US2207798A - Automatic boiler water conditioner - Google Patents

Description

July 16, 1940. L. o. GUNDERSON Er AL 2,207,793

AUTOMATIC BOILER WATER CONDITIONER Filed Dec. 24, 1937 2 Sheets-sheaf; 1

[aw/c 0. GwmEeca/V. OLA/V0 W 048491618,

Jul 16, 1940. I

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 24, 1937 L. O. GUNDERSON El AL AUTOMATIC BOILER WATER CONDITIONER UIX .Z/E LIFE [aw/s 0. Gt/NOEB-SO/VQ iii) Patented July 16, 1940 AUTOMATIC cornea WATER CONDITIONER Lewis 0. G underson and Oland' W. Garrick, Chicago, 111., assignors to Electro-Ohemical Engineering Corporation, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Application December 24, 1937, Serial No. 181,488

12 Claims.

This invention relates to the controlling of foaming in operating steam boilers and more specifically relates to the automatic discharge of foam forming ingredients and other impurities accumulated in the water surface and steam bubble films of the light water formed throughout and above the steam generating zone in the boiler in operating steam boilers.

This application is a continuation-in-part of the Carrick and Gunderson U. S. application Serial No. 104,760 entitled: Automatic boiler water conditioner and blow-off system, filed Octobet 9; 1936, now Patent No. 2,132,028, dated October 4, 1938.

A steam boiler, when in operation and supplying steam, has a body of steam expanded or light water formed throughout and above the steam generating zone in the boiler water. This light Water or steam expanded water has entrained therein a myriad of steam bubbles and is of less density than the main body of boiler water when the boiler is not in actualoperation. The top level of the light water is not indicated in the usual sight glass of the boiler since the steam bubbles are released as the water enters the sight glass. The level indicated by the sight glass is therefore always lower than the actual top level of the light water in the boiler when steam is be ing generated.

Since the development of light water or foam in the boiler is a gradual and progressive phenomenon, it is desirable that means be provided to control or prevent excessive foam formation. We'havefound that the foam forming or foam stabilizing ingredients in boiler water accumulate or are positively adsorbed in the steam bubble interfaces in the light water or in the steam bubble films. As these substances are released at the surface of the light water upon breaking of the steam bubbles, it is apparent that they are free to recirculate in the boiler water, repeating their function of bringing about foam formation and foam stabilization by being adsorbed in the surfaces of new steam bubbles formed in the evaporation zone of the boiler. These substances, therefore, perpetuate foam formation within the boiler unless they are removed or unless their foam-forming and stabilizing ability is destroyed.

According to this invention, foam, collapsed the boiler in a collecting means mounted in the boiler having the inlet thereof above the normal water level of the boiler but within the light boiler water zone. The matter collected in the collecting means is then periodically discharged out of the boiler by a device that operates automatically whenever the foam or light water exceeds a predetermined level in the boiler.

This automatically operatingdevice comprises a float that either rises or sinks when the foam or'light water in the boiler exceeds a predetermined level to vent the boiler pressure against the piston or pistons of a valve mounted preferably on top of the boiler; it being understood that such a valve can also be located within the boiler, although such inside mounting is inconvenient for repair'and maintenance. The boiler pressure thereupon acts against the piston or pistons .to open the valve whereupon the boiler pressure will blow the matter collected in the collecting means through the valve and out of the boiler.

The apparatus of this invention is automatic in operation and may be combined with a'mud ring blow-off for blowing off the lower portion of. the boiler simultaneously with the discharge of the collected foam and light Water at thetop of the boiler, or it can be used only as a control device for blowing off from any other portion of the boiler. The removal of foam and light water having the foam forming and foam stabilizing ingredients concentrated therein will thus not only control the foam formation in the boiler but will condition the boiler water to prevent excessive foam formation. I I

It is then an object of this invention to provide apparatus automatically operated by the level of foam or light water in an operating steam boiler to discharge impurities, collected in the top-portion of the boiler, from the boiler.

A further object of this invention is to segregate matter containing foam forming and foam stabilizing ingredients in the upper portion of an operating steam boiler and automatically discharge this segregated matter whenever the foam or light water in the boiler exceeds a predetermined level.

