Improvements in Automatic Feed Apparatus for Boilers.
Year: 1896

page_text: Improvements in Automatic Feed Apparatus for Boilers.
I, FRÉDÉRIC CHARLES DYCкHOFF, of Bar le Duc, in the Republic of France,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to a method of and apparatus for automatically feeding
boilers of every description, arranged either singly or in batteries. The action
of the apparatus is based upon the production by the fall of the water level in
the boiler of a reduction of the hydrostatic pressure in the feed pipe, such
reduction actuating the feed apparatus properly so called, and in addition pre-
venting the formation of deposits or incrustations in the feed pipe, will be
understood by the description which follows.
Within the boiler at the extremity of the submerged feed pipe is mounted a
valve, and its seat, this valve is actuated by a loaded float by means of a lever
which is supported on the opposite side of the valve upon a knife edge or in any
other suitable manner. The letters hereinafter referred to represent mathematical
quantities only and are not reference letters to drawings.
The valve, owing to the conical form which is given to it, presents two different
sections, that is to say, the section won the side towards the feed pipe and the
section P on the side towards the lower part of the boiler, the section wo being of
course smaller than P.
To the feed pipe is connected a small accumulator, of which the piston having
an area represented by w" is loaded with a weight producing in the pipe any
degree of pressure desired, which pressure should, however, be greater than the
boiler pressure. We will suppose, for example that this pressure is the greater
by kilos.; the pressure produced by the accumulator will therefore, in this
instance, be 2+6= 8 kilos. Assuming the valve to be closed owing to the
ascending force of the float and also that the boiler pressure is 6 kilos. and the
pressure in the feed pipe and the accumulator is 8 kilos., the piston being at
the top of its stroke.
In constructing the apparatus the force P x 6 kilos. can always be made
greater than the force w x 8 kilos. The ascending force of the float likewise
tends to apply the valve to its seat in the proportion of the arms of the lever
represented by a and b respectively, and this ascending force aiding the force
Px 6 kilos. acting upon the valve, the resultant will be so much the more
greater than w × 8 kilos.
When the level of the water falls in the boiler, the loaded float will little by
little emerge being supported by the lever owing to the force P x 6 kilos. acting
upon the larger face of the valve, such force being greater than the force
x 8 kilos. acting upon the smaller face of the said valve, until the moment
when the point of unstable equilibrium is approached. When, being out of
the water, the weight of the float and of its load is able to overcome the excess
of the pressure P x 6 kilos. over the pressure w x 8 kilos. through the lever, the
aid float will suddenly fall and again become immersed in doing which it will

page_text: abruptly open the valve. The water at 8 kilos. pressure contained in the feed
pipe and in the accumulator will then rush into the boiler, setting up a sudden
rush of water in the pipe and upon the seat of the valve and also upon the valve
itself until an equalisation of pressures is established. This operation will take
a very short time only owing to thesconsiderable relation between the volume of
water at the pressure of 6 kilos. (in the boiler) and the volume of water at the
The fact that this
pressure of 8 kilos. (in the feed pipe and accumulator).
depression is instantaneous permits of obtaining a very important result, which
is to sweep away any incrustations which may form at the extremity of the feed
pipe, also upon the seat of the valve, and upon the valve itself; the effect pro-
duced is analogous to that in quick circulation boilers in which the walls of the
pipes are maintained in good condition owing to such circulation.
As a consequence of this same instantaneous depression, the piston of the
accumulator will fall through a height under the influence of the weight; in
falling this piston, as is the case in all accumulators, should exercise sufficient
force to immediately start the feed pump, whatever may be the method by which
the boiler is fed.
In the case of a donkey or feed engine, the accumulator piston will open the
cock for the admission of the steam to such feed engine (Worthington. or other
type). In the case of a feed pump actuated by the driving gear, the accumulator
piston will either act upon the tension pulley of the driving helt or upon a
friction clutch or gear of any suitable description. In the case of a feed pump
actuated directly by means of a steam motor, the accumulator piston will actuate
the suction cock of the feed pump. If the feed is effected by means of an
injector, a rack of suitable length actuating a pinion keyed upon the needle of
the injector will cause the latter to act while at the same time opening, the cock
for the admission of steam to the injector.
The feed pump when started will continue to act as long as the valve, which
is then in a condition of equilibrium (the difference between the sections to and P
only coming into play when the valve is applied to its seat) has not closed under
the impulse of the float and during the time the piston of the accumulator takes
to ascend to the top of its stroke in closing the method of action of the feed pump
itself.
As the float will only rise upon the introduction of a fresh quantity of water
into the generator, it follows that the supply of water is automatically ensured
which is the object which it was proposed to attain.
