Improved Apparatus for Effecting the Circulation and Purification of Water in Steam Generators.
Year: 1895

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Apparatus for Effecting the Circulation and Purification
of Water in Steam Generators.
I, ARMAND EVETTE, of 58 Chaussée D'Antin, Paris, in the Republic of
France, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention has for its object to secure the more efficient working of steam
generators and consists in an improved apparatus for producing the automatic
circulation of the water in the steam generators and for removing the mud and
other deposits in suspension in the water produced by evaporation or by the use of
any substance used for removing scale.
The following is a description of an apparatus constructed according to my
invention and applied to a boiler having upper and lower water chambers in
communication with each other but it will be understood that my apparatus can be
adapted to any other types of steam generators and I do not limit myself to the
precise details.
The said apparatus consists of a reservoir cylindrical or otherwise divided into
an upper and lower compartment by a filter composed of layers of felt or other
filtering material contained between two perforated metal plates or sheets formed
of woven metal. Above the filter situated at the lower end of the upper compart-
ment is a casting provided with a junction piece or union. The upper end of the
said compartment communicates by a pipe provided with a steam feed cock, with
the steam dome of the generator, a second cock being provided where the said
pipe enters the dome. The said compartment is also provided with an air vent
cock carrying a funnel by which the substance employed for removing the scale
may be introduced and is connected to the main body of the steam generator by a
discharge pipe fitting the aforesaid junction piece, on which pipe is arranged a
suction or non return valve and a stop cock.
In the same manner the lower compartment of the reservoir communicates with
the lower part of the boiler by a feed pipe provided with a suction or non return
valve and a stop cock the said pipe preferably passing down in a curve in the
interior of the said boiler parallel and adjacent to the lowest part thereof.
the lowest point of the lower compartment is provided a cock for discharging the
scum and mud accumulating therein.
At
The steam cock situated at the top on the lid or cover of the upper compartment
is a four way cock. To the plug thereof is fitted a rod on which is mounted a
toothed wheel operated by a second toothed wheel whose spindle is supported in
a bracket placed on the cover of the reservoir. A counterweight is suspended
from a chain wound round a conical druin fixed on the spindle of the second toothed
wheel and causes the plug of the said cock to turn.
The cocks provided on the three pipes communicating with the steam generator
are employed for cutting off the apparatus from the said generator when
required for example for inspection or repairs and while the apparatus is in work

page_text: are supposed to be opened. The apparatus operates in the following manner,
the steam cock on the upper compartment, being closed this being the position for
commencing work.
The counterweight now begins to fall turns the plug of the steam cock and so
places the upper compartment in communication with the steam dome of the
generator and steam enters into the said compartment which itself is supposed to
be empty of water that is to say the water in the cylindrical reservoir and in the
steam generator are at the same level. The counterweight as it continues to fall
closes the steam cock situated on the cover of the upper compartment and so shuts
off steam from the said compartment. The steam which. is in the compartment
meeting the cold water at the bottom thereof condenses producing a vacuum
which draws in water charged with deposits from the lower part of the boiler by
the feed pipe through the suction or non return valve and enters the lower
compartment of the reservoir wherein it rises slowly so as to allow the impurities
to fall to the bottom of the said compartment. The water still containing lighter
matters in suspension then passes through the filter which clarifies it and gradually
rises in the upper compartment. There is now an equilibrium of pressure and the
purified water flows from the lower end of the upper compartment by the union
and discharge pipe into the main body of the steam generator raising the suction
or non return valve therein in its passage through the said pipe which had
previously remained closed while the water was being drawn in from the lower part
of the steam generator.
The different parts of the apparatus have now resumed their initial positions
and are ready for a fresh cycle of operations which may be repeated indefinitely.
The following is a modification according to my invention for effecting the
introduction of the steam into the upper compartment of the cylindrical reservoir.
The said upper compartment is placed in communication with the steam dome of
the generator by an ordinary two way cock, the plug of which is operated by a
two armed lever whose ends are suitably connected to the corresponding arms of a
second lever one of the said arms of which is solid and the other hollow. The
second said lever operates a special cock in which two discs are employed provided
with perforations say for example six in number and which are arranged so that there
shall be an opened or closed passage through them at intervals.
The aforesaid second or lower lever carries a balancing counterweight on one
arm and a stop cock on the hollow arm which when in its normal use is open and
the end of the said hollow lever arm terminates in a vessel provided with a
discharge cock.
The operation of this modified form of apparatus is as follows:-The special
cock being supposed to be closed, the upper two way cock communicating with the
steam dome being open and the apparatus at the end of a period or cycle of work.
At this moment the steam cock is open and the steam from the generator can enter
the upper compartment of the reservoir in which the water is at the same level as
that in the main body of the steam generator. At the close of this period the
special cock is shut and the vessel on the two arm lever empty so that the
counterweight overbalances closing the steam cock and opening the aforesaid
special cock.
As the steam cock is now closed the steam in the upper compartment is
condensed and a vacuum is produced which draws in water charged with deposits
from the lower part of the main steam generator by the pipe feed as herein before
described.
. The impurities drop to the bottom of the said lower compartment while the
water passes through the filter and reaches the level of the aforesaid special cock
the latter. being open that is to say the perforations in the discs being opposite
and coinciding with each other. The water then enters the vessel by the hollow
arm of the lever (the cock placed at this part being provided for use only in case
of need is open under ordinary conditions of work) fills it and raises its weight to
that necessary for balancing the counterweight. The lever now oscillates

