An Improved Apparatus for Returning the Water of Condensation into Boilers, or for Boiler Feed Water or similar purposes.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Aug., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 16th May, 1893-Accepted, 19th Aug., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Apparatus for Returning the Water of Condensation
into Boilers, or for Boiler Feed Water or similar purposes.
I, LEWIS JOHNSTONE of 9 Eaton Grove, Lec, Blackheath, in the County of
Kent, Engineer and Analytical Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to an improved apparatus for returning into the boiler the
water of condensation from coils, steam jackets, heating pipes, steam drying
cylinders etc., or for forcing ordinary feed water into the boiler, or other similar
purposes.
To effect this I proceed as follows:-
I place a reservoir (which I term the "upper" reservoir) of suitable capacity at
a given or suitable height above the boiler or steam generator and connected to
this by a pipe (i.e. the "return" pipe) of sufficient diameter provided at its entrance
to boiler with a check valve-and a stup valve also being combined in this: the
return pipe from the reservoir entering the boiler below the water level in the
manner usual in returning condensed water by gravity or other system.
The outlet from the coil or jacket or heating pipe etc. etc. to which may be
attached a third reservoir to hold water condensed in coils while exhaust is closed
(all of which for the sake of brevity I will hereinafter term the "coils") is
connected to the reservoir through valves as hereinafter described and it is the
object of this invention that these valves (which may be of any suitable construction
to effect my purpose) shall operate in such a way that they shall intermittently
permit the introduction from the "coils" into a "lower" reservoir and from thence
into a pipe leading to the said "upper" reservoir a quantity of water this quantity
being so regulated that it shall never be sufficient to so far fill the said pipe rising
to the said upper reservoir as to require a greater pressure to force it into that
reservoir than the difference of pressure obtained (as hereinafter described) will
permit of.
When this quantity of water is raised into the upper reservoir it is followed by
the steam (introduced as hereinafter described) which raises it-and the pressure of
this steam and the weight of the water combined when carried into the pipe leading
from the said reservoir to the boiler is at the inlet to the boiler in excess of the
boiler pressure in virtue of the accumulated water pressure being added to the
steam pressure which follows the water into the upper reservoir aforesaid.
An essential feature of my present invention is thus to force the water into
the boiler by means of the "drop" given to the accumulated head of water plus
the live steam pressure behind same.
The pressure being raised at the entrance to boiler above the pressure in said
boiler the water will flow into the boiler till equilibrium is reached. Meantime [
take advantage of the increased pressure which obtains to operate in this return
pipe in closing off at this time the steam which had effected the raising of this
water and may combine with this closing in certain cases the exhausting of the
said "lower" or second reservoir (hereinafter described) back into the "coil" or
into a third reservoir (also hereinafter described) and also the re-filling of these
parts with that amount of water which shall not exceed the quantity mentioned
above when the said lower reservoir has been exhausted.
Meantime the pressure in the upper reservoir and in the return pipe to boiler
has been falling due to condensation and the water forced into the said upper
reservoir having come into equilibrium with boiler pressure the rate of condensation

page_text: will depend much on the surface exposed by the upper reservoir, and as the rise in
pressure as aforesaid was arranged to close off the supply of steam used in lifting
or raising said quantity of water so when this pressure falls it is arranged that
steam is re-admitted to the upper part of the lower reservoir and in some cases
that at same time the outlet: from coil is closed to lower reservoir or that the
exhaust before mentioned is closed.
To effect this outlet from the "coils "-in cases where the pressure in this is
below the boiler pressure is fitted with an equilibrium or balance valve of any
suitable type.
A suitable construction of this special valve apparatus is as follows:-
In a suitable cylinder or case a piston of a steam valve is actuated on one side
by the highest pressure steam conducted to same by a separate pipe from the
boiler or steam main.
This piston carries a piston rod or spindle upon the other ends of which is
pivotted or connected a lever which lever is pivotted at one point to the cylinder
or case of the apparatus or otherwise and at another point is pivotted or jointed to
the spindle of an equilibrium or balance, valve both these valve spindles passing
through suitable glands or stuffing boxes.
