IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR FEEDING BOILERS, RAISING WATER, AND PROPELLING VESSELS
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Richard Archibald Brooman, of 166, Fleet Street, in
tho City of London, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN APPARATUS FOR FEEDING BOILERS, RAISING WATER, AND PROPELLING
VESSELS. A communication from abroad by Pierre Samain, of Blois,
France
-
Sealed the 13th October 1865, and dated the 13th April 1865.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Richard Archibald
Brooman at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 13th April 1865.
I, RICHARD ARCHIBALD BROOMAN, of 166, Fleet Street, in the City of
London, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR FEEDING BOILERS, RAISING WATER, AND
PROPELLING VESSELS," to be as follows:-
This Invention consists of an apparatus which draws and discharges cold
water by producing a vacuum above hot water by means of steam or
dilated air, and by employing in preference as a distributor a self-acting float
which regulates the introduction and escape of the steam. Thus, by alternately

page_text: producing pressure and vacuum on the surface of hot water I form a liquid
piston with hot water for drawing and discharging cold water; this is the
characteristic feature of the Invention.
I proceed to describe the apparatus as applied to different purposes.
Feeding Boilers. The boiler is provided with two orifices, one for the exit of
steam for keeping the apparatus in work, and the other for putting the water
in the boiler in communication with that in the apparatus, with the object not
only of favoring the permanent feed of the boiler, but also to preserve in the
apparatus a uniform temperature of the liquid, and thereby avoid too sudden
condensation of the steam. The apparatus is composed of a receiver, which
communicates at top and bottom with the boiler by pipes leading respectively
to the two orifices above named. A syphon tube leads from the top of the
receiver to a condenser above. There is a float in the receiver fitted with an
elastic ball at top and bottom, which balls act as valves, the upper one to
close the end of the syphon tube, and the lower to close the pipe which leads
from the bottom of the receiver. There is also another float in this last-named
pipe. If the receiver be filled with water the float therein is raised to the top,
so that the upper valve is closed and the lower valve open. Steam from the
boiler led by the pipe communicating with the first of the orifices before
mentioned enters the upper part of the receiver and exerts pressure on the
surface of the water, compelling a portion of it to pass through the lower
orifice to the boiler. The float in the receiver is thereby lowered and the
upper valve opened, so as to allow the steam to pass up the syphon tube into
the condenser. The pressure of the steam on the surface of the water in the
condenser opens a valve in a pipe leading therefrom to the lower part of the
receiver, which is thus supplied with water, and the float rises to the top as in
the first instance. The condensation of the steam in the condenser produces a
vacuum therein, which draws into the condenser a fresh supply of water from
a reservoir placed on the boiler or other convenient part. Thus the condenser,
while supplying the receiver, is not emptied, as it is itself continually fed from
the reservoir. If the water level in the boiler becomes lowered the second-
named float falls and allows water to flow from the receiver to the boiler.
Raising Water and Feeding Boilers. In this arrangement a pipe leads from
the condenser to the source from which the water has to be raised, and another
pipe from the bottom of the boiler; each of these pipes is fitted with a valve.
The other parts of the apparatus are similar to those before described, except
that the float in the receiver carries an additional ball at top, which acts as a
valve to close the steam communication between the boiler and receiver when
the float is lowered; and the ball or valve at the bottom of the float, for

