Syphon Top Improvments.pdf

July 11, 1944. B. e. LARson 2,353,167

LOCOMOTIVE BOILER

Filed April 7, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2

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Patented July 11, 1944 2,353,167

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

2,353,167

LOCOMOTIVE BOLER

Bert E. Larson, Park Ridge, Ill., assignor to Loco notive Firebox Company, Chicago, Ill., a cor poration of Delaware Application April 7, 1941, Serial No. 387,253

(Cl. 122-68) 9 Clainas.

This invention relates to improvements in loco inotive boilers and it consists of the natters here inafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The modern railroad locomotive has a boiler of considerable length and requires a firebox evap Grating Sirface area connenSurate thereWith.

This surface area may be obtained by the use of a combustion chamber in connection with one or more thermic syphons. Syphons of this type in extensive use, include a relatively long, flat, holiow body disposed longitudinally of the fire box, the body having one or more inlets for the intake of Water from a lower part of the boiler and at least one elongated outlet or discharge that is usually fixed in and opens upwardly through the crown sheet for communication with the Steam and water space of the boiler there above. The sidewalls or sheets of the flat hollow body are staybolted together and the top end of said wallis or sheets terminate as a lateral flange that is welded in a suitable elongated opening in the Crown sheet.

he crown sheet and the side sheets of the fire box are connected by staybolts with the asso ciated parts of the wrapper or roof sheet of the boile'. he stayboltS employed in connection with the side sheets are relatively short. The staybolts enployed in connection with the crown sheet, increase in length from the sides of the crown sheet to the longitudinal median line there of and which line coincides with the like line of the boiler.

When Such Syphons are being installed in the firebox, the Standard practive is to remove three longitudinal rows of Crown staybolts for each Syphon. The center one of Said rows is located over or in line With the elongated discharge or outlet of the Syphon, while the side rows are lo cated in line with the center lines of the flanges at the top end of the body of the syphon being installed. The Side rows of crown staybolts are replaced by others during the installation of the Syphon While those in the center row are omitted.

The iCad formerly carried by the crown staybolts in Said Ceinter row is thus transferred to the re placed crown staybolts in said side rows and Winicii have their bottom ends operatively secured in said top end fanges of the Syphon body.

In the larger and longer boilers, the firebox is usually equipped with a plurality of relatively long longitudinally extending Syphons spaced laterally of the firebox. In such installations there is necessarily removed not only the staybolts before mentioned, but also extensive portions of the

5 5 crown sheet which tends to weaken its ability to resist forces tending to distort these parts in a lateral direction. The result is that there is an abnorinal Separation or spreading of the top ends of the Syphon side walls with respect to each other, the cumulative effect of which is to cause an undesired amount of movement of the Side sheets in an outward direction. This outward movement of the side sheets has the effect of tending to flatten the crown sheet, therefore caus ing a downward movement thereof.

As the crown sheet is connected to the top of the wrapper or roof sheet of the boiler shell above the crown sheet, by the crown staybolts men

, tioned, Said boits tend to pull this part of the wrapper or roof sheet downwardly. To resist this action, the top of the Wrapper sheet is usually inade of a thicker sheet metal, and while this helipS CGhSiderably, it does raot overconae objec tions piroduced by the sheet novements described.

In Such sheet finovement, in some instances, a lateral Spreading occurs between the top end of the side walls or sheets of the syphon body, as before explained, and associated crown sheet parts and this Spreading action imposes an exceedingly high Stress on the top row of staybolts of the Syphon. The Staybolts in this row, which are relatively short, are thus placed under tension.

Under temperature changes, the sheets involved eXpand and contract and this places a heavy duty demand upon. Such staybolts, with the results that a leakage may develop about the ends of some of Said boltS in Said top row thereof in the syphon body. This is a condition desired to be avoided.

In Some installations, as when the firebox has a relatively long combustion chamber, it might be desired to enploy a plurality of laterally spaced Syphons in the main fire chamber of the firebox aS well aS One Or Inore SyphOnS in the combustion chamber. Under such conditions in order to group the Syphons. With respect to the highest central portion of the crown sheet, longitudinally of the firebox, the Syphons in the combustion chamber are disposed in longitudinal planes, in termediate those in the main fire chamber. In order to employ syphons with bodies as long as possible under Such conditions, the front ends of the Syphons in the main fire chamber are ex tended forwardly beyond the rear ends of the Syphons in the combustion chamber, so that said ends overlap one another.

