IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR SUPPLYING STEAM BOILERS WITH WATER
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Davies, of No. 1, Serle Street, Lincoln's Inn,
in the County of Middlesex, and No. 87, St. Vincent Street, in the City
of Glasgow, Civil Engineer and Patent Agent, for the Invention of
"IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR SUPPLYING STEAM BOILERS WITH WATER." -A
communication from abroad by Emmett Quinn, of Washington, Columbia,
in the United States of America.
Sealed the 20th November 1866, and dated the 28th May 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Davies at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
28th May 1866.
I, GEORGE DAVIES, of No. 1, Serle Street, Lincoln's Inn, in the County of
Middlesex, and No. 87, St. Vincent Street, in the City of Glasgow, Civil
Engineer and Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR SUPPLYING STEAM BOILERS WITH WATER," (a com-
munication to me from abroad by Emmett Quinn, of Washington, Columbia,.
in the United States of America,) to be as follows:-
A box or casing is formed with three chambers, the first and second
chambers communicating with each other through a neck, and the secon

page_text: and third chambers being separated by a vertical partition in which are two
openings. With the first chamber communicates a pipe leading to an adjacent
water reservoir, and with the third chamber communicate two pipes, each of
which is connected to a steam boiler, one pipe extending nearly to the bottom
of the boiler, while the other pipe terminates at a point level with the high-
water line.
To the inner end of a spindle which projects through the casing is secured
a valve which bears on the side of the partition and covers the upper opening
therein, and to a spindle which extends through the neck is secured a throttle
valve, recesses or grooves in the side edges of the latter being adapted for
the reception of any suitable packing material. To the side of the partition
is hung a flap valve which covers the lower opening and opens towards the
third chamber. The spindles of the two first-named valves are connected
with any suitable operating mechanism so that the said valves can be opened
alternately and as frequently as may be desired. When the chambers are
filled with water and the water in the boiler sinks below the termination of
the pipe before named steam will pass through the latter and into the second
chamber. On the admission of steam into this chamber the water in the
latter will force open the lower valve in the partition and pass into the third
chamber and through the lower pipe into the boiler. After the upper valve
moves back to its first position the throttle valve will be opened, and the
water in the first chamber will flow through the neck into the second chamber,
the sudden condensation of the steam in the latter causing a partial vacuum,
which greatly facilitates the flow of the water; the throttle valve will then
close and the upper valve in the partition will again be opened, when the
water will flow into the boiler as before; the passage of water from the
casing into the boiler will continue until the boiler is filled to such a height
that the steam can no longer gain access through the pipe to the second
and third chambers, when although the valves continue their operation the
flow of water will cease, and will not again be resumed until the water in
the boiler sinks below the termination of the pipe. Before the boiler is
heated the water may be introduced into the same by opening the throttle
valve and at the same time opening a valve in the top of the boiler, when.
after the water is admitted to the casing it will flow continuously into the.
boiler.
In a modification of this Invention the casing is divided by a hollow conical
valve (projecting entirely through and turning in the said casing) into two
chambers, one communicating with a water reservoir and the other through

