US1177220A - Method of and apparatus for washing and refilling locomotives. - Google Patents

Description

D. L. WINTERS. METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR WASHING AND REFILLING LOCOMOTIVES.

LICATI0N FILED MAY 29.1915.

Patented Mar. 28, 1916.

4 SHEETS SHEET I.

D. LIWINTERS. METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR WASHING AND REFILLING LOCOMOTIVES.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Lave 159",

@W kwy w 0. L. WINTERS METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR WASHING AND REFILLING LOCOMOTIVES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 29.1915.

Patented Mar. 28, 1916.

4 SHEETSSHEET 3- I e 5,; ja 0%.; 532022516,

D a 0 D D D a U 0 h I 0 a a u D. L. WINTERS. METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR WASHING AND REF ILLING LOCOMOTIVES. 1,177,220.

APPLICAHON FILED MAY 29. I915.

4 SHEETSSHEET 4- Patented Mar. 28, 1916.

N am Mb mm ah QQN UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DAVID Ii. WINTERS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR WASHING AND REEILLING LOCOMOTIVES.

To all whom it mag concern: Be 1t known that I. DAVID L. WINTERS, a

. citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, .have invented a new and useful Improvement in Methods of and Apparatus for Washing and Refilling Locomotives, ofv which the following is a specification.

It is necessary in the operation of locomotives that the boilers thereof be cleaned at intervals of the accumulations therein of mud, or the like from the water used, and according to common practice the boiler is. washed after blowing down, with a mixture of. blowotf and fresh water at a safe temperature for handling, and is then refilled with a like mixture or 'with fresh water to which has been added, when possible, the heat units contained in the blowofi steam from the boilers to be washed and refilled. Conditions presented in practice necessitate the blowing down of locomotives without loss of time when the washing of the boiler becomes necessary, with the result that large quantities of theheat units containedin the blowoff steam are wasted, due to the fact that the number of locomotives being blown down often greatly exceeds the, number being-refilled, this being a well known and recognized condition during the morning hours in all locomotive terminals. In the natural order of events these conditions are of course reversed later in the day, and since an amount of fresh water equal/to at least the amount of blowofl' water used for wash-s ing purposes must be-added tothe refilling water to return the washed locomotives to service conditions, large quantities of live steam in present practice are used to maintain the temperature of the refilling water at this time when. in the usual order of events, the number of locomotives being refilled, greatly exceeds the number "being blown down, and a suflicient quantity of blowoif- :i steam for this purpose is, therefore; not available.

Under normal conditions, the amount of water blown off at any locomotive terminal during each twenty-four hours will be anproximatel-y the amount required to refillthe same or alike number of other locomotives. and my primary obiect, as to one of the features of my invention. is to provide, by the exclusive use of this bl-owofl' water to refill locomctive boilers. a novel method of, and a novel, simple and inexpensive appa- Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Mar. 28, 1916. Application filed May 29,

1915. Serial No. 31,251.

ratus, for refilling locomotive boilers with soft, clarified and superheated water, without the use of any live steam.

In common practice the exhauststeam from the washout and refillingcpumps is discharged directly into the mass of refilling water, and this of necessity is totally wasted at all times during which blowolfsteam is being supplied in excessive quantities, and partly wasted at all other times, due to heat radiation from the mass of re .filling water.

Another and important object of the method and apparatus herein'described, is to provide for the immediate and complete utilizatim of the exhaust steam from the washout and'refilling pumps,- as follows: l irst. To heat the washout water, which is. obtained from an outside source and re-used, preferably for the same purpose. Second. To superheat the refilling water during the passage of same'through the refilling main. Third. To maintain the temperatures in the washout and refilling mains at all times.

The important economies and advantages effected by the use of-the method and appa ratus herein described are as follows: First. The exclusive use of the blowofi water for refilling locomotive boilers, since it is daily supplied by the locomotives in substantially the amount required, at the temperature required, and accompanied always by more than sufficient steam to compensate for heat lost by radiation during clarification, eliminates the necessity-as encountered in common practice,'for the use of fresh water and livesteam in refilling boilers, together with the complicated and expensive apparatus required to'automatically regulate the use of said live steam. Second. The use of exhaust steam from the washout pump to heat washout water from an-outside source, since the proportions of steam and water may be readily changed bvincreasinq or diminishing the pressure in the washout main bymeans of the pump governor usuallv emploved and since these prop rtions will remain constant. irrespective of the amount of water used. eliminates the necessity as encountered in common practice for the mixture of blowofi and fresh Water-for this purpose. together with the complicated and expensive autcmatic or manually controlled valves to regulate or change the relative supply cf hot and cold water. Third. The use of the "exhaust steam from the refilling 1 pumps to superheat the refilling water dur ing the passage of same through therefilling main, sin'ce'this steam can be introduced into said main irrespective of the tempera- 5 ture of the refilling water, eliminates the total .or partial waste of this 'steam as employed in. present practice, and secures to the particular locomotive being restored to service, the greatest amount of heat avail--' able from both the blowofi and exhaust steam. Fourth. The still further use of the small amount of exhaust steam available from both the washout and refilling pumps at intervals duringwhich locomotives are neither being washed nor filled, for the pur-' pose of maintaining the temperatures in the washout and refilling mains, eliminates the necessity. as employed in present practice, of

