USRE12403E - X method of - Google Patents

Description

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Specification of Reissued Letters Patent.

Beissued Nov. 7,1905.

Original No. 757,839, dated April 19, 1904!. Application for reissue filed July 1 5" 1905. Serial No. 269.892-

aZ Z whom it may concern): I Be it known that I, ALBERT R. RAYMER, a

' -;,ing to the present practice on railways the citizen of the United States,residing at Beaver, 1n the county of Beaver and State of Pennsyl- Vania, have invented or discovered certain new and useful Improvements in Methods of Clean-- ing and Restoring Boilers to Service Condition, of which improvements the following is a specification;

Most water forboilers of locomotives and stationary engines is used-in its natural conditlon and contains materials which undeir'a high temperature will be precipitated and form scale on the heating-surfaces; thus necessitatinga frequent cleaning of the boiler.

'- cleaning involves the following operations: First, the fireis drawn and the locomotive run into the roundhouse, the pressure in the boiler at this time being at about one hundred (100) pounds. The whistle or pop-valve, or both, are then opened to permit of the escape of steam.

To reduce the pressure in the boiler from one hundred pounds (100) pounds, more or less, to zero in this manner usually requires from thirty to forty-five minutes. As soon as the pressure is reduced the blow-ofl cock is opened forming the sides of the fire-box;

and the hot water allowed to escape into the sewer. A complete drainage of the water is effected by removing plugs in the water-legs When the boiler has been cooled to a working tempera-,

ture, which is generally effected by the intro duction of cold water through a hose connected tothe boiler, wire brushes and scrapers are .introduced through tapped holes to loosenthe scale, thus permitting its being washed out.

. This draining, scraping, and washing out re- I quires from three to four hours, and being imperfect that large volumes of smoke are produced, so filling the rou ndho use, rendering completed the outlets are closed, the boiler filled with cold water, and the [ire started, the draft being induced by compressed air or steam introduced into the stack by a verti cally-arranged nozzle. As the fire-box and tubes are cold, the combustion of gases i 's so it nearly impossible for the workmen to remain in it. This blowing by air is maintained until sufficient steam is generated to permit the locomotive-blower to operate, which is kept in operation until service-pressureis generated. The generation of working.pres' sure from cold water requires usually a little over an hour, and the total time required for all the operations from the time thefire is Accorddrawn until working'pressure has been produced requires from five to six hours. whole operation involves the waste'of a large number of heat units in blowing off the steam and the drainage of the hot water into the,

sewer. Italso subjects the boiler to excessive strains by unequal'contracting caused by the Theintroduction of cold water, and there is a large waste of fuel in the generation of working pressure, and also a loss of time in the service of the locomotive.

On some railroadsand-in some powerplants the water is so treated that practically all foreign matter left in it will remain in solution under conditions of temperature and pressure existing in boilers in operation. iVhile little or no scale will be formed on the heating-surfaces when using the treated water or water practically free from scale-forming ingrediehts, the percentage of foreign matter in solution in the waterin the boiler will increase in a comparatively short time to sucha point as to cause foaming. \Vhen this occurs, it is the present practice to draw the fire, run the locomotive to the roundhouse, blow off the steam, empty the boiler and refill it with cold water, and steam is then generated in the manner described. In short, the operation of 'cleaning the boiler when treated water is used is the same as with untreated water, except that the scraping of the tubes, &c., to loosen and remove the scale is not required.

The object of theinvention described herein is to provide for the cleaning of the boiler and the restoration of service conditions without the loss of all thethermal units present in the boiler when the locomotive reaches the roundhou se, without subjecting the boiler to excessive strains, without a large waste of fuel and consequent inconvenience to the workmen, and without the long loss of.. time in service of locomotive incident to the present methods.

The accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, show diagrammatically the arrangement of the several parts or elements of my plant for the practice of my improved method.

In the practice of my invention the fire of the locomotive to be cleaned is banked or may be drawn and the boiler maiutained at thedesired temperature by a gas or sprayed-oil flame. It is-the prop sed practice to retain enough steam-pressure-. 6., about one hundred (100) poundsfin the boiler""to run the locomotive into-its stall in 'the roundhouse.-

y 2 of the manifold into the tank 3, which will I be .termed the blow-ofi' tank.

