US1807473A - Siphon generator and circulator for locomotive boilers - Google Patents

Description

May '26, 1931. ca. H. EMERSON ET AL 1,307,473

SIPHON GENERATOR AND CIRCU'LATOR FOR LOCOMOTIVE BOILERS Filed Dec. 4, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Georg Wi Zl'urrn B.Whifs:'1t

y 1931- G. H. EMERSON ET AL ,807, 73.

SIPHON GENERATOR AND CIRCULATOR FOR LOCOMOTIVE BOILERS Filed Dec. 4 0 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Gear e H fmeraon. wlzztanfl Wax 1172225 WAMM G. H. EMERSON ET AL SIPHON GENERATOR AND GIRCULATOR FOR LOCOMOTIVE BOILERS &

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Filed Dec. 4 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 gwwmtpas:

Patented May, 26, 1931 1 UNITED STATES P ATENT OFFICE enonen n. EMERSON AND WILLIAM B. wm'r'srr'r, or BALTIMORE, MARYLAND SIIHON GENERATbR AN D CIRGULATOR FOR LOCOMOTIVE BOILERS Application filed December 4, 1930. Serial No. 500,121.

This invention relates to a siphon generator and waterci'rculator for locomotive boilers, desi ed for use in the fire-boxes of such boilers or increasing the steam generating 5 capacity of the boiler and promoting the circulation of the water between the various water containing parts ofthe boiler. More particularly the invention relates to a' slphon generator and water circulator which will into crease the steam generating area of the boiler to a material extent, while at the same time establishing a flow or" water between the side water legs and the water space above the crown sheet, so as to eflect a siphonic flow .15 of the water over the crown sheet to prevent any portion thereof from being damaged by heat when the water level is low and to pro mote a circulation of the water in the side water legs where thecirculation is normally W sluggish, so as to prevent the precipitation of mud and other solids on the mud ring and liability of mud burning and cracking of the fire-box sheets,

As is well known, a locomotive siphon is a device applied to the fire-box and sometimes to the combustion chamber of a locomotive boiler for the purpose of increasing the heating surface and at the same time acting as a protection to the crown'sheet, the rapid m circulation set up by the siphon causing an overflow of water onto the crown sheet, thus preventing the crown sheet from becoming overheated when the Water is low and pulling away from the staybolts. Ordinarily the 35 locomotive boiler crown sheet is positioned on an inclined plane, the highest point being at the forward end near the back flue sheet. Therefore, if the water level in the boiler falls below the proper height, the front part to of the fire-box or crown sheet will become un'- covered and, being subjected to the radiant heat in the fire-box, becomes overheated and the sheets are pulled away from the staybolts because of the internal pressure exerted. This dropping of the locomotive crown sheet sets up a very dangerous condition as a result of which a violent explosion may follow, with possible loss of life, due to the sudden flashingvinto steam oflarge quantities of hot wa- 0 ter under high pressure.

A type of locomotive siphon of the character referred to in common use is one comprising one or more transversely fiat, substantially triangular drop boxes or water chambers arranged within the firebox and having a longitudinally extending top outlet slot communicating with the water space above the crown sheet, the walls. of said outlet slot being defined by flanged walls of the water box which are fitted and welded in a similarly shaped opening cut in the crown sheet, the box having an inlet neck at the base of its front portion which is welded to the throat sheet and communicates with a lower part of the water containing space of the boiler formed by the front water leg. An objection to this type of siphon is that its inlet neck is of restricted cross-sectional area compared with the cross-sectional area of the body of the siphon, and as the upper rear portion of 1c the siphon body and the inlet neck are welded or otherwise attached to the crown sheet and throat sheet, respectively, the connections being rigid in order to make them suficiently strong to withstand the internal steam presas sure, such portions of the fire-box sheets and the siphon body and neck are prevented from having proper degrees of expansion and contraction under the internal heat and pressure and are subjected in service to such strains as $9 to cause within a comparatively short period of time cracks or fissures in the attached parts of the siphon which set up a dangerous condition in the fire-box. Accordingly frequent examinations and expensive repairs are re- 5 quired in order to keep the siphon in a safe working condition. Attempts have been made to overcome such objections to siphons constructed and attached in the manner described, by connecting siphon inlet tubes with the side water legs in order to secure greater flexibility of the connections, but these prior efforts for one reason or another have been without material success so far as we are aware.

One object of our invention is to provide a siphon steam generator and water circulator which is of such construction and so disposed in the fire-box and connected with the crown sheet and inside sheets of the side water legs 100 that a steam generating surface of greater area per size of fire-box than obtained by any type of siphon heretofore in use is not only produced, but expansion and contraction of .the walls of the siphon and connections between the same and the fire-box walls are more nearly equalized and the flexibility of such connections increased, whereby the siphon and its attached parts are relieved from excessive strains and the ready formation of cracks or fissures avoided.

