IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR REGULATING OR CONTROLLING THE DRAUGHT IN STEAM-BOILER AND OTHER FURNACES AND FOR SIMILAR PURPOSES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR REGULATING OR CONTROLLING THE
DRAUGHT IN STEAM-BOILER AND OTHER FURNACES AND FOR SIMILAR
PURPOSES." A communication from abroad by William Edward Kelly, of
New Brunswick, New Jersey, United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th May 1879.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR REGU-
LATING OR CONTROLLING THE DRAUGHT IN STEAM-BOILER AND OTHER FURNACES
AND FOR SIMILAR PURPOSES." [A communication from abroad by William Edward
Kelly, of New Brunswick, New Jersey, United States of America.]
These improvements relate chiefly to regulators for dampers or valves used with
furnaces of steam generators to automatically control the draught therein and
regulate the condition of the fire, so as to maintain a desired pressure of steam.
Damper regulators heretofore used have not been reliable, for the reason that
variations of the pressure of steam in the generator have acted directly upon a
motor connected with the dampers, and therefore it had to overcome the weight
and friction of the dampers before shifting them.
An important object of a part of the present improvements is to obviate this
defect.
For this purpose I combine for use with a damper or valve a motor for operating
the same, a valve controlling said motor, and a supplemental motor for controlling
said valve, and adapted to be actuated through variations of pressure in the
generator, whereby the variations in pressure to effect the operation of the damper
have only to effect or permit of the operation of the said valve, whereupon steam will
be admitted to the main motor and the damper operated with the requisite force to.
shift it, no matter what its weight and friction may be.

page_text: The object of another part of the said improvements is to preclude steam or
water formed by the condensation of steam from constantly flowing into the
cylinder of the main motor aforesaid, and leaking out while said motor is not in
This improvement consists in the combination with the valve of said motor
of means for throwing it over the ports after each stroke, so as to cut off communi-
cation between the steam chest and the cylinder of said motor.
use.
Another improvement consists in the combination for use with a damper or
valve of a lever for operating the damper, and two motors arranged on an inter-
mediate partition or platform connected with the lever, so as to act upon it in
different directions, whereby a simple and compact apparatus is produced, and one
wherein each motor is operated independently of the other, so as to impart a double
movement to the said lever.
Other improvements consist in various details and combinations of parts relating
to the improvement last specified.
The damper fitted in the smoke stack or flue is adapted to be oscillated so as to
control the passage of the products of combustion through the stack, and thus
regulate the draught of air through the furnace.
So far as the improvements to which this Invention relates are concerned the
damper may also be arranged to regulate air entering the furnace. The main motor
whereby this damper is actuated consists of a cylinder fitted with a piston provided
with a rod connected by a link with a bell crank lever, which is connected by
another link with a crank arranged upon the damper shaft, so that the movements
of the piston effect the oscillation of the damper. A steam-chest communicates
with the said cylinder and receives steam froin the generator through a pipe or
passage. Induction and exhaust ports establish communication between the said
steam chest and the cylinder, as also between the latter and an exhaust passage.
A valve is provided for controlling the admission of steam from the steam-chest to
the cylinder and its escape from the latter to the exhaust passage. This valve may
be of any desirable form.
A supplemental motor, consisting essentially of two chambers receiving steam
from the generator through a pipe and fitted with diaphragms acting in different
directions upon a lever controls the shifting of a valve. It is supplied with steain
by a separate pipe, so that it will not be influenced by the operation of the main
motor. This supplemental motor may be supported by brackets extending from
the outer head of the cylinder of the main motor. The aforesaid lever is connected
by a yoke straddling the valve chest to a rod of the last named valve in the main
motor. This rod is provided with a counterbalance, which may consist of a weight
or a spiral spring surrounding said valve rod and fitting between a collar arranged
thereon and a guide bracket extending from the main motor.
The counterbriance may be made adjustable by providing the valve rod with an
external screw thread and the collar with an internal screw thread, so that the
latter may be adjusted longitudinally thereon as a nut by means of a wrench or
other implement.
When steam in the generator exceeds a certain pressure it will distend the said
diaphragms of the supplemental motor, overcome the resistance of the counter-
balance, and by shifting the slide valve admit a supply of steam to the main
cylinder and cause the shifting of the damper so as to check the draught in the
furnace.
On a reduction of pressure the counterbalance will overcome the resistance
offered by the supplemental motor and shift the valve in the opposite direction, and
effect the admission of steam to the cylinder of the main motor, thereby effecting
the shifting of the damper so as to increase the draught and stimulate the fire in
the furnace. It is obvious that by adjusting the counterbalance so as to increase or
decrease its force the action of the damper at any pressure can be attained, and that
inasmuch as the increase or decrease in steam has only to shift the valve in a powerful
motor for operating the damper, and not to shift the damper itself as heretofore,
very slight increase or decrease in pressure will suffice to effect the shifting of the

page_text: damper, and hence that the operation of the damper is exceedingly sensitive and the
draught of air to the furnace is very delicately controlled, so as to maintain a
much nearer uniform pressure in the generator than heretofore has been done with
an automatic damper.
