Improvements in and relating to Feed-water Mechanism for Steam Boilers, also Applicable for Steam Traps and other Analogous Purposes.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Nov., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 28th Aug., 1889-Accepted, 26th Oct., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Feed-water Mechanism for Steam
Boilers, also Applicable for Steam Traps and other Analogous
Purposes.
I, JAMES MURRIE, of 45 West Nile Street, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of my invention to be as follows
This Invention has reference to and comprises improvements in the construction,
or arrangement and combination of the parts, of float or ball-lever escape steam
valve mechanism for attachment to steam boilers, and giving or actuating an alarm,
either when the water falls below the desired normal level in the boiler or rises
improperly above that level; or otherwise for automatically setting on or stopping
the feed pump or other water feeder, when the water respectively falls below or
rises above the said desired normal level in the boiler; which improvements will
make said boiler feed alarm and regulating apparatus more efficient and more durable
than such apparatus or mechanism has been as heretofore constructed. The improved
float and ball lever arrangements will also be applicable to and more durable for
steam traps than those heretofore used for that purpose.
A great trouble experienced with the hollow balls and other hollow copper or sheet-
metal floats, for the levers heretofore used for such apparatus, has been the getting
in of water through the joints or pores of the metal under the different pressures
and temperatures of steam boilers and steam traps to which they have been con-
nected. A first improvement of my invention consists in making the hollow floats
of seamless tube iron or steel, welded solid at their ends, or they may be cast of
blown solid in a mould out of the molten steel, and attached solidly to their levers,
so that no water can get in either through the sides of the metal of these tubes, or
at their attachments to the lever. Or further, when it is preferred to make these
balls or floats as heretofore of embossed sheet copper or other metal, which will
stand corrosive action, I make these hollow balls or floats as close as possible and fill
them completely full of water or other liquid, either with or without a very small
hole or a small escape valve at their highest point to prevent the possibility of the
floats bursting by any slight variation of expansion. In either case balancing the
float and lever by a counterweight on its other arm, so as to work as an ordinary
float.
A further improvement consists in mounting this float valve lever in a longitudinal
hollow vessel, with a water chamber at the float end, sufficient for the motion of the
float in the water, and in mounting the lower part of this float chamber on or by a
branch pipe leading down through the water space below the water level of the boiler,
and in connecting the upper part of this chamber by a steam branch leading to the
steam space of the boiler both preferably fitted with cocks. And further and
preferably mounting this float lever vessel in front or at one side of the boiler on a
level with the normal water in the boiler, (or otherwise it may be placed above the
level of the boiler) and in this case fitted so as to ensure the same level of water in the
float lever chamber as in the boiler, and so as to move the float end of the lever
proportionally up or down with the changing level of the water in the boiler. The
other arm of this float lever would work the rods of two outlet small steam valves
connected to the lever on the opposite sides of its fulcrum and fitted in a valve seat
chest on the upper part of the other end of the float chamber; so as to allow of the
escape of steam into the said escape valve chest, by the one valve opening upwards,
when the float lever and water fell below the normal level desired in the boiler; or
allow of an escape when the other valve which is also made to open upwards is raised
by the raising of the float lever and water level above the desired normal level in the

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boiler. The steam escaping in either case from the float chest into the outer valve
chest, would be conducted by a branch to a whistle or other alarm mechanism to
automatically intimate to the engineer or attendant that the feed water in the boiler
had fallen below or risen above the desired normal level of the water in the boiler, and
so enable him to put on the feed or take it off as required. Or otherwise, by a
further improvement, instead of leading the steam from these respective valves to a
whistle or other alarm, it might be led to the piston or diaphragm acting mechanism
of any feed-water apparatus and start it when the water fell below the extreme
normal desired level, or vice versa in like manner close the steam valve leading to
such feed apparatus when the water rose above the desired level in the boiler and float
valve chamber. A certain amount of " play or motion would be allowed between
the float lever and its rod connections with these outlet steam valves, to leave both
valves shut while the float was moving through the few inches of normal level allowed
for its working without giving an alarm or setting on or off the feed. Or otherwise,
this escaping steam piston or diaphragm mechanism controlled by the float valve
lever arrangement might be made to open or shut an exhaust valve on the exhaust
steam pipe of the steam engine of the feed mechanism when the feed water is required
to be set on or stopped, instead of putting on the acting steam or shutting it off to
set on the feed engine or apparatus as hereinbefore described. When this ball float
lever and chamber are to be fitted above the level of the boiler, they would preferably
only be fitted with one escape steam valve, to be opened when the float lever fell
with the water in its vessel, by the admission of steam up through its lower or water
branch, when the water level in the boiler fell below the entrance of this branch and
displaced the water out of the float chamber placed in this case above the boiler.
