An Improved Method of and Apparatus for Feeding Water to Steam-boilers."
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Dec., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 15th Oct., 1897-Accepted, 18th Dec., 1897
[Communicated from abroad by ANDREW TURNBULL MACCOY, of 26 Congress Street,
Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America, Electrician.]
"An Improved Method of and Apparatus for Feeding Water to
Steam-boilers."
I, JOHN THOMAS KNOWLES, Trade Marks Agent, of the firm of D. Young & Co.
11 & 12 Southampton Buildings, London W.C., do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
The object of my invention is to produce a simple, economical and efficient
method of and apparatus for feeding water to steam-hoilers; and my invention
consists, broadly, in subjecting a body of feed-water to opposing pressures from the
boiler to be fed, and then allowing the feeder-water to flow by gravity to the boiler;
and also in novel means for carrying out the principal of my invention.
I use a steam-boiler and a feed-water reservoir, supplied with water in any suitable
manner. The steam-containing portion of boiler is in communication with the upper
portion of reservoir by means of a suitable conduit; and with the lower portion of
reservoir by means of a suitable conduit. Two independent conduits are employed.
in this preferred construction, but as the essential point is to subject the feed-water
in the reservoir to opposing boiler pressures, the number and arrangement of the
communicating couduits may he altered without departure from my invention.. A
valve controla the passage between the steam-receiving portions of the reservoir and
boiler; and a valve controls the passage between the water-containing portion of the
reservoir and the boiler. The reservoir is preferably provided with an exhaust-valve
and with an inflow controlling-valve. All these valves are hand-operated valves.
The mode of operating this apparatus is as follows:-All valves being first
closed, open a valve to admit water to a reservoir, the exhaust-valve being first opened.
Thus fill the reservoir. Close the inflow and exhaust valves, and then open the
steam-valve, and allow the full pressure of steam from the boiler to exert itself on
the feed-water in reservoir. Then open water-valve and subject the feed-water to
an opposing boiler pressure. The feed-water then flows by gravity to the boiler.
In practice, I shall supply the reservoir from a suitable tank, and in many cases
heat the water in the tank (to the boiling point or otherwise) by any suitable means, such
as a stove or gas-jet, for examples: but preferably by carrying the exhaust-pipe
from the engine-cylinder into and through the tank. By the apparatus described I
shall be enabled to feed boiling water to the boiler.
Some of the advantages due to this invention are as follows:-
Unlike boiler-feed puups, ny feeder may be used to feed water which is at or
above the boiling point. Unlike injectors, it may be used to feed either warm or
boiling water. It is cheaper and simpler in construction and less liable to get out
of order than either feed-pumps or injectors. It uses approximately volume for
volume of steam and water in accomplishing its object. Thus, if the reservoir.
contains a cubic foot of water, approximately one cubic foot of steam is
utilized in the delivery to the boiler of the cubic foot of water. Many

page_text: other advantages which will be readily apprehended by those skilled in the art
might be mentioned; but the foregoing are deemed sufficient to indicate the generic
novelty and scope of my invention.
When the pipe is led in above the water-line; the boiler pressure on the under
surface of the feed-water is boiler-steam-pressure; but when the pipe is led in below
the water-line, the pressure from the boiler against the lower surface of the feed-water
is boiler-water pressure. I find both to work well in practice, but prefer to utilize
the boiler-steam pressure against the under surface of the feed water in connection
with the non-automatic apparatus..
I also propose to use apparatus of a very different type. In this modification, a
single conduit will connect the boiler and feed-water reservoir, the conduit leading
from the steam-portion of the boiler to the water-receiving portion of the reservoir.
A valve controls the conduit, and the reservoir is provided with an inlet valve and
preferably with an exhaust valve. All valves being closed, the exhaust valve is first
opened and then the inlet is opened to admit water until the reservoir is filled. The
inlet valve and the exhaust valve are then closed. The valve is then opened, aud
steam from the boiler forces its way through the feed-water by bubbling up through
the water. As the steam finds its way through the water into the upper part of
the reservoir, the feed-water falls into the boiler.
In no case is the reservoir exhaust essential, because the steam remaining in the
reservoir after the feed-water gravitates to the reservoir, and after the supply of steam
is cut off, will rapidly condense.
In all cases, the feed-water reservoir is placed above the water-line of the boiler, so
that the feed-water gravitates to the boiler.
.. also combine an automatic valve-controller with the feed-water reservoir, the
valve-controller comprising chambers, valves and pistons whereby boiler pressures
on the body of feed-water, and the flow of feed-water to the boiler are automatically
regulated.