To preclude steam or water formed by the condensation of steam from flowing
into the cylinder of the main motor while it is inactive, and from leaking out, I
provide two tappet levers pivoted to a frame acting through collars upon the valve
rod and actuated by a tappet collar upon the piston rod. This tappet collar as the
piston nears the end of its stroke acts upon one or the other of the tappets and
reverses the valve sufficiently for it to cover the ports and preclude the passage of
steam through them into the cylinder, the active surface of the supplemental motor
being sufficiently less than that of the said piston to admit of this.
When this motor is employed as a main motor without any other to operate the
damper of a steam generator it will be used in an upright position, and in such
case a weight capable of being adjusted into different positions and secured by a set
screw will be used upon the lever to return the diaphragms to their normal position
upon a reduction of pressure.
In some instances I provide two chambers fitted with diaphragms and arranged
one concentrically above the other. Both are above a platform, but a partition is
arranged between them. In lieu of this partition the said platform may be arranged
between them to serve as a partition, and a ring may be fitted to the outside of
the diaphragms. The lower diaphragm is connected by an abutment to a lever
pivoted at one end to a link or links suspended from the platform, and connected
at the other by a link with a lever which bears against an abutment impinging
upon the upper diaphragm. In this example of the said Invention the upper
diaphragm needs to be of less active area than the lower in order to act properly
in conjunction with it because of the compound leverage involved therein by the
use of the two levers.
It will be seen that the apparatus comprising the two diaphragms above
described is remarkably simple and compact, and that it is so sensitive as to main-
tain the fire in the furnace at the proper condition, and thereby greatly economize
fuel.
.
It is obvious that the said improvements are not confined to their application to
regulating the pressure of steam in a generator, but that they may be employed for
regulating the pressure of gases or liquids in various apparatus; for instance, by
subjecting the motors to the influence of the gases or liquids whose pressure is to
be regulated, and causing said motors to act upon a valve in the apparatus.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
ふ
the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 6th
November 1879.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR REGU-
LATING OR CONTROLLING THE DRAUGHT IN STEAM-BOILER AND OTHER FURNACES
AND FOR SIMILAR PURPOSES." A communication from abroad by William Edward
Kelly, of New Brunswick, New Jersey, United States of America.
These improvements relate chiefly to regultors for dampers or valves used with
furnaces of steam generators to automatically control the draught therein, and so
regulate the condition of the fire as to maintain a desired pressure of steam.
Damper regulators heretofore used have not been reliable because variations of
the pressure of steam in the generator have acted directly upon a motor connected
with the dampers, and therefore it had to overcome the weight and friction of the
- dampers before shifting them.
An important object of one of these improvements is to obviate this defect; this
improvement consists in the combination for use with a damper or valve of a motor
for operating the same, a valve controlling said motor, and a supplemental motor
for controlling said valve and adapted to be actuated through variations of pressure
in the generator, whereby the variations in pressure to effect the operation of the
damper have only to effect or permit of the operation of the said valve, whereupon
steam will be admitted to the main motor and the damper operated with the
requisite force to shift it, no matter what may be its weight and friction.
The object of another part of the said improvements is to preclude steam or
water formed by the condensation of steam from constantly flowing into the
cylinder of the main motor aforesaid and leaking out while said motor is not in
This improvement consists in the combination with the valve of said motor
of means for throwing it over the ports after each stroke, so as to cut off communi-
cation between the steam chest and the cylinder of said motor.
use.
Another improvement consists in the combination for use with a damper or valve
of a lever for operating the damper and two motors arranged on an intermediate
partition or platform connected with the lever, so as to act upon it in different
directions, whereby a simple and compact apparatus is produced, and one wherein
each motor is operated independently of the other, so as to impart a double move-
ment to the said lever.
Other of the snid improvements consist in details and combinations of parts as
hereinafter described.
In the accompanying Drawing,―
Figure 1 represents a side view, partly in section, of a steam generator with its
furnace, damper, and appurtenances, and motors for operating the dainpers embody-
ing these improvements.
Figure 2 represents a central longitudinal section of an apparatus embodying two
motors acting in different directions upon a lever for use with a steam generator
and damper.
Figure 3 is a plan thereof; 'and
Figure 4 is a central longitudinal section of a modified form of such apparatus.
Similar letters designate corresponding parts throughout the Drawing.
