Improvements in Feed Regulating Apparatus for Steam Boilers.
Year: 1899

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Feed Regulating Apparatus for Steam Boilers.
I, KENNETH DAVID NOBLE, of 143, East Princes Street, Helensburgh, in the
County of Dumbarton, North Britain, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows, that is to say:-
My said invention has for its object to improve the construction and operation
of apparatus for regulating the feeding of steam boilers by means of pumps or
injectors.
space
.
of
In my improved apparatus, as made according to one modification, a hollow
float is arranged in a casing connected by separate pipes to the steam and water
spaces of the boiler or boilers to which the apparatus is applied. The float,
preferably in the form of a vertical cylinder, is within a cylindrical shell of
somewhat larger size, fixed by a flange at its top in the joint between the body
and cover of the casing, the annular space between the shell and the sides of
the casing being open at the bottom whilst closed at the top by the flange.
There is a notch or small hole in the shell at or close to its bottom edge. The
connection to the boiler steam space is at the upper part of the annular
between the shell and the casing:
and the connection with
the boiler water space is at the bottom the casing, so that there
is a tendency for the same water level to be maintained in the annular
space in the casing as in the boiler. The float has its top fitted to slide freely
on a tube projecting downwards from the cover of the casing and also extending
upwards externally; and the bottom of the float is connected to a valve spindle
extending downwards through a passage in a casting fixed to the bottom of the
casing. On the spindle there is a valve controlling the passage from the feed
pumps or injector to the boiler; and there is a smaller supplementary valve
controlling a passage from the feed source and a passage connected to the feed
pump suction, or to the hotwell, or condenser. To the bottom of the casting in
which the valve spindle works there is connected a stopcock and a pipe leading
to the exit pipe from the supplementary valve, or directly to the hotwell or
condenser, which stopcock serving for casing or trying purposes, that is for
ascertaining if the main valve on the spindle is working properly. If the main
valve sticks then on the stopcock being opened the main valve is acted on to
open it by the full boiler pressure.
The tube fixed to the casing cover admits steam from the boiler steam space
by a branch pipe to the interior of the float: and a smaller tube fixed within
the other dips or extends down to the lower part of the float, its upper end
being connected through a stopcock to a branch pipe connected to the exit pipe
from the supplementary valve or directly to the feed-pump suction or the con-
denser. The stopcock at the top of the dipping tube is adjusted to allow of a
small continuous flow of steam and water from the interior of the float; and
the dipping tube is made of such a length as to determine a depth of water in
the float such as to suitably weight the float. Another stopcock connected to
the top of the casing and communicating with the pipe leading to the pump

page_text: suction or to the condenser, is adjusted to allow a small escape of steam from the
space above the float.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-If the water level is too high
the float rises and closes the main and supplementary valves, the latter closing
before the former. Fall in pressure in the small space between the float and
the shell encompassing it causes sensitive action a small quantity of extra water
being driven up quickly within this space and serving to raise the float. If
the water level becomes too low, the water in the casing gets below the bottom
edge of the encompassing shell and allows steam to pass into the space within
the shell, whereupon the float descends. In regular working the float will keep
the main valve just sufficiently open for maintaining the proper water level in
the boiler, the bottom edge of the encompassing shell then just touching or
slightly dipping into the water. The notch or hole at the bottom edge of the
shell, will however be uncovered and bubbles of steam will pass, in sufficient
quantity to compensate for what passes off from the space above the float.
The main valve is preferably formed with inclined grooves round its edge
in order that the water passing it may tend to turn it and thereby keep the
working surfaces in good order.
Instead of their being a main valve and a supplementary valve there may
be only one valvé, the other parts remaining substantially as described.
Dated this Twenty-fourth day of April 1890
I, KENNETH DAVID NOBLE, of 143, East Princes Street, Helensburgh, in the
County of Dumbarton, North Britain, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to le par-
ticularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement, that is
to say:-
My said invention has for its object to improve the construction and operation
of apparatus for regulating the feeding of steam boilers by means of pumps or
injectors.
My improved apparatus comprises a hollow float preferably in the form of
a vertical cylinder arranged in a casing and encompassed by a cylindrical shell
of somewhat larger size, so that a small annular space is formed between the
float and the shell, and a larger annular space between the shell and the sides
of the casing, the latter space being closed at the top and connected at its
upper part to the boiler steam space, while the bottom of the casing is con-
nected to the boiler water space. The bottom edge of the encompassing shell
is formed with a notch or orening, and the apparatus is fixed at such a height
that the bottom edge of the hell is at the level at which the water in the boiler
is intended to be kept. The bottom of the float is connected to a spindle having
on it the regulating valve for the feed water supply, and also a supplementary
feed valve. the valves being arranged in a suitable valve box fixed to the
bottom of the float casing or chamber. The top of the float is fitted to slide
freely on a short tube fixed to the casing cover, and a smaller tube fixed within
the short tube extends down to the lower part of the float, the larger tube being
connected to the boiler steam space, and the smaller tube to the exit pipe from
the supplementary valve, or directly to the feed pump suction or the condenser.
An exhaust outlet for steam and water is formed at the top of the casing, the

