US1913879A - Feed water heater - Google Patents

Description

June 13, 1933. J. F. GRIFFIN I FEED WATER HEATER Filed Dec. 28, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 //v VENTOR PH FGPiFFi/v,

4 3 52 JOSE A TTORNE m J. F. GRIFFIN FEED WATER HEATER .F' iled Dec. 28, 1928 s Sheets-Sheet 2 June 13, 1933.

INVENTOR L/OSEFHFG'R/FF/A, ma, I A TTORNEJS.

June 13, 1933. J. F. GRIFFIN FEED WATER HEATER 3 Sheets- Sheet 5 Filed Dec. '28, 1928 TR N WF T m MH H P y E T, 0 M y J 7 Patented June 13, 1933 nMrEnsrATEs JOSEPH F. GRIFFIN, or TEnNncK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR 'ro THE surnnnnnrnn COMPANY, on NEW YORK, n. Y.

FEED WATER HEATER Application filed. December 28, 1928. Serial No. 323,977.

This invention relates to feed water heaters and particularly to feed water heaters for locomotives and has for its principal object to improve upon such devices as heretofore constructed.

The construction of a feed water heater for locomotives presents many problems of considerable difficulty as it is highly desirable that the heater when installed shall be of the smallest possible dimensions and be so located as not to interfere with the engineers vision. It is also highly desirable that the heater be so located that water of condensation be returned by gravity and thereby obviate the necessity for pumping the condensate. Furthermore, care must be taken to employ, if possible, space not otherwise utilized while maintaining the necessary overall clearances for the locomotive.

Again, the heater must be so located that the exhaust steam will flow readily to the heater and the required heating surfaces must be provided while at the same time the heater made as compact as possible. In view of the above it is therefore another principal object of the invention to provide a new and improved construction for afeed water heater capable of meeting the above requirements.

Another object of the invention isto construct a feed water heater capable of being readily installed within the smoke box of a locomotive either during the construction of a new locomotive or as an installation to an existing one. 7

A further object is to provide a new and improved construction for a device of the character to which the present invention re- I lates in which the interior of the heater will be readily accessible for inspection or repair, even when the locomotive boiler is under steam and in which the heating elements and headers may be constructed as standardized interchangeable units capable of being quickly and easily replaced when replacement is necessary.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a feed water heater of marked simplicity, capable of being manufactured and all sold at a relatively low price, and of comrespectively.

pact, sturdy construction that will stand up under the severe operating conditions to which locomotive engines and their auxiliaries are subjected. 1

These and otherobjects of the present invention will appear more fully from the following more detailed description and by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein Fig. 1 is a vertical section through a feedwater heater constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention and showing the same installed in a locomotive smoke box, only a portion of the latter being shown; Fig. 2 is a view showing the heater. coils in plan and the outer casing in section; Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of Fig. 2; Fig. dis a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a side elevation partly in section of one of the heating coils or elements and showing one form of protective or bracing means therefor; Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail in side elevation of one of the protective pads shown in Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a central section of a heating coil showing a different form a bracing means; Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail, in side elevation, of the connection between a side bracing bar and a coil spider, as seen from the arrow in Fig. 7 and Fig. 9 is an enlarged sectional detail through a coil connection of a header.

As shown in the drawings the numeral 10 indicates the smoke box of a locomotive having the usual cylindrical shell or wall 11 and the removable front cover 12. indicated by the reference character 13 while the front flue sheet and dry pipe are indicated by the reference characters 14 and 15 The feed water heater of the present invention consists of an outer casing, the side walls 16 of which are preferably formed of a single sheet of metal rolled or otherwise formed to a substantially rectan gular shape with the ends thereof rounded, thus forming, as shown in Fig. 2, a casing shaped similar to the ordinary domestic wash boiler. The bottom of the casing is closed by a flanged bottom plate 17, and, at the top thereof, any suitable means, such as the angle iron 18, is secured for supporting The stack is the heater from the shell 11 of the smoke boX. A riveted lap plate joint 19 or some other form may be employed for securing together the ends of the side wall plate 16.

t suitable points within the casing, bracing members 20, preferably of angle iron, are provided.

As clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawings, the heater projects into the smoke box from the top thereof and is supported from the side wall 11 of the smoke box by means of a flange ring 21, the upper flange 21 of which preferably lies in a horizontal plane and furnishes a support for the horizontal flange of the angle iron 18 heretofore referred to. The outer casing of the heater is completed by a removable top 22 having a peripheral flange provided at suitably spaced intervals with apertures through which bolts 23 are adapted to pass; the horizontal flanges of the angle iron 18 and of the flange ring 21 also being provided with similar apertures through which said bolts 23 also pass. It will thusbe seen that the bolts 23 serve not only to connect detachably the cover 22 to the casing, but also the casing and cover to the flange ring 21.

The bottom plate 17 of the casing is provided adjacent to the opposite ends thereof with apertures 24, (see Fig. 3), there being four of such apertures, two at each end of the casing. Inserted in three of such apertures are flanged coupling members 25, riveted or otherwise suitably secured to the bottom plate 17 Connected to two of saidunions 27,0ne at each end of the casing, are a Water inlet pipe 28 and a water outlet pipe 29, while to the third union 2'? is a condensate drain or return pipe 30. The fourth aper ture 24 is closed by a closure plate 24 this fourth aperture being provided so that the condensate pipe 30 may be connected to either end of the casing thus obviating the necessity for extending such pipe transversely across the smoke boX in any installation.

Mounted within the casing and supported upon the bottom 17 thereof is a pair of headers 31, 32. Each of these headers is of similar construction so that they are interchangeable; a description of one will therefore suffice for both. At the bottom of each header adjacent to one end thereof is provided an opening 33 surrounded by a ground joint surface 34 adapted to form a fluid tight joint with a similar joint surface which projects from the inner face of the coupling member 25. The opening 33 serves either as an inlet or an outlet, as the case may be, according i to whether the header is connected with the inlet pipe 28 or outlet pipe 29. That end of the header adjacent to the aperture is provided with a flange 35 apertured to receive a pair of studs 36 which engage with. screw threaded holes provided in the coupling member 25 and serve to draw the joint surface 34 into tight engagement with the joint surface provided on the said coupling member. Adjacent to the flange 35 each header is provided with a lateral web-like extension 37 terminating in an enlarged portion having a pair of apertures therein. These apertures are adapted to receive the bolts 38 which serve to secure to the extension 37 to one end of a connecting plate 39. The other end of the plate 39 is similarly secured to an extension 40 which projects from the end of. the adjacent header, the extension 40 of each header being located at the end thereof opposite from the end in which the aperture 33 is provided. As will be seen from an inspection of Fig. 2 of the drawings the pair of headers are connected together at each of their ends by. plates 39. It will be understood that each header is of hollow construc tion and is closed at the end at which the extension 40 is provided.

Located at suitably spaced intervals alon each side of each header is a plurality o laterally projecting connections 41. 42, preferably formed, as shown best in Fig. 9, by nipples screwthreaded into the header members. Each of these nipples is preferably provided with a joint surface with which is adapted to co-operate a rolled joint formed on the end of a heating coil 43. For convenience in rolling said joint and for protection thereof, a sleeve 43? of harder metal is preferably placed on the end of each coil before the metal of the coil is rolled to form the joint. The outer end of said sleeve is flared as clearly shown in Fig. 9 for serving not only as a sheath for the joint but also as an abutment for the coupling nut 43 which engages with the outer screwthreaded end of its respective nipple 41 or 42. It will be noted that for a purpose presently to be more fully described, the nipples 41 and 42 and the coil ends are all inclined in the same general direction with respect to a vertical plane extending at right angles to the longitudinal axes of the headers. That is to say, as shown in Fig. 2 the nipples and coil ends all point from left to right considered from the headers outward.

Each heating coil is preferably of the double continuous type of coil and consists of an inner and an outer helical section. These sections are integrally connected or associated at the top of the coil and the inner coil section terminates in an inclined extremity 44, while the outer section terminates in a return-bend extremity 45.

