IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR THE AUTOMATIC FEEDING OF BOILERS
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Mayhew of Westminster Chambers Victoria
Street, Westminster in the County of Middlesex Engineer for an Invention
of IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR THE AUTOMATIC
FEEDING OF BOILERS
Street, Westminster in the County of Middlesex Engineer for an Invention
of IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR THE AUTOMATIC
FEEDING OF BOILERS
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Mayhew at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th November 1883.
ALFRED MAYHEW, of Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, Westminster, in
the County of Middlesex.-Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND
APPARATUS FOR, THE AUTOMATIC FEEDING OF BOILERS"
This invention has for its object an improved apparatus for feeding Boilers with
water and automatically cutting off the supply when the working level is obtained.
I accomplish my object in the following manner :-
I fix on or near the boiler at a level above the working level of the water, an
apparatus consisting of two cylinders or vessels, of copper, or other suitable
material, hereafter called N°* 1 and 2 cylinders fitted with suction and delivery
valves, which valves are fixed upon the cast iron frame of the apparatus. These
copper cylinders or vessels are connected together at the base, within the hollow
cast iron frame.
The water to be supplied to the boiler, is drawn into the apparatus, by vacuum,
created therein by the action of the steam hereinafter described.
When the apparatus is first started, it is necessary to remove a plug, cock or
opening valve, at the top and fill the two cylinders with water.-The interior of
No 1 cylinder is fitted with two concentric pipes, the outer one closed at the top
and terminating a little above the inner one, and having four holes near its top.
The entering water passes up the external pipe, the greater part passing down the
internal pipe, the less part through the four holes mentioned. This water then
flows out of the large holes at the foot of the external tube.-N° 2 cylinder is
fitted with an injection pipe of less diameter than the two concentric pipes, having
four holes at its base-a small quantity of the water passes into these four holes,
and up the small injection pipe, the remaining and larger quantity, passes up the
N° 1 cylinder through an aperture at the top and through a valve into N° 2
cylinder, down which it falls, meeting the water before mentioned, as it rises in the

page_text: injection tube, thus causing an almost perfect vacuum, until both cylinders are
full. The bottom of N° 2 cylinder is fitted with a valve held up by a spiral spring,
with just sufficient strength to carry its own weight. This valve is guided in its
vertical motion by a flange extending for a short way up the injection pipe for this
purpose. When the two cylinders are filled with water the method of injecting the
same into the boiler is as follows:-Steam is admitted from the boiler to the lower
surface of a weighted valve, situated the lowest of three valves, at the upper end of
the apparatus, about to be described :—The steam is admitted through a pipe from
the Boiler to the outer and bottom side of the two lower valves, which steam
pushes both valves up into their seats, and at the same time actuates the third or
highest valve, which regulates the connection between the two cylinders. The
lowest valve is of vertical cylindrical form, and a space is left between its periphery
and the valve chamber or casing; through this space the steam passes up, and
holds the valve in equilibrium, until the mercury regulator hereinafter described
comes into action. The spindle valve working within the lower valve, actuates
another valve above it, by means of the spindle produced, thus when it is raised
into its seat by the incoming steam, it raises the valve above it out of its seat, and
remains there until the mercury regulator allows water to enter the apparatus and
bring the pressure within the apparatus to the same or nearly the same pressure as
that within the boiler. This pressure acting on the upper side of the spindle valve
allows it to fall, and the top valve follows it and closes the passage between the
two cylinders, before the outer valve of the two lowest valves, falls to readmit
steam. Thus the steam being admitted to the top of the cylinder and the surface
of the water in N° 2 cylinder, which contains the injection pipe, allows the water
to fall. This water passes through the valve hereinbefore described at the base of
No 2 cylinder, and then passes up the outer and down the inner concentric pipes of
N° 1 cylinder and through a check valve into the boiler. The steam following
down the N° 2 cylinder after the water as described, passes through the valve, and
enters the water contained within the hollow frame, whereby a partial condensation
is established, which condensation causes, the lowest valve to be drawn up, the
centre valve follows lifting the top valve as described, thus allowing the water
contained in the N° 1 cylinder, to fall through the connection frame, to the N° 2
cylinder, and up the injection pipe, where it comes in contact with the steam
therein and establishes an almost perfect vacuum: This vacuum then draws the
water up and circulation continues as described. On the top of the apparatus, I
fix an air relief valve. This valve is fitted with what is known as a leaky piston,
having a valve on either side thereof. When the pressure in the cylinders increases,
air is forced past the leaky piston, to the top side, and is then confined until the
next action of the apparatus takes place, which action, reduces the pressure on the
lower surface of the leaky piston. The confined air then expands forcing down
the leaky piston, and its válves, through the upper one of which, the air escapes
into the atmosphere, and at the same time closes the bottom valve. Thus I avoid
accumulation of air within the apparatus. N° 1 cylinder is supplied with a small
vessel on the top to provide for any expansion of the water.