When the level of the water in the boiler again falls, the same action takes
place and so on in succession.
It is obvious that with the arrangement which has been described, if the
pressure in the boiler should fall, the equilibrium of the valve would be disturbed
more quickly, since at 5.50 kilos. boiler pressure P x 5.50 kilos. will more
nearly approach the pressure w x 8 kilos. this latter pressure of kilos. being
constant. In such a case the feed will take place more frequently, and this is
not attended by any inconvenience. Besides, with the mean of the variable
quantities a fall of even 50 per cent. in the normal pressure may readily he
provided for.
In the arrangement above described, the variable quantities are w, P ", h, a b
and the weight with which the float, is loaded, without reckoning the form which
may be given to this float in practice, that is to say, this new automatic feed is
adaptable to all boilers no matter what their. working pressure or construction
may be.
Owing to the elastic cushion formed, by the volume of steam, there is no danger
of the occurrence of any hydraulic recoil at the moment when the valve leaves
its seat. This is equally the case when the valve is applied to its seat owing
to the elasticity afforded by the displacement of the accumulator pistón.
My improved feed, system. is completed by an arrangement for causing the
action of the valve to cease if desired, such arrangement, varying in form and

page_text: method of actuation according to the type of steam generator to which the
apparatus is applied.
One of the numerous arrangements by which this object may be attained might,
for example, comprise a rod guided within the feed pipe and terminating at its
upper extremity in a screw capable of displacement by turning in a stuffing-box
mounted upon the said feed pipe. On actuating the rod by means of the handle,
the rod is vertically displaced either in the direction of the valve or in the
opposite direction.
On pressing upon the valve, the rod forces it from its seat and so maintains
it as long as desired, thus preventing it from acting; on leaving the valve the
rod frees the latter which is then applied to its seat under the influence of the
float.
Any other arrangement which would prevent the valve from coming into
contact with its seat would produce the desired result, since it would enable the
automatic action of the feed apparatus above described to be controlled.
My improved feed system is applicable to a battery of steam generators what-
ever may be the number of the latter, provided that the feed pump is sufficiently
powerful for feeding all the generators at once.
In applying the invention to a battery say of four boilers I arrange four
partially submerged feed pipes and a general feed pipe upon which is placed the
accumulator. This general pipe is supposed to differential, that is to say the
section of the different lengths is proportional to the supplies which traverse them.
At the extremities of the pipes I provide four similar valves having all four
the same sections w and P and actuated by similar floats.
Suppos ng now these four valves to be closed under the uniform pressure of
6 kilos. in the four generators, the pressure in the feed pipe and accumulator
being 8 kilos. as before. If under these conditions the third boiler for example
should produce an excess of steam, the level of the water within it will fall until
the valve is caused to act, whereupon the accumulator is also actuated and the
feed pump set in motion. Then the pipe and the accumulator are at a pressure
of 6 kilos. as are likewise the generators.
If during this time the water level should fall in the first generator for
example, we have acting upon the valve, the following forces:
On the generator side P x 6 kilos, and on the feed pipe side w x 6 kilos.;
1 x 6 being stronger than w x 6.
As the water continues to fall in the said first generator it will always be easy
to bring about a disturbance of equilibrium under the influence of the float which
is leaving the water more and more, when the action of the float upon the valve,
through the medium of the lever, is stronger than (P-w) x 6 kilos.
The valve having fallen, its float is again immersed and the feed takes place
simultaneously in the first and third generators.
A moment after the valve in the fourth boiler might fall in its turn and so
cause the boiler to be fed at the same time as the first and third boilers.
Shortly afterwards, the level of the water having become normal in the third
boiler the valve closes under the action of its float and the first and fourth
generators only are fed, and so on.
It will readily be understood that all combination between. the two limits, 1st.
feed taking place in none of the boilers and 2nd, feed taking place in all the
boilers simultaneously, are possible.
One of the advantages of my feed system is that the valve plays the part of a
retaining valve, a valve of this description is thus rendered unnecessary in existing
installations and will not have to be provided in a new installation.
Dad thin th Ja of Decembar 1806
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in Automatic Feed Apparatus for Boilers.
I, FREDERIC CHARLES DYCKHOFF, of Bar le Duc, in the Republic of France,
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:
This invention relates to a method of and apparatus for automatically feeding
boilers of every description, arranged either singly or in batteries. The action
of the apparatus is based upon the production by the fall of the water level in
the boiler of a reduction of the hydrostatic pressure in the feed pipe, such
reduction actuating the feed apparatus properly so called, and in addition pre-
venting the formation of deposits or incrustations in the feed pipe, as will be
understood by the following description.
