IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO STEAM AND HOT-WATER APPARATUS FOR SUPPLYING HEAT TO AND UTILIZING, MEASURING AND REGULATING THE SAME IN DWELLING-HOUSES OR OTHER BUILDINGS
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake of the firm of Haseltine Lake
& Co. Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO STEAM AND HOT-WATER APPARATUS
FOR SUPPLYING HEAT TO AND UTILIZING, MEASURING AND REGULATING THE
SAME IN DWELLING-HOUSES OR OTHER BUILDINGS." A communication to him
from abroad by Eugene Florence Osborne, of. St. Paul, Minnesota, United
States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 31st August 1882.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, and Co, Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings London, "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO STEAM
AND HOT-WATER APPARATUS FOR SUPPLYING HEAT TO, AND UTILIZING, MEASURING,
AND REGULATING THE SAME IN, DWELLING HOUSES OR OTHER BUILDINGS" [A com-
munication to him from abroad by Eugene Florence Osborne, of St. Paul,
Minnesota, United States of America.]
This Invention relates to the system of steam heat and power supply described
in the Specification of former Letters Patent dated January 4th, A.D. 1881 No. 46.
The present Invention comprises improvements in devices for metering the water
of condensation produced in steam heating apparatus in which a circuit of pipes
conveys steam to the building or apartment to be heated, and returns the water of
condensation to the generator: improvements in registering devices for use in con-
nection with meters for the above purpose: improvements in devices for signalling
any derangement in either of the local heating apparatuses of a general steam
heating system: improvements for controlling the movement of the water of
condensation in the pipes which return said water to the generator when said
pipes are materially inclined; and a novel arrangement of boilers and engine with
the heating apparatus when an engine is used in connection with the generators
of the heating apparatus.
In the Specification of the aforesaid former Letters Patent which described a
system of general steam heat and power or supply for cities, I have shewn a main

page_text: circuit which supplies steam to a local apparatus and which returns the condensed
water through (first) a meter, and (second) a trap to a pipe leading back to the
generator. The meter being thus located, is operated solely by the working head of
the branch circuit in which it is connected. In many situations the working head of
this branch circuit is necessarily low and in the arrangement shewn in said former
Specification the whole, or a considerable part, of said head would be exhausted in
working the meter, leaving too little to effect a proper circulation.
According to the present Invention the meter receives from the trap, and its
discharge is controlled by the water level of said trap through the medium of a
float and proper connections. By this means I am enabled to use the entire head
for the purpose of circulation and the entire difference in pressure between the
steam supply and condense-water return-pipes as another and separate force, for
working the meter. I am also thereby enabled to secure the measurement of the
water condensed in the steam service-pipe (connected with the trap) with which it
is obviously proper to charge the consumer.
If the meter were simply placed after the trap to obtain the general advantage
above named, other difficulties would be presented, to wit: by reason of the lower
pressure on the meter, steam would sometimes be liberated therein and would
prevent, or interfere with, its operation, or, by reason of the cooling of the water
there would be a reduction of its volume and consequent inaccuracy of measure-
ment. Moreover, if to maintain the uniformity of pressure between the meter and
trap so located, the meter discharge be connected with the trap float, stuffing boxes
will be necessary for such connection, which entail friction and require attention.
While such a relative location and connection of the trap meter will present the
general feature of my Invention I prefer, by reason of the disadvantages just
mentioned, and as the best embodiment thereof, to locate the meter within the trap
where it is directly subjected to the pressure of the trap, and the connections
require no stuffing boxes and operate with the least possible friction. Moreover, by
reason of the location of the meter within the trap, the outside parts of the meter
are first heated when hot water enters the trap, or when the temperature of the
water in the trap is raised, and, as a consequence, the pistons of the meter do not
bind, but work freely at all times.
In carrying the said Invention into practice I provide a cast-iron shell, preferably
of cylindrical form with hemispherical ends, and having a top man-hole and inlet;
a rectangular extension of the shell has a removable head. Within the trap is
mounted a bent float-lever consisting of a horizontal arm and a shorter vertical
arın keyed to a transverse shaft which is supported at one end in a suitable
bearing within the trap, and at the other protrudes through the shell by a
stuffing box. At the extremity of the long arm of the float-lever is secured a
float of stone or other suitable material, after the usual construction of a class
of float-traps. The protruded end of the shaft bears a horizontal arm on which
is placed a sliding weight which may be set to counterbalance the float to the
extent of one half its displacement. Instead of a counterbalanced stone-float,
a hollow float may be used, the weight of which, with its arm, is one half the
weight of the water it displaces when submerged.
Two cylinders cast in a single piece, are located inside this trap and arranged
transversely within the extension. They are secured in place by means of bolts
which pass upward through the bottom of the shell into feet cast on the cylinders.
The cylinders have inlet from the interior of the trap through central valved
ports in their top and discharged through passages leading to the outlet, as will be
more fully explained. The discharge of the trap is, therefore, through the meter,
unless the meter should be out of order, when another outlet may be temporarily
used. Or, the trap may be made to discharge through the passages of the meter,
without operation of the latter.
Said cylinders are respectively provided with pistons which work a suitable
distance at opposite ends of the cylinders. The pistons are provided with stems
each having a longitudinal hole fitted to freely admit a rod which is fixed in the

page_text: cylinder head towards which the apertured stem is, in each cylinder, directed. Said
rods serve as guides to the pistons, and the rod entering the stem is square to
prevent the rotation of the stem to which it isapplied, for a purpose that will
presently appear. One of the stems is provided with plain collars and the other
stem with spiral or offset collars.
The cylinders are provided with horizontally faced slide-valve-seats on their
upper surface having ports like those of a steam-engine-cylinder. The port passages
lead through the metal of the cylinder shell to the end of the piston chamber, as in
a steam engine, but the passages are vertical, since the piston never travels beyond
this point. Both the central exhaust ports connect with a common passage which
leads to the outlet.
To the valve seats are fitted valves having neither lap nor lead or, in other words,
being "line and line." One valve is positive or "direct-acting" and the other valve
is negative or "back-acting," having reference to the difference in the number of
their transverse bearing faces. The cavities of the negative or back-acting valve
are L-shaped.
These valves are given a compound movement upon their seats as will be next
explained. First They have a movement longitudinal to the cylinder or to the
line of the ports, as in a steam engine; and second, a movement transverse to the
cylinders or at right angles with the line of the ports. The actual movement is
usually oblique.
The forward or longitudinal movement of each valve by which the corresponding
cylinder ports are alternately opened and closed to work the piston, is produced
by the movement of the piston in the other cylinder through the medium of a
double and oppositely cranked shaft. Two of said shafts are employed, one for
each cylinder and valve. They are alike and are each provided with a tapering
bearing shoulder fitted closely to a corresponding seat in the metal which joins the
cylinders and in the central line between the cylinder-chambers. The lower end
of the said shafts are laterally retained in a socket. The upper crank arın is, or
may be, of the same piece with the shaft, and is provided with a pin which enters
a slot of the valve with which it is connected. The lower crank-arm is firmly
secured to the shaft when the latter is put in place and is held from rotation by a
spline and groove, or other suitable means. Said arm works in a recess, leading
out of the piston chamber, and is provided with a roller-pin at its free end arranged
to strike the collars on the stem of the piston by which it is worked. Said collars
are so placed on the piston-stems that as each piston nears the end of its movement
in either direction, it will, by one of its collars, encounter the roller-pin and will
thereby, in completing its stroke, oscillate the shaft far enough to shift the valve of
the opposite cylinder.
The other or transverse movement of the valves by which the size of the port
orifices are widened or contracted, or closed, is produced by the vertical movement of
the float. For this purpose a horizontal bar is arranged transversely over the valves
and is laterally retained in place by guides. Said bar is given a longitudinal
movement, (transverse to the cylinders) by means of a connecting rod pivotally
joining the bar with the vertical arm of the float lever. To the bar are attached
parallel transverse guide-flanges arranged to depend one on each side of the several
valves. Between these flanges said valves freely slide in their longitudinal move-
ment, but, obviously, when the bar is longitudinally moved by the float, the flanges
secured to said bar, cary the valves sidewise or transversely to the cylinders. In
this movement, the pins slide in the slots of the valves. The parts are so arranged
that when the float rises above the proper water line the ports will be enlarged
and when the float descends said ports are narrowed or closed. Transverse wings
of the cavities in one valve are provided for the purpose, (1) of at all times giving
free inlet to the receiving end of the cylinder whatever the lateral position of the
valves (2) to thereby secure maximum pressure on the discharge side of the
piston of said cylinder and, (3), through the agency of such maximum pressure on
the discharge side, to more nearly balance said valve.

