Патент USA US2515706

July 18, 1950
Filed Dec. 5, 1947
R P DE VRIES
ADJUSTABLE BAFF'LE'ARRANGEMENT FOR USE WITH
STEAM GENERATING BOILERS
v
2,515,701
2 Sheets-Sheet 1
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IyENTOR.
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July 18, 1950
I
R. P. DE VRIES
ADJUSTABLE BAFFLE ARRANGEMENT FOR USE WITH
2,515,701
STEAM GENERATING BOILERS
Filed Dec. 5, 1947
E2 Sheets-Sheet 2
2%,
45.
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33
P4"?
Patented July 18, 1950
2,515,701
UNITED ' STATES“: ‘PATENT OFFICE
2,515,701
ADJUSTABLE BAFFLE ARRANGEMENT FOR
USE ‘WITH STEAM GENERATING BOILERS
Rainier P. De Vries, Melrose, Mass.
Application December 5, 1947, Serial No. ‘789,995
6 Claims.
1
This invention relates to improvements in steam
generating boilers of the water tube type.
Steam generating boilers of the water tube
type, as heretofore constructed, are usually pro
vided, in association with a bank of water tubes
thereof, with an arrangement of baffles or parti
(01. 110-98)
Fig. 1 is a fragmentary longitudinal vertical
sectional view of a steam generating boiler of the
water tube type which is equipped with the novel
means for directing and controlling draft induced
?ow of hot gases of combustion from the boiler
?re box through the bank of boiler water tubes
in accordance with the purposes and principles
tions so designed and placed as to direct the
of this invention; Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical
movement of hot gases, of combustion, from the
sectional view of the same, taken on line 2-2 in
?rebox of the boiler, through the water tube bank
whereby to cause said gases to flow in contact 10 Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a fragmentary horizontal
sectional view of the same, taken on line 3-4-3 in
with the water tube surfaces substantially
Fig. 2.
throughout the lengths of the tubes before dis
Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detail longitudinal sec
charging through the boiler stack. The vprovi
tional ‘view, somewhat enlarged, taken through
sion of such baiiles or partitions is neither satis
factory or ef?cient, ‘not only because they are 15 a portion of the gas ?ow directing and controlling
means; and Fig. 5 is a fragmentary transverse
costly to install and replace, but, in use, tend to
vertical sectional view of the same, taken on line
trap and collect fly ash, so that masses of such
5—-5 in Fig. 4.
ash pile up on portions of the baffles or partitions
Similar characters of reference are employed
and accumulate around and cover portions of the
water tubes, with the consequence that both free 20 in the above described views,to indicate corresponding parts.
Referring‘to the drawings, the reference char
peded, and contact of ‘said, hot gases with the
acters H] and M respectively indicate the front
covered portions of the tubes is blocked, with
and back walls of the ‘housing, of a steam gen
resultant loss of tube heating surface and drop
25 erating boiler, the side walls of which are indi
in tube e?iciency.
'
Having in mind the above cited and other ob
cated by the reference character I 2. Suitably
supported at the top of the boiler housing are
jections to the use of gas‘?ow directing ba?les or
flow of the hot gases to the boiler stack is im
one or more steam collecting drums or domes “I3,
partitions in association with a bank of tubes in
preferably disposed to bridge the front and back
a water tube type boiler, it is an object of this
invention to provide a novel construction and 30 walls of said housing. Leading outwardly ‘from
the upper interior of the boiler housing, as e. g.
arrangement of adjustable means which ‘is lo
through the front wall II] as shown, ‘adjacently
cated. above and entirely separate from the bank
beneath the steam collecting drums or domes I3,
of tubes in a water tube type boiler, and which
is a smoke pipe or other suitable conduit M ‘which
is adapted, when properly adjusted, to so in?uence
the draft induced flow of hot gases of combustion 35 extends to the boiler ‘stack or chimney (‘not
from the boiler ?re box ‘upwardly through the
shown). Within and across said smoke pipe or
bank of tubes, and ultimately to the boiler stack,
conduit 14 is pivotally mounted a draft control
that substantially uniform contact of the hot
gases with the entire surface area of the tubes
damper [5, which may be and usually is automat
ically actuated in suitable manner, asalready well
‘
_
,
‘ ,
throughout the lengths thereof is assured with 40 known to the art.
substantially uniform heat transfer to said tubes.
