US121398A - Improvement in steam-boiler furnace-draught regulators - Google Patents

Description

PATENT EErOEG THOMAS H. MOORE, OF ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN STEAM-BOILER FURNACE-DRAUGHT REGULATORS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 121,398, dated November 28, 1871.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAs H. MOORE, of the city and county of Alexandria and State of Virginia, have invented a new and useful Automatic Draught-Regulator and Gas-Burner; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereon-sufficient to enable others skilled in the art to which my invention appertains to fully understand and to make and use the saine, reference being had to the accompanying forming part of this speciiication, and in which- Figure l is a longitudinal central sectional view ofthe smoke-arch and a portion of a boiler embodying my improvement, and Fig. 2 is a front view of the same, the door and head-plate being removed. l

The subject of this invention is adraught-regulator and gas-burner, principally intended for use in locomotives, but applicable and useful in all boilers where artificial draught is employed.

In locomotives as heretofore constructed the difficulty of securing and maintaining a proper and uniform draught, and of preventing the escape of heat and gas, have proved serious defects. The draught has been mainly carried near the bottom of the iire-box through the lower portion of the mass of burning fuel, while the draught should be principallyr directed over the top of the re in order to secure the greatest ei'ect.

Then again, a large proportion of the heat from the re has been allowed to escape through the smoke-stack, thus not only being wasted, but burning out the damper, spark-arrester, and other exposed parts in a very short space of time. Much of the gas has been permitted to pass from the furnace and find an exit at the stack because there has been nothing, or, at best, insufficient appliances, to check its progress and keep it where it must ignite and be consumed.

The object of my invention is to avoid the defects referred to by means of appliances which shall be automatic 5 and to this end it consists in a partition situated in the smoke-arch between the front flue-sheet and the exhaust-pipes, and provided with openings which are 'covered by valves, the said valves being so applied as to open and close automatically under the action of the exhaust. It also consists in the provision, in combination with the above, of a door covering the upper part ofthe partition, and operated from the house by means of suitable connections for permitting the outward passage of smoke when the lire is iirst started and when the en gine is not in motion. Finally, the invention consists in a deiiector secured to the rear side of the perforated partition, and extending backward and inclined downward nearly or quite to the front flue-sheet, just above the upper iiues, whereby a direct' draught through the iiues and the openings in the partition is created.

I will now proceed to describe the invention in detail.

Referring to the drawing, in which similar letlers of reference indicate like parts in the two figures, A represents the smoke-arch; B, the front nue-sheet; C, the fines, D, the exhaustpipes 5 and E, the stack of a locomotive. a at may represent the pipes which conduct steam to the steam-chests, which, with the cylinders and valve-boxes, are shown in Fig. 2. F may represent the iron fra-me of the locomotive. As all the-se parts are or may be of the ordinary construction, they will need no further description here. My invention necessitates no change in these parts, except, perhaps, in some instances, a slight enlargement ofthe space between the exhaust-pipes and front flue-sheet. Between the exhaust-pipes and front nue-sheet is tightly fitted a partition, G, provided with a number of openings, b, fitted with valve c opening into the smoke-arch. These valves may be of various kinds, but must be capable ofautomatic operation. I have shown circular plates of metal secured, in some cases, by means of springs d, and in others hinged, as at c, so as to fall by gravity. If desired, ball or cup-valves working in cages may be employed. The valves c may be hung vertically, as shown, or they may be iitted on inclined seats and ground. In the upper part of the partition G is an opening, j', rather larger than the orifices b, and provided with a door, g, which, in practice, is arranged with suitable connections to be operated from the house.` To the rear side of the partition may be secured a deiiector, h, extending entirely across, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, and backward, as seen in Fig. l, to or nearly to the front flue-sheet, and inclined downward to a point just above the upper 'line of nues. This deflector prevents the gases and smoke from rising to the upper part of the space between the partition and flue-sheet, Which would make it more difcult to draw the saine through the openings in the partition.

Thev operation is as follows, viz.: Vhen the fire is started the door g is opened to permit the escape of the smoke toward and into the stack. This door is kept open until steam is generated and the engine is put in mot-ion. As the exhaust now commences its action there is no further neeessity for keeping the door g open, and it is accordingly closed. At each action of the exhaust creating a vacuum or partial vacuum in the smoke-arch the valves covering the openings in the partition G will all open to a certain extent, according to the strength of the exhaust, thus maintaining a uniform draught through the flues and directly over the top of the fire. It is known there is very little smoke except when fresh fuel is supplied, and this smoke escapes when the valves c are open. As the exhaust ceases the valves close instantly, either by gravity or by the elasticity of the spring connection, as the case may be, and this reaction throws back the gas into the furnace, where it is ignited and consinned, air being supplied in the usual manner.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The valves c, adapted to open and close automatically under the action ofthe exhaust, and operating to regulate the draught and prevent the escape of gas from the furnace, substantially as described.

2. A partition, G, situated between the front Hue-sheet and the exhaust pipes, and provided with openings covered by valves adapted to open and close automatically under the action of the exhaust, substantially as herein described, for the purpose specified.

3. In combinations with openings and valves b c in the partition G, an opening, f, in the upper part of said partition, and provided with a door, g, arranged and opera-ting substantially as described, for the purpose specied.

4. A deiiector, 7L, constructed and arranged. substantially as shown and described, with relation to the partition G, its openings and valves, and the Hue-sheet and lues, for the purpose set forth. y

To the above specification of my invention I have signed my name this 18th day of May, 1871.

THOS. H. MOORE.

Witnesses:

GEO. W. Ro'rHWELL, EDM. F. BROWN.

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