A further object of the invention is to providea construction of the siphon body and arrang'ement of the same in the fire-box and connection of said siphon body with the side water legs through the use of flexible water tubes in such manner as to permit these parts to freely bend or flex so as to be relieved of undue pressures and strains, while at the same time effecting such a free circulation of the water between the side water legs and other water containing portions of the boiler as to prevent the undue deposit of mud-at the foo bottoms of the side water legs and the stated objections incident thereto.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter fully described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal section through the fire-box of a locomotive boiler embodying our invention, taken on line 1-1 of Fig-2.

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section Ehrough the fire-box taken on line 22 of ig. 3is a vertical longitudinal section. on line 33 of Fig. 2.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, 1 designates a locomotive fire-box of a standard type comprising a door sheet 2, fiue sheet 3, side sheets 1 and a crown sheet 5. The crown sheet is transversely arched or curved as usual and merges into the side sheets. Forming a continuation with the base of the flue sheet 3 is the inside throat sheet 6. The side sheets and crown sheet extend between and are connected at their ends to the door sheet 2 and flue and throat sheets 3 and 6, respectivel and the crown sheet extends in an mcline plane in an upward and forward direction, its highest point being at its forward end where it connects with the flue sheet. The wrapper of the boiler includes a roof sheet 7, a back head 8, outer fire-box sheets 9, and an outer throat sheet 10. The described parts of the fire-box and wrapper are arran d in the manner well known to providet e front water leg '11, rear water leg 12,

side'water legs 13, and the water space 14' between the crown sheet 5 and the roof sheet 7. The dotted line 15 represents the normal grate surface. The fire-box is secured to and supported from the outer wrapper or shell by means of the usual longitudinal and transas unessential to a proper disclosure of our invention. The construction so far described is typical of a type of locomotive boiler in general use and need not for that reason be described in greater detail.

Disposed within the fire-box is one or more siphon generators and water circulators embodying our invention, two of such generators and circulators being shown in the present instance, arranged on opposite sides of the longitudinal center of the fire-box and between the same and the fire-box side walls. Each of these siphon generators and water circulators comprises a trough-like body or box 16, which is closed at its bottom and each end and 0 en at its top. This trough-like body ma of the same depth throughout, from en to end thereof, and extends the major portion of the distance between the flue and door sheets. The trough is supported from the crown sheet 5 a-nd communicates at its top with the water space 14. In practice, the trough is preferably fitted and secured in position by cutting away a portion of the crown sheet to form'a receiving slot and fianging out the side and end walls .Verse rows of staybolts, not shown in detail of the trough at their up or edges, as shown at 17 and welding such anged out edges to the edge walls of the slot in the crown sheet, as indicated at 18. An; elongated passage 19 for the flow of water between the trough and water space 14 is thus provided, whereby, in the operation of the boiler, a constant siphonic flow of the water from the trough into the space 14 and over the crown sheet 5 is secured, so that in the event of the water falling below a normal working level in the boiler, and exposing a portion of the crown sheet, such portion will be protected by the siphonic flow from the trou h and overheating of the crown sheet by the heat from the fire-box efi'ectually prevented.

The trough 16 is sub'ected directly to the radiant heat-from the re-box and acts as a steam generator as well as a siphonic circulator whereby the steam generating area and capacity of the boiler are materially increased. In practice the trough may be of any suitable cross-sectional shape, but it is preferred to make it of greatest width at its ase and tapering therefrom radually and uniformly, and thus. diminishing in width, toward the passage 19. The sides of the trough thus converge from the trough bottom toward the flanged side edges 17, whereby the tendency of the upflowing water to be separated by the generated steam bubbles from the side walls of the trough is prevented and the water caused to flow in contact with such walls, thus preventing the same from being left bare and possibly overheated and damaged. These walls of the trough are united tee insane by staybolts whereby they are strength ened and reinforced to withstand the imthe boiler as a steam generator, and the described arrangement of the washout plugs posed strains. It will be observedthat this Lpermits of the ready and convenient removal til construction of the drop water trough reduces the size of the opening or openings necessary to be cut in the crown sheet'for the reception clothe trough or troughs employed, so that the crown sheet is not deprived of any great portion of its material and remains alst entirely intact and of unitary construction, so that the strength of the crown sheet is not impaired, and all the advantagesor a unitary sheet formation remains, includin the unbroken integral surfaces over whic the water y freely flow. The disadvantages of a non-unitary or builtup type of crown sheet are thereby eflectually avoided. w l

