AN IMPROVED METHOD OF FEEDING STEAM BOILERS WITH WATER, IN PART APPLICABLE FOR RAISING WATER FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Clark, of Kensington, in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF FEEDING STEAM
BOILERS WITH WATER, IN PART APPLICABLE FOR RAISING WATER FOR OTHER
PURPOSES."
Sealed the 29th June 1877, and dated the 25th April 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Clark at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 25th April 1877.
" AN
JOHN CLARK, of Kensington, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer.
IMPROVED METHOD OF FEEDING STEAM BOILERS WITH WATER, IN PART APPLICABLE
FOR RAISING WATER FOR OTHER PURPOSES."
The object of my present Invention is to heat the feed water for steam boilers
to the boiling point, or nearly so, before its entry into the boiler; to construct
suitable apparatus for raising such hot water for feeding such steam boilers there-
with; to apply such apparatus for raising water for supplying tenders, tanks, and
the like with water; and for raising water or other fluids by the said apparatus for
other purposes.
In carrying my said Invention into practice I will describe its operation as
applied to locomotive boilers, but it is also applicable with slight modification to
every other description of steam boiler. I prefer to heat the feed water in the
tank of the tender by any known means, but usually do so by passing part of the
exhaust steam from the engine into the water in the tank and condensing it
therein. For this purpose a pipe is fitted to and between the exhaust chamber,
or other suitable part of the engine, and the said tank. This pipe has a swan neck
or & valve to prevent the said feed water from passing along such pipe, so as not
to restrict the passage of the steam therein. The outlet end of the said pipe is
carried below the level of the feed water, and may terminate in one or more
branches or in a delivery pipe placed along the bottom of the said tank. Two or
more such pipes for conveying exhaust steam to the tank may be used in addition
to the one described. The said delivery pipe would be perforated with a number
of small holes or other shaped apertures. to prevent sediment or other solid matter

page_text: from leaving the tank with the feed water, or it may be a pipe fitted with one or
more perforated diaphragms. The said delivery pipe may be of any suitable size
and shape, and, by preference, placed near the bottom of such tank.
The apparatus for raising water for feeding the boiler, by preference, I place upon
the upper part of such boiler and always at a higher level than the water in the
boiler. The said apparatus consists of a metal charging vessel of any convenient
size and shape, on the top of which vessel an ejector of any convenient kind is
fitted so that, by the high-pressure steam rushing out of the said ejector, a partial
vacuum is produced in the said charging vessel, which is then speedily filled or
nearly so by the feed water being forced therein by atmospheric pressure. A steam
pipe is fitted for conveying steam from the boiler to the said ejector, and a pipe is
fitted for conveying the feed water from the tank to the said charging vessel. The
said pipes are fitted with suitable cocks or valves to admit the steam and water
as may be required. When the said charging vessel is filled, or nearly so, with
water, the said ejector is closed, and an outlet pipe leading to the boiler is opened
to allow the water to run down into the boiler by displacement, steam being at the
same time admitted to the top of the said charging vessel in order to force the
water to flow from it. The said outlet pipe may be straight and conduct the water
direct into the boiler, or it may be coiled and fixed in the smoke box or funnel of
the boiler, so that the water in passing through it gets further heated before
entering the boiler. I prefer to use a size of outlet pipe that will charge the boiler
slightly in excess of the loss of water by evaporation in such boiler.
. The action of the said ejector and the supply of feed water are regulated by cocks
or valves fitted to the said pipes. I prefer to join the levers, which operate the
said cocks or valves, so as to make their action simultaneous. I may also fit a
float in the said charging vessel or boiler and connect it with the said cocks or
valves in any suitable manner to make them self-acting, and thus to regulate the.
supply of feed water as required.
In connection with feeding the boiler (but may also be used separately) I arrange
the said ejector for raising water for supplying the tank of the tender or any other
receptacle or vessel for water, herein-after called the reservoir, with water or other
fluid in the following manner :-The pipe, leading from the reservoir to the said
charging vessel, terminates in an upper and lower branch within the said reservoir,
and I open either branch by a cock or cocks fitted thereto. I fit the man-hole of
the reservoir with an air-tight cover, and I fit a suitable suction pipe from such
reservoir to the water intended to be raised into the reservoir.
