A New or Improved Apparatus for Supplying Liquid to Steam Boilers and other Vessels, as and when Required, either Automatically or otherwise.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Mar., 1887
Complete Left, 12th Dec., 1887
Complete Accepted, 24th Feb., 1888
A New or Improved Apparatus for Supplying Liquid to Steam
Boilers and other Vessels, as and when Required, either
Automatically or otherwise.
I ALFRED MAYHEW of 3 Victoria Street, Westminster in the county of Middlesex
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to a certain new or improved apparatus for supplying liquid
to steam boilers and other vessels as and when required either automatically or
otherwise, and has for its object to provide an apparatus adapted to supply any kind
of feed liquid at any desired temperature as and when required automatically or
otherwise against pressure or not.
The apparatus consists of three cylinders preferably arranged tandemwise. The
upper pair may be made in one or two parts and form a combined steam and hydraulic
cylinder having a main piston with a solid loose fitting plunger on its lower side
extending without gland or stuffing box into the central hydraulic cylinder. The
lowest cylinder contains a regulating device consisting of a piston or plunger of
suitable form beneath which a spiral spring or equivalent is provided. The weight of
the main combined piston and plunger determines the duty or efficiency of the
apparatus and is to be made therefore equal to or in excess of the pressure against
which the apparatus is designed to act.
The piston rod of the regulating piston is preferably detached therefren: it may be
provided with a spring, and extends up through a guide for a suitable distance into
the hydraulic cylinder.
The upper part of the steam cylinder above the main piston is connected with the
steam space of the boiler or pressure vessel and the admission and exhaust of pressure
are controlled by piston and slide valves or other suitable valve gear actuated auto-
matically by means of a rod or rods or other device by the ascent and descent of the
main piston and plunger. The hydraulic cylinder is connected below the main piston
at its top and bottom to the water space of the boiler and at its base also with the feed
supply, suitable suction and delivery valves being provided.

page_text: The regulator is connected above its piston to the normal working level of the
boiler by means of a dip pipe carried up for a suitable distance above the said level
and descending and terminating thereat; a connection is also made below the
regulator piston to the delivery pipe or water space of the boiler, also to the steam
pipe if required.
The action of the apparatus as applied to a steam boiler is as follows:-
All valves being open to boiler pressure the main piston and plunger descend by
gravity forcing the liquid displaced into the boiler; when the main piston has nearly
completed its down stroke it automatically shuts off steam and opens the exhaust.
The boiler liquid pressure then acting upon the top part of the plunger and lower
side of the main piston forces up the main piston and plunger at the same time
drawing in the feed supply through the suction valve. When the piston approaches
the top of its stroke its rods again automatically actuate the steam and exhaust valves,
opening the former and closing the latter causing the down stroke and forcing the
feed supply through the delivery valve.
Should the liquid in the boiler be at its normal working level the spiral spring of
regulator is extended and its piston being at the top of its stroke the rod thereof
passing up into the hydraulic cylinder prevents the plunger completing its stroke and
the apparatus comes to rest.
When the water level falls below the end of the dip pipe (connected as described
above the regulator piston) the water held therein by the pressure is free and falls
into the boiler and steam entering the dip pipe forces down the regulator piston
compressing the spiral spring allowing the main piston and plunger to complete its
down stroke and inject the feed supply, when the action of the apparatus continues as
described until normal water level is regained. The dip pipe then becomes filled with
water which condenses the steam therein and equalizes pressure on both sides of the
regulator piston which with its rod is raised by spring to top of its stroke; thus the
descent of the plunger and feed delivery is arrested and regulated as and when
required.
Dated thic Flavanth day of March 1987
J. C. CHAPMAN,
70, Chancery Lane, W.C.,
Agent for Applicant.

page_text: ALL LEIE STEVLICATION.
A New or Improved Apparatus for Supplying Liquid to Steam
Boilers and other Vessels, as and when Required, either
Automatically or otherwise.
I, ALFRED MAYHEW of 3 Victoria Street, Westminster in the county of Middlesex,
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 a certain new or improved apparatus for supplying liquid
to steam boilers and other vessels as and when required, either automatically or
otherwise, and has for its object to provide an apparatus adapted to supply any kind
of feed liquid at any desired temperature as and when required, automatically or
otherwise against pressure or not.
