Improvements in Feed-pumps.
Year: 1898

page_text: Improvements in Feed-pumps.
I, FREDERICK EDWARDS, 62, Bishopsgate Street Within, E.C., London, Con-
sulting Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
"It is a common and useful practice to make feed-pumps larger than the volume
of feed-water they have to throw under normal conditions; the result of this
construction is that the pumps force a considerable quantity of air into the
boiler with the water, and that the air passes from the boiler into
the engine. The air thus admitted is injurious to the boiler, and reduces the
vacuum and efficiency of the engine if the latter be of the condensing type.
My invention consists of an automatic fitting attached to the feed-pump whereby,
whether the amount of water supplied to the fitting be large or small, or varied as
circumstances may require, the admission of air to the pump will, practically
speaking, be entirely prevented; that is to say, the free entrance for the air
into the pump will be entirely shut off by the water, and the only air that will be
able to get in will be that which is absorbed by the water, or mixed mechanically
with it.
In one arrangement I introduce between the delivery of the steam engine air
pump or other supply of water and the suction of the feed pump, a chamber
the upper part of which is connected to the air pump or other supply and is open
to the atmosphere and the lower part of which is connected to the feed pump
and this latter connection is controlled by a float valve so arranged within the
chamber that it will be open only when there is a considerable head of water
in it, the float causing the valve to close before the level of the water drops below
a given point and approaches the level of the valve.
The inlet to the chamber is preferably below the normal water level. The
valve may consist of a suitably guided vertical tube having a float attached to
its upper part and having an open ended lower portion, which slides through a
tubular valve seat formed with lateral ports leading to an annular chamber
around them that is connected with the suction of the feed pump. The lower
portion of the vertical tube is also formed with lateral ports which, when the
water level is normal, overlap those in the valve seat and thus place the chamber
in communication with the feed pump. When the water level falls the lateral
ports in the tubular seat are closed by unperforated portions of the vertical tube.
This tube máy also be formed with other ports at a higher level so that when the
outlet ports aré open, water may pass through them from both above and below,
the water passing from the chamber into the tube through its open lower end
and its upper series of ports.
The chamber may be provided with a removable cover adapted to serve as a

page_text: guide for the upper closed end of the vertical tube and the vertical tube may be
fitted with collars to limit its movement.
Dated this 20th day of September 1898
VUALI
дол.
Improvements in Feed-pumps.
I, FREDERICK EDWARDS, 62, Bishopsgate Street Within, E.C., London, Con-
sulting 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:-
It is a common and useful practice to make feed-pumps larger than the volume
of feed-water they have to throw under normal conditions; the result of this
construction is that the pumps force a considerable quantity of air into the
boiler with the water, and that the air passes from the boiler into
the engine. The air thus admitted is injurious to the boiler, and reduces the
vacuum and efficiency of the engine if the latter be of the condensing type.
My invention consists of an automatic fitting attached to the feed-pump whereby,
whether the amount of water supplied to the fitting be large or small, or varied as
circumstances may require, the admission of air to the pump will, practically
speaking, be entirely prevented; that is to say, the free entrance for the air
into the pump will be entirely shut off by the water, and the only air that will be
able to get in will be that which is absorbed by the water, or mixed mechanically
with it.
In one arrangement I introduce between the delivery of the steam engine air
pump or other supply of water and the suction of the feed pump, a chamber
the upper part of which is connected to the air pump or other supply and is open
to the atmosphere and the lower part of which is connected to the feed pump
and this latter connection is controlled by a float valve so arranged within the
chamber that it will be open only when there is a considerable head of water
in said chamber, the float causing the valve to close before the level of the water
drops below a given point and approaches the level of the valve.
Referring to the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a central vertical section
of a fitting according to this invention; and Fig. 2 is a horizontal section partly
on the line a a and partly on the line Fig. 1.
1 is a chamber open to the atmosphere through a pipe 2 and supplied with
water through an inlet 3; centrally located within the lower part of the chamber 1
is an annular discharge chamber 4, the inner wall of which is constituted by a
renewable tubular valve seat 5 formed with an internal annular recess 5* whence
openings or ports. 5b lead to the chamber 4 around it. 6 is an outlet from the
chamber 4 and is connected to the suction of the feed pump. The chamber 1
preferably has the parts 4 and 6 cast integrally therewith. The passage of water
through the ports 5b from the chamber 1 to the feed pump is controlled by a
valve consisting of a vertical tube 7 having a float 8 attached to it as shown and
having an open ended lower portion, which slides through the valve seat 5.
The vertical tube 7 is also formed with lateral openings or ports 7" which, when
the water level in the chamber 1 is normal, overlap the openings or ports 5b

page_text: and thus place the chamber 1 in communication with the feed pump. When the
water level falls the ports 5b are closed by unperforated portions of the vertical
tube 7. This tube may also be formed with other ports 7b at a higher level so
that when the ports 7 and 5b coincide, water may pass through them from both
above and below, the water passing from the chamber into the tube through its
open lower end and its upper series of ports.
The chamber 1 may be provided with a removable cover 9 having a hollow
boss 9 adapted to serve as a guide for the upper end of the tube 7 which may be
fitted with collars 10, 10 to limit its movement. The central guide constituted
by the boss 9" is formed with internal grooves 9 to permit of the passage of air
as the tube 7 moves up and down therein. In order to prevent water entering
the chamber 1 through the inlet 3 exerting a lateral pressure on the float and
thus restraining the free movement of the tube 7 a curved shield or guard 11
is fitted within the chamber 1 is shown.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1. Means for preventing the admission of air to feed pumps comprising a water
supply chamber the lower part of which is connected to the feed pump suction
the connection therewith being controlled by a float valve so arranged within
the chamber that it will open only when there is a head of water in the said
chamber, the arrangement being such that the float valve closes the connection
with the feed pump suction when the water level drops below a given point
substantially as described.
2. Means for preventing the admission of air to feed pumps constructed,
arranged and operating substantially as described with reference to and shown in
the accompanying drawings.