page_text: returning to its first position and during this movement the water contained in the
vessel escapes the vessel empties itself and the cycle of operations is repeated.
Dated this 10th day of April 1895.
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
47 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.
Improved Apparatus for Effecting the Circulation and Purification
of Water in Steam Generators.
I ARMAND EVETTE, of 58 Chaussée D'Antin, Paris in the Republic of
France, Manufacturer, 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 stateinent :-
My invention has for its object to secure the more efficient working of steam
generators and consists in an improved apparatus for producing the automatic
circulation of the water in the steam generators and for removing the mud and
other deposits in suspension in the water produced by evaporation or by the use
of any substance used for removing scale.
The accompanying drawings show by way of example three arrangements of
apparatus constructed according to my invention applied to a boiler having upper
and lower water chambers in communication with each other but it will be
understood that my apparatus can be adapted to any other types of steam
generators.1
Figure 1 shews in sectional elevation an arrangement of apparatus constructed
according to this invention.
Figure 2 shews one of the valves in section drawn to a larger scale.
Figure 3 shews in elevation another arrangement, Figures 4 and 4* being details
of the same drawn to a larger scale.
Figure 5 shews in sectional elevation a third modification according to my
invention.
Referring first to Figures 1 and 2 the said apparatus consists of a cylindrical
reservoir divided into an upper and lower compartment 2 and 3 by a filter
composed of layers of felt or other filtering material 4 contained between two
perforated metal plates or sheets 4' formed of woven metal or the like. Above the
filter situated at the lower end of the upper compartment is a casting 5 provided
with a junction piece or union 6. The upper end of the said compartment 2
communicates by a pipe 8 provided with a steam feed cock 20, with the steam
dome 11 of the generator, a second cock 9 being provided where the said pipe
enters the dome. The said compartment is also provided with an air vent cock 7,
carrying a funnel by which the substance employed for removing the scale may be
introduced, and is connected to the main body of the steam generator by a discharge
pipe 12, fitting the aforesaid junction piece 6, on which pipe is arranged a suction
or non-return valve 13 and a stop cock 14.
In the same manner the lower compartment 3 of the reservoir communicates
with the lower part 15 of the boiler by a feed pipe 16 provided with a suction or
non-return valve 17 and a stop cock 18, the said pipe 16 preferably passing down
in a curve into the interior of the said boiler adjacent to the lowest part thereof.
At the lowest point of the compartment 3 a cock 19 is provided for discharging the
scum and mud accumulating therein.
The steam cock 20 situated on the lid or cover of the upper compartment 2 is
preferably constructed as shewn in Figure 2; to the plug thereof is fitted a rod 21
on which is mounted a toothed wheel 21' operated by a second toothed wheel 22

page_text: whose spindle is supported in a bracket 23 placed on the cover of the reservoir 1.
A counterweight 25 is suspended from a chain wound round a conical drum 24
fixed on the spindle of the toothed wheel 22, and causes the plug of the said cock 20
to turn.
The cocks 9. 14 and 18 provided on the three pipes communicating with the
steam generator are employed for cutting off the apparatus from the said generator,
when required for example for inspection or repairs, and while the apparatus is in
work are supposed to be opened.
The apparatus operates in the following manner :-
I will assume the different parts to be in the respective positions shown in
Figure 1, the steam cock 20 being closed, this being the position for commencing
work.
The counterweight 25 now begins to fall, turns the plug of the steam cock 20
and so places the upper compartment 2 in communication with the steam dome 11'
of the generator and steam enters into the said compartment which is supposed to
be empty of water that is to say the water in the cylindrical reservoir and in the
steam generator are at the same level. The counterweight as it continues to fall
closes the steam cock 20 and so shuts off steam from the said compartment. The
steam which is in the compartment meeting the cold water at the bottom thereof
condenses producing a vacuum which draws in water charged with deposits from
the lower part 15 of the boiler by the feed pipe 16 through the suction or non-
return valve 17 and enters the lower compartment 3 of the reservoir wherein it
rises slowly so as to allow the impurities to fall to the bottom of the said compart-
ment. The water still containing lighter matters in suspension then passes through
the filter 4 which clarifies it and gradually rises in the upper compartment 2.
As
soon as the cock 20 again allows the steam to enter the compartiment 2, there is an
equilibrium of pressure and the purified water flows from the lower end of the
upper compartment 2 by the union 6 and discharge pipe 12 into the main body 11
of the steam generator raising the suction or non return valve therein 13 in its
passage through the said pipe which valve had previously remained closed
while the water was being drawn in from the lower part 15 of the steam
generator.
The different parts of the apparatus have now resumed their initial positions
and are ready for a fresh cycle of operations which may be repeated indefinitely.
The vent cock 7 on the upper compartment 2 of the cylindrical reservoir is
employed for allowing the air which collects therein to escape from time to time.
The matters deposited at the bottom of the lower compartment 3 are removed
when required by the discharge cock 19.
Figures 3 and 4 show a modification according to my invention for effecting
the introduction of the steam into the upper compartment 2 of the cylindrical
reservoir. The said upper compartment 2 is placed in communication with the
steam dome of the generator by an ordinary two-way cock 26, the plug of which
is operated by a two armed lever 27 whose ends are suitably connected to the
corresponding arms of a second lever 28. This second lever is formed with one
part 28 solid and the other part 29 hollow and operates a special cock 30 (shown
drawn to a larger scale in Figs. 4 and 4^) in which two discs 33 and 34 are
employed provided with perforations say for example six in number which are
arranged so that there shall he an opened or closed passage through them at
intervals.
The lever 28 carries a balancing counterweight 32 at one end and a stop
cock 29 in the other or hollow part which when in its normal use is open. The
end of the said hollow lever arm terminates in a vessel 31 provided with a discharge
cock 35.
The operation of this modified form of apparatus is as follows.
The cock 30 being supposed to be closed the steam cock 26 being open and
the apparatus in full work its different parts being in the position shewn in the
drawings. At this moment the steam cock 26 is open and the steam from the

