GB235752A - Improvements relating to steam generators - Google Patents

Abstract

235,752. Oddon, J. E. Aug. 30, 1924. Generating combustion products under pressure.-A steam boiler 1, Fig. 3, is heated by a number of internal-combustion chambers 8 in which combustion of a mixture of petrol vapour and air is effected under pressure within catalytic material consisting of asbestos fibre incorporating powdered platinum sufficiently spongy to allow circulation of the gases. The combustion chambers consist, as shown in Fig. 6, of an outer vessel 21 with vertical grooves and radiating ribs 23 and an inner vessel 27 comprising a wire gauze portion 24 through which air under pressure admitted through the pipe 12 passes to the space between the two vessels containing the catalytic material and into which space the fuel is admitted through the pipe 15. The combustion products escape through a pipe 28 passing through a feed water heater 30. The air supply tank 3 and petrol tank 4 are supplied with air under pressure bv a pump 6 and communicate with the heating elements by means of the pipes 12, 15 respectively passing through the boiler. The fuel and air supply is controlled by valves 44, 45 actuated by a lever 43 and link 66 connected to a corrugated elastic chamber 10 subjected to the pressure in the boiler, increase in pressure causing the chamber to collapse and close the valves. The link 66 is also connected by a lever 40 to the valve 42 in the steam outlet pipe 63 of the boiler in such a manner that upon an increase of pressure the valve 42 is opened to allow steam to escape. The pressure in the tanks and in the heating elements is regulated by the device shown in Fig. 5, consisting of a casing 68 divided by a diaphragm 50 into upper and lower chambers in communication with the air supply system and with the exhaust pipe 28 respectively. A drop in pressure of the air allows an elastic sleeve 53 to open the valve 55 and admit steam to the air pump to restore the pressure. When the pressure in the exhaust pipe tends to increase beyond the pressure in the tanks, the diaphragm 50 is raised and actuates a valve 52 to allow an increased discharge of combustion products. The petrol tank is filled through a three-way valve 14, allowing the tank to communicate either with the atmosphere, when it needs replenishing with fuel, or with the air pressure pipe 13. A float 11 in the boiler controls a valve 47 in a steam pipe 64 admitting steam to the feed pump 7. The boiler is bell-shape and attached at its open end to a base 2.