In order that my invention may be readily understood I have represented the
same in the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 represents an elevation partly in section of the said feed system
applied to a steam generator.
Figure 2 is a detail view of the feed valve and
Figure 3 is a diagrammatic view showing the application of the invention to
a battery of four steam generators.
C is a boiler working at a pressure of, say, 6 kilogrammes, t is its feed pipe,
NN represents the normal level of the water in the boiler.
Within the boiler C at the extremity of the submerged feed pipe t is mounted
a valve S and its seat, this valve is actuated by a loaded float F by means of a
lever L which is supported on the opposite side of the valve at O upon a knife
edge or in any other suitable manner.
The valve S owing to the conical form which is given to it, presents two
different sections, that is to say, the section won the side towards the feed pipe t
and the section w¹ on the side towards the lower part of the boiler C the section wo
being of course smaller than w¹.
To the feed pipe t is connected a small accumulator A, of which the piston P
having an area represented by w is loaded with a weight M producing in the
pipe t any degree of pressure desired, which pressure should, however, be greater
than the boiler pressure. We will suppose for example that this pressure is
the greater by 2 kilos.; the pressure produced by the accumulator will therefor
in this instance, be 2 + 6 = 8 kilos. Assuming the valve S to be closed owing
to the ascending force of the float F and also that the boiler pressure is 6 kilos
and the pressure in the feed pipe t and the accumulator A is 8 kilos., the piston P
being at the top of its stroke."
In constructing the apparatus the force 20' x 6 kilos. can always be made
greater than the force w x 8 kilos. The ascending force of the float F likewise
tends to apply the valve S to its seat in the proportion of the arms ab of the
lever L, and this ascending force aiding the force w¹ x 6 kilos. acting upon the
valve, the resultant will be so much the more greater than w+8 kilos.
When the level N N of the water falls in the boiler C, the loaded float will
little by little emerge being supported by the lever L owing to the
force 6 kilos. acting upon the layer face of the valve S, such force being
greater than the force w + 8 kilos. acting upon the smaller face of the said valve,
until the moment when the point of unstable equilibrium is approached. When,
being out of the water, the weight of the float F' and of its load is able to over-
come the excess of the pressure w¹ + 6 kilos. over the pressure w + 8 kilos. through
the lever L, the said float will suddenly fall and again become immersed in doing
which it will abruptly open the valve S. The water at 8 kilos. pressure contained

page_text: in the feed pipe A and in the accumulator A will then rush into the boiler,
setting up a sudden rush of water in the pipe and upon the seat of the valve S
and also upon the valve itself until an equalisation of pressures is established.
This operation will take a very short time only owing to the considerable
relation between the volume of water at the pressure of kilos. (in the boiler)
and the volume of water at the pressure of 8 kilos. (in the feed pipe and accumu-
lator). The fact that this depression is instantaneous permits of obtaining a
very important result, which is to sweep away any incrustations which may form
at the extremity of the feed pipe t, also upon the seat of the valve S and upon
the valve itself; the effect produced is analogous to that in quick circulation
boilers in which the walls of the pipes are maintained in good condition owing
to such circulation.
As a consequence of this same instantaneous depression, the piston of the
accumulator A will fall through a height h under the influence of the weight M;
in falling this piston P, as is the case in all accumulators, should exercise
sufficient force to immediately start the feed pump, whatever may be the method
by which the boiler is fed.
In the case of a donkey or feed engine, the accumulator piston will open the
cock for the admission of the steam to such feed engine (Worthington or other
type). In the case of a feed pump actuated by the driving gear, the accumulator
piston will either act upon the tension pulley of the driving belt or upon a
friction clutch or gear of any suitable description. In the case of a feed pump
actuated directly by means of a steam motor, the accumulator piston will actuate
the suction cock of the feed pump. If the feed is effected by means of an injector,
a rack of suitable length actuating a pinion keyed upon the needle of the injector
will cause the latter to act while at the same time opening the cock for the
admission of steam to the injector.
The feed pump when started will continue to act as long as the valve S, which
is then in a condition of equilibrium (the difference between the sections 10
and we only coming into play when the valve is applied to its seat) has not closed
under the impulse of the float F and during the time the piston of the accumu-
lator A takes to ascend to the top of its stroke in closing the method of action
of the feed pump itself.
As the float will only rise upon the introduction of a fresh quantity of water
into the generator, it follows that the supply of water is automatically ensured
which is the object which it was proposed to attain.
When the level of the water in the boiler C again falls the same action takes
place and so on in succession.