In the particular constructional example selected for illustration six heating coils 43 are shown. It will be understood however that any desired number may be employed. At suitably spaced intervals the headers 31, 32 are provided with a plurality of upwardly projecting apertured bosses 46, there being one boss for each coil. Screwed into each of GO'I these bosses is the lower screwthreaded end of a clamping bolt 47 the upper end of which has screwed thereon a clamping nut 48 which engages with a spider type clamp 49 having a central aperture in which fits tightly a sleeve 47 which in turn fits loosely over the clamping bolt 47. The arms of the spider project over and are adapted to engage either with the top turns of the coils 43 or with suitable protecting members presently to be described. The bottom turns of the coils 43 are supported, by a spider 50, having a central apertured boss in which the sleeve 47 is secured. The spider boss rests upon the top face of the boss 46 of the header. In both forms of the coil bracing means'shown in Figs. 5 and 7 the nuts 48 co-operate with the spider clamps 49 and 50 and with the header bosses 46 to clamp the coils in assembled condition to the header.

For the purpose of securely holding the tops of the assembled coils against movement,

the clamping bolts 47 project upwardly beyond the nuts 48 and through suitably located apertures in the longitudinally extending members 51 of a bracing frame formed of said members 51 and the transverse members 52,the latter being riveted or otherwise suitably secured to the longitudinal members. Nuts 53 and lock nuts 54 are secured upon the upper projecting ends of the clamping bolts 47, thus serving to hold the coil assemblies securely positioned frame. The latter in turn is held against movement by being secured in any suitable manner to the casing or as willpresently be described to members secured thereto.

In accordance with the usual practice of feed water heating, the heater of the present invention is designed to be heated by exhaust steam from the engine. This steam is led to the interior of the outer casing by the pipes 55, 56, there being one pipe on each side of the smoke box and said pipes being connected at their lower ends to any suitable points in the exhaust steam passage of the engines cylinders or exhaust pipe. At. their upper ends said pipes 55, 56 are each provided with a flange suitably bevelled to accommodate a ball ring 57 for forming a joint with a surface provided on a casting 58. The latter has a peripheral flange 58 shaped to conform to the rounded end of the side wall 16, said side wall being in tight contacting engagement with said peripheral flange and preferably being riveted and welded thereto to form a fluid tight joint. The cas ing 58 is provided with an inlet aperture 59, the axis of which extends in the same general direction as the axis of the upper end of the pipe or 56. Screwthreaded holes are provided in the castin 58 for the reception. of the screwthreaded ends of the bolts 59 which bolts pass through suitable apertures providedin a clamping member 60, the bolts 59 and member 60 thus to it a pair of relatively to the bracing I serving to clamp ball ring 57 and casting 58 in fluid tight engagement. As will be noted from Fig. 3 of the drawings, that portion of the casting 58 which surrounds the aperture 59 is inclined to the side wall 16 in order to facilitate the connection of the upper end of its respective exhaust steam pipe thereto and the making of the joint between the pipe and casting as well as to direct the steam flow! upward. The inner lower end of the inclined portion of each casting 58 is provided with a rib 61 which extends transversely across the rounded end of the outer casing and is spaced from the extreme end thereof. Suitably secured to the rib 61, and to the inner wall of the casing, preferably by welding, is a baffle plate 62. As the battle plate 62 is securely fixed within the casing, it may well be employed for anchoring in position the bracing frame 51, 52. Accordingly the upper end of said baffle has riveted or otherwise secured upwardly projecting spaced brackets 64, the upper'ends of which are reduced to pass through apertures provided in the longitudinal members 51 of the bracing frame and said reduced ends are screwthreaded for nuts 65 which clamp the frame against movement to the rigid baffle plates.