page_text: outlet communicating with the feed pump suction or with the condenser. Stop
or adjusting valves or cocks are provided where necessary for suitably con-
necting the various parts. The arrangement is such that if the water level is
too high, a fall in pressure, caused by the exhaust or escape outlet, is produced
in the small space between the float and the encompassing shell, so that a
quantity of extra water is driven up quickly within the space, which serves to
raise the float, and thereby close the main and supplementary feed valves, the
latter closing before the former. If the water level becomes too low, the water
in the casing gets below the bottom edge of the encompassing shell, and allows
steam to pass into the space within the shell, whereupon the float descends and
opens the feed valves. By means of the two tubes dipping into the float,_a
sufficient quantity of water is kept in the float, so as to suitably weight it. In
regular working the float will keep the main valve just sufficiently open for
maintaining the proper water level in the boiler, the bottom edge of the encom-
passing shell then just touching or slightly dipping into the water. The notch
or opening at the bottom edge of the shell will however be uncovered and
bubbles of steam will pass in sufficient quantity to compensate for what passes
off from the space above the float, and thereby keeps up the pressure required
in that part or space of the casing.
And in order that my said invention and the manner of performing the same
may be properly understood I hereunto append an explanatory drawing to be
hereinafter referred to in describing the improvements.
The figure shown in the accompanying drawing is a vertical section of the
improved feed regulating apparatus.
In the improved apparatus as made according to one modification a hollow
float, A, is arranged in a casing, B. connected by separate pipes, B1, B2, to
the steam and water spaces of the boiler or boilers to which the apparatus is
applied. The float, A, preferably in the form of a vertical cylinder is within
a cylindrical shell, C, of somewhat larger size, fixed by a flange. C1, at its top
in the joint between the body, B, and the cover, B3 of the casing, the annular
space, C2, between the shell, C, and the sides of the casing, B, being open at
the bottom whilst closed at the top by the flange. There is a notch or small
hole, C3, formed in the shell at or close to its bottom edge. The connection to
the boiler steam space is at the upper part of the annular space, C2, between the
shell, C, and the sides of the casing, B; and the connection with the boiler
water space is at the bottom of the casing so that there is a tendency for the
same water level to be maintained in the annular space in the casing as in the
boiler. The float, A, has its top part. A 1. fitted to slide freely on a tubular
piece, A2, fixed to the casing cover, B3, the tube projecting downwards from
the cover and also extending upwards externally; and the bottom of the float
is connected to a valve spindle, D, extending downwards through a passage in
a valve box. E, fixed to the bottom of the casing. On the spindle, 1), there is
a valve, D1, controlling the passage, E1, from the feed pumps or injector to
the boiler, the water entering the valve box preferably at the branch opening, E2,
and passing out to the boiler at the opening, E3. There is also a smaller
supplementary valve, D2, on the spindle controlling a passage, E4, from the
feed source to the feed pump suction, or to the hotwell or condenser the supple-
mentary water entering the valve box by the branch opening, E5, and passing
out to the pipe or part, G. leading to the feed pump suction, or to the hotwell
or condenser by the opening, E6. Passages, E7, E8, are formed through the
valve spindle, D, so as to permit water to pass from the casing, B. to the under
sides of the valves, D1. D2. so as to balance the valves and enable them to be
moved easily and quickly. To the bottom of the valve box. E, there is con-
nected a drain or easing cock, H. and a pipe, H1, leading to the exit pipe, G.
or directly to the hotwell or condenser, the easing cock serving for easing or
trying purposes, that is for ascertaining if the main valve, D1, on the spindle, D,
is working properly. If the main valve sticks then on the easing cock, H. being