page_text: opening and shutting off the water communication between the boiler and re-
ceiver is dispensed with, and instead thereof a valve is fitted in the pipe. The
receiver being full of water the float is raised, and one of its valves opens the
steam inlet, while the other closes the passage to the condenser. Steam from the
boiler enters the receiver and exerts pressure upon the water, which is forced
out by the pipe leading from the bottom of the receiver to the bottom of the
boiler. When the water descends in the receiver in direct ratio to the pressure
of the steam, calculated according to the introduction and escape steam
surfaces, the float falls and the steam inlet is thereby closed and the passage
to the condenser opened. The steam from the receiver passes to the con-
denser, whereby a vacuum is produced in the receiver, which is again filled
with water until the float rises, and the operation is repeated as before.
The condenser, while supplying the receiver, does not become emptied, as it
is continually fed by water sucked up the pipe which leads to the water
source."
Raising Water and Feeding Boilers in which two Floats are used.--In this
arrangement the receiver contains two floats, the smaller float carries a ball,
which when the float is lowered closes the steam inlet, and the larger float
carries a ball, which when this float is raised closes the passage to the con-
denser, whereby steam may be shut off before the passage to the condenser is
opened. Steam entering the top of the receiver presses on the water thereit
which flows out into the boiler until the smaller float is lowered sufficiently
close the steam inlet. The larger float is supported by the pressure of the
steam exerted on its ball, and does not yet open the passage to the condenser;
the water continues to flow from the receiver and to ascend a tube leading
from the bottom thereof until the expanded steam is in equilibrium with the
ascensional column; at this time the larger float falls and the steam passes by
the syphon tube into the condenser; vacuum is formed in the receiver, water
from the condenser, supplied from the ascensional column, passes by another
pipe into the receiver and raises the floats into their original positions, and
the same operation is repeated. Projections on the smaller float take under
projections on the larger, so that the larger float rises with it; the floats are,
however, free to fall independently of each other. If it be desired to raise coll
water and get rid of the hot water, I fit an escape pipe provided with a cock
on the condenser, through which pipe the hot water issues.
Another arrangement for raising water and feeding boilers, but without the
combination of two floats as last described, is as follows:-Below the receiver
is a pipe leading to the bottom of cylindrical vessel, of two dianieters, varying
according to the height to which the water is to be raised and the pressure of

page_text: steam in the boiler. The lower and smaller diameter contains a solid piston,
the rod of which is connected to another piston in the upper and larger
diameter; this latter piston is fitted with a valve in. its centre.
A pipe leads
from the top of the vessel to a reservoir, and another pipe leads from a point
between the two pistons down to the water source. By this arrangement the
steam in escaping from the boiler, as in the previous instances, not only
produces the constant feed thereof, but also by its pressure on the liquid in
the apparatus, which pressure repercusses in the pipe leading from the receiver
to the cylindrical vessel, produces the ascent of the smaller and therefore of the
larger piston, which latter, by the vacuum formed behind it, sucks up water
from the source. This piston thus lifts with it a volume of water, which is
emptied into the reservoir before mentioned or otherwise. A condenser may
be formed above this reservoir, communicating with it.by a pipe, in order that
the escape steam led from the receiver into this condenser may be utilized.
The pipe last mentioned terminates in a horizontal pipe in the condenser
pierced with small holes to facilitate the condensation. A hydraulic mano-
meter may be set on the boiler, composed of a tube which dips into the water
in the boiler and is prolonged outside by a cylinder, in which a float is free
to rise and fall, and with an index or gauge for showing the pressure in the
boiler.
The method herein-before described of drawing and discharging water may
be applied to the propulsion of vessels, and for emptying the hold of a ship if
required. For propelling, I draw or suck from the front of the vessel by
vacuum, produced by condensation of the steam, and I discharge from the
stern by compression of the steam; I produce the opposite effect by a change
of working.
Instead of the floats herein-before described, slides or valves may be adopted
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Richard Archibald Brooman in the Great Seal Patent 3
Office on the 13th October 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, RICHARD
ARCHIBALD BROOMAN, of 166, Fleet Street, in the City of London, Patent
Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters 3
Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of April, in the year of our Lord