Dated this ninth day of December 1906
"An, Improved Method of and Apparatus for Feeding Water to
Steam-boilers:""
I, JOHN THOMAS KNOWLES, Trade Marks Agent, of. the firm of D. Young & Co.,
of 11 and 12 Sonthampton Buildings, London, W.C., 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 aud by the following statement :-
The object of my invention is to produce an improved, continuously operating
boiling-feeder; and my said invention consists in the combination of water-cases and
independent piston-cylinders and pistons whieh operate a valve controlling
alternately the steam-inlet to each water-ease, with valve-controllers mounted within
the said water-cases and automatically operating a valve which controls conduits
alternately open from a piston-cylinder to the boiler-feed-conduit; the water-cases
being provided with water-inlets, and also with water-outlets communicating with
the boiler-feed-conduit by means of which the boiler is continuously fed by
gravitation from either one or the other of the water-cases.
In the, accompanying drawings, illustrating the principle of my invention an
tlie best mode now known to me of embodying that principle.

page_text: Figure 1 is a plan or top view of my improved boiler-feeder, intermediate portions
of the water-cases being broken out, as indicated by waved lines in Fig. L.
Figure 2 is a side elevation of the parts shown in Figure 1'; and,
Figure 3 is an elevation.partly in section on the line 3-3,, Figures 1 and 2, viewed
from the geared side of the apparatus.
Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional detail of the valve which controls the passage
between the piston-cylinders, and of adjacent parts.
Figure 5 is a partial central sectional view showing a modification wherein the
valve-controllers are in the form of floats instead of in the form of tanks.
A and B are independent piston-cylinders, and C and D are independent
water-cases; G is an oscillating valve controlling a conduit between the piston-cylinder A
and the boiler-feed-couduit g and also between the piston-cylinder B and the said
couduit g.
H is an oscillating valve in the form of a Interal extension
from the lever or beam p, one arm of the said beam being provided with a
loosely jointed link 1. and the other being provided with a loosely jointed link J.
Link is loosely pivoted to piston Z in piston-cylinder A, and link J
is loosely pivoted to piston Y in piston-eylinder B. The oscillating valve H is
mounted in the path of steam inlet conduit K, this steam inlet conduit K
communicating with the steam conduit S which opens into the upper portion of
water-case D. Steam inlet conduit K is also in communication with steam conduit U
which opens into the upper part of water case 'C. Valve H is provided with a
steam passage R which permits communication of conduit K and conduit S when it
is in line therewith, The valve H is also provided with an independent
steam passage T whereby the conduit K and the conduit U are put into
cominunication with the passage T is in line with the conduits K and U.
Conduite Saud U are also adapted to communicate alternately with exhaust
conduit X discharging through the exhaust port W. When the valve H is in the
position shown in Figure 3 steam passage R and the steam inlet conduit K are in
communicaton with conduit S leading into the water case D; and at this time the
independent passage T of the oscillating valve H connects the steam conduit. U with
the exhaust conduit X as shown. When the valve H is in position to bring
steam passage T between conduit K and U, steam passage R connects the
steam conduit S with the exhaust conduit X as will be readily understood from the
drawings.
The valve H is preferably in the form of a truncated cone and the steam passages R
and T are separated one from the other by a solid central portion of the valve.
The oscillating valve G is also preferably in the form of a truncated cone and is
formed with water passages 'k and j. When the parts are in the position shown in
Figures 3 and 4, the conduit section à connects piston-cylinder A with the water
passage j in valve G, the passage j then communicating with the conduit g. The
solid metal part of valved then prevents communication between conduit section h
and the conduit section à leading to piston cylinder B. These conduits or conduit
sections h and i never communicate one with the other but each leads from a piston-
cylinder to the valve G and the conduit g and exhaust V. When the valve is
oscillated its full stroke, the water passage j is carried out of line with conduit
section and conduit g and the passage j is brought into line with conduit section i
and the conduit g. This conduit g leads into the boiler feed pipe N. The upper
portion of the boiler feed pipe N is formed with an enlargement N¹ which is
provided with an interiorly opening check valve o controlling communication between
the boiler feed pipe N and the water outlet conduit L which opens into water
case D. The enlargement N is also provided with another interiorly opening
check valve n which controls communication between boiler feed pipe N and the
water outlet conduit M opening into water case C. The water supply pipe O is
provided with two branches P and Q, branch P opening into water case D and
provided with a valve casing m containing a check valve m¹ opening towards
the water case D. The branch Q is provided with a valve casing which contains
a check valve that opens towards the water case C.

page_text: Tank E already referred to is carried by a rocker arm a, being loosely jointed
thereto near its outer end at a'. At its other or butt end it is splined or
otherwise secured to a shaft a journalled in a stuffing box a (shown in Figure 1)
mounted' in the side wall of water case C. This shaft az is provided with a
gear c fastened rigidly on said shaft. The tank is similar to the tank E and
is similarly attached to the outer portion of a rocker arm 6 mounted on its shaft
a² mounted in its stuffing box as and provided with a fixed gear d similar in all
respects to the gear c. The gears c, d on these rocker shafts a a mesh with
a geare fixed on the journal e¹ mounted in a suitable support e (shown in Figure 2)
from the side of the apparatus. This gear e in turn meshes with a segment
gear which is fixed on the stem f of oscillating valve G.
Referring now to the operation of my new boiler-feeder;
Supposing the apparatus to be free from water and steam and that the tanks Eand F
are in the positions shown in Figure 3, steam and water may be simultaneously or
separately admitted. Supposing the steam to be first admitted (conduit g being
Elled to valve G through boiler feed-pipe N, with water from the boiler and under the
pressure therein) it will flow in through conduit K, steam passage R, and steam
conduit S into case D and will close valve n¹ so that water cannot flow into water
case D. The water, being turned on, will then flow from a source of supply, through
pipe O, past valve , through water inlet Q into case C. It is to be noted that the
tanks E and F are filled with water at the outset in any appropriate manner and
are always kept so filled by the condensation of steam or the inflow of water in
the cases C and D. When water flows into water case C, it approximately neutralizes
the weight of the tank E which is balanced by the filled tank F. Consequently the
weight of tank F will cause it to descend in case D, and as it descends, the force of
gravitation is transferred through the gears d, e and c to lift the tank E towards the
upper part of water case C, (that is, to about the water level of tank C) as water flows
in through conduit Q and rises in tank C. This movement of the gears causes
segment to oscillate valve G and bring water passage into line with water condait
section and conduit g thereby carrying passage k into communication with conduit
section h and exhaust passage V. At this time water from the boiler, at boiler
pressure, being in conduit N and conduit g, flows through the water passage j in valve G,
entering conduit section i and flowing under the piston Y in piston-cylinder B. The
piston Y is thereby moved upwardly and the valve H is thereby rocked to bring the
steam passage Tinto line with the steam inlet pipe K and the steam conduit U which
discharges into the upper portion of the water case C. By this time, case C has
become filled with water and steam pressure on its surface causes valve to be seated.
The last mentioned movement of the valve H brings the passage R into
communication with the steam conduit S and the exhaust conduit X, the piston Z
being moved towards the buttom of the piston cylinder As above stated, the
water case D, has received the boiler steam and the steam is now exhausted through
conduit S, steam passage R and exhaust conduit X and exaust W. The exhaustion
of the steam in water case D permits water to flow past check valve m' into the water
case D, and at the same time the water begins to flow. by gravitation, (the apparatus
being placed above the water line of the boiler) past check valve n and through the
boiler feed pipe N. This brings the parts into the position shown in Figure 3, wherein
piston cylinder A is shown filled with water and the water case D filled with water to
its level; water being shown in the enlargement N', conduit M and to the low water
level of the case C. Without interruption, as tank F reaches its uppermost position,
the mechanically regulated water passage is brought by the rotation of the valve G
into communication with the piston cylinder A and conduit g. At the same time the
passage is brought into communication between piston cylinder B and the water
exhaust port V. At this time the water case C is connected with the steam exhaust
port W through the steam conduit U, steam passage T and conduit X. In this
position steam pressure is taken off the valve and water flows into water case Caud
the steam pressure on the body of water in water-case D allows the water to flow by

page_text: gravitation past valve o into the boiler through the boiler pipe N. These operations.
are-automatically and continuously repeated as long as desired.
C+
I prefer to use water instead of steam in the piston cylinders as water will prevent
any improper movemont, accidental or otherwise, of the pistons and valve H during
the operation of the apparatus. Were steam used, it would condense after valve
was shut off and valve I might be moved accidentally or otherwise; but the presence
of a water-body in the piston cylinder prevents any such accidental or intentional
displacement of valve H. Another advantage of water over steam in this connection
lies in the fact that it ensures an easy movement to the valve H by reason of its
escaping gradually from the cylinders. The water forms cushions for the pistons and
ensures a gradual flow of steam to the water-cases by reason of the gradual opening.
of valve H. The tanks E and Fare valve-controllers in effect and simultaneously
move in opposite directions.
