Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Mar., 1887
Complete Left, 30th Dec., 1887
Complete Accepted, 3rd Feb., 1888
I, THOMAS PARKER of 36 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex, Draughtsman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (a communi-
cation from Edouard Dumas of Paris in the Commonwealth of France, Engineer) to
be as follows:-
This invention relates to that class of boiler feed regulating apparatus wherein a
float situated at the interior of the boiler and connected to a lever is employed to open
or close a valve when the water in the boiler sinks below the desired level-and
thereby admit steam into a cylinder to act on a piston therein or to cut it off from
action on the piston by whose operation the feed of water to the boiler is regulated.
The invention principally consists in improvements in the construction and arrange-
ment of the said cylinder and its piston, the cylinder under one arrangement having
in its length two different diameters or widths of bore the wider part being preferably
uppermost. The piston has also two different diameters corresponding to the different
widths of the cylinder and throughout the greater part of its length the piston is
hollow an opening leading into the interior being made in its upper side another
opening communicating with the wider interior of the cylinder being also made at a
distance from its lower end the hollow part of the piston terminating immediately
below the said opening. The cylinder under this arrangement has three branches
one of which is connected to the force pump or injector a second is connected to the
boiler and a third and which is on a higher level serves for the free passage of the
feed water away from the apparatus back to the feed tank or elsewhere when it is not
required for feeding the boiler. The lower end of the piston constitutes a valve-and
between the feed branch and the free outlet branch a valve seat is made so that when
the piston is at its lowest position the valve part of it rests upon this seat and cuts off
communication between the feed branch and the free outlet branch the water being
then forced by the action of the pump or injector through the other branch and
through a pipe connected to it into the boiler an ordinary or other check valve being
placed in the said pipe.
When the level of water in the boiler sinks below the desired limit by the sinking
TD 037

page_text: of the float steam is admitted into the upper part of the cylinder through a pipe
connected to the valve actuated by the float which steam passing into the interior of
the piston through the opening in its upper part forces any water of condensation
therein due to previous actions out through the openings at the lower portion of the
hollow part into the cylinder and thence through a pipe away from the apparatus
whilst at the same time the pressure of the steam causes the piston to descend until
the valve part of it rests on its sent the pump then feeding the boiler as before
described until the desired level of water is again attained which being effected supply
of steam to the cylinder is cut off by the rising of the float and the piston is then
forced to its upper position by the pressure of the water acting on its lower end.
The piston has a rod passing through the upper end of the cylinder and by
the vertical reciprocations of which the action of the apparatus is indicated to the
attendant.
Under a modification of the above described arrangement the piston only may have
two different diameters in which case the part of the piston which is of lesser diameter
and which is truncated or hollow is turned upwards and works through a stuffing box
in the top of the cylinder. In the said truncated part of the piston another piston or
diaphragm is situated stationary its rod passing through a stuffing gland to a cross
head where it is secured in any suitable manner. The trunk or hollow part of the
piston is filled with oil or other liquid and through the diaphragm a hole is made for
the passage of the liquid from one side of the diaphragm to the other to act as a
cushion in the action of the apparatus. The part of greater diameter of the piston
has one end of a rod connected to it the opposite end of the said rod being attached
to a check valve placed in the feed chest of the boiler and the said valve is kept to
its seat by steam admitted from the boiler through a pipe into the upper part of the
cylinder. Another pipe leads from the boiler into the lower part of the cylinder,
which pipe is provided with a valve by which it is kept closed until the level of water
in the boiler sinking below the desired limit carries the float with it and the float
being connected to the said valve then opens the steam way whereby steam is admitted
under the piston and forcing it upwards raises the valve and enables the pump or
injector to feed water until the desired level is reached when the valve immediately
closes. The valve spindle connected to the piston is or may be made in two parts
screwed one into the other in order that the valve may be lifted from its seat by
turning a hand wheel or its equivalent in the event of the regulating apparatus through
any cause failing to act.
The arrangement hereinbefore described is especially applicable where there is a
range of boilers all fed by one pump or injector and a further modification of it con-
sists in entirely enclosing the differential piston within a cylinder having an equal
diameter throughout except at one part where it is contracted into a collar or sleeve
through which the portion of the piston of lesser diameter works. This part of the
piston carries a valve spindle the valve being seated in the upper portion of the
cylinder and having its spindle continued through the cylinder cover where it is
screwed and has a hand wheel or other device for raising the valve independently of
the automatic action of the apparatus when desired.
Above the valve seat the inlet pipe from the pump or injector is connected and
below the valve sent is a branch connected to the feed pipe of the boiler wherein the
usual check valve is placed. When the level of water in the boiler sinks steam is
admitted to the interior of the piston whereby it is forced upwards so lifting the
feed valve from its seat and permitting of the passage of water into the boiler
until the desired level is reached when the steam is immediately cut off and the
feed valve and together with it the piston are forced downwards by the pressure
of water.
A modification of the improved automatic feed apparatus particularly adapted
to small single boilers consists of a cylinder having a piston therein both of which
may be of equal diameter throughout the working parts. Below the said parts
and preferably at the bottom of the cylinder is a branch connected to the feed
pipe the said branch having a seat formed in it for a valve formed on or

