Improvements in or connected with Cocks or Valves for Maintaining the Water Level in Steam Boilers, and for other purposes.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Dec., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Oct., 1893-Accepted, 11th Nov., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Cocks or Valves for Maintaining
the Water Level in Steam Boilers, and for other purposes.
I, LUCIEN EILERTSEN, 132, Boulevard Magenta, Paris, in the Republic of
France, Surgeon Dentist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for automatically operating
valves and cocks under pressure particularly valves for feeding steam boilers.
In certain cases particularly for the purpose of maintaining a constant level of
water in steam boilers it is advantageous to effect the opening and closing of the
supply valves automatically and the object of my invention is to effect this automatic
operation of such valves in a better manner than hitherto.
According to this invention the valves are operated under pressure by utilizing
the pressure itself the arrangement comprising a valve and a piston larger than the
said valve and operating from a chamber situated at the end of the piston opposed
to the valve and in which the pressure is increased and diminished by means of an
inlet and an outlet opening. The method of opening and closing these openings
varies according to the application; springs or weights for safety valves; valves
and pistons for discharge cocks and supply valves and cocks for sluices.
In carrying out my invention I provide a piston valve of a special construction
which allows of it opening automatically by the pressure itself.
Steam boilers can be automatically supplied in either of the three following
ways.
1. By causing the injector or the feed pump to be automatically operated
immediately the level in the boiler falls.
2. By furnishing a supply of water at a pressure greater than that of the
boiler.
3. By feeding by means of a vessel with water at a lower pressure than that of
the boiler.
My improved apparatus can be employed for either of these three ways.
The apparatus for automatically operating the injector or the pump comprises a
cylindrical box provided with a pipe serving for the passage of the steam.
The said box is closed at the bottom and contains a piston the end of which forms
a valve for closing the tube. The upper part of the piston is cut away to form an
annular crown which receives the pressure of the boiler through openings in the
box. The piston is provided with an axial passage and the bottom of the box has
a hole which serves as a seat for a valve fixed on a rod carrying a float within the
boiler. This rod also carries another valve which closes the lower end of the
passage through the piston. The pipe communicates with the injector or with
the pump.
When the boiler is supplied with water at a pressure greater than that of the
boiler the apparatus, which is always based on the same principle and works in the
same manner, is arranged to automatically supply water to the boiler instead of
being employed to automatically emit steam as above described.
In this case the water arriving through a tube passes through the passage in
the piston and fills a chamber beneath it and acts on the whole lower surface of
the piston in an opposite direction to the pressure which it exerts on the upper
annular part and the valve on the piston closes the pipe in consequence of the
differences of the pressure on the two opposed bases of the upper central part in
the chamber. When the float falls with the level of the water the valve uncovers

page_text: an opening in the bottom of the chamber which opening is larger than the passage
in the piston and the water passes from the chamber into the boiler producing an
expansion in the chamber but little greater than the pressure in the boiler. The
steam being at a pressure lower than that of the incoming water and the central
part forming the value only equally supporting this steam pressure is equilibrated
on its two opposed sections, the arrangement opens in consequence of the differences
of pressure on the two opposed bases of the annular part and water passes into the
boiler through a pipe above the piston. The float having raised the valve on the
rod and the pressure of the water increasing anew in the chamber causes the piston
to rise.
When the supply is effected by water at a constant pressure or at a variable
pressure as for example when the pressure is furnished by a pump I place on the
pipe which leads from the pump to the feed valve a return water valve.
This valve comprises a piston and valve having a central passage closed at its
upper part by a double coned valve closing either the said central passage or the
"discharge opening. The said valve is provided with a weight. Water forced by
When the
the pump enters through pipes and passes to the admission chamber.
latter is closed after the level in the boiler has reached its normal point the
pressure of the water which no longer has means of exit increases in the passage
in the piston and raises the weighted valve and passes into the chamber whence it
drives the piston in a downward direction and opens the piston valve. The water
under pressure immediately passes from the inlet pipe to the return water pipe so
long as the pressure remains greater than the weight on the double coned valve.
As soon as the apparatus opens the current is re-established pressure diminishes in
the passage the opening of which is closed by the coned valve, the water in the
chamber escapes through discharge openings and the pressure of the incoming
water causes the piston to retake its original position thus closing the communication
between the inlet pipe and the return water pipe.
To effect the feed by means of a vessel with water at a pressure lower than that
I of the boiler I employ a supplementary valve in an opposite direction to the piston-
valve the two valves being so arranged that one is always closed when the other is
open. Between the two valves is a stuffing box through which passes the rod
carrying the two valves. A chamber arranged between the stuffing box and the
piston valve is provided with a tube serving either for an inlet or outlet. The
upper valve suitably fixed on the rod closes or opens the passage between a
chamber above it and another chamber below it; each chamber is provided with a
discharge tube. The chamber below the piston-valve communicates with a chamber
above the said piston valve by a passage opening into the lower part of the rod
which is hollow and provided with small lateral openings.
This arrangement allows of filling and discharging a feed vessel, when the level
of the water falls in this vessel the small valve descends with the float, the piston
valve opens thereby closing the upper valve and preventing the passage of the
steam from the upper tube to the feed vessel.
The whole pressure of the feed vessel is taken off through the pipe from the
chamber above the piston valve to a bell in a supply tank or vat and there
diminishes and heats the water. The water retaining valve opens when the pressure
of the feed vessel has completely fallen. The vessel fills at the moment when the
float in rising opens a small steam pipe from the boiler and closes the passage
through the piston valve. The lower valve in closing opens the upper valve and
pressure is re-established in the feed. vessel which commences to fill.
The float enclosed in the feed vessel comprises a small basin, which receives the
water from the supply tank, from which it passes to fill the feed vessel. The rising
of the float is thus retarded and even after the small valve has closed the passage
through the. piston-valve the basin will still contain water which will run off
through a small opening so that the movements. of the float are made between
certain limits and not so to speak at each instant since the level is variable.
The feed vessel is filled and emptied automatically into the boiler until the end

page_text: of the pipe which enters the boiler is covered by the water on reaching its
normal level.
The apparatus can also be employed as a discharge cock by using the arrange-
ment of the return water valve with a float; the arrangement being reversed it
opens when the level of the water rises and closes when it descends.
A steam safety valve may be provided by employing the return water valve
arrangement or a sluice by adding a discharge tube replacing the passage through
the piston valve and communicating with the pipe above the piston valve. A cock
placed on this tube will open and close the piston valve in consequence of the
variations of pressure in the chamber below the piston valve caused by the opening
and closing of this cock.
Dated the 31st day of December 1892.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Cocks or Valves for Maintaining
the Water Level in Steam Boilers; and for other purposes.
I, LUCIEN EILERTSEN, of 132, Boulevard Magenta, Paris, in the Republic of
France, Surgeon Dentist, 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 improvements in apparatus for automatically operating
valves and cocks under pressure particularly valves for feeding steam boilers.
In certain cases particularly for the purpose of maintaining a constant level of
water in steam boilers it is advantageous to effect the opening and closing of the
supply valves automatically and the object of my invention is to effect this
automatic operation of such valves in a better manner than hitherto.
The invention can, however, be employed in general with advantage in all cases
where valves are used, the openings of which have to withstand a certain resistance.
For example it can be combined with a float in such a manner that the valve of the
system will open when the water rises and close when it falls.
As hereinafter explained the system comprises in certain cases a return water
valve which can also be employed as a safety-valve; it reduces the pressure
immediately in the boiler when the latter exceeds a given limit.
According to this invention the valves are operated under pressure by utilizing
the pressure itself, the arrangement comprising a valve, and a piston larger than
the said valve and operating from a chamber situated at the end of the piston
opposed to the valve and in which the pressure is increased and diminished by means
of an inlet and an outlet opening. The method of opening and closing these
openings varies according to the application; springs or weights for safety valves;
valves and pistons for discharge cocks and supply valves and cocks for sluices.
To enable my invention to be fully understood I will describe how it can be
carried into practice by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which :-
Figure is a longitudinal section of a steam boiler with my invention applied
thereto and designed to automatically set an injector or a feed pump in action as
soon as the level of the water has fallen below a certain point :
Figure 2 is a section of the valve drawn to a larger scale :
Figure 3 is a section illustrating another way of applying my invention to a
steam boiler :
Figure 4 is a similar view to Figure 1 shewing my apparatus mounted on a boiler
and designed for feeding with water at a pressure above that in the boiler, with a
return water valve placed on. the force pipe:
Figure 5 is a section of this arrangement of apparatus; and,
Figure 6 is a section of the return valve :

page_text: Figure 7 is a section of another modified form of apparatus bringing the
pressure of the steam of the boiler in a pipe to a given reduced pressure:
Figure 8 is a section of my apparatus arranged to feed with water at a pressure
below that of the boiler :
Figure 9 is a section shewing the general arrangement of the last mentioned
form of apparatus upon a boiler:
Figure 10 is a sectional elevation illustrating the application of my arrangement
of differential valve to the working of steam and water sluices:
Figure 11 is a sectional elevation shewing how my invention allows of diminishing
the proportions of a sluice when the diameter of the passages is considerable.
