Improvements in Water Heaters and Filters for Steam Boilers and other purposes.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Apr., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 20th Jan., 1896-Accepted, 29th Feb., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Water Heaters and Filters for Steam Boilers and
other purposes.
LOT WALLACE Garden Terrace West Walks Dorchester Dorset do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to the filtering and heating of the water before being
conveyed by suction or feed pipe to pump of stationary, traction or portable engine
boilers, or hot water cistern for other purposes.
The arrangement consists of a copper cylinder A of size required according to
the horse power of engine, the bottom of which cylinder is flat and perforated,
attached to this bottom and immediately below it is a deep copper concave filter B
of same dimensions in diameter as cylinder and finely perforated.
The cylinder stands on three wrought iron legs of sufficient length to keep the
filter from bottom of tub or ground of water course. The top of cylinder is convex
with a flat edge, and is fitted to top edge of cylinder which has a corresponding flat
edge by tap bolts, the joint being made tight by an india rubber washer. In
centre of top cover of cylinder a hole is made to admit the end of steam pipe D.
to pass thro. In the bottom of cylinder and also in centre of strainer a similar
hole or holes are made to admit the end of feed or suction pipe E passing thro',
which is carried up the centre, of the cylinder about two thirds of its length, and
then rigidly joined to steam pipe D. by a strong coupling F into which coupling
are securely tap'd four quarter bends G. equidistant from each other and having
their ends open, and on a line and level with each other. A perforated zinc
plate H of a shade less size than the inside diameter of cylinder is suspended by
two copper rods I which are securely fastened to the zinc plate by a nut above and
another below the plate. A second zinc plate H of similar size and thickness is
placed above this one and thro' which the two copper rods pass. This upper zinc
plate is also perforated except a space in the centre of sufficient diameter to have
a plain part or surface so that when the zinc plates H H are drawn together by the
copper rods, the plain or unperforated part of the top zinc plate stops the water
entering the four openings in the quarter bends G. The two zinc plates work
loosely round the internal pipes, a hole in each plate being made of sufficient size
to enable the plates to raise or fall as required. The plates are kept the distance
necessary apart by two spiral springs J. (either galvanized tinned or silvered) on
the 2 copper rods. A peice of good sponge K. is fitted in between the 2 zinc
plates and being the size of inside of cylinder retains its proper position. The
2 copper rods are carried thro' the cylinder cover and are screwed at top ends to
take 2 knobs or thumb screws, which can be screwed down until the 2 zinc plates
are drawn up tight against the quarter bends G.
In this manner the dirty water enters through the strum or strainer B. into the
cylinder and being sucked thro' the sponge K enters the feed pipe E. at the
4 qr. bends G and is thus immediately met by the steam coming down the steam
pipe D and is at once heated and partly forced forward towards pump or
chamber.
Dirt, grit or greasy matter are thus prevented from getting into the feed pipe,
as all water must pass thro' the sponge, by this method the dirty water frequently

page_text: supplied to engines can be used without any fear of priming, the slide & cylinder
are kept free from cutting, and no grit can get at the clacks.
In working with clean water, arrangements are made whereby the water can go
direct into the feed pipe, without passing through the filter as described. This
object may be attained as follows. An arrangement consisting of a piece of brass
pipe L is fastened into steam pipe D. immediately above cylinder cover this brass
pipe and also the steam pipe are drilled with 4 holes on each side. A second
brass pipe M is machined to fit the other and holes drilled to correspond with the
inner brass pipe. On the outer pipe a strong lug N is cast to be used by the hand
for turning the outer brass pipe round so that the holes may be open or shut, and
thus feed direct from these 8 holes. When the heater is used in this manner, all
that is necessary to do is to screw the 2 thumb screws X. X. down sufficiently
until you have the top zinc plate drawn up against the openings of the 4 quarter
bends.
To clean the filter all that is necessary is to lift it out of the tab (when at work
it is always submerged) place it between the knees, raise the 2 thumb screws to
their greatest limit, and then draw the 2 rods up once or twice and you squeeze the
sponge as tho' done by hand. All the dirt or impurities are forced out of the
bottom thro' the filter.
All materials used in the construction of this invention are of a noncorrosive
character its adaptability in size is a great consideration being only a few pounds
in weight.
Dated this 30th day of March 1895.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Water Heaters and Filters for Steam Boilers and
other purposes.
"
I, LOT WALLACE, of Garden Terrace West Walks, Dorchester, in the County
of Dorset Traction Engine Driver 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 :-
This invention relates to the filtration and heating of the water used for
producing steam in the boilers of stationary, traction, or portable engines, or in hot
water cisterns for other purposes; and consists in an improved form of apparatus
for effecting the same previous to its being conveyed by suction or feed pipes to
such boiler or hot water cistern.
In order that my invention may be fully understood, I will now proceed to
describe it in detail, reference being had to the drawing "left with my Provisional
Specification" in which is shewn in vertical section a filtering water heater
according to my invention.
A indicates a copper or other suitable metallic cylinder vertically disposed and
of a size proportioned to the quantity of water used; the lower end being covered
by a dished plate B, which is finely perforated for the purpose of straining off the
coarser particles of solid matter which may be suspended in the water. It will be
understood that the whole apparatus stands upon legs C, in any convenient vessel
or water course from which the water is to be supplied. A short distance above
the strainer B is a perforated plate which forms the bottom of the cylinder. The
upper end of the cylinder A is closed by a cover which is fixed to the cylinder in
any convenient manner, and down through the centre of this passes the steam
pipe D which is carried about one third way down the depth of the cylinder A,
and there joined by a strong coupling F to the feed or suction pipe E, which

