Improvements in Boiler Feed Regulators.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Nov., 1891-Accepted, 23rd Apr.. 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Boiler Feed Regulators.
I, JOHN T. LISTER, of 499 Euclid Avenue, in the City of Cleveland, County
of Cuyahoga, State of Ohio, United States of America, Gentleman, 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 relates to improvements in boiler feed regulators and it is especially
designed to provide an automatic safeguard against low water and consequent
explosions and further against high water and consequent fuel expense.
My invention consists in two general portions which work automatically in
unison to open or close a main valve in the steam admission pipe of a steam pump,
as the level of the water in the boiler becomes low or high, in such a manner as to
secure an approximately unvarying water level.
The invention consists primarily in a balanced main valve situated in the steam
feed pipe, combined with a balanced cut-off valve adjacent to the main valve which
is moved to admit steam to open or close the main valve, by means of exterior
electric apparatus. The invention secondarily consists in a thermostat placed upon
the water column of the boiler and provided with electric connection with the
motive power which actuates the cut-off valve.
My invention further consists in the combination and arrangement of the various
parts, mode of operation, and construction of details, as hereinafter described,
shown in the accompanying drawings, and more particularly pointed out in the
claims.
In the drawings
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the valves and mechanism for operating the cut-
off valve;
Fig. 2 is a horizontal central longitudinal section of valves;
Fig. 3 is a side elevation of thermostat ;
Fig. 4 is a plan of lower portion of same, the section being made on line a-a,
Fig. 3;
Fig. 5 is a plan of switch ;
Fig. 6 is an electric tracing of circuits;
Fig. 7 is a vertical section on axis of main valve.
In these drawings A is the main valve situated on the steam admission pipe of
the boiler feed pump; B is the cut-off valve, adjacent to the main valve; C is the
chamber in which the valve A plays. This is provided with the openings C¹, C²,
for steam passage and with the valve seat C3, centrally located. C and C³ are
stuffing boxes for the valve spindle A'. A and A3 are enlarged heads or pistons
upon the spindle and A' is a central valve which is adapted to close the opening
formed by the seat C³, which connects the upper and lower openings C and C² when
the valve A is opened. The opening C2 is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, and the
nozzle for the same in Fig. 1. The openings C1 and C2 are opposite one another.
B, the cut-off valve, moves in the tubular chamber C which is provided with a
stuffing box C7 for the valve spindle B¹. The other end of the chamber is closed
by the cap C³. The cut-off valve is provided with two terminal pistons B2 and B³
and the inner pistons B and B which serve to secure three spaces B6, B7 and BB
for steam admission. In Fig. 7 is distinctly seen how the valve A' cuts off the
steam admission.
As seen in Fig. 2, steam is admitted to the chamber C through the open central
passage D, which is continuous to the central space in the valve, B', thus balancing
the valve so that slight force is required to operate it.

page_text: The inlet steam port D' is continued through the wall of the chamber and has
its outlets at d, d, near the extremities of the chamber. Exterior to these outlets
are the short passages d' connecting the cut-off valve chamber directly with the
main valve chamber, exterior to the pistons A² and A³.
In operating the cut-off valve it will be seen that when the valve is drawn to one
end of the chamber as in Fig. 2, the space B8 will connect the steam ports or
passages d and d¹ at that end thus admitting live steam through the port D down
into the passage d and space B, and thence up through the passage d', into the
chamber C behind the piston A³, the effect of which is to throw the valve A* against
its seat and cut off the steam admission. At the same time an exhaust passage is
left in the wall of the chamber C at E through which the steam passes at e,
which at this time completes a steam passage for exhaust from the opposite end of
the chamber C, behind the piston A². Upon reversing the position of the cut-off
valve, it will be seen that the steam will find admittance behind the piston A²
through passages D, d and d¹ at left of figure, and open the valve A', while the
exhaust from behind the piston A³ will flow out at E, through the passage d' at
that end of the chamber and exhaust passage e into the passage E. The pipe F
receives the exhaust and conveys it to the main exhaust pipe.
The mechanism which directly works the valve is shown in Figs. 1 and 5 where
G is a lever pivoted at G' to the valve stem B' and rigid at G2 to a rock shaft
placed between two pairs of electro-magnets H, and provided with the T shaped
arms g, provided with armatures 9' which are adapted to approach the poles of
either pair of magnets according as one or the other is charged by the electric
circuit from a battery as 1, shown in Fig. 6.
It will be seen that the force of the attraction of the magnets will oscillate the
lever G and pull the attached valve B from one side to the other of the chamber,
thus admitting or shutting off the steam from the main valve piston.
In Fig. 3 means are shown for automatically charging one or the other set of
magnets to close or open the valve according as the water is high or low in the
boiler.
This mechanism consists in a vertical tube J attached by means of an elbow j to
the water tube of a boiler, at the mean water level of the boiler, in such a manner
that when the water falls below the opening to the elbow j the steam will enter and
expand the tube J, but when it rises and covers the opening the tube J will
contract.
Pivoted to a support K near the top of the tube J is the bell crank lever L
whose longer arm i descends and its extremity moves freely between the arms of
the fork M. Within this fork is the saddle M¹ provided with the rectangular
opening m. At either end of the saddle is the electrode N, each the terminus of
an electric circuit connecting with one of the pairs of magnets H. N' is the
opposite electrode upon the arm l.
The saddle M slides freely on the fork M and the arm / touches one or the
other of the electrodes at either end of the vibration. To insure contact on
the return of the arm with the electrode operating the pair of magnets to open the
valve for low water, a strong spring O is added which moves the arm as the tube J
contracts. The electrode for the battery circuit is found in the extremity of the
arm and a complete circuit is formed through one or the other pair of magnets, H,
according as one or the other of the electrodes comes in contact with the terminal
on the bell crank arm.
An adjustment at P is shown for one of the terminals on the saddle M but two
can be used if desired. To facilitate attachment of the connecting wires to
battery and magnets, terminal posts x-x-x can be set upon the tube J for easy
access.
A very slight movement of the long lever J is sufficient to make connection
with one or the other of the electrodes, so that the slightest variation in the depth
of the water will effect the thermostat and then the magnets H.
Qis a switch placed in the circuit with the magnets and battery for the purpose

