Improved Apparatus for Feeding Water to Steam Boilers and for Registering the Quantity of Water Supplied.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Mar., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Dec., 1591-Accepted, 23rd Jan., 1592
TRUVIDIONAL DIMITIVATION.
Improved Apparatus for Feeding Water to Steam Boilers and for
Registering the Quantity of Water Supplied.
I, AUGUSTO SANDINO Y BARCON of Corunna, in the Kingdom of Spain,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to apparatus for feeding water to steam boilers and for
registering the quantity of water to be so supplied.
In carrying out my invention employ four vessels of cylindrical or other
suitable shape, which vessels I term respectively the reservoir, the supply-vessel,
the regulator and the elevator.
The supply-vessel is connected with the reservoir by a suitable pipe having a
valve at its lower end and with the boiler to be supplied, a valve being provided
for preventing (at certain times the entrance of the boiler-pressure into the
supply-vessel, I also advantageously provide a valve for cutting off the connection
between the said boiler and the supply-vessel.
In the supply-vessel is a float connected to a rack in engagement with suitable
counting mechanism for recording the movements of the float and consequently also
the amount of water which enters the boiler.
From the top of the supply-vessel extends a pipe normally closed by a valve and
serving for the escape of steam from the supply-vessel at certain times; the said
pipe being preferably in communication with a coil arranged in the reservoir so
that the steam escaping through the said pipe will be condensed.
Upon the supply-vessel is also placed a whistle or other alarm apparatus which
is adapted to be operated through the medium of a lever against which the float
strikes if there is no water in the apparatus.
From the top of the said supply-vessel extends a pipe to the regulator, which
regulator is in communication with the boiler at the water level.
A valve controls the passage of steam or water through the boiler connection,
the said valve being operated by means of an oscillating weight which is actuated
by a float in such a manner that, when, during the rising and falling of the float, the
weight has moved to a vertical position it will be free to fall in one or the other
direction to open or close the valve independently of the movements of the said
float.
At the bottom of the regulator is a valve which is adapted to be closed by the
weight of the float, and a valve adapted to be operated by hand is provided for
controlling the escape of the water from the said regulator through a spout on the
underside of the same. The water which flows from the said regulator through the
spout falls into a basin on the top of the elevator, whence it passes through a valve
opening into the said elevator. The lower part of the elevator is connected by a
suitable pipe with the reservoir, the water being raised by means of the steam-
pressure, and the expansive force of the steam. The steam is admitted into the
elevator through a valve opening, the pipe connected with which extends to the
regulator. The valve for controlling the admission of steam is operated by a float
sliding upon a vertical rod, this vertical rod carries pivotted levers which serve
(under certain conditions) to hold the float upon the upper end of the rod and then
to drop it suddenly when required.
In the operation of the apparatus the steam which enters the regulator and
supply-vessel after the water is discharged from the latter condenses so that the
reduction in the pressure allows the operation of certain of the valves and the

page_text: equalization of the pressure in the supply vessel to atmospheric pressure when
the said supply-vessel again fills from the reservoir.
Dated the 23rd day of March 1891.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Apparatus for Feeding Water to Steam Boilers and for
Registering the Quantity of Water Supplied.
I, AUGUSTO SANDINO Y BARCON, of Coruna, in the Kingdom of Spain,
Engineer, 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 apparatus for feeding water to steam boilers and for
registering the quantity of water to be so supplied.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a vertical section of the apparatus connected to a boiler and the parts
being in the position they occupy when a feed is almost completed, that is to say,
just before the level of the water reaches the feed tube in the boiler.
Figure 2 is a similar view but shewing the position of the parts when the supply
vessel hereinafter described has been nearly filled and when the level of the water
in the regulator has fallen sufficiently to allow its float to begin to descend.
Figure 3 is a transverse section of the supply-vessel.
Figure 4 is a section of the discharge-valve for the steam and air from the
supply vessel and regulator.
Figure 5 is a sectional plan view of the supply vessel.
Figure 6 is a sectional elevation of the regulator shewing the inlet and outlet
valves thereof.
Figures 7, 8 and 9 are enlarged cross sections of the regulator discharge-valve
on the lines 7-7, 8-8 and 9--9 respectively of Figure 6.
Figure 10 is a sectional elevation of the regulator.
Figure 11 is a sectional plan view of the same.
Figure 12 is a transverse section on the line 12-12 of Figure 11; and
Figure 13 is a similar view on the line 13-13 of Figure 10.
The improved boiler feeder is provided with a supply vessel or filling receptacle A,
to contain the water to be discharged into the boiler C. The bottom of the
receptacle A is connected by a pipe B (Figures 1, 2 and 3) with the water chamber
of the boiler C, and is provided with a valve D (Figure 3) to connect or dis-
connect the said receptacle with or from the boiler when required.
