Year: 1887

page_text: I, JOHN ANTHONY ROWE 11 Spring Terrace North Shields, County Northumberland
Engineer and Shipwright Surveyor do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows :—
It consists of a closed vessel-a float-box-from which depend two pipes, a long
and a short one. These pipes and the float-box, together constitute a syphon
arrangement.
This arrangement may be inside or outside the boiler. By preference I fit it
outside but whether inside or outside, the float-box stands somewhat above the water-
level of the boiler.
The pipes leading down from the float-box, are jointed to the boiler; the long leg
being carried well down below the working water level; the short leg being carried
down to the working water level only.
The pipes may be fitted inside or outside the boiler, but if outside, then I fit an
internal elbow-piece to the short-leg, and let its open end look downward.
In the float-box I fit a float, and lever-arrangement which actuates a steam cock or
valve.
By preference I employ a piston-valve, both ends of the piston being exposed to
steam pressure.
This piston-valve is opened by the falling of the float, and is closed by the float
rising. Stops are fitted to regulate the distance the float rises and falls, so as to give
suitable travel to the piston-valve. This piston-valve is an equilibrium valve.
When the piston-valve opens, steam issues from the float-box and sets in motion an
injector, or steam pump to force water into the boiler. (Later on a different action
will be described).
The water thus forced into the boiler is made to enter through the float-box, and the
The water
delivery end of this feed pipe fitted to the float-box, is fitted with a rose
thus delivered into the float-box flows into the boiler through the long leg of the
syphon system and in order to ensure this, the long leg is jointed to the float-box a
little lower than the joint of the short leg.
9

page_text: When in operation-and when the water in the boiler rises to the level of the mouth
of the short leg of this syphon system, the float-box, becomes a condensing-chamber,
and this phenomenon is one of the chief characteristics of the invention.
I make the float-box (or condensing-chamber) by preference of two lengths, jointed
about the middle. The whole system I prefer to make of metal strong enough to
withstand the steam pressure & the changes of temperature to which it will be
subjected.
I have said that 1 employ two pipes a long leg and a short leg-and a float-box
(or condensing-chamber) to form a syphon-arrangement. I also, if necessary, employ
two or more pipes for the short leg, and two or more pipes for the long leg; and the
float-box (or condensing-chamber) instead of being in one piece, may be made up of
two or more closed vessels connected to each other. Each may contain a float, or
only one of the number may be so fitted.
The pipes constituting the short-leg, the pipes constituting the long leg, together
with the closed vessels act as a syphon arrangement. This arrangement, already
described acts as a water-meter by connecting a counter to the float gear so as to
automatically record the number of times the float rises and falls. By preference I
coat the inside of the condensing-chamber with a non-conducting substance.
In the preceding paragraphs I have described the apparatus as in action giving
steam to a pump or an injector, so that one or the other may force water info the
boiler. I also employ it as follows.
I sever all connection between the float-box, (or condensing-chamber) and the steam
pump, or injector, and employ the piston-valve already described as an inlet for water,
forced into the condensing chamber by the pressure of the town-water; by a force
derived from an accumulator; from engine pumps, or from other sufficient and
reliable sources.
Whether I admit water to the condensing-chamber by the first or second method
herein described, I fit a non-return valve to the feed-pipe, between the feed-pipe and
the condensing-chamber.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Appliances for Regulating and Measuring the Supply of Feed Water
to Steam Boilers.
I JOHN ANTHONY ROWE of 11 Spring Terrace North Shields County Northumberland
Engineer &c. 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 consists of a closed, steam-tight vessel (a float-box) from which
depend two pipes, a long one, and a short one. These pipes and the float-box together,
constitute a syphon arrangement.
This arrangement is fitted to a steam boiler, and may be fitted inside or outside.
By preference I fit it outside. But whether it be inside or outside; the float box is
fixed above the level of the water in the boiler.
The pipes leading down from the float-box, are jointed to the boiler, the long leg
being carried well below the working water level, the short leg being carried down to
the working water level only.
The pipes may be fitted inside or outside the boiler, from the level of the boiler
crown downward; but if outside, I fit an internal pipe-an elbow piece-to the short
leg.. and let its open end look downward.
In the float-box I fit a float and lever-arrangement which actuates a steam cock
or valve.
By preference I employ an equilibrium piston-valve, both ends of the piston being
exposed to stean: pressure.
The piston-valve is opened by the falling of the float, and is closed by the float rising.
Stops are fitted to regulate the distance the float rises and falls so as to give suitable
travel to the piston-valve. By preference I attach the float spindle to a lever, the
fulcrum spindle of which may pass through stuffing boxes to the outside of the float-
box, & there, by means of another lever, give motion to a steam cock or valve, or a
water cock or valve.
When motion is imparted to a cock or valve within the float-box, one end of the
lever is attached to the vertical spindle of the float, the other end is connected to the
piston-valve.
When the piston-valve opens, steam issues from the float-box and sets in motion an
injector or steam pump to force water into the boiler. (A different action will be
described later on).
The water thus forced into the boiler is made to enter through the float box by
preference; & the delivery end of this feed pipe fitted to the float-box is preferably
fitted with a rose.
The water now delivered into the float-box flows into the boiler through the long

