AN IMPROVED METHOD OF SUPPLYING STEAM BOILERS WITH WATER
Year: 1850

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, MATTHEW
GRAY, of Three, Morris Place, in the City of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark,
Practical Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, bearing date at Westminter, the Thirty-first day of July, One thousand
eight hundred and fifty, in the fourteenth year of Her reign, did give and
grant unto me, the said Matthew Gray, my exors, adñiors, and assigns, Her
special licence, full power, sole privilege and authority, that I, the said Matthew
Gray, my exors, adñiors, and assigns, and such others as I, the said Matthew
Gray, my exors, adñiors, and assigns, might at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term of years
therein mentioned, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend,
within that part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland called
England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention,
entitled "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF SUPPLYING STEAM BOILERS WITH WATER;" in
which said Letters Patent there is contained a proviso, that I, the said
Matthew Gray, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of my
said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, by an instru-
ment in writing under my hand and seal, to be enrolled in Her said Majesty's
High Court of Chancery within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said in part recited Letters Patent, as, reference being
thereunto had, will more fully and at large appear.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Matthew Gray, do hereby declare the nature of my "Improved Method of
Supplying Steam Boilers with Water" to consist in the construction and
application of certain apparatus by which the requisite supply of water to such
boilers is more advantageously effected and rendered more uniform and certain
than by the ordinary means now in use; and the manner in which the same is
to be performed and carried into effect will be seen by reference to the annexed
Drawing and the following description :-
Before I commence the description with reference to the annexed Drawing,
I would remark, that the ordinary methods now in use for supplying steam
boilers with water are, either to force the water to a height sufficient to over-
come the pressure within the boiler by its gravity, and then allow it to descend
through a vertical pipe into the boiler; the quantity of water necessary to keep
the water line in the boiler to the required height being regulated by micans
of a valve worked by a float inside the boiler, so that as the water in the
boiler rises or falls, the float shuts or opens a valve and regulates the admission
of the water, according to the demands of the boiler. The other method is
to force the water directly into the boiler by a force pump, and regulate the
supply either by means of a float acting on a valve, or by means of a valve
or stop-cock worked by hand and attended to by the operative. The first
method is objectionable, from the height of the pipes required, particularly
for high-pressure boilers; the second, from the difficulty of regulating the
amount of supply, so as to maintain the water line at the desired height in
the boiler, and both on account of the power required to raise the water to the
requisite height, or to force it into the boiler against the pressure of the steam.
My Invention is intended to obviate these objections, and the manner in which
it is to be performed I shall now proceed to explain.
Figure 1 on the annexed Sheet of Drawings is a sectional elevation, and
Figure 4 a plan, of one modification of my Invention, which, however, can be
used only in connection with a steam engine or other motive power. D, D,
represents a tank of water placed in any convenient position above the steam
boiler B, B. This tank is supplied by the tap R, and the flow of water from
such tap is regulated by the ball or float T, which rises or falls with the water
in the tank D, D. The shaft A is revolved by the engine or other motive
power, and at each revolution the small pulley d, placed at the end of the
crank e, depresses the lever L, which moves on its fulcrum at O. This lever
recovers its former position after the pulley has passed by the upward pressure
of the spiral springs w, w. These springs w, w, support the perpendicular

page_text: rods s, s, the upper ends of which are immediately under the lever L, at j. j.
The rods s, s, pass through stuffing boxes at n, n, and are respectively connected
at their lower extremity to the valves g and k, and which valves controul the
communication between the two pipes E and F and the separate vessel or
condenser C. These valves are opened at each depression of the lever I, the
rod attached to the valve g being a little the longer for the purpose of opening
that valve first. Both valves are shut at the lever's elevation by the action of
the spiral springs w, w.
The desired water line in the boiler is seen at h
in the boiler B, B, and the pipe E proceeds from the valve g to the exact level
of the desired water line h. The adjoining pipe F proceeding from the valve.k
reaches down below the desired water line. Both the pipes E and F are
connected with the condenser C, which is provided with a valve V, opening
inwards from the tank D, D, and kept closed (unless when moved, as after-
wards mentioned,) by a small spiral spring. as seen in the Drawing.
. Having now described the construction of the first modification of my appa-
ratus, I shall proceed to describe the mode of its operation.
The shaft A having been set in motion, I shall, for the sake of being
more easily understood, assume that the water in the boiler B, B, is below
the level of the desired water line h. Tho pipe E becomes filled with steam,
and the next time the shaft A revolves, it depresses the lever L and opens the
valves g and k. The former admits steam from the boiler through the pipe E
to the condenser C. On the lever recovering its original position, the
valves g and are shut, and the condenser C being charged with steam, and
surrounded with the water in the tank D, D, condensation takes place, a
partial vacuum is produced, the valve V is opened, and the water from the
cistern D, D, flows through the valve V and fills the condenser C. The con-
denser C being now charged with water from the tank D, D, at the next
revolution of of the shaft A the valves 9 and k are again opened, and the
steam from the boiler B, B, passing up the pipe E and pressing on the surface
of the water in the condenser C, forces it down through the valve k into the
boiler B, B. It must here be remarked that .the valve g opens a little in
advance of the valve k; for the purpose of allowing the steam pressure to
assist in (in) opening the latter. The shaft A continues to revolve, and this
operation is repeated as before, until the water rises in the boiler B, B, above
the level of the desired water line h, when water from the boiler will rise in
the pipes E and F. and the admission of steam into the condenser C be cut
action of the apparatus will
off. This will prevent condensation, and the
cease; notwithstanding the valves gand k continue to be opened and shut, until

