IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR HEATING FEED WATER, APPLICABLE TO STEAM BOILERS AND OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1873

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Thomas Green at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 28th
February 1878.
I, THOMAS GREEN, of the Phoenix Chemical Works, Ouseburn, New-
castle-on-Tyne, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
“IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR HEATING FEED WATER, APPLICABLE TO STEAM
BOILERS AND OTHER PURPOSES," to be as follows:-
My Invention has reference to fire-bar feed water heaters, and consists
in the modo of constructing the fire-bars and the combination of appa-
ratus therowith herein-after described.
The object of the Invention is to adapt and apply hollow fire-bars to
the purpose of heating feed water by causing the water to pass through
cach bar successively so as to heat it to near the boiling point before it
is forced or caused to pass into the boiler or steam generator, and the
bars are so constructed as to keep the flow of water entirely to the fire-
bars by arranging a continuous water course through the whole series of
bars, the heads of which at each end are connected together by means
of connecting pieces having parts which unite the water passage of one
bar with that of the adjoining bar, thereby maintaining the continuity of

page_text: the water course from the inlet to the outlet pipe, the water passing
through each of the several bars in alternate directions. The modo of
constructing the fire-bars for this purpose consists in forming their heads
to receive connecting pieces which themselves form the under parts of
the heads of the two fire-bars, which each connecting piece is required
to unite. Each of such connecting pieces has in it a water course ter-
minating in two nipples, which form a communication with the water
courses in the upper parts of the half heads of the two adjoining fire-
bars. The nipples project from the connecting piece and fit into the said
water courses, thereby forming a perfect joint, which is made water-tight
as required, by an india-rubber washer applied to each nipple or by means
of cement. These connecting piece unite the heads of every two fire-
bars at each end, and continue the water course from one bar to the
other.
"
The connecting pieces are secured to the fire-bars, and both to the
bearing bars at each end by means of bolts, one of which is inserted at
the junction of every two fire-bars. Each of such bolts has a square
tapered head dovetailed on two sides in order to fit into a corresponding
dovetailed recess formed in the upper part of the heads of the two
adjoining fire-bars. This bolt passes between the heads of these two
fire-bars through the centre of their connecting piece, and down through
the projecting flange on the bearing bar. A nut in the central part of the
bolt secures the connecting piece, and a second nut under the flange of
the bearing bar secures the whole firmly to the bearing bar. The head
of the bolt is dovetailed into the fire-bars so as to hold them firmly and
prevent strain on the nipples or joint of the connecting piece with the
heads of the two fire-bars. The feed-water can be forced through the
said water course, and after traversing the whole series of fire-bars will
have become sufficiently heated so that it may then be forced into the
boiler by the force pump of the engine. But as the boiler may not
require a continuous supply, it is arranged that the heated feed water is
forced into a cistern whence it may be supplied to. the boiler as
required.
The circulation of the water through the fire-bars is rendered self-
acting and continuous as required, without the aid of a force pump by
means of cisterns placed above, one of which communicates at the
bottom with the inlet pipe of the fire-bars, and at the upper part receives
the upper end of the outlet pipe of the same. By this means the colder

page_text: water at the bottom of the cistern will pass into the fire-bars, and being
heated therein will be caused to pass into the upper part of the said
.cistern.
The supply cock for the cistern is rendered self-acting by means of a
float so as to maintain the water in the cistern at the required level,
which must be above the pipe which convoys heated water to the cistern,
thoroby keeping a constant supply of water passing through the fire-
bars, and preventing accident from a deficiency of water therein.
Stop cocks and check valves are arranged so as to be capable of
directing a supply of the heated feed water into the boiler; or when
sufficient water has been so supplied to the boiler, the course of the feed
water can be directed into the cistern, and continue to circulate through
the bars until again required in the boiler, a supply of hot water being
thereby always kept ready for this or other purpose.