page_text: a pipe with the steam boiler. The central portion of the casing is cylindrical,
and at the inside are four flanges, the spaces between which and the sides of
the casing are filled with wood so as to form a seat for the valve to turn in.
Between the upper flanges is an opening which communicates with the upper
chamber, and between the lower flanges is an opening which communicates
with the lower chamber. The valve is divided by a partition into two chambers
and in opposite sides of the valve are openings, each of which communicates with
one of these chambers. Against the front end of the valve bears a pointed
set screw, which passes through a yoke secured to the front of the casing,
and to the rear end of the valve is secured a pulley, a band passing round
the latter to a pulley on an adjacent driving shaft. When water is admitted
to the upper chamber it will flow through the openings into one of the
chambers in the valve. As the valve revolves the opening will be brought
above the lower chamber and the water will flow into the latter and to the
boiler, while the second opening will be brought beneath the upper chamber,
from which the water will flow into the second chamber of the valve. As
the position of the valve is again reversed the water will flow from the second
chamber into the lower chamber and to the boiler, while the first chamber
will at the same time be refilled. The flow of water will cease when the
water in the boiler rises above the end of the tube leading from the lower
chamber to the water level.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said George Davies in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
28th November 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
DAVIES, of No. 1, Serle Street, Lincoln's Inn, in the County of Middlesex,
and No. 87, St. Vincent Street, in the City of Glasgow, Civil Engineer and
Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-eighth day of May, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the twenty-ninth year
of Her reign, did, for Ierself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said George Davies, Her special licence that I, the said
George Davies, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said George Davies, my executors, administrators, and assigns,

page_text: should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all
times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR SUPPLYING STEAM BOILERS WITH WATER," (a com-
munication to me from abroad by Emmett Quinn, of Washington, Columbia,
in the United States of America.) upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the said George Davies, my executors or administrators, by an instrument
in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should par-
ticularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in
the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said George Davies, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the fol-
lowing statement in writing, and on reference to the accompanying Sheet of
Drawings, that is to say :-
A box or casing is formed with three chambers, the first and second
chambers communicating with each other through a neck, and the second
and third chambers being separated by a vertical partition in which are two
penings. With the first chamber communicates a pipe leading to an adjacent
water reservoir, and with the third chamber communicate two pipes, each of
which is connected to a steam boiler, one pipe extending nearly to the bottom
of the boiler while the other pipe terminates at a point level with the high-
water line.
To the inner end of a spindle which projects through the casing is secured a
valve which bears on the side of the partition and covers the upper opening
therein, and to a spindle which extends through the neck is secured a throttlo
valve, recesses or grooves in the side edges of the latter being adapted for the
reception of any suitable packing material. To the side of the partition is
hung a flap valve which covers the lower opening and opens towards the third
chamber. The spindles of the two first-named valves are connected with
any suitable operating mechanism so that the said valves can be opened
alternately and as frequently as may be desired. When the chambers are
filled with water and the water in the boiler sinks below the termination
of the pipe before named steam will pass through the latter and into tho
second chamber. On the admission of steam into this chamber the water in

page_text: the latter will force open the lower valve in the partition and pass into the
third chamber and through the lower pipe into the boiler. After the upper
valve moves back to its first position the throttle valve will be opened and
the water in the first chamber will flow through the neck into the second
chamber, the sudden condensation of the steam in the latter causing a partial
vacuum, which greatly facilitates the flow of the water. The throttle valvo
will then close and the upper valve in the partition will again be opened,
when the water will flow into the boiler as before; tho passage of water from
the casing into the boiler will continue until the boiler is filled to such a
height that the steam can no longer gain access through the pipe to the
second and third chambers, when although the valves continue their operation
the flow of water will cease, and will not again be resumed until the water
in the boiler sinks below the termination of the pipe. Before the boiler is
heated the water may be introduced into the same by opening the throttle
valve and at the same time opening a valve in the top of the boiler, when after
the water is admitted to the casing it will flow continuously into the boiler.
. In a modification of this Invention the casing is divided by a hollow_conical
valve (projecting entirely through and turning in the said casing) into two
chambers, one communicating with a water reservoir and the other through a
pipe with the steam boiler. The central portion of the casing is cylindrical,
and at the inside are four flanges, the spaces between which and the sides of
the casing are filled with wood so as to form a seat for the valve to turn in.
Between the upper flanges is an opening which coinmunicates with the upper
chamber, and between the lower flanges is an opening which communicates
with the lower chamber. The valve is divided by a partition into two chambers,
and in opposite sides of the valve are openings, each of which communicates
with one of these chambers. Against the front end of the valve bears a
pointed set screw, which passes through a yoke secured to the front of the
casing, and to the rear end of the valve is secured a pulley, a band passing
round the latter to a pulley on an adjacent driving shaft. When water is
admitted to the upper chamber it will flow through the openings into one of
the chambers in the valve. As the valve revolves the opening will be brought
above the lower chamber, and the water will flow into the latter and to the
boiler, while the second opening will be brought beneath the upper chamber,
from which the water will flow into the second chamber of the valve. As
the position of the valve is again reversed the water will flow from the second
chamber into the lower chamber and to the boiler, while the first chamber
will at the same time be refilled. The flow of water will cease when the