. continually circulating the water in the mains, and of a comparatively great consumption of live steam to operate the pumps the storage tank, the contents of which .will

not be agitated by eitherthe blowofl' water or steam from'the. locomotives, and through which the stored jblowofi; waterwill gradually work its way front the place of entrance to the place of usein a prescribed course that will effectually prevent an *accumulation of dead water in the lower portions of the compartments, the contents of which are not subjected to the agitating action of the blowofl' products. termediate compartment, where oil, grease, and other lighter foam-causing impurities willcollect on the undisturbed surface of the stored water, I provide a simple skimming device to remove these impurities pe-' '50 riodicallv, and at the same time the'heavier impurities are being removed from this, and

' a valved conduit. v i

Referring to the accompanying draw ings, wherein I have illustrated anapparatus suitable for carrying out my improved method and constructed in accordaficewith from the other compartments by means of my invention--Figure 1 is a plan view of the apparatus,-- showing it in connection with CO I .vation, partly sectional,- of the terminal-of b w-01f p -1. .a t aezuslr '-wh .tl rs fi In the inthe piping, which would be located in theroundhouse'; Fig. 2 is ai'view in elevation of the apparatus. the water receptacles be-I ing shown in section; Fig. 3 is a view in eie water'and steam are discharged into the apparatus; Fig. 4 is a similar viewof a.

device'for superheating the refilling water by the exhaust from the refilling pump, a part of the wall of the storage tank being shown in section; Fig. 5 is a view in vertical sectional elevation of a'- device for skimming the surface of the water discharged from the locomotive; Fig. 6 is a section taken at the line 6 on Fig. 5, and viewed in the direction of the arrow; Fig. 7 is a plan view of the bottom of the tank into which the blowofi' water and steam are discharged for storage; and Fig. '8, a view similar to Fig. 2 of a modification of the apparatus of the preceding figures.

5} represents a tank shown to be of generally .cylindrical shape in cross-section, with a hopper-shaped bottom 9, this tank being preferably formed of heat non-conductlng material, as for example, wood, and containing a removable and replaceable lining 1 also of Wood, but not Watertight,

held out of contact with the outer wall of the tank, by ineans of spacers 11, whereby additional insulation 'is provided between the walls 8 and 10 to reduce radiation and to protect the permanent outer walls against. damage by steam. The tank 8, in accord-- ance with the preferred embodiment of my invention, is divided into three chambers, 12, 13, and 14, by partitions 15 and 16, composed of heat-conducting material in the tank 8. The partition 15 passes through,

thecenter ofthe tank, theneby causing the chamber 12 to'be oflsubstantiallyone-half the size of theen'tire tank; and the partition 16 extends atright angles to the partition 15 and divides the remainder of the tank into the twochambers 13 and 14, preferably. of the same size and each comprising about-one-half the capacitv of the chamber 12. The, bottom of thetank 8 contains three openings, 17, 18.'and "'19, which communicate, respectively, with the chambers 12, 13 and Hand open into a drain-pipe 20, having a valve 21' for a'purpose hereinafter stated.

In the operation of the apparatus as here- 'inafter explained, the blowofi water and 'steam'from the locomotive to be emptied is introduced into the receiving chamber 12, and the water for refilling the locomotive is drawn from the, chamber 14, the partition ,15 and the partitionv 16 between .the " chambers 12, 13 and 14 being perforated at their upper and lower ends respectively, as represented at 29 and 30, whereby water flows from the chamber 12' thence into the cham -'ber 13 and" from this last-referred-to chamber into the chamber 14.

