Improvements in Injectors and Connected Apparatus for Feeding Steam Boilers with Water.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Oct., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 19th July, 1894-Accepted, 6th Oct., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Injectors and Connected Apparatus for Feeding
Steam Boilers with Water.
We, JAMES GRESHAM, Director of the Firm Gresham and Craven Limited, of
Craven Iron Works, Salford, Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer,!
and HARRY EDWARD GRESHAM of the same place, Engineer, do hereby declare
the nature of the said invention, to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to what are commonly termed "Combination Injectors" in
which the parts formning an injector for feeding boilers with water, are so combined
that only one junction flange is required between it and the boiler, this junction
having an inlet passage permitting steam to be taken from the steam space of the
boiler to supply the injector and for other purposes, and an outlet or passage by
which the water propelled by the injector is passed into the boiler, or into the end
of a pipe within the boiler by which pipe it may be delivered to any required part
of the boiler.
This "Combination injector" apparatus has passages and valves for controlling
the supply of steam to the injector and has or may have valves for controlling the
supply of steam to the ejector for vacuum pressure or steam brake, or to an ejector
for sanding the rails of railways by steam, and also valves by which the water
supply to the injector can he regulated and controlled, and valves and a cock by
which steam can be supplied through the injector to heat the water in the tank,
through the water supply pipe, the valve for controlling the water supply to the
injector being then open, and the cock shut when the steam is so used, to prevent it
from passing out of the overflow.
Our present improvements are made upon those described in the Complete.
Specification of Letters Patent No. 1728 of the year 1889 granted to James
Gresham (one of the present applicants).
Our improved combination injector is more especially designed and intended to be
used with the longitudinal axes of the nozzles of the injector in a horizontal
position and one peculiar feature consists in an automatic lifting water regulating
valve, so arranged that the opening and extent to which it is to be opened can be
adjusted by a screw spindle, passing through a stuffing hox having a handle secured
to it at its outer end, which handle has a finger pointing to an index on the casing
to show to what extent the valve is open or when it is shut.
The said lifting water valve is upon a stem guided in the direction in which it
opens and closes in a hole in the casing the upper part of the valve having a hollow
boss, into which a flange on the end of the screw spindle can be slided laterally
through a slot in the boss, so that when the spindle is in its central working position
the valve and end of the spindle are loosely connected, so that the valve may be
lifted away from its seating or allowed to lift from and close against its seating to
the extent required.
This lifting valve is placed with its disc face on a level with or above the plane
of the longitudinal axes of the nozzles of the injector, and when the injector stops
working the valve closes, and prevents the hot condensed steam arising from
leakage through the steam or back pressure valves from passing to the water
supply pipe (which would prevent the injector from starting promptly when
required) and causes it to pass instead through the nozzles of the injector to the
overflow chamber and thus to the overflow pipe.

page_text: This arrangement causes the condensed steam from leakage to pass away auto-
matically when the injector stops working and does not depend on the turning of a
cock as in the combination injector described in the aforesaid Complete Speci-
fication.
The arrangement of this automatic valve with screw spindle and index, also
allows the water supply to be adjusted to a given working pressure of steam so
that after such adjustment the injector may be started and stopped at any time by
the movement of one handle or lever, which is or may be effected by a valve
having its seating in the casing, which valve is on the inner end of a spindle passing
through a stuffing box, in the casing of the apparatus and is jointed with a lever
handle having its fulcrum jointed to one end of a link, the other end of which is
jointed to the casing of the injector or this steam supply valve is or may be a valve
single or double acting on the end of a screwed spindle passing through a stuffing
box, such valve being also arranged to turn on and off the supply of steam to
ejectors for vacuum brakes and for other purposes.
In other respects than those above referred to, our improved "Combination
injector" is similar in its mechanism to that described in the said Complete Specifi-
cation of Letters Patent No. 1728 of 1889, except that the parts are arranged to
suit the change of the longitudinal axes of the nozzles of the injector from a
vertical to a horizontal position.
The automatic water valve may be used when the longitudinal axes of the nozzles
of the injector are vertical.
Dated this "let do of Ontchon 1902
Improvements in Injectors and Connected Apparatus for Feeding
Steam Boilers with Water.