When working the apparatus I close the cock in the said lower branch and open
the cock in the said upper branch, and lay the end of the said suction pipe in the
water or other fluid to be raised; I then open the cock or valve of the said ejector
when by the action of the steam therein, as previously described, a partial vacuum
is produced in the said reservoir, and the water or other fluid is then forced up the
said suction pipe and discharged therefrom into the said reservoir as long as a partial
vacuum is maintained therein.
One very obvious advantage, amongst others, of such an apparatus is to supply
the tanks or tenders of locomotive engines from a pool or stream where no elevated
water tank exists.
I also arrange the said apparatus for raising water or other fluid for emptying
tanks, reservoirs, or other receptacles containing water or other fluid, wherein the
action of the said ejector in connection with the atmospheric pressure may be used
with advantage in a variety of ways.
The construction of ejectors to produce a partial vacuum being well understood
it is not necessary to describe them herein'; they have been used in a variety of
ways, such as for operating continuous railway breaks and for working vacuum
sugar pans, but I believe have not hitherto been applied for feeding steam boilers
nor for supplying the tanks of locomotive engines with water, nor for the other
herein referred to.
purposes
Where engines are already fitted with an ejector for working continuous breaks

page_text: or for other purposes, I may utilize such ejector for producing the partial vacuum
in my said charging vessel by arranging the pipe connecting such ejector with the
said vessel in any convenient manner.
When the blast of the furnace is impaired by using a portion of the exhaust
steam for heating the water in the tender, as described, such reduction of the blast
may be compensated by forming the entrance end of the ash pan hopper shaped,
so as to increase the supply of air to the fuel in the furnace when the locomotive is
running.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 25th October
1877.
JOHN CLARK, of Kensington, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer. "AN
IMPROVED METHOD OF FEEDING STEAM BOILERS WITH WATER, IN PART APPLICABLE
FOR RAISING WATER FOR OTHER PURPOSES."
The object of my present Invention is to heat the feed water for steam boilers
to boiling point, or nearly so, before its entry into the boiler; to construct suitable
apparatus for raising such hot water for feeding such steam boilers therewith; to
apply such apparatus for raising water for supplying tenders, tanks, and the like
with water; and for raising water or other fluids by the said apparatus for other
purposes.
In carrying my said Invention into practice, I will describe its operation as
applied to feeding locomotive boilers. It is however also applicable, with slight
modifications, to every other kind of steam boilers. I heat the water in the tank
of the tender by any known means, but prefer doing so by passing part of the
exhaust steam from the engine into the water in the tank, and condensing it
therein. For this purpose a pipe is fitted to and between the exhaust chamber or
other suitable part of the engine and the said tank; this pipe has a swan neck
raised above the level of the top of the tank of the tender, or a valve to prevent
the said feed-water from passing along such pipe, so as not to restrict the passage of
the steam therein, and to prevent the feed water flowing into the said exhaust
chamber or cylinders. The said pipe may also have a cock or valve to regulate the
quantity of exhaust steam to be condensed in the feed water. The end of the said
pipe where it discharges into the tank is carried below the level of the feed water
in the tank, and may terminate in one or more branches, or in a delivery pipe placed
along the bottom of such tank; this delivery pipe would be perforated with a
number of small holes or other shaped apertures to prevent sediment or other solid
matter from leaving the tank with the feed water. The said delivery pipe may be
of any suitable size and shape, and by preference be placed near the bottom of such
tank. Or I conduct the feed water to a condensing vessel, which I prefer to fix
under the footplate of the engine; but it may be fixed in any convenient manner
under the engine or tender, but always at a lower level than the said tank of the
tender, so that the water from such tender shall flow therein. I connect the said
condensing vessel by a suitable pipe to the tank for conveying the feed water; I
also connect a pipe from the blast pipe or other part of the engine to the said
condensing vessel, for conveying part of the exhaust steam therein and condense it
for the purpose of heating the feed water in the said vessel. I fit the said pipe
with a valve, cock, or slide to regulate the quantity of exhaust steam entering such
pipe as may be required, and attach a suitable handle or lever to the said valve,
cock, or slide to enable the driver to work the same.
