Improvements in Feed-water Apparatus for Heating and Purifying the Feed and Freeing it from Air.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Dec., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 17th Sept., 1892-Accepted, 22nd Oct., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Feed-water Apparatus for Heating and Purifying
the Feed and Freeing it from Air.
I, RICHARD SCHULZ of 105A Friedrichstrasse, Berlin, N., in the Empire of
Germany, Engineer & Director of Der Schiff und Maschinen Aktien Gesellschaft
Germania, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The water supplied from the surface condensers and employed for feeding
the boiler, contains, besides air, the oil removed by the steam during the lubri
cation, and also other impurities, and must further be warmed previous to its being
employed.
Apparatus hitherto invented for this purpose consist of special reservoirs for
freeing the water from air, and further of filters and preliminary warming apparatus,
such apparatus take up much room because of their being in separate parts, which
is very disadvantageous for machinery especially for sea steam engines so it
frequently hinders the introduction of such apparatus.
By this invention, the feed water tank is simultaneously employed for the heating,
purification and air separation of the condensed water. It is for this purpose
provided with an apparatus for warming and with a filter so that the condensed
water is warmed before being filtered, whilst the oil carried along with it may be
collected in such a way that it does not need to pass through the filter but may be
run off by itself. The separation of the air and oil is assisted by the heating,
whilst the peculiar arrangement of the filter obviates any choking of the same by
the oil. In order to prevent any interruption in the working of the filter, the
device is so arranged that the filtration takes place under a certain pressure of
liquid, the degree of which may be ascertained by means of water gauge glasses,
and affords a guarantee for the good working of the filter. Such an apparatus is
divided into two equal parts one of which may be shut off separately when a
cleansing or renewal of the filter is necessary. The working of the other division
is not thereby interrupted. A vertical partition is made use of for dividing the
tank into the above named two compartments into which condensed water may be
conveyed by means of a valve arranged suitably for each compartment. This
condensed water arrives by means of a plate which is widened out in the shape of a
funnel into the middle portion of the tank and flows between the tubing of a
heating coil (which has a steam supply pipe) into the space above the body of the
filter through which latter it filters from top to bottom. The space beneath the
filter is connected with a vertical pipe which forms a reservoir for purified and
warmed feed water. The feed water is conveyed from any compartment of the
apparatus to the boiler supply pump by means of au exit pipe having a valve. The
upper orifice of the pipe is arranged at such a height, that the lowest water level
outside the reservoir tube is sufficiently high above the filter so that the oil or fat
brought by the water may be separated from off the surface of the same in the
space outside the reservoir tube. The separation of this oil or fat is aided through
the heating of the water by means of the heating coil, the separation of the air is
similarly aided and the liberated air may escape through a pipe at the top of the
tank. The separated oil swims on the water in its chamber and by means of a glass
window it can be seen when it is necessary to let off some of the oil which may be
done by means of a cock. By means of the filtration, the water is freed from the
various impurities; the water thus purified rises to the top of the reservoir tube
and passes into the exit pipe. The air which is still freed in this pipe may escape
to the outside through a pipe. If the feed pump is not working, the upper part of

page_text: the reservoir tube serves as a receptacle for the purified water.
A water gauge
glass is attached to the tank above the filter, and another from the space under the
filter. These two water gauge glasses allow the level of the liquid in the tank to
be compared at any time with the level of the liquid in the reservoir pipe. In
consequence of the resistance existing in the filter whilst the apparatus is at work
the liquid in the tank will always stand somewhat higher. This difference increases
with the length of time the apparatus has been in use and as the filter becomes
more foul. By observing the difference in the heights of the liquid in the tank, a
basis will be got for ascertaining the resistance of the filter. If this difference
exceed a certain degree, it is a sign that the apparatus must be cleaned and the
filter changed, which may conveniently be done after closing the valves leading to
the compartment in question and emptying the same by means of a run off cock,
the filters can be got at by removing lids at their sides. Both the tank and
reservoir tube of the apparatus allow of the liquid rising to near their top if the
feed pump should be arrested and condensed water be continued to be supplied.
