Improvements in Apparatus or Appliances for Use in Cleaning Fire Tubes.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Nov., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Aug., 1889-Accepted, 2nd Nov., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus or Appliances for Use in Cleaning
Fire Tubes.
I WILLIAM COOKE of 1 Storeton Road Oxton, in the County of Chester Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
.
The invention relates more especially to cleaning the fire tubes of Marine steam
boilers where a pressure of air above that of the atmosphere is maintained in the stoke
hole and the main object is to provide apparatus or appliances whereby the soot may
be brushed or removed from the interior of the said tubes without allowing as
hitherto excessive leakage of air into the smoke stack of the boiler, the tubes of
which are being cleaned.
My invention consists in providing the smoke box of the boiler with a screen
perforated with a sufficient number of openings opposite the tubes to allow of a brush
or cleaner being inserted through such openings into the tubes, and in providing the
said openings with caps or plugs whereby the openings not in use are closed.
A further improvement consists in fitting the handle of the brush or cleaner with a
cap or plug free to slide thereon and capable of closing the opening in use, or with
a flexible sleeve or equivalent device.
Another improvement consists in combining with the screen above mentioned an
exterior lid or door which will effectually close the way to the smoke box when the
tubes are not being cleaned.
Dated this 21st day of November 1888
Per pro J. T. KING,
W. B. Johnson, Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus or Appliances for Use in Cleaning
Fire Tubes.
I, WILLIAM COOKE, of 1 Storeton Road, Oxton, in the County of Chester,
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 invention relates more especially to cleaning the fire tubes of marine steam
boilers where a pressure of air above that of the atmosphere is maintained in the
stoke hole and the main object is to provide apparatus or appliances whereby the soot
may be brushed or removed from the interior of the said tubes without allowing as
hitherto excessive leakage of air into the smoke stack of the boiler the tubes of which
are being cleaned.
My invention consists in providing the smoke box of the boiler with a screen per-
forated with a sufficient number of openings opposite the tubes to allow of a brush or
cleaner being inserted through such openings into the tubes and in providing the
said openings with caps or plugs whereby the openings not in use are closed. A
further improvement consists in fitting the handle of the brush or cleaner with a
cap or plug free to slide thereon and capable of closing the opening in use or with a
flexible sleeve or equivalent device.
Another improvement consists in combining with the screen above mentioned an
exterior lid or door which will effectually close the way to the smoke box when the
tubes are not being cleaned.

page_text: DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
e
Fig. 1 is a transverse section of part of a boiler fitted with my improvements. a is
the main body of the boiler. 6 fire tubes. csmoke box. d screen. openings oppo-
site the tubes 6 and provided with nipples f. 9 caps fitting on the said nipples f.
h brush. loose cap on brush. ; exterior lid and case of smoke box.
It
Fig. 2 is a face view showing two caps linked together so that one may hang by
the other when removed to allow the use of a brush in the uncovered tube. Fig. 3
is a plan of a cap or plug having wings k fitting beneath lugs on the screen.
will be obvious that the plugs or caps may be hinged or fitted in slides or be other-
wise secured to the screen and that when a flexible sleeve say of woven asbestos
indiarubber leather or other suitable material is connected to the brush and to a
large opening several tubes may be cleaned through one opening.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is.
First. The combination of the smoke box of a steam boiler with a perforated
screen provided with caps or plugs for the purpose set forth.
Second. The combination of a smoke box screen with a brush or cleaner provided
with a movable cap or plug.
Third. The combination with a perforated smoke box screen and caps of an
exterior door substantially as set forth.
1000
Per pro J. T. KING,
J. Johnson, Agent.