IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR UTILIZING EXHAUST STEAM FOR FEEDING STEAM ENGINE BOILERS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention of
"IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR UTILIZING EXHAUST STEAM FOR FEEDING STEAM
ENGINE BOILERS." A communication from abroad by Daniel Grimm, of
Nüremberg, in the Empire of Germany.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 13th June 1879.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR UTILIZING EXHAUST
STEAM FOR FEEDING STEAM ENGINE BOILERS." [A communication from abroad by
Daniel Grimm, of Nüremberg, in the Empire of Germany.]
This Invention relates to an apparatus designed to utilize the exhaust steam from
a steam engine by conducting it directly into the water in a boiler, without the use
of a cold-water pump, a condenser, or an air-pump.
The said apparatus is constructed with an immovable hollow cylinder, the interior
of which is divided by a diaphragm into two compartments, into one of which flows
the exhaust or waste steam coming from the steam cylinder, while the other is
constantly kept filled with the boiler-water, and is provided with a slide which is
pressed by the water against the face of the diaphragm. Around the axis of this
cylinder a second hollow cylinder revolves, but is placed excentrically with regard
to the first named cylinder, and in such a manner that the same edge is constantly
in contact with the circumference of the immovable cylinder. Near to this edge a
slot is provided through which the boiler-water enters into the compartment in
order to incorporate the exhaust or waste steam confined in a space which by reason
of the slide is out of communication with that compartiment into which the steam
coming from the steam engine flows.
The said revolving cylinder is put into motion by suitable gearing, and makes
one revolution at each simple stroke of the piston of the steam-engine from which
the steam is to be conducted into the boiler.
The whole is enclosed in an auxiliary vessel which is constantly kept filled with
water from the boiler, with which it communicates by means of tubes.

page_text: The said auxiliary vessel is provided with two end-pieces attached to the shell
by screw-bolts. The exhaust or waste steam arrives from the steain-engine through
a waste-pipe attached to one end of the said vessel, and is introduced by a short
tube into one compartment of the immovable cylinder, which is divided into two
compartments by a diaphragm as aforesaid. The said short tube being firmly
attached to one end of the said auxiliary vessel by means of a collar, and con-
veniently guided in the bore of the latter, serves as a journal for the immovable
cylinder into which it is exactly fitted, and as the axis of rotation for the revolving
cylinder. Another axis is cast at one end of the immovable cylinder, and bears in
a support extending from the bottom of the vessel. In order to prevent the
stationary or immovable cylinder from turning a binding screw having its thread
in the aforesaid collar is strongly screwed upon the surface of the said short tube.
The said revolving cylinder is provided with ends having bosses for bearings or
bushes placed out of the centre, so that it occupies when put upon the axis an
eccentric position in relation to the immovable cylinder. The movement of rotation
is imparted to it by gearing placed at that end of an arbor which extends outside
the shell of the vessel, and by bevel wheels, one of which is cast in one piece with
the right hand ond boss of the revolving cylinder. The driving mechanism is
arranged in such a manner that this cylinder makes one revolution at each simple
stroke of the steam engine piston.
Within the other compartment of the cylinder there is a slide, the longth of which
is equal to the distance of the inside faces of the two cylinder ends. At the left
hand it is cut out at its upper part on account of an elbow in the said diaphragın
which is made to facilitate the tightening up of a portion of the apparatus.
One compartment of the cylinder is always filled with boiler-water, and by the
pressure of that water the lower part of the aforesaid slide is constantly pressed
against the face of the diaphragm, while its upper part is guided by two pins pro-
jecting from the said slide, and which pins slide in two corresponding holes bored in
the shell of the cylinder.
During the time that the revolving cylinder performs one revolution around the
immove or stationary cylinder the following results are effected, that is to say,-
Supposing that the revolving cylinder rotates and occupies a certain position
when the piston is at the end of its stroke, that is to say at the moment at which
the escape of the steam takes place, and that the casing of the revolving cylinder is
completely surrounded with boiler-water, the exhaust steam will arrive through the
tubes into one compartment of the stationary cylinder, where a lower pressure will
exist than that which the exhaust steam possesses. In proportion as the cylinder
rotates an increasing vacuum will be produced between the envelopes or casings of
the cylinders, for on the one hand the entrance of the water through the slot in the
revolving cylinder into the so-formed space will be interrupted by a tongue or piece
lodged in a longitudinal slot in the revolving cylinder, and tightly pressed against
the exterior casing of the stationary cylinder; and on the other hand, the entrance
of the mixture of water and steam which exists nt this moment in the other space is
rendered impossible by the slide, the lower edge of which is constantly pressed against
the interior surface of the casing of the revolving cylinder by its own weight.