The blowoff pipe for conducting the steam and water blown ofi'from the locomotive to the apparatus is represented at 22,

this pipe representingthati which is usually provided in the roundhouse, and which in )ractice is rovided with the necessar connections for attaching it to a locomotive boiler. This pipe is connected with a pipe 23 which COHHQCtS'WllZlI a pipe 24 located vin the chamber 12 and opening into a T- 1 into the lower part of the chamber 12.

In accordance with the preferred embodiment of my invention, the fresh, relatively cold water, which must be supplied to the apparatusunder the conditions presentedin practice, is supplied to be used for washing out the boiler, and to raise its temperature to that at which it may be safely used, I employ the following described construction:

This construction involves a tank 31, shown" as located in the chamber 12, the lower end of this tank being closed by a wall '32, and its upper end being open.) A pipe 33 communicates at one end with the bottom of the tank 31 and opens at its opposite end into the suction-end of a pump 34 for pumping wash-water to the locomotive, as here-- inafter described, the pipe 33 containing two T- couplings 35 and 36 and, intermediate these, a valve 37. A pipe 38 connects at one end with the tank 31, near the upper end of the latter, and at its lower end with the Tcoupling 36, this pipe containing a valve 39. The water service supply pipe for furnishing fresh water to the apparatus and which would lead from any desirable source, is represented at 40, the lower end of this pipe opening into the T-coupling 35 between the tank 31 and the valve 37. The tank 31,

near its upper end, is provided with a spout 41:, this spout being arranged above the normal water line in the chambers 12, 13 and 14, and provided with a check-valve42 opening outwardly from the tank 31, for a purpose. hereinafter explained. y In the operation of the apparatus as hereinafter more fully described, the wash-water is drawn intothe pump 34 from the pipes 33, and 38, thereby drawing Water from the tanl'r31, and to maintain the water-in this tank at the desired level above the point at which the pipe 38 communicates with the interior of the tank 31, I provide the pi 3e 40 with; a valve represented diagrammatically at 43, connected'with a lever 44 I'ulcrumed,

as indicated at 45, op a'bracket 46 carried by the casing of the valve 43, oneendlof'this levep-being connected through the medium of a rod 47, with a float 48, and its opposite end carrying a counterweight 49; The parts just described are so proportioned that should the water in the tank 31lower, the float 48 will descend andopen the valve 43, which permits more water to enter the tank 31by way of the pipe 40 and 33. The tank 3-1conta1ns a pipe 50 supported in dependsteam from the pump will discharge through the perforations 51 in the pipe 50, into the water in the tank 31, thereby heating it. The discharge end of the pump 34 is connected with a pipe 55 which, in accordance with common practice, is connected with a pipe 56 extending around the roundhouse and provided with taps (not shown) for connection with thejusual wash-nozzle eynployed, which, in accordance with common practice, is constricted.

The pump for pumping refilling water to the locomotive is represented at 26, the suction end of the pump being connected with a pipe 57 which opens through the wall of the tank 8 into a pipe 58 of larger diameter, the latter being perforated, preferably throughout its entire length, as represented, and preferably arranged in an inclined position with its upper end above the normal water level, represented at a, and its lower end below the minimum water level, .repre sented at ;1 the discharge end of the pump 26 being connected with a pipe 59 whlch connects with a pipe (30 arranged in the roundhouse 1n accordance w th common practice and provided with taps whereby it may be connected with the locomotive her 14, the lower end of this pipe, which is perforated, as indicated at 64, extending into the pipe 58 at the upper end of the latter and spaced therefrom as represented, the lower end of the pipe 62 by preference being closed by a cap 65.

It will be understood from the foregoing that when the refilling pump 26 is operated the exhaust steam therefrom will pass through the pipe 62, discharging through the perforations 64- therein into the Water which passes into the pipe 58 through the perforations therein, which serves very effectually to super-heat the refill-Water in its passage to the pump 26.

A description of the operation of the apparatus, inso far as it has been described, is as follows, assuming that the chambers 12, 13, and 14 are filled with hot water to at least the minimum water .line 3/. The water and steam blowofi' pipe of a boiler (not shown) to be emptied, washed and refilled, is connected with the pipe 22, and the hot water and steam in the boiler discharged therethrough and through the pipes 23 and 24, the pipe 24 being preferably of considerably larger diameter than the pipe 23. The

steam and waterupon entering the pipe 24,

loses lnueh fi its ressure, and is discharged through the perforations in the pipes 28 into the lower portion of the chamber 12.