With such an installation, the edges of the flanges of the Syphons in the main fire chamber and the edges of the flanges of the syphons in the combustion chamber are disposed in the same longitudinal plane at the overlap. Therefore, in this area of the overlap, a much longer portion of the crown sheet must be removed to accom modate the installation and thereafter this area must be made as strong as possible at this Over lap, so as to resist any lateral Spreading in this aea.

The greatest range of spreading tendency in the discharge or outlet of any One Syphon is toward the central portion of such discharge or outlet, and this tendency normally decreases toward its ends. However, When the ends termi nate in an overlapping relation with respect to other syphons, there is also a very considerable tendency to spread at the overlapping ends. The reason for this is that an abnormal amount of crown sheet expanse has been removed in that lateral ZOne.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide in a locomotive boiler having a relatively long ;

syphon equipped firebox, a simple, inexpensive and efficient means for resisting the lateral spreading of the syphon top and associated Side sheets and crown sheet parts Where the discharge or Outlet for the syphon opens through the CrOWn sheet.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved means for the purpose mentioned which presents only a minimum interference to the free passage of water from the Syphon body into the Water and steam space of the boiler above the crown sheet.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for this purpose, which is devoid of mov ing parts and which may be applied to the Syphon before the same is installed in place in the asso ciated firebox.

Also, it is an object of the invention to provide means for the purpose mentioned which is SO located as to be entirely surrounded by Water at all times and therefore has no parts extend ing through to the fire side of the aSSociated SheetS.

Again, it is an object of the invention to pro vide means for the purpose mentioned, which presents no appreciable interference to the wash ing off of the top surface of the Crown sheet, after the removal of the plugs provided in the back sheet of the boiler for this purpose.

The above mentioned objects of the invention, as well as others, together With the several ad vantages thereof, will more fully appear as the Specification proceeds.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal vertical Sectional WieW through the firebox end of a locomotive boiler embodying one form of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal fragmentary, Sectional view through a part of the boiler as taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, and more particularly shows the arrangement of the top end flanges of the syphons in the crown sheet.

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical Sectional view through the firebox end of the boiler on a Some what enlarged scale, as taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. l.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view, oil an enlarged scale of parts appearing in Fig. 2 and Which Will be more fully referred to later.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detail vertical Sectional view on an enlarged scale, through parts appear ing in Fig. 1 as taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing a modified form of a part of the invention, 2,358,167 Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing a still further modified view of the invention.

Fig. 8 is a vertical detail sectional view through parts appearing in Fig. 7 as taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a vertical detail sectional view, through a part of Fig. 7 as taken on the line 9-9 thereof.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view illustrating the invention as applied to a water steaming and cir culating element for a locomotive firebOX and which element is of the side sheet circulator type and which will be more fully referred to later.

Referring now in detail to that embodiment of the invention, the improved boiler includes a barrel or shell that is indicated as a whole as at f0 and in the rear end thereof is the usual fire box that is indicated as a whole as at .

The firebox shown herein is of the combustion chamber type, and includes a crown sheet 2 which merges into the side sheets f3. 4 indi cates the inner back sheet and 5 indicates the inner throat sheet of the firebOX. The crown sheet 2 extends for Wardly of the tranSVerse plane of the inner throat sheet 5 to form the top of the combustion chamber 6 which is rela tively long. This chamber is closed at the front end by a flue sheet 7 and the bottom 8 of said chamber joins the front top end of the throat sheet 5.

The Outer back sheet of the boiler is indicated at 9, the outer side sheets are indicated at 20 and the outer throat sheet is indicated at 2.

