Improvements in Apparatus for Separating Oil from the Feed Water for Steam Boilers.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd June, 1888
Specification Accepted, 27th July, 1888
York, United States of America, Engineer.]
Improvements in Apparatus for Separating Oil from the Feed Water
for Steam Boilers.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex 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 :-
This invention relates to apparatus for separating oil from feed water for steam
boilers and consists essentially in a tank or receptacle provided with an inlet from the
"hot well" and a delivery leading to the pumps for supplying the boilers, the said
tank or receptacle being furnished with a series of alternating partitions directing the
water in a serpentine course, and each partition having elevations from which small
oil pipes pass to an oil receiver.
The invention further consists in certain special arrangements of the partitions
within the aforesaid receptacle, and in the arrangement of the oil pipes leading to the
oil tank, and in other details, all of which will be fully understood from the descrip-
tion hereinafter presented, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in
which
Figure 1 is a vertical section through an apparatus embodying this invention, the
section being taken on the dotted line x, x of Figure 2.
Figure 2 is a front view of same partly in section on the dotted line y, v, of
Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a back view, partly broken away, of same, and
Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the dotted line z, z, of Figure 1.
In the drawings A designates a box or receptacle having plain sides and bottom
and an inclined top B which is formed of a series of corrugations or elevations Cand
depressions D, as shown in Figure 2. Within the box or receptacle A are provided
the inclined partitions E, which correspond in form with the top B and are parallel
DR77

page_text: with the same and with each other, each of the partitions consisting of alternating
elevations or domes F and depressions G whereby between the partitions are formed
spaces H extending in serpentine lines transversely across the receptacle. The
partitions E, any desired number of which may be used, are solid throughout with
the exception of an opening I, provided in each one, the opening in each alternate
partition being at one side of the receptacle and adjacent to the lower end of the
spaces H, and the opening in the other partitions being diagonally opposite to the
first mentioned openings and located at the higher portion of the spaces Has
indicated in Figure 4. The alternating openings I are shown in Figure 2 for the
purpose of clearly indicating by arrows the passage of the water downward through
the spaces H, the outlet openings which preferably should be at the upper end of the
partitions being in this instance, for clearness of illustration, shown at the lower end
of the partitions. In the lower portion of the receptacle is the water space J wherein
are provided the vertical plates L which extend upward into the domes F of the lower
partition E and cause the water before escaping into the vertical pipe M to pursue a
serpentine course. The pipe N for supplying the water to the receptacle is in
connection with the usual "Hot well" and enters the upper space H between the
top B and upper partition E, as more clearly shown in Figure 2. The outlet pipe M
connects with the usual pumps for supplying the boiler of the engine.
From the highest points of the serpentine spaces H and space J small pipes P
lead to a tank Q, which is located above the space H but below the level of the water
line, which is denoted by a transverse dotted line in Figures 1, 2 and 3. One pipe P
passes from each of the middle domes C and F and enters the bottom of the tank Q,
from which a pipe R having a valve S leads to the open air. From the side domes C
and F are branch pipes T leading to the pipes P above mentioned; the branch pipes in
the upper domes C, F leading to the inner pipe P, those from the second row of
domes F leading to the second pipe P and those from the other domes F in succession
leading to the outer pipes P. From the high points or domes C of the upper
space Hair pipes W having valves a pass to the air pipe R as shown in Figures 1, 2
and 3. The tank Q is provided adjacent to its upper end with the discharge valve b
and connected by the pipe d with the reservoir e containing a float valve shown by
dotted lines in Figure 1, and provided with a guage g and discharge valve h. The
reservoir e is connected with the condenser by the pipe i having the valve j.
In the operation of the apparatus above described the water from the "hot well" is
led through the pipe N into the upper space H (see Figure 2) whence it passes
diagonally across the upper partition E as shown by solid arrows in Figure 4 to the
opening I, through which it passes to the next lower space H and traverses the same
in a diagonal direction as indicated by the dotted arrows in Figure 4 to the opening I
leading to the next lower space H, the water traverses the partitions E in a diagonal
direction and in a serpentine course until it issues into the space J whence it ascends
over the first vertical plate L, thence downward and upward over the second vertical
plate L, after which it is caused to flow upward over the third vertical plate L and
finally enters the vertical pipe M, which, as aforesaid, is in connection with the pumps
for supplying the feed water to the boiler of the engine. The water entering the
pipe N contains oil and the purpose of the apparatus described is to cause the separa-
tion of this oil from the water prior to the latter entering the vertical pipe M, the
vertical extension at the upper end of which opens to the air, while the horizontal
branch of same leads to the pumps.
The operation of the apparatus may be successfully accomplished without the aid of
the reservoir e, with its connections, although, if desired, the said reservoir may be
made use of. During the passage of the water back and forth along the partitions E,
the air escapes through the pipes P T and W, and the pipes P and T will at first
become filled with water, which will rise into the tank Q and pipe R to the water
level of the pipes N, M. In the further operation the globules of oil in the water will
congregate in the highest points of the domes C and F and enter the pipes P and T,
rising through the same to the tank Q; each globule of oil will ascend through the
pipes P and T and displace a corresponding quantity of water, which will back into

page_text: the spaces H; during the continued operation of the apparatus the water which at
first filled the pipes P, T will be entirely displaced and the oil will gradually accumu-
late in the high points of the domes C, F, and fill the tank Q, which may then be
emptied through the valve b, the water in the meantime flowing into the pipe M
entirely free from the oil previously in it, and being in suitable condition for being
supplied as feed water to the boilers. When the reservoir e is made use of, the oil
ascends through the pipes P and T and entering the tank Qwill ascend through the
pipe d and enter the receiver e until the same has become filled, after which the oil
may be discharged therefrom through the valve h. The vacuum in the condenser will
aid in moving the oil upward into the reservoir e and in holding it there in suspension.
The small valve suspended by the float at the top of pipe d will give way at the pres-
sure of the ascending oil and the small valve supported by the float fat the lower end
of pipe i will prevent the full force of the vacuum from sucking the oil and water
through the pipe i. As the reservoir e is gradually filling the valve supported by the
float will become more firmly held against the pipe i, so that as the oil. approaches
the pipe i the latter becomes more firmly closed against it and only a sufficient force
of the vacuum is permitted in the reservoir to suspend the oil therein.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, 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. The apparatus herein described having the inlet supply pipe and the delivery
pipe, combined with the receptacle having the series of partitions with alternating
elevations and depressions, and pipes leading from the elevations to a tank for collecting
the oil.
.Second. The receptacle having the partitions provided with alternating elevations
and depressions and forming spaces H between them, combined with the supply pipe,
alternating openings I between the said spaces, the delivery pipe and the series of pipes
leading from the higher points of the spaces to a tank; substantially as set forth.
Third. The receptacle having the partitions provided with alternating elevations
and depressions and alternating openings I, combined with the supply pipe, the delivery
pipe, the water compartment J, plates L and a series of pipes leading from the higher
points of the spaces to a receiving tank in communication with the air; substantially
as set forth.
Fourth. The receptacle having the supply and delivery and subdivided by partitions
whose surfaces have elevations and depressions, and openings I, combined with pipes
leading from the said elevations to a receiver for oil, containing a float and being in
connection with the condenser ; substantially as set forth.
Fifth. The receptacle having the supply and delivery and subdivided by inclined
partitions forming inclined spaces between them, alternating openings being provided
in the partitions, combined with pipes leading from the higher points of said spaces
to a tank for collecting the oil, said tank being in communication with the atmosphere ;
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
1
0 T
1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.