The mercury regulator herein before mentioned constitutes the medium through
which water is admitted to the apparatus to equalize the pressures to allow the
steam valves to fall. The regulator consists of a cast iron chamber having a
compartment fitted with a concentric cast iron lining. Within this compartment
is a sufficient quantity of mercury to float a cast iron weight, to the upper
extremity of which is attached a spindle valve, so that when the weight floats up,
this valve shuts the passage from the boiler to the apparatus. To this regulator I
affix two pipes, the one connected to the space outside the concentric lining and
terminating below the working level of the water within the boiler-the other
pipe communicating with the inner compartment and terminating at the working
level of the water in the boiler. The action of the regulator is as follows:-
-
When the boiler requires feeding the pipe to the inner compartment would be
just above water level, therefore the pipe becomes filled with steam-which allows

page_text: the water in the other pipe to draw the mercury up into the outer compartment
and causes the cast iron weight to fall and draw down the spindle valve from its
seat, thus opening the passage to the apparatus. When the water again arrives at
the working level the pipe fills with water, equalizing the pressure in the two pipes
and allowing the mercury to return to equilibrium-thus floating the cast iron,
weight up, and returning the valve to its seat.-This spindle valve is supplied with
a suitable guide, and acts as a piston, the guide being the cylinder. This prevents
a back pressure of steam.
Between the regulators and the apparatus, I place a movable pin in the pipe, for
the purpose of preventing the accumulation of deposit or other foreign matter in
the pipe or opening. The bottom pressure raises this pin, when the vacuum occurs
in the apparatus, which falls again of its own weight, when the pressure is equalized,
thus clearing the passage.
The regulator is connected to the hollow casting or it can be fixed in any other
suitable situation.
I also fix in a suitable position upon the coldest part of the apparatus a whistle
or other signál so that in case of stoppage of the action of the apparatus, the
whistle sounds and the stoppage is indicated at once to the man in charge.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by.
the said Alfred Mayhew in the Patent Office on the 9th May 1884.
ALFRED MAYHEW of 2 Westminster Chambers Victoria Street Westminster, in
the County of Middlesex-Engineer "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND
APPARATUS FOR THE AUTOMATIC FEEDING OF BOILERS"
This Invention has for its object an improved apparatus for feeding Boilers with
water and automatically cutting off the supply when the working level is
obtained.
I accomplish my object in the following manner.-which I now proceed to
describe more particularly by the aid of the accompanying drawings, in which
Figure 1 represents a sectional elevation, Figure 2 is an end elevation, Figure 3
is a plan on line c. d. Figure 1. Figure 4 is part of a side elevation of feeder and
section through mercury regulator on line e. f. Figure 3.
I fix on or near the boiler at a level above the working level of the water, an
apparatus consisting of two cylinders or vessels A¹ and A* of copper or other
suitable material fitted with suction and delivery valves C. and D. which valves
are fixed upon the cast iron frame E. of the apparatus.-These copper cylinders or
vessels are connected together at the base, within the hollow cast iron frame E
The water to be supplied to the boiler is drawn into the apparatus by vacuum
created therein by the action of the steam hereinafter described.
When the apparatus is first started, it is necessary to remove a plug, cock, or
opening valve F, at the top and fill the two cylinders with water.-The interior of
A¹ cylinder is fitted with a pipe G. extending from the suction and delivery valves,
nearly to the top of the apparatus and having an aperture H at or near its base.-
The entering water passes up this pipe G., the greater part passing to the top of
the pipe, the less part through the hole H. before mentioned.-A cylinder is fitted
with an injection pipe J. of less diameter than than the pipe G. of U. form, the
other end terminating in cylinder A¹ the two ends extending up cylinders A¹ and A³
to any convenient height.-In the bottom of cylinder A₁ I construct certain
holes K K. K. Figure 3. In a copper flange forming the base of the cylinder over
and covering these holes K. K. K. I place a cover L. acting as a valve and capable
of vertical motion, guided by the collar of pipe G. I form a connection M. between
the suction and delivery valves to which pipe G. is connected.-When the two
cylinders are filled with water the method of injecting the same into the boiler is
as follows:-Steam is admitted from the boiler to the lower surface of a weighted
valve N situated the lowest of three valves at the upper end of the apparatus
about to be described.-The steam is admitted from the boiler to the outer and
bottom side side of the two lower valves N. and O which steam pushes both valves
up into their seats and at the same time actuates the third or highest valve P which
regulates the connection Q. between the two cylinders The lowest valve is of
vertical cylindrical form, and a space R. is left between its periphery and the valve
chamber or casing.-When the valve falls the steam enters through R. acts on the
seat surface and holds the valve N up to its seat, until the mercury regulator
hereinafter described comes into action.-The spindle valve O. working within the
lower valve N actuates another valve P above it, by means of the spindle
produced, thus when it is raised into its seat by the incoming steam, it raises the
valve P, above it out of its seat, and remains there until the mercury regulator
allows water to enter the apparatus, and bring the pressure within the apparatus
to the same or nearly the same pressure as that within the boiler.-This pressure
acting on the upper side of the spindle valve O. allows it to fall and the top
;

page_text: valve P follows it, and closes the passage Q. between the two cylinders, before the
outer valve N of the two lowest valves O. and N. falls to readmit steam.-Thus the
steain being admitted to the top of the cylinder A* which contains the injection
pipe J allows the water to fall. This water lifts up the cover L and then passes
through the three holes K K K the greater part part passes up the A¹ cylinder,
down the pipe G., and the smaller part passes through the aperture HL and on
through a delivery valve D into the boiler.-The steam follows the water down
the A cylinder as described till it reaches the base of A³ cylinder and
enters the water contained within the hollow frame E, whereby a partial
condensation is established which condensation causes the lowest valve N to
be drawn up, the centre valve O. follows it, lifting the top valve P. as described,
tbus allowing the water contained in the A¹ cylinder to fall through the connection
frame, closing the holes K K K. by the cover L. and passes through the injection
pipe J. up into the cylinder A³ where it comes in contact with the steam therein
and establishes an almost perfect vacuum. The water contained in A¹ cylinder
passes through the injection pipe J. in A* until the vacuum is sufficient to draw
the water through the suction valve up pipe G., until the cylinder A¹ is full, the
remainder passing through the pipe G. flowing through Q. Q. and meeting the
injection water in cylinder A thus completing the vacuum.-On the top of the
apparatus I fix an air relief valve S. This valve is fitted with what is known as a
leaky-piston T. having a valve on either side thereof S. and U.-When the pressure
in the cylinders A¹ and A³, increases, air is forced past the leaky piston T. to
the top side and is then confined until the next action of the apparatus takes
place, which action reduces the pressure on the lower surface of the leaky piston T.