Said sheets cooperate with the top rear end por tion 22 of the boiler shell in forming the back water leg 23, the side water legs 24 and front throat 25 respectively, all in communication. With the steam and water space 26 of the boiler in the usual manner. The back and side Water legs along with the front throat are bottomed by a mud ring 27 and the inner and outer back sheets f4 and 9 respectively are formed to coact in producing the usual fuel door Opening for the firebox. In the outer back sheet 9 of the boiler are Washout plugs 9a, and which may be re moved. When it is desired to Wash off the top Surface of the crown sheet in a boiler washout operation.

The side Sheets 3 of the firebox and the outer side sheets 2 of the boiler shell are connected together by relatively short Staybolts 20 a while the crown sheet 2 of the firebox and that part Of the roof Sheet 22 above the same are connected together by crown staybolts 22a which are longer than the Staybolts 200. In this respect, it is pointed out that the staybolts 20a and 22a are arranged in roWS eXtending longitudinally and transversely of the firebox as a Whole.

in the firebOX is provided a plurality of Sets of Water Stearning and circulating elements in the form of the Well known thermic syphons. In the present instance, there is a set of three of Such elements in the main fire chamber, each indicated as a whole as at 28 and there is a set of tWO Of Such elementS in the combustion cham ber, and each indicated as a whole as at 29 in Fig. 1. TheSe elements are each arranged longi tudinally of the firebox.

In the case of the Syphons 28, one is disposed in the longitudinal median line of the firebox and the other two are separated laterally therefrom, each by a part 2a of the crown. Sheet. In the case of the syphons 29, each is disposed in the plane of the crown sheet parts 2a-2a that separate or space the Syphons 28 apart.

Each Syphon 28, as here shown, includes a flat

2,353,167 hollow upright body of substantial length and Which includes laterally Spaced side walls 3-3 and rounded front and rear end walls 32 and S3 respectively. The side walls 3 -3 of the body are connected together by means of rows of staybolts 34-34. The side walls 3-3 and the front and rear end Walls 32 and 33 respectively are forrilled at the top with an out Wardly rounded corner 35 which connects said Walls to a latei'al flange 35 extending about the top end of the Syph On body.

Each syphon body has a downwardly and for wardly buiged bottom 3 and said bulged bottom extends for Yardly of the Ody aid merges into a tubular neck 33 that, provides the Water inlet for the body. The upper rear end of the bulged bottom inerges by a rounded corner into the rear end Wali 33 of the body.

Each syphon 23 which is inere shown as of a shape different from that of syphion 28, includes a flat, hollow, upright body show: herein as Sui stantially of a Y shape. Said body includes lat erally spaced side Wails 3 (E-33 (i., iOWil Wardly angi avai'i:y a peri{:g ou; died froxt, and reali eg W 33C, respectively, the side walls by sing gonnected together by rows of staybolts 3d.

The side and the front and real erad Walls of tie cody are for acci witi an outwardiy roundef corner 53d which connects said Walls to a lateral fange 38c, that, extends about the top end of the Syphon.

A part of tie rear end wall 33d of the body is bulged and merges into a dioWiiWardly extend ing tubular neck 83a, that provides tile Water iniet for the body.

In order to inake the outlet, for tie aged top ind of the body 3 a. of each Sypha; 29 as lo:ng s possible, said syphons are disposed in longi udinal planes between those of the bodies & of the syphons 23. Also, the rear end of the bodies of the Syphons 3 extend rear Wardly of tile front, end of the bodies of the Syphons 28, as best appears in Fig. so as to provide an area of overlap winicii. 32st appeal's in FigS. 2 and 4.

To install the Syphoins in the firebox, Suitable openings 33 arid are made in the Ci'OWI). Sheet to receive the langed top ends of the bodies of the syghons 28-29. Also, suitable Ogerlings are mare in the front throat sheet E and in the bottom 8 of the combustion chamber to receive tie associated ends of the tubular inlet necks 38 and 33a respectively of said sypions 23 and 39.

