PREVENTION OF CORROSION, AND REMOVING OF DEPOSIT IN STEAM AND OTHER BOILERS
Year: 1884

page_text: "
We, AUGUSTUS JOHN MARQUAND, EMMANUEL HANCOCK, and JAMES RICHARD
POWELL, of Bute Docks, Cardiff, in the County of Glamorgan, Engineers, do
hereby declare the nature of our invention for THE PREVENTION OF CORROSION,
AND REMOVING OF DEPOSIT IN STEAM AND OTHER BOILERS," and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
This invention relates to the application of continuous or intermittent currents
of electricity to steam or other boilers for the purpose of preventing corrosion of
the inner surfaces, as well as for preventing the formation of scale or for removing
it when once deposited.
It is believed that the maintenance of an electrical current is essential to the
attainment of an anti-corrosive action for detaching the scale from the interior
surfaces of steam or other boilers, as well as for preventing the adhesion of any
destructive matter to said surfaces.
We propose to secure the aforesaid beneficial conditions in as efficient a degree
as possible by applying electricity generated in any convenient manner.
In order that our invention, and the method of carrying the same to a practical
result, may be thoroughly understood, we will now explain the same in detail,
referring to the accompanying drawing which is to be taken as part of this
specification and read therewith.
The drawing illustrates, in side elevation partly in section, one method of
applying our invention to a steam boiler, one anode and one cathode being shown,
although we would have it distinctly understood that we do not confine ourselves
strictly to the details illustrated, inasmuch as as many pairs of terminals, as may be
rendered necessary by the peculiar circumstances of each case, may be employed.
Moreover, the carbon or anode may be suspended from, or fixed to, any point in
the interior of the boiler, and not necessarily in close proximity to the boiler shell,
as drawn, inasmuch as wires may be carried from the insulated connection, where it
joins the shell, to that particular point of the interior of the boiler where the anode
must, for the purposes of our invention, be fixed or suspended. A is an anode of
carbon, graphite, zinc or other efficient conductor, artificially or naturally produced,
and of any shape. Each anode is carried by a conductor fixed steam-tight to tho
CD "
77

page_text: boiler shell F, but insulated therefrom by a suitable medium C. Perfect electrical
contact between the anode and the conductor carrying it, is secured by the inter-
position of a disc B, of platinum or other non-corrodible conducting medium. Each
cathode is fixed to the shell in a similar manner, and proper connections are made
with the source of electricity by wires and binding screws as at D and E.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is
The use, in combination with a suitable source of electricity, of one or more pairs
of anodes and cathodes fixed to, or suspended from, the inner surface of the boiler,
said anodes being made of carbon, graphite, zinc, or other suitable conducting
material, either natural or artificial, for the purpose of preventing corrosion of the
inner surface of steam or other boilers, as well as for preventing the formation of
scale thereupon, or for removing it when formed, substantially as described with
reference to the accompanying drawing.