I be fed to the boiler, as hereinafterdescribed.

, mation of insoluble precipitates in the boiler.

pipes 11 and 12 to the condenserb, one of the a manifold is connected by a flexible pipe to i the blow-oh" cock, which is then opened. al; lowing the water and steam from the boiler to flow by the pipe 1 and branch or member This tank is provided with an outlet-pipe 4, sufliciently large to prevent the generation of any material pressure therein, so that when water. heated above 212' Fahrenheit from the boiler enters the tank there will be a rapid evolution of steam, which will continue until the water is cooled down to or approximately to 212 Fahrenheit.- The steam thus evolved is conducted by the pipe 4 to a condenser 5, where the steam is employed to heat water to A coil of pipe 6 is arranged within the blow oil" tank and has one end connected by a pipe 7 to a suitable supply of water, which has by preference been treated to prevent the for- The other end of this coil is connected by a pipe 8 to the hot-water tank 9, being provided inside of the tank with a float-valve 10, so as to prevent an overflow of water therefrom. This hot-water tank is connected by pipes, as 11, being connected to the inlet of the condenser and the pipe 12 to the outlet end. A suitable pump 13, preferably of centrifugal type, is arranged in the line of the pipe 11 so as to draw water from the tank 9 and force it through the condenser 5 and back into the tank through the pipe 12. The water as it flows to the. tank 9 is heated 'by the hot water in the blow-off tank 3 and by its circulation through the condenser 5 is raised to a still higher temperature by the steam arising from the blow-oil tank, as above described, and caused to pass through the condenser. The water of. condensation escapes from the condenser by a pipe 14, which has a valve 16 connected with the hot-well 9 and also by valve 17 with a pipe 15, leading .to a sewer. By this arrangement, if the steam passing through the condenser is clean-z'. a, free from oil or other impuritiesthe valve 16 is opened and the water is discharged into the hotwell 9. If, however, the steam is. impure, the valve 16 is closed and valve 17 opened, so that the water of condensation will flow by the pipe 15 into the sewer. The condenser 5 is provided with an outlet-pipe 18 for the escape of uncondensed steam, and a by-pass is provided in the pipe 4:", extending from the pipe 4 around to the pipe 1b, and having a suitable valve, so that when necessary-or desired all or a part of thesteam from the blow-oiltank can be discharged into the atmosphere without passing through the con-' denser 5.

By the passage of the feed-water through the coil 6 and the circulation of water from "ent operation of the plant is desired.

the hot-well through the condenser 5 the water in the hot-well can be raised to approximately E205 Fahrenheit, this being done by the heat contained in the water discharged from the boilers to be cleaned. A pipe 19 is connected with the hot well, preferably through the pipe 12, and forms the inlet or supply pipe for the feed-pump 20. This pump Will receive hot water from the hot-well and force it through the pipes 21 and 22 into the live-steam heater 23, to which live steam is fed from any desirable source by the pipe A. This live-steam heater is connected by a pipe 25 to the branch or member 2611f the mani fold, and the latter is connected to the main pipe 1 of this manifold. After all the water in the boiler of the locomotive has been blown 01f, as described. the'valvc 27 in the pipe 2 is closed and the valves 28 in the pipe 19, 29 in the pipe 22', 30 in the pipe and 31 in the pipe 26 are opened, so that by the operation. of the pumpQO water is forced into the boiler with the pipe 1. As the pump .ZO'is constructed to operate automati -ally as soon as pressure on the delivery. side drops,'as by opening the valve 31, the valves 28, 29, and

30 are usually kept open except when a diner- The water as it passes through the pump has approximately a temperature of aboutv 205 liahrenhcit, more or less. but by its passage through the live-steam heate 23 is raised to a temperatu re of about 300 Fahrenheit, more or less, and at that. temperature forced to the boiler under pressure sufiiciently high to prethrough the connection previously established vent evolution of steam until it enters the boiler.

