IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR FEEDING STEAM BOILERS and FOR FORCING WATER THEREFROM
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Lloyd Wise, of Chandos Chambers,
Adelphi, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Inven-
tion of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR FEEDING STEAM BOILERS and
FOR FORCING WATER THEREFROM.”—A communication from abroad by
Nicolas Fedinand Yagn, of Syzran, in the Government of Simbirsk,
Empire of Russia, Gentleman.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Lloyd Wise
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 20th June 1874.
I, WILLIAM LLOYD WISE, of Chandos Chambers, Adelphi, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR FEEDING STEAM
BOILERS AND FOR FORCING WATER THEREFROM," (a communication to me from
abroad by Nicolas Fedinand Yagn, of Syzran, in the Government of
Simbirsk, Empire of Russia, Gentleman,) to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in apparatus for
feeding steam boilers and for forcing water therefrom.

page_text: The first part of the Invention relates to a self-acting apparatus for
feeding steam boilers with water designed to advantageously supplant
apparatus of the various kinds heretofore used for that purpose, such as
manual and steam pipes, injectors, &c., which are not only liable to
derangement and comparatively rapid wear, but also require constant
attention on the part of the machinist, stoker, or person in charge, in
default of which the feeding becomes irregular and sometimes leads to
serious consequences.
In the improved apparatus two vessels or reservoirs placed one above
the other, with a non-conductor of heat interposed between them, are
arranged in communication with each other by means of two bent pipes
´or tubes.
One of these pipes or tubes passes down from the upper part
of the upper vessel or reservoir, and is formed with a dip or bend at the
level of the bottom or lower flanges of the lower reservoir, from which
bend the pipe or tube passes in an upward direction to the upper part of
the lower reservoir. By preference the middle portion of this pipe or
tube is made removeable, and is provided with longitudinal internal
partitions.
The other bent pipe or tube passes from the lower part of the upper
vessel to a short distance below the bottom of the lower vessel or reser-
voir, where the pipe or tube is formed with a bend, whence it returns to
the upper portion of the lower reservoir, where a small perforated plate
may be placed to divide the water into thin streamlets. Near the bend
this pipe communicates by a short pipe with the lower part of the lower
reservoir. The upper part of the lower vessel or reservoir communicates
with the interior of the boiler by a pipe provided with a screw plug or
a cock or valve, and terminating at the level to which the water is to be
kept in the boiler. The lower part of the lower vessel or reservoir
communicates with the interior of the boiler by another pipe terminating
below the water level in the boiler. Between this pipe and the lower
reservoir is a coupling box, and the communication with the reservoir is
opened and closed by a valve opening downwards, which will allow
water to pass into the boiler, but will prevent back flow.
The upper
vessel or reservoir communicates by a suitable pipe or tube with the
well, cistern, tank, or reservoir of alimentary water. This pipe is pro-
vided with a back pressure valve.
When the water level in the boiler falls steam passes up into the lower
vessel or reservoir, whence water then flows into the boiler. The lower