page_text: water in the boiler rises above the end of the tube leading from the lower
chamber to the water level.
Such being the nature and object of the said Invention for " Improved
Apparatus for Supplying Steam Boilers with Water," I will now proceed to
describe more in detail the manner in which the same is to be or may be
performed or carried into practical effect, and in order that the same may be
distinctly understood I have annexed hereunto a Sheet of Drawings illustrative
thereof, and have marked the same with figures and letters of reference
corresponding with those in the following explanation thereof, that is to
say:
On reference to the accompanying Drawing Figure 1 is a sectional elevation
of my improved feed-water apparatus for steam boilers; Figure 2, a section
on the line 1, 2, Figure 1; Figures 3, 4, and 5 are sectional views showing
modifications of the apparatus; Figure 6, a section on the line 3, 4, Figure 4;
and Figure 7, a section on the line 5, 6, Figure 5.
A (Figures 1 and 2) is a box or casing in which there are three chambers
X, X, and Y, the chambers X and Y communicating with each other
through a neck f, and the chambers X and X' being separated by a vertical
partition a, in which are two openings 6 and 6'; with the chamber Y com-
municates a pipe leading to an adjacent water reservoir, and with the
chamber X communicate two pipes c and c', each of which is connected to a
steam boiler, the pipe c' extending nearly to the bottom of the boiler while
the pipe c terminates at a point level with the high-water line. To the inner
end of a spindle e which projects through the casing A is secured a valve d',
which bears on the side of the partition a and covers the opening b, and to a
spindle i which extends through the neck f is secured a valve h, recesses or
grooves in the side edges of the latter being adapted for the reception of any
suitable packing material. To the side of the partition a is hung a flap
valve d, which covers the opening 6 and opens towards the chamber X
The spindles e and i are connected with any suitable operating mechanism, so
that the valves h and d can be opened alternately and as frequently as may be
desired. When the chambers are filled with water and the water in the
boiler sinks below the termination of the pipe c, steam will pass through the
latter and (when the valve d' is open) into the chamber X. On the
admission of steam into the chamber X the water in the latter will force open
the valve d and pass into the chamber X' and through the pipe c' into the
will
boiler. After the valve ' moves back to its first position the valve
be opened and the water in the chamber Y will flow through the neck finto