A further object of this invention is to provide collecting means in the upper portion of a steam boiler above the normal water level therein for receiving foam, collapsed foam and light boiler water therein and to discharge the collected ma-' terial out of the top of the boiler whenever the foam or light water in the boiler exceeds a predetermined level.

Another object of this invention is to provide apparatus that is automatically operated to vent the boiler pressure against a piston-controlled valve for opening the valve Whenever the foam or light water in the boiler exceeds a predetermined level and to utilize the boiler pressure to discharge collapsed foam through the valve out of the boiler, and if desired to also discharge boiler water through the valve from any other portion of the boiler.

Another object of this invention is to provide float means actuated by excessive development of foam or light water in a boiler to control the blowing down of any portion of the boiler.

A further object of this invention is to provide a process for removing foam forming ingredients from boiler water in operating steam boilers without loss of good boiler water and steam which process utilizes the boiler pressure in the boiler to blow such ingredients out of the boiler.

Other and further objects of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the annexed sheets of drawings which disclose preferred embodiments of the invention.

While the invention will be hereinafter specifically described as embodied in a locomotive boiler, it should be understood that the same is applicable to any type of steam boiler and that such use of the invention is included in the scope of the appended claims.

On the drawing:

Figure l is a fragmentary diagrammatic side elevational View, with a part broken away and shown in vertical cross section, of a locomotive boiler having embodied thereon an apparatus according to this invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along the line IIII of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary diagrammatic sideelevational View of a locomotive boiler, with a part broken away and shown in vertical cross section, to illustrate a modified form of the invention.

Figure e is a view similar to Figure 3 but illustrating another embodiment of the invention.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figures 3 and 4 but illustrating another modification of the invention.

Figure 6 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view of a double acting valve forming part of the apparatus shown in Figure 1.

Figure 7 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view of a single acting valve forming part of the apparatus shown in Figures 3, land 5.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary diagrammatic side elevational view, with a part broken away and shown in vertical cross section, of a locomotive boiler having mounted thereon a float operated pilot valve and a remote blow-off valve controlled by the pilot valve according to an embodiment of this invention.

As shown on the drawings:

In Figure 1 the reference numeral 9 designates generally a locomotive comprising the usual boiler shell It], engineers cab H and fire box I2. The fire box !2 is defined by front and rear sheets l3 and M and a crown sheet l5.

Under usual operating conditions boiler water !6 in the boiler is maintained at least at a level three to five inches above'the crown sheet l5 of the fire box I2. During a working of the boiler, light water H, composed of water having a myriad of steam bubbles entrained therein, is formed throughout and above the steam generating zone and is expanded above the normal level of the boiler water as. shown in the conventional water sight glass.

The space I8 above the light water level I! is the steam space of the boiler from which steam is supplied to the steam dome IQ for feeding through the throttle pipe 20 to the operating cylinders (not shown) of the locomotive.

According to this invention an open topped bucket, basin or pan H is mounted in the upper portion of the boiler preferably behind the steam dome l9. The pan is suspended from the top of the boiler shell it by means of straps 22. The top of the collecting pan is at a level above the normal water level of the boiler water it shown in the conventional sight glass 23 but is Within the zone reached by the top level of light water [1 formed during the operation of the boiler so that this light water and/or foam is collected in the pan 2| before it reaches a dangerous level making possible its entrainment with the steam entering the steam dome. The pan 2| thus intercepts the foam and light water before it reaches the steam dome.

The sight glass 23 is conventionally mounted in the engineers cab H for indicating the water level in the boiler. This sight glass communi cates at the bottom thereof through a pipe 24 with water in the boiler at a level below the top of the crown sheet l5. The top of the sight glass communicates through a pipe 25 with the steam space of the boiler.

The water level L of the boiler water It indicated by this sight glass 23 will always be lower than the actual top level of the light water or foam in the boiler since this steam expanded water in the boiler is of less density than the boiler water and steam bubbles entrained therein will be released should they enter the sight glass.

