IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR REMOVING AND RETURNING TO THE BOILER, WATER COLLECTED IN THE CYLINDERS, STEAM JACKETS, AND OTHER PARTS OF STEAM ENGINES
Year: 1879

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Alexander Melville Clark at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 9th August 1879. A commu-
nication from abroad by Charles Chuwab, of Paris, France, Civil Engineer.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR REMOVING AND RETURNING
TO THE BOILER, WATER COLLECTED IN THE CYLINDERS, STEAM JACKETS, AND OTHER
PARTS OF STEAM ENGINES." [A communication from abroad by Charles Chuwab,
of Paris, France, Civil Engineer.]
"
The apparatus of this Invention has for its object to continuously collect and
return to the boiler the water carried over by priming, and also the water of
condensation which accumulates in the steam passages and spaces of the engine. It
consists mainly of pipes leading from the different parts of the engine from which
the water is to be extracted, and of a corresponding number of small clack valves in
the same or separate boxes in connection with the ordinary feed pump. The water
is extracted from the different places where it is liable to accumulate, notwith-
standing the difference of pressure existing in the various parts of the engine, as the
valves are so arranged as to give passage to the water in one direction only, and
oppose any return of the water.
In order that the Invention may be better understood I have shown several
examples in the accompanying Drawings, which may be employed in carrying out
the Invention.
Figure 1 represents the Invention applied to a horizontal engine, and serves to
illustrate the principle; Figure 2 is a plan of an arrangement of the box containing
the clack valves, and Figure 3 is a section thereof taken through its axis; Figure 4
is a side elevation of another arrangement, Figure 5 a section (on line 1-2 Figure
4), Figure 6 a face view, and Figure 7 a plan of same.
Figure 8 shows another arrangement which may be used when the engine is
provided with a pump of a superabundant capacity, relatively to the weight of
water evaporated; Figure 9 is a plan of the same with the cover removed, and
Figure 10 is a perspective view of the apparatus applied to a steam jacketted
horizontal engine. The same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
The apparatus as is shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, is composed of a clack box A
containing the suction clacks C, the one for the cold feed, water being placed in the
centre. With this box are connected the pipes 1, 2, 3, and 4, of which the pipe 1
connects with the steam jacket d, the pipe 2 with the valve chest D¹, and the
pipes 3 and 4 with the ordinary cylinder cocks. The box A communicates with
[Price 6d1

page_text: the suction pipe of the pump P. C is the delivery valve box, and e the pipe to the
boiler. In the cover of the clack box A screw plugs f are fitted, one opposite each
clack C to limit its rise, or fixed studs might be substituted for these plugs. A
cock m Figure 1, may or may not be provided to shut off the apparatus.
In Figures 4, 5, 6, 7, the box A contains the four clacks c on the ends of the
pipes 1, 2, 3, 4, leading from the different parts of the engine, as above mentioned.
The pipe b is the feed water suction pipe. Box A is closed by a cover g held in
place by a stirrup piece h and screw i. The arrangement of box A (Figure 9) is
employed when the discharge capacity of the feed pump is superabundant relatively
to the weight of water evaporated, the four clacks corresponding to the pipes 1, 2, 3, 4,
above mentioned are seated in one casting k, and an interior rib 7 of the covering
limits their rise. The cold feed water supply pipe b is at the upper part on the
cover g, and the suction pipe of the feed pump is attached at the side at all. In
Figure 10, which shows the apparatus applied to a horizontal engine, A is the box
containing the suction and delivery clacks, and with which the suction pipes 1, 2, 3, 4,
leading from the different parts of the engine from which water of condensation is
to be drawn. a', all, are the pipes connecting the apparatus with the delivery and
suction valve boxes C, B, of the pump respectively; b, cold feed water suction pipe ;
D, engine cylinder; D¹, valve chest; e, pipe delivering the water to the boiler. In
practice, on starting the engine, the cylinders are blown through as usual by
opening cocks r, r, leading to pipe s.
To enable this to be done, the pipes 1, 2, 3,
and 4, are connected above the cocks. The operator of this apparatus is reliable
and not subject to derangement, the pump aided by the steam pressure extracts the
water of condensation by raising the valves c and returns this warm water by pipe e
to the boiler.
The apparatus of this Invention is applicable to engines whether steam jacketted
or not, condensing or otherwise. The great economy effected in water and fuel
arises less from the caloric returned to the boiler by the water, than from avoiding
the loss of heat abstracted at every exhaust from the sides of the steam cylinder to
vaporise the water which usually condenses on them. As applied to marine engines,
the apparatus not only effects a great economy in the fuel, but also notably prolongs
the life of the boilers by reducing incrustation, the feed being half distilled
water,
In surface condensing marine engines, the water and grease from the interior of
the condensers is returned directly to the boiler without bad results, and therefore
the application of this Invention to locomotives can have no other effect than to
Moreover
prolong their life and reduce the consumption of water and fuel.
combustion is more perfect and smoke entirely consumed, the quantity of fuel being
less for the same area of grate surface.
The arrangement of the apparatus may be varied according to circumstances, for
instance, the valves may be in separate boxes which may be connected in various
ways with the pump.