Improvements in and relating to Apparatus for Returning Water of Condensation from a Steam-engine to the Boiler or Generator and for similar Purposes.
Year: 1888

page_text: Improvements in and relating to Apparatus for Returning Water
of Condensation from a Steam-engine to the Boiler or Generator
and for similar Purposes.
I, WALTER BURNHAM, of 5106 Cornell Avenue, Hyde Park, County of Cook, and
State of Illinois, United States of America, Steam Engineer, 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 :-
This invention relates to the lifting and transmission of water in steam systems from
a chamber subject to a given pressure to one which is subject to a higher pressure
or which is subject to higher pressure and is, at the same time, situated in a more
elevated position.
The invention is adapted to many practical uses among which are here mentioned
the elevation and return to a generator of the water of condensation from a point in
a steam engine supply pipe below the water level of the generator; the elevation
and return of water to a steam boiler feeder or a feed-water heater and the more
active circulation of hot steam through a steam-jacket and the return to the generator
of the water of condensation produced in this application of steam.
The invention is also capable of being embodied in numerous forms varying with
the particular purpose to which it is applied or the particular situation in which it
is employed.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 illustrates a laboratory apparatus by means of which the peculiar operation
of the invention is preliminarily explained.
Figure 2 illustrates the invention as applied to the elevation and return to the
generator of water from a remote point of a steam pipe situated below the water level
of the generator.
Figure 3 illustrates the invention in connection with a separator located in a steam
pipe leading to an engine and at a point below the generator for the collection of
the water of condensation in the steam pipe and the prevention of its entry to the
steam cylinder of the engine.
Figure 4 illustrates the invention applied to a steam generator and engine in which
the engine cylinder is above the water level of the generator but in which the return

page_text: pipe is nevertheless extended above the steam pipe or the point at which the water
is taken therefrom.
Figure 5 is a vertical section of a desirable and novel form of separator for taking
water from steam preparatory to the elevation of the water by operation of this
invention, said section being taken in the line 5-5 of Figure 6.
Figure 6 is a horizontal section of the separator taken in the line 6-6 of
Figure 5.
Figures 7, 8 and 9 illustrate the application of the invention to the return of water
of condensation from the steam jacket of an engine cylinder from that of a steam
pipe and from that of a steam jacket heater, Figure 7 being a diagrammatic illustration
of a generator, steam pipe, engine and tank, of which the generator and tank are
shown in vertical section. Figure 8 is a vertical, fragmentary section of the parts
shown in Figure 7 in the line 2-2 of Figure 9, and Figure 9 is a horizontal section
in the line 3-3 of Figure 8.
Figure 10 illustratos substantially the same matter as is shown in Figure 3 except
that it shows a plurality of water return pipes leading from the separator together
with additional devices which will be hereinafter further explained.
Figure 11 illustrates a construction by which the invention may be applied to the
transfer of water from a chamber subject to a relatively very low pressure and without the
upward extension of the return pipe to such height as would be necessary in the employ-
ment of the single or simple form of lifting and returning devices shown in the
preceding figures.
The phenomena of the invention having been studied and its principles determined
by means of a laboratory apparatus provided with transparent generator and piping
through which the movements of steam and water therein could be seen, the inven-
tion will be first explained by reference to a simple form of such laboratory apparatus
which is illustrated in Figure 1.
In this Figure (1) A represents a base; B a standard rising from the base; Û a
bracket which suspends a wide mouthed glass vessel D that serves as a steam
generator, and E a lamp supported beneath the generator on a bracket F. Through
the stopper D¹ of the vessel D is inserted a pipe G which opens in the steam
space of the generator, and which, externally to the generator, leads to a point
considerably below the water level of said generator. The unshaded part of this
pipe G is transparent and is connected at its ends with metal parts G and H of
the same pipe G. G2 is a safety valve. H is a short metal prolongation of the
pipe G having a vertical direction, as here shown, and from its lower end a glass
pipe I leads upward some distance above the water level in the generator and thence
downward through the stopper D₁ into the generator in which it terminates in an
open end below the water surface. H' is a pipe leading from H as a prolongation
of the steam pipe and is provided with a stop valve H³. I' is a pot cock leading
from the lower end of H, 12 is a stop valve in the descending part of the pipe I and I'
is a "T" in said pipe I with which is connected a pipe I having a stop valve 1*
therein. The connections g gi i uniting the glass to the metal parts of the pipes are
short sections of rubber tube stretched over the ends of the pipes which they join.
Manifestly but a very low steam pressure can be obtained in the apparatus thus con-
structed, but sufficient pressure can be produced therein to give the operation which
characterizes my invention.
The pipe I will be, as a whole, termed the return pipe. The parts of the return
pipe may be separately designated as follows: The lower horizontal part, the
"bottom level" the adjacent ascending part the "riser"; the upper horizontal
or transverse part the "leader and the part which descends into the boiler, the
drop pipe or "leg."
66
,,
"
To start the apparatus shown in Figure 1, close valves 11, 12 and H2, open the
valve 1 and light the lamp. Steam generated in the vessel D will enter the pipe G
and pass through the pipe I to the atmosphere through the valve 14, expelling the
air from the pipes. In this flow of steam through the pipes G and I water of
condensation and entrainment is swept along with it at a high velocity, such water

page_text: for the most part taking the form in this apparatus of small, detached masses repre-
sented at 2. In addition to the water in this form, of course any water held in
suspense by the steam is also taken upward thereby. When the apparatus is warmed
The water of con-
up, (the pipes G and I being full of steam), close the valve I.
densation together with any water, entrained into the pipe G with the stean, will con-
tinue to be carried, in small masses, through the pipe I into the leg thereof, and,
unless the valve 12 be opened, will fall and rest upon said valvo. The water thus
delivered into the leg of the pipe I may, if accumulated above the valve I³, be with-
drawn from time to time at the valve I or, by opening the valve 12, it may be
delivered continuously into the water space of the boiler. In a practical apparatus the
latter is the operation or result which will ordinarily be desired. Upon closing
the valve I and opening the valve I' water will of course rise in the pipe I to a
point above the water level of the generator, as indicated, and the drop pipe should
be of sufficient length to contain this water column.
The explanation of the movement of water through the pipe 1 into the generator
when the valve I' is open is as follows: The space in the pipe I above the level
of the water in its leg and extending indefinitely in this pipe is subject to lower
average pressure than any part of the circuit, D G I, the head of the water column
(ie., its height above the water level in the generator) being the measure of such
reduced pressure in I.
This space in the pipe I may have a sufficiently less pressure, by reason of radiation
and condensation ; but, if not, condensation may be supplemented by escape, as by the
valve I*, adjusted to give a restricted outflow of steam.
The greater pressure of the generator is exerted towards this space of reduced
pressure by way of the drop leg and also by way of the pipes G and I through their
junction at H. The water column in the drop leg, however, (being self-adjusted in
head to the difference in pressure above and below it) retains its place, while the
steam from the pipe G, rushes to the place of lowest pressure in the pipe I with a
force due to the difference between the pressure at that place in the pipe I
In this movement of steam, it picks
and the pressure in the steam pipe G.
up small bodies of water and transports them to the drop leg where they join
the water column therein and become part of the water body of the generator. The
steam which rushes to this low pressure region of the circuit is itself also con-
densed and becomes water, (unless in part discharged through I') and its place is
taken by other steam from the same source, so that a constant flow of steam and water
is maintained through the pipe I towards the generator. In other words a continued
circulation is kept up from the generator outwardly through the steam pipe G and
backwardly to the generator through the return pipe 1 notwithstanding the rise in the
latter pipe, which may be of any height desired.
This return movement of water through the pipe I will continue with certainty at
"riser" or ascending part
least so long as the aggregate volume of water in the
of the pipe I does not exceed that of the water column in the drop-leg. To insure
certain and continuous return of water by the return pipe I it will be usually sufficient
to make the leg of said pipe of such length, above the level of the generator, as to
give vertical space for a column in said leg certainly greater than the difference in
pressures to which it is subject, plus any aggregate of water masses that will at any
time occupy the riser. In exceptional cases a plurality of return pipes will be provided
as hereinafter explained.