It will be observed that as the emptying of the boiler and its immediate refilling with water at or approximately at the same temperature as that discharged is-jefl'ectetl, one immediately after the other, noi opportunity for any material cooling of the boiler has occurred, and that therefore the boiler will not be subject to any severe strains by this operation. As a matter of fact there remains in the boiler a pressure of about fifty pounds of steam when all the water has been discharged, and this pressure is retained without any material or undesirable diminution outflow of water. As soon as the boiler has been lilled to the desired level the operation is stopped and the iire'started or a new lire is kindled in. the lire-box, and as the water has been discharged into the boiler at 300" Fahrenhcit temperature, more or less, there will be snilicient steam to operate the steam-blower of the locomotive, and as the lire-box and tubes will be hot there will be a very little loss due to unconsumed gases.

It has been found by actual trial that the boiler of a locomotive can, counting from the until the refilling occurs, which is preferably effected immediately subsequent to the last time itenters the stall of the-roundhouse to the time it leaves the same ready for service,

' be entirely emptied, refilled, and steam raised to a service-point 'n half anhour.

It will be observed that the feed water is hea ed to or approximately toa tempet'ature of 2 5 Fahrenheit by the water and steam taken from the boiler and that live" steam is necessary to raise it to the 300 or anyo'ther.

temperature at which itis desired to filll the boiler.

My improvement further contemplates the charging of the boiler with warm watervl. a, Water from the hot-,we11or with cold water, as may be desired. If when the boiler is emptied thereis reason to believe there may be leaks'andafter repairsit is desired to test the boiler, valves '32 and 33 in pipe 34, extending from pipe 21, and alsothe valve 35 in the branch or member 36 of the manifold are opened, so that the water from. the hotwell will beforced into the boiler without .passing through the live-steam heater 33. Water is prevented from flowing from the live-steam heater during this operation by a check-valve 21 in the pipe 22. The boiler is filled completely-with this hot water, all outlets being closed, and the valve 36 is closed. The highpressure pump 37 is then started, drawing 'water from the supply-pipe 7 and orcing it through the pip e 38 past t'hevalve 39, which is opened, into the main pipe-of the manifold and into .the' boiler.

This pump is so constructed as to be capable of producing any desired pressure -sa,v three'hund red poundsin the boile As the boiler is filled with hot water at. is time of this test, and therefore approximating servicecondition, the testing of it at this time will be-more efl ectiveto de' velop faults than if'tested when cold.

In order that the hot-well 9 may be supplied with water without passing through the coil 6, the pipes 7 and 8 are connected by a pipe 'having a valve 46. When the water is to be pumped directly into the hot-Well, the valves 47 and 48 in the pipes 7 and 8 are closed and the valve 46 opened. thusforming a by-pass-around the coil 6'to the hot-well.

Provision is also made for taking the feedwater directly from its supply to the inletportof the pump 20 by connecting the pipes 7 to the pipe 19 by a branch 49, havinga valve --50 therein. By closing the valves 28 and 47 and opening the valve 50 the pump 20 will draw cold water from the supply, force itthrough the live-steam heater, and thence directly into the boiler; The water thus flowingfrom the supply through the live-steam heater can be raised to thetemperature desired fortesting or to the maximum temperature required for charging the boiler for service. When using'treated water or water naturally free from scale-forming materials, it is usually sufiicient toempty and refill the boiler in the manner described. hen, however,

into the'empty boiler.

water containing scale-forming material" is used, the boiler is emptied, as described, and allowed to cool down sufficiently, to permit of the scale being'removed in the usual manner. After the closing of all openings in the boiler except the blow-ofl cook the valve 31 is opened to permit water ata temperature of about 300 Fahrenheit, more or less, t'o-be pumped from pressure as 'it enters the-boiler, a large Volume of steam will be evolved, which will distribute itself throughout the boiler'an'd effect a uniform heating of all parts. This uniform and equal heating will not cause any injury, as strains are produced only by unequal and irregular heating.

-Provision ifs made for permitting the dis-' charge of foulwater from the blow-01f tank after it has been oooledfdown .by the water flowing through-the coil 6. In practice it is considereddesir'able to'empty. the blow-off tanlz after each boiler has been cleaned, as otherwise a part of the heat of the incoming hot water and steam will be Wasted in heating the water already in the tank. The tank and outlet are preferably so constructed and arranged that the tank will hold approximately the volume of water in the boiler at the time of cleaning,

Provision is made for utilizing steam in the condenser 5 from sources'other than the water from the boiler being cleaned by connecting a pipe 51, provided with afValve 52, to the steam-pipe 4, the pipe 51 being also connected to a source of exhaust or live steam.

