Locomotive Steam Boiler.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Dec., 1892-Accepted, 4th Feb., 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Locomotive Steam Boiler.
I, GEORGE JEROME PERKINS of Truckee in County of Nevada & State of
California, United States of America Locomotive 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 :-
My invention relates to steam-boilers for locomotive engines; and its object is to
provide a steam-boiler which shall contain a relatively large extent of heating
surface economically disposed for the absorption of heat, reduce to a minimum the
deposition of sediment, contain increased facilities for the removal of such sediment,
reduce the expansion and contraction in its parts due to the changes of temperature,
thereby lengthening its life materially increase the efficiency of the engine by
reducing the back-pressure in the cylinders, and increasing the weight of the engine,
and effect considerable reduction in the consumption of fuel over locomotive boilers
at present in use on account of the increased quantity and superior quality of the
heating-surface. I attain these results by the novel arrangement, construction, and
combination of parts hereinafter specified, and set forth in the claims.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section of a locomotive-engine, showing my
improved steam boiler in position.
Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view, on an enlarged scale taken on the line 22 of
Fig. 1; and
Fig. 3 represents a part of Fig. 1 on an enlarged scale to show more clearly the
horizontal and vertical water-tubes.
In my improved form of boiler the transverse horizontal water-tubes A and
vertical water-tubes B terminate in an inner casing or tube-sheet C, approximately
square in cross-section but with rounded edges. The water-tubes are formed near
their extremities with beads X, which act as shoulders to support or stay the tube-
sheets, and resist the collapse of the same due to the steam and water pressure
between the inner and outer casings.
As plainly shown in Fig. 2, the casing C is preferably made of two sheets having
their sides bent round to meet and riveted together in two horizontal longitudinal seams.
The tube-sheet C extends from the fire-box D to the smoke-arch E. The top of
the tube-sheet is continuous and on the same level with the crown-sheet F of the
fire-box. This I consider an important part of my invention, as the crown-sheet
is the most efficient heating surface in a locomotive-engine, so that by extending
this crown-sheet as far as the smoke-arch I provide an increase of heating surface of
a very superior efficiency.
The inner casing C, carrying the water-tubes, is supported by blocks G, which
rest upon the outer casing H of the boiler.
I are water and steam spaces surrounding the tube-sheet and fire-box, and K
and L the usual steam-dome and steam-pipe leading therefrom. In the forward
end of the boiler I place three manholes M, as shown in Fig. 2, giving ready access
to the water-tubes underneath and at the sides of the casing to do any necessary
repairing or cleaning out of incrustation or sediment, and by removing the dome-cap
the upper surface may be approached when required for like purposes. It will be
seen that by the above arrangement of transverse horizontal and vertical water-
tubes I obtain a much larger extent of heating-surface than has hitherto been
obtained in locomotive-engines, allowing a material increase in size of the steam-
exhaust, thereby reducing the back-pressure and increasing the efficiency of the
engine. The action of the fire in my design in passing through between the tubes
and coming in contact with and passing around each one separately enables me to

page_text: thoroughly utilize the fire and consume the gases before they reach the smoke
stack, whereas in the ordinary boiler they pass directly the fire-tubes, and a large
percentage of the heat escapes through the stack without being utilized. Again,
these tubes being short in comparison with the longitudinal tubes hitherto used,
the expansion and contraction of the tubes due to changes of temperature is
proportionately reduced and the life of the boiler lengthened.
Another advantage attained by my construction of boiler is that more than half
of the tubes being vertical there is much less deposition of sediment than when all
the tubes are horizontal. It will be observed that by making the edges of the tube-
sheet rounded I am enabled to use a larger tube-sheet or inner casing in proportion
to the size of the outer casing.
•
It will be seen that my design of transverse tubes can be readily adapted to any
ordinary locomotive-boiler and at a comparatively slight expense.
On account of the additional weight which I obtain both from the increase of the
tube-surface and also from the four sides of the tube-sheet the tractive power
of the engine is materially increased-an advantage which is greatly needed in the
ordinary locomotive-engine.
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. In a locomotive steam engine, the combination with the fire-box, of a tube-
sheet approximately square in ecross-section, with rounded edges, having its upper
surface a continuation of the crown-sheet of said fire-box, and communicating at
one end with the fire-box and at the other end with the smoke-arch, water-tubes
arranged transversely thereto, and an outer casing surrounding said tube-sheet and
forming water spaces therewith, substantially as described.
2. In a locomotive steam-engine, the combination, with the fire-box, of a tube-
sheet made of two overlapping sheets of metal, said tube-sheets being approximately
square in cross-section, with rounded corners, having its upper surface a continuation
of the crown-sheet of said fire-box, and therefore on a level with same, and com-
municating at one end with the fire-box and at the other end with the smoke-arch,
water-tubes arranged transversely thereto, and an end wall or sheet at the forward
end of the boiler, said end sheet being provided with manholes and said water-
tubes being provided near their extremities with beads, substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
Dated this 19th day of November 1892.
BOTTOMLEY & LIDDLE,
154, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Applicant's Agents.