The pipes forming the exit pipe and the reservoir tube may also be arranged
outside of the apparatus and one or both of them may be made cellular. Thus
the apparatus, for instance, may be provided with a special collecting chamber
beneath the bottom of the ordinary tank. If the level of the liquid in this special
chamber remain below the lid of the same, the distance of the surface of the liquid
in the ordinary tank from a fixed mark made on the gauge glass at the level of the
upper edge of the exit tube affords a basis for ascertaining the resistance of the
filter. In this case the inflow pipe is arranged at the side.
In another modification, the exit pipe and reservoir are replaced by a vessel
arranged adjacent to the tank, whilst the reservoir tube runs sideways from the
tank and simply projects into the vessel. The purified liquid flows in this case
therefore from the upper orifice of the reservoir tube. In this case also the
difference between the level of the liquid and the mark of the gauge glass shows
the resistance of the filter, so long as the lower level remains below the upper edge
of the reservoir tube.
The tubes for warming the water may naturally be arranged in different ways,
for instance, a group of straight tubes or the like may be made use of. In another
form of the apparatus, six compartments are arranged round a common collecting
chamber.
The reservoir tubes as before, belonging to the compartments, are replaced by
narrow chambers which are connected with the space underneath the filter by
means of apertures and with the collecting chamber by means of further apertures.
The overflow edges of these apertures may be formed by a valve which may be
adjusted so as to regulate the lowest level of the liquid in the respective compart-
ment. A similar arrangement, forming the reservoir tube and the exit pipe in the
previous forms of apparatus, may also be provided for the pipes. The upper ends
of those pipes may for instance be made movable and adjustable or provided with
a slot, intersection or side orifice, which may be closed by means of an adjustable
valve. In this manner the deepest level of the surface of the liquid may be
regulated, at which the purified water runs out, and therewith the zone where the
oil and fat are separated out, or such may be altered whilst the apparatus is at
work. In this latter form of apparatus also, a mark on the gauge glass shows the
height of the upper surface of the apertures aforesaid. These marks, when a
valve is employed for the apertures in connection with the collecting chamber,
must be adjusted to correspond with the adjustment of such valve, which may be
done by means of a suitable mechanism such, for instance, as moving up and down
the marks by means of a screw spindle, the nut of which is actuated by the same
axle as the spindle of the valve. Two cocks may be arranged on the outer wall
of the tanks at different heights corresponding to the alteration of the level of the
water for the purpose of running off the grease. By so connecting several vessels
for removing the grease and filtering the water, with a common reservoir for the
purified water, the apparatus is considerably simplified when it is a question of such

page_text: for specially large machinery. The compartments may, of course, also be arranged
in a row side by side.
For small apparatus which are not driven continuously and in which consequently
the filter may be changed during the intervals of working, an apparatus with a
single chamber will naturally suffice. In all cases the water in the apparatus
traverses during its cleansing a U-shaped course. The heating apparatus is placed
in one bend above the filter and the separation of the oil takes place above this
latter. The second bend consists of a tube or vessel acting as a reservoir. Without
essentially altering the object of the apparatus, the filter may also be arranged in
the overflow of the chamber to the reservoir tube, or even in the lower part of the
reservoir tube or at any other convenient place.
Dated this 28th day of December 1891.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Feed-water Apparatus for Heating and Purifying
the Feed and Freeing it from Air.
I, RICHARD SCHULZ of 105 A Friedrichstrasse, Berlin, N., in the Empire of
Germany, Engineer & Director of Der Schiff und Maschinen Aktien Gesellschaft
Germania, 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:-
The water supplied from the surface condensers and employed for feeding the
boiler, contains, besides air, the oil removed by the steam during the lubrication,
and also other impurities, and must further be warmed previous to its being
employed.
Apparatus hitherto invented for this purpose consist of special reservoirs for
freeing the water from air, and further of filters and preliminary warming
apparatus; such apparatus take up much room because of their being in
separate parts, which is very disadvantageous for machinery, especially for sea
steam engines so it frequently hinders the introduction of such apparatus.
By this invention, the feed water tank is simultaneously employed for the heating,
purification and air separation of the condensed water.