~ Located within and across the upper interior of
the boiler housing, beneath the steam collecting
The invention having for a further object to pro
vide a gas ?ow directing and controlling means
of the character mentioned which avoids draft
obstruction of spaces intermediate the ‘water
tubes by accumulations of ?y‘ash therein; and
which avoids accumulation of fly ash in covering
relation to tube surfaces with heat transfer limit
ing eifect.
‘
'
‘
drums‘ or domes I3, is a bank [6 of _ spaced
water tubes, the tubes of which incline up
wardly through the housing interior from front
to back thereof, The tubes of the bank l6 there
of are conencted by their lower ends to and in
communication with a forward manifold H, the
latter being, in turn, connected by-piping IS with
Other objects of this invention, not at this 50 the'forward end “portions of the steam collect
> time more particularly enumerated, will be under
stood from the following detailed description of
the same.
‘
An illustrative embodiment of this invention is
shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:
ing drums or domes l3; and, similarly, said, tubes
are connected by their upper ends to and in com
munication with a rearward manifold l9 which,
in turn, is connected by piping '20 with the rear
ward and portions of the steam collecting drums
2,515,701
3
or domes I3.
The water tubes of the bank l5
4
.. sion of the water tubes contained in the bank I6
may be cleaned through the blow down line 2|
thereof. The ceiling member or plate 25 is pref
erably reenforced against warping by upstanding
which is connected to and in communication with
the lower end of the forward manifold |‘|. Any
longitudinally and laterally extending ribs 32 and
well known means (not shown) may be used to
33 which are integral therewith, certain of which
supply boiler feed water. The above described
bound the margins of said slots or ?ues 3| (see
Fig. 3).
arrangement and setting of the bank of water
Movably supported upon the ceiling member
tubes is one most commonly used, but, as will be
or plate 25 are a plurality of cover or damper
understood, may be varied, if desired, to suit
other designs of boilers of the water tube type, 10 plates 34 which respectively cooperate with the
so long as the setting and arrangement admits of
respective slots or ports 3| of said ceiling mem
installation of the hereinafter described novel
ber or plate, and which can be slidably shifted
means for directing and controlling draft induced
relative to said slots or ports 3| so as to form
?ow of hot gases of combustion from the boiler
operative open areas of the latter which taper
?re box upwardly through the spaces interme 15 from the ‘rearward ends toward the forward ends
diate the tubes.
,
thereof, whereby to offer variable resistance to
The means for directing and controlling draft
gas flow through the slots or ports along the
lengths thereof and into the gas chamber 21.
induced flow of hot gases from the broiler ?re
box upwardly through the spaces intermediate
By thus shaping the effective open areas of the
‘the water tubes of the bank H5 is disposed within 20 slots or ports 3|, maximum resistance to gas
?ow therethrough occurs at the ends of the slots
the upper interior of the boiler housing above
or ports nearest to the point of draft induced
said bank "5 of water tubes and beneath the
discharge of gases through the smoke pipe or
‘steam collecting drums or domes l3, and com
prises a ceiling member or plate 25 of a width
conduit M, where the draft suction is of maxi
vto extend'across the housing interior from one 25 mum effect, which resistance gradually dimin
ishes along the slots or ports toward the ends of
to the other of the side walls thereof, and from
the back wall forwardly to a point adjacent to
the latter which are at greatest distance from
the front wall I0. Said ceiling member or plate
said point of draft induced discharge of the
25 is preferably positioned to incline somewhat
gases through the smoke-pipe or conduit M, and
downwardly from said back wall || toward the 30 where the draft suction is of minimum effect.
front wall ID‘ of the boiler housing. The ceiling
In this manner upward ?ow of the hot gases
member or plate 25, as thus disposed, subdivides
of combustion, rising from the boiler ?re box,
the upper interior of the boiler housing so as
as induced by draft suction through the gas col
lecting chamber 21, is substanially equalized
to form a water tube‘ bank containing chamber
26 below the same, and a gas collecting cham- '0 from front to back of the bank l6 of water tubes.