page_text: the water in the boiler again falls below the desired water line h. If at any
time it is deterinined to raise the water in the boiler above the line h, this
can be accomplished by opening the tap Z, which communicates between the
top of the boiler and the pipe E, as shewn in the Drawing, Figure 1. By
thus admitting steam from the top of the boiler to the pipe E, the level of
the water in the boiler may be raised to any height above the line h. I would
also remark that the valve V may be placed in the under side of the con-
denser C and open upwards from the tank D, D, into the condenser C, in which
case the spring attached to the spindle of the valve V may be dispensed with,
as the weight of the valve will be sufficient to shut it.
Figures 2 and 5 represent another modification of my Invention, which
may be used whether it is or is not in connection with a steam engine or
other motive power. Figure 2 is a section, and Figure
a plan of the
apparatus. B, B, is a sectional elevation of a steam boiler; and h, the height
at which it is desired to maintain the water line in the boiler. Fitted to the
boiler are the pipes E and F, the pipe E terminating at the desired water line
h, and the pipe F passing down below such water line; these pipes commu-
nicate with the condenser C by means of the valves g and k, all as before
explained. The valves g and k are attached to the rods s, s, passing through
the stuffing boxes n, n, and connected to the lever L. at j,j, which holds both
valves shut by means of the weight W, placed at one extremity of the lever L
beyond the fulcrum O. At the opposite end of the lever L is placed a vessel
or bucket P, which is constructed of a capacity rather less than that of the
condenser C. This bucket receives a continuous supply of water from the tap
R, the quantity of which is regulated by the float or ball T. It is provided on
the top with the slide t, which may be moved horizontally, as required, for the
purpose of regulating the flow of water from the bucket. The remaining parts,
so far as common to both modifications, are indicated by similar letters of
reference to those used in Figures 1 and 4. In this modification of my Inven-
tion, the opening from time to time, as occasion requires, of the valves g and k
is effected, independent of any engine power, as in Figures 1 and 4, in the
following manner :-As soon as the bucket P is filled from the tap R, or nearly
so, it overbalances the weight W, and depresses the lever L and opens the
valve g, and immediately afterwards the valve k, the opening of which is
delayed by the slot through which the lever L passes being rather deeper than
that connected with the valve g, and at the same time the projection d comes
in contact with the stop b, upsets the bucket P (vibrating on a stud at f), and
empties its contents into the tank D, D. The bucket P is no sooner empty

page_text: than the weight W raises it to its former position, and thus a continuous
vibration of the lever L, and consequent opening and shutting of the valves g
and k, is kept up, and is followed by the same action, as has already been
described in reference to the modification of my apparatus shewn by Figures 1
and 4. The slide t is used for the purpose of controuling the flow of water
from the bucket P to the tank D, D, so as to give time for the water being
discharged from the condenser C thro' the pipe F into the boiler B, B.
Whenever an encreased demand of the condenser C for water from without
depresses the surface of the water in the tank D, D, the float or ball T opens
the tap R proportionally, and thereby increases the supply of water to the
necessary extent by accelerating the vibrations of the lever L.
Figures 3 and 6 shew another modification of my Invention, which may be
used in the same circumstances as the immediately preceding. Figure 3 is a
section, and Figure 6 a plan, of this modification of the apparatus. The letters
B, B, represent, as before, a sectional elevation of the boiler; and E and F, tho
pipes fixed on the boiler, and communicating with the condenser C by meaus
of the valves g and k. The pipe E terminates at h, the height at which it is
désired to maintain the water line in the boiler, and may either pass through
the condenser C, as represented, or be placed on the outside, and the pipe F
reaches down below such water line, all as before explained. The upper valve
g is an equilibrium valve (but it may be made a common single-faced valve),
fixed on the spindle s, which is guided at the bottom by a footstep. This
spindle s is provided with the collars and u, beneath which are respectively
placed floats J and M, moveable in a downward direction on the spindle s.
The condenser C is supplied with water by the pipe X, in Figure 6, through
the valve N, which valve opens inwards. is a valve for allowing the water
to pass from the condenser C through the pipe F into the boiler, and opens
outwards. The valve N, already described, but not fully shewn in the Draw-
ing, is of a similar construction to the valve k, being placed at a small inclina-
tion, so as to shut by its own gravity. When the pipe X draws its supply from
a source lower than the valve N, the partial vacuum in the condenser C may
be made to lift the water required for the supply of the boiler B, B, from such
lower point, provided the height of the lift does not exceed the power of such
partial vacuum. To commence operating with this modification of my Inven-
ion, it is required first to admit the steam from the boiler by the tap Z into
the condenser C, and expel the atmospheric air through the tap y. As soon
as the taps Z and y are shut and the condenser C filled with steam, conden-
sation takes place, the condenser C being surrounded with water or exposed

