GB2188716A - Blowdown device for boilers - Google Patents

Abstract

In order to reduce the danger inherent in cleaning a small boiler-such as is used in the clothing industry-by releasing steam and for hot water therefrom via a blowdown nozzle, apparatus comprising a pipe coil 6 of many turns, which may be surrounded by a liquid coolant, is provided for attachment to the boiler in place of the nozzle. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Blowdown device for boilers This invention relates to blowdown devices for boilers, and particularly to such devices for use in connection with boilers used in the clothing industry.

At present, small portable steam boilers, as for example those used in the clothing industry in connection with steam presses and other similar equipment, are cleaned by exhausting superheated water and steam directly out of a blown down nozzle of the boiler into an open container located in close proximity to the boiler. As will be appreciated, this can be very dangerous due to the temperature and pressure of the water and steam within the boiler.

The present invention seeks to improve the cleaning of small industrial boilers by providing apparatus which will obviate the disadvantages and dangers of the above-described practice.

According to the present invention, there is provided apparatus for use in cleaning a boiler comprising a blow-down coil having an inlet pipe, for connection to the boiler, and an outlet pipe, there being a plurality of pipe coils between the inlet pipe and outlet pipe, said pipe coils being adapted to be located in a coolant medium during use of the apparatus.

Preferably, the inlet and outlet pipes and the pipe coils will be formed integrally, and will preferably be composed of copper or stainless steel.

The inlet and outlet pipes will preferably pass through and be attached to a plate lid, the lid being applied to a coolant container in which the pipe coils are located during use of the blown down coil.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, an embodiment thereof will now be described, by way of example, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is an elevation of the apparatus according to the invention; and Figure 2 is a plan view of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, the apparatus comprises essentially an inlet pipe 2, an outlet pipe 4, and a pipe coil 6 located there between. As will best be seen from Fig. 1, inlet pipe 2 and the outlet pipe 4 are secured to a plate lid 8 which seals onto a coil container (not shown) during use of the apparatus as will be hereinafter explained.

The inlet pipe 2 carries an elbow 10 which, via a threaded connection 10A, is connectable to a flexible blow down hose (not shown) of a boiler to be cleaned. The outlet pipe 4 is con nected to an extension pipe 4A, the lower end of which will, in use of the apparatus, be located in a receiving container to receive the water passing through the outlet pipe.

The inlet pipe 2, outlet pipe 4 and pipe coil 6 are formed integrally, and are composed of copper or stainless steel, or any other suitable material.

The pipe coil 6 comprises seventeen coils as will be seen from Fig. 1, but it will be appreciated that this member may vary and will be dependent upon the required temperature drop between the inlet pipe 2 and the outlet pipe 4.

In use, the pipe coil 6 will be placed in a coil container containing a coolant medium such as water, the plate lid 8 resting upon the upper extremity of the container. The inlet pipe 2 is coupled to the flexible blow down hose on the boiler, and the receiving container is placed under the end of the outlet pipe extension 4A. The blow down valve of the boiler is then opened so as to release steam from the boiler. The steam then passes through inlet pipe 2 and through the coils of the pipe coil 6 so as to dissipate the latent heat in the steam-due to the coolant medum in which the pipe coil is located-the resultant heated water exiting into the outlet pipe 4 and thence into the receiving containers via the extension pipe 4A.

A typical temperature drop between inlet and outlet will be 150"F to 200"F.

Apparatus according to the invention is particularly applicable to portable steam boilers such as those used in the clothing industry, but it will be appreciated that the apparatus may be used with other forms of portable steam boilers.

1. Blowdown apparatus for use in cleaning a boiler comprising an inlet pipe-connected or for connection to the boiler, an outlet pipe and a pipe coil comprising a plurality of turns in fluid connection with the inlet pipe and outlet pipe.

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1 wherein the pipe coil is close wound.

3. Apparatus according to Claim 1 or 2 wherein said pipe coil is adapted to be located in a coolant medium during use of the apparatus.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1, 2, or 3 wherein the inlet and outlet pipes and the pipe coil are formed integrally.

5. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the inlet and outler pipes pass through and are attached to a plate lid, being a lid for application to a coolant container in which the pipe coils are to be located during use of the apparatus.

