Improvements in Thermostatic Regulators or Indicators.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 19th May, 1899-Accepted, 22nd July, 1899
10
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Thermostatic Regulators or Indicators.
I, ALBERT RICHARDSON SHATTUCK, of No. 11, Broadway, New York City, United
States of America, at present residing at the Hotel Bristol, Burlington Gardens,
n the County of London, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
ion 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 thermostatic regulators, or indicators, especially those
that are used for controlling the admission of feed water to steam generators and
that are operated by the expansion and contraction of a metallic body to open and
close a suitable valve for regulating the supply of the feed water to the steam
generator.
invention I arrange a metallic or other body capable of expand-
According to my
ing and contracting under variations in temperature in such a position with
respect to the steam generator that it is subjected on the one hand to the tem-
perature of the feed water and on the other hand to the temperature of the steam
in the generator. The difference in temperature of the steam and the feed water
being considerable I am able to obtain a sufficient movement of the said body
under its expansion and contraction to effectually actuate the aforesaid valve
through suitable contrivances for transmitting the said movement to the valve.
The said body may be tubular and so arranged that the feed water and steam
have access to the interior thereof and in this case. I prefer to construct it in the
form of a coil, open at one end to the steam in the generator and at the other
end to the feed water.
In some cases however, I construct the tubular body so that the steam and feel
water cannot have access to the interior thereof, and I provide within said body
a fluid which will expand and contract by the differences in temperature of the
feed water and of the steam in the generator, such expansion or contraction caus-
ing a diaphragm, connected with the said body, to be operated, and by suitable
gearing to actuate the valve controlling the supply of feed water to the steam
generator. In this instance the said tubular body may be in the form of a cham-
ber or vessel of any appropriate shape,
Sometimes I make the metallic body solid instead of tubular and bend it into
the form of a coil or spiral or make it of zigzag form, one end being rigidly fixed
and the other end being free to move and operate the aforesaid valve when varia-
tions in the length of the body takes place, during its expansion and contraction.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into
effect I will proceed to describe the same more fully with reference to the accom-
panying drawings in which:-
:-
Figure is a vertical section of one construction of the apparatus wherein the
metallic body is tubular and in the form of a coil.
Figure 2 is a vertical section showing a modification of the above apparatus, in
which the tubular metallic body is in the form of a spiral and is adapted to con-
bla fluid.

page_text: Figures 3 and 4 are vertical sections of the apparatus in which the said metallic
body is made solid and in a coiled and zigzag form respectively.
A is the steam generator, B the feed water pipe B¹ the stem of the valve or cock
thereon and C the metallic body.
In the
Referring more particularly to Figure 1, the metallic body C is represented
in the form of a tubular coil; it may, however, be a straight tube, or a tube of
any other desired shape. The material of which this tube is to be composed is
preferably a metal having a high co-efficient of expansion. D) is a stand pipe,
communicating with the steam generator A by the tubes D1 and D2.
tube D may be placed an ordinary check valve D. The stand pipe D is cylin-
drical in form, and is provided at its ends with heads and d. The lower
extremity of the tube C is rigidly secured to the lower part of the stand pipe and
the upper extremity of said tube is secured to the upper part of said stand pipe
in such a manner that it will be free to move under contraction or expansion
through differences in temperature. One mode of connecting the lower end of the
tube to the stand pipe is shown in the drawings, and is as follows;-
On one side of the stand pipe is cast or otherwise formed a tube which pro-
jects outside of the stand pipe and has a flange ³. The end of the tube C is flanged
at c and is bolted to the flange. The short tube 2 projects through the wall
of the stand pipe and receives a short pipe c¹ which connects by an elbow c² with
a vertical pipe c³.
The tube Ĉ is made in the form of a close coil, with the turns as near together
as possible, and this coil surrounds the stand pipe, as shown. At the upper end
of the tube there is a straight section which passes through the stuffing box d
in the side of the stand pipe and connects with the vertical pipe by an elbow c.
Because the tube C is rigidly secured at its lower end, variations in temperature
will cause it to expand and contract in the direction of its length, and this it is
free to do because it passes through the stuffing box d. On the cover d' is secured.
or integrally formed a bracket E. On the lower edge of said bracket may be
formed a half-bearing e, in which the straight portion of the tube C is received
and secured by a cover el bolted above. Between the half-bearing e and the
stuffing box the section of the tube carries on its upper side a rack e. Pivoted
at is a lever F which carries at its lower end a toothed sector f¹, and at its
upper end a toothed sector f². The toothed sector engages with a pinion f³,
pivoted on bracket E. The shaft of the pinion may be the spindle of the valve
or cock B on the pipe B, or said shaft or said pinion may be connected to any
device which it is desired to control by means of my regulator. On the shaft of
pinion is a pointer f, moving over a scale f fixed on the bracket E. The
object of the pointer is to show the position of the pinion, and hence of the valve
or other device to which said pinion may be attached.
The pipe B communicates with the lower portion of the stand pipe D and admits
the feed water thereto in the direction of the arrow, the feed water passing thence
to the steam generator by the pipe 12 and past the check valve 13.
In the embodiment of my invention shown in the drawings, the feed pipe B
may be understood as connected to a pump and conveying steam thereto for opera-
ting said pump and forcing the feed water into the steam generator.
I wish it to be understood that the aforesaid tube C instead of having its upper
end flexibly connected to the stand pipe through a stuffing box and its lower end
rigidly connected to said stand pipe, may if desired have its lower end flexibly
connected to the stand pipe and the upper end rigidly connected thereto.
Instead of employing a stuffing box for effecting the flexible connection of said
tube to the stand pipe, I may employ a flexible tube connecting one end of the
tube C to the stand pipe, such flexible tube permitting the requisite movement
of the tube C to take place as it expands or contracts.
I prefer to construct the part of the stand pipe D into which the feed water
enters of greater diameter than that of the part into which the steam enters,
especially when the tube C is in the form of a coil and arranged as in Figure 1

page_text: that the fall in level of the feed water in the stand pipe
mount of suction to take place in the said coil and thereby facilitate the entrance
the steam into such coil.
The operation of the device illustrated in Figure 1 is as follows; -
Steam will enter the stand pipe from the generator A through the pipe D';
eed water will enter the bottom of the stand pipe through the pipe B, and will
ise up in the stand pipe and also in the tube C. The greater portion of the feed
ater however will pass through the pipe D2 to the steam generator. The level
f the water in the stand pipe and tube C will therefore be the same as in the
generator A, say for example as the line a.
By reason of the construction of the tube C as already explained, the straight
portion thereof has a longitudinal movement due to the expansion and con-
traction of the entire tube. This movement imparted to the toothed sector f¹ by
the rack 7, is, through the lever F, communicated to the toothed sector f², and
by that means to the pinion f; so that the cock B actuated thereby is rotated
over an arc which is to be sufficient to allow said cock to be placed in position
in the pipe B to permit feed water to pass to the stand pipe or shut it off, as the
case may be.
The parts are to be so adjusted that when the water in the steam generator is
at the datum line xa, the cock in the feed pipe may be opened only to just such
an extent as will permit sufficient water to go to the steam generator to compen-
sate for variation due to evaporation under some prescribed normal condition.
Should however the water level fall in the steam generator, then the water will
fall equally in tube C, say, for example, to the level indicated by the dotted
lines yy. In such case, steam will occupy all of the tube C above said line yy, and
therefore the greater portion of that tube; hence, said tube will become more
highly heated and will expand, and by reason of such expansion will actuate the
lever F to permit more water to pass through the feed pipe B to the stand pipe D
and tube C. If, on the other hand, the water level should rise in the steam gener.
ator, it will also rise in the tube C, say to the level indicated by the dotted lines,
and then the greater portion of the tube will be filled with the cool feed water,
and as a consequence the tube C will contract and will actuate the lever F to
move the cock in the feed pipe B in such direction as to shut off the water flow.
