AN IMPROVED FEEDWATER REGULATOR FOR STEAM BOILERS
Year: 1884

page_text: İ, KARL JULIUS MAYER of Barmen in the province of Rhenish Prussia Germany;
do hereby declare the nature of said invention for AN IMPROVED FEEDWATER
REGULATOR FOR STEAM BOILERS to be as follows:--
:--
The invention is based on the difference of temperature which exists between the
steam inside a boiler and the water in a vessel communicating with the steam and
water space of that boiler, but which is fixed outside of the latter. This difference
of temperature being used to heat or to cool down a suitable piece of metal when it
comes in contact with the steam or with the water respectively and which piece of
metal then expands or contracts in consequence of the change of temperature and
by acting on a feed or admission valve opens or closes the same & so regulates
automatically the admission of the feed water to the boiler.
In describing the invention reference is made to the accompanying drawings in
which:
Fig. 1 shows the apparatus as applied to a boiler which for simplicity's sake is
here shown as a vertical cross tube or similar boiler.
Fig. 2 & 3 show a cross & longitudinal section resp. through one form of feed
water regulator where the expanding bar is placed inside a tube communicating
with the boiler.
Fig. 4 & 5. are resp. longitudinal section & plan of a construction where the
expanding metal bar is made in form of a tube into which the steam or the water
from the boiler can enter according to the height of the water in the boiler.
Fig. 6 shows a vertical arrangement of the apparatus combined with an
additinal contrivance for varying the height of the water line in the boiler.
The apparatus shown in Fig. 1, 4 & 5 being the same in construction, in
explaining this, same figures of reference will be applied to the same pieces.
A shows the boiler on which B indicates the low water line, C is the expanding
metal bar, here in form of a tube, which communicates with the boiler by means of
the tubes D & E. If now the water falls in the boiler it will also fall in the tube
& when steam enters that tube it will get hotter & consequently it lengthens and
opens the valve F which is fixed at the end of the bar Q forming the continuation
Price BJ7

page_text: of the metal tube C. As soon as the valve F is opened or opened more fully than
it was before, more water passes through the same & enters into the boiler and the
water line will rise until the bar C is again filled with water, when it will
contract, close the valve & so check the feeding.-The feed-water is led to the
valve F by means of the force pipe H which is screwed in the casing which carries
that valve. Tube H comes from the feed pump and tube H¹leads the water to the
boiler. In order to prevent the bursting of a pipe when the valve F is closed in
consequence of the contraction of the metal bar or tube and the pump is still at
work, a safety valve I is inserted into a branch of the force pipe through which
the water can escape when F is closed. The pressure on the safety valve I is fixed
somewhat higher than the ordinary boiler pressure.
The working parts of the apparatus are fitted to a bracket L in the following
manner: On the left hand side of the bracket the two bars M are screwed to the
same, at their end they carry the traverse G to which one end of the expanding bar
or tube is immovably fixed & which is also bored to allow the connections D & E
for the steam & water tubes. The other end of C passes freely through the
boring in the bracket and is closed here by the nut Q which ends in a screw R.
On this screw R is screwed the strap N which forms the casing for the spring P,
enclosed in it. The strap P is adjustable on the screw R by means of the screwed
hand wheels Z & Z. Through N is stuck the bar O which passes through the
stuffing box & gland T into the casing U of valve F.
From the above and with reference to the Figs. 1, 4 & 5 it will be understood
that the apparatus will act as desired.
By means of the hand screws Z, Z¹ the amount of opening of the valve F can be
adjusted. To prevent any overstraining or breakage in consequence of a greater
contraction of the bar C than is desirable, be it either that the allowance of opening
given to the valve was too short, or that. the bar C contracts more than was
intended, for instance by allowing the water in the boiler or in the bar resp. to get
very cold, the strap N is made to press on the springs P, which by being compressed
takes up the strain of the contracting metal bar.