In order to prevent wear upon the outer walls of the coils 48, due to vibration or the like, suitable protective and bracing means such as illustrated in Figs. 5 to 8 inclusive of the drawings, are employed. As shown in Fig. 5 the arms of the top and bottom spiders 49,50 respectively are placed in alignment and longitudinally extending tie rods are preferably welded at their ends to the ends of said spider arms. Three of the tie rods are preferably provided on the outside of the outer coil and at suitably spaced intervals along each rod, as for example, at every third turn of the coil a pad 71 is welded to the coil. and to the rod. The two intervening turns of the coil between each third turn thereof are not welded to the rod so that the length of coil contained in the two unwelded turns will be sufficient to provide compensathe joint surfaces of the tion for expansion and contraction due to temperature changes. Furthermore, the tie rods 70 are so dimensioned as to allow sufiicient flexure of the rods to compensate for relative movement between the turns of the coils produced by temperature changes or differences throughout the coil. Owing to the above constructional features, the tie rods will remain under normal conditions firmly secured to the coils and will hold the turns of the coils in properly spaced relationship. In the event that abnormal conditions would produce a strain upon the welds between the pads 71 and the coils and tie rods, the pads and said welds are finished, as clearly shown in 6, so that a greater surface of welding is applied to the coil than to the tie rod and consequently any break in the bond will be between the tie rod and the pad and not between the pad and the coil. Thus, should a break occur the pad will remain fixed to the coil and will serve as a fender or bumper which will prevent any rubbing action against the coil.

In addition to the three tie rods provided on the outside of the coil bundle, similar tie rods 7 2 may be provided for the inner coil. The ends of the latter rods are yoked to straddle the arms of the spiders 49 and 50 and as the inner coil being of smaller diameter will be more ri id than the outer coil, the inner rods 7 2 are merely provided with one or two welds adjacent to the upper and lower turns of the coils. The yoked ends of the inner tie rods 72 are preferably welded to the spider arms to hold them in position. In addition to providing the pads 71 between the tie rods and coil as above described, additional pads are also provided between the end turns of the coils and the arms of the upper and lower spiders 49, 50.

in Fig. 8 of the drawings a slightly moditied form of tie rod is employed. These tie rods, indicated by the reference numeral '0 are provided at spaced intervals with wedge shaped projections 73 which extend between two adjacent turns of the coils and are secured to such turns of welding. The ends of the rods 70 are yoked, as indicated at 74 in F 8 of the drawings, and said ends are preferably united by welds 7 5 to the arms of the spiders. The wedges 73 may be formed integrally with the tie rods 70 or they may be welded thereto. The latter construction is preferred because it permits of the application of the principle of providing a stron er bond between the coils and wedges than between. the latter and the tie rods, thus insuring that if a break occurs the wedges will remain lined to the coils to protect them against any rubbing actions.

The manner in which the device is assembled as follows: The casing 16 with the castings 58 and fittings secured thereto is inserted into the top of the smoke box, to which the flange ring 21 has been secured. The exhaust steam pipes 55, 56 are connected to the castings 58 and the pipes 28, 29, with the fittings 27 secured thereto are placed in position. The headers 31, 32 are connected together by the plates 39 and bolts 38 and the heating coils 43 with the tie rods 70 welded to the coils by the pads 71 are placed position upon the headers the ends of each coil being connected to a pair of the nipples 42, 41 respectively, by the union nuts 43. As clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the dra ings, each header has connected to it one end of each of the six coils and each coil is connected to both headers 31, 32, the return bend extremities 45 of the coils being engaged with the outer nipples 41 of the two headers and the downwardly inclined extremities 44 of the coils being engaged with the inner nipples 42 of said headers. The clamping bolts 47 are passed through the spider sleeves 47 and are screwed into the bosses 46 of the headers, after which the nuts 48 are engaged upon the bolts and are screwed tight.

The bracing frame 51, 52 is then placed over the bolts 47 and the nuts 53, 54 are screwed home and securely tightened upon the bracing frame. The above assembly it will be seen, results in the production of a unitary assembly consisting of the headers 31, 32 with the coils securely clamped thereto. This assembly is then placed within the outer casing 16 the studs 36 passing through their apertures in the header flanges 35 thus bringing the apertures 33 of the headers into proper alignment with the bores of the couplings 25 for the pipes 28, 29. Nuts are then screwed upon said studs 36 and tightened upon the flanges 35 to bring the headers into fluid tight engagement with said couplings. it will be noted by referring to Fig. 2 of the drawings that the space above the studs '36 is unobstructed so that their nuts can be readily screwed home by the use of a socket wrench and that but two studs are required for securing each header to the casing. As the tube bundle is placed within the casing 16, the holes provided in the ends of the lon 'itudinal members 51 of the bracing frame are engaged over the reduced threaded ends of the brackets 64 provided upon the bafiie 62, and after the headers have been clamped by the bolts 36, the nuts 65 are screwed home. It will be noted that the bracing frame 51, 52 serves to hold the coils in properly spaced relationship at the upper ends thereof while the construction of the spiders 50 and the engagement with said spiders of the clamping bolts 47 serves to prevent any lateral movement of the coils at their lower ends. The bolts 26 which serve to tighten the L fittings 27 of the couplings 25 may either be screwed home before the tube bundle has been placed within the easing or after said bundle has been secured in position.

