An Improved Device for Automatically Regulating the Supply of Liquid to Instantaneous Steam Generators and the like
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Dec., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 27th Sept., 1897-Accepted, 4th Dec., 1897
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
"An Improved Device for Automatically Regulating the Supply of
Liquid to Instantaneous Steam Generators and the like."
I, PAUL DOUDART DE LA GREE, of 95 Boulevard Beaumarchais, Paris, in the
Republic of France, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:
The arrangements forming the subject of this invention have been combined
with a view to obtaining, in generators for instantaneous vaporisation, the auto-
natic regulation by the generator itself of the admission of the liquid to be
vaporised, in, such a manner that only such a quantity of liquid can enter the
generator as is equal to, or less than (within limits which may be regulated at
will) the quantity which the generator is in a condition to vaporise, without
becoming choked, at the pressure which is necessitated by the work for which
the steam is supplied.
In order to attain this result, I place within the generator itself a device
intended to be acted upon by fluctations of temperature and which I term a
receiver or temperature receiver, consisting of a small receptacle containing a
certain quantity of liquid (water or mercury for example) or of gas (air for:
example) or of a mixture of these two fluids, and placed in such a position that
such Huid will itself undergo all the variations of temperature which are produced
within the generator. This receptacle is arranged in such a way that, on the one-
hand, whilst the generator is not producing steam, the generator transmits to the
said receptacle, either by metallic contact or by radiation, the heat which it
receives itself from the furnace, and in such a manner that, on the other hand,
whilst the generator is producing steam, the steam produced communicates by
its contact or by its proximity a temperature which is as nearly as possible equal-
to its own. And finally, this receptacle is so placed that it cannot receive directly
from the furnace sufficient heat to prejudicially affect either the influence
exercised upon it by the variations in the temperature of the generator and of
the steam traversing the latter, or the homogeneity of the relations which
should exist, as regards the variations in temperature, between the steam of the
generator and the receptacle.
In this manner the temperature receiver provides for the fluid which it contains
an expansive force varying as the temperatures to which it is submitted and which
I utilise for producing a movement, by putting the receptacle in communication
with another part which is flexible or extensible and tight so as to confine the
liquid between itself and the receptacle (such as a bellows, membrane or the like,
either metallic or not).
And finally I cause this expansive force to act, as a balancing agent, in opposi-
tion to the pressures which the thrusts of the pump produce within the generator
or the pipe leading thereto, in order to increase, and diminish the quantity of the
liquid to be vaporised which is able to enter the generator, or even totally stop
Euch supply and this by means of an obturator (such as a valve, door, slide or

page_text: other similar device) placed between the thrust of the pump and the generator
the said obturator being, for this purpose, actuated on one side by the expansive
force of the liquid contained within the receptacle, and on the other side by the
pressures resulting from the thrust of the pump, in such a manner that these
latter actuate the obturator in the direction tending to close the passage, whils
the balancing agent, on the contrary, actuates the obturator in the direction
tending to open it.
A spring, which may be regulated at will, adds its effect to that of the internal
pressures so as to tend to close the passage and serves to produce (whilst varying
it at will) the difference which it is desired to maintain between the action of
the balancing device and that of the internal pressures,, and, consequently, what
I term the degree of superheating, that is to say, the difference that it is desired
to have between the temperature of the steam produced by the generator and that
which corresponds to its effective pressure.
In one form the receiver is located in one of the tubes of a generator composed
of flattened tubes.
In another form the receiver is within a pant specially provided for its recep-
tion through which is caused to pass the steam from a generator of any des-
cription for instantaneous vaporisation. The receiver is placed at some point
sufficiently near the heating surfaces of the generator in order that its action
may not be too greatly delayed after a closing has been effected; it is however
arranged in such a manner as not to receivo sufficient heat directly as to pre-
judicially affect the influence exercised upon it by the temperature of the steam
of the generator.
In the above mentioned forms, the receiver consists of a receptacle which com-
municates by the tube with the flexible part hereinafter described. It will be
seen that the receptacle is surrounded by the current of the generator steam and
is thus exposed to the variations in temperature of such steam. It may be
entirely closed except for the outlet by the tube. It may be closed by a screw
threaded plug which may carry a rod permitting its capacity to be modified at
the moment when it is regulated, by diminishing the capacity successively.
This part may be formed as a cylindrical case, but it will of course be obvious
that I am not limited to this form, but may, on the contrary, employ a receptacle
of any suitable form whatsoever.
In one form of balancing device the expansive force coming from the receiver.
acts by means of a membrane and a piston upon a slide. Or the same apparatus
may act upon an inverted valve and upon a direct valve respectively.