According to one embodiment of this invention a double acting valve 26 is preferably mounted on top of the boiler shell Hi. This valve 26, as best shown in Figure 6, includes a pair of auxiliary valves 2'! and 28 operated by oppositely disposed pistons 29 and30 slidable in an open ended cylinder 3| in the top portion of the valve. A space 32 is provided in the cylinder 3! between the pistons 29 and 30. This space 32, communicates through a passageway 33 formed through the stem of the valve 2'! with a pilot valve 34 having a hollow shank portion 34a provided with oppositely disposed vertically elongated slots 34!).

The end of a rod 35 is seated in the shank 34a of the pilot valve 34 and the pilot valve is held in limited slidable relation on the rod by means of a pin 36 extending through the rod and seated at its ends in the slots 34b. i

The pilot valve 34 is slidably seated in a cylindrical portion 27a of the auxiliary valve 21 and is adapted to close the mouth of the passageway 33 through the valve 21.

The valve 21 seats in a valve seat 31. A tube 38 is threaded into the valve seat 31 and extends downwardly into a chamber 39 of the valve 26. The tube 38 carries bushings W receiving the rod 35 therethrough to hold the same in vertically slidable position. Passageways M are provided in the tube 35, in the bushing supporting portions of the tube, to permit passage of fluid through the tube.

The valve 26 contains an inlet 42 at the bottom thereof and another inlet 43 at the top thereof. A discharge outlet Ml is provided on the side of the valve and communicates with a chamber 45 of the valve containing the open ended cylinder 3|.

As shown in Figure 6, the valve 26 is bolted or otherwise secured directly on top of the boiler shell l9. I

The inlet 42 receives the end of apipe 46 which, as shown in Figure 1, extends through the boiler shell I into the pan 2|. Thepipe 46 terminates slightlyabove the bottom of the pan 2 I.

Theinlet 43 of the valve receives the end of a I pipe 4! which pipe,-as shown in Figure 1, communicates with the mud ring of the boiler as at As will hereinafter be described the lower portion of the boiler can be blown down simultaneously with the emptying of the pan 2|. A valve 49 can be provided in the pipe line to regulate the blow-off from the mud ring.

The discharge outlet 44 of the valve 26 receives the end of a pipe 59, which pipe, as shown in Figure 1, communicates with a steam separator I 5|, mounted on top of the boiler shell Ill in front of the engineers cab II. The steam separator 5| is of known construction and includes a steam discharge outlet 52 vented upward to the atmosphere and a liquid discharge line 53 extending to the bottom of the locomotive. The sludge Water and impurities discharged from the boiler .can be drained through the discharge line 53 and Figure 2. The lever 55 is normally held in horizontal position by the weight 5.1 which counterbalances the cup-shaped member 58. However when light water or foam rises to a level to enter the cup-shaped member 58 through the open bottom 59' thereof the member 58 is floated, causing the lever 55-to swing from its horizontal position into an inclined, position. This movement of the lever arm moves the counterweight 51 and the rod downwardly since the same are mounted on the other side of the pivot point 56.

While the member 58 has been described as an inverted open cup member, it should be understood that any float member could be used, such water or foam therein and when the rod .35 is moved downwardly for a sufficient distance so that the pin 36 (Figure 6), contacts the bottom of the slots 34b to move the pilot valve 34 away from the mouth of the passageway 33 the bottom of the 'pipe 46 will be submerged in the material collected in the pan.

Since the chamber 39 of the valve 26 is .in communication with the interiorof the boiler through the pipe 46 it is under boiler pressure. Now, when the pilot valve 34 .is moved downward away from the mouth of the passageway 33 through the auxiliary valve 21, it is obvious that the space 32 in the open ended cylinder 3| between the pistons 29 and 30 will be subjected tob oiler pressure. This boiler pressure is thus exerted against the pistons 29 and 3.9 to slide the same same reference numerals.

of the boiler shell l-fl.

. separator 5|.

toward the ends of the cylinder '39 and thereupon open the auxiliary valves 21 and 28. Both inlets 42 and 43 of the valve will then be in communication with the discharge, 44 which discharge is vented to the atmosphere through the steam separatOr 5|.