A body of water in the lower level or in the lower level and lower parts of the riser
and the steam pipe G, accumulated in the cooling down of the apparatus may be
removed before starting either by discharging it at the cock 1' (having first opened I*)
or by blowing it off through the valve I.
The pipe H is intended to represent such a continuation of the steam pipe (i as, in
a practical apparatus, may lead to one or more engines or other steam using devices.
The opening of the valve H' does not stop the action of the circuit D G I as above
described though it of course increases the height of the water column in the leg.
In looking for the conditions which underlie the operation above set forth, it.

page_text: will be observed, 1st, that a difference of pressure must be established between the low
pressure space or chamber in the pipe I and the steam pipe G equal to the accom-
plishment of the work of elevating whatever water said steam pipe shall furnish plus
whatever may be condensed in the lower and ascending portions of the return pipe :
2nd, that the water column constitutes a sufficient obstacle to the outflow of the
contents of the boiler through the drop leg while it permits the entrance of water
from the return pipe to the generator, and 3rd, that, the drop-leg or descending
portion of the return pipe must be of sufficient height to accommodate a water
column with head enough to balance the unequal pressures above and below.it.
Certain adaptations of my invention will next be described by reference to the
other figures of the accompanying drawings representing practical apparatuses.
In figures 2, 3 and 4 D is a steam generator, G a steam pipe leading therefrom and
I a return pipe communicating with both the steam pipe and the generator.
J (Figure 2) is a steam coil which may represent any form of steam heater and any
extent of such heating apparatus possibly located wholly or in part below the water
level of the generator, H is a prolongation of the steam pipe which may connect with
an engine or other steam using device which takes steain bodily out of said pipe, or
which, in other words, constitutes a physical discharge of steam.
K (Figure 3) represents a steam engine connected with the steam supply pipe G,
and La separator connected in the pipe G for the more perfect separation of the
water of condensation, suspension and entrainment, formed and carried along in the
steam pipe to this point. The return pipe, in this figure, instead of passing through
the top of the boiler and through the steam space into the water, descends outside the
boiler and connects with the feed pipe M which enters the boiler laterally below the
water level therein. In this case the descending portion or leg of the pipe I is of
course occupied by water from the boiler precisely as though it entered the boiler
directly, and it is found in practice that the connection thereof, with the feed pipe,
even when the latter is in operation, in no way impairs or materially affects the
desired action of the return pipe though the increased pressure produced by the
pump causes an increase in the height of the water column in the leg.
In each of the Figures 2, 3 and 4 the return pipe is provided in its elevated part
with an escapo pipe 1' having a valve I, by which the air may be expelled pre-
liminary to the operation of the circuit and which may also be opened to give escape
of steam to supplement the action of condensation in the pipe I in securing a needful
reduction of pressure above the water column in the return pipe to enable the required
amount of work to be done in the return pipe.
In each of the Figures 2, 3 and 4, the return pipe is shown provided with a check
valve I' and a stop valve 12, between the escape pipe 1 and the generator. These
two valves I and I are mainly alternative, the check valve being preferable. Its
use is to prevent the outflow of the contents of the generator when the escape valve is
opened widely in blowing out air or water from the return pipe, and its outflow into
the return and steam pipe when a valve G³ in the steam pipe is closed, or its escape
through the return when the circuit is broken or damaged. The check valve has no
agency in the normal operation of the apparatus, and may be placed in the descending
part or leg of the return pipe, if preferred, or elsewhere in said pipe.
In Figures 2, 3 and 4, also the upper transverse portion or leader of the return
pipe I is shown as declining towards the boiler, a construction calculated to facilitate
the movement of its liquid contents towards the point of lowest pressure therein, and
found more especially useful in those cases in which this leader is of great length.
In Figures 3 and 4 an engine K is shown connected with the loop G 1 adjacent to
its outer extremity, or, in other words, connected with the steam pipe G at a point
near its junction with the return pipe.
In Figure 4 the engine is not below the water level of the generator but the return
pipe has nevertheless an ascent on its way to the generator due to the requirement of
a proper length of leg to contain the water column.