Referring first to Figure 1, A designates a steam generator, which may be of the
ordinary or any other desirable construction; A' designates the furnace thereof;
and A designates a damper fitted in the smoke stack or flue and adapted to be
oscillated, so as to control the passage of the products of combustion through the
stack and thus regulate the draught of air through the furnace.
So far as my improvements are concerned the damper may be arranged to regulate

page_text: air entering the furnace. The main motor, whereby this damper is actuated, con-
sists of a cylinder B fitted with a piston B¹ provided with a rod B³ connected by a
link B3 with a bell crank lever B, which is connected by a link B³ with a crank a
arranged upon the damper shaft, so that the movements of the piston effect the
oscillation of the damper; B is a steam-chest communicating with the cylinder B
and receiving steam from the generator A through a pipe or passage C. Induction
and exhaust ports b, b, establish communication between the steam-chest B6 and
the cylinder B, as also between the latter and an exhaust passage o; .B7 designates
a valve for controlling the admission of steam from the steam-chest Be to the
cylinder B and its escape from the latter to the exhaust passage c. This valve, as
represented, is an ordinary "U slide valve," but may be of any other desirable
form.
A supplemental motor, hereinafter described in detail, consisting essentially of
two chambers D, D¹, receiving steam from the generator through a pipe E and
fitted with diaphragms F, F, acting in different directions upon a lever G, controls
the shifting of the valve B'. It is supplied with steam by a separate pipe, so that
it will not be influenced by the operation of the main motor. This supplemental
motor is shown as supported by brackets & extending from the outer head of the
cylinder B of the main motor, but it may be erected on any other suitable support.
The lever G is connected by a yoke H straddling the valve chest to the rod B³ of
the valve B' in the main motor. This rod B³ is provided with a counterbalance,
which though it may consist of a weight is shown as consisting of a spiral spring I
surrounding said valve rod and fitting between a collar e arranged thereon and a
guide bracket f extending from the main motor.
In the present instance the counterbalance is made adjustable by providing the
valve rod B8 with an external screw thread and the collar e with an internal screw
thread, so that the latter may be adjusted longitudinally thereon as a nut by means
of a wrench or other implement.
When steam in the generator exceeds a certain pressure it will distend the
diaphragms F; F', of the supplemental motor, overcome the resistance of the
counterbalance, and by shifting the slide valve B' adınit a supply of steam to the
main cylinder and cause the shifting of the damper, so as to check the draught in
the furnace.
On a reduction of pressure the counterbalance will overcome the resistance
offered by the supplemental motor and shift the valve in the opposite direction, and
effect the admission of steam to the cylinder of the main motor, thereby effecting
the shifting of the damper A2, so as to increase the draught and stimulate the fire
in the furnace.
It is obvious that by adjusting the counter-balance so as to increase or decrease
its force the action of the damper at any pressure can be attained, and that inas-
much as the increase or decrease in steam has only to shift the valve in a powerful
motor for operating the damper, and not to shift the damper itself as beretofore,
very slight increase or decrease in pressure will suffice to effect the shifting of the
damper; and hence that the operation of the damper is exceedingly sensitive and
the draught of air to the furnace is very delicately controlled, so as to maintain a
much nearer uniform pressure in the generator than heretofore has been done with
an automatic damper.
To preclude steam or water formed by the condensation of steam from flowing
into the cylinder of the main motor while it is inactive and leaking out I have
shown two tappet levers J pivoted to a frame J' acting through collars g upon the
valve rod B³, and actuated by a tappet collar h upon the piston rod B*. This tappet
collar as the piston rod B' near the end of its stroke acts upon one or the other
of the tappets J and reverses the valve B' sufficiently for it to cover the ports 6, 6,
and preclude the passage of steam through them into the cylinder B, the acting
surface of the supplemental motor being sufficiently less than that of the said
piston to admit of this.
Referring now to Figures 2 and 3 I will describe in detail what I havo referred

page_text: to as the supplemental motor, premising that the same may be employed as a main
motor without any other motor for effecting the operation of the damper if desirable.
Its two chambers D, D', are arranged excentrically on opposite sides of a supporting
platform K erected on legs or brackets i, and the diaphragms F, F, with which
they are furnished are intended to be made of metal, leather, canvas, and india
rubber or other flexible material, and are secured in place by clamping rings L
preferably made ellipsoidal in order that each shall overlap the chamber to which
the other is fitted; and both may be secured in place by the same bolts passing
through them and the platform. These chambers and diaphragms really constitute
two motors. Both chambers receive steam from a steam generator, in this instance
through a port or passage j in the platform K and branch ports or passages k
leading therefrom. It is obvious that in lieu of the passages described separate
passages communicating with the chambers may be employed if desirable.
