Year: 1886

page_text: I CHARLES OSCAR WYMAN of Anoka, Anoka County, State of Minnesota, United
States of America Machinist, 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:-
My Invention relates to a feed water regulator for steam boilers whereby the water
level within the boiler will be automatically maintained at the proper working height
whilst the boiler is in work. By the use of this regulator the liability of priming from
excess of water and the danger of explosion from shortness of water in the boiler are
entirely avoided.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing forming part of this specifica-
tion wherein the boiler feed regulator is represented in vertical section as enclosed in a
tank separate from but preferably fixed to the boiler.
A is a closed tank fixed in such a position that its centre or mid-height will be
approximately at the desired water level in the boiler. This tank is in communication
with the boiler by pipes B C the pipe B connecting the top of the tank with the
steam space and the pipe C connecting the bottom of the tank with the water space,
such connections being situated respectively above the highest and below the lowest
working water level in the boiler. The tank is also in communication by pipes D, E,
with the donkey pump, the pipe D connecting the top of the tank with the valve chest
of the pump, and the pipe E connecting the bottom of the tank with the pump barrel.
Within the tank is a float F mounted upon a spindle f fitted to slide vertically in suitable
guides in the tank. The passages through the steam and water pipes B C are respec-
tively controlled by valves be fitted to close against suitable seats, as shown, the valve
b opening outwards from and the valve c opening inwards to the boiler. The two
valves are connected to the same spindle 9 and are opened and closed simultaneously
by the fall and rise of the float F through the medium of a lever H of the second order
pivoted at to a fixed lug jointed at g¹ to the rod g and connected with the float
spindle by its forked end being confined between collars on said spindle. By the
leverage thus obtained, the buoyant power of the float is caused to act with increased
force on the valves.

page_text: The action of the regulator is as follows:-
As the water level in boiler and tank falls, the float descends and opens the valves bc,
thereby opening connection between the steam space of the boiler and the valve chest
of the donkey pump and also between the pump cylinder and the water space of the
boiler. The steam being thus admitted to the pump sets it in motion whereby water
is pumped into the tank and thence into the boiler. The water level being thereby
raised the float rises and eventually closes the valves until the lowering of the water
level causes the operation to be repeated, so that the water never rises too high or falls
too low. The valve c can be dispensed with when there is but one boiler being fed
from the same pump, but when two or more are being so fed, this valve is necessary
as a check valve to prevent overfeeding a boiler in which the water level may be suffi-
ciently high whilst another in which the water is low continues to work the pump.
The regulator float and valves instead of being arranged in a supplemental tank or
chamber, might be fitted to work in a suitable guide hoop or frame within the boiler
itself, in which case the steam and water pipes to the pump would communicate
directly with the boiler.
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 is ;—
1st. The valve rod g, the float rod f arranged out of line with rod 9, the float F and
lever H pivotally supported and connected with rods ƒ and g, all combined sub-
stantially as set forth.
2nd. The combination of the tank having pipes for connecting it with the boiler
above and below the water line of the latter, and provided with pipes leading to the
pump, the valve rod g, the float rod farranged out of line with rod 9, the float and the
lever H pivotally supported and connected with rods fand g, all being constructed and
arranged substantially as described and for the purpose specified.
:
3rd. The combination of the tank, the pipes DE for connecting the tank with the
pump, the float provided with a rod movable through guides and into the pipes DE,
the valve band the lever H connected with the float and the valve, substantially as
set forth.
C. O. WYMAN.
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
Patent Agents,
53, Chancery Lane, London.