Improvements in Feed Water Cleaners.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Jan., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 9th Oct., 1896-Accepted, 28th Nov., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Feed Water Cleaners.
1, CHARLES ALBERT HOUFE of The School, Aysgarth in the County of
York do hereby declare the nature of this invention (as communicated to me from
abroad by Walter William Houfe of 13 Knutsford Terrace Kowloon in the
Province of Kwantung China) to be as follows:-
The object of my invention is to separate oil and other impurities from water
delivered by the air pump of a steam engine before this water is allowed to again
enter the boiler.
The improved feed water cleaner receives the water direct from the air pump
and after cleansing it delivers it to the feed pump; the apparatus is exposed to no
pressure and therefore may be lightly constructed. Preferably its external form
is cylindrical and within the outer cylinder (which may be termed the hot well).
another cylindrical vessel is fixed, the space between the two serves as a separating
chamber. The water enters the separating chamber at some distance from the
bottom or lower end of the outer vessel and with as little disturbance as possible;
the oil being lighter than the water rises to the upper part of the separating
chamber and is drawn off from time to time by opening an oil cock provided
for the purpose; the heavier impurities sink to the bottom of the separating
chamber and are emptied out as often as may be necessary through
a mudhole
which at other times is closed by a cover. From the separating chamber the
water which has now to be filtered passes into the above mentioned inner
cylindrical vessel by numerous holes in the side at some distance from the bottom.
The interior of the inner cylinder is for the most part occupied by filters and a
receiver for the filtered water. The receiver is below and the filters above.
There are two filters, the first is a cylinder with double walls of perforated sheet
metal containing a packing of paddy husk or it may be other suitable filtering
medium; this filter stands on its end on the top of the receiver and the filtration
takes place through the walls and so reaches the interior; it does not however at
once enter the filtered water receiver for within the first filter there is the second.
The second filter is a cylinder of perforated sheet metal open at both ends and
clothed externally with a filtering fabric, preferably, a fabric having a fluffy pile is
employed. This filter also stands upon its end upon the top of the filtered water
receiver, with the interior of which it freely communicates so that the water which
filters through the fabric from without inwards at once enters the receiver. From
the receiver the water passes to the pump by an outlet at the bottom, and
preferably this outlet is guarded by a valve and float so that the pump may not
draw air after emptying the receiver. The valve is an equilibrium valve consisting
of a cylindrical block with ports or openings in its side and a ring sliding along
the cylinder which covers and closes the ports when there is not sufficient water in
the receiver. The ring is directly connected with a cylindrical float which floats
upon the water in the receiver and when it rises it lifts the ring and uncovers the
ports. Both of the filters are readily removable for cleaning when it becomes
necessary. Access is obtained to them by lifting off a loose lid from the top of the
outer cylinder or hot well and then either filter can be lifted out, any simple
fastening which keeps it in place on the top of the filtered water receiver being
eleased.

page_text: Preferably a coil, of steam pipe is provided in the filtered water receiver to heat
the water contained therein. Water condensing in the steam pipe is delivered
into the separating chamber past a small valve which prevents return. This steam
coil is not an essential part of the apparatus and the automatic valve may also be
dispensed with. Some of the advantages presented by this water cleanser are the
following:-As it is not exposed to pressure it is not necessary that it should
be strongly constructed; consequently it is inexpensive. Most of the impurities
being removed before the water reaches the filters they do not rapidly become
clogged. The filters can be separately removed, cleansed and replaced whilst the
apparatus is in use. There is no risk of air being pumped into the boiler, which is
objectionable. The feed water can be heated whilst in the apparatus.
Dated this Tenth day of January 1896.
CHARLES A. HOUFE.
I, CHARLES ALBERT HOUFE, of The School, Aysgarth, in the County of
York, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (as communicated to .me
from abroad by Walter William Houfe, of 13 Knutsford Terrace, Kowloon, in
the Province of Kwantung, China) and in what manner the same is to be
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
The object of my invention is to separate oil and other impurities from water
delivered by the air pump of a steam engine before this water is allowed to again
enter the boiler.
One of the arrangements which I have devised for carrying my invention into
effect is shewn by Figures 1 to 4 of the annexed drawings.
Figure 1 is an elevation, Figure 2,is a vertical section, Figure 3 is a plan of the
apparatus, and Figure 4 shews the same with the cover removed,
Figures 5 to 10 show another arrangement in accordance with my invention.
