Improvements in and relating to Appliances for Feeding Water into Steam Boilers.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 11th May, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 11th Feb., 1897-Accepted, 17th Apr., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Appliances for Feeding Water
into Steam Boilers.
I. WILLIAM BURNS of No. 11 Govanhill Street in the City and County of
Glasgow North Britain Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
It relates chiefly to appliances for regulating the supply of water to steam
boilers and has for its principal objects;
1st. To maintain automatically and constantly the water in a steam boiler at or
about a uniform level.
2nd. To insure an alarm being given automatically when the water in the boiler
gets too low.
3rd. To operate a boiler feed water injector and regulator conjointly and
simultaneously.
4th. To seal the water valve therefor securely and open it more easily than is
possible with existing appliances.
5th. To render a constant high pressure unnecessary in the water supply of a
steam boiler.
6th. To prevent the water escaping from the boiler when the feed valve is
open.
In carrying out one modification of this invention (herein called the first) the
float within a steam boiler is suspended from a counterbalanced lever connected
with the chest of a steam valve attached to the interior or roof of the boiler. This
steam vaive is united to the counterbalanced lever of the float by means of a
spindle so that as the float lowers with the subsidence of the water the valve is
opened and admits steam through suitable connections to a steam cylinder
containing a piston for opening the feed water valve this piston being connected
by means of a red to a lever from which another rod is connected to the feed water
valve. This steam piston rod is attached to the extreme end of the said lever and
is held down by means of spring or other pressure whilst the rod of the water
valve is attached near to the fulcrum pivot of the lever, so that a very slight
pressure upon the extreme end of the lever is sufficient to keep down the piston
and effectually close the water feed valve. As this spring or other pressure is
comparatively slight it is easily overcome by a proportionately slight pressure of
steain when admitted beneath or behind the piston in the said cylinder, and
suffices to open the water feed valve.
The steam cylinder is placed in this modification adjacent to the chest of the
water feed valve, the lever with which they are each connected being pivotted to a
bracket upon the latter and passes through an eye or loop containing a tension
screw and wheel (or other means for operating it) for the purpose of keeping the
lever immoveably in one position when it is desired to have the water valve
permanently closed for examination and repair of these appliances whilst the boiler
is in use.
This water feed valve is sometimes made in the hit-and-miss or sluice! V form
and lilted within its seat: sometimes it is tapered or cone shaped and rotates

page_text: within its seat; and at others it is made in a form suitable for being lifted from off
its seat; the operating lever mechanism which connects it to the steam piston
being in each case adapted to its particular character.
Beneath or near this rod and lever operated feed valve is a second or check
valve resting by weight only upon its seat and is lifted therefrom by the pressure
of the water which is forced into the boiler on the opening of the feed valve: the
force here referred to being obtained either from a pump, a steam injector or
gravitation.
A second modification of the invention comprises the aforesaid float and valve as
before described, also water feed regulating valve and steam cylinder with piston,
rod and spring or pressure devices but in place of a lever and two vertical rods
attached thereto the steam cylinder and water valve chamber are fixed in either
transverse or parallel positions towards each other and the water valve is operated
by means of a rod or screw rotated by a lever arm or wheel connected to it and
the aforesaid piston rod.
When
A third modification of the invention comprises the float with counterbalanced
lever also the spindle and steam valve before named; the steam proceeding through
the float valve in this modification enters a cylinder at a point beneath or behind a
piston contained therein which is held down by spring or other pressure and fitted
with a rod connected to a second steam valve for water injection purposes.
the float descends through the subsidence of the water in the boiler the float valve
is opened and the steam entering the cylinder moves the piston against its spring
or other pressure and through a connecting rod or rod and lever effects the opening
of the second valve through which a supply of steam proceeds to the water
injecting apparatus; this latter being fitted with at least one check valve, also,
when required, with a tension screw, rod and manual appliances for its operation,
also with stop cocks for controlling the supply of both steain and water.
These last named devices are designed also for combination when required with
the steam cylinder and water feed valve devices described in connection with either
of the two preceding modifications.
If either the first and third modifications hereof or the second and third ones are
combined the float valve, when opened by the subsidence of the float, permits
steam to proceed to the two steam cylinders with spring controlled or other pistons
as before described and insures the simultaneous operation, or opening, of the water
feed valve and the water injector steam valve; so that the injector, in this case,
commences to act only when the water feed valve is opened and ceases when it is
closed. There is very little pressure therefore upon the water feed valve when it
is closed and a comparatively frail spring or other slight pressure at the end of the
aforesaid lever is sufficient to keep it closed.
