Improvements in Apparatus for Removing Impurities from Water.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Jan., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 16th Oct., 1893-Accepted, 2nd Dec., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Removing Impurities from Water.
I, WILLIAM SHEDLOCK, of 6 Tasman Road, Stockwell, in the County of
Surrey, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention has for its object the purification of water by the separation
therefrom of salts and other impurities, so as to render it fit for use in steam-
boilers and for other industrial purposes.
My said invention relates more particularly to water-purifying apparatus of the
kind or class wherein the water supplied from any convenient source is fed into and
through a depositing chamber or chambers which are arranged in the upper part or
steam-space of a boiler, so that they will be subjected to the highest possible.
temperature therein, and the water passing through them will thus be raised to the
necessary degree of heat to ensure the deposition in the said chambers of the salts
and other impurities contained in the water, and consequently pure water will be
delivered at the outlet.
My said invention comprises an improved method of working a water-purifying
apparatus of the kind or class above mentioned, whereby I obviate the liability to
collapse of the depositing chamber or chambers and other inconveniences due to
the condensation of steam and the consequent formation of a vacuum or partial
vacuum therein, when water at a comparatively low temperature is fed into the
same after steam has been blown through the said chamber or chambers to sweep
out the deposited matter therefrom.
For this purpose, after blowing through the said chamber or chambers with the
steam, and before again admitting the feed-water to the same, I open communica-
tion between the water-space of the boiler and the said chamber or chambers or a
reservoir connected therewith and into which the feed-water is delivered. I thus
permit the hot water from the boiler to enter the said chamber or chambers or
reservoir and rise therein to the level of the water in the boiler, so that, when the
feed-water is again turned on, it will mix with the hot water and will, therefore,
not condense the steam in the said chamber or chambers.
My said invention also comprises an improved rotary valve or cock which is so
constructed that the operations of shutting off the supply of water and opening
a passage for the discharge of the deposited matter by the steam, subsequently
closing this passage and opening communication between the water-space of the
boiler and the depositing chamber or chambers or the reservoir, and then closing
such communication and again admitting the feed-water to the said chamber or
chambers, can all be successively effected by turning the plug of the said valve or
cock in one direction.
My said invention also comprises the construction of the water-purifying
apparatus in such a manner that the water to be purified is forced through a series
of vessels or chambers of suitable form, preferably consisting of two tubes or
passages connected at either end with a single narrow neck for connection with an
adjacent chamber; this series of chambers is arranged in the upper part or steam-
space of the boiler in such a manner that the water to be purified will pass through
each vessel or chamber in turn before being discharged at the outlet. The con-
necting tubes or passages between the said chambers being of much less area in
transverse section than the said chambers, the water will pass through the said
vessels or chambers at a low velocity, and consequently the salts and other
impurities will be more readily deposited.
For regulating or controlling the operation of the water-purifying apparatus,

page_text: I find it advantageous to employ a valve or cock the plug of which is provided
with means whereby it may be turned about its axis in one direction, but is
restrained from rotation in the reverse direction. The shell or casing of this
cock is connected with a water-supply pipe and with the reservoir connected
with the depositing chamber or chambers; it is also connected with a discharge-
pipe or blow-off pipe for the deposited matter and with the water-space of the
boiler; and the said plug is formed with suitable ways whereby, in the rotary
movement of the said plug, the depositing chamber or chambers will be put in
communication successively with the water-supply pipe, the blow-off pipe, the
water-space of the boiler, and again with the water-supply pipe.
Hot water may also be admitted, when necessary, to the reservoir by means of a
self-acting valve, for instance by a check-valve acting only when the pressure in
the interior of the reservoir is less than the external pressure, the said valve
closing automatically when these pressures become equal or nearly equal.
The automatic device for governing or controlling the operation of the apparatus
ensures regularity in the feeding of the water to the depositing vessels or
chambers, and the discharge of the deposited matter therefrom, and also ensures
the admission of hot water to the chamber or chambers or reservoir before the
feed is again turned on, the aforesaid plug being moved in one direction only
and at such a speed as to ensure the perfect performance of the various operations.
The said apparatus is, if desired, fitted in a casing provided with a recording
apparatus with a view to recording the intervals at which and the number of
times it has been operated.
It is obvious that I can employ other suitable valves or cocks in place of the
above mentioned device for regulating or controlling the action of the apparatus in
the manner above specified.
Dated the 16th day of January 1893.
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 & 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Removing Impurities from Water.
I, WILLIAM SHEDLOCK, of 79 Cowley Road, Brixton, in the County of Surrey,
formerly of 6 Tasman Road, Stockwell, in the County of Surrey, 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 has for its object the purification of water by the separation
therefrom of salts and other impurities so as to render it fit for use in steam-
boilers and for other industrial purposes.
