AN IMPROVED METHOD OF INTRODUCING EXHAUST STEAM INTO STEAM BOILERS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Philip Middleton Justice, of 14, Southampton Buildings,
in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED
METHOD OF INTRODUCING EXHAUST STEAM INTO STEAM BOILERS." A com-
munication from abroad by Emil Montgomery Higentobler, of the City of
Philadelphia, Arvid Henry Elliott, of the City of New York, and Bernard
Charles Lauth, of the City of Pittsburgh, all in the United States of
America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Philip Middleton Justice at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th June 1879.
PHILIP MIDDLETON JUSTICE, of 14, Southampton Buildings, in the County of
Middlesex, Patent Agent. "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF INTRODUCING EXHAUST
STEAM INTO STEAM BOILERS." A communication from abroad by Emil Mont-
gomery Hugentobler, of the City of Philadelphia, Arvid Henry Elliott, of the City
of New York, and Bernard Charles Lauth, of the City of Pittsburgh, all in the United
States of America.
Between the water and steam space of a boiler I make a communication by
means of a pipe, which pipe is the medium for establishing a water circulation from
the water to the steam space of the boiler. This pipe is made to enter the water
space, and from thence is extended to a sufficient heighth above the steam space of
the boiler; from said heighth it is made to descend and connect with the steam
space thereof. Between this beighth and the connection with the steam space there
is a valve, which may be used for closing the pipe. If the valve is closed while
steam is being generated, and then opened when the steam has reached the desired
pressure, a constant current of water will be established from the water space
through the pipe, and thereby into the steam space of the boiler. This established
current is utilized by making it the medium by which the exhaust steam from the
engine is introduced into the boiler, instead of permitting it to escape in the air,
where it represents the loss of a large per-centage of fuel, and the exhaust steam
itself aids in effecting this introduction, as is hereafter more fully set forth. This result
I attribute to the fact that the water which is forced through the pipe when the
..

page_text: valve is open contains the heat due to the boiler pressure, and is therefore subjected
to the mechanical effect of that heat, in addition to the action of gravity.
The pipe which conveys the water circulation terminates in a nozzle within a
chamber, which chamber is between the heighth of the pipe and its connection with
the steam space of the boiler. The exhaust steam from the engine is in communi-
cation with this chamber, said chamber being contracted at its lower side, and then
again increases in area to its connection with the boiler. The current of water as
it escapes from the nozzle meets the exhaust steam in the chamber, and this exhaust
steam being at low pressure it will increase the velocity of the jet escaping from
the nozzle due to the difference between the boiler pressure and that of the exhaust
steam, and this increased velocity induces the said exhaust steam to rush into the
boiler as fast as it escapes from the engines; hence the current of water cooperates
with the exhaust steam in aiding the latter to enter the boiler. A modified arrange-
ment is sometimes made, in which tapering sleeves are introduced into the chamber,
which is a well known device for supporting a jet and increasing its efficiency. A
central spindle may be introduced into the nozzle, and may be connected thereto
by wings; this arrangement may be resorted to when the jet has to be of large
diameter without an increase of volume. It should also be understood that the
nozzle may be made adjustable in respect to the neck of the chamber. Again, a
check valve may be placed on the exhaust pipe leading from the engine to the
chamber. A check valve may also be placed where the mouth of the chamber
communicates with the steam space of the boiler, and this valve will be automatically
closed by the pressure of the steam when the current of water ceases from the
closing of the valve first spoken of, but this check valve will open when the current
of water is restored.
Steam at the desired pressure having been generated in the boiler, and the current
of water through the pipe established, suppose the engine has to be started, pro-
bably the chamber where the exhaust steam has to be introduced may be filled
with steam, and as the circulation of the water is slow a pet cock should be placed
in the side of the chamber, which when opened would have the effect of relieving
the chamber, and thereby increase the velocity of the jet. The engine is then
started, and the pet cock closed. The advantages of my Invention will be readily
understood by those familiar with steam engineering.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Philip Middleton Justice in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 5th
December 1879.
PHILIP MIDDLETON JUSTICE, of 14, Southampton Buildings, in the County of
Middlesex, Patent Agent. "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF INTRODUCING EXHAUST
STEAM INTO STEAM BOILERS." A communication from abroad by Emil Mont-
gomery Hugentobler. of the City of Philadelphia, Arvid Henry Elliott, of the City
of New York, and Bernard Charles Lauth, of the City of Pittsburgh, all in the
United States of America.
This Invention is based upon a discovery which has been made by my foreign
correspondents, which is that exhaust steam may be introduced into the boiler from
which the steam was originally taken by combining its pressure with the action
of a current of water established between the water and steam spaces of said boiler.
To better and more clearly explain the nature of the Invention, and the manner
in which it may be practically employed, reference is made to the annexed Drawings,
in which similar letters of reference represent corresponding parts of the Invention
throughout all the Figures thereof.