"
When the valve is open it admits water (of condensation et cetera) from the
"coils
or collecting vessel to the pipe leading to the lower reservoir (or the water
may be led direct through a check valve and not through this equilibrium or
balance valve) and also a connection exists from the steam valve chamber into said
pipe leading to the "lower" reservoir-this latter connection being cut off by the
piston of said steam valve until said piston is moved by the live steam whereupon
by means of the pivotted lever aforesaid the equilibrium or balance valve is moved
and closes off the water supply at the same time the live steam follows after the
charge of water and impels it to the highest point of the apparatus and thence
drives (or as I term it "hammers") the said water into the boiler-and this
pressure (in a pipe leading from a point in the return pipe to the underside of the
said steam valve) forces the latter in an opposite direction (overcoming the steam
pressure) and thereby permits exhaustion to take place and also re-opening the
equilibrium or balance valve-admitting further water until equilibrium is restored
or thereabouts and then the live steam forces the steam valve to move again and
80 again close the equilibrium or balance valve when the above described operation
is repeated and so on.
Between the said valve leading from the "coils" and the said ascending or rising
pipe is placed a vessel (previously referred to as the "lower" reservoir) whose
capacity shall be (approximately) equal to that of the said given quantity of water
which is to be raised at each operation of the apparatus. The capacity of this
rising pipe may be increased without adding to the head to be raised, first by
making it larger throughout; second, by enlarging it at one or more points in its
length and third, by bending or turning it on itself.
At the outlet from this vessel to the "rising" pipe may be placed a check valve
so that there will be no back communication to the "lower" reservoir.
At some convenient place in this system (advantageously either on the said upper
reservoir or at the point of return to boiler) a blow off tap or cock is arranged.
Now if steam be turned on in this apparatus and the "blow off" opened the
apparatus will be rapidly filled with steam and on closing the "blow off" the
pressure will rapidly rise at the point of inlet to the boiler and this pressure will
tend to shut off the steam through the valve above described and at the same time
tend to open the equilibrium or balance valve and allow the steam filling the lower
reservoir at same time to pass back into the "coils."
The pressure in the reservoir will fall to that of the "coils" when the valve is
opened and to effect this to start the apparatus in the first instance the valve may
be operated by hand or by weighting the lever so as to form a balance (instead of
an equilibrium) valve-the apparatus will start itself or in some cases an automatic
starting apparatus of any suitable construction may be applied for instance a float

page_text: in connection with the water collecting chamber or third reservoir actuating one
end of the said pivotted lever.
Now steam having been turned on to said "coils" condensation will have taken
place and the water of condensation will flow (from the collecting chamber) into
the said lower reservoir-meantime the pressure will be falling in the upper
reservoir and therefore at or near the point where the water returns to the boiler
so that the live boiler steam on the said steam valve will open same against the
reduced pressure on the underside or opposite side thereof at the same time closing
the equilibrium or balance valve leading from the "coils" and the live steam
passing through is admitted by means of a suitable pipe to the lower reservoir
forcing the water therein up the rising pipe into the higher reservoir and when this
is done the pressure immediately rises in the upper reservoir so that the pressure
in the return pipe at or near the entrance to boiler or other suitable point is for
the moment sufficient to allow the water of condensation to pass into the boiler and
at the same time by suitable connections shut off the steam supply (as previously
described) through the steam valve to the lower reservoir the exhaust from this
again taking place and then its re-filling with water of condensation commences
and the operation is repeated.
If desired some lap may be given to the steam valve and also to the equilibrium
or balance valve so that the one closes before the other opens.
"
It will be readily understood that where the "coils are on a higher or different
level from the water level or the boiler the proper position can be easily found
where the above conditions apply.
Further the apparatus may be arranged and mounted at any convenient point
(within practical limits) more or less distant from the boiler.
To regulate the speed or rate of working of these valves a "dash-pot" or cataract
or other regulating device may be applied.
Weighting the steam valve against the live steam may be adopted and has several
advantages for instance as a means of regulating the stroke of the valves and to
retard the live steam from acting again too quickly.
Dated this 20th day of August 1892.
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
34, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Apparatus for Returning the Water of Condensation
into Bollers, or for Boiler Feed Water or similar purposes.
