Improvements in Automatic Apparatus for Feeding Bollers and other purposes.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Nov., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 8th Aug., 189+-Accepted, 8th Sept., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Automatic Apparatus for Feeding Bollers and
other purposes.
I, HARRY RICHMOND CHUBB of 16 South Street, Greenwich in the County
of Kent, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The object of this invention is to provide an apparatus for automatically feeding
boilers, or which may be used as a steam trap, or flushing cistern, but which shall
admit of its action being controlled at will and operated by hand.
The apparatus, as I prefer to construct it, consists of two tanks, or vessels,
preferably of cast iron, one being situated above the other and communicating by
means of various pipes and valve boxes as hereafter described. Both tanks are
fixed at a convenient height above the boiler, when used as a boiler feeder.
The upper tank, or vessel, forms the steam trap, waste preventer supply or
flushing cistern, as the case may be, according to the purpose for which it is
required.
When the apparatus is used as a steam trap and boiler feeder the tank is
upper
provided with the usual inlet for the water and steam. The outlet or discharge of
the condensed liquor is controlled by and effected through a hollow float, open at
the top and having an outlet at the bottom attached to a hollow lever arm which,
at its other end, is bent to about a right-angle and passes through a gland in which
it swivels as the float rises and falls. The falling of the float is effected by the
inlet water rising until it fills the float and causes it to sink. The hollow spindle,
after passing through the gland, delivers through holes in its sides into a valve box,
fixed on the bottom of the top tank, or low down, outside it, against one of the
sides or ends, and communicates with the top or upper part of the lower tank.
The valve, preferably of the equilibrium type, fitted in this valve box is actuated
by a short hollow perforated cam lever, open at both ends, so fixed on or in the
hollow spindle that, when the float sinks, it opens the valve and allows the water,
or other liquid, to escape into the lower tank. Immediately the level of the water
in the top tank has fallen to low water mark, which coincides with the top of
the float when it lies sunk at the bottom, the float quickly empties and rises, and the
valve closes. The outlet at the bottom of the float, forming the entrance to the
hollow arm, is formed to receive an inverted mushroom valve with a hollow stem
throughout and about equal in length to the depth of the float; this valve is
suspended by a chain, or other means, so that it only rests on its seating when the
float is floating at, or above, low water mark, but leaves free egress for the water
when the float lies sunk at the bottom of the tank. This chain is suspended from
a screw passing through the top of the tank and adjustable to any height. This
valve serves as a check on the other in case of a temporary leakage caused by
anything getting between it and the seating.
The lower tank is provided with two other valve boxes, fitted with glands,
independent of each other, and so situated that their valves may be actuated by
carns or levers, as in the case of the discharge valve, on or worked by a solid
spindle, which may be a prolongation of the hollow spindle. Through one of these
valve boxes steam, direct from the boiler, is admitted, thus bringing the pressure in
the tank up to that of the boiler and enabling the water in the tank to flow into
the boiler by gravitation through an outlet pipe, fitted with a check valve and
connecting the bottom of the tank with the boiler. This steam pipe, leading from

page_text: the boiler, dips into the boiler, from the top, as low as the working level of the
water, and thus ensures the water in the boiler being kept at an uniform height.
The third valve box with its valve serves the purpose of a vent and connects, by
means of a pipe, the top of the lower tank with the top of the upper, or with the
open air, or the feed water supply cistern, where the top tank is used as such
instead of a steam trap. The opening and closing of the three valves at their proper
times is regulated by the positions of the 3 cams, or levers, on the hollow spindle
and is so arranged that the vent valve opens slightly before the discharge valve
and the steam valve after it has closed.
When the top tank, instead of doing service as a steam trap, is used as a waste
preventing supply cistern and attached to a hot or cold feed water tank or a water
main, the inlet of the feed water to it is controlled by a separate ball valve, fixed
either in the tank itself, or in a separate tank on the same level. It would also be
fitted with an overflow pipe. The means for discharging, from it to the lower tank
and thence into the boiler, being the same as when used for a steam trap. Both
the upper and lower tanks are provided with independent vent cocks.
The end of the spindle, carrying the cams, is fitted with a lever working against
a quadrant, to which it may, by means of a set screw, or any other convenient
device, be secured, thus enabling the float to be fixed at a point in its travel when
only the vent valve is open, and so effects the stoppage of the working of the
apparatus. This lever affords the means of controlling the action of the float by
hand at will.