It is pointed out that the iianged top end of the bodies for the syphons 28 and 29 each has a width tilat, approximates the width or lateral spacing between four rows of crown staybolts 22a. Thus, in forming the elongated openings 36 and 3 for said flanged top ends, a part of three rows of staybolts 22a are removed from those areas in which said openings are fortined. After the top end flanges have been fitted to and welded in said openings, those billiS of the tWO side rows thereof which line up With the flanges 36 and 3&a respectively are replaced and those stayicolis disposed in the area of the discharge end of each syphon are omitted. Thereafter, the respective inlet necks 33-38a are welded in place in their openings in the throat sheet 5 and in the bottom 8 of the combustion chamber re Sectively, As before pointed out, the flanges 35-38a of the bodies of the Syphons are as Wide as those parts 2a of the crown sheet 2 disposed between e

2 5

O them so that at the area of Overlap aS appeal'S 75 in Fig. 4, a considerable trainsverse part of the crown sheet must be cut away at this point.

When the flanged top ends of said body are welded in position by the lines of welds 42, it is apparent that where side edge parts of the fanges 36c of the Syphons 29 engage side edge parts of the flanges 36 of the syphons 28, they are Welded together by parts of Said lines Of welding. Shorter lines 43 of transverse Welds are employed to weld the end edges of the flanges 36-33d to the end edges of the crown sheet parts &g in line therewith.

The crown staybolts 22a wiich line up with the side and end parts of the flanges are re placed to operatively connect Said flanges to that part of the roof sheet 22 of the boiler shell above the Sane.

It will be apparent that the discharge or out let for each syphon body is relatively long con pared to its width. In boilers. Where the pres sure of the steam is relatively high, the tend ency of said high pressure is to Spread the Sy phons apart at Said discharge. In each indi vidual syphon, the tendency is the greater at a point, between the ends of the discharge or Culti lets and less toward said ends as before ex plained. When this spreading occurs, an ex ceedingly high stress is imposed upon the Stay bolts in the top row of bolts 34-34a in the body of the syphons 23-28, adjacent the rounded corner which joins the side walls of the body to its flanges. When such Spreading, which is undesirable, occurs this depresses the crown sheet and bulges the upper part of the Side sheets outwardly in an effort to relieve the crown sheet movement. As the crown Sheet is con nected by the crown staybolts 22a to that part of the roof sheet 22 boiler shell thereabove, this places said boltS in tension and pulls Said part of the roof sheet downwardly therewith and dis torts those parts of the boiler shell Where said part 22 joins the outer side sheets 2 of said shell.

To reduce the lateral spreading of the top end of the body defining the discharge or the outlet for each Syphon, I provide a plurality of bridge members which span the discharge of each of the syphon bodies and Which members are so secured at their ends as to resist such spreading.

Preferably Said bridge members are arranged in operative relation with respect to the water Side of the parts to Which they are connected.

In Fig. 5 one of said bridge members is indi cated at 45. It is in the form of a vertically edgewise disposed plate wider at the top 45a.

than at the bottom 45b and having side or end parts 45c curved to fit snugly upon the curved corners 35 (or 35g) that connect the associated side walls of the Syphon body to their flanges.

When each bridge plate or nember has been properly located, it is Welded in place as at 46.

In Fig. 6 I have shown a form of member 3 which is lower than that ShoWn in Fig. 5 So that its top edge is Substantially flush with the top Surfaces of the fianges.

In Fig. 7 I have illustrated a further modified form of member i3 preferably made as a forging.

It has a cylindrical body part 48ct of a length to fit between the side Walls of the Syphon body and an upwardly and out Wardly extending arm 43b at each end. The inner portion of each arm fits its associated curved corner 35 of the Syphon body and the outer portion of each arm is straight to extend onto the flange 36 of the sy

4.

phon. The arms are then welded in place as at

49. It is apparent that the member 48 braces the parts engaged and that the body 48a is “dropped' with respect to said arms 48b. With this arrangement only a minimum amount of obstruction is presented to the Washout Water when the top of the crown sheet is being Washed off after the removal of the plugs 9a, in the back sheet 9.

As before mentioned, in the individual Syphon, the spreading tendency before mentioned is greater at the mid portion of the Syphon dis charge than at either end portion. To overcome this unequal division of Said Spreading tendency, I space the elements at the Central parts of Said discharges closer than at certain of the ends thereof.

