Improvements in Steam Boiler Feeders.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Sept., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 5th June, 1891-Accepted, 29th Aug., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Steam Boiler Feeders.
I, LAURENCE CHARLES BRICKENSTEIN of Lititz, in the County of Lancaster
and State of Pennsylvania in the United States of America Teacher and CHARLES
ALBERT IRVING BABENDREIER of Baltimore City in the State of Maryland in
the United States of America Pharmacist, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to that class of steam boiler feeders in which the water
passes by gravity from an elevated trap into the boiler, at proper periods determined
by the condition or height of the water in the boiler to be fed.
The invention consists in certain details of construction of apparatuses heretofore
used in combination with certain novel additional features, all of which will be more
fully described hereinafter.
Broadly, the invention consists in the combination of a steam boiler provided
with a steam exit pipe terminating at any desired water level, and an elevated trap
having communication at top and bottom with the water line and lower part of the
boiler respectively for equilibrium and feed, a suitable water supply and means for
controlling such supply, feed and equilibrium pipes consisting of an engine having
connection with cocks in said pipes and operated by steam from the dome of the
boiler and having its valve controlled by a float in the water trap.
The operation of these parts is such as to supply the boiler up to any pre-
determined water line immediately on the lowering of the level of the water
sufficiently to unseal the equilibrium pipe, by the amount of water in the trap, and
to immediately fill said trap for repeated use as soon as the level in the boiler rises
high enough to seal the end of the equilibrium pipe. It is intended that the opening
and closing of the valves in the several pipes shall be by positive force from the
engine so that the float is not depended on to perform any operation requiring much
force the engine valve alone being operated thereby.
In the accompanying drawing which represents a general view of the invention
1 is the boiler and 2 the steam trap situated at a level above the water line, 3 is a
supply pipe connected with any suitable supply of water under pressure such as an
ordinary hydrant and which communicates with the lower part of the steam trap,
4 is the feed pipe which extends from the bottom of the trap to the bottom or lower
part of the boiler and 5 is the equilibrium pipe which extends from the water line
of the boiler to the upper part of the trap.
The pipes 3, 4, and 5 are provided with cocks or turn plugs 3ª 4ª and 5*
respectively whose crank arms are connected together by a single link 6.
The engine 9 which is preferably secured to the side of the trap receives its
steam from the dome of the boiler through the pipe 7 and its valve is operated by
a crank arm 8 on a rock shaft 9 which shaft has suitable connection with an
ordinary float situated within the steam trap.
The piston rod of the engine is connected by means of a pitman 10 with the link 6
so that the movement of the float will cause said engine to impart a positive
movement to all of the cocks 3" 4" and 5* simultaneously.
It is obvious that the equilibrium pipe 5 should be of sufficient calibre to permit
the immediate equalization of the pressure above and below the water in the trap
so that the operation will be prompt and uninterrupted.
It is also obvious that a suitable check valve should be inserted in the feed pipe
between the boiler and the trap to prevent back pressure from the former.
The above described mechanism will operate automatically to replace the water
in the boiler each time a sufficient amount is used to uncover the end of the

page_text: equilibrium pipe in the boiler, the interim between the supplies being always
sufficient to permit the filling of the trap by the hydrant.
The several communicating pipes are opened or closed at the proper time so that
while the water is passing into the boiler there can be no back pressure on the
hydrant, the same being cut off entirely and while the water is running in from the
hydrant there can be no opposition to it from the steam inasmuch as the equilibrium
and steam pipes are both cut off, and there will be no difficulty from air pressure
inasmuch as the cock 5ª in the equilibrium pipe is provided with an exhaust port
communicating with the atmosphere, or instead of permitting the exhaust to pass
into the atmosphere, it may be turned into the supply pipe 3 through a small cock
located in a branch pipe leading from a port in the housing of the cock 5ª and
entering the supply pipe between its cock 3ª and a check valve arranged in the
supply pipe for preventing back pressure from the trap in the hydrant, so that when
the cock in the branch pipe opens communication between the equilibrium pipe and
the supply pipe the steam will rush into the hydrant pipe and thus equalize the
pressure on both sides of the said check valve therein and thereby allow the latter
to open under the pressure from the hydrant-the cold water of course condenses
the steam and thus overcomes the pressure to a considerable degree.