The confined air then expands forcing down the leaky piston and its valves,
through the upper one S. of which the air escapes into the atmosphere, and at the
same time closes the bottom valve U. or I may use instead of the above arrangement
two floating ball valves to produce the same effect.
Thus I avoid accumulation of air within the apparatus.
The mercury regulator before mentioned is shown in Figure 4 It constitutes
the medium through which, water is admitted to the apparatus, to equalize the
pressures to allow the steam valves to fall. The regulator cousists of a cast iron
outer chamber V. having a compartment fitted with a concentric cast iron
lining W.
Inside and outside the lining W. is a sufficient quantity of mercury to float a cast
iron weight X.; to the upper extremity of which is attached a spindle valve Y. so
that when the weight X floats up, this valve Y shuts the passage from the boiler
to the apparatus. To this regulator I affix two pipes Z1 Z2. the one Z' connected to
the space outside the concentric lining W. and terminating below the working level
of the water within the boiler, the other pipe Z' communicating with the inner
compartment containing the cast iron weight X. and terminating at the working
level of the water in the boiler. The action of the regulator is as follows:--When
the boiler requires feeding the pipe Z³ to the inner compartment containing the
cast iron weight X. would be just above water level, therefore the pipe becomes
filled with steam which allows the water in the other pipe Z¹ to draw the mercury up
into the outer compartment V and causes the cast iron weight ✗. to fall and draw
down the spindle valve Y. from its seat thus opening the passage to the apparatus.
When the water again arrives at the working level the pipe Z2 fills with water,
equalizing the pressure in the two pipes, and allowing the mercury to return to
equilibrium thus floating the cast iron weight X. up, and returning the valve Y. to
its seat. This spindle valve Y is supplied with a suitable guide, and acts as a
piston, the guide being the cylinder or seat. This prevents a back pressure of
steam. Between the regulator and the apparatus, I place a movable pin in the
pipe y for the purpose of preventing the accumulation of deposit or other foreign
matter in the pipe or opening.-The bottom pressure raises the pin, when the
vacuum occurs in the apparatus which falls again of its own weight when the
pressure is equalized thus clearing the passage.

page_text: The regulator is connected to the hollow cast iron frame E. or it can be fixed in
any other suitable situation.-I also fix in a suitable positon upon the coldest part of
the apparatus, an alarm, so that in case of stoppage of action of the apparatus the
alarm sounds, and the stoppage is indicated to the man in charge.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed―
I declare that what I claim as my Invention is :-
Firstly: The improvements in the construction and arrangement of apparatus
for the automatic feeding of Boilers at any pressure, as described.
Secondly: The arrangement of the three valves N. O. and P.-N. and O.
operating on and allowing P. to close before N. opens to admit steam, substantially
as and in the manner described.
Thirdly: The pipe G. extending from the suction and delivery valves to the top
of the apparatus upon which pipe the cover L works opening and closing the
apertures K. K. K: on the base flange as and for the purpose described.
Fourthly: The injection pipe J. fixed at K. and extending up into the
cylinders A and A² as described
Fifthly: The construction and arrangement of a mercury regulator, and pipes Z¹
and Z³, thereto, controlling the admission of water to the apparatus, and equalizing
the pressure in the same, substantially as and for the purpose described.
Sixthly: The combination and peculiar form, arrangement and application of
parts valves and pipes for the purpose hereinbefore particularly described, set forth
and illustrated by the accompanying
In Witness whereof I the said Alfred Mayhew have hereunto set my hand and
seal this seventh day of May in the year of our Lord, One thousand eight hundred
and eighty four.