The construction of ball and other hollow floats of solid steel or iron, and the working
of other hollow floats filled with water, instead of air as heretofore, all in the new or
improved manner described, is also applicable for the valve levers of steam water
traps, as well as for feed lever arrangements for boilers.
Dated the 28th November 1888
W. R. M. THOMSON & Co.,
Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Feed-water Mechanism for Steam
Boilers, also Applicable for Steam Traps and other Analogous
Purposes.
I, JAMES MURRIE, of 45 West Nile Street, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement in writing, reference being had to the accompanying two Sheets
of Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
My said Invention has reference to and comprises improvements in the construction,
or arrangement and combination of the parts, of float, or ball-lever, escape steam
valve mechanism for attachment to steam boilers, and giving or actuating an alarm,
either when the water falls below the desired normal level in the boiler, or rises
improperly above that level; or otherwise for automatically setting on, or stopping
the feed-pump, or other water feeder, when the water respectively falls below or rises
above the said desired normal level in the boiler; which improvements will make
said boiler feed alarm and regulating apparatus more efficient and more durable,
than such apparatus or mechanism has been as heretofore constructed. The new feed-
water float and ball-lever arrangements are also applicable to and for steam water
traps, and are more durable for both purposes than those heretofore in use.
And in order that the nature, novelty, and mode of performing my said Invention,
or putting the same into effect or practice, may be properly understood, I have here-
unto appended Two Sheets of explanatory Drawings, in which the same reference

page_text: letters are used to indicate like or equivalents parts in all the Figures or modifications
of the improvements shown.
Figure 1, on Sheet 1, shows a sectional elevation of an arrangement A to E² of my
ball-float valve lever improvements, as applied to the end or side of a steam boiler Z Z¹,
at or near the required normal level 72 of the water in the lower part Z; the
float A is of the close buoyant hollow ball shape filled with air, and formed of a
single solid shell of steel closely jointed at its attachment A¹ to its lever B, which
in this case is mounted to operate two escape steam valves C and D, the one valve C
to give an aların when the water falls in the boiler, and the other D to give the
alarm when the water rises in the boiler above the normal level Z³, all enclosed
within a close vessel E, E¹, fitted wholly outside the boiler Z Z. Figure 2 represents
a corresponding sectional elevation of my float valve arrangement, as applied on the
top of the boiler Z, Z', with a float lever A, B, and single valve arrangement for
giving an alarmn only when the water falls in the boiler below the normal level Z,
and keeping the valve C close when the water rises above that level, all as will herein-
after be described. Figure 3 shows a corresponding float alarm valve arrangement
to that shown in Figure 2, for being fitted on the top of the boiler Z Z¹, for giving
an alarm only when the water falls below the normal level Z, but with another
modification of the ball float A, and valve lever fittings, in which the ball-float is
filled with water instead of air, and is mounted on one arm B of a double lever B B¹,
counterbalanced by an adjustable weight B³, mounted on the other arm B', which
opens the escape steam valve C, C¹, outwards to give the alarm, instead of inwards as
in the modification shown in Figure 2, as will hereinafter be described. Figure 4
shows a sectional elevation of this my new or improved arrangement of ball float
valve lever A to C, and its enclosing vessel E, E', shown in Figure 3, as constructed
and inverted for use as a condensed steam water trap, as will hereinafter be
described. Figure 5 shows a sectional elevation of a modified arrangement from that
shown in Figures 1 to 3 of my float lever alarm mechanism for being applied on the
top of the boiler Z, Z, with the float A as mounted within the water in the boiler, and
connected by a rod B to the arm B of the float valve lever B B¹, mounted in the
closed-in steam chamber E over and outside the boiler Z Z'. The lever B B' in this
case is shown as actuating two escape steam valves C, D, mounted on opposite sides
of the fulcrum B2 of the lever, both fitted to open when the water and float fall below
the normal level Z2 in the boiler, the valve (for giving an alarm by the whistle c³,
and that D for allowing the steam to escape into a pipe D coupled to the valve
chest D¹, and set on the feed or feed pump when the water falls below, and stop this
when the water rises above, the normal level in the boiler, as will hereinafter be
described.
