US1148689A - Straining device. - Google Patents

Description

N. J. KEPPLE.

STRAINING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 1, 1914.

l,148,$89., Patented Aug. 3, 1915.

WITNE55E5. |NVENTEIR W WW M 7 hr ATTDRNEYE]- uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu NICHOLAS J. KEPPLE, 0F BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

STRAINING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented A11 3, 1915.

Application filed October 1, 1914. Serial No. 864,438.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, NICHOLAS J. KEPPLE, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York,- have invented new and useful Improvements in Straining Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a straining device which is more particularly designed for use between the water supply tank or reservoir and an injector which leads to a boiler for the purpose of straining the water before it reaches the injector and also permit of readily cleaning the strainer, but the same may also be used for other purposes in which similar conditions exist.

It is the object of this invention to pro duce a straining device which will effectively strain or separate any solid matter from the water as it passes from the supply tank toward the injector of the boiler and which can be readily and quickly cleaned, thereby enabling a full supply of clear water for the boiler to be constantly maintained without practically any interruption.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of a straining device embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section taken in line 2-2, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken in line 33, Fig. 1.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

The body or casing of this straining device may be constructed in a variety of ways and forms and still accomplish the purpose for which the same is intended. As shown in the drawings this casing comprises a main chamber 1, an inlet or supply nipple 2, a main outlet nipple 3, an auxiliary out let nipple 4 and an auxiliary chamber 5 communicating with the auxiliary outlet nipple e by a transfer portor passage 6 and having a drain nipple 7.

The main outlet nipple 8 is preferably formed integrally with the main chamber 1 and arranged onone side thereof but the inlet or supply nipple 2 is preferably formed separate from the chamber and connected therewith by means of an external screw thread formed on the inner end of this last mentioned nipple and engaging with an internally screw threaded opening in the adjacent wall of the main chamber. The inlet and main outlet nipples are preferably arranged horizontally and axially in line with each other on opposite sides of the main chamber, and the inlet nipple is connected with a water supply reservoir or tank by any suitable construction of piping or conduits, and the main outlet nipple is also connected by any suitable system of pipes or conduits with an injector leading to the shell of a steam boiler or elsewhere. In Fig. 1 of the drawings a portion 8 of the pipe is shown which connects with the main outlet nipple and is adapted to be connected with the injector above referred to.

The auxiliary outlet nipple 4 is preferably arranged on the underside of the main chamber and communicates by means'of the drain inlet port or passage 6 with the upper end of the auxiliary chamber. The connection between the auxiliary chamber and the auxiliary outlet nipple may be produced in any suitable and practical manner, the means for this purpose which are shown in the drawings as an example, consisting of an inter: nally threaded socket 9 arranged at the upper end of the auxiliary chamber and having its thread engaging with an external thread on the auxiliary outlet nipple. The drain nipple 7 is arranged at the lower end of the auxiliary chamber and contains the drain outlet port or passage 10 which forms part of a conduit adapted to place the inte rior of the auxiliary chamber in communication with the exterior.

During the normal operation of the straining device the water passes from the supply tank through the inlet nipple into the main chamber, thence through a screen or sieve into the main outlet nipple and thence through the discharge pipe 8 and the injector or other forcing device which delivers the water to the boiler, but when the screen becomes clogged by an accumulation of large solid matter thereon a reverse pressure is produced in the delivery pipeswhi'ch operates a valve mechanism for shutting off communication between the interior of the main chamber and the inlet nipple and causing any accumulations on this screen or sieve to be removed therefrom and discharged from the main chamber through the auxiliary outlet, auxiliary chamber and the drain outlet port of the latter. After the screen or sieve has been thus cleaned the back pressure in the discharge pipe is again removed and a forward suction created constructed as follows: 11 represents a main valve stopper, preferably though not necessarily of conical form, arranged in the main chamber and movable toward and from an inwardly facing valve seat 12 of corresponding form arranged around the inner end of the passageway or port extending through the inlet nipple. On its front side the main valve is provided with a guide stem 13 which engages with the bore of the inlet nipple so that the latter serves as a guideway for this stem of the main valve stopper. Extending rearwardly from the rear side of the main valve stopper is a tubular valve stem 14 which is guided in a correspondingly shaped guideway 15 formed in the inner portion of the bore of the main outlet nipple. This tubular valve stem is provided with a plurality of small openings 16 extending from the here to the periphery thereof so that in effect this stem forms a screen or sieve through which water may pass from the main chamber to the injector and boiler but any large foreign matters or impurities, such as small pieces of wood or grass and the like, are held back on the periphery of this screen and prevented from reaching the boiler. The main valve is moved rearwardlv or inwardly into its open position by means of a spring 17 arranged within the passage of the inlet nipple and bearing at its outer end against an internal shoulder 18 formed within this nipple while its inner end bears against the outer end of the front valve stem of the main valve stopper. The opening movement of the latter is limited by engagement of the rear end of the screen valve stem with an inwardly facing shoulder or stop 19 formed within the bore of the main outlet nipple, as shown in Fig. 1. I

During, the normal operation of the straining device the water passes from the tank through the inlet nippleand past the open main valve stopper into the main chamber, thence through the openings of the screen or sieve mounted on the rear side of the main valve stopper, and thence passes out through the main outlet nipple and through the piping to the injector and boiler, the forward movement of the water in'this direction being caused by the action of the injector in the usual and well known manner. When a considerable amount'of foreign matter gathers on the outer side of the screen a perceptible decrease in the flow of water to the boiler is apparent to the engineer and therefore serves as a signal that the screen or sieve requires cleaning. In order to keep this screen or sieve clean and maintain a full and free flow of water practically all the time from the tank to the boiler, a back pressure of steam under the control of the engineer is produced in the delivery pipe 8 either at regular intervals or whenever the engineer notices that the supply of water to theboiler is deficient. This back pressure in the delivery pipe causes the main valve stopper to be forced outwardly or forwardly against its seat 12 on the inlet nipple so as to cut off communication between the passage in this nipple and the main chamber and the water and steam contained in the discharge pipe and the spaces communicating therewith is forced backwardly through the openings of the sieve or screen from the bore to the periphery thereof, whereby any foreign'matter lodging on the periphery of thescreen and clogging the same is removed therefrom and discharged into the main chamber.

During thevtime that the strainer is in operation communication is cut off between the main chamber and the auxiliary chamber but when a back pressure is produced for cleaning off any obstructions from the I screen, communication is established between the main chamber and the auxiliary chamber so that this foreign matter may be washed out by the backwardly pressed water and steam from the main chamber into the auxiliary chamber and through the outlet port of the latter to the exterior.

Various means may be employed for controlling communication between the main chamber and the exterior, those shown in the drawings being suitable and preferred and constructed as follows: 20 represents an auxiliary valve stopper, preferably, though optionally, of conical form, arranged within the auxiliary chamber and movable toward and from an outwardly facing valve seat 21 formed around the outer end of the drain passage 6. This valve is guided in its movements toward and from its seat by means of an upper'or inner valve stem'22 projecting upwardly from the front side thereof and engaging with the drain passage 6 which forms a guideway therefor and a tubular lower valve stem23 which p'rojects downwardly or rearwardly from the rear side of the auxiliary valve stopper slides in the drain passage in the nip ple 7 wliich'forms a guideway for this last mentioned stein on the lower partof the auxiliary. chamber. Communication is established between the auxiliary chamber and the upper end of the tubular guideway by means of lateral openings 25 formed in this tubular stem adjacent to the rear or underside of the auxiliary valve stopper. The latter is yieldingly held in its closed position by means of spring 26 arranged within the lower part of the tubular valve stem 23 andthe adjacent part of the drain outlet port or guideway10 and bearing at its upper end against a down-. wardly facing internal shoulder 27 in the respective valve stem while its lower end bears against an externally screw threaded supporting ring or plate 28 which engages with an internally threaded socket 29 at the lower end of the drain outlet nipple 7 While the water is being drawn from the tank through the main chamber and screen and discharged into the boiler the auxiliary valve stopper is pressed by its spring 26 against its seat so that communication at this time between the exterior and the interior of the main valve chamber is interrupted. When, however, a backward pressure is produced in the discharge pipe which operates to force the main valve stopper. against its seat and removes the foreign solid matter from the outer side of i the screen or sieve this same pressure operates to force the auxiliary valve stopper away from its seat in opposition to the spring 26, thereby causing the water and clogging impurities to be washed out from the main chamber through the transfer passage 6 into the auxiliary chamber, thence, through the openings 25 into the interior. of the lower tubular valve stem 23, and thence, through the drain outlet port or passage and the supporting ring to the exterior of the straining device. This reversal in the movement of the water and steam in the discharge pipe and the conduits connected therewith is continued a suflicient length of time to thoroughly remove any obstructing foreign matter from the sieve or screen after which the back pressure is cut off and the injector caused to operate in the normal manner, so that the water is again drawn forwardly from the supply tank through the main chamber and sieve and discharged to the boiler, at which time the main valve stopper is opened and the auxiliary valve stopper is closed. The cleaning ofthe sieve or sc e n by warmers n b f ected v y qeiek y and with med ally 1. 1 i errilrti e in the supply of water to the boiler so that it ispossible for the engineer to always maintain a full and free supply of water to the boiler. When the water is drawn from the tank through the straining device and discharged to the boiler by means of an injector which connects with the outlet of the main chamber the suction of the injector together with the pressure of the spring 17 operate to hold the main valve stopper normally in its open position while the back pressure of steam and water through the outlet of the main chamber and sieve or screen operate to close the main valve stopper.

In order to prevent any water from lodging in the main and auxiliary chambers and the drain passages communicating therewith and becoming frozen therein, means are provided for manuallyopening the auxiliary valve stopper partly while the engine is standing still in winter time. These means may be variously constructed but those shown in the drawings are suitable and comprise a finger piece or locking pin 30 projecting laterally from the outer stem of the auxiliary valve stopper through a longitudinal slot 31 in the lower drain nipple of the auxiliary chamber and adapted to move lengthwise in said slot from end to end thereof or to be interlocked with a notch 32 formed in one wall of said slot between the ends thereof.

During the normal automatic operation of the auxiliary valve stopper the pin 30 moves back and forth in this slot as this stopper is moved toward and from its seat by the spring 26 and the back pressure of the water from the discharge pipe. When the engine stands still in winter time or cold weather, the engineer engages the looking pin with the notch 32 so that the auxiliary valve stopper is held in an open position and any water in the main chamber and the passages connecting therewith may drain out so that the same will not freeze therein.

' I claim as my invention:

1. A straining device comprising a casing having a main chamber, a water inlet, a main water outlet, an auxiliary water out let, an inwardly facing valve seat arranged around said inlet, a main guide around said main outlet, an outwardly facing valve seat around said auxiliary outlet, and an auxiliary guide around said auxiliary valve seat, a main valve stopper movable toward and from said main valve seat and having a perforated tubular stem which slides in said guide, and an auxiliary valve stopper mov able toward and from said auxiliary valve seat and slidable in said auxiliary guide.

2. straining device comprising a casing having a chamber, a water inlet, a mai Wa e u l t a ux ia y Wat ut let, an inwardly facing valve seat arranged around said inlet, a main guide aroundsaid main outlet, an outwardly facing valve seat around said auxiliary outlet, and an auxiliary guide around said auxiliary valve seat, a main valve stopper movable toward and from said main valve seat and having a perforatedtubular stem which. slides in'said guide, an auxiliary valve stopper movable toward and from said auxiliary valve seat and slidable in said auxiliary uide, a spring for yieldingly holding Said main valve stopper in its open position, and a spring for yieldingly holding said auxiliary valve stopper in its closed position.

3. A straining device comprising a casing having a main chamber, a' water inlet, a main water outlet, an auxiliary water outlet, an inwardly facing valve seat arranged around said inlet', 'a main guide around said main outlet,'anloutwardly facing valve seat around said auxiliary outlet, and an auxiliary guide around said auxiliary valve seat, a main'valve stopper movable toward and from said main valve seat and having a perforated tubular, stem which slides in said guide, an auxiliary valve stopper movable toward and from said auxiliary valve seat'and slidable in said auxiliary guide, a spring for yieldingly holding said main valve stopper in its open position, a spring for yieldingly holding said auxiliary valve stopper in its closed position, and means for locking said auxiliary valve stopper in its open position. a

4. A. straining device comprising a casing having a main chamber, a water inlet surrounded by an inwardly opening valve s seat and adapted .to ,be connected with a 40 water supply tank, a main outlet adapted to be'connected with an exhausting device and surrounded by a guideway and an auxil: iary Waste outlet surrounded by [an outwardly facing valve seat, a main valve stop per movable toward and from said main valve seat and provided with a perforated body movably engaging said guideway, and an auxiliary valvestopper movable "toward and from said auxiliary valve seat.

5. Astraining device comprising a cas-- ing having a main chamber, a water inlet surrounded by an inwardly opening valve seat and adapted to be connected with a water supply tank, a main outlet adapted to be connected with an exhausting'device and surrounded by a guideway and an auxiliary waste outlet surrounded by an outwardly facing valve seat, a main valve stopper movable toward and from said main valve seat and provided with a perforated bodv movably engaging said guideway, an auxiliary valve stopper movable toward and from said auxiliary valve seat, a spring for yieldingly holding the main valve stopper-finite open-position, and a spring for yieldingly holding the auxiliary valve stopshoulder and a main guideway, a main out let nipple containing a circular guideway, and an auxiliary outlet nipple having an outwardly facing auxiliary valve seat, a main valve stopper arranged in said main chamber and movable toward and from said main valve seat and provided with a forwardly projecting front 'stem'whi'ch slides in said main guideway and a perforated tubular rear stemforniing a screen and sliding in said circular guideway, a spring in terposed between said front guide stem and said shoulder and operating to hold said main valve stopper yieldingly in. its open position, and an auxiliary valve stopper movable toward and from said auxiliary valve seat.

7. A straining device comprising a casing having a main chamber, an inlet nipple having an inwardly facing main valve'seat, a main outlet nipple having a guideway, and an auxiliary outlet nipple having an outwardly'facing valve seat, a guideway, and a longitudinal slot provided with a laterally extending notch in one of its walls between opposite ends thereof, a main valve stopper movable toward and from said main valve seat and having a screen slidable in the guideway of said main outlet nipple,

and an auxiliary valve stopper movable t0- ward and from the auxiliary valve seat and chamber with said main chamber and provided with an outwardly facing auxiliary valve seat while the outer end of the auxiliary chamber is provided with an outer pas sageway, a supporting ring securedto the outerend of the auxiliary nipple, an auxiliary valve stopper arranged in the auxiliary chamber and movable toward and from said auxiliary valve seat and having an inner stem which is guided in said innerpassageway, an outer tubular guide stem sliding in said outer passageway and latera l openings extending from the bore of'said tubular stem to the periphery thereof 'with-' in said auxiliary chamber, and a spring interposed between the tubular stem raid auxiliary valve and said: supporting ring.

9. A straining device comprising a cham- Witness my hand this 29th day of Sepber having an inlet, a main outlet, and an ternber, 1914. auxiliary outlet, a main valve stopper adapted to control said inlet, an auxiliary valve stopper adapted to control said auxiliary outlet, and a screen covering said main out- Witnesses: let and movable With said main valve stop- RUSSELL N. KEPPLE, per. THEo. L. POPP.

NICHOLAS J. KEPPLE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, 1). G.

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