In the chamber 12, which receives the muddy blowofl' water, as-stated, the initial operation of settling the mud out of the water takes place, the water in partly clarified condition flowing through the openings 29 in ,the partition 15 and through the openings 30 in the partition 16 to maintain the same water level in'all three. of these chambers, the chamber 13, according to the sequence of operation, being a supplemental chamber, and the chamber 14 being what heated condition. a

- In the operationof' the apparatus lt 1S.

may be termed, a final storage chamber,

from which the clarified wateris drawn for' refilling the locomotives. A portion of the blowoflt steam discharged into the chamber 12 after passing upwardly through the water therein and heating it'practically to the boiling point, escapes into the chambers" 13 and 14 above the water level therein, this being made possible by having these tanks open one into'the other at their upper ends,

as through the medium of the. perforations 29 and opening 26' in the partition 15 be- 7 tween the chamber 12, and the chambers 13 and 14. The steam blown off from the loco-- motive is of such volume that it is impracticable to trap all of it in the tank 8, and accordingly, a vent is provided, this vent being provided with a pressure check-valve 66 of any suitable construction, which opens outwardly and operates, when the pressure of the steam above the'water in the tank 8 exceeds a predetermined degree, to permit the excess steam to discharge therefrom.

Steam, however, underipressure, re ulated to suit the condition presented, by adjusting thevalve 66, remains inthe upper portions of the three-chambers {253 123, and 14, and

serves to maintain the ffwater therein m intended that the waterforwashing out the boiler of the. locomotive be drawnin such proportions. from the upper end of the tank- 31, wherein the water is the hottest, and from the fresh water service pipe 40 in such; proportions, depending on'ci-rcumstances', as to cause the water supplied to the locomotive boiler to be of thedesired temperature, as

for example, between 120"and 130. degrees F vThe wash-out wateris supplied to the boiler of a locomotive by (geratmg the pumpv 34 which draws water our the upper endo the tank 31 through the pipe 38 and directly from the service pipe 40, forcing the water. thus drawn from these two sources through the p1pe 55 and pipe 56 to the boiler through the connections between the latter and the pipe 556. When the water in the tank 31 lowers the float 48 will descend, thereby opening the valve 43"and permitting fresh water to enter the lower end of the tank 31 through the pipes 40 'and 33 suflicient to maintain the desired level in the tank 31.

The water for refilling thelocomotive. boilers is drawn from the chamber'14 by operating the pump 26. through the perforated pipe 58, and thence The water' flowing' V through the pipe57 into'the' pump, where of the refill water if it was not already at the I boiling point, and causing, in the normal operation of the apparatus, the water to be mixed with steam, whereby the locomotive v,

boiler is supplied with water at above theboiling point by reason of the placing of the water under high pressure by the action of the pump 56, which produces a very desirable condition, inasmuch as the boilersmay be caused very quickly to produce steam of sufiicient' pressure. for running purposes. The chambers 13 and 14. are preferably of such dimensions that they will hold suflicient Water to refill the number of locomotive" boilers which under normal conditions will be refilled during twenty-four'hours, and

- thus the water which is refilled intothe locomotives in the ordinary operations of the apparatus will be given ample time for settling, whereby it.will be in properly clarified condition for reentering the boiler. I

By providing the three chambers, 12, 13, and 14, and introducingthe blowofi water and steam into the first 'fofithe three chambers, agitation [of th'ewater which may occur by the discharge of the blowofl water and-"steam into the apparatus,-is confined to the first" chamber and thus the water'in chambers 13 and,14 is not disturbed, with a,

manifest advantage. Certain ofthe difiiculties encountered in apparatus provided for this purpose are not due to the deficiency of heat units dischargedfrom the boiler in the blowoif operation, but to the fact that the heat thus} furnished is not properly conserved. it According to my invention the blowofi steam which, as stated, above, isprovided in large quantities, is caused to be discharged into a relatively large body or water for refilling purposes/which. holds its heat for a relatively long t1me,-not only because of the insulating feature of the tank -may be further stated that when locomotives are blown ofi', and restored to service, "at comparatively short intervals, which is the commonlpractice, the trapping-of the steam in the upper part of the chambers 12, 13,

. and 14 insures the refilling of the locomotive boilers with water at the desired temperature, and under such conditions the introduction into. the refilling water as it passes tothe locomotive boiler, of exhaust steam from the pump 26, while desirable, is not necessary,-this-last referred to'feature of the apparatus presenting its greatest usefulvalved pipe connections 66 between i, the exhaust steam. from both 'ness where, for example, a number of locomotives are washed and refilled before a locomotive is blown down, which sometimes occurs, as for example, when locomotives are brought from the repair shops and filled, in

which case should the water in the chambers water in relatively cool condition, from a source other than the boilers of the locomotives. will be discharged into the tank 8, as

hereinafter described-- The provision of the valves 53', 6.3, and the the pipes 52 and 62, permit of the passage haust steam from elther of the pumps 34 and 26 to either the chamber 14 or 31, as

desired, should conditions in the apparatus render it advisable at any time to discharge into one chamber only.