6. Apparatus according to Claim 5 further including a coolant container.

7. Blowdown apparatus for use in cleaning a boiler substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (7)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Blowdown device for boilers This invention relates to blowdown devices for boilers, and particularly to such devices for use in connection with boilers used in the clothing industry. At present, small portable steam boilers, as for example those used in the clothing industry in connection with steam presses and other similar equipment, are cleaned by exhausting superheated water and steam directly out of a blown down nozzle of the boiler into an open container located in close proximity to the boiler. As will be appreciated, this can be very dangerous due to the temperature and pressure of the water and steam within the boiler. The present invention seeks to improve the cleaning of small industrial boilers by providing apparatus which will obviate the disadvantages and dangers of the above-described practice. According to the present invention, there is provided apparatus for use in cleaning a boiler comprising a blow-down coil having an inlet pipe, for connection to the boiler, and an outlet pipe, there being a plurality of pipe coils between the inlet pipe and outlet pipe, said pipe coils being adapted to be located in a coolant medium during use of the apparatus. Preferably, the inlet and outlet pipes and the pipe coils will be formed integrally, and will preferably be composed of copper or stainless steel. The inlet and outlet pipes will preferably pass through and be attached to a plate lid, the lid being applied to a coolant container in which the pipe coils are located during use of the blown down coil. In order that the invention may be more readily understood, an embodiment thereof will now be described, by way of example, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is an elevation of the apparatus according to the invention; and Figure 2 is a plan view of Fig. 1. Referring to the drawings, the apparatus comprises essentially an inlet pipe 2, an outlet pipe 4, and a pipe coil 6 located there between. As will best be seen from Fig. 1, inlet pipe 2 and the outlet pipe 4 are secured to a plate lid 8 which seals onto a coil container (not shown) during use of the apparatus as will be hereinafter explained. The inlet pipe 2 carries an elbow 10 which, via a threaded connection 10A, is connectable to a flexible blow down hose (not shown) of a boiler to be cleaned. The outlet pipe 4 is con nected to an extension pipe 4A, the lower end of which will, in use of the apparatus, be located in a receiving container to receive the water passing through the outlet pipe. The inlet pipe 2, outlet pipe 4 and pipe coil 6 are formed integrally, and are composed of copper or stainless steel, or any other suitable material. The pipe coil 6 comprises seventeen coils as will be seen from Fig. 1, but it will be appreciated that this member may vary and will be dependent upon the required temperature drop between the inlet pipe 2 and the outlet pipe 4. In use, the pipe coil 6 will be placed in a coil container containing a coolant medium such as water, the plate lid 8 resting upon the upper extremity of the container. The inlet pipe 2 is coupled to the flexible blow down hose on the boiler, and the receiving container is placed under the end of the outlet pipe extension 4A. The blow down valve of the boiler is then opened so as to release steam from the boiler. The steam then passes through inlet pipe 2 and through the coils of the pipe coil 6 so as to dissipate the latent heat in the steam-due to the coolant medum in which the pipe coil is located-the resultant heated water exiting into the outlet pipe 4 and thence into the receiving containers via the extension pipe 4A. A typical temperature drop between inlet and outlet will be 150"F to 200"F. Apparatus according to the invention is particularly applicable to portable steam boilers such as those used in the clothing industry, but it will be appreciated that the apparatus may be used with other forms of portable steam boilers. CLAIMS

1. Blowdown apparatus for use in cleaning a boiler comprising an inlet pipe-connected or for connection to the boiler, an outlet pipe and a pipe coil comprising a plurality of turns in fluid connection with the inlet pipe and outlet pipe.

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1 wherein the pipe coil is close wound.

3. Apparatus according to Claim 1 or 2 wherein said pipe coil is adapted to be located in a coolant medium during use of the apparatus.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1, 2, or 3 wherein the inlet and outlet pipes and the pipe coil are formed integrally.

5. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the inlet and outler pipes pass through and are attached to a plate lid, being a lid for application to a coolant container in which the pipe coils are to be located during use of the apparatus.

6. Apparatus according to Claim 5 further including a coolant container.

7. Blowdown apparatus for use in cleaning a boiler substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.