page_text: The working water line obviously cannot be lower than the level of the valve-
seats.
The lateral movements of the valves are limited by the vertical guides which are
set in position to arrest the valves either when fully open or when fully closed.
Set-screws may also be employed to arrest the valves in one of their lateral
movements, or to hold them open should occasion require.
The collars on the piston-stem are set in opposite spiral arrangement on said
stem. This is for the purpose of throwing the meter temporarily out of engagement
to test either its displacement or tightness, which operation will next be explained.
The more proximate parts of the two collars are at a proper distance apart to
encounter the roller-pin on the valve shifting arm, while the more widely separated
parts of said collars will not encounter said pin in a full stroke of the piston.
Wherefore when it is desired to test the meter, the square is rotated one half turn
by an external squared head carrying the stem around so as to bring its collars out
of reach of the roller-pin. The piston of, the cylinder (containing the spirally
collared stem) will, therefore not shift the valve of the other cylinder and the
piston of said latter cylinder stops and remains stationary on the completion of its
stroke. The piston of the first cylinder, as a consequence, comes to rest on the
completion of its stroke. Both pistons being at rest, if the meter is tight no
water will escape, if otherwise, it will. Having thus tried the meter for leakage,
next the square is turned for a moment to its original position which causes one of
the spiral collars to strike the roller-pin adjacent thereto and opens the valve of
the cylinder. By immediately turning the square back again so as to bring the
spiral collars out of reach of the roller, as in the first rotation of the square above
described, it is evident that each piston will make one stroke and thereupon come
to rest again. By measuring the water passed by the meter in this one stroke of
both pistons its capacity or displacement is ascertained. This done, the square is
turned back to its original position and allowed to remain there, holding the spiral
collars in position to shift the opposite cylinder-valves and thus continue the meter
in operation.
Should the meter get out of order, the trap may be discharged directly through
the exhaust-passage by running in the set-screw against the end of the rod so a
to push the valves so far forward upon their seats as to leave the passage constantly
open.
A suitable registering apparatus is located on the trap extension over the meter
cylinders and the same is run by the oscillating rod which forms an extension of
one of the shafts of the valve-shifting devices described. Said register will
preferably be arranged to record in pounds of condense water; but it may record
in gallons, or in units of value for quantity of heat supplied.
For the purpose of draining the meter chambers, passages are provided leading
from the bottom of said chambers to the tapped holes which receive the holding
bolts. Said bolts are also provided with central longitudinal apertures in extension
of the passages and are fitted with pet-cocks at their lower ends.
The discharge of the meter-cylinders is fitted with a pipe which connects with
the return pipe of the system described in the said former Specification, and in
other cases leads to any desired point of final discharge.
The principal and more essential feature of the improvement above described,
is, generally speaking, the control of the meter discharge or outlet by means of the
water level in the trap; and for this purpose I do not limit myself to the mechanism
described as any form of meter having a simple stop-cock in its outlet controlled
through a float and lever, or otherwise, by the water level of the trap, would contain
this feature of my Invention.
Generally the register applied to the meter described, or to any other suitable
form of meter used in connection with said heating apparatus, will be required to
denote in suitable units of value the charge for heat imparted in such apparatus,
and it will sometimes be desirable to change the registration according to varying
conditions as, for example, according to the differences in the price of coal at

page_text: different points or in different seasons.
The object of one part of my Invention
is to provide means for changing the movement of the register at will, for these
purposes.
There is a vertical rod forming a continuation of the oscillating rod or shaft
hereinbefore mentioned which rod rises through a stuffing box in the top of the
trap-shell and through the base-plate of the register-case. Said rod will, therefore,
have an oscillating motion. It is formed of two parts one of which is socketed into
the other. The main or drive shaft of the register gear-mechanism has its axis
parallel with that of the oscillatory shaft and provided with a ratchet wheel.
There is a centrally slotted arm affixed to the oscillating shaft and arranged to
vibrate in a plane at right angles with the axis of motion of said shaft. A similar
slotted arm is mounted loosely on the driving shaft and arranged in the same, or
nearly the same, plane with the arm and parallel therewith when the latter is at
mid-stroke. An arm adjacent to the ratchet wheel is provided with a pawl which
is thrown into engagement with the ratchet, by a spring. A spring detent pawl
is pivotted to the base-plate and also engages the ratchet by means of a spring.
A vibrating movement of the arm or lever will therefore give to the shaft an
intermittent rotary movement. In order to obtain such vibrating movement of
the said lever from the vibrating lever a bar is pivotally connected to both said
levers by suitable pivotal fastenings or clamping-nuts, and in order to vary the
range of movement of the first lever said pivotal fastenings are made adjustable
on the several levers. To this end the said levers are made slotted. The shank
of the upper part of the fastening is fitted to turn freely in the bar and is slightly
longer than the thickness of said bar. It is also greater in diameter than the
width of the slot in the lever to which it is applied. It is tapped to admit a screw
from the underside, whose shank is of the same diameter as the slot, and which
serves to bind the upper part of the fastening firmly to the lever at any desired
point. The bar is of such length that the levers are parallel at mid-stroke. The
bar should stand substantially at right angles to the levers when in this parallel
position, which is a matter of original construction. The degree of rotation given
to the shaft at each stroke of the lever will, obviously, depend upon the distance
at which the connecting bar is placed from the axis of motion in said lever. Thus,
if it is desired to lower the registration, said bar will be set nearer the shaft, and if
to increase it, said bar will be set farther away from said shaft.
For the purpose of "bringing the register and meter together" with reference to
inequalities or inaccuracies of construction, one lever is made in two parts, one
being permanent in position as to the shaft while the other is longitudinally
movable thereon by means of screws.
One lever is graduated outward from the shaft and another lever is graduated
inward from its free extremity, and both levers are marked with a series of figures
corresponding with prices chargeable for the quantity of heat due to the production
of a given quantity of water of condensation (under known conditions). The
levers being properly graduated and the meter and register "brought together,"
when it is desired to set the register to record on the basis of a given price for an
adopted unit of quantity, notches at the extremities of the bar are set on the lines
numbered with the corresponding price figures.
In systems for supplying steam heat or power from a common point to several
buildings in a city or town, it is desirable that any derangement or defective
operation in the several local apparatuses shall be signalled to the head-quarters
of the company. My improvement for this purpose consists in connecting the
several local apparatuses with the central annunciator or with a corresponding
number of signals grouped at a convenient point for observation by the person or
persons to be notified, such signalling devices being connected with a moving part
of the local apparatus, which moving part will be affected by a derangement of such
apparatus so as to effect the signalling automatically.
The float-trap is selected as the most appropriate part of the apparatus with
which to connect the signal or annunciator, for the reason that defects in operation

