Improvements in Automatic Apparatus for Feeding Liquids to Boilers and other Vessels.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Jan., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 5th Feb., 1892-Accepted, 5th Mar., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION,
Improvements in Automatic Apparatus for Feeding Liquids to
Boilers and other Vessels.
A communication from abroad from LOUIS DREUX, of Presles (Seine et Oisc),
France, Manufacturing Engineer.
I, WILLIAM LLOYD WISE of No. 46 Lincoln's Inn Fields in the County of
London, Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to automatic apparatus for feeding liquids to boilers and
other vessels in which it is desirable to maintain a constant level of liquid. In
such an apparatus constructed according to this invention all the parts are located
outside the boiler, and can consequently be very easily inspected.
As shewn in Fig. 1 the apparatus comprises a vessel A of any suitable shape,
but of small height; formed for instance of a tube of iron or copper of 0.10 metre
in diameter arranged vertically or horizontally, closed at both ends by means of
flanged covers and having two pipes B and C one at each end thereof communicating
with the boiler or vessel at the level at which the water or other liquid is to be.
maintained. These two pipes B, C, are formed of any suitable material sufficiently
Hexible, for instance caoutchouc or thin copper coiled in a spiral for distributing
the bending over a great length, or of lead or of a band or strip of metal wound
in the form of a helix with a helix of caoutchouc forming a joint throughout the
extent. of the same.
The vessel A is suspended from the end of a lever preferably by means of a screw
threaded rod A provided with a jam-nut in such a manner as to enable its height
to be adjusted according to the height at which it is desired to maintain the water
or other liquid in the boiler or other apparatus.
The feed liquid is supplied through the pipe X at a sufficient pressure by means
of a pump, an injector or in any other manner. At Hit enters a forked or branched
pipe the two outlets of which are each controlled by a valve; one valve E is
balanced if the boiler or vessel is under pressure so as to be independent of the
internal pressure of the boiler or other vessel to be fed. The other valve F is an
ordinary valve as may also be the valve E if there is no pressure in the boiler or
vessel.
From F there leads a return pipe to the feed tank, and from E a pipe R
effects communication with the apparatus to be fed. The object is to cause the
feed liquid to pass through the valve E when the water level falls, and through
the valve F when the water level in the boiler rises.
The rods of the two valves E and F pass through suitable stuffing boxes and
cach abuts against one end of a lever. A movable or sliding weight G is provided
on the lever of the valve F, while the vessel A is suspended from the lever of the
valve E. The weight of the movable vessel A. when empty is counterbalanced by
a weight D also on a lever which is connected to the lever of the valve E by means
of one or more connecting rods whose pivots or connections are provided with
knife-edges for the purpose of reducing friction. Thus when the vessel A is empty,
the valve E has only to overcome the friction of the jointed mechanism and the
inertia of the parts, in order to rise and permit of the passage of the feed liquid
through the pipe R to the boiler or vessel.
The operation of the apparatus is as follows:-
The feed water forced by the pump P into the pipe X passes at H into the
brauched pipe to the valves E and F. The valve F may be loaded with a weight G
sufficient to act thereon through the medium of the lever, with a pressure-of

page_text: 20 kilogs., for instance.. The special valve E as aforesaid carries the vessel A
which is counterbalanced so that when full of steam or vapour it does not exert
any pressure upon the rod of the valve E, whereas when full of water or other
liquid, it exerts, upon the same a pressure preferably about double of that on the
valve F for instance 40 kilogs.
In order that the vessel A. may be full of steam, it is necessary that the openings
of the two flexible, pipes B and C, into the boiler shall be uncovered as will be the
case when the level of the water or other liquid, falls; in such case, since the
valve, E does not receive any load from the vessel A, whereas the valve F has
always a load of 20 kilogs. from the weight G, the water or other liquid will pass
freely past E and into the boiler; but when the level of the liquid, rises again by
the entrance of liquid through the pipe R and covers the openings of the flexible
pipes; the water will enter the pipes, and the steam in the vessel A condensing, the
said vessel will become full of water; this water exerts upon the valve E an
assumed, pressure of 40 kilogs., double that acting upon the valve F, so that the
liquid flows through the valve F and returns to the tank through the pipe y. As
soon as the water level falls again, the water passes out of the vessel A which
becomes filled with steam, and the weight being removed from the valve E the
boiler is fed anew with liquid flowing through the said valve. The feed is thus
effected, in an automatic manner, and the water level in the boiler is maintained
constant.
