US285884A

US285884A - William l

Info

Publication number: US285884A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1883-10-02
Anticipated expiration: 1900-10-02

Description

(No Model.)

W. L. FITCH.

AIR SUPPLY TO THE FEED WATER FOR STEAM BOILERS. No. 285,884.

Patented Oct. 2, 1883.

2 WE v UNITED STATES PATENT QEEICE.

XVIIJIJIAM L. FITCH, OFCHIUAG ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AN D MESNE ASSIGNIVIENTS, TO D. H. FLETCHER, TRUSTEE, OF SAME PLACE.

AIR-SUPPLY TO THE FEED-WATER FOR STEAM-BOILERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 285,884, dated October 2, 1883. Application filed December 23, 1852 (Nomodehl To all whom it may concern:

Be it known "that I, lVlLipiAn t L. FITCH, a citizen of the United States, and residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Air-Supply to the Feed- \Vater for Steam-Boilers, which are fully set forth in the following specifications.

It has heretofore been observed that more IO heat is required to produce a given pressure in a boiler from water from which all the air has been exhausted by repeated boilings than from water which contains a considerable (111 antity of absorbed air, commonly called live water.

My invention consists in providing an economical method of introducing air into steamboilers, and in certain preferred forms of devices for putting that method into practice.

My method consists in charging the water, before it enters the boiler, with air to as great a degree as possible without preventing the proper action of the pump or other feeder which forces the water to the boiler. The preferred forms of device for so charging the water are hereinafter set forth. The extent to which the water may be so charged will vary somewhat with different feeders; but preferably the amount of air introduced should not be more than the water will receive by absorption or hold in minute globules, and without any strong ten dency to separate before the water reaches the boiler.

Figure 1 shows the application of my invention and device to a steam-pump employed to force water to a steam-boiler. Fig. 2 shows the application of the same invention and device to a feeder of the class known as an in spirator.

A, Fig. is the pump-cylinder. A, Fig. 2, is a familiar form of inspirator. B in each is the water-induct pipe. 7 is the dischargepipe leading to the boiler. D is an air-feed pipe, which opens into the water-supply pipe B at any convenient point, preferably between the reservoir and the feeder, -pump or injector; but avalve, G, should be employed, located bet-ween the reservoir and the air-feed pipe D,

to regulate the supply of water from the reservoir. Such a valve is commonly employed, and it is not a part of my invention.

The air-feed pipe D may, in some circumstances, be located opcning into the inspirator, as indicated by the outline H, between the primary and secondary stcamjet of the inspi- 5 rator; or it may, though even less preferably, be connected between the inspirator or injector and the boiler, as indicated by the outline K but I deem the referable location to be as first above describedbetween the reserx oir and the feeder. In whateverposition it is placed, the opening of the air-feed pipe D into the water-supply pipe B should preferablybe controlled by a valve, E, by means of which the amount of air admitted may be regulated.

F is a check-valve in the air-feed pipe, which opens inward, admitting air when the'feeder is drawing water, and closing to prevent the escape or discharge of water by pressure from the reservoir or otherwise at the counter or forcing stroke of the pump-piston. \Vhen a pump is the feeder employed, orat any instant when the feeder is not drawing water through the water-induct pipe B, this valve is a con venience only, not a necessity. The action of 7 5 this device is that the current of water drawn by the feeder through the pipe B will induce a suction of air through the pipe D, the open ing into which may be so regulated by the valve E that the amount of air taken shall be only such as the water will absorb or hold in suspension in minute globules, so not pre venting the action of the pump drawing by suction and not forming an air-cushion in the pump-cylinder sufficient to prevent the action 8 5 of the pump-piston forcing the water forward to. the boiler. hen an injector oriinspirator is the feeder employed, the difficulty abovesuggested, possible to arise in the use of a pump, will not be ekperienced, and the amount of air 0 taken will consequently not be so limited. The air thus taken passes with the water to the boiler, and, being there heated with the water, adds its expansive force to that of the water, and, as proven by experience, makes it possible to obtain, with less water and less consump- Q asassr tion of fuel, a greater available force for motive power and a greater amount of steam for heating purposes than if water alone were fed to the boiler. r

' The purpose served by the valve E is to regulate the amount of air admitted to the watersupply pipe in such ratio to the amount of Water admitted through the valve G that the maximum effectiveness of the combination for steam or pressure producing purposes may be attained. Just at what point this maximum is found will vary with the varying circumstances of each case, as the character of the feeder employed, the pressure of steam maintained, the presence and character of impurities in the water, and, perhaps, other circumstances, and, besides, the purpose and use to which the steam is being applied will be taken into account. If dry steam is desired, more air will be taken, and if wet steam less, and without special or further instruction any experienced engineer will make the proper adjustment, according to the needs of the case.

Air and water have heretofore been heated in the same boiler for the purpose of securing the combined advantages of steam and hot-air pressure; but it has been usual to feed the air and water to the boiler by separate conduits, so requiring separate feeding devices and encountering other difficulties. The result has been that the amount of power expended to operate these devices has been nearly or quite equal to the gain effected by them.

The advantages of our method-viz., charging the water with air before feeding it to the boilerare economy of construction, simplicity of operation, and that absolutely no power additional to that required to pump the water air, and thereby eases the pump, preventing the pounding, so often unavoidable when pumping solid water.

I claim, therefore, as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The method of supplying air to steam- 5o boilers, which consists, substantially, in charging the feed-water, before it passes to the boil-. er, with air. r

2. The method of charging with air the feedwater for steam-boilers, which consists in admitting the air in limited quantity to the water-supply pipe to the feeder.

3. In the water-supply pipe to a feeder to a steam-boiler, an opening provided for the purpose of admitting air thereto, controlled by suitable valve or valves, substantially as set forth.

. 4-, In combination with the water-supply pipe B, the air-induct pipe D, provided with the valve E, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

- 5. In the described air-inductor, and in combination therewith, the check-valve F, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

\VM. L. FITCH.

, Attest:

\VM. D. SMITH, CHAS. S. BURTON.