In connection with the washout and refill mains I prefer to employmeanswhereby the water standing in these mains when the apparatus is not being operated, will be maintained at a desirable temperature, in order that the water first entering the 1000- motiveboiler in either-the washout or ress filling-operation will not injure the boiler.

This is effected by stringing a pipe 67 of relatively small diameter and in communication with the exhaust-pipe 52, through the a pipe and pipe'56, and the pipe 68 .of relatively small diameter 0 and connected with the pipe 62, through the pipes 59 and 60, these pipes, which are provided'with valves 70 and 71 respectively,

opposite ends of the blowoff pipe 22. The pipes 67 and 68 may be supplied with steam pipe 22 and pipe 23,

of the exof thesepumps being connected at-their ends with pipes 73, which open into the from any suitable source. It is preferred, however, that exhaust steam be used and that this be provided from the exhaustchambers of the pumps 34 and 26. This is a desirable arrangement, inasmuch as it is highly desirable that the pumps 34 and 26, which are automatically started and stopped by the'drop of pressure in the respective mains 55 and 59, caused by opening one or the other to supply water to the locomotive andthe reestablishment of back pressure in these mains by shutting them otffare allowed to slowly operate to avoid accumu ation of condensed steam-in the cylinders. '10 insure this creeping action of the pumps Iprovide by-passes 72 between the suction and discharge-water chambers of the pumps, and

I 68, there by maintaining the water in these pipes and the-- roundhouse pipes 56 and 60 connected therewith, at a desirable temperature, the condensed steam returning through and passing into the chamber 12, this being the course of the exhaust steam from the pumps 34 and 26 during the creeping operation thereof, inasmuch as the pressure of thissteam is insutficient to displace the water which would fill the lower ends of the pipes 52 and 62, where they extendinto the tank 31 a nd chamber 14 respectively. When, however, these pumps are operating to furnish water to a boiler, and the exhaust from these pumps is, therefore, under relatively great pressure, practlcally all of the steam will discharge into the tank 31 and chamber 14 respectively, in-

asmuch as the diameter of the pipes 67 and 68 is very small compared with the diameter of the pipes 52 and 62.

As hereinbefore stated, the water level in the tank 8 may drop below the minimum level 3 where a number of locomotives are refilled in succession and which have not previously been blown off into the storage tank, and in such case water from a source other than a locomotive boiler is introduced into the tank. In the particular arrangement shown, this is effected by means of a float 74, which also forms a part of the sk mmmg mechanism. hereinafter referred to, this float being connected by a cable 74 with a with the running over pulleys 75 and 76, weight 77 connected by a cable 78 lever 44, the heavy to partly counterbalance the float 74, and the float 74 being heavier than the weights 49 and 7 7. Thus, when the waterlevel 1n the tank'8 drops below that indicated at 3 thefloat 74 will lift the Weight 77 and rock the lever 44 on its fulcrum, which automatically opens the valve 43. This allows water from the pipe 40 torise in the tank 31, forcing its way pas shock I weight 77 being sufficiently ;matically closes.

The flat 74 is preferably provided with diametrically extending openings 74, which communicate with the central pipe 175, sliding 1n an upright stationary pipe 17 6 la secured in the chamber 13 and extending below the tank 9, where it is provided with a valve 177, accessibleto the operator, the pipe 176 communicating betweenits ends with a the water, the valve 177 being providediorthe purpose of permitting the operator to determine whether or not the float 74 maintains the necessary position in the water for pipe 178, which has a downturned end open mg through the bottom 9 of the tank and into the pipe 20. I disposed that the water in which the float 73 1s .partiallysubmerged will extend at its upper surface substantially central of these openings, and thus when the wily 21 is opened, for apurpose hereinafter expl the surface water and ined, floating impurities 74, passing down through the pipes 175, 176 and 78, and discharglng into the pipe 20, thus skimming the upper surface of the water of oil,.,gre'ase, or other floating impurities on the surface of skimming the surface thereof.