ber 2'! above the same and beneath the steam
and consequently contact of said gases and
collecting drums or domes l3. Said gas collecting
transfer of heat therefrom to the water tubes
chamber 21, thus provided above the ceiling
member or plate 25, communicates directly with
the intake end of the smoke-pipe or conduit I4
through which the gases of combustion are dis
of the bank i6 is substantially uniformly applied
to the water tubes throughout the lengths there
of, so that necessity for the use of gas flow di
recting ba?ies or partitions in association with
said bank l6 of water tubes, and the objection
charged to a boiler stack or chimney by the
draft effect of the latter. If required, an auxil
able consequences attendant upon the use of such
iary ceiling partition 28 is provided to extend
between the forward end‘ of the ceiling member
ba?les or partitions, hereinabove referred to, are
, avoided.
_ or plate 25 and the front wall In of the boiler
Means are provided for adjustably shifting and
housing, at a point of the latter below the level
vof the intake of said smoke-pipe or conduit I4,
thus assuring the sealing off of the outlet end
of the gas-collecting chamber 21 from the water 50
tube bank containing chamber 26, whereby to
prevent flow of gases from the latter to the
smoke-pipe or conduit I4 in by-passing rela
determining desired positions of said cover or
damper plates 34 relative to the slots 01' ports
3|, whereby to taper or shape the effective open
areas of the latter.
To this end. each cover or
damper plate 34 is provided with an upstanding
medial flange or web 35 which extends longitudi
nally therealong from the forward end portion
vto the rearward end portion thereof. These
55 ?anges or webs 35 not only stiffen and reenforce
.. , The ceiling member or‘plate'25v can be sup
:-ported in its above described operative position
the cover or damper plates against warping and
within the boiler housing interior in any conven
distortion, but also provide means for coupling
>;-ient manner; ~preferably,-however, the same is
-manipulatable shifting and adjusting devices
suspended by hanger bolts 29 which depend from
thereto. The shifting and adjusting devices are
qbracket members 3|), the latter being suitably
engaged with opposite end portions of said flanges
tion to the gas collecting chamber 21.
-, secured, as e. g. by welding, toldrums or domes
~ l3. Any suitable number and disposition of such
, hanger bolts 29 may be employed, accordingly as
-a given. size and weight of the ceiling member
I or plate 25 may be deemed to require.
_.,- The .ceiling member or plate 25 is preferably
‘made of cast iron, and may comprise a single
vor one-piece body, or it may be formed by a
plurality of joined sections which are suitably
, secured together. In any case, the ceiling mem
ber or. plate 25- is provided with a plurality of
or webs 35, and are common to corresponding
end portions thereof. Said shifting and adjust
ing devices comprise a forward shift rod 36 which
65- is provided with screw-threaded opposite end por
tions 3‘! and 38 respectively slidably extended
-through and so as to project exteriorly of op
.posite side walls l2 of the boiler housing, with
the body of said shift rod extending transversely
across the forward end ‘portions of the cover or
70 damper plates 34, and a rearward shift rod 39
'also provided with screw-threaded opposite end
portions 40 and 4| which are likewise respectively
'_slots orv ports 3|, which extend from front to
slidably extended through and exteriorly of op
:back of theboiler housing interior, andin di
posite side walls [2 of the boiler housing, with
rection corresponding to the direction of exten 75 , the body portion of this shift rod extending trans
longitudinally extending, laterally spaced apart
agar-moi
fpipe intake. In ‘this ‘way, restrictive-resistance
'to up-?ow of gases-in the Izone’o'f maximum draft
suction ‘is set up, which resistance is gradually
reduced toward the ‘zone of ‘minimum draft suc
versely acrossv the "rearward end portions vl'of the
cover or damper‘, plates 3,4,}f‘saidshiftfrods :35
and 39 extend through slots ‘ilz‘w'ith wh-idh the
end portions of the‘?ang'e's'br webs‘35 of the cover
or damper plates 34 are-provided.