Figure 5 is a side elevation, partly in section, the section being taken on the
line 5-5, in Figure 6.
Figure 6 is a vertical section, Figure 7 is a plan with a cover removed.
Figure 8 is a side elevation of a part of the apparatus, namely a carrier clothed
with a fabric suitable to serve as a filtering medium.
Figure 9 is an underside view, and Figure 10 is a plan of the parts shewn by
Figure 8.
Figures 11, 12 and 13 show to a larger scale an automatic valve forming part
of my arrangements. Figure 11 is a vertical section shewing the valve together
with its float and the chamber which contains them. Figure 12 is a side elevation
and Figure 13 is a plan; in these latter figures the float and the containing
chamber are not shewn.
The improved feed water cleaner receives the water direct from the air pump
and after cleansing it delivers it to the feed pump; the apparatus is exposed to no
pressure and therefore may be lightly constructed. As shewn by the Figures 1
to 4 its external form is cylindrical and within the outer cylinder 1 (which may be
termed the hot well) another cylindrical vessel 2" is fixed, the space between the
two serves as a separating chamber. The water enters the separating chamber at
some distance from the bottom or lower end of the outer vessel at 3 and with as
little disturbance as possible; the oil being lighter than the water rises to the
upper part of the separating chamber and is drawn off from time to time by
opening an oil cock 4 provided for the purpose'; the heavier impurities sink to the
bottom of the separating chamber and are emptied out as often as may be necessary

page_text: through a mudhole which at other times is closed by a cover 5. From the
separating chamber the water which has now to be filtered passes into the above
mentioned inner cylindrical vessel by numerous holes in the side at some distance
from the bottom. The interior of the inner cylinder is for the most part occupied
by filters and a receiver for the filtered water. The receiver 6 is below and the
filters above. There are two filters 7 and 8, the first is a cylinder with double
walls of perforated sheet metal containing a packing of paddy husk or it may be
other suitable filtering medium; this filter stands on its end on the top of the
receiver and the filtration takes place through the walls and so reaches the interior;
it does not however at once enter the filtered water receiver 6 for within the first
filter there is the second.
The second filter 8 is a cylinder of perforated sheet metal open at both ends
and clothed externally with a filtering fabric, preferably a fabric having a fluffy
pile is employed. This filter also stands upon its end upon the top of the filtered
water receiver, with the interior of which it freely communicates so that the water
which filters through the fabric from without inwards at once enters the receiver.
From the receiver the water passes to the pump by an outlet 9 at the bottom and
preferably this outlet is guarded by a valve and float so that the pump may not
draw air after emptying the receiver.
The valve is an equilibrium valve which is hereinafter fully described, it prevents
the receiver 6 from being entirely emptied by the pump.
Both of the filters 7 and 8 are readily removable for cleaning when it becomes
necessary. Access is obtained to them by lifting off a loose lid 10 from the top of
the outer cylinder or hot well and then either filter can be lifted out, any simple
fastening which keeps it in place on the top of the filtered water receiver being
released.
Preferably a coil of, steam pipe 11 is provided in the filtered water receiver
to heat the water contained therein. Water condensing in the steam pipe is
delivered into the separating chamber past a small valve 12 which prevents
return. This steam coil is not an essential part of the apparatus and the automatic
valve may also be dispensed with. Some of the advantages presented by this
water cleanser are the following:-As it is not exposed to pressure. it is not
necessary that it should be strongly constructed; consequently it is inexpensive.
Most of the impurities being removed before the water reaches the filters they do
not rapidly become clogged. The filters can be separately removed cleansed and
replaced whilst the apparatus is in use. There is no risk of air being pumped into
the boiler, which is objectionable. The feed water can be heated whilst in the
apparatus.
I however prefer that form of my apparatus which is represented by the figures.
numbered from 5 to 13. In these figures A is the inlet to the apparatus from the
air pump of the engine. After entering through this inlet the water arrives in the
settling chamber B where its velocity is tremendously reduced and ample
opportunity given for matter of higher or lower specific gravities than unity to
separate from the water, the heavier sinking to the floor for the removal of which
the door O is provided and the lighter floating to the roof of the chamber which is
constructed on a slant, having its lowest part at the inlets (A) and its highest part
at the end practically the furthest removed from A where is fitted a suitable cock
for its removal or drawing off. The boss for this cock is shewn at N and its
internal pipe at W which is constructed so as to draw from the extreme top of the
chamber B where oil may and will accumulate. At this point is also provided an
air pipe Z ita utility for preventing air confinement is obvious. At this same end
of B, but close to the floor are situated the outlet holes for the water with its
remaining impurities, these holes are marked d and conduct the water into
chamber C the outlet of which is through an opening at ee the lowest edge of which
determines the smallest possible head in B with the apparatus in a vertical position.