Two blow off cocks a' one at the top, and the other at the bottom of the vessel A,
allows of the air being expelled when starting.
Instead of the two pipes B and C, only one pipe might be used, but the operation
would not be so rapid.
The apparatus may also be 'arranged so that the pipe C opens into the water
space of the boiler, and the pipe B opens into the steain space, the vessel A being
in this case horizontal and situated at the average height of the water level it is
desired to maintain. The rest of the apparatus is similar to that just described.
In such case the operation is rather slow, and the water level must vary to a
greater extent, whereas when the apparatus is: arranged as described with reference
to Fig. 1 the two pipes B and C opening into the boiler at the water level, the said
level remains practically constant.
In order to cause the vessel A to control the direction to be given to the feed
liquid, use may be made of any suitable mechanical devices heretofore employed
for weighing or balancing bodies.. Thus, the vessel A, instead of being suspended
may simply rest on the arm of an oscillating beam arranged at a suitable height
and acting on the valve. Moreover, instead of moving vertically it may oscillate
about an axle rotating in two bearings and on which is keyed a bevel.wheel
gearing with a pinion fixed on the casing of a three way cock; in this case the
flexible pipes may be replaced by fixed pipes passing through stuffing boxes in the
axle which would be tubular.
I may
I have assumed up to now that the feed was effected by means of pumps.
also obtain by my method a constant feed by using injectors of any system operating
either continuously, or only when required.
In the arrangement'. illustrated in Fig. 2 the vessel A which is movable is
connected to the boiler.by.tubes. B C entering at the water level but instead of
controlling a valve it acts directly through a connecting rodIM upon arms Land N
which open and close the water and steam cocks of the injector 1. The vessel A' is
suspended from the end P of a lever oscillating about the point O and carrying
acounterweight D₁at, the other end. When the vessel A is only filled with
steam, the weight D' is sufficient to cause it to rise and move the arms. L and N so
as to start the injector. As the level of the water or other liquid, rises,the water
fills the vessel A and closes the inlet of steam to the pipe, B.Cand filling the
-vessel A' in the same manner as it fills vessel A (Fig. 1). The vessel A then falls
and closes the cocks of the injector and shutting off the latter. The vessel A! might
be suspended very simply by means of a spring but it is preferable to employ a
31°

page_text: lever because it allows of obtaining a greater amount of stroke or travel, and its
action is always constant.
The distances from a to c, b to d=0 to P may be made equal while the point c
may be connected directly to g.
Two stops e and fare provided to limit the stroke of the apparatus in order that
it may completely open and close the cocks. The opening of the cocks may however
be made variable, by making the connecting rod M terminate in a forked piece
(Fig. 3) provided with holes through which a pin may be passed as at c d to connect
the rods Land N to the rod M.
From the preceding description it will be seen that in my automatic apparatus
for feeding liquids to boilers and other vessels, the direction of the flow of the
liquid is effected by the varying weight of a receiver connected by means of flexible
tubes to the vessel to be fel, whereby all the parts can be arranged externally, and
consequently inspection and repairing is easy at all times, which is of great
importance for ensuring proper working.
Dalan of Car 1809
W. LLOYD WISE,
Per F. J. Brougham.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Automatic Apparatus for Feeding Liquidsto
Boilers and other Vessels.
A communication from
LOUIS DREUX, of Presles (Seine et Oise), France,
Manufacturing Engineer.