Figures, 6, 7, and 8, Sheet 2, show sectional elevations of various arrangements of
valves for making my Hoat valve lever arrangement shown in Figure 5, set on or stop the
feed pump of the boiler, when the water falls below the normal level Z in the
boiler.
A great trouble hitherto experienced with hollow ball floats, and other hollow
copper or sheet-metal floats as heretofore constructed and used for the said apparatus, has
been the getting in cf water through the joints or pores of their metal shell, under the
different or changing pressures and temperatures of the steam in the boilers and traps
to which they have been connected.
Referring to Figures 1, A, 2, and 5 on Sheet 1 of the Drawings: A first
improvement of my invention, for overcoming the said faults of floats for such
apparatus, consists in forming the said hollow floats A, whether of a spherical or other
shape, of molten steel, either cast or blown of a nearly uniform thickness in a mould;
or otherwise as shown in Figure 1 A, the float might be forged and formed out of a
short piece of solid seamless malleable-iron or welding steel tube, closed or welded
solid at its ends, in either case having a screwed hole at a thick part A¹ into which
the end or arm B₁ of its lever B, which it actuates is screwed on rod B when
that is used, preferably with a flange and other screws at this end B", all so tight
that no steam or water can pet into this hollow float A so formed, either through the

page_text: sides of the shell A, or at the said joint attachment A', B¹¹, to alter its weight or
specific gravity and consequently its action, and as shown in Figures 1, 1 A,
and 2.
Referring to Figures 3, 4 and 5: These balls or floats may be formed or con-
structed, as heretofore, of embossed sheet copper or other metal, or of cast steel or
iron galvanized, tinned, or coated, so as to withstand the corrosive action of the liquid,
and as solid and close of unporous metal as possible; and by a further improvement
I fill them with water (although other liquid might be used), preferably leaving a
small open hole at the top, as shown at a, which might be closed when other liquids
are used; or a small escape spring valve might be fitted at this highest point to
prevent the possility of the float bursting by any slight alteration of expansion of the
liquid placed in them. In any case, this new hollow liquid-filled float A, would be
couterbalanced by an adjustable weight B³, on the opposite arm B¹ of its lever B, B¹,
set so as to work otherwise as an ordinary float.
Referring to the arrangement shown in Figure 1, the improvements consist in
mounting the float A, and its horizontal water and steam valve lever B, B', on a
fulcrum at B2, within the longitudinal hollow vessel E, having an enlarged part E¹ at
the one end, sufficient for the motion of the float A in the water; and in mounting
or connecting the lower part E' of this float chamber E, on or by a branch pipe at E,
leading down and through the end or side of the boiler into the water space Z below
the water level Z²; and in connecting the upper part of the float chamber E¹ by a steam
branch E, leading into the steam space Z of the boiler, both branches being preferably
fitted with cocks E³. And further and preferably, mounting this float lever vessel E,
in front or at one end of the boiler Z, Z, nearly in line with the normal level Z³ of
the water in the boiler, and fitted so as to ensure the same level of water in the float
lever chamber E as in the boiler, as shown in Figures 1 and 1 A; and in this
arrangement. move the float end A B of the lever B B¹ up and down
with the changing level Z2 of the water in the boiler. The float lever B, B¹, is so
fitted or connected on the opposite sides of its fulcrum B², to the lower end of the
rods or spindles of the two small outlet steam valves C and D, as to open these,
respectively, as the float A and level of the water Z2 fall or rise in the boiler and
float chamber E. These valves (and D are shown in Figure 1 as fitted to open
upwards and outwards, with closing springs cover them in their valve seat
chests C, D, jointed on the upper side of the float chamber E. Small steam passages c',
lead from each valve chamber C, D¹, to a central branch c", fitted with a steam
whistle, or it might be other equivalent alarm. All so that as the float A fell or
rose with the water to a certain regulated extent below or above the normal level Z²
in the boiler, its lever would open the valve (or D respectively, and in either case
allow the steam to escape from the float chest E, into the outer valve chambers C¹, D¹,
to the whistle c², or other alarm mechanisın, and automatically notify to or call the
attention of the engineer or attendant to see that the water in the boiler had fallen
below or risen above the desired normal level Z2, and so enable him to put on the
"feed" or take it off as required. A small amount of "play or motion is shown
to be allowed at or between the connections Cx Dx of the float lever B, B', and the
rods or spindles of the outlet steam valves C, D, to leave both valves shut while the
float is moving through the few inches of difference of normal level desired to be
allowed before giving an alarm or setting the feed on or off.
"
Figure 1 A is a section to a small scale of a somewhat modified form of the arrange-
ment shown in Figure 1, to take up less room at the front or side of the boiler, in
which the float lever B B is mounted high up in the steam space and chamber E,
and the float part of the chamber E' made smaller but longer and deeper, with an
oblong or elliptical close solid steel float A, mounted down at the level Z' of the water,
connected to its lever arm B by a rod B, with a single escape steam valve CC, and
alarm whistle e². Otherwise the parts are constructed and act substantially in the
same manner, and all indicated by the same reference letters, as described in reference
to Figure 1, and therefore need not be further referred to.
Referring to Figure 2: this shows an arrangement equivalent to Figure 1, for

page_text: being applied on the top of the boiler above the steam space Z, shown fitted with one
escape steam valve C, C, and alarm whistle c²; the float lever A, B, in this case being
fulcrumed on a spindle B2 at one end, so as to open the valve in its downward action.
The lower water branch E of the float chamber E' is here also shown as preferably
fitted with a cock E³, and a branch pipe e inside the boiler reaching down to the
lowest normal level Ź of the water desired. And in this case a small branch pipe E²
is connected to the upper part of the float chamber E E', and led down through a
duplex cock chamber E, and also continued downward by a small pipe e¹ to near the
lowest normal level Z2 of the water in the boiler, rather shorter than the pipe e; all
so that when the level of the water falls below the lower end of the pipe e¹, steam
rusbes up this pipe and the water falls out of the float chamber E E, through the
pipe e into the boiler and causes the float lever A B to fall and open the valve C
and give the alarm to the attendant who then puts on the feed, and as the water in
the boiler rises above the normal level Z2 and lower end of pipes e e', the pressure of
the steam in the upper part of the boiler forces the water up the pipe e and fills the
chamber E E', raises the lever A B, and shuts the valve C. The key and cock E*
have a second opening ell to the steam space, for being turned on by a quarter turn
of the key to occasionally try the float arrangement, if it is in proper working order,
by letting on the steam to the upper part of the float chamber E E', so as to allow
the water to fall from the chamber E E' into the boiler, and so lower the float lever A B
and sound the whistle if the arrangement is acting properly. The turning of the
key E to the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 2 immediately allowing the
water to rise into the chamber E E' and raise the float lever A B and close
the valve C, all as indicated in this position in Figure 2. The cocks E³ in these
arrangements Figures 1, 1 A and 2, enable the boiler to be shut off from the float
lever valve arrangement, when that is desired for the repairing or cleaning of the
latter.