I, LEWIS JOHNSTONE, formerly of 9 Eaton Grove, Lee, Blackheath, in the
County of Kent, now of 10 St. Andrew's Square, Edinburgh, Engineer and
Analytical Chemist, 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 :-
My invention relates to an improved apparatus for returning into the boiler the
water of condensation from coils steam jackets, heating pipes, steam drying
cylinders etc., or for forcing ordinary feed water into the boiler, or other similar
purposes.
To effect this I proceed as follows:-
I place a reservoir (which I term the "upper" reservoir) of suitable capacity at
a given or suitable height above the boiler or steam generator and connected to
this by a pipe (ie. the "return" pipe) of sufficient diameter provided at its entrance
to boiler with a check valve-and a stop valve may also be combined in this; the
return pipe from the reservoir entering the boiler below the water level in the
manner usual in returning condensed water by gravity or other system.

page_text: To the outlet from the coil or jacket or heating pipe exhaust from steam
motor etc. (all of which for the sake of brevity I will hereinafter term the "coil")
may be attached another reservoir to hold water and this outlet is connected to
the "upper" reservoir through valves as hereinafter described and it is the object
of this invention that these valves (which may be of any suitable construction to
effect my purpose) shall operate in such a way that they shall intermittently permit
the introduction from the "coil" into a "lower reservoir and from thence into a
pipe leading to the said "upper" reservoir a quantity of water this quantity being
so regulated that it shall never be sufficient to so far fill the said pipe rising to
the said upper reservoir as to require a greater pressure to force it into that
reservoir than the difference of pressure obtained (as hereinafter described) will
permit of.
"
When this quantity of water is raised into the upper reservoir it is followed by
the steam (introduced as hereinafter described) which raises it-and the pressure
of this steam and the weight of the water combined when carried into the pipe
leading from the said reservoir to the boiler is at the inlet to the boiler in excess
of the boiler pressure in virtue of the accumulated water pressure being added to
the steam pressure which follows the water into the upper reservoir aforesaid.
The pressure being raised at the entrance to boiler above the pressure in said
boiler the water will How into the boiler till equilibrium is reached, Meantime I
take advantage of the increased pressure which obtains in this return pipe to
operate in closing off at this time the steam which effected the raising of this water
and may combine with this closing in certain cases the exhausting of the said
"lower or second reservoir (hereinafter described) back into the "coil" or into
the third reservoir (also hereinafter described) and also the 're-filling of these parts
with that amount of water which shall not exceed the quantity mentioned above
when the said "lower" reservoir has been exhausted.
Meantime the pressure in the upper reservoir and in the return pipe to boiler
has been falling due to condensation radiation etc. (or it may be a special exhaust)
and the water forced into the said upper reservoir having come into equilibrium
with boiler pressure the rate of condensation or fall in pressure will depend much
on the surface exposed by the upper reservoir or on the amount of exhaust and as
the rise in pressure as aforesaid was arranged to close off the supply of steam used
in lifting or raising said quantity of water so when this pressure falls it is arranged
that steam is re-admitted to the upper part of the lower reservoir and in some cases
that at same time the outlet from coil is closed to lower reservoir and that the
exhaust before mentioned is closed.
A suitable construction of the special valve apparatus is as follows:-
In a suitable cylinder or case a piston of a steam valve is actuated on one side
by the highest pressure steam conducted to same by a separate pipe from the boiler
or steam main.
This piston carries a piston rod or spindle upon the other end of which is pivotted
or connected a lever which lever is pivotted at one point to the cylinder or case of
the apparatus or otherwise and at another point is pivotted or jointed to the spindle
of an equilibrium or balance valve both these valve spindles passing through suitable
glands or stuffing boxes.
When the' valve is open it admits water (of condensation et cetera) 'from the third
reservoir or collecting vessel to the pipe leading to the lower reservoir (or the
water may be led direct through a check valve-i.e. back pressure valve-and not
through this equilibrium or balance valve) and also a connection exists from the
steam valve chamber into said pipe leading to the "lower" reservoir-this latter
connection being cut off by the piston of said steam valve until said piston is
moved by the live steam whereupon by means of the pivotted lever aforesaid the
equilibrium or balance valve is moved and at same time the live steam follows after
the charge of water and impels it to the highest point of the apparatus (ie. the
upper reservoir) and thence drives the said water into the boiler-and this full
steam pressure being led by means of a pipe leading from a point in the return pipe

page_text: to the underside of the said steam valve brings this steam valve into equilibrium
and allows the latter to be forced in an opposite direction (overcoming the steam
pressure) and thereby permits the other or balance valve to re-open and
exhaustion to take place-admitting further water until equilibrium is restored
or thereabouts and then the live steam forces the steam valve to move again and
so again close the balance valve when the above described operation is repeated
and so on.