page_text: of the said apparatus are readily manifested by the position of the water level in
said trap. In the trap, the water level is externally revealed by an exterior arm
connected with the interior float, which arm forms a conveniently available moving
or movable part by which to close an electric connection whenever the float shall
rise beyond a proper limit in consequence of an obstruction to the escape of the
water from the trap, or shall fall too low from any cause that may prevent the
proper supply of water to the trap.
For the purpose of working the signalling attachment described, the weight arm
is prolonged at its inner end beyond its centre of motion and near this extremity
of said arm is located a metal bar centrally pivotted to a lateral projection on the
trap-shell and insulated from said shell by suitable material. Said bar is provided
with two metal arms located one above and one below the pivotal point and
arranged to project respectively above and below the prolonged arm. Said arms
are so placed that all normal movements of the prolonged arm may take place
between them without contact therewith but so that any extraordinary movement of
said arm produced by too much or too little water in the trap shall bring it into
contact with one or the other of the other arms. By connecting the trap, the bar and
an annunciator together with a suitable battery or its equivalent, in a circuit that
shall be closed by contact of the prolonged arm with the projections on said bar, it
is manifest that a deranged condition or operation of the apparatus which effects
the water level within the trap will be at once signalled by the annunciator which
may be supposed to be located at the general office or at the steam generating
room of the company operating the system of general heat supply; or at any other
convenient point for observation by persons interested; the trap or its arm may
have "ground or other suitable connection with the annunciator and all the
appliances necessary to produce the current and to sound the alarm and all
separate connections needful to indicate the number of the trap or apparatus
whence the signal comes, at the annunciator, may be of the usual or any preferred
construction and arrangement.
An insulated wire leads from the bar to a bell located within the building
which contains the trap and thence a wire leads to the annunciator. By this means
the person locally in charge of the apparatus, is also informed of the deranged
condition thereof.
The wires may be located in the same enclosing box which contains the mains
and branches through which the steam is conveyed to the building, or they may be
arranged above ground in the usual manner of telegraph wires.
That part of my Invention which relates to the control of the water being
returned from the local apparatuses through inclined mains or pipes to the
generator, has for its object to provide means to overcome or obviate the effect of
gravity of the water being thus returned and due to the unequal elevation of
different parts of the pipe in which it is contained, and to thereby secure a sub-
stantially uniform flow of water and pressure throughout the return pipes of the
system. By referring to the Specification of the said former Letters Patent, it will
be seen that the steam supply pipe and condense-water return pipes of the
distribution system therein described, are arranged in proximity to each other
throughout their extent beneath the ground surface, that the water return pipe is
located immediately over the steam supply pipe, and that the former discharges into
a receiving tank at the boiler house or generator station. It will be observed that
means are provided therein for maintaining a sufficient difference in pressure between
said supply and the water return pipes to insure a proper circulation throughout
the entire distribution system. Moderate differences in elevation of different parts
or sections of the distribution pipes will not prevent this effect, but considerable
differences may in some situations do so. Thus in the case of a section of the
distribution system higher than the receiving-tank the pressure in the return pipes
of said section will be less than in the tank or main by the amount of gravity due
to a water column equal in height to the difference in elevation, while in the case
of a section lower than the tank or wain, the pressure in the return pipe will be

page_text: greater than that in the main return pipe or in the receiving tank, by the amount
of gravity due to a water column of height equal to the difference in elevation.
When this difference is slight no material disadvantage is suffered by reason
thereof; but when the difference is considerable it will operate to produce
inequalities of pressure and disturbance in the flow of water in the return pipe.
For the prevention of these objectionable effects this portion of my Invention is
made, and to this end, it consists in the matters next to be described, that is to
say I provide lateral or branch steam supply and water return pipes connected
with the mains and leading respectively to and from a section of the city or
town considerably higher than the said mains. I also provide lateral or branch
pipes connected with the mains and leading respectively to and from a point or
territory materially lower than the mains. A double chambered coupling unites
the mains and branches, the upper chamber furnishing the connections for the water
return pipes, and the lower chamber affording connection for the steam supply
pipes.
To first consider the case of the pipe wherein the water descends from a con-
siderably elevated point or district to the main return pipe, it is plain that unless
means are employed to restrain or control the descent of the water in the first
named pipe the inore elevated portion of the return pipe may be drained and filled
with steam and the pressure in the main augmented by an amount equal to the
gravity due to the vertical height of the column in the inclined pipe. This
difficulty is obviated by means of an automatic pressure regulator valve located in
the inclined pipe near its junction with the main or coupling. The valves are
connected by their stem with a piston which is exposed on its lower side to the
pressure in the branch pipe above the valve, and on its upper side to the pressure
in the main augmented by the force of an adjustable spring or its equivalent.
Said spring is set to resist the pressure on the piston of a water column of height
equal to the greater elevation of the return pipe. The movement of water through
the valve will, therefore, be governed by the variations of water pressure on opposite
sides of the piston and will obviously proceed regularly and wholly as in the case
of sections of the return pipe on the same level.
In the case of a section located materially below the elevation of the mains, the
gravity of the water will have the opposite effect from that above stated, or in
other words, will tend to drain the main return into or through the lower branch
return and will augment the pressure in such branch and in the extensions thereof.
For the purpose of equalizing the pressure of the flow between said branch and the
main; in this case, an automatic steam pump is employed. Said steam pump is
located at a low point of said branch, but not at the lowest point thereof, and
actuated by the steam taken from the adjacent steam supply pipe. Adequate
devices for this purpose are provided in which there is a direct-acting steam-pump
having its steam cylinder connected with the steam supply pipe and its water
cylinder connected with the return pipe. In order to obtain a working steam head
a differential reducing valve is inserted in the steam-pipe, above, or on the high
pressure aside of which a pipe leads from the steam-chamber of the coupling to the
valve-chamber of the engine, and below, or on the low pressure side of, which valve,
the exhaust from said cylinder connects. The pipe has, in addition to the main
valve, an automatic pressure-regulating valve baving its piston exposed on its lower
face to the steam-pressure and on its upper face to the pressure from the water
chamber of the coupling by means of a pipe. The valves are arranged to open by
excess of pressure on the upper face of the piston where an expanding spring is
located to augment the pressure of the water. On that side of the coupling towards
the ascending return pipe, said pipe is cut off from said coupling by a cap or plug,
or by a stop-valve, if preferred. The water-cylinder of the pump takes its supply
through a pipe which connects said cylinder with the water-chamber of the coupling
and said water-cylinder discharges into a pipe through another pipe which connects
with said pipe above or beyond the point of its severance. The entire body of
water of condensation will therefore be passed through the pump-cylinder.

page_text: .
The relative diameters of the steam and water cylinders are determined with
reference to the elevation to which the water is to be raised against the pressure in
the return main, and with reference to the steam-head available and provided by
the differential valve. The pressure-regulating valve is adjusted to open when the
pressure in the water-chamber of the coupling is above normal, and to thereby
operate the pump for the delivery of the water against the pressure resulting from
the elevation to which the water is to be raised.
If preferred, a rotary engine and pump may be arranged directly in the
respective pipes, the propelling mechanism in the steam pipe, and the pump in the
water pipe, both connected by the same shaft and controlled by a suitable valve.
The same means here described may be applied to the mains themselves when
the same extend to sections of a city of unequal elevations.
The remaining branch of my Invention relates to the method of connecting
steam boilers having unequal pressures, with the supply and return pipes of the
heating apparatus, and also with an engine or engines at the source of steam supply.
I provide a boiler intended to carry a relatively high pressure, and a boiler intended
to carry a lower pressure, and an engine is connected with both boilers and run by
the difference in pressure between the two, or in other words, by steam passed
through the cylinder of the engine from the boiler having the higher pressure to
the boiler having the lower. A steam pipe leads from the high-pressure boiler to
the engine cylinder, and a pipe leads from the engine cylinder to the other boiler.
This mode of connecting an engine between two boilers run at different pressures
is, per se, not new. It is only in connection with the heating apparatus deriving
its steam from the boilers and returning the water of condensation thereto, that I
make claim for invention in this matter, whether the heating apparatus be
limited or of a local character, and confined to the immediate neighbourhood of the
generators, or whether it be of the general character described in the Specification
of the said former Letters Patent. The return of the water of condensation to the
generator or boiler involves the use of a pump or its equivalent, deriving its
motive power usually from the boiler having the higher pressure and also a
system of connections for the return of the water of condensation to the several
boilers.
The engine and pump may be practically an integral machine, though the engine
may be employed for other purposes than running the pump. Or the steam-pump
may be a separate machine from the steam-engine and situated between the two
boilers, but in this case both the steam-pump and steam-engine take power
from the high-pressure boiler. A pipe returns the water of condensation from the
heating apparatus and another pipe connects the return with the steam-supply
pipe, a pipe is connected with said return and takes its water from the latter at
the water line of the low pressure boiler and leads to the pump connected with
the engine. A pipe leads from the pump to the high-pressure boiler below its water
line. The return also connects directly with the low pressure boiler below its
water-line. By this means a uniform supply of water is maintained in the low-
pressure boiler furnished by the water of condensation from the closed circuit
constituting the distribution of the heating apparatus, and the amount in excess of
that required to maintain said water-line in the low pressurè boiler is returned by
the pump to the high-pressure boiler.
A receiving tank may be interposed between the return main and the boiler or
boilers, and there is a pipe which, in continuation of the return main, takes the
water of condensation to this tank, whence, through a pipe, pump, and other pipes,
it is returned to the boilers. In this case but the latter pipes are respectively
provided with valves, and the boilers themselves with gauges whereby a due
amount of water may be returned to the several boilers under the control of the
engineer. These valves may, however, be controlled automatically from the water
level of the boiler, if desired. The supply pipe leading to the steam supply main,
is provided with an anhydrator which may be of any suitable construction. Said
anhydrator connects through a pipe having a regulating valve, with the tank for

