An Apparatus for Returning Condensed Water to Boilers under Pressure, and for Elevating Boiling Liquids generally, Automatically.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Feb., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 16th Nov., 1893-Accepted, 3rd Feb., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Apparatus for Returning Condensed Water to Boilers under
Pressure, and for Elevating Boiling Liquids generally,
Automatically.
I THOMAS ANDREW of 33 White Lion Street, London, E., Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to an apparatus, for automatically returning hot water from
condensations, to steam boilers under pressure, or, for raising any boiling liquids to
elevations.
The apparatus is to be placed, above the boilers to be fed, so as to allow a column
of water to exist between it and the boilers. Steam pressure is allowed to enter
the apparatus from the boilers, when it is filled (with hot water) the steam pressure,
plus the weight of the water column, forces the water into the boilers (in the well
known manner).
The essence of my invention, consists in the improved mechanism employed in
this operation, which employs the actual water collected, and the weight lost by its
discharge, acting alternately, and with leverage, as the direct motor thereof.
Power is thus obtained for actuating the mechanism far in excess, of all possible
requirements.
The small power obtainable, by floats and similar contrivances, are at best, hardly
sufficient, and sometimes inadequate, to produce the motions of valves and joints,
&c. incident on their employment.
For my invention, I employ, a strong outer casing, similar to a steam cylinder,
with a top cover bolted on to it. Its size being arranged, for the quantity of water
required to be dealt with. This casing receives the inflowing water, conducted by
a baffle, to run on to the inside surface of the said caseing, but it requires no valves,
or contrivances for water ejection. Its use being to contain, and float in the water,
a second cylinder, open at the top, having a bar across its mouth-but it has no
valve attached, or other aperture.
This cylinder, in shape, like a plain bucket, is to be made, as large as the capacity
of the outer case or cylinder, will permit, so long as it leaves space for free motion,
and has no friction, to hinder it floating, riseing, or sinking in the water, contained
in the outer cylinder.
It must also, be heavy enough in itself, (when the overflow from the outer
cylinder, has filled it) to sink, and by sinking, to pull over a cradle, that contains a
loose ball, herein after described.
It must also have sufficient internal capacity to float itself (when empty) and at
the same time to lift the cradle and ball.
This inner receptacle, is attached by the cross bar, at its mouth, to a lever, which
holds it suspended centrally, which lever, it actuates, by rising or falling, in the
water contained in the outer caseing. This lever projects, through a suitable
aperture in the upper part, of the outer cylinder (or caseing) and at its outer end,
is firmly fixed to a transverse spindle, which has its bearings and gland packing, in
a suitable box, that is bolted to the cylinder, thereby securely closing the hole,
through which the lever passes.
It is manifest, the rise, or fall of the inner cylinder, thus suspended, transmits a
reciprocating motion, with considerable leverage, to the transverse spindle, one end
of which actuates a slide, or a Corliss steam valve (with steam & exhaust ports)
to which is attached a pipe, supplying it with steam from the boiler. On the other

page_text: end of the spindle, I fix a cradle, and rolling ball in it, having freedom to roll from
side to side, as the cradle is alternately tilted. But a catch at either end of the
cradle, arrests its descent at the point, where the valve shuts off both steam and
exhaust, which catch, is released by being struck back by impact of the ball, on its
arrival to the end of its path-thus permitting the complete and rapid depression
of the ball and cradle, and consequent sharp opening and shutting the valve ports.
The object of this contrivance, is, to hold down, or up, the suspended internal
cylinder, until it has filled or emptied (as it rises or falls) by the increase of the
ball's weight, added on to the already preponderating weight, of the cylinder
itself.
The water contained in the inner cylinder is discharged, by means of a tube,
which enters the outer cylinder, at its top, (or top side) and is made to project
internally, downwards, to the bottom of the inner cylinder, and when the pressure
is admitted to the apparatus, the water is driven out, by that exit (a check valve is
placed to prevent back pressure-both, on to the inlet and outlet tubes). As a
small tank will be placed above the apparatus, to collect into one, the various con-
densations, from steam traps, &c., &c., the exhaust, from the apparatus, can be
carried into it and thus, the heat of any steam remaining in it is saved.
The apparatus works as follows-Say, we assume the inner or suspended cylinder
to possess a capacity of ten gallons, and a weight of its own metal, equal to some-
thing over 40 lbs., it follows, when the internal cylinder sinks, it, by so doing, pulls
over the cradle and ball (of say 30 lbs. weight) and, at the same time, the suspending
lever, is pulling, with about 3 or 4, to one power, on to the Corliss valve. The ball
rolling over, adds its weight, to the already preponderating weight of the bucket
itself, making it to weigh say 70 lbs. But when the discharge takes place, the
bucket, or inner cylinder, having 100 lbs. weight of water to unload, has ample
force to rise against this weight, when the ball at once rolls over, to the superior
weight, and keeps the bucket suspended, till sufficiently full to sink again.