es the
shift rods 36 and 39, adjacent ‘tofopposite 's’i'des‘o'f
the ?anges or webs v35 of the "cover or damper
plates through which'they pass, are collars 43
which, by abutment upon
‘?anges or web
portions, function to translate axialv mdvements
of the shift rods into lateralfshi'fting movements
of the cover or damper platestlt. ' Screwed onto
the respective screw-threaded opposite ‘empor
tions 3'5 and 38 of ‘the forward ‘shift rod ‘35, which
project exteriorly from the 'respectii'fe side walls
52 of the boiler housing, are‘thfe respective ‘lock
nut sets M a‘nd'45; and, similarly, l‘screwedjohto
the respective screw-‘threaded opposite end ‘por
tions Ml and 1! lv of the rearward shift rod '39, whikih
likewise project “exteriorly “from the respective
side walls 12 of the boiler housing5-are there
spective lock nut sets 45 and 41.‘
_
i
tion.
As a consequence of this, the draft suc
tion effects ‘are substantially equalized through
out the cross-sectional ‘area ‘of that portion of
the boiler housing ‘interior which provides the
water tube bank-containing chamber '26, and con
sequently the up-‘?ow of gases through the wa
ter tube bank is substantially uniform‘in volume
and velocity from‘end to end of the ‘latter.
The cover ‘or damper plates 3d may be adjusted
by manipulation ‘of "the shaft rods 36 and 39.
‘ For example, the lock nut ‘sets his and 5411 being
loosened, by turning home the opposite lock nut
sets M- and d6 ‘against the adjacent side wall
l'2,“the shift ‘rods may be drawn to the right (‘as
viewed in Fig. 3) “respectively for di?erent dis
20 tanoes or amounts, whereby toobliquely offset the
M
It will be understood ‘that the ?re-jb‘ox'o‘f the
cover or damper plates 551i relative to‘the slots or
ports 3!, in such manner that‘the desired’tapered
open areas of ‘said slots or ports '31 'are formed.
The amount, of relative ‘adjustment of the op
25 posite ends or the "cover or damper ‘plates, which
may be required in'any given case, can be ‘de
termined by taking thermometer readings ‘at v‘op
so that the hot gases'o-f ‘combustion, ‘generated
posite ends of a slct'or port 31, and then ‘manipu
in the ?re-box by combustion of suitable ‘fuel,
boiler is located, as indicated by the reference
character 5'9, in“ ‘the lower‘iint'erio‘r portion of ‘the
boiler housing beneath thebahk ‘i 6 of water ‘tubes.
will rise so as to passfthrough‘the spacesjb‘etween
the water tubes‘contained in the bank ‘I 6 thereof. ‘
As is well known ‘the upward ?ow er gases of
combustion is induced ‘by ‘the draft ‘uptake by
which said gases are discharged through the
boiler smoke-pipe and stack.‘ Since the intake of
the smoke-‘pipe is usually‘through a ‘wall of "the
boiler housing, and since the‘ suction effect of the
draft is at its maximum‘m those portions ‘of ‘the
boiler housing interior‘ which are adjacent to ‘said
intake, the'gase's', as ,in?uencedbyjdra‘ft suction,
tend to flow at highest velocity through the path
of least resistance and most idil're‘ct‘to, the smoke
pipe intake. For'this reason, unless otherwise
prevented, the gases, althoughef'?c'iently “contact
ing those portions arms-bani; of water ‘tubesv
which are nearest to they smokeqpipe intake, will‘
tend to lay-pass or makejinef?cient heat transfer
contact with the portions “of the bank or ‘water
tubes which are‘ remoteffroin ‘the smoke-pipe in
take. To avoid such unequal heat transfer con- ,
tact of hot, gases with thejbank‘ of watertubes ,it
has, in the past, been‘bustom'ary top-rovide ,ba?ies
and partitionsv so ‘disposedgiri associationwith
and in relation to the bank of‘ water tubes,‘ that
the gases are first, compelled't'o contactrem’ote
lating the ‘cover 'or ‘damper plates until the com
pared readings are ‘of ‘substantially thesam'e‘de
gree.