As soon as the said tongue or piece has passed the alot in the stationary cylinder
water can enter through the slot in the other cylinder into the space in which the
aspirated steam is confined. Water will then flow into this space as long as the
pressure is equal to that of the boiler-water surrounding the revolving cylinder, and
when the pressure of the mixture in the said space increases, which is the result of
the gradual reduction of the volume of this space, the mixture of water and steam
will now escape through the last named slot out of the revolving cylinder, that is to
say, into the space of the auxiliary vessel.
It will be seen that the first named space becomes greater, or, what will be the
same, the force of aspirating steam increases, while the other space is decreasing,
gradually producing thereby the effect that the water is forced to become saturated

page_text: with the aspirated steam before escaping through the slot in the revolving cylinder
out of the said cylinder, or into the space of the auxiliary vessel.
For putting the auxiliary boiler or vessel in communication with the principal
one two pipes are provided, through one of which the water from the principal
boiler enters, while through the other the mixture of water and steam in the vessel
is forced to flow back into the main boiler.
This apparatus requires only a small power to put it into motion, so that by its
application there is not only obtained an economy of motive power, but also a saving
in the expenses which are requisite in other cases for a cold-water pump, condenser
and air-pump.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 13th
December 1879.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR UTILIZING EXHAUST
STEAM FOR FEEDING STEAM-ENGINE BOILERS." A communication from abroad by
Daniel Grimm, of Nüremberg, in the Empire of Germany.
This Invention relates to an apparatus designed to utilize the exhaust steam of a
steam engine by conducting it directly into the water in a boiler without the use of
a cold water pump, a condenser, or an air pump.
The said apparatus is constructed with an immovable hollow cylinder, the interior
of which is divided by a diaphragm into two compartments, into one of which flows
the exhaust or waste steam from the steam cylinder, while the other is constantly
kept filled with the boiler water, and provided with a slide which is forced by the
pressure of the water against the face of the said diaphragm. Around the axis of
this cylinder a second hollow cylinder is arranged to rotate. This second cylinder
is placed excentrically to the first named cylinder in such a manner that the same
part of its surface is constantly in contact with the circumference of the immovable
cylinder. Near to its edge is made a slit, through which the boiler-water enters
into the water compartment to incorporate with it the exhaust or waste steam
confined in a space which by the slide is cut off from communication with the
compartment into which the steam coming from the steam-engine flows.
The said revolving cylinder has motion imparted to it by suitable gearing, and
makes one revolution at each stroke of the piston of the steam-engine from which
the exhaust-steam is to be reconducted into the boiler.
The whole apparatus is enclosed in an auxiliary vessel which is constantly kept
filled with water from the boiler, with which the said vessel communicates by means
of tubes.
In the accompanying Drawing I have shewn an apparatus constructed according
to my Invention.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of the said apparatus on the line a*, b*, Figure 2.
Figure 2 is a vertical transverse section on the line c*, d*, Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a horizontal longitudinal section of the aforesaid iminovable cylinder
on the line e, fƒ*, Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a vertical transverse section on the line g*, h*, Figure 1.
Figures 5 to 9 indicate on an enlarged scale the different positions which the
revolving cylinder occupies in relation to the immovable cylinder during one
revolution.
Figures 10 and 11 shew in longitudinal and transverse section a modified form
of my improved apparatus.
The auxiliary boiler or vessel A is provided with two ends attached to the shell
by screw-bolts or by other suitable means. The exhaust or waste steam arrives
from the steam-engine through a waste-pipe e attached to one end of the vessel A,
and is introduced by the short tube c and adjutage or nozzle f, Figures 1, 2, and 3,
into the compartment C¹ of the immovable cylinder C, which, as above stated, is
divided into two compartments by the diaphragin C³.
The tube c, being firmly attached to one end of the auxiliary vessel by means of
a collar a, and conveniently guided in the bore of the latter, serves as a support for
the immovable cylinder C, into which it is accurately fitted, and as one journal or
axis of rotation for the revolving cylinder B. The other axis d is cast with the
other end of the immovable cylinder C, Figure 3, and is supported and kept in its
place in the boss of the bracket or standard b. In order to prevent the turning of
the cylinder C the binding screw h, Figure 1, fitted to screw threads in the collar
a is screwed down upon the surface of the tube c.

