US1814101A - Water seal for steam power plants - Google Patents

Description

July 14, 1931. R. R. WATERMAN WATER SEAL FOR STEAM POWER PLANTS Filed April 22, 192e Patented July 14, 1931 'UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE nUssELL E. WATERMAN, or LoNG BEACH, CALIFORNIA, AssIGNoE To FARMERS NATIONAL BANK or GREENVILLE, oHIo, TRUSTEE, oE GREENVILLE, 01110, A CoE- PORATION F OHIO WATER SEAL FORv STEAM POWER PLANTS Application led Aprily 22,

My invention relates to water seals for steam power plants, more particularly an apparatus for .separating the air from the Water being sent to the boiler pumps in a steam power plant, and the objects of my invent-ion are: first, to provide a meansfor separatingthe air from the water in its passage from the condenser tothe boiler and releasingit to atmosphere; second, to provide a device of this class which is positive in its action; third, to provide an apparatus of this class which will operate efliciently using either atmospheric pressure or partial vaculun on the condenser; fourth, to provide a uovelly constructed waterseal of this class, and, fifth, to provide an apparatus'of this class which is very simple and economical of construction, positive in its action, efficient, durable and which will not readily deteriorate or get out of order.

With these and other objects in view as will appear hereinafter, my invention consists of certain novel features of construction, com-- bination and arrangement of parts and por-,

tions as will hereinafter be described in detail and particularly set forth in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the characters' of reference thereon which form a part of $0 this application, in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic, sectional view of my apparatus through 1-1 of Fig. 2, showing some of the parts and portions in elevation to facilitate the illustration; Fig.y

85' 2 is a sectional view through 2 2 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, sectional view through 3 3 of Fig. 1.

Similar characters kof reference refer to similar parts and portions throughout the 14V several views yof the` drawings.

The separating chamber l, separating chamber cover 2, diaphragm 3, water valve stem 4, float 5, float supporting arm 6, air Vvalve 7 float arm pivot bolt 8, air` outlet coni ductor 9, water valve stem spring 10, drain valve 11, water valve 12, water outlet conductor 13, conductor 14, bypass piston valve 15, branch conductor 16, bypass valve intake passage 17, condenser pump intake 18, gear I pump 19, pump drive shaft 20, and stuffing 1926. serian No. 103,810.

box 21 constitute the principalparts'and" `of the member 1, is a diaphragm 3. VSecured to this diaphragm 3 is thev upper end of the valve stem 4, which valve stem 4 is providedV on its upper end above said diaphragm with a flanged washer 4a upon which is ymounted the compression spring lO which is positioned in an invert-ed cup shaped portion 2b mounted centrally on the cover member2.` Thus it' will be noted that `there is provided beth the spring 10 and the diaphragm3 for regulating the movementl of the valve stem. 4. Secured on `thelower end of the valve stem 4 is a valve12 which seats in an orifice v1b in the lower central portion o-f the housing 1. This housing 1 is provided belowv the orifice 1b withV a side outlet 13 which connectsthe chamber 1 withth'e boiler pump intake. It isV also provided with.v a valve 11, which kserves as a drain valve for draining both the chamber 1 and the conductor 13.V Mounted around the valve stem 4 is a float member 5 which is pivotally supported on the arm member 6 Vwhich is pivoted onlthe bolt 8 and provided with ay slotagin which is ya pin mounted inv the valve 7 which is the air outlet valveA which seats in the opening to the` conductor 9 as shownfbestin Fig. 1 ofthe drawings, it being noted that'the lower `end of thisvalve member'lirestsinV arecess ina casing 1,`it also being noted that the housing 1 is :provided with an offset portion to accommodate the valve 7 andthe extended end of the lever 6 as shown best in Fig. 1 of the drawings. This lever 6, it will be noted, is furcated at its op@- posite ends so that ,it ispositionedon opposite sides of lugs on the float `5 andajlso on the Lopposite sides `.ofV theqvalve 7.l The conductor 14fwhichcommunicates with the lowerV side of the housing 1, communicates with onel a sideI of a -gear pump 19 whichis of theconventional type, andthe other side communi-A power pla-nts, a separating chamber connect` Y cates with the conductor 18 which leads to the condenser. This conductor 18 is provided with a branch 16 which communicates with a small orilice 15a in the piston 15 which is reciprocally mounted in an upright housing 15d in which the piston is mounted, and this piston is provided with a. spring 150, tending to hold it downwardly against shoulders 15b in the housing 15d. The interior of this housing is provided with a bypass 17 communicating with the conductor 14. The pump 19 is provided with an extended shaft 20 provided with a housing upon which is mounted a stuiling box 21 for providing a seal around the said shaft. p

The operation or' the water seal apparatus is as follows: water is pumped from the condenser by means of the gear pump 19 and passes through the conductor 14 into the chamber 1 in which the air separates from the water and raises to the upper portion of the chamber and the water settles to the lower portion. lVhen the water reaches a certain level in the housing` 1, the lioat 5 is raised, closing the outlet valve 7, thus building up a pressure in chamber 1 and raising the diaphragm 3 which in turn raises the valve 12 ott' from seat 1b and allows the water to pass to the conductor 13, thence to the boiler pump, not shown. It however the supply of water in the housing 1 is low, the float 5 will lower, which in turn will lower the valve 7 and permit air to pass through the outlet 9 to atmosphere or to the condenser. In case the pressure is high in the housing 1, the pressure of the water caused by the pump 19 will raise the piston 15 and permit the water and air to bypass through the conductor 16 back to the conductor 18 and through the pump again. Vhen the pressure lowers in the chamber 1, the valve 12 will close on the seat 1b, thus not allowing the water level in chamber 1 to drop low enough to allow air to pass through the valve 12 into the conductor 13 and into the boiler pump. Then more water is supplied it will then pass directly from the condenser and into the pump 19 into the housing 1, raising the pressure, whereupon the diaphragm 3-will cause the valve 12 to be raised and permit the boiler pump to draw water from the housing 1.`

Though I have shown and described a particular construction, combination and arrangement of parts and portions, I do not wish to be limited to this particular construction, combination and arrangement, but desire to include in the scope of myinvention the construction, combination and arrangement substantially as set forth in the appended claims. Y

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

l. In a water seal apparatus for steam ed to a water supply and provided with a diaphragm in its upper end, a valve supported by said diaphragm and seated in the lower end of said chamber, a float actuated valve communicating with said chamber near the upper side thereof, an outlet conductor communicating with said chamber through said valve at the lower end of said chamber, and a second discharge conductor connected to the upper portion of said chamber and controlled by said float actuated valve.

2. In a water seal apparatus, a separating chamber member having a side wall and a discharge opening at its lower end, an inlet opening -at its lower portion, and a second discharge opening at its upper portion, a diaphragm at the upper end of the chamber member, a valve mounted over the discharge opening at the lower end, a stem connecting the diaphragm to the valve, a second valve in the side wall of the chamber member for controlling the second discharge opening, a float mounted within the chamber member around the stem, and a lever pivotally mount-` ed within the chamber member operatively v y connected to the second valve, said lever extending inwardly from its side Wall and pivotally connected at its inner end to the float.

3. In a water seal apparatus, a separating chamber member having a discharge opening at its lower portion, an inlet opening at said lower portion, and a second discharge opening at its upper portion, a diaphragm at the upper end of the chamber member above the second discharge opening, a valve mountedl over the discharge opening at the lower portion of the chamber member and operatively connected to said diaphragm, and a float controlled valve for controlling the discharge of yfluid through the second discharge opening.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles, California, ythis 15th day of April, 1926.

RUSSELL R. IVATERMAN.

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