IMPROVEMENTS IN REGULATING THE EXHAUST STEAM OF STEAM ENGINES IN ORDER TO HEAT DISTILLATORY Apparatus, OR OTHER PURPOSES ̧
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Ludovic Reine Raoul, Comte de Beaurepaire de
Louvagny, of Grivesnes (Somme), Manufacturer, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN REGULATING THE EXHAUST STEAM OF STEAM ENGINES
IN ORDER TO HEAT DISTILLATORY Apparatus, OR OTHER PURPOSES¸”
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Ludovic Reine Raoul.
Comte de Beaurepaire de Louvagny, at the Office of the Commis-
sioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 26th December 1874.
I, LUDOVIC REINE RAOUL, Comte DE BEAUREPAIRE, DE, LOUVAGNY, of
Grivesnes (Somme). Manufacturer, do hereby declaro, the nature of the
said Invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN REGULATING THE EXHAUST STEAM OF
STEAM ENGINES, IN ORDER TO HEAT. DISTILLATORY APPARATUS, OR OTHER PURPOSES."
to be as follows :-
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The system have invented is specially intended to
automatic and permanent manner the regularization of
[Price 8d.]
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effect in an
the exhaust
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page_text: steam from sicam engines in order to utilize it for the heating of the
distilling columns used in brewing, in bleaching, dyeing, and paper
making, and in other industries in which baths of a fixed temperature aro
required.
My system is founded upon the well-known principle of the water and
free air manometer. The upper level of the water in a manometric
tube causes the action of a large float, which transmits its oscillations
to a valve. This valve, arranged upon a conduit which leads the virgin
steam from the generator thus regulates the arrival of the virgin steam
which supplies the insufficiency of heat and tension of the exhaust steam
from the steam engine. The two steams (the virgin steam and the
exhaust steam) arrive into an intermediate reservoir, where they expand,
thus enabling the blows of the ram to be dispensed with. The steam
condenses partly in this reservoir, and the water of condensation is in
direct communication through the manometric tube with the upper level
upon which the float swims. By this combination when the steam fails
in the intermediate reservoir, that is to say, when the exhaust or escape
is not sufficient, the water lowers in the upper reservoir, us the latter
passes into the free air manometer the float descends and causes the
valve of the entry conduit of the virgin steam to open; this steam then
enters and re-establishes the equilibrium by maintaining the water at the
normal level in the upper reservoir. The inverse action takes place
when the exhaust steam arrives too abundantly into the intermediate
reservoir.
I proceed to describe the apparatus I prefer to usc.
In proximity to the distilling column I place a reservoir, which com-
municates with the column by a pipe. This reservoir serves to detain
the exhaust steam, which arrivos into it through a pipe, as well as the
virgin steam, which is led into it by a pipe provided with a cock and
ending in a valve box. In this box a conical valve (or any other form
of valve) works, the rod of which is jointed to the shorter arm of an
oscillating lever, itself articulated to the rod of the float. The Hoat
swims upon the water in an upper reservoir at the top of the manometric
tube, whose lower end leads to and ends near the bottom of the reservoir.
The float is thus in a position whose height depends upon the level of
the water of condensation in the reservoir, a level which is more or less
high, according to the pressure and consequently the temperature of the
steam circulating in the said reservoir. The float should be provided

