Apparatus for Feeding or Supplying Water thereto.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd July, 1888
Complete Specification Left, 17th Apr., 1889
Complete Specification Accepted, 1st June, 1889
and Apparatus for Feeding or Supplying Water thereto.
We, ROBERT DAWSON, of Hartley Works, Stalybridge, in the County of Lancaster,
Engineer, and GEORGE ROBERT CANDELET, of Hartley Works, aforesaid, Secretary,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to render low pressure steam boilers, such as are
used for heating purposes chiefly, self feeding for a given number of hours, so as
to maintain the water at a level, without the continuous care or supervision of an
attendant.
In carrying out the invention we preferably construct two closed cisterns, either
separate or in one, divided into two but necessarily placed one above the other, so that
the two together can hold a few gallons of water more than can be evaporated in the
boiler in a given number of hours. These cisterns are closed with lids or covers and
when working can be made air tight.
The cisterns may be constructed of any ordinary tpye, cast or wrought iron or other
suitable material that will stand the highest working pressure at which a boiler is
intended to be used.
The lower part or cistern has two connections with the boiler, one from the bottom
of this cistern to the bottom of the boiler, connecting the water space in each and the
other connection from the top of this cistern to the top of the boiler, connecting the
steam space of the boiler with the space above the water level in the cistern. Thus
the pressure in the lower cistern and the boiler is equalized and the water flows from
the former to the latter, maintaining both at the same level. The water is admitted
to this lower cistern by means of a ball tap or other inlet controlling valve which
admits the water as the level sinks, keeping a constant supply and practically
maintaining it at a constant level. The valve may be set or adjusted to maintain
the water at any required level in the boiler. The valve at present preferred is
what is known as a high pressure ball valve.
The upper part or tank forms a supply cistern to the lower one and is constructed
of a capacity to hold a few gallons of water more than the quantity equivalent to the

page_text: evaporation that will take place in the boiler in a given number of hours, say 12 or 16
hours. At the bottom this upper cistern is connected with the admission valve of the
lower cistern and, as the water evaporates in the boiler, a fresh supply flows from the
upper to the lower cistern and thence to the boiler, maintaining the water level at
the required height. The space above the water in the upper cistern is also connected
with the steam space of the boiler, so that the pressure in the two cisterns is equalized.
The water in the tanks gradually becomes heated, which is an advantage over feeding
the boiler with cold water. The upper cistern may be filled with water by hand
through a funnel fitted to a tap or valve on the lid, by a pump, or direct from the
service pipe fitted with a ball or other valve.
The connecting pipe between the upper and lower cisterns is fitted with a plugged
connection so that if desired an attachment could be made with the service pipe of any
town's water. Where it is known that such town supply is regular and constant
the top part or cistern may be dispensed with, but it is preferable to allow all the
water to pass through the upper cistern, as in case of the town or other main supply
being stopped or cut off for any reason, there is an available supply of water in stock
to keep the boiler fed to its usual height for the given number of hours.
The upper cistern is fitted with a water guage of ordinary construction, to indicate
the height of the water in it, also with a small air tap which can be opened to allow the
escape of air or vapour when it is being filled, and the connecting pipes between
it and the lower cistern and the boiler are fitted with stop valves or taps which
may be closed when desired. The air tap may be placed at a suitable height to
act as an overflow to indicate when the cistern is full.
Any suitable connections can be made between the parts or tanks and the boiler
consistent with the essentials necessary to secure the proper working of the apparatus"
as herein described and required.
1
1000
7113
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
6, Bank Street, Manchester,
Patent Agents.

page_text: and Apparatus for Feeding or Supplying Water thereto.
We, ROBERT DAWSON, of Hartley Works, Stalybridge, in the County of Lancaster,
Engineer, and GEORGE ROBERT CANDELET, of Hartley Works, aforesaid, Secretary,
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:-
The object of this invention is to provide an automatic water feed apparatus for low
pressure steam boilers such as are used for heating purposes, whereby the boiler will
be supplied with a continuous feed for any given number of hours and the water in
the boiler maintained at a fixed level without the continuous care or supervision of an
attendant.
It will be fully described by aid of the accompanying drawings in which
Fig. 1, is a front elevation partly in section of the improved self-feeding apparatus
attached to a low pressure steam boiler.
Fig. 2, plan of same.
A, is a low pressure steam boiler of any suitable construction, used for heating or
other purposes. B and C are two closed cisterns constructed of any ordinary type,
of cast or wrought iron or other suitable material strong enough to withstand the
highest working pressure at which the boiler will be used. They are preferably
rectangular and vary in capacity in the proportion shown in Figs. 1 and 2, though
they may be constructed of about equal capacity or otherwise according to requirements
in each case. Further, these cisterns are constructed either entirely separate, the
upper one B, being placed at any required distance or position above the lower one C,
as in Fig. 1, or they may be made in one structure with a division plate between, or
of two separate structures placed together one above the other. The lower cistern C
is placed with its top at or near the level of the top of boiler A, so that the water level
in each may coincide, though it is not necessary that it should be of the same depth
or capacity as the steam boiler to which it is connected. The cistern B must be
placed at a level above the lower cistern C to allow of all the water in it flowing into
the lower cistern before the water level in the latter falls. The size of the top cistern
will vary with the size of the boiler, but is of a sufficient capacity to hold a quantity
of water equivalent to what is evaporated in the boiler in any given number of
hours.
The lower cistern C, has two connections with the boiler A, one a pipe D, leading
from the bottom of the cistern C, to the bottom or side of the boiler, connects the
water space in each, and the other a pipe E, leading from the top of the cistern to
the top of the boiler connects the steam space of the boiler with the space above the
water line in the cistern. Thus a pressure in the cistern C is maintained equal to
the pressure in the boiler A, and the water flows from the cistern to the boiler

page_text: through the pipe D, as the water evaporates in the boiler and the water level in the
two always remains constant. Water is admitted to the cistern C, through the ball
valve For other inlet controlling valve—which admits the water as the level sinks,
providing a constant supply and maintaining the water in the boiler A, and in the
cistern C, practically at a constant fixed level. The valve preferred is what is known
as a high pressure ball valve and may be set to admit water up to any level and thus
maintain the water at any required level in the boiler. The pipe E is fitted with a
stop cock e and the pipe D with a back pressure valve d, and to save connections
may be connected with one or both of the ordinary couplings or fittings G of the
water gauge G or either or both may connect direct with the boiler. g, g¹, are blow
off cocks through which the water either from the boiler or cistern or both
may be
drawn off.
The upper cistern B, is connected from the bottom or side with the lower cistern C
by means of the pipe H attached or connected to the pipe f, of the admission valve F.
It is also connected by the pipe 1 with the boiler, the steam space of the boiler being
thereby brought into connection with the space above the water in the cistern, thus the
pressure in the two cisterns is equalized and water can flow freely from the upper to
the lower one. The pipe is fitted with a back pressure valve i and a stop valve i
and it is attached to the boiler A by the top fittings, which also serve to attach the
pipe E. The cistern may also be fitted with a water guage J or trial taps of ordinary
construction, to indicate the height of the water in it, also with a small air tap K,
which can be opened to allow the escape of air or vapour when the cistern is being
filled. The air tap K may be placed at a suitable height to act as an overflow to
indicate when the cistern is full.
The upper cistern B forms a supply tank or cistern for the lower one C, and as the
water is evaporated in the boiler a fresh supply flows from the upper to the lower
cistern and thence to the boiler, maintaining the water level at the required height.
The cistern B may be filled with water by hand through a funnel L fitted to a
tap or valve on the lid, by a pump, or direct from a service water pipe, through
the pipe H.
The pipe H between the cisterns B and C or the admission pipe f of the lower
cistern is fitted with a coupling h so that if desired an attachment could be made with
the service pipe of any town's water. Or the top cistern may be so placed as to
obtain a greater pressure than the steam pressure in boiler. Where it is known that
such town supply is regular and constant and of sufficient pressure the top cistern B
may be dispensed with, but it is preferable to allow all the water to pass through
the upper cistern, as in case of the town or other main supply being stopped or cut
off for any reason there is an available supply of water in stock to keep the boiler
fed to its usual height for the given number of hours. The water in the tanks
gradually becomes heated which is an advantage over feeding the boiler with cold
water. The pipe H coupled to a town's main can also be used for filling the top
cistern, by forcing the water up the pipe H into the cistern B. M, is a pressure
gauge and N a safety valve on the boiler and O an air valve on the cistern C.
In operation the space B1, C1, above the water level in the cisterns is filled with
steam from the boiler; as the water is evaporated by the generation of stean in the
boiler A, fresh water flows in from the cistern C through the pipe D and as the level
of the water falls in the cistern C, a fresh supply is admitted through the valve F, from
the town's main or other supply, or from the cistern B. The level of the water in
the cistern C and the boiler A remains practically constant, so long as the supply
continues, after which the cistern then continues to feed the builer until it is
empty.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
:—
1. The combination with a low pressure steam boiler of an automatic water feed
apparatus consisting of a supply cistern placed with its top about the same level as

page_text: the top of the boiler having the water space thereof connected with the water space
of the boiler and the space above the water level connected with the steam space of the
boiler and fitted with an inlet pipe and admission valve substantially as described.
2. An apparatus for automatically feeding or supplying water to low pressure steam
boilers having two cisterns, one placed above the other connected together, each
connected to the steam space of the boiler and the water space of the lower one,
connected with the water space of the boiler substantially as and for the purpose
described.
3. The automatic water feed apparatus for low pressure steam boiler constructed
and arranged substantially as described.
Dated the seth
$11000
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
6, Bank Street, Manchester,
Patent Agents.