page_text: One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-eighth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Richard Archibald Brooman, Her special licence that I, the said
Richard Archibald Brooman, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said Richard Archibald Brooman, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others,
from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein
expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within
the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands,
and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR FEEDING
BOILERS, RAISING WATER, AND PROPELLING VESSELS," to be as follows (communi-
cated to me from abroad by Pierre Samain, of Blois, France), upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Richard Archibald Brooman, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their,
or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be
performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Richard Archibald Brooman, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto
annexed, that is to say:
This Invention consists of an apparatus which draws and discharges cold
water, by producing a vacuum above hot water by means of steam or dilated
air, and by employing in preference as a distributor a self-acting float, which
regulates the introduction and escape of the steam. Thus by alternately
producing pressure and vacuum in the surface of hot water I form a liquid
pston with hot water for drawing and discharging cold water; this is the
characteristic feature of the Invention.
I proceed to describe with reference to the annexed Drawings the apparatus
as applied to different purposes.
Feeding Boilers.Figure 1 shews the application of the apparatus to a
steam boiler for performing the feed thereof. The boiler a is provided with
two orifices b, d; the orifice b for the exit of steam for keeping the
apparatus in work, and the other orifice d for putting the water in the boiler
in communication with that in the apparatus, with the object not only of
favoring the permanent feed of the boiler, but also to preserve in the apparatus

page_text: a uniform temperature of the liquid, and thereby avoid too sudden condensation
of the steam. The apparatus is composed of a receiver c, which communicates
at top and bottom with the boiler a, by pipes leading respectively to the two
orifices b, l. A syphon tube leads from the top of the receiver e to a
condenser i above. There is a float y in the receiver, fitted with elastic balls
m, n, at top and bottom, which balls act as valves, the upper one to close the
end of the syphon tube h, and the lower to close the pipe which leads from tho
bottom of the receiver c. There is also another float f in this last-named
pipe. If the receiver e be filled with water, the float g therein is raised to the
top, so that the upper valve n, is closed and the lower valve m open. Steam
from the boiler a, led by the pipe b, enters the upper part of the receiver e,
and exerts pressure on the surface of the water, compelling a portion of it to
pass through the lower orifice to the boiler. The float 9 in the receiver is
thereby lowered, and the upper valve u opened, so as to allow the steam to
pass up the syphon tube h into the condenser i. The pressure of the steam
on the surface of the water in the condenser opens a valve in a pipe leading
therefrom to the lower part of the receiver, which is thus supplied with water,
and the float y rises to the top, as in the first instance. The condensation of
the steam in the condenser produces a vacuum therein, which draws into the
condenser a fresh supply of water from a reservoir r, placed on the boiler or
other convenient part. Thus the condenser, while supplying the receiver, is
not emptied, as it is itself continually fed from the reservoir. If the water
level in the boiler becomes lowered the float f falls, and allows water to flow
from the receiver e to the boiler.
:
Raising Water and Feeding Boilers.-Figure 2. In this arrangement a pipe j
leads from the condenser to the source from which the water has to be raised,
and another pipe , from the bottom of the receiver e to the bottom of the
boiler a. The other parts of the apparatus are similar to those before de-
scribed, except that the float g in the receiver carries an additional ball mat
top, which acts as a valve to close the steam communication between the
boiler and receiver when the float is lowered; and the ball or valve at the
bottom of the float for opening and shutting off the water communication
between the boiler and receiver is dispensed with, and instead thereof a valve
is fitted in the pipe. The receiver being full of water the float g is raised,
and its valve m opens the steam inlet, while the valve n closes the passage to
the condenser i. Steam from the boiler a enters the receiver e, and exerts
the pipe k. When the water
pressure upon the water, which is forced out
descends in the receiver e, in direct ratio to the pressure of the steam, calcu
lated according to the introduction and escape steam surfaces, the float 9 falls