' It will be understood that a manifold A is arranged adjacently to each stall of a roundhouse, and the branchesor members 2, 26, 36,

.40, and 41 ofeach manifold are connected, 1 respectively, to main pipes 2", 25, 34, 38, and

42. As repair and erecting shops are usually arranged in the neighborhood of roundhouses, provision is made by pipes 53 and 54, having valves 55 and 56 and extending, respectively, from pipes 34'and 38, to charge The water being free boilers in the erecting or boiler shops with hot Water and then a'pplyatesting pressure thereto. In order to supply hot water for the boiler and erecting shops when the hot-well -9 is out of service, the pipes 25 and 34 are connected by a pipe 64, having a valve 45.

By opening valve 50 and closing valves 32 and 28 cold water can be forced through heater 23 and thence by pipes .64 and 34 and 53 to the boiler-and erecting shops, valves 45, 33, and 55 being opened, and by pipe 36 to the roundhouse, valves 35 being opened and valve 55 clo ed. By properly adjusting the steamsupply to the heater 23 the water can be heated to any desired temperature. Suitable connections are also made to the boilers of the erecting and boiler-shops and the boilers'of other adjacant power plants, whereby such boilers may be cleaned and recharged-1n the manner described and regularly fed with sufrom such boiler or boilers, is connected by pipes 60 and 61, having valves 62 and 63, re-

spectively, with pipes 22 and 25. By closing the valve '62 and opening the valve 63 superheated water will be forced by pump 20 to the boiler or its feed-pump, whileby closing valve 63 and opening valve 62 water from the hot-well 9 will be delivered to the boiler or its feed-pump.

I claim herein as my invention" 1. As an improvement in the art of cleaning and restoring boilers toserviee condition the method herein described, which consists in discharging substantially the entire liquid contents of a boiler, utilizing the discharge from the boiler for heating a fresh body of water without mingling .the discharge. and fresh water, and charging the boiler with water so heated, substantially as set forth.

2. .As an improvement in the art of cleaning and restoring boilers to service condition, the method herein described, which consists in discharging sul'nstantially the entire liquid contents from the boiler, transferring the heat of the discharged contents to a fresh body of water, heated thereby without mixing such water and contents and feeding such heated Water to the boiler, substantially as set forth.

3 As an improvement in the art of cleaning and restoring boilers to service condition,

' the method herein described, which consists in discharging substantially the entire liquid 40 contents from the boiler, transferring the heat of the foul water to a fresh body of water, then further heating the fresh body of water above 212 Fahrenheit, and feeding such heated waterto the boiler. substantially as set forth.

4. As an improvement in the art of cleaning and restoring boilers to service condition -the,method herein described, which consists in discharging substantially the entire liquid contents from the boiler while under pressure,

recharging the boiler with fresh heated water and maintaining pressure in the boiler during and between such discharging and recharging, substantially as set forth.

5. As an improvement in the art of cleaning and restoring boilers to service condition the method herein described which consists in discharging substantially the entire'liquid contents of a boiler, utilizing heat units of the discharge to heat a body of water without mingling the discharge from the boiler with the water to be lieated,and charging such heated water into the boiler, substantially as set forth.

' 6. As an improvement in the art of cleaning and restoring boilers toservice conditions the method herein described, which consists in discharging substantially the entire contents of a boiler, charging the boiler with fresh water heated by the discharge from the boiler without mingling the discharge with the fresh water, and maintaining theboiler at or approximately at a temperature of 212 Fahrenheit, substantially as set forth.

7. As an improvement in the art of cleaning and restoring boilers to service conditions V the method herein described, which consists in discharging substantially the entire contents of a boiler, heating a fresh body of water by the discharge from the boiler without mingling the discharge with the fresh body of water, further heating the fresh body of water and feeding the same to a boiler, sub

, stantially as set forth.

8. As an improvement in the art of cleaning and restoring boilers to service conditlons the method herein described, which consists in discharging substantially the entire con-' tents of boilers, transferring the heat of the discharge to a fresh body of water without mingling the discharge with the fresh body of water and feeding the heated water to the discharged boilers, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALBERT R. R-AYMER.

Witnesses:

CHARLES BARNETT, HERBERT BRADLEY.

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