From time to time, it is necessary thatthechambers 12, 13, and 14 be cleared of the in its accumulations of mud or other vparticles which have settled from the blowofi' water; passage through these chambers, this beingeifected by openi g the valve 21, which permits the accumulations 1n the bottomof .these chambers to' be flushed therefrom and discharge into any suita paratus, fresh water on through the openings 17, 18, and 19, and the.

material skimmed fromthe upper'surface of the water to pass thrdu h the pipe 90 le drain. Thus the material, such as mud, which gravitates to the bottom of .the chambers, and the floating im urities skimmed from the upper sunthe water therein, are caused to dis the single Another reason why it is advantageous to use, imthe normal 0 erationbf the apy'ior washout purposes, as distinguished from introducing fresh water into the water .tobe refilled into Me n treated, .at relatively great *e'xpense, necessary. While onthe other hand such .the locomotive, arises from the .fact that chemical treatment of the water where the "supply'of fresh water available for use in connection withfthe apparatus is of a kind that, before lt can ,be used in. generation water may, withperiect safety, as

.washwa-ter:

The holes 74' are so the tank 31 and the located outside-of the housing and the pipe It will from tli -fomgoing locomotive boilers is}: h

that the scope of my invention is not limited to the combining of the washout and refilling units as shown in this, my preferred construction, and that the washout unit can be operated entirely separate from the refilling water, without the necessity of changing unit as described. The advantages derived A either the pressure or volume of this water at the point of use. It will also bei 'readily understood that while I purposely omit the separation of the blowofl steam from the blowofl water in the usual manner and the use of this steam in -chamber 14, it is ,because the normal temperature of this water, due to contact with heat conducting partition 15'an d'with surplus steam,'will remain at or near the boiling point, and that it is clearly within the scope of my invention to utilize this, or any other welkknown and common. form of heater in chambers .13 and .14 where unusual'conditions warrant the additional cost thereof.

The tank 31 is-by preference located in a position, as for example, that stated, wherein 1t will be subjected by radiation to the heat of the blowofl" water and steam which undersome conditions may be 'found to be.

' steam, to position the tank 31 where its con-' tents will notbe heated by radiation, from the blowofi' water and steam. Such a modification of the apparatus is'illustrated in Fig. 8, wherein the elements of the apparatus are'thesame as in'the preceding-figures and bear theisamenumerals, excepting that float-controlled valve are 40 instead of connecting with the heater 31 at a point between the latter and the pump 34 connects with a cqu-pling 40* which opens into. the

pipe communicating with the lower end of the heater '31 and opening'int'o the coupling 36. Furthermore other suitable,

forms of apparatus may rying out my invention, apparatus is concerned or a be employed incarand in so far as the other modifications ditions ,may, be made therein within ,the spiri of my inr ln'tioh', and within the of he appended-claims.

at Lelaim as and desire to secure L ts'latentiis. it. The method 0 hing and refilling l ists in storing the Water blown off from the boilers, washing the boilers with waterother than the blowoif water, tempered to the desired degree, and refilling the boilers With'water, utilizing the stored blo'wofi' Water for this purpose only. i y j V 2. The method of washing and refilling locomotive boilers which consistsin storing water blown off. from the boilers, washing the boilers with Water other than the blowoff watertempered to the desired degree, re filling the stored blowofi water for this purpose only, blowofi' water in its passage to the boilers, steam for superheating the water.

3. The method of washing and refilling locomotive boilers which consists 1n storlng the water blown off from the boilers, Washlng the boilers with tempered water other than the blo voif water, and refilling the. boilers with the blowoif water first intro-' duced into the storage tank,

4. In apparatus of the character set forth, thef combination of a plurality of waterchambers, including an intermediate chamber, means forcausing the first one of the chambers of said series to communicate with the. intermediate chamber near the top of thelast referred tochambenmeans for causing the intermediate, chamber to com-municate "with the last one 'of the'chambers of said series near the bottom of said last reblowofi water pumping Water 'ferred to'chamber, means for introducing blowoff water from a boiler being emptied, into the first one of the chambers of said series, and means fer conducting'water from the last one of the chambers of said series to a boiler for refilling purposes.

5. In apparatus of the character set forth, the, combination of a. tank provided with metal partitions dividing it into a plurality .of water chambers in successive communication with each ducing blowofi water from the boiler of a other, means for introloco'motive'to be emptied, intothe first chamber of said series, and means for conducting Water from the last one of the chambers of said series to a boiler for refilling purposes, said metal partitions serving to conduct heat from the boiler-water introduced.

Into said first chamber, to the Water in said other chambers.