The exhaust port of the engine may also be provided with an auxiliary cock in
order to regulate the exhaust so as to prevent the too sudden movement of the
piston in the engine, by forming a cushion of the exhaust steam behind it.
Furthermore, it will be observed that the operation of the turn plugs in the
pipes 3, 4, and 5 is not directly dependent upon the float which is not always reliable
where much force is required but said valves are operated by the engine, the float
only being utilized to actuate the easy moving valve of the latter.
It is desirable to employ the turn plugs or cocks 3° 4° and 5* instead of the usual
slide, check or puppet valves for the reason that the plug or cock is effective in
resisting unusual and adverse pressure whereas the said other valves are effective
in resisting pressure from one direction only, and where the pressure of the hydrant
exceeds that of the boiler as is always the case when the fires are first started, it is
readily seen that anything but a valve that will resist pressure in both directions
would open under the pressure of the hydrant and thus cause the boiler to become
flooded.
It is obvious however, that piston valves operated by the engine may be used
instead of the turn plugs or cocks if preferred but it is essential to employ either
these or the turn plugs or cocks 3" 4" and 5º.
As a modification of the invention a force pump may be employed for injecting
at once a quantity of cold water into the trap for condensing the steam contained
therein and producing a partial vacuum, thus relieving the back pressure in the
hydrant and allowing the supply to enter freely.
The pump piston may be connected to the rod which opens and closes the cocks
or turn plugs and the pump cylinder suitably connected with the supply pipe, so
that when the equilibrium and feed pipes are opened by the engine the same
movement will draw a quantity of water from the supply pipe into the pump
cylinder ready for injection, and when the float in the trap falls, causing the engine
to close the equilibrium and feed pipes, this quantity of water in the pump cylinder
is immediately injected into the trap and causes a rapid condensation of the steam
there, leaving the water from the supply pipe free to enter the trap.
When the trap fills, the float reverses the engine which closes the supply pipe
and at the same time causes the pump to refill ready for another injection and opens
the feed and equilibrium pipes to permit the water in the trap to gravitate into the
boiler as needed.
As a further modification the turn plug or cock in the supply pipe may be
omitted where there is no hydrant pressure employed in the pipe 3 and a single
check valve used instead, and in all cases where there is no pressure in pipe 3 or the
pressure is insufficient, a cold water supply pipe will be provided with suitable
check valves for preventing back pressure, and connected to the trap so that cold

page_text: water may be injected into the latter for condensing the steam therein and
permitting the feed water to enter from heater or other source of supply.
Dated this 30th day of September 1890.
WHITE & WOODINGTON,
27, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents.
Improvements in Steam Boiler Feeders.
We, LAURENCE CHARLES BRICKENSTEIN of Lititz in the County of Lancaster
and State of Pennsylvania in the United States of America Teacher and CHARLES
ALBERT IRVING BABENDREIER of Baltimore in the State of Maryland in the
United States of America Pharmacist 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 boilers and to steam boiler feeders in which the water
passes by gravity alone from an elevated trap into the boiler at the proper periods
determined by the condition of the water in the boiler to be fed.
The invention consists in certain details of construction of the apparatus hereto-
fore used, and in certain novel additional features, all of which will be more fully
described hereinafter and particularly pointed out in the claims.
More particularly the invention consists in the combination of a steam-boiler
provided with a steam-exit pipe terminating at any desired water-level, and an
elevated trap having communication at top and bottom with the lower part and
water line of the boiler for feed-water and equilibrium, respectively, a suitable
water supply and means for controlling the supply, feed and equilibrium pipes,
consisting of an engine having connection with cocks or valves in said pipes and
operated by steam from the dome of the boiler and having its valve controlled by a
float in the water-trap.
The operation of these parts is such as to supply the boiler up to any designated
line immediately on the lowering of the level of the water sufficiently to unseal the
equilibrium-pipe by the amount of water in the trap, and to immediately fill said
trap for repeated use as soon as the float falls far enough to open the steam valve
and cause the engine to actuate the cocks or valves in the equilibrium, feed and
supply pipes.
