IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR FEEDING STEAM BOILERS AND FOR FORCING WATER FROM SUCH APPARATUS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Carl Pieper, of Dresden, Saxony, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR FEEDING STEAM BOILERS AND FOR
FORCING WATER FROM SUCH APPARATUS."-A communication from Sally
Gustave Cohnfeld, residing at Dresden, Saxony.
Sealed the 12th January 1877, and dated the 27th November 1876.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Carl Picper at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents on the 27th November 1876.
[{
FOR
CARL PIEPER, of Dresden, Saxony. IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
FEEDING STEAM BOILERS AND FOR FORCING WATER FROM SUCH APPARATUS." A
communication from Sally Gustave Cohnfeld, residing at Dresden, Saxony.
This Invention. relates to certain improvements in the apparatus for feeding
steam boilers described in the Specifications of the English Patents No. 2155,
A.D. 1874, and No. 1532, A.D. 1875, granted to W. L. Wise, and assigned to me on
the 6th August 1875, by an indenture made between the Patentee, the Inventor,
Nicolas Jagn, and myself.
The apparatus, as I prefer to construct the same at present, is represented on the
annexed Sheet of Drawings, Fig. 1 being a vertical section and the Figures.
2-5 details of valves.
For the purpose of rendering the present Specification more clear I shall in the
following give a full description of the apparatus, together with the improvements
recently introduced. R and R' are the two reservoirs, the capacity of which has
to be adapted to the size of boiler or to the special purpose for which the apparatus
is to be used. These reservoirs are fixed one above the other, with a free space
between them, or this space may be filled out with wood or other material which is
a non-conductor of heat. The two reservoirs communicate with each other by
means of the bent pipes B and C, as shown in the former as well as in the present
Drawings. The lower bend of the pipe B is placed nearly on a level with the
bottom of the reservoir R¹, whilst the lower bend of the pipe C is somewhat lower
than this bottom. A short and narrow pipe d connects the pipe C with the
reservoir R¹ or with the upper part E¹ of the discharge pipe from the reservoir
into the boiler. The pipe d however may be inserted between the lower part of
[Price 6d.]

page_text: the reservoir R¹ and the lower bend of B, but it cannot be placed between the pipe
B and the coupling box i, Fig. 1; of Patent No. 2155, A.D., 1874, as has by
inadvertence been stated there. The reservoir R¹ is connected with the boiler by
means of the two pipes g and E, E¹. The former serves to establish a communi-
cation between the steam space of the boiler and the top of the reservoir R¹, whilst
the pipe E, E¹, leads from the bottom of the reservoir into the water space. The
pipe g terminates inside of the boiler.at the height at which the level of the water
is to be kept, and a casing u open at top and bottom is or may be attached to the
same for the purpose of keeping the water under or around the end of the pipe
undisturbed so as to prevent agitations of the surface of the water from causing an
irregular action of the apparatus. The upper end of the pipe g passes into the
reservoir R¹ and through the perforated plate t for the purpose of distributing the
steam coming from the boiler. The valve in the pipe g serves to regulate at will
the passage of steam through it. The valve q, the object of which is to prevent
water from being aspired out of the boiler when there is a vacuum in the apparatus,
will be fully described hereafter. Between the upper and the lower parts of the
pipe E, E¹, there is a valve opening towards the boiler which prevents water from
returning into the apparatus. This valve has been made more accessible than in
the former apparatus, and the valve box has been provided with screw and hand
wheel for the purpose of closing the valve at will..
From the upper reservoir R (by preference from its lower part) a pipe A,
provided with a foot valve leads to a well or tank containing the feed water. The
valve serves to let the air escape which is disengaged from the water and the
steam entering into the apparatus.
The apparatus may be placed on the boiler or at some distance sidewise above its
top, which is preferable, as so placed it will not be exposed to the influence of the
heat of the boiler. In this case the whole length of the pipe g must incline
towards the boiler.
