Improvements in Feed Water Heaters.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Aug., 1899--Accepted, 21st Oct., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Feed Water Heaters.
We, CHARLES EMERSON FERREIRA and WILLARD BERTHRONG ROBERTS, both of
746, Monadnock Block, Chicago, County of Cook, State of Illinois, Mechanical
Engineers, and THOMAS WILLIAMS GLEASON, of 812, Guaranty Building, Buffalo,
County of Erie, State of New York, Capitalist, all in the United States of America,
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:-
The object of our invention is to provide a simple, economical and efficient
feed water heater adapted to receive the exhaust steam from an engine, pump
or similar machine, and also the products of condensation from a circulating
system, and utilize the same in heating and purifying water and for other pur-
poses; and the invention consists in the features and combinations hereinafter
described and claimed.
In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical, central sectional eleva-
tion of our improved feed water heater, and Fig. 2 a detail view showing the
end or side of a feed water heater with the pipe for introducing water of con-
densation entering above the water level and having a bend outside below the
water level; and Fig. 3 the same as Fig. 2, showing the discharge pipe for
drawing off water adjacent to the pipe for introducing water of condensation.
In constructing our improved feed water heater, we use a tank, A, of any
desired form and size-preferably cylindrical in transverse section and placed
horizontally upon the base or ground. Supports a-preferably made of I-beams -
are used to sustain the tank, though this form is immaterial, and may be varied
to suit different circumstances and conditions.
We divide this tank or receptacle preferably into three chambers. The first
chamber, B, is at or near the end of the tank to which the exhaust pipe, b,
leading from the exhaust of an engine or pump is connected, and operates as
an expansion chamber. Arranged opposite the interior opening of the exhaust
pipe is a deflecting or baffle plate, 61, for the purpose of breaking the current
of steam, so as to change its direction and thus enable the water or oil to more
readily drop to the bottom of the chamber, from which it may be drawn off from
the oil discharge trap, Bl.
Arranged adjacent to and preferably in line with the expansion chamber is a
heating and settling, chamber, C, which receives the exhaust steam or water
supply. To permit the exhaust steam to enter this heating chamber, we provide
the partition, 132, that separates it from the expansion chamber, with one or more
openings. As shown, there are two openings, c and c, in front of which are
preferably arranged deflecting plates, and ³. To the lower opening is secured
a bent pipe, C', so that the exhaust steam may be conducted up above the water
line, which may be regulated or maintained in any desired manner-preferably
by means of a float. The use of a float is so well known that it is unnecessary
to illustrate it or describe it in detail.
An inlet or feed pipe, D, is secured to the tank or heating chamber, for intro-

page_text: ducing water, and a drip pan, E, is arranged below the end of this pipe. This
pan is in such position that steam entering from the expansion chamber contacts
its bottom surface and assists in heating the same as well as the water over-
flowing therefrom, which overflow water mingles with the steam above the water
surface in the heating chamber.
To filter the water from the heating and settling chamber and separate it
from the oil which is contained in greater or smaller quantities in all exhaust
steam from engines, we provide a third chamber, G, which we call a filtering
chamber, and which is preferably at the end farthest from the expansion chamber
and at the lower part thereof. This filtering chamber-in which any desired
filtering material may be used-is preferably perforated at both its bottom and
top. The partition, G, which separates the filtering chamber from the heating
and settling chamber, is shown in the drawings as being carried up but a short
distance above the water line, but the chamber will work as well and perform
its functions whether the partition be carried up to the top or ends at any point
above the water line.
Connected to the filtering chamber, preferably above its perforated top, but
below the working water level, is a discharge pipe, H, which may lead to a boiler,
pump, or any other desired place.
To heat the products of condensation as they return from the circulating
system, a return pipe, I, is connected to the discharge end of the tank above
the water level, so that it discharges its combined returns directly into the space
above the water line, which is filled with steam. This enables the return water
of condensation to be superheated, which is impossible when it is sealed inside
the heater or returned below the water level. This return pipe is preferably
secured to the end of the tank adjacent to the water discharge pipe, in such posi-
tion that the returned water of condensation may be drawn off without the
necessity of passing through the filtering chamber." The location of this return
pipe, however, may be changed to suit varying circumstances or conditions. The
return pipe is preferably bent outside the heater so that its lowest portion comes
below the water line in order to form a water trap and prevent the backing up
of steam into the circulating system.
So far as we know, this method of introducing the water of condensation into
the heater above the water level, so as to enable it to be superheated by steam
without the use of inside traps or sealing devices, is broadly new in this inven-
tion. This is also true with reference to providing means for drawing off the
returned water of condensation immediately after it is superheated and before it
mingles to any appreciable extent with other water in the heater. This being
the case, we do not wish to be understood as limiting ourselves to the use of
these features in the particular form of heater shown, or in any other particular
form of heater.
The tank is provided with a steam outlet, K, secured in any desired position,
for the purpose of allowing either exhaust or live steam to circulate through a
heating system or to discharge waste steam. To the lower portion of the tank
is secured a drain pipe, L, having nipples or branches, 7, connecting it to the
expansion and water chamber; and valves are secured to the nipples or branches
for the purpose of opening or closing the same. This drain pipe may be used
as a blow-off, and to wash or clean the chambers.
The advantages of our invention are that it provides a form of heater especially
adapted for use in low basements in connection with heating systems of buildings,
and that it provides efficient means for superheating water of condensation.
Although we have described our improved feed water heater as consisting
essentially of three chambers communicating with each other, it will of course
be understood that in some cases the filtering chamber may be omitted or
additional chambers used. Nor is it necessary that the chambers be arranged in 5
the exact position or relation to each other shown in the drawings. As already
stated, also, the means for introducing water of condensation above the water

page_text: level and of drawing off such water before it mingles to any appreciable extent
with other water in the heater may be used in other forms and combinations as
well as the particular form or combination shown. Other features may also be
omitted or varied to suit special circumstances. For instance, it is unnecessary
that there be more than one opening in the partition between the expansion and
heating chambers, or that any pipe for introducing exhaust steam into or through
the water be used, or when used that it be bent or extended above the water line.
It will be understood, therefore, that we do not intend to limit ourslves to minor
features or details of construction, or to the use at all times of all the parts
described. On the contrary, we contemplate varying form or construction, and
amitting parts or using equivalents as circumstances may suggest or render
expedient.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is: -
1. A feed water heater comprising a water holding and heating chamber and
a filtering chamber communicating with the steam space above the water level
of the heating chamber, a condense water return pipe entering the heater above
the water level of the filtering chamber and also above the water level of the heating
chamber, such pipe emptying directly into the filtering chamber, whereby the
condense water may be heated and withdrawn without traversing the heating
chamber, a discharge pipe from the filtering chamber and a steam pipe for
passage communicating with the heating chamber.
2. In combination with a feed water heater having a heating chamber and an
outlet or purified water chamber communicating directly with the steam space
above the water level of the heating chamber, of a condense water return pipe
entering the heater above the water level of the heating chamber, such pipe emptying
into the purified water chamber whereby the condense water may be heated and
withdrawn without traversing the heating chamber, and an outlet pipe communi-
cating with the purified water chamber at a point adjacent to the condense water
return pipe.
3. In a feed water heater, the combination of a horizontal receptacle or tank
divided into an expansion chamber and a heating and settling chamber arranged
side by side and communicating with each other, means for introducing steam
into the expansion chamber, means for introducing water into the heating and
settling chamber, means for introducing water of condensation into the heating
and settling, chamber above the water level, and means for drawing off water
from the heating and settling chamber.
4. In a feed water heater, the combination of a horizontal receptacle or tank
divided into an expansion chamber, a heating and settling chamber and a filtering
chamber communicating with each other, such chambers being arranged in the
same horizontal plane, means for introducing steam into the expansion chamber,
means for introducing water into the heating and settling chamber, a pipe for
introducing water of condensation into the heating and settling chamber above
the water level, and a pipe for drawing off water from the heating and settling
chamber adjacent to the pipe for introducing water of condensation.
5. In a feed water heater, the combination of a horizontal receptacle or tank
divided into an expansion chamber and a heating and settling chamber, such
chambers being arranged side by side, means for introducing steam into the
expansion chamber, means for introducing water into the heating and settling
chamber, a pipe extending from the expansion chamber into the heating and
settling chamber and extending above the water level when in use, and means
for drawing off water from the heating and settling chamber.
6. A feed water heater comprising a tank or receptacle divided into three
chambers arranged side by side, the first chamber being a steam or expansion
chamber having a steam inlet, the second chamber being a heating and settling

page_text: chamber having a pipe leading from the steam chamber to a point above the
water level in the heating chamber and the third chamber being a filtering and
outlet chamber for the heated and purified water and arranged beyond the other
chambers in substantially the same horizontal plane, and a water outlet leading
from the outlet chamber.
7. A feed water heater comprising a tank or receptacle having arranged therein
in substantially the same horizontal plane a steam chamber, a heating chamber
and an outlet chamber, means of communication between the chambers, a steam
inlet and a water inlet and a water outlet.
8. A feed water heater comprising a tank or receptacle having arranged therein,
in substantially the same horizontal plane, a steam chamber, a heating chamber
and a filtering and outlet chamber respectively, a steam inlet into the steam
chamber, a steam pipe leading from the steam chamber and into the adjacent
heating chamber below the water level therein and extending upwards therein
above such level, a water inlet into the heating chamber, means of communication
between the heating and outlet chambers and a water outlet leading from the
outlet chamber.
9. A feed water heater comprising a tank or receptacle having therein, in
substantially the same horizontal plane, a steam chamber, a heating chamber and
an outlet or purified water chamber respectively, a steam inlet for the steam
chamber, a water inlet and outlet, means of communication between the chambers
and a condense water return emptying into the outlet chamber above the water
level therein.
10. A feed water heater comprising a tank or receptacle having therein, a
steam chamber, a heating chamber and an outlet or purified water chamber
respectively, a steam inlet for the steam chambers, a water inlet and outlet,
means of communication between the chambers, such chambers being arranged
in the same horizontal plane and having the same water level in the heating
chamber and outlet chamber.
11. A feed water heater comprising a tank or receptacle having therein a steam
chamber, a heating chamber and an outlet or purified water chamber respectively,
a steam inlet for the steam chamber, a water inlet for the heating chamber, a
water outlet for the outlet chamber, and a steam pipe entering from the steam
chamber into the heating chamber and extending above the water level therein,
the outlet chamber communicating substantially at its bottom with the heating
chamber so as to have the same water level and also communicating at its top
with the steam space above the level of the water in the heating chamber.
12. A feed water heater comprising a tank or receptacle having a steam
chamber B, an inlet b therein, a heating chamber C arranged at the side of the
steam chamber, ports or openings c and d from the steam chamber into the
heating chamber, the former opening below and the latter opening above the
water level in the heating chamber, a steam pipe C leading from the port c
through the body of water in the heating chamber and extending up above the
water level, a water inlet D into the heating chamber, an outlet chamber G
having the same water level as the heating chamber and an outlet H therefrom.
13. A feed water heater comprising a tank or receptacle having a steam
chamber B, an inlet 6 therein, a heating chamber C arranged at the side of the
steam chamber, ports or openings c and c¹ between the steam and heating
chambers, deflecting plates and c³ for the openings respectively, a steam pipe C¹
leading from opening c through the body of water in the heating chamber and
extending up above the water level therein, a water inlet D for the heating
chamber, a chamber G communicating at its bottom, with the water in the
heating chamber, and at its top with the steam space above the water level, a water
outlet H from the chamber G and a condense water inlet 7 entering the tank
above the water level of the chamber G and emptying therein, said three chambers
being arranged side by side.
14. A feed water heater comprising a heating chamber and a filtering chamber,

page_text: a condense water return main or pipe emptying the condense water directly into
the filtering chamber above the water level thereof without causing it to mingle
with the water in the heating chamber, such pipe having a trap or seal, and a
discharge pipe from the filtering chamber.
15. The feed water heater constructed substantially as herein shown and
described.
16. The feed water heater operating substantially in the manner herein
described.
Dated this 22nd day of August 1899.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.