Upon the pipe bringing the liquid from the pump to the generator (whether the
pump is provided with an air chamber or not) beyond the place whero the water
return is situated, I place an obturator (which in one form may be a slide and in
another a valve) which tends to close under the action of the pressures existing
in the pipe, either directly and in addition by the action of the flexible part,
or solely under the action of the flexible part. With this object the obturator
is rigidly connected with the rod which is actuated by the piston when the
pressures coming from the pipe set the latter in motion, in such a manner that
at this moment the obturator bends to close. The piston carried by the rod
itself rests upon the face of the flexible part, and this latter, ou the other hand,
receives upon its other face an effort in the contrary direction from the pressures
reaching it by the tube of the receiver located within the generator. The flexible
part in some cases consist of a membrane or rather a series of membranes of
gold beater's skin or india rubber protected by two metallic sheets, or of any
other suitable flexible substance whether metallic or otherwise.
A spring acts, by means of a cross-piece or nut which is fixed upon the rod,
upon the obturator with an effect which is regulable at will by screwing or
unscrewing the screw-threaded transverse part.
. The receptacle lodged within the generator is placed in communication by the
tube with the tight chamber which is closed on one side by the face of the flexible

page_text: part. The liquid which the receptacle contains is thus confined' in this chamber,
the pipe and the receptacle, and the pressures which are there produced tend to
repel the flexible part and consequently the rod with the obturator which they
thus tend to open.
A flexible member composed of membranes, may be employed but I do not
thereby mean to exclude the employment of other description of flexible member.
On the contrary I expressly reserve to myself the right to use in my balancing
device any other member fulfilling the same office, such for example as bellows,
chambers of india rubber or other elastic materials, confined if necessary within
metallic walls to enable them to resist pressure, or metallic bellows.
My apparatus may for example act by means of a metallic liellows upon another
metallic bellows and an inverted valve, the arrangement being as follows:-
The obturator tends to close under the pressures existing in the pipe by the
action of the lower bellows, the section of which is kept with this object of the
necessary dimensions with respect to those of the obturator.
I prolong the rod which rigidly connects this valve or obturator with the
metallic bellows beyond this bellows, which it traverses through a tight joint as
far as a second or upper metallic bellows, working in the opposite direction and
to which the expansive force coming from the receiver is communicated through
the tube.
Between the two bellows thus united in opposition one to another, I provide a
spring bearing upon the transverse part the action of which upon the rod, which
action is regulable at will by means of the milled disc, tends to close the valve.
The method of action of the apparatus is as follows,.
I cause. the apparatus to be actuated in two different and opposite manners
according to the nature of the regulation which I desire to obtain for the work.
for which the generator is intended.
In order that, in the case of the slide first herein described, the parts may
remain arranged in the same way with the two improvements, I have arranged a
double slide which assures the closing equally whether it comes from one direction
or the other, but it is obvious that I can employ a single slide in an apparatus
in which it is only intended to use one of the methods of working hereinafter
described.
FIRST METHOD OF WORKING.
If, for example, the apparatus is to be applied to a generator having to supply
steam at a constant pressure, I regulate the thrust of the pump to the desired
pressure, and I cause the liquid coming from the pump to pass through the pipe.
I cause this liquid to pass to the generator by another pipe.
'
If the generator is cold at the moment an injection is made, the obturator will
remain closed under the action of the thrust of the pump and of the spring.
Immediately the generator has become sufficiently heated to heat the fluid
contained in the receiver, a pressure is produced which will actuate the upper
flexible member; so as to tend to open the obturator. When the temperature has
risen sufficiently for this pressure to overcome the closing effort, the obturator
will open and allow to the liquid to be vaporised free access to the generator.
The liquid upon arriving in the generator is vaporised and takes a temperature
which it communicates in its paesage to the receiver. The liquid (expanded or
vaporised) contained by this latter receives a tension proportionate to this tem-
perature. This action exercised upon the flexible member will itself be pro-
portionate to this tension and consequently to this temperature.
It is obvious that, so long as this tension overcomes the effort of the spring
and the thrust of the pump tending to close the obturator, the inlet to the
generator will remain open. If, however, the quantity of liquid injected and the
steam used become sufficiently large to lower the temperature. of the generator
and of the steam, the temperature of the receiver will fall at the same time as
also the pressure that it exerts. The obturator will have a tending to close, thus

page_text: restricting the passage and diminishing the quantity of water which can enter
the generator.
Thus the inlet to the generator will only be open when the quantity of liquid
introduced and the steam used are such that the temperature of this steam com-
municated to the receiver, gives to this latter, a pressure balancing the efforts
exerted by the spring and the thrust of the pump."
It is sufficient to suitably regulate (according to the nature of the fluid em-
ployed in the receiver) the dimensions of the flexible member and the tension of
the spring, in order that only such quantity of liquid may be able to enter the
generator, as the latter is capable of vaporising at the desired pressure and at a
superheating temperaturo regulable at will by increasing or dimonishing the
tension of the spring.
