IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR REGULATING OR CONTROLLING THE SUPPLY OR LEVEL OF WATER IN STEAM BOILERS
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Hégésippe Bernadac, of Paris, in the Republic
of France, Civil Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR REGULATING OR CONTROLLING THE SUPPLY OR LEVEL OF
WATER IN STEAM BOILERS."
Sealed the 5th June 1874, and dated the 10th December 1873.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Hégésippe Bernadac
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 10th December 1873.
I, HÉGÉSIPPE BERNADAC, of Paris, in the Republic of France, Civil
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "Im-
PROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR REGULATING OR CONTROLLING THE SUPPLY OR
LEVEL OF WATER IN STEAM BOILERS," to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in constructing and arranging apparatus in
such manner that the level of water in steam boilers shall be regulated
or controlled by a float or other contrivance, the position of which
varies according to the state of the level causing the steam or water in.
the boiler to act on the water feed apparatus or feed regulating

page_text: apparatus in such manner that the steam or water shall permit or
intercept the feed in order that the level may be maintained at or
restored to its proper condition.
I proceed to describe arrangements for carrying this into effect:-
In one arrangement in which a feed pump is used to supply the
boiler, a float is jointed to a rocking lever and moves it in accordance
with the level of the water, thereby causing the lever to permit or
shut off the flow of the steam into the pump chamber.
A tube herein-after called the connecting tube places the boiler in
communication with the space or chamber between the two valves of
the pump.
When the level is too high the steam in the pump prevents the
suction valve from being actuated by the piston, and the pump only
draws in steam through the connecting tube and forces the steam into.
the boiler but does not pump water.
When the level falls too low steam does not enter the pump, the
steam already therein becoming condensed and the pump only draws in
and discharges water.
If the level descends or rises beyond a certain determined point, a
stud thereon comes against and moves the alarm valve and allows the
steam to escape and whistle.
The connecting tube may be lead into the water in the boiler instead
of into the steam, so that such water instead of steam may act in the
pump through the connecting tube.
Thus in carrying out my Invention the suction valve may be opened
and closed, or the force valve may be opened and closed, or the piston
valve may be cut off from the suction passage, or the connecting tube
may lead into the water in the boiler so that the surplus water may be
discharged through it.
In another modification the steam or water flows into a cylinder
or chamber in which a piston carrying a suction valve works, such
valve being opened or closed by the water or steam flowing through
the connecting tube.

page_text: The connecting tube may be so disposed as to permit the water or
steam passing through it to act upon (open or close) the force valve or
discharging valve, or the tube may be so placed as to open and close
communication between the suction passage and the piston, so that the
pump will only supply water in accordance with the level in the boiler.
A like effect is produced when the cut-off piston is placed in the suction
passage or on the force pipe.
The pump may be provided with two or more suction chambers and
force valve boxes, each serving a boiler, so that one pump may feed a
number of boilers, the water level in all being alike.
The connecting tube instead of opening direct into the pump may
open into the suction passage so as to divide the suction stream.
When a single or ordinary pump feeds two or more boilers, a feed
vessel or reservoir may be placed in communication with one or all
the boilers by means of a tube, so that the same or nearly the same
pressure is in this vessel and the boilers.
-
The valve box may be reversed (so that the piston may be at top and
the valve at bottom) in order to shut down by its own weight; then
when the level is too low, the water or steam opens the valve and the
feed water is forced in until the pressure is sufficiently reduced to allow
the valve to close by its own weight. In this arrangement the reservoir
is higher than the boilers so that the force valve or the cut-off piston
may be opened by the column of water which bears on it. But when
the reservoir is not higher, it acts merely as a receiver or distributor for
the feed water before it is injected into the boilers and the pumps
supply water thereto, return valves allowing the surplus water to be
discharged.
In marine boilers, to prevent the apparatus from being disturbed
by the rolling and pitching of the vessel, two or four floats are.
used instead of one, suspended to a rocking lever and placed in the
boilers diagonally to the fore and aft line and to the midships line of,
the vessel.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Hégésippe Bernadac in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 10th June 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HÉGÉSIPPE
BERNADAC, of Paris, in the Republic of France, Civil Engineer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of December, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the
thirty-seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said Hégésippe Bernadac, Her
special license that I, the said Hégésippe Bernadac, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Hégésippe
Bernadac, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR REGULATING OR CONTROLLING THE SUPPLY
OR LEVEL OF WATER IN STEAM BOILERS," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Hégésippe Bernadac, my executors or adminis-
trators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their
hands and seals, should 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 Hégésippe Bernadac, 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, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawings and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :—
This Invention consists in constructing and arranging apparatus in
such manner that the level of water in steam boilers shall be regulated
or controlled by a float or other contrivance, the position of which shall
vary according to the state of the level, and thus cause the steam or