My said invention relates more particularly to water-purifying apparatus of
the kind or class wherein the water supplied from any convenient source is fed into
and through a depositing chamber or chambers which are arranged in the upper
part or steam-space of a boiler so that they will be subjected to the highest possible
temperature therein, and the water passing through them will thus be raised to
the necessary degree of heat to ensure the deposition in the said chambers of the
salts and other impurities contained in the water, and consequently pure water
will be delivered at the outlet end of the said chamber or chambers. This
apparatus is also applicable for the removal of any oil or grease which may have
been introduced with the feed-water and which will attach itself to the hot upper
plates of the said chamber or chambers.
In the accompanying drawing
Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation,
Figure 2an and elevation and

page_text: Figure 3 a plan, partly in horizontal section, showing a Cornish boiler with my
improved apparatus applied thereto.
Figure 4 is a plan, partly in horizontal section, of a part of a depositing
chamber consisting of a series of sections as hereinafter described.
Figure 5 is a transverse section on the line x, x, Figure 4,
Figure 6 is a plan, and
Figure 7 a side elevation of an improved rotary valve or cock for controlling
the action of the apparatus.
Figure 8 is a vertical section on the line x, x1, Figure 7.
Figure 9 is a horizontal section on the line 3, ³, Figure 8, and
Figure 10 is a horizontal section on the line, x³ Figure 8.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawing.
A is the boiler; B is the internal flue or furnace-tube thereof; C, C are the
several sections of the depositing chamber.
My said invention consists partly in the construction of the apparatus with a
depositing chamber consisting of a series of sections or chambers C, C, of suitable
form, each of the said sections preferably consisting of two tubes or passages
connected at each end with a single narrow neck for connection with an adjacent
section or chamber, as shown in the drawing; these sections or chambers C are
arranged in the upper part or steam-space of the boiler A, and are joined to each
other by suitable connections such as the nipples a, sockets 6 and pipe c, so that
the water to be purified, which is pumped or otherwise forced through the apparatus,
shall pass through each section or chamber in turn before being discharged at the
outlet D. The connecting necks or passages being considerably smaller in
transverse sectional area than the sections C, of the depositing chamber, as more
clearly shown in Figures 4 and 5, the water will pass through the said sections at a
low velocity, and consequently the salts and other impurities will be the more
readily deposited, and will not be so liable to be carried along with the water into
the boiler. The said impurities are removed from the depositing chamber by
arresting the entrance of water to the apparatus and then allowing steam to enter
at D and blow through the said chamber whereby the matter deposited therein is
swept out.
My said invention also partly consists in the combination with the depositing
chamber or chambers, of one or more reservoirs E connected with the inlet end of
the said chamber or chambers, and extending downward into the water-space of the
boiler, into which reservoir or reservoirs hot water from the boiler can be admitted
as hereinafter described. The said reservoir or reservoirs are, moreover, connected
at their lower end with the feed-pipe.
My said invention also partly consists in an improved method of providing for
the purification of water by means of an apparatus of the kind or class above
mentioned, whereby I obviate the liability to collapse of the depositing chamber
or chambers and other inconveniences due to the condensation of steam, and the
consequent formation of a vacuum or partial vacuum in the said chamber or
chambers when water at a comparatively low temperature is fed into the
same after steam has been blown through them to sweep out the deposited
matter.
For this purpose, after blowing through the said chamber or chambers with the
steam, and before again admitting the feed-water to the same, I open communication
between the water-space of the boiler and the depositing chamber or the aforesaid
reservoir connected therewith, I thus permit the hot water from the boiler to
enter the said chamber or reservoir and rise therein to the level of the water
in the boiler, so that, when the feed-water is again admitted to the said chamber
or reservoir, it will mix with the hot water therein and will, therefore, not
condense the steam in the said chamber or reservoir.
It is evident that, instead of using the aforesaid reservoir, I can, if desired, simply
connect the depositing chamber or chambers with the feed-pipe by means of a pipe

page_text: of suitable dimensions into which hot water can be admitted when required for the
purpose above specified, such pipe being placed either inside or outside the boiler
and extending below the water-level therein.
My said invention further comprises an improved rotary valve or cock which is
so constructed that the operations of shutting off the supply of water, opening &
passage for the discharge of the deposited matter by the steam, subsequently closing
this passage and opening communication between the water-space of the boiler and
the depositing chamber or chambers or the reservoir, and then closing such com-
munication and again admitting the feed-water to the said chamber or chambers
or reservoir, can all be successively effected by turning the plug of the said valve
or cock in one direction.
