US1290132A - Fuel-burner for steam-generators. - Google Patents

Description

F.-I. DU PONT.

FUEL BURNER FOR STEAM GENERATORS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 3, I917.

Pdtented Jan. 7.1919.

WITNESS. 1 WM.

ATTUR/VEX FUEL-BURNERFOR STEAM-GENERATORS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. '3, 1919.

Application filed March 3,1917. I Serial No. 152,190.

ence being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

The object of my invention is to provide improved means for supplying liquid fuel to a steam boiler and which will be particularly adapted to the supplying of liquid fuel to the boiler of a steam drivenmotor vehicle. More specifically, my object is to utilize steam or compressed air, preferably steam from theboiler under normal working conditions, to both .lift the fuel, atomize it and spray it, and at the same time aspirate the required quantity of air into the firebox, and so arranged that upon the cutting off of the steam the flow of fuel will automatically stop. A further specific object of the invention is to provide means for regulating the pressure of the steam in the boiler.

Inthe embodiment of my invention herein described I so construct the jet that the pressure required to insure its proper operation will be very much below the maximum pressure desired in the boiler and safely below any unusually low pressure in the boiler arismg from any sudden use of steam. Between the boiler and the atomizing jet regulating means are arranged whereby a-constant pressure at the atomizing et, of a degree most favorable to the working of the jet, will be maintained notwithstanding slight variations in boiler pressure, and whereby, when the boiler pressure exceeds a predetermined maximum, the'flow of steam from the boiler to the atomizing jet will be shut off, thereby stopping also the supply of fuel. I

A further object of the invention is to provide means for securing a steady flow of fluid, under requisite pressure, to the atom i zing jet before steam is generated in the boiler.

A preferred embodiment of the invention- The steam "boiler a has within its fire-box a grille work I) of refractory material to retain and uniformly distribute the heat, and. to insure complete combustion of the fuel before the burning gaseous mixture comes 1n contact with the relatively cool surface of the boiler. The floor of the firebox slopes downward toward an opening 0 of known form within which projects the front of the fuel injector.

The injector, one of several practicable forms of which is shown in detail in Fig. 2, with the delivery end enlarged for purposes of clearness, comprises a tubular chamber (1 having a slightly outwardly flaring opening, and a steam pipe 0 extending longitudinally through the chamber (1 and the somewhat tapered nozzle end of which extends partly within the mouth of the chamber (Z.

Somewhat below the fuel injector d e is a receptacle f containing liquid fuel, such as kerosene or gasolene,'having an inlet pipe 9 communicating with its bottom. -Within the receptacle f is a float h to Which'is secured the stem of a valve 11 which, when the float is at a predetermined level, shuts off the admission of liquid fuel. A pipe 7' connects the receptacle with the tube d.

It is important that the level offuel in the receptacle f shall be maintained a sufficiently short height m below the level of the fuel injector and that the latter shall operate to aspirate the required quantity of air into the fire-box. This is particularly true of steam driven road vehicles, for which use my invention is more particularly adaptof the steam jet in the conical opening of the tube d produces a sufficient vacuum to lift the liquid fuel. This type of atomizing aspirating jet is not new per se, and I'do not wish to be limited to any. particular construction of jet, as other constructions are known and practicable. It will also be understood that the pressure most favorable to the working, 0f the jet will vary with the construction thereof.

In regulating the pressure at the atom zing jet and maintaining it constant and in regulating the pressure of steam in the boiler, I interpose in the steam pipe connections between the boiler and the fuel injector two pressure regulators, which will now be described.

The first regulator k nearest the boiler is controlled by the pressure of the steam behind it (that is, in the boiler) and serves to close the steam connections and so stop the fuel spray when the pressure rises above a predetermined maximum, say, for example, 600 pounds to the square inch. This regulator is shown in Fig. 3. It comprises a needle valve m located at the junction of two sections of the steam pipe, a diaphragm a secured to the stem of the valve, a frame 0 sup porting the diaphragm and the valve seat, a steam chamber p back of the diaphragm, and an adjustable spring 1' set to resist a definite pressure of steam. A branch pipe s connects the pipe 6 (between the boiler and the valve) with the chamber p. When the pressure of steam exceeds a predetermined maximum, the valve m closes and shuts off the flow of steam to the atomizing jet, and this being done the fuel ceases to be delivered to the fire-box.