The boiler pressure will thereupon cause the contents of the pan 2| to blow up through'the pipe 4| and through the open valve 26 into the steam separator. At the same time if the valve 49 (Figure 1) is open, the lower portion of the boiler will be blown off through the pipe 41.

From the above description it should be understood that this modification of the invention comprises the mounting of a double acting valve on top of a boiler on the outside of the boiler.

The lower portion of this valve is in communication with the bottom of a collecting pan mounted in the top of the boiler. The top portion of the valve is in communication with the mud ring of the boiler. The valve is automatically operated by a float device mounted in the boiler and is actuated whenever the light water or foam in the boiler exceeds a predetermined level.

Since the lower end of the discharge pipe 46 for the collecting pan 2| is below the level of the float device in the boiler, the valve 26 will never be open unless-the end of the pipe 46 is submerged in collected fluid. In this manner steam is not wasted since the steam space of the boiler is not vented to the atmosphere during the operation of the device.

When the level of the light water or foam subsides the weight of the float 5S will cause the swinging of the lever arm back to its horizontal position thereby raising the rod 35 to close the pilot valve .34. The space 32 between the pistons will then not be subjected to boiler pressure although the opposite sides of the aux-i1- iary valves 21 and 28 are still under boiler pressure. This boiler pressure will cause the valves to be reseated and the pistons will be moved back to the position shown in Figure 6. The space .32 between the pistons is not airtight so that any fluid remaining between the pistons can vbleed out of the space between the sides of the pistons and the inner wall of the cylinder 3|.

In the modification of the invention illustrated in Figure 3, parts identical with the parts 'described in Figure 1 have been marked with the In this embodiment of the invention the lever-5'5 carrying the float 58 is pivoted at 56 directly on the collecting pan 2|. Instead of using'the double acting valve 26,

a single acting valve 60 is used. .This valve 619 31-5 is mounted on top of the boiler shell it! above the collecting pan 2|.

As best shown in Figure 7 the valve E9 comprisesa housing 6| defining a chamber -62 on top The housing 6| has .an opening 63 at the bottom thereof and a discharge opening 64 at the side thereof for receiving the end .of a pipe 64a extending .to .asteam separator on top of the boiler identical with the steam with the housing 6| in the chamber 62 therein and has an open bottom directly above the bottom opening 63 of the housing.

A boss 66 is threaded through the top of the boiler shell 19 and forms a seat for an auxiliary valve 61. The valve '61 has a stem 68 receiving a piston 89 on the end thereof slidably mounted in the cylinder 65. A passageway fit is formed "through the valve stem and communicates with the interior of the :boiler through the valve head The cylinder is formed integral r65 The boss 66 has a down pipe 1| threaded therein. The down pipe H as shown in Figure 3, extends into the pan 2| near the bottom of the pan. The valve 67 has a hollow shank portion 12 receiving in slidable relation therein a pilot valve 73 adapted to close the mouthv of the passageway ill. The pilot'valve 13 is carried on the end of a rod 15 in the same manner described in connection with the valve 25. The rod is slidable through the down pipe 1| also in the same manner described in connection with the valve 26.

The lower end of the rod M is pivotally connected to or integral with an L-shaped rod it (Figure 3) extending under the down pipe H and upwardly to the lever 55 where it is pivoted at its end, to the lever 55 at 15 between the fulcrum point 56 and the counterweight 51 of the lever.

The float 58 and the counterweight 51 hold the lever. 55 in a substantially horizontal position. However, when light water or foam rises above the bottom of the float 58, the float is raised to tilt the lever 55. Since the bottom of the float 58 is level with the top of the pan 2|, the lever 55 will not tilt until light water or foam has spilled into the pan 2| to cover the bottom of the down pipe I I.

Such tilting of the lever 55 pulls the rod 14 downward to open the pilot valve '13 and to subject the space 16 (Figure 7) in the cylinder 65 above the piston 69 to boiler pressure. Under such conditions the boiler pressure in the space 16 will force the piston 59 toward the open end of. the cylinder 55 to open the auxiliary valve 61. The chamber 62 in the valve 5|] will then be in direct communication through the down pipe H with the material collected in the pan 2|. Since this chamber 52 is vented to the atmosphere through the steam separator, the boiler pressure will blow the contents of the pan 2| up through the down pipe H and out of the boiler.