6. In apparatus ofthe combination of the character set forth, a chamber forstoring from a boiler, means for from said chamber into a locomotive boiler to fill it, and means for introducing steam; into the refill-water during its passage to. the boiler.v

In apparatus of the character setforth,

the combi ation of a chamber for storing blowoff water from. a boiler, means for' Water from said chamber into a pumping locomotive boiler to boilers with Water, utilizing the pipe into the water in said forth, storing blowoflt' Water from a boiler of a loother than the bloWoff Water, discharging water from said conduit into a.

fill it, and means for subjecting the refill-water in its passage to theboiler, to the exhaust steam from said pumping means.

8. In apparatus of the character set forth, the combination of a chamber for storing the blowolf water from the boiler of a locomotive, a pipe in communication with' the storage water closely adjacent to the level of the water, means for discharging the stored 'blowoff water into a boiler to be filled, and means for introducing steam into the portion of the water into which the said pipe opens. g

9. In apparatus of the character set forth, the combination of a chamber for storing blow off water from a locomotive boiler, aperforated pipe extending into'said chamber with its perforations closely adjacent to the level of the water, means connected with said pipe for discharging water from said chamber into a boiler to be filled, a pipe extending into said first named pipe and submerged in the \vater'therein, and means for introducing steam through-said last-named first-named pipe.

10. In apparatus of the character set forth, the combination of a chamber for storing blowofl water from a boiler of a locomotive, than blowofi' water fromJzhe boiler, to a boiler to be washed, means for heating the washwater, with blowofi' water from said chamber.

11. In apparatus of the character set forth, the combination; of a chamber for storing'blowofi' water from a boiler of a locomotive, means for supplying to a locomotive-boiler washwater, other than *said blowofl .Water, means for subjecting to blowoff product heat the water to be used for washing, and means for filling a boiler with Water from said storage-chamber.

12. In apparatus of the character set forth, the combination of a chamber for storing blowofi Water from a boiler of a'lo-.

means for supplying water, other and means for refilling a boiler comotive, a conduit exposed to blow-oil product heat, means for supply water other than the blowoft' Water to said conduit, means for discharging water from said conduit into a boiler for ashing it, and means for filling a boiler with Water from said storage chamber.-

13. In apparatus of the character setv the combination of a chamber for comotive, a conduit supplied with Water 1 means for locomotive boiler to wash it, a steam-pipe opening into said conduit. and means for discharging steam through said pipe into said conduit.

-14. In "apparatus of the character set forth, the combination of a chamber for storing blowoif water from a boiler of a le- -comotive, a tank positioned to be subjected.

to blow off-product heat, means forsupplying said tank with water other-than the blowoff water, means for discharging water from said tank into a locomotive boller to wash it, a pipe extending into, and opening into said tank, means for supplying steam to said pipe for discharging into said tank,

forth, the combination of a blow-off pipe for receiving the blowofi'" contents of a boiler to. be washed and refilled, a tank for receiving the blowoif water, a conduit con-, f

nected with a Water supply, a steam-operated pump for discharging water through said conduit into the boiler of a locomotive,

said conduit being filledwith Water at all times, means for continuously operating said pump, means in communication with the I heating the water confined in said conduit,

tank. w v 18. In apparatus of the character 'detive boiler to refill the latter,

and means for conveying into said tank the surplus steam Which is notcoridensed in the heatin of the water in the said conduit.

17. n apparatus of the character set forth, the combination ofa chamber for storing blowoff water from aboiler of a locomotive, a tank adapted to be supplied with: water other than the blowofi' Water, a steam-pump for pumping wash-Water to a locomotive boiler, from said tank, means pump during the washing operation, into the water in of'the water in said chamber, into a lecomoand means for conducting the exhaust steam from said refillpump during the refilling operation into the scribed, the combination of a steam operated pump to supply washing water to a locomosource of supply to said pump andfrom said pump-to said'boiler, a water-pressure goviernor to regulate the pressure of water'and consumed, and means in said water main to chamber. exhaust steam-chamber of the pump'for said tank, a refill steam-oper ated pump for-pumping the upper portion upper portion of the water in saidwater froma b il r,

e refilling purposes. tivegboiler, a water malnleadmg from a utilize the heat units in the exhaust steam from-said pump to' heat said washing water during the use thereof. g

19. In apparatus of the character set forth, the combination of a pipe for conducting 'heated'water to a locomotive boiler, and a pipe in said first-named pipe of smaller external diameter than the internal diameter of the latter, and means for supplying steam to said second-named pipe whereby the water in said water-pipe is maintained atall times in heated condition.