page_text: The cylinder B is provided with ends having bosses for the bearings or bushes
placed out of the centre, so that it occupies, when placed upon the axes c and d, an
excentric position in relation to the immovable cylinder C. The required rotation
is imparted to the said cylinder through the gear wheel i at the end of the vertical
shaft n, which extends outside the vessel A, and by bevel wheels g, g, one of which
is cast in one piece with the end boss of the cylinder B. The driving mechanisin is
arranged in such a manner that the cylinder B makes one revolution at each stroke
of the steam-engine piston.
Within the compartment C² of the cylinder C there is a slide D, Figures 1 and 5,
the length of which is equal to the distance between the inside faces of the two
cylinder ends. At one end it is cut away at its upper part, as shewn in Figure 1,
because of the elbow of the diaphragın C³, Figure 3, which is necessary to permit
the tightening up of the adjutage or nozzle. The compartment C³ of the cylinder
C is always filled with water from the boiler, and by the pressure of this water the
lower part of the slide D is constantly forced against the face of the diaphragm C³,
while its upper part is guided by two pins m, m, projecting from the said slide,
which pins work in two corresponding holes bored in the shell of the clinder C.
During one revolution of the cylinder B around the immovable cylinder C the
following action takes place :-
Supposing the cylinder B to rotate in the direction of the arrow, and that it
occupies the position indicated by Figure 5 when the piston is at the end of its
stroke, that is to say, at the moment when the escape of the steain takes place,
and that the casing of the cylinder B is completely surrounded with boiler-water,
the exhaust steam will enter through the tubes e, c, and finto the compartment C¹,
where a lower pressure will exist than that of the exhaust steam. In proportion to
the advance of the cylinder B in its rotation a regularly increasing vacuum will be
produced between the surfaces of the cylinders B, C, (see Figure 6,) for on the one
hand the entrance of the water through the slot q into the space o¹ will be inter-
rupted by the tongue r fitted in a longitudinal groove of the cylinder B, and tightly
pressed against the exterior surface of the cylinder C; and, on the other hand, the
entrance of the mixture of water and steam which is present at this moment in the
space o³ is rendered impossible by the slide D, the lower edge of which is constantly
pressed against the interior surface of the cylinder B by its own weight.
In looking at Figure 5 it might be said that, in consequence of the coincidence of
the slots q, o, water could enter the compartment C¹ and reduce or partially destroy
the vacuum therein, but in taking into consideration the great angular velocity of
the cylinder B it will be evident that the quantity of water which could enter in
passing the slot o is too insignificant to be prejudicial to the drawing-in action of
the exhaust steam.
As soon as the tongue r has passed the slot o of the cylinder C water can enter
through the slot q into the space o², in which the discharged steam of the engine
cylinder is confined. Water will then flow into this space until the pressure is
equal to that of the boiler-water surrounding the cylinder B, and when the pressure
of the mixture in the space o² increases as the result of the gradual reduction of
volume in the space o², the mixture of water and steam will now escape through the
slot q from the cylinder B, that is to say, into the space outside of the same within
the auxiliary vessel A.
In examining the different successive positions indicated by Figures 5, 0, 7, 8,
and 9 it will be seen that the space o' is enlarged, or, what will be the same thing,
the force by which the steam is drawn in increases, while the space o decreases
gradually, producing thereby the effect of saturating the water with the drawn in
steam before its escape through the slot q from the cylinder B, or into the space
exterior to the same, and within the auxiliary vessel A.
For putting the said auxiliary vessel or boiler in communication with the main
boiler two pipes l, l, are provided, as shewn in Figures 1, 2; through the one of
these pipes the water from the main boiler enters, while through the other pipe the
mixture of water and steam in the said vessel is forced back into the main boiler.

page_text: This improved apparatus requires but a minimum force for working it, so that its
application is not only economical with regard to motive power, but saves the
expense requisite in other cases for a cold water pump, condenser, and air-pump.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim,
First. The construction of the apparatus for conducting the exhaust or waste
steam of a steam-engine directly into the water in the steam-boiler, as above
described and represented in the Drawing, and for the purpose set forth.
Second. The two cylinders C, B, one of which is immovable, while the other is
arranged to turn around the same in combination with the slide D, thus producing
a vacuum for the exhaust steam which escapes from the cylinder or cylinders of a
steam-engine, and for the mixture of boiler-water and exhaust or waste-steam, which
mixture is afterwards conducted into the main steam-boiler.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and scal, this Thirteenth day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.