We,
JAMES GRESHAM, Director of the Firm Gresham and Craven Limited,
of Craven Iron Works, Salford, Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer,
and HARRY EDWARD GRESHAM of the same place, 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:-
'
Our invention relates to what are commonly termed "Combination Injectors" in
which the parts forming an injector for teed ng boilers with water, are so combined
that only one junction flange is required between it and the bailer, this junction
having an inlet passage permitting steam to be taken from the steam space of the
boiler to supply the injector, and for other purposes, and an outlet or passage by
which the water propelled by the injector is passed into the boiler, or into the end
of a pipe within the boiler by which pipe it may be delivered to any required part
of the boiler. This "combination injector "apparatus has passages and valves for
controlling the supply of steam to the injector and has or may have valves for
controlling the supply of steam to the ejector for vacuum pressure or steam brake,
or to an ejector for sanding the rails of railways by steain, and also valves by
which the water supply to the injector can be regulated and controlled, and valves
and a cock by which steam can be supplied through the injector to heat the water
in the tank, through the water supply pipe, the valve for controlling the water
supply to the injector being then open and the cock shut when the steam is
80 usd, to prevent it from passing out of the overflow.
Our resent improvements are made upon those described in the Complete
Specnication of Letters Patent No. 1728 of the year 1889 granted to James
Gresham (one of the present applicants).
Our improved combination injector is more especially designed and intended to

page_text: be used with the longitudinal axes of the nozzles of the injector in a horizontal
position and one peculiar feature consists in an automatic lifting water regulating
valve, so arranged that the opening and extent to which it is to be opened can he
adjusted by a screw spindle passing through a stuffing box having a handle secured
to it, at its outer end, which handle has a finger pointing to an index on the casing
to show to what extent the valve is open or when it is shut.
The said litting water valve is upon a stem guided in the direction in which it
opens and closes in a hole in the casing the upper part of the valve having a hollow
boss, into which a flange on the end of the screw spindle can be slided laterally
through a slot in the boss, so that when the spindle is in its central working position
the valve and end of the spindle are loosely connected, so that the valve may be
lifted away from its seating or allowed to lift from and close against its seating to
the extent required.
This lifting valve is placed with its disc face on a level with or above the plane
of the longitudinal axes of the nozzles of the injector, and when the injector stops
working the valve closes, and prevents the hot condensed steam arising from
leakage through the steam or back pressure valves, from passing to the water
supply pipe (which would prevent the injector from starting promptly when
required) and causes it to pass instead through the nozzles of the injector to the
overflow chamber and thus to the overflow pipe.
This arrangement canses the condensed steam from leakage to pass away
automatically when the injector stops working and does not depend on the turning
of a cock as in the "combination injector" described in the aforesaid Complete
Specification.
The arrangement of this automatic valve with screw spindle and index, also
allows the water supply to be adjusted to a given working pressure of steam so
that after such adjustment the injector may be started and stopped at any time by
the movement of one handle or lever, which is or may be effected by a valve
having its seating in the casing which valve is on the inner end of a spindle
passing through a stuffing box, in the casing of the apparatus and is jointed with a
lever handle having its fulcrum jointed to one end of a link, the other end of which
is jointed to the casing of the injector, or this steam supply valve is or may be a
valve single or double acting on the end of a screwed spindle, passing through a
stuffing box, such valve being also arranged to turn on and off the supply of steam
to ejectors for vacuum brakes and for other purposes.
In other respects than those above referred to, our improved "Combination
injector" is similar in its mechanism to that described in the said Complete
Specification of Letters Patent No. 1728 of 1889, except that the parts are
arranged to suit the change of the longitudinal axes of the nozzles of the injector
from a vertical to a horizontal position.
The automatic water valve may be used when the longitudinal axes of the
nozzles of the injector are vertical.
Fig. 1, is a longitudinal section on the line E-F Fig. 2.
Fig. 2, is a cross section on the line A-B Fig. 1, and
Fig. 3, is a longitudinal section on the line C-D Fig. 1, illustrating one
modification of our improved combination injector.
Fig. 4, is a longitudinal section on the line A-B Fig. 5.
Fig. 5, is a cross section on the line C-D Fig. 4, and
Fig. 6, is a longitudinal section on the line E-F Fig. 4, illustrating another
modification of our improved combination injector when arranged to supply steam
for the injector and for an ejector for working vacuum or steam brakes, steam
sanding, or other purposes.
The main casing a, of the combination is formed in one casing having a flange a²,
by which it is secured to the side of the boiler, this flange having two orifices,
one b, connected up to the steam space or steam supply from the boiler, and the
other orifice C, for the delivery of the feed water propelled by the injector which is
or may be conveyed by a pipe to the desired part of the boiler.

page_text: As shewn in the drawings the combination injectors are designed to be fixed with
the longitudinal axes of the injector nozzles in a horizontal line, but if desired to
be in a vertical position the parts are modified and arranged accordingly.
The main casing a, is prepared to receive the steam nozzle d, which is formed as
showu, and a flange d', round it is screw-threaded to screw steam tight into the
casing. The outer end of the nozzle is made hexagonal to suit a wrench for
screwing it in and out.