Exact relative proportions of the steam and return pipes cannot be specified for all
situations, but, as affording a general suggestion, it may be stated that with a 3 inch

page_text: steam pipe leading under cover to an engine 150 feet from the generator and 28
feet below water level in the generator, a return pipe inch in diameter has been
found to work successfully and-economically. A too large return pipe will operate to
prevent the establishment and maintenance of the desired reduction of pressure in the
low pressure chamber of said return pipe while one that is too small will give too
great a reduction of pressure in said chamber, for the available space for water head
and drop leg. It is to be observed that the water to be raised is not a column of the
height of the riser but one or several relatively small masses in the form of short
pistons, transversely filling the riser, or of waves on the sides of the riser or of
globules suspended in the steam. The aggregate weight of all the masses of water in
a riser of, say, fifty feet in height may, therefore, be no more than one, two or three
pounds and the excess of pressure in the steam pipe over that in the low pressure
chamber will need to be only sufficient to raise this weight of water against its gravity
and friction. The judgement of the constructor or operator will be called into play
in particular cases, and the size of a riser may require to be increased or diminished
after observation of its working. In such observations it will be noticed that the
velocity of the steam flow in the riser is a material consideration, such velocity being
greater in a small than in a large pipe.
The separator as shown in Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6 consists of a rectangular cast iron
box connected near its top and at opposite ends with the adjacent parts of the steam
pipe. Within the box is located a horizontal partition having apertures and
dividing the box into two communicating compartments, one above the other. In the
upper compartments a series of partial partitions 12 are connected alternately with
the top and horizontal partitions by which the steam is given a zigzag course through
the separator and is caused to impinge first upon one and then upon another surface
This water is
for the deposit of the water which it contains, in a familar manner.
driven through the apertures into the lower compartment and thence enters the
return pipe connected through the bottom plate.
While it is always desirable to locate the separator at the junction of the return
with the steam pipe near the engine, it will not always be practicable to place the
I therefore do not wish to be restricted
separator so close to the engine as shown.
to the immediate proximity of these elements. They will, in practice, be preferably
placed as near to each other as circumstances will permit. When two or more
engines are connected with the prolongation H₁ of the steam pipe, one may be,
and generally will be, at a greater distance from the separator than the other,
while both will have the advantage of my invention, though in differing degrees.
In Figures 7, 8 and 9 the invention is illustrated in its application to steam jackets.
In these figures A represents a generator, B a steam engine, C a steam supply
pipe leading from the generator to the interior of the engine cylinder, C a valve
in said steam pipe, and C² the exhaust pipe. The engine cylinder and steam chest
are provided with a steam space surrounding them, indicated exteriorly by the
To this jacketing space
letter B, and of the usual or any desired construction.
surrounding the engine cylinder leads a pipe C³ from the steam pipe C, said
pipe C having a valve C. From the lower part of the steam jacket space of the
engine cylinder leads a pipe D which rises to a point above the water level in the
generator A and thence descends into said water space where it terminates in an
open end d, the descending portion or leg being marked D'. D³ is a stop valve in
the upper part of the leg D. D³ is a check valve above the valve D2 and near it,
here shown as being in the elevated transverse part of the return pipe D called
the leader. In the leader of the return pipe is also located a drain pipe D provided
with a valve d'. These features of the return pipe obviously correspond generally.
with the construction shown in Figures 1 to 4, above described, and the operation
is also the same. That is to say, the generator being under steam pressure and
the return pipe having been emptied of water and prepared for operation by
blowing off through the cock d', steam entering the pipe from C and filling D,
condenses above the water in the leg D₁ with the effect of causing a rapid
movement of steam through the pipe C³, cylinder jacket B¹ and return pipe D, in

page_text: which movement of steam the water of condensation formed in the cylinder jacket
is carried in small detached bodies upward through said pipe D and is deposited in
the leg D¹ of said pipe. There is thus provided a constant and active circulation
of live steam through the jacket space surrounding the engine cylinder while the
condense-water of such steam is promptly returned to the generator.
