US346146A - Meath - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

T. T. CLARKE.

APPARATUS POR FBEDING STEAM BOILERS.

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ving the-mode of application and connections point, B2, of this lever is suspended by a ver- UNITED STATES 5 PATENT OFFICE. y

THOMAS TRACY CLARKE, OF MELDRUM, KILBEGGAN, COUNTY OF IV EST- MEATH, IRELAND.

APPARATUS FR FEEDING STEAM-BOILERS.

:JLBCIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 346,146, dated July 27, 1886.

Application filed April 3, 1886. Serial No. 197,647. (No model.) Patented in England June 6,'1885, No. (3,892.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that l, THOMAS TRACY CLARKE,l of Meldrum, Kilbeggan, in the county of W'estmeath, Ireland, gentleman, a citizen of the United Kingdom of GreatBritain and Ireland, have invented a certain new and useful Apparatus for Automatically Feeding Steam- Boilers, and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exract description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

The construction and operation of my said invention will be readily understood by referring to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a central vertical section showof the apparatus with a boiler on the left-hand side; and Fig. 2 is a plan of the apparatus with the top removed.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both the iigures.

A represents a chamber of any suitable material and size.

B is a lever working on a knuckle-joint, B', attached to the side of thev chamber. At a tical rod, C, the float D. To the opposite side of the chamber is pivoted a second lever, E, provided with a curved tail piece, E', the front of which is grooved, as indicated by the dottedlines, to enable the free end of the lever B to slide therein, as hereinafter described. In order to facilitate this sliding motion, a small roller, b, is provided on the end of this lever. To the free end of the second lever E is suspended a second or upper iloat, F, through the center of which the rod C passes freely. The end of this lever E is forked, as shown at F2, Fig. 2, and pivoted to brackets F2 on the upper face of the iioat F.

A is a guide-stay for the purpose of retaining the rod C in a central vertical position.

C is a collar fixed on the rod C, which acts as a stop and relieves the lever B of the weight of the float D when the latter falls to its normal position.

Between the float D and the guide-stay A is inserted a spiral spring, C2, which serves to reduce the concussion caused by the too sudden rise of the ioatimmedi-.itely the lever B is released.

A2 A2 are two studs, attached to the guidestay A for the purpose of receiving the weight of the float F.

The suction-pipe G connects to the chamber A, as shown.

H and I are steam and water pipes communicating with the boiler, as shown. Thesteampipe is provided with an easily-movable pistou-valve at I-I. The Water-pipe I is provided with a delicately-balanced check-valve, I, opening downward, the weight of which is Supported and slightly overbalanced by alever, l2, turning on a center, 1'., and carrying an adjustable weight, la.

J is a charging or blow-through pipe controlled by a cock, J. Through this steam is admitted to the chamber in the first instance in order to create a vacuum, as hereinafter described.

K is a pipe for draining the chamber when required.

L is an ai'r valve or plug on the top of the chamber for the purpose of blowing out air with a portion of the uncoudenscd vapor.

The feed-pipe G, which brings cold water from a tank at a lower level (not represented) is provided with acheck-valve at G.

Now, the action of my invention may be briefly described, thus: Having iixed and connected the apparatus to the boiler steam is in .the rst instance admitted into the chamber through the pipe J, then the cock J is shut, and by the natural cooling and condensation a vacuum is created in the chamber. Vater will then rise and enter through the suctionpipe G. As it fills the chamber it exerts a tendency to raise the float D; but since the lever B, to which the iioat is attached, is locked by the shoulder e in the tail-piece E, as shown, it vcannot rise until the water has risen far above D` and lifted the upper float F, thereby throwing back the tail-piece E and freeing the lever B. As the end of the lever rises in the end of the tail-piece E the valve H will open and steam will rush into the chamber, destroying the vacuum, so that the iniiux of feed-water is stopped. When the pressurein the chamber A is fully raised to that of the boiler, the water in the chamber being higher ICO .than that in the boiler will ilow through the pipe I into the boiler, and as the water-level in the chamber A sinks, the levers B and E, having their floats no longer supported, will return to their original condition, when the apparatus is ready again to work automatically. It is obvious that as the water sinks in the chamber A, the float F will remainlin its elevated position, owing to the tail-piece E pressing against the lever B, and will remain so until the water sinks to such a point as to cause the lower oat, D, to drop to its normal position, then the ioat F will fall and lock again the leverB as before. The latter portion ofthe descent of the lower i'oat, D, will, when the apparatus is working properly, be delayed until the water-level in the boiler has sunk a little. The balance-valve I being of considerable area and delicately balanced will offer but triding resistance to the flow of the-water into the boiler so that the water-level in the chamber A will be practically thesame as in the boiler. l The weight of the upper iioat, F, depending on the lever E, induces a pressure against the end of the lever B, so that not-f withstanding` the roller to reduce friction the `lower float, D, will be partially suspended.

` suspension, have sunk sufliciently to bring lits roller l) down to the shoulder or offset e in` the Vhen this condition is attained, the least further sinking of the water brings the roller b below the shoulder e. Vhen this condition is attained, there is a prompt and considerable movement. The upper float, F, drops freely until it is supported on the stops A2 A2. At the same time the lower float, D, being relieved from the partial `suspendingforce before experienced, and,on the contrary, pressed downward by the engagement of the offset e over the roller b, drops promptly a few inches down to and perhaps a little below l'and-is engaged under the offset e.

the ordinary line of floatation, the parts bein-g soproportioned and the connection of the lever B to the piston-valve H so adjusted that this prompt sinking movement which terminates the descent ofthe float D effects the complete closing of the valve H. It should notshut at "all until the roller b descends to Then it should shut promptly and tightly. The chamber A being now iilled with steam, on its condensation a vacuum takes place, the water is again drawn up through the pipe G, and the operation is repeated. The apparatus continues working automatically. Vhile the wathat-what I claim is Il, :In an apparatus for automatically' feeding steam-boilers, the chamber A, having steam-inlet pipe J, the self-acting valve, l -balanee-lever 12,V and weight 13 controlling the watcrfpipe I, in combination with the steamvalve-H', adjusted as shown, and with the lower float, D, and connected lever B, and with the upper float, F, a'nd connected lever yE, the'latter having an offset, e, to engage the ,-pointb of-said lever B, all arranged for joint operation, substantially as herein specified.

.2. In an apparatus for automatically feeding steam-boilers, the steam supply pipe J and controlling means J, in combination with the'chamber A and blow-through valve L, and with the levers B and E, oats D and.F,

and suitable waterand steam connections G,

I, and H, arranged for joint operation as herein described.

Dated this 26th day of February,-1886.

THOMAS TRACY CLARKE.

Wit-nesses:

J. ANGELO FAHIE, C. E.,

410 Leinster Street, Dubln. WLLRIGE,

29.*Rathmz'aes Terrace, Dubln.

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