A New or Improved System of Feeding or Supplying Liquids, and Appliances connected therewith.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 13th June, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 11th Mar., 1892-Accepted, 16th Apr., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved System of Feeding or Supplying Liquids, and
Appliances connected therewith.
I, JOHN HOWARD, of the Broughton Soap Works, in the City and County of
Edinburgh, Soap Boiler, do hereby declare the nature of my invention to be as
follows:-
This invention has reference to and comprises a new or improved system or
mode of, and arrangement and combination of appliances for feeding or supplying
liquids, such as the lyes of soap boilers, water to steam boilers, and for other
general purposes, as a substitute for the mechanical pumps, injectors, and apparatus
heretofore in use.
a
In carrying my new system into practice under one arrangement I use
rectangular, cylindrical or other shaped close tank or vessel with a diaphragm
partition or division wall extending from the top cover down to near the bottom
Into the top
so as to form a divisional chamber near the one end of the vessel.
of this chamber I lead a pipe which may be either siphon-ways over the top cover
or come in at the side, fitted with an inlet check valve or cock on top and extending
any distance away to where the liquid supply is taken from. Into the large area
part of the vessel I fit a discharge pipe extending to near the bottom, and fitted
preferably with duplex branches at the lower end, and also at the outer end outside
the top cover, to which would be connected pipes leading to tanks, reservoirs,
boilers, or other places to which the liquid supply is to be taken. The main pipe
may be fitted with a discharge check valve or each branch or pipe may be fitted
with a discharge valve or cock. A pipe fitted with an inlet stop cock or valve
and with its inner end preferably of an inverted siphon shape, would be led into
the upper part of the vessel, preferably through the top cover, through which a
supply of steam, compressed air, or other pressure fluid would be taken. A glass
tube would be fitted at one end of the vessel with tap or valve lateral branches
at its ends, and extending from near the lower to the upper part to show the level or
quantity of liquid within at any time, and a drawing off tap would also preferably
be fitted at this end, while a manhole or other door would be fitted on the top cover
for access to vessel for fitting the appliances, or cleaning out purposes. The action
of this apparatus is as follows:-Steam or other pressure fluid would be first
turned on by the tap from a boiler or otherwise to the large compartment of the
vessel for a short time and then shut off. This would be condensed and cause a
vacuum and on turning on the tap of the liquid supply pipe the water or liquid
would be drawn into the chamber at one end of vessel, and through its open
bottom into the larger vessel, and when this was nearly full the tap would pre-
ferably be turned and the liquid supply shut off. The tap of the steam pipe
would then be turned on and the steam pressure would act on the surface of the
liquid in the larger vessel and force it out through the discharge pipe to the
evaporator or place where it was wanted, until the vessel was emptied. The tap of
the steam pipe would then be turned off and that of the liquid supply turned on,
to fill the vessel again, and this action could go on intermittently and successively.
In some cases the liquid level in the vessel can be regulated, by a float or other-
wise, to set on and off the steam and liquid supply valves, so that the apparatus
once started can go on working automatically. A pet tap might be fitted in the
upper part of the small chamber of vessel to allow a small jet of steam to blow off

page_text: all air or gas which may accumulate in this chamber from time to time as may be
found necessary.
Dated the 19th June 1801
W. R. M. THOMSON & Co.,
96, Buchanan Street, Glasgow, Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved System of Feeding or Supplying Liquids, and
Appliances connected therewith.
I, JOHN HOWARD, of the Broughton Soap Works, Edinburgh Scotland, Soap
Boiler, do hereby declare the nature of this 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 relates to an improved method of raising or forcing liquids by
means of steam without injectors or pumps of any description.
I employ a sealed vessel or tank, to which is attached a steam pipe, a suction
pipe, a delivery pipe, and a drain pipe, each being provided with a stop tap or
valve; and the aforesaid steam pipe being connected with a steam boiler. These
parts enumerated are all that are required for lifting and forcing oils, soaps in
liquid, water charged with mud or grit, &c. &c.
In order to accomplish this, I procure a sealed or air-tight cistern or tank of
any convenient form, and capable of resisting the requisite pressure to suit the
work in hand. Through the top plate of this cistern I insert a steam pipe pro-
jecting inside long enough to receive a double bend thereon with the two outlets
looking up to the crown of the cistern and just leaving sufficient room for the
steam to escape and play against the top of the cistern inside. Outside the cistern
I attach a tap or valve to the steam pipe to open or shut communication with the
steam boiler. A suction pipe with a stop tap is fixed in any convenient part of
the cistern, and may be carried any reasonable distance horizontally, diagonally,
or vertically, providing that the total vertical distance does not exceed 30 feet
from the lowest level of the liquid to the highest point of the cistern. I also
insert a delivery pipe coming from within 1 inch from the bottom of the cistern
and in any convenient part and having a, stop tap attached near to the cistern.
From this stop tap the pipe may be continued to any required height according to
the pressure of steam at command. A drain tap may be fixed in the bottom of the
cistern to allow the liquid to flow away of itself when not required to be lifted to
a higher level than that of the cistern.
The division or partition mentioned in my Provisional Specification I find to be
of no utility.
In order that my invention may be better understood I have annexed a drawing,
the letters having reference to the various parts.
The view given is a longitudinal section with the attachments in elevation.
A is the cistern or tank.
B steam pipe with valve attached.
C suction pipe with tap attached.
D delivery pipe with tap.
E drain tap.
The cistern A. must be capable of resisting the necessary pressure employed in
forcing the liquid to any required height.
The suction pipe C is to be carried forward or downward, or both as described
and to have the end away from the cistern dipping into the liquid required to
be transferred.
The delivery pipe D may be carried upwards to any reasonable height according
to the pressure of the steam at command.

page_text: The drain tap E allows the liquid to flow away of itself if required.
To work the apparatus; all the taps being closed, I first open the steam valve
and any one of the other taps most convenient in order to fill the cistern with steam
and displace the atmosphere.
I then shut off steam and close the tap.
After allowing sufficient time for the steam to condense and leave a vacuum in
the cistern, I then open the tap of the suction pipe, when the pressure of the
atmosphere will force the liquid up the suction pipe into the cistern by reason of
the vacuum formed therein.
When the cistern is filled I shut the suction tap and open the steam valve and
the delivery pipe, when the pressure of the admitted steam on the surface of the
enclosed liquid will force it to the required height or place.
When the cistern is emptied I repeat the process until the required quantity of
liquid is transferred.
When the drain tap is used the process is exactly the same with the exception
that the steam will not be required to force the liquid out but atmospheric pressure
may be admitted through the delivery pipe D when the liquid will flow as required;
or the steam may be used if thought fit.
Having now 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
"The forming of a vacuum with steam in a sealed cistern and using the same
steaming arrangement for the purpose of forcing a liquid to a higher level when
desired.
A
1
JOHN HOWARD.