page_text: to the atmosphere, as shewn in the Drawing, and the water flows into it
through the valve N, until the float J rises, and acting on the collar r, opens
the valve g. The steam now passes into the condenser C, and forces the water
in it thro' the valve k into the boiler. As soon as the valve k is shut, and the
condenser C is again filled with steam, condensation takes place, and water
rushing in at the valve N, the buoyancy of the float M. maintains the valve g
open until the water is discharged from the condenser C, when the weight of
the float J resting on the collar w, causes the valve g to shut; and the con-
denser C being now again filled with steam, the operation is repeated as before,
unless the water in the boiler B, B, rises above the desired level, shewn by the
water line h. Upon that happening, the water from the boiler will, as already
described, rise in the pipes E and F, and the admission of steam into the con-
denser C being cut off, the action of the apparatus ceases until the water in
the boiler again falls below the line h. It will be seen in all these modifica-
tions of my Invention, that if the water in the boiler is below the level of tho
point h, the steam will rise in the pipe E, and bring the apparatus into action;
but that whenever the water in the boiler is higher than the point h, it will rise
in the pipes E and F, and then the boiler will be supplied with no more water
from without until it falls below the point h, so that of necessity the level of
the water in the boiler must always be maintained at the determinate level
or water line h, as is desired.
In the three modifications of any Invention, which I have described as
applied to a boiler, it is obvious, that by attaching a separate apparatus com-
municating with any one of a system of boilers (these boilers being placed at
or near the same level), and by opening a sufficient communication between
each boiler below the water line, the same apparatus may be made to effect
and regulate the supply of water to any number of boilers, the communication
between each boiler and the apparatus being so arranged that it may be opened
or shut at pleasure, according as any particular boiler may or may not require
to be used. I would further remark, that the size of apparatus for carrying
Invention into effect, and the proportion which one part bears to another,
must depend mainly on the extent of boiler room to be supplied with water,
the required pressure of steam to be generated, and the speed at which my
apparatus is desired to work. The size and form of the condenser will also
somewhat depend on the temperature of the water with which it is supplied
from without. But as some guide on these points, the apparatus I have deli-
neated to a scale in the annexed Drawing is found adequate to boiler room for
a thirty horse condensing engine, working with a pressure of about ten pounds
my

page_text: per square inch on the boiler, and the supply water being drawn from a source
at the ordinary temperature of the atmosphere. The position, form, size, and
proportion of the several parts, as shewn in my Drawings, are found convenient;
although without departing from the essential character of my Invention these
parts may be adapted to a variety of circumstances by slight alterations, regard
being had to mechanical principles, well known to persons conversant with
work of this nature.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the manner in which
the same may be carried into effect, by reference to these different modifica-
tions of my apparatus, I have now to state that I do not claim any well-known
separate part of the apparatus thus delineated and described; but I do claim
as my Invention,―
Firstly, the apparatus as now described by me according to three distinct
modifications thereof.
Secondly, the application and use of a moveable bucket or vessel receiving
and discharging water, in the manner described as relative to Figures 2 and 5
of my Drawings, for the purpose of opening and shutting valves or taps by a
lever or other mechanical contrivance, and thereby effecting and regulating the
supply of water to a steam boiler.
Thirdly, the application and use of a separate fixed or stationary vessel or
condenser, connected with a steam boiler or boilers, into which condenser water
and steam are from time to time admitted (according as the water in such
boiler rises above or falls below a certain desired level or water line), for the
of effecting and regulating by means of valves or taps, with or without
the aid of engine or other motive power, the necessary supply of water to such
boiler or boilers.
purpose
In witness whereof, I, the said Matthew Gray, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty.
MATTHEW (L.S.) GRAY.
igned, sealed, and delivered before, and in presence of,
ROBERT. BAIRD,
Master Extraordinary.
D DAVER

page_text: AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Twenty-eighth day of December,
in the year of our Lord 1850, the aforesaid Matthew Gray came before our
said Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification
aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained and specified, in form above
written. And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped according to the
tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.