IMPROVEMENTS IN BOILER-FEEDING APPARATUS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Max Sombart, of the Firm of Buss, Sombart, and
Company, Engineers and Patent Agents, of Magdeburg, in the Empire of Ger-
many, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BOILER-FEEDING APPARATUS."
A communication from William Vollbering, of Buckau, near Magdeburg, in the
Empire of Germany.
Sealed the 12th November 1878, and dated the 25th May 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Max Sombart at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 25th May 1878.
CHARLES MAX SOMBART, of the Firm of Buss, Sombart, and Company, Engineers
and Patent Agents, of Magdeburg, in the Empire of Germany. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
BOILER-FEEDING APPARATUS." A communication from William Vollhering, of
Buckau, near Magdeburg, in the Empire of Germany.
The improvements consist of a reversing mechanism formed by two valves, a
floating chamber and lever, by which mechanism the alternate opening and closing
of the steam inlet and blast pipe valves is effected, said valves being so constructed
that the steam pressure working alternately on them they resist the reversing
action and permit it only in the moment when the power produced by the floater is
greater than wanted for effecting a complete reversing.
The improvements are performed by making a cylindrical vessel with its upper
and lower ends reduced to a smaller diameter. In this vessel is placed a cylindrical
floater or chamber placed in a vertical position, and concentric with the vessel.
The under part of the vessel is furnished with a valve box, provided with suction
and delivery valves, and another valve box furnished with steam inlet and blast
pipes is placed at the upper part of the vessel.
The openings by which the upper valve box and blast pipe communicate with

page_text: the vessel are closed by two opposite valves, these valves are firmly connected with
each other and with the floater, and are so seated that the rising of the floater
causes the opening of the upper of these valves and the closing of the lower, and
the sinking of the floater the reverse action.
The various parts are constructed of metal.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Charles Max Sombart in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 18th
November 1878.
CHARLES MAX SOMBART, of the Firm of Buss, Sombart, and Company, Engineers
and Patent Agents, of Magdeburg, in the Empire of Germany. IMPROVEMENTS
IN BOILER-FEEDING APPARATUS." A communication from William Vollhering, of
Buckau, near Magdeburg, in the Empire of Germany.
The improvements consist of a reversing and distributing mechanism formed
by two valves, a floating chamber, and lever, by which mechanism the alternate
opening and closing of the steam inlet and blast pipe valves is effected, and valves
being so constructed that the steam pressure working alternately on them they resist
the reversing action and permit it only in the moment when the power produced
by the floater is greater than wanted for effecting a complete reversing.
The Invention relates to an automatic steam pump without piston, which may
be employed as a suction pump, or otherwise, for feeding boilers and for any other
pumping purposes.
The annexed Drawing will serve to illustrate the construction of apparatus in five
different forms.
In Figure 1 the cylindrical vessel A is reduced to a smaller diameter at its upper
and lower end. In this vessel a cylindrical floater B is placed in a vertical position,
so that the geometrical axis of the floater is identical with that of the vessel
The under part of vessel A is connected with valve box C, with is provided
with suction valve a and delivery valve b. A valve box D, with steam inlet pipe E,
and the blast pipe F, are placed at the upper part of vessel A.
The openings by which valve box D and blast pipe F communicate with the
vessel are closed by two opposite valves c and d. These two valves are firmly con-
nected with one another by elbow e, and with the floater by rod g, and so disposed
that the rising of the floater causes the opening of valve c and the closing of valve d.
A sinking of the floater causes the closing of valve c and an opening of valve d.
The prolongation of the short pipe G forms the suction pipe, and the prolongation
of short pipe H the delivery pipe of the pump itself.
With regard to the manner of working this apparatus several distinctions are to
be made.
I. When the apparatus is intended for boiler feeding and not for suction it is
placed higher than the level of the boiler and lower than the feeding reservoir, thus
causing the pipes F and G to communicate with the feeding reservoir, and the pipes
E and H with the boiler (see Figure 6).
It may be observed that pipe & always leads to the water space of the reservoir
and pipe H to the water space of the boiler, whilst pipe F has its mouth in the
reservoir above the level of water.
The manner of working the apparatus is as follows:-The weight of the floater is.
so arranged that the latter at the water level indicated in Figure 1 would be in
equilibrium when wholly left to itself. As the steam presses down the valve c the