The apparatus shown by Figs. 3 & 4 differs from the preceeding one in its
construction only, the mode of working being the same.
The expanding, metal bar C¹ of star shaped section is here enclosed in a tube R¹
which communicates with the steam and water space of the boiler by means of the
tubes D¹ & E¹. At the left hand side a bolt O¹¹ which is screwed in the bar C¹ passes
through a stuffing box in the cover of the tube R¹ & is fastened to the traverse N¹
by the adjustable nuts V, V. At the other end of a similar bar O¹ passes through
the other cover of tube R' into a casing U¹ which contains the valve F¹. This
casing is connected to the pump by means of the pipe H" & to the boiler by the
pipe H³ in the same manner as described before. The traverse N presses or rests
on the springs P¹ wound round the bars M¹. The springs P' have here the same
functions as the spring P in casing N, Fig. 4.-The action of this apparatus is
the same as that of the one described before. Supposing there be low water in the
boiler, steam will enter the tube R¹ by the pipe D₁ & the bar C' getting warm will
expand, but being locked fast at one end in the traverse N¹ between the nuts V, V¹
it will open the valve F1 & the feeding begins or will be increased & will last Bo
long until the water in the boiler rises so high that it enters through tube E¹ into
the tube R¹. Now follows the cooling of the bar, its contraction & consequently
the closing of the valve.
Should the contraction be too much, the overstrain will be taken up by the
traverse N' & springs P¹. When the valve is closed & the pump continues working
the water escapes through the safety valve I'.
Fig. 6 shows an apparatus exactly like the one just described, but arranged
vertically & fitted in addition with a contrivance for the regulation of the height
of the water line.
The apparatus itself its construction & working being exactly the same as the
one just considered, except its being arranged vertically instead of horizontally,

page_text: I need not repeat its description & I only now describe that part of it which allows
to change the height of the water line whilst the boiler & the apparatus are at
work. This is effected by making the pipe, which connects the apparatus to the
steam space of the boiler adjustable in a vertical direction, in order to vary the
height. in which the steam is allowed to enter the tube R₁ enclosing the metal
bar C. To that effect pipe D₁ leads into a separate casing a¹ attached to the
tube R & from it the pipe e passes through the stuffing box r and enters also
through stuffing box s the lower casing a, so that pipe e can be shifted up & down
at pleasure.
Now the lower casing a communicates with the tube R" by a higher & lower
passage b&b and it will be understood that if tube e is set low the water
entering through E" in casing a will shut off the steam passage through e & no
steam will then further enter the tube R¹¹ & heat the bar C¹. This consequently
will be cooled and contract etc. as formerly. If however the pipe e is set high,
steam will still pass through it and the upper passage b¹ in casing a until this one
is also closed by the rising water. So it will be seen that by making the amount
between which the pipe e can be shifted up and down very great a great variation
in adjusting the water line is possible.

page_text: COMI LEID DI MUIFICATION,
I, KARL JULIUS MAYER, Engineer, Barmen Province of Rhenish Prussia,
Germany do hereby declare the nature of said invention for AN IMPROVED FEED
WATER REGULATOR FOR STEAM BOILERS and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement
This invention is based on the difference of temperature which exists between
the steam inside a boiler & the water in a vessel communicating with the steam
and water-space of the boiler but which is fixed outside of the latter. This
difference of temperature being used to heat or to cool down a suitable piece of
metal when it comes in contact with the steam or with the water respectively &
which piece of metal then expands or contracts in consequence of the change of
temperature and by acting on a feed valve opens or closes the same & so regulates
automatically the admission of feed water to the boiler.
In describing the invention reference is made to the accompanying drawings in
which
Fig. 1 shows the apparatus as applied to a boiler, which for simplicity's sake is
shown here as a vertical cross tube or similar boiler.
Figs 2 & 3 show resp. cross and longitudinal sections through one form of feed
water regulator where the expanding metal bar is placed inside a tube communi-
cating with the boiler.
