Improved Apparatus for Automatically Regulating the Supply of Liquid Fuel to Steam Generator Furnaces.
Year: 1896

page_text: Improved Apparatus for Automatically Regulating the Supply of
Liquid Fuel to Steam Generator Furnaces.
I, SIR CHARLES STEWART FORBES Baronet of Castle Newe Strathdon Aberdeen-
shire, Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention consists in improved apparatus for automatically regulating the
supply of liquid fuel. It is constructed as follows:-A cylinder formed from brass
or other suitable metal is carefully bored and fitted at one end with a gland or
stuffing box and at the other with a screwed plug.
A piston rod passes through a well fitting piston which occupies the lower part
of cylinder, and above the piston and pressing upon it is a spiral spring the upper
end of which presses upon the screwed plug. The piston rod passes through the
screwed plug at its upper end and is threaded and fitted with a milled headed nut,
the lower end passes through a stuffing box and is fitted with a coupling. Ports
are formed in the cylinder by means of screwed connecting pieces cast with it.
One of the ports opens beneath the piston and is coupled by means of a union with
the steam boiler, the other port is above the piston and serves to convey any steam
that may leak past it to the chimney or a condenser when employed. The foot of
the cylinder is screwed and to this is fitted a distance piece which serves to carry
the oil cock. This cock consists of a casting in which is a valve and an inlet and
outlet port, one of these ports is connected by piping to the oil tank or other supply,
the other to the jet or burners.
The valve is mounted upon a piston rod which passes through a stuffing box at
either end, the lower end of this piston rod being screwed or threaded and fitted
with an adjusting nut whereby the valve may be so regulated as to prevent the
flow of oil to the burners being entirely stopped. The upper end of piston rod
18 secured to the coupling of regulator.
The operation of my invention is as follows:-
The combined regulator and cock being mounted up in any convenient position
by means of a bracket generally cast in one piece with the cylinder, connection is
made with the steam boiler and the oil supply and burners.
Steam now enters beneath the piston which is forced upward's against the
spring; the tension of which is regulated by means of the screwed plug until the
piston remains stationary at the desired boiler pressure, and the valve in the cock
admits sufficient oil to the burners. If now a less demand of steam is made on the
boiler and the pressure rises the piston will force up the spring and diminish the
oil supply. On the other hand should the boiler pressure fall the spring will force
down the piston and admit a larger supply of oil to the burners. By means of the
adjusting nut threaded on the spindle passing through the cock the valve is pre-
vented when desired from entirely closing.

page_text: In some cases I may dispense with the adjusting nut the regulation of the oil
valve being effected by the coupling suitably modified.
Dated this 10th day of December 1896.
FRANCIS M. ROGERS,
21 Finsbury Pavement, London, E.C., Agent for Applicant.
Improved Apparatus for Automatically Regulating the Supply of
Liquid Fuel to Steam Generator Furnaces.
I, SIR CHARLES STEWART FORBES Baronet of Castle Newe Strathdon Aberdeen-
shire, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:-
My invention consists in improved apparatus for automatically regulating the
supply of liquid fuel.
It is constructed as follows:-A cylinder formed from brass or other suitable
motal is carefully bored and fitted at one end with a gland or stuffing box and at
the other with a screwed plug. A piston rod passes through a well fitting piston
which occupies the lower part of cylinder and above the piston and pressing upon
it is a spiral spring the upper end of which presses upon the screwed plug. The
piston rod passes through the screwed plug at its upper end and is threaded and
fitted with a milled headed nut, the lower end passes through a stuffing box and is
fitted with a coupling. Ports are formed in the cylinder by means of screwed
connecting pieces cast with it. One of the ports opens beneath the piston and is
coupled by means of a union with the steam boiler, the other port is above the
piston and serves to convey any steam that may leak past it to the chimney or a
condenser when employed. The foot of the cylinder is screwed and to this is
fitted a distance piece which serves to carry the oil cock.
This cock consists of a casting in which is a valve and an inlet and outlet port,
one of these ports is connected by piping to the oil tank or other supply the other
to the jet or burners. The valve is mounted upon a piston rod which passes
through a stuffing box at either end, the lower end of this piston rod being screwed
or threaded and fitted with an adjusting nut whereby the valve may be so regulated
as to prevent the flow of oil to the burners being entirely stopped.
The upper end of piston rod is secured to the coupling of regulator. The opera-
tion of my invention is as follows:-The combined regulator and cock being
mounted up in any convenient position by means of a bracket generally cast in one
piece with the cylinder connection is made with the steam boiler and the oil supply
and burners. Steam now enters beneath the piston which is forced upwards
against the spring, the tension of which is regulated by means of the screwed plug
until the piston remains stationary at the desired boiler pressure, and the valve in
the cock admits sufficient oil to the burners. If now a less demand of steam is
made on the boiler and the pressure rises the piston will force up the spring and
diminish the oil supply. On the other hand should the boiler pressure fall the
spring will force down the piston and admit a larger supply of oil to the burners.
By means of the adjusting nut threaded on the spindle passing through the cock
the valve is prevented when desired from entirely closing. In some cases I may
dispense with the adjusting nut the regulation of the oil valve being effected by
the coupling suitably modified.
To enable my invention to be better understood I will now proceed to describe
the same by means of the accompanying drawings in which:-