The apparatus for raising water for feeding the boiler I place, by preference, upon
the upper part of such boiler, and always at a higher level than the water in the
boiler. This apparatus consists of a metal charging vessel of any convenient size
and shape, or it may be constructed to form part of the chimney or dome situated

page_text: on the top of the said boiler, on the top of which charging vessel an ejector of
any convenient kind is fitted, so that by the high-pressure steam rushing out of the
said ejector a partial vacuum is produced in such charging vessel, which is then
speedily filled, or nearly so, by the feed water being forced up therein by atinos-
pheric pressure. A pipe is fitted for conveying high-pressure steam from the boiler
to the said ejector, and a pipe is fitted for conveying the feed water from the said
tank, or from the said condensing vessel to the said charging vessel. These pipes
are fitted with suitable cocks or valves to admit the steam and water as may be
required. When the said charging vessel is filled, or nearly so, with water, the said
ejector is closed, and an outlet pipe leading from the bottom of the said charging
vessel to the boiler is opened to allow the water to run down into the boiler by
displacement or gravity, steam being at the same time admitted to the top of the
said vessel, in order to balance the pressure therein and allow the water to flow from it
freely into the boiler. The said outlet pipe may be straight, and conduct, the water
into the boiler, or it may be coiled and fixed in the smoke box or funnel of the
boiler, so that the feed water in passing through such coiled pipe gets further heated
before entering the boiler. I prefer to use a size of outlet pipe that will charge the
boiler slightly in excess of the evaporation in such boiler; or I use a larger pipe
and regulate the flow of the feed water by a cock or its equivalent to attain the
same object.
Instead of the said coiled pipe, I construct a vessel in the smoke box or around the
funnel, having pipes or tubes through it for conveying the heated gases through to
heat the feed water in the said vessel therewith before entering the boiler. The
said vessel may be the charging vessel previously described, or be attached to it in
any suitable manner by a pipe for conveying the feed water.
In a modification of my said Invention I fit the said ejector in the feed pipe for
conveying the water from the said condensing vessel or tank to the said charging
vessel. In arranging it for this purpose, I pass the steam either through the annular
space between the outer and inner tubes or by the centre passage. I either uso
high-pressure steam from the boiler or exhaust steam from the engine. When I use
the exhaust steam I place the said ejector as low the in said pipe that the level of
the water in the said tank shall overflow it; and thus the ejector acts on the feed
water surrounding it by impact and not by exhaustion or producing a partial
vacuum to be re-acted on by atmospheric pressure as described. When I operate it
by high-pressure steam, this change from sucking the water up, when using high-
pressure steam, to impelling the water up into the said charging vessel when using
exhaust steam, to suit the greatly reduced pressure of the exhaust steam; I also
arrange the passage for the steam on one side of the said feed pipe, and work it as
a steam jet to act on the feed water by impact to force it up from the condensing
vessel to the charging vessel for the purpose described.
In another modification of my said Invention I fit the said condensing vessel
under the boiler, and convey part of the exhaust steam therein for heating the feed
water as described. I fit an overflow pipe to the said vessel, and make the outlet
thereof higher than the level of the top of the tank. When it is required to raise
the feed water in the said condensing vessel to the said charging vessel on the top
of the boiler, a cock fitted to the said overflow pipe is closed, and the back pressure
of the exhaust steam then forces the water up a pipe into the said charging vessel
on the top of the boiler, from whence it is conveyed by a coiled pipe to the boiler,
in the manner previously described. The pipe for conveying the exhaust steam
I fit with a suitable valve or other means to regulate the quantity of exhaust steam
as may be required, and to increase the quantity when required to raise the water
in the manner described. When the engine is running, the back pressure of the
exhaust steam is sufficient to raise the feed water in the manner described; but
when the engine is standing, I admit steam from the boiler to the said condensing
vessel for forcing up the water into the said charging vessel by direct pressure. I
fit a back-pressure valve in the pipe for conveying the water from the tank to the
said condensing vessel, or I heat the feed water by condensing the exhaust steam

page_text: in the charging vessel, instead of in the condensing vessel, and may therefore
dispense with the latter.