I desire to call especial attention here to the fact that the contents of the
tube C are not steam and water both from the generator, but steam from the
generator and feed water which is always of a temperature much lower than that
of the water in the generator. There is therefore under ordinary conditions a
difference of temperature between the steam and water in the tube C very much
greater than exists between the steam and water in the generator; consequently,
there is a larger difference in temperature of the tube C when it becomes in greater
portion filled with either steam or water than would be the case if said tube did
not connect with the feed and receive the water, therefrom. Hence I thus obtain
a greater degree of expansion and contraction of said tube than is possible with
any other thermostatic regulator depending upon differences between steam and
15 water temperature, which, so far as I know, exists in the art.
50
It will be observed that I make the tube C in the form of a coil extending around
the stand pipe D; I may if desired place the stand pipe outside of the coil; or
I may carry the coil around the steam generator or around both stand pipe and
generator as may appear desirable.
The vertical appendages and of the tube C within the stand pipe 1 should
be carried up and down nearly to the ends of the stand pipe. Their object is to
prevent either steam or water becoming trapped in the coils of the tube C in case
the support for the generator rolls, oscillates or tilts, as may happen when sai
generator and apparatus are placed in a vehicle passing over obstructions in
55 road, or in a floating vessel of any kind.
In case it may be found desirable, I may employ a cylinder C¹ enclosing th
exterior of the tube C for the purpose of preventing any possible increase in diamete

page_text: of the coils of this tube when the temperature thereof is raised, and to insure
a greater movement of the straight portion of said tube; said cylinder may be
supported by any convenient bracket as C upon the side of the generator. Of
course where the tube C is not made in coil form, as here shown, such a cylinder
may be omitted.
In the modified construction of the apparatus illustrated in Figure 2 the metal-
lic body C is made in the form of a spiral tubular coil. Instead however of being
in this form it may be made in the form of a closed vessel of any appropriate
shape. Into this coil or vessel I place a fluid (which may be in a liquid or gaseous
condition) the said fluid being caused to expand and contract in accordance with
the temperature of the steam or of the feed water in a chamber G communicating
respectively with the steam and water spaces of the generator A, by the pipes D₁
D. C is a flexible diaphragm with which the outer end C* of said tube or vessel C
is provided, the said outer end being of enlarged dimensions as shewn. The
diaphragm is connected by a rod C to the lever arm F which is geared with the
cock or valve B¹ on the feed water or other pipe B in a similar manner to that
already described with reference to Figure 1. When the fluid in the tube or
vessel C expands it causes the said diaphragm to move outwardly and, through the
intervention of the aforesaid gearing, causes the cock or valve B₁ to be opened.
When the said fluid contracts again the diaphragm moves in the reverse direction
towards its original position, with the assistance of a spring C³, and so causes
the cock or valve to be closed. The fluid with which the said tube or vessel
charged may consist of mercury, or of a liquid that is capable of being volatilized
such as alcohol. When using such a liquid I prefer to employ only so much
thereof as will ensure its being all or nearly all vaporized at the temperature of
the steam and to be all or nearly all condensed again at the temperature of the
feed-water. I provide the said tube or vessel C with a safety valve C which wil!!
relieve the internal pressure in the event of its tending to rise so high as to
damage the diaphragm.
The aforesaid chamber G in which the tube or vessel C is located is preferably
divided by
a partition G* having one or more apertures g therein the said par-
titions being so arranged that it divides the said vessel into two unequal compart-
ments GG the larger of which is arranged furthermost from the diaphragm.
In this manner the fall of level of the feed water in the larger compartment will
enable a further quantity of steam from the steam generator to enter the said
chamber and thereby ensure that the temperature shall be approximately that of
the steam in the generator. The said partition also prevents the water in the
larger compartment from coming into contact with the tube or vessel G by splash-
ing or otherwise.
Referring now to Figures 3 and 4 the metallic body C is here shown in the
form of a rod which in Figure 3 is of helical form and in Figure 4 of zigzag form.
In each case the said body is enclosed in a box or chamber H to which steam from
the generator A and feed water from the pipe B can enter by the pipes D¹ and D³
respectively. The diameter of the said box or chamber is in each case such that
the metallic body tightly fits therein. One end of the said metallic body is firmly
fixed to the box or chamber at h and the other end extends through a stuffing box
at so that it is free to move therein as it expands and contracts. The free end
of the said metallic body is coupled to a pivoted arm F which gears with a valve
on the pipe B in an analogous manner to that already described with reference to
Figures 1 and 2. I prefer to construct the said box or chamber H with a par-
tition G* to divide it into two compartments for a similar purpose to that described
above in connection with Figure 2.
