Improvements in or connected with Steam Boilers.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Jan., 1896
Complete Specification
Last
OUL .... 4000
Accented
24th Oct
1008
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Steam Boilers.
I, JOSEPH BARBE, of Valenciennes, France, Manufacturer, do hereby declare
the nature of my said invention, to be as follows :-
Air being one of the causes of explosions in steam boilers, the object of my
invention is to prevent air collecting in layers or forming cushions in the boiler,
because when these layers or cushions become excessive and heated an explosion
is often the result.
To prevent the formation of this layer of air in the boiler, by the action of the
supply or feed pump, I arrange the feed or supply pipe, so as to throw the water
above the level of the water, that is to say, into the steam chamber.
This introduction may be effected in two ways, but always at the upper part
of the boiler, one consists in the employment of a small tube carried towards
the middle of the boiler; the other which stops at the level of the upper side
of it.
The air contained in the steam chamber escapes by a valve, placed on the
boiler, this valve remains open so long as the pressure of the boiler does not
overcome the resistance of the valve; it becomes closed when the boiler is under a
low pressure. This valve then acts automatically.
The cushion of air in the boiler is thus prevented because the air which enters
with the water, escapes by the valve which I have added to the top of the boiler.
Dated this 16th day of January 1896.!
BREWER & SON,
London and Leeds, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Steam Boilers.
I, JOSEPH BARBE formerly of Valenciennes and now of Orchies, in the
Republic of France, 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 :-
Experience has shown that the presence of air in steam boilers and in steam
apparatus and pipes is one of the principal causes of explosions which are so
often produced in such apparatus. Furthermore deterioration of the joints of
parts connected to boilers and pipes are also caused principally by the action
of air.
Each time when in consequence of a rather long stoppage as for instance that
from Saturday to Monday the steam has time to condense in the boilers, pipes,
and steam apparatus, and consequently a vacuum is produced in such apparatus,
the exterior air passes through and enlarges the passages of all the defective joints,
giving place for leakage which enlarges rapidly. These leakages are produced
inuch less by the action of the steam which will stop small passages instead of
enlarging them, for the steam will swell the material of the joints and thus close
up the fastening and will also oxydize the surfaces and thus stop the interstices.
Air on the contrary opens such interstices.

page_text: Have supplied on an steam boners pipes and
steam apparatus air expelling valves.
These are simple valves with their axes vertical opening from the top
downwards under the action of their weight and of a supplementary weight or
spring operating upon their rods. The seat of the valve is fastened directly to the
boiler, preferably at one of the highest places.
In the annexed drawing
Fig. 1 shows this simple apparatus in section.
Fig. 2 illustrates the method of fitting the feed pipe.
The valve S Fig. 1 is fitted in the box A fastened on the wall R of a boiler,
pipe or any other apparatus.
A nut C secures the joint. Upon the rod of the valve S is screwed the weight P
which is added to that of the valve in order to make it sink as soon as the inner
pressure falls below this double weight which is preferably equivalent to a pressure
of about 82 grammes per square centimeter or atmospheres.
Up to this point the valve remains closed and the apparatus does not operate,
but as soon as the effective pressure of the steam in consequence of its cooling or
evacuation is less than the weight of the valve with the weight P the valve opens
and the equilibrium of pressure is established in the interior and on the exterior
of the apparatus or pipes by the direct entrance of air, so as to avoid any
tendency for passage of air through the joints which produces their prompt
deterioration.
When steam is again produced in the boiler or when steam again enters the
steam pipes or apparatus the tension rises above the atmospheric pressure and the
air which has already partly passed out at the valve S because it is heated and
dilated begins to be expelled by the steam through the valve its expulsion is more aud
more rapid in proportion as the pressure rises, in such a manner that there remains
very little of it in the apparatus at the moment when the pressure is strong enough
to close the valve. A good part of this air is also carried off during the service
by the steam which leaves the boiler or the pipes, but it is known that in feeding
water to boilers there are introduced notable quantities of air dissolved in the
water or carried in by it.
In order to provide that this air instead of remaining in solution in the water of
the boiler is carried away by the steam I do not submerge the feed pipe T Fig. 2
in the water space of the boiler but make it open into the upper part of the boiler
as at O in order that the air taken in by the feeding water can be separated from
it and remain on the top of the water whence it is easily carried off by the
steam during work or expelled through the expelling valve during the long
stoppages.
As a complement of this arrangement of the feed pipe I place the retaining valve S¹
with which it must be provided sensibly lower (40 centimeters) than the pipe
mouth, so that there is always a water column reposing upon this valve to avoid its
beating.
Fig. 2 shows these arrangements.
It is evident that the expulsion valve may receive any form and position, or the
weight P may be replaced by an adjustable spring or this weight may be formed
by superposed washers of a convenient number in order to obtain the opening of
the valve upon such pressure as desired.
It is also understood that this valve can be applied on all steam apparatus such
as apparatus used in heating, manufacture of sugar, distilling etc., it may also be
applied to water pipes.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. The combination with a closed vessel adapted to withstand interior pressure.
of a valve inserted in the wall of said vessel to open inwards into said vessel on

page_text: the pressure therein falling to a minimum amount and to again close when such
pressure exceeds the minimum for the purpose of permitting inlet and outlet of
atmospheric air in the manner set forth.
2. The combination of a steam boiler of a feed pipe thereto admitting into the
steam space of said boiler and a valve placed in the feed pipe lower than the
opening of this pipe in the boiler for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 24th day of August 1896.
HERBERT HADDAN & Co.,
18 Buckingham Street, Strand, London, W.C.,
Agents for Applicant.