page_text: The connecting pipe may be so disposed as to permit the water or
steam passing through it to act upon (open or close) the force valve or
discharging valve; or the tube may be so placed as to open and close
communication between the suction passage and the piston, so that the
pump will only supply water in accordance with the level in the boiler.
A like effect is produced when the cut-off piston is placed in the suction
passage or in the force nine.
discharging valve; or the tube may be so placed as to open and close
communication between the suction passage and the piston, so that the
pump will only supply water in accordance with the level in the boiler.
A. like effect is produced when the cut-off piston is placed in the suction
passage or in the force pipe.
The pump may be provided with two or more suction chambers and
force valve boxes, cach serving a boiler so that one pump may feed a
number of boilers; the water level in all being alike.
The connecting pipe instead of opening direct into the pump may
open into the suction passage so as to divide the suction stream.
When a single or ordinary pump feeds two or more boilers a feed
vessel or reservoir may be placed in communication with one or all of
the boilers by means of a tube, so that the same or nearly the same
pressure is maintained in this vessel and in the boilers.
The valve box arrangements may be reversed so that the piston may
be at top and the valve at bottom in order to shut by its own weight;
then when the level is too low the water or steam opens the valve, and
the feed water is forced in until the pressure is sufficiently reduced to
allow the valve to close by its own weight. In this arrangement the
reservoir is higher than the boilers so that the force valve or the cut-off
piston may be opened by the column of water which bears on it, but
when the reservoir is not higher it acts merely as a receiver or distributor
for the feed water before it is injected into the boilers, and the pumps
supply water thereto, return or escape valves allowing the surplus water
to be discharged.
In marine engine boilers, to prevent the apparatus from being
disturbed by the rolling and pitching of the vessel, two or four floats are
used instead of one; these floats being suspended to a rocking lever and
placed in the boilers in a diagonal position with respect to the fore and
aft line, and the midships line of the vessel.
The accompanying Drawings represent the manner in which my
improvements may be carried into practical effect. The Figures are
sectional views of the apparatus,

page_text: (I.) A is a pump feeding a steam boiler or steam generator B Figure 1;
C, D, is the level to be maintained in the boiler B; E, pipe connecting
the boiler B with the space between the two valves; F, float jointed to a
lever or arm G which it works in accordance with the varying level of
the water. The end H of the lever or arm G regulates the admission of
steam into the chamber or barrel I of the pump A, allowing it either to
enter or not according as the level of the water is higher or lower than
the level C, D, (for which the position of the float is adjusted).
When the level is too high the steam in the pump barrel or chamber
I closes the suction valve which hence ceases to be actuated by the
piston, and the pump draws in steam through the pipe E and drives it
into the boiler, but it neither draws in nor expels water.
When the level is too low the steam ceases to pass into the pump.
The steam which had previously passed thereinto is condensed therein,
and the pump resumes its action and draws in and forces out water.
A cock and suction valve with appurtenances are fitted on the pipe E.
The valve is placed there in order that water may not be forced through
the pipe E, and the cock is fitted there in order that the effect of the
feed regulator may be neutralized or cancelled as required. Thus the
level of the water in the boiler is always accurately maintained at the
proper point, and if the boiler in this arrangement is provided with a
safety whistle, this safety whistle is adjusted in such manner that there
shall only be a slight variation of level.
(II.) If the boiler is not provided with a safety or alarm whistle I fit
it with one as shewn in the arrangement Figure 2.
The part a, b, of the lever or arm G being more heavy than the part
a, c, the steam can only enter the pump when the level of the water
rises, and thus the action of the regulating apparatus shewn in this,
figure is precisely similar to the action of the apparatus shewn in the
preceding figure. Now when the level is getting lower a stop or stud d
will come in contact with the valve c of the alarm whistle and will move
this valve. The steam will at once escape through the valve opening
and through the whistle m, so as to give notice to the attendant or
engineer that there is something amiss in respect of the feed. Thus the
whistle will at once indicate deficiency of feed.
By a reverse arrangement another or the same whistle or alarm will
give notice when the level exceeds its proper height.