It is for this purpose
provided with an apparatus for warming and with a filter in such a way that the
condensed water is warmed before being filtered, whilst the oil carried along with
it may be so collected that it does not need to pass through the filter but may be
run off by itself. The separation of the air and oil is assisted by the heating,
whilst the peculiar arrangement of the filter obviates any choking of the same by
the oil. In order to prevent any interruption in the working of the filter, the
device is so arranged that the filtration takes place under a certain pressure of
liquid, the degree of which may be ascertained by means of water gauge glasses,
and affords a guarantee for the good working of the filter. Various patterns of an
apparatus in accordance with my invention are shown on the accompanying two
sheets of drawings. The apparatus shown in Figures 1 to 8 is divided into
two equal parts, one of which may be shut off separately when a cleansing or
renewal of the filter is necessary. The working of the other division is not
thereby interrupted.
Figure 1 shows a front view of one pattern of the apparatus.
Figure 2 a horizontal section on a b and c d of Figure 1.
Figure 3 a vertical section on ef of Figure 2, and
Figure 4 is a side view.
A vertical partition I, Figure 2, divides the tank into the above named two
compartments into which condensed water may be conveyed by means of a valve A,
Figure 3, arranged suitably for each compartment. This condensed water arrives

page_text: in the direction of the arrow, Figure 3, by means of a plate G which is in the shape
of a funnel into the middle portion of the tank and flows between the tubing of a
heating coil B (which has a steam supply pipe B') into the space T above the body
of the filter C through which latter it filters from top to bottom.
The space
beneath the filter C is connected with a vertical pipe D, Figure 3, which forms a
reservoir for purified and warmed feed water. The feed water is conveyed from
any compartment of the apparatus to the boiler supply pump by means of an exit
pipe E having a valve F. The upper orifice of the pipe E is arranged at such a
height, that the lowest water level W₁ outside the reservoir tube D is sufficiently
high above the filter C that the oil or fat brought by the water may be separated
from off the surface of the same in the space T outside the reservoir tube D. The
separation of this oil or fat is aided by the water being heated by means of
the heating coil B, the separation of the air is similarly aided and the liberated air
may escape through a pipe at the top of the tank. The separated oil swins on
the water in the chamber T and by means of a glass window J, Figure 4, it can
be seen when it is necessary to let off some of the oil which may be done by means
of a cock K. The filtration through the part C takes place only after the removal
of the oil. By means of the filtration, the water is freed from the various
impurities; the water thus purified rises to the top of the reservoir tube D and
passes into the exit pipe E. The air which is still freed in this pipe may escape to
the outside through a pipe y. If the feed pump be not working, the upper part S
of the reservoir tube D serves to contain the purified water. A water gange
glass M is attached to the tank T above the filter, and another N from the space
under the filter. These two water gauge glasses allow the level of the liquid in
the tank T to be compared at any time with the level of the liquid in the reservoir
pipe D or S. In consequence of the resistance existing in the filter C whilst the
apparatus is at work, the liquid in the tank T will always stand somewhat higher
approximately at W. This difference increases with the length of time the..
apparatus has been in use and as the filter becomes more foul.
If W be the level
of the liquid in the reservoir S, the difference between that and the height W*.will
give a basis for ascertaining the resistance of the filter. If this difference exceed a
certain degree it is a sign that the apparatus must be cleaned, and the filter C
changed, which may conveniently be done after closing the valves A and F leading
to the compartment in question and emptying the same by means of a run off
cock and by removing lids L at their sides. Both the tank T and reservoir
tube of the apparatus allow of the liquid rising to W3 and W if the feed pump
should be arrested and condensed water be continued to be supplied. The pipes E
and D may also be arranged outside of the apparatus and one or both of them may
be made cellular. Thus the apparatus shown in Figures 5 and 6, for instance,
may be provided with a special collecting chamber S beneath the bottom of the
ordinary tank T.
If the level W5 of the liquid in this special chamber S¹ remain
below the lid of the same, the distance of the surface W2 of the liquid in the
ordinary tank T from a fixed mark Z made on the gauge glass M at the level W₁
of the upper edge of the exit tube E affords a basis for ascertaining the resistance
of the filter. In this case, the inflow pipe A is arranged at the side.
In the apparatus shown in Figures 7 and 8, the exit pipe E and reservoir S¹ are
replaced by a vessel S2 arranged adjacent to the tank T, whilst the reservoir
tube D runs sideways from the tank T and simply projects into the vessel S?. The
purified liquid flows in this case therefore from the upper orifice of the reservoir
tube D. In this case also the difference between the level W2 of the liquid and
the mark Z of the gauge glass M shows the resistance of the filter, so long as the
lower level W remains below the upper edge of the reservoir tube D.