page_text: vessel or reservoir is fed with water from the upper vessel or reservoir,
and a vacuum being formed the supply in the upper vessel or reservoir
is replenished from the well or elementary supply.
The apparatus above described may be modified by arranging the bent
3 tube leading from the top of the upper vessel or reservoir to enter the
lower part of the lower reservoir (instead of the upper part thereof, as
in the previous arrangement). In this case the tube rises some distance
within the lower reservoir, say to about half its height, and is made with
an aperture in its bend. In this modification also the second bent tube
enters the lower reservoir at a lower point, and the short pipe connecting
its bend with the lower part of the lower reservoir is dispensed with.
The operation is the same as in the previous arrangement.
Boilers that do not work steam engines are generally fed by means of
injectors or hand pumps. In the latter case the work of the stoker is
rather tiring, and he generally finds it more convenient to pump a large
quantity of water in at a time. It is however evident that this way of
feeding has many objections, for in consequence of the boiler being too
full the steam draws a large quantity of the water, which is generally
prejudicial to the apparatus employed. Moreover the pressure of the
steam in the boiler is considerably diminished, and to keep it up the
stoker adds fuel to the fire to such an extent as to produce an excess of
steam, which is blown off unproductively.
The second part of this Invention relates to an apparatus designed to
obviate these defects. This apparatus, although not self-acting, works
substantially in the same way as the apparatus already described, but
the upper vessel and the two bent tubes are dispensed with.
When the water in the boiler descends below the lower end of the
pipe or tube, whose other end communicates with the upper part of the
vessel or reservoir, water from the latter passes into the boiler. When
the vessel or reservoir is empty one or at most two strokes of the.
ordinary force pump communicating with the vessel and with the well
or reservoir of alimentary water will suffice to refill the vessel or reser-
voir. Hence it will be evident that the use of this apparatus consider-
ably diminishes the work of the stoker and favors the preservation of
the pump valves.
Besides feeding steam boilers with water the self-acting apparatus
above described may be used for forcing water from the boiler to a

page_text: considerable height. For this purpose it will only be necessary to fix to
the coupling box between the valve at the lower end of the vessel or
reservoir and the pipe leading to the boiler a horizontal branch pipe
provided with a back pressure valve and leading to a reservoir (air vessel)
designed to act as a pneumatic pump (as in fire-engines), in which
reservoir a vertical pipe is inserted, through which the water is forced
up to the required spot.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Lloyd Wise in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 17th December 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
LLOYD WISE, of Chandos Chambers, Adelphi, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of June, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the thirty-
eighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said William Lloyd Wise, Her special license
that I, the said William Lloyd Wise, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said William Lloyd Wise, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR FEEDING STEAM BOILERS AND FOR FORCING WATER
THEREFROM," (a communication to me from abroad by Nicolas Fedinand
Yagn, of Syzran, in the Government of Simbirsk, Empire of Russia,
Gentleman, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William
Lloyd Wise, my exccutors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should

page_text: particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and
in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to
be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months
next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Lloyd Wise, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement thereof and the Drawings therein referred
to, that is to say :-
This Invention has for its object improvements in apparatus for feeding
steam boilers and for forcing water therefrom.
The first part of the Invention relates to a self-acting apparatus for
feeding steam boilers, with water, designed to advantageously supplant
apparatus of the various kinds heretofore used for that purpose, such as
manual and steam pumps, injectors, &c., which are not only liable to
derangement and comparatively rapid wear, but also require constant
attention on the part of the machinist, stoker, or person in charge, in
default of which the feeding becomes irregular, and sometimes leads to
serious consequences.
In the improved apparatus two vessels or reservoirs placed one above
the other, with a non-conductor of heat interposed between them, are
arranged in communication with cach other by means of two bent pipes
or tubes. One of these pipes or tubes passes down from the upper part
of the upper vessel or reservoir, and is formed with a dip or bend at the
level of the bottom or lower flanges of the lower reservoir, from which
bend the pipe or tube passes in an upward direction to the upper part of
the lower reservoir. By preference the middle portion of this pipe or
tube is made removeable, and is provided with longitudinal internal
partitions.
The other bent pipe or tube passes from the lower part of the upper
vessel to a short distance below the bottom of the lower vessel or reservoir,
where the pipe or tube is formed with a bend, whence it returns to the
upper portion of the lower reservoir, where a small perforated plate may
be placed to divide the water into thin streamlets. Near the bend this
pipe communicates by a short pipe with the lower part of the lower
reservoir. The upper part of the lower vessel or reservoir communicates