page_text: the chamber X, the sudden condensation of the steam in the latter causing
a partial vacuum which greatly facilitates the flow of the water; the valve h
will then close and the valve d' will again be opened, when the water will
flow into the boiler as before. The passage of water from the casing into the
boiler will continue until the boiler is filled to such a height that the steam
can no longer gain access through the pipe c to the chambers X' and X, when
although the valves continue their operation the flow of water will cease, and
will not again bo resumed until the water in the boiler sinks below the
termination of the pipe c. Before the boiler is heated the water may be
introduced into the same by turning the valve h to the position shown in
dotted lines, Figure 1, and opening a valve in the top of the boiler, when after
the water is admitted to the casing it will flow continuously into the boiler.
In the modified apparatus shown in Figure 3 there are three chambers Y,
X, X', the latter communicating through an opening c with the boiler; a
pipe c', the lower end of which is level with the high-water line of the boiler,
communicating with the upper portion of the chamber X. Between the
chambers Y and X is a valve h, and between the chambers X and X' is a
valve d, and in the pipe c¹ turns a valve d'. The three valves are so con-
nected to operating mechanism that the valves h and d shall open alternately,
and the valve at the same time as the valve d. In this apparatus the
water flows into the chamber Y, then into the chamber X, and then, after
the valve h. is closed and the valves d, d', are opened into the boiler, as
in the apparatus first described, the flow of water ceasing as before, when
the water in the boiler rises so high as to close the lower end of the pipe
c and prevent the passage of steam to the chamber X.
In the modification shown in Figures 4 and 6, A is a casing which is divided.
by a hollow conical valve B (projecting entirely through and turning in the said.
casing) into two chambers Y and X, the former communicating with a water
reservoir and the latter through a pipe c with the steam boiler. The central
portion of the casing is cylindrical, and at the inside are four flanges i, i¹, e, c¹,
the spaces between which aud the sides of the casing are filled with wood,
so as to form a seat for the valve B to turn in. Between the flanges e, c',
is an opening, which communicates with the chamber Y, and between the
flanges i, i, is an opening which communicates with the chamber X.
The valve B is divided by a partition a into two chambers Z, Z, and in
opposite sides of the valve are openings y, y', each of which communicates
with one of the chambers Z, Z. Against the front end of the valve bears
a pointed set screw b, which passes through a yoke d secured to the front

page_text: of the casing, and to the rear end of the valve is secured a pulley D, a band
passing round the latter to a pulley on an adjacent driving shaft. When
the parts are in the positions shown in Figures 4 and 6, and water is
admitted to the chamber Y, it will flow through the openings and y into
the chamber Z. As the valve revolves the opening y will be brought above
the chamber X, and the water will flow into the latter and to the boiler,
while the opening y' will be brought beneath the chamber Y, from which the
water will flow into the chamber Z. As the position of the valve is again
reversed the water will flow from the chamber Z into the chamber X and to
the boiler, while the chamber Z will at the same time be refilled. The flow of
water will cease when the water in the boiler rises above the end of the tube c.
In the modification shown in Figures 5 and 7, A is a casing in which
revolves a hollow conical valve B. In the lower side of the casing is an
opening which communicates with a chamber X, the latter communicating
with the steam boiler through a pipe c. In the upper side of the casing are
two openings y and y', the former communicating with a water reservoir and
the latter with a pipe c', the end of which is level with the high-water line
in the boiler. In the valve B are three openings e, i, i, which are arranged
to communicate with the openings y, a, and y', but so that when the
openings e and y coincide the openings and shall be opposite the sides of
the casing, as shown in Figures 5 and 7, while when the opening i is above
the opening the opening will coincide with the opening y', and the
opening e will be opposite the side of the casing. When the opening e is
brought opposite the opening y¹ the water will flow into and fill the valve.
As the valve revolves, and the openings i and are brought opposite the
openings and y', the steam will enter the valve through the opening i¹ and
the water will flow out through the opening i into the chamber X, and from
the latter into the boiler. When the water in the boiler rises above the end
of the tube c its further flow from the casing will be prevented.
Having now described the nature and object of the said Invention for
Improved Apparatus for Supplying Steam Boilers with Water," together with
the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or carried into
practical effect, I would remark in conclusion that I claim as the Invention
(communicated to me by the said Emmett Quinn),—
Firstly, a casing divided into two or more chambers in combination with
valves placed between the chambers, so that the water by the operation of the
valves can be discharged from one chamber into another, and thence into the
boiler, all substantially as described.

page_text: Secondly, a revolving hollow valvo or reservoir which communicates alter-
nately with a water reservoir and with a steam boiler, substantially as and for
the purpose described.
Thirdly, a casing A in combination with a hollow valve B containing
two chambers, each of which communicates alternately with the upper
and the lower part of the casing, substantially as and for the purpose
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Davies, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
GEORGE DAVIES. (L.S.)