When the light water or foam level within the boiler sub-sides below the top of the pan 2|, the

float 58 will drop to return the lever 55 to its permitting the auxiliary valve 6'! to readily close.

In the modification of. the invention described in Figures 3 and "I, no provision is made for blowing off the lower portion of the boiler. It should be understood, however, that the same float arrangement described in Figure 3 can be used in apparatus including a double acting valve such as described in Figures 1 and 6 to include a blowing down of the lower portion of the boiler simultaneously with an emptying of the pan 2|.

In the modification of the invention disclosed in Figure 4, parts identical with the parts described in Figures 3 and 7 have been marked with the same reference numerals.

In Figure 4, the float 58, instead of being mounted outside of the pan 2|, as described in Figures 1 and 3, is mounted in the pan 2| below the top level thereof. but above the bottom of the down pipe 1!. In this modification the float is carried on a lever arm fulcrumed at 8| to the pan 2|. The arm 85 includes an offset portion 82 extending beneath the bottom of the down pipe This portion 82 of the arm is pivotally connected at 83 to the end of the rod 14.

In the operation of the device shown in Figure 4, light water or foam will spill into the pan 2| as soonas it exceeds a level above the top of the pan. The light water and foam is thus collected in the pan until it reaches the bottom of the float 58 whereupon a raising of. the level of the collected matter will move the float upwardly to tilt the arm 8|) about the pivot 8| thereupon moving the offset portion of the arm 82 downwardly. This downward movement unseats the pilot valve of the valve 60 to open the auxiliary valve 51 in the same manner described in Figures 3 and 7. The contents of the pan 2| will thus be discharged out of the boiler through the down pipe until its level subsides below'the normal position of the float 58 whereupon the valve 50 will be closed.

Since the float 58 is above the bottom of the down pipe 'Hthevalve 50 will never be opened unless the down pipe is submergedin liquid collected in the pan. In this manner steam cannot be discharged from the boiler. i

If it is desired to blow down the lower portion of the boiler simultaneously with an emptying of. the pan 2| the valve 60 can be replaced with a double acting valve such as 26 described in Figures 1 and 6.

In the modification of the invention shown in Figure 5 of the drawings parts identical with parts described in Figures 1 and 3 have been tacts the end of. the down pipe H, the bucket 1 cannot float to a higher level. When this condition is reached, a raising of the liquid level in the pan 2| will permit the collected material to flowover the top of the bucket thereby filling the bucket and causing the same to sink. A sinking of the bucket opens the pilot .valve l3'which in turn causes the opening of the valve 60. The liquid collected in the pan 2| will then be discharged from the pan up through the down pipe ll into the valve 55 and from the valve 60' through the discharge line 64a.

If desired, of course, the valve'Bt in the installation described in Figure 5 can be replaced with a double acting valve such as is described in Figures 1 and 6 to include a blowing down of the lower part of. the boiler simultaneously with an emptying of the pan 2|.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 8, parts identical with parts described in Figures 1 and 4 have been identified with the 7 same reference numerals.

In this embodiment, a boss member m0 is "secured through the boiler shell H] above the pan boss IOU while the other end of the pipeline is secured in the inlet Hi l of a remote blow-off valve I05.

The blow-off valve I05 comprises a casing I05 having a second inlet I01 and a discharge outlet I08 between the inlets Hi4 and I01. A seat I09 is formed in casing I 06 above the outlet I08 while a valve seat H0 is formed below the outlet I08.

A piston III is slidable in the casing I06 above the seat through the seats I09 and H0 and adapted to abut a ball I I3 urged by a spring I I4 against th valve seat IIO.

A bleeder passageway H5 is formed through the piston III placing the inlet I04 in restricted communication with the outlet I08.

The inlet I01 of the casing I06 receives a pipe II6 communicating with the interior of the boiler at any desired level, such as, for example, the bottom I I! of the mud ring.

