US1236854A - Steam generation and utilization. - Google Patents

Description

'H C. MALLORY.

STEAM GENERATION AND UTIUZATION.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT- 6. 1907. RENEWED JAN. 10, 1911.

Patented Aug, 14, 1917.

v 3 SHEETS-SHEET I- %i in used M WM H. c. MALLORY.

. STEAM GENERATION AND UTILIZATION. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 6. I90]- RTINEWED JAN. I0, 1911-- 4; Patented Aug. 14,1917."

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

I Q'xmmm V I I QM attorney Patented Aug. 14, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

anpzufoz UNITED STATES PATENT curios- -I-IARRY G. MALLORY,

or NEW YORK, 1\T.Y.

STEAM GENERATION Ann UTILIZATION.

Patented Aug. 14;, 1917.

Application filed September 6, 1907, Serial No. 391,581 Renewed January 10,- 1917. Serial No. 141,696.

To all whom it may concern Be'it known that LIIARRY GIVIALLORY, a

. citizen of the United States of America reflash boiler or semi-flash boiler type, is automatically regulated in accordance with the demand for steam whether the latter be used for power or heating purposes, and

An advantageous utilization of this automatically regulated steam generator In a heating system in which the steam flow through the radiator is varied to vary the heating effect of the radiators, the system being so arranged that the steam'supplied to the radiators is returned to the steam generator in the form of water of condensation. I

i In carrying out my invention, I have de-' vised an apparatus in which. the valve which regulates the flow of the fluid fuel to the burner or burners of the steam generator is controlled by thermostatic mechanism which issubjected on the one hand. to the cooling action of the water fed to the boiler to be converted into steam and on the other hand to the heatingaction of some source of heat of a temperature which is relatively constant and materially higher than that of the Water of condensation, thus obtaining a range of temperature to which the thermostatic mechanism is subjected which is suflici'ent to make the action of the latter positive and of sufficient extent to give the desired re ulation.

By preference, I utilize the piIot burner employed to start the main burner when fuel begins to flow to it after a temporary cessationas the source of the heat of high temerature;

The supply of water to the boiler I may regulate by means of a valve or the like actuated or controlled by the steam pressure in the steam mainfr'om the boiler, and in one form of my invention I have provided for a regulation which insures that the steam When my new steam generator is employed in a heating system in which the escape of water of condensation from the radiators is automatically controlled in order to govern the heating effect of the radiator I may arrange for a direct return of the water of condensation to the boiler, as by gravity flow. In this case the water of condensation forms a direct measure of the steam consumption and of the steam generated and automatically controls the supply of heat for its conversion into steam. I

The various features of novelty which characterize, my invention I have aimed to point out particularly in the claims annexed to and forming a partof this specification. For a better understanding of my invention, however, and the advantages possessed by it reference may be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which I have illustrated and described several forms of apparatus in which my invention may be embodied.

Of the drawings,

Figure 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic elevation, partly in section, showing a steam generator and automatic fuel controlling mechanism therefor and one means for regulating the flow of water to said generator in order to maintain the steam pressure at the desired point.

Fig. 2 is an elevation showing a device which may be used with the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 when it is desired to regulate the degree of superheat'as well as the pressure Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic representation.

of a heating system'in which the apparatus of Fig. 1 is utilized, and

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic representation of a heating system differing somewhat from that shown in Fig. 5, and in whichalsothe steam generator proper. of Fig. 1 is utilized.-

In the drawings, and referring first to the. construction shown in Fig. 1, A is the steam v generator, which may be any of the well known forms of flash or semi-flash boilers, and, as shown, comprises heating cells A to the upper end of which water is supplied pipe A.

which the chimney or pipe A. leads.

Secured to the side of the casingA is the tubular casing member B of the thermostatic.

fuel control mechanism. The member B has secured to its upper end a chambered member B and to its lower end a valve casing C. The valve casing C is provided with a partition C which divides the fuel chamber C from the water chamber C The fuel passes into the fuel chamber C from the fuel supply reservoir E through the pipes E and C, and the valve seated port C formed in the member G which is detacha'bly connected to and forms a part of the valve casing. The flow of fuel, which may be gasolene, gas or other fluid fuel, from the fuel supply reservoir E into the fuel chamber C is controlled by the valve D which is adapted to seat.on the member C and close the port C. From the fuel chamber the fuel pames through the pipe A to the main fuel burner A which serves as the source of .heat for converting into steam the water fed into the heating coils A. A branch pipe E connected to the pipe E supplies fuel to the pilot burner A, which may be of the usual type employed with a 'main burner, whenever the fuel supply to the latter is interrupted from time to time.