The tubes B for warming the water may naturally be arranged in different ways.
to the one shown on the drawing, for instance, a group of straight tubes or the like
may be made use of.
In another form of the apparatus, shown in Figures 9 to 12, six compartments.T
are arranged round a common collecting chamber S

page_text: Figure 10 a vertical section on the line ef;
Figure 11 a similar one on g h ;
Figure 12 an elevation of a portion of the apparatus.
The reservoir tubes D, belonging to the compartments T, Figure 7, are replace.l
by narrow chambers D' which are connected with the space underneath the filter C
by means of apertures O and with the collecting chamber S³ by means of further
apertures Q. The overflow edges of these apertures may be formed by a valve R
which may be adjusted so as to regulate the lowest level of the liquid in the
respective compartment. A similar arrangement may also be provided for the
pipes D Figure 7, and E Figures 1 to 6. The upper end of the pipe E Figures 1
to 6 may, for instance, be made movable and adjustable or provided with a slot,
intersection or side orifice, which may be closed by means of an adjustable valve.
In this manner the extreme level W₁ of the surface of the liquid may be regulated,
at which the purified water runs out, and therewith the zone where the oil and fat
are separated out, or such may be altered whilst the apparatus is at work. In this
latter form of apparatus also, a mark Z on the gauge glass shows the height of the
upper surface of the aperture Q aforesaid. These marks, when a valve R is
employed for the apertures in connection with the collecting chamber, must be
adjusted to correspond with the adjustment of such valves R, which may be done
by means of a suitable mechanism such, for instance, as the moving up and down
of marks Z by means of a screw spindle, the nut of which is actuated by the same
axle as the spindle of the valve R. Two cocks K K' Figure 12 may be arranged
on the outer wall of the tanks at different heights corresponding to the alteration
of the level W' of the water, for the purpose of running off the grease. By so
connecting several vessels for removing the grease and filtering the water, with a
common reservoir for the purified water, the apparatus is considerably simplified
when such is a consideration as in the case of specially large machinery. The
compartments T may, of course, also be arranged in a row side by side as shown
for instance in Figure 13.
For small machinery not driven continuously, and in which consequently the
filter may be changed during the intervals of working, an apparatus with a single
chamber T will naturally suffice. In all cases the water in the apparatus traverses
during its cleaning a U-shaped course or reservoir as shown in Figure 14, for
instance. The heating apparatus B is placed in one bend T above the filter C and
the separation of the oil takes place above the said heating apparatus. The second
bend D consists in Figures 1 to 8 of a tube but in Figures to 14 of a vessel D¹
acting as a reservoir. From this figure it may be seen that, without essentially
altering the object of the apparatus, the filter C may also be arranged in the
overflow of the chamber T to the tube D, as shown in dotted lines at Cor even in
the lower part of the reservoir tube D or of the part D¹ as shown at C³,
Figure 14.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
1. The improvements in feed water apparatus for the purposes stated, which
consist in so constructing such an apparatus that the water to be treated is caused
to traverse a U-shaped course, substantially as specified, a filtering medium being
interposed in the latter part of such course and a heating medium in its commence-
mment, substantially as specified, the level of unpurified water being regulated
in regard to the heating medium by the position of the inlet of the exit tube
and by the resistance offered by the filter, the whole arranged substantially as
and working for the purposes herein before described.
2. In a filter of the kind herein before described.
(a) The arrangement of two water-gauge glasses M and N for unpurified and
purified water respectively, or a water-gauge glass M and a mark Z showing

page_text: the discharge of the water from the tube D or chamber D₁ for the purpose
of allowing the resistance of the filter to be ascertained.
(b) The arrangement of a special reservoir S₁ for filtered water beneath
the chamber for the unpurified water or of a reservoir such as S2 adjoining
the same, or of a reservoir such as S3 in common for several chambers for
unpurified water.
(c) The arrangement of an adjustable overflow edge or device adapted
to the pipe D or vessel D₁ with the object of allowing the level of the
liquid, and therewith the zone where the oil or fat is separated, to be
regulated.
Dated this 16th day of September 1892.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.