In the foregoing I have described my invention as applied to the regulation of
feed water supply to a steam generator; but it is to be distinctly understood that
I do not limit myself to this particular application. I may regulate the feed
supply coming in at B* to the stand pipe 1 by any other means; and I may
employ my device to actuate or control some other apparatus, such, for example.

page_text: a valve controlling the admission of steam to a pump which forces water into a
am generator or elsewhere, to means for controlling a forced draught or a
mper or the flow of combustible to an oil or gasoline burner; or I may use my
ice to actuate a signal visible or audible, or for any other purpose or use to
ich it is applicable."
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
claim is :-
1. A thermostatic regulator or indicator in which the expansion and contraction
a metallic body, or of a fluid contained in said body, is obtained by the varia-
on in temperature existing between the feed water to be supplied to a steam
enerator and the steam within the generator substantially as described and for
he purposes specified.
2. The combination in a regulator or indicator controlled by changes of water
evel in a steam generator, of a tube expansible and contractible under variations
f temperature, communicating at one end with the steam space of said generator
nd at the other extremity with the water space and feed water inlet of said genera-
or, one end being rigidly secured and the other end being secured so that said tube
nay expand and contract; a controlling device (such as a valve or cock) and
ntermediate mechanism for actuating said controlling device by the expansion
and contraction of said tube, substantially as described.
3. The combination in a regulator or indicator controlled by changes of water
level in a steam generator, of a stand pipe communicating at its lower portion
with the water space of said generator and also with the feed water supply thereof
and at its upper portion with the steam space of said generator, a tube expansible
and contractible under variations of temperature rigidly secured at one end to and
communicating with the said stand pipe and secured at its other end so as to
to be free to expand and contract and likewise communicating with the said stand
pipe, a controlling device such as a valve or cock and intermediate mechanism
for actuating said controlling device by the expansion and contraction of said
tube, substantially as described.
4. The combination in a regulator or indicator controlled by changes of water
level, in a steam generator, of a stand pipe communicating at its lower portion
with the water space of said generator, and also with the feed water supply thereof
and at its upper portion with the steam space of said generator, a tube C expan-
sible and contractible under variations of temperature, rigidly secured at one end
to and communicating with the said stand pipe and secured at the other end so
as to be free to expand and contract and likewise communicating with the said
stand pipe, vertical tubes 3 and c connected to the extremities of said tube C
within said stand pipe, a controlling device such as a valve or cock and inter-
mediate mechanism for actuating said controlling device by the expansion and
contraction of said tube, substantially as described.
5. In a regulator or indicator controlled by changes of water level in a steam
generator, a spiral coil of tubing or other form of vessel containing a fluid which
by its expansion and contraction actuates a flexible diaphragm connected by suit-
able mechanism to a controlling device such as a cock or valve, substantially as
and for the purpose specified.
6. In a regulator or indicator controlled by changes of water level in a steam
generator, the combination with the said metal tube of a stand pipe having the
0 part thereof that receives the feed water of greater diameter than the part thereof
that receives the steam, substantially as described and for the purpose specified.
7. The combination with the aforesaid metallic body of a box or chamber with-
in which said body is located in a position to leave a space below it, the said
chamber communicating with the steam in the generator and with the feed water
55 respectively, as and for the purpose described.
8. In a regulator or indicator controlled by changes of water level in a steam

page_text: generator, a metallic rod of helical, zigzag or other appropriate form enclosed
in and tightly fitting a box or chamber communicating with the steam space in
the generator and with the feed water, the said metallic body being firmly fixed
at one end but free to move at the other end under expansion and contraction
substantially as described and for the purpose specified.
9. A thermostatic regulator or indicator having its parts constructed combined
and operating substantially as described with reference to one or other of the
constructions illustrated in the accompanying drawings for the purpose specified.
Dated this 19th day of May 1899.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.