US2095238A

US2095238A - Locomotive boiler feed water heating system and apparatus

Info

Publication number: US2095238A
Application number: US722498A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jr Joel S Coffin
Original assignee: C S ENGINEERING CO
Current assignee: C S ENGINEERING CO; C-S ENGINEERING Co
Priority date: 1934-04-26
Filing date: 1934-04-26
Publication date: 1937-10-12
Anticipated expiration: 1954-10-12

Description

Oct. 12, 1937.

J. S. COFFI/N, JR

LOCOMOTIVE BolLER FEED WATER HEATING SYSTEM AND APPARATUS Filed April 26, 1934l 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 12, 1937( J. s. cow-1N,y JR 2,095,238

LOCOMOTIVE BOILER FEED WATER HEATING SYSTEM AND APPARATUS Filed April 26, 1934 5 sheets-sheet 2 J. s. coFFlN, JR 2,095,238

LOCOMOTIVE BOILER FEED WATER HEATING SYSTEM AND APPARAT'YS 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 26, ,1934

` fvzyena, nja@ 5.

Patented Oct.l 12, 1937 PATENT {oFElCE LoooMoTIvE EOILEE EEED WATER HEAT- ING SYSTEM AND APPARATUS Joel S.- Cofn, Jr., Englewood, N. J., assignor to C-S Engineering Company, Englewood, N. J., a corporation of Delaware Y i Application April 26,

19 Claims.

Thisinvention relates'tothe heating lof boiler feed water, particularly for locomotives, and especially tothe heating of a supply of water in the tender of the locomotive, from which hot water can be VWithdrawn by the locomotive feed water pump and forced into the boiler. Y

One of the objects of the present invention is toprovide `a fed water heating apparatus whereinV asupply of hot water is maintained in readiness to be drawn through the pump and forced into the boiler whenever the pumpy ation. Y A

In accordance with the present invention the tender of the locomotive is provided with water `compartments in which the water is heated and from which water is drawn and forced into the boiler. In a locomotive boiler water heating system it is desirable to maintain a supply of hot water at the inlet of the feedrwater pump. This ihas been diiiicult to accomplish in prior tender water heating systems and at the same time maintain a reliable water supply. If the water withdrawal outlet, or pump inlet, is located at the bottom of a compartment the water above the l immediately above the inlet is caused to be heated,

. and also wherein the supply of water to th-e pump inlet is maintained irrespective of the water'level in the heating compartments, until the tender runs dry. Y Y

A further object is the provision of a plurality of water heating compartments connected in series, the compartment directly connected to the pump inlet being small so that its entire contents are rapidly heated to supply hotV water to .the boiler instantly the feed water pump is started in operation. g

An important purpose of the present invention is to supply hot water at such a head above theV boiler feed water pump and at such a temperature that the pump can handle the hot water at full capacity. There is always some suction at the pump inlet and if the water temperature were close to the boiling point in the tank the Water i would boil in the pump inlet,'due to the reduced. Ipressure thereat, so that the pump would notV is started in oper- Y* 1934, Serial No. 722,498

handle ,tl'iewater at full capacity. Furthermore, the pumplmay force highly heated Water satisfactorily when the head above the pump is at a suitably vhigh level and may nothandle the same temperature water satisfactorily when the level is lower. Hence one of the primary objects of thisinvention is to provide means to maintain a' constant high level of water above the pump inlet Vand at the same time to keep the temperature of Vthe'hot water at aV high value but below the boiling point.

VA further object of the invention is the provision of a boiler feed water heating system wherein a heating compartment for theboiler feed water is provided in'which the water level is maintained constant regardless of the operation of the boiler feed water pump and ofthe level of water in the main waterrspace of the tender by a water forcing means as an injector drawing water from the main water space and forcing it into the heating compartment when the water level falls therein by the action of the boiler feed water pump, which is located below the Water level in the compartment, and also thermal means responsive to the temperature of the water in the compartment is provided to maintain the water at some value below the boiling point, so that the feed water pump can always handle the hot water satisfactorily. i

A further object of the invention is the provision o f a plurality of water heating compartments in the tender, the compartmentsl being in communication at the tops and each having heating means therein andv soarranged that as water is drawn from one compartment hot water from the top of the compartment is caused to flow into therst compartment, thereby insuring a progressive ilow of hot Water to the boiler. A water forcing means is provided to keep the compartments full from water drawn from the main water space of the tender. The outlet of the rst'compartment, which discharges to thevpump, is located at the bottom of the compartment, and a further objectof theinvention is the provision of valves 1'0- cated at the bottoms of the compartments and opening from one into the other and into the main water space of the tenderV so that upon failure to force water intoV the heating compartments, which results in Vanundue depression of the water level in the compartments below the water level in the main water space, the water will flow under the head of the water in the main water space into the suction inlet, thereby insuring a supply of water to the pump as long as there is VVwater in the tender.