page_text: Fig. 1. Is a part sectional view on ime A. B. Fig. 2.
Fig. 2. Is a plan.
Fig. 3. modification of plan.
Figs. 4, and 5. modification of oil valve adjustment.
Fig. 6. modification of piston rod packing.
Fig. 7. modification of jointing.
In the drawings 1, is the cylinder which may be formed of brass or other suitable
metal. This is carefully bored out and fitted at the top end with a plug or stuffing
box 2, threaded as at 3, or it may be adjustably secured by studs or bolts and
nuts 4, see Fig. 3, whichever may be found most convenient. The base of cylinder
is fitted with a screwed plug or gland 2" in which holes 5 are drilled so as to enable
it to be adjusted by means of a key. A piston rod 6 which may be formed from
steel, bronze, gunmetal, brass or other suitable metal is turned, "threaded as at 3,
and pinned as at 7, to the coupling 8. A shoulder 9, is formed on the rod and
when the particular type of piston 10, packed with rings 11 as shewn, is employed
serves by means of the nut 12, threaded on the rod to securely hold the same.
The piston rod after passing through the glands 2, 2ª, is threaded into the adjust-
ing wheel or nut 13, which is recessed as at 13", on its underside. Surrounding the
piston rod is a spring 14, this spring presses upon the piston 10, and the underside
of stuffing box screwed plug or gland 2, its tension being regulated by screwing
the same up or down.
Ports 15, 15, are formed by means of the nose or connecting pieces 16, screwed
as at 3. The pipe conveying steam from the boiler is connected by a union or
like means with the port 15, which opens beneath the piston, any waste steam
passing the piston being conveyed to the chimney or condenser "when such is
employed by the port 15". The foot of cylinder i, is screwed as at 3, and by
this means carries the distance piece 17 the end of which is similarly threaded and
supports the oil cock 18. This cock is usually cast from gunmetal or brass and has
an inlet port 15b, and outlet port 15%, cored or formed in the branches which are
threaded at their ends for connecting up the oil feed and discharge pipes. A
valve 19, is mounted on a turned spindle 20, formed from brass, gunmetal or
equivalent suitable metal, and is secured in position by the nut 12. This spindle
passes through the stuffing box 21 and is secured by adjusting nuts 121 to the
coupling 8. The lower end passes through the screwed cap 21 and gland 211, a
lock-nut 12 being threaded on the screw end of spindle 20.
The regulating device may be attached to the boiler or elsewhere by flanged
seating 22.
The operation of my invention is as follows:-The ports 15, 15", are connected
by suitable piping with the boiler and condenser or chimney, the flow of steam to
port 15, being regulated by a cock.
The ports 15, 15°, are connected to the oil tank and burners a cock being placed
between the oil tank and port 15b, to cut off the supply of oil when the apparatus
is out of use. The spring 14, is now regulated as nearly as possible to the boiler
pressure by turning the adjustable screwed plug OP gland 2, until the maximum
supply of oil required is attained, the adjusting wheel 13, being then run down to
the face of the gland to prevent this supply being excceeded. Should the boiler
pressure increase the piston will be forced up and the supply of oil reduced or
entirely stopped. Since however oil burners tend to blow out in rough weather if
the supply of oil be greatly diminished suddenly I prefer to employ the small
regulating nut 121 by screwing this up the valve can be so regulated as never to
cut off the supply of oil entirely.
Fig. 6, shews a modification of piston which gives good results. The rings 11
shewn in Fig. 1 are dispensed with and a cupleather 11", employed. I find that
the water which collects beneath the leather suffices to effectually protect it from
the direct action of the steam, moreover it is more convenient for small sized
regulators and keeps steam tight with the minimum of friction.
Figs. 4 and 5, shew in part elevation and section a modified form of adjustment

page_text: which may in some cases replace that shewn in Fig. 1. The upper end of
spindle 20, passes through the coupling 8, which is formed with a milled edge 23,
and turns loose on the end of piston rod 6, supported by the collar and-pin 24. It
can be locked in any position by the nuts 12. This particular arrangement enables
me to dispense with the bottom gland 2", and adjustment nut 12. I may in some
cases groove as at 20', the rod 20, and prevent the same from turning round by a
set pin 25, see Fig. 4. In some cases I join the steam cylinder and oil cock to the
distance pieces by bolts 4 see Fig. 7.
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
claim is:-
1. In amaratus for automatically regulating the supply of liquid fuel, the
particular combination and construction of the interacting parts forming the
improved regulating device as herein set forth and for the purpose specified.
2. In apparatus for regulating the supply of liquid fuel the combination of a
steam cylinder having an adjustable and spring controlled piston and ports for
connecting said cylinder to boiler and condenser or exhaust, with an oil regulating
cock secured to the cylinder by a distance piece, the piston rod and oil valve
spindle being adjustably connected by means of a fast coupling and lock nuts as
shewn. The glands, stuffing boxes, or screwed plugs, for packing and securing
alignment of said rods and the milled adjusting nuts. The respective parts being
formed and co-operating as shewn and for effecting the purposes set forth.
3. In apparatus for regulating the supply of liquid fuel the combination of a
cylinder with a spring regulated piston working therein and a distance piece for
connecting said cylinder with the oil cock as described with the adjustable
regulating wheel and locking coupling for connecting the piston and valve rod and
varying the position of the valve all as described and co-operating for the purpose
set forth.
1007
FRANCIS M. ROGERS,
21 Finsbury Pavement, London, E.C., Agent for Applicant.