US2016726A

US2016726A - Locomotive fire box

Info

Publication number: US2016726A
Application number: US728684A
Authority: US
Inventors: Richardson Lawrence
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1934-06-02
Filing date: 1934-06-02
Publication date: 1935-10-08
Anticipated expiration: 1952-10-08

Description

@ci. 8, 1935. L. RICHARDSON LOQOMOTIVE FIRE BOX Fi'led June 2, 1934 .Patented Oct. 8, 1935 UNITED STATES A'E'ENT OFFICE '7 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in locomotive fireboxes and it consists of the matters hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

" In the conventional type of firebox having inner side sheets, difficulties are encountered in preventing the cracking, breaking through and burning out of said sheets, particularly the lower half adjacent the mud ring. These difficulties 'result because of. the more quiescent state of the water in the bottom of the side water legs of the boiler and also because of the extremely high temperatures which obtain in that part of the firebox especially where the fireboxis equipped l5 with the usual refractory arch.

The changes in temperature to which the side sheets of'the firebox are subjected when in use, cause'an expansion and contraction of the same which leads to their premature breakdown. Such 20 breakdowns often require sheet renewal which is not only costly to make but results in keeping the locomotive out of service for some time, which it is desired to avoid as much as possible.

Many expedients have been tried in an attempt 5 to overcome the difficulties mentioned, with little, if any, success, due either to the inoperativeness of the said expedients or to the excessive costs involved and which made them impractical.

I am aware that corrugating the side sheets 30 of the firebox, either horizontally or perpendicularly, has been attempted. While such a formation permitted the sheet to breathe somewhat, i. e. to come and go under temperature changes, the cost was excessive andthe making of repairs andin patching the same or the renewal of the bottom end of said sheets is an extremely difiicult, if not impossible, matter. I have found that even with such corrugated side sheets, the breathingfmovement is not sufficient to loosen 40? scale or mud which adheres to the water sideof. the sheets with the result that such sheets soon burned out.

One of the objects .ofthe present inventionis to provide a firebox, the bottom portions of the 4 1 1111161 side sheets of which are so formed that they will not readily burn-out or break through, during periods of use much longerthan is now possible with side sheets of any previous design.

Another object of the invention is to provide a firebox having side sheets, formed with areas capable of a greater come and go or breathing movement in the expansion and contraction of the sheets, so that the deposits are loosened on the water side of the sheets, thus insuring a constant Water engagement or contact therewith which 14 and. coact to provide a front throat IS, a

prevents adherence of deposits to the side sheets and thus avoiding premature destruction of the side sheet.

A further object of the invention is to provide a firebox, the bottom end of the side sheets of 5' which have longitudinally spaced, substantially vertically disposed, bulge portions therein, which act as flexible diaphragms to loosen deposits on the water side thereof so as to keep them clean and which diaphragms will permit sufiicient 10 movement under expansion and contraction as to prevent cracking or breaking through thereof. or the pulling away from the associated staybolts.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a side sheet .structure for a firebox which 15 is not only capable of long'periods of use but which is economical to make in accordance with present shop practices. I

The above mentioned objects of theinvention, as well as others, together; with the many advantages thereof, will more fully appear as I proceed with my specification.

In the drawing:.

Fig. l is a longitudinal vertical section through a locomotive firebox embodying the preferred form of the improved side sheets;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal detail sectional view through a part of the firebox on an enlarged scale as taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1; and

ing drawing, and'especially to Fig. 1 thereof, the 5 fire-boxtherein shown includes the side sheets 44, (only one of which appears) the inside back sheet 5 and the front or flue sheet 6. The various sheets mentioned are connected together at the top ,by the crown sheet 7 in the usual man- 40 ner. The bottom end of the fiue sheet is formed to provide an inside front throat sheet 8. The outside back sheet is represented at 9 and said sheet. and the inside back sheet are suitably connected by the staybolts m. Both of these sheets are formed to coact in providinga fuel door opening H. The outer side sheet is indicated at E3 in Figs. 2 and 3. All of the sheets are connected at the bottom end by a mud ring back water leg 16 and side water legs [1, only one of which appearsin the drawing. The throat and water legs mentioned all communicate with the water space of the boiler in the conventional manner. 5

proper;-

to support the body portion of each diaphragm.

firebox, rearwardly to pass over the arch on theirway to the flues secured in the flue sheet 6.

Because of the arch, the temperature in-=the lower part of the firebox is extremely high-.and,.,.

there is some variation in temperature throughout the length of the firebox due ltothemovements of the products of combustion aroundthe .end,

of the arch and due to the fact that the products arein various: stages of-combustion.z The'water'a movement in the, :bottom; of the side water legs is not very vigorous so that the solids in. the water tendtmaccumulate-in the bottom: of said water legs'zandihereadhere to the Water side .of the innerside sheets. This materially reduces the cooling .action'of the water on the inner side sheets anclbecause of theextremely high temperature inJthat 'part of the-firebox, they burn out and. require-repair prematurely, relative to other parts ;of the side sheets.

To overcome such action, the inner side sheets are provided at: longitudinally spaced points therealong :with vertically elongated diaphragms 22.0n the :fire: side :of thesheet. They are preferably of a height. approximating that height of the sheet mostzseriously' afiected by the action above mentioned.

As 'here showm each" diaphragm begins adjacent the plane of themud ringand extends upwardly a suitable distance and has curved or rounded top: and bott'om 'ends'.. Each diaphragmalso includes a central body portion'23 that is arranged in a plane inwardly of. theside sheet staybolts 20 of increased length serve The body portionof each-diaphragm merges at itssides and at its ends into the: adjacent portions of the associated'inner side sheet by side and end marginal'porti'ons 24 'and'25of substantially :ogee or reversely curved formation.

It is preferable that the width of the diaphragm be -lessthan the distance between alternate vertical rows of staybolts, so that its curved marginal portions merge into the fiat part of adjacent portions of the side sheet. It is also pointed out that the central-body portionof each vertically elongated diaphragm is substantially flat for the proper securement of the associated staybolts '28 therein. Y

The curves of the ogee side;and-top margins. of each diaphragm are made on substantial-radii,

while the curves of the ogee bottom .marginof the diaphragmare preferably .made ongreater radii as indicated atr25ain Fig. 3. This decreases. the pocket effect at the.;bott0m end of the dia.

phragm. onthe water side thereof. and hence,

avoids .the collection of solids therein .to any. appreciable extent... Furthermore, .thislendpf the diaphragm being adjacent the. mud. ring and being-influenced. by the attachment of this portion of the. sheet..thereto,.provides. an increased flexibility that .offsetsthe stiffness-pr resistance induced by its position relative to the mud ring-,-

It will be observed that the central body portion of the diaphragm is spaced a greater distance from the outer side sheet than those portions of the inner side sheets between said diaphragms. This increases the water space in back 5 of each diaphragm so that the water column at that point is of greater depth and is therefore, capable of absorbing heat more effectively and to a greater degree. Thus a turbulence is created inthewaterspacein line-.with' or lbackeof each 10 diaphragm which assists water circulation, and discourages or prevents to a considerable extent, the.-.accumulation of water solids, on the water side of the diaphragms.

Thediaphragms also permit and develop a 15 greaterzcome and. go or breathing movement of the sidesheet portions involved, which greater movement breakspup tand dislodges any accumulationof .water solids on the water side thereof. Thusthe diaphragms-remain relatively cleaner 20 and will notsso 4 quickl-ygbur-n, out.

Again, it is pointed .out that with the. rounded ends-described, the diaphragm can move inwardly and outwardly .as-a unit as itdoes-not merge;

at itssends into the adjacent portionof theaside 25;,

sheets with such labruptness-ras to rprevent' the movement intended.

Should it ever become necessary to renewthe lower half of the-sidesheet or to make-patches in thisportion of the side sheets,.or should one-30 of thediaphragms requirerenewal, this-would. be;-. an easy matter-as no complicated matching of sheet and surface parts isrequiredc The-boiler illustrated-is that of a large modern. locomotive in which-the firebox hasalength of 35 the order ofone hundredfifty inches. In=a locomotive of this sizeI find that threediaphragm portions are very satisfactory Ifthe firebox. were much longer or much shorter ,a greateror lesser 'numbenof diaphragm..-.portions might .be

required. The number .of diaphragm. portions should be suchmthat the flexure of...the water surface of thelside sheetsshall be withingthe elasticv-limit .of 1 the metal. but shall exceed ,the

elastic limit of the scale or the adhesionofthe scale .to the "metal.

While-in. describing the invention, I have referred in detail .to. the .form, arrangement andconstruction ofthe par tsrinvolved, the v.same is to be considered only in an: illustrative sense so that -I donot wish; to be. limitedtheretoexcept as may be specifically set forthin theappended claims.

I claim. as my .invention:

1. A firebox embodying-therein inner and outer side sheets, a substantially vertically arranged, elongated-inwardly bulged diaphragm portion. in said innerside -sheet..having parallel sides and. roundedends that .merge intothe saidsheet .by

margins ofv reverse .curve crosssection, and stay:

bolts connectingsaidsheets, certain-ofsaid staybolts connecting said bulged diaphragmportion to said outer. side.sheet.-

2. A firebox embodying-therein inner and outer.

sidesheets, a substantially vertically arranged,

Ofboth sheets are connected, the inner side sheet having a plurality oi! longitudinally spaced, substantially vertically arranged, elongated diaphragm portions with substantially rounded ends, the rounded bottom end of each diaphragm portion being arranged adjacent the plane of the top of the mud ring, and staybolts connecting said sheets, certain of said staybolts connecting each diaphragm portion to said outer side sheet.

4. A firebox embodying therein inner and outer side sheets, a mud ring to which the bottom ends side sheets, a mud ring to which the bottom ends 7 of both sheets are connected, a fire arch in the firebox between said inner side sheets, a plurality of longitudinally spaced substantially vertically arranged, elongated diaphragm portions in said inner side sheets having substantially rounded ends, the bottom end of each diaphragm portion being arranged adjacent the plane of the top of the mud ring and thetop end of certain of said diaphragm portions terminating in staybolts connecting said side sheets, and a substantially vertically arranged, elongated, inwardly bulged diaphragm portion arranged in said inner side sheet between certain of the bolts in alternate rows with certain of the bolts in the intermediate row arranged to connect themedian line of said diaphragm portion with said outer side sheet, the said diaphragm portion having substantially parallel sides and having substantially rounded ends.

7. A firebox embodying therein inner and outer side sheets, the inner side sheet having a substantially vertically arranged, elongated diaphragm portion'with substantially parallel side marginsand rounded top and bottom end margins, the side margins being connected to the body of the inner side sheet by reverse curves of one radius and the bottom end margin being connected to the body by reverse curves of a different radius, and staybolts connecting said sheets with certain of said staybolts arranged to connect said diaphragm portion to said outer side sheets a V LAWRENCE RICHARDSON.