page_text: with the interior of the boiler by a pipe provided with a screw plug or a
cock or valve, and terminating at the level to which the water is to be
kept in the boiler. The lower part of the lower vessel or reservoir com-
municates with the interior of the boiler by another pipe terminating
below the water level in the boiler. Between this pipe and the lower
reservoir is a coupling box, and the communication with the reservoir is
opened and closed by a valve opening downwards, which will allow
water to pass into the boiler, but will prevent back flow. The upper
vessel or reservoir communicates by a suitable pipe or tube with the
well, cistern, tank, or reservoir of alimentary water. This pipe is provided
with a back pressure valve.
When the water level in the boiler falls steam passes up into the
lower vessel or reservoir, whence water then flows into the boiler. The
lower vessel or reservoir is fed with water from the upper vessel or
reservoir, and a vacuum being formed the supply in the upper vessel or
reservoir is replenished from the well or elementary supply.
The apparatus above described may be modified by arranging the bent
tube leading from the top of the upper vessel or reservoir to enter the
lower part of the lower reservoir (instead of the upper part thereof, as in
the previous arrangement). In this case the tube rises some distance
within the lower reservoir, say to about half its height, and is made with
an aperture in its bend. In this modification also the second bent tube
enters the lower reservoir at a lower point, and the short pipe connecting
its bend with the lower part of the lower reservoir is dispensed with.
The operation is the same as in the previous arrangement.
Boilers that do not work steam engines are generally fed by means of
injectors or hand pumps. In the latter case the work of the stoker is
rather tiring, and he generally finds it more convenient to pump a large
quantity of water in at a time. It is however evident that this way of
feeding has may objections, for in consequence of the boiler being too
full the steam draws a large quantity of the water, which is generally
prejudicial to the apparatus employed. Moreover the pressure of the
steam in the boiler is considerably diminished, and to keep it up the
stoker adds fuel to the fire to such an extent as to produce an excess of
steam, which is blown off unproductively.
The second part of this Invention relates to an apparatus designed to
obviate these defects. This apparatus, although not self-acting, works.

page_text: substantially in the same way as the apparatus already described, but the
upper vessel and the two bent tubes are dispensed with.
When the water in the boiler descends below the lower end of the
pipe or tube whose other end communicates with the upper part of the
vessel or reservoir water from the latter passes into the boiler. When
the vessel or reservoir is empty one or at most two strokes of the ordinary
force pump communicating with the vessel and with the well or reservoir
of alimentary water will suffice to refill the vessel or reservoir. Hence
it will be evident that the use of this apparatus considerably diminishes
the work of the stoker, and favors the preservation of the pump
valves.
Besides feeding steam boilers with water the self-acting apparatus
above described may be used for forcing water from the boiler to a
considerable height. For this purpose it will only be necessary to fix to
the coupling box between the valve at the lower end of the vessel or
reservoir and the pipe leading to the boiler a horizontal branch pipe
provided with a back pressure valve and leading to a reservoir (air
vessel) designed to act as a pneumatic pump (as in fire engines), in
which reservoir a vertical pipe is inserted, through which the water is
forced up to the required spot.
.
It will be evident the form of apparatus employed in carrying out this
Invention may be varied to suit circumstances without departing from -
the principle of the Invention.
Such being the nature of the said Invention I now proceed to describe
the manner of carrying it into practical effect as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondent.
The apparatus proposed by him is shewn in vertical section in Fig. 1
of the accompanying Drawings. It is composed of two cylindrical (or
otherwise shaped) reservoirs R, R¹, of sheet iron or other suitable
material. The capacity of each of these is about 430 cubic inches. The
reservoirs R, R', are placed vertically one above the other, and strongly
fastened by means of screw bolts a, a, to the cushion O of wood or other
material which is a non-conductor. of heat.
The two reservoirs R, R', communicate with each other by means of
the bent pipes B, C, as shewn in annexed Drawings. The lower bend of
the pipe B is placed at the height of the lower flanges b, b, of the