The outlet I08 of the casing I06 receives the end of the discharge pipe 64a described in connection with Figure 4. l

The spring II4 normally holds the ball II3 against the seat H0 and also holds the piston above the seat I09. In this condition the valve I 05 is closed.

However when liquid collected in the pan 2i raises the float 58 to move the pilot valve I3 from its seat I02, boiler pressure is admitted to the piston III through the pipe line I03 forcing the piston downward against the seat I09. The

stem I I2 of the piston then forces .the ball off' of the valve seat II 0 and the valve I05 is opened to discharge sludge water from the mud ring of the boiler or from any point in'the boiler with which the pipe II6 might communicate.

Liquids and other foreign matter in the pan 2| are blown by the boiler pressure, up through the down pipe 'II, through the pipe I03, into the top of the valve casing I06 and through the bleeder passageway II5 into the discharge line 64a along with the sludge water.

The collected material in the pan is'thus removed from the boiler and when the float 58 again sinks to close the pilot valve the spring II4 and boiler pressure in the pipe I'I6 will close the blow-01f valve I05.

In this embodiment of the invention therefore the float actuated pilot valve controls the operation of a remote blow-off valve for blowing down any desired portion of the boiler.

Any of the float arrangements described in Figures 1 to 5 may be used for controlling a remote blow off valve. If desired the collecting pan and down pipe can be dispensedwith and the float operated valve used for venting the steam space of the boiler to the blow-off valve for opening the latter whenever foam and light water development in the boiler actuates the float.

Alternatively, in the devices shown in Figures 4 and'll the down pipes 'Il may be eliminated and a hole placed in the bottom of the collecting pans 2|. The discharge ports of the pilot valves are then joined with a blow-off valve as shown in Figure 8.

Then, when a pan '2I receives light water or foam therein at a rate faster than the rate of drainage through the hole in the bottom of the pan, a sufiicient amount of liquid will soon be accumulated in the pan to actuate the floats for opening the pilot valve to vent boiler pres sure to the piston of the blow off valve. This pressure will open the blow oil valve and effect a blowing down of the boiler.

When the light water or foam level in the boiler subsides so that the rate of drainage from the pan 2| is faster than the rate of entry of liquid into the pan, the liquid level in the pan willsoon subside and the float will close the pilot valve. The piston of the blow oii valve, in such event,

I09 and has a stem II2 extending will not be subjected to the boiler pressure and the valve will close to terminate the blow off.

From the above descriptions of the various embodiments of this invention it should be understood that the invention'provides for the mounting of a valve on or in a boiler and the controlling of the operation of this valve by float arrangements mounted in the boiler. These float arrangements are actuated by the level of light water or foam in the boiler. When the valves are opened by the float devices, the light water and foam, having the foam producing and foam stabilizing ingredients adsorbed therein, are discharged irom the boiler. If desired, the valves can operate remote blow-off valves for blowing off other parts of the boiler. The devices of this invention are entirely automatic in operation and do not permit wastage of steam or relatively good water from the boiler.

We are aware that many changes may be made and numerous details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and we, therefore, do not purpose limiting the patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

, We claim as our invention: I

1. Apparatus for controlling foaming in operating steam boilers which comprises water'and foam collecting means in the upper portion of the boiler having the inlet thereof above the normal water level in the boiler but within the zone reached by light water developed in the boiler whereby said collecting means is adapted to receive directly from the main body of light boiler water formed throughout and above the steaming zone of the boiler, the foam producing and foam stabilizing materials accumulated in the said light boiler water, a discharge valve mounted outside of the'boiler above the water collecting means, a down pipe extending from the valve into the collecting means below the inlet level thereof and a float responsive to the light water level in the boiler, said float set to respond to high and low levels both above the bottom of the down pipe to respectively open and close the valve, whereby a rise in light Water above a predetermined level will cause the float to open the discharge valve and pressure in the boiler will force liquid in the collecting means upwardly through the down pipe into the discharge valve and out of the boiler without appreciable loss of steam therewith.