page_text: and the steam inlet is thereby ciosed by the valve m, and the valve n to
the condenser i opened. The steam from the receiver e passes to the
condenser, whereby a vacuum is produced in the receiver, which is again
filled with water until the float 9 rises, and the operation is repeated as
before. The condenser while supplying the receiver does not become emptied,
as it is continually fed by water sucked up the pipe j, which leads to the
water source.
Raising Water and Feeding Boilers in which two Floats are used.-In the
arrangement represented in Figure 3 the receiver contains two floats g, g', the
smaller float g carries a ball m, which when the float is lowered closes the
steam inlet b, and the larger float g' carries a ball n, which when this float is
raised, closes the passage h to the condenser i, whereby steam may be shut off
before the passage to the condenser is opened. Steam entering the top of the
receiver e presses on the water therein, which flows out into the boiler until
the smaller float.g is lowered sufliciently to close the steam inlet b. The larger
float is supported by the pressure of the steam exerted on its ball, and does
not yet open the passage to the condenser; the water continues to flow from
the receiver e, and to ascend a tube k, until the expanded steam is in equili-
brium with the ascensional column. At this time the larger float g' falls, and
Vacuum is
the steam passes by the syphon tube h into the condenser e.
formed in the receiver e, water from the condenser i supplied from the ascen-
sional column k, passes by another pipe into the receiver e, and raises the
floats g, gl, into their original positions, and the same operation is repeated.
Projections on the smaller float y take under projections on the larger
float g', so that the larger float rises with it; the floats are however free to
fall independently of each other. If it be desired to raise cold water and get
rid of the hot water, I fit an escape pipe p, provided with a cock on the
condenser i, through which pipe the hot water issues. The hot water is
replaced by cold water, which rises into the condenser by the pipe l connected
to the pipe k. A hydraulic manometer may be set on the boiler, as repre-
sented in Figure 4. This manometer is composed of a tube c, which dips into
the water in the boiler and is prolonged outside by a cylinder c', in which a
float is free to rise and fall, and with an index or gauge for showing the
pressure in the boiler.
Figure 5 represents a modified arrangement of apparatus based on the same
principle as those herein-before described, and in which the steam presses
directly upon the liquid in order to compress it in the ascensional tube. An
oval bag I, of india-rubber or other flexible material, is suspended in a
reservoir B. This bag is fixed to the upper part of the reservoir and to a

page_text: movable bar T which traverses it. A pipe A, for supplying steam alternately
feeds the bag, and as soon as it is inflated by the steam pressure it tends to
take the spherical form, and consequently its lower part by losing the oval
form causes the bar T on which it is fixed to rise in the tube O. A crank L
is fixed on the bar T, and is jointed at 8, s, s; the object of this crank is to
close the valve K, to prevent the passage of steam by the pipe A, and to open
at the same time the valve K', in order to allow the steam in the bag I, to
escape by the pipe D. The crank L is worked by the bar T. As soon as
there is no pressure exerted in the bag I it become flattened, but as soon as
steam, air, or gas is admitted it is inflated, and displaces a quantity of water
equal to its volume. A pipe E, which extends into the bag to near the
bottom thereof carries off any water produced by condensation in the bag.
As soon as the steam in the bag has escaped by the pipe D the bag becomes
flat, owing to the vacuum produced by condensation. A counterweight X is
fitted to the apparatus to return the bag to its first position. This counter-
weight in falling draws with it the bar T, to which it is fixed; by this
movement the bar acts again on the crank, but in the contrary direction;
that is, it opens the steam inlet and closes the steam outlet.
The method herein-before described of drawing and discharging water may
be applied to the propulsion of vessels and for emptying the hold of a ship, if
required.
For propelling, I draw or suck from the front of the vessel by vacuum,
produced by condensation of the steam, and I discharge from the stern by
compression of the steam. I produce the opposite effect by a change of
working.
Instead of the floats herein-before described, slides or valves may be adopted
for distributing the steam or dilated air over the hot water.
The apparatus before described for raising water may be worked by com-
pressed air or compressed gases.
And having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim,-
First, constructing apparatus for feeding boilers, raising water, and pro-
pelling vessels, in which hot water is employed as a liquid piston, causing the
suction and discharge of cold water by the vacuum produced by steam or
dilated air above the hot water, substantially as herein-before described with
reference to the accompanying Drawings.
Second, the employment in such apparatus of a float or of a bag of flexible
material, or slides, or valves, for distributing the steam or dilated air over the
hot water, substantially as herein-before described.

page_text: Third, the arrangements herein-before described, in which steam, air, or
gas exerts pressure directly upon the liquid, in order to raise it in an
ascensional tube.
In witness whereof, I, the said Richard Archibald Brooman, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Ninth day of October, One thousand
eight hundred and sixty-five.
R. A. BROOMAN. (L.8.)