I will describe my invention in detail in reference to the accompanying drawings in
Sheet of which Figure 1 is a plan; Figure 2 is a vertical section on line A B, and
Figure 3 is a right hand end elevation of figure 1, the upper part being in section.
Sheet 1 illustrates an application of my invention to a steam boiler with such
connections as I have found efficient and convenient. Similar letters refer to similar
parts in all of the figures.
Referring to sheet 1: The apparatus consists of three cylinders a, b, c preferably
arranged tandemn wise as illustrated: The upper pair a and b may be made in one or
two parts bolted together and form a combined steam and hydraulic cylinder, in
which is fitted a main piston a' with a solid loose-fitting plunger on its lower end
extending without gland or stuffing box into the central hydraulic cylinder b; the
lowest cylinder contains a regulating device consisting of piston or plunger c' of
suitable form having a spiral springs fixed to its lower side and resting on a cap
supported by the bottom cover, and having a set screw s¹ for its proper adjustment.
The weight of the main combined piston and plunger a b₁ determines the duty or
efficiency of the apparatus, and is to be made therefore equal to or in excess of the
pressure against which the apparatus is designed to act: When required an additional
weight may be applied to the said piston and plunger. The spiral spring s carries the
weight of the regulator piston c' and also of the combined piston and plunger a b
and additional weight when used. The piston rod c² of the regulating piston c¹ is
preferably detached therefrom, one end rests on the top of the piston and may
advantageously be provided with a spring, and the other passes up through a
guide for a suitable distance into the hydraulic cylinder b for purposes hereinafter
described. A valve c is fitted on the piston rod c² to prevent leakage. when the
plunger rises.
1
The admission and exhaust of steam to and from the apparatus is effected preferably
by a small slide valve e controlling piston valves we all placed in a casing a fitted upon
the top of the steam cylinder, and having steam port w' and generally arranged as
illustrated, but other suitable valve gear may be used. When it is desired that the
apparatus shall be automatic in its action the slide valve v is actuated automatically
by the reciprocations of the main piston and plunger by means of suitable connecting

page_text: rods or gear.
In the arrangement illustrated the slide valve spindle ¹ is furnished
with a stop and extends down and works within the main piston in a hole a³ of
suitable forin, provided with a flange a³ at the top, the operation of which is hereafter
setforth.
A convenient arrangement for connecting the apparatus to a boiler is as follows:-
The upper part of the main cylinder a or the valve casing d is connected by pipe k
to the steam space of the boiler, and the exhaust passage a from the top side of the
main piston has a pipe ' figure 4 leading either to the atmosphere or the feed supply
in the usual manner. The hydraulic cylinder is connected at its top b² below the
main piston a', and also at its bottom 3 to the delivery pipe t or water space of the
boiler; also at its base with the feed supply suitable suction and delivery valves m n
respectively being provided and fixed in the usual manner.
:
Check valves for the boiler should be made with a hole through the valve but if
this is not done it is necessary to make a connection from the delivery pipe to the
water space of boiler as shown by pipe o figure 4.
The regulator cylinder e is connected above its piston at P to the normal working
water level in the boiler by means of an accumulating or dip pipe q³ carried up for
a suitable distance above the said level and descending and terminating thereat with
an open end. The height to which the pipe qq3 is carried should be from eight to
fifteen feet, say ten feet, above water level. In suitable position upon the part q of
pipe a steam alarm whistle with fusible plug may be fixed for the purpose
herein after shown, and water is always in contact with this fusible plug, except in
such cases as are hereinafter indicated. A connection is made below the regulator
piston to the delivery pipe & as illustrated (but it may be connected to the water
space of the boiler, or the steam pipe of the apparatus if more convenient). Within
the pipe near its connection to the delivery pipe t an automatic check valve may
be fitted. An internal pipe q' is in some cases fitted concentrically within the part q
of the said dip or accumulating pipe 793 connected at its foot with a pipe 2
communicating with the said pipes just below the delivery pipe t, the action of
which is hereinafter set forth. Stop valves and cleaning plugs are provided when
necessary in the usual manner.
