Improvements in Steam Heating Apparatus.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 8th May, 1890-Accepted, 5th July, 1890,
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Steam Heating Apparatus.
I, SYDNEY PITT, of Sutton, in the County of Surrey, Gentleman, (a communication
to me from abroad by Timothy J. Kieley, a resident of the City, County and State
of New York, United States of America,) 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:-
This invention relates to an improved apparatus by means of which the water is
automatically returned to the boiler from a steam heating system and the level of
the water in the boiler constantly maintained. By this system, likewise, the effect
known as hammering” in the pipes is to a great degree prevented.
By the apparatus here shown I am enabled to run my combination upon what is
known as both the dry and the water line system, that is, a system in which either the
return kept entirely dry or a water line is maintained therein in the ends of the
return pipes from the condensing system. The condensed water is continually returned
by a pump to the boilur,-the operation of this pump being determined by a pump
governor, which is an apparatus controlling the steam valve of the pump, so that
when the governor is supplied with water to a certain height the pump operates,
but when the pump has exhausted the water from the governor its operation
ceases.
My invention will be readily understood from the accompanying drawings, in
which the Figure represents a view of my entire system.
A represents the boiler or source of steam. The steam from this boiler passes
through the main steam pipe F to the different parts of the heating system. For
instance, the radiator E and the box coils E' E¹ are connected with such main steam
supply in this pipe. E is a hot air flue. At I is placed a pressure regulating valve
of one of the known forms, which determines the pressure existing beyond it in the
system. The returns from the heating coils connect with a main return pipe N.
Such connections are shown at M and Ö. The main return pipe connects with a pump
governor C, which may be of any known form. The connection is made through the
suction pipe N', in order to operate the apparatus on the dry system. When, however,
the wet system is to be employed the valve in the pipe N¹ is closed and the valve in
the equalizing pipe N is opened, when the water will return into the upper part of
the pump governor. The object of this pump governor is to determine the action of a
pump by the water supply to the same. The main return pipe, which connects with
the pump D, as shown, connects likewise with the pump governor. This pump
governor contains a float, and is connected with a steain valve in the pipe G, so that
when the water rises above a certain level in this pump governor the steam puinp will
commence to operate, thereby forcing the water back to the boiler through the pipe W.
Connecting with the main steam pipe and with the top of the pump governor is the
pipe H, which equalizes the pressure in the pump governor. The result of this com-
bination is that the water, when the valve in the suction pipe N is open and the valve
in the equalizing pipe H is open and likewise the valve H¹, will continually stand in
the bottom of the system at about the line xx, which prevents the steam from working
around back into the radiators by coming down through the connecting pipe of some
other radiator. To this cause is principally due the effect of pounding or hammering
in the radiators previously referred to. If, however, it is desirable to work the system
dry, the valve in the pipe N can be closed and the valve H' closed, when the pump will
draw all the water through the pump governor. Connecting likewise with the pump
governor is the water supply pipe P. By opening the valve in this an additional
supply of water can be returned to the boiler to supply waste therein. I may also
add to the steam in the system the exhaust from an engine or pump, as through the

page_text: pipe R, which communicates on one sido to the exhaust to the roof through a back
pressure valve, as shown, which back pressure valve relieves excessive pressure on the
steam side. The return pipe S to the system is likewise provided with an oil separator
in which any oil can be trapped which by chance would enter the system through
the pipe R.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to bo performed I declare that what I
claim is
1. The combination, in a steam heating system, of a main steam supply pipe having
a regulating valve therein which automatically governs the main steam supply pressure,
the main return pipe, the return pipes from the heating coils communicating with the
said main return pipe, a pump governor independent of the main steam supply, a
pump controlled by the said governor, and a steam connection between the main
steam supply pipe on the low pressure side of the regulating valve and the pump
governor, the said connection forming tho single connection between the main steam
supply and the pump governor, substantially as described.
2. The arrangement herein shown by means of which a water line can be main-
tained in the condensing side of a heating system or the said system may be emptied
of the water at will, as shown and described.
3. The apparatus herein specified by means of which steam can be added to the
supply of a heating system in addition to the supply direct from the boiler and n
water line can be maintained in said system independent of the return to the boiler
by the supply pump while the said system can likewise be emptied at will, as
described.
4. The arrangement of boiler supply pipe, return pipe, boiler pump governor, and
regulating valves shown, for the purposes described.
Dated this 9th day of May 1890.
CARPMAEL & Co.,
Agents.