In the overlap area, appearing in FigS. 2 and 4 as provided by the associated ends of the outlets or discharges of the bodies of the syphons 28 and 29 respectively, I also place said members relatively close together longitudinally of Said outlets or discharges and thereby all of Said members in Said area coact to Stiffen Said area, transversely to the extent necessary to compen sate for the portions removed from Said area.

It is apparent that by providing the bridge members mentioned, they cooperate collectively to rigidly brace the crown sheet transversely.

This bracing effect Substantially reduces the spreading of the top end of the Syphons which causes depression of the crown sheet and subse quent downward movement of that part 22 of the roof Sheet of the boiler Shell above the Crown Sheet.

Thus, even in long fireboxes, in which syphons having long discharges or outlets are employed, the crown sheet is held more nearly to its origi nal cross sectional contour even under heavy boiler preSSures. There resultS Such diminished or restricted movement of crown and wrapper sheets that severe distortion is prevented and breakage or rupture minimized.

As the bridge members are disposed to present only an 'edge' to the Water issuing out of the outletS or discharges into the steam and water Space of the boiler, they do not choke or resist Water circulation to an appreciable extent.

The Said bridge plates or members may be applied and Weided to the aSSociated syphon be fore the latter is installed in place in a firebox.

AS Said bridge members are rigidly secured to the Syphon, there are no moving parts which require attention or Servicing. Also, as said InenberS are disposed upon the Water side of the aSSociated sheet parts of the syphon and are never in Coimmunication. With the fire in the fire bOX, they cannot burn out or cause burning out of Said aSSociated sheet parts.

In Fig. 10, one form of the invention is illus trated as embodied in a water steaming and circulating element 28ac that includes a substan tially W Shaped hollow body 3 ac, the side walls of which are connected together by staybolts 34a.

Said side walls and the end walls of the body terminate at the top in a lateral fiange 363 that surrounds the outlet for the body and is adapted to be Secured in the crown sheet of the firebox.

The bottom apex end of the body has a duplex inlet in the form of laterally extending tubes 3fa that are adapted to be secured at their ends, One in each side sheet of the firebox in which the element is installed. A plurality of bridge plates 45ac Similar to the bridge plates 45, extend across the outlet end of the outlet at the top end of

3)

5 3

2,353,167 the body and are fixed at their ends to those parts of the body at opposite sides of the Outlet as before mentioned.

While in describing the invention I have re ferred in detail to the form, arrangement and construction of the parts involved, the same is to be considered only in the illustrative Sense So that I do not Wish to be limited thereto ex cept as may be specifically set forth in the an pended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination with a locomotive boiler hav ing sheets forming a firebox therein, a water Steaming and circulating element in the firebox and having an elongated tubular outlet fixed in and opening through one of the sheets forming the firebox so as to communicate with the water Space of the boiler, staybolts connecting opposite Sides of Said tubular outlet together, and a plu rality of members disposed edgewise above said Staybolts and extending across Said outlet and dividing the Same into passages and having op posed portions innovably attached to opposite Sides of the extremity of said tubular outlet

5. Whereat the Sane connects with said first-men tioned sheet and resisting lateral spreading of said Side Walls at Said outlet under boiler pressure.

2. In combination with a locomotive boiler having sheets forming a firebox therein, a water Steaming and circulating element in the firebox having an elongated tubular outlet that is fixed in and opens through one of said sheets of the firebox into the Steam and water Space of the boiler, Said element including side sheets, and a plurality of edgeWise disposed members spaced longitudinally of and extending across said tubu lar outlet and dividing the same into passages, Said members having opposed sides attached to the upper extremities of the Waterside only of Said sheets at Said outlet and resisting lateral Spreading thereof under boiler pressure.

3. In combination with a locomotive boiler having sheets forming a firebox therein, a water Steaming and circulating element in the firebox having an elongated tubular outlet that is fixed in and opens through one of Said sheets of the firebOX into the Steam and Water space of the boiler, Said element including side sheet mem bers, and a plurality of edgewise disposed mem bers spaced longitudinally of and extending across said tubular outlet and each having end edge portions fitted and Welded to the upper extremi ties of the Water Side only of said sheet members and formed for resisting lateral spreading thereof at Said outlet under boiler pressure.

