IMPROVEMENTS IN RAISING STEAM IN LOCOMOTIVES IN RUNNING SHEDS, AND APPLIANCES THEREFOR
Year: 1884

page_text: I, JOHN BRADLEY, of 27, Lower Glanmire Road, Cork, Locomotive Foreman,
do hereby declare the nature of my said invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN RAISING
STEAM IN LOCOMOTIVES IN RUNNING SHEDS, AND APPLIANCES THEREFOR to be as
follows:-
This invention has reference to arrangements for facilitating the raising of steam
in locomotives in running sheds, in an economical manner.
In carrying out my said Invention I arrange in any convenient part of the
shed a suitable boiler, which I call a central or controlling boiler with a furnace
attached. This furnace is divided in the centre by a vertical partition for the
purpose hereinafter described. In connexion with this boiler suitable pipes are
laid communicating with different parts of the shed, so that any one or more of
these pipes may be connected to any one or more locomotives in which it may be
desired to get up steam.
The object of arranging the partition in the centre of the furnace is to enable
the coaling to be carried on alternately in each division and thus maintain a
constant and uniform heat on the boiler. I also find that considerable economy is
effected by coaling in this way.
In this boiler it is proposed to have steam at all times in readiness, so that when
steam is required in any particular locomotive, it is only necessary to connect the
boiler of the locomotive to one of the aforesaid pipes communicating with the central
or controlling boiler above described. By this arrangement I am enabled to effect
a considerable saving in coals, for, instead of having to generate steam in each
separate locomotive, when about to start from the running shed, hot water is
conducted into the boiler at once from the central or controlling boiler, during
which time the fire is being lighted in the furnace of the locomotive, so that it is
not necessary to burn coals for the initial heating of the water.
It is also proposed to carry on the operation of drying sand by placing same in
suitable pans arranged in connexion with the furnace of the central or controlling
boiler,
'

page_text: I, JOHN BRADLEY, of 27, Lower Glanmire Road, Cork, Mechanical Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN RAISING
"and in
STEAM IN LOCOMOTIVES IN RUNNING SHEDS, AND APPLIANCES THEREFOR
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention has reference to arrangements for facilitating the raising of steam
in locomotives in running sheds, in an economical manner.
In carrying out my said invention I arrange in any convenient part of the
shed a suitable boiler, which I call a central or controlling boiler, with a furnace
attached. This furnace is divided in the centre by a vertical partition for the
purpose hereinafter described. In connexion with this boiler suitable pipes are
Jaid communicating with different parts of the shed; so that any one or more
of these pipes may be connected to any one or more locomotives in which it may be
desired to get up steam.
The object of arranging the partition in the centre of the furnace is to enable
the coaling to be carried on alternately in each division, and thus maintain a
constant and uniform heat on the boiler. I also find that considerable economy is
effected by coaling in this way.
In this boiler it is proposed to have steam at all times in readiness, so that when
steam is required in any particular locomotive it is only necessary to connect the
boiler of the locomotive to one of the aforesaid pipes communicating with the central
or controlling boiler above described. By this arrangement I am enabled to effect
considerable saving in coals; for, instead of having to generate steam in each
separate locomotive when about to start from the running sheds, hot water, or
steam, is conducted into the boiler at once from tlie central or controlling boiler,
during which time the fire is being lit in the furnace of the locomotive; so that it
is not necessary to burn coals for the initial heating of the water.
It is also proposed to carry on the operation of drying sand by placing same in
suitable pans arranged in connexion with the furnace of the central or controlling
boiler.
In order that my said invention may be more readily understood and carried
into practice, I will describe the accompanying drawings:-Fig. 1 is a longitudinal-
sectional view, showing the arrangement of the apparatus which I call a central or
controlling boiler; fig. 2 represents, partly in elevation and partly in section, the
furnace end of the apparatus; fig. 3 is a section of the smoke-box with the flues for
drying sand, as hereinafter more fully described; fig. 4 is a plan of the sand pans
or flues; and figs. 5, 6, and 7 illustrate the system of communicating pipes for
supplying the locomotives from the central or controlling boiler.
Similar letters indicate corresponding parts in all the views:-a a shows the
double smoke box divided by a brick-work partition in the centre; b b is the
double furnace or fire box, which I propose to adopt for the reasons herein before
expressed. The boiler which I purpose using does not differ in the main features
from the ordinary form: the steam pipe d is shown leading from the dome, and the
water pipe is shown at c, opening above the crown of the fire boxes in order to
obviate the danger of the latter becoming bare when water is being drawn off.

page_text: These pipes are connected according to convenience with a system of pipes, called
connecting pipes, for the purpose of supplying steam, or water, as the case may be,
to the locomotive in which it is desired to get up steam. The connecting pipes
may be laid in the neighborhood of the pits, as shown at e in figs. 5 and 6, either
directly, or by means of a main pipe, as at f in fig. 6. The introduction of the
main pipe f admits of any one or more of the pits being cut off when desired; this
can be done by means of suitably arranged valves, as shown in figs. 6 and 7.
Fig. 7. shows the connexions for filling locomotives by a composition pipe g which
is preserved in a suitable box or receptacle, h, when not in use. This composition
pipe is simply connected to the ordinary feed injector.
The mode by which I propose to utilise my invention for the purpose of
drying sand is illustrated by plan fig. 4, and section in part of fig. 3. Two flues-
one i from the fire-box, the other j from the smoke-box-lead to the sand flues
(fig. 4). By this arrangement heat can be taken either direct from the fire-box, or,
passing through the boiler tubes, may be caused to do further work by being
conducted from the smoke-box through the sand flues. When the heat is caused
to circulate from the fire-box, dampers arranged at 1, 3, 6, and 8 in the sand flues
are shut; and when the heat is conducted from the smoke-box dampers 2, 4, 5,
and 7 are closed. Both currents are provided with the same outlet through flue or
passage k, ultimately passing through the chimney. An intermediate flue or pipe
is inserted at to provide for a direct draught from smoke-box when the sand-flues
are in repair; this is also fitted with damper at foot. The sand is placed in suitable
pans laid over these flues.
Amongst the advantages of my improved system of raising steam may be
mentioned the following:
1. A certain saving will be effected proportionate to the number of locomotives
to be raised in steam, sent out daily from the running shed.
2. Considerable time will be saved in raising steam in locomotives, inasmuch as
while the fire is being lighted the boiler is being filled with hot water from the
central or controlling apparatus herein before described.
3. The waste heat generated by the central or controlling boiler is utilised for
the purpose of drying sand; and
4. A stationary engine or machine can be worked from the central or controlling
apparatus if required.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, I would have it understood that I do not confine myself to the exact
mode of connecting the central or controlling apparatus herein before described, for
the purpose of supplying locomotives with steam, as this may be accomplished by
any suitable means; what I consider new and desire to claim is
1. The method of raising steam in locomotives from a central or controlling
apparatus, arranged and operating substantially in the manner specified and set
forth; and
2. The combination formed by the method of raising steam in locomotives and
the mode of drying sand, substantially as described and set forth.