page_text: reservoir R', and the lower bend of the pipe C about two inches below
the bottom c of the same reservoir. Furthermore, as shewn in Fig. 1,
the pipe C communicates with the lower part of the reservoir R¹ by
mcans of the short pipe d. Instead of placing this pipe or tube d as
described and shewn in Fig. 1, it may be placed between the under part
of the lower bend of the pipe B, and the lower part or bottom of the
reservoir R¹, or even between the under part of the lower bend of the
pipe B and the coupling box i. It is preferable that the middle part of
the pipe B be dismountable with longitudinal partitions of metal e, e,
which subdivide the principal conduit of this pipe into several narrow
conduits which will essentially accelerate the initial movement of the
steam along the pipe B for the water, by virtue of its adhesion to the
sides of narrow tubes will not let the steam pass through in bubbles, but
will all be forced along by the steam. The transversal section of the
pipe B provided with its partitions e, e, is shewn in Fig. 2.
The reservoir R communicates by means of the pipe A with the well,
cistern, or tank, which contains the alimentary water. As near as
possible to this well the pipe A is provided with a valve (spherical or of
any other suitable shape) giving way to the water from the well to the
reservoir but preventing its passing vice versa.
Besides the pipes B and C the reservoir R' is provided with a pipe g
which passes through the side of the boiler D, and terminates there at
the height at which the water is to be kept in the boiler. The
reservoir R¹ is furthermore provided with a valve box h which is
connected by means of a coupling box i with the pipe E descending into
the boiler about two-thirds of its depth, so that the lower end of this
pipe is continually under water. The pipe is furnished with a screw k
used to diminish or regulate at will the passage of the water through it.
The box h contains a valve / which lets the water pass freely from the
reservoir R' into the boiler D, but prevents it passing vice versa for
reasons described below; the whole apparatus is mounted vertically.
The joints of all its parts must be perfectly air-tight. The apparatus may
be placed immediately above the boiler or at its side at some distance
from it which is preferable, as so placed it will not be exposed to the
influence of hot air which always exists above boilers; in this case the
whole length of the pipe 9 must incline towards the boiler.
The apparatus works as follows:-Supposing the whole of the
apparatus, that is to say, the two reservoirs and all the pipes be filled

page_text: with cold water, and that the level of the water in the boiler be a little
above the lower extremity of the pipe g, it is evident that the apparatus
being in that state the water cannot flow from the reservoirs R, R',
which will remain full until the water in the boiler falls below the
lower extremity of the pipe g. At this moment the steam begins to
displace the water of the pipe g which flows into the boiler, while the
steam goes into the reservoir R'. At the same time the water in this
reservoir opens the valve l, and begins to flow into the boiler which it
continues to do until the level of the water in the boiler rises and
re-shuts the end of the pipe g. When this end opens again the same
operation is repeated, and so on until the water in the reservoir R¹ falls
to the level of the lower bend of the pipe B.
As the pipe C is in communication with the reservoir R¹ by means of
the tube d, and besides the pipe C communicating with the pipe B, it is
easy to understand that the water in the reservoir R¹, and in the
short branches of the pipes B and C will always be level, and that the
emptied spaces of these branches will fill with steam. When the water
falls below the lower bend of the pipe B, the steam passes into the long
branch of this pipe and by its pression forces up the water contained in
this branch. Then the equalibrium of the water in the upper reservoir R
ceases and the water empties itself into the reservoir R¹ by the pipe C.
On coming into the reservoir R¹ the cold water meets the steam, which
condenses instantly. Vacuum is produced in the apparatus and
consequently the valve presses strongly against its seat, obstructing the
passage of the water from the boiler D to the reservoir R³, and soon the
whole apparatus fills with cold water which rises from the well by
the pipe A forced up by the pression of the atmospheric air. Thus the
apparatus continues to work as above described, i.e., the water of the
reservoir R¹ will constantly flow into the boiler, and when the reservoir R¹
is empty the water of the reservoir R will transfer itself into the
reservoir R¹ and there condense the steam, the apparatus will then fill
itself with water from the well and so on. The boiler will thus continue
to feed itself and the greater the dispense or expenditure of steam the
more casily will it pass into the pipe g, and the more often will the
But if
apparatus fill with water from the well, and vice versa.
the dispense or expenditure of steam cease the working of the apparatus
will cease at the same time, and will recommence of itself when the
boiler begins to work again."

page_text: It is evident that in consequence of the working of the apparatus as
above described the level of the water in the boiler will always be at the
same height fixed by the position of the end of the pipe g.
For the regular working of the apparatus the temperature of the
water in the reservoir R should not be high, i.e., the apparatus must be
subjected to heat as little as possible. For this object a cushion o is
placed between the reservoirs R and R' either of wood or of any other
non-conductor of heat.
The trials have proved (as it was easy to foresce) that the water in the
reservoir R receives no heat through the pipes B and C, and that the
regular circulation of the water in them cannot take place; they have
also proved that even the growing heat of the reservoir R¹ is very little.
In the same way theory proves that notwithstanding the constant
entrance of steam in the reservoir R' by the pipe 9 the water enters by
the pipe C in sufficient quantity to condense it, and forms a vacuum
in the apparatus, which is sufficient to suck in the water from the
well.
As stated above the screw / (instead of which a tap or valve may be
used) serves to diminish or regulate at will the passage of the steam
through the pipe g into the reservoir R' dependent on the pressure of
the steam in the boiler. The greater the pressure of the steam the more
the passage of the pipe g should be limited. Before the aperture of the
pipe C it would be advisable to place in the reservoir R¹ a perforated
plate m to divide the water into thin streamlets.
To fill the apparatus with water beforehand it is made to communi- 2
cate with a force pump, which is placed preferably between the well
and the pipe A, but it is evident that this pump may be placed in any
other convenient place. This pump, which may also be used to clean
the boiler, can easily fill the apparatus with water in case from some
defect it should fail to suck in the water from the well.
3
Fig. 3 shews a modification in the construction of the above-
described automatic feeding apparatus. The corresponding parts in these
two apparatus are marked by the same reference letters. The difference
mainly consists in that (1st.) the lower bend of the pipe B enters the
reservoir R at its lower part (and not upper as before), and rises 3
vertically to the interior of the reservoir R¹ half its height, having an

page_text: It is therefore evident that the use of this apparatus considerably
diminishes the work of the stoker, and favors the preservation of the
pump valves.
Besides feeding steam boilers with water the self-acting apparatus,
above described, may at the same time be used for forcing water from
the boiler to a considerable height. For this purpose it would only be
necessary to fix to the coupling box, i.e., between the valve and the
pipe E, a horizontal branch pipe provided with a valve (not letting the
water flow back to the boiler), and leading to a reservoir destined to
act as a pnewmatic pump (as in fire engines), in which reservoir a
vertical pipe is inserted through which the water is forced up to the
required spot.
Having described the nature of the said Invention, and having
explained the manner of carrying the same into practical effect, as
communicated to me by my foreign correspondent, I would have it
understood that I do not limit or confine myself to the described form,
size, and disposition, which may be modified according to circumstances
without departing from the distinctive character of the said Invention,
what I claim as new and essential in the said Invention being, -
1. The construction and use of the self-acting feeding apparatus,
which consists of two reservoirs (Figs. 1 and 3) R and R¹ placed one
above the other, and communicating (a) with each other by means of
the two bent pipes B and C, (b) with the boiler D by means of the
pipes and E, and (c) with an ordinary pump, and a well or cistern
containing the feeding water by means of the pipe A, substantially as
above described, and for the purpose set forth.
2. The relative disposition of the pipes A, B, C, d, E, and g, as
described and shewn in Figs. 1 and 3.
3. The relative disposition of the valves and fin the pipes E and A,
as described and shewn in Figs. 1 and 3.
4. The pipe g of which the lower end determines the level of the
water in the boiler D, and the passage of which may be regulated by the
screw k, as described and shewn in Figs. 1, 3, and 4.
5. The construction and use of the partitions e, e, in pipe B, sub-
stantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

page_text: 6. The construction of the feeding apparatus working with an
ordinary pump, substantially as described and illustrated in Fig. 4.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Lloyd Wise, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of December,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
four.