The assembly of the coil bundle i. e. headers 31, 32, header clamps 39, clamping bolt 47, sleeves 47 spiders 49, 50, frame 51,

52, etc. may all be completed before the heater is applied to the engine. Thus the major part of the assembly may be performed at the factory by modern production methods and as but a relatively small amount of assembling is required in the field the assembling costs are materially reduced.

The manner in which the device operates will be readily understood. Exhaust steam is admitted through the pipes 55, 56 into the casing 16 and is directed upwardly about the baiiles 62 to flow through the space he the water will flow to the left hand set of' coils shown in said figure from the header 31 through the nipples 42 and inclined extremities 44 of the last mentioned coils. As the water is heated by the exhaust steam in the casing 16, it will rise through the outer turns of the right hand coils and through the inner turns of the left hand coils and after reaching the top of the double continuous coils the water will then flow downwardly through the inner turns of the right hand and the outer turns of the left hand coils. From the right hand coils the water will flow through the inclined extremities 44 thereof to the header 32 and from the left hand coils through the return bend portions 45 and nip ples 41 to said header 32, the water flowing through said header to the pipe 29. The direction in which the water flows, is indicated by the arrows in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings. The condensate from the outer casing flows therefrom through the pipe 30 which may be connected with the suction side of the feed water pump or connected to the locomotive tender. In either case the condensate is again returned to the boiler as feed water. It will be noted that the nipples 41, 42 of the headers are so inclined and that the extremities 44, 45 of the coils are so constructed and arranged that there are no reversals in the direction of the flow of the water from the headers to the coils or from the latter to the headers. Consequently impedance of the flow due to friction is reduced to a minimum. In addition,

of said ends to the headers to be performed quickly and easily, because as will be seen by referring to Fig. 2 a counterclockwise rota,-

- tion of a coil upon its axis will permit both of the joints on the coil ends to be simultaneously brought into engagement with the outer ends of the nipples while rotation in the reverse direction will move the joint surfaces out of engagement for disconnecting the coils. In either case, namely connecting or disconnecting there are no obstructing parts or members that will interfere with such rotation.

It will further be noted that the headers 31, 32 are of identical construction andthat they are interchangeable in position. The interconnection of the headers 31, 32 at the ends thereof by the plates 39- serves to hold said headers in properly spaced lateral relathe inclination of the coil ends and nipples 1n the same general dlrection as shown and as described above enables the connectlng tionship, but as the plates 39 are constructed of sheet metal such plates possess sufficient yielding properties to provide compensation for changes in the lengths of the headers due to expansion and contraction producedby temperature differences in the water entering and leaving the heater.

It will likewise, be noted that each coil is of identical construction, the return bend extremities 45 of all coils being connected with the outer nipples 41 of the headers while the inclined extremities 33 are connected with the inner nipples 42 of the headers. The coils may therefore be freely interchanged and in addition the construction of each coiland of the header nipples is such that it is impossible to put any coil in the wrong way. The interchangeability of both the headers and the coils enables the manufacture thereof to be standardized and consequently the production costs reduced to a minimum. Standardized production of the casing is aided by the provision of two apertures 24 for the condensate return pipe, one or the other of such apertures being used according as the condensate pipe is extended along one-side or the other of the locomotive. This provision not only simplifies connection of the said pipe but also avoids extending it across the smoke box in a location that would interfere with the removal of superheater tubes or boiler tubes. The arrangement of coils and headers is such that a very compact structureoccupying a minimum amount of space is secured while at the same time free access is afiorded to the header connecting studs 36 from the top of the feed water heater. Removal of the tube bundle assembly for the purpose of making repairs, such, for example, as the replacing of a coil, is readily accomplished merely by removing the cover 22 and the unscrewing of the four nuts of the studs 36 and the four nuts 65. As none of these bolts or nuts are smoke box, repairs may be made to the heater without it being necessary for the mechanic to enter the smoke box, therefore such repairs can be made while the locomotive is under steam. Furthermore, as none of these bolts or nuts are located within the smoke box they smoke box and subject to corrosion need be disturbed when coil repairs or replacements are made. 7