20. In apparatus of the character set forth, the combination of a chamber for storing blow-off water from boilers, means for pumping water from the upper portion of the body of water in saidchamber into locomotive boilers to fill "them, and means for subjecting the-refill water. in its passage -to the boilers to the pumping means.

21. I forth, the combination "of a. chamber for storing blow-off water from boilers, means blow-01f water, into boilers to "wash them, means for subjecting the wash-water to blow-ofi"-product heat and x exhaust steam from said pumping means, and means for refilling 'forth, the combination of a chamber for storing blow-0H water from boilers, means i I passage" to the boilers, to the heat in theflexfor dlscharging the exhaust'steam from said 1 chambers, in successive communication with each other at different elevationsin alternate arrangement, whereby a sinuous course for the water passing through said charfibers is. provided, means for introducing, blow-01fv first one of said series of chambers, and means for conductingv water from the last one of said series of 2 5. In apparatus of the character set forth, the combination of ase'riesvof comexhaust steam from said n apparatus of the character set or pumping wash-water, other than the the boilers with waterfrom said 22. In apparatus of the character 'set' to be'emptied, into the chambers to a boiler'for I muni'cating.water-chambers, means for introducing blow-off water from a boiler, to be-emptied, into one of said chambers", means the other of refilling purposes,

for conducting blow-oil" water from one of I I said chambers to a boiler for and means forcausing steam from a boiler being emptied to enter -the upper portions of the chambers, above the water therein.

26. In apparatus of the character set forth, the combination of a series of waterchambers in successive communication with each other at different elevations in alternate arrangement, whereby a sinuous course for the water passing through said chambers is provided, means for introducing blow-01f water from a boiler to be emptied, into the first one of said series of chambers, to a boiler for refillin purposes, and means for causing steam rom a boiler being emptied toenter the upper portions of said chambers beyond the first one of the series thereof, above the water therein.

27. In apparatus of the character set forth, the combination of a series of waterchambers in successive communication with each other at different elevations in alternate arrangement, whereby a sinuous course for the Water passing through said chambers is provided, means for introducing the blow-oif-products from a boiler to be emptied, into the first one of said series of chambers, means for conducting the water from the last one of said series of cham bers to a boiler for refilling purposes, and means for causing the excess steam in the first chamber of said series to enter the other of said chambers above the water levels therein.

28. In apparatus of the character set forth, the combination of a tank provided With metal partitions dividing it into a plurality of Water-chambers in successive communication with each other, means for introducing the blow-otf-products from a boiler, to be emptied, into the first chamber of said series, means for conducting Water from the last one ofthe chambers of said series to a boiler for refilling purposes, said metal partitions serving to conduct heat from the blow-oflf products introduced into said first chamber to the water in said other chambers, and means providing communi cation between said first-chamber and the others thereof above the water'levels therein, whereby excess steam in the blow-off water rising from the latter in said first chamber spreads into the top portions of all of the other chambers 29. In apparatus of the character set forth, the combination of a chamber for storing blow-off water from the boiler of a locomotive, means for supplying water other than blow-off water, from the boiler, to a boiler to be washed, means for heating the wash-water, means for refilling a boiler with blow-off water from said chamber, and

means for skimming the accumulations on the upper surface of the stored boiler-water. 30. In apparatus of the character set forth, the combination of a chamber for storing blow-off water from the boiler of a locomotive, means for supplying water, other than blow-oil water from the boiler, to a boiler to be Washed, means for heating the wash-water, means for refilling the boiler with blow ofi water from said chamber, and means for simultaneously effecting discharge of accumulations from the upper and lower portions of the stored water.

31. In apparatus of the character set forth, the combination of a chamber for storing the blow-ofl water from the boiler of a locomotive, means for supplying water,

other than blow-oil water from the boiler to the boiler to be washed, means for heating the'wash-Water, means for refilling the boiler with blow-off water from said chamber, and means for maintaining a minimum water level in said chamber.

32. In apparatus of the character set forth, the combination of a plurality of water-chambers, including an intermediate chamber, means for causing the first one of the chambers of said series to communicate with the intermediate chamber near the top of the last referred to chamber, means for causing the intermediate chamber to communicate withthe last one of the chambers of said series'near the bottom of said last referred to chamber, means for introducing blow-ofi' water from a boiler being emptied, into the first one of the chambers of said series, means for conducting water from the last oneof the chambers of said series to a boiler for refilling purposes, and means for maintaining a minimum Water level in said first chamber. V PAVID L. WINTERS.

In resence of-' C. THORSEN, O. C. Avrsvs;

Copies of an pltentmy be obtained for live cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents,

- Washington, D. 0."

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