The apparatus works as follows:-Supposing the two reservoirs and all the pipes
be filled with cold water, and that the water in the boiler be a little above the
lower extremity of the pipe g. It is evident that under such circumstances the
water cannot flow from the reservoirs R and R¹; as soon however as the level of
the water in the boiler sinks below the lower extremity of the pipe g the steam
displaces the water in this pipe and causes it to flow into the boiler while steam
goes into the reservoir R¹. In consequence the water in this reservoir opens the
valve and flows into the boiler until the water in the same has attained its proper
level, whereby it recloses the end of the pipe g. When this end opens again the
same operation is repeated. Whilst the water in the reservoir R₁ is falling the
surface of the water in the short branch of the pipe C and in the reservoir R¹ must
.be level, as they communicate with each other by the pipe d.. But also the surface
of water in the short branch of pipe B will be on the same level as in the short
branch of C, as these pipes communicate with each other through the reservoir R,
the mass of water in B, R, and C being uninterrupted. When the water falls below
the lower bend of the pipe B the steam passes into the long branch of this pipe,
thereby displacing water and diminishing the weight of the column of water in
pipe B, so that the weight of the unbroken column of water from the top of
reservoir R to the water level in pipe C overbalances the former. The consequence
of this disturbance of equilibrium is that the water from the upper reservoir
empties itself by the pipe C into the reservoir R¹. Here it meets the steam, which
it condenses rapidly, a condensation of the steam which has entered the reservoir
R¹ being caused at the same time on account of its coming into contact with the
cold sides of the reservoir and the surface of the cold water. A vacuum is thereby
produced in both reservoirs, in consequence of which water is aspired by the pipė
A from the well or tank until the whole apparatus is filled again, so that it may
then recommence to feed the boiler. The level of water in the boiler is conse-
quently always kept up at the height at which the pipe g terminates. In the
former apparatus however the vacuum produced caused a certain quantity of hot

page_text: water to return from the boiler into the apparatus by the pipe g, whereby its
operation was prejudiced to a certain degree. For obviating this defect I have
placed a valve q of special design and of automatic action into the pipe g. This
valve lets the steam pass freely whilst its current is slow, but it prevents water
from returning out of the boiler by closing the opening o of the pipe g. I prefer
to construct this valve as shown in Fig. 1 and in detail in Fig. 2, where q is a
cylindrical or otherwise shaped body of metal having longitudinal ribs, by which
it is guided in the valve box b. The said ribs project below the main body of the
valve so as to form feet, by which it stands on the offset m of the valve box b.
The feet may be united by a ring n, which, however, has to leave a space between
it and the main body. When the valve is in its lower position its top is at a
certain distance from the opening o, but when raised it closes this opening. The
weight of the valve must be such that steam in passing slowly along the same
will not lift it, but that as soon as condensation has commenced in the reservoir R¹
the rush of steam ensuing will lift the valve so that it closes the opening o and
prevents a further admission of steam as well a passage of water. The vacuum
then keeps the valve closed until the apparatus is filled with water through pipe A,
whereupon it descends to its lower position and again allows the steam to pass.
I have found it advantageous to cut a small slit into the top of the valve, or
otherwise to provide for a small passage for the steam, even when the valve is
lifted, as by such arrangement it is caused to commence its descent quicker after
the vacuum has ceased to act. The shape of this valve may of course be modified
in different manners. A common ball valve, arranged so as to let the steam pass
freely when in its lower position, and to close an opening above its top when it is
lifted, may also be used.
Fig. 3 represents a modification of the valve q, in which a spiral spring is used
to keep the valve open against a slow current of steam, instead of the weight of
the valve body, as in Fig. 2.
For allowing a very small quantity of steam to pass when the valve is lifted a
hole may be drilled through the same.
In the modified arrangement of Fig. 4 a spring w supplies the place of a valve.
This spring is made by preference of thin steel plate, rolled up so as to form a
spiral in horizontal section, the edges overlapping each other, but slightly. This
spring encircles the tube x, provided with longitudinal slits, and is suitably pre-
vented from slipping off from the tube. This arrangement also allows steam to
pass slowly, but a quick current of the same closes the spring at once, whereupon
it is kept closed by the vacuum, as in the former cases. The spring w, when pressed
close to the tube x, does not fully obstruct the passage of steam through the slits,
as its overlapping edges prevent it from touching the tube at all points, consc-
quently, as in the former modifications, it will be released more speedily after the
vacuum has ceased its action.
It will easily be understood that the shape of this spring valve may be modified
in different ways; for instance, thin strips of steel might be rivetted at one end
to the tube x, so as to cover the slits with a certain space between the tube and
the springs.
The aforesaid air escape valve r is by preference a ball valve of india-rubber of such
a specific gravity that it floats on water. For this purpose the valve may be pro-
vided, for instance, with a core of cork. In the valve box p there is a valve seat at
the bottom, and one at the top. As long as there is a vacuum in the apparatus the
ball r closes the lower seat by the atmospheric pressure. If there is steam pressure
in the reservoir R the ball is lifted, and the air which has accumulated rushes out,
together with a small amount of steam; but as the steam pressure always lasts but
a short time this loss of steam is insignificant. As soon as water enters into the
box ? the valve is lifted, and as it floats on the water it will close the top opening,
so as to prevent any escape of water. By a screw on the top of the valve box the
valve may be kept open for the expulsion of air, whilst the apparatus is first being

page_text: filled with water by means of a force pump placed in communication with a branch
on the pipe A.