page_text: connected to the piston whilst above the said valve is another branch for the free
exit of water back to the feed tank or otherwise. When the water in the boiler
is at the desired level the pump or injector circulates the water through these
branches back to the feed tank but when the water sinks below that level steam
is admitted into the upper part of the cylinder above the piston and forces the
valve down on its seat and there being then no free exit for the water it is
forced by the action of the pump into the boiler through an ordinary check valve
until the desired level is again reached.

page_text: Improvements in Automatic Boiler Feed Regulators.
I, THOMAS PARKER of 36 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed as communicated to me to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This Invention relates to that class of boiler feed regulating apparatus wherein a
float situated at the interior of the boiler and connected to a lever is employed to
open or close a valve when the water in the boiler sinks below the desired level and
thereby admit steam to a cylinder to act on a piston by which the feed of water to the
boiler is regulated or to cut it off from action on the piston. The Invention princi-
pally consists in improvements in the construction and arrangement of the said
cylinder and its piston. Under one modification illustrated in vertical section at
figure 1, and in plan at figure 2 of the accompanying drawings, the cylinder A., has in
its length two different diameters or widths of bore the wider part being preferably
uppermost. The piston B has also two different diameters corresponding to the
different widths of the cylinder and throughout the greater part of its length the
piston is hollow an opening C, leading into the interior being made in its upper side
another opening D, communicating with the wider interior of the cylinder being also
made at a distance from its lower end the hollow part of the piston terminating
immediately below the said opening. The cylinder A has three branches E, F, G,
one of which the branch E, is connected to the force pump or injector, the branch F,
is connected to the boiler to be fed and the third branch G which is on a higher level
serves for the free passage of the feed water away from the apparatus back to the feed
tank or elsewhere when it is not required for feeding the boiler. Figure 3 illustrates
in vertical section the application of the apparatus to a boiler. The lower end of the
piston B, constitutes a valve B₁ and between the feed branch E, and the free outlet
branch G, a valve seat B² is made so that when the piston is at its lowest position the
valve part of it rests upon this seat and cuts off communication between the branches E
and G, the water being then forced by the action of the pump or injector through the
other branch F and through a pipe H connected to it into the boilor an ordinary or
other check valve being placed in the said pipe as seen at 1 figure 3.
When the level of water in the boiler sinks below the desired limit it takes down
the float J and by the sinking of the said float steam is admitted into the upper part
of the cylinder A, through a pipe K which passes through a nipple L, screwed into or
otherwise secured to the boiler shell. The lower end of the pipe has a valve or plug a
provided in conjunction with it the plug being connected to the lever M, carrying the
Hoat J, so that when the float sinks the end of the pipe K is opened and steam passing
into the interior of the piston B through the opening C in its upper part forces any
water of condensation therein due to previous actions out through the opening D, at
the lower portion of the hollow part into the cylinder and thence through a pipe N,
away from the apparatus whilst at the same time the pressure of the steam causes the