page_text: the purpose of giving the substantially equalized pressure, or rather, the definite
difference in the pressure, between the supply and return mains, fully referred to
and set forth in the Specification of the said former Letters Patent.
A valved pipe connects the pipes in such manner that the exhaust from the
engine may be run directly into the steam-heating apparatus without passing into
the low-pressure boiler, if desired, on exceptional occasions.
In almost all cities where an extended steam heating apparatus is used, power is
also wanted at the boiler station for driving machinery of some sort, and, in the
modern system of electric lighting by dynamo machines, the number of situations
presenting these requirements is, and will be, vastly increased. The arrangement of
boilers, engines, and heat-supply apparatus above set forth, has the effect of reducing
the cost of power for the engine and of steam for the distribution system to its
absolute minimum. Where, therefore, both power and heat supply are together
required on any considerable scale, the combination of the two in the manner
described, will have the effect of diminishing the cost of each.
In the practical operation of this system of heating the power apparatus,
connected, as described, with boilers under different pressures it is contemplated
that separate fires will be maintained beneath the several boilers whereby,
obviously, the water of condensation delivered from the engine is re-evaporated in
the boiler having the lower pressure, or ultimately returned to the other boiler. It
is also contemplated, in connection with heat-supplying apparatus of any
considerable extent, that what is called the low-pressure boiler will be run at an
actual pressure of, say from 80 to 100 pounds and that the high-pressure boiler
will be run in excess of that just mentioned sufficient to run the engine for
whatever purposes the latter may be employed.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
27th February 1883.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co. Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO STEAM
AND HOT-WATER APPARATUS FOR SUPPLYING HEAT TO, AND UTILIZING, MEASURING,
AND REGULATING THE SAME IN DWELLING-HOUSES OR OTHER BUILDINGS"
A com-
munication to me from abroad by Eugene Florence Osborne, of St. Paul, Minnesota,
United States of America
This invention relates to the system of steam heat and power supply described
in the Specification of former Letters Patent dated January 4th A.D. 1881
N° 46.
The present Invention comprises improvements in devices for measuring the
water of condensation produced in steam heating apparatus in which a circuit of
pipes conveys steam to the building or apartinent to be heated, and returns the
water of condensation to the generator; improvements in registering devices for
use in connection with meters for the above purpose; improvements in devices for
signalling any derangement in either of the local heating apparatuses of a general
steam heating system; improvements in devices for controlling the movement of
the water of condensation in the pipes which return the said water to the generator
when the said pipes are materially inclined; and a novel arrangement of boilers
and engine with the heating apparatus when an engine is used in connection with
the generators of the said apparatus.
In the accompanying drawings Figures 1 to 14 inclusive illustrate the aforesaid
improvements in the measuring apparatus. Figures 15 and 16 illustrate improve-
ments in the registering apparatus for the meter. The electric signalling devices
are illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 17 Figures 18 to 21 inclusive illustrate the
devices concerned in the regulation of the flow of condensed water in the inclined
return pipes, and Figures 22 and 23 illustrate the mode of connecting the boilers
with an engine and with the supply pipes of a heating apparatus. The meter is
herein shewn located within a trap.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of the trap of suitable form for containing the meter.
Figure 2 is a plan or top view of the said trap
Figure 3 is an open end view of the trap showing the interior meter.
Figure 4 is a vertical, longitudinal section of the trap showing the interior meter.
Figure 5 is a top view of the meter-cylinders detached from the trap.
Figure 6 is a central horizontal section of the meter-cylinders on the line 6---6
of Figure 9.
Figure 7 is a top view of the meter-cylinders with the valves absent, showing the
ports and the direction of the port-passages.
Figure 8 is a central, vertical, longitudinal section of one of the meter-cylinders
on the line 8- - - 8 of Figure 5.
Figure 9 is a transverse section of the meter-cylinders on the line 9---9 of
Figure 5.
Figures 10 and 12 are top views of the meter cylinder port valves.
lines 11 11 and 13 -
---
Figures 11 and 13 are vertical sections of the said valves (respectively on the
- 13 of Figures 10 and 12) and of the Cylinder ports.
Figure 14 is an elevation of the cranked shaft by which the valve of one cylinder
is operated by the piston of the other cylinder.
Figure 15 represents the base-plate of the register-case supposed to contain the

page_text: necessary train of gear-wheels and other features needful to the particular purpose
in view, which are generally shown in Figure 4 but which, being of ordinary
construction are not illustrated in detail, only the driving wheels of such gear
wheels being shown.
Figure 16 shows a vertical section of the parts contained in Figure 15 on the
line y- ---2
Figure 17 shows an annunciator supposed to be located at the central office of a
general steam heat and power supplying company or at other central point where
it may be observed by interested persons, and having wires leading therefrom to
each of many local apparatuses supplied by the general system, As here shown
the said wires lead from the trap shown in preceding figures of the drawing and
the connection of the said wires with the said traps is particularly illustrated in
Figure 1.
Figure 18 is a longitudinal section of an inclined enclosing box containing a
steam pipe and a condensed water return-pipe the latter arranged above the
former as described in the specification of the said former letters patent and pro-
vided with my improvement for controlling the descent of water in the inclined
return-pipe; arrows applied to the several pipes indicate the different directions of
the steam and water therein.
Figure 19 is a plan view of inclined pipes having my improvement applied
thereto for the purpose of controlling the upward flow of water of condensation
from a low to a higher pipe through the inclined return pipe.
Figure 20 is an end elevation of the apparatus shown in Figure 19, viewed in the
direction of the arrow a in the said figure
Figure 21 is a section of the valve M³ in Figure 20.
Figure 22 is an end elevation of two boilers, an intermediate engine and a
rudimentary heating apparatus, and Figure 23 is an elevation of the two boilers, the
intermediate engine and the boiler house connections and devices belonging to a
system preferably employed of extended or general steam supply for heating or
power purposes or both, in cities and towns.
In the specification of the said former Letters Patent which describes a system of
general steam heat and power supply I have shown a main circuit which supplies
steam to a local apparatus and which returns the condensed water through (first) a
meter and (second) a trap to a pipe leading back to the generator. The meter being
thus located is operated solely by the working head of the branch circuit in which
it is connected. In many situations the working head of this branch circuit is
necessarily low and in the arrangement shown in the said former specification the
whole, or a considerable part of the said head would be exhausted in working the
meter leaving too little to effect a proper circulation.
According to the present invention the meter receives water from the trap and
its discharge is controlled, by the water level of the said trap through the medium
of a float and proper connections. By this means I am enabled to use the entire
head of water for the purpose of circulation and the entire difference in pressure
between the steam supply and condensed water return-pipes as another and separate
force, for working the meter. I am also thereby enabled to secure the measurement
of the water condensed in the steam service-pipe (connected with the trap) with
which it is obviously proper to charge the consumer.
If the meter were simply placed after the trap to obtain the general advantage
above named, other difficulties would be presented that is to say, by reason of the
lower pressure on the meter, steam would sometimes be liberated therein and
would prevent or interfere with its operation or, by reason of the cooling of the
water there would be a reduction of its volume and consequent inaccuracy of
measurement. Moreover, if to maintain the uniformity of pressure between the
meter and trap so located, the meter discharge be connected with the trap float,
stuffing boxes will be necessary for such connection, which entail friction and require
attention. While such a relative location and connection of the trap meter will
present the general feature of my invention, I prefer by reason of the disadvantages

