Improvements in Attachments for Feed-water Injectors and Spark- blower Pipes Useful in connection with Injectors for Supplying Feed-water to Boilers.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 29th July, 1890-Accepted. 6th Sept., 1890
COMPLETE
SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Attachments for Feed-water Injectors and Spark-
blower Pipes Useful in connection with Injectors for Supplying
Feed-water to Boilers.
I, COLUMBUS PHILLIPS, a citizen of the United States, residing at the City of
Birmingham, County of Jefferson, and State of Alabama, one of the United States
of America, Mechanic, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement :-
My invention consists in a device for establishing communication between a boiler
and its feed water injector, whereby the check valves of the injector are rendered less
liable to become clogged, and in independent means for positively shutting off
communication between the boiler and the check valves, whereby the check-valves; or
the injector. or both, may be detached, cleaned, or repaired, and replaced. either.in.the
shop or on the road without lowering the steam pressure in the boiler.
It has been hitherto customary to connect the check valves below the water line,
so that the water in the boiler would be driven against the valves after each operation
of the injector. The consequence has generally been, especially where there were
many impurities in the water, that the check-valves would become inoperative, and
would stick up after a short time. In order to take out the valves, it has been
necessary to blow off the steam and put out the fire, which is in all cases very
expensive. There is no means of knowing whether the check valves are perfectly
operative or not. If an engineer discovers that his injector apparatus is not operating
properly, he cannot tell whether his valves are sticking up, or whether the injector is
out of order, and the only thing to be done, therefore, has been to blow off the
steam, put out the fire, and take the whole thing apart, because if he assume that the
check valves were all right, and that the fault was in the injector, and should be
mistaken, when he had disconnected the injector from the check-valve, the hot water
in the boiler would be blown out, and might cause serious injuries to the workmen.
In fact it is such a common thing for the check valves to get out of order that
discreet engineers are always afraid to adopt any other means than the one
described.
By my invention I locate the checks above the water line, and when an injector is
discovered to be out of order, it is only necessary to close the main valve, when all
communication with the injector is shut off, and the boiler made perfectly tight and
safe. Afterwards the parts of the injector and its checks may be examined without
danger and without extra cost or loss of time. Besides this, I locate the mouths of
the checks opposite to each other, so that a portion of the water from each.is
discharged into the other, and the checks thereby made less liable to become fouled.
They are never exposed to the action of the water in the boiler, because they are
altogether removed away from it. I also connect the spark blower with the chamber
and thus obviate the necessity of piercing the boiler at more than one place, it being
always desirable, for the sake of strength, to make; as few openings as possible into
the boiler.
In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a vertical central section
partly in elevation of my invention.
I do not show the injector, because that may be of any ordinary kind, and be
operated in any well known way.
Fig. 2 indicates an elevation partly in section, of a modification of the check-
valves used in connection with my invention.
Referring to the letters on the drawings, A indicates a section of a boiler, into
which is screwed a threaded bushing B, provided with an internally projecting
annular flange C, upon which is carried, by means of the, shoulder D, the discharge
[Price 6d]

page_text: pipe E. Findicates a cylindrical cap which is screwed into the bushing B, and down
upon the shoulder D to hold the discharge pipe E in place. The upper part of the
bushing B is rounded to form a conical bearing for the bottom of the chamber G
which is secured firmly in place by bolts H passing through its base and the shell of
the boiler. Into the top of the chamber G is screwed a threaded cap I, which
carries, by means of the screw J, the stem K. On the lower end of this stem is
carried the valve L, and at the upper end a conical shoulder or metal packing, which
forms a tight joint with the cap I when the stem is screwed up. M indicates the
valve seat in the bottom of the chamber G. N indicates a handle secured to the top
of the stem K, by which it may be turned for raising and depressing it. Upon the
side, or preferably each side of the chamber G, is secured a joint or joints O, to
which are connected a pipe, or pipes P adapted to communicate with the injector,
which, as above stated, is not shown in the drawings. Within each of these joints is
located a check valve of any ordinary construction. The pipes P may be connected,
as shown in Fig. 2, directly with the chamber G, and the check-valves may be carried
in the chamber, as illustrated in that figure.
R indicates the spark blower pipe, which is adapted to communicate with the
extension head of the boiler, not shown in the drawings. S indicates a valve for
opening or closing the pipe R.
I do not limit myself to the details of construction hereinbefore described, because
it is evident that in many respects they may be varied without departing from the
scope of my invention.
The operation of my device is as follows: The stem K is screwed up, and the
passage from the chamber to the boiler is open. The injector is then set to work,
and, as demonstrated in practice, discharges into the chamber G, whence the water
falls by gravity into the boiler. It will be observed that the check valves are entirely
out of reach of the water in the boiler, and that their discharge outlets, when two or
more are used, are located opposite cach other. This, in practice, secures a certain
cleansing operation, which is found to be a practical gain. If the injector becomes
disabled, or the check-valve refuses to operate, the stem K is screwed down until the
valve L shuts upon the valv. seat in the bottom of the chamber when the boiler is
completely close, and the parts connected with the injector may be removed.
If it is desired to use the spark blowers the operation of the injector is arrested,
and the valve S opened, whereupon the blast of steam is passed through the pipe 1,
as in the ordinary way.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The combination with a boiler, of a chamber G adapted to receive feed water
from an injector, secured to the boiler above the water line, and opening through
its bottom directly into the boiler, and provided with check valves between it and the
injector, a valve within said chamber adapted to fit into the opening between the
chamber and the boiler to shut off the steam from the boiler, and means for operating
said valve from the outside, substantially as set forth.
2. The combination with a boiler, of a chamber G adapted to receive feed water
from an injector secured to the boiler above the water line, and provided with check
valves discharging against each other, as and for the purpose specified.
3. The combination with the boiler, of a chamber communicating directly through
its bottom, with the steam space in the boiler secured thereto, and provided with
check valves through which said chamber is adapted to communicate with an injector,
and a spark-blower connected with the chamber, substantially as described.
Dated this 29th day of July 1890.
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.