Improved Feed Water Apparatus for Steam Boilers.
Year: 1885

page_text: Improved Feed Water Apparatus for Steam Boilers.
. "
'
I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of the firm of A. M. and Wm. Clark, of
53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex; Fellow of the Institute of Patent
Agents, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for IMPROVED FEED
WATER APPARATUS FOR STEAM BOILERS a communication to me from abroad by
Jean Edouard Edmond Fromentin, of 25 Rue de la Porte Maillot Paris, France,
Civil Engineer to be as follows:-
[
This invention relates to an improved feed apparatus for steam boilers in which
a constant level is maintained by the application of the well known principle of
equilibrium in communicating vessels.
1.
The advantages, obtainable by the application of the improvements of this
invention are as follows:
1. Boilers can be constructed and delivered with the feed vessel attached ready
for use.
:
2nd An entire absence of noise as the apparatus begins to act immediately the
steam is introduced and without the possibility of its becoming condensed.
3rd The water is heated by contact with the steam and owing to the peculiar
form of the feed vessel is immediately discharged into the boiler whereby apparatus
of comparatively small size may be made to deliver large quantities of water in a
very short space of time.
4th Boilers can be supplied with water before the steam pressure is raised.
5th By a very simple arrangement, the quantity, of water passing through the
feed apparatus may be measured and also indicated if desired. The above being
the principal features of the invention, in order that the same may be readily
understood, I will proceed to describe it with reference to the accompanying
drawings, which give some examples only, it being understood that the details will
necessarily vary to suit the dimensions and kind of apparatus, and the particular.
circumstances of each application.
Figure 1 is an elevation of the apparatus separately. In principle the apparatus
consists of a bottle shaped receiver F gradually, tapering in, diameter from the
bottom upwards, and provided with flanges h, h¹ or other suitable means of fixing.
The receiver is furnished with a distributing valve 5, shown separately on a larger,
scale in figures 2, 3 and 4 and also in modified form in figures 5 and 6. This
...

page_text: distributing valve is operated by a two armed lever g g₁ acted on either directly
by hand or preferably by means of cords or chains provided with pull handles 8, 9.
The water is conducted from the feed apparatus to the boiler by a pipe 2 which
may if necessary communicate direct with the distributing valve. The pipe 2, as
will be hereinafter described, is branched on the pipe which supplies the feed
apparatus with water. Steam is admitted at pipe 7 and after passing through the
valve 5, is conducted by pipe 4 either into a receiver or condenser, arranged as
hereinafter described; or into feed vessel by a pipe 6 leading into the top of said.
vessel.
The apparatus also comprises a counter or indicator 10, a gauge 11 and a
manhole 12.
The distributing valve is composed of a box or casing a, containing a rotating
disc b and having three branches 4 6. 7 (see figures 5 and 6).
The distributing valve is operated by the double lever g g', keyed on the spindle
of disc b, to the ends of which lever are attached chains or cords, provided with
pull handles 8, 9 within reach of the driver.
In order to obtain the largest possible flow in apparatus of small dimensions, the
distributor shown in figures 2, 3 and 4 is preferably employed, the arrangement
being the same as before, except that the disc b is modified. Such is in principle
the general arrangement of this improved feeder, considered apart from any special
application from which its great simplicity will be rendered apparent. Each
application however necessitates special arrangements, which although not affecting
in any way the principle of the invention, it will be of advantage to describe
for the purpose of explaining the working of the apparatus. The apparatus is
therefore illustrated in the drawings as applied,
(1) to a French boiler.
(2) to a portable engine boiler.
(3) to a locomotive boiler.
In these different applications, it is only' necessary to modify the relative
positions of the pipes or principal parts of the apparatus.
:
APPLICATION OF THE FEEDER TO A FRENCH BOILER, Figure 7.
In this case, the pipe o is branched direct onto the delivery pipe 2 which
conducts the water' from the feeder 'F' to the boiler; this pipe may if necessary, as
before mentioned, communicate with the distributor 5. Between the pipe è (which
conveys the water to the feeder) and the feed apparatus is disposed a receiver 3 of
a certain size which is placed in communication with pipe o by means of a cock B,
serving to cut off the supply of water to the feed apparatus and more especially to
maintain the boiler pressure in the feeder while it is working. The receiver 3
serves to condense the steam escaping from the apparatus by pipe after passing
through the distributing valve 5. The condensation is effected without noise, the
steam entering receiver 3 through a small perforated conical pipe a on the same
principle as those of steam jet water raisers.
'
The apparatus may be provided as in figure 1 with a dial 10 for indicating each
oscillation of the valve lever g'g', and' thus act as a water meter, the capacity of
the feed vessel being known.
$.
Figure 7 shows more particularly how the feeder may be constructed with and
form a part of the boiler like the steam dome. The water is maintained at a
constant level in the boiler by a 'plunger pipe d placed in communication with
pipe 7 by means of a cock; this arrangement is well known and needs no further
description.
The following is the action of the apparatus:-the feeder F being freed from
steam; water is introduced under pressure into the condenser 3, lifts valve B and
completely fills the feed vessel.. "The distributing valve 5 is then turned to close
the escape pipe 4 and cause the steam to pass into the upper part of the vessel
through pipe 6 and thus equalize the pressure so as to permit the water to flow
"