Between the said valve leading from the "coil" and the said ascending or rising
pipe is placed a vessel (previously referred to as the "lower" reservoir) whose
capacity shall be (approximately) equal to that of the said given quantity of water
which is to be raised at each operation of the apparatus.
At the outlet from this vessel to the "rising" pipe may be placed a check valve
(i.e. a back pressure valve) so that there will be no back communication from the
rising pipe to the "lower" reservoir.
At some convenient place or places in this system (advantageously either on the
said upper reservoir or at the point of return to boiler) a blow off tap or cock is
arranged.
Now if steam be turned on in this apparatus and the "blow off" opened the
apparatus will be rapidly filled with steam and on closing the "blow off" the
pressure will rapidly rise at the point of inlet to the boiler and this pressure will
tend to shut off the steam through the steam valve above described and at the same
time tend to open the equilibrium or balance valve and allow the steam filling the
lower reservoir at same time to pass back into the "coil or otherwise exhaust.
The pressure in the lower reservoir will fall to that of the "coil" when the valve
is opened and the accumulated water will flow into said lower reservoir.
"
To start the apparatus in the first instance- the valve may be operated by hand
or by weighting the lever so as to form a balance (instead of an equilibrium) valve
and the apparatus will start itself or in some cases an automatic starting apparatus
of any suitable construction may be applied for instance a float in connection with
the water collecting chamber or third reservoir actuating one end of the said
pivotted lever.
Now steam having been turned on to said "coil" condensation will have taken
place and the water of condensation will flow (from the collecting chamber) into
the said lower reservoir-meantime the pressure will be falling in the upper
reservoir and therefore also at or near the point where the water returns to the
boiler so that the full boiler steam on the said steam valve will open same against
the reduced pressure on the underside or opposite side thereof at the same time
closing the equilibrium or balance valve leading from the "coil" and the live
steam passing through is admitted by means of a suitable pipe to the lower reservoir
forcing the water therein up the rising pipe into the higher reservoir and when this is
done the pressure immediately rises in the upper reservoir so that the pressure in
the return pipe at or near the entrance to boiler or other suitable point is for the
moment sufficient to allow the water of condensation to pass into the boiler and at
the same time by suitable connections shut off the steam supply (as previously
described) through the steam valve to the lower reservoir the exhaust from this
again taking place and then its re-filling with water of condensation commences
and the operation is repeated.
"
Some lap should be given to the steam valve and also to the equilibrium or
balance valve so that the one closes before the other opens and to reduce leakage etc.
It will be readily understood that where the "coils are on a higher or different
level from the water level or the boiler the proper position can be easily found
where the above conditions apply.
Further the apparatus may be arranged and mounted at any convenient point
(within practical limits) more or less distant from the boiler:
To regulate the speed or rate of working of these valves a "dash-pot" or cataract
or other regulating device may be applied.
Weighting the steam valve against the live steam may be adopted and has several

page_text: retard the live steam from acting again too quickly.
It will be obvious that my present invention may be carried into practice and
modified in various ways without departing from the nature of my invention-as
various details of construction and arrangement of parts may be altered or modified
according to the varying conditions under which my invention may be required to
act and as to which anyone skilled in the art or other competent person would be
able to decide according to the surrounding circumstances.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
And in order that my present invention may be easily understood and readily
carried into practice I will proceed to further describe same with reference to the
drawings hereunto annexed.
Fig. 1 is a general view of an apparatus for returning water of condensation into
the steam generator from a point below the water level in such steam boiler.
Fig. 2 is a similar view of my apparatus for effecting the same purpose from a
point above the water level in the generator.
Fig. 3 is a vertical (longitudinal) sectional view on line 1-1 Fig. 4 of the special
valve apparatus and its connections according to my present invention.
