US1859009A

US1859009A - Water column for steam boilers

Info

Publication number: US1859009A
Application number: US203487A
Authority: US
Inventors: George W Stetson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1927-07-05
Filing date: 1927-07-05
Publication date: 1932-05-17
Anticipated expiration: 1949-05-17

Description

May 17, 1932. G. w. STETSON 1,859,009

WATER COLUMN FOR STEAM BOILERS Filed July 5, 1927 Patented May 17, 1932 I 1,859,009

GEORGE W. STETSON, OF RING-HAM, MASSACHUSETTS WATER COLUMN FOR STEAM BOILERS Application filed July 5, 1927. Serial No. 203,487.

The present invention relates to water 001- It will be evident that if so desired the lower umns for steam boilers, and more particusealing flange may be slipped over the larly to a water column of this type embodycylinder prior to the attachment of the flange ing a high and low water alarm. connections to 35, inclusive. Supported The object of the present invention is to within the column cylinder and capable of provide a simple and eflicient form of high rising and falling movements with relation and low water alarm which is capable of satthereto are upper and lower buckets or floats isfactory and long-continued operation unand &2, respectively. These buckets have der relatively high pressure conditions. substantially the same cubicle capacity, and

With this object in view, a feature of the are therefore capable of holding equal volinvention contemplates the provision of two umes of water, but the bucket 42 is heavier open, water-filled floats of dissimilar weight than the bucket 40 by an amount which apconnected with a whistle or equivalent alarm pronimates one-half the weight of the water device in such a manner that raising or lowercontained in each bucket. From this it will 16 ing of the water level beyond predetermined be evident that if both buckets are filled with limits permits the operation of the whistle. water and freely suspended at opposite ends A further feature of the invention consists of a centrally pivoted lever, the weight of the in the provision of a column cylinder of seambucket 42 will cause depression of that side less steel integrally closed at one end, and of the lever, lowering the bucket 42 and elehaving threaded and welded connections for vating the bucket 4:0. The increase of weight attachment to the boiler and connection with of the bucket 42 may be accomplished conthe water glass, and other auxiliary devices. veniently by an increased bottom thickness, The accompanying drawing illustrates an as indicated by 4-4, or by making the buckets elevation partially in section of a water 001- identical and weighting the bucket 42 with 25 umn embodying the improved features of the solid material. Each bucket is supported by present invention. 7 a vertical rod, indicated at 50 and 52, re-

As shown in the illustrated embodiment of spectively, the rods being connected to opthe invention, the column comprises a drawn posite ends of a supporting lever 54 pivoted steel tube 12 with an integrally closed, hemicentrally at 56. The pivot 56 is conveniently spherical bottom portion 14, capable of with mounted in a trunnion 58 threaded into the standing the relatively high internal presflange 21 at 60. Each of the supporting rods sures to which the column is subjected. The 50 and 52 passes downwardly through the upper end of the column cylinder is procover of the float or bucket, and is threaded vided with an outwardly-turned flange 18, at'its lower end into a boss 62 projecting inwhich isengaged and clamped between sealwardly from the wall of the bucket. This ing flanges 20 and 21 by a series of connecting construction steadies the floats and serves to bolts 22. The upper or solid flange 21 is promaintain them in a vertical position without vided with a whistle 24:, of conventional type, the necessity for additional support at the threaded into an opening 25 formed in the opposite side. Each of the buckets is nor- 40 flange. Connected to the column cylinder 12 mally completely filled with water, and is at opposite ends are two flange connections provided with a cover portion 6 having an 30 and 31, which are threaded into the cylopening 66 formed at the lowermost porinder at 32 and integrally united therewith tion of the cover to collect and direct water by welded areas 33. In a similar manner, a of condensation into the interior of the floats,

45 second seriesof flange connections 34: and 35 and compensate for any unusual losses which are connected to the opposite side of the colmay occur during operation or idle periods. umn cylinder. The first-mentioned connecl/Vhile the water level in the column remains tions may serve for attachment of the column within normal operating limits, which are to the boiler, and the second set of connections designated approximately by the dot-and- 50 for attachment of a gage glass mounting. dash lines a and b, respectively, the upper water-filled float is suspended in steam and the lower water-filled float is completely submerged below the Water level. Under these conditions, the submergence of the lower float balances the weight of the water therein, and the weight of the ueper water-filled floai exceeds the weight of the lower float by an amount equal to one-half the weight of the water contained therein, it being recalled in this connection that the weight of the lower float exceeds the weight of the upper float by one-half the weight of the water load when both floats are freely suspended. Under these normal operating conditions, the upper float maintains the supporting lever 54 in such a position that a valve connected to the lever at one side of the fulcrum remains closed and prevents the operation of the whistle. In this connection it will be evident from the drawing that the valve 70 comprises merely a needle operating in a separable valve seat 72 which is threaded in the flange 21 beneath the whistle. Rising of the water level to cause a partial submergence of the upper float gradually decreases the effective weight of the upper float until complete submergence of the float creates a condition in which the effective Weight of the lower float exceeds that of the upper float by an amount which approximates one-half the water load. \Vhen the water level rises sufficiently to cause the effective weight of the lower float to exceed that of the upper float by an amount sutflcient to move the supporting lever and open the valve, the whistle operates. Under ordinary conditions the operation of the whistle will occur prior to complete submergence of the upper float. In a like manner, lowering of the water level to the line (Z, or thereabouts, increases the effective weight of the lower float to a point where this weight exceeds the effective weight of the upper float, and operates the whistle valve in the manner described for the high water level.

It will be evident that during the major portion of the operation, the lower float is maintained completely submerged and filled with water through the opening 66. Ihe upper float is also maintained full through the opening 66 in the cover, water of condensation dropping directly thereon from the supporting hanger 58 which may be provided with a tit 80, as indicated. Owing to the fact that the cover flange 21 is normally cooler than the remainder of the apparatus through conduction of heat, the hanger connected directly therewith is also cooler, and acts as a medium together with the under portion of the cover for causing condensation. Actual practice has demonstrated that condensate dropping upon the cover is ample to maintain the upper float full of water during long-continued operation. In addition to collecting and directing condensate into the interior of the float, the cover portions on both floats serve to prevent spillage and removal of water therefrom during blow-down of the column.

By virtue of this construction, relatively thin, light floats may be employed inasmuch as these floats are not subjected to dissimilar internal and external pressures. Furthermore, due to this equalizing of the pressure upon opposite sides of the floats, the susceptibility to damage and the probability of leakage under long-continued and arduous operation is substantially removed. In addition, the effective difference in weight suffioient to operate the alarm valve is created without normally placing a considerable weight upon the supporting parts of the apparatus. As contrasted with this, if it is attempted to make the operating members of solid material, the size of the floats, due to the necessity of displacing sufficient water to guarantee operation of the alarm, compels the employment of relatively heavy weights which impose a substantial strain, friction and wear upon the supporting parts of the apparatus, and require these parts to be relatively heavy and sluggish in their operation.

From the foregoing it will be evident to those skilled in the art that an exceedingly simple and compact form of apparatus is provided for accomplishing the desired result. The supporting of the individual floats by single rods located at opposite ends of a single lever permits the relative movement of the two floats without interference,

and causes operation of the alarm under high I and low water conditions with an exceedingly simple and compact mechanism with a minimum of friction.

WVhat is claimed is:

1. A water column for steam boilers comprising a column cylinder, upper and lower floats of equal cubic capacity within the cylinder, the lower float being heavier than the upper float by an amount approximating one-half the weight of water contained in each float, a centrally pivoted lever at the upper portion of the column, and connections between each float and one end of the lever to cause movement of the lever upon rising and falling of the water level beyond predetermined limits.

2. A high and low water level indicator comprising a column, floats of equal displacement and with a constant and predetermined dissimilarity in weight supported in the column at different levels, a pivoted lever, a high and low water alarm connected with the lever, and means for suspending the floats from opposite ends of the lever to provide equal moment arms for the operation of the lever, and produce an operating movement of the lever about its pivot upon undue rise or fall of the water level within the column.

3. A high and low water level indicator comprisin a column, open water-filled floats of equal displacement and with a constant and predetermined difference in weight supported at difi'erent levels in the column, a pivoted lever, a high and low water alarm connected with the lever, and means for suspending the floats from opposite ends of the lever to provide equal moment arms and produce an operating movement of the lever upon undue rise or fall of the water level.

GEORGE W. STETSON.