Similar connections are shown with a steam jacket (applied to the steam supply
pipe C, the pipe supplying steam to the jacket space between C and C being shown
at C and the return pipe (answering to the pipe D) being shown at D. The
pipe D' will in practice he usually required to lead upward higher than shown in
the drawing to give suitable length of leg to contain the water column without
overflow of the latter into the ascending part of the return pipe.
C
In order to take the water very completely from the jacket space surrounding
the steam pipe C the construction shown in Figures 8 and 9 may be employed in
which the return pipe D connects into the side of the jacket shell and the latter
is provided with an interior depending hood which connects at its sides and top
with the jacket pipe and reaches very nearly to the bottom of the jacket space.
This hood forms an interior extension of the return pipe and, in the sweep of
steam beneath it, all or practically all of the water of condensation will be swept
out of the jacket space.
E represents any form of vessel surrounded wholly or in part by a jacket E¹
giving the steam tight jacket space e. With a suitable point of this space e is
connected a steam supply pipe E2 provided with a valve E³. The pipe for the
return of water to the generator may be of the simple form of construction and
connection shown at D³, or of that shown at D as connected with the engine cylinder
jacket. I have. however, illustrated in connection with the tank jacket e a special
form of return pipe connection which may be used with any other jacket. In this
case D, D and D form the return pipe for the jacket e of the tank E, and Ds is
a pipe leading from the steam space of the jacket e into this return pipe below and
near the junction of D with D. The pipes D and D7 are shown provided with
valves d d respectively; but the latter of these is merely incidental to the
connection of the tank jacket e with the same return pipe D that leads from the
jacket B of the engine cylinder. The same is true of the valve D'in the pipe D, located
in advance of the connection of D7 with D. When the engine cylinder is disused
the valves C and D may be closed and, on the other hand when the tank jacket is dis-
used the valves E³ and may be closed. The valve D and the valve D in the steam
discharge pipe Da are, however, desirable to the proper or to the most economical
operation of the discharge pipe connections of a jacket comprising both pipes De
and D. The pipe D has a drainage connection with the jacket space e.
delivers into the same pipe (D') with the steam pipe D, an excessive outflow of
steam may be prevented by so far closing the valve d as to allow only water to
escape through it and the valve D may be also so far closed as to permit only
enough steam to pass it to carry forward the water from De.
If the system
As it
embracing the engine and tank or other jacketed vessel or chamber, both connected
with a single return pipe, be employed, the steam from one jacket may be made to
carry forward the water of condensation from both jackets. For example, in the
case of the engine cylinder jacket and the tank jacket of the drawing, having a
common return pipe D, the steam pipe D in the tank jacket may be disused or
omitted and the water from said jacket e may be sent forward by the steam from
the jacket B. In this case the valve ds in the drain pipe De may be made service-
able by being set to deliver only water or water with little steam through D' so that
steam may be correspondingly economized.
The object of the construction shown in Figure 10 is to insure a sufficient steam
flow to return all the water when the latter is found in excessive quantities. To this
end, firstly, a plurality of return pipes is provided in connection with a single steam
pipe secondly, a valve is inserted in each of the plural return pipes, near its
junction with the steam pipe; and, thirdly, a branch pipe is added beyond the

page_text: regulating valve therein, if one be present. These improvements are, in a sense,
cumulative, but they may be used separately or together, according to the requirements
of particular situations.
In this Figure 10 of the drawing A represents a steam generator, B a steam pipe
leading therefrom and C a return pipe leading from the steam pipe to a point above
the water line of the generator, thence downward into the generator, and terminating
in the water space thereof. L represents a separator connected in the steam pipe B.
and B is a prolongation of the steam pipe leading to an engine or other steam
using device.