page_text: just mentioned and as the the best embodyment thereof, to locate the meter within the
trap where it is directly subjected to the pressure of the trap, and the connections
require no stuffing boxes and operate with the least possible friction. Moreover, by
reason of the location of the meter within the trap, the outside parts of the meter
are first heated when hot water enters the trap, or when the temperature of the
water in the trap is raised, and as a consequence, the pistons of the meter do not
bind but work freely at all times.
In the figures illustrating this part of my invention A is a cast-iron shell,
preferably of cylindrical form with hemispherical ends, and having a top man-hole
A³ and inlet A, A¹ is a rectangular extension of the shell A having the .removable
head A. Within the trap is mounted a bent float lever consisting of the horizontal
arm F and the shorter vertical arm F¹ keyed to the transverse shaft F2 which is
supported at one end in a suitable bearing within the trap, and at the other
protrudes through the shell A by the stuffing box f¹. At the extremity of the
long arm F of the float lever is secured a float F3 of stone or other suitable material
after the usual construction of a class of float-traps. The protruded end of the
shaft F2 bears a horizontal arm F5 on which is placed a sliding weight F which
may be set to counterbalance the float F³ to the extent of one half its displacement.
Instead of a counterbalanced stone-float, a hollow float may be used, the weight of
which with its arm, is one half the weight of the water it displaces when
submerged.
B and B¹ indicate two cylinders cast in a single piece located inside this trap
and arranged transversely within the extension A. They are secured in place by
means of the bolts b b which pass upward through the bottom of the shell A into
feet bb cast on the cylinders.
The cylinders have an inlet from the interior of the trap through central valved
ports in their top, and discharged through passages leading to the outlet O, as will
be more fully explained. The discharge of the trap is therefore through the meter,
unless the meter should be out of order, when another outlet may be temporarily
used, or the trap may be made to discharge through the passages of the meter,
without operation of the latter.
The cylinders B and B are respectively provided with pistons P and P' which
work a suitable distance at opposite ends of the cylinders as seen clearly in
Figure 6. The said pistons are provided with stems T T each having a longitudinal
hole 8 (Figure 9) fitted to freely admit the rod S which is fixed in the cylinder head
towards which the apertured stem is, in each cylinder, directed. The said rods
serve as guides to the pistons and the rod S entering the stem T is square to prevent
the rotation of the stem to which it is applied for a purpose that will presently
appear. The stem T¹ is provided with plain collars t¹ and the stem T with spiral
or offset collars t the use of which will be further explained hereafter.
The said cylinders were provided with horizontally faced slide valve seats V on
their upper service, having ports like those of a steam engine cylinder, all as clearly
seen in Figure 7. I and I¹ are the alternate inlet and outlet ports and X X are the
exhaust or discharge ports. The port passages I lead through the metal of the
cylinder shell to the end of the piston chamber as in a steam engine, but the
passages I are vertical since the piston never travels beyond this point. Both the
central exhaust ports ✗ connect with a common passage X¹ which leads to the
outlet O, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 7.
To the valve seats V are fitted the valves D and D' having neither lap nor lead,
or, in other words, being "line and line" The valve D is positive or "direct-
acting" and the valve D¹ is negative or "back-acting," having reference to the
difference in the number of their transverse bearing faces as illustrated in Figures 11
and 13. The cavities of the negative or back-acting valve D' are L shaped and
arranged as indicated by dotted lines in Figure 10.
The valves D and D' have a compound movement upon their seats. First they
have a movement longitudinal to the cylinder or to the line of the ports, as in a
steam engine; and second, a-movement transverse to the cylinders or at right angles

page_text: with the line of the ports. The actual movement is usually oblique. The forward
or longitudinal movement of each valve by which the corresponding cylinder-ports
are alternately opened and closed to work the piston, is produced by the movement
of the piston in the other cylinder through the medium of the double and oppositely
cranked shaft E (shown detached in figure 14 and shown in position in Figure 9).
Two of the said shafts are employed one for each cylinder and valve. They are
alike and are each provided with a tapering bearing shoulder e fitted closely to
a corresponding seat in the metal which joins the cylinders and in the central line
between the cylinder chambers. The lower end e² of the shaft E is laterally retained
in a socket as shown in figure 9. The upper crank arm E* is or may be of the saine
piece with the shaft and is provided with a pin e' which enters the slot d² of the
valve with which it is connected. The lower crank arm E¹ is firmly secured to the
shaft when the latter is put in place, and is held from rotation by a spline and groove
or other suitable means. The said arm works in a recess E³ leading out of the piston
chamber, and is provided with the roller pin e¹ at its free end arranged to strike the
collars tor t' on the stem of the piston by which it is worked. The said collars are
80 placed on the piston-stems, that as each piston nears the end of its movement in
either direction, it will by one of its collars encounter the roller-pin e³, and will
thereby in completing its stroke, oscillate the shaft E far enough to shift the valve
of the opposite cylinder. The other or transverse movement of the valves D and D'
by which the size of the port orifices I and I¹ are widened or contracted or closed,
is produced by the vertical movement of the float F³. For this purpose a horizontal
bar C is arranged transversely over the valves D and D' and is laterally retained
in place by the guides C¹ C¹. The said bar has imparted to it a longitudinal
movement, (transverse to the cylinders) by means of a connecting rod ƒ pivotally
joining the bar C with the vertical arm F" of the float lever (as seen in figure 4.)
To the bar C are attached the parallel, transverse guide-flanges c c, arranged to
depend one on each side of the several valves D and D¹. Between these flanges the
said valves freely slide in their longitudinal movement, but obviously, when the
bar C is longitudinally moved by the float, the flanges c c secured to the said bar,
carry the valves sidewise or transversely to the cylinders. In this movement, the
pins et slide in the slots d² of the valves. The parts are so arranged that when the
float rises above the proper water line the ports I I¹ will be enlarged, and when the
float descends the said ports are narrowed or closed. The transverse wings d³ of
the cavities d' in the valve D' are provided for the purpose, of at all times giving
free inlet to the receiving end of the cylinder B₁ whatever the lateral position of
the valves, to thereby secure maximum pressure on the discharge side of the piston
of said cylinder and, through the agency of such maximum pressure on the discharge
side to more nearly balance the said valve. The working water line obviously
cannot be lower than the level of the valve seats V. The lateral movements of the
valves are limited, as here shown, by the vertical guides C' which are set in position
to arrest the valves either when fully open or when fully closed. The set screws F7
arranged as seen in Figures 1 and 2 may also be employed to arrest the valves in
one of their lateral movements, or to hold them open should occasion require.
It will have been noticed that the collars t on the piston stem T are set in opposite
spiral arrangement on the said stem. This is for the purpose of throwing the meter
temporarily out of engagement to test either its displacement or tightness for
which purpose the more proximate parts of the two collars tt are at a proper
distance apart to encounter the roller pin e¹ on the valve shifting arm E' while
the more widely separated parts of the said collars will not encounter the said pin
in a full stroke of the piston. Wherefore, when it is desired to test the meter the
square S is rotated one half turn, by an external squared head S¹ (figure 8) carrying
the stem T around so as to bring its collars t t out of reach of the roller pin cl.
The piston P of the cylinder B (containing the spirally collared stem T) will,
therefore not shift the valve of the cylinder B' and the piston of the said latter
cylinder stops and remains stationary on the completion of its stroke. The piston
of the cylinder B as a consequence comes to rest on the completion of its stroke.