page_text: The pump Figure 4 may be supplied with a number of suction valve
boxes and force valve boxes, each suction valve box and force valve box
serving one boiler, and thus a single pump will supply several boilers,
while in each boiler the proper level is maintained.
If the pipe E, instead of discharging directly into the pump Figure
1 and 2, discharge into the suction pipe E', it will intersect the column
of suction water and give precisely the same results as in the arrange-
ments described in the passages of this Specification marked I. and II.,.
but care must be taken to prevent the steam from entering the pump
cylinder at too high a degree of tension.
In the arrangement of the float A¹, Figure 1, the lever G has only one
arm or branch a, c. The steam in this case acts through the pipe E when
the level is too much depressed, and it ceases to act when the level is too
high. I apply this arrangement principally in the cases referred to in
relation to Figures 3, 4, 5, and 6.
The arrangements above described are usually only applicable when a
single pump serving a single boiler is used, except in the instance of the
arrangement shown in Figure 4 when a pump of particular construction'
is used. Now it often happens that one pump with only one set of
valves and valve gear, that is to say, an ordinary pump feeds two or
more boilers, and it is clear that if in this case I regulate the level on.
the same plan I cannot apply the above specified arrangements exactly
as described. But I apply other and similar modifications according as
to whether the feed water is clear or foul, and also according to the
situation in which the feed vessel or tank about to be herein described is
placed.
(VI.) In Figure 5 A is a feed water vessel holder or tank; b, c, level
of water in such vessel; d, pipe connecting the boiler or boilers with the
vessel A so that there shall be a perceptibly equal or uniform pressure in
the vessel A and in the boilers. The water is maintained at the same
constant level in the receiver by means of the feed regulating valve,
previously described in reference to Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4. In each
boiler a float arrangement is used similar to that shewn in Figures
1 and 2.
=
First Arrangement.-G', shown in dotted lines, is a syphon force pipe
through which the wateris founed intoa
:

page_text: The steam inlet pipe E of the apparatus placed in the boiler opens
into the pipe G', so that this syphon may be unprimed (desamorcé) or
stopped from admitting water by the action of the steam in the boiler.
The level of water in the boiler is regulated in the following manner.:
- So long as the level is too low in the boiler the water in the
vessel A will flow into the boiler by reason of the difference of level,
but as soon as the level has gone beyond its regular point the valve
H will open, the steam will enter through the tube E and unprime
the syphon or prevent inflow of water, thereupon the forcing action
ceases, and it is only resumed when steam ceases to flow through the
pipe E. Of course each boiler must have its own force pipe G¹.
Second Arrangement.- g is the force pipe for the water in the boiler;
h, piston valve, similar to the one described in reference to Figure 3.
When the level is too high in the boiler the steam or the water closes
the valve, acting thereon through the pipe E, and the forcing action
is stopped, and it is not resumed until the steam or water ceases to
act through the pipe E. The arrangement of the valve box m may be
reversed, that is to say, the piston may be placed uppermost and the
valve lowermost, so that it may close by its own weight; and the
passage of the water or steam is regulated by the arrangement of
float A¹, Figure 1; 7 is a pipe through which the steam enters. Then
when the level falls below the proper point the steam or water opens
the valve and the forcing action takes place.
When the pressure no longer acts so as to keep the valve open the
latter closes by its own weight, and the forcing action is stopped.
The cut-off piston, Figure 6, is similar to the piston described in
reference to Figure 4, and fulfils precisely the same duty as the piston
valve just described. This box or cut-off piston only refers to a single
boiler. If there should be several boilers to be fed, then I place around
the reservoir or feed vessel as many such boxes or cut-off pistons as there
are boilers, each box or piston serving its own boiler.
Now, as before explained, in order that forcing action may take
place the feed water vessel must be placed higher than the boilers, so
that the force valve or the cut-off piston may open under the incumbent
weight of the column of water pressing upon it. Now it often happens,
especially in marine engines, that such an arrangement is impossible.

page_text: Second. The general arrangement and combination of apparatus,
substantially in the manner described and for the purposes set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Hégésippe Bernadac, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Fourth day of June, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four.
Witness,
CHARLES LYON,
15, Rue des Martyrs,
Paris.
H. BERNADAC. (L.S.)