Each trough ibis connected at regular intervals throughout its length by water circulating tubes 21 with the water leg 13 at the contiguous side of the boiler. Thus the two water troughs 16 communicate through separate groups of tubes 21 with the water legs 13 at the opposite sides of the boiler. The tubes of each set communicate at their upper ends with the bottom of the trough 16 and at their lower ends with the water leg 13 at a desired low level above the level of the mud ring are fitted and rolled or headed into openings in the bottom of the trough 1d and side sheet 4.- and welded to the trough bottom and side sheet. By arranging these tubes so that they connect with the side water leg at a comparatively low level, the tubes may be bent so as to extend on a longitudinal curve of comparatively wide radius, thus adapting the tubes to bend order: easily and freely and to permit independent flexing motions of the crown and side sheets and walls of the troughs, without resistance from any of the parts oi the fire-box installation, thus overcoming the objections to prior siphons of the character described and any tendency of the fine-box walls, wamr troughs, or the connections between them to warp or crack.

The form, construction and arrangement of the troughs lfi'and tubes 21 are'such as to permit of the application to the roof sheet 7 and outer fire-box sheets 9 of washoutplugs 23 arranged in alinement with the ends of each tube of a group of tubes 21, whereby a washout tool may be introduced forthe purose of washing the troughs and tubes free rom'mud and other deposits at desired intervals. This is of great importance and advantags, as the connection of the troughs 16 through the tubes 21 with the lower portions of the side water legs creates a strong circulation of the water between the water space 14 and the side water legs, tending to keep the bottom portions of such waterlegs substantially free from mud and other deposits, and correspondingly increasing the eflicielpcy of 22. Preferably the ends of the tubes adjacent the flue sheet to a at frequent intervals of the deposits whichtubes 21, whereby the water containing spaces may be kept to a still further degree free from sedimentary deposits, thus still further increasing the capacity and efiiciency of the boiler as a steam generator. Our. improvedconstruction of siphon steam generator and water circulator permits of the use of the conventional arch tubes 24 and arch brick 25 without change from conventional practice.

It will be observed from the foregoing that with our construction since the siphon body or trough 16 is supported directly and wholly from the crown shoot, it can move freely with the crown sheet in its expansions and contractions, and since the circulating tubes 21 are of relatively small sectional area, and relatively long in proportion to their sectional area, and connected at their lower ends with the side sheet instead of, the throat sheet, no resistance is set up which will prevent the fire-box sheets from adj usting themselves freely and easily to the normal strains. Our invention, therefore, notonly increases the steam generating capacity of the boiler to a greater extent than is permissible with ordinary locomotive siphons, and ensures the keepin of the watento a greater degree clear from eposits, but also prevents or reduces to a material degre cracks in the fire-box due to resistance to ovement of parts under strains when more or less rigid connections between the siphon and fire-box sheets are employed. With the use of two siphons and sets of circulating tubes as disclosed the heating surface of a fire-box having 228 square feet of such surface may be increased to an extent of 77 square feet, without interfering with the free combustion of the fuel or circulation of the fuel gases or in any manner infirfering with the normal action of the fire- Having thus fully described our invention, we claim 1. The combination with a locomotive boiler having a fire-box including a flue sheet, a door sheet, a crown sheet and side sheets, said crown and side sheets respectively formin the inner walls of anupper water space an side water legs, of a Water steaming and cire culating device comprising a trough sup ported by the crown sheet and extending longitudinally of the fire-box from a point.

point adjacent the door sheetand opening at its top through the crown sheet into the said upper water space, .and tubes extending from the bottom of the trough to a side sheet and connecting said trough with the associated side water leg.

2. The combination with a locomotive boiler having a fire-box including a flue sheet, a door sheet, a crown sheet and side sheets, said crown and side sheetsrespectively forming the inner walls of an upper water space and side water legs, of a water steaming and circulating device comprising a trough of substantially equal depth from end to end thereof supported by the crown sheet and extending longitudinally of the fire-box from a point adjacent the flue sheet to a point adjacent the door sheet and opening at its top through the crown sheet into the said upper water space, and longitudinally curved tu es extending from the bottom of the trough to a side sheet and connecting said trough with the associated side water legs," said tubes being adapted to bend or flex freely to prevent resistance therefrom to expanding and contracting movements of the crown and side sheets.