1, WILLIAM LLOYD WISE of 46 Lincoln's Inn Fields in the County of
London, Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent, 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 automatic apparatus for feeding liquids to boilers and
other vessels in which it is desirable to maintain a constant level of liquid. In
such an apparatus constructed according to this invention all the parts are located
outside the boiler, and can consequently be very easily inspected. As shewn in
Fig. 1 of the drawings left with my Provisional Specification the apparatus com-
prises a vessel A of any suitable shape, but of small height formed for instance of
a tube of iron or copper of say about 0-10 metre in diameter arranged vertically
or horizontally, closed at both ends by means of flanged covers and having two
pipes B and C one at each end thereof communicating with the boiler or vessel at the
level at which the water or other liquid is to be maintained. These two pipes B, C,
are formed of any suitable material sufficiently flexible, for instance caoutchouc or
thin copper coiled in a spiral for distributing the bending over. a considerable
length, or of lead or of a band or strip of metal wound in the form of a spiral with
a spiral of caoutchouc forming a joint between the overlapping edges of the metal
spiral throughout the length of the same.
The vessel A is suspended from the end of a lever preferably by means of a
screw-threaded rod A provided with a lock nut in such a manner as to enable its
height to be adjusted according to the height at which it is desired to maintain the
water or other liquid in the boiler or other apparatus.
The feed liquid is supplied through the pipe X at a sufficient pressure by means
At Hit enters a forked or
of a pump, an injector or in any other manner.
branched pipe the two outlets of which are ench controlled by a valve. One
valve E is balanced. if the boiler or vessel is under pressure so as to be inde-
pendent of the internal pressure of the boiler or other vessel to be fed. The
other valve F is an ordinary valve as may also be the valve E if there be no
pressure in the boiler or vessel. From there leads a return pipe y to the feed
.

page_text: tank, and from E a pipe R effects communication with the apparatus to be fed.
The object is to cause the feed liquid to pass through the valve E into the boiler
when the water level falls, and through the valve when the water level in the
boiler rises.
The rods of the two valves E and F pass through suitable stuffing boxes and
cach abuts against one end of a lever as shewn. A movable or sliding
weight G is provided on the lever of the valve F while the vessel A is
suspended from the lever of the valve E. The weight of the movable vessel A
when empty is counterbalanced by a weight D also on a lever which is con-
nected to the lever of the valve E by means of one or more connecting rods
whose pivots or connections are provided with knife edges for the purpose of
reducing friction. Thus when the vessel A is empty, the valve E has only to
overcome the friction of the jointed mechanism and the inertia of the parts in
order to rise and permit of the passage of the feed liquid through the pipe R to
the boiler or vessel.
The operation of the apparatus is as follows:-
The feed water forced by the pump P into the pipe X passes at H into the
branched pipe to the valves E and F. The valve F may be loaded with a weight G
sufficient to act thereon through the medium of the lever, with a pressure of say
20 kilogs., for instance. The special valve E as aforesaid carries the vessel A
which is counterbalanced so that when full of steam or vapour it does not exert
any pressure upon the rod of the valve E whereas, when full of water or other
liquid, it exerts upon the same a pressure say about double that on the valve F for
instance 40 kilogs.
In order that the vessel A may be full of steam, it is necessary that the openings
of the two flexible pipes B and C into the boiler shall be uncovered as will be
the case when the level of the water or other liquid in the boiler falls, in such case,
since the valve E is not subject to any load from the vessel A, whereas the valve F
is always subjected to a load of 20 kilogs. due to the weight G, the water or other
liquid will pass freely past E and into the boiler; but when the level of the liquid
rises again by the entrance of liquid through the pipe R and covers the openings
of the flexible pipes, the water will enter the pipes, and the steam in vessel A con-
densing the said vessel will become filled with water; this water exerts upon the
valve E an assumed pressure of 40 kilogs., double that acting upon the valve F,
so that valve E.will be closed and the liquid will flow through the valve F and
return to the tank through the pipe y. As soon as the water level falls again, the
water passes out of the vessel A which again becomes filled with steam, and the
weight being removed from the valve E the boiler is fed anew with liquid flowing
through the said valve. The feed is thus effected in an automatic manner, and
the water level in the boiler is maintained constant.
Two blow-off cocks a¹, one at the top, and the other at the bottom of the vessel A,
allow of the air being expelled when starting.
Instead of the two pipes B and C, only one pipe might be used, but the opera-
tion would not be so rapid.