page_text: naturally into the boiler until the level is reestablished, the water rising as high as
the bottom end of pipe d
Immediately an equilibrium of pressure is established in feeder F, the valve B
closes by the pressure of the water in pipes o and 2, while the valve c rises under
the action of the feed water which is introduced into the boiler. When the
gauge 11 indicates that the feed vessel is empty, the distributing valve 5, is
reversed for the purpose. of blowing out the apparatus by means of pipe 4 which
conducts the steam to the condenser 3, the valve o closing under the boiler pressure,
while the water inlet valve B again opens for the purpose of filling the feed vessel
under pressure of the water supplied by pipe e from a tank, water main &.
APPLICATION TO THE FEEDER TO A PORTABLE BOILER, figure 8.
In this application, as also when it is applied to locomotives, as will be presently
described, the action is the same as before, but the feed vessel is placed around the
chimney and is made dome shaped, so that the water may be kept constantly
heated and maintained at a nearly boiling temperature. In this manner the heat
of the products of combustion passing. away by the chimney is, utilized in a
manner to effect a considerable saving in fuel. The vessel o is made in two parts,
one of which is cylindrical and central, while the other part gradually increases in
diameter towards the base and surrounds the centre portion.. The two parts are
united together by joints at x y at the upper and lower ends respectively of the
feed vessel, and can thus be readily taken apart for inspection or cleaning. The
steam is admitted at pipe a. and the feed water is delivered into the boiler by
pipe b and valve h. The distributing valve is placed at d and is operated by a
hand lever e. j is a receiver into which the feed water is admitted by pipe m; it
is exactly similar to the condenser 3 figure 7 and is similarly provided with a pipe
in communication with the steam discharge pipe f. is a valve or the water
supply pipe, serving the same purpose and acting in a similar manner to valve B
figure 7.
The boiler is supposed to be supplied with water arriving under pressure through
pipe m, but in other cases the feed vessel may be filled by a small jet water raiser
placed at the bottom of the feed tank, such as shown in figure 9 as applied to a
locomotive.
r is a small cock operated by a handle 8, which is placed at the upper part of
vessel o for allowing the escape of the steam produced therein by the passage of
the heated products of combustion through the chimney, this cock regulates the
admission of water into the apparatus and is opened only when the greater portion
of the steam is condensed.
APPLICATION OF THE FEEDER, TO RAILWAY LOCOMOTIVES ;fig. 9.
The feeder B is constructed and arranged to surround the chimney as described
with reference to figure 8. The distributing valve is placed at D and is operated
by lever A. Steam is conveyed to the feed vessel B by pipe c and to the distributor
by pipe E; the feed water enters the boiler by pipe F and 'valve F¹. The
water is cunslied from the tank into th
1