That end of the casing through which the steam nozzle is inserted and withdrawn
is closed by a cup d', which is screw-threaded to screw into the end of the casing
steam tight. The outer end of the cap d, is made hexagonal so as to be rotated
by a wrench.
A flange at the fixed part of the combining cone e, is screw-threaded, and it is
made on its exterior outer end hexagonal so that it may be screwed into the casing
steam tight by a box key.
At the smaller end of the fixed combining cone e, there is a cylindrical
projection e', which is faced to form a seating for a disc e, upon the second and
movable part of the combining cone e, which has spiral wing guides e, upon its
exterior that can slide freely in the interior of a tubular projection f¹, from the
part forming the receiving cone f, of the injector.
The exterior guiding wings, on the movable part of the combining cone e³,
bave shoulders e, that come against the end of the tubular projection f, from the
receiving cone, when it has moved to the required extent to allow escape or
overflow in starting or re-starting the injector.
The receiving cone f, is screw threaded on its exterior to screw steam tight into
the casing by means of a box key fitting hexagonal sides formed upon the inner
tubular extension f", from the receiving cone f.
The receiving cone, is first screwed into the casing, then the movable part e³, of
the combining cone is placed in the tubular extension, from it, then the large
fixed part of the combining cone e, is screwed into the casing and lastly the steam
cone or nozzle d.
There is a cap, with hexagonal exterior, for a wrench to screw into and close
the delivery end of the casing for the receiving cone f.
From the orifice 6, for steam from the boiler there is a passage a², formed in the
main casing which communicates with au opening a³, in the casing bored out for a
valve g.
This valve g, on one side has projecting wings y', that fit the hole and act to
guide the valve in its movements, and the other side of the valve g, has a stem g³,
that fits freely in a hole in the axis of the end of a screwed spindle g³ that passes
through a tubular stuffing box g*.
The tube g, forming the stuffing box is screw threaded on its exterior and
screws into and closes the end of the main casing for this valve. The valve y is
first placed in position, and then the tubular part 9', is screwed in the casing.
The screw spindle g³, is actuated by a handle or haud wheel g°, placed upon a
square formed upon the outer end of the spindle g³.
By this arrangement the valve g, may be screwed tightly down upon its
seating.
When the steam has passed the valve g, it goes into passages a³, in the main
casing and enters the outer end of the steami nozzle d.
There is a branch a', on the main casing to which the pipe h, is coupled by a
screw coupling h¹, for supplying the water to the injector, and from this branch
there is a passage a, in the main casing (see Fig. 2) leading to a valve
opening in the main casing, which is faced for a disc valve 2, in the centre of
one side of which there is a stem, which has or may have an exterior spiral
groove, upon it.
This stem fits and slides and is guided in a hole in a projection a, from the main
casting, and the spiral groove permits fluid to pass freely in or out of the hole for
the stem, as the valve h³, moves to open or close.

page_text: The other side of the disc valve ², has a tubular boss A, and one side of this
boss is cut open to allow the head h, upon the actuating spindle h', to slide in
sideways. The spindle h', when in the centre of the valve , can be screwed down
to close the valve firmly against its seating or lift it from its seating or the spindle
may be placed in such position as to allow the valve to open automatically to any
required extent and close automatically.
The spindle, is screw threaded and screws through a tubular part 7º, forming
a stuffing box, this tubular part ³, being screw threaded upon its exterior to screw
into the main casing, fluid tight.
The outer end of the spindle A', is made square to fit a handle, in one end of
which there is a pointer h, that points to an index (see Figs. 2 and 3) formed
upon the outer face of a flange h, upon the tubular part ³, for the screw
spindle.
By means of this pointer *, and index ", it will be seen when the valve k³, is
opened or closed or to what extent it is opened, and by this means the supply of
water may be adjusted to a given pressure of steam.
From the cavity in the main casing above the valve A, there is a passage a', to
the annular chamber a, round the inner end of the steam cone d, and fixed end of
the combining cone e.
The branch a, on the main casing is prepared to be connected by a screw
coupling with the pipe i, conveying away the overflow, and this branch com-
municates (see Fig. 1) with the annular cavity a', in the main casing round overflow
outlets from between the fixed part (e) and movable part (e³) of the combining
cones.
The water valve, being at about the level of the longitudinal axes of the
nozzles of the injector, when it closes automatically as it does when the injector
ceases to work, any hot condensed steam from leakage will be prevented from
passing to the water brauch a, and will escape through the nozzles and into the
overflow branch a".
The water delivered from the end of the receiving cone f, enters the annular
chamber ab, in the main casing which surrounds it and passes out through a hole in
its side, which is screw tapped for a ring valve seating j, screwed in by a key
fitting within the ring which internally is of octagnal or of other suitable form.
