Improvements in Water Circulating Devices for Steam Boilers.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Dec., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Sept., 1892-Accepted, 3rd Dec., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Water Circulating Devices for Steam Boilers.
PERCIVAL PINCKNEY 151 Somers Road Southsea Hants. Mechanical Engineer.
I do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
And
The nature and object of this invention is to prevent those serious injuries which
are occasioned to steam boilers through what is termed "lowness of water."
to also increase the power of the boiler.
This I propose to accomplish by means of an invention which shall be named
and referred to hereafter, as a fomentor.
The said fomentor consists primary of a pipe called a suction pipe-of a pump-
and of a pipe, or pipes called the fomenting pipe or pipes.
The suction pipe is connected with the boiler so that the end thus connected is
sufficiently low to be allways submerged by the water that is within the boiler.
The other end of the said suction pipe leads to and is connected with a pump.
From the ejecting orifice of the pump-and to which it, or they are connected-
a pipe, or pipes lead into the boiler, and they are to be so placed that when the
pump is operated the said pipes eject a circulating stream-(sucked by the pump
from the water of the boiler)-over those parts of the boiler which may be in
danger of injury from the before cited cause. Namely the failure in the maintainance
of the safe or working level of the water that is in the boiler.
THE PUMP.
The pump may be driven by a small cylinder designed to operate the fomentor
independently of the main machinery of the engine.
And I would here point out that the consumption of power would be very
small.
Because whatever the pressure of steam within the boiler, a perfect equilibrium
of pressure would, (as regards the steam pressure of the boiler) be constantly
maintained on both sides of the piston of the pump.
Therefore a pump of six or even eight. inches in its internal diameter would be
easily driven by a minature steam cylinder the piston area of which might be only
from one to one and a half square inches.
Pumps for fomenting of two, three, and four inches diameter would meet the
average requirement.
The greater the working pressure of the boiler the smaller the steam cylinder
required to operate the fomentor.
The length of stroke in the fomentor pump and its operating steam cylinder
would be equal as one piston rod could work the two pistons.
If the fomentor were
driven in this manner.
2ND SECTION. STATIONARY ENGINES.
Its applicability to stationary engines consists in its being a most important
factor as a preventative of the disaster of an explosion.
The panic which too frequently ensues when the engine attendent discovers
"his water running low" oftimes leads him to do the very thing most conducive to
cause a catastrophe, namely to "open his pump." The result is that the increased
amount of cold water thus injected causes a sudden contraction in,—by suddenly
lowering the temperature of the over-heated surfaces.

page_text: In vertical tubular boilers it would pay to keep the fomentor constantly at work.
As the power thus used would be infinitismal to the power-and other advan-
tages-gained.
Firstly in this type of boiler the constant use of the fomentor would add to the
life duration of the boiler.
Secondly its constant use would enormously increase the power of the boiler by
increasing its steam generating capacity.
In this type of boilers the fomenting pipes would lead upwards so that the
fomentation would be directed-or ejected-against the upper tube plate.
And the upper or exposed part of each tube could be encircled by a small per-
forated fomenting pipe, so that the whole of the now exposed upper parts of these
boilers, would by the action of the fomentor be constantly covered with a down
pouring circulating stream of water.
The equivalent of this immensely increased generating power is an immensely
reduced cost for fuel.
5TII SECTION. MARINE BOILERS.
In putting these boilers in vessels, yachts, steam-launches &c. where weight and
space are of the greatest moment it effects a great reduction in both-weight and
space.
Giving as may be required, increased speed, or increased flotative or carrying
capacity.
I therefore as the inventor claim under this Patent the sole and exclusive right
to use, or grant licences to use the said fomentor as described in this Specification.
The nature and object of the aforesaid invention being that as an application to
steam engines and their boilers it assures by its adoption increased, safety, economy,
and power.
Dated this 22nd day of December 1891.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Water Circulating Devices for Steam Boilers.
1, PERCIVAL PINCKNEY 151 Somers Road Southsea, Portsmouth Mechanical
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
The nature and object of this invention is to prevent those serious injuries which
are occasioned to steam boilers through what is understood as the burning of the
heating surfaces. And to also increase the steam generating power of the boiler by
causing a circulation of the water that is therein.