Only twelve tube joints are employed fora heater of the size illustrated and as these joints are rolled mechanical joints, no brazing or soldering of the tubes to fittings or to 5 the headers is required and consequently if located within the a joint should leak repairs can readily be made in the field merely by cutting off a small section of the end of the tube and remaking thejoint- In order to provide for the removal of the dry pipe 15 without the necessity of removing the outer casing 16 of the heater and to avoid the necessity for disturbing the pipe connections to said outer casing, the front and rear walls of said casing are preferably provided with apertures arranged in axial alignment with said dry pipe 15. These apertures are closed by the plates 76 secured either by rivets or bolts. If it becomes necessary to remove the dry pipe, the cover 22 is removed, the tube bundle is withdrawn from the easing and the plates 76 are taken off. The dry pipe can then be passed through the apertures provided in the casing 16 as will be readily understood.

The construction of the outer casing 16 of sheet metal and preferably of thin boiler plate instead of the customary castings heretofore employed, results, not only in appreciably decreasing the cost of constructing the same, but also results in reducing very materially the size and Weight of the outer casingwhile at the same time obtaining a structure having the desired strength. The provision of the angle iron braces 20 insures the desired rigidity of such casing and the number of joints required to be made in the manufacture thereof are reduced to a minimum. The construction and arrangement of the castings 58 is such that, not only are the exhaust steam pipes 55, 56 readily connected to the outer casing with the joints between the pipes and castings so located that a fluid tight joint is easily made, but in addition, the steam flow from the pipes 55, 56 is directed into the casing in a generally upward direction.

It will be seen from the above that a feed water heater constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention possess the following advantages: Condensate returned by gravity from the outer casing; the heater is placed in a space not previously utilized; all piping is hidden; the heater forms no obstruction to the engineers vision; ready removability of the heating coils for replacement or repair; the number of tube joints are reduced to a minimum; rolled mechanical tube joints are employed thereby making the repair thereof readily accomplished in the field; simplicity and sturdiness of construction; minimum amount of space with maximum heating capacity; easy accessibility for repair from outside of the smoke box thereby enabling repairs to be made while the locomotive is under steam; all coils interchangeable thereby enabling standardized production methods to be employed in manufacturing; major assembly of heater can be made at factory thus necessitating but a relatively small amount of assembly work in the field; impossibility of connecting coils to headers improperly, that is in the wrong way; all coils as Well as headers and outer casing self-draining thereby obviating danger of freezing; both inlet and outlet headers of similar standardized construction thereby not only reducing production cost to a minimum but also permitting interchangeability; the use of but a single clamping bolt for each coil; the rigid bracing and clamping of the coils particularly at the tops thereof while at the same time providing compensation for movement due to temperature changes.

Tn addition to the above advantages, many other advantages of the present invention will appear to those skilled in the art to Which the invention relates.

While the heater illustrated in the drawings represents a highly satisfactory constructional example embodying the principles of the present invention, it will be understood that the specific details shown are merely illustrative and that many changes, variations and modifications of such details may be resorted to without departing from the principles of the invention, for example, it is obvious that many different forms of outer casings, coils and headers may be used, many different expedients employed for bracing the coils and for preventing rubbing thereof against the bracing means, and that the construction of many of the other parts may be readily modified.

