Year: 1888

page_text: 1, EDWIN PAUL of 83 Newby street Liverpool in the county of Lancaster,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to provide improved means for regulating and
automatically controlling the action of pumps, especially such pumps as are operated
by steam and used for feeding steam boilers or for pumping water up to a specified
level, into a tank or other receiver.
In applying this invention advantage is taken of the facts that when a fluid flows
from one vessel to another through a connecting passage the velocity of flow is
dependent upon the difference between the respective fluid pressures in the two
vessels, and that for an assigned difference in the said pressures the velocity of such
flow will be less if the fluid is a liquid than if it is a gas or vapour.
I will first describe the invention as applied to an independent steam feed pump for
supplying feed water to a steam boiler, the object being to maintain the water in the
boiler at a constant level while the boiler is in operation. I will assume that
the steam pump is of the vertical direct acting crankless pattern with steam
cylinder above and pump chamber below, the general arrangement being very similar
to the ordinary type of such steam pumps, that is to say the pump plunger or pump
rod is directly connected with the steam piston and makes stroke for stroke with it.
The piston rod which connects the steam piston with the pump plunger or pump rod
passes through a stuffing box in the bottom of the steam cylinder in the ordinary way
but the said piston rod, instead of being of comparatively small diameter, as is usual,
is made of comparatively large diameter, so that the pressure of any fluid underneath
the steam piston is removed from a considerable portion of the lower surface thereof
and only acts upon the remaining annular area of the steam piston. The space in
the steam cylinder above the steam piston is supplied in the ordinary way with steam
for operating said piston the supply and exhaust being regulated by a slide or other
valve or valves and gear of any suitable style. The annular space in the steam

page_text: cylinder below the steam piston before referred to is connected by means of a pipe of
suitable size to a cock or valve having an adjustable passage, which enters the boiler,
which the pump is feeding, at or about the level at which it is desired to maintain the
water in the boiler. So long as this cock or valve is open, the lower side of the steam
piston is always in communication with the interior of the boiler.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-the water in the boiler being below the
normal level, and the steam piston at the bottom of its stroke, steam from the boiler
will flow through the adjustable cock or valve and connecting pipe into the annular
space below the steam piston, forcing up the latter together with the pump plunger
or pump rod attached thereto and so making the up stroke of the steam pump. Steam
being now admitted by the slide valve above the steam piston will force the latter
down expelling the steam from the annular space below it, driving the said steam
through the connecting pipe and adjustable cock or valve into the boiler and so
making the down stroke of the steam pump. By adjusting the area of the passage
through the adjustable cock or valve before referred to, the speed of the steam pump
is now regulated so that if that speed were kept constant the pump would maintain a
supply of feed water to the boiler slightly in excess of the normal evaporation. Should
the water in the boiler rise so high that water instead of steam passes through the
adjustable cock or valve and connecting pipe before referred to and enters the space
below the steam piston, then the lower velocity, compared with that of steam, with
which such water can flow through the said adjustable cock in entering and being
forced out of the space below steam piston, will reduce the speed of the steam pump
and so diminish the supply of feed water. In this way the speed of the steam pump
is controlled by the height of the water level in the boiler, being accelerated as the
level falls, and retarded as it rises.
The temperature of the water entering below the steam piston being usually high
the water will have a tendency to evolve vapour or steam. This is objectionable, and
where it occurs it is desirable to make the adjustable valve on boiler hereinbefore
mentioned of special construction such that while it affords an adjustable passage to a
fluid entering the boiler it always gives a comparatively large passage to a fluid
leaving the boiler.
Where a steam pump for feeding a steam boiler has a steam cylinder and piston
of the ordinary double acting kind it is necessary in applying my invention to provide
a special cylinder which may be called the controlling cylinder. This cylinder has a
piston and piston rod which is so connected with the steam pump as to make stroke for
stroke with it. Each end of the controlling cylinder is connected with a separate
adjustable cock or valve entering the boiler which the steam pump is supplying at or
about the water level, as before described. In this case the controlling action on each
side of the piston of the controlling cylinder is similar to that upon the lower side of
the steam piston of the steam pump hereinbefore described. Where two adjustable
cocks or valves are fitted on the boiler they may be placed at different levels
thereon.