Fig. I. represents a general view of a boiler and engine fitted with the necessary
apparatus for carrying the Invention into effect.
Figs. II, III, IV., and V. represent details of the apparatus which may bo
employed. Between the water space W and steam space S of a boiler B I make a
communication by means of a pipe A, through which is established a water circu-
lation from the water to the steam space of the boiler. This pipe from the water
space is extended to a considerable heighth above the steam space of the boiler for
purposes hereinafter set forth. Within this pipe, at a point preferably some feet
above the steam space, is placed a valve C, which may be used for closing pipe A.
If this valve is closed while steam is being generated, and then opened when the
steam has reached the desired pressure, a constant current of water will be established
from the water space through the pipe A, valve C, nozzle D, chamber E, and pipe G
into the steam space of the boiler.
This established current is utilized by making it the medium by which the
exhaust steam from the engine is introduced into the boiler, instead of permitting
it to escape in the air, where it represents the loss of a largo percentage of fuel, and
the exhaust steam itself aids in effecting this introduction in a manner more fully
hereinafter set forth.
This result I attribute to the fact that the water circulating through the pipe A
when the valve C is open contains the heat due to the boiler pressure, and is there-
fore subjected to the mechanical effect of that heat, in addition to the action of
gravity. The pipe A, which conveys the circulating water, terminates in a nozzle 1)
placed within a chamber E. The exhaust steam from the engine is conducted into
the chamber by means of the pipe F. Said chamber is contracted at a point below
the pipe F, so as only to be slightly larger than the mouth of the nozzle D; it is
then expanded again until it joins the pipe G. Said pipe should be several feet
long, and bent, as shown in Figs. I., II., and V., so that it shall receive in its vertical
portion the mixture of water and steam which it delivers through its horizontal
portion to the boiler, the object being to keep a large body of water and steam
travelling together at a high velocity below the chamber E.
The current of water as it escapes from the nozzle D meets the exhaust steam in
the chamber E, and this exhaust steam at a low pressure will increase the velocity
of the jet escaping from the nozzle to an extent varying inversely as the pressure
of the exhaust steam. The increased velocity of the circulating water induces the
exhaust steam to rush into the boiler as fast as it escapes from the engine; hence

page_text: the current of water co-operates with the exhaust steam by aiding the latter to
enter the boiler. The current of water having been established, suppose the engine
has to be started, possibly the chamber E, where the exhaust steam is to be intro-
duced, may be already filled with steam, and as the circulation of the water is slow
it is deemed advisable to placed a pet cock in the side of the said chamber (see
Fig. I.), which when opened would have the effect of relieving the pressure, and
thereby increasing the velocity of the jet. The engine should then be started, and
the pet cock closed. The exhaust pipe F may be fitted with a valve L if deemed
desirable. A modified arrangement of the nozzle is shown in Fig. IV., in which
tapering sleeves are introduced into the chamber, this being a well known device
for supporting a jet and increasing its efficiency. A central spindle may be intro-
duced into the nozzle, and may be connected thereto by wings; this arrangement
may be resorted to when the jet has to be of large diameter without an increase of
volume. It should also be understood that the nozzle may be made adjustable in
its position in respect to the neck of the chamber. A. second arrangement of parts
adapted to establish the current of water is shown in Fig. V., the pipe G being
provided with an outlet H and a valve I, another valve K being placed close to the
boiler, as shown. This arrangement I consider the most efficacious.
I will now describe the method of starting the current of water by means of the
apparatus shown in Fig. V. Steam at the desired pressure having been generated
in the boiler, the valves C and I are opened, and the pressure of the steain forces
the water through pipe A, and out to waste through opening H. The current
having been thus established, if valve I be closed and valve K at the same time
opened, the momentum of the water will cause it to enter the steam space of the boiler.
Said boiler may be fitted with a check valve, automatically closing against the
mouth of pipe G by the pressure of the steam or otherwise, when the current of
water ceases from the closing of valve C or from other causes, said valve being
arranged to open when the current is restored. The exhaust pipe may be fitted
with a valve M, as shown in Fig. 1, opening into the air. Said valve may be
opened when it is not desired to introduce the exhaust steam into the boiler.
Having thus fully described the nature of the Invention of my foreign corre-
spondents, and the manner in which the same may be practically employed, I would
have it understood that I do not confine myself to the precise form or arrangement
of apparatus herein before described, but what
I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is, the method of introducing
exhaust steam from an engine into a steam boiler, as hereinbefore set forth, that
is to say, by causing a current of water established between the water and steam
spaces of a boiler to meet the exhaust steam, and by co-operating therewith to cause
it to enter the boiler, all substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Philip Middleton Justice, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Fifth day of December, in the year of our Lord
1879.
PHILIP MIDDLETON JUSTICE. (L.S.)