IMPROVEMENTS IN AUTOMATIC BOILER FEEDERS
Year: 1884

page_text: I ALFRED MAYHEW of 2 Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, Westminster,
in the County of Middlesex ;-Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN AUTOMATIC BOILER FEEDERS" 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 automatic boiler feeders and has
for its object the means of injecting water into boilers or other generators by
means of a self acting and compact apparatus which will start itself as steam
commences to rise, and consequent evaporation ensues, and continue without
manual assistance to supply water to the boiler, so long as evaporation continues,
and when evaporation ceases, the apparatus will stop itself. I accomplish my
object in the following manner, which I will now describe by aid of the accom-
panying Drawings, in which Figure 1 represents a sectional elevation, Figure 2
a side elevation Figure 3 a plan, Figure 4 a sectional elevation of an alternative
check and injection valve arrangement and Figure 5 an enlarged section of pipe N.
and valve X.
In carrying my Invention into practise I fix on or near the boiler in any con-
venient position at a level above the working level of the water an apparatus
consisting of a cylinder A. of copper or other material, which I construct upon a
hollow frame E, which may act as a foundation for the whole apparatus, or be
placed in any suitable position.-The frame is fitted with suction and delivery
valves C and D.-At the top of cylinder A. I arrange a combination of valves and
parts as follows:-The pipe F. communicates directly with the steam in the boiler;
G. is a steam valve making communication with port H.; J. is a piston valve
resting on G.; pipe K. extends down to the normal water level of the boiler;
valve L. is an air release valve, the release of air being commanded by the floating
ball valves M. M. I fix a pipe N. communicating with the top of passage H. and
descending to the bottom of hollow chamber E. At any point in the pipe N. or
the pipe O. I place a movable weight X. Figure 1 & 5 capable of vertical motion
and fitted at its lower extremity with cone and spindle working in an orifice. The
function of this weighted valve is to reduce the velocity of the condensing water,
as the cylinder A. is filled with water.
The spindle also clears the orifice of deposit at each stroke of the apparatus.

page_text: At the highest point of the vertical side of the hollow frame E I affix a pipe O.
extending to any point below the water level of the boiler and at the apex of the
bollow frame E I arrange a check and injection valve P. which may either be of
the form shown at P. Figure 1 for the purpose of injection and releasing air from
the chamber E or else I can dispense with the before described rising pipe N.
weighted valve X. and check valve P. substituting therefore the form of valve
shown in Figure 4 wherein N. is a hollow pipe extending to the base of the hollow
frame E and having apertures x. x. at the top as shown; X. is a weighted valvo
with cone and spindle as before described. Within the hollow frame E I place a
gauze of copper or brass to exclude dirt &c. Between the base of the cylinder A.
and the apex of the frame E is a hollow compartment S. with which the suction
and delivery valves C. and D. are connected.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-
When steam is rising in the boiler it commences to blow through the pipe F.
and rise up outside the valve G. through passage H. and through the air release
valve L; when a small pressure is obtained, it first tends to raise and then raises
valve G. into its seat thus closing the passage of steam from the boiler to the
apparatus.
The pressure then forces water from the boiler through the pipe O. into the
hollow frame E which is already charged with cold water, a part of which is
injected at each stroke of the apparatus, the greater volume of the quantity to
be injected is thus forced from the base through pipe N. Figure 1 past the weighted
valve X, which regulates its velocity, into passage H; the less part of the quantity
to be injected is forced through the check valve P. Figure 1 into the cylinder A.
until it reaches the floating ball valves M M, which are then raised to their seat,
thus closing the air release valve L. and raising the water in the whole apparatus
to boiler pressure; or in case of using the alternative check and injection valve
shown in Figure 4 the water passes up the pipe N. through valve X. and fills the
cylinder A. and the air release valve is closed as before.
The apparatus is now charged with water and stands at or nearly at boiler
pressure ready for action.
Supposing the boiler requires water, then the level of the water must be below
the foot of pipe K. which pipe consequently fills with steam, and the pressure
caused by the loss of head, due to the outflow of water and influx of steam, acts
on the base of the piston valve J, forcing it to descend and open valve G. The
steam then passes up the side of valve G. and comes in contact with the water in
passage H. allowing the water to fall through the cylinder A. into the compart-
ment S. and through the delivery valve D. into the boiler.-When the steam reaches
the base of cylinder A. it comes in contact with the water contained in chamber S.
causing partial condensation which raises valve G. into its seat carrying with it the
piston valve J. against the boiler pressure through pipe K.-Directly this valve
closes it excludes steam from cylinder A. water is then forced up from the boiler
through pipe O. forcing up a portion of the injection water contained in E,-as
before described, into cylinder A, thus condensing the steam therein contained
and causing vacuum. Which vacuum then draws water through suction valve C.
as before and circulation continues until the water reaches pipe K. which fills with
water and diminishes the pressure on the piston valve J. due to the head of the
water, this allows steam pressure to hold G. in its seat, until the water leaves the
end of pipe K. or in case of using the valve arrangement in Figure 4 instead of
water passing through X. and P. as described it passes up pipe N. Figure 4 and
through apertures x. x. up past valve X. and through orifice at the top of X. into
cylinder A.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:
First: The combination of valves J. and G. either of which is capable of opening
or closing the other valve, under boiler pressure actuated by the differing head of

page_text: water, acting through K. and the difference between the specific gravity of water
and steam.
Secondly The open communication between the boiler, under water line, and
the chamber E, whereby water is obtained for condensing purposes, which water
at the next stroke of apparatus is returned to the boiler.
Third: The combination and arrangement of valves parts and apparatus, substan-
tially as and for the purpose herein before ascertained and described and illustrated
by the accompanying Drawings.