It is a further object of the invention to have the water capacity of the two heating compartments, so related to the Water capacity of the locomotive boiler between its permitted high and low water levels that if the pump is started when the water level in the boiler is at the low water level line there will be no appreciable amount of cold water forced into the boiler when the high water level mark is reached.

A further object of the invention is to heat the water in the heating compartments by the locomotive engine exhaust steam and. to provide valves responsive to temperatures in the two compartments to control the flow of steam to maintain a constant temperature of the water in the compartments.

A yet further object is generally to improve upon locomotive feed water heating systems and methods.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a locomotive and tender embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the locomotive tender and the feed water heating system therein.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the heating system of the tender.

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation of one of the heating steam control valves.

Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation of a temperature responsive pilot valve for controlling the operation of the valve of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a sectional detail of a water heater in the forward heating compartment.

Fig. '7 is a sectional detail of the Water heater of the rear compartment. v

Fig. 8 is a sectional detail of the float valve that controls the operation of the water inlector.

Fig. 9 is a detail of a check valve.

Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic plan view of the Y. tender.

bottom of the tender through a pipe I8 and check valve 20. The turbine 22 of the pump is supplied by steam through a pipe Z4 and control' valve 26 from the turret 28. The tender is of the type having its coal pocket I5 located between two legs I'! and I9 of the water space ZI, and

ie heating compartments of the present invention are conveniently located in one of the water legs I S of the tender. The water leg of the tender has the bottom wall 3E), front Wall 32, outer and

inner side walls

34 and 36, respectively, and the top wall 38. In tenders where the two water legs are joined by a water space underneath the coal pocket the water leg in which the present invention is applied is separated from the water space underneath the tender by a vertical partition wall, which wall as here shown, see especially Fig. 3, is the wall 35 extended down to the bottom wall 36. A vertical plate 46 extends transversely across the water leg `between the

side plates

34 and 36 and is in water tight connection therewith and forms a forward Water heating and storage compartment 42. A rear water storage and heating compartment 44 is provided by a second plate 46 which extends across the walter leg and is in water tight connection with the walls thereof. The spacing between the

plates

46 and 46 is materially greater than the spacing between the plate 40 and the front wall 32 so that the Water capacity of the rear compartment 44 is materially greater than that of the front compartment 42. The wall 46 of the rear compartment extends up to and joins the top Wall 33 of the water leg while the partition wall 46 is terminated a substantial distance below the top plate 3d so that the two compartments are in water communication at the top. This is an important feature of the invention. The plate 46 preferably has its rear face lagged with suitable heat insulating material 48, herein shown as wood boards, to prevent the cooling olf of the hot water in the compartment 44 by the cold water in the tender. The water leg has a rearmost partition wall 50 extending transversely thereacross provided with an opening traversed by a screen 52 which prevents the passage of foreign matter to and through the heating compartments and into the boiler. Said

partition plates

46 and 46 are provided with Water tight doors 54 and 56 respectively which when open permit passage of a workman into the compartments. The screen 52 is also carried by a door which can be opened for the same purpose. The water outlet 5B of the compartments is located at the bottom of the foremost or small heating and storage compartment 42, the outlet water flowing through a valve 6G and a flexible hose bag G2 to the suction pipe 64 of the feed water pump I6. Check valves are located at the bottom of the partition plate 4i! and open to admit the passage of water from the large rear compartment 44 into the small forward compartment 42 when the water level in the small compartment reaches an abnormally low point or below the level of the top of the partition wall 4S. The partition wall G6 of the rear compartment is similarly provided with a series of similar check valves 68 to allow water to flow into the rear compartment from the main Water space of the tender when the water level in the rear compartment becomes lower than the water level in the main water space of the tender. These valves assure a supply of water to the inlet of the pumpfor so long as there is water in the tender and in the event of a failure of the Water forcing means for the heating compartments, presently to be described, to operate.