Figs 4 & 5 are resp. a longitudinal section and a plan of a design where the
expanding metal bar is made in form of a tube into which the steam or feed water
can enter according to the height of the water in the boiler.
Figs 6 & 7 show the apparatus arranged vertically and combined with an
additional contrivance for varying the height of the water line in the boiler.
The apparatus shown in figa 1, 4 & 5 being the same in every detail, same letters
of reference will be applied to similar pieces in explaining the same.
A is the boiler on which B indicates the low water line; C is the expanding
metal bar or tube, which communicates with the boiler by the tubes D & E. If
now the water in the boiler decreases it will also fall in the tube C & when steam
enters therein the tube will get hotter and consequently lengthens & opens the
valve F which is fixed at the end of the bar O forming the continuation of the
metal tube C. As soon as the valve F is opened or opened more fully, more feed
water passes through it and enters the boiler & the water in the latter will rise
until the tube C is also filled with water when it will be cooled & contract,
consequently close the valve F & so check the feeding. The feed water is led to
the valve by the force pipe H which is screwed in the casing U carrying the
valve and the pipe H¹ leads the water to the boiler. To prevent the bursting of
the force pipe when the valve F is closed and the feed pump still at work, a safety
valve I is inserted between the force pipe and a branch pipe X through which the
water can escape & may be brought back to the feed tank K. The pressure on
the safety valve I is somewhat higher than the ordinary boiler pressure.
The working parts of the apparatus are fitted to a bracket L in the following
manner: On the left hand side of the bracket the two bars M are screwed to the

page_text: same; at their end they carry the traverse G to which one end of the expanding
tube or bar is immovably fixed. This end is also bored to allow the pipes D & E
for the steam and water space of the boiler being fixed thereto. The other end of C
passes freely through the boring in the bracket and is closed by the nut Q which
ends in a screw R. On this bolt R is screwed the strap N which forms the casing
for a spring P enclosed in it. The strap N is adjustable on the bolt R by means
of the screwed wheels Z, Z. As will be seen from fig. 4 the strap N also holds the
bar which passes through the stuffing box & gland T into the valve box U which
is fixed to the other side of the main bracket L. By a connecting piece W the
bar O is connected to the valve F.
By means of the hand screws Z, Z¹ the amount of opening allowed to the valve F
can be regulated within certain limits.
To prevent any overstraining or breakage when the valve should happen to be
set too close by the screws Z, Z & in consequence of a greater contraction of the
bar or tube C than is admissible, for instance by feeding colder water than usually,
the strap N is made to press on the spring P which by being compressed takes up
the strain of the contracting bar.
From the above it will be understood that the feed water regulator answers its
purpose in every respect.
Let us suppose there be low water in the boiler, then steam will pass through
pipe D into the bar or tube C which will get hot and expand in the direction of
the valve, the other end being set fast in the traverse G. Valve F will consequently
be opened and allow the feed water coming from the force pipe H to pass through
the pipe Hinto the boiler. Now the water will rise here until it enters the
tube C through the pipe E when the former will be cooled & consequently contract
& so close the feed valve F. If now the feed pump continues working the safety
valve I will be opened and the water can be brought back to the feed tank through
the pipe X.
By means of the hand screws Z, Z¹ the opening of the valve may be so
adjusted that no more nor less water can pass through it than is just required by
the boiler. This of course requires a regular working of the feed pump and a
regular evaporation and delivery of the steam.
The apparatus shown by figs 2 & 3 differs from the preceding one only in a
different arrangement of the expanding bar. The expanding metal bar C¹ of star
shaped cross section is here enclosed in a tube R¹ which communicates with the
steam and water spaces of the boiler by the pipes D' & E¹ At the left hand side a
bolt O which is screwed in the bar passes through a stuffing box in the cover of
the tube R' and is fastened to a crosshead N by the adjustable nuts V V. At
the other end a similar bar W³ passes through the cover of the tube R' into the
casing U which contains the valve F¹ fixed to W. The casing U₁ is connected
to the feed pump by the force pipe H2 & to the boiler by the pipe H³, in the same
manner shown in fig. 1. A safety valve I' being inserted in a pipe X¹ branching
off from the force pipe H2 for the same purpose as described before.