I provide a piston valve of a special construction which allows of it opening
automatically by the pressure itself.
Steam boilers can be automatically fed in either of the three following ways:--
1. By causing the injector or the feed-pump to be automatically operated
immediately the level of the water in the boiler falls.
2. By furnishing a supply of water at a pressure greater than that of the
boiler.
3. By feeding by means of a vessel with water at a lower pressure than that of
the boiler.
My improved apparatus can be employed for either of these three ways.
The apparatus for automatically operating the injector or the pump is illustrated
in Figures and and comprises a cylindrical box X provided with a pipe T
serving for the passage of the steam. The said box is closed at the bottom F and
contains a piston P, the end Z of which forms a valve for closing the tube T. The
upper part of the piston P is cut away at A to form an annular space which
receives the pressure of the boiler through openings B in the box. The piston P
is provided with an axial passage D and the bottom F of the box has a hole D¹
which serves as a seat for a valve E' fixed on a rod carrying a float within the
boiler. This rod also carries another valve E which closes the lower end of the
passage D through the piston. The pipe T communicates with the injector or
with the pump, as shewn in Figure 1.
The various parts of my apparatus, when at rest, occupy the position shewn
in Figure 2. Suppose the water level falls in the boiler, the float will descend
and the valve E will uncover the passage D whilst the valve E' will stop the
passage D thereby shutting off communication between the chamber C and the
boiler. The steam in the chamber C will escape through the passage D so that
the pressure will be reduced in the said chamber and equal that in the pipe T ;
the central part, subjected to the same pressure on its two opposite faces (which
here is nothing) is neutral and the piston 'P falls by reason of the difference of
pressure upon the two bases of the annular part since the pressure from the
boiler coming through the openings B is always exerted on A.
The piston having descended, the pipe T is open and the steam entering through B
passes through the said pipe and is conducted to the injector or the pump which
it sets in action.
When a sufficient feed has taken place, the float rises with its valve El which
uncovers the hole 'D' whilst the valve E closes the passage 'D. The steam
again entering the chamber C and acting 'upon the whole of the piston P, the
latter will rise to its former position by reason of the difference of pressure upon
the two opposite sections of the central part, the two opposite sections of the
annular part subjected to the same pressure' being equilibrated. The valve will
also stop the passage of the steam in the pipe T.
The valve, Figure 2, which opens by means of a float when the level of the
water falls, constitutes a safety-apparatus.
A modification is illustrated in Figure 3.
The valve Z of large area and closing the steam pipe T is connected as before
to the piston P, the chamber C is closed by 'a' fnsible plugs so long as there
is only water in the pipe T'. But as soon as 'T'is' filled with steam, which ought

page_text: not to occur, the plugs will melt and open a passage; the steam will then act
upon the piston P in the chamber C and the valve Z fully opens thereby
preventing any accident.
- When the boiler is supplied with water at a pressure greater than that of the
boiler I employ the arrangement shewn in Figures 4 and 5. In this case the
apparatus, which is always based on the same principle and works in the same
manner, is arranged, as shewn in Figure 5, to automatically supply water to the
boiler instead of being employed to automatically emit steam as above described.
The box X, as in the arrangement illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, is mounted
on the boiler but the rod of the float carries only one valve El.
The water arriving through a tube B passes through the passage D in the piston
and fills the chamber C and acts on the whole lower surface of the piston P in
an opposite direction to the pressure which it exerts on the annular part A. The
equilibrium of pressure is established on the two opposite sections of the annular
part A and the valve Z closes the pipe T in consequence of the difference of
pressure on the two opposed bases of the upper central part in the chamber C.
When the float falls with the level of the water the valve E' uncovers the hole, D'
which is larger than the passage D in the piston and the water passes from the
chamber C into the boiler producing an expansion in the chamber but little greater
than the pressure in the boiler. The steam being at a pressure lower than that of
the incoming water at B, and the central part forming the valve in T only equally
supporting this steam, pressure is equilibrated on its two opposed sections, the
arrangement opens in consequence of the difference of pressure on the two opposed
bases of the annular part and water passes into the boiler through the pipe T.
The float having risen, the valve E' closes the passage D' and the pressure of the
water increasing anew in the chamber C causes the piston P to rise..
When the supply is effected by water at a constant pressure or at a variable
pressure as for example when the pressure is furnished by a pump I place on the
pipe which leads from the pump to the feed valve just described a return water
valve represented at Figure 6.
This valve like the apparatus hereinbefore described comprises a piston P and
valve Z but its central passage D is closed at its upper part by a double coned
valve G closing either the said central passage D or the discharge opening D'.
The valve G is provided with a weight V. Water forced by the pump enters
through pipes T and passes to the admission chamber X. When the latter is
closed after the level in the boiler has reached its normal point the pressure of the
water which no longer has means of exit increases in the passage D in the piston
and raises the weighted valve G and passes into the chamber C whence it drives
the piston P in a downward direction and opens the valve Z. The water under
pressure immediately passes from the inlet pipe T to the return water pipe S so
long as the pressure remains greater than the weight V on the double coned valve.
As soon as the apparatus ✗ opens the current is re-established, pressure diminishes
in the passage D, the opening of which is closed by the valve G, the water in the
chamber C escapes through the discharge opening D¹ and the pressure of the
incoming water upon the valve Z causes the piston P to rise to its original position
thus closing the communication between the inlet pipe T and the return water
pipe S.
This return water valve can be employed as a safety valve.
Figure 7 represents another type of valve bringing the pressure of the boiler in
a pipe to a given reduced, and always constant, pressure. In fact the steam coming
through the pipe T and passing through T₁ is more or less intercepted by the
valve Z operated by the piston P of larger diameter. The passage t is closed by a
piston p surmounted by a weight V serving to equilibrate the fixed pressure which
it is desired to obtain in T. In fact if this pressure increases the piston rises
and lifts the weight V, opening the passage and covering the passage d'; the
equilibrium of pressure is established, through the passage d. between C and T',
that is to say, the pressure becomes lower than that in T; the latter pressure

page_text: acting on the valve Z closes it, the pressure decreases in T¹, and the piston.
falls and covers the passage d and uncovers the passage d', establishing an
equilibrium of pressure between C and T; but, as the area of the piston is larger,
the valve Z again opens and so on.
To effect the feed by means of a vessel with water at a pressure lower than that
of the boiler I arrange the apparatus as illustrated in Figures 8 and 9. I employ
a supplementary valve R opening in an opposite direction to the piston-valve Z,
the two valves being so arranged that one is always closed when the other is open.
Between the two valves is a stuffing-box through which passes the rod carrying the
two valves. A chamber K" between the stuffing-box and the piston valve Z is
provided with a lateral tube I serving either for an inlet or outlet. The upper
valve R suitably fixed on the rod closes or opens the passage between two
chambers K, K', each provided with a discharge tube. The chamber C communi-
cates with the chamber K by a passage Dopening into the lower part of the
rod T which is hollow and provided with small lateral openings a.
"
This arrangement allows of filling and discharging a feed-vessel y, Figure 9;
when the level of the water falls in this vessel y the small valve E descends
with the float Q, the piston valve Z opens thereby closing the upper valve R
and preventing the passage of the steam from the tube J to the tube L and feed-
vessel, (Figure 9).
The whole pressure of the steam in the feed-vessel is taken off through the pipe I
from the chamber K" above the piston valve to a bell V₁in a supply tank or vat
and there diminishes and the steam heats the water. The water retaining valve U
opens under the pressure of the water when the pressure of the feed vessel has
completely fallen. The vessel fills at the moment when the float in rising causes
the small valve E to open the steam pipe e, Figure 8, from the boiler and
closes the passage D through the piston valve. The lower valve Z in closing
opens the upper valve R and pressure is re-established in the feed vessel which
commences to fill.
The float Q enclosed in the feed-vessel, (as will be seen by reference to Figure 9)
comprises a small basin which receives the water from the supply tank, and from
which it passes to fill the feed vessel. The rising of the float is thus retarded and
even after the small valve E has closed the passage D through the piston-valve
the basin will still contain water which will run off through a small opening o so
that the movements of the float are made between certain limits and not, so to
speak, at each instant since the level is always variable.