The valve D is carried by and may form the lower end of a hollow member B which passes through a stuffing box C formed in the partition C, and is adjustably secured at its upper end to the casing or chambered member B In the form shown the upper end of the rod B is threaded and screws into nut B which normally rests on a boss B extendingfupward from the lower wall of the chamber in the -casing..B". A dowel pin B secured in the boss B prevents rotation of tlfe nut 13 ,011 its seat when it is desired to rotate the member B in it, in order to adjust the latter axially, while at the same time this arrangement allows pipe A up the nut to rise from its seat in case of expansion of the rod B occurring after the valve D is seated. A spring C a'cting'between a collar C on; the rod B? and a stationary bushingC urges the rod B at-all times in the direction to seat the valve D;

The rod B is surrounded by a' tubular shell B, which extends betweenthe casings C and B, and the space 13 between the rod B and the member B forms a. channel for conveying the water fed .into the water chamber C of the casing C from the supply he chamber in the member 8, from whence itpasses through the pipe A to the coils A. :Ports B arefo 'fmed in 'the boss B through which the water may pass into the chamber'in membenB; As

'heat the member B, and

through which it escapes to the upper end of the casing A The member B, which serves to positively connect the chambered member B and the valve casing C, is formed of material having a relatively low'co-efiicient of thermal expansion, while the rod B which forms the expanding member of the thermostatic. mechanism, is formed of some material having a relatively high co-efticient of thermal expansion.

When the apparatus just described is in operation, the hot gases frpm the burner A hus by radiation and conduction through the water in the space B between the member B and the rod B tends to heat the latter. When the water in the space B is stationary, the heating action of the member B on the rod B is sufficient to cause the latter to expand and move the valve D onto its seat, thus cutting oil the supply of fuel to the burner A hen, on the other hand, the conditions are such that water is flowing through the space B into the heating coils of the steam generator, the temperature of the rod B will be-more or less lowered by such water, with a consequent contraction of the member B The amount of this contraction will depend of course upon the rate of How, and to some extent thetemperature of the water through the space B. In practice, the temperature 0f.tl1e"water passing-through the space B in any given installation will not vary appreciably, and the variation will not "be sufiicient to affect the regulation of the parts after having once been adjusted for the average Water temperature. The valve D is a throttling valve arranged to .regulate the flow of the fuel in accordance with the degree of contraction or expansion of the mem- 'ber B so that the fuel supply to the burner A will' at all times vary in substantial accordance with the amount of water fed to the coils A. It should be understood that the parts are proportioned and adjusted so that the fuel'fed to the burner A is at all,

supplied with steam from the main steam 0 generator.

supply pipe A through the pipe A, and exhausts steam through the pipe F. The pump draws water from a suitable source through the pipes F and F and discharges water through the pipe F which is connected to pipe A Between pipes F" and F is located a by-pass valve J, which has its inlet and outlet ports-d and J separated by interior valve seated ports J and J which are controlled by the substantially balanced valve J The stem J of the valve J 5 is connected .to a diaphragm J and is acted upon in the direction to hold the valve J in the closed position by a spring J, and in the opposite direction to open the ports J and J and connect the pipes F andF by steam admitted to the pressure chamber J through the pipe A running from the main steam pipe A. In the pipe A is located a valve exceed that in the pipe A but upon a predetermined excess otprcssure in pipe F over that in the pipe A" the valve K is moved off its seat.