A steam alarm whistle is attached to the boiler and is operated through a valve
within the steam space thereof. It is actuated by means of a counterpoised lever
and chain the latter connecting it to the float or its lever so that when the float
sinks to a particular level a strain is imparted to this chain which depresses that
end of the whistle's lever thereby opening the valve connected with the whistle
and sounding an alarm.
The feed water valve and steam cylinder mechanism for actuating it are placed
in any convenient or suitable positions upon or near to the boiler.
Dated this Ninth day of May 1896.
JOSEPH
LOCKWOOD,
263 Argyle Street, Glasgow, Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in and relating to Appliances for Feeding Water
into Steam Boilers.
I, WILLIAM BURNS of Westlinbank, by Strathaven, County of Lanark, (late of
No. 11 Govanhill Street, in the City and County of Glasgow) North Britain
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 :-
It relates chiefly to appliances for regulating the supply of water to steam
boilers and has for its principal objects :-
1st. To maintain automatically and constantly the water in a steam boiler at or
about a uniform level.
2nd. To insure an alarm being given automatically when the water in the boiler
gets too low.
3rd. To operate a boiler feed water injector and regulator conjointly and
simultaneously.
4th. To seal the water valve therefor securely and open it more easily than is
possible with existing appliances.
5th. To render a constant high pressure unnecessary in the water supply of a
steam boiler.
6th. To prevent the water escaping from the boiler when the feed valve is
open.
The invention will be better understood if reference is made to the accompanying
drawings in which Figures 1 to 4 contain fragmentary views in elevation of steam
boilers fitted with these improved devices, some of which are shewn in section.
Similar letters of reference and numerals throughout the drawings indicate
corresponding parts; those marked A and B are boiler plates; C is the steam
space within the boiler; D is the water line and E is the float.
In carrying out one modification of this invention, herein called the first, and
shewn in Fig. 1 the float E, (within a steam boiler A, B, C, Figs. 1 to 4) is
suspended from a counterbalanced lever el see Figs. 1 and 2 connected by means of
a bracket
and pivot e, with the chest e' of a steam valve eattached to the
interior or roof A of the boiler. This steam valve e' is united to the said counter-
balanced lever of the float E by means of a spindle e so that as the float E lowers
with the subsidence of the water below the level D the valve e is opened and
admits steam through suitable connections, (such as the pipe e') to a steam cylinder F
containing a piston f1 for opening the feed water valve G: this piston f¹ being
connected by means of a rod to a lever 13 Figure 1, from which another rod j
is connected to the feed water valve G. This steam piston rod f2 is attached to
the extreme end of the said lever and is held down by means of a spring fo
(or other pressure) whilst the rod of the water valve G is attached near to the
pivot of the lever so that a very slight pressure upon the extreme end of the
said lever is sufficient to keep down the piston f¹ and effectuaily close the water
feed valve G. As this spring f (or other pressure) is comparatively slight it is
easily overcome when required by a proportionately slight pressure of steam
admitted beneath or behind the piston in the said cylinder F; which steam
pressure suffices to open the feed water valve G.
The steam cylinder F is placed in this modification Fig. 1 adjacently to the
chest g of the water feed valve G, the lever fs with which the steam cylinder F
and water chest 9' are each connected being pivotted at f to a bracket f' fixed
upon the chest gl and passes through an eye or loop f containing a tension screw
and wheel (or other means for operating it) for the purpose of keeping the

page_text: lever immoveably in one position when it is desired to have the water valve G
closed for examination and repair of these appliances whilst the boiler A, B, C is
in use.
The water feed valve is sometimes made in the well known sluiced V form and
lifted within its seat: sometimes it is tapered or cone shaped and rotated within
its seat; and at others it is made in the form G Figures 1, 2 and 4 suitably for
being lifted from off its seat, the operating lever mechanism which connects it to
the steam piston being in each case adapted to its particular character.
Beneath or near this rod and lever operated water feed valve G Figure 1 is a
second or check valve g2 resting by weight only upon its seat g3 and is lifted
therefrom by the pressure of the water which is forced into the boiler on the
opening of the feed valve: the force here referred to being obtained either from
a pump, a steam injector or gravitation.