I also arrange my apparatus for feeding locomotive boilers to fill the tanks
thereof with feed water in the following manner :-
:-The pipe leading from the tank
to the said charging vessel terminates in an upper and lower branch within the said
tank, and I open either branch by a cock or cocks fitted thereto. I fit the man-
hole of such tank with an air-tight cover, and I fit a suitable suction pipe from the
said tank to the water intended to be raised (which may be a stream or pool by the
side of the line).
When working the apparatus, I close the cock in the said lower branch, or that
by which the feed water leaves the said tank, and I open the cock in the said upper
branch, and lay the end of the said suction pipe in the water to be raised, and open
the cock or valve of the said ejector, when by the action of the high-pressure steam
on the air in the said tank a partial vacuum is produced therein, and the water is
thereby forced up the said suction pipe by atmospheric pressure, and discharged
into the said tank as long as a partial vacuum is maintained therein; but it is not
intended that the water shall reach the said ejector, or be acted upon by it except
through the pressure of the air, as described.
High-pressure steam rushing through the ejector carries with it a large volume of
air, and thereby produces an efficient means for obtaining a partial vacuum, which
result I utilize for feeding boilers and for supplying the feed water to the tender in
the manner described.
I am aware that exhaust steam acting through an ejector direct upon the water,
but not by producing a partial vacuum in the tank or charging vessel intended to
be filled, has been applied to clearing ships of bilgo water, but I consider that by
using high-pressure steam with the ejector, and acting through a separate exhausted
vessel, a better result is obtained than when acting by suction with the steam on
the water to be raised, owing to the condensation of the steam in the ejector, by
coming into actual contact with the water, which this Invention avoids by acting
on the air contained in such vessel instead.
As the action of ejectors to produce partial vacuum is well understood, having
been applied in various ways, such as operating vacuum railway breaks and
exhausting vacuum sugar pans, I do not deem it necessary to describe the same more
particularly herein.
Where locomotive engines are already fitted with an ejector for working con-
tinuous breaks or for other purposes, I may utilize such ejector for producing the
partial vacuum in my said charging vessel by arranging the pipes fitted thereto in
any convenient manner for the two-fold purpose.
Where the blast of the furnace is impaired by using a portion of the exhaust
steam for heating the feed water in the tender or condensing vessel, as described,
such reduction of blast may be compensated by forming the entrance end of the
ash-pan hopper shaped so as to increase the supply of air to the fuel in the furnace
when the locomotive is running.
The action of the said ejector and the supply of feed water are regulated by cocks
or valves fitted to the said pipes. I prefer to join the levers which operate the said
cocks or valves, so as to make their action simultaneous and move the same by hand
as required. I may also fit a float in the said charging vessel or in the boiler, and
connect it with the said cocks or valves in any suitable way to make them self-
acting by the level of the water in the boiler, and thus to regulate the supply of
feed water as required. Or I fit a cam or other wheel and connect it to the said
cocks or valves in any suitable manner, and move it by the revolutions of one of
the engine wheels or axles, or nove by a striking plate or catch touched by any
moving part of the engine, so that by the revolution of the said can wheel, or its
equivalent, I open and close the said cocks as may be required. It will be under-
stood that as the supply of feed water is dependent on the running of the engine
a self-regulated supply of feed water may be given as the steam is used. I also

page_text: make the arrangement so that it can be detached and be worked by hand if
necessary. The cam wheel is also reversible, so as to suit when the engine is
runningbackwards.
I now proceed to describe my said Invention more particularly, reference being
made to the accompanying Drawing, which forms part of this Specification, in
which similar parts are marked with the same reference letters.