The valve, for this seating is a disc on a stem, which stem fits and is guided
in a hole in a screw plug 1³, screwing through a hole in the side of the main
casing, the outer end of the plug being hexagonal form to suit a wrench.
The stem, of the valve, has an helical groove on it to allow fluid to pass
freely when the stem works up and down in the hole in the screw plug.
There are projections*, on the back of the valve j', to come against the inner
end of the screw plug, when the valve j', has opened to the required extent.
This valve j', opens to allow the liquid from the injector to pass to the boiler but
prevents its return.
When the fluid has passed the valve j, it enters a passage a³, in the main casing
that communicates with the passage aª, and orifice c, in the flange connected with
the boiler.
But the fluid after passing the valve j³, and before entering the passage and
orifice C in the flange passes through a valve orifice in the main casing having a
seating closed by a valve k, upon a stem k¹, which stem passes through a screw
tapped bush k³, that is screwed fluid tight into a screw tapped hole in the side of
the main casing as shown in Fig. 3.
The inner end of the bush, is arranged to form a steam tight joint with the
back of the valve k, on the stem k', when the valve is screwed outwards (which is
its normal position) to prevent leakage past the spindle or stem k².
When the valve k, is screwed down upon its seating as shown in Fig. 3, no fluid
can come from the boiler, and this valve k, requires to be closed if at any time the
automatic stop valve j', has to be removed or examined.
•

page_text: -
The end of the spindle k¹, is made square for an hexagonal or square sided
collar, so that the spindle may be rotated by a wrench, and the collar, is
secured on the end of the spindle by a collar or washer k, and pin passing through
it and the spindle kl.
By lifting and holding the water valve 13, open by screwing the spindle /',
outwards, and by placing a cock on the overflow pipe i, or arranging one in the
overflow branch a, steam can be passed through the injector nozzles, the water
valve, and branch a', to the tender or water supply tank, the cock on the
overfow pipe or branch being then shut, and opened when the injector is feeding
the boiler.
The modification illustrated by Figs. 4, 5 and 6, is the same as that illustrated by
Figs. 1, 2 and 3, with the exceptions described as follows.
There is a branch a°, on the side of the main casing which is screwed to be
coupled by a screw coupling with à pipe l, to supply steam to an ejector for
vacuum brakes or for a steam cylinder for steam brakes or for sanding by steam or
for other purposes.
The valve 4, shown in Figs. 1 and 3 is modified.
The valve g, is upon the inner end of a screwed spindle g', screwing through a
stuffing box and spindle guide tube g, which latter is screwed upon its exterior to
screw fluid tight into the end of the main casing.
The inner end of the stuffing box tube 9, is formed as a seating for one face of
the valve g, and there is another seating in the casing a, for the other face of the
valve
g.
The stuffing box and spindle guide tube 9, has ports 96, through its sides that
come opposite the passage a³, in the main casing leading to the steam nozzle d, of
the injector.
In the position in which the valve g, is shown in Figs. 4 and 6, the passage for
steam from the boiler through the opening in the flange b, and the passage in the
main casing is closed, and no steam can pass either to the branch a°, for the ejector
or other purposes, or to the injector.
But when the valve g, is moved in the other direction to bring its other face
against the seating on the end of the tube g', for the stuffing box and spindle, then
the steam is shut off from the injector, but it can pass to the branch aº, for the
ejector or other purposes.
When the valve 9, is between the two seatings steam can pass both to the injector
and to the branch as, for the ejector and other purposes.
The outer end of the spindle g³, is made square to fit a handle or hand wheel 9,
for rotating the spindle, which wheel is secured thereon by a pin, and a pawl g', is
hinged at 9, to the stuffing box tube g, the end of which pawl g', can come upon
the spindle g³, and against the boss of the handle go, when the valve 9, is midway
between the two seatings and is thus supplying steam both to the injector and the
branch aº.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. The combination of an automatic lifting valve for supplying water to the
"injector arranged and acting substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated
by the drawings.
2. In "Combination injectors" the combination with the injector of an automatic
lifting water supply valve arranged so that the lift of the automatic valve can be
adjusted substantially as and for the purpose hereiubefore described and illustrated
by the drawings.
"
3. The combination, arrangement and construction of "Combination injectors'
substantially as and for the purpose herein before described and illustrated by
Figs. 1, 2 and 3, of the drawings.

page_text: "
4. The combination, arrangement and construction of "Combination injectors'
substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described and illustrated by
Figs. 4, 5 and 6 of the drawings.
A
T L
1
3004
PETER J. LIVSEY,
Agent.