page_text: Both pistons being at rest if the meter is tight no water will escape at O; if
otherwise it will. Having thus tried the meter for leakage the square S¹ is
turned for a moment to its original position which causes one of the spiral collars t
to strike the roller pin e¹ adjacent thereto and opens the valve of the cylinder B'.
By immediately turning the square back again so as to bring the spiral collars tout
of reach of the roller e as in the first rotation of the square above described, it
is evident that each piston will make one stroke and thereupon come to rest again.
By measuring the water passed by the meter in this one stroke of both pistons its
capacity or displacement is ascertained This done the square S¹ is turned back to
its original position and allowed to remain there holding the spiral collars tin
position to shift the opposite cylinder valves and thus the meter continues in
operation. Should the meter get out of order the trap may be discharged directly
through the exhaust passage X X' by running in the set-screw F7 against the
end of the rod C so as to push the valves D and D¹ so far forward upon their seats
as to leave the passage X constantly open.
A suitable registering apparatus R (figure 4) is located on the trap extension A'
over the meter cylinders and the same is actuated by the oscillating rod R which
forms an extension of one of the shafts E of the valve-shifting devices described.
The said registering apparatus is preferably arranged to record in pounds the
condensed water; but it may record in gallons or in units of value the quantity of
heat supplied.
For the purpose of draining the meter chambers the passages 62 6s are provided
leading from the bottom of the said chambers to the tapped holes which receive
the holding bolts bb The said bolts are also provided with central longitudinal
apertures in extension of the passages 62 63 and are fitted with pet-cocks 6 at their
lower ends (as shewn in figure 8)
The discharge O of the meter-cylinder is fitted with a pipe O' which connects
with the return pipe of the system described in the said former Specification and in
other cases leads to any desired point of final discharge.
The principal and more essential feature of the improvement above described is
generally speaking the control of the meter discharge or outlet by means of the
water level in the trap; and for this purpose I do not limit myself to the mechanism
described, as any form of meter having a simple stop-cock in its outlet, controlled
through a float and lever or otherwise by the water level of the trap, would contain
this feature of my invention.
The improvement in registering apparatus illustrated in figures 15 and 16 has
reference to means by which the register and meter may be first brought together
conveniently and the relative movements of the register and its record or indication
thereafter varied at will Generally the register applied to the meter described or
to any other suitable form of meter used in connection with the said heating
apparatus will be required to denote in suitable units of value the charge for heat
imparted in such apparatus and it will sometimes be desirable to change the
registration according to varying conditions as for example according to the
differences in the price of coal at different points or in different seasons.
object of this part of my invention is to provide means for changing the movement
of the register at will for these purposes.
The
In the figures referring to this part of the said invention R¹ denotes the base
plate of the case lettered R¹ in figure 4 and R a vertical rod forming a continuation
of the oscillating valve rod or shaft E herein before mentioned which rod R rises
through a stuffing box in the top of the trap shell A and through the base-plate of
the register case. The said rod will therefore have an oscillating motion It is shown
as being formed of two parts one of which is socketted into the other at Figure 16
R is the main or drive shaft of the register gear mechanism which as a whole is
lettered R² in Figure 4 the shaft R* having its axis parallel with that of the shaft R
and being provided with the ratchet wheel R³. G is a centrally slotted arm affixed 5
to the oscillating shaft R and arranged to vibrate in a plane at right angles with the
axis of motion of the said shaft. Ğ' is a similar slotted arm mounted loosely on the

page_text: shaft R and arranged in the same or nearly the same plane with the arm G and
parallel therewith when the latter is at mid-stroke. The arm G' is shown adjacent
to the ratchet wheel R³ and is provided with a pawl g' which is thrown into
engagement with the ratchet as shown in Figure 15 by the spring g³ A spring
detent pawl is pivoted to the base-plate R₁ and also engages the ratchet R³ by
means of the spring A vibrating movement of the arm or lever G¹ will there-
fore give to the shaft R' an intermittent rotary movement In order to obtain
such vibrating movement of the lever G' from the vibrating lever G a bar G2 is
pivotally connected to both the said levers by suitable pivotal fastenings or
clamping nuts G³ and in order to vary the range of movement of the lever G¹ the
said pivotal fastenings G³ are made adjustable on the several levers G and G¹. To
this end the said levers are slotted The shank g of the upper part of the
fastening G³ is fitted to turn freely in the bar G2 and is slightly longer than the
thickness of the said bar It is also greater in diameter than the width of the slot
in the lever to which it is applied. It is tapped to admit the screw g³ from the
under side whose shank is of the same diameter as the slot and which serves to
bind the upper part of the fastening firmly to the lever at any desired point
bar G2 is of such length that the levers G and G are parallel at mid-stroke
Having reference to the arrangement of these levers shown in Figure 15 the bar G²
should stand substantially at right angles to the levers when in this parallel
position which is a matter of construction The degree of rotation given to the
shaft R at each stroke of the lever G will obviously depend upon the distance at
which the connecting bar G³ is placed from the axis of motion in the said lever G
Thus if it is desired to lower the registration the said bar G² will be set nearer the
shaft R and if to increase it the said bar will be set farther away from the said
shaft.
The
For the purpose of bringing the register and meter together with reference to
inequalities or inaccuracies of construction, the lever G¹ is made in two parts y
and g the latter being permanent in position as to the shaft R" while the former y
is longitudinally movable therein by means of screws g g passing into the
part g through slots gg10 in the part g
The lever G is graduated outward from the shaft R and the lever G¹ is graduated
inward from its free extremity, as shewn and both levers are marked with a series
of figures corresponding with prices chargeable for the quantity of heat due to the
production of a given quantity of water of condensation (under known conditions),
The levers being properly graduated and the meter and register "brought together,"
when it is desired to set the register to record on the basis of a given price for an
adopted unit of quantity the notches g³ at the extremities of the bar Ġ² are set on
the lines numbered with the corresponding price figures.
In systems for supplying steam heat or power from a common point to several
buildings in a city or town, it is desirable that any derangement or defective
operation in the several local apparatuses shall be signalled to the head quarters of
the company
'
My improvement for this purpose consists in connecting the several local
apparatuses with the central annunciator, or with a corresponding number of
signals grouped at a convenient point for observation by the person or persons to
be notified, such signalling devices being connected with a moving part of the local
apparatus, which moving part will be affected by a derangement of such
apparatus so as to effect the signalling automatically. This portion of my
invention is illustrated by the application of an electric annunciator and
connections to the float trap shewn in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 comprised in one
of the local apparatuses. The said float-trap is selected as the most appropriate
part of the apparatus with which to connect the signal or annunciator, for
the reason, that defects in operation of the said apparatus are readily manifested
by the position of the water level in the said trap. In the trap, as shewn in
the above mentioned figures the water level is externally revealed by the exterior
arm F³ connected with the interior float, which arm forms a conveniently available

page_text: moving or movable part by which to close an electric circuit whenever the float
shall rise beyond a proper limit in consequence of an obstruction to the escape of
the water from the trap or shall fall too low from any cause that may prevent the
proper supply of water to the trap. For the purpose of working the signalling
attachment described the weight arm F³ is prolonged at its inner end beyond its
centre of motion, and near this extremity of the said arm is located a metal bar H
centrally pivotted at h' to a lateral projection on the trap-shell and insulated from
the said shell by suitable material-The said bar H is provided with two metal
arms h h located one above and one below the pivotal point h¹ and arranged to
project respectively above and below the prolonged arm. F5 as clearly seen in
Figures 1 and 2. The said arms are so placed that all normal movements of the
arm F may take place between them without contact therewith, but so that any
extraordinary movement of said arm F5 produced by too much or too little water
in the trap shall bring it into contact with one or the other of the arms h. By
connecting the trap, the bar H and an annunciator, together with a suitable
battery or its equivalent, in a circuit that shall be closed by contact of the arm F³
with the projections on the said bar H it is manifest that a deranged condition
or operation of the apparatus which effects the water level within the trap will be
at once signalled by the annunciator. H³ is such an annunciator which may be
located at the general office or at the steam generating room of the company
operating the system of general heat supply, or at any other convenient point for
observation by persons interested, 3 is an insulated wire leading from the bar H
to the annunciator H³ The trap or its arm E may have "ground
or other
suitable connection with the annunciator, and all the appliances necessary to
produce the current and to sound the alarm and all separate connections needful
to indicate the number of the trap or apparatus whence the signal comes, at the
annunciator, may be of the usual, or any preferred construction and arrangement.
As here shewn the wire h² leads from the bar H to a bell H¹ located within
the building which contains the trap, and thence the wire h³ leads to the
annunciator H³. By this means the person locally in charge of the apparatus, is
also informed of the deranged condition thereof.
"
The wires h³ may be located in the same enclosing box which contains the
mains and branches through which the steam is conveyed to the building, or they
may be arranged above ground in the usual manner of telegraph wires.
That part of my invention which relates to the control of the water being
returned from the local apparatuses through inclined mains or pipes to the
generator, has for its object to provide means to overcome or obviate the effect of
gravity of the water being thus returned and due to the unequal elevation of
different parts of the pipe in which it is contained and to thereby secure a
substantially uniform flow of water and pressure throughout the return pipes of
the system-By referring to the Specification of the said former Letters Patent,
it will be seen that the steam supply pipe and condensed water return pipes of
the distribution system therein described, are arranged in proximity to each other
throughout their extent beneath the ground surface, that the water return pipe is
located immediately over the steam supply pipe, and that the former discharges
into a receiving tank at the boiler house or generator station. It will be observed
that means are provided therein for maintaining a sufficient difference in pressure
between the said supply and the water return pipes, to ensure a proper circulation
throughout the entire distribution system. Moderate differences in elevation of
different parts or sections of the distribution pipes will not prevent this effect but
considerable differences may in some situations do so. Thus in the case of a
section of the distribution system higher than the receiving-tank the pressure in
the return of the said section will be less than in the tank or main, by the amount
of gravity due to a water column equal in height to the difference in elevation,
while in the case of a section lower than the tank or main, the pressure in the
return pipe will be greater than that in the main return pipe, or in the receiving
tank, by the amount of gravity due to a water column of height equal to the