In the case of a return pipe connected with a steam pipe at a point below the water
level in the generator, as shown in the drawing, if water is supplied to, or is allowed
to accumulate in, the lower part of the return pipe faster than it can be lifted by the
steam flow, or if allowed to accumulate so as to cut off the steam flow, then the
water in the generator will rise through the leg of the return pipe and flow outwardly
from the generator to the steam pipe, and thus defeat the operation sought to be
obtained. To avoid this result in those cases wherein it is likely to occur, provision
must be made. for a constant steam flow from the steam pipe to the low pressure
chamber in the return pipe. Now, the extent to which the pressure in the low-
pressure space in the return pipe may be reduced below that of the steam pipe is
restricted by the available space for the water leg of the return pipe, since the height
of the water column will depend upon the difference between the pressure in the
generator and that in the low-pressure space in the return pipe above the water
column. It follows that in many situations a single return pipe cannot be made to
return (in the necessarily broken form or in detached masses) all the water which
the steam pipe delivers thereto, and 1, therefore, provide a plurality of return pipes,
each having only such a reduction of pressure in its low-pressure chamber as is
allowable by the vertical space for the water leg, and each able, therefore, to carry
up a portion only of the water to be taken from the steain pipe, but together able to
lift it all. By thus using a plurality of return pipes, each having a short water column
in its descending leg, a large quantity of water may be taken from the steam pipe
in those situations where there is not room for a single return pipe with the higher
water column that would be necessary.
To obtain an equable division of water between two or more return pipes C, they'
should be so connected with the steam pipe B or with the separator L as to take
A certain
therefrom quantities correctly proportioned to their respective powerr.
limitation of steam and water supply to each of the pipes will be insured by
providing each of them with a valve C, close to its receiving end, which valve may
regulate the size of the inlet to said pipe. In order to use this inlet for the admission
of water only, a separate steam pipe D is shown having an upper open end in the
steam space of the separator and extending to a connection with the pipe C below
or beyond the valve C. Such a pipe will supply steam to the pipe Cindependently.
of the water inlet to said pipe. To control the amount of steam admitted to the
pipe C through the pipe D, the latter is shown provided with a valve D'.
Though the return pipe C is shown as connected with a steam pipe at a point
below the water level of the generator it is to be understood that the invention applies
as well to those return pipes which rise from a point at or above the water level of
the generator.
The object of the construction set forth in Figure 11 is to adapt the method
herein before set forth to situations where, for want of space or other reason, it is
impracticable to employ a water leg of such height as to give a water column
sufficient to balance the different pressures from the less to the greater of which
the liquid is to be transferred. To meet this difficulty a series of chambers or vessels
subject to graduated pressures, are employed and return pipes connect these chambers
with each other.
In this Figure 11 A is a generator, subject, say, to 30 pounds pressure and B, C and D
are tanks subject to, say, 20 pounds, 10 pounds and one pound respectively, above the
atmosphere. E represents a pipe leading into the tank D of lowest pressure from

page_text: the elevated open tank E¹ or any other source of supply adapted to deliver water into
said tank D. F is a steam pipe connecting the generator with each of the several
tanks B, C, D in any suitable way and F F F are reducing valves set to give in
the several tanks the desired degree of pressure, these connections being shown as
one form of practicable means for establishing in the tanks the graduated pressures
described. G G G G¹, G G are similar
"
return or transfer pipes, each for
transferring water from one chamber to the chamber of next higher pressure by
means of a steam flow, as hereinbefore generally set forth but here shown as being
provided with the improvements at their receiving ends, set forth in the foregoing
description of Figure 10. That is to say, each transfer pipe, comprises an asconding
portion G, having a drainage connection with a tank, (as B) and a descending
portion or leg G, which enters the generator of a tank of higher pressure, the
said leg containing a water column of height due to the difference in pressure to
which the opposite ends of said water column are subject. Thus by the use of an
intermediate tank or a series of intermediate tanks with graduated, though not necessarily
uniform, increase of pressures, as shown, the difference of pressure between any two
adjacent or connected tanks of the series may be made so small that a comparatively
low transfer pipe G G³, and one for which there is space, may be used.
Thus, in this Figure 11 of the drawing, a pipe G G¹ connects the tank D with the
tank C, which pipe has a vertical length of drop-leg G' adapted to contain a water
column (above water level in C) only or, for safety, little more than equal to the
balancing of pressures differing by 9 pounds, this being the difference between the
pressures assumed to be established in said tanks respectively by the reducing valve F³.