The application of my invention is not limited to any particular form of pump,
nor to pumps used for feeding steam boilers, but it may in general be applied to any
pump whose function it is to maintain a supply of water or other liquid at a specified
level, and the controlling action hereinbefore described may operate through the
agency of a liquid other than water and a gas or vapour other than steam.
Dated this 5th
1000
SLOAN & LLOYD BARNES,
26, Castle Street, Liverpool,
Agents for Applicant.

page_text: Improved Appliances for Regulating and Automatically Controlling
the Action of Pumps.
1, EDWIN PAUL of 83 Newby Street, Liverpool in the county of Lancaster,
Engineer, 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 :-
The object of this invention is to provide improved means for regulating and
automatically controlling the action of pumps, especially such pumps as are operated
by steam and used for feeding steam boilers or for pumping water up to a specified
level, into a tank or other receiver.
In applying this invention advantage is taken of the facts that when a fluid flows
from one vessel to another through a connecting passage the velocity of flow is
dependent upon the difference between the respective fluid pressures in the two
vessels, and that for an assigned difference in the said pressures the velocity of such
flow will be less if the fluid is a liquid than if it is a gas or vapour.
I will first describe the invention as applied to an independent steam feed pump
for supplying feed water to a steam boiler the object being to maintain the water in
the boiler at a constant level while the boiler is in operation. I will assume that the
steam pump is of the vertial direct acting crankless pattern with steam cylinder above
and pump chamber below, the general arrangement being very similar to the
ordinary type of such steam pumps, that is to say the pump plunger or pump rod is
directly connected with the steam piston and makes stroke for stroke with it. The
piston rod which connects the steam piston with the pump plunger or pump rod
passes through a stuffing box in the bottom of the steam cylinder in the ordinary
way but the said piston rod instead of being of comparatively small diameter as is
usual, is made of comparatively large diameter, so that the pressure of any fluid
underneath the steam piston is removed from a considerable portion of the lower
surface thereof and only acts upon the remaining annular area of the steam
piston. The space in the steam cylinder above the steam piston is supplied in the
ordinary way with steam for operating the said piston the supply and exhaust
being regulated by a slide or other valve or valves and gear of any suitable style.
The annular space in the steam cylinder below the steam piston before referred to
is connected by means of a pipe of suitable size to a cock or valve having an
adjustable passage, which enters the boiler, which the pump is feeding at or
about the level at which it is desired to maintain the water in the boiler. So long
as this cock or valve is open, the lower side of the steam piston is always in
communication with the interior of the boiler.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-The water in the boiler being below
the normal level and the steain piston at the bottom of its stroke, steam from the
boiler will flow through the adjustable cock or valve and connecting pipe into the
annular space below the steam piston forcing up the latter together with the pump
plunger or pump rod attached thereto and so making the up stroke of the steam

page_text: pump. Steam being now admitted by the slide valve above the steam piston will
force the latter down expelling the steam from the annular space below it driving
the said steam through the connecting pipe and adjustable cock or valve into the
boiler and so making the down stroke of the steam pump. By adjusting the area of
the passage through the adjustable cock or valve before referred to, the speed of the
steam pump is now regulated so that if that speed were kept constant the pump
would maintain a supply of feed water to the boiler slightly in excess of the normal
evaporation. Should the wator in the boiler rise so high that water instead of
steam passes through the adjustable cock or valve and connecting pipe before
referred to and enters the space below the steam piston then the lower velocity,
compared with that of steam, with which such water can flow through the said
adjustable cock in entering and being forced out of the space below steam piston
will reduce the speed of the steam pump and so diminish the supply of feed water.