In consequence of this arrangement, when the steam pressure in the pipe A is below a predetermined value the spring J moves the by-pass valve member J into position to close the ports J and J, and the water drawn into the pump F through the pipes F and F is discharged from the pump through the pipes F" and A into the water chamber C of the casing C, through which it passes as before described into the heatingcoils A and is vaporized, thus raising the steam pressure. When, however, the

steam pressure in the pipe A exceeds a pre determined value the pressure in the chamber J against the diaphragm J is sufficient steam consumption is a fraction only of the maximum capacity of the generator the valve J is neither shut tight nor Wide open but is open to an extent sufficient to permit the desired amount of water to pass to the In the modification of the apparatus of F ig. 1" shown in Fig. 2, a thermostatically controlled valve N is located -inthe-pipe A of the by-pass valve controlling mechanism. The actuating mechanism for the its inner end a non-expanding member N,

above a redeteimined amount, and is closed when the temperature is below a predetermined amount. In consequence, the by-pass is opened only when the pressure in the pipe A exceeds a predetermined minimum, and

also only when the temperature of the steam exceeds a predetermined minimum. By a suitable proportion of the parts this arrangement'can be made to insure that the temperature of the steam shall at all times be not less than that corresponding to any de: sired degree of superheat. The apparatus shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is suitablefor use generally where there is a variable demand for steam. In particular it is adapted for use in connection with steam automobiles and in steam heating systems.

In Fig. 5,the apparatus of Fig. 1 is shown in use in a heating system employing oneor more heat radiating devices or radiators L for heating apartments or the like. By

in which the heating effect is regulated by controlling; the accumulation of water of condensation in them, as in my prior-Patent No. v'2,76o,and in whichthe escape of. the

water ofconde'nsation is automatically conpreference these radiators are of the type trolled by a thermostatically actuated valve mechanism L as in my prior Patent No, 851,363. In the system shown in Fig. 5, each thermally actuated valve L hasits outlet pipe L connected to a pipe I running-g to thevacuum or low pressure pump 1. The operation of the thermostatic valve L as in my said Patent No. 851,363, may be controlled jointly through the heating action of the adjacent radiator and the cooling action of the stream of air drawn through the valve mechanism- L into the pipe L and varied in amount by the pilot thermostatic valve L The pump-I discharges through a pipe I into the receiving tank H, from which water is drawn bythe steam pump F through the pipe F pipe I and valve 1 to a. condenser G so that the pump I may pump air from the condenser when necessary. The receiving tank H is provided with an'air escape vent The pipe I is connected by a H, and tank H is also connected to the condenser G through pipe G and valveG so i that water may flow from the condenser into the receiving tank. The steam pump I is 3 operated by steam supplied from the main steam exhaust pipe I of the pump is con-' nected to the steam supply pipe L of the radiator, as is .also steam'exhaust pipe F of the steam pump F. The pipe. F and valve F form a connection between the denser G to permit any excess of steam from the pipes F and I over that required by the radiators to pass into' the condenser. It will thus be observed that the radiator L is supplied with steam from the exhaust pipes of the pumps F and I. .Any excess of steam required by the radiators over that fur nished by the exhaust pipes may be supplied through the pipe connection A between the pipe L and the main steam pipe A The pipe connection A. includes a pressure reducing valve A which is arranged to reduce the high pressure steam in the main steam pipe A to the dcs d value for use in the heating system. Where the steam generated by the boiler A is intended to be utilized inthe heating system proper, practically all of the steam generated by the boiler is returned to it through the tank H, but where the steam pipe A supplies steam to other steam consuming devices this may not be the case. If the other steam consuming devices are connected to condensers the Water of condensation may be returned to the reservoir H through the valved connection H In any event, the usual provision should be made for supplying water to the system to compensate for the unavoidable losses through leaky fittings and the like.

In the heating system shown in Fig. 6, the

A so that the water will flow from thereceiving tank H directly into the pipe A passing from thence into the steam generator A. In this system it will be understood that the steam pressure is relatively small and will not exceed the difference in water head between the casing B and the receiving tank H while in the apparatus of Figs. land 5 the steam pressure generated by the boiler may be high, say four hundred or five hundred or more pounds per square inch.

The heating system shown in Fig. 6 is much simpler than that shown in Fig. 5,

and I prefer it to that shown in Fig. 5'

where the steam generator is used solely as a means of supplying steam to heat radiating devices of the character shown.