The bottom tank may also be connected, by means of pipes and a three way tap,
with two of the upper tanks, the one to serve as a steam trap and the other as a
supply cistern, and may thus be used in conjunction with either as required.
When the top tank is used only as a steam trap the vent valve and steam valve
may be dispensed with.
When the top tank is used only as an automatic flushing cistern either the valve
at the bottom of the float or the equilibrium discharge valve may be dispensed
with in addition to the vent and steam valves. The inlet, as when used for a feed
supply cistern, is by a valve, the lever of which may be controlled by the hollow
float, or attached to a separate float, as desired. The discharge, or hollow, float, as
well as the lever of the inlet valve, may also be controlled by a hand lever having
a cam on its fulcrum shaft which shall retain the inlet valve closed whilst the
hollow float is discharging.
To prevent grit, dirt, or 'scale from pipes, getting to the valves a strainer may be
fixed at the entrance of the inlet to the steam trap or supply cisterns.
Dated this 9th day of November 1893.
HARRY RICHMOND CHUBB.
COMPLETE. SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Automatic Apparatus for Feeding Boilers and
other purposes.
I, HARRY RICHMOND CHUBB, of 16 South Street, Greenwich, in the County
of Kent, 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 an apparatus for automatically feeding
boilers, or which inay be used as a steam trap, or flushing cistern, but which shall
admit of its action being controlled at will and operated by hand.
The apparatus as I prefer to construct it consists of two tanks, or vessels,
preferably of cast iron, one being situated above the other and communicating by
means of various pipes and valve boxes, as hereafter described. Both tanks are
fixed at a convenient height above the boiler when used as a boiler feeder.

page_text: The upper tank or vessel forms the steam trap, waste preventer supply, or
'flushing cistern as the case may be, according to the purpose for which it is
required.
When the apparatus is used as a steam trap and boiler feeder the upper tank is
provided with the usual inlet for the water of condensation and steam and
discharges into the lower one and the lower one into the boiler. This alternate
discharge is effected by a system of valves actuated by the rising and falling action
of a float in the top tank.
In the accompanying drawings:
Figure 1. is a general view of the apparatus showing the manner of attaching to
boiler.
Figure 2. plan showing top tank a and discharge valve box h in section on
line C, D, Figure 3, but showing the whole of float in top tank.
Figure 3. front elevation with discharge valve box h shown in section on
line A, B, Figure 2, and disclosing float d in the top tank in section through its
centre.
Figure 4 end elevation of cam shaft showing relative positions of the three cam
levers j, j and 1.
Figure 5 end elevation.
Similar letters of reference are used in the various figures to indicate corre-
sponding parts.
a represents the top tank, a' its cover, 6 the lower tank, c the inlet for water to
top tank, da hollow float open at the top and having an outlet at the bottom
attached to a hollow arm' e, which at its other end is bent to about a right angle
and is continued as a straight hollow spindle f, Figure 2, passing through
glands g, g, Figure 2, in which it swivels as the float d rises and falls. The
hollow spindle, after passing through the gland g, delivers through holes in its
sides and the hollow cam lever, into the discharge valve box h, Figures 2 & 3,
which is fixed against the side of the top tank a as shown, and communicates with
the top of the lower tank b to which it is also fixed, a steam tight joint being made
where it is attached to each tank. The discharge valve i Figures 2 & 3, preferably
of the equilibrium type, fitted in the valve box h is actuated by a short hollow
perforated cam lever j, open at both ends, so fixed in the hollow spindle f that
when the float sinks it lifts the valve and allows the water, or other liquid, to
escape into the lower tank. The top and bottom seatings of this valve are made
in two parts, the bottom part i¹ being placed in position through the hole into
which is screwed the cap k, and the top part from the top hole fitted with the
screw cap k', the top part being made with a screwed shank fitting through the
bottom part and secured by the nut k² by means of a box spanner from below.