page_text: with a little vertical tube at its upper part in order that the air which is
contained therein may be in communication, with, the exterior. air -in
order to prevent a vacuum from being formed. This, apparatus acts as I
have explained above. When the exhaust steam does not arrive in
sufficient quantity within the reservoir the water lowers in the upper
reservoir, the float descends, and causes the valve to open, the virgin
steam enters through the pipe, and re-establishes the equilibrium by
In the
bringing the level of the upper reservoir to its normal height.
contrary instance when the escape steam enters too abundantly into the
reservoir, which may happen when the engine has momentarily to exert
a greater force than usual, the water rises in the upper reservoir, and
thus makes the float rise. Through the intermediation of the lever the
valve is thus closed, and the entrance of the virgin steam cut off."
"
.
The pressure, and consequently the temperature can be varied at will
by changing the point of attachment of the lever to the rod of the float,
or by lengthening or shortening this rod, and consequently the distance
from its points of attachment with the lever. The same result is obtained
by lowering the level of the water in the reservoir, which is effected by
pouring out some through the cocks arranged at different heights upon
the vertical branch of a syphon.
This apparatus is one of great sensibility. It enables the tension of
the steam in the reservoir to be maintained at less than a hundredth
part of an atmosphere pressure; on the other hand the variations in the
manometric tube never exceeds 6 or 7 centimetres between its extreme
limits, that is to say, with the machine completely stopped. and with the
machine at full pressure.
the reservoir escapes towards the foot of the column through the same
pipe as the steam penetrates; this water proceeds thence continually
with waste liquor, and need not therefore be regarded.
The excess of the water of condensation in
If it be desired to prevent the mixture of the water of condensation
with the waste liquor it will suffice to place a sufficiently strong and
high syphon upon the circumference of the pipe connecting the reservoir
The condensed
with the foot of the column and soldered beneath.
water Howing to the bottom of the pipe would gradually fall into one of
the branches of the syphon, and the other branch would lead it forth to
the outside.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
fleil by the said Ludovic Reine Raoul, Comte de Beaurepaire de
Louvagny, in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 25th June 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, LUDOVIC
REINE RAOUL, Comte DE BEAUREPAIRE DE LOUVAGNY, of Grivesnes
(Somme), Manufacturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS For most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-sixth day of December, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the
thirty-eighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said Ludovic Reine Reoul, Her
special licence that [, the said Ludovic Reine Raoul, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as 1, the said Ludovic
Reine Raoul, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend. within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Mau, an
Invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN REGULATING THE EXHAUST STEAM OF STEAK
ENGINES IN ORDER TO HEAT DISTILLATORY APPARATUS OR OTHER PURPOSES,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that 1, the said Ludovic Reine
Raoul my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to he filed
in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Ludovic Reine Raoul, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, aud in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement thereof, that is to say :—
The system have invented is specially intended to effect in an
automatic and permanent manner the regularization of the exhaust
steam from steam engines in order to utilize it for the heating of the
distilling columns used in brewing, in bleaching, dyeing, and paper-

page_text: making factories, and in other industries in which baths of a fixed tem-
perature are required.
My system is founded upon the well-known principle of the water and
free air manometer. The upper level of the liquid (mercury or water)
in a manometric tube causes the action of a large float, which transinits
its oscillations to a valve. This valve is arranged upon a conduit, which
lends the virgin steam from the generator, thus regulates the arrival of
the virgin steain which supplies the insufficiency of heat and tension of
the exhaust steam from the steam engine. The two steams (the virgin
steam and the exhaust steam) arrive into an intermediate reservoir,
where they expand, thus enabling the blows of the ram to be dispensed with.
The steam condenses partly in this reservoir, and the water of conden-
sation is, in direct communication through the manometric tube with the
upper level проп which the float swims. By this combination when the
steam fails in the intermediate reservoir, that is to say, when the exhaust
or escape is not sufficient, the liquid lowers in the upper reservoir, as
that takes place in the free air manometer the float descends and causes
the valve of the entry conduit of the virgin steam to open; this steam
then enters and re-establishes the equilibrium by maintaining the water
at the normal level in the upper reservoir. The inverse action takes
place when the exhaust steam arrives too abundautly into the inter-
mediate reservoir.
I employ the water manometer for cases where there is no very great
pressure, but when pressures equal to several atmospheres are concerned
the height of the water manometric tube would become too considerable,
and I replace it by a mercury manometer. The action of the apparatus
remains the same.
In the annexed Drawings I have represented my system of regulari-
zation in its two applications, viz., 1st, for small pressure with the
water manometric tube; aud, 2ndly, for high pressure with a mercury
manometric tube.
In proximity to the distilling column A, Figure 1, I place a reservoir B,
which communicates with the column by a pipe a. This reservoir B
serves to detain the exhaust steam, which arrives into it through a
pipe b, as well as the virgin steam, which is led into it by a pipe c
provided with a cock d, and ending in a valve box C. In this box a
conical valve (or any other form of valve) works, the rod g of which is