page_text: floater is forced down to its lowest position.
Therefore the feeding water runs
through pipe G out of the higher reservoir into the vessel A, thus causing the water
level in A to rise gradually, and consequently to continually increase the buoyancy
of the floater B. When the buoyant power has grown so strong that it overbalances
the steam pressure upon valve ca sudden rise of the floater must take place, and
therewith a closing of valve d and opening of valve c. Immediately after this
change has taken place in the position of the valves the whole boiler pressure acts
on the water, in the meantime opening the valve b through pipe H to the boiler
placed below it. The steam thereby exerts a constant pressure upon valve d, and
endeavours to hold the floater in its highest position.
Whilst the water level is
gradually sinking, the buoyancy of the floater diminishes continually. When the
water level has sunk lower than is indicated in Figure 1 the weight of the floater
overbalances its buoyant power. When the difference between the weight and
buoyancy of the floater finally becomes greater than the steam pressure upon valve d
a sudden sinking and closing of valve c and an opening of valve d must take place.
The high-pressure steam in vessel A. can now escape by pipe F to the reservoir, and
may be employed if desired for heating the feeding water. By the escaping of the
steam a sudden and complete reduction of its pressure is produced, and a renewed
entering of the feeding water takes place followed by a new closing of valve b and
opening of valve a.
The working of the apparatus described would be perpetual were not special
arrangements adapted to stop the work under certain circumstances. Now this
apparatus is not only destined to effect the mere pumping of water into the boiler,
but at the same time is intended to regulate automatically the water level in the
boiler. Consequently the apparatus ceases to work the moment the water in the
boiler has reached its normal height. For this purpose steam pipe E is conducted
vertically from above through the steam space of the boiler, and has its mouth
exactly at the height of the normal water level, communicating thus at high water
with the water space, and at low water with the steam space of the boiler. There-
fore at high water the whole apparatus gradually fills with water, and the floater
remains at its highest position; thus the working of the apparatus ceases until the
water level in the boiler has again sunk below the mouth of steam pipe E, so that
the steam enters into vessel A.
II. When the apparatus serves for boiler feeding and works as a suction pump,
the latter being the case when it is placed higher than the feeding reservoir and
the boiler (see Figure 7). The apparatus must be arranged in such a manner that
both pipes F and G lead to the reservoir, entering there below the water level,
whilst pipes E and H communicate with the boiler. As soon as the floater has
taken its lowest position the steam escapes through the blast pipe F, until in vessel
A only the atmospherical pressure remains. From this moment the steam conden-
sates by cooling, and produces a partial vacuum. The water rises in both pipes F
and G till it opens valve a, and again enters vessel A.
The further proceeding is the same as above described in case I.
III. When the apparatus is not intended for boiler feeding but as a common
steam pump, it is placed lower than the level of the water to be drawn. In this
employment of the apparatus the steam pipe E is to be connected with the steam
dome, or with any other high part of the boiler, whilst blast pipe F is conducted in
the open air. After the sinking of the floater the steam escapes through pipe F
into the open air till its tension has sunk to one atmosphere approximately. Then
the entering of the water through pipe G begins, whilst the escape of steam still
continues, until finally the floater effects a reversing of the valves.
IV. When the apparatus serves as an ordinary steam pump, not for boiler feeding,
it is placed higher than the lowest water level, and consequently works as a suction
pump. To effect this pipe F. leads to the lower water level and enters therein.
At the falling of the floater the steam escapes until its tension is equal to the
atmospherical pressure; then it begins to condensate and forms a partial vacuum,
which causes a rising of water in the two pipes F and G. As soon as vessel A is

page_text: again filled to a certain height a rising of the floater takes place and produces a
reversing of the valves.
The further proceeding is easily understood without description.
Figure 2. The apparatus here represented differs from that of Figure 1 in the
construction of valves c and d. In order to obviate the elbow e, and to avoid the
difficulties in the manufacturing of first apparatus, in the second construction
valve d is converted into ring valve, or into a number of conical valves, arranged
sideward, and inflexibly connected by a cylindrical rod with valve e and the
floater.
Figures 3 and 4 show further variations of the construction of valves c and d,
consisting in partly balancing the valves and permitting the employment of a
smaller floater or of larger water and steam pipes.
Figure 5 differs from all other constructions in this particular, that the floater is
not connected directly with valves c and d, but effects the movements of the latter
by means of a lever I, which has its fulcrum at h. The valve c reposes but slightly
on the lever, and is opened by the rising of the floater, whilst at a lower position of
the latter it will be closed.by the steam pressure.
Valve d is connected by means
of an elbow and a screw with the lever in such a manner that it must follow all
movements of the same. The length of the floater lever arm being a multiple of the
length of the valve lever, the power produced by the floater is consequently multi-
plied, and therefore a much smaller floater may be employed.
The apparatus is constructed for both purposes, suction and non-suction, and
therefore provided with two pipes, L and M, that may be locked by valves, one
pipe having its mouth above and the other beneath the water level of the
reservoir.
The above-mentioned reduction of diameter of top and bottom part of vessel A is
adapted for the purpose of approximatively limiting the quantity of water delivered
in one operation of the apparatus. Therefore the apparatus is so constructed that
when the water level has reached one of the two planes i and i, the difference
between the buoyancy and the weight of the floater just sufficient to procure a
reversing of the valves. Should this be made difficult by accidental resistances, &
small quantity of water in the small ring above i and below i¹ would suffice to effect
the necessary defeasance of the equilibrium.
The essential part of the whole feeding apparatus is the simple reversing
mechanism, consisting of two valves, one floater, and eventually one lever, by which
mechanism the alternate opening and closing of the steam inlet valve and the blast
pipe valve is effected, and which is so constructed that the steam pressure working
alternately upon the two valves resists the reversing and permits this latter action
only in the moment when the power produced by the floater has grown even
greater than wanted for effecting a complete reversing.
Whilst other feeding apparatuses of similar kind require special latching
mechanisms, or their equivalents, to prevent the possible remaining of the floater in
any middle position in the improved apparatus the valves themselves work as
effective latches, and thus permit the extraordinary simplicity in the construction of
distributing mechanism.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Max Sombart, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
CHARLES MAX SOMBART. (LS.)