I claim: I

I. In a feed Water heater, a casing and means for supporting it within the smoke box of a locomotive, an inlet water header and an outlet water header mounted within said casing, a plurality of heating elements having inlet ends connected with said inlet headers and the outlet ends connected with said outlet header, said casing having an opening through which access may be obtained from the exterior of said smoke box, an independently movable closure for said open ing defining with said casing a closed compartment and means connecting the interior of said compartment with the exhaust steam line of the locomotive.

2. In a feed water heater, an outer casing and means for supporting it within the smoke box of a locomotive, a pair of similar headers mount-ed'within said casing, one of said headers serving as an inlet and the other as an outlet header, each of said headers being provided with an equal number of spaced nipples, a plurality of water coils having their inlet ends detachably connected to the nipples of the inlet header and their outlet ends connected with the nipples of the outlet header, an independently movable closure connected to the shell of the smoke box and defining with said casing a closed comparta casing mountdependent heating elements Within said casing through which the feed water is independently circulated.

4. In a feed water heater, a casing mounted within the smoke box of a locomotive, said casing having an opening through which access may be had to the interior thereof, a flanged frame projecting from said smoke box, a closure connected to said frame and defining with said casing a closed compartment, a pair of headers in said casing, each provided with a plurality of nipples and a plurality of heating elements each having one end thereof connected to the nipples of one header and the other end connected to the nipples of the other header.

5. In a feed water heater, an outer casing, a pair of spaced headers mounted therein and longitudinally movable relatively to each other, a plurality of heating elements connected with said headers, and sheet metal straps connecting said headers together against lateral displacement but permitting limited relative longitudinal movement thereof.

6. In a feed water heater, an outer casing and means for supporting it within the smoke box of a locomotive, an independent closure for said casing removable therefrom from the exterior of said smoke box, a pair of headers each of similar construction mounted within said casing, means for detachably connecting said headers to said casing and a plurality of double continuous coils, each of similar construction and having one end,

; in communication with one of said headers and the other end in communication with the other header.

7. In a feed water heater, a sheet metal casing having a pair ofopenings, and a pair of castings connected thereto interiorly of said casing, each of said castings being provided with an aperture in registry with one of said openings for establishing communication between the interior of said casing and the exterior thereof, and having a joint surface surrounding said aperture, and means for connecting the end of a steam pipe in fluid tight communication with said joint surface. I

8. In a feed water heater, a sheet metal casing, and a pair of castings connected thereto, each of said castings being provided with an aperture furnishing communication between the interior of saidcasing and the exterior thereof, and having a joint surface surrounding said aperture, means for connecting the end of a steam pipe in fluid tight communication with said joint surface, and a baffle connected with said casting and extending transversely across the interior of said casing for deflecting steam from said pipes towards the upper partof said casing.

9. In a feed water heater, an outer casing, and an unitary assembly detachably mounted therein, said assembly comprising a pair of headers, a plurality of double continuous similar coils, each of said coils being in communication with both of said headers, clamping devices for securing each coil individually to one of said headers, and means for connecting said headers in spaced relationship, said means permitting limited relativemovement of said headers under heat contraction and expansion.

10. In a feed water heater, an outer casing, and an unitary assembly detachably mounted therein, said assembly comprising a pair of headers, a plurality of double continuous similar coils, each of said coils being in communication with both of said headers, clamping devices for securing each coil individually to one of said headers, and means for connecting said headers in spaced relationship, said means permitting limited relative movement of said headers under heat con traction and expansion, and bracing means for holding said coils in position relatively to said casing and headers.

11. In a feed Water heater, an outer casing, and an unitary assembly detachably mounted therein, said assembly comprising a pair of headers, a plurality of double continuous similar coils, each of said coils being in communication with both of said headers, clamping devices for securing each coil individually to one of said headers, and means for connecting said headers in spaced relationship, said means permitting limited relative movement of said headers under heat contraction and expansion and means for protecting said coils against rubbing frictional contacts.

12. A coil for a feed water heater com prising an inner and an outer series of helical turns, integrally associated at one end of said coil to form a double continuous coil structure, said coil being provided at the other end with an inclined terminal and a return bend terminal each having their free ends projecting in the same general direction for connection with independent headers and arranged to avoid reversals in the direction of flow from a header to the coil and from the latter to a header. I

13. A coil for a feed water heater comprising an inner and an outer series of helical turns, integrally associated at one end of said coil to form a double continuous coil structure, said coil being provided at the other end with an inclined terminal and a return bend terminal each having their free ends projecting in the same general direction for connection with independent headers and arranged to avoid reversals in the direction of flow from a header to the coil and from the latter to a header, said terminals being provided with rolled mechanical oints for connecting said coil in fluid tight communication with suitable headers.

