Improvements in Apparatus for Automatically Regulating the Temperature of Fluids Heated by Steam.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Oct., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 16th July, 1894-Accepted, 13th Oct., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Automatically Regulating the
Temperature of Fluids Heated by Steam.
I, JOHN JAMES ROYLE of Great Bridgewater Street, Manchester, Engineer,
lo hereby declare the nature of my said invention to be as follows:-
"
My invention refers to means for automatically regulating the heating of the
water by means of steam in what is known as a " calorifier or boiler for warming
buildings and supplying water for baths and the like.
In carrying out my invention as applied to calorifiers for heating water by
steam I utilise the expansion of the body of the calorifier or boiler to control the
steam supply so that as the temperature of the calorifier body rises with the heating
of the water and approximates to the maximum temperature to which it is desired
to raise the water, such expansion shall serve to close or control the steam supply
and so maintain a fixed maximum temperature in the calorifier. To perform this
in a simple manner I fit what I will call a tension bar to the calorifier body con-
sisting of a strip of thin metal slightly bowed or curved and the ends whereof
being fixed to the body of the calorifier said bowed strip is extremely sensitive to
any change in the length of the calorifier body and is readily deflected by such
changes.
The middle of the strip bears upon a valve spindle or other part of a steam
regulator which controls the steam passing to the calorifier and so automatically
adjust the steam regulator according to the varying temperature of the calorifier.
The strip may be adjustable to vary the action for different temperatures. This
method of controlling the temperature of liquids heated by steam is applicable to
pans or other vessels and containing other, liquids than water and may be applied
to pipes conveying the liquids to or from the calorifier.
Dated this 14th day of October 1893.
JOHN G. WILSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in Apparatus for Automatically Regulating the
Temperature of Fluids Heated by Steam.
I, JOHN JAMES ROYLE of Great Bridgewater Street, Manchester, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of my said invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
My invention refers to means for automatically regulating the heating of the
water by means of steam in what is known as a "calorifier" or boiler for warming
buildings and supplying water for baths and the like.
Aud in order that my said invention may be more readily understood and carried
into practical effect, I have hereunto annexed two sheets of drawings and will now
proceed to describe the same with the aid of the figures and letters of reference
marked thereon.
Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation and Fig. 2 a sectional plan, taken on the line a-b,
of a "calorifier" shewing the application of my automatic regulating device

page_text: Fig. 3 is an outside view of the same "calorifier" with the usual flow and
return pipes and shewing the application of my invention to the return pipe.
Fig. 4 is an elevation of a steam boiling pan shewing the application of my
automatic appliance to the regulation of the boiling thereof.
In the application of high pressure steam to the heating of water for circulating
in buildings for warming the same; warming water for supplying baths and for
similar purposes which is usually done by the use of a casing containing the
water to be heated through which a steam pipe passes and which is technically
known as a "calorifier," it is desirable to automatically control the steam supply
so that the temperature of the water may be uniform, or in the case of bath water
the supply of steam may vary with the altering consumption of the water.
object of my invention is to effect this in a simple and efficient manner.
The
Referring to Figs. 1 and 2.-(A) is a tension or "bow-string" bar, attached by
nuts (A) and (A2) to the "calorifier" body (B). The calorifier consists of the
body (B) with How and return pipes (B¹) (B2), tube plates (B), heating tubes (B)
secured to the tube plates, base (B³) for collecting the condensed water from the
tubes and leading it to a suitable steam trap. (C) is a steam valve controlling the
passage of steam through the pipes (C¹) to the calorifier tubes the spindle of which
passes outwards through a gland and bears against the "bowstring or tension
bar (A) so that any deflection of the tension bar affects the passage of steam
through the valve. A consideration of this construction will make it clear that if
such calorifier is connected up to a circulation in the usual manner by the flow and
return pipes the supply of steam to the heating tubes will be under control
according to the adjustment or "setting" of the tension bar (A).
"
The body of the calorifier on first starting or turning on steam will be cold and
therefore at its shortest length. The tension bar (A) will therefore be at its
maximum deflection and the valve (C) open to its fullest extent-steam therefore
flowing freely through it in the direction of the arrows, to the heating tubes (B4)
and heats the water in circulation in the well known manner. As the temperature
of the circulation rises the body of the calorifier expands in proportion and by the
pull on the ends takes, or tends to take, the bow out of the tension bar so forcing
the valve (C) towards its closed position and thus cutting off the steam supply to
the heating tubes. The extent of cut-off will vary according to the previous
adjustment or setting of the tension bar (A) which is accomplished by the
nuts (A') and (A*). The adjustment is best effected when the circulation is at its
proper temperature. The nut (A') say, is then gently tightened up until the
steam passing through the valve just maintains the proper temperature. The
control will afterwards be automatic. I have found this construction of apparatus
automatic, simple and effective in action as the tension bar is very sensitive to
change of length corresponding to changes of temperature in the body. I
propose to make the tension bar as long as possible to ensure the utmost
sensitiveness.
In the application of a calorifier to the heating of bath water for public
institutions connect the flow and return pipes to a storage tank (X) as shewn in
diagram view Fig. 1A the water circulating through the calorifier and becoming
heated thereby. The tension bar is "set to the maximum temperature of the
water as previously described by the expansion of the body of the calorifier and
the steam is afterwards automatically controlled. Any sudden demand upon the
storage, by reason of the cold water running in, at once affects the length of the
calorifier and opens the steam supply.
It will be seen that the same effect would be attained by putting the tension bar
on any other portion of the apparatus such as the storage tank last described and
in Fig. 3 shew it as applied to the return pipe (B2) of a circulation the
temperature of the return main in this case determines the steam supply.
Similarly it might be applied to the
"flow
pipe (B) or any other portion of
the circulation the temperature of which, it is desired, shall control the steam
supply.
"

page_text: In Fig. 4 shew my improved automatic regulator applied to a boiling or
heating pan. The expansion of the pan controls the steam supply through the
tension bar (A). The adjustment of the nuts (A¹) and (A³) regulating the
temperature of the shut off which once effected need not be altered.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is.
-
1st. In "calorifiers," boiling pans, storage tanks and similar steam heated
apparatus the use and application of the bow string bar (A) and valve (C) or its
equivalent for automatically controlling the temperature of the water or other
liquid or substance being heated substantially as set forth.
Dated this 13th day of July 1894.
JOHN G. WILSON & Co.,
Agents.