3. The combination with a locomotive boiler having a fire-box including a flue sheet, a door sheet, a crown sheet and side sheets, said crown and side sheets respectively forming the inner walls of an upper water space and side water legs, of a water steaming and circulating device comprising a trough extending longitudinally of the fire-box from a point adjacent the flue sheet to a oint adjacent the door sheet and opening at its top through the crown sheet into the said upper water space, said trough bein of substantially equal depth from end to en thereof and being of maximum width at its base and of gradually diminishing width toward its top, and tubes extendin from the bottom of the trough to a si e sheet and connecting said trough with the associated side water 1e 4. The combination with a locomotive boi er having a fire-box including aflue sheet, a

door sheet, a crown sheet and side sheets, said crown and side sheets respectively formin the inner walls of an upper water space and side water legs, of a water steaming and circulating device comprising a trough extending longitudinally of the fire-box from a point adjacent the fluesheet to a point adjacent the door sheet and opening at its top through the crown sheet into the said upper water space, said trough being of substantially equal depth from end to end thereof and being of maximum width at its base and of gradually diminishing width toward its top, and longitudinally curved tubes extending from the bottom of the trough to a side sheet and connectingsaid trough with the associated side water leg.

5. The combination with a locomotive boiler including its fire-box, of a steam generating and water circulating receptacle extending longitudinally within the fire-box, said receptacle being arranged beneath and supported 'solely from the crown chest and being of substantially uniform depth from end to end thereof and having anoutlet at its top opening through the crown sheet into the upper water space of the boiler, and tubes connecting said receptacle with a water s ace of the boiler at a side thereof and exten ing on curved lines for free bending or flexin movements of the boiler sheets to which sai receptacle and tubes are attached.

6. The combination with a locomotive boiler including its fire-box, of a longitudinally extending steam generating and water circulating receptacle arranged in the firebox and attached to the crown sheet thereof, said receptacle having a passage at its top opening through the crown sheet into the water space thereabove, tubes connecting the bottom of said receptacle with a side sheet of the fire-box and opening into a side water leg thereof, and suitably closed washout openings arranged in the outer walls of said upper water space and water leg in alinement with the ends of the tubes for the introduction of a washout tool thereinto.

7. The combination with a locomotive boiler having a fire-box including a flue sheet, a door sheet, a crown sheet and side sheets, said crown sheet and side sheets respectively forming the inner walls of an upper water space and side water legs, of a water steaming and circulating device arranged at each side of the center of the fire-box, and each comprising a trough of substantially equal depth from end to end thereof supported by the crown sheet and opening at its top through said crown sheet into said upper water space, and a longitudinally disposed set of spaced tubes extending from the bottom of each trough toward the side sheet at the same side of the fire-box and connecting said trough with the associated side water 1e 8. The combination with a %ocomotive boiler having a fire-box including a flue sheet,

a door sheet, a crown sheet and side sheets, saidcrownsheet and side sheets respectively forming the inner walls of an upper water space and side water legs, of a water steaming and circulating device arranged at each side of the center of the fire-box, and each comprising a trough of substantially equal depth from end to end thereof supported by the crown sheet and opening at its top through said crown sheet into said upper water space, and a longitudinally disposed set of longitudinally curved tu es extending from the bottom of the troug at each side of the firebox to the side sheet of the fire-box at said side and connecting said trough with the associated side water leg.

9. ,The combination with a locomotive boiler having a fire-box includin a flue sheet, a door sheet, a crown sheet an side sheets, said crown sheet and side sheets respectively forming the inner walls of an u per water space and side water legs, 0? a 'water steaming and circulating device arranged at each side of the center of the firebox, and each comprising a trough of substantially equal depth from end to end thereof supported by the crown sheet and opening at its top through said crown sheet into said upper water s ace, each trough being of maximum widt at its base and thence tapering toward its top opening, and

a set of longitudinally disposed longitudinally curved tubes connecting the bottom of each trou h with the side sheet at the same side of the re-box and opening through said sheet into the associated side water leg.

10. The combination with a locomotive boiler having a fire-box includin a. flue sheet, a door sheet, a crown sheet and si esheets, said crown sheet and side sheets respectively forming the inner walls of an upper Water space and side water legs, of a water steaming and circulating device arranged at each side of the center of the fire-box, and each comprising a trough of substantially equal depth from end to end thereof supported by the crown sheet and opening at its top through said crown sheet into said upper water space, a row of spaced longitudinally curved tubes connecting the bottom of each trough with the side sheet at the same side of the fire-box and opening through said sheet into the associated side water leg, and suitably closed washout openings arranged in the top and side walls of the boiler in line with the ends of the tubes whereby a washout device may be inserted into said tubes.

In testimony whereof we afiix our signa- I tures.

GEORGE H. EMERSON.

LIAM B. WHITSITT.

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