It is obvious that with the arrangement which has been described, if the
pressure in the boiler should fall, the equilibrium of the valve S would be dis-
turbed more quickly, since at 5.50 kilos. boiler pressure w¹ x 5.50 kilos. will
more nearly approach the pressure x 8 kilos. this latter pressure of 8. kilos.
being constant. In such a case the feed will take place more frequently, and
this is not attended by any inconvenience. Besides, with the mean of the variable
quantities a fall of even 50 per cent. in the normal pressure may readily be
provided for.
In the arrangement above described, the variable quantities are w, wel, w, h, a, b,
and the weight with which the float F is loaded, without reckoning the form
which may be given to the float in practice, that is to say, this new automatic
feed is adaptable to all boilers no matter what their working pressure or con-
struction may be.
Owing to the elastic cushion formed by the volume of steam, there is no danger
of the occurrence of any hydraulic recoil at the moment when the valve S leaves
its seat. This is equally the case when the valve is applied to its seat owing
to the elasticity afforded by the displacement of the accumulator piston.
My improved feed system is completed by an arrangement for causing the
action of the valve S to cease if desired, such arrangement varying in form and

page_text: method of actuation according to the type of steam generator to which the
apparatus is applied.
In
11.
One of the numerous arrangements by which this object may be attained
might, for example, comprise a rod n guided within the feed pipe and rter-
minating at its upper extremity in a screw capable of displacement by turning
in a stuffing box 9 mounted upon the said feed pipe f. On actuating the rod n
by means of the handle m, the rod is vertically displaced either in the direction
of the valve S or in the opposite direction.
On pressing upon the valve S the rod n forces it from its seat and so maintains it
as long as desired, thus preventing it from acting; on leaving the valve the rod n
frees the latter which is then applied to its seat under the influence of the float F.
Any other arrangement which would prevent the valve $ from coming into
contact with its seat would produce the desired result, since it would enable the
automatic action of the feed apparatus above described to be controlled.
My improved feed system is applicable to a battery of steam generators what-
ever may be the number of the latter, provided that the feed pump is sufficiently
powerful for feeding all the generators at once.
In applying the invention to a battery say of four generators, as shown
at 1, 2, 3 and 4 Figure 3, I provide four partially submerged feed pipes tap
respectively and a general feed pipe T upon which is placed the accumulator A.
This general pipe is supposed to be differential, that is to say the section of the
different lengths is proportional to the supplies which traverse them."
At the extremities of the pipes, I provide four similar valves S
having all four the same sections w and w and actuated by similar floats.
Supposing now these four valves to be closed under the uniform pressure of
6 kilos. in the four generators, the pressure in the feed pipe I and accumulator A
being 8 kilos. as before. If under these conditions the third boiler 3 for example
should produce an excess of steam, the level of the water within it will fall until
the valve S, is caused to act, whereupon the accumulator is also actuated and
the feed pump set in motion. Then the pipe I and the accumulator A are at a
pressure of 6 kilos. as are likewise the generators.
If during this time the water-level should fall in the generator for example,
we have acting upon the valve S,, the following forces.
On the generator side w¹ x 6 kilos. and or the feed pipe side w x 6 kilos.
wx 6 being stronger than w x 6.
As the water continues to fall in the generator 7 it will always be easy to bring
about a disturbance of equilibrium under the influence of the float which is
leaving the water more and more, when the action of the float upon the valve,
through the medium of the lever L is stronger than (w x w) x 6 kilos.
The valve S₁, having fallen, its float is again immersed and the feed takes place
simultaneously in the generators 3 and 1.
A moment after the valve S might fall in its turn and so cause the boiler 4
to be fed at the same time as the boilers 3 and 1.
Shortly afterwards, the level of the water having become normal in the
boiler 3, the valve S, closes under the action of its float and the first and fourth
generators 1 and 4 only are fed, and so on.
It will be readily understood that all combinations between the two 'limits,
1st, feed taking place in none of the boilers and 2nd, feed taking place in all
the boilers simultaneously, are possible.
One of the advantages of my feed system is that the valve S plays the part of
a retaining valve, a valve of this description is thus rendered unnecessary in
existing installations and will not have to be provided in a new installation...
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. An automatic feed for boilers in general, arranged either singly or in

page_text: batteries, which is characterised by the arrangement within the boiler, upon
the feed pipe, of a valve the two faces of which are different in section, such
valve being actuated by a float and combined with an accumulator arranged
upon the feed pipe the piston of this accumulator actuating the 'feed apparatus
properly so called, in such a manner that the two faces of the said valve are
subject to different pressures with the object of ensuring a sudden opening of
the valve and, as a consequence of this, a rush of water into the boiler, for the
purpose above indicated, with reference to the drawing.
2. The arrangement as a whole and in its constructional details of the automatic
feed device as above described with reference to the drawing.
Dated this 8th day of September 1897.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.