By this means of construction a valve with two seatings of equal diameters is
secured. The cam lever j is screwed into position through the hole k after the
valve has been placed in position. The outlet at the bottom of the float d, forming
the entrance to the hollow arm e, is formed with a seating to receive an inverted
mushroom valve 1, Figure 3, made with a stem l' hollow throughout and about
equal in length to the depth of the float-the object of making the stem hollow is
to ensure an equal pressure both above and below the valve in order to facilitate
its leaving the seating-12 is a guide rod over which the valve works, this valve is
suspended by a chain of such a length that it only rests on its seating when the
float is floating at or above low water mark, but is open and leaves free egress for
the water when the float lies sunk at the bottom of the tank. This chain is
suspended from a screw eye passing through the cover a', or bar support at the
top of the tank, and is adjustable to any height. This valve serves as a check on
the discharge valve i in case of a temporary leakage caused by anything getting
between it and the seating.
14
On the top of the lower tank b are bolted, so as to make steam tight joints, two
other valve boxes h', ³, provided with glands 9³, 9³ & g', g³, respectively, and 80
situated that the solid spindle f', which is a prolongation of the hollow spindle ƒ,

page_text: to which it is connected by the coupling, (or may be connected to it and actuated
by it by means of cranks and levers or toothed gearing,) passes through the glands
and by means of two cam levers and actuate the valves and fitted in the
valve boxes and 2, in the same manner as does the cam lever; the discharge
valve, already referred to, and which they resemble in construction.
The action of the apparatus is as follows.
The falling or sinking of the float is effected by the inlet water rising in the top
tank a until it overflows into the float and fills it (which occurs when the float has
risen to the topmost limit of its stroke, the same being regulated by the cover a
which acts as a stop for the float,) the float in falling opens the valves l, i & i³
whereupon the water in the top tank flows into the bottom one. Immediately the
level of the water in the top tank has fallen to low water mark 9 (which coincides
with the lowest part of the edge of the float when it lies sunk at the bottom of the
tank,) the float also empties and for this reason quickly rises and again rides on the
water at its natural floating level, (the rate of the inlet water being much less than
that of the discharge does not prevent the float rising,) the valves & i at once
close, whilst the valve 3 closes shortly after when the float has risen slightly with
the incoming water. The bottom tank having received its charge of water from
the top tank a, and the three valves 1, i & being closed, the valve i* is lifted
by the cam lever consequent upon the upward stroke of the float, (caused by the
incoming of the water in the top tank,) and admits steam direct from the boiler
with which the pipe m connects the valve box, thus bringing the pressure in the
tank b up to that of the boiler, so that in the matter of pressure an equilibrium is
established between it and the boiler, and in consequence the water flows by
gravitation into the boiler through the feed pipe n, which, at a point near the
boiler, is fitted with a check valve in the usual way. As often as the top tank fills
so often is the same action repeated. The steam pipe m dips into the boiler from
the crown as low as the working level of the water, or to any other desired level,
and thus ensures the water in the boiler being kept at a uniform height and not
rising above the end of the dip pipe, for the reason that when the water rises and
seals the end of the pipe and stops the supply of steam to the bottom tank the
flow of water to the boiler is stopped till such time as the end of the dip pipe is
again unsealed.
The valve box with its valve serves the purpose of a vent and connects by
means of a pipe o the top of the lower tank with the top of the upper, or with the
open air, or the feed water supply cistern, where the apparatus is fed by such a
tank and not being used as a steam trap; this valve is actuated by the cam lever j
and is lifted by it during the downward stroke of the float, as already stated, after
the steam valve it has closed and before the discharge valve i opens and is retained
open during the whole time that the top tank is discharging into the bottom tank;
it closes on being released by the cam lever j¹ on the up stroke of the float just
before the steam valve is opened.
The opening and closing of the three valves i, ¿³ & at their proper times is
regulated by the positions of the three cam levers j, j & 2 on the spindle as
shown in Figure 4, and is so arranged that the vent valve 3 opens slightly before
the discharge valve i, whilst the steam valve i opens after the discharge and vent
valves have closed.
When the apparatus is used simply as a boiler feeder and the top tank a, instead
of being fed by the drainage from steam coils, steam coppers, or otherwise acting as
a steam trap, is attached to a hot or cold water feed tank or water main, the inlet
water may be controlled by a separate ball valve fixed either in the tank itself or
in a separate attached tank on the same level, the ball valve being set so that it
shuts off the water at a point a little above the high water mark p in the top tank,
(which corresponds with the level at which the water overflows into the float d),
and thus acts as a water waste preventing supply cistern, and so prevents waste
when the apparatus is not at work; the tank in which the ball valve is fixed would
also be fitted with an overflow pipe in the usual way. The means and arrangement

page_text: of valves for discharging from the top tank to the lower one and thence into the
boiler being the same as when used for a steam trap. Both the upper and lower
tanks are provided with independent vent cocks » & ¹ for freeing the tanks of air
when necessary.