Dated this Sixteenth day of February 1893.
An Apparatus for Returning Condensed Water to Boilers under
Pressure, and for Elevating Boiling Liquids generally,
Automatically.
I THOMAS ANDREW of 33 White Lion Street in the County of London
Engineer 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 :-
My invention relates to an apparatus for automatically returning water of
condensation to steam boilers under pressure or for raising boiling liquids. When
the apparatus is used for feeding boilers under pressure it is placed above the boiler
or boilers to be fed so as to allow a column of water to exist in a pipe extending
between it and the boilers. Steam under pressure from the boiler is allowed to
enter the apparatus after it has become filled with water and then the pressure of
the steam plus the weight of the water column forces the water into the boiler in
the well known manner.
The essence of my invention consists in employing the weight of a bucket or
receptacle and water collected to operate through suitable levers the valve by which
steam is admitted to cause the discharge of the water so collected and the loss of
weight due to the discharge to operate the steam valve so that steam is cut off and
when the pressure.in the apparatus is relieved the water again collects. By thus
utilizing the weight of the water collected and the relief of weight due to its
discharge power is obtainable far in excess of any possible requirements whereas in

page_text: arrangements hitherto employed the small power obtainable by floats and similar
contrivances operating by rising and falling in the water collected in an outer
casing is inadequate to properly produce the motions of the valves and joints and
appliances which have been employed with such floats and similar contrivances.
I will describe my invention with reference to the acccompanying drawing,.
Figure 1 being a vertical section and Figure 2 a plan partly in section of an
apparatus constructed according to my invention.
Figure 3 is a vertical section of the valve which in this case is shewn as being a
valve operating like a Corliss valve but it may be a slide valve or valve of other
suitable description if desired, the levers and gear for operating it being
correspondingly modified.
Figures 4 and 5 are vertical and horizontal sections shewing a modification in the
arrangement of the water outlet pipe.
A is a strong outer casing somewhat like a steam cylinder with a top cover bolted
on to it, its size being in accordance with the quantity of water required to be
dealt with at each foperation. This casing receives the inflowing water by the
pipe B which water is caused by a baffle & to run onto the inside surface of the said
casing A but the said casing requires no valves or contrivances for water ejection,
its use being to contain, and float in the water contained therein, a second cylinder
or receptacle C, which may be like a plain bucket in shape and is open at the top
and has a bar or bracket or bars or brackets c across its mouth or other means of
connecting it to the levers or gear which operate the steam valve but it need have
no valve áttached or other aperture.
This cylinder or receptacle C. is as large as the capacity of the outer case or
cylinder will permit so long as it leaves space for free motion and has no friction to
hinder it from rising or sinking in the water contained in the outer cylinder A. It
and its contents (when the overflow from the outer cylinder has filled it) must also
be heavy enough to sink and by sinking to pull over a cradle D. that contains a
loose ball d as hereinafter described. It will then have when empty sufficient
internal capacity to have a power of flotation sufficient to pull over the cradle D.
in the reverse direction.
The inner receptacle C. is attached by the cross bars c at its mouth to the end of
a lever E so that the said receptacle is suspended centrally by the said lever which
lever it actuates by rising or falling in the water contained in the outer casing A
This lever is situated in a suitable aperture or space formed for its accommodation
by the box a in the cover of the upper part of the outer cylinder or casing A and
at its other end the said lever E is firmly fixed to a transverse spindle G which has
its bearings and gland packing (as shewn clearly in Figure 2) in the box a so as to
make a tight joint secure at the holes through which the spindle passes. One end
of the spindle G carries the cradle D containing the rolling ball d and the other
end extends into the valve casing a' and operates a Corliss or other valve by which
steam is admitted to the cylinder A to expel water from the receptacle C and by
which when the water is expelled steam is cut off and communication is established
with the outer air or with a tank into which remaining steam can pass to heat water
therein or to other required place. The rise and fall of the inner cylinder or
receptacle C thus suspended transmits a reciprocating motion with considerable
leverage to the transverse spindle G and the cradle D being thereby rocked the
ball d rolls down and gives a quick action to the slide or Corliss steam valve or
other valve employed. a³ is the port for supplying steam to the cylinder A and
a is the exhaust port therefrom. I is a pipe supplying the valve casing a³ with
steam from the boiler and J is a pipe for exhausting remaining steam from the
cylinder A. The water contained in the cylinder or receptacle C is discharged by
means of a tube K which enters the outer cylinder and opens into the inner cylinder
or receptacle C near to the bottom thereof and when steam is admitted by the valve
to the cylinder A the water is driven out through the pipe K into a boiler or to an
elevation when it is forced into a boiler there being the necessary column of water
maintained in it as aforesaid. A back pressure check valve k is used in the pipe K

page_text: "
and a similar valve 6' is used in the pipe B. The pipe B may communicate with a
tank placed above the apparatus and this tank may receive the water of
condensation from a number of steam traps or from other sources of supply and
the exhaust from the apparatus through the pipe J can be carried into it and thus
the heat remaining in the said exhaust be utilized.