It is intended that the opening and closing of the valves in the several pipes
shall be by positive force from the engine, so that the float is not depended on to
perform any operation requiring much force.
And in order that the said invention may be more clearly understood and readily
carried into effect, we will proceed aided by the accompanying drawings more fully
to describe the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is an elevation showing a boiler with all the external attachments
embodied in our invention.
Figure 2 is a detached elevation of the trap and the operating mechanism, the
only parts omitted being the boiler and pipe connections.
Figure 3 is an axial sectional view of the trap taken in a plane parallel to
Figure 2.
Figure 4 is a sectional view through a portion of the trap, and the feed,
equilibrium, and supply pipes, showing the arrangement of the same together with
their operating levers and the connecting link by which they are moved in unison
when said link is connected to the engine.
Figure 5 is a view of a modification partly in vertical section.

page_text: 1 represents the boiler; 2, the steam-trap; 3 the supply pipe from the hydrant
or the heater; 4 the feed pipe and 5 the equilibrium pipe (see Figures 1 and 2):
6, represents the float; 7, the steam valve, 8, the steam pipe and 9, the engine.
The float 6 is fitted within the steam trap 2 and has a cup leather, 6ª so as to
better insulate the steam from the water in the trap.
The float is provided with an axial perforation through which passes a vertically
moveable rod 13 which works in a suitable guide 10 at its lower end and is
provided with an upper and a lower lug or collar 14 with which the float engages as
it is raised or allowed to fall by the water in the trap.
The rod 13 is pivotally connected at its upper end with a crank arm 15 on a
rod 16 which rod 16 has bearing at two points in the periphery of the trap.
One end of the rod 16 projects outward through a stuffing box and carries on its
outer end another crank arm 17 which is connected by a link 18 to the lever or
crank arm 19 which last named is keyed on the end of a rock shaft 20 which
operates the ordinary slide valve of the engine 9.
It will thus be observed that the rising and falling of the float in the trap will
operate the valve of the engine.
24 is a piston rod of said engine which is connected directly by a pitman 25 to
the link 26 which latter is connected to the levers 27 of the turn plugs 28, 29,
and 30 in the pipes 5, 3, and 4.
31 represents the check valve located in the water supply pipe 3 for the purpose
of preventing back pressure or return of water in said pipe as will be observed by
reference to Figure 4.
In this figure also it will be seen that the equilibrium pipe 5 does not enter the
trap below, but is stopped by a plug 32 and is continued upward entering the trap
above its water line.
It is obvious that the equilibrium pipe 5 should be of sufficient calibre to permit
the immediate equalizing of the pressure above and below the water in the trap, so
that the operation will be prompt and uninterrupted.
It is also obvious that a check valve of any approved pattern should be inserted
in the feed pipe between the boiler and the trap.
The above described mechanism will operate automatically and reliably to replace
the water in the boiler each time a sufficient amount is used to uncover the mouth
of the equilibrium pipe the interim between the supplies being always sufficient to
permit the filling of the trap by the hydrant.
The several communicating pipes are opened or closed at the proper time, so
that while the water is passing into the boiler there can be no back pressure
on the hydrant supplying it, the same being cut off entirely and while the water
is coming in from the hydrant there can be no opposition to it from the steam,
inasmuch as the equilibrium and steam pipes are both cut off and there will be
no difficulty from air pressure, inasmuch as the equilibrium pipe 5 is further
provided with a port 29ª communicating with the outer atmosphere or supply
pipe at will through a cock 28ª located in a branch pipe 28° leading to the supply
pipe 3 between the hydrant or supply and the check valve 31 so that when the
cock 28 places the port 29" and trap 2 in communication the steam in the trap
will if the cock 28 be properly turned rush into the hydrant pipe 3 and thus
equalize the pressure on both sides of the valve 31 and thereby allow the latter
to open under the pressure from the hydrant.
The cold water of course condenses the steam and thus overcomes the pressure.
The exhaust of the engine may also be provided with a cock 48 in order to
regulate the exhaust, to prevent the too sudden movement of the piston in the engine
by forming a cushion of the exhaust steam behind it.
Furthermore it will be observed that the operation of the valves is not directly
dependent upon the float which is not always reliable for doing work where much
force is required but said valves are operated by the force of the steam in the
engine the float only being utilized to oscillate the casy moving valve of the engine.