Fig. 4 is a sectional plan on line 2-2 Fig. 3.
Figs. 5, 6, 7, and 8 illustrate a slightly modified construction of the special valve
--as hereinafter explained.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout.
A is the steam boiler or steam generator of any usual or suitable construction.
B is the main steam pipe-leading to any steam motor steam jacket coil or drying
chamber or other steam actuated or steam heated device or the like all of which as
previously explained I intend to refer to as the "coil."
C is the "coil" illustrated by way of example.
D is the outlet from the coil-leading into E.
E is the casing containing the special valve apparatus-shown in detail in
Figs. 3 and 4 and, in Figs. 5 to 7.
Fis branch steam pipe-leading from the main steam supply pipe B into the
casing E.
Gis outlet pipe from the valve casing E-leading to the reservoir H.
H is the "lower" reservoir (as I have termed it) in which the water of con-
densation is accumulated ready to be forced into the reservoir J.
I is pipe leading from H to J.
J is the "upper" reservoir (as I have. termed it) from whence the water passes
into the generator A.
K is pipe leading from J into the lower part (i.e. below the water level) of
generator A.
Lis blow off cock in pipe K.
M is T-piece or branch pipe leading from D to the third reservoir N.
N is reservoir where the water of condensation accumulates from "coil " C.
O is pipe connecting lower part of N with lower part of reservoir H.
P is branch pipe leading from pipe I to the underside of steam piston valve Q
in the casing E.
Referring now to the equilibrium or balance valve apparatus shown in Figs. 3
and 4-
Qis large piston valve acting as a tightly fitting piston or plunger in the
cylinder or chamber R which latter may advantageously be formed with a bush or
lining S as shown.
TT are apertures in cylinder R controlled by Q and leading from R to the
outlet G through the steam passage way U.
U is steam passage way leading from the pipe F cylinder R and apertures T
to the outlet pipe G and also to the inlet apertures T¹ round the second valve
cylinder W..

page_text: W is cylinder of second valve V advantageously lined similar to R and also
having apertures T¹ (or other communication) with the passage way U.
X is piston rod on piston Q and X' piston rod on piston V both pivotted to the
pivotted lever Y.
Zis fixed support carrying the pivotted lever Y which latter therefore has its
fulcrum on Z.
a is a back pressure valve to prevent return of water (i.e. back pressure) from
the boiler A into pipe K.
bis a back pressure valve in pipe 1 to prevent pressure from K J and I passing
back into H.
c is
into O.
a back pressure valve to prevent pressure from H or I passing back
The automatic operation of the equilibrium or balance valves Q and V is as
follows:-
The full live steam pressure is constant (when the apparatus is in work)
through F onto the top side of piston Q which when forced downward admits same
live steam through T. U. G. H. I. and P to the underside of Q and thus equal
steam pressure will exist on both top and bottom of piston Q and so the latter is
brought into equilibrium and can then be easily controlled by the second valve V
and their respective connections.
The valve V is now at its uppermost position and on the top side thereof has
applied thereto the pressure coming through D from the "coil "C.
The steam valve Q being already in equilibrium (in its lowermost position) as
just previously explained the least pressure or force exerted on the top of V
(sufficient to overcome friction) will force down V to its lowermost position and
through the pivotted lever Y and the respective piston rods X and X will thereby
move up the valve Q to its uppermost position while in the case of the valve V as
soon as it passes the aperture T¹ steam pressure will be thereby admitted to the
upper side of V.
With Q thus at its uppermost position and V at its lowermost position-the full
live steam pressure from B and F remains constant on the top of Q while the
steam pressure remaining in I J K and P is prevented from passing back by means
of the back pressure valve and as this steam pressure dies away in I J K and P
(by reason of radiation condensation or by a special exhaust etc.) the pressure
through P on the underside of Q will decrease and then as soon as the constant
pressure on the top of Q is greater than the resistance of V plus the remaining
pressure under Q plus friction then the piston Q will be forced down and a fresh
charge of live steam suddenly passed through R. T. U. G. H. 1. and P. and the
cycle repeated as before.
To assist the quick action of the balance valve so that immediately Q has begun
to move down it shall continue its movement rapidly-I may use what I term
a dash-pot or regulating device such as illustrated and consisting of a by-pass e f
in the cylinder W as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3 acting in conjunction with the
valve gear beneath V as shown in Fig. 3 to automatically permit exhaust from
beneath V at the desired moment viz. the valve V carries on its underside the
extension forming a smaller plunger g closed at its bottom end h and having openings i
at its top end and openings at its lower part this lower part passing through a
gland k so that immediately the apertures in the side walls of pass below the
closely fitting part of gland k then the steam beneath V is exhausted.
The action of this partial equalising of the valve V is as follows:-
Assuming the valve V to be at its lowermost position in W it will cover and
close the end of the by-pass and also the apertures ; will lie clear of the gland k
and therefore no pressure will now exist below V.
As soon as the valve Q is forced down and consequently lifts V against the
pressure in D-then the apertures j are brought inside of gland k and consequently
closed at the same moment the end of the by-pass is uncovered by the upward

page_text: movement of V and therefore pressure above and below V will be partially
equalised and consequently part of the resistance to Q at first offered by V is now
suddenly removed and thereby the valve Q will perform the rest of its travel
downward at a greatly increased speed.
and
and
On the return movement that is when the valve V is moved downwards (and
thereby lifting the valve Q) the movement of V is slow owing to the pressure
under V coming through the by-pass ef but as soon as valve V closes
exhaustion is permitted at j then no resistance will remain under
consequently the latter will perform the rest of its travel at a greatly accelerated
speed.
This arrangement or equivalent will be found of great utility especially in cases
where great variations may exist from time to time between the boiler pressure and
the pressure in D during the working of the apparatus.
In cases where a great difference normally exists between the boiler pressure
and the pressure in CD-then this difference may be compensated for by weighting
the end of the lever Y or by altering the relative sizes (areas) of the valves
and V-for instance the latter might be of much larger area than Q-
further explained.
-as hereinafter
The operation of the whole apparatus is as follows:-
The water of condensation-from the "coil
" C- -or other water to be returned
or fed to the boiler A-coming through the outlet D passes through the T-piece M
and accumulates in the reservoir N and pipe O.
As soon as the reservoir H has been emptied of its last charge steam pressure is
equalised in both top and bottom of H by the valve V being forced down (as
before described) and thereby whatever steam pressure exists in G H will pass
through U T W and D to M and N thus pressure being equalised all through
these last named parts-the water accumulated in N will now by gravity descend
through past the back pressure valve c and fill or partially fill the reservoir H.
I would here remark that the parts E H J and N and their connections are
shown in Figs. 1 and 2 on a much larger scale in proportion to the other parts of
these Figures 1 and 2 this being done for the sake of clearness.
As soon now as the pressure under Q has died away or decreased sufficiently the
live steam in F will force down Q (as before explained) and thereby the apertures T
are uncovered by Q and a charge of live steam is delivered from F through R T U
and G to the upper surface of the water in H which is thereby suddenly driven out
of H and as it cannot escape back through the back pressure valve c it is therefore
driven past b through I to the reservoir J which latter reservoir J is and always
must be placed at a height above the water level in the boiler and must be of a
capacity somewhat larger than the reservoir H.
Having got the charge of water up to this elevated position (in the reservoir J)
above the water level in the steam generator A it will thus be easily seen and
understood that as such water in J will have the full steam pressure from BF
through I behind it the back pressure from the boiler will be equalised while the
weight of the water in J (that is gravity) will cause the said water to readily pass
through K (past the back pressure valve a) into the boiler A.
The live steam supply to I lasts a sufficient time to do its work and as soon as
same is cut off and the pressure in I begins to decrease then the back pressure from
the steam generator A will close the back pressure valve a and consequently
no water can come back from the said boiler A into the pipe K and thus as no
water from boiler A can come back past a consequently no water column is thereby
formed in K.
Meantime while the pressure has been dying away in I the further accumulation
of water in N has emptied itself into H and live steam being again admitted to the
upper part thereof this charge is driven through I. J. and K into the boiler A and
so on the whole cycle being automatic and automatically and periodically repeating
itself so that very large quantities of water can be by my apparatus steadily
returned into the boiler.