Referring to Figure 3: this shows a simple arrangement analogous to Figure 2 as
mounted on the top of the boiler Z Z, with my improved float A as filled with water,
and counterbalanced on its fulcrum B2 by an adjustable weight B³ on its opposite
arm B', to open the valve C outwards to give the alarm when the water falls in the
float chamber E E', and act all otherwise substantially as described in reference to
Figure 2, the equivalent parts being indicated by the same letters of reference.
check screw would in some cases be fitted in the chamber E E' over the lever Bor
its weight B³ to prevent this from rising too high to injure the valves or float lever,
as indicated at B in this and some of the other Figures.
A
Figure 4 shows this float lever valve arrangement, shown in Figure 3, as inverted,
suitable for being used as a condensed steam and water escape trap; the condensed
steam enters by the upper branch E2 into the float chamber E E¹, and the float
lever A B B¹ is counterbalanced by the weight B³ to keep the valve Ć shut until the
water rising in the chamber E E¹ raises the float A, and opens the valve C, and allows
the water to escape through it until it falls sufficiently to allow the float lever A B B¹
to shut the valve C again. But although my improved open form of ball float filled
with water is shown as applied to these two latter arrangements Figures 3 and 4, it is
to be understood that the hollow solid steel balls or floats A filled with air, only
shown in Figures 1, 1 A, and 2, might be used in these arrangements.
Referring to Figure 5: this is a modification of the arrangement shown in
Figures. 2 and 3, in which the valve lever B B' is mounted on the fulcrum spindle B²
within the chamber E, which is here shown as jointed and erected by a flanged
branch E on the top of the boiler Z, Z', as a steam chamber. The float A is
mounted within the boiler itself and is of my improved construction filled with water
and described in reference to Figures 3 and 4, but of a flat cylindrical shape and
connected to the arm B of the float lever above by a rod B1 (passing down through
the branch E) which is secured and adjusted to the float A by a screw and nuts A¹
at its lower end to suit the normal level of the water, when the lever B B¹ closes the
two escape valves C, D; and so that when the water falls much below the normal

page_text: level Z³, the float A and lever B B₁ will first open the valve D to set on the donkey
or other feeding engine, or mechanism, by any of the arrangements hereinafter
described, and then on falling a little further open the alarm valve C. But it is to be
understood that this arrangement may be fitted with double valves C and D similar
to that shown and described in reference to Figure 1, to give an aların both when the
water rises above and falls below its normal level respectively, instead of or as well
as using the valve D for setting off or on the feed.
By a further improvement, instead of leading the steam from these respective valves
to a whistle or other alarm, as described in reference to the previous Figures, it
might be led to a piston or diaphragm acting valve mechanism of any feed water
apparatus, to start it when the water fell below the extreme normal desired level in
the boiler, or vice versa in like manner close the steam valve leading to such feed
apparatus when the water rose above the desired level in the boiler and float valve
chamber. Figures 6, 7, and 8 show three different improved means of thus making
the said float valve arrangements to set on the "feed," when the water level falls
in the boiler, and stop the feed when the water rises above the normal level.
Referring to Figure 6: this shows one arrangement by which the steam allowed to
escape from the valve D D to the pipe D" (or it might be from the valve C³) of
any of the previously described float arrangements through the action of the float A
and lever B B¹ when the water rises above the normal level in the boiler, shuts off
the exhaust steam escaping from the cylinder X of the donkey feed pump X X'.