The second regulator 17 may be identical in construction with the regulator is and is interposed in the pipe 6 between the pressure regulator k and the fuel injector. Its steam chamber is connected, by a pipe at, with the section of pipe in front of the valve of regulator t, so that if the steam pressure efiective.

at the atomizer exceeds a predetermined maximum, say 50 pounds, the valve of regu lator 25 will close until the pressure drops.

In order that pressure fluid may be supv plied to the atomizer when there is no steam in the boiler, as in starting the engine, I provide an air pump '0 connected, by a valved pipe w, with the boiler. The pump is oper ated until the air within the boiler is compressed to the degree required to insure, after the valve y on the (pipe 6 is opened, a steady flow of compresse air to the fuel injector until, after ignition of the fuel, a sufficient head of steam is generated to Perform the same function.

Having now fully described my invention, what I desire to claim Patent is:

1. In a fuel burner for steam generators, the combination with the boiler and its firebox having an opening to admit, a spray of liquid fuel, of a steam pipe connected with and protect by Letters liquid fuel, of a steam pipe connected with the boiler, a source of liquid fuel supply, an injector connected with the steam pipe and the fuel supply and adapted, at a proper steam pressure to inject fuel into the firebox and to cease to inject fuel When the steam pressure drops, and two regulators interposed in the steam pipe, one adapted to maintain the steam pressure at the injector substantially constant and substantially below the steam pressure in the boiler and the other adapted to shut oif the flow of steam, and'hence also the supply of fuel, when the pressure of steam in the boiler rises above predetermined maximum.

3. In a fuel burner for steam generators, the combination with the boiler and its firebox having an opening to admit a spray of izing aspirating injector opposite said opening and located above said predetermined level and connected with both pipes, and

means interposed in the steam pipe to'maintain the steam pressure at the injector substantially constant and substantially below the steam pressure in the boiler and to cut off the flow of steam from the boiler when the pressure in the latter rises above a predetermined maximum.

4. In a fuel burner for steam generators, the combination with the boiler and its firebox having an opening to admit a spray of liquid fuel, of a fuel supply pipe, a steam pipe connected with the boiler, a fuel injector connected with both pipes, and two pressure regulators interposed in said steam pipe, one adapted to maintain a constant pressure of steam in the injector notwithstanding variations in boiler pressure and the other adapted to out 011' the flow of steam from the boiler when the pressure therein rises above a predetermined maximum.

5. In a fuel burner for steam generators, the combination with the boiler and its firebox having an opening to admit a spray of liquid fuel, of a fuel suppl pipe, a steam pipe connected with the boi er, a fuel injector connected with both pipes, and two pres sure regulators interposed in said steam pipe, one comprising a valve in the steam pipe and a connection between the pressure face of the valve and the injector, and the other comprising a valve in the steam pipe between the first valve and the boiler and a connection between the pressureface of the second valve and the boiler.

6. In a fuel burner for steam generators,

the combination with the boiler and its fireliquid fuel, of a liquid fuel container, means to supply liquid fuel to the container and to regulate the level of the fuel therein, a pipe leading therefrom, a steam pipe connected with the boiler, an atomizing aspirating injector located opposite said opening above the predetermined level of the liquid fuel and connected with both pipes, and two A pressure regulators interposed in the steam plpe, one comprising a valve in the steam pipe and a connection between the pressure face of the valve and the injector, and the other comprising a valve in the steam pipe between the first valve and the boiler and a connection between the pressure face of the second valve and the boiler.

7. In a fuel burner for steam generators, the combination with the boiler and its firebox having an opening to admit a spray of liquid fuel, of a liquid fuel receptacle, a valve controlling the admission of fuel to the receptacle, a float in the receptacle connected with the valve and adapted to regulate the level of liquid fuel in the receptacle, an exit pipe from said receptacle, a steam pipe connected with the boiler, an atomizing aspirating injector opposite said opening and located above said predetermined level and connected with both pipes, and two pressure regulators interposed in the steam plpe, one adapted to maintain a constant pressure of steam in the injector notwithstanding variations in boiler pressure below a predetermined maximum and the other adapted to cut off the flow of steam from the boiler when the pressure therein arises above a predetermined maximum.

In testimony of which invention I have hereunto set my hand, at Wilmington, Delaware, on this 28th day of February, 1917.

FRANCIS I. DU PONT.

Images