So, between tanks and B there is a difference in pressure of 10 pounds, and
between the tanks B and A there is also a difference of 10 pounds and the return or
lifting pipes connecting C and B, and B and A are adjusted in height to proximately
this difference in pressure. While each pipe G Gis, therefore, adapted to a water
column not much higher than is due to a difference of 10 pounds, they are together
adapted to contain an aggregate of 29 pounds of water head with a corresponding
lifting capacity, so that, by their aggregate energies, water is carried to the
generator A against 29 pounds greater pressure than that of the tank D from which
it is taken.
Manifestly any number of intermediate tanks may be employed in the series, and
their differences in pressure may be made so small that water may be automatically
fed by the apparatus from any source of supply under some degree of pressure
to a generator A, no matter how high the pressure to which the latter may be
subject.
The pipe E which supplies water to the tank D is here shown in full lines as leading
from a tank E¹, open to the atmosphere, and as being itself fed from a faucet e
discharging from a pipe E³, or from an exhaust pipe Es leading from an engine.
The head on the pipe E must in this case be equal to the delivery of water against
the one pound pressure above atmosphere in the tank D. The pipe E is shown in
dotted lines as connected directly with the pipe E which may he supposed to be
under pressure, as when connected with a city water supply system. The pipe E may
also-be understood to be part of the return pipe of the general system hereinbefore
described and D the low pressure chamber of that return. The tanks CB etc. and
the pipes G G become, in that case, the continuation of the return pipe. The
power of the return system may thus be very greatly augmented while occupying but
little vertical space for the water columns.
The apparatus will manifestly operate in connection with the return of a steam
heating apparatus or when steam instead of water or steam and water are supplied.to
the tank D. It will also operate if the valve e be closed and the reducing
valves F F &c. are omitted or are fully opened so as to admit steam at or practically
at boiler pressure to each of the tanks. If the valves F F &c. be adjusted to give
graduated pressures in the series of tanks and steam or steam and water or water
alone be supplied to the tank D at first at a high or even full boiler pressure and the
pressure of such supply be gradually or suddenly reduced, the apparatus will work

page_text: and will adjust itself to such change of pressure in the water or steam supplied, by
automatic variation in the water legs. In short, the apparatus. will, by means of
such variable water columns, adjust itself automatically to any order of changes in
pressure on the tank D.
29
It is to be understood that under the term " steam as herein employed, is to be
included any other fluid with which the apparatus will operate.
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 The combination with a steam generator, an engine or other steam using
device to which it is desired to supply dry. steam, and a steam pipe leading from the
generator to such steam using device, of a return pipe having a drainage connection
with the steam pipe and which connects said steam pipe with the water space of the
generator and which rises between its connections to a point above its connection
with the steam pipe and also above the level of water in the generator, said return
pipe containing a steam space subject to lower pressure than any other point in the
circuit and also containing in its descending portion a pressure equalizing water
column between said low pressure space and the contents of the generator, substantially
as described.
2: The combination, with a steam generator and an engine cylinder or other
inclosure provided with a steam jacket space, of a pipe or pipes supplying steam to.
the jacket space, and a pipe having drainage connection with said space, leading to
the generator and containing a pressure balancing water column, substantially as
described.
3: The combination, with a steam generator, and a steam pipe leading therefrom,
of a plurality of return or discharge pipes having drainage connection with the steam
pipe, each containing a pressure-balancing water column remote from the steam pipe
and a space adjacent to the water column having a steam communication with the
steam pipe and subject to lower pressure than the steam pipe, substantially as
described.
4-In combination with the steam pipe and the return pipe having a drainage
connection therewith, of a pipe leading from the steam space of the steam pipe into
the return pipe, substantially as described.
'
5: The combination with a steam generator and a pipe, chamber or space under
lower pressure than that of the generator and affording a supply of water to be
transferred to the generator, of a tank or chamber subject to an intermediate degree
of pressure and rising and descending transfer pipes severally connecting the chambers
and generator, each of which pipes contains in its descending portion a water column
due to the difference in pressure between the chambers which it connects, substan-
tially as described.
Dated at Chicago, Illinois, in the United States of America, this 12th day of