IMPROVEMENTS IN OR APPLICABLE TO STEAM BOILERS FOR EFFECTING A REGULAR FEED OF THE WATER THERETO, AND FOR REGULATING THE PRESSURE OF THE STEAM THEREIN.
Year: 1879

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Walter Alfred Barlow at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th February 1879. A communi-
cation from abroad by Alphonse Monchablon, of Paris, France.
WALTER ALFRED BARLOW, of 6, St. Paul's Churchyard, London, Patent Agent,
and Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN OR APPLICABLE TO STEAM BOILERS FOR
EFFECTING A REGULAR FEED OF THE WATER THERETO, AND FOR REGULATING THE
PRESSURE OF THE STEAM THEREIN.' A communication from abroad by Alphonse
Monchablon, of Paris, France.
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This Invention relates to improvements in or applicable to steam boiler feeding
apparatus, and to apparatus for regulating the pressure of steam.
Different systems for automatically feeding the water into steam boilers have
been tried before, but with indifferent or no success, on account of their great
complication and the expense incurred in keeping them in order.
The new system which forms the subject of this Invention presents the
advantages of great simplicity, capacity for work without expense, and is of
relatively low cost.
In carrying the Invention into effect, there is employed the ordinary feeding
pump, the pipe sucking up the water, and a discharge pipe injecting the water into
the boiler.
The pump is continuously driven, and it should consequently deliver water
continually, but a water guage float lies on the liquid and is arranged in such a way.
that when the boiler contains enough water a rod attached to the float opens a
tap.
*A tube connects the base of the pump with the said tap, and another tube from
the tap connects same with the outside air. The said tap being opened when
there is sufficient water in the boiler the pump will not be able to force water, but
sucks air and returns same back to the boiler by the tap.
When the level becomes lower the tap will be closed, and then the feed pump
injects water into the boiler.
To prevent the escape of steam, the tap and the float rod are enclosed in a steam
tight box above the boiler.
An alarm whistle is also employed to indicate if there be too much or too little
water in case any foreign body should clog the tap, and as a further precaution
against accidents.

page_text: So far the improved feed apparatus has been described as fitted directly to the
boiler, but this arrangement presents certain practical inconveniences in consequence
of the apparatus being at the top of the boiler, and necessarily at a certain distance
from the attendant.
The modification which I proceed to describe and which is based on the same
principle, but independant of the boiler as it may be placed near it.
A cylindrical box or casing of sheet or cast iron is provided, which casing rests
upon suitable supports. A spherical cover is bolted on the upper part of the
cylindrical case, and in the centre of the said cover is an opening, over which is
bolted a steam tight box. A float and rod, operating exactly as before described,
produces by means of attachments to the float rod the opening of a tap, and
consequently cuts off or allows of the introduction of the air below and to the feed
pump, which consequently feeds or ceases to feed the boiler to which the apparatus
is connected by upper and lower pipes, the lower of which supplies water, and the
upper supplies steam, so that the level of the water is the same in the apparatus
and in the boiler, the pressure being the same in both. The said upper and lower
pipes may be fixed directly to the boiler, or to corresponding pipes already
existing. A support or stand will in some cases be fitted in the apparatus below
the float in order to support same in case of the level of the water becoming too
low, and the rod of the float will also be in connection with and in order to actuate
a magnetic indicator and steam whistle.
It is very important to be able to regulate the pressure of the steam on its
discharge from the generator, and this is effected according to this Invention
as follows:-
The steam is introduced into a cylinder in which are two rods working in
suitable guides.
The upper rod is resting at one extremity on a fixed piece, so that all the
delatations produced by the heat of the steam produce their effect on the other end
of the said bar or rod.
A kneed or cranked piece or bar is arranged in one end of the cylinder in such a
way as to oscillate under the action of the delatation of the bar resting on the
fixed piece.
A second rod or bar parallel to the aforesaid upper rod is supported loose in its
guides, and it carries at its end nearer to the aforesaid kneed pieco a fixed rod on
which the said kneed piece rests, the effect of which is that as soon as the upper
bar dilates the second bar is pushed forward.
The second bar carries a spring which acts to bring it back into its first position
when the kneed piece discontinues to act, and the end of the said second rod is
made conical in order to enter into and shut more or less the steam pipe screwed
in the cylinder; a hand wheel is adapted to the screwed pipe in order to diminish
or increase the action of the conical end of the rod.
A needle movable on a dial plate and attached to the upper rod is used to
indicate the pressure of steam in the cylinder.
It will be readily seen that as the heat of the steam is proportional to its
pressure, the upper rod will expand so much the more as the pressure becomes
greater. This rod will act upon the second rod, and so carry forward the conical
part which will diminish the passage of the steam, and will in this way keep the
pressure regular.
When it is required to keep a certain pressure the apparatus must be first
adjusted to maintain the required pressure by screwing forward or backward the
movable part by means of the hand wheel.