This valve differs mainly from the valve shown in the Drawing attached to the
Patent No. 1532, A.D. 1875, as the latter was designed only to open outwards, and
to serve for the exit of the air solely, whilst the apparatus was being filled with
water before starting the same.
On the pipe C a steam whistle is fixed, which is closed at the bottom by a
fusible plug. In case the apparatus is accidentally heated by steam, so as not to
operate any more, this plug melts, whereupon the steam causes the whistle to
sound.
The reservoir R should not be exposed to heat from the outside, especially if the
height to which the water has to be aspired through the pipe A is considerable.
In case the feed water tank is placed but little below the apparatus the temperature
of the water may be raised to 60 degrees centigrade and above without stopping
the operation of the apparatus.
The arrangement of the pipes B and C may be modified in the present case in
a similar manner as shown in Fig. 3 of the Patent A.D. 1874, No. 2155, where an
opening n in the lower bend of pipe B inside of the reservoir R₁ serves for the
same purpose as the pipe d of the same Patent, Fig. 1, or of the Drawing attached
to the present Specification. In the Patent referred to, however, it has been stated
that the lower branch of pipe B rises in the interior of the reservoir to half its
height, and that pipe C enters the same also at half its height. Now I wish it
to be understood that these pipes may communicate with the reservoir at any
suitable height. The partitions in the pipe B may be dispensed with if the
diameter of this pipe is small, but in larger pipes I prefer to apply them, or
instead of one large pipe several small ones may be used.
In the Specification of Patent No. 2155, A.D. 1874, page 12, it is stated that
the apparatus may also be used for forcing water to a considerable height. To
attain this object or to make the apparatus available as fire engine, I, however, do
not any more fix a branch pipe to the coupling box i between the valve and the
pipe E, as described in the said Specification; but I now prefer to attach a branch
pipe Z either to the lower part of the reservoir R¹ or to the pipe E¹ between the
reservoir R' and the valve 7, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 of the annexed
Drawing. To this branch other pipes or a hose may be attached, and a valve
should be introduced at any convenient part of the pipes, or between the branch Z
and the bose. Supposing the valve now to be closed by the screw and hand
wheel, and the water level in the boiler to be sufficiently low so as to allow steam
constantly to pass into the pipe g, the apparatus will then aspire water from the
tank or well, and discharge it through the aforesaid branch pipe Z. If the apparatus
is to be used for aspiring and forcing water only it may be placed at any distance
from the boiler, and at any suitable height. In this case it is preferable to
connect the pipe g to the boiler, as is usual with other steam pipes, and instead
of using the branch pipe Z the water. may be discharged through valve
pipe E.
and
The stream of water obtained from one apparatus will be interrupted at inter-
vals, but by combining two apparatuses the steam may be made continuous. The
height to which the water can be discharged depends upon the steam pressure in
the boiler.
The valve S with the float T, shown in the. Drawing of the Patent, No. 1534,
A.D. 1875, has not been introduced in the apparatus represented in the present
Drawing, but the pipe B is bent downward a little inside of the reservoir R¹ for the
purpose of preventing an undue circulation of the water when the lower reservoir
is filled, whereby a heating of the upper reservoir may take place. In case, how-
ever, the apparatus may have to remain inactive for a length of time, as would, for
instance, occur on board of steamers, I prefer to place a valve y, Fig. 5, in the
upper part of the pipe B. This valve must be of such a weight that it will not

page_text: be opened by the column of cold water in reservoir R and pipe C overbalancing
the column in pipe B, supposing the water of the latter to be heated. This valve
will not prevent steam from passing upward, or the water from being emptied from
R into R after the steam has commenced to enter into R.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and explained the.
manner of carrying the same into practical effect, I hereby declare that I claim as
new and essential features of the same,-
1. The combination with the apparatus for feeding steam boilers, described in the
Specification of the English Patent, No. 2155, A.D. 1874, of the valve q, Fig. 2, or
of the modified valves q, Fig. 3, or w, Fig. 4, or of any equivalents of these valves,
as and for the purpose described in the foregoing.
2. The combination with the same apparatus of the air valve r enclosed in
the valve box p, or the equivalents of these parts, as and for the purpose
specified.
3. The casing attached to the pipe g of the said apparatus, as described.
4. The valve y, Fig. 5, combined with the pipe B of the same apparatus, as and
for the purpose set forth.
5. The described apparatus, substantially consisting of the two reservoirs R &
R' of the pipes A, B, C, d, E, E', and g, and of the valves 9 and 1, or of any
equivalents of these parts, as described, and for the purpose of raising and forcing
water.
In witness whereof, I, the said Carl Pieper, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Twentieth day of November, in the year of our Lord One thousand
CARL PIEPER. (L.S.)