page_text: of cutting off the current as soon as the valve B is moved by the magnets, and
placing the circuit in condition to work the other pair of magnets as soon as
required.
The switch is designed to be thrown by the movement of the valve A and it will
be seen that the valve stem is pivoted to a rock arm R, upon a short shaft S. A
second shaft from this shaft R' is pivoted to the extremity of the switch in such a
manner that the movement of the valve spindle will instantly throw the switch
from one side to the other. Three brushes T, T, T, are used which connect
severally with each pair of magnets and with the battery circuit and they are so
located that one of the outside brushes connecting with one pair of magnets is
always in connection with the central brush which leads to the battery.
The advantage of the use of the switch is found in relieving the battery from
wear after the valves have been moved, since the magnets just used are cut out of
the circuit and the opposite pair are ready for use when the connection is reversed
by the thermostat.
This is evident, since, if the valve is moved to admit steam for low water it
will stay in position with open ports until the thermostat contracts from high water
and throws the valve the other way to shut the admission valve.
The general arrangement of parts and circuit are shown in Fig. 6, U being the
battery circuit. The other letters correspond with those shown in the other
figures.
Any form of thermostat may also be employed to accomplish the purpose, or
metallic thermostats of different metals, mercury thermostats, etc. which are known
to the art.
The advantages of the device as above described are obvious in the extreme
sensitiveness of the apparatus, and also its extreme adjustability to use, which has.
not been known in former inventions for this purpose.
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. In a boiler feed regulator, the combination of a stop valve in the steam
admission pipe of the boiler pump, a cut-off valve adjacent thereto and means for
actuating the cut-off valve, consisting in a lever pivoted at one end to the cut-off
valve spindle and provided with horizontal armatures at the other end, electro-
magnets arranged adjacent to the armatures, and pivoted bearings for the lever
between the armatures, substantially as described.
2. In a boiler regulator, the combination of a thermostat to complete an electric
circuit, a generator upon the circuit, electro-magnets thrown in or out of circuit
by the movements of the thermostat, a lever pivoted at one end in close proximity
to the magnets, and provided with corresponding armatures to the poles of the
magnets. The other end of the lever being pivotally connected with the spindle
of the cut-off valve to a steam pipe admission valve of a steam pump, substantially
as described.
3. In combination, a balanced steam admission valve enclosed within a cylindrical
case located on the steam pipe and provided with a central stop valve and terminal
pistons, a seat for the stop valve, located in a partition in the admission passage,
and a balanced cut-off valve adjacent to the admission valve, provided with terminal
pistons as described, live and exhaust steam ports connecting the valve chambers,
and means for operating the cut-off valve, in connection with a thermostat on the
water column of a boiler, consisting of a lever provided with armatures, a pivoted
connection between the lever and valve spindle and electric circuit containing a
generator connecting the thermostat and electro-magnets, as and for the purpose
set forth.
4. In a steam admission valve, the combination of a main valve chamber provided
with a valve seat located in a partition in the steam passage, a balanced valve in
said chamber provided with a stop valve corresponding to said seat, and with

page_text: terminal pistons, adjacent chamber for a cut-off valve, steam and exhaust ports
connecting the said chambers, a balanced cut-off valve in said adjacent chamber,
provided with terminal pistons and intermediate pistons, separated by spaces from
one another and from the terminal pistons and a central steam passage between the
valve chambers communicating with the space between the intermediate pistons, as
and for the purpose set forth.
5. In a boiler feed regulator, a thermostat located upon the water tube, consisting
of a vertical tube, provided with an elbow for insertion in the water tube, a bell
crank pivoted upon a raised support adjacent to the vertical tube and provided
with a longer arm whose extremity moves between the arms of a fork fixed to the
vertical tube, a saddle movable upon the fork provided with a central opening
within which the extremity of the longer arm rests, and with terminal electrodes of
electric circuits, a corresponding electrode of opposite polarity upon the arm
extremity, a coiled spring connecting bell crank and fork, and means for adjusting
the relative positions of the positive and negative electrodes, substantially as
described.
6. In mechanism for operating a cut-off valve, a pair or pairs of electro-magnets,
a lever pivoted between said magnets and provided with laterally extending
armatures, adjacent to the poles of said magnets, and a pivot connecting the opposite
extremity of the lever with the valve stem, substantially as set forth.
7. In mechanism for operating a cut-off valve to a main piston valve, pairs of
electro-magnets, adjacent thereto provided with armatures, mounted upon an
oscillating pivot and adapted to alternately engage the poles of one or the other
pair of magnets, a lever integral with the armatures at one end and pivotally
attached to the cut-off valve spindle and a current switch for the purpose described,
operated by the movement of the main valve stem, all substantially as and in the
manner set forth.
Dated this 9th day of November 1891
HERBERT J. ALLISON,
Agent for the Applicant.