page_text: | jointed to the shorter arm of an oscillating lover, itself articulated to
the rod i of the float. The float swims upon the surface of the water
in an upper reservoir at the top of the manometric tube, whose
lower end leads to and ends near the bottom of the reservoir B. The
floai jis thus in a position whose height depends upon the level of the
water of condensation in the reservoir B, a level which is more or less
high, according to the pressure and consequently the temperature of the
steam circulating in the said reservoir. The float is provided with a
little vertical tube at its upper part in order that the air which is
contained therein may be in communication with the exterior air, in
order to provent a vacuum from being formed, and its sides stove in
in consequence.
The pressure, and consequently the temperature, can be varied at will
by changing the point of attachment of the lever to the rod of the
Hoat, or by lengthening or shortening this rod in its distance from the
float to its points of attachment to the lever. The same result is attained
by lowering the level of the water in the intermediate reservoir B. which
is effected by pouring it outside through the cocks m, m, m, arranged at
different heights upon the branches of a syphon. 1, 0, is a syphon for
emptying away the water of condensation, and p is another syphon for
the exit of the waste liquid.
Figuro 2 is my system of regularization in its second application, that is
Lo say, for pressures of several atmospheres. The water manometric
tube is replaced by a mercury manometer...In this arrangement the
action is the same in all that regards the box C with the valve f, the rod
of which joints with the lever h, communicating at its other extremity
with the rod of the float j. The reservoir B is then provided, below
with a cup E, towards the bottom of which is the level of the mercury Al
of the manometric tube . The water of condensation rests above the
Inercury M; it supports the flat, which by means of the valve /1
effects the discharge of the overflow when the level, r, has risen
onough. The communication between the outer air and the float can be
made so as to avoid vacuum through the hollowed interior of the rod of
the plug of the valve, with the aid, if necessary, of a little pipe, in order
that the warm water proceeding forthi may not be forced into the enlarge-
ment. In this way vacuum cannot occur in the float.
Tu both cases
the action is the same. When the escape steam does not arrive in
sufficient quantity within the reservoir B the liquid lowers in the upper

page_text: reservoir D, the float ; descends, and causes the valve f to open. The
virgin steam enters through the pipe c, and re-establishes the equilibrium
by bringing the level of the upper-reservoir D to its normal height. Iu
the contrary instance when the escape steam enters, too abundantly into
the reservoir B the liquid rises in the upper reservoir D, and this makes
the float rise. Through the intermediation of the lever h the valve is
thus closed, and the entrance of the virgin steam cut-off.
..
-
In the two arrangements just described when the exhaust steam
arrives within the reservoir B, where it expands, it is in contact with the
condensed water, which has the effect of preventing the retention by the
steam of the necessary dryness.
In order to avoid this inconvenience I have contrived the following
arrangement, shown at Figure 3 of the accompanying Drawings:-At
the conical base 6 of the condenser cylinder Barrange a syphon,
intended to purge it of the condensed water. This cylinder must be a
little more elevated than the pressure which it is desired to maintain
constant within the cylinder. I arrange in close proximity to the
cylinder B a lateral reservoir e containing water, mercury, or other liquid
of a sufficient density, communicating with it by a tube e similar to that
which leads the pressure to the free air manometer. The water condensed
in the communication pipe escapes through the same syphon d which
carries off the condensed waters in the cylinder B.
To avoid the employment of a long syphon and to prevent the con-
densed water from going out too freely I apply to the end of the ascending
branch da valve with a counterweight proportioned to its size, or with
a spiral spring of more or less tension, so that an effort must be exerted
by the water in escaping equal to some 10th of atmospheres, and thus
enabling the length of the syphon to be proportionally reduce. 1 can
obtain the same results by pouring a little mercury into the syphon.
Then the effort of the water to repel this mercury in the ascending
branch, which must be done before the water can pass in its turn and
rise above the mercury, will be also calculated by a height of mercury
equivalent to some 10th of atmospheres, enabling a proportional reduction
in the height of the syphon.
Both arrangements of this apparatus are of great sensibility; they
enable the tension of the steam in the reservoir B to be maintained at
less than one-hundredth of an atmosphere pressure. On the other hand

page_text: the variation in the manometric tube never exceeds 6 or 7 centimetres
between its extreme limits, that is to say, with, the machine completely
stopped, and with the machine working at full pressure.
And having now described the nature of my said 'Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim,-
First. Regularizing the arrival of the exhaust steam to be utilized for
heating apparatus of all kinds requiring a constant and fixed tempe-
rature by the use of an intermediate reservoir provided with water or
mercury manometric apparatus, substantially as herein.before described,
and as shown in the accompanying Drawings.
Secondly. The construction and arrangement of this manometric
apparatus, as herein before described, and as shown in the accompanying
Drawings.
Thirdly. The combination of a syphon at the base of this intermediate
reservoir or cylinder with a lateral reservoir containing water, mercury,
or other liquid of sufficient density in order to avoid the contact of the
condensed water with the steam, as herein-before described, and us
shown in the accompanying Drawings.
And, Fourthly. The general construction and arrangement of the
apparatus, as herein-before described, and as shown in the accompanying
Drawings, for regulating the exhaust steam of steam engines in order
to heat distilling apparatus and for other purposes.
In witness whereof, I, the said Ludovic Reine Raoul, Comte de
Beaurepaire, have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Thirteenth
day of June, One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five.
.
Witness,
CHARLES FROSSARD.
CT DE BEAUREPAIRE. (L.S.)