Improvements in Heating, Softening, and Purifying Water, and Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Heating, Softening, and Purifying Water, and
Apparatus therefor.
I, HUGH MCPHAIL, of Manygates House, Wakefield, in the County of York,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to heating, softening and purifying water, more especially
The said apparatus com-
feed water for steam boilers, and to apparatus therefor.
prises a cylindrical or other suitably shaped vessel set upon end or in such a manner
that it has sufficient steam and water spaces, the former for heating the water and
separating the salts and mud therefrom, and the latter to allow of precipitation in
the heater so as to prevent the passage of the mud and salts into the boiler or other
vessel where the water is used. An important feature of this invention is the
provision of a series of superposed dishes so constructed with central openings and
arranged that the water which enters at the top of the heater can flow from one
to the other. The heating medium is steam which may be saturated or superheated
and which may flow directly into the heater or first through pipes in the heater,
and then into the steam space of the heater where it comes in contact with the
water; or both of these methods may be employed in the same heater. When used
in connection with steam generators, the steam space of the heater is in com-
munication with the steam space of the boiler, and the water space of the heater
with the water space of the boiler.
In carrying out my invention I prefer to employ a spraying device or nozzle
for spreading the water as it enters at the top of the heater and I provide the afore-
said dishes with convex or concave covers so as to spread the water which falls
upon them. I also provide a cone and pipe below the lowermost of the dishes to
convey the precipitated mud and salts directly to the bottom of the heater whence
they can be blown off at intervals. The feed to the boiler is taken off at a suitable
height above the blow-off cock of the heater so as to ensure the removal of the
clear water only. I may in some instances provide a non-return valve in the steam
inlet which communicates directly with the heater, and I provide the heater if
desired with a safety-valve, pressure-gauge, and glass water-gauge. The com-
munication between the heater and the boiler is preferably so arranged that steam
can pass from one to the other in either direction.
101
November 1897
GEORGE HARRISON,
35, Therapia Road, Honor Oak, London,
Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in Heating, Softening, and Purifying Water, and
Apparatus therefor.
I, HUGH MCPHAIL, of Manygates House, Wakefield, in the County of York,
Engineer, 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:-
This invention relates to heating, softening, and purifying water, more especially
feed water for steam boilers, and to apparatus therefor, and in particular relates
to further improvements in feed water heaters of the kind or class described in the
Specifications of my prior l'atents No. 10453 A.D). 1895, and 5391 A.D. 1896. In
the said prior specifications I have described a feed water heater of cylindrical or other
suitable shape having a steam space and a water space communicating respectively
with the steam and water spaces of a steam generator, the arrangement being such
that the mud and salts separated from the water are deposited in the heater, which
has an arrangement for blowing out the deposit.
The chief feature of my present invention is the provision in a heater of the above
described type of a series of superposed dishes or trays having central openings,
and so arranged that the water which enters at the top of the heater can flow from
one dish to the other. The heating medium, steam, may be saturated or super-
heated and may flow directly into the heater, or first through pipes in the heater,
and then into the steam space of the heater where it comes in contact with the
water, or both of these methods may be employed in the same heater.
In order that my invention may be more clearly understood, I will now describe
the same with reference to the accompanying drawing, which illustrates one form
ef my improved heater in vertical central section.
A is the cylindrical shell or body of the heater set with its axis vertical and sup-
ported by angle plates a, a or otherwise. B, B are a number of curved or bent
pipes near the lower end, and in the water space of, the heater and communicating
at their ends with steam boxes b, b. C is a steam inlet pipe communicating with
the steam generator and with the box b, and D is another pipe forming a com-
munication between the box 6' and the top of the steam space of the heater. E is
the inlet for the water to be heated, and F is the outlet for the heated water, the
said outlet being arranged at a suitable height above the bottom of the heater so
as only to draw off the clear water. The mud and salts which settle in the bottom
of the heater are discharged periodically, or when required, through the blow-off
cock G. In the upper part of the steam space of the heater are a number of shallow
dishes or trays H slightly smaller in diameter than the heater, and arranged one
above another. The dishes are conveniently supported at their peripheries by
brackets J which are shown secured to vertical bars J¹ resting on and fixed to
brackets J2 attached to the heater shell; but any other suitable method of sup-
porting the dishes may be adopted. Each dish or tray has a central opening or
several openings to allow the water to descend into the next dish or tray below it.
The lowermost dish is situated at about the normal water level, and from its central
opening a pipe K descends nearly to the bottom of the heater. This pipe serves
to convey the precipitated mud and salts directly to the bottom of the heater
whence they are blown out as above stated. Immediately above each dish or tray
and supported by brackets h¹ or otherwise is a cover H¹ which may be concave or
convex or flat for spreading the water that falls upon it from the opening of the
dish above. I also prefer to provide a spraying device or nozzle L of any suitable
type for spreading the water as it enters the heater.

page_text: In some instances I provide an inlet pipe M to allow of the steam being intro-
duced direct to the heater without first passing through pipes such as B, and in
some instances I employ both these methods in the same heater. The pipe M is
shown fitted with a non-return valve, and the pipe D may be fitted with a similar
valve. I frequently however omit such valves so that the steam can pass freely
in either direction between the steam generator and the heater.
The heater is preferably provided with a safety valve, pressure gauge, and glass
water gauge.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
1. The hereindescribed method of heating water by means of steam in a vessel
having a steam space and a water space communicating respectively with the
steam and water spaces of a steam generator, and a series of superposed dishes or
trays for spreading the incoming water, substantially as described.
2. The series of superposed dishes or trays arranged in the steam space of the
heater and constructed with central openings, and with covers, and preferably
with a pipe leading from the lowermost dish to near the bottom of the heater, sub-
stantially as described, and for the purposes specified.
3. A water heater constructed with steam and water spaces, and with means for
admitting steam first through pipes in the heater, and then into the steam space
of the heater, substantially as described.
4. A water heater constructed substantially as described with reference to the
accompanying drawing.
A
1000
GEORGE HARRISON,
35, Therapia Road, Honor Oak, London,
Agent for the Applicant.