page_text: is arm connected to w similar to t and also keyed or otherwise fixed to shaft u.
y is an arm or lever also fixed at right angles on the shaft u-by which means a
counterbalance may be used or a dashpot attached thereto to control the valves as
desired.
zzare oil feed cups to keep the internal working parts of this valve apparatus
lubricated.
It will thus be seen that the valves q and u are connected through the shaft and
connecting arms t and so that when the valve q is forced down the valve ris
thereby forced up and vice versa.
The operation is as follows:-
The full steam pressure coming through F forces down the valve a clear of the
passage U whence the steam pressure passes as before through G into H. I. J. and K
while as soon as equal steam pressure attains at P the valve 7 is brought into
equilibrium and the pressure at D acting on top of will thereby force down
and consequently raise and thus cut off steam from F passing to U while as soon
as the top of clears passage U the steam therein remaining can exhaust back
into the "coil" and at the same time may act on v to accelerate its downward
movement.
The apparatus shown in Figs. 5 to 8 will thus be seen to be very simple in con-
struction and action and will be found to work well in cases where the variation
between the pressure in F and D is constant or approximately constant.
Where however the pressure in D is liable to great variation it will be found
necessary to adopt and use a compensating arrangement such as illustrated in Fig. 3
or in the alternative a greatly increased length of rise in pipe I so as to give a
greatly increased height to J and consequent fall from J to A-as further
explained hereinafter.
The advantage of having the bush or lining S in the cylinders R and W
(Figs. 3 and 4) with small apertures T T therein into passage U-is that split
piston rings or packing rings may be used on Q and V whereas in the arrangement
such as shown in Figs. 5 to 8 such packing rings could not be used-also the
pressure is equal all round the pistons.
The amount of weight required to balance the balance valve of the coil outlet
side can naturally be much reduced by making said valve of small diameter and
B

page_text: this is of advantage where the pressure from the coils is comparatively high com-
pared to the steam or again instead of unduly reducing the size of this valve the
excessive weighting to balance may be overcome by making the valve in itself
partially self balancing as before shewn this may be effected by making a pressure
area on the underside of the valve of any given amount.
When the pressure from the coils is very low in comparison to that of the boiler
the size of the outlet valve may be increased beyond that of the steam valve so as
to be more sensitive to this very low pressure. The valve may even be weighted.
against the steam to allow it to open when no pressure is on the "coil" side.
The advantage of thus making the valve more or less self balancing is readily
seen as against the amount of dead weight required by a simple example of
calculation.
If the valves are of equal area say one inch the steam valve being in equilibrium-
the boiler pressure 60 lbs. and the outlet from coil 30 lbs. per inch the weighting
necessary will be 30 lbs. or its equivalent by leverage.
If however the valve be made partially self balancing say the area of pressure
on the underside be made half that on the upper the amount of weighting will
be one lialf of the former case i.e. 15 lbs. or its equivalent by leverage.
Further if the area of this valve be reduced to say half inch area the
weighting without the self-balancing would be 15 lbs. or its equivalent by leverage
and with the self balancing to the above proportion 7 lbs. or its equivalent by
leverage.
Again the lower pressure area may be made of the area of the upper so
that in the case of the one inch valve the downward pressure would be 30 lbs.
and the upward of 30 = 22 that is the amount of the balance by weighting
would be 30 227 lbs.
With the area one half inch the downward pressure would be 15 the
upward of 15 = 11 so the amount to be balanced by dead weight would
be 15-11 = 3 lbs.
The conditions under which this dead weight may be
disregarded are readily seen by studying for a moment the valve on the steam
side .e. the steam driven valve Q.
For example take the steam valve of say three inches area as against the last
example of the other side which gave (with 30 lbs. pressure at "coil" outlet)
an effective downward pressure of 3 lbs. Consider the weight removed altogether.
On the steam side the boiler pressure of 60 lbs. would open the valve and steam
would pass round to the under side and also to the upper reservoir but it is
manifest that the steam on the underside cannot rise to the 60 lbs. as before as
the valve would be shut off by the action of the 3 lbs. on the other valve.