page_text: piston to descend until the valve part B₁ rests on its seat B2 the pump then feeding
the boiler as before described until the desired level of water is again attained which
being effected supply of steam to the cylinder is cut off by the rising of the float and
the piston is then forced to its upper position by the pressure of the water acting on
its lower end B¹.
The piston B has a rod O, passing through the upper end of the cylinder and
by the vertical reciprocations of which the action of the apparatus is indicated to the
attendant.
Under a modification of the hereinbefore described arrangement, illustrated by
figure 4 of the drawings the piston B only may have two different diameters in which
case the part of the piston which is of lesser diameter and which is truncated or hollow
is turned upwards and works through a stuffing box in the top of the cylinder A. In the
said truncated part of the piston another piston or diaphragm w is situated stationary its
rod passing through a stuffing gland to a cross head u where it is secured the cross head
being supported on pillars or columns t as shewn. The trunk or hollow part of the
piston is filled with oil or other liquid and through the diaphragm w a hole is made
for the passage of the liquid from one side of the diaphragin to the other the liquid
serving as a cushion in the action of the apparatus. The part of greater diameter of
the piston has one end of a rod P connected to it the opposite end of the said rod
being attached to a check valve R, placed in the feed chest R' of the boiler and the
said valve is kept to its seat by steam admitted from the boiler through a pipe t into
the upper part of the cylinder. Another pipe s leads from the boiler into the lower
part of the cylinder which pipe is provided with a valve by which it is kept closed
until the level of water in the boiler sinking below the desired limit carries the
float J, with it and the spindle of the float being connected to the said valve then
opens the steam way whereby steam is admitted under the piston B, and forcing
it upwards raises the valve R, and enables the pump or injector to feed water until the.
desired level is reached when the steam is cut off and the valve immediately closes.
The valve spindle P connected to the piston B, is or may be made in two parts
screwed one into the other in order that the valve may be lifted from its seat by turning
a hand wheel q or its equivalent in the event of the regulating apparatus through any
cause failing to act.
The arrangement last described is especially applicable where there is a range of
boilers all fed by one pump or injector, and a further modification of it illustrated at
figures 5, 6 and 7 of the drawings, consists in entirely enclosing the differential
piston B, within a cylinder A, having an equal diameter throughout except at one
part where it is contracted into a collar or sleeve A¹ through which the portion of the
piston of lesser diameter works. This part of the piston carries a valve spindle P the
valve R being seated in the upper portion of the cylinder through which the spindle
s continued. The upper end of the spindle is screwed and has a hand wheel or other
device for raising the valve independently of the automatic action of the apparatus
when desired. The inlet branch E, from the pump or injector is above the valve and
below the valve seat is the branch F, leading to the feed pipe for the boiler wherein
the usual check valve is placed.
When the level of water in the boiler sinks steam is admitted to the interior of the
piston through the openings C whereby the piston is forced upwards so lifting the
feed valve R, and permitting of the passage of water into the boiler until the desired
level is reached when the steam is immediately cut off and the feed valve and together
with it the piston are forced downwards by the pressure of water.
Another modification of the improved automatic feed apparatus particularly adapted
to small single boilers and which is illustrated by figures 8 and 9 of the drawings
consists of a cylinder A, having a piston B therein both being of equal diameter
throughout the working parts. Below the said parts and preferably at the bottom of
the cylinder is a branch, connected to the feed pipe the said branch having à seat
formed in it for a valve R, formed on or connected to the piston whilst above the said
valve is another branch G for the free exit of water back to the feed tank or other-
wise. When the water in the boiler is at the desired level the pressure of the water

page_text: keeps the valve R off its seat and the pump or injector circulates the water through
the branches F, G, back to the feed tank but when the water sinks below that level
steam is by the sinking of the float within the boiler admitted into the cylinder A,
above the piston B, and forces the valve R down on its seat and there being then no
free exit for the water it is forced by the action of the pump into the boiler through
an ordinary check valve until the desired level is again reached. The upper part of
the valve spindle projecting through the stuffing box on top of the cylinder A, is
screwed and provided with a hand wheel or similar device for forcing the valve R to
its seat or for holding it up therefrom in the event of the float through any cause
failing to act.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to
me, I declare that what I claim is :-
:-
1. In a boiler feed regulator the combination of cylinder and piston and check
valve, hereinbefore described with reference to figures 1, 2 and 3 of the accompanying
drawings.
2. In a boiler feed apparatus the combination of cylinder, piston and check
valve hereinbefore described with reference to figure 4 of the appended drawings.
3. In a boiler feed apparatus the combination of cylinder, piston and check
valve hereinbefore described with reference to figures 5, 6 and 7 of the annexed
drawings.
4. In a boiler feed apparatus the combination of cylinder, piston and check
valve, hereinbefore described with reference to figures 8 and 9 of the drawings
appended.
Dated this Twenty ninth day of Dreamhan 1007