMI-LIQUID
MATERIALS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Ducat Robertson
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th August 1880.
GEORGE DUCAT ROBERTSON, of Palace Chambers, in the City of Westminster,
Mechanical Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN JET APPARATUS APPLICABLE TO
EJECTING SOLIDS AND SEMI-LIQUID MATERIALS."
My Invention is designed for the purpose of most fully utilising the force of
impact of a direct or spiral intermittent or continuous steam jet as combined in an
ejecting apparatus with a stream of cold expanded air or water producing
condensation of the steam.
My apparatus is composed of a suitable elevating tube with a mouth piece or
receiver at the base into which the solid material, such as ashes, sand, or rubbish,
may be shovelled by hand, or into which the semi-liquids may be drawn to be
ejected.
In the case of application to the ejectment of ash, solid material, or semi-liquid
from a ship's hold or like place the mouth-piece may be arranged on the floor of
the stoke-hole, and the upper end of the ejecting tube may be bent so as to deliver
outward.
The main propelling or ejecting jet is introduced into the delivery pipe by a
suitably adjusted annular orifice or other means, and the steam jet may be so
introduced through the orifice that it is given a spiral direction in its ascent
through the rising main.
The cold air or water-jet is admitted higher up the tube than the point of
admission of the steam jet, so that the condensation will take place after the full
impact of the jet of steam has been duly given to the material to be ejected.
The intermittent action of the steam jet or jets is, by preference, produced by a
rotating cock or valve driven by a small turbine with vanes fixed to the cock or

page_text: valve, and driven by the entering jet of steam, but the same end may be attained
by means of a reciprocating valve driven by steam or other suitable mechanical
means.
I may apply a similar steam jet or a cold expanded air or water jet to any right
angled or other bend there may be in the delivery pipe, so that the impact of this
farther jet may alter the direction of motion of the material through the bend, and
thus reduce the abrasion against the interior surface of the bend. I apply a further
perforated rotating movable jet tube to the base of the mouth piece which gives
jets of steam or compressed air to lift the solid material towards the main eduction
jet situated at the top of the mouth piece. Where it is desirable to prevent the
discharged material from scattering I further cover the outside mouth of the
discharging pipe by a folding shoot on the side of the vessel, or as convenient,
delivering downwards, constructed in three pieces so hinged that they will fold
together and lie flat when not in use.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said George Ducat Robertson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 17th
February 1881.
GEORGE DUCAT ROBERTSON, of Palace Chambers, in the City of Westminster,
Mechanical Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN JET APPARATUS APPLICABLE TO
EJECTING SOLIDS AND SEMI-LIQUID MATERIALS."
My Invention is designed for the purpose of most fully utilizing the force of
impact of a direct or spiral intermittent or continuous steam jet as combined in an
ejecting apparatus, if necessary with a stream of cold expanded air or water
producing condensation of the steam.
My apparatus is composed of a suitable elevating tube with a mouth piece or
receiver at the base into which the solid material, such as ashes, sand, or rubbish,
may be shovelled by hand, or into which the semi-liquids may be drawn to be
ejected.
In the case of application to the ejectment of ash, solid material, or semi liquid
from a ship's hold or like place, the mouth piece may be arranged on the floor of
the stoke hole, and the upper end of the ejecting tube may be bent so as to deliver
outward.
The main propelling or ejecting jet is introduced into the delivery pipe by a
suitably adjusted annular orifice or other means, and the steam jet may be so
introduced through the orifice that it is given a spiral direction in its ascent
through the rising main.
The cold air or water jet is admitted, if required, higher up the tube than the
point of admission of the steam jet, so that the condensation will take place after
the full impact of the jet of steam has been duly given to the material to be
ejected.
The intermittent action of the steam jet or jets is, by preference, produed by a
rotating cock or valve driven by a small turbine with vanes fixed to the cock or
valve and driven by the entering jet of steam, but the same end may be attained
by means of a reciprocating valve driven by steam or other suitable mechanical
means.
I may apply a similar steam jet or a cold expanded air or water jet to any right
angled or other bend there may be in the delivery pipe, so that the impact of this
farther jet may alter the direction of the motion of the material through the bend,
and thus reduce the abrasion against the interior surface of the bend.
Where it is desirable to prevent the discharged material from scattering I further
cover the outside mouth of the discharging pipe by a folding shoot on the side of
the vessel so as, if convenient, to deliver downwards, constructed in three pieces so
hinged that they will fold together and lie flat when not in use.
And in order that my Invention may be the better understood I now proceed to
describe the Drawings hereunto annexed, reference being had to the letters and
figures marked thereon.
Fig. 1 shows a general arrangement of an ejector applicable to solids and semi
liquid materials. A is the mouth piece into which the solid material, such as ashes,
sand, &c., may be shovelled by hand, or into which the semi liquids are drawn to
be ejected. The bottom plate B is hinged on spring hinges C, either spiral, as
shewn, or in other convenient form, and by means of which the hinge plate B is
vibrated when struck by the shovel or by the impact of the material itself. The
vibration of this hinged bottom plate B throws the material upwards towards the
main ejecting jet F, F. Situated above the mouth piece D is a casing or body
containing the double nozzles F, F, shown in detail in Fig. VI., through which jets