In this way the speed of the steam pump is controlled by the height of the water
level in the boiler being accelerated as the level falls and retarted as its rises.
Where a steam pump for feeding a steam boiler has a steam cylinder and piston
of the ordinary double acting kind it is necessary in applying my invention to
provide a special cylinder which may be called the controlling cylinder. This
cylinder has a piston and piston rod which is so connected with the steam pump
as to make stroke for stroke with it. Each end of the controlling cylinder is
connected with a separate adjustable cock or valve entering the boiler which the
steam pump is supplying at or about the water level, as before described. In this
case the controlling action on each side of the piston of the controlling cylinder is
similar to that upon the lower side of the steam piston of the steam pump herein-
before described. Where two adjustable cocks or valves are fitted on the boiler they
may be placed at different lovels thereon.
In order that my invention may be more readily understood, reference is made
to the accompanying drawings which form part of this Specification.
In sheet 1, Fig. 1 shows in section my invention as applied to an independent,
vertical, single-acting, crankless steam feed pump for supplying feed water to a steam
boiler.
In sheet 2, Fig. 2 shows in section my invention applied to a horizontal, double-
acting steam feed pump for supplying feed water to a steam boiler, the object
being in each case to maintain the water in the boiler at a constant level while
the boiler is in operation; Fig. 3 shows in section and Fig. 4 shows in elevation
a valve of special construction which may be substituted for the cock G of Fig. 1
or the cocks G₂ G₂ of Fig. 2 when found desirable.
In Fig. 1, A is the steam cylinder fitted with the piston B and enlarged piston
rod or plunger C the latter working as shown through a stuffing box and gland of
ordinary construction. The ratio between the areas of the piston B and the plunger C
may vary between considerable limits but I have found the proportions shown in
the drawings to give good results. The space D above the piston is supplied with
steam for operating the piston, the supply and exhaust being regulated by a slide
or other valve or valves, and gear of any suitable style.
As the steam supply and exhaust pipes and ports and the slide valve and gear
for operating it possess no novel features, they are admitted from the drawing. E
is a pipe connecting the annular space below the piston with the cock which
is attached to the boiler shell X and communicates with the interior of the boiler H.
K is a receiver which may be placed anywhere in the pipe E between the cock G
and the annular space F. The capacity of this receiver K is a little greater than
that of the space F when the piston is at the top of its stroke, and its object is to
ensure that the said space F will always contain water, the lubricating and steadying
action of which is beneficial.
This receiver K is not essential, and may be dispensed with, as the apparatus
works well without it; or an equivalent result may be obtained by increasing the
diameter or length of the pipe Eso as to give it the required capacity.
The cock G enters the boiler at or about the level at which it is desired to maintain

page_text: the level of the water therein. Where the ebullition in the boiler is not rapid and
the piston-speed of the pump low, the cock G is placed with the lower edge of its
opening into the boiler at the desired water level. Where the ebullition is rapid or
the piston-speed high, more or less priming will occur and the cock G must be placed
a few inches higher. Should it be desired to permanently raise or lower the normal
water level this may be readily effected by fitting a pipe with an open end to the
cock G extending upwards or downwards into the boiler as the case may be.
The pump operated by the piston B Fig. 1 is of the ordinary type, and possessing
no novel features the details of its construction are not shown. M is the plunger,.
N the pump chamber, O the valve box, P the suction pipe, Q the delivery pipe, R the
air vessel and S the feed-check valve.
In Fig. 2, A, is a double-acting steam cylinder fitted with a piston B, and piston
rods T and T.
As in the case of Fig. 1, the steam and exhaust pipes and the slide valve and gear
are omitted. The piston rod T, passes through stuffing boxes and is connected to the
controlling piston U which works in the controlling cylinder V attached to the base
frame W.