This arrangement consists in fitting on the exhaust pipe of the donkey engine a
stop valve d and piston and cylinder d d above it, and leading the pipe D to the
upper close end of the cylinder d¹¹, so that the piston d' actuates the valve d to which
it is connected by a rod when the steam is admitted to the pipe D" by the float
arrangement as before described, all so as to prevent the escape of the exhaust steam
through the branch d² from the donkey pump and so stop it, until the water again falls
in the boiler below its normal level and closes the valve D of the float arrangement,
when the pressure of exhaust steam from the engine would raise the valve d and
piston d and escape through the branch d² and the engine then work away until
the valve D opened again and allowed the steam to pass from the boiler along the
pipe D to the cylinder d¹¹ and press the piston d¹ and close the exhaust valve d, as
before described.
Otherwise, referring to Figure 7, a similar cylinder and stop valve chest d to d³,
might be fitted on the discharge water branch X2 of the pump cylinder X', and stop
the pump by preventing the discharge of the water from it, all in an equivalent
manner to that described in reference to Figure 6, by stopping the exit of the exhaust
steam from the cylinder X.
Referring to Figure 8, the steam escaping by the pipe D" from any of the valves
C or D of the float lever arrangements of this or any of the previous Figures, might
be led to actuate the piston d of an equivalent arrangement of cylinder d" to that
shown in Figures 6 and 7, but in this case made to close a steam inlet valve d
against the pressure of the boiler in the inlet steam chest d³ leading to the steam
cylinder X of the feed pump X X', to stop it when the water rises to the normal
level Z required in the boiler by opening the valve C or D, and the falling of the
float and float lever shuts the float valve Cor D of the arrangement, when the water
falls below the normal level Z2 in the boiler, when the pressure of the steam within
the chest E would open the valve d and the steam would escape to the engine by
the branch d² to set it on.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what 1
claim is,
First. The general construction, or arrangement and combination of the parts of
float lever and escape valve apparatus, for giving an alarm when the water falls below
the desired normal level in a steam boiler and when it rises above it, as described

page_text: and distinguished in reference to Figures 1 to 3, respectively, or for acting as a
steam water trap, all substantially as herein described and shown in reference to
Figure 4 of the accompanying Drawings.
Second. The construction of the floats A for boiler feed or high or low water
alarm apparatus, or for steam traps, of hollow solid steel shells either cast or blown
in moulds, substantially as and for the advantages herein described in reference to
the accompanying drawings.
Third. The forming and use of hollow metal shell floats A filled with water or other
liquid for boiler feed or high or low water alarm apparatus, or for steam traps,
substantially as herein described in reference to and shown in the accompanying
Drawings.
Fourth. The arrangement and combination of the parts of float lever and escape
valve feed alarm apparatus, substantially as herein described in reference to and shown
in Figures 1 and 1A of the accompanying Drawings.
Fifth. The arrangement and combination of the parts of float lever and escape
valve feed alarm apparatus substantially as herein described in reference to and shown
in Figures 2 and 3 respectively of the accompanying Drawings.
Sixth. The arrangement and combination of the parts of float lever apparatus as
a steam water trap substantially as herein described in reference to and shown in
Figure 4 of the accompanying Drawings.
Seventh. The arrangement and combination of the parts of float lever and escape
valve high or low water or feed alarm apparatus substantially as herein described in
reference to and shown in Figure 5 of the accompanying Drawings.
Eighth. The arrangement and combination of the parts of float lever and steam
escape valve alarm or boiler feed apparatus for setting on or off the feeding or
donkey engines of the boilers by small stop pistons and valves, all substantially as
herein described in reference to and shown in Figures 6, 7, and 8 of the accompanying
Drawings.
Dated this 98th day of Amonet 1880 -
W. R. M. THOMSON & Co.,
96, Buchanan Street, Glasgow, Agents.