After the cover or >‘damper plates 3d have ‘been
desirably adjustedgthe same (and the shift rods
may be secured against accidental displacement
by tightening the ‘loosened lock nut sets 45 and.
41. It will, of ‘course, be obvious that the cover
or ‘damper plates 34 may optionally be adjusted
‘either to the right or left.
Having ‘now described my‘ invention, I rclaim:
»1. A steam generating boiler provided by a
housing having a fire-box in its lower interior,
a bank of water tubes within the ?re-box, a cell
i-ng member above the water tubes to provide ‘a
chamber in the upper interior ‘of the housing,
said ceiling ‘member having ports in'lthe form of
elongated slots through whichgases of combus
tion pass from the ?re-box upwardly into said
chamber, a draft inducing ‘means communicating
‘with an end ‘of the chamber through side wall
,of “the housing whereby to' discharge *said’gases
from ‘the chamber, said port forming "si'ots ‘ero
tending lengthwise" in ‘direction ‘substantially
parallel "to the direction of outward flow of gases
from the chamber to ‘and through the draft in
55 r‘ducin'g means, damper plates'i'cooperative ‘with
and‘exte'n'ding longitudinally of the'port form~
ing slots, ‘and means cooperative with opposite
jacent to the smoke-pipe intake.’ The objec
ends "or the damper ‘plates for laterally adjusting
tions to the use‘of such ba?ies and ‘partitions has
"the "same vrelative to the port‘ forming‘ slots,
portions of the water tubes and thereafter por
tions of the latter which :are more closely ad
been already above referred to.“ “
v ‘ ‘
"
"
‘whereby to taper the‘la‘tter toward ‘the "draft in
By the presentv invention, the "necessity for use
of baffles or partitions within the bank of;water
ducing means "so as to ‘set ‘upmaximum resistance
tubes has been avoided by..,the,provisionpf;the
ceiling member or plate 25. having theflongi-tudi
nal slots or ports 3! and the. adjustablereover ~,-or
damper plates 34 cooperative with the latter, and
"of they draft inducing“ means ‘with diminishing
65 resistance toward points of decreasing ‘suction
as interposed between the draft influenced gas
collecting chamber 21, through which draft in
duced suction is effected, and the water tube
bank containing chamber 26 through which ini
to upward'g'asw?ow “through the re port forming
slots at‘p‘oints subject‘to maximum vsuction eifect
effect Iofthe‘draft"indu‘c‘ir‘i'g means. ‘
f
2. A steam generating boiler as de?ned in
claim 1 wherein the means for adjusting the
damper plates comprises the provision, in con—
70 nection with opposite end portions of each
tial up flow of gases of combustion occurs.
damper plate, of an upstanding ?ange having a
In use, the cover or damper plates 34 are so
adjusted relative to the slots or ports 3! as to
narrow the latter at points nearest the smoke
pipe intake, and thence gradually Widen the same
toward the points most remote from said smoke
slotted opening therethrough, shift rods com
' mon to the damper plates respectively extend
ing across their corresponding end portions
75 through the slotted openings of the ?anges
2,515,701
7
thereof, collars a?ixed on said shift ‘rods in
housing having a ?re-box in its lower interior
straddling relation to the ?anges of each damper
plate, opposite end portions of the shift rods
respectively extending slidably through and ex
teriorly of opposite side walls of the housing, and
and a steam collecting means at its top, a bank
of water tubes within the ?re-box, a ceiling
member extending across the interior of the
housing above said bank of water tubes whereby
to provide a, chamber beneath said steam col
lecting means, said ceiling member having gas
manipulatable nut means threaded onto the ex
terior end portions of said shift rods, said shift
rods being individually axially movable to later
ports in the form of elongated slots through
ally shift the damper plates relative to the port
which gases of combustion from the ?re-box,
forming slots for passage tapering effect.
10 after traversing the bank of water tubes, pass
3. A steam generating boiler provided by a
upwardly into said chamber, a draft inducing
housing having a ?re-box in its lower interior, a
bank of water tubes within the ?re-box, a ceiling
member above the water tubes to provide a cham
means communicating with an end of the cham
ber through a side wall of the housing whereby
to discharge gases from the chamber, said gas
ber in the upper interior of the housing, said , 15 ports extending lengthwise in direction substan
ceiling member having parts in the form of
tially parallel to in direction of outward ?ow of
elongated slots through which gases of combus
gases through the chamber to and through the
tion pass from the ?re-box upwardly into said
draft inducing means, damper plates respectively
chamber, a draft inducing means communicating
longitudinally coextensive with said respective
with an end of the chamber through a side wall 20 gas ports, and respective means cooperative with
of the housing whereby to discharge said gases
opposite end portions of the damper plates
from the chamber, said port forming slots ex
manipulatable to shift the latter to diagonally
tending lengthwise in direction substantially
disposed relation to the gas ports 50 as to taper
parallel to the direction of outward flow of gases
the effective gas passage areas of said ports
from the chamber to and through the draft 25 toward the draft inducing means, whereby to set
inducing means, laterally shiftable damper plates
up maximum resistance to upward gas ?ow
cooperative with and extending longitudinally of
the port forming slots, means to pivot the end
portions of said damper plates which are dis~
posed adjacent to the discharge end of the cham“ 30
ber and the draft inducing means, and means
cooperative with the opposite end portions of the
damper plates for laterally adjusting said damper
plates relative to the port forming slots, whereby
to taper the latter toward the draft inducing
means so as to set up maximum resistance to up
ward gas ?ow through the port forming slots at
points subject to maximum suction effect of the
draft inducing means with diminishing resist
through the ports at points subject to maximum
suction effect of the draft inducing means with
diminishing resistance toward points of decreas
ing suction effect of said draft inducing means.
6. A steam generating boiler as de?ned in
claim 5 wherein the means for positioning the
damper plates comprises the provision, in con
nection with opposite end portions of each
35 damper plate, of an upstanding ?ange having a
slotted opening therethrough, shift rods com~
mon to the damper plates respectively extending
across their corresponding end portions through
the slotted openings of the ?anges thereof, collars
ance toward points of decreasing suction effect 40 affixed on said shift rods in straddling relation
of the draft inducing means.
'
4. A steam generating boiler as de?ned in claim
3 wherein the means for positioning the damper
plates comprises the provision, in connection
with opposite end portions of each damper plate,
to the ?anges of each damper plate, opposite end
portions of the shift rods respectively slidably
extending through and exteriorly of opposite side
walls of the housing, and manipulatable nut
means threaded onto the exterior end portions
.of said shift rods, the shift rod cooperative with
the ends of the damper plate which lie adjacent
damper plates respectively extending across their
to the discharge end of the chamber and the
corresponding end portions through the slotted
draft inducing means being manipulatable to
openings of the ?anges thereof, collars a?‘lxed on 50 determine pivoting points for said ends of the
said shift rods in straddling relation to! the
damper plates, and the other shift rod being
flanges of each damper plate, opposite end por~
axially movable to laterally shift opposite ends
tions of the shift rods respectively slidahlv ex
of the damper plates relative to the gas "ports
tending through and exteriorly of opposite side
for passage tapering effect.
a
walls of the housing, and manipulatable' nut 55
REINIER. P. DE VRl‘ES.
means threaded onto the exterior end portions
REFERENCES CITED
of said shift rods, the shift rod cooperative with
the ends of the damper plate which lie adjacent
The following references are of record in the
to the discharge end of the chamber and the
file of this patent:
draft inducing means being manipulatable to
STATES PATENTS
determine pivoting points for said ends of the
Number
Name
Date
damper plates, and the other shift rod being
683,758
Hering ____________ __ Oct. 1, 1901
axiallv movable to laterally shift opposite ends
713,185
Webster. ________ __ Nov. 11, 1902
of the damper plates relative to the port forming
05 1,708,654
Andrews _~ _________ __ Apr. 9, 1929
slots for passage tapering effect.
5. A steam generating boiler provided by a
of an upstanding ?ange having a slotted open
ing therethrough, shift rods common to the