Z is the pump rod, attached to T the pump being omitted. Each end of the
controlling cylinder V communicates with the interior of the boiler X, at or about
the normal water level by means of the pipes E, E,, the receivers K, K, and the
right-angled cocks G₂ G, which are similar to the corresponding parts shown in
Fig. 1. As before, the receivers K, K₂ are not essential and may be dispensed
with.
The cocks G, G, are shown at the same level but they may be placed at slightly
different levels if desired, one being placed at the normal water level and the other
a few inches above it. Where the water entering the space F or controlling
cylinder V has a high temperature it will have a tendency to evolve steam which is
objectionable. In such a case the valve shown in Figs. 3 and 4, Sheet 2, may be
substituted for the cocks G or G₂. This valve is so constructed that, while it affords
an adjustable passage to a fluid entering the boiler, it always, when in operation, gives
a comparatively large passage to a fluid leaving the boiler.
a is the valve box having two branches, one connected to the boiler shell X and
the other to the pipe E. 6 is the valve whose lift is limited by the cover c the lift
being sufficient to give a passage of slightly greater area than that of the pipe E.
The descent of the valve is limited by the collar-nut d secured to the screwed spindle e,
which can be adjusted by the handwheel so as to regulate the area available for the
return of the fluid to the boiler.
By screwing down the spindle e as far as possible, the valve will also serve as a
stop-valve when it is desired to close the communication between the apparatus and
the boiler. While I have described and illustrated my invention as applied to boiler
feed pumps it is to be understood that its application is not limited to any particular
form of pump, nor to pumps used for feeding steam boilers, but it may in general be
applied to any pump, with a reciprocating piston or plunger whose function it is to
maintain a supply of water or other liquid at a specified level, and the controlling
action hereinbefore described may operate through the agency of a liquid other than
water, and a gas or vapour other than steam. Where a pump such as is shown in
Fig. 1 is used for pumping water into an elevated tank, the necessary pressure for
the up-stroke is supplied by the head of water in the pipe E and receiver K. Where
the pump is operated by a crank shaft, the controlling piston may be connected to a
crank on the said crank shaft.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is :-.
1. The appliances for regulating and automatically controlling the action of a
single-acting steam boiler feed pump substantially as described and illustrated in

page_text: 2. The appliances for regulating and automatically controlling the action of a
double-acting steam boiler feed pump substantially as described and illustrated in
Fig. 2.
3. In a single-acting steam boiler feed pump the combination of the steam
cylinder A, piston B, plunger C, and the cock G entering the boiler which the
pump is feeding at or about the normal water level and connected to the annular
space F by the pipe E for the purpose of regulating and automatically controlling
the action of the said pump, substantially as described and illustrated in Fig. 1.
4. In a double-acting steam boiler feed pump the combination of the steam
cylinder A, piston B₂, piston rod T₁, the controlling piston U, the controlling
cylinder V and the cocks G2 G2 entering the boiler which the pump is feeding at or
about the normal water level, and connected to the ends of the controlling cylinder
by the pipes E, E, for the purpose of regulating and automatically controlling the
action of the said pump, substantially as described and illustrated in Fig. 2.
5. In appliances for regulating and automatically controlling the action of pumps
used for maintaining a liquid at a specified level in a receiver, the combination with
the said pump of a controlling piston and controlling cylinder or their mechanical
equivalent, and an adjustable cock or cocks entering the said receiver at or about
the normal liquid level therein and connected to the controlling cylinder by a suitable
passage or passages, so placing the latter in continuous communication with the
interior of the receiver; the controlling piston being attached or geared to the
pump piston or plunger so that its speed is equal or proportional to that of the pump
piston or plunger, substantially as set forth.
6. In appliances for regulating and automatically controlling the action of pumps
as herein set forth, the use of a valve affording a free passage to a fluid outwards
from a receiver towards a controlling piston and offering an adjustable passage for
the fluid back to the receiver, substantially as and for the purpose described and
illustrated in Figs. 3 & 4.
Dated this 5th day of December 1888