An Improved Apparatus for Controlling the Supply of Feed Water to Steam Generators.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd May, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Feb., 1897-Accepted, 17th Apr., 1897
An Improved Apparatus for Controlling the Supply of Feed Water
to Steam Generators.
We, ARTHUR GEORGE MUMFORD of Culver Street Iron Works, Colchester, in the
County of Essex, Engineer, and ALFRED ANTHONY of the aforesaid works,
Draughtsman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an improved apparatus for controlling the supply of feed
water to steam generators and it is specially adapted for use with generators of the
water tube type.
The apparatus consists essentially of a suitably shaped box or chamber connected
with the generator by means of both steam and water pipes, and so fixed with respect.
to the generator that both at the lowest and the highest working level of the water in
the generator, the water in the said box or chamber is capable of supporting a float. In
this box or chamber is a float connected by means of a link or its equivalent to one
end of a lever pivotted to the end of a rod passing into the box or chamber through a
suitable stuffing box, the other end of the said lever acting on a valve controlling the
admission of feed water to the boiler.
The rod on to which the aforesaid lever is pivotted is controlled to vary the height
of the point of fulcration by means of a hand lever pivotted at one end to the exterior
of the box or chamber and having at its other end a handle carrying a pawl adapted
to engage with a toothed quadrant carried by the box or chamber.
As the position of the float and consequently the water level in the generator
depends upon the position of the fulcrum of the lever connecting the float with the
valve, it will be obvious that through the hand lever the valve controlling the feed to
the boiler can be adjusted to give any desired working water level in the boiler.
By lifting the hand lever as high as it will go the valve may be held open
for filling up the boiler, while by quickly raising and lowering the hand lever the
valve may be repeatedly lifted off its seat to clear or remove any obstructions.
Although any suitable valve may be used we prefer to employ one of the
balanced type and to mount the valve proper on a central spindle so that it can
be readily withdrawn or removed from its seating without disturbing the pipes or
connections.
We sometimes place an adjustable spiral spring to act on the top of the valve for
the purpose of correcting the weight of the float."
ROBERT E. PHILLIPS, Assoc. M. Inst. C.E., M.I. Mech. E.,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicants.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Apparatus for Controlling the Supply of Feed Water
to Steam Generators.
We, ARTHUR GEORGE MUMFORD of Culver Street Iron Works, Colchester, in the
County of Essex, Engineer, and ALFRED ANTHONY of the aforesaid works,
Draughtsman, 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 for automatically controlling the
supply of feed water to water tube and other steam generators, the object being to
maintain a constant water level in the boiler under all working conditions.
The apparatus is fixed on the feed supply pipe from the feed pump to the boiler
and operates by opening and closing a valve in the said pipe as the level of the
water in the boiler rises or falls, the pump being always under steam.
Thus when
the level of water in the boiler falls the valve in the feed supply pipe is automatically
opened and the pump is enabled to force water into the boiler. When the water in
the boiler rises to the required level the valve in the feed supply pipe is closed
thus stopping the flow of water from the pump and consequently the supply of
water to the boiler.
In the accompanying drawings which illustrate this invention:-
Figure 1 Sheet No. 1 is a view in longitudinal section, and
Figure 2 Sheet No. 2 is a view in longitudinal section of a modification, and
Figure 3 Sheet No. 2 is a view in plan partly in section.
The apparatus consists essentially of a box or chamber A containing a float B, of
a valve chest A¹ containing a valve C the said valve chest being in communication
with the float box or chamber by means of a large passage a through which the
connection between the float and the valve passes.
The upper part of float box A is in communication with the steam space of the
boiler by means of a pipe a' and its lower part is in communication with the water
space thereof by means of a pipe a², the position of the float box with respect to the
boiler being such that at both the highest and lowest working level of the water in
the boiler there is water in the box to support the float.
The valve box A' is connected with the feed supply pipe by means of pipes c and c'.