page_text: opened, all back pressure is taken away, and the main valve is acted on to open
it by the full boiler pressure.
The tubular piece, A 2, fixed to the casing cover, B 3, admits steam from the boiler
steam space by a branch pipe, A3, to the interior of the float, A; and a smaller
tube, A4, fixed within the tubular piece dips or extends down to the lower part
of the float, its upper end being connected through a stopcock, A5, to a branch
pipe, A6, connected to the exit pipe, G, from the supplementary valve, or
directly to the feed-pump suction or the condenser. The stopcock, A5, at the
top of the dipping tube, A4, is adjusted to allow of a small continuous flow
of steam and water from the interior of the float, A; and the dipping tube is
made of such a length as to determine a depth of water in the float such as to
suitably weight the float. An exhaust or escape outlet, J, is formed in the
casing cover, B3, the outlet being provided with a stopcock, J 1, connected by
a branch pipe, J2, with the pipe, A6, leading to the feed pump suction or the
condenser, the stopcock being adjusted to allow a small escape of steam from
the space above the float.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-If the water level is too high,
the float, A, rises and closes the main and supplementary feed valves, D 1,
and D2, the latter closing before the former. Fall in pressure in the small
space between the float, Å, and the encompassing shell, C, produced by the
exhaust or escape outlet, J, causes sensitive action, a small quantity of extra
water being driven up quickly within the space between the float and the shell
as shown and thereby serving to raise the float. If the water level becomes
too low, the water in the casing gets below the bottom edge of the encompassing
shell, C, and allows steam to pass into the space within the shell whereupon
the float, A, descends and opens the feed valves, 11, and D2. In regular
working the float, A, will keep the main valve, 11, just sufficiently open for
maintaining the proper water level in the boiler, at the same time keeping the
supplementary valve closed, the bottom edge of the encompassing shell, C, then
just touching or slightly dipping into the water. The notch or opening, C3,
at the bottom edge of the shell, C, will however be uncovered and bubbles of
steam will pass in sufficient quantity to compensate for what passes off from
the space above the float, so as thereby to keep up the pressure required in that
part of the casing.
The main valve, D1, is preferably formed with inclined grooves, D3, round
its edge in order that the water passing it may tend to turn it and thereby keep
the working surfaces in good order. A gauge glass, K, is fitted to the apparatus
so as to indicate the movement of the water within the space between the
float, A, and the shell, C. An indicating tube, L, made of glass is fitted below
the valve box, E, and an indicating rod, L1, fixed to the bottom of the supple-
mentary valve, D2, extends down through the tube so that the action of the
valves D1, D2, and the float, A, can always be conveniently ascertained by
observing the working of the indicating rod. A glass tubular portion, GI,
having a protecting casing, G2, formed with sight openings is fitted to the
pipe or part, G, leading from the supplementary valve to the feed pump suction
or the condenser, so that water passing along may be seen, thus enabling it
to be conveniently ascertained whether the parts connected with the pipe, G,
are working properly or otherwise.
Instead of there being a main valve, D1, and a supplementary valve, D2,
there may be only one valve used, the other parts of the apparatus remaining
substantially as described.
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 Improved feed regulating apparatus for steam boilers, comprising a float,
arranged in a casing, and encompassed by a cylindrical shell made so as to form

page_text: .
a space between the float and the shell, and a space between the shell and the
sides of the casing, the latter space being closed at the top and open at the
bottom, the upper part being connected to the boiler steam space, and the lower
part of the casing to the boiler water space, the bottom edge of the shell being
formed with a notch or opening, the upper part of the casing above the shell
having an exhaust or escape outlet, the bottom of the float being connected to
the valve or valves for controlling the feed water supply to the boiler or
boilers, the top of the float sliding on a tube projecting down into the float the
tube having fixed within it a smaller tube dipping down into the lower interior
of the float, the tubes being connected respectively to the boiler steam space,
and to the feed pump suction, or the condenser, the apparatus being provided
with suitable stopcocks and indicating devices, and the parts being combined
arranged and operating substantially as and for the purposes herein before
described with reference to the accompanying drawing.
2-In feed regulating apparatus for steam boilers, a cylindrical shell com-
bined with a float arranged in a casing, the shell encompassing the float so as
to form a space between the float and the shell, and a space between the shell
and the sides of the casing, the latter space being closed at the top and open
at the bottom, and a notch or opening being formed in the bottom edge of the
shell substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described with reference
to the accompanying drawing.
3-In feed regulating apparatus for steam boilers, a tube on which the top
of the float slides, the tube projecting down into the float, and having fixed
within it a smaller tube dipping down into the lower interior of the float, the
tubes being connected respectively to the boiler steam space, and to the feed
pump suction, or to the condenser substantially as and for the purposes, herein-
before described with reference to the accompanying drawing.
Dated this Twenty-second day of January 1900.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.