:
The end of the spindle f¹ carrying the cams is fitted with a lever s, Figures 2, 3,.
& 5, working against the quadrant t to which it may by means of a set screw s¹, or
any other convenient device, engage by means of the holes t', t, 3 & t and be
secured so as to enable the float to be fixed at a point in its travel when only the
vent valve is open, (such position being represented in the drawings), and so
effects the stoppage of the working of the apparatus, or in any position that may
be required in order to get at the cam levers j, j & or valves i, i³ & it for
repairs it is obvious the apparatus may also be stopped by either shutting off the
inlet water or the steam from the boiler. This lever, s, affords the means of
controlling the action of the float by hand at will and, when fitted with a loose hinged
ends which, on the down stroke of the float d, if the bottom tank should not have
emptied itself, engages with a stop piu u working through a gland u' and controlled
by the bell crank v and ball float w, serves the purpose of preventing the float d
falling until the bottom tank is empty. The loose end on the upward stroke of
the float d swings loosely over the pin u; a is a hand hole cover in the bottom
tank.
The bottom tank may also be connected by means of pipes and three way taps
with two of the upper tanks, the one to serve as a steain trap and the other as a
supply cistern, and thus be used in conjunction with either as required, but it will
be generally found more convenient to have a separate apparatus complete for each
purpose.
When the top tank is used as a steam trap merely to discharge into a feed water
tank, instead of returning the water of condensation direct to the boiler, the vent
valve and steam valve may be dispensed with.
When the top tank is used only as an automatic flushing cistern either the
valve at the bottom of the float d, or the equilibrium discharge valve i may be
dispensed with in addition to the vent valve and steam valve , the inlet (as
when used for a feed water supply cistern,) is by a valve of any suitable
description such as that known as the Croydon valve, the lever of which may be
attached to an ordinary ball float, or controlled by the hollow float d by allowing it
to rest on the top of it, as described in the Specification of a flushing cistern for
which I have obtained Her Majesty's Letters Patent No. 12494 of 1893, and is so
set with regard to the valve that the ball or float, when at high water mark, very
nearly closes the valve, so that the rate of admission of water to the cistern when it
is nearly full is greatly reduced, thereby effecting an economy of water. In order
that a flush may be obtained when required, or at will, the hollow float d may be
controlled by a hand pull lever, as described in my Patent 12494 of 1893, already
referred to, and, by making the fulcrum shaft of the pull lever with a cam to
engage with the inlet valve lever, the said valve may be retained closed whilst the
hollow float is discharging.
To prevent grit, dirt, or scale from pipes, getting to the valves a strainer may be
fixed at the entrance of the inlet to the steam trap, or supply cistern, as the case
may be.
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. An apparatus substantially as described consisting of two tanks placed one
above the other (both being above the level of the boiler,) the top tank acting as
a steam trap delivering the water of condensation without loss of steam pressure
into the lower one through an open top float and the suspended valve which
communicates by means of a hollow arm and spindle with a valve box and valve
the opening and closing of which it controls, and the means of effecting the further

page_text: discharge of the said water, without loss of steam pressure, by a second valve from
the bottom tank into the boiler in the manner described, and the valve and means
of actuating it for subsequently venting the lower tank before receiving another
charge from the top tank.
2. The application and arrangement of the apparatus as a boiler feeder when
attached to a hot or cold feed water tank, or water main substantially as in the
manner described.
=
3. The arrangement by which the top tank may be used separately from the
bottom one as a steam trap discharging into a feed or other tank.
4. The arrangement by which the top tank may be used as an automatic flushing
cistern and, by combining therewith a hand pull lever constructed with a cam to
control the inlet valve, also as a waste preventing flushing cistern.
5. The manner of constructing the valve box and equilibrium valve whereby a
double seated valve is obtained with seatings of equal diameters.
6. The arrangement of the outside levers which admits of the action of the
apparatus being controlled at will and operated by hand and which with the ball
float to and its connections prevents the top tank discharging till the bottom one is
empty.
Dated this 8th day of August 1894.