Fig. 1 shews a side elevation of part of a locomotive engine with my feeding
apparatus attached thereto. a is the feed pipe for conveying the feed water from
the tank to the condensing vessel b; c is a pipe for conveying part of the exhaust
steam from the engine to the vessel b; it is fitted in any convenient manner to suit
the other fittings of the engine, and the neck is carried above the level of the tank
to prevent the feed water flowing into the cylinders; d is a pipe for conveying the
feed water to the charging vessel e; f is the ejector, which may be of any con-
venient kind; and in engines which are fitted with an ejector for working vacuum
breaks I may utilize the same for feeding the boiler and filling the tank, as
described, by arranging the pipes to suit the double purpose; g is the pipe for
supplying the ejector with steam, and for supplying steam to the top of the
charging vessel e when the cock is reversed as described; h is the pipe for con-
veying the feed water down into the boiler, and is coiled in the smoke box in any
convenient manner; i is the handle by which the apparatus is worked.
Fig. 2 shews an elevation of part of a tender with my Invention fitted thereto.
a is the feed pipe for conveying the feed water to the condensing apparatus on the
engine, as described; it terminates in an upper branch a' and a lower branch a² for
the purpose of filling the tank from a stream or pool, or for feeding the boiler as
required. a³ is a cock for regulating the same; k is a suction pipe with a flexible
end for laying in a stream or pool; is an air-tight cover on the tank to enable
the ejector to exhaust the tank in the manner described.
Fig. 3 is a modification of my Invention as fitted to part of an engine. a, part of
the feed pipe, with a back-pressure valve a fitted thereto; b, the condensing vessel;
c, the pipe for conveying part of the exhaust steam therein; d, the pipe for con-
veying the hot feed water from the condensing vessel to the charging vessel e;
d, the overflow pipe; and d², a cock for closing the same when required; g is a
pipe for supplying steam to the top of the water in the charging vessel e to enable
it to run down freely into the boiler when required so to do. The action of the
steam is regulated by the cock d*; h, the pipe for conveying the feed water into the
boiler; i, the handle by which the cocks are operated.
Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation, enlarged, on the plane A, B, Fig. 1; the section of
the charging vessel is at right angles, to shew it plainer; d, the pipe for conveying
the feed water to the charging vessel e; f, the ejector, consisting of an outer and
inner annular tube. The angle of these respective tubes, and the space between
them for the passage of steam, may be varied as required; f¹, the port for
exhausting the vessel e; g, the pipe for supplying the ejector with steam from the
boiler; it is conveyed through the port g¹ (see Fig. 5) into the annular space g³;
h, the pipe for conveying the feed water from the vessel e down to the boiler.
Fig. 5 is a view of the cock for working the ejector, and, when required, for
admitting high-pressure steam to the charging vessel c.
Having thus fully described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention,
and the method of performing the same, I would observe that I do not restrict
inyself to the precise details herein described or referred to, as many variations may
be made therefrom without deviating from the principles or main features of my
said Invention; but I claim as my Invention, and desire to secure by the before-
mentioned in part recited Letters Patent,-
Firstly. The method of feeding locomotive and other steam boilers by an ejector,
substantially as described.
Secondly. The raising of water from a stream or pool to fill the tanks of loco-
motive tenders with feed water by an ejector, substantially as described.

page_text: Thirdly. The utilizing of any ejector, which may be fitted on locomotive engines
for other purposes, for feeding the boilers thereof, or for filling tender] tanks, sub-
stantially as described.
Fourthly. The method of feeding boilers, by condensing and charging vessels, by
the back pressure of exhaust steam, substantially as described,
Fifthly. The method of operating the cocks for working the feeding apparatus,
either by hand or by a cam wheel inoved by a wheel, axle, or other moving part of
the engine, substantially as described.
Sixthly. The method of raising hot or cold water for charging and emptying
tanks or other receptacles for water, by exhausting such tanks or receptacles, or a
separate vessel connected thereto by an ejector, substantially as described.
Seventhly. The method of feeding locomotive boilers by means of a charging
vessel placed on the top of such boilers, and from which the water runs down by a
pipe into the said boilers, steam being at the same time admitted to the top of such
vessel, substantially as described.
Eighthly. The method of heating such feed water by passing it through a pipe or
pipes, coiled in the smoke box or funnel of the engine, before it enters into the
boiler, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Clark, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Thirteenth day of October, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-seven.
JNO. CLARK. (LS)