page_text: difference in elevation. When this difference is slight no material disadvantage
is suffered by reason thereof, but when the difference is considerable, it will
operate to produce inequalities of pressure and disturbance in the flow of water in
the return pipe. For the prevention of these objectionable effects this portion of
my invention is made and to this end it consists in the matters next to be
described.
.
Referring to figures 18, 19, 20 and 21 K represents the steam supply main
and J the condensed water return main of a circulating steam distribution system,
such as is illustrated and described in the said former specification. K' and J'
represent lateral or branch steam supply and water return pipes connected with
the mains K and J, and leading respectively to and from a section of the city or
town, considerably higher than the mains K and J. K and J represent lateral
or branch pipes connected with the mains, and leading respectively to and from a
point materially lower than the mains. L is a double chambered coupling uniting
the mains and branches, the upper chamber furnishing the connections for the
water return pipes J. J₁ and Ja and the lower chamber affording connection for
the steam supply pipes K. K¹ and K³. The internal construction of the said
coupling is not here shewn being fully set forth in the said former specification in
which it is indicated by the letter D. It will be sufficiently described for the
purposes of this specification by saying that a horizontal diaphragm or partition
separates the water passage from the steam passage through the same, dividing it
into the upper and lower chambers above referred to.
For the purposes of this description, the mains K and J at the point where they
are shewn in section in figure 18, may be understood as being substantially at the
level of the receiving-tank at the boiler station and the pipe J as being therefore
under normal pressure.
In the case of the pipe J¹ Figure 18, wherein the water descends from a con-
siderably elevated point or district to the main return pipe J, it is obvious, that,
unless means are employed to restrain or control the descent of the water in the
said pipe, the more elevated portion of the return pipe may be drained and filled
with steam, and the pressure in the main J augmented by an amount equal to the
gravity due to the vertical height of the column in the inclined pipe J. This
difficulty is obviated by means of an automatic pressure regulator valve J³ located
in the pipe J' near its junction with the main J or coupling L. The valves jj are
connected by their stem j¹ with the piston j' which is exposed on its lower side to
the pressure in the branch pipe J' above the valve, and on its upper side to the
pressure in the main J augmented by the force of the adjustable spring it or its
equivalent. The said spring is set to resist the pressure on the piston j³, of a water
column the height of which is equal to the greater elevation of the return pipe
discharging through J¹. The movement of water through the valve J³ will
therefore be governed by the variations of water pressure on opposite sides of the
piston jo, and will obviously proceed regularly and wholly as in the case of sections
of the return pipe on the same level.
In the case of a section located materially below the elevation of the mains K.
and J the gravity of the water will have the opposite effect from that above stated
or in other words will tend to drain the main return pipe J into or through the
lower branch return pipe J2 and will augment the pressure in such branch and in
the extensions thereof. For the purpose of equalizing the pressure of the flow
between the said branch and the main J, in this case, an automatic steam pump is
employed. The said steam pump is located at a low point of the said branch, but
not at the lowest point thereof, and is actuated by the steam taken from the
adjacent steam supply pipe K². Devices for this purpose are shewn in figures 19
and 20 in which M represents a direct acting steam pump having its steam
cylinder M¹ connected with the steam supply pipe K2, and its water cylinder M*
connected with the return pipe J. In order to obtain a working steam head, a
differential reducing valve K³ is inserted in the steam pipe K2 above or on the
high pressure side of which the pipe m leads from the steam chamber of the

page_text: coupling L to the valve chamber M' of the engine and below or on the low pressure
side of which valve the exhaust m' from the said cylinder is connected. The
pipe m has, in addition to the main valve M6, an automatic pressure regulating
valve M (shown in section in Figure 21) having its piston m³ exposed on its lower
face to the steam pressure; and on its upper face to the pressure from the water
chamber of the coupling L by means of the pipe m'. The valves mo are arranged
to open by excess of pressure on the upper face of the piston m³, where the
expanding spring m7 is located to augment the pressure of the water. On that
side of the coupling L towards the ascending return pipe J' the said pipe is cut off
from the said coupling by a cap or plug as shown in Figure 19 or by a stop-valve
if preferred. The water cylinder M of the pump takes its supply through the
pipe m² which connects the said cylinder with the water chamber of the coupling L
and said water cylinder discharges into the pipe J' through the pipe m³. which is
connected with the said pipe above or beyond the point of its severance as shown
The entire body of water of condensation will therefore be passed through the
pump cylinder M⭑.
The relative diameters of the steam and water cylinders are determined with
reference to the elevation to which the water is to be raised against the pressure
in the return main J and with reference to the steam head available and provided
by the differential valve Ks. The valve M³ is adjusted to open when the water
chamber of the coupling L is above the normal pressure and to thereby operate
the pump for the delivery of the water against the pressure resulting from the
elevation to which the water is to be raised.
If preferred a rotary engine and pump may be arranged directly in the respective
pipes K and J the propelling mechanism in the steam pipe and the pump in the
water pipe both being connected by the same shaft and controlled by a suitable
valve.
The same means here shown may be applied to the mains themselves when the
same extend to sections of a city of unequal elevations.
Another part of my invention relates to the method of connecting steam boilers
having unequal pressures, with the supply and return pipes of the heating
apparatus, and also with an engine or engines at the source of steam supply.
Referring to Figures 22 and 23 of the drawings W is a boiler intended to be under
a relatively high pressure. And W' is a boiler intended to be under a lower
pressure and W is an engine connected with both boilers and driven by steam
passed through the cylinder of the engine from the boiler having the higher
pressure to the boiler having the lower pressure. W is a steam pipe leading
from the pipe W to the engine cylinder and W* is the pipe leading from the a
engine cylinder to the boiler W₁. This mode of connecting an engine between
two boilers having different pressures is not new. It is only in connection with
the heating apparatus deriving its steam from the boilers and returning the water
of condensation thereto that I make claim. Whether the heating apparatus be
limited or of a local character and confined to the immediate neighborhood of the
generators as shown in Figure 22, or whether it be of the general character
described in the specification of the said former Letters Patent and shewn in
Figure 23 in which a number of separate local apparatuses are supplied through
street mains common to all of them, the return of the water of condensation to the
generator or boiler involves the use of a pump or its equivalent deriving its motive
power usually from the boiler having the bigher pressure, and also a system of
connections for the return of the water of condensation to the several boilers.
Referring to Figure 22 the engine and pump are practically, an integral machine,
though the engine may be employed for other purposes than driving the pump.
In Figure 23 the steam pump is a separate machine from the steam engine Wa
shown as being situated between the two boilers W and W', but in this case both
the steam pump and steam engine take power from the high pressure boiler W.
In Figure 22 w represents the pipe which returns the water of condensation from
the heating apparatus (represented by W°). w² is a pipe connecting the return.

