US1578010A - Feed-controlling apparatus for fluids - Google Patents

Description

March 23 1926.. 1,578,010

R. F. BURKE FEED CONTROLLING APPARATUS FOR FLUIDS March 23 1925.

R. F. BURKE FEED CONTROLLING APPARATUS FOR FLUIDS Filed August 15 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet. 2

' Mwmw A To all whom/fit may concern:

Patented hier. 23, i926.

`UNITED stares PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT F. BURKE, OF PHOENIXVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA.

FEED-CONTROLLING APPARATUS FOR FLUIDS.

Application filed' August 15, 192'1. Serial No. 492,256.-

. Be. it known that I, Romani F. Roslin, a citizenof the United States, residing` at Fhoenixville, in the county of ChesterI and State of Pennsylvania, have invented cer-k tain new and useful Improvements 1n Feed-V Controlling Apparatus for Fluids, of which the' following is avspeciiication.

One object of my invention is to provide improved feed controlling apparatus which,

- among other uses, can be used withadvantage where it is desired to automatically supply feed `water to an loperating steam boiler; said apparatus being capable Iof keeping the boiler supplied with a proper amount of water.

Another object is to so construct my im#v proved apparatus that variations in steam pressure will not interfere with the .proper operation of the apparatus to effect the supply of a proper amount of water.

VA further object is to so constructand arrange my improved apparatus that 4when used in connection with a steam boiler the pressure in the feed water pipe will not interfere with the proper operation of the apparatus.

A still further object is to make the apparatus of my invention of a simple and durable construction which can be readily f made and installed on boilers of .any type.

. These objects, and other advantageous ends which Iwill be describedhereinafter, I attain in the following manner, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which- Figure l is an elevational view partly in sectionshowing one form of my improved apparatus connected to a steamV boiler and the feed Water pipe; the connection with the boiler beingV through the medium of a water column,l

Figure 2 is a fragmentary elevation showing a-A slightly modified form in which the diaphragm'ca-se and its intermediate con-v trolling portions are arranged in a dierent position from Similar parts as illustrated in Figure 1, y

Figuresv3 and 4 arerelevational views partly in section illustrating various modifications and .arrangements of the apparatus of my invention.

Referring` to the drawings and particularlyv to Figure l, 2O represents a steam boiler and 2l the feed water pipe which has f aportion 22 which enters the boiler 20. The

boiler is shown with a well known form of water column23 which has its upper and lower ends respectively in communication with the steam space 24 and the water space 25` of the boiler.

,In applying my invention, I position a balanced valve 26 in the feed water pipe 21 ina position preferably between a pump 27 and the portion 22 of said feed water pipe. This balanced valve may be of any suitable construction, it being here stated that by the term balanced valve I mean to imply a valve which will not be either opened or closed by the pressureof the feed water in the pipe 2l.