We find it desirable to employ the turn plugs or cocks 28, 29, 30 instead of the

page_text: usual slide, check, or puppet valves, for the reason that the plug or cock is effective
in resisting unusual and adverse pressure whereas the said other valves are effective
in resisting pressure from one direction only, and when the pressure of the hydrant
exceeds that of the boiler, as is always the case when the fires are first started, it is
readily seen that anything but a plug would open under the pressure of the hydrant
and thus cause the boiler to become flooded.
It is obvious however, that piston valves operated by the engine may be used
instead of the turn plugs or cocks, if preferred, but it is desirable to employ either
these or the turn plugs or cocks.
When piston valves are employed, we prefer to use the arrangement shown
Figure 5. That is to say we arrange all of the piston valves 3ª 4ª and 5" axially with
the engine 9 preferably in one valve housing or cylinder 9ª the valves 3ª 5ª being
separated by an inclined groove or port 5 which connects the upper part of the
trap 2 with the exhaust pipe 28" leading into the supply pipe 3 when the valves are
shifted to permit of the refilling of the trap with water.
The valves are preferably mounted or made integral with one stem 26* which
projects through the stuffing box of the engine and is secured to its piston 9b.
The crank arm 17 is connected to the arm 19 on the rock shaft 20 for shifting
the slide valve 9 by means of a connecting rod similar to the rod 18 only longer
and being secured to the arms 17 19 by means of universal joints 17ª 19ª
respectively.
Thus it will be seen that while the valves occupy the positions shown in Figure 5
the trap at its bottom is in communication with the boiler through the feed pipe 4
and valve housing 9 and at its top through equilibrium pipe 5 and housing 9ª
leaving the water in the trap free to gravitate into the boiler.
As a further modification of the invention a force pump P may be employed for
injecting at once a quantity of cold water into the trap for condensing the steam
contained therein and producing a partial vacuum thus relieving the back pressure
in the hydrant and allowing the supply to enter freely.
The pump piston P¹ may be connected to the rod 26ª which opens and closes the
cocks or valves governing the pipes 3, 4, 5 and the pump cylinder P2 suitably
connected by means of branch pipe 3b with the supply pipe 3 so that when the
equilibrium and feed pipes are opened by the engine the same movement will draw
a quantity of water from the supply pipe into the pump cylinder ready for injection
and when the float in the trap falls causing the engine to close the equilibrium and
feed pipes, this quantity of water in the pump cylinder is immediately injected
into the trap via the eduction pipe P³ and causes a rapid condensation of the steam
there, leaving the water from the supply pipe 3 free to enter the trap.
When the trap fills, the float reverses the engine, which closes the supply pipe
and at the same time causes the pump to refill for another injection and also opens
the feed and equilibrium pipes to permit the water in the trap to gravitate into the
boiler as needed.
The outer end of the pump cylinder is connected with the branch pipe 3b below
the check valve 3 in said branch pipe, by a pipe 34 so as to avoid the formation of
a vacuum at this end of the cylinder.
The eduction pipe P³ is provided at its upper bend with an air chamber P* at its
extremity where it enters the top of the trap with a spray nozzle P and between
such nozzle and the air chamber with a check valve P6 adapted to be held closed
by the pressure of steam in the trap, and which when the steam pressure of the
trap has partially exhausted via the exhaust pipe 28 into the supply water, will
open under the pressure of the air in the chamber P4 and allow the cold water
in the latter to be sprayed into the steam remaining in the trap, thus rapidly
condensing it.
When the pipe 3 leads from a heater instead of directly from a cold water
hydrant it is desirable to connect the pump with a cold water supply by means
of a separate pipe such as 3° shown in dotted lines in Figure 5; but where the
pipe 3 leads from a cold water supply such independent pipe 3* is not necessary.

page_text: As a still further modification, the turn plug or cock 29 or valve 3* in the supply
pipe 3 may be omitted where there is no hydrant pressure employed in the pipe 3
and a simple check valve such as 31 Figure 4 used instead and in all cases where
there is no pressure in pipe 3, or the pressure is insufficient, a cold water supply
pipe may be provided with suitable check valves for preventing back pressure,
and connected to the trap so that cold water may be injected into the latter for
condensing the steam therein and permitting the feed water to enter.