page_text: leg of the syphon system, and in order to ensure this, the long leg is jointed to the
float-box a little lower than the joint of the short leg.
When in operation, and when the water in the boiler rises to the level of the mouth
of the short-leg of the syphon system, the float-box becomes a condensing chamber,
and this phenomenon is one of the chief characteristics of the invention because of the
instantaneous action resulting from the difference of temperature between the water in
the float-box & the water in the boiler. Difference of temperature is in this case
associated with difference of pressure, and the water in the boiler is instantly forced
up into the float box, thereby raising the float, and closing the steam-valve.
I make the float-box (or condensing chamber) by preference of two lengths jointed
about the middle. I prefer this for convenience of fitting the internal parts and for
purposes of occasional examination. The whole system I make of metal strong enough
to withstand the steam pressure, and the changes of temperature to which it will be
subjected.
I have said that I employ two pipes, a long leg and a short leg, and a float-box (or
condensing-chamber) to form a syphon-arrangement. I also, if necessary, employ
two or more pipes for the short leg, and two or more pipes for the long leg, and the
float-box (or condensing chamber) instead of being in one piece, may be made up of
two or more closed vessels connected to each other. Each may contain a float, or
only one of the number may be so fitted.
The pipes constituting the short leg, the pipes constituting the long leg, together
with the closed vessels, act as a syphon arrangement.
By connecting a counter to the float-gear so as to automatically record the number
of times the float rises and falls, the quantity of water introduced in a given time can
be ascertained.
With the view of protecting the metal from changes of temperature, I prefer to coat
the inside of the condensing chamber with a non-conducting substance. I also fit a
drain pipe at the bottom.
In the preceding paragraphs I have described the apparatus as in action giving
steam to a pump, or an injector, so that one or the other may force water into the
boiler. I also employ it as follows:-
I sever all connection between the float-box (or condensing chamber) and the steam
pump, or injector and I employ the piston-valve already described as an inlet for
water, forced into the condensing chamber, or float-box, by the pressure of the town
water, by a force derived from an accumulator, from engine pumps, or from other
sufficient and reliable sources.
Whether I admit water to the condensing chamber by the first or second method
herein described I fit a non-return valve to the feed-pipe, between the feed-pipe and
the condensing chamber.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1, is a section of the float chamber. A is the short leg, B the long leg of the
syphon. C is the float, I the drain cock, E the feed valve orifice, F the fulcruin of the
lever, G the equilibrium piston-valve, H, the pipe which supplies steam to pumps, or
which, in the reverse action, conveys water from the pumps. J, is the lower guide, and
K the upper guide of float-spindle.
Fig. 2, is the general arrangement. W, is the boiler A, is the short leg; B the
long leg of the syphon. D is the drain cock, E the feed-valve, F, the lever-fulcrum ;
E the pipe that supplies steam to the pumps, or which conveys water from the pumps
to the float-box when the reverse action of the valve is in operation.
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 :-
(1). A condensing-chamber standing above the level of the water in the boiler, and
open to the boiler, and subject to its pressure; the said condensing-chamber being

page_text: fitted with two pipes a long leg and a short one; the whole system constituting a
syphon.
(2). A float fitted in the condensing-chamber, (or float-box) and connected by a
spindle to a valve or cock which will automatically admit water to, or allow steam to
pass out of, the chamber.
The admission of feed water to the condensing chamber.
(4). The mode of jointing the two legs of the syphon to the condensing chamber;
the short leg being jointed to the vessel higher than the long leg.
Datad this 20th August 1988
JOHN ANTHONY ROWE.