page_text: Improved Feed Water Apparatus for Steam Boilers.
1
I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of the firm of A. M. and Wm. Clark, of
53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Fellow of the Institute of Patent
Agents, do hereby declare the nature. of this Invention (a communication to me
from abroad, by Jean Edouard Edmond Fromentin of 25 Rue de la Porte Maillot,
Paris, France, Civil Engineer,) 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 an improved feed apparatus for steam boilers in which
a constant level is maintained by the application of the well known principle of
equilibrium in communicating vessels.
The advantages obtainable by the application of the improvements of this
invention are as follows:+
1. Boilers can be 'constructed and delivered with the feed vessel attached ready
for use.
2nd An entire absence of noise as the apparatus begins to act immediately the
steain is introduced and without the possibility of its becoming condensed..
3rd The water is heated by contact with the steam and owing to the peculiar
form of the feed vessel is immediately discharged into the boiler whereby apparatus
of comparatively small size inay be made to deliver large quantities of water in a
very short space of time.
4th Boilers can be supplied with water before the steam pressure is raised.
5th By a very simple arrangement, the quantity of water passing through the
feed apparatus, may be measured and also indicated if desired.
The above being the principle features of the invention, in order that the same
may be readily understood, I will proceed to describe it with reference to the
accompanying drawings, which give some examples only, it being understood that
the details will necessarily vary to suit the dimensions and kind of apparatus, and
the particular circumstances of each application.
Figure 1 is an elevation of the apparatus separately. In principle. the apparatus
consists of a bottle shaped receiver F. gradually tapering in diameter.from the
bottom upwards, and provided with flanges h, h or other suitable means of fixing.
The receiver is furnished with a distributing valve,5, shown separately on a larger
scale in figures 2, 3, and 4, and also in modified form in figures 5 and 6. This
distributing valve is operated by a two armed lever g g acted on either directly
by hand or preferably by means of cords, or chains,provided, with pull handles 8, 9:
The water is conducted from the feed apparatus to the boiler by a pipe 2 which
may if necessary communicate direct with the distributing valve. The pipe 2 as
will be hereinafter described, is branched on the pipe which supplies the feed
apparatus with water. Steam is admitted at pipe 7 and after passing through the
valve 5 is conducted either by pipe 4 into a receiver or condenser, arranged
as hereinafter, described, or into feed vessel F, by a pipe 6 leading into the top of
+
said vessel.
The apparatus also comprises a counter 10 a gauge 11, a manhole 12,

page_text: The distributing valve is composed of a box or casing a, containing a rotating
disc b and having three branches 4, 6, 7 (see figures 5 and 6):
The distributing valve is operated by the double lever g.g¹ keyed on the spindle
of disc b, to the ends of which lever are attached chains or cords, provided with pull
handles 8, 9-within reach of the driver.
:
In order to obtain the largest possible flow in apparatus of small dimensions, the
distributor shown in figures 2, 3, and 4, is preferably employed, the arrangement
being the same as before, except that the disc b is modified.,
:
Such is in principle the general arrangement of this improved feeder, considered
apart from any special application from which its great simplicity will be rendered
apparent. Each application however necessitates special arrangements, which
although not affecting in any way the principle of the invention it will be of
advantage to describe for the purpose of explaining the working of the apparatus.
The apparatus is therefore illustrated in the drawings as applied:-
(1) to a French boiler.
'
(2) to a portable engine boiler.
(3) to a locomotive boiler..
'
In these different applications, it is only necessary to modify, the relative
positions of the pipes, or principal parts of the apparatus.
APPLICATION OF THE FEEDER, TO A FRENCH BOILER-(Figure 7).
case,
I
In this the pipe o is branched direct onto the delivery pipe 2 which conducts
the water from the feeder F to the boiler; this pipe may if necessary as before
mentioned, communicate with the distributor 5. Between the pipe e (which
conveys the water to the feeder) and the feed apparatus is disposed a receiver 3
of a certain size which is placed in communication with pipe o by means of a check
valve B, which serves to cut off the supply of water to the feed apparatus and more
especially to maintain the boiler, pressure in the feeder while it is working. The
'receiver 3 serves to condense the steam escaping from the apparatus by pipe 4,
after passing through the distributing valve 5. The condensation is effected
without noize, the steam entering receiver 3 through a small perforated conical
pipe a on the same principle as those of steam jet water raisers.
The apparatus may be provided as shewn in figure 1 with a counter 10 for
indicating each oscillation of the valve lever g gl and thus act as a water meter,
the capacity of the feed vessel being known.
"
Figure 7 shows more particularly how, the feeder may be constructed with and
form a part of the boiler in the same way as the steam dome. The water is
maintained at a constant level in the boiler by a dip pipe d placed in communi-
cation with pipe 7 by means of a cock. This arrangement is well known and
needs no further description.
:
The following is the, action of the apparatus; the feeder F being freed from
steam water entering under pressure from a tank or, main through pipe e into the
condenser 3 lifts valve, B and completely fills the feed vessel.. The distributing
valve 5 is then turned to close the escape pipe 4 and cause the steam to pass into
the upper part of the vessel through. pipe 6 and thus equalize the pressure so as to
permit the water to flow. by its own gravity into the boiler until the normal level
is reached by the water rising to the bottom end of pipe d.
At the moment when an equilibrium of pressure was established in feeder F, the
valve B closed by the pressure of the water in pipes o and 2-while the valve'c was
raised under the action of the feed water passing' into the boiler. When the
gauge 11 indicates that the feed vessel is empty, the distributing valve o is
reversed for the purpose of blowing out the apparatus by means of pipe 41 which
conducts the steam to the condenser 3, the valve c closing under the boiler, pressure
and the valve B again opening for refilling the feed vessel.