page_text: pipe with the steam supply pipe W, and Ws is a pipe connected with the
said return pipe w₁ through the pipe we and taking its water from the latter
at the water line of the boiler W₁ and leading to the pump W7 connected with
the engine W³. W is a pipe leading from the pump to the high pressure boiler
below its water line. The return pipe w¹ also connects directly with the low
pressure boiler W₁ below its water line. By this means an uniform supply of
water is maintained in the low pressure boiler furnished by the water of con-
densation from the closed circuit constituting the distribution of the heating
apparatus, and the amount in excess of that required to maintain the said
water line in the low pressure boiler is returned by the pump to the high pressure
boiler W.
In Figure 23 K and J represent respectively, the under ground steam supply and
condensed water-return mains of the system of general distribution described in
the said former Specification. In this case a receiving tank Z is interposed between
the return main and the boiler or boilers and w₁ represents the pipe which in
continuation of the return main J, takes the water of condensation to the tank Z,
whence, through the pipe Z' the pump W7 and the pipes W 9 and W 10 it is
returned to the boilers W and W. In this case no automatic means are shown
for maintaining a definite water line or level in the low pressure boiler, but the
pipes W and W10 are respectively provided with valves and the boilers
themselves with gauges, whereby a due amount of water may be returned to
the several boilers under the control of the engineer. These valves may however
he controlled automatically from the water level of the boiler W₁ if desired. In
Figure 23 the supply pipe W leading to the steam supply main K is shown as
being provided with an anhydrator Y which may be of any suitable construction.
The said anhydrator is connected through the pipe Y' having a regulating
valve Y' with the tank Z for the purpose of giving the substantially equalized
pressure, or rather, the definite difference in pressure, between the supply and
return mains, fully referred to and set forth in the Specification of the said former
Letters Patent.
In both Figures 22 and 23 a valved pipe w³ connects the pipes W and W
in such a manner, that the exhaust from the engine may be run directly if
desired into the steam heating apparatus without passing into the low pressure
boiler.
In almost all cities where an extended steam heating apparatus is used, power
is also wanted at the boiler station for driving machinery of some sort, and in the
modern system of electric lighting by dynamo machines, the number of situations
presenting these requirements is and will be vastly increased. The arrangement
of boilers, engines and heat-supply apparatus above set forth, has the effect of
reducing the cost of power for the engine and of steam for the distribution system,
to its absolute minimum. Where therefore both power and heat supply are
together required on any considerable scale, the combination of the two in the
manner described, will have the effect of diminishing the cost of each.
In the operation of this system of heating and power apparatus, connected as
described, with boilers under different pressures it is contemplated that separate fires
will be maintained beneath the several boilers whereby, obviously the water of
condensation delivered from the engine is re-evaporated in the boiler having the
lower pressure or ultimately returned to the boiler W. It is also contemplated in
connection with heat supplying apparatus of any considerable extent, that what is
called the low pressure boiler will be worked at an actual pressure of say from 80
to 100 pounds, and that the pressure in the high pressure boiler will be in excess
of that just mentioned sufficient to run the engine for whatever purposes the latter
may be employed.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent and the manner of performing the same I wish it understood
that I claim :--
First
The combination, in a steam heating apparatus, of a trap, a fluid meter

page_text: and a device or devices for controlling the discharge of water from the said meter
by means of the water level in the said trap, substantially as, and for the purposes,
set forth.
Second-In combination with the steam supply pipe and the trap, in a steam
heating apparatus, a fluid meter arranged to receive water from the said trap and
operated by the difference of pressure in the supply and return pipes, as set forth.
Third: In a combined trap and fluid meter wherein the water level serves to adjust
the valves so as to control the ports of the meter in the said trap, the said ports
arranged in open communication with the interior of the trap, whereby stuffing
boxes or other friction joints are avoided, substantially as described.
Fourth-In combination with a steam supply pipe, a trap and a fluid meter, the
said meter being located within the said trap, substantially as described, and for the
purposes specified.
Fifth In a steam heating apparatus, a meter provided with internal moving parts
and submerged in the fluid it measures, substantially as described.
Sixth-In combination with the float of a float-trap, a meter having pistons and
provided with a port-valve having both a lateral and a longitudinal movement, and
mechanism connecting the said valve with the float, whereby the lateral move-
ments of the valve are governed by the movements of the float, substantially as
described.
Seventh-Combined with and arranged within the trap of a steam heating
apparatus, the duplex meter substantially as described, and consisting essentially of
the cylinders B and B¹, their pistons, inlet and outlet ports provided with the
positive valve D and the negative valve D' having the compound movements
described, and mechanism substantially as described for operating the valves of one
cylinder from the piston of the other.
:
Eighth In a combined trap and meter, the ports I, I' and ✗, the compound
motioned valves D and D', mechanism for shifting each valve by means of the
piston of the other, and mechanism for varying the area of the entry ports by
means of the water level of the trap, all combined and operating substantially as
described.
Ninth. In combination with the float lever F, F' its fulcrum and the compound
motioned port valves D and D', the rod C provided with flanges c and controlled by
guides C, substantially as described.
:-
Tenth The combination, with the rod C connected with the trap float and meter
valve, of the set-screw F7 arranged to be operated from the exterior of the trap, as,
and for the purposes, specified.
Eleventh In a combined trap and meter as described, the shaft F2 keyed to
the float lever and extended through the side of the trap-shell, in combination
with the arm F and weight Fº, substantially as, and for the purpose, specified.
Twelfth :-In a combined trap and meter, the cylinders B and B¹ provided with
the passages 62, 63 and the bolts 6 having longitudinal apertures, and external pet
cocks 64, substantially as shown and described and for the purposes specified.
Thirteenth-The valve D¹ having the L-shaped cavity d', in combination with
the cylinder ports and with actuating mechanism for producing both lateral and
longitudinal motions, as set forth.
Fourteenth-In a registering apparatus for a meter, the combination of the
oscillating shaft R belonging to, or actuated by, the said meter, the arm or lever G
attached to the said shaft, the rotating shaft R of the registered mechanism, the
ratchet R³ attached to the said shaft R, the slotted arm or pawl-lever G' and the
bar G2 adapted to be pivotally and movably connected with the levers G and G³,
substantially as described.
Fifteenth In the adjustable registering apparatus described, the combination
with the ratchet R³ and its shaft, of the slotted arm or pawl-lever G¹ composed of the
two parts g and g' movably connected as described, the part g¹ being provided
with the pawl g' and a spring g' engaging with the said ratchet R³, substantially
as, and for the purposes, set forth.

page_text: Sixteenth-In a meter register for registering the quantity of heat supplied in
units of money value, the adjustable and variable devices described for transmitting
motion from the meter to the registering apparatus, and consisting of the levers G
and G¹ and pivoted and movable connecting bar G³, the said levers being graduated
in opposite directions from their several axes of motion, whereby the bar G3 may
be set to give the required registration after the meter and register shall have been
first "brought together," substantially as described.
Seventeeth-In a system of general steam supply for many buildings from a
common source, the combination, with the several local apparatuses, of an annun-
ciator located at a convenient point and connected with a moving part of each of
the said local apparatuses, whereby the annunciator at once indicates a derange-
ment of either of the said apparatuses, substantially as described.
Eighteenth-In a system of general steam supply for many buildings from a
common source, the combination, with the several local apparatuses of an annun-
ciator located at a convenient point and connected with a moving part of the said
local apparatuses, and a local signal connected with such moving part, whereby an
alarm is simultaneously signalled to the occupants of the building and at the central
annunciator, substantially as described.
Nineteenth-In a circulating steam supply system returning the water of con-
densation to the generator and extending to districts of unequal elevation, the
combination, with the condensed water return pipe, of automatic mechanism,
substantially as described, for controlling the flow of water therein in opposition
to the force of gravity due to the difference in elevation, substantially as set forth.
Twentieth-In combination with a pipe through which the water of condensa-
tion in a steam supply circulation descends, a pressure regulator valve arranged in
the said pipe near the point of normal pressure, substantially as, and for the
purpose, specified.
Twenty first:-In combination with a condensed water return pipe through
which the water of condensation in a steam supply circulation ascends and with an
adjacent steam supply pipe, a pump automatically operated by steam from the
said supply pipe and connected to force the water upward in the return pipe,
substantially as set forth.
Twenty second-In a general steam supply system, the combination, with the
steam supply pipe having a reducing-valve K3 and the adjacent condensed water
return pipe disconnected at a low point thereof, of a steam pump M having its
steam supply pipe m provided with an automatic valve M5 constructed and connected
to open by the pressure of water in the return pipe below the point of its discon-
nection, and its steam-exhaust pipe m² connected into the steam supply pipe
beyond the reducing-valve K³ the said pump also having its water cylinder
connected to receive from the return pipe below, and to deliver into the same
above, its points of disconnection, substantially as described and for the purposes
set forth.
Twenty third-In combination with a steam heating apparatus comprising a
pipe for the return of the water of condensation to the source of steam supply, two
steam generators under different pressures and constituting such source of steain
supply, an engine connected between the said generators so as to be driven by the
difference in their pressures, and a pump and connections for returning the water
of condensation to the generators, substantially as described.
In witness whereof I the said William Robert Lake have hereunto set my
hand and seal this Twenty fourth day of February in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty three.