Water from the main water storage space of the tender is forced by a water injector 'I6 into the bottom of the rear compartment 44 during the time that water is withdrawn from the cornpartments. Said injector is located at the rear of the partition wall 46 and between it and the screen wall 5i? and discharges water through the middle one of the check valves 68 into the bottom of the rear compartment 44. The injector is operated by pressure water from the pump I6 supplied through a pipe 'I2 leading to a float valve 'I4 which receives water through a pipe I6 connected to the high pressure outlet pipe I8 of the pump. The float valve, see especially Figs. l and 8, is located in the upper part of the forward water heating compartment 42 and is adapted to be opened when the water level drops in the compartment and closed when the water level rises, thereby to maintain a constant level of water in the two heating compartments. The oat valve may be of any suitable construction but as herein illustrated comprises a shell i8 that has internal confronting bosses 86 that are journalled are provided with side ports Y82 that can move into andv out of register with cooperating ports 84 of the bosses 88 so as tofcontrol thev passage of waterf through the shell 18 between the two pipes,

depending upon the position ci` the shell. The shell18 is fixed to and carries a oat member 82 that is partially submerged in the water of the two

heating compartments

42 and 44. 'I'he ends 12a and 'iia of the pipes 12 and 16 are disposed below a Vcover 88, see especially Figs. 2 and 3,

resting on the top wall 38 of the water heating compartment so that the float mechanism when disconnected from the pipes 12 and 16 can be withdrawn from the compartments. As thus arranged when the pump i6 is started in operation to withdraw water from the heating compartmentsV and the water level therein descends the pressure water supplied atV the pump outlet automatically actuates the injector 18 toY force water from the main water space of the tender to the heating compartments. The capacity of the injector 18 is adapted to be at least equal to the capacity of the pump, so that the injector can maintain a constant level oi" water in the heating compartments irrespective of the level of water in the main water space of the tender.

The water that actuates the injector is .heated and the heat is utilized in the injector for heating the injected water so that there is very little Y loss of heat since the thermal eiciency of the injector is almost perfect.

,Steam for heating the water in the heating compartments is taken from the exhaust steam chest of the locomotive cylinders l2 and is conducted rearwardly toward the tender through pipes 98 and non-return check valves 92, but one pipe and valvelbeing shown, to the rear of the locomotive wherein the steam passes through a pair of

flexible hose bags

84 and 96 into two pipes 98 and |88. Said pipes pass through the front wall SZotthe'tender and Vinto .the water space and thence upwardly through the. forward heating compartment 42 and through the top wall 38 and into a pair of steam control valves |82 and |84, the Vpipes 88 `and |88 being connected by a pipe |86, see Figs. 2 and 3, toequalize steam iiow andV pressure in the two hose bags 94 and 86. The outlet or the valve |82 is connected through a pipe |88 that passes downwardly through the top wall 38 and into the forward heating compartment 42 where it communicates with a heater I I0. Said heater is located in aboutthe vertical middle of the forward compartment and'comprises essentially a horizontal cylindrical conduit H2, see especially Fig. 6, the ends of which are Vclosed removably by caps ||4 andhaving small orices I6 in the bottom thereof through which small jets of steam can pass into the surrounding water thereby to heat the water. Theoutlet of the valve |84 is connected to a pipe H3 Ywhich'extends downwardly .through the top wall 38 and is provided with `two branches |28 that are connected with vheaters |22, Vshown in detail in Figyl, which heaters are or may be identical and are preferably of the circulating injecting type. Each heater" comprises a discoidal casing having vertically spaced upper and low-er walls |24 and |28 providing between them an annular outletV |28. A partition wall or diaphragm |38 is Y located betweenthe two walls and provides between them an upper steam chamber |32 and a lower water chamber |343.Y The steam branch Y| 28 is in communication with the steam chamber |32 Yand the outlet ofthe injector 18.

and a suction pipe |36 is connected with the l water chamber |34 and depends below the casing into the annular opening Y|28 so that by injector` action it induces a flow-of water up the suction pipe and into the passage |28 where the steam commingles with the water and is condensed and the waterV creates a strong circulation of the water in the rear compartment. The flow of heating steam through the heaters is controlled'by the aforesaid valves 682, |84, as determined by the temperature of the water in the heating compartments. In someV application of my invention I may prefer to omit valve |84, and also valve |82, or to substitute therefor a manuallyoperated valve or valves i635 as shown in Fig, 12 and to permit the exhaust steam when available to flow continuously into compartment 44 from pipe |86. IThe valves |82 and |84 are or can be identical and one is illustrated in cross section in Fig. e, the Valve comprising a casing |42 having an inlet |44 which receives steam from a pipe 98 and an outlet 548 which discharges steam into a heater pipe H8. A partition'wall or diaphragm |48 is located between the inlet and outlet of the valve and is provided with a valve seat |58 and a valve member 952 cooperating with said seat. The stem |54 of the valve member carries a piston |55 which is materially greater in diameter than the diameter of the valve |52. The piston is reciprocable in a cylinder sleeve |58 carried by the cas- Y ing |42 and open to the steam inlet passage |24V andV closed at the other endrby a cover |38 so disposed that there is a steam space |62 between the cover and the underside of the piston |56. The steam space is provided with an outlet |64 in the cover. The vpiston is provided with a leakage passage between the steam inlet |44 and the |32, the leakage passage being herein shown in exaggerated form as a peripheral clearance space |63 between' the periphery ofthe piston and the cylinder |58. A spring |68 bears against the piston tending when pressure conditions permit to raise the valve |52 oi its seat. The outlet passage H34 of the steam space |62 is greater in area than the leakage passage |661l from Y the steam inlet into said steam space. 'Ihus when the passage |54 is completely open to atmosphere the total pressure of steam is greater on the piston i56 than on the underside of the valve |52 and hence' eiects the closing of the valve and maintaining the valve closed. When, however, the outlet passage |63 is closed the steam pressure builds up in the steam space |64 through the leakage passage |68 to equalize pressure on opposite sides of the piston and hence the valve opens. The flow oi steam through the outlets Ifl of the two valves E02, |84 is controlled by the valves |18, |12, each valve controlling a separate steam valve and being operated in accordance with the temperature of aseparate heating compartment. The valve |18 is influenced by the temperature in the forward heating compartment 42 and controls rthe valve |82 that supplies heating steam to said compartment. The

supplies steam to said compartment. The Valves is heated. This type of injectorV `the associated steam control valve.

|10 and |12 are or can be identical and one is illustrated in Fig. 5. These valves are of a common type having a bellows or diaphragm eX- panded and contracted by changes in temperature of the water in the associated compartment,

as shown in Fig. 5, the valve comprising a casing having an inlet |13 and an outlet |161 and valve discs |15 interposed between the inlet and outlet and carried by a stem iilxed to one end of an expansble diaphragm i3d. The arrangement is such that as the diaphragm or bellows expands downwardly the valve is opened and as the diaphragm is contracted the valve closes. The interior of the diaphragm of the valve |10 is connected through a exible or other tube |82 with a bulb |84 located within the forward heating compartment d2. The bellows of the valve |12 .is connected through a similar tube |86 with a bulb |83 located in the rear compartment e4. The arrangement is such that as the fluid within the bulb expands the associated diaphragm is caused to expand and operate the valve. The inlets |13 of the valves are connected through pipes and |92, respectively, with the leakage outlets !El of the steam regulating valves lili! and led, and the arrangement is such that when the temperature of the water in a compartment rises to a suitable degree the temperature responsive valve is caused to open and effect the closing of The control is also such that the degree of opening or" the steam valves is controlled so as to tend to maintain a constant temperature of water in the heating compartments. With this arrangement when `the temperature of `water in any compartment drops the associated steam valve is opened to effect the heating of the water in the compartment. The arrangement is also such that the high temperature of the water is limited to a Value such that, at the height of water in the compartments above the pump inlet, the pump can handle the hot water'satisactorily.

The two compartments are provided with a vent pipe |98. The valves iil and IEM are located a substantial distance above the water level in the heating compartments and the outlet pipes |98 and |98 are provided with vacuum breaking Valves 99S which admit air into the steam piping in the event of the formation of a vacuum therein so as to prevent water from being drawn into the steam piping from the heating compartments.

The operation of the system is essentially as follows:

When the locomotive is moving and is using steam the water` in the two heating compartments 42 and d is maintained at the desired elevated temperature below the boiling point by the automatic action of the temperature control steam valves |82 and lli. Thus when the pump it is set in operation to force water into the boiler hot water is immediately drawn into the pump. The lowering of the water level in the compartments due to the action of the pump causes the lowering of the oat 86 which opens the associated valve to admit high pressure water from the pump into the nozzle of the injector 1i), thereby to force water from the main water space of the tender into the compartments. The float thus acts to Ymaintain the water level in the compartments substantially constant irrespective of the water level in the main water space of the tender. The water passed into the injector from the pump is hot and so warms the incoming water. The incoming water is heated and the hot water flows upwardly in that compartment and over the top of the partition wall 40 into the forward compartment 42 so that the pump, when operating, is always supplied with hot water. When the temperature of the water in the compartments becomes reduced to a predetermined extent the steam valves |018 and |02 open to reheat the water. The capacity of the steam supply means is suicient to heat the water ed to the boiler to the desired elevated temperature when the locomotive and pump are operating continuously for long periods. Under such conditions the Water in compartment 44 becomes heated to a certain extent and that in compartment i2 is further heated to the desired temperature for boiler feeding.

Under conditions of totally intermittent operation such as may obtain in the case of a switching engine in which the boiler may be filled while the engine is standing and no steam is available for water heating, and in which full power may subsequently be exercised in hauling a train while no water is fed, my invention will be seen to be particularly adapted to eiiect the required feed water heating. Under such conditions I may proportion the capacity of the two compartments i2 and lili, so that their total capacity is approximately equal to the water capacity of the boiler between the permissible high and low gauge glass levels. 'When the engine is working and pulling the boiler level down from the high to the low gauge glass, the corresponding volume of water is being heated in the two compartments to the required temperature. First the forward or smaller con'ipartment is heated to the required temperature and urther heating therein becomes prevented by the operation of the thermostat. Subsequently the larger rear compartment becomes heated to the required temperature. The locomotive may then cease Working and the pump may fill the boiler with heated water, leaving substantially cold water in the compartments, and the operation may be repeated.

Actually the operation of a particular locomotive is usually intermediate between continuous and intermittent operation and it will be seen that by the adoption of a small iront compartment I am able to heat this to the thermostat shut-oir" temperature rapidly. If, in the above described intermittent operation, the pump is started before the complete body of water in both compartments has become heated, it will initially, at least, draw completely heated water from the iront compartment. It will be seen that by properly proportioning the sizes of the compartments G2 and Gd, I may secure the best operation for a particular locomotive service.

The check valves 66 insure a supply of water to the pump in the event of failure of the injector 1Q to operate and thus assure a water supply for the boiler as long as there is water in the tender.

I claim:

l. Boiler feed water heating apparatus cornprising two heating compartments connected at the top, a heater in each compartment, a water outlet at the bottom of one compartment and a water inlet at the bottom of the other compartment.

2. Boiler feed water heating apparatus comprisine two heating compartments connected at the top, a heater in each compartment, a water outlet at the bottom of one compartment and a water inlet in the other compartment, the compartment associated with the water outlet being relatively small and the otherucompartment thtop, a heater in each compartment, a water outlet at'the bottom of one compartment and a Vwater inlet at the bottom of the other compartment, andmeans for maintaining a normal water level in said ,compartments abo-ve the bottom of the interconnection therebetween.

y2l. Boiler'feed lwater heating apparatus com-- outletat the bottom of one compartment anda `water inlet at the bo-ttom of theother compartment, a boiler feed water pump connected with said outlet, water forcing means Ydischarging through said inlet, ra'main water Vspace supplying water to said forcing means, and means for maintaining a constant water level in-said com- Ypfart'ments irrespective'of the water level in said main water space.

l5. A boiler feed water heating apparatus cornprising two compartments having an interconnection therebetweenat the top, a water outlet at the bottom of one compartment anda Water inlet atY the bottom of the other compartment, a heater in each compartment, means for forcing water into said inlet, and means responsive to the level of water in one compartment for operatingsaidforcing means to maintain a normal water level above the interconnection between said compartments. Y A 1 6. A boiler feed water heating system comprising two water heating compartments connected at the top, a heater in each compartment, a boiler feedwater pump having a suction pipe opening into the bottom'of one of said compart-V ments, means for forcing water into the bottom of said Vother compartment, said means being operated by the water pressure'of said feed water pump, and means responsive to the water level in said one compartment for controlling the operation of said forcing means for maintaining a normal water level above the bottomY of the connection between said compartments. Y

'7. A boiler feed Water heating apparatus comprising two water heating compartments having a vertical separating partition that terminates below the tops of said compartments so that said compartments are in communication above the top of said partition, a heater in each compartment, and means to effect a flow of water intoV the bottom of one compartment and upwardly therein and over the top of said partition and downwardly Within and out of the bottom of said other compartment.

8. vA boiler feed water heating apparatus comprising two water heating compartments having a vertical separating partition that terminates below thetops of said compartments so that said compartments are in communication above the top of said partition, a heater in each compartment, a boiler feed water pump having a suctionV pipe opening into the bottom of one compartment, Water forcing means opening into the bottom of saidV other compartment, and constant level mechanism controlling the operation of said forcing means and governed by the water level in said one compartment.

9. A boiler feed water heating apparatus comprising two water heating compartments having a vertical separating partition that terminates below the tops of said compartments so that said compartments are in communication above the top of said partition, a heater in each compartment, a boiler feed water pump having a suction pipe opening into the bottom of one compartment, water forcing means opening into Ythe bottom of said other compartment, and constant level mechanism controlling the operation of said forcing means and governed by the water level in said one compartment and operative to maintain a normal water level Vabovethe top of said partition. Y Y

10. A boiler feed water heating apparatus comprising two water heating compartments'having ,a vertical separatingV partition that terminates below the tops of'said compartments so that said 'compartments are in communication above theV top` ofsaid partition, a heater in each compartment, a boiler feed water pump having a suction pipe opening into the bottom of one compartment, water forcing means opening into thebottom of said other compartment, and constant level mechanism controlling the operation of said forcing means and governed by the water level in said one compartment, said forcing means having means by which it is operatedby the high pressure water of said boilerrfeed water pump.

11. A boiler feed water heating system compris-Y ing a main water compartment, a heating compartment in which the water level is normally maintained higher than and independent of the water level in said main compartment, a heater for heating the water that is in said heating compartment, a boiler Vfeed water pump receiving water from said heating compartment and having a suction pipe opening thereinto, means respontain a normal water level in said heatingcompartment, Iand means operative upon the failure of said forcing means to maintain a normal water level to admit cold water from said main Y compartment into said suction pipe without being heated by said water.

12. Boiler feed water heating apparatus com-- other compartment, and means operative upon Y an abnormal depression of said water level below the connection between said compartments to establish communication between said compartments at the bottom thereof and also between said compartments and said main water` storage space.

14. Boiler feed Water heating apparatus comprising a main water space, two Water heating compartments connected at the top, a heater in each compartment, a boiler feed water pump having a suction pipe opening into the bottom of one compartment, water forcing means for forcing water from said main water space into said other compartment, and check valves l0- cated at the bottom of said compartments for admitting water from said main water space through said compartments into the inlet of said suction pipe when the water level in said compartments becomes abnormally low.

15. A boiler feed water heating system comprising two water heating tanks of unequal capacity interconnected at the top, a feed water pump drawing water from the bottom of one compartment, means for admitting water into the bottom of the other compartment, a heater in each compartment, and temperature responsive means separately associated with each compartment and influenced by the water temperature therein for controlling the operation of the heater in the associated compartment.

16. Boiler feed water heating apparatus comprising a large and a small water heating compartment communicating at the top, a steam heater in each Compartment, a boiler feed water pump withdrawing water from said small compartment, thermo-responsive means governed by the temperature of the water in said small compartment for controlling the supply of steam to the heater in said small compartment, and means for passing steam in a continuous manner whenever heating steam is available to the heater in said large compartment.

17. A locomotive boiler feed water heating system comprising a main water compartment, water heating and storage means having means whereby the hottest water is in one part and the coolest water is in another part of said storage means, a boiler feed water pump drawing water from the hottest water part of the storage means, forcing means forcing water from said main water compartment into the coolest water part of said storage means and having means associated with it operative to maintain in said storage means a constant water level that is higher than in said main compartment, and. heating means in said storage means.

18. Locomotive boiler feed water heating apparatus comprising a cold water space, a heating compartment, a boiler feed water pump drawing water from said compartment, means for introducing water from said cold water space into said compartment at such a rate during each` pump drawing hot water from the hot water part of said compartment, means for introducing water from said `cold Water space into the cold water part of said compartment at such a rate during each operation of said pump as to keep the water level substantially constant in said compartment at such time, and means for heating the water after introduction to said compartment between pump operations.

JOEL S. COFFIN, JR.