2. Apparatus for removing foam producing and foam stabilizing ingredients from operating steam boilers without discharge of relatively good boiler water and steam therewith which comprises a collecting pan mounted in the upper portion of the boiler and having the inlet thereof above the normal water level in the boiler, said inlet being in communication with the excessively expanded light water formed during the operation of the boiler whereby said light water can be collected in said means, a valve mounted on the outside of the boiler above the collecting pan, said valve including a piston operated auxiliary valve and a pilot valve adapted to vent the piston of the piston operated valve to the boiler whereupon boiler pressure will open the auxiliary valve, a down pipe extending from said valve into the bottom portion of the collecting pan and a float in said boiler arranged to hold the pilot valve in closed position whenever light water level in the collecting pan'is below the downpipe, said float being actuated by the rise of light boiler water in the boiler above a predetermined level higher than the bottom of the downpipe to move the pilot valve from closed position for venting the piston to boiler pressure to open the auxiliary valve, thereby efiecting a discharge of liquids in the pan out of the boiler without loss of steam therewith.

3. In combination, a locomotive boiler, collecting means in the steam space of the boiler in communication with light water developed during the operation of the boiler above the normal water level in the boiler, a discharge valve mounted on top of the locomotive boiler, a down pipe joining the lower portion of said discharge valve with the bottom portion of the collecting means, said discharge valve including a piston operated auxiliary valve adapted to open when the piston is subjected to boiler pressure, a pilot valve in said discharge valve controlling the venting of the piston to the boiler pressure and a float device in the boiler operatively connected to the pilot valve, said float device arranged to move the pilot valve to open position when the light water level rises above a predetermined level and arranged to move the pilot valve to closed position before said level drops below the bottom of the down- 4. Apparatus for controlling foaming in operating steam boilers which comprises an open topped pan in the upper portion of the boiler having the top edges thereof above the normal water level but below a dangerous foam level, a discharge valve mounted on top of the boiler, a downpipe extending from an inlet of said valve into the bottom portion of the pan, a pilot valve for opening and closing the discharge valve and a float in said pan connected to said pilot valve arranged to move the pilot valve to open the discharge valve whenever liquid in the pan exceeds a predetermined level above the mouth of the down pipe and arranged to move the pilot valve to close the discharge valve before the liquid level in the pan drops below the mouth of the downpipe;

5. Apparatus for controlling foaming in operating steam boilers which comprises an open topped pan in the upper portion of the boiler having the top edges thereof above the normal water level but below a dangerous foam level, a discharge valve mounted on top of the boiler, a down pipe extending from an inlet of said valve into the bottom portion of the pan, a pilot valve for opening and closing the discharge valve and an open topped bucket in the pan surrounding the mouth of the down pipe and connected to the pilot valve, said bucket arranged to float in the pan until the liquid in the pan exceeds a predetermined level above the mouth of the down pipe whereupon the bucket will fill with said liquid and sink to actuate the pilot valve for opening the discharge valve, said bucket also arranged to again float to effect a closing of the discharge valve whenever the liquid level in the pan drops below the top of the bucket.

6. In a combination, a steam boiler, a float in said boiler above the normal boiler water level but below the steam outlet of the boiler, said float adapted to be actuated by foam or light water developed above a predetermined level in the boiler during operation of the boiler, a pilot valve operated by movement of the float, a blowoil valve controlled by the pilot valve, said blowoff valve being in communication with the interior of the boiler at a level therein below the float and means in said blow-off valve actuated by boiler pressure to open .the blow-off valve only when the pilot valve is moved. by the float in response to rise in foam and light water above said predetermined level.

'7. In combination, a steam boiler, a float in said boiler above the normal water level of the boiler but within a zone reached by foarnand light water development in the boiler below the steam outlet thereof, a pilot valve connected to said float, a blow-off valve casing having a first inlet in communication with the pilot valve and a second inlet in communication with the inte rior of the boiler at a level below the float, said casing also having a discharge outlet between the inlets, a piston slidable in the casing separating the first inlet from the outlet, a valve on the casing separating the second inlet from the outlet, and said piston having a stem adapted to open the valve whereby light water or foam actuation of the pilot valve toopen the same vents the boiler pressure to the piston causing the piston to open the valve and place the second inlet of the casing in communication with the discharge for blowing down the boiler.