A second modification of the invention as shewn in Fig. 2 comprises the aforesaid
float E and valve as before described, also water feed regulating valve G and
steam cylinder F with piston f, rod
(or other pressure device)
attached thereto the steam
and spring
positions towards each other
but in place of a lever and two vertical rods
cylinder F and water valve chamber g are fixed in either transverse positions
towards each other as shewn in Figure 2 or parallel
as shewn in Figure 1, and the water feed valve G is operated by means of a rod or
quick screw Figure 2 rotated by a lever arm (or wheel) connected to it
and the aforesaid piston rod f'.
A third modification of the invention as shewn in Figure 3 comprises the
float E with counterbalanced lever e' also the spindle and steam valve e before
named; the steam proceeding through the float valve and pipe e in this
modification enters the cylinder F at a point beneath or behind a piston f
contained therein which is held down by a spring f (or other pressure) and fitted
with a rod f" connected to a second steam valve f³ for water injection purposes.
When the float E descends through the subsidence of the water in the boiler A, B, C,
the float valve is opened and the steam entering the cylinder F moves the
piston against the spring / (or other pressure) and through a connecting rod f
(or rod and lever) effects the opening of the second valve fi and the steam way h
through which a supply of steam proceeds to a water injecting apparatus such as
indicated by H Fig. 4 of any known kind, this latter being fitted with at least one
ebeck valve also, when required, with a tension screw , rod and manual
appliances A for its operation, also with stop cocks (such as A Figs. 3 and 4 or
other kind) for controlling the supply of both steam and water.
These last named (steam) water injector devices are designed also for combination
when required with the steam cylinder and water feed valve devices described in
connection with either of the two preceding modifications shewn in Figures 1 and 2
of the drawings.
If either the first and third modifications hereof shewn in Figs. 1 and 3 or the
second and third ones shewn in Figs. 2 and 3 are combined the float valve, when
epened by the subsidence of the float, permits steam to proceed to the two steam
cylinders with spring controlled or other pistons as before described and insures
the simultaneous operation er opening, of the water feed valve and the water
injector steam valve; so that the injector H in this case commences to act only
when the water feed valve G is opened and ceases when it is closed. There is
very little pressure therefore upon the water feed valve G when it is closed and a
comparatively frail spring Figs. 1 and 2 (or other slight pressure) at the end of
the aforesaid lever for f is sufficient to keep it closed.
A steam alarm whistle J, Figs. 2 and 3 is attached to the boiler and is operated
through a valve j' within the steam space (C) thereof. This whistle is actuated by
means of a counterpoised lever and chain the latter connecting it to the float E
or its lever el so that when the float E sinks to a particular level a strain is
imparted to this chain which depresses that end of the whistles' lever thereby
opening the valve j' connected with the whistle J aud sounding an alarm,

page_text: When these devices are applied to a marine engine boiler the float E is enclosed
within a perforated can or trough K, Figure 4, which is fixed upon cross stays
or girders within the boiler. The lurching or pitching of the vessel in a storm
cannot strain or dislocate the float and its mechanism and the trough K, being
slightly perforated at the sides with holes and open at top insures the float being
kept always in the water and at or near its proper level.
The water feed valve A Fig. 4 is sometimes supplemented with a second or check
valve beneath or beyond it, such as g Figs. 1 and 2. The purpose for which the
said supplemental valve g is added to the valve G or 4 is to prevent any back
flow of water from the boiler during the time that the valve G or 4 is standing
open when there may not be any water to keep up the forcing feed.
The cylinder F with parts f, f,, is fitted adjacently to the water feed
chest gl Figs. 1 and 2. In Fig. 1 it is fitted upon a bracket L; it may be connected
either to the said chest as shewn or to any other convenient part. It is completely
disconnected from the feed water chest and the hot water from the boiler cannot
reach or affect either it or its mechanism as it could when fixed upon, and vertically
above the feed chest described and drawn in my former Patent No. 10745 of 1885.
This isolation or removal of the steam cylinder F and its various appointments
from the feed chest g' and its internal connection therewith being solely through
the levers or (Figs. 1 and 2) and rods f, f, the suid cylinder or its
mechanism can be detached examined and repaired at any time whilst the boiler
is in use, if the lever is fixed down with the screw . Stop cocks A' Figs. I
and 2 and 4, 4, Figs. 3 and 4 are for shutting off steam or water when the
cylinders F are undergoing examination or repair."
The feed water valves G, g2 and 4, 9, and the steam cylinder F with
mechanism to, also the other devices herein described are placed in any
convenient positions upon or near to the boiler.
I am aware that previous to my present invention appliances have been made
for feeding water into steam boilers wherewith were combined steam valves and an
alarm whistle operated by the motions of the float; also that steam cylinders, and
pistons pressed down by spring, lever or other pressure were combined therewith
for closing and opening the water feed valve; and that combined steam and water
injectors of many kinds have been made and used for such feed water purposes;
it will therefore be understood that I do not claim such things broadly as my
invertion.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and the manner in which it is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
First. In a steam boiler feed water apparatus the combination therewith of the
cylinder F, piston f' valve G, connected together by the lever f³ and rods f, f*;
the eye and screw 1,, the valve g, adapted for operation through the float
valve, the pipe and cock e', & all substantially as herein described with
reference to the drawings, or any mere modification thereof for the purposes
specified.
Second. In a steam boiler feed water apparatus the combination therewith of
the steam cylinder F, lever, eye and scrow ",, and rods /, with pipe and
cock e, all substantially as herein described with reference to Fig. 1 of the
drawings, for the purposes specified.
Third. In a steam boiler feed water apparatus the combination therewith of the
two valves G, g all substantially as herein described with reference to Fig. 1 of
the drawings or any mere modification thereof for the purposes specified.
Fourth. In a steam boiler feed water apparatus the combination therewith of
the cylinder F, piston f, valves G, g and devices, f" all substantially as
berein described with reference to Fig. 2 of the drawings or any mere modification
thereof for the purposes specified.
Fifth. In a steam boiler feed water apparatus the combination therewith of the

page_text: float E, whistle J, lever and chain 3 all substantially as herein describe with
reference to Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings or any mere modification thereof for
the purposes specified.
Sixth. In a steam boiler feed water injecting apparatus the steam cylinder
mechanism F to f1 float E, valve e pipe and cock e, all substantially as herein
described with reference to Fig. 3 of the drawings or any mere modification thereof
for the purposes specified.
Seventh. In a steam boiler feed water injecting apparatus the combination
therewith of the steam cylinder mechanism F to f13, and valve mechanism 2 to h³
all substantially as herein described with reference to Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings,
or any mere modification thereof for the purposes specified.
Eighth. In a steam boiler feed water injecting apparatus the combination
therewith of the steam cylinder mechanism F to 13 and valve mechanism g², 2
to all substantially as herein described with reference to the drawings, for the
purposes specified.
Ninth. In a steam boiler feed water apparatus the combination therewith of
the lever f, the devices fs, f, e', and all substantially as herein described with
reference to Fig. 1 of the drawings or any mere modification thereof for the purposes
specified.
Tenth. The combination of devices herein described with reference to the
drawings or any mere modification thereof for the purposes specified.
Eleventh. The combination of any of the devices herein described, with
reference to the drawings, or any mere modifications thereof in combination for
the purposes specified.
Twelfth. In a steam boiler feed water apparatus the combination therewith of
a supplemental valve 92 substantially as herein described with reference to the
drawings or any mere modification thereof for the purposes specified.
Thirteenth. In a steam boiler feed water apparatus, the combination with the
valve G, or its equivalent device, of the screw rod f10 all substantially as herein
described with reference to Fig. 2 of the drawings or any mere modification thereof
for the purposes specified.
Fourteenth. In a steam boiler, the combination therewith of the feed water
devices all substantially as herein described with reference to Fig. 1 of the drawings
or any mere modification thereof for the purposes specified.
Fifteenth. In a steam boiler, the combination therewith of the feed water devices
all substantially as herein described with reference to Fig. 2 of the drawings or any
mere modification thereof for purposes specified.
Sixteenth. In a steam boiler feed water apparatus the combination therewith of the
devices described herein with reference to Fig. 3 of the drawings or any mere
modification thereof for the purposes specified.
Seventeenth. In a steam boiler feed water apparatus the combination therewith
of the devices described herein with reference to Fig. 4 of the drawings or any
mere modification thereof for the purposes specified.
Deted this Tonth day of February 1897
JOSEPH
LOCKWOOD,
263 Argyle Street, Glasgow, Agent for the Applicant.