IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PURIFYING STEAM AND REGULATING ITS PRESSURE AND FLOW
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Julien François Belleville, of Paris, 16, Avenue Trudaine,
Civil Engineer, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR
PURIFYING STEAM AND REGULATING ITS PRESSURE AND FLOW."
.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Julien François Belleville at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 28th December 1880.
JULIEN FRANÇOIS BELLEVILLE, of Paris, 16, Avenue Trudaine, Civil Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PURIFYING STEAM AND REGULATING ITS
PRESSURE AND FLOW."
My Invention relates to improvements in apparatus for purifying steam and
regulating its pressure and flow, more particularly applicable in connection with
steam engines and steam generators, such improvements being employed either
separately or combined. They relate mainly to an arrangement for purifying
steam from vesicles of water and other suspended matters, which apparatus may be
used conjointly with a regulating apparatus of peculiar construction, but which
may also be used separate therefrom.
Fig. 1, Sheet I., of the accompanying Drawings. shews an elevation of the two
apparatus combined; the other Figures on the same Sheet shew the various details
of construction of the steam purifier, which has for its object to separate the steam
from the particles of water or of foreign bodies that may be contained therein, such
separation being effected by the agency of the different densities of such bodies and
of centrifugal action thereon produced by the said apparatus. This effect is
produced by means of a continuously descending circular current between two
concentric cylindrical walls, affording the steam a channel of large sectional area
in which it can flow always in the same direction and without sensible loss of
pressure.
This apparatus is shewn to an enlarged scale in elevation at Fig. 2, Sheet I., in
vertical section on line E, F, at Fig. 3, in sectional plan on line A, B, C, D, at Fig. 4,
and in plan at Fig. 5. It consists of a vertical cylinder A, having an internal
portion B concentric therewith, thus forming an annular chamber, which is closed
at the top and along its entire height on the side of the steam inlet C, but is open

page_text: The
at the bottom and along its entire height at the side farthest from the entering
steam. D is a central chamber within the partition B, and E is the outlet for the
steam; F is an automatic cleansing cock consisting of a cock a, a float b, levers c
and d, and a counterweight e; G is a blow off cock provided with a dipping pipe;
Hare man holes or hand holes for gaining access to the interior for cleansing and
inspection; and I is a steam discharge valve that can be actuated by hand.
apparatus acts as follows:-The steam coming from the boiler or generator enters
by the pipe C the space between A and B, and circulates while descending in the
same, so as to pass into the central chamber D. During its passage the particles of
water or other matter that may be contained therein are thrown by the centrifugal
action and by reason of their density against the sides of the cylinder A, on which
they flow down to the lower end thereof. The purified steam passes from the
central chamber through the upper pipe E, while the water and any impurities are
retained in the apparatus, being precipitated by virtue of the centrifugal action of
the circular current, and they are removed by the automatic cleansing cock F, or if
necessary by the blow off cock operated by hand.
The improved regulator consists of a novel combination of the various parts
composing it. It is more particularly applicable :-
1. As a governor of speed for land and marine steam engines.
2. As a regulating apparatus, serving to maintain a definite pressure which must
not be exceeded for certain industrial purposes.
3. As an escape valve, allowing steam to issue only when the pressure in the
steam pipe or chamber attains and exceeds a predetermined pressure.
The construction of this apparatus is shewn on Sheet II. of the Drawings; Figs.
1 to 4 show an arrangement of the apparatus for governing the speed of land and
marine engines; Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation; Fig. 2 is a side view; Fig. 3 is a
plan; Fig. 4 is a horizontal section through the seam pipes; Figs. 5 to 8 are
similar views of the apparatus arranged for operating as pressure regulating
apparatus and escape valve.
In all these arrangements the apparatus consists of a chamber A, enclosing the
regulating spring D which has a hermetically closed internal space.