page_text: Into
passes down through the lower half of the cylinder A, and bending upwards com-
municates with the pump of the engine boiler, or with a hot water cistern.
the coupling F are securely screwed or otherwise fastened four bends G, forming
passages which communicate with the interior of the feed pipe E, and which have
their outer ends turned downwards so as to form open passages having their lower
surfaces true and level with each other.
Surrounding the feed pipe E loosely, inside the lower end of the cylinder A, is
a perforated zinc or other metallic plate H, its diameter being such that it can be
caused to slide up and down by means of two bolts or rods which are attached
rigidly to it; these bolts I being carried through the top cover and having upon
their screwed ends fly or other nuts X, by means of which the plate H can be
drawn up, or lowered to any required position. At some short distance above this
lower plate is another zinc or other metallic plate H so formed that it can slide
freely in the cylinder A, and on the feed pipe E and rods I, being supported by
the spiral springs J. This latter plate H is perforated over the greater portion of
its area, but an annular space is left solid underneath the mouths or open ends of
the bends G, in such manner that when the upper plate H is drawn upwards, the
solid annular part of the plate closes the mouths of the bends G. The space
between the two plates H is filled with a layer or layers of sponge K, cut to the
required size so as to fit the interior of the cylinder A.
The operation is as follows:-
The plates H being lowered until the solid part of the upper plate uncovers the
open ends of the bends G, and the apparatus being immersed in the water which is
to be heated and filtered, the water is sucked by the pump or equivalent device up
through the strainer B, the perforated bottom plate, the two perforated zinc
plates H and the enclosed layer of sponge ; and passing into the open ends of the
bends G, enters the feed pipe E, where it is met by the exhaust or other steam,
entering through the pipe D, and heated by such contact. In passing through the
perforated plates and sponge the water has been strained and filtered and
consequently it passes on through the feed pipe E to the boiler or other vessel
in a purified and heated condition; all the dirt, grease, and grit having been
separated from it.
To clean out the filter it is necessary to lift it out of the water and loosen
the two nuts X so as to let the plates H descend to their lowest position. Then
grasping the ends of the two rods by the hands, and holding the cylinder firmly
down the rods and plates are drawn upwards once or twice, thus squeezing all the
dirt or impurities out of the sponge.
When working with clean water and the apparatus is to be used for heating
only, I so arrange that the water is drawn directly into the feed pipe without
passing through the filter or strainer. For this purpose I rigidly attach round the
steam pipe D at a point immediately above the cylinder cover a cylindrical
collar L through which and through the pipe are drilled any convenient number of
holes preferably four on each side. The outside surface of the collar L is turned
true and upon it fits a sleeve M bored accurately to fit upon the collar L in such
manner as to form a joint, but loose enough to be capable of being turned upon it
by hand, a lug or knob N being formed integrally with the sleeve M_for_that
purpose. The sleeve M has an equal number of holes with the collar N and the
former can be turned so as either to make the holes coincident or to close the holes
in the collar L and pipe D to the atmosphere.
If now the apparatus be submerged in water so as to cover the collar Land
sleeve M, and the upper plate H is forced up by turning the nuts X so as to close
the open ends of the bends G, then as soon as the sleeve M is turned so as to bring
the holes in it opposite to the holes in the collar L the water passes through the
pipe D and into the feed pipe E on its way to the feed pump without having been
drawn through the filter.
The materials of which the apparatus is composed are preferably of a non-
corrosive character.

page_text: 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 combined feed water heater and filter in which the water is sucked in
at the bottom and passes through a strainer or filter into the feed pipe where
coming into contact with exhaust or other steam it is heated and passes on to a
feed pump or the like, or to a hot water cistern, substantially as described and
shewn.
2. In a combined feed water heater and filter the combination of the cylinder A
having a cover, the strainer B, the movable perforated plates H operated by the
bolts I and nuts X, the layer of sponge K, the bends G and the feed or delivery
pipe E, all constructed and operating together in the manner and for the purpose
hereinbefore described and shewn.
3. In combination with the combined feed water heater and filter, hereinbefore
described and claimed, the collar L having holes and the sleeve M (having holes)
which may be caused either to open or close the holes in the collar L, substantially
as described and shewn.
4. A combined feed water heater and filter constructed and operating substantially
in the manner and for the purpose described and shewn.
Dated this 18th day of January 1895.
LOT WALLACE.