A diaphragm case 28 in the form illustratechis preferably made in two parts 29 and 30; there being a flexiblevdiaphragm 3l therein which divides the case into two compartments or chambers 32 and 33. The diaphragm 31 in the form illustrated in Figure l is pivotally connected with a lever 34 which is secured to a short shaft 35 which projects out of the case preferably through a stuffing box 36. This shaft has a lev'er 37 secured thereto; one end of the lever having a weioht 38 adjustably mounted thereon while the other end of the lever 37 is connected by a link rod 39 to thestem 40 of the balanced valve 26. A pipe or conduit 41 communicates with the compartment 33 of the diaphragm case; said ypipe having an upright portion 42 which connects with another upright portion 43 through the medium of a horizontal length of pipe 44. This portion 43 at its bottom is connected with another pipe portion 45. The portion 45 .communicates with the interior of the water column 23 at a position below the high water level which is indicated at 46. The compartment 32 is in communication with the steam space 24 of the boiler through the medium of a pipe or conduit 47; said pipe 47 having a portion 48 which leads upwardly to the level of the pipe portion 44 and this portion 48 connects with another pipe portion 49 through the medium of a horizontal length of pipe 50.y The portion 49 of the pipe 47 communicates with the suficient operating water has entered the same. rlhen the feed water is cut off by any suitable means, such for example as by stopping the pump or by closing a valve, such for example as the valve l. The boilerI is then fired and after steam has been generated, condensation is set up so as to lill the compartments 32 and 33 and also ll the vertical pipe portions and 48 up to the level of the pipe portions 44 and 50. Any air which is within the compartments 32 and can be expelled therefrom by means of pet cocks 52 and 53. After steam pressure has been created in the space 24 which, for example7 is approximately five pounds (5 lbs), then the valve 51 is opened and the apparatus is ready for automatic action. If at the time that the valve 51 is opened the water level in the boiler is below the entrance point of the pipe portion 45 in the water column thenl the balanced valve 26 will remain open for the reason that there is an equalization of pressure within the compartments 32 and 33 and the weight 38 will then act'to hold the valve 26 open so as to admit feed water into the boiler through the pipe portion 22. As soon as the water level rises to such a height as to be above the position of entrance of the pipe portion 45 into the water column 23, then said pipe portion 45 will be sealed with the water and a reduction of pressure will be effected in the compartment 33 initially due to condensation of steam v-.fithin the upright portion 43 of the pipe 41. rlhe portion 43 of the pipe will then fill solidly with water from the boiler and will remain filled while the por tion 45 of the pipe is sealed. The steam pressure in the boiler is then compelled to support the weight of the column of water in the pipe portion 43 which continues to maintain the reduction in pressure in the compartment 33. Buring the time of reduction of pressure in the compartment 33, the steam pressure through the pipe 47 which enters the compartment 32 effects a pressure in the compartment 32 greater than the pressure in the compartment 33 and the diaphragm 31 is then moved downwardly to effect the raising of the weight 33 and the lowering of the valve rod 40 to close the balanced valve 26 and the water will then be cut olf and and prevented from entering the boiler. rlhe balanced valve 26 will remain closed during the functioning of the boiler until the water in the boiler drops to a level so as to unseal the portion of the pipe 41. Then the water in the portions 43 and 45 of the pipe 41 runs out into the water column and steam takes its place so as to equalize the pressure in the compartments 32 and 33. `When the pressure is equalized, the weight 3S will move the diaphragm 31 upwardly and will also serve to move the valverod 40 upwardly to again ner/aero open the balanced valve 26and admit more water to the boiler. vWhen the level of the water within the boiler rises to a level to again seal the portion 45 of the pipe 41, a reduction in pressure will immediately take place in the compartment 33 for reasons above stated. Thus whenever the level of the water within the boiler drops to an unsealing position relatively to the portion 45 of the pipe 41 there will be an opening action of the balanced valve 26 to admit additional feed water to the boiler and the water will enter the boiler until the pipe portion 45 again becomes sealed, which action will effect the closing of the balanced valve. It will be noted that the pipe 41 is the motor column and represents the medium through. which the apparatus functions.

In Figure 3, I have shown a construction which is substantially similar to. that described in connection with Figure 1 with the exception that instead of connecting the apparatus of my invention to the boiler through through the medium of a. Water column, I connect the same directly with the boiler with the motor column entering directly through the shell of the boiler and the other pipe, such as the pipe 47 communicating directly with the steam space of the boiler. I have therefore given corresponding parts, of the form of my invention shown in Figure 3, similar reference characters as applied to said parts in Figure 1.

In Figure 4, the construction is simlar to that illustrated in Figure 3 with the exception that I include a condenser 54 in the upright portion43 of the motor column; said condenser being of such construction as to allow the circulation of cooled water through an inlet pipe 55 and outlet pipe 56; the function of the condenser being to quickly condense the steam within the portion 43 of the moto-r column to effect a quick action of the device.

I have described my invention in conjunction with a steam boiler, however, it will be understood that the apparatus would oper ate advantageously and is adapted for use in connection with` any means operative under substantially similar' conditions as a boiler when it is desired to maintain a proper quantity of fluid within a receptacle.

YVhile I have described my invention as taking particular forms, it will be understood that the various parts of my invention may be changed witho-ut departing from the spirit thereof, and hence I do not limit myself` to the precise construction set forth, but consider that I am at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly come within the scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Let# -ters Patent is A feed water regulator consisting of a feed Water conduit provided With a balanced Valve directly mounted therein; a diaphragm case mounted above said valve andY separated therefrom; a diaphragm dividing the case into two compartments; a shaft extending from said case; a lever fastened to? saidshaft Within said rcase and connected to said diaphragm; a second lever fastened to the shaft on the outside of'said case and provided With an adjustable Weight; a rod extending from said second lever to said balanced valve; a conduit of substantially uniform inner cross section connecting the steam space of the boiler with one of said compartments and arranged to provide a 15 Water trap; and a conduit of substantially uniform cross section Whlch provides a motor column and has one end opening into the other of said compartments and has its :t other end extending to a point below the 20 high Water level of the boiler to be sealed thereby and unsealed when the Water level falls, substantially-as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my Y' name to this specication. i

ROBERT F.BURKE.

Images