The crosshead N' presses against the springs P¹ wound round the bars M'.
The springs P¹ doing here the same duties as the spring P in the strap N of the
arrangement described before.
The action of this arrangement is the same as that of the apparatus shown in
figa 1, 4 & 5. Suppose there be low water in the boiler, then steam will enter the
tube R¹ by the pipe D' & the bar in getting hot will expand & being locked fast
in the crosshead N₁ between the nuts V V. it will open the valve F at the end
of W. Now the feeding will begin or will be increased & will last until the
water in the boiler rises so high that it enters the tube R¹ through the pipe E¹,
when cooling of the bar, contraction of the same and closing of the valve will
follow etc.
:
Should the contraction be more than the throw of the valve allows, the pressure
will be transported by the crosshead N' to the springs P¹ which will be compressed.
The amount of opening of the valve can be adjusted by the nuts V V.

page_text: Fig 6 shows an apparatus like the preceding one, but arranged vertically and
fitted with an additional contrivance which allows to vary the height of the water
line in the boiler. The apparatus itself being the same as the one described &
working in the same manner I need not repeat its description & confine myself to
describing only that part of it which allows to change the height of the water line
whilst the boiler & the apparatus are at work.
This is effected by making the pipes by which the apparatus is connected to the
boiler adjustable in vertical direction, in order to vary the height at which the
steam is allowed to enter the apparatus. To that effect the pipe D" coming from
the steam space of the boiler leads into a separate casing a fitted at the side of the
apparatus and from that casing a brass or copper pipe e passes through the stuffing
box & gland and enters in the same manner a casing a fixed at the lower end of
the apparatus, so that the pipe e can be shifted up and down at pleasure. Now the
lower casing a' communicates with the tube R of the apparatus containing the
bar C by means of a higher & a lower passage b & b¹ and it will be understood
that, if the tube c is set low, the water entering through El will shut off the
passage of the steam from c & no steam will further enter into the tube R"; the
bar C will thus be cooled & contract etc. as formerly. If however the pipe e is
set high steam will pass through it and enter into the tube R" until the upper
passage b will be closed by the rising water. So it will be seen that by making
the distance between the two passages great, or rather the amount in which the
tube e can be shifted up & down great a great variation for adjusting the water
line is possible.
Fig. 7 shows a vertical arrangement of the apparatus differing from the one
shown by fig 6 only by this that the steam connecting pipe is not made variable
but fixed direct to the lower casing a" which communicates with the tube R¹ only
by one passage 611.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1.) The feed water regulator for steam boilers based on the principle of opening
and closing a feed valve by a suitably arranged piece of metal-expanding
medium which is brought in contact with the steam in the boiler when the
water is low and thus getting heated expands and opens the feed valve and which
is brought in contact with the water in the boiler when the water is high & being
then cooled down contracts and closes the feed valve.
2.) The feed water regulator with the expanding medium forming itself a tube
communicating direct with the steam and water space of the boiler substantially
as & for the purpose described and illustrated by fig. 1, 4 & 5.
3.) The feed water regulator with the expanding medium, forming a bar of star
section, & being enclosed in a tube which is connected by pipes to the steam and
water space of the boiler substantially as and for the purpose described and
illustrated by fig. 2 & 3.
(4.) The feed water regulator arranged vertically but otherwise like the one
shown by Fig. 2 & 3 and having in addition attached to it a contrivance allowing
to vary the height of the water line in the boiler substantially as & for the purpose
described & illustrated by Figs. 6 & 7.