It will of course be understood that the pump may if desired be employed in
connection with the turn plugs or cocks shown in Figures 1, 2, and 4; and also
that such pump and its accessories may be omitted from the form shown in Figure 5
without rendering the device inoperative or without departing from the spirit of
the invention.
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. A steam boiler feeder substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. In a steam boiler feeder the combination with the trap and water supply pipe
of an exhaust pipe leading from the trap into the said supply pipe, substantially as
set forth.
3. In a steam boiler feeder the combination with the trap; of means for injecting
cold water thereinto substantially as set forth.
4. In a steam boiler feeder the combination with the trap; of the feed, equilibrium
and supply pipes, valves for controlling said pipes and an engine for operating said
valves substantially as set forth.
5. In a steam boiler feeder the combination with the trap having a float; of the
pipes 3, 4, 5, valves for controlling said pipes and an engine controlled by said
float for controlling said valves.
6. In a steam boiler feeder the combination with the trap and pipes 3, 4, 5;
of valves for controlling said pipes an engine for controlling said valves, and a
pump for injecting water into said trap also operated by said engine, substantially
as set forth.
7. In a steam boiler feeder the combination with the boiler and a trap; of the
pipe connecting the said trap with the boiler on a selected water line therein; a
feed trap connecting said trap and boiler, a water supply pipe connected to said
trap; valves for governing said pipes and an engine for operating said valves as
set forth.
8. In a steam boiler feeder, the combination with the boiler and a trap; of a pipe
connected to the upper part of said trap and terminating in the boiler at the water
line; a water supply pipe; a feed pipe connecting said trap and boiler; plugs in
said pipes; an engine for operating said. plugs and a float in said trap for controlling
the operation of said engine as set forth.
9. In a steam boiler feeder, the combination of the feed, supply, and equilibrium
pipes having plugs and an engine for operating said plugs simultaneously, as set
forth.
10. The combination with a boiler, a trap, feed and equilibrium pipes communi-
cating between the boiler and trap, and a supply pipe communicating with the trap,
of valves in said pipes, arms for operating said valves, a link connecting said arms
together an engine having a piston connected to said link for controlling the
operation of said valves, a steam cock 7, communicating with the dome of the boiler
and controlling the operation of the engine, and a float in the steam trap controlling
the operation of the steam cock 7, all substantially as set forth.
11. In a steam boiler feeder, the combination of the boiler, the elevated water-
trap, the supply pipe, the feed pipe, and the equilibrium pipe, valves in said pipes
arranged so that the supply pipe is opened while the feed and equilibrium pipes are
closed, crank arms 27, for operating said valves, a link connecting said arms
together, an engine having a piston rod connected to said link for operating said

page_text: valves simultaneously, a steam pipe communicating with the engine, and controlled
by a suitable valve, a rock shaft operated by a float in the trap, and crank
connection between said rock shaft and the steam-cock substantially as set forth.
12. In a steam boiler feeder the combination, with the boiler and trap, of the
pipes 3, 4, 5 connecting said boiler and trap, valves in pipes 4 5 adapted to be
opened simultaneously, and the valve in pipe 5 having an exhaust port, a valve
in pipe 3 adapted to be closed when aforesaid valves are open, and an exhaust
duct leading from the valve in pipe 5 to the pipe 3 substantially as set forth.
13. In a steam boiler feeder the combination, with the boiler and a trap, of a
pipe connecting the said trap with the boiler on a selected water line therein, a feed
pipe connecting said trap and boiler, a water supply pipe connected to said trap,
turn plugs in said pipes connected together so as to operate in unison, and an engine
for operating said turn plugs substantially as set forth.
14. In a steam boiler feeder the combination with the boiler and a trap of a
pipe connected to the upper part of said trap and terminating in the boiler at a
selected water line, a water supply pipe connected to said trap a feed pipe connecting
said trap and boiler, turn plugs in said pipes connected together so as to operate
in unison, an engine for operating said plugs, and a float in said trap for controlling
the operation of said engine, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 5th day of June 1891.
WHITE & WOODINGTON,
27, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents.