Patent GB-190905587-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to Thermostatic Apparatus for Regulating Liquid Levels in Steam Generators and the like.
Inventor: EAST WALTER
IPC: F22D5/14
Filed: 1909-03-08
Granted: 1909-12-31
Abstract: 5587. East, W., Dobbs, A. E., and Howkins, J. S. March 8. Levels, regulating.-Relates to thermostatic apparatus for maintaining a constant liquid level in steam generators, and in brewing, distilling, and like apparatus, and consists of an expansible tube, fixed at one end, through which a fluid at constant temperature passes, the tube being surrounded by a liquid or gas or vapour according to the varying height of the liquid level to be regulated. One form of the apparatus, as applied to a steam-generator, is shown in Fig. 1. A tube d of expansible material extends into the boiler at the normal water-level, and is supported at its inner end by a plate a secured to the boiler shell by rods c. The outer end of the tube d extends into a casing g and operates a lever i connected to a piston valve n controlling passages to two pipes q, s, which lead respectively to the main steam-pipe from the boiler and to the feed-pump or the like. A guide u is provided on the valve rod t, and both the guide and the valve are pierced to give passage for steam. The valve is adjusted to leave the passage to the pipe q slightly open when the water in the boiler is at its normal level. Superheated steam is passed through the tube d from a pipe e and passes freely through the pipe q to the steam main when the water is at its normal level. When the water-level falls and the outside of the tube becomes exposed to the steam in the boiler in place of the water, the rate of absorption of the heat from the superheated steam within the tube decreases and the tube expands, thereby moving the valve n to close the pipe q and open the pipe s to allow the steam to pass to the feed-pump. The lever i operates the valve spindle t by a fork at its end engaging a pin w carried in the forked end of the valve spindle. The method of connecting the tube d to the lever i is shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The tube d screws into a ring z pivoted at opposite sides of a diameter into a loop on the lever i. In a modification, the tube d is placed outside of the boiler and the superheated steam, before passing through the tube, is led through a coiled pipe arranged in the boiler at the normal water-level. In the modification shown in Fig. 6, the tube d, placed outside the boiler and supplied with steam as in the previous modification, is carried by a frame 13, to which it is rigidly secured at one end by nuts 14. The other end of the tube d is closed by a cap 15, from which passes a pipe 16 to the steam main. A member 18, provided with a flange 32, is screwed at one end to the cap 15, and carries a fork at the other end, by which it is connected to the lever i. The casing g is carried by the frame 13 and provided with a flange 17 opposite to the flange 32. The flanges are connected together by dished thin metal diaphragms 19. The lever i is pivoted to a lug 22 and bears upon the spindle of a spring- controlled valve 24, which opens into a chamber 26, from which passes a pipe 28 through a non- return valve 29 to the boiler. Feed is supplied to the chamber 26 through a pipe 27 and, when the valve 24 is opened, escapes through a pipe 31. The valve is arranged to be open when the water in the boiler is at its normal level. When the water-level falls, the expansion of the pipe d causes the end of the lever i to move away from the valve 24, which thereby closes, and the feed passes through the non-return valve 29 to the boiler. In this form of the apparatus, the tube d may also be inside the boiler.