page_text: generator can enter the upper compartment
of the reservoir in which the water
is at the same level as that in the main body of the steam generator as before
described. At the close of this period the special cock 30 being shut the
vessel 31 on the lever arm 29 is empty so that the counterweight 32 overbalances
and the parts assume the position shewn by the dotted lines in Figure 3 the
cock 30 being now open.
As the steam cock 26 is closed the steam in the upper compartment 2 is
condensed and a vacuum is produced which draws in water charged with deposits
from the lower part 15 of the main steam generator by the pipe 16 as hereinbefore
described. The water raises the valve 17 and enters the compartment 3 (Figure 1)
the impurities drop to the bottom of the said lower compartment while the water
passes through the filter 4 and reaches the level of the aforesaid special cock 30.
The latter being open that is to say the perforations in the discs 33 and 34 being
opposite and coinciding with each other, the water enters the vessel 31 by the
hollow lever arm 29 (the cock 29' being kept normally open) fills it and increases
its weight to that necessary for balancing the counterweight 32.
The lever now
returns to its first position and during this movement the water contained in the
vessel escapes the vessel becomes empty and the cycle of operations is repeated.
In the arrangement shewn in Fig. 5 the reservoir 1 is in communication by
means of flexible pipes 28 28¹ with the two ends of a receiver 31 hung from one
end of a balanced lever arm 27 pivoted at 27¹ and provided with a counter-
weight 32 at its opposite end of sufficient weight to maintain the receiver when
empty in its raised position.
The lever arm 27 is loosely connected at 27" by a pin engaging in a slot formed
on the end of a rod 26 supporting a double equilibrium valve 26', which when
open allows steam to enter the reservoir 1. When a vacuum is produced in the
upper part of the reservoir 1 by reason of the condensation of the steam the water
rises in the reservoir and enters the receiver 31 by the pipe 28 which thus
gradually becomes heavier, when full of water it is sufficiently heavy to overcome
the counterweight 32 and cause the end of the lever arın 27 to which it is hung to
descend.
The lever arm in its descent also draws the rod 26 of the double valve 26'
so as to open the same allowing steam from the boiler to enter the reservoir 1
by the junction piece 8. The water already drawn into the reservoir 1 is then
driven back to the generator, the receiver empties and is drawn up by the lever
to its initial position by the counterweight 32. The lever arm in its ascent raises
the rod 26 and so closes the said valves 26. The steam retained in the upper part
of the reservoir again condenses and the operation is repeated in the manner already
described. The downward movement of the valve rod 26 is arrested by a pin 36
passing through the said rod coming in contact with the cover of the reservoir 1 or
by any other suitable means. A small cock 35 serves for relieving the pressure of
air when required and operates in the manner already described with reference to
the preceeding example.
In using apparatus such as I have described 1 may dispense with the means for
effecting the filtration of the water, the apparatus is then used solely for producing
the circulation of water through the generator.
My invention is not limited to the particular forms and details of apparatus
which I have described which are given as examples, shewing how the invention is
carried into effect.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed declare that what I
claim is
1. Improved apparatus for effecting the antomatic circulation or the automatic
circulation and purification of water in steam generators substantially as herein-
before described.

page_text: circulation and purification of water in steam generators substantially as herein-
before described and illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, Figures 3, 4, and 44, and in
Figure 5 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 10th day of January 1896.
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
47 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.