The feed-vessel is filled and emptied automatically into the boiler until the
end of the pipe J is covered by the water in the boiler on reaching its normal
level.
'
My arrangement of differential valve as applied to steam or water sluices for
diminishing the power required to open and close then is represented at Figure 10.
The opening and closing of the valve Z are effected by the opening and closing of
the cock . When the latter is open the pressure in C decreases always by virtue
of the principle already explained and the sluice Z opens; when the cock ris
closed the pressure exerted through the passage D acts on the piston and closes the
sluice Z. To decrease the proportions of a sluice when the diameter of the
pipes is considerable the two pipes can be arranged on the same axis as shewn
in Figure 11. In this case as the sluice, once closed, should apply itself over
its whole height so as to close the apertures of the two pipes T and T' the
valve Z should have the shape hereinbefore referred to of a perfect truncated
cone.
Or it may be of an oval shape more or less elongated or more thick than
wide to diminish the width.
The operation consists in opening the cock and closing the cock when
requiring to open the sluice, in order to diminish the pressure in C as herein before
described, the pressure acts through the aperture 1 on the small base Z. To
close the sluice the cock r¹ is opened and the cock r closed.

page_text: If in consequence of the reduced proportions the difference of the sections is not
sufficiently great for the sluice to open by itself, the manipulation of the cocks in
all cases will have considerably decreased, the resistance and the sluice can be
opened and closed much more casily with the aid of a screw-rod and a key. The
height of the piston P depends on the duration of the action required to be
produced; it can be entirely dispensed with if it is only required to produce a
simple disengagement.
A similar arrangement can be applied to high pressure cocks or valves; and the
arrangement shewn in Figure 10 can also be applied to a system of valves opening
from a distance.
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. The automatic operation of valves and cocks under pressure by utilizing the
pressure itself, the arrangement comprising a valve and a piston larger than the
said valve and operating in conjunction with a chamber situated at the end of
the piston opposite the valve, in which chamber the pressure is increased or
diminished by opening or closing outlet and inlet passages, leading into the said
chamber, the modification of the pressure in this chamber causing the rise or fall
of the piston and of the valve which is fixed thereto, substantially as hereinbefore
described.
2. The arrangement of apparatus represented in Figures 1 and 2 of the
accompanying drawings producing the automatic actuation of the injector or
the pump which feeds a boiler, the pressure in the chamber referred to in the
preceding claiming clause being modified by the action of a valve operated by a
Hoat which rises and falls with the level of the water in the boiler, substantially as
set forth.
3. The modified construction of apparatus illustrated in Figure 3 of the accom-
panying drawings constituting, like the valve referred to in the second claiming
clause, a safety apparatus and comprising the arrangement in the chamber
referred to in the first claiming clause, of a fusible plug which melts when the level
of the water in the boiler falls below a given point, the effect being to give free
passage to the steam which acts on the piston in the aforesaid chamber, substantially
as set forth.
4. The arrangement of apparatus illustrated in Figure 4 for feeding a boiler
with water at a pressure greater than that in the boiler, the chamber referred
to in the first claiming clause being in this case filled with water which is discharged
into the boiler when the float descends below a given level, substantially as set
forth.
5. The arrangement described with reference to Figure 6 of the accompanying
drawings comprising a return water valve upon the pipe which leads from the
pump to the feed-valve referred to in the fourth claiming clause arranged on the
same principle as the preceding apparatuses and operating in the manner set
forth.
6. The use as a safety or relief valve of the return water valve referred to
in the fifth claiming clause, this arrangement being capable of being modified as
herein before described with reference to Figure 7 of the accompanying drawings.
7. The combination of two valves acting in opposite directions for the purpose of
alternately filling and emptying a feed vessel as herein before described with
reference to Figures 8 and 9 of the accompanying drawings.
8. The application of my arrangement of differential valve for operating steam
or water sluices with the object of diminishing the power required-for opening or
closing such sluices, substantially as hereinbefore described.
9. The arrangement of the differential apparatus illustrated in Figure 11 of the
accompanying drawings allowing of actuating a sluice of large area by simply
operating two small cocks, substantially as set forth.

page_text: 10. The improved apparatuses or cocks or valves for maintaining the water level
in steam boilers and for other purposes hereinbefore described and illustrated in the
several figures of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 2nd day of October 1893.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.