The apparatus works as follows:-. Assuming the inner or suspended cylinder or
receptacle C has a capacity of 10 gallons and that its weight is something over
40 lbs. it follows that when the said cylinder or receptacle sinks and pulls over the
cradle and ball (which is say of 30 lbs. weight) the suspending lever whilst pulling
with about 3 or 4 to one power onto the valve, the ball rolling over adds its weight'
to the already preponderating weight of the cylinder or receptacle C making the
total power exerted equal to say 70 lbs. but when on the steam valve being opened
and the water discharged the inner cylinder or receptacle C having say 100 lbs. of
water removed from it has ample power of flotation to rise again when the ball
at once rolls over to the other side and closes the steam valve and keeps the
cylinder or receptacle C suspended till it becomes sufficiently charged with water
to sink again and admit steam as before. Figures 4 and 5 shew a modification
wherein the outlet pipe K is taken from the bottom of the receptacle C it being.
jointed as at for instance to allow of the rise and fall of the said receptacle.
Although I have shown a Corliss valve in the arrangement illustrated by the
drawing it will be understood that any other suitable form of valve may be used.
such as a slide valve and that the lever or levers or gear by which the rise and
fall of the cylinder or receptacle is transmitted to the valve will be arranged in
any suitable way to give the necessary movement to the valve. Generally I
believe that a Corliss or similar valve will be best for say a bucket such as I have
instanced whilst equilibrium or double piston valves will answer for smaller
apparatus where the cylinder or receptacle C will hold a smaller quantity of
water and consequently the power which it will exert to operate the valve is
proportionately smaller. The arrangement of mechanisin which I have shewn is
I believe simplest for operating the valves when of the Corliss or rotary type.
When slide valves are used any ordinary or suitable mechanism such as thrust
rods, toggle levers, or the like, may be used to give the necessary reciprocating
longitudinal movement in place of the rotary movement as shewn. As these
devices may be ordinary mechanical movements it is not necessary for me to
particularly describe or illustrate them.
Although I have shewn the cylinders or receptacles as being arranged vertically
they may be arranged in other convenient position such as horizontally for instance
and then the internal cylinder or receptacle may be arranged so that in rising and
falling it turns a shaft to which it is secured this shaft being connected to the valve
by which steam is admitted to the apparatus so that it opens the steam valve when
the cylinder or receptacle descends and closes it when the cylinder or receptacle
rises. The inner cylinder or receptacle will of course be closed at both ends and
only be open at its upper side for the water to enter and for the steam to act on
the said water to expel it. The exit for the said water may be a pipe like the
pipe K herein before described or the shaft which the inner cylinder or receptacle
operates may be a pipe with an opening into the inner cylinder or receptacle so
that it constitutes the exit pipe for the water the general connections and opera-
tions of the apparatus however arranged being similar to those herein before
described in its essential feature viz. that the inner cylinder or receptacle is
alternately charged with water and emptied of its contents and by its movement
operates a valve by which steam is admitted to and shut off from the apparatus
substantially as hereinbefore explained. The quantity of water which is dealt
with by the apparatus may be indicated by a counter operated by any suitable
moving part of the apparatus. In the drawing I have shewn a counter at L
operated by the lever connected by the rod / with the cradle D.
:
The apparatus may be used also for elevating water instead of passing it into
boilers under pressure.
5

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is. :-
1. In apparatus for returning condensed water to boilers under pressure, or for
elevating liquids the combination of an outer cylinder or casing and steam and
water inlets thereinto, and an inner cylinder or receptacle and an inlet and outlet
for water thereinto and therefrom, and levers or equivalent means for connecting a
steam valve therewith so that the weight of the said inner cylinder or receptacle
and its contents and the power of flotation due to the withdrawal of the said
contents are utilized to operate the steam valve substantially as hereinbefore
described.
2. The arrangement and combination of parts constituting the apparatus
herein before described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated the 18th dow of Navamber 1803
J. H. JOHNSON & Co.,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, Agents.