Even if the temperature in the generator, owing to any cause, should fall below
this limit, the generator will not on that account become choked. In this case as
the temperature of the receiver no Jonger enables the effort which it exerts
at S S to counterbalance the resistances opposed to it, the obturater will close
and the supply of liquid to the generator will cease. The obturator will again
open as soon as the generator becomes sufficiently beated.
Although I have taken as an example of this method of werking the case of
work done under a fixed constant pressure; I do not thereby intend to exclude
from application to this case the use of the second method of working which I
will now describe and which on the contrary I reserve the right to employ under
all conditions.
SECOND METHOD OF WORKING.
Instead of causing the effect of the pump thrust to arrive by way of the pipe,
I cause it to come by another pipe so that the liquid reaches the generator by way
of the first pipe.
The action then takes place in a manner similar to that already described.
Equilibrium is established, not by the pressure from the direct thrust of the
pump, but by the pressures which exist in the generator itself upon the other
side of the place where the obturator is located.
At the commencement and as long as the generator remains cold, the obturator
romains closed under the action of the spring (and of the thrust of the pump
in some cases).
As soon as the generator has become sufficiently heated to heat the receiver by
metallic communication the pressure in the latter rises, and when the temperature
has risen high enough to enable this pressure which is being exerted upon tho
surface to overcome the resistance opposed to the opening of the obturator by
the spring (and the thrust of the pump in some cases) the obturator uncovers the
opening which gives access to the generator.
If an injection is made at this moment the effect of the thrust of the pump
passes through the opening. The liquid enters the generator, is there vaparisod
and rises in pressure, this pressure instantly exerting upon the flexible member
an effort which, aiding that of the spring and the action of the current upon the
obturator, tends to close the latter.
When, however, the receiver has had imparted to it, either by metallic com-
munication or by the contact or the neighbourhood of the steam formed in the
generator, a heat sufficient to permit it to overcomo this now resistance added
to the initial resistances, the balancing action will again take place.
It will be seen that from this moment the flexible member which actuates the
obturator is submitted to two contrary efforts, one constituted by the pressure
that the heat communicated by the steam to the receiver causes upon the surface,
the other by the pressure of the steam itself which is exerted upon the surface
other, increased by the action of the spring and of the current from the pump
upon the obturator (or of the friction of the slide, as the case may be).
If the injection of the liquid becomes too great and consequently the expendi-

page_text: ture of steam too considerable for the heat distributed by the generator furnace,
the temperature of the steam will fall, and, with it, the temperture of the
receiver, as well as the pressure exerted upon the surface. The obturator begins
to close reducing the quantity of liquid introduced, until the moment when this
quantity has been sufficiently reduced as to be no longer disproportionate to the
power of the furnace.
As in the first method of, working it is apparent that it is only necessary to
suitably regulate (according to tho nature of the fluid contained in the receiver)
the dimensions of the obturator and of the flexible member, and the tension of
the spring R, in order that only such quantity of liquid may enter the generator
as it is capable of vaporising at a superheating temperature which is regulable
at will by the tonsion of the spring.
If, on the other hand, the work to be done is variable, this second method of
working gives another and more valuable result.
When the furnace is not sufficiently powerful to vaporise at the desired tem-
porature and pressure an adequate quantity of steam for maintaining the speed
of the motor at a given moment, the temperature falls and with it, owing to the
action of the balancing device, the quantity of liquid introduced also, Owing
to the speed of the motor at this moment and the volumo that this speed causes
it to generate, the diminution of temperature and of the feed will bring about a
fall in the pressure.
But to this diminution of temperature of feed and of pressure will correspond
a decrease of work, consequently the speed of the motor will diminish and with
it the expenditure of steam.
Equilibrium can only be established when the quantity injected and expended
is sufficiently small for the furnace and the generator to be capable of maintaining
it at such a temperature and such a pressure as is sufficient for the expenditure of
steam caused in the motor by the work corresponding to its speed.
The generator will have thus itself regulated the necessary pressure and the
possible speed without being exposed to the defect' of 'becoming choked: It will
furnish the total quantity of steam, and consequently of power, of which it is
capable at this pressure.
If, when the work exceeds the power of the furnace and of the generator, these
latter are not able to supply an appreciable quantity of steam at the desired
pressure, or if, for any other cause the temperature in the generator should
descend to the limit of saturated steam, the generator would not on that account
become choked. The spring which acts uninterruptedly ensures closing taking
place, according to the tension which has been given to it, before the temperature
of the generator reaches this limit.
THIRD METHOD OF WORKING.
A third method of working is effected by causing the balancing device to act,
not upon the obturator of the generator inlet but upon a water return valve that
it closes more or less, whilst the effect of the pump stroke transmitted by the
pipe constantly tends to open it.
