US1667112A - Locomotive boiler - Google Patents

Description

1,667,112 C. G. HAWLEY LocoMoTIvE OILER April 24, 1928.

Filed April 8. 1926 Patented Apr. Z4, 1928. l y i' UNITED- jsTA'rEs PATENT oFF1cE.-

CrrARLEs 'GILBnR-r RAWILEY, or CLEVELA A Nn, HIQ'ASSIGNCR ToLoCoMoTIvE FIRE- Box COMPANY, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, a CORPORATION oF DELAWARE.

LOCOMOTIVE BOILER. l f

appncatioalaicdnpm s, i926., serial Nq. `100,482.4

This invention relatesto improvements in locomotive boilers and it consists of the matters hereinafter.'described and more particularly pointed lout. in the Vappended `Claims. The primary object of the invention is to provide a simpleyand efficient means direct# ly associated with'the crown sheet and. flue sheet of they boiler which operates in that part of the fall in boiler-waterlevel, initially uncovering or exposing apart of said crown sheet adjacent theiiue sheet,'to limit the same to an area which lissafe in .pra-ca tice but will act to permit aleakage of a small amount of steam into the firebox, suiir cient to be observedin the nstoking of the lirebox, thereby informing theeireman of the actual Awater vlevel in the boiler irrespective of 'the level indicated by the usual water gages. s v

Ak further object of the invention Yisto provide in the crown sheet, between4 predetermined rows of g l Y extend longitudinally of the crown sheet and act as the water level'falls to `uncover the high spot or head of the crown sheet at the flue sheet end to limit such lspot .or area to one of small dimensionsl and about.l the stay bolts of which steam, escapes into thefirebox to be observed Vby the one 'stokingjthe kireboX.

These objectsof the invention as well as others, together with the many advantages thereof will more fully appear as I proceed with my specification.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view through the firebox end of a locomotive boiler embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section through the same as taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. i

Fig. 3 is a detail horizontal sectional view on an enlarged scale as .taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a detail vertical sectional View as taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3. f

ReferringV now in Vdetail to that embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanyingfdrawings -1 indicates the back or door sheet of the iirebox and 2 indicates the flue sheet thereof and forming a continuation of the flue sheet, is the inside throat sheet 3. The sides of the firebox are formed by the side sheets 4 4 and the top of the firebox is vformed bythe transversely arched or curved crown sheet 5 which stayV bolts channels which merges into the fireboxy side sheets 4 4. Said lside sheets andcrown Sheet extend between and are connected at their ends to the back sheet 4land flue and throat sheets 2 and 3 respectively', the crown vsheet being inclined upwardly from the back sheet toward the 'flue sheetso that its highest end orhead 6 is at the flue vsheet end thereof. f

n `The wrapper iof the boiler includes a roof sheet 7, a back head 8, outeriirebox sheets 9-9 and an outer throat sheet 10 togetherA with a boiler shell 11, all in the manner well known. The front and rearwater legs y12 and 13, and the side water legs 14-14 are all: closed at the bottom by a mud ring 15 while the bottom of the firebox is formed by the grate indicated by the dotted line 16`in Fig. 1., In the back head and back sheet respectively is formed the fuel door opening 17 and extending forwardly 'from the flue sheet@ are the fluesl or tubes 18 throughr which the products of combustion from'the rebox 4are drawn to the smoke box at the'front end lof the boiler (not shown) in the manner well known. The roof sheet and crown sheet are connected by the usual stay bolts l throat sheets 3anrd 10\and back sheets 1 and. 8 respectively. The construction justv described-'isl typical of' that type of locomotive boiler now in general use and need not be described in greater detail.

In locomotive practice the usual water level desired to be maintained, is such as to keep the'crown sheet submerged at all times. However, due tothe amount of water generated into steam for the intended purpose of thelocomotive, the water level (falls.

cate the levels of the water but such devices 19 as arethe side sheets 4 and 9,

are often inaccurate, not always due to any Y faulty construction therein, but to certain boiler conditions such as su'rgings and foamings` which will produce in the gage glasses, levels which do not correspond to the actual water level in the boiler. When the real water level falls below that point, good locomotive practice demands be. maintained, the first part of the crown sheet to be un covered thereby, is that point ofhighest elevation and which point is usually the head 6 of the crown sheet, which is located in the longitudinal median plane of the transversely curved crown sheet. Such a level as will uncover or expose this part of the 'A crown sheet is best indicated at 20 in Figs.

l and 4.

To maintain or limit. the uncovered or dry area of the crown sheet to one of as small dimensions as possible, I form in the crown sheet, longitudinal V-shaped chalinels 21H21, one on each side of and adjacent the median plane of the crown sheet, said channels increasing in width and depth from the rear toward the front where each channel terminates in an inclined front wall 22 adjacent the crown sheet, the bottom of each channel being arranged in a horizontal plane. A conduit or short pipe section 23 arranged in the tireboX, opens through the front end wall of each channel and flue sheet as best shown in Fig. 4.

As the water level recedes so as to uncover the head end of the crown sheet, where it is highest in elevation, the lateral edges of said uncovered and dry spot will be delined by portions of the channels which are filled with water, the conduits 23 preventing the trapping of the water at the front end of each channel andpermitting a better circulation of boiler water in this vicinity. The front end of said dry spot is delined by the front edge of the crown sheet, the rear edge of 'the dry area is delined by the water edge as best shown in Fig. 3 so that said dry spot is one of such area as may be uncovered with safety. 1

That part of the crown sheet, thus uncovered becomes exceedingly hot and will flex inwardly of the ireboX, thus pulling away from the stay bolts 19 within said dry spot or area so that steam will escape in small quantities about said stay bolts into the fireboX. Such a condition is instantly visualized by the fireman who will feed more water into the boiler to submerge the crown sheet head. lith the entire crown sheet submerged the danger of complete-fracture thereot'is eliminated but the locomotive is withdrawn from service at the lirst opportunity.

The channels in the crown sheet not only thus act to deline or limit the sides of said dry area but at the same time act to rigidit'y the crown sheet as is apparent.

iVhile in describing my invention I have referred to'certain 'details'of construction as well as form and arrangement of the parts thereof,A I do not wish to'be limited thereto except as'may be pointed out in .the appended claims.

I claim as my invention Y l. A locomotive boiler embodying therein, a firebox including a crown sheet and a flue sheet, said crown she'et'being formed lo provide channels'therein terminating short of the 'Hue sheet and a conduit opening at one end into the channel and at its other end through the Aflue' sheet.

2. A locomotive boiler embodying therein, a iireboX including astay bolted crown sheet and a flue sheet, said crown sheet being formed to provide longitudinal channels therein between adjacentrows of stay bolts, which channels increase in width and depth from the rear toward the front where they terminate in an inclined front wall adjacent the flue sheet and a conduit fixed at its ends in the front wallof each channel and in said flue sheet respectively. y i* In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, this 5th day of April, 1926.

` CHARLES GILBERT HAWLEY.

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