Now the area of the steam piston has been taken at three inches therefore
when the steam on the under side rises to 60 of 31
1=58 the
steam valve will be in equilibrium and as it rises above this the valve will again
open to the coil. Now as the steam has thereby been shut off before the boiler
pressure was reached a sufficient extra drop from the upper reservoir will have
to be allowed. (This amounts to weighting the valve against the live steam:)
= 60
23
-
The original 30 lbs. coil pressure therefore is balanced ultimately by 1 lbs.
head-
-so large variations may be compensated for by moderate difference of drop.
It will be readily seen that the larger the steam valve-or the greater its
leverage is compared to the "coil" valve-taking their effective pressure areas-
the more control has the former over the latter. This control in the above case
amounting to dispensing with the weight on the steam side and with the upper
reservoir at a sufficient height the pressure in the "coil may vary greatly
without affecting the action of the valve in forcing the water back to the boiler.
As I have already stated I may use a dashpot or other device for regulating.
This may be put in the coil side of the valve itself and is shown in Fig. 3
where by a by-pass it is effected that when the coil valve is closed (i.e. up) it is
in the state of partial equilibrium described but when it is open (i.e. down) it
has the full area of the top pressure only so that the pressure on the steam side

page_text: has to fall lower (below the steam piston) in order that it may allow the steam
pressure on the top of steam side to open.
In the above case it was shown that when the steam on the under side of steam
valve was 58 equilibrium was established the balance of 14 heing the equivalent
of the 3 on the coil side the by-pass however throws off the bottom pressure so
that when the "coil" valve is open it has the full area of pressure viz. 15 lbs. ; 30
that the steam has to fall of 15 5 before equilibrium is established on the
steam valve thus delaying the action of the steam exactly as required.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
"
1. In apparatus for automatically returning water of condensation feed or other
water into steam boilers having a circuit or continuous pipe system consisting of
the main steam supply pipe the "coil or steam using device and the return pipe
leading into the boiler below the water level thereof-the combination with and
introduction into such circuit or system (between said steam using device and the
return pipe) of a valve apparatus consisting of a steam valve having direct com-
munication on one side thereof with and actuated in one direction by the main
steam supply and on the other side thereof communicating with the return pipe
and connected to a second and separate valve so that the movement of one valve
causes movement of the other the said second valve having communication with and
actuated in one direction by the pressure existing or remaining in the "coil" or
steam using device substantially in the manner and for the purposes hereinbefore
described and illustrated by way of example in the drawings hereunto annexed.
2. In apparatus of the character described having a back pressure valve such
as a close to the inlet into boiler-the arrangement and combination therewith of
valve apparatus having a steam valve working in a cylinder connected on one side
of the valve to the full steam supply and on the other side thereof with the return
pipe a steam passage from such cylinder controlled by said valve and leading to
the accumulated water in a reservoir pipe or chamber such as H interposed between
said steam passage and the return pipe, and acting in conjunction with a back
pressure valve such as c so that such water is driven by such steam through the
return pipe and higher reservoir J substantially in the manner and for the purposes
hereinbefore described and illustrated in the drawings hereunto annexed.
3. In apparatus for the purposes herein before set forth-I claim a valve such
as with a return pipe into the boiler and connected to one side of said valve, a
back pressure valve at the inlet into boiler and means to cut off admission of steam
into said return pipe so that pressure in such return pipe will fall either by conden-
sation or exhaust and thereby pressure will be reduced beneath the valve Q and
consequently cause or permit the movement thereof by the live steam on the other
side of said valve in combination and acting in conjunction with the second and
connected valve to cut off communication with the "coil" while the live steam is
acting to force the water out of H into I J K L and A substantially in the manner
and for the purposes hereinbefore described and illustrated in the drawings hereunto
annexed.
4. In apparatus for the purposes specified-the arrangement and combination
therewith of a valve apparatus such as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings
hereunto annexed arranged combined and acting substantially in the manner and
for the purposes hereinbefore set forth.
5. In apparatus for the purpose specified-the arrangement and combination
therewith of a valve apparatus such as illustrated in Figs. 5 to 8 of the drawings
hereunto annexed arranged combined and acting substantially in the manner and
for the purposes herein before set forth.
6. The improved apparatus for returning the water of condensation into boilers
or for boiler feed water or similar purposes substantially in the manner and for the

page_text: purposes hereinbefore described and illustrated by way of example in the drawings
hereunto annexed.
Dated this 16th day of May 1893.
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
34, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.