IMPROVEMENTS IN FEED WATER REGULATORS FOR STEAM BOILERS
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN FEED WATER REGULATORS FOR STEAM BOILERS." A communication from
abroad by Charles Henry Kuhne, of Butler, in the County of Butler, State of
Pennsylvania, United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville Clark
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 16th March 1881.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex, Patent Agent. “IMPROVEMENTS IN FEED WATER REGULATORS FOR
STEAM BOILERS." [A communication from abroad by Charles Henry Kuhne, of
Butler, in the County of Butler, State of Pennsylvania, United States of America.]
This Invention relates to an apparatus for regulating the supply of water to
steam boilers by which the water shall be prevented from falling too low and rising
too high in the boiler, and the Invention consists in a chamber connected with the
boiler, and containing a float that moves a steam cock combined with a feed water
chamber, and a steam cylinder containing a piston connected with a valve in the
water chamber in such manner, that the rise and fall of the float permits or cuts
off the flow of water to the boiler as required.
The float chamber is placed on a level with the water space of the boiler, and is
connected by a pipe at the upper part with the steam space of the boiler, and at
the lower part by another pipe with the water space of the boiler below the lowest
water level, so that the water shall stand at the same level in both the boiler and
chamber. The float has a.central stem at the lower side extending into a blow out
pipe connected to the bottom of the chamber, so that the float is retained central,
and also a stem extending upward, and connected with the arm of a cock on the
end of a steam pipe within the float chamber at the upper part, which pipe passes
through the side of the chamber, and connects with the lower end of the steam
cylinder. This cylinder is small (say, of one inch diameter), and is mounted on
top of the float chamber, and is surmounted by a still smaller cylinder or water

page_text: chamber which is about half the diameter of the steam cylinder. The steam
cylinder contains a piston which is connected by a rod with a piston valve in the
water cylinder. The feed water pipe from the pump enters the top of the water
cylinder, and another pipe provided with a check valve to prevent the return of
water from the boiler connects the upper end of the same cylinder with the water
space of the boiler. A waste pipe is also connected with the water cylinder, and
an exhaust pipe with the lower end of the steam cylinder provided with a valve
connected with the piston rod, so as to be opened when the piston moves
downward.
In operation, the water in the boiler and float chamber being as high as desired, 1
the float will be also raised, and will have closed the cock with which it is con-
nected, so that steam will not pass to the steam cylinder. Consequently the
pressure of water on the piston valve in the water cylinder will force it and the
steam piston down, and the water entering the water cylinder by the feed water
pipe will go out by the waste pipe. As the water level in the boiler falls the float
will descend, until the cock to which it is connected opens, thereby admitting
steam to the lower end of the steam cylinder, whereupon the steam piston is raised,
and the piston valve is moved over the end of the waste pipe, so that the water is
compelled to go to the boiler, until the level is again raised sufficiently to close the
steam cock, when the position first described will be restored.
This apparatus which is durable and inexpensive effects. the automatic regulation
of the feed water. The pipe connecting the float chamber with the boiler is
preferably turned down within the boiler, so as to prevent acum and other matters
that may be floating on the water from entering the pipe.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal Patent. Office on the
16th September 1881.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex, Patent Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN FEED WATER REGULATORS FOR
STEAM BOILERS." A communication from abroad by Charles Henry Kuhne, of
Butler, in the County of Butler, State of Pennsylvania, United States of America.
The object of this Invention is to construct an apparatus for regulating the
supply of water to steam boilers, by which the water shall be prevented from
falling too low and rising too high in the boiler, thereby avoiding the danger and
damage incurred by such excess or scarcity of water.
The Invention consists in a chamber connected with the boiler, and containing a
float that moves a steam cock combined with a feed water chamber, and a steam
cylinder containing a piston connected with a valve in the water chamber in such
manner, that the rise and fall of the float permits or cuts off the flow of water to
the boiler as required.
In the accompanying Drawing the apparatus is shown in vertical section. A is
a cylindrical chamber of suitable size, which is placed at the end or side of the
boiler on a level with the water space. a is a pipe extending to the boiler, shown
at T, and entering the same below the lowest water level, so that the water shall
stand at the same level in both the boiler and the chamber A. 6 is a pipe passing
from the upper part of chamber A to the steam space of the boiler. B is a float in
chamber A, having a stem c at its lower side extending into a blow out pipe d, so
that the float is retained central, and having a stem e extending upward and con-
nected with the arm of a cock f that is in a pipe g which passes through the upper
side of the chamber. D is a small cylinder, say, of one inch diameter, shown as
imposed upon the chamber A, and supporting a still smaller cylinder E or water
chamber, which is about half the diameter of cylinder D. h is a piston in
cylinder D; i is a piston valve in cylinder E, and k is a rod connecting the two
pistons. The pipe g from chamber A extends to cylinder D, and enters its lower
end. Zis the feed water pipe from the pump entering the top of cylinder E; m is
a pipe from the upper part of cylinder E, which pipe will pass to the boiler, and
12 is a waste pipe also connected with the upper part of cylinder E.
In operation, the water in the boiler and chamber A being as high as desired, the
float B will be also raised, and will have closed cock f, so that steam may not pass
to cylinder D. Consequently the pressure of water on valve i will force the valve
and the piston h down, and the water coming into the cylinder E by pipe l, will go
out by waste pipe n. The return of water from the boiler is prevented by a check
valve o in pipe m. As the water level in the boiler falls, float B will descend until
the cock fopens, when the steam passing out by pipe g, acts beneath piston h,
raises it, and carries valve i over the end of waste pipe n, so that the water is
compelled to go by pipe m to the boiler, until the level is again raised sufficiently
to close cock f, when the position will be restored, as shown and first described.
With this apparatus automatic regulation of the feed water is obtained, and the
apparatus is durable and inexpensive. The pipe a will preferably be turned down
within the boiler as shown, so as to prevent scum and other matters that may be
floating on the water from entering the pipe. At p is an exhaust pipe from
cylinder D fitted with a valve q, having connections to rod k, whereby the valve is
opened when piston h moves downward.
Having described the nature of the said Invention, and the manner of performing
the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be protected by the
hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is,-
1st. The feed water regulator consisting of chamber A connected by pipes a, b, to

page_text: the boiler, float B, cock f, pipe g, cylinders D, E, connected pistons h, i, feed water
pipes l, m, and waste pipe n, combined and arranged for operation, substantially as
shown and described.
2nd. In feed water apparatus, the combination of a cylinder receiving the water,
and connected to the boiler; a piston fitted for movement to cut off the connection
to the boiler; a float positioned by the water level, and a steam cock moved by the
float to supply or cut off steam, whereby the piston is moved to cut off the water,
or released from steam pressure, according to the position of the float, all substan-
tially as shown and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Fifteenth day of September, A.D. 1881.
Gol