The apparatus may also be arranged s
so that the pipe C opens into the water
space of the boiler, and the pipe B opens into the steam space, the vessel A
being in this case horizontal and situated at the average height of the water
level it is desired to maintain. The rest of the apparatus is similar to that
hereinbefore described. In this arrangement, however, the operation is rather
slow, and the water level must vary to a greater extent, whereas when the
apparatus is arranged as described with reference to Fig. 1 the two pipes B
and.C opening into the boiler at the water level, the said level remains, practically
constant.
In order to cause the vessel A to control the direction to be given to the feed
liquid,. use may be made of any other suitable mechanical devices heretofore
employed for weighing or balancing bodies. Thus, the vessel A, instead of being
suspended may simply rest on the arm of. an oscillating beam arranged at a suitable

page_text: height, and acting on the valve. Moreover instead of moving vertically, it may
turn about an axle rotating in two bearings and on which is keyed a bevel wheel
gearing with a pinion fixed on the casing of a three way cock; in this case the
Hexible pipes may be replaced by fixed pipes passing through stuffing boxes in
the axle which would be tubular.
In the drawings a pump l' is shewn for effecting the feed. A constant feed may
however be effected by using injectors of various kinds operating either con-
tinuously or only when required.
In the arrangement illustrated in Fig. 2 the vessel A' which is movable is con-
nected to the boiler by tubes B' Centering at the normal water level, but instead
of controlling a valve it acts directly through a connecting rod M upon arms L
and N which open and close the water and steam cocks of an injector I. The
vessel A is suspended from the end P of a lever oscillating about the point O
and carrying a counterweight D' at the other end. When the vessel A' is only
filled with steam, the weight D₁ is sufficient to cause it to rise and move the
arms L and N so as to start the injector. As the level of the water rises in
the boiler the water fills the vessel A in the same manner as it fills the vessel A.
(Fig. 1). The vessel A then falls and closes the cocks of the injector thus
shutting off the further supply of water. The vessel A might be suspended
very simply by means of a spring, but it is preferred to employ a lever because it
allows of obtaining a greater amount of stroke or travel, and its action is always
constant.
The distances from a to c, b to d, and O to P, may advantageously be made
equal, while the joint c may be connected directly to g.
Two stops e and are provided to limit the stroke of the apparatus but so that
it may completely open and close the cocks. The opening of the cocks may how-
ever be made variable, by making the connecting rod M terminate in a forked
piece (Fig. 3) provided with holes through which a pin may be passed as at c, d, to
connect the arms L and N to the rod M.
From the preceding description it will be seen that in automatic apparatus of
the kind described for feeding liquids to boilers and other vessels, the direction of
flow of the liquid is effected by the varying weight of a receiver connected by
tubing to the vessel to be feil, whereby all of the apparatus can be arranged
externally to the vessel to be fed so that inspection and repairs can be easily
made at all times; this is of great importance for ensuring the proper working of
the apparatus.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
1. An automatic apparatus for feeding liquids to boilers and other vessels
wherein the feed pipe is controlled by two valves one of which is constantly
weighted while the other is controlled by a movable vessel provided with two
pipes opening into the boiler at the level of which the liquid is to be main-
tained, the arrangement being such that when the liquid is at about the desired
level in the boiler, part of such liquid will enter the movable, vessel thereby
increasing its weight and closing the valve controlled thereby, so as to shut off
the supply of liquid to the boiler and when the liquid is below the proper level
steam or vapour will enter the said movable vessel thereby diminishing its weight
and allowing the said valve to open and admit a further quantity of liquid to the
boiler substantially in the manner herein before described.
2. The modified arrangement of the apparatus referred to in the preceding
claim wherein one of the pipes from the movable vessels is in communication
with the water space of the boiler the other pipe is in communication with
the steam space, and the movable vessel is arranged horizontally, substantially as
described.
3. The improved apparatus for automatically feeding boilers and other vessels

page_text: constructed arranged and operating substantially in the manner hereinbefore
described with reference to and shewn in Fig. 1 and in Fig. 2 of the drawings.
Dated this 5th day of February 1892.
W. LLOYD WISE,
Per F. J. Brougham.