In the modification shown in Figure 5 hollow water and steam conduit floats 1 and 2
are substituted for the tanks E and F. The result obtained by the use of floats 'as
distinguished from balancing tanks is the same, although the tanks have a tendency
to fall, whereas the floats have a tendency to rise. But this difference of tendency
is wholly immaterial and floate may be substituted for the tanks, although the tanks
are preferable because they are subject to equal pressure inside and out, as will be
readily understood by all skilled in the art, whereas floats would be liable to become
crushed or destroyed by the steam pressure or other causes.
The inner ende of conduits Q, M, L. and P.preferably project well above the bottom.
of water-cases: C and D so as to prevent in a large measure sediment at the bottom of
the tank getting into the pipes or passing to the boiler.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed; as communicated to me by 'my
foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
First. In a boiler-feeder, the combination, with the water-cases, of a movable
valve-controller within each water-case, a pair of pistons and piston-cylinders, conduits
from the piston-cylinders, a valve which has a plurality of passages and is so monnted
as to control said conduits, mechanism which connects the valve-controllers together
and with said valve, and a boiler-conduit extending from said valve, steam and water
connections of the cases with the boiler and a valve operated by the pistons.
Second. In a boiler-feeder, the combination of water-cases, a pair of piston-
cylinders and pistons therefor, a conduit leading from one water-case to the other, said
conduit having a port for the admission of steain, and a steam exhaust-port, a valve
having a plurality of passages and so mounted as to control said conduit connecting
the water-cases and also the steam-inlet and exhaust-ports, and mechanism which
connects the pistons together and with said valve, water-connections from the cases
to the boiler, and the valve controlling the pressure to the pistons operated by con-
nected valve-controllers in the water-cases.
Third. The continuously-feeding boiler-feeder herein described, said feeder com-
prising, in combination, a plurality of water-cases each having near the bottom a
water-inlet and water-outlet, a valve-controller movable within each water-case,
a plurality of piston-cylinders, conduits therefor near the inner end of the cylinders, a
water-exhaust port, a conduit which connects the upper portion of the water-cases and
has a steam inlet-port and a steam exhaust-port, a conduit leading boilerwards from
the conduits from the piston-oylinders, a valve having a plurality of passages and so
mounted that it controls the conduits from the piston-cylinders and the water-
exhaust-port thereof and the conduit leading boilerwards therefrom, mechanism
which connecte said valve-controllers together and with the valve for the piston-
cylinder-conduit, pistons in said piston-cylinders, a valve having a plurality of
passagen and so mounted that it controls not only the conduit connecting the water-
cases but also the steam-inlet and exhaust-ports thereof, and mechanism which
connects the pistons together and with the valve for the water-case connecting
conduit.

page_text: Fourth. In a boiler-feeder, the combination of water-cases, a movable valve-
controller in each case, a piston conduit, an oscillating valve therefor, a rocker arm
for each valve controller, a gear-wheel near the butt of each rocker-arm, an inter-
mediate gear-wheel meshing with said gear-wheels on the rocker-arm, an oscillating
valve for said piston-conduit, and a gear-wheel' fast, to the oscillating valve and
meshing with said intermediate gear-wheel, steam and water connections of the cases.
with the boiler and the valve operated by the pistons for controlling the passage of
steam.
Fifth. In a boiler-feeder, the combination of a pair of water-cases, a conduit con-
necting the same, an oscillating valve in said conduit, a pair of pistons and piston-
cylinders, a lever or beam fast to said oscillating valve and connected by each arm
with the pistons, a piston-conduit, an oscillating valve therefor, water-cases, valve-
controllers therein; means for connecting said oscillating valve in the piston-conduit
with the valve-controllers, and steam and water connections of the cases with the
boiler and a source of supply.
Sixth. In a boiler-feeder, the combination of a conical oscillating valve having a
plurality of openings, automatically operated valve-controllers connected together
and with said valves, a supply-pipe with which one of said openings communicates to
allow water to operate one piston and to allow water in the other cylinder to flow to
the exhaust; a pair of pistons and piston-cylinders, a pair of water-cases, a conduit
connecting the cases, a valve in said conduit connected to and operated by the pistons,
and steam and water connections from the cases to the boiler.
Tenth. In a boiler-feeder, the combination of a pair of water-cases and a pair of
piston-cylinders and pistons therefor, conduits from the piston-cylinders, a valve
therein between that alternately communicates with one or the other of said conduits
for the piston-cylinders, a conduit from said valve-controlled conduits and in alternate
communication through said valve with one or the other, of said piston-cylinder-
conduits, a boiler-feed-conduit in communication with the conduit from the piston-
cylinder-conduits, and water-escape-conduits from the water-cases to the boiler-feed-
conduit, steam connections to the cases and the valve operated by the pistons.
Dated the 15th day of Oct 1905
D. YOUNG & Co.
11 & 12 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.