This spring
consists of discs of tempered steel or other suitable material formed as truncated
cones, having a contral hole and conicity such that they can be compressed together
without exceeding their elastic limit. These discs are superposed one above the
other with caoutchouc and wire gauze washers interposed, so as to form a perfectly
hermetically closed and compressible inner space. A counterweight I regulates the
initial compression of the spring. B is a chamber containing equilibrium steam
valves E, E, and C is the connection for the two vessels with an interposed
insulating body. The equilibrium valves E actuated by the stem G serve for
regulating the steam supply. The stem F is actuated by the regulating spring,
and the levers and connecting rods H transmit the motion of the spring to the
equilibrium valves E.
In the special arrangement, shewn in Figs. to 4, for governing speed a pipe J
is provided, through which water propelled by small double acting pumps actuated
directly by the engine shaft passes into the chamber A. A graduated discharge
cock K regulates the escape of water from the chamber; this cock has a graduated
dial and a handle with index, by which the opening of the discharge aperture can
be accurately adjusted to give a determined number of revolutions of the engine.
L is another water cock, to which can be attached a pipe leading to another
graduated cock at a distance, as, for example, in the office of the superintendant or
manager in the case of a land engine, or on the bridge of a steamer under control of
the officer, so that the speed can thus be regulated at a distance from the engine.
And in this manner, by providing several graduated cocks connected by pipes with
the spring chamber, the speed may be controlled at several different places.
When the apparatus is employed for regulating pressure of steam supplied to a.
pipe or chamber it is arranged as shewn in Figs. 5 to 8, being provided with a
Lube M, forming a communication between the upper part of the spring chamber

page_text: and that part of the regulating valve box which is occupied by the steam after
having passed the valves.
When the pressure of this steam attains the limit that may have been determined
the spring becomes compressed, and the movement of its upper cones being com-
municated to the valves causes them to close.
Finally, when the apparatus is used to permit escape of steam from a pipe or
chamber when the pressure therein exceeds a predetermined limit, a tube N
connects the upper part of the spring chamber with the steam pipe leading to the
regulating valves, that is to say, with the part where the pressure is highest.
When the apparatus is employed for this purpose the action of the levers for trans-
mitting motion from the spring to the valves is inverted, that is to say, they are
arranged so that the valves are opened when the spring is compressed, and thus
escape of steam is permitted whenever the pressure exceeds the predetermined
limit. Fig. 9 is a partial section, and Fig. 10 a plan to an enlarged scale, shewing
the construction which I prefer to employ for the pressure spring so as to ensure
that its interior shall be a closed cavity. P are external metal rings with inwardly
projecting flanges, and Q are internal rings with outwardly projecting flanges,
against which the conical discs are pressed with packing S, such as caoutchouc,
interposed. By this arrangement both the discs and the packing are kept firmly
in position, and are not displaced by sliding under the compressing action or in
consequence of shocks, and the jointings are rendered quite tight against leakage.
Any number of discs may be thus combined to form a spring.
When the two sets of apparatus above described, namely, that for purifying and
that for regulating the steam are combined, as shewn at Fig. 1, Sheet I., each
performs its independent functions as if it were alone in action.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I claim,―
First. The use for purifying steam from particles of water and foreign matter
of apparatus arranged so that the steam has a large and free area of flow in a
circular descending current, and particles suspended in it are by their centrifugal
force and density separated from it, substantially as herein described.
Second. The construction of steam purifying apparatus, herein described, with
reference to Figs. 2, 3, 4, and 5, on Sheet I. of the accompanying Drawings.
Third. The construction of apparatus for governing the speed of an engine, herein
described with reference to Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, on Sheet II.
Fourth. The modified construction of the apparatus to adapt it for regulating
the pressure or escape of steam, as herein described with reference to Figs. 5, 6, 7,
and 8, on Sheet II.
Fifth. The combination of the steam purifying and the steam regulating
apparatus into one, as herein described with reference to Fig. 1, Sheet I.
In witness whereof, I, the said Julien François Belleville, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty fourth day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty.
J. F. BELLEVILLE. (L.S.)