A spring which is regulable at will is placed between the flexible member and
the water return valve and permits of compensating the difference between the
surfaces of the flexible member and of the -valve, upon which are exerted the
pressures acting in opposition and of producing the difference which it is desired
to preserve between the temperature of the generator and the pressure of the
liquid vaporised therein.
With this arrangement, the inlet to the generator may be covered by a valve
which is kept closed by a spring the pressure of which is sufficient, the water
return valve being open, to prevent any liquid from entering the generador, even
under the influence of suction which might be suddenly set up in the generator
by the motor consequent upon the motion of its parts. Another valve working
in the opposite direction permits of the liberation towards the water return valvo
of any excess of pressure which might be confined within the generator.

page_text: ¡ACCESSORY ARRANGEMENTS.
דג כ
In the same manner as has just been described with reference to the third
method of working, I likewise prevent, when employing the two other methods,
any excess of pressure from being accidentally confined in the generator, by a
closing of the obturator, by placing, at any point whatsoever between the two
pipes, a liberating valve opening under the action of pressures coming from
inside the generator, and closing under the action of those coming from the pump
This valve also permits excesses of pressure to be liberated on the pump and water
return valve, side.
In apparatus; intended to act according to each of these methods, this valve
should be arranged upon a separate part.
In apparatus intended to act in one, manner only the valve may be lodged in
the same part as the flexible member and the obturator, for example at a point,
its opening, taking place in one direction or the other according to the method
upon which it is intended that the apparatus should act.
Throughout the foregoing description I have spoken of the liquid to be
vaporised by the generator as water, as instantaneous vaporisation is more gener-
ally applied to the vaporisation of water. I do not, however, thereby intend to
restrict the application of the balancing device to steam generators, but. reserve
the right to apply the same to all generators instantaneously vaporising any other
liquid, and by the same means.
I would also point out that 'when the generator comprises several elements,
each one of thein may be provided with a balancing device, but when all the
elements are connected with one of their number it is only necessary to provide
a single balancing device at the outlet from such element.
In the foregoing arrangements I have utilised the action of the balancing device
by causing it to actuate either an obturator upon the inlet to the generator, or
a device freeing the pipe leading to the exterior, but it will be understood that
I reserve the use of any other known suitable mechanical means for utilising the
movement by which equilibrium is produced by the action of the balancing device,
with the object of increasing and diminishing the quantities of liquid injected
into the generator, and especially of causing the movement produced by the
action of the balancing device to act so as to make the discharge from the pump
vary by regulating the travel or the speed of the latter:
The generator according to this application is similar to that above referred to,
and the rod is directly connected to the actuating lever of a Stephenson link
motion. The rod actuated by this link motion which, in steam distributing
systems actuates the slide valve, is in this case nothing but the rod of the feed
pump. The link motion is arranged in such a manner that, when the pressure
which is exerted in the bellows added to that of the spring, is greater than that
of the bellows the travel of the pump is diminished till it becomes nil, and on
the contrary when the pressures of the bellows preponderate, this travel is
increased:
Dated this 20th day D
1000
An improved Device for Automatically Regulating e Supply of
Liquid to Instantaneous Steam Generators and the like."
I, PAUL DOUDART DE LA GRÉE, of 95 Boulevard Beaumarchais, Paris, in the
Republic of France, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what

page_text: manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:-
The arrangements forming the subject of this invention have been combined
with a view to obtaining, in generators for instantaneous vaporisation, the auto-
5 matic regulation by the generator itself of the admission of the liquid to be
vaporised, in such a manner that only such a quantity of liquid can enter the
generator as is equal to, or less than (within limits which may be regulated at
will) the quantity which the generator is in a condition to vaporise, without
becoming choked, at the pressure which is necessitated, by the work for which
the steam is supplied:
In order to attain this result, I place within the generator itself a device
intended to be acted upon by fluctuations of temperature and which I term a
receiver or temperature receiver, consisting of a small receptacle, containing a
certain quantity of liquid (water or mercury for example) or of gas (air for
example) or of a mixture of these two fluids, and placed in such a position that
such fluid will itself undergo all the variations of temperature which are produced
within the generator. This. receptacle is arranged in such a way that, on the one
hand, whilst the generator is not producing steam, the generator transmits to the
said. receptacle, either by metallic contact or by radiation, the heat which it
receives itself from the furnace, and in such a manner that, on the other hand,
whilst the generator is producing steam, the steam produced communicates by
its contact or by its proximity a temperature which is as nearly as possible equal
to its own.
And finally, this receptacle is so placed that it cannot receive directly
from the furnace sufficient heat to prejudicially affcot oither the influence
exercised upon it by the variations in the temperature of the generator and of
the steam traversing the latter, or the homogeneity of the relations which
should exist, as regards the variations in temperature, between the steam of the
generator and the receptacle.
In this manner the temperature receiver provides for the Huid which it contains
an expansive force varying as the temperatures to which it is submitted and which
I utilise for producing a movement, by putting the receptacle in communication
with another part which is flexible or extensible and tight so as to confine the
liquid between itself and the receptacle (such as bellows, membrane or the like,
either metallic or not).
And finally I cause this expansive force to act; as a balancing agent, in opposi-
tion to the pressures which the thrusts of the pump produce within the generator
or the pipe leading thereto, in order to increase, and diminish the quantity of the
liquid to be vaporised which is able to enter the generator, or even totally stop
such supply and this by means of an obturator (such as a valve, door, slidė or
other similar device) placed between the thrust of the pump and the generator;
the said obturator being, for this purpose, actuated on one side by the expansive
force of the liquid contained within the receptacle, and on the other side by the
pressures resulting from the thrust of the pump, in such a manner that these
latter actuate the obturator in the direction tending to close the passage, whilst
the balancing agent, on the contrary, actuates the obturator in the direction
tending to open it.
A spring, which may be regulated at will; adds its effect to that of the internal
pressures so as to tend to close the passage and serves to produce (whilst varying
it at will) the difference which it is desired to maintain between the action of
the balancing device and that of the internal pressures, and, consequently, what
I term the degree of suporheating, that is to say, the difference that it is desired
to have between the temperature of the steam produced by the generator and that
which correspond to its effective pressure.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figures 1 and 2 show diagrammatically examples of the temperature receiver.
T

page_text: In Figure 2 the receiver is within a part GHIJ specially provided for its
reception through which is caused to pass the steam from a generator of any
description for instantaneous vaporisation. The receiver is placed at some point
sufficiently near the heating surfaces of the generator in order that its action
may not be too greatly delayed after a closing has been effected; it is however
arranged in such a manner as not to receive sufficient heat directly as to pre-
judicially affect the influence exercised upon it by the temperature of the steam
of the generator.
In Figures 1 and 2 the receiver consists of a receptacle Y which communicates
by the tube C with the flexible part hereinafter described. It will be seen that
the receptacle Y is surrounded by the current of the generator steam and is thus
It may be entirely
exposed to the variations in temperature of such steam.
closed except for the outlet by the tube C. In Figures 1 and 2 it is shown closed
by a screw-threaded plug D which may carry a rod E permitting its capacity to
be modified at the moment when it is regulated, by diminishing the capacity
successively..
This part is shown in these two figures as a cylindrical case, but it will of
course be obvious that I am not limited to this form, but may, on the contrary,.
employ a receptacle of any suitable form whatsoever.
The other figures show diagrammatically the moving part and the obturator
upon which it acts.
Figure 3 shows a balancing device in which the expansive force coming from
the receiver acts by means of a membrane and a piston upon a slide. Figures 4
and 5 show the same apparatus acting upon an inverted valve and upon a direct
valve respectively.
Upon the pipe bringing the liquid from the pump to the generator (whether the
pump is provided with an air chamber or not) beyond the place where the water
return is situated, I place an obturator A (which in Figure 3 is a slide and in
the other figures a valve) which tends to close under the action of the pressures
existing in the pipe a, either directly and in addition by the action of the flexible
part SSS S', or solely under the action of the flexible part. With this object
the obturator A is rigidly connected with the rod K L which is actuated by the
piston when the pressures coming from the pipe a set the former in motion, in
such a manner that at this moment the obturator tends to close. The pistou
carried by the rod K L itself rests upon the face SS of the flexible part, and this
latter, on the other hand, receives upon its other face S S an effort in the
contrary direction from the pressures reaching it by the tube C of the receiver
located within the generator. The flexible part is represented in Figures 3, 4
and 5 as a membrane or rather a series of membranes of gold beater's skin or
india rubber protected by two metallic sheets, or of any other suitable flexible
substance whether metallic or otherwise.
A spring R acts, by means of a cross-piece or nut V fixed upon the rod KL,
upon the obturator with an effect which is regulatable at will by screwing or
unscrewing the screw-threaded transverse part Q.
The receptacle lodged within the generator is placed in communication by the
tube C with the tight chamber which is closed on on side by the face S' S of the
flexible part. The liquid which the receptacle contains is thus confined in this
chamber, the pipe G and the receptacle, and the pressures which are there pro
duced tend to repel the flexible part and consequently the rod KL with the
obturator A which they thus tend to open.
Figures 3, 4 and 5 show a flexible member composed of membranes, but I de
not thereby mean to exclude the employment of other description of flexible
member.
On the contrary I expressly reserve to myself the right to use in my balancing
device any other member fulfilling the same office, such for example as bellows
chambers of india. rubber or other elastic materials, confined if necessary withi
metallic walls to enable them to resist pressure, or metallic bellows.

page_text: Figure 6 for example shows the apparatus acting by means of a metallic bellows
upon another metallic bellows and an inverted valve, the arrangement being as
follows:-
The obturator A tends to close under the pressures existing in the pipe a by
the action of the bellows SS, the section of which is kept with this object of the
necessary dimensions with respect to those of the obturator A.
I prolong the rod KL which rigidly connects this valve or obturator with the
metallic bellows SS beyond this bellows, which it traverses through a tight joint
as far as a second or upper metallic bellows S S working in the opposite direction
and to which the expansive forco coming from the receiver is communicated
through the tube C.
Between the two bellows thus united in opposition one to another, I provide a
spring R bearing upon the transverse part Q the action of which upon the rod KL,
which action is regulatable at will by means of the milled diso V, tends to close
the valve A.
The method of action of the apparatus is as follows:-
The figures, the same letters in which designate the same parts, allow the
working of the apparatus to be easily followed.
I cause the apparatus to be actuated in two different and opposite manners.
according to the nature of the regulation which I desire to obtain for the work
for which the generator is intended.
In order that, in the case of the slide, as in Figure 3, the parts may remain
arranged in the same way with the two improvements, I have arranged a double
slide A, A', which assures the closing equally whether it comes from one.direction
or the other, but it is obvious that I can employ a single slido in an apparatus
in which it is only intended to use one of the methods of working hereinafter
described.
FIRST METHOD OF WORKING.
If, for example, the apparatus is to be applied to a generator having to supply
steam at a constant pressure, I regulate the thrust of the pump to the desired
pressure, and I cause the liquid coming from the pump to pass through the pipe a.
I cause this liquid to pass to the generator by the pipe b.
If the generator is cold at the moment an injection is made, the obturator will
remain closed under the action of the thrust of the pump and of the spring R.
Immediately the generator has become sufficiently heated to heat the fluid
contained in the receiver, a pressure is produced which will actuate the upper
flexible member at S'S', so as to tend to open the obturator. A. When the tem-
perature has risen sufficiently for this pressure to overcome the closing effort,
the obturator will open and allow to the liquid to be vaporised free access to the
generator.
The liquid upon arriving in the generator is vaporised and takes a temperature
which it communicates in its passage to the receiver... The liquid (expanded or
vaporised) contained by this latter receives a tension proportionate to this lem-
perature. The action exercised upon the flexible member SS will itself be
proportionate to this tension and consequently to this temperature.
It is obvious that, so long as this tension overcomes the effort of the spring R
and the thrust of the pump tending to close the obturator A, the inlet to the
generator will remain open. If, however, the quantity of liquid injected and the
steam used becomes sufficiently large to lower the temperature of the generator
and of the steam, the temperature of the receiver will full at the same time as
also the pressure that it exerts at S'S'. The obturator will have a tending to
close, thus restricting the passage and diminishing the quantity of water which
cau enter the generator.
Thus the inlet to the generator will only be open when the quantity of liquid
'introduced and the steam used are such that the temperature of this steam com-
5 municated to the receiver, gives to this latter a pressure balancing at S¹ S¹ the
efforts exerted at SS by the spring and the thrust of the pump.

page_text: It is sufficient to suitably regulate (according to the nature of the fluid
employed in the receiver) the dimensions of the flexible member and the tension
of the spring R, in order that only such quantity of liquid may be able to enter
the generator, as the latter is capable of vaporising at the desired pressure and
at a super-henting temperature regulatablo at will by increasing or diminishing
the tension of the spring R.
Even if the temperature in the generator owing to any cause, should fall below
this limit, the generator will not on that account become choked. In this case
as the temperature of the receiver no longer enables the effort which it exerts
at SS to counterbalance the resistances opposed to it, the obturator will close
and the supply of liquid to the generator will cease. The obturator will again
open as soon as the generator becomes sufficiently heated.
Although I have taken as an example of this method of working the case of
work done under a fixed constant pressure, I do not thereby intend to exclude
from application to this case the use of the second method of working which I
will now describe and which on the contrary I reserve the right to employ under
all conditions.
SECOND METHOD OF WORKING.
Instead of causing the effect of the pump thrust to arrive by way of the pipe a,
I cause it to come by the pipe b so that the liquid reaches the generator by way
of the first pipe a.
The action then takes place in a manner similar to that already described.
Equilibrium is established, not by the pressure from the direct thrust of the pump,
Init by the pressures which exist in the generator itself upon the other side of
the place where the obturator A is located.
At the commencement and as long as the generator remains cold, the obiturator A
remains closed under the action of the spring R (and of the thrust of the pump
in Figures 3, 4 and 6.
As soon as the generator has become sufficiently heated to heat the receiver by
metallic communication the pressure in the latter rises, and when the temperature
has risen high enough to enable this pressure which is being exerted upon the
surface S' S to overcome the resistance opposed to the opening of the obturator
by the spring R (and the thrust of the pump in Figures 3, 4 and 6) the obturator
uncovers the opening which gives access to the generator.
If an injection is made at this moment the effect of the thrust of the pump a
passes through the opening. The liquid enters the generator, is there vaporised
and rises in pressure, this pressure instantly exerting upon the flexible member S S
an offort which, aiding that of the spring and the action of the current upon the
obturator tends to close the latter.
When, however, the receiver has had imparted to it, either by metallic oom- 4
munication or by the contact or the neighbourhood of the steam formed in the
generator, a heat sufficient to permit it to overcome this new resistance added to
the initial resistances, the balancing action will again take place.
It will be seen that from this moment the flexible member which actuates the
obturator is submitted to two contrary efforts, one constituted by the pressure 4
that the heat communicated by the steam to the receiver causes upon the
surface S S', the other by the pressure of the steam itself which is exerted upon
the surface SS, increased by the action of the spring R and of the current from
the pump upon the obturator (or of the friction of the slide, as the case may be).
If the injection of the liquid becomes too great and consequently the expendi- 5
ture of steam too considerable for the heat distributed by the generator furnace,
the temperature of the steam will fall, and, with it, the temperature of the
receiver, as well as the pressure exerted at SS. The obturator begins to close
reducing the quantity of liquid introduced, until the moment when this quantity
has been sufficiently reduce as to be no longer disproportionate to the power of 5
the furnace.

page_text: As in the first method of working it is apparent that it is only necessary to
suitably regulate (according to the nature of the fluid contained in the receiver)
the dimensions of the obturator and of the flexible member, and the tension of
the spring R, in order that only such quantity of liquid may enter the generator
as it is capable of vaporising at a superheating temperature which is regulatable
at will by the tension of the spring R.
If, on the other hand, the work to be done is variable, this second method of
working gives another and more valuable result.
When the furnace is not sufficiently powerful to vaporise at the desired tem--
perature and pressure an adequate quantity of steam for maintaining the speed
of the motor at a given moment, the temperature falls and with it, owing to the
action of the balancing device, the quantity of liquid introduced also. Owing
to the speed of the motor at this moment and the volume that this speed causes
it to generate, the diminution of temperature and of the feed will bring about a
fall in the pressure.
But to this diminution of temperature, of feed and of pressure will correspond
a decrease of work, consequently the speed of the motor will diminish and with
it the expenditure of steam.
Equilibrium can only be established when the quantity injected and expended
is sufficiently small for the furnace and the generator to be capable of maintaining
it at such a temperature and such a pressure as is sufficient for the expenditure of
steam caused in the motor by the work corresponding to its speed.
The generator will have thus itself regulated the necessary pressure and the,
possible speed without being exposed to the defect of becoming choked. It will
furnish the total quantity of steam, and consequently of power, of which it is
capable at this pressure.
If, when the work exceeds the power of the furnace and of the generator, these
latter are not able to supply an appreciable quantity of steam at the desired
pressure, or if, for any other cause the temperature in the generator should
descend to the limit of saturated steam, the generator would not on that account
Income choked. The spring R which acts uninterruptedly ensures closing taking
place, according to the tension which has been given to it, before the temperature
of the generator reaches this limit.
THIRD METHOD OF WORKING.
Figures 7 and 8 show a third method of working by causing the balancing
dovico to act not upon the obturator of the generator inlet but upon a water return
valve that it closes more or less, whilst the effect of the pump stroke transmitted
by the pipe a constantly tends to open it.
In Figure 7 a spring which is regulatable at will is placed between the flexible
member SS and the water return valve S, and peruits of compensating .the
difference between the surfaces of the flexible member and of the valve, upon
which are exerted the pressures acting in opposition and of producing the
difference which it is desired to preserve between the temperature of the
generator and the pressure of the liquid vaporised therein.
With this arrangement, the inlet to the generator may be covered by a valve
which is kept closed by a spring the pressure of which is sufficient, the water
return valve being open, to prevent any liquid from entering the generator; even
under the influence of suction which might be suddenly set up in the generator
by the motor consequent upon the motion of its parts. Another valve B working
in the opposite direction permits of the liberation towards the water return valve
of any excess of pressure which might be confined within the generator.
In Figure 8 I have applied, for return of the water, the arrangement.shown in
Figure 6.
ACCESSORY ARRANGEMENTS.
In the same manner as has just been described with reference to the third
method of working, I likewise provent, when employing the two other methods,

page_text: any excess of pressure from being accidentally confined in the generator by a
closing, of the obturator, by placing, at any point whatsoever between the two
pipes a and b, a liberating valve opening under the action of pressures coming from
inside the generator, and closing under the action of those coming from the pump.
This valve also permits excesses of pressure to be liberated on the pump and water
return valve side.
In apparatus intended to act according to each of these methods, this valve
should be arranged upon a separate part.
In apparatus intended to act in one manner only the valve may be lodged in
the same part as the flexible member and the obturator, for example at a point B,
its opening taking place in one direction or the other according to the method
upon which it is intended that the apparatus should act.
Throughout the foregoing description I have spoken of the liquid to bo
vaporised by the generator as water, as instantaneous vaporisation is more gener-
ally applied to the vaporisation of water. I do not, however, thereby intend to
restrict the application of the balancing device to steam generators, but reserve
the right to apply the same to all generators instantaneously vaporising any other
uid, and by the same means.
I would also point out that when the generator comprises several elements,
each one of them may be provided with a balancing device, but when all the
èlements are connected with one of their number it is only necessary to provide
a single balancing device at the outlet from such element.
In the foregoing arrangements I have utilised the action of the balancing device
by causing it to actuate either an obturator upon the inlet to the generator, or
a device, freeing the pipe leading to the exterior, but it will be understood that
I reserve the use of any other known suitable mechanical' means for utilising the
movement by which equilibrium is produced by the action of the balancing device,
with the object of increasing and diminishing the quantities of liquid injected
into the generator, and especially of causing the movement produced by the
action of the balancing device to act so as to make the discharge from the pump
vary by regulating the travel or the speed of the latter.
Figure 9 shows an example of this application.
The balancing device is similar to that shown in Figure 6, and the rod KL
is directly connected to the actuating lever of a Stephenson link motion. The
rod T actuated by this link motion which, in steam distributing systems actuates
the slide valve, is in this case nothing but the rod of the feed pump. The link
motion is arranged in such a manner that, when the pressure which is exerted in
the bellows Sadded to that of the spring, is greater than that of the bellows S¹
the travel of the pump is diminished till it becomes nil, and on the contrary when
the pressures of the bellows S¹ preponderate, this travel is increased.
:
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. A receiver of any suitable shape placed within.an instantaneous generator of
any type and containing a liquid or gas or a mixture of the two, the said receiver
being placed within the generator in such manner as to have the same tempera-
ture as the generator, without being of course directly exposed to the action of
the fire, the variations in temperature of the generator being transmitted to the
fluids, contained in the receiver which by their expansion and contraction act
upon a rod which by means of any suitable mechanism increases or diminishes
the quantity of liquid injected into the generator, this mechanism acting either
by closing the feed pipe to the generator or by opening an outflow from the
feed pipe to the exterior or again by the increase or decrease in the travel or speed
of the pump; the said valve being in addition submitted to the action of a spring
which may be regulated as desired allowing of the variation at will of the

page_text: difference it is desired to maintain between the action of the fluids of the receiver
and that of the internal pressures substantially as described.
2. In combination with a receiver Y placed at a suitable point within the
generator a chamber which communicates with the said receiver and the lower
portion of which is closed by a membrane covering a piston whose rod works a.
slide direct or inverted valve allowing communication between the feed and tho
generator to be opened or closed a spring R acting upon a cross piece V on the
piston rod substantially as described.
3. In combination with a receiver Y placed at a suitable point within the
generator-two bellows S S whose moveable ends are connected together by a rod
the end of which carries the valve or other part regulating the inlet of liquid into
the generator one of the bellows being in communication with the receiver Y
and the other being submitted to the action of the pump a spring R the tension
of which may be regulated as desired acting upon the rod connecting the moveable
ends of the two bellows. substantially as described:
4. In combination with a receiver Y placed at a suitable point within the
generator a bellows whose moveable end is provided with a rod which carries a
valve or other part closing or opening the liquid return-a spring, the tension of
which may be regulated as desired, acting upon the rod on the movable end of the
bellows a valve submitted to the action of a sufficiently powerful spring placed
between the feed and the generator and a second valve allowing the liberation of
the excess of pressure in the generator towards the liquid return substantially,
as described.
5. In combination with a receiver Y placed at a suitable point within the
generator-two bellows S and S¹ whose moveable ends are connected together by a
rod whose end carries the valve or other part closing or opening more or less an
outlet in the pipe leading outwards-a valve submitted to the action of a spring
of suitable power placed between the feed and the generator a second valvo
acting in the opposite direction allowing the escape towards the liquid return of
the excess of pressure in the generator-a spring the tension of which may be regu-
lated as desired acting upon a rod connecting together the moveable ends of the
two bellows substantially as described.
6. In combination with a rceiver Y placed at a suitable point within the
generator two bellows S and S whose moveable ends are connected together by a
rod whose end is directly connected with the working lover of a Stephenson's
or other link regulating the length of stroke of the feed pump a spring whose
tension may be varied acting upon the rod connecting together the moveable ends
of the two bellows substantially as described.
Dated this 27th 'dom of September 1807