This point c however should not be more than level with the top of the air pump
chamber when the apparatus is in position. Thus any increase to the air pumps

page_text: load is avoided. This chamber C it will be seen only performs the function of a
regulator of B's outlet and D's inlet positions. The chamber D is similar to
chambers F and H all three of which are provided with a loose lid common to all.
The chamber D is connected by a passage in the base or floor to the chamber F
which in a similar manner is connected with chamber H. Each of these three
chambers is fitted with a medium carrier which is enveloped in a cover of woven.
fabric suitable to serve as the filtering medium. The medium carrier resembles in
shape a collapsed or flattened cylinder, the walls of which are perforated and the
ends only partly closed in. The upper necked opening Y is to admit of the
insertion of the key Y' which engages in the square y provided in the head of
the clamping bolt y' shown at the base of the medium carrier. This base has holes
through it which coincide with those in the chamber floor when in position. When
the bolt is screwed into the hole provided for it and tightened up a rigid and water
tight joint is made, such that the only outlet from the chamber for the water on its
progressive course is through the filtering medium which encompasses the
carrier." After this mauner the water passes from D to the interior of E
through the base plate or floor to chamber through the medium on G and the
base plate beneath G to chamber H where the medium on I is encountered and
passed through; so the chamber J is reached. This chamber is provided for the
reception of a steam heating coil, a suitable door for its fitting &c. being provided
at P. The outlet from this chamber is through a hole e which is so situated that
the coil in J is at all times immersed. This outlet leads to the last chamber K
which is provided for receiving the equilibrium float valve. This valve consists of
two dises held apart by three rods which slide up and down over the two
orifices or ports in
22
body L covering or opening them both simultaneously.
The upper rod is
by set screws ' to the float thus the float actuates the
valve and maintai
nt head of water above the outlet orifice at M which
leads to the feed pu
mps. The float is provided with a hollow guide f
working through a glanachamber cover the end of which is provided with
a small hole which commun, ates to the interior of the float and thus acts as a
safety arrangement for the float The cover of this chamber may be removed at
any time when the apparatus is working for the water level within is always below
the cover and by then drawing the valve its utility in preventing air gulping by
the pumps may be seen.
It is not absolutely necessary that a single cock or valve be fitted to this
apparatus save perhaps the oil cock; but a great advantage is gained by the
insertion of a three way cock at or near M so that in addition to the main pumps
the donkey connections may be made to the apparatus also.
No other water filter which I know of could compass this with anything like
such simplicity.
The overflow holes are shown at Q. These holes should only be brought into
play in the event of the medium becoming too dirty or the pump refusing to take
the water away as required. An electric bell could be fixed to warn
one of
overflowing commencing. The condition as to dirt of the several mediums may be
readily ascertained by observation when the loose cover is lifted. A stay piece is
shown at UU to preserve the "carrier" from collapsing while a bottom piece is
shown at V V in which it will be observed that ample blank landing is provided
for receiving and keeping water tight the parts around the aperture in the medium
for the protruding part of the carrier. It is intended that the medium should be
bag-shaped so that the carrier is just pushed into it and the top closed over and
tied with tapes where necessary.
The chamber B may have baffle plates disposed in it.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A feed water cleaner so arranged substantially as described that the water

page_text: delivered by the air pump of the engine enters a separating chamber where both
the oil and the heavier impurities are separated from the water by gravitation and
whence the water escapes through filtering material into a receiver from which it is
drawn off by the boiler feed pump.
2. A feed water cleaner in accordance with Claim 1 and with a valve in the
filtered water receiver which closes before the receiver is empty, and prevents air
being pumped by the feed pump into the boiler.
3. A feed water cleaner in accordance with Claim 1 and with two or more.
filtering diaphragms between the separating chamber and the receiver so arranged
substantially as described that either diaphragm may be removed and renewed
whilst filtration continues through the diaphragm or diaphragms which remain in.
place.
4. A feed water cleaner in accordance with Claim 1 and with a heating appliance
within the filtered water receiver.
5. A feed water cleaner substantially as described and illustrated by the annexed.
drawings.
Dated this Tenth day of October 1896.
CHARLES ALBERT HOUFE.