US89258A - Improvement in steam-generators - Google Patents

Description

UNITED STATES PATENT OEETcE.v

ELIJAH VESTON, OF BUFFALO, NEV YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN STEAM-GENERATORS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 89,258, (lated April 20, 1869.

To all lwhom it 'may concern Be it known that I, ELIJAH WESTON, of Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Steam-Generators; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation, part in section. Fig. 2 is an end View, part in section. Fig. 8 is an inside view of the lire-door, showing my improvements.

Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

My improvements are for the purpose of consuming the gas and smoke engendered by bituminous and anthracite coals used in locomotive and other boilers and the saving of fuel; and my invention consists in the construction and extension of the heating-surface by the lengthening of the crown-sheet, and

providing a gas-combustion chamber in con! nection with the fire-box; also, in placing in the water-space a partition-sheet, for the purpose of getting a more perfect circulation 5 also, in the construction ofthe fire-door, all to be hereinafter more fully described.

In the drawings, A represents the case of the fire-box of a locomotive-boiler; B, the boiler;` C, the steam-dome, and D the re-box itself'. E indicates the gas-combustion chamber, which is formed by a triangular partition, F, one side, a, making the back of the lire-box, and the other side, b, making the front of said chamrber, and leaving a space, (shown at G,) which sets over the axle of the forward wheels. The sides of the fire-box, which extend to the tubeplate K, form, a-lso, the sides of the combustion-chamber. This partition F, with its walls a and b, is shaped like the letter V inverted, the apex forming a ridge, but leaving a space between it and the crown-sheet H. These walls a and b are made hollow, forming the usual water-space.

The are several advantages combined in this construction: First, by separating the tire-box from the tube-plate it forms a combustionchamber, where the smoke and gases engenderedby the coal are consumed,instead, as in ordinary locomotive-boilers, of escaping through the flues and smoke-stacks, the waste, disadvantages, and annoyance of which are too well known to require comment. It also allows the lengthening of the crown-sheet, and consequent increase of heating-surface, and, by securing a better combustion, admits of the shortening of the tubes, which will effect a saving in fuel and of the expense of building engineboilers.

Another and important advantage is, that instead of the flame, smoke, gas, and air, as is common, passing at once, in their crude and expanded state, into the boiler-lues they impact against the wall a and are forced up into a small compass, making a compact and intense iiame in the contracted space between the ridge of the partition F and the crownsheet H. Passing thence into the combustionchamber E the combustible portions of the gas and smoke are consumed, and the pure intensified dame alone enters into the boiler-fines fromA the combustion-chamber.

Owing to the large increase of space and the combination of a portion of the gases there will always be a partial vacuum in the chamber E, and therefore the llame, gases, and smoke, instead of passing directly into the boilertubes, will descend and revolve around in the course indicated by arrows. This downward draft is produced by the abrupt enlargement of space formed by the combustion-chamber, the area being greater than that of the tubes, by which the smoke and gases are allowed to suddenly expand after passing the contracted throat above the bridge, and, being relieved from pressure, they revolve therein, having ample space to circulate, and abrding them time to ignite before passing into the tubes and out of the smoke-stack. A slide, or its equivalent, may be placed in the bottom of this combustion-chamber E, in order to let out any dbris that may accumulate there. I also introduce a series of pipes, m, for the admission of air, heated to a suitable temperature, into the combustion-chamber, at any suitable point, for the purpose of igniting and supporting the combustion of the smoke and gases.

I I' represent two partitions, placed inside the water-space on each side of the fire-box D, and extending from end to end of the same, including the sides ofthe combustion-chamber, which has the same water-space as the fire-box.

These partitions are made of thin sheets of metal, held in position by stay-bolts passing through the outside shell, the partition, and 'into the nre-box. They are curved at the top, and do not come quite to the bottom of the water-space, leaving a passage clear for the water to iiow under. They are preferably arranged closer to the fire-box than to the outside shell, the object of which will be presently explained.

Iin troduce these partitions and thus arrange them to produce a special advantage, which is a more perfect circulation of the water than is obtained by the present system.

Heat being greatest next the tire-box plate D, while the water next the shell-plate A remains of lower temperature, it follows that the steam is mostly generated from the water in contact with the ire-box D, from whence it ascends to the top of the crown-sheet. By placing this thin metal sheet I a short distance from the fire-box, and leaving a wider space next the shell, it separates the water and keeps that between it and the hre-box at a constant steam-producing heat, consequently making steam much faster than by the ordin ary method. As this steam rises the-water follows it, assisted by the current produced by the steam bubbling through, and the water in space 'i' i is pressed down by its own weight and iiows under the partitions I I', taking the place of that just made into steam. Thus a constant circulation is maintained in the direction indicated by arrows.

J represents the fire-door, having the usual slide d on its outside. On the inside I arrange a fine-wire screen or sieve, c, through which the cold air is admitted in iine spraysor jets, so that the oxygen will more easily and quickly separate and be consumed. To further aid in producing this effect, I construct on the inside of the projecting part of the fire-door, and over this wire screen, a series of bars, e f g h, four preferably, as shown in the drawing, (more or less will be used if found desirable,)

against which, while in a highly-heated state, the small jets of air impinge, breaking the force of the currents as it is admitted through the graduated slide cof thewire screen. These bars are placed at different intervals of space or distances apart, the space between e and f being, say, one inch, the space between fand q two inches, and between g and h three inches. The object and special advantage of thus placing them is to admit the greatest amount of air at the bottom, nearer the re itself, which experience has demonstrated is to give the best results.

In this arrangement of a combustion-chamber I believe that I have found the right way of utilizing the heat and consuming the gases and smoke. In the placing of the partitions in the water-spaces I believe that the true method for a perfect circulation is produced. In my devices attached to the fire-door I also believe that the correct principle of admitting air into the fire for the ignition of gases will be found; therefore What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combustion-chamberE, formed bythe partition Il, having walls a b and outside space G, in combination with the lire-box D, eX- tended crown-sheet H, arranged substantially as herein specified.

2. The partitions I I', in combination with the ire-box D and boiler B of a locomotive, or other boiler, arranged substantially as herein set forth.

3. The wire sieve or screen c and bars c fg h, arranged with reference to the fire-door of a boiler, as herein described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ELIJAH WESTON.

YVitnesses:

J. R. DRAKE, ALBERT Hnien'r.

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