In the system shown in Fig. 6 the supply of fuel to the main burner A is of course regulated by the amount of water passing into the generator; at the same time the amount of water passing into the generator at any instant is directly equal to the amount of water of condensation escaping from the radiator or radiators at that time, and consequently is directly equal to the.demand for fresh steam at that time. a

It is my intention to claim in a separate application certain features of novelty relating to the boiler and the means forv regulating and controlling the fluid heated in the boiler'and the flow of fuel to the burner therefor which are disclosed but not claimed herein. I

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a steam heating system, a boiler and a radiator, connections for conveying steam from the boiler to the radiator, other connections for conveying water of condensation formed by the steam passing into the radiator back to the boiler, means for controlling the fiow of steam through the radiator, and means for automatically regulating the amount of heat supplied to the.

boiler in response to the volume of the Water of condensation passing to the boiler. 2.' In a steam heating system, a boiler and a radiator connections for conveying steam from the boiler to the radiator, other con nections for conveying water of condensation formed by the steam passing into the radiator back to the boiler, means for controlling the iiow of steam through the radiator, a heater for the boiler, and control ling mechanism therefor, including a thermostatic member thermally acted upon by the water of condensation passing to the boiler and responsive to the volume of such water passing to the boiler.

3. In a steam heating system, a boiler and a radiator, connections for conveying steam from the boiler tdthe radiator, other connections for conveying water of condensation formed by the steam passing into the radiator back to the. boiler, thermostatic means for automatically controlling the flow of steam through the radiator, andjmeans for automatically regulating the amount of heat supplied to the boiler in response to the. volume of the water of condensation passing to the boiler.

4. In a steam heating system, a boiler anda radiator, connections for conveying steamfrom the boiler to the radiator, other connections for conveying water of .condensation formed by the steam passing into the radiator back to the boiler, thermostatic means for automatically controlling the flow of steam through the radiator, a heater for the boiler, and controlling mechanismtherefor, including a thermostatic member thermally acted upon by the water of condensation passing to the boiler and responsive to the volume of such water passing to the boiler.

5. In a steam heating system, a boiler and a radiator, connections for conveying steam from the boiler to the radiator,'other' connections for conveying the Water of condensation formed by the steam passing into the radiator back to the boiler, a thermostatically actuated valve for automatically regulating the escape of the heating fluid from the radiator, a fluid fuel burner for heating the boiler, a valve controlling the supply of fuel to the burner, and controlling means for the valve, including a thermostatic member thermally acted upon by the Water of condensation passing to the boiler and directly responsive to the volume of such Water being passed to the boiler.

6. In a steam heating system, a flash boiler, a radiator having steam inlet and low pressure return pipes, pumping mechanism for maintaining low pressure in the return pipe ofthe radiator and for returning the Water of condensation formed by the steam passed into the radiator back to the boiler, means for supplying steam from the boiler to the pumping mechanism to actuate the latter, means for passing the exhaust steam from the pumping mechanism into the radiator inlet pipe, means responsive to the pressure in the radiator inlet pipe for supplying steam from the boiler directly to the radiator inlet pipe but at a reduced pressure upon a predetermined fall in said pressure in the radiator inlet pipe, means for heating said boiler, and automatic regulating-means therefor directly responsive to the volume of such water being returned to said boiler.

7. In a steam heating system, a flash boiler, a radiator, means for conveying steam from the boiler to the radiator, other connections for conveying the water of con-'- boiler, comprising a thermostatic member arranged to be acted upon thermally by the Water of condensation passing'to the boiler,

and means tending to maintain said thermostatic member. at a constant temperature above that of the temperature of the water offcondensation returning to the boiler.

8. In a steam heating system, a flash boiler, a radiator, connections for conveying steam from the boiler to the radiator, other connections for conveying the Water of condensation formed by the steam passing into the radiator back to the boiler, means for controlling the 'flOW of steam. threngh the radiator, a main burner for heating said boiler, a ilot burner, a valve controlling the supply 0 fuel to the main burner and thermostatic controlling mechanism -for said valve, comprising an expansible member arranged to be acted upon thermally by the v Water of condensation returning to the boiler and to be heated by said pilot burner.

HARRY G. MALLORY.

Witnesses:

JARED F; Harmon, Jr., O. G. SMITH.

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