Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Apr., 1887.
Complete Left, 10th May, 1887.
Complete Accepted, 17th June, 1887.
I, ALFRED HENRY CROCKFORD, of Harrison, County of Hudson, State of New
Jersey, United States of America, Inventor, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
The purpose of this invention is to provide a system of water purification whereby
the organic and inorganic matter held in solution in the water may be removed leaving
the water free from any impurities that tend to render the same unfit for either
manufacturing or domestic uses.
One of the uses to which my improved system and apparatus is intended to be
applied is that of a combined water heater, and purifier and a boiler cleaner.
In carrying my said invention into practice I employ a tank in which the soluble
matter in the water is separated therefrom and the water purified, and also in which
the feed water is heated when the apparatus is used as a combined water heater and
boiler cleaner, being connected with the boiler by suitable pipes. Extending from
said tank are pipes through which the water passes to and from the tank and boiler,
the inlet pipe which conducts the water from the boiler to the tank entering the top of
said tank and extending down within the same to or toward the bottom thereof while
the outlet pipe through which the water flows from the tank to the boiler enters or
opens into the tank so as to draw off the water from the top of the water column
therein.
The outlet pipe is arranged within the tank extending from the top of the interior
thereof down through the same and out through the side, whereby the water is drawn
from the top of the water column. In passing down through said pipe the temperature
of the water is increased, as the lower end of the outlet pipe comes in direct contact
with and is immersed in the hot water and steam which is conducted directly from

page_text: the boiler by the inlet pipe down into the bottom of the tank and rises up
the same.
within
In either of the pipes connecting the boiler and tank is arranged a pump which
provides a positive means for causing and maintaining the flow of the water to and
from the tank and boiler, and also enabling the tank to be placed in any desired
position or at any distance in relation to the boiler without affecting the circulation of
the water. Furthermore, when the water is purified in the tank by filtration the
pump acts more powerfully to draw the water through the filtering material and thus
greatly facilitates the cleaning and purification of the water, and also when the
apparatus is used for domestic or for other purposes, as for drinking water, the pump
readily forces the water from the tank to the height or place desired.
Within the tank is arranged a filter which, consists of two perforated plates
between which filtering material is placed, the lower plate resting on a ring cast on or
secured to the walls of the tank and to said ring the filter is secured by bolts or by
other suitable means.
The inlet and outlet pipes extend through said filter so that it does not interfere
with the normal purpose of such arrangement; and when the feed water is forced or
injected into the tank instead of into the boiler, or into the pipe leading from the
boiler to the tank the feed pipe also extends down through the filter when the said
pipe enters the top of the lank. Thus the dirty water from the boiler and feed is
thrown into the bottom of the tank beneath the filter.
When the tank is intended to be used as a simple boiler cleaner, removing the
soluble matter in the water by the gravitation or precipitation of the same down into
the silt receptacle and drawing off the clear water from the top of the water column,
the feed water pipe is omitted and the feed water injected into the boiler in the usual
manner. But when the apparatus is designed to act as a water heater in addition to
its function as a silt separator or boiler cleaner, the feed water is injected into the
bottom of the tank preferably through a pipe leading down within the same, thus
throwing the dirty water down into the bottom of said tank and permitting the
sediment therein to gravitate into the receptacle as when introducing the water from
the boiler, the soluble matter in both cases having an opportunity to settle within the
tank as the return current to the boiler is taken from the top of the water column
in the tank.
In the top of the tank is an opening closed by a cover which may be pivotally or
otherwise secured to the top of the tank. Through said opening soda or other
substance adapted to purify the water may be inserted into the tank.
Instead of inserting a filter in the tank extending from side to side thereof, a strainer
may be arranged upon the end of the outlet pipe and may be filled with filtering
material or both of said filtering devices may be used together.
The inlet pipe which conducts the water from the boiler to the tank is connected
with two pipes one of which is provided with a broadened end or skimmer, and is
placed in the boiler on the water line to take the scum and foreign matter which rises
to and floats on the surface of the water. The other pipe communicates with said
inlet pipe outside of the boiler and is provided with one or more pipes projecting
downwardly therefrom toward the bottom of the boiler.
The scum pipe conveys the water at the water line into the inlet pipe and thence
into the tank while the connecting pipes conduct the water from the bottom of the
boiler into said inlet pipe and the tank, thus the water from every part of the boiler
is drawn into the tank and any settling or accumulation of the sediment on the boiler
sheets is prevented. Valves are provided in the pipes to control the current of water
flowing from the boiler to the tank.
The outlet pipe is connected with the pump, and extending beyond the same into
the bottom of the rear of the boiler are pipes containing valves which control the
admission of the water from the tank to the boiler. When the water is allowed to
flow through a coil in one pipe it passes through the fire and being rapidly turned
into steam accelerates the How of the current and assists the pump in causing the

page_text: circulation of the water. This arrangement of the pipe leading from the tank to the
boiler is of special advantage when the pump is dispensed with. When thus constructed
the tank is placed preferably above the boiler or the water line therein, and the gravity
of the water in the tank assisted by the steam generated in the boiler causes a
displacement of the water and results in a current passing from the boiler to the
tank and back from the tank to the boiler.
The pipes leading from the tank to the boiler, when thus arranged may also enter
the rear of the boiler and in said pipes valves are provided to control the direction of
the flow of the currents of water.
Another arrangement of the tank with the coil beneath the boiler may be used in
which the tank is placed at the rear of and below or on, a line with the boiler and the
inlet pipe which conducts the water from the boiler to the tank connected with the
rear of the boiler at the bottom, while the outlet pipe through which the water flows
from the tank to the boiler extends beneath the boiler in a coil and enters the front
of the boiler at the top. In this arrangement the gravity of the water in the boiler
assists the circulation of the water to and from the boiler and tank, acting in
conjunction with the steam generated in the coil extending over the fire.
The purified water from the tank can be pumped to any desired place or reservoir
for drinking or other purposes. When thus used the flow of the water from the
boiler to the tank and from the tank to the boiler is cut off by closing the valves and
the cold feed water is drawn from the tank.
My improved apparatus can be arranged on a locomotive in which the same
arrangements of the pipes as hereinbefore described in relation to a stationary boiler,
may be used. The pump preferably used in this relation is a horizontal pump which
is worked from the valve rod of the engine through a lever or in any other suitable
manner.
1
A
1007
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Water Heaters and Purifiers and Boiler Cleaners.
I, ALFRED HENRY CROCKFORD, of Harrison, County of Hudson and State of New
Jersey, U.S.A. Inventor, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVE-
MENTS IN WATER HEATERS AND PURIFIERS AND BOILER CLEANERS, and in what
manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement:-
The purpose of this invention is to provide a system of water purification whereby
the organic and inorganic matter held in solution in the water may be removed
leaving the water free from any impurities that tend to render the same unfit for
either manufacturing or domestic uses.
One of the uses to which my improved system and apparatus is intended to be
applied is that of a combined water heater, and purifier and a boiler cleaner which is
illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which figure 1, is a sectional view of my
improved apparatus showing the relation thereof to a stationary boiler; figure 2, is a
side elevation of a locomotive having the cleaning and purifying attachment arranged
thereon; figure 3 is a view illustrating a particular arrangement of my apparatus
attached to a boiler; figure 4 is a top view of the water tank; figure 5 is a sectional
view of a filtering arrangement on the end of a pipe within the tank; figures 6 and 7
are plan views of skimmers adapted to be used in my system.
In said views similar letters of reference are used to indicate corresponding parts..
A, in the above described views indicates the tank in which the soluble matter in
the water is separated therefrom and the water purified, and also in which the feed
water is heated when the apparatus is used as a combined water heater and boiler
cleaner, and B, is the boiler with which said tank is adapted to be connected by
suitable pipes. Extending from said tank are pipes a a' through which the water
passes to and from the tank and boiler, the pipe a which conducts the water from the
boiler to the tank entering the top of said tank and extending down within the same
-to or toward the bottom thereof as shown in figure 1, while the pipe a' through which
the water flows from the tank to the boiler enters or opens into the tank so as to draw
off the water from the top of the water column therein.
The pipe a¹ as indicated in figure 1, is arranged within the tank extending from the
top of the interior thereof down through the same and out through the side, whereby
the water is drawn from the top of the water column and in passing down through
said pipe the temperature of the water is increased as the lower end of the pipe a
comes in direct contact and is immersed in the hot water and steam which is conducted
directly from the boiler by the pipe a down into the bottom of the tank and rises up
within the same as indicated by the arrows in figure 1.

page_text: In either of the pipes connecting the boiler and tank is arranged a pump C, which
provides a positive means for causing and maintaining the flow of the water to and
from the tank and boiler and also enabling the tank to be placed in any desired
position or at any distance in relation to the boiler without affecting the circulation of
the water. Furthermore, when the water is purified in the tank by filtration the
pump acts more powerfully to draw the water through the filtering material and thus
greatly facilitates the cleaning and purification of the water, and also when the
apparatus is used for domestic or for other purposes, as for drinking water, the
pump readily forces the water from the tank to the height or place desired.
Within the tank is arranged a filter which, as illustrated in the drawing, consists
of two perforated plates d d between which the filtering material d² is placed, the
lower plate resting on a ring a² cast on or secured to the walls of the tank and to
said ring the filter is secured by bolts d³ or in any suitable manner.
The pipes a and a extend through said filter so that it does not interfere with the
normal purpose of such arrangement, and when the feed water is forced or injected
into the tank instead of into the boiler or into the pipe leading from the boiler to
the tank as dotted at e' figure 1, the feed pipe e also extend down through the filter
when the said pipe enters the top of the tank as indicated. Thus the dirty water
from the boiler and feed is thrown into the bottom of the tank beneath the filter.
When the tank is intended to be used as a simple boiler cleaner, removing the
soluble matter in the water by the gravitation or precipitation of the same down into
the silt receptacle a³ and drawing off the clear water from the top of the water
column the feed water pipe e is omitted and the feed water injected into the boiler in
the usual manner. But when the apparatus is designed to act as a water heater in
addition to its function as a silt separator or boiler cleaner the feed water is injected
into the bottom of the tank preferably through a pipe leading down within the same
thus throwing the dirty water down into the bottom of said tank and permitting the
sediment therein. to gravitate into the receptacle a³, similar to the method of
introducing the water from the boiler, the soluble matter in both cases having an
opportunity to settle within the tank as the return current to the boiler is taken from
the top of the water column in the tank.
In the top of the tank is an opening at, closed by a cover a³, which may be
pivotally secured to the top of the tank as illustrated in figure 4, or said cover may
be screwed or otherwise secured upon the top of said tank. Through said opening
soda or other substance adapted to purify the water may be inserted into the tank.
Instead of inserting a filter in the tank extending from side to side thereof, a
strainer a, may be arranged upon the end of the pipe a', as in figures 1, and 5, and
may be filled with filtering material as indicated, or both of said filtering devices may
be used together.
The pipe a which conducts the water from the boiler to the tank is connected with
two pipes a' and a³, one of which, a', is provided with a broadened end or skimmer, a³,
which is formed as shown in figures 1, and 6, or as in figure 7, and is placed in
the boiler on the water line to take the scum and foreign matter which rises to and
floats on the surface of the water. The pipe as communicates with said pipe a outside
of the boiler and is provided with one or more pipes a projecting downwardly
therefrom toward the bottom of the boiler as indicated in figure 1.
The pipe a conveys the water at the water line into the pipe a and thence into
the tank while the pipes a³, a, conduct the water from the bottom of the boiler
into said pipe a and the tank, thus the water from every part of the boiler is
drawn into the tank and any settling or accumulation of the sediment on the boiler
sheets is prevented. Valves are provided in the pipes a7 and a to control the
current of water flowing from the boiler to the tank being allowed to pass through
either of the pipes a or a³ or both.
U
As illustrated in figure 1, the pipe a' is connected with the pump and extending
beyond the same into the bottom of the rear of the boiler is a pipe a", while the
pipe which. connects with said pipe a' and the pump, extends beneath the boiler

page_text: in a coil and enters the front of the boiler preferably at the top. In said pipes al
and a are valves ³ and which control the admission of the water from the tank
to the boiler through said pipes. When the water is allowed to flow through the
coil a¹, it passes through the fire and being rapidly turned into steam accelerates the
flow of the current and assists the pump in causing the circulation of the water.
This arrangement of the pipe leading from the tank to the boiler is of special
advantage when used as indicated in figure 3, the pump being dispensed with in this
case. When thus constructed the tank is placed preferably above the boiler or the
water line therein, and the gravity of the water in the tank assisted by the steam
generated in the boiler causes a displacement of the water and results in a current
passing from the boiler to the tank and back from the tank to the boiler as indicated
by the arrows in figure 3.
The pipes leading from the tank to the boiler, when thus arranged may also enter
the rear of the boiler as indicated in figure 3, and in said pipes valves are
provided to control the direction of the flow of the currents of water.
Another arrangement of the tank with the coil beneath the boiler may be used in
which the tank is placed at the rear of and below or on a line with the boiler and the
pipe a which conducts the water from the boiler to the tank is connected with the rear
of the boiler at the bottom, while the pipe a through which the water flows from the
tank to the boiler extends beneath the boiler in a coil and enters the front of the boiler
at the top as indicated in figures 1, and 3. In this arrangement the gravity of the
water in the boiler assists the circulation of the water to and from the boiler and tank,
acting in conjunction with the steam generated in the coil extending over the fire.
As indicated in figure 1, a pipe is arranged to communicate with the pipe a¹
between the pump and the boiler, and through said pipe the purified water from the
tank is pumped to any desired place or reservoir for drinking or other purposes.
When thus used the flow of the water from the boiler to the tank and from the tank
to the boiler is cut off by closing the valves 2 and 3 and 4, and the cold feed water
is drawn from the tank into the pipe.
In figure 2, is illustrated, an arrangement of my improved apparatus on a locomotive
in which the same arrangements of the pipes as hereinbefore described in relation to
a stationary boiler; may be used. The pump preferably used in this relation is a
horizontal pump which is worked from the valve rod of the engine through a lever
or in any other suitable manner.
g
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. In a water heater and purifier and boiler cleaner the combination of a water tank
or receptacle; a pipe entering said tank and extending down within the same to or
toward the bottom thereof and adapted to be connected with a boiler to conduct the
water therefrom into the bottom of said tank; a pipe opening into the top of the
interior of said tank to conduct the water from the top of the water column therein
into the boiler with which said pipe is adapted to be connected, for the purposes set
forth.
2. In a water heater and purifier and boiler cleaner, the combination of a water
tank or receptacle; a pipe entering said tank and extending down within the same to
or toward the bottom thereof and adapted to be connected with a boiler to conduct the
water therefrom into the bottom of the tank; and a pipe opening into the top of the
interior of said tank and extending down within said tank and out therefrom and
adapted to be connected with a boiler to conduct the water from the top of the water
column in said tank into said boiler, for the purposes set forth.
3. In a water heater and purifier and boiler cleaner, the combination of a boiler; a
water tank or receptacle; a pipe leading from said boiler into the interior of said tank
and extending down within the same to or toward the bottom thereof; a pipe opening
into the top of the interior of said tank and leading or conducting the water from the
top of the water column in said tank back to the boiler, for the purposes set forth.

page_text: 4. In a water heater and purifier and boiler cleaner, the combination of a boiler; a
water tank or receptacle; a pipe connected with said boiler and entering said tank
and extending down within the same to or toward the bottom thereof through which
the water from the boiler is conducted into the bottom of the tank; a pipe opening
into the top of the interior of said tank and extending down within the same and out
therefrom to the boiler, through which the water from the top of the water column in
the tank is conducted into the boiler; and a pump arranged in either of the pipe
connections between the tank and boiler, for the purposes set forth.
5. In a water purifier the combination of a water tank or receptacle; a pipe
entering said tank and extending down within the same to or toward the botton
thereof; a pipe opening into the top of the interior of said tank and extending down
within the same and out therefrom; and a pump connected with said pipe to draw
the water from the top of the water column in said tank, for the purposes set forth.
6. In a water purifier the combination of a water tank or receptacle; a filter
arranged in said tank dividing the same into compartments; a pipe entering said
tank and extending down within the same through and beneath said filter to or toward
the bottom of said tank; a pipe opening into the top of the interior of said tank above
the filter therein and extending down within said tank through the filter and out
from the tank; and a pump connected with said pipe to draw the water from the
interior of said tank above the filter for the purposes set forth.
7. In a water heater and purifier and boiler cleaner the combination of a boiler; a
water tank; a pipe connected with said boiler and entering into and extending down
within said tank to or toward the bottom thereof; a pipe opening into the top of the
interior of said tank and passing therefrom underneath the boiler and is connected
with the boiler at the front thereof, for the purposes set forth.
8. In a water heater and purifier and boiler cleaner, the combination of a boiler; a
water tank or receptacle; a pipe a, provided with pipes a', a³ arranged within the
boiler substantially as set forth, said pipe a entering the water tank and extending
down within the same to or toward the bottom thereof; a pipe a' opening into the top
of the interior of said tank and connected with said boiler; a pump arranged in said
pipe a between the tank and the boiler; and a pipe communicating with said pipe a¹
between the pump and the boiler, for the purposes set forth.
9. In a water heater and purifier and boiler cleaner, the combination of a water
tank or receptacle having an opening at in the top thereof provided with a cover a, a
pipe entering said tanh and extending down within the same to or toward the bottom
thereof; a pipe opening into the top of the interior of said tank and extending down
within the same and out therefrom; a cold water feed pipe entering said tank and
extending down within the same, for the purposes set forth.
ALFRED HENRY CROCKFORD.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London,
Agents for the Applicant.