page_text: of steam issue from the annular space E and steam pipe G into the delivery pipe H.
These jets of steam induce a current of air upwards through the bottom plate,
which is perforated with holes for that purpose, and through the mouth piece so as
to carry with it the material to be ejected. The steam passages through the
nozzles F, F, may be either continuous or non continuous around their peripheries.
In the latter case the steam may pass through detached steam spaces V, each one
eighth of the circumference, as shown, or of such other proportion as may be con-
venient, the open passage in the lower nozzle being placed directly under the closed
portion of the upper nozzle. The jet or jets so introduced may be either continuous
or intermittent, and effect the raising and discharge of the material to the required
height of the delivery pipe H. When intermittent the supply cock or plug U,
shown in detail in Fig. III., is fitted with a small steam turbine V actuated by
steam introduced by the pipe W, which causes the plug to revolve and alternately
open and close the cock. The alternate opening and closing of the steam supply
cock or valve may be attained by the use of a small steam cylinder suitably
connected thereto, or by other suitable mechanical means. The discharge pipe H
may be of wrought or cast iron or other suitable material. A guide piece Kis
fitted into the upper nozzle F and made, by preference, of specially hard material,
so as more effectually to prevent abrasion by the material in its passage upward,
and so fit ted as to admit of easy removal and renewal. The direction of the
discharge pipe may be changed by means of the bend J to any required angle or
direction so as to discharge where required. . The cap piece L in such cases is made
of specially hard material and thickened up to resist abrasion, but more effectually
to divert the passing material and prevent abrasion at this point a secondary
steam, water, or cold expanded air jet R, Fig. IV., may be used at the angle of the
bend so as to impinge upon the material and change its direction of motion. If
this said jet is of water or cold expanded air it serves also to condense the lower
jet or jets of steam F, F, so as to obviate any annoyance or injury from a discharge
of steam. If however neither cold expanded air nor water is used in this secondary
jet, and condensation of the steam is desired, a water or cold expanded air jet M is
placed in the discharge pipe beyond the steam jet or jets. This jet M is similar in
construction to the steam jet or jets F, F, having an inlet N for admission of the
water or cold expanded air to an annular chamber O and a nozzle P adjustable by
means of the right and left hand screws Q, Q, or by any other mechanical means
so as to give a greater or less opening for the admission of the water or cold
expanded air. The nozzle P may have the passages for the water or cold expanded
air either continuous around its periphery or only partially so, as already described,
for the nozzles F, F, and a spiral motion may be communicated to the water or
cold expanded air by grooves sunk in the periphery of the nozzle or other suitable
means. In order the more perfectly to bring the condensing water or cold expanded
air into contact with the steam numerous small perforations are made from the
annular chamber to the interior of the pipe by which the water or air is admitted
in a subdivided condition. By preference the direction of these perforations are so
made as to direct the streams of water in the direction in which the material is
passing.
When fitted on board ship a sea cock S is fixed to the ship's side, and through it
the ashes or materials pass, the cock being opened or closed by suitable rods or
levers, or other convenient means, from the stoke hole floor or from any intermediate
level. This sea-cock may be made of any suitable description other than that
shown in Fig. I. In order to allow the free egress of the air which will necessarily
pass up the discharge pipe with the ashes or other material (which free egress will
be more especially required when the discharge end of the pipe is sealed or closed
by the water by reason of the ship's rolling or the passage of a wave), the air relief
pipe T is provided, one end being fixed to the discharge pipe H, and the other end
carried to the funnel, or carried sufficiently high above the water level and left
open to the atmosphere. To prevent the ashes or similar discharged material from

page_text: scattering after leaving the delivery pipe H a shoot X, in plan Fig. VII., may be
placed over the mouth, made in parts hinged together, and so constructed as to fold
flat against the ship's side when not in use.
Figs. IV. and V. show sectional elevation and outside front elevation of a
modification of the hopper A which is provided with two inlets B, B, fitted with
strong gratings, on which the material can be broken up till of suitable size to pass
the grating and enter the delivery pipe. The opening D admits the broken
material to the interior of the ejecting apparatus. This opening can be enlarged or
contracted by the sliding regulator E. An annular steam jet F is applied, as
before, to elevate the material, being single in this case, the other counterpart
steam, water, or cold expanded air jet R being placed at the bend of the delivery
pipe, as shown. This lower jet is adjustable by means of the screwed nozzle J and
the upper jet by means of the right and left handed screws L, L.
And having now fully described and ascertained the nature and object of my
Invention, and the manner in which the same is to be performed, be it known that
what I consider novel and useful, and desire to protect by my Letters Patent is,―
1. The use of intermittent or spiral jet or jets for the better ejectment of
material by the apparatus, and for the purposes as hereinbefore described.
2. The combination of a second or more jets with a main elevating jet, whether
continuous, intermittent, or spiral, for diverting the motion of the ascending
material with the greatest reduction of abrasion to any required angle with the
main elevating jet.
3. The combination of one or more continuous, intermittent, or spiral ejecting
jets with one or more water or cold expanded air jets to effect the condensation of
the operating steam before discharge.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Ducat Robertson, have hereunto set
iny hand and scal, this Fourteenth day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
In the presence of
S. P. WILDING,
City Patent Office,
23, Rood Lane,
London, E.C.,
Patent Agent.
GEORGE DUCAT ROBERTSON. (L.S.)