In the receptacle A is a pipe E (Figures 1 and 2) extending to within a short
distance from the bottom thereof and having at its lower end a valve E'. The
pipe E extends upwards through the top of the receptacle A, and is connected to a
reservoir or tank F, for supplying the receptacle A at intervals with water, for
charging the boiler. The upper end of the receptacle A is also connected by a
pipe G, provided with a valve G1, (Figures 1 and 2) to a regulator H, provided
with a pipe I in which is a cock I the said pipe extending into the steam space of
the boiler C. The aperture of the pipe I extends almost completely across the
boiler and is placed at the normal maximum level of the water in the boiler, as
shewn in Figures 1 and 2, so that steam can pass from the boiler into the
regulator H, and from the latter through the pipe G, past the valve G, into the
receptacle A, to cause the water therein to flow through the pipe B, into the boiler
and so that the water from the boiler may pass to the regulator H, to act on the
float R therein as hereinafter more fully described.
In the receptacle A is a float J, carrying an upwardly extending rack J'; in

page_text: gear with a pinion K', forming part of the registering mechanism contained in a
case K, the said mechanism being of any suitable construction and arranged in such
a manner that the movement of the float J, registers the quantity of water
discharged into the boiler from the said receptacle A. The top of the float J, when
the float is raised by the incoming water actuates a lever L' (Figures 12 and 4)
pivotted at the upper end of the receptacle A and supporting a valve L, adapted to
open and close the lower end of a pipe N: The under side of the float J, when the
float in descending has nearly reached the bottom of the receptacle A, actuates a
lever or arm 0 (Figure 3) connected by rods O₁ and 0, with a lever 3 carrying
a valve 0 adapted to open and close a whistle 0, for sounding an alarm in
case the water in the receptacle A should fall to an extremely low and dangerous
level.
In the bottom of the regulator H, is a spring valve P (Figures 1, 2, 6 and 10) so
arranged as to allow the water to flow from the regulator H into the outlet pipe P
(Figures 6, 7, 8 and 9) the opening to which is controlled by a valve P, formed
by the end of a screw-threaded rod 13, for adjusting the said valve to regulate the
quantity of water passing through the outlet P' during a certain time. The water
discharged through the outlet P, passes to an automatic elevator or steam trap Q
(Figures 1 and 2) connected by a pipe Q with the tank F, so that water in the
said elevator Q is forced back into the tank F by the pressure of steam coming
through an extension G2 of the pipe G, leading from the regulator H.
In the casing of the regulator H is loosely arranged a float R (Figures 1, 2
and 10) on a hollow stem R¹ a pin on which is located in a segmental slot S¹ in a
sector-shaped plate S secured on a transverse shaft T, turning on centres fixed in
the casing of the regulator H, as plainly illustrated in Figures 10, 11 and 12. On
the plate S is arranged a projection S2 adapted to act upon a projection T₁ of an
arm T2 (Figures 1, 2, 10, 11, 12 and 13) mounted loosely on the shaft T and
pivotally connected with a bar forming a valve U fitted and sliding in suitable
bearings U in the regulator casing. The valve is arranged in a line with the
pipe I, and its outer or free end is adapted to close or open the mouth of the said
pipe. The latter is provided outside the regulator H with a cock 1', for per-
manently shutting off steam from the regulator when required.
The arm T is adapted to be held in position by a hook U pivotted at U³ to the
regulator casing and provided with a spring U₁.
The operation is as follows:-After a certain quantity of water has been
injected into the boiler, the valves L, E and P are kept to their seats by the
pressure of steam passing through the pipe I, into the regulator H and from the
latter through the pipe G, into the receptacle A. The valves D, G' and U are
kept open, the latter by the action of the weighted arms T and S, the valve D by
the pressure of the water in the receptacle A and the valve G by the
pressure of the steam passing through the pipe G from the regulator H into
the receptacle A. The float J is at this time descending, and the first wheel K
of the registering apparatus K, is disengaged from the indicating wheels,
the wheel K for this purpose being so mounted upon its shaft that it turns it when
rotated in one direction but runs independently thereof when rotated in the other
direction. The float R is then in its lowermost position as shewn in Figure 1.
As soon as the water from the boiler passes into the pipe I, and through the
latter into the regulator casing, it accumulates therein, so that the float R is
immersed and finally rises as soon as it can overbalance the plate S. In rising the
float R will act upon the plate S causing it to turn and after passing a vertical
position the plate suddenly swings to the other side and thereby pushes with its
projection on the projection T of the arm T so that the valve U, is caused
to slide forward until its end closes the inlet of the pipe I.
As there is loss of heat by radiation from the surface of the feeder and as on
account of the valve U being closed, no fresh supply of steam can come from the
boiler to replace the steam condensed by cooling; a depression will take place

page_text: within the supply vessel A and the regulator H, such depression increasing so that
the valve D will close automatically in consequence of the difference of pressure on
its two sides. As the condensation and the depression continue a moment will
come when the joint weights of the valve L and its lever L' will overcome the
pressure of the steam on the said valve L which will then open, and suddenly all
the steam and air which still remain in the apparatus will escape through a worm
placed in the tank F.
When once the atmospheric pressure has been established within the apparatus,
the water from the tank F will open the valve E' automatically and pass into the
receptacle A by its own weight. At the same moment the valve P of the
regulator H, will
open under the action of its spring.
As the water rises in the receptacle A, the float will rise, and its top coming
in contact with the lever L' will lift it so that the valve L being relieved
of the weight of the lever, will be closed by the rising of the water in the
receptacle A. The several parts of the receptacle A will then be at rest.
soon as the valve P, in the casing of the regulator H opens the water contained in
the said casing runs out through the tube P', the velocity of its outflow being
regulated or controlled by the valve P2 formed by the end of the screw-threaded
rod P³.
As
The float R remains at rest as long as it is submerged sufficiently to counter-
balance the parts connected with it. As the outflow continues, the float R will
move downward and by its stem R', will cause the plate S to turn backwards
and the said plate after passing the vertical position will suddenly swing down-
wards, thus freeing the valve U which is thereupon opened by the action of the
projection S on the projection T thereby allowing steam to pass through the
pipe I into the casing of the regulator H, as previously described.
As soon as the steam enters the casing of the regulator H, the valve P is
forced to its seat and the steam passes into the pipe G, opens the valve G
and flows into the receptacle A and forces the valve E to its seat and the
valve D to open, thereby allowing the water to flow from the receptacle A to the
boiler C.
As the loss of steam caused by the condensation in the apparatus is abundantly
compensated by the influx of steam from the hoiler, the pressure in the latter and
in the receptacle A, soon become equal which allows a ready discharge of water
from the receptacle A into the boiler.
The above operation is repeated, the interval between the several operations
depending on the rate of discharge of the water from the regulator H through the
outlet P.
When the float J rises, the rack Jactuates the registering device K, so that the
quantity of water passing into the receptacle A is registered. When the float J
with the rack J' descends, the first wheel K of the registering apparatus is
disengaged from the rest and remains stationary. If the float I should follow
the water in rising, that quantity which passes out through the outlet P¹, would
be registered, of course, and the registering device K would thus indicate
erroneously.
It has been shewn how, at the moment when the volume of water which has still
to flow into the receptacle A is equal to a volume of water which afterwards has to
come out of the regulator H through the valve P, the top of the float J, comes
into contact with the lever L' which is stopped in its upward movement by the top
plate of the receptacle A, and consequently the movement of the registering
wheels of K, will cease, and only the exact quantity of water to be converted into
steam is measured or indicated.
If on account of an abnormal expenditure of steam or a loss of water by leakage,
the level of the water in the receptacle A should descend to the level which had
been determined in advance, by fixing the position of the arm 0 (Figure 3) the
loat would bear on the arm 0, the valve O' would be opened and the steam

page_text: would cause the alarm whistle to sound. The valve D (Figure 3) and the cock I
(Figures 1 and 2) serve to disconnect the apparatus from the boiler whenever
desired.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
:-
1. An apparatus for feeding water to steam boilers and for registering the
quantity of water supplied in which the water is fed at regular intervals, means
being provided for altering such intervals as required substantially as hereinbefore
described.
2. In apparatus for feeding water to steam boilers and for registering the
quantity of water supplied the herein described arrangement of regulator which
automatically and suddenly opens and shuts off the communication with the boiler
independently of the pressure of the steam and the agitation of the water in the
boiler substantially as set forth and illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 10, 11, 12 and 13
of the accompanying drawings.
3. In apparatus for feeding water to steam boilers and for registering the quantity
of water supplied the herein described arrangement of supply vessel or receptacle
which allows of feeding with safety at a hundred degrees Centigrade the said
receptacle being provided with mechanisin for operating an alarm whistle and with
a discharge valve the whole being constructed and operating substantially as set
forth and illustrated in Figures 1 to 5 of the accompanying drawings.
4. An apparatus for feeding water to steam boilers and for registering the
quantity of water supplied which cannot feed so long as the level of the water in
the boiler is not below the mouth of the feed-tube I, even though the regulator
may open the valve U, and which is adapted to sound an alarm whistle when
the water in the boiler sinks below a predetermined level substantially as set
forth.
5. In apparatus for feeding water to steam boilers and for registering the
quantity of water supplied the combination of the float J with a registering
apparatus which ceases to register at a given moment so as to indicate only the
exact quantity of water to be converted into steam, substantially as hereinbefore
described and illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.
6. In apparatus for feeding water to steam boilers and for registering the
quantity of water supplied the use of a tube having its discharge opening extending
within and almost the entire width of the boiler as shewn in Figures 1 and 2 of the
accompanying drawings whereby the steam and the water which pass through it
are unaffected by the undulating movement caused by the ebullition on the surface
of the water in the boiler, the result of which is that either of the two fluids will
pass to the regulator only when required.
7. The improved apparatus for feeding water to steam boilers and for registering
the quantity of water supplied hereinbefore described and illustrated by the various
figures of the accompanying drawings.
1 1
11001
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.