8. The method of removing foam forming and foam stabilizing ingredients from boiler water in operating steam boilers which comprises collecting in the boiler directly from the mainbody of boiler water only the excessive light water and foam formed above the steaming zone of the boiler water,- periodically venting the collected matter only below the surface thereof to the atmosphere whenever the light water or foam in the boiler exceeds a predetermined level and allowing boiler pressure to blow the collected mat ter upwardly out of the boiler.

9. The method of removing foam forming ingredients from boiler water in operating steam boilers which comprises collecting in the boiler directly from the main body of boiler water only the light water and foam formed throughout and above the steam generating zone of the boiler water, periodically venting the boiler pressure to act on a valve for opening the valve whenever the lightwater or foam in the boiler exceeds a predetermined level and utilizing boiler pressure to blow the collected matter only from below the surface thereof out of the boiler through the opened valve.

10. Apparatus for controlling foaming in operating steam boilers which comprises an open topped pan in the upper portion of the boiler having the top edges thereof above the normal water level but below a dangerous foam level,a discharge valve casing mounted on top of the boiler and having an inlet in communication with the bottom portion of the pan and an outlet outside of the boiler, said casing having a piston compartment therein, a discharge valve between the inlet and outlet of the casing controlling fluid flow through the casing, a piston in the piston compartment of the casing and connected with the valve in such a manner that when the piston is subjected to boiler pressure, the piston will move the valve to open position, means defining a passageway from the boiler to the piston compartment, a pilot valve controlling fluid flow through said passageway, a rod extending from said pilot valve into the boiler, aleverpivoted on the end of said rod, means pivotally supporting said lever in the boiler, a float in the form of an inverted cup on one end of said lever and a counterweight on the other end of the lever to balance the float, the bottom of said float being supported at a level in the boiler not lower than. the top edges of the pan whereby a rise in level of'light water or foam in the boiler above said level will cause the float to rise for actuating the pilot valve to open the passageway and vent the piston compartment to boiler pressure for opening the discharge valve to cause material collected in the pan to be blown from the boiler.

11. In a steam boiler having a collector therein with the inlet thereof above the normal water level but below the steam outlet of the boiler, a

blow-oil valve communicating with the lower portion of the boiler and pressure responsive means associated with the blow-oil valve to open the valve upon discharge of liquids from the collector, the improvements which comprise a valve casing mounted on the outside of the boiler above the top of the collector and having an inlet and an outlet opening, a pipe connecting the inlet with the bottom portion of the collector, a second pipe connecting the outlet with said pressureresponsive means, a discharge valve separating the inlet from the outlet of the casing, a piston slidable in the casing for operating said discharge valve, means defining a passageway joining the interior of the boiler with one side of the piston in the casing, a pilot valve cooperating with said passageway to control fluid flow therethrough, a float in the boiler operative above the bottom por tion of the collector and actuated by foam or light water development above a predetermined level, and means connecting said pilot valve with said float to operate the valve for venting boiler pressure to the piston and thereby actuate the discharge valve.

12. Apparatus for controlling foaming in operating steam boilers which comprises water and foam collecting means in the upper portion of the boiler having the inlet thereof above the normal water level in the boiler but below the steam outlet, said inlet being in communication with the main body of light water formed throughout and above the steam generating zone of the boiler for directly supplying said light water into the collecting means, a discharge valve above the collecting means, a down pipe extending from the valve into the collecting means and having an inlet mouth below the inlet level of the collecting means, and means responsive to the light water level in the boiler for actuating the discharge valve, said means set to respond to a level substantially above said inlet mouth of the down pipe to open the discharge valve and set to respond to a lower level above said inlet mouth to close the valve whereby a rise in light water above a predetermined level will cause said means to open the discharge valve and boiler pressure will force liquid in the collecting means upwardly through the down pipe into the discharge valve and out of the boiler without substantial loss of steam.

LEWIS O. GUNDERSON. OLAND W. CARRICK

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