A SELF- FEEDING WATER-HEATING APPARATUS AND AUTOMATIC GAS SUPPLY FOR SAME
Year: 1884

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
I, STEPHEN LAMPARD of 63 Saint Georges Square in the Parish of Portsea in
the County of Hants and Tothill Street Westminster in the County of Middlesex,
Builder and Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my Invention for A SELF-
FEEDING WATER-HEATING APPARATUS AND AUTOMATIC GAS SUPPLY FOR SAME, to
be as follows :—
This invention relates to improvements in or applicable to the construction of
water-heating apparatus, and is represented in the drawings hereto annexed, and
has a Boiler A Fig 1 fitted with a steam chest B and a dip-pipe C both
communicating with the Boiler A by the apertures D. E is a cylindrical float
connected by the rod F to the lever G which actuates the gas valve H Fig 2.
I Fig 1 is a dip-pipe in the steam chest B. K is an annular float connected by the
rod L to the lever M of the water valve N. R apertures in pipe forming part of
float K. S gas supply pipe, to valve H. T delivery pipe from valve H to
burner V. Ua small pipe from top of steam chest taken down dip-pipe I to
within one inch of water level X. W outlet for draw off cock. X water line.
The action of the apparatus as follows. The water enters through the valve N,
by the delivery pipe P, through the centre of float K by apertures R and D into
the boiler A, on reaching the line X the valve N is closed by the float K and
the supply is stopped. The gas enters the valve H by the pipe S and thence
to the burner V by the pipe T. On lighting the gas the temperature of the water
is raised to the boiling point when steain is generated and pressure created in the
boiler, this raises the surface of the water in the dip pipes Ċ and I and causes the
float E to rise and gradually reduce the gas supply by causing the valve H Fig 2
to close the outlet Y Fig 2 until the supply is reduced to a quantity exactly
sufficient to keep the water at a temperature slightly above boiling point.
The small pipe U relieves the boiler from pressure during the time occupied in
raising the water to boiling point, and is then sufficiently closed by the water
rising in the dip-pipe I to reduce the waste of heat, caused by the escape of steam,
to a minimum.

page_text: COMPLETE DRECIFICATION,
I, STEPHEN LAMPARD, late of 63 Saint Georges Square, in the Parish of Portsea
in the County of Hants, and 6 Tothill Street, Westminster in the County of
Middlesex, now of 6 Tothill Street Westminster in the County of Middlesex,
Builder and Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for " A SELF-
FEEDING WATER-HEATING APPARATUS AND AUTOMATIC GAS SUPPLY FOR SAME
"
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:—
This invention relates to improvements in or applicable to the construction of
water heating apparatus, and is represented in the drawings hereto annexed, and
has a boiler made of copper or other suitable material, A Fig.1, fitted with a
steam chest B, and a dip pipe C, both fitted with brass flanges and screws as.
shewn, and both communicating with the boiler A by the apertures D. E is a
cylindrical float fitted with a guide rod E' at bottom, and roller guides E' at top,
fitted so as to work accurately up and down inside the dip-pipe C. The float E is
connected by the rod F to the lever G which actuates the gas valve H. I Fig 1 1
is a dip-pipe' fixed in the top of the steam chest B, this pipe is open to the
atmosphere at top and is carried down to one inch below the water line X, K is an
annular float having the centre tube K¹ carried down and connected to the rod L
by the brass bush L'. R R, apertures in the tube K¹ to allow free ingress and
egress to the water. The rod L passes through a brass guide bush L in the
bottom of the steam chest B, and is connected at top to the lever M of the
diaphragm water valve N. O water supply pipe to valve N. S gas supply pipe
to valve H. T delivery pipe from valve H to burner V. U is a small pipe from
top of steam chest having a small cock U¹ the passage in which is very small, this
pipe is taken down the dip pipe I to within a short distance of water level at X',
a branch from this pipe, having a similar cock U is taken through the outside
casing of the boiler and the end carried down to within a short distance of the
water level in the water gauge glass at U³, which is open to the atmosphere at top.
W outlet for draw off cock. X water line. Y. Z, dotted lines showing the range
of the water level, a. a'. dotted lines showing the travel of the block d over the
ports of the valve H.
The gas valve H is made of tin or other suitable metal and has a cover b and a
seating c through which the ports k k are cut. The metal block d is of the form
of the letter H, the horns serving as guides, e is a connecting rod, is a lever fixed
to the spindle g, shown by dotted lines, h stuffing box. The valve ports k kare
cut in the ordinary manner with the addition of a groove m sunk in the metal
seat. This groove is sunk in a slanting direction, the deep part communicating
with the port, the outer end of the groove finishing flush with the face of the
metal seat, and a little beyond the line a, which is the extent of the travel of the
block d over the outlet port. The same arrangement is applied to the inlet port.
This arrangement secures a very nice and certain adjustment of the gas supply to
the burner.

page_text: The small pipe U and the cock U₁ being always left open relieves the boiler
from pressure during the time occupied in raising the water to boiling point, and
so prevents the float E from rising and stopping the gas supply until the water
actually boils, the end of the pipe U is then sufficiently closed by the water rising
in the dip-pipe I to reduce the waste of heat, caused by the escape of steam, to a
minimum. A branch from this pipe, having a similar cock U' is taken to the
glass gauge U for the purpose of ascertaining whether the apparatus is in proper
working order, this is done by closing the cock U' and opening the cock U when
the action of the relief pipe will be seen in the glass gauge Us
The action of the apparatus is as follows, The water enters through the pipe O,
thence through the valve N by the delivery pipe P, through the centre of float R
by apertures R and D into the boiler A, on reaching the line X the valve N is
closed by the float K and the supply is stopped. The gas enters the valve H by
the pipe S and thence to the burner V by the pipe T, on lighting the gas the
temperature of the water is raised to boiling point when steam is generated and
pressure created in the boiler, this raises the surface of the water in the dip pipes O
and I and causes the float E to rise and set the gas valve H in motion which
gradually reduces the supply of gas to a quantity exactly sufficient to keep the
water at a temperature sufficiently above boiling point to maintain the pressure
in the boiler necessary to keep the float E from falling. The apparatus will then
remain for any length of time charged with water just above boiling point, until
required for use, on drawing off boiling water, the boiler will be recharged and the
gas supply turned on until the water is again raised to boiling point as described.
Should the water by neglect, accident, or leakage, fall below the line Z, the float E
will fall, and by closing the inlet port of the gas valve, nearly extinguish the
purner, and prevent all danger from fire or explosion, or destruction of the
apparatus.
Having now particularly described the nature of my said invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is
1st That this apparatus being self feeding and automatic in it's action, effects a
great saving in the consumption of gas, and the time of attendants.
2nd The combination of the float E working in the dip pipe C controlling the
action of the gas valve H by which the supply of gas is regulated to the required
amount.
3rd The construction of the slide valve with graduated grooved parts as
described.
4th The combined construction and arrangement of the steam chest B with
water supply valve N and annular float K sealed by the arrangement of the dip
pipe I and the relief pipe U so that the whole may be easily removed and access
gained to the inside of the boiler by taking apart at the flange n.
5th The method of relieving the boiler by the action of the small pipe U during
the time occupied in raising the water to boiling point, preventing the waste of
heat by escaping steam by carrying the pipe U down the dip-pipe I as described.
Deted this 98th dew of June 190K