This I propose to accomplish by means of an invention which shall be named and
referred to in connection with this Patent, as a fomentor.
The nature and object of such, being to cause an impaction of the water of the
boiler against, and to thus foment the heating surfaces of the boiler.
The said fomentor consists primary of a pipe, or pipes, called the suction pipe,
as shewn in the drawings at a. And of a pump, or other injector, or ejector, (to
occupy the space B). Connected with the suction pipe A, and also with the
delivery, or fomenting pipes marked C, C.
The suction pipe A is connected with the boiler so that the end thus connected
is sufficiently low to be always submerged by the water that is within the boiler.
The other end of the said suction pipe leads to, and is connected with, a pump,
or other injector, or ejector to occupy the space marked B.
From the ejecting, or delivery orifice of the said pump or other injector, or
ejector and to which it, or they, are connected, a pipe, or pipes called the
fomenting pipe, or pipes, marked C, C lead into the boiler, and are so placed and
adjusted that when the pump or other injector, or ejector is operated, there is
ejected, or delivered from the said fomenting pipes, a circulating stream,-sucked,
pumped, or propelled by the pump or other injector, or ejector from the water that
is within the boiler-and ejected, or delivered, upon, around, or over, those parts
of the heating surfaces within the boiler which are most exposed to the action of
the fire.
The main feature of my invention and the one for which I claim special and
comprehensive protection may be gathered from the following few examples of its
application to
RAILWAY LOCOMOTIVES, ROAD TRACTION ENGINES, STEAM TRAMS, STEAM
ROAD ROLLERS, &C.
In the above class of engines which at times are required to travel up and down
very steep gradients, the fomentor will be so adjusted that the fomentation as shewn
at d can be directed alternately over and upon the crown of the fire box,-as would
be the case when descending an incline, and then, as occasions may require, when
ascending an incline, over and upon other endangered portions of the heating
surfaces, situated in the forward part of the boiler, as shewn at E.
VERTICAL BOILERS HAVING UPRIGHT TUBES.
In these boilers the uptakes, and also the upper or unsubmerged part of each
tube will be encircled at its top by a perforated fomenting pipe, as shewn at F so
that the whole of the, as now, unsubmerged and over-heated upper parts of the
heating surfaces in these boilers will by the actuation of the said fomentor, be
constantly & evenly covered with a steadily down-trickling envelopment of the
water, which at the same time will thereby be circulated within the boiler.

page_text: VERTICAL BOILERS HAVING CROSS TUBES.
In these boilers the fomenting pipes as shewn at G will eject, or deliver, their
water in the inside of, and against the upper parts of the cross tubes, so that the
circulation of water thus created will keep the said cross tubes free from an
accumulation of steam bubbles.
The said fomentor may be fixed upon, or connected with any suitable,-that is to
say practically effective-part, or parts of a steam boiler.
The numerous types of steam boilers now in vogue, determining such workable
modifications as may be necessary to render this invention applicable to the special
& respective surroundings, requirements, and design, of such numerous types of
steam boilers.
The effect of the continued action of the fomentor will be to cause a circulation
of the water that is within the boiler.
The innumerable methods by which the fomentor may be operated are
discretionary and can only be determined by the local and special surroundings,
requirements, and design of each respective boiler.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1. The sole and exclusive right to make an invention called a fomentor-the said
invention being a mechanical combination which consists of a pump, or other
injector or ejector-and of a pipe, or pipes, suitably connected therewith, after the
mauner, and for the purposes hereinbefore described.
=
2. The sole and exclusive right to cause a circulating impaction of the water in
steam boilers, upon the heating surfaces thereof, after the manner, by the means, and
for the purposes, as hereinbefore described.
3. That the term pump, as it is used strictly within the limit of this Specification,
shall be construed as applying to every mechanical device of the nature of a pump,
or other injector or ejector.
4. The sole and exclusive right to name and to call the herein before described
mechanical combination, a fomentor, when such mechanical combination is used in
its herein cited special application, for effecting a water circulating fomentation of
the heating surfaces in steam boilers.
Dated this 22nd day of September 1892.
PERCIVAL PINCKNEY.