Improvements in Water Heating and Feeding Apparatus for Steam Boilers.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Jan., 1894-Accepted, 28th Apr., 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Water Heating and Feeding Apparatus for
Steam Boilers.
I, WINFIELD SCOTT RICHARDSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at
No. 457 Trenton Avenue, in the City of Camden, in the County of Camden, and
State of New Jersey, Mechanic, 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 relation to water heaters and feeders for steam boilers; and it
relates more particularly to the general construction and arrangement of such
apparatus.
The principal objects of my invention are first; to provide a comparatively
simple, durable and effective water heater and feeder for steam boilers so
constructed and arranged as to present the water to the boiler at all times at or
about the boiling point thereof; second, to provide a water heater and feeder for
steam boilers arranged so as to occupy a position above the water line of the boiler
and with suitable steam connections arranged between the heater and feeder and
the boiler and respectively connected therewith above said water line in the boiler;
third, to provide a water heating and feeding apparatus for steam boilers so
arranged as to occupy a position above the water line in the boiler and with a steam
pipe connection with the boiler above the water line in the boiler and with the
bottom of the heater and feeder having a controlled feed connection to the boiler
below the water line therein; fourth, to provide a water heater and feeder for
steam boilers heated through radiation by exhaust steam from an engine and with
an overflow pipe or vent connection extending from the top of the heater and
feeder to a waste receptacle; fifth, to provide a water heating and feeding apparatus
for steam boilers having pipe connections extending into the bottom of the
apparatus from an elevated tank or reservoir for supplying the same with water
and with an overflow pipe or vent extending downward from the top of the heater
and feeder and the water heated by exhaust steam from an engine, as well as the
water supply of the tank or reservoir and the heater and feeder disposed above the
normal water line in the boiler with the water feed connection from the heater and
feeder to the boiler arranged below the water line therein and the steam supply
from the boiler to the heater and feeder to equalize back pressure thereon disposed
above the normal water line of the boiler and connected with the top of the heater
and feeder; and sixth, to provide a water heater and feeder for steam boilers
adapted to feed the latter with an expansive fluid or water at or about the boiling
point and with back pressure equalized or positively compensated for by a pipe
connection disposed between the boiler and the heater and feeder and a pipe
connection for permitting of the flow of the expansive fluid or water to the boiler
from the heater and feeder by gravity, in order that any tendency to explosion or
blowing out of the head of the boiler may be avoided, because the same is presented
at all times at substantially a uniform temperature thereto.
My invention consists of the improvements in water heating and feeding apparatus
for steam boilers constructed and arranged for operation in substantially the manner
hereinafter more particularly described and claimed.
The nature and general characteristic features of my invention will be more fully
understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying

page_text: drawing forming part hereof, and which illustrates partly in central section and
partly in elevation a water heating and feeding apparatus in application to a steam
boiler and in connection with an elevated water supply containing or embodying
the features of my invention.
Referring to the drawing A, is a steam boiler with its accessories of any
preferred construction and arrangement for use.
B, is an elevated water tank or reservoir provided with a supply pipe b, and with
a discharge pipe b².
C, is a water heater and boiler feeder provided with a pipe c, extending through
the same or formed into a coil c', as indicated by the dotted lines therein. This
pipe c, extends from the engine D, and constitutes the exhaust pipe thereof and it
may be extended from the heater and feeder C, into the elevated water tank or
reservoir B, in order to remove the chill of the water anterior to the discharge of
the same from the tank or reservoir B, through the pipe 61, to the heater and
feeder C, and which pipe b', is connected with the bottom of the heater and
feeder C. The pipe 61, is provided with a stop-cock 62, as illustrated, for cutting
off the supply from the tank or reservoir B, to the heater and feeder C. c², is an
overflow pipe or vent connected with the head of the heater and feeder C, and
extending downward into a waste receptacle c³. This pipe e, is provided with a
stop-cock c¹. e, is a pipe extending from the bottom of the heater and feeder C,
into the wall of the boiler A, and it is provided with a stop-cock e¹, and with a
check valve e², to prevent back pressure. f, is a steam pipe connected with the top
of the heater and feeder C, and with the boiler A, above the normal water line
thereof, for equalizing back pressure on the feed pipe e, to the boiler. This pipe f
is provided with a stop-cock f'. The heater and feeder C, located above the water
line of the boiler and the feed therefrom is arranged so that the water is fed or
flows to the boiler by gravity and with the pipe f, for equalizing back pressure on
the feed, the boiler can always be kept supplied with its required quota of
hot water or expansive fluid at or about the boiling point, so that an efficient
working of the boiler is thus ensured with the requirement of the least possible
attention.
The operation of the apparatus herein before described is as follows:-
To fill the heater and feeder C with water from the tank or reservoir B, the stop-
cock b², provided in the pipe b, is opened, as well as the stop-cock c', in the overflow
pipe or vent c³, and the respective stop-cocks e¹ and f', in the feed and steam pipes e
and f, are closed.
In feeding the boiler from the heater and feeder C, it will be understood that the
respective stop-cocks and e, in the pipes and c³, will be closed and the stop-
cocks e and f, will be opened, thereby permitting under perfect regulation the
boiler A, to be fed with hot water and the same may be readily and expeditiously
kept supplied therewith with the least possible labor attending upon the same.
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 :-
1. A hot water heater and feeder for steam boilers disposed above the water line
of the boiler and provided with a controlled feed from the bottom of the heater and
feeder and to the boiler below the water line therein, a steam pipe connected with
the top of said heater and feeder and the boiler above the water line therein, a
controlled overflow or vent leading from the head of the heater or feeder and a water
supply connected with the bottom of said heater or feeder, substantially as and for
the purposes set forth.
2. A hot water heater or feeder connected with the exhaust of an engine and
disposed above the water line of a boiler, a controlled water supply connected with
the bottom of the heater and feeder, a controlled overflow extending downward from
the top thereof, a controlled feed with a check leading from said heater and feeder

page_text: to the boiler below the water line therein and a steam pipe connected with the top
of the boiler and above the water line therein, substantially as and for the purposes
set forth.
Dated at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. this 23rd day of December. A.D. 1893
WINFIELD SCOTT RICHARDSON.