The float B is connected with the spindle C' of the valve C by means of lever D
one end of which engages with the valve spindle while the other end is connected to
the float by means of a link E. The lever D is pivotted to the end of a rod F which
passes into the valve chest A' through a suitable stuffing box such as a³. The position
of the end of this rod E, to which the lever D is pivotted, is controlled to vary
the height of the point of pivot by means of a hand lever such as G pivotted at
one end to a bracket at on the exterior of the valve chest A¹ and having at its
other end a spring controlled pawl 9 adapted to engage with a toothed quadrant H
carried by the box or chamber A.
As the position of the float B and consequently the water level in the generator
depends upon the position of the fulcrum of the lever D it will be obvious that
through the hand lever G and rod F the valve C which controls the supply of feed
water to the boiler can he adjusted to give any desired working water level in the
boiler.
By lifting the hand lever as high as it will go the valve C may be held open for
filling up the boiler, while by quickly raising and lowering the said lever the valve
may be repeatedly lifted off its seat to clear or remove any obstructions.
Although any suitable valve may be used we prefer to employ one of the balanced
type as shown.
In the modification shown by Figures 2 and 3 the position of the valve C is reversed

page_text: and the lever D is pivotted directly to the valve chest A¹ the position of the valve O
with respect to the float B being varied by making the spindle C¹ of the valve
adjustable in length. In this construction the lever D is fixed to an axle F
mounted in the valve chest A¹ so as to act as a fulcrum, the said lever being
slotted to allow it to engage with a pin f carried by the valve spindle C which.
is formed in two parts as shown. The upper part of the spindle C carrying the
pin is threaded into the lower part carrying the valve C, so that the length of
the valve spindle can be varied to alter the working level of the water in the boiler.
This is effected by a second spindle J mounted in the case A' in an axial line with
the valve spindle and passing out through a suitable stuffing box a. The inner end
of this spindle J is formed as a boxj to engage with the squared end of the lower
part of the valve spindle so that it operates to turn the said spindle when it is
rotated by the hand wheel K. As the upper part of the spindle cannot rotate the
length of the entire spindle is varied by rotating the hand wheel K, and as the
variation of the length of the valve spindle cannot be seen an indicator L is provided
as shown by Figure 2 to show the working position of the float.
To balance the float B a weight such as M is adjustably mounted on a lever N..
This lever is pivotted to the valve chest A' and is connected with the axle F carrying
the lever D by means of a lever O fixed to the axle F outside the valve chest A' and
As an alternative construction.
by a connecting link P as shown by Figures 2 and 3.
the float may be balanced by spring acting on the top of the valve.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-The float B rests on the surface of
the water in the box or chamber A which corresponds with the level of the water in
the boiler. As the level of the water falls the float falls with it and opens the valve C
thus enabling the water from the feed pump to pass by the valve. When the required'
quantity of water has entered the boiler the float has risen to its original position thus
closing the valve and cutting off the supply of water.
It will be seen that as the controlling float is connected with the regulating valve
without the intervention of a stuffing box friction is reduced to a minimum.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
(1) The improved apparatus for controlling the supply, of feed water to steam
generators, substantially as herein before described and illustrated by the accompaying
drawings.
(2) In an automatic feed water regulator connecting the controlling float with the
regulating valve by means of a lever passing freely through and acting in a passage
between the float box and the valve chest, as and for the purpose set forth.
(3) In an automatic feed water regulator, connecting the controlling float with the
regulating valve by means of a lever passing freely through and acting in a passage
between the float box and the valve, the said lever being pivotted on a fulcrum the
position of which can be varied from the exterior of the apparatus, as and for the
purpose set forth.
(4) The combination of parts hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 1 of
the accompanying drawings forming an improved apparatus for automatically
regulating the supply of water to steam generators.
(5) The combination of parts herein before described with reference to Figures 2 and 3..
of the accompanying drawings forming an improved apparatus for automatically
regulating the supply of water to steam generators.
Dated this and dow at Habrdory IX
Und
day of Hohen
ROBERT E. PHILLIPS, Assoc. M. Inst. C.E., M.I. Mech. E.,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicants..