Improvements in Feed Water Heating and Purifying Apparatus for Steam Boilers.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Aug., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 30th Nov., 1892-Accepted, 21st Jan., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Feed Water Heating and Purifying Apparatus for
Steam Boilers.
I JAMES SHEPHERD of Mile End Cottage Stockport Cheshire Engineer do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
:-
My improvements consist in using the heat known to be latent within the steam
in a boiler for the purpose of increasing the temperature of the water used for
feeding such boiler; and also to prevent sludgy and other impure matter that may
be mixed with the incoming feed water from passing into the body of the water
contained in the boiler-and also to prevent dirty and impure matter, or particles
of water from the incoming feed passing away with the steam from the boiler to
the engine, or other apparatus for which the steam may be required.
At any convenient position within a steam boiler I fix a cylinder of cast or
wrought iron of suitable dimensions for the size of the boiler and the quality of
water being used. This cylinder I call a mud catcher. The ends of the cylinder
are fitted with cover lids secured by bolts. One or both of the covers may easily
be removed for clearing out the mud collected when the boiler is at rest for
cleaning purposes. The top of this cylinder is made with a flanged or socket branch
pipe to which I attach another cast or wrought iron cylinder having an open top
and standing vertically upon the lower cylinder or mud catcher. On either side of
the branch pipe provision is made for bolting or otherwise securing the feed inlet,
and the feed outlet pipes. Within the branch pipe of the mud catcher or lower
cylinder I fix an elbow and couple it direct to the feed inlet pipe. To the upper
end of this elbow I attach a vertical pipe of the same bore as the feed pipe having
a solid end or top but perforated round its circumference over the top or steam part
only through which the incoming feed water supply is dispersed in fine jets into
the vertical open ended cylinder surrounding it. The finely divided incoming feed
water is brought into direct contact with the steam formed in the boiler, thereby
abstracting heat from the steam with which it is in contact, but in such manner
that the water cannot mix with the steam being drawn away and used for engine
or other manufacturing purposes, as the feed water falls within the vertical cylinder
to the lower cylinder, and from there at a given level into the body of the water
in the boiler through the outlet or discharge pipe.
1000
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Feed Water Heating and Purifying Apparatus for
Steam Boilers.
I JAMES SHEPHERD of Mile End Cottage Stockport Cheshire Engineer do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:—
My improvements consist in using the heat known to be latent within the steam
in a boiler for the purpose of increasing the temperature of the water used for
feeding such boiler, and also to prevent sludgy and other impure matter that may
be mixed with the incoming feed-water frame passing into the body of the water
contained in the boiler-and also to prevent dirty and impure matter and particles
of water from the incoming feed passing away with the steam from the boiler to
the engine or other apparatus for which the steam may be required.

page_text: For this purpose I construct a cylinder of cast or wrought iron of suitable
dimensions for the size of the boiler and quality of water to be used. This cylinder
is fixed inside the boiler at any convenient position (forming part only of the
apparatus) and is called the mud catcher.. The ends of this cylinder are fitted
with cover lids secured by screws or bolts. The upper portions of the cylinder is
made with a short branch pipe having a flange or socket end, and to this flange or
socket I attach another cast or wrought iron cone cylinder standing vertically upon
the lower cylinder. The top of the upper cylinder is covered by a metal plate
having slots or other shaped openings in it for the admission of steam, and upon
the underside of this plate in the central portion I cast a series of cones or
corrugations for the purpose of breaking up the stream of incoming feed water
as it strikes against them with finely divided jets or sprays. On either side of the
branch pipe provision is made for bolting or otherwise securing the feed inlet and
the feed outlet pipes. From the inner side of this same branch pipe I fix an elbow
and connect it to the feed inlet pipe. To the upper end of the elbow I attach a
short vertical pipe forming the delivery end of the feed pipe. Where very dirty
water is used for supplying a boiler I prefer that the delivery end of the feed
pipe be kept open the full bore or diameter. Where moderately clean water
is used the delivery end of the feed pipe may be fitted with a perforated rose,
or plugged and the upper portion of the pipe perforated round its circumference
causing the feed water to be delivered in finely subdivided jets or sprays. These
subdivided streams or jets of feed water are brought into direct and immediate
contact with the steam filling the upper portion of the cone cylinder thereby
abstracting heat latent in the steam.
The water falls into the lower cylinder or mud catcher where the liberated dirt
is deposited whilst the heated and purified water flows off at a higher level into the
boiler proper. The removal of the collected dirt from the mud catcher may be
effected in two ways.
When a boiler is at rest and emptied of its water for
cleaning purposes one or both of the end cover plates on the mud catcher may
be removed and the contents withdrawn. This plan enables the quantity and
character of the refuse intercepted during any given period being correctly
ascertained. To enable the discharge from the mud catcher to be made daily
and systematic the apparatus can be connected by a pipe, (for which suitable pro-
vision is made at the lower cylinder end cover plates) to the front of the boiler
and on the outside fitted with a tap and waste pipe or the mud catcher may be
connected to any existing arrangement of surface or bottom blow off pipes.
In order that my improvements in heating and purifying feed water for steam boiler
use, together with the method of collecting and removing the dirt therefrom may
be fully and clearly understood I append drawings of the said improved apparatus,
though modifications of the same may be made without departing from this
invention.
Figure 1 represents a front elevation of the apparatus fixed within an ordinary
two flued or Lancashire boiler.
Figure 2 is an enlarged section through line A. B.
Similar letters represent corresponding parts in both figures.
C, C, the cylinder or vessel called the mud catcher. C1, C 1, are cover lids to
the cylinder ends. D, D, the upper cone cylinder. E Figure 2 is the top coned
or corrugated plate for dividing the feed water on its delivery into jets or sprays.
F, F, are openings in the top plate through which steam in the boiler has free
access to the interior of the coned cylinder. G, G, feed pipe with outside con-
nection and internal delivery lengths. H Figure 2 opening in branch of lower
cylinder through which the top purified water flows into the boiler. H1 shield or
guard round the delivery opening to prevent dirt and impurities in process of
deposition passing into the boiler. J, J, blow out pipe connections with the mud
catcher where the discharge is to be made with a boiler under steam. K a pipe
from the bottom of the mud catching cylinder into the steam space of the boiler
to act as clearer when blowing the dirt out.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1st. The employment within a steam boiler of an intermediate or separate vessel
to receive, to heat, and to purify the water used for feeding purposes.
2nd. The use of conical, corrugated or perforated plates in connection with open
ended or full bore feed pipes in steam boilers.
3rd. A combination of the various parts forming an apparatus for heating and
purifying feed water for steam boilers, and the method of collecting and discharging
dirt therefrom substantially as shewn and described.
Dated this 29th day of November 1892.
JAMES SHEPHERD.