An Improved Apparatus for Supplying Feed Water to Steam Boilers.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 29th July, 1893
Complete Specification Left, 30th Apr., 1894-Accepted, 16th June, 1894
An Improved Apparatus for Supplying Feed Water to Steam
Boilers.
I, MARK MACER, of Belgrave House, Enfield Highway, in the County of
Middlesex, Wheelwright, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
.
The object of this invention is to construct an apparatus which will automatically
supply feed water to steam boilers when the surface of the water falls below the
working level.
According to this invention I provide a tank above the boiler hereinafter called
the feed tank this tank is connected with the boiler by means of two pipes one
connecting the top of the tank with the steam space of the boiler and the other
connecting the bottom of the tank with the water space of the boiler a check valve
being interposed between the tank and the boiler to prevent the water from the
boiler being forced into the tank.
I provide also a stop cock or valve in the pipe connecting the steam space of the
boiler with the top of the tank which cock valve is opened and closed by means of
a rod connected to a float which rod passes through a stuffing box in the top of
the boiler.
'I prefer to fill the feed tank from an overhead supply tank connected by means
of a pipe with the feed tank a check valve being inserted between the two tanks
to prevent the water being forced from the feed tank to the supply tank.
'
When the water is at the working level the feed tank being full of water the
stean cock is closed but when the water level falls the float falls also and opens the
steam cock admitting steam above the water in the feed tank the contents of which
are discharged into the boiler.
This raises the water to the normal level the float then closes the steam cock
and the feed tank fills from the supply tank. When the floát again falls the
operation is repeated and the apparatus automatically supplies the feed water to
the boiler.
Dated this 26th day of July 1893.
FREDK. WALKER,
11, Furnival Street, Holborn, London, E.C.; Agent for the Applicant.
An Improved Apparatus for Supplying Feed Water to Steam
Boilers.
I, MARK MACER, of Belgrave House, Enfield Highway, in the County of
Middlesex, Wheelwright, 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 construct an apparatus which will automatically
supply feed water to steam boilers when the surface of the water falls below the
working level.
According to this invention I provide a tank above the boiler hereinafter called
the feed tank this tank is connected with the boiler by means of two pipes one

page_text: connecting the top of the tank with the steam space of the boiler and the other
connecting the bottom of the tank with the water space of the boiler or feed pipe
a check valve being interposed between the tank and the boiler to prevent the
water from the boiler being forced into the tank.
I provide also a stop cock or valve in the pipe connecting the steam space of the
boiler with the top of the tank which cock or valve is opened and closed by means
of a rod connected to a float which rod passes through a stuffing box in the top of
the boiler.
I prefer to fill the feed tank from an overhead supply tank connected by means
of a pipe with the feed tank a check valve being inserted between the two tanks
to prevent the water being forced from the feed tank to the supply tank.
When the water is at the working level the feed tank being full of water the
steam cock is closed but when the water level falls the float falls also and opens the
steam cock admitting steam above the water in the feed tank the contents of which
are discharged into the boiler.
This raises the water to the normal level the float then closes the steam cock
and the feed tank fills from the supply tank when the float again falls the
operation is repeated and the apparatus automatically supplies the feed water to
the boiler.
And in order that my invention may be fully understood I will proceed to describe
the same with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:
a represents the boiler & the feed tank c the supply tank to which water may be
supplied through a ball cock in the usual way from the main or by means of a pump
or other suitable means.
To the bottom of the feed tank c I attach a tube or pipe d by means of which
communication is made between the interior of the said tank and the feed pipe f g is
the feed valve preferably a combined feed regulating stop and back pressure valve
h is a pipe connecting the bottom of the tank with the bottom of the tank e a back
pressure or non-return valve being interposed between the two tanks to prevent
the water in c from being forced into when steam-is-admitted to the former.
i is a pipe to admit steam from the boiler a above the water in the tank c.
A pipe j
serves to conduct the waste steam from the tank c to the tank where it is
condensed and serves to warm the water in b.
k is a float connected by means of a link 1 (preferably slotted as shewn) to a
lever m pivotted at n to a bracket o or the like inside the boiler p is a weight to
balance the lever m q is a rod attached to the lever m which rod passes through a
stuffing box attached to the boiler and is connected to a tube attached to the plug
of a cocks between the boiler a and the tank c.
Inside the tube r is a ball t which as soon as the said tube assumes a position
other than horizontal rolls down the tube and opens or closes the cock s.
To the tuber I also attach a rod u which is connected at its upper end to the
handle of the waste steam cock v.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-
Supposing the parts are in the position shewn on the drawing with the water at
the working level the cock s is shut and the cock v open the water now flows down
the pipe from the tank to the tank c any air or steam in the latter escaping
through the cock into the pipe j and tank b when the tank c is full the water
ceases to flow into it and no further action takes place until the water level falls
sufficiently to enable the float k to depress that end of the tuber to which the rod g
is connected. As soon as the tube is inclined a little beyond the horizontal the
ball will roll down the said tube open the cocks and close the cock these cocks
being arranged so that when one is open the other is shut steam now passes from
the boiler through the pipe i to the cylinder c the water in which runs by gravity
into the boiler through the feed valve g and feed pipe f.
r
When the water level again rises the cocks is closed and, the cock v opened and
the cycle of operations repeated water being automatically admitted to the boiler
when the surface of the water therein falls below a certain level.

page_text: Instead of admitting the feed water above the water level as shewn I may admit
it below the water line at any convenient point. Also instead of the tuber and ball t
may use a weight rolling or sliding on a rod or I may use a vertical rod with a
weight at the top as used for shifting belts on machine tools and other purposes.
I
I may connect the float & directly to the rod q but I prefer to use the lever m to
multiply the motion of the float as thereby the water is admitted to the boiler more
frequently than when the multiplying lever is dispensed with and fuel economised.
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. In an apparatus for supplying feed water to steam boilers the combination of
a supply tank 6 with a feed tank the said tanks communicating with each other by
means of pipes and h valve h¹ and cock v. substantially as specified.
2. In an apparatus for supplying feed water to steam boilers the combination of
a feed tank c communicating with the boiler by means of a delivery pipe d and
steam pipe i with a cock s opened and closed by means of a float connected thereto
substantially in the manner specified.
3. In an apparatus for supplying feed water to steam boilers opening and closing
the cocks v and s by means of a rod u and tube having a ball t therein or their
equivalent the said tube or its equivalent being connected by a rod q to a lever m
actuated by a float k, all substantially as hereinbefore described and for the purposes
stated.
4. The improved apparatus for supplying feed water to steam boilers
substantially as hereinbefore specified and shewn by the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 30th day of April 1894.
T. E. HALFORD,
11, Furnival Street, Holborn, London, E.C., Agent for the Applicant.