Patent GB-190227900-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Apparatus for Controlling the Supply of Feed Water to Steam Boilers, or of Fuel to the Heating Furnaces and other like uses.
Inventor: FLEUSS HENRY ALBERT
Filed: 1902-12-17
Granted: 1903-10-22
Abstract: 27,900. Fleuss, H. A. Dec. 17. Feedwater, controlling.-Relates to apparatus for operating automatically the water valves of feed - pumps, the steam valves of steam feed - pumps or injectors, and the fuel-supply valves of liquid - fuel furnaces. It consists in improvements upon the device which, on a variation of the water level in the boiler beyond previously-assigned limits, effects the desired ends through the substitution of steam for water in a chamber external to and connected with the boiler. The object is to eliminate the faulty action of such a device due to accidental heating of the water by connection in the external chamber or through natural circulation due to the rising of heated water from the boiler. Fig. 1 shows a part of a boiler to which is attached one form of the device and the arrangement of its accessories. The normal water level in the boiler is denoted by the dotted line b, from which the tube f ascends and descends to the " thermostatic mechanism " d and thence by the pipe r to the boiler water space. Around the upper part of the tube d is disposed a vessel c. From this, a pipe h extends to a flexible metallic case i, the lower plate of which presses upon the spindle of the valve m in such a way that when the pressure of the easily-vaporizable liquid in the casing and in the vessel c has been raised, the bye-pass n of the boiler pump is closed and the feed from the pipe o compelled to enter the boiler by way of the serpentine pipe r. This has the effect of raising the water level above the pipe f, which has previously lowered the level in the chamber d. The water then again fills the chamber d, which has previously contained steam, cools the vapour in the annulus c and reduces the pressure in the case i, thus allowing the valve m to rise and open the bye-pass. As long as the upper part of the tube d remains filled with water, circulation through it of boiler water is prevented. If desired, the thermostatic apparatus may be made to act in such a way that when the valve to which it is connected is opened, water may pass to the boiler. In this case, a loaded relief - valve would be provided to carry off excess of feedwater. Sediment is removed through the cock g. Figs. 2, 4, and 5 show another form of thermostatic device with its connections. In Fig. 2, the normal water level is indicated by the dotted line 2. From this level the pipe 4 ascends prior to entering the chamber 3, shown in section in Fig. 4 and in plan in Fig. 5. Thence it continues by the descending pipe 5, the mud pocket 6, and by ascending and again descending branches which open to the boiler below the water tubes of different expansibility acts in the manner of a steam trap, so that when steam enters by the pipe 4 and expands the outer tube 3, the bellcrank lever 15 is operated, and the relief or byepass valve 19 closed, with the result that feed is forced into the boiler. In place of the internal tube 10 sliding in the block 9, both of its ends may be fixed and a flexible corrugated tube employed. Fig. 3 shows a modification as applied to a water-tube boiler 1. The chamber 26 opens at its upper and lower ends to the boiler. Its lower portion forms a mud pocket. The feed-pipe 12 is led into this chamber below the water level, the tube 4 descending to the normal level. The mud pocket 6 is also provided from which a double continuation of the pipe 5 ascends. In anotherarrangement, thefeedwater pipe and the pipes leading from the tube 3 pass into the boiler itself and not into an outer chamber. By a suitable modification, the necessity for opening the pump relief-valve against a pressure somewhat in excess of that in the boiler is obviated. In this case the pipe 22, Fig. 4, would serve as the water-supply pipe, the thermostatic device being arranged so that, when cooled, it cuts off the water supply. To allow more than one flexible metallic casing i to be employed, as in Fig. 1, the casings may be superposed and the pipe h led first to the lower case, then bent into a coil, and its end connected with the case above it. To enable the pipe to open into the lower case, it is passed through and soldered into a projecting boas on the lower case. From the coil into which it is bent, it is passed through a boss on the upper case.