For this purpose I find it advantageous to construct the said rotary valve or
cock as shown in Figures 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10. In these figures, F is the valve-
casing d is the plug which is held in its seat in the said casing by a gland d', and
which is provided with a worm-wheel e geared with a worm farranged to be rotated;
by means of the hand-wheel g. To permit the rotation of the plug d in one
direction whilst preventing its rotation in the reverse direction, the worm-wheel e
is provided with a pawl or detent which engages with a circular rack i formed on
the upper surface of the gland d'. The valve-casing F is formed with ports or
passages 1, 1, 1, 1, and 1. The ports or passages 1, are in communication with.
the reservoir E. The port or passage 12 is in communication with the feed-pipe h³,
the port or passage with the blow-off pipe, and the port or passage with the
water-space of the boiler through the pipe k¹. The plug d is provided with two
ways or passages m and n; the way or passage m is adapted to establish com-
munication either between the ports or openings 1, so that the feed-water will be
forced into the reservoir E, or between the ports or passages l', to permit hot
water from the boiler to enter the reservoir E. The way or passage n is adapted
to establish communication between the ports or passages 1, 13 to permit the
discharge of the deposited matter from the chambers C through the blow-off pipe.
When the plug d is in the position shown, the way or passage m connects the
port with the port 1 thus admitting the feed-water to the boiler. When it is
desired to remove the deposited matter from the chambers C, the plug d is partially
rotated so as close the port and thus shut off the supply of water and then open
communication between the port and the port through the passage n thus
allowing the steam to sweep out the deposited matter from the chamber C. On
further rotating the plug d in the same direction, the port is closed and the port ?
is put into communication with the port through the passage m, thus allowing
hot water from the boiler to enter the reservoir E. On still further rotating the
said plug the port is closed and the port is again put into communication with
the feed-pipe through the passage m and port .
This automatic device for governing or controlling the operation of the apparatus
permits of ensuring regularity in the feeding of the water to the depositing
chamber and the discharge of the deposited matter therefrom, and also ensures the
admission of hot water to the reservoir E before the feed is again turned on, the
aforesaid plug being rotated at such a speed or at such times as to ensure the perfect
performance of the various operations. The said device is, if desired, fitted in a
casing provided with a recording apparatus with a view to recording the intervals
at which and the number of times it has been operated.
It is obvious that I can use other suitable valves or cocks in place of the above
described device for regulating or controlling the action of the apparatus in the
manner above specified.
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 :-.
First. The purification of water by a method or process such as I have herein-

page_text: above described, wherein the water, before entering the depositing chamber, is
passed through a pipe or reservoir below the water-level in the boiler, into. which
pipe or reservoir hot water from the boiler has been previously admitted, for the
purpose above specified.
Second. The improved method or process for the purification of water, con-
sisting in first passing the water into a steam-boiler through a pipe or closed
reservoir in the water-space thereof and through a tubular or closed chamber in
the steam-space of the boiler, thereby causing a deposition of the impurities in
the said chamber, stopping the feed and then blowing the impurities out of the
chamber and pipe or reservoir by steam from the boiler, allowing hot water from
the boiler to enter the said pipe or reservoir and then permitting the feed-water to
again enter the boiler through the said pipe or reservoir and chamber, substantially
as hereinbefore described and for the purposes specified.
Third. The combination of a steam-boiler, a pipe or reservoir below the water-
level therein, a tubular or closed depositing chamber in the steam-space of the
boiler, connected at one end to the said pipe or reservoir, and opening at its other
end into the steam-space of the boiler, connections between the said pipe or
reservoir and a feed-pipe, a blow-off. pipe and the water-space of the boiler, and
means for opening and closing the said connections, for the purposes above
specified.
Fourth. The combination, with a steam-boiler, of a pipe or reservoir below the
water-level therein, a tubular or closed depositing chamber in the steam-space of
the boiler, having alternately enlarged and contracted transverse sectional areas
throughout its length, connected at one end to the said pipe or reservoir, and
opening at its other end into the steam-space of the boiler, and means for putting
the said pipe or reservoir in communication consecutively with a feed-pipe, a
blow-off pipe and the water-space of the boiler, substantially us, and for the
purposes, above specified.
Fifth. In a water-purifying apparatus, a depositing chamber composed of a
series of sections, each section consisting of two or more tubes or passages
approximately parallel with each other and opening at their adjacent ends into a
narrow neck which constitutes the connection for coupling the said section to the
next section, substantially as herein before described and for the purposes specified.
Sixth. The combination, with a steam-boiler having a depositing chamber in
the steam-space thereof and a pipe or reservoir, below the water-level therein,
connected with the said chamber, of a controlling valve or cock constructed with a
rotary plug and with suitable ports or passages whereby, in the rotation of the
said plug, the said pipe or reservoir is put in communication consecutively with a
blow-off pipe, the water-space of the boiler and a feed-water supply pipe, substan-
tially as, and for the purposes, above specified.
Seventh. The valve or cock constructed with the rotary plug having the ports
or passages, and with means whereby the said plug may be rotated in one direction
but is restrained from rotation in the reverse direction, substantially as, and for the
purposes, above specified.
Eighth. The improved apparatus constructed substantially as described with
reference to the accompanying drawing and operating as, and for the purposes,
above specified.
Dated the 16th day of October 1802
WILLIAM SHEDLOCK.
D. Young & Co.,
11 & 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.