page_text: APPLICATION OF THE FEEDER TO A PORTABLE BOILER (figure 8).
In this application as also in the case of locomotives as will be presently
described, the action is the same as before, but the feed vessel is placed around the
chimney and is made dome shaped, so that the water may be kept constantly
heated and maintained at a nearly boiling temperature. In this manuer, the heat
of the products of combustion passing away by the chimney is utilized in a manner
to effect a considerable saving in fuel. The vessel o is bottle shaped and annular,
being formed' by an inner cylindrical tube and an outer vessel of gradually
increasing diameter towards the base, the two parts being united by joints at x y
so as to be readily taken apart for inspection or cleaning. The steam is admitted
at pipe a and the feed water is delivered into the boiler by pipe.b and valve 'h.
The distributing valve is placed at 'd and is operated by a hand lever e. 'j is a
receiver to which the feed water under pressure is supplied by pipe m, it is exactly
similar to the condenser 3. figure 7 and a perforated pipe leads into it from the
steam discharge pipe ƒ as before. i is a valve on the water supply pipe, serving
the same purpose and acting in a similar manner to valve B, figure 7.
In some cases the feed vessel may be filled by a small jet water raiser placed
at the bottom of the feed tank, such as shown in figure 9 as applied to a
locomotive.
r, is a small cock operated by a handle's which is placed at the upper part of
vessel o for allowing the escape of the steam produced therein by the passage of
the heated products of combustion through the chimney, this cock regulates the
admission of water into the apparatus and is opened only when the greater portion
of the steam is condensed.
APPLICATION OF THE FEEDER TO RAILWAY LOCOMOTIVES (fig. 9).
The feeder B is constructed and arranged to surround the chimney as described.
with reference to figure 8. The distributing valve is placed at D and is operated
by lever A. Steam is conveyed to the feed vessel B by pipe c and to the dis-
tributor by pipe E; the feed water enters the boiler by pipe F, and valve F'. The
water is supplied from the tank on the tender, to the feeder by the pipes G. J. by
means of the water raiser K. The starting is effected by means of the distributing
valve of the apparatus, and the condensation of the steam from the latter is effected
by the exhausting action of the jet water raiser K. through the pipe H, the whole
being combined with the water admission apparatus.
With a view to utilize as far as possible the waste heat of the products of com-
bustion, a series of tubes, more or less inclined, may be placed in the chimney
through which the water contained in the feed vessel would circulate. Figure 10
shows this arrangement in which a is the steam inlet to the feeder b and c the
outlet for the feed water to boiler d which also serves for filling the feed vessel.
Figure 11 shows the method adopted for augmenting the heating surface within
the feed vessel without in any way impeding the draught in the chimney. In this
case the chimney b is either corrugated, horizontally or provided with vertical
spiral ribs or flutes of any suitable pitch for forcing the heated gases to circulate in
contact with the sides of the chimney and thus more effectually heat the surrounding
feed water contained in the vessel b.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1st A feed apparatus for steam boilers consisting of a bottle or other similar
shaped receiver-F. distributing valve 5 operated by a two-armed lever, counter 10,
gauge 11 and manhole 12:as hereinbefore described and for the purpose specified. .

page_text: 2nd The combination with a feed apparatus constructed as described, of a dis-
tributing valve consisting of a box or casing a and disc b upon whose spindle is
keyed a two armed lever g g' for operating said valve as described and represented
in Figures 1 to 6.
3rd The combination with a feed apparatus constructed as described, of a con-
denser 3, valve B, and pipe dipping down into the boiler for maintaining a constant
level, as herein described with reference to figures 7 and 8.
4th The application on or around the chimney of a locomotive or portable engine
boiler, or other pipe for conducting gases of coinbustion; of a feed vessel made in
two parts capable of being readily fitted together, and internal cylindrical tube,
and an external vessel of cylindro-conical form, as described with reference to
figures 8 and 9.
5th The combination with a feed apparatus and distributing valve constructed as
described, of a jet water raiser K for exhausting the steam from the feed vessel
through the pipe H substantially as described with reference to figure 9.
6th The combination of the feed vessel with a locomotive or other boiler
chimney traversed by circulating tubes as represented in figure 10 and for the
purpose specified.
7th The combination of the feed vessel with a chimney provided with corru-
gations or spiral ribs as described with reference to figure 11 for the purpose
specified.
•