14. In a feed Water heater, a pair of headers each having an opening at one end thereof, a casing in which said headers are mount ed with their apertured ends at opposite ends of said casing, a pair of pipes, one connected with each header, to supply feed water to and withdraw it from said heater, whereby the Water passing through one header will flow in a direction opposite to the flow in the other header, and a plurality of heating coils, each having a pair of terminals connected one to each of said header said terminals extending in a direction such that the flow of water through each terminal will be in the same general direction as the direction of flow of the water in the header with which such terminal is connected.

15. A coil for a feed Water heater comprising an inner series of helical turns and an outer series of helical. turns surrounding said inner series, said series of turns being integrally associated at one end of said coil to form a continuous path for the water and each of said series at opposite ends of said coil being provided with an open terminal end to provide an inlet and an outlet for the water, said terminal ends being located beyond the helical turns and constructed and arranged so that when the water flow through one is clockwise with respect to said end and said coil, the flow through the other will be counter-clockwise.

18. A co for feed water heater comprising an ner of helical turns and an outer series of helical turns surrounding said inner sel es, said series of turns being intogrally associated at one end of said coil to form continuous path for the water and each of said series the opposite end of saic coil bein" provided with open terminal end to wide an in and an outlet for the water adapted for connection with independent inlets and outlets. said terminal ends being disposed upon opposite sides of a diametral plane of said coil and being inclined in opposite directions to said plane whereby connection with an. disconnection from said inlets and outlets may simultaneously take nlace by a rotation of said coils about its 17. A. heatin coil for feed water heaters I o u L comprising a double series of hellcal bllI'IlS each series of turns bein of opposite hand "lam the r series, each ending in an open ended terminal extencing substantially tangential to the turns of its respective series and pointing; in the same general direction with respect to a movement of rotation about the axis of th coil for simultaneous connection and disconnection from independent inlets and outle s.

18. A heating coil for feed water heaters comprising a double series of helical turns integrally united at one end, each of said series terminating at the other end of said coil open ended terminal extending l tangential to the turns of its seiies and pointing in the same neral direction with respect to a movement rotation aboutthe axis of the coil for 'siiultaneous connection. and disconnection from independent inlets and outlets.

. i i. heating coil for feed water ieaters ing a double series of helical turns, 'ies oi: turns being of opposite hand 0 other series, and each ending in an led terminal (-BItOlldlllg substantialits respective itial to. the t or of said terminals having a refrictional rubbing contacts, said means comprising bracing members, pads interoosed between said members and said pipe and means for securing said pads to said pipe and said members with stronger bond b said pipe and pad than between said pad and member.

22. In a feed water heater, a header, a plurality of heating elements communicating 1 heads, d supported thereby and J clamping bolt individthereto for securing it to said header. i. a feed water heater, header, a seating coil and means to clamp said coil in position upon said header comprising a pair of spider clamps, the arms of which are secured to the end urns of said coil, a sleeve passing through the center of said coil and secured at its ends'to said clamps and a clamping bolt passing through said sleeve and secured in engagement with said header. 24:. In a feed water heater, a heating unit assembly comprising a coil, a pair of clamping members secured to said coil at opposite ends, tie rods extending between said clamping members and secured at their ends to said members and means for securing said tie rods at spaced intervals to said coil.

25. In a feed water heater, an unitary assembly adapted to be placed in an outer casing, said assembly comprising a pair of spaced hollow headers each provided on two sides thereof with a plurality of pipe connections, a plurality of heating elements supported by each header and each connected to a pipe connection of both headers, clamping means for securing each heating element to the header upon which it is supported, a bracing frame common to all of said elements and means for securing each element to said bracing frame and thereby preventing relative movement between said elements.

JOSEPH F. GRIFFIN.

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