G designates a lever connected to the diaphragm F by means of a yoke N and
links M straddling the chambers D, D', and their supporting platform K, and con-
nected to a yoke or cross piece P extending from an abutment O impinging against.
said diaphragm. The said lever is connected with the diaphragm.F¹ by means of
an abutment Q impinging upon said diaphragm and working in guides l.
It is obvious that upon the accumulation of a certain pressure of steam in the
steam generator and its transmission to the chambers D, D¹, the diaphragms F, F',
will be distended in different directions and will exert an impulse on the lever G
in different directions at the points of their connection with it, one acting as a
moveable fulcrum for it, and the two imparting to it a double motion while
operating entirely independently of each other.
When this motor is employed as a main motor without any other to operate the
damper of a steam generator it will be used in an upright position, as represented
in Figure 2; and in such case a weight S capable of being adjusted into different
positions and secured by a set screw n will be used upon the lever G to return the
diaphragms F, F', to their normal position upon a reduction of pressure.
T is a guide for precluding the lever G from swinging sidewise; and U is an
adjustable stop, consisting in this instance of a screw for limiting the upward
motion of the lever.
Referring now to Figure 4, two chambers D, D¹, are fitted with diaphragms F, F¹,
and arranged one concentrically above the other. Both are shewn as above the
platform K, but a partition V is arranged between them. In lieu of the partition V
the supporting platform K may be arranged between them to serve as a partition,
and a ring may be fitted to the outside of the diaphragms. The lower diaphragm
is connected by an abutment O to a lever W pivoted at one end to a link or links X
suspended from the platform K and connected at the other by a link Y with a
lever G, which bears against an abutment Q impinging upon the upper diaphragm F.
In this example of my Invention the upper diaphragm needs to be of less active
area than the lower in order to act properly in conjunction with it, because of the
compound leverage involved therein by the use of the two levers W and G.
It will be seen that the apparatus comprising the two diaphragms above
described is remarkably simple and compact, and that it is so sensitive as to main-
tain the fire in the furnace at the proper condition, and thereby greatly economize
fuel.
It is obvious that the said improvements are not confined to their application for
regulating the pressure of steam in a generator, but that they may be employed for
regulating the pressure of gases or liquids in various apparatus; for instance, by
subjecting the motors to the influence of the gases or liquids whose pressure is to
be regulated and causing the said motors to act upon a valve in the apparatus.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it under-
stood that I claim,―
First. The combination with a damper or valve of a motor for operating the

page_text: same, a valve for the said motor, and a supplemental motor for controlling the
movements of the said valve, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
Second. The combination with a damper or valve of a motor for operating the
same, a valve for controlling the operation of the said motor, a supplemental motor
for operating the said valve in one direction, and a counterbalance, preferably
adjustable for operating it in the opposite direction, substantially as and for the
purpose specified.
Third. The combination with a damper or valve of a motor for operating the
same, a valve for controlling the operation of the said notor, a pipe leading froin
a steam generator to the said motor, and a supplemental motor for operating the
said valve supplied with steam by another pipe leading from the steam generator,
substantially as and for the purpose specified.
Fourth. The combination with a damper or valve of a motor for operating the
same, a valve for controlling the operation of the said motor, a supplemental motor
for operating the said valve, and means whereby after the completion of the stroke
of said valve it is shifted sufficiently to cover the ports and prevent the further
ingress of steam into the main motor prior to its making the return stroke, sub-
stantially as and for the purpose specified.
Fifth. The combination for use with a damper or valve of two motors arranged
on opposite sides of an intermediate partition or platform and acting in different
directions on a lever for operating the damper or valve, substantially as specified.
Sixth. The combination for use with a damper or valve of two motors arranged
on opposite sides of an intermediate partition or platform and a lever for acting on
the damper or valve; one of the said motors being connected to the said lever, so
as to forin a movable fulcrum therefor, and the other of the said motors being con-
nected to the said lever, so as to impart an impulse to one of its arms, substantially
as specified.
Seventh. The combination for use with a damper or valve of a lever adapted to
be connected with such damper or valve and two motors acting in different
directions on the said lever, and consisting of chambers and diaphragmns arranged on
opposite sides of an intermediate partition or platform excentrically to each other,
substantially as specified.
Eighth. The combination for use with a damper or valve of a lever for operating
the damper or valve and two flexible diaphragins arranged on opposite sides of an
intermediate partition or platform, one connected to the lever through an abutment
and the other connected by a yoke and links to the lever, the said links being
arranged in connection with the said diaphragms, substantially as specified.
Ninth. The combination for use with a damper or valve of a lever adapted to be
connected to the said damper or valve, two motors arranged on opposite sides of an
intermediate partition or platform, and so connected to the said lever as to act on
it in different directions, and a guide for the lever extending from the said par-
tition or platform, substantially as specified.
In witness whereof, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Sixth day of November, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.