The action of the apparatus as applied to a steam boiler is as follows:-
All valves being open to boiler pressure, the main piston and plunger a¹ & descend
by gravity forcing the liquid displaced into the boiler through delivery pipe t, the
valve being at once automatically closed; when the down stroke is nearly completed
the slide valve spindle stop taking against the plate a³ draws down the slide valve
thus admitting steam to the piston valve reversing it and exhausting steam from
the top side of the main piston a¹ through. The boiler liquid pressure then
acting upon the top part of the plunger and the lower side of the main piston a¹
forces them up, at the same time drawing the feed supply through m 4* into the
hydraulic cylinder b. When the piston has nearly reached the top of its upstroke
the plate taking against an enlargement on the slide valve spindle auto-
matically raises the slide valve v admitting steam through and reversing the
piston valve w and closing exhaust, thus admitting steam pressure to the top of the
main piston allowing it and its plunger to descend and (if the water level of the boiler
is below the foot of the pipe q³) forcing the feed supply drawn in at the previous
upstroke through the delivery pipe t into the boiler. Should however the liquid in
the boiler be at its normal working level the foot of pipe q³ is sealed and a column of
water is maintained in it; the spiral springs of the regulator c is now extended and
its rod passes up as described into the hydraulic cylinder and taking against the
plunger prevents the completion of its downstroke and the apparatus comes to rest.
As evaporation continues when the water level falls below the end of the dip pipe q³
the column of water held hitherto therein by the pressure is released and falls into the
boiler and steam entering the dip pipe increases the pressure therein and in
connecting pipe p and at once forces down the regulator piston c' and rod c² against
the action of springs, thus allowing the main piston and plunger to complete the
down stroke and inject the feed supply, and the action of the apparatus continues as

page_text: described until the normal water level is regained. The dip pipe 993 then again
becomes filled with water which condenses the steam therein, and this condensation is
or may be assisted by the use of the condensing pipe q' connected as described, the
descent of the regulator piston forcing the water beneath it through piper and
valve through pipe 2 and up pipe g¹. Thus pressure is equalized on both sides of
the regulator piston c', which with its rod is again raised by the spring s to the top of
its stroke preventing the descent of the plunger, and consequently feed delivery is
arrested and regulated automatically as and when required.
When it is desired that the apparatus shall be non-automatic the regulator c is
disconnected from the hydraulic cylinder and a blank flange bolted on in its place.
If the water supply fails for any considerable period or if from any cause stoppage
of action takes place, when the water level in the boiler falls below the open ended
descending limb q³ of the dip pipe the water normally contained therein and
hitherto in contact with the fusible plug of whistle is gradually drawn through
pipe through delivery into the boiler by syphon action. The pipes then become
filled with steam at boiler temperature the heat of which will at once fuse the plug of
whistle q and notice will be instantly given.
The apparatus may be fixed in any position say from four feet below to eight feet
above the normal working water level of the boiler. From the foregoing description
it will be evident that the apparatus is, except when purposely made otherwise,
absolutely automatic in its starting, action, and stopping and will feed water only
when required, and thus great economy of fuel is obviously effected. It requires no
attention, oiling, or packing and may be fitted to any boiler or pressure vessel, and
will feed boiling water when required or it can draw cold water from a depth of
twenty feet.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
1 claim is :-
1. A feed apparatus for boilers and other vessels consisting essentially of a
combined steam and hydraulic cylinder fitted with piston and plunger, steam valves
actuated by the reciprocating motions of the said piston and plunger, a regulator for
automatically controlling the action of the apparatus when required, and an accumu-
lating or dip pipe such as q³ terminating at the normal working liquid level in the
vessel, with fittings and connections all constructed and arranged operated, and
operating either automatically or not as desired, substantially in the manner herein-
before set forth.
2. In a feed apparatus of the type herein before described and claimed, the use of
an accumulating or dip pipe such as q q3 carried up for a certain height, descending
to and terminating at the normal working liquid level in the vessel, provided or not
with an internal condensing pipe, and operating as and for the purposes setforth.
3. In a feed apparatus in which delivery is effected by the reciprocating action of a
piston or plunger, the use of an automatic regulator such as c constructed connected
and arranged as specified in combination with an accumulating or dip pipe such as is
described, whereby variations from normal working liquid level will cause the
apparatus to start deliver and stop automatically as and when required.
4. The combination of parts forming a feed apparatus for boilers and other vessels
constructed arranged and operating automatically or not as desired substantially as
herein before described and illustrated by the figures.
Dated this Twelfth day of December 1887
Per J. C. CHAPMAN,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Patent Agent.