4. In combination with a locomotive boiler having a firebox therein that includes a crown sheet, a Water stealining and circulating element in the firebOX having an elongated tubular dis charge end that is fixed in and opens through the crown sheet into the steam and water space of the boiler, Said element including side sheet members and rows of staybolts connecting the Same together, and a plurality of longitudinally Spaced, edgeWise disposed plate members Spaced above and independent of the top row of staybolts and having end edge portions fitted and welded to the upper extremities of the water side of said side sheet members only and formed for resisting lateral spreading thereof under boiler pressure.

5. In combination. With a locomotive boiler having a firebOX therein that includes a rela tively long crown sheet, a plurality of laterally Spaced Water Steaming and circulating elements in One end of the firebOX and extending longi

2,358,167 tudinally thereof and at least one water steam ing and circulating element in the other end of the firebox and extending longitudinally thereof and disposed in a plane offset laterally from those of the first mentioned elements, each ele ment including a lateral flange at the top Which is fixed in the crown sheet of the firebox and which defines the discharge for the associated element into the steam and Water space of the boiler above the crown sheet, said elements be ing SO relatively arranged in the firebox, that the bodies thereof extend beyond one another longi tudinally and overlap in a part of the area of the crown sheet, and a plurality of longitudinally spaced tie members which extend across the dis charge of each Syphon body and which are fixed to opposite portions of Said body adjacent said discharge to resist lateral spreading of said bodies at its discharge, said tie members associated with each body being spaced closer together at the area of overlap than at certain points spaced longitudinally away from said area.

6. A Water Steaning and circulating element of the kind described and including a hollow body having an elongated flat tubular outlet de fined by spaced side and end walls connected by merging portions to a surrounding flange adapted for attachment in a locomotive boiler firebox sheet, a row of Staybolts arranged inwardly of Said merging portions and connecting Said Side walls of the element together, and stay members disposed in Said outlet OutWardly of Said stay bolts and spaced longitudinally and extending transversely of said outlet and dividing the same into passages, said stay members having edge portions rigidly attached to the water side of said side Walls at said merging portions and operating independently of Said stay bolts to resist lateral spreading of Said side walls at Said outlet.

7. A Water Steaming and circulating element of the kind described and including a hollow body having an elongated flat tubular outlet de fined by Spaced side and end walls connected by corner portions to a surrounding flange adapted for attachment in a locomotive boiler firebox sheet, a row of staybolts arranged inwardly of said corner portions and connecting said side

Walls of the element together, and stay members disposed in said outlet outwardly of said stay bolts and spaced longitudinally and extending transversely thereof and dividing the same into paSSages, Said stay enbers having edge por tions extending at least part Way around certain of Said corner portions and rigidly attached to the water side of said side Walls and operating independently of said stay bolts to resist lateral Spreading of Said side Walls at said outlet.

8. A Water Stealining and circulating element of the kind described and including a hollow body having an elongated fiat tubular outlet de fined by Spaced side and end walls connected by corner portions to a Surrounding fange adapted for attachinent in a locomotive boiler firebox Sheet, a roW Of Staybolts arranged in Wardly of said corner portions and connecting said side walls of the element together, and stay mem bers disposed in said outlet outwardly of said Staybolts and Spaced longitudinally and extend ing transversely thereof and dividing the same into passages, Said stay inenbers extending arold certain of Said corner portions into a plane outwardly of said fange and rigidly at tached to the Water Side of Said side Walls and Operating independently of Said stay bolts to resist Spreading of said side walls at said outlet.

9. A water Steaning and circulating element, of the kind described and including a hollow body having an elongated flat tubular outlet de fined by spaced side and end walls connected by merging portions to a Surrounding fange adapted for attachment in a locomotive boiler firebox sheet, a row of stay bolts arranged in Wardly of Said merging portions and connecting said side Walls of the element together, and stay members disposed in said outlet outwardly of Said Staybolts and Spaced longitudinally and ex tending transverse of said outlet and dividing the same into passages, said stay members being made from flat plate stock and having opposite edges rigidly attached to the Water side of Said side Walls at Said merging portions and operating independently of said stay bolts to resist lateral spreading of said side Walls at Said outlet.

BERT E. TARSON.