US474440A - Combined steam-loop - Google Patents

Description

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W.1BURNHAM'. COMBINED STEAMA LOOP.

No. 474,440. Patented May 1o, 1392.

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W. BURNHAM.

COMBINED STEAM Loop.

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(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Shed 3. W. BIIRIU'IAMs GOMBINED STEAM LOOP. i .Y NO- 474,440- Patented Maylo, 1892.

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COMBINED STEAM LOOP. y No. 474,440. Patented May 10, 1892.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WALTER BURNHAM, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

COMBINED STEAM-LOOP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 474,440, dated May 10, 1892. Application led January 12, 1892. Serial No. 417,887. (No model.)

To all wiz/m t may concern,.-

Be it known that I, WALTER BURNHAM, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements i n Combined Steam-Loops; and

I do hereby declare that the following is afull, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to devices acting by the direct agency of steam for delivering liquids from a space or chamber subject to one pressure into a chamber subject to a higher pressure-as, for example, the delivery of water from au open tank or from a hydrant into a steam-generator.

In a prior patent, No. 394,859, granted December 18, 1888, to lilliam Irving, is described an apparatus for the purpose above stated, wherein a single return-pipe or steamloop l is employed of such height as to overcome the differences of pressure between a space subject to the higher pressure and that of less pressure. i

In Letters Patent No. 394,826, granted December 18, 1888, to me, is described an apparatus embracing the general features of construction and operation contained in said Irving patent and embracing a series of chambers or vessels subject to diiferent pressures anda plurality of steam-loops or retu rnpi pes for transferring the liquid from the chambers subject to less pressures to those subject to greater pressures, thereby enabling the principles of construction set forth in said Irving patent to be applied to situations where it is impracticable or undesirable to employ a single return or lifting pipe to overcome the total y difference in pressure between the space from which the liquid is received and that into which it is to be delivered. f

The present invention embraces improvements in the apparatus described in Patent No. 394,828, by which the same is better adapted for practical use or application.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating my invention, Figure 1 is a View in elevation, with parts in section, of an apparatus embodying the same. Fig. 2 is a sectional View through one of the steam-loops of the apparatus, taken on line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig.3 is a sectional elevation taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4: is a vertical section taken on line 1 4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a plan section taken ou line 5 5 of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a similar section taken upon line G G of Fig. 2. Fig. 71's a similar section taken on line 7 7 of Fig. 2. Fig. 8 is a view in side elevation of a plurality of connected loops, illustrating another embodiment of the main features of my invention. Fig. 9 is a view in elevation of one of the basesections shown in Fig. 8 detached from the adjacent sections. Fig. 10 is a detail section of the same, taken on line 10 10 of Fig. 11. Fig. 11 is a side or edge view of the base-section shown in Figs. 9 and 10. Fig. 12 is a vertical section taken upon line 12 12 of Fig. 9. Fig. 13 is aviewin side elevation of aplurality of connected loops, showing still another embodiment of the main features of my invention. Fig. 14 is a View of the same from the back or rear side thereof. Fig. 15 is a vertical section taken upon line 15 15 of Fig. 13. Fig. 16 is a View in central vertical section of a single loop-section, illustrating still another embodiment of the main features of my invention, taken on line 1G 1G of Figs. 17 and 19. Fig. 17 is a sectional View thereof, taken on line 17 17 of Figs. 16 and 19. Fig. 18 is a hori- Zontal section taken upon line 1818 of Fig. 17. Fig. 19 is a plan section taken upon line 19 19 of Fig. 17. Fig. 20isahoriZontalsect-on taken upon line 2O 2O of Fig. 17.

To first describe the form o'f apparatus shown in Figs. 1 to 7, inclusive, A, Fig. 1, indicates a steam-generator into which Water is to be delivered. B B2 B3 B4 B5 B6 B7 are a plurality of return or transfer pipes or steamloops, each for transferril'ig water from one chamber to a chamber of higher pressure by means of a steam fiow and constituting in effect one of the return-pipes or steamloops described in the said Irving patent, said loops in this instance consisting of a pipe b, which constitutesthe riser of the Irving steam-loops, located Within another and larger -pipe b', which constitutes the descending part or dropleg of the said Irving steam-loop. C C2 Cs C4 C5 CG C7 are metal castings or bases, to which the loops B B2 B3, dec., are connected at their lower ends and which are connected with each other by passages affording communication between the said several loops, as hereinafter IOU more particularly described. D indicates a steam-supply pipe leading from the steamgenerator and communicating with the severalloop-basesCCrbc. Eisapipebymeansof which the liquid which is to be transferred into the steam-generator A is admitted to the apparatus, said pipe being shown as connected with atank E. F indicatesasawholea steam-loop by which water carried through the several loopsdescribedisnallytransferred tothegenerator A, said loop F being like the loop shown in said Irving patent and consisting of a riser F', a horizontal F2, and a drop-leg F3, which latter communicates with the generator,below the water-level thereof, through a check-valve f and a globe-valve f. The several loops B' B2, tive., and bases C C2, dac., to which they are connected, are alike, and each connected loop and base will be herein denominated a loop-section. One of said loop-sectionsto wit, the one marked B C of Fig. l is shown in detail in Figs. 2 to 7, inclusive,and is constructed as follows: Said base C is made of considerable depth or thickness from front to rear, and contains in its rear part a vertical passage c, forming a downward continuation of the inner pipe or riser b, and a second vertical passage c', forming a downward continuation of the annular space or passage between the said riser b and the outer pipe b. Said passage c at its lower end is turned directly outward toward the side face of the base and communicates with a short coupling pipe or nipple c2, which affords connection or communication between the bases of the several loop-sections, but which in the case of the end loop C communicates directly with the riser F of the steam-loop F, as clearly shown in Fig. l. ln the forward part of the base C are located upper and lower steamchambers C8 C9, which are separated by a horizontal diaphragm c3, in which is located an upwardly-opening check-valve G, giving admission of steam from the lower chamber C9 to the upper chamber C8, but preventing the movement of steam in the opposite direction. cil c4 are short steam pipes or couplings connecting each base with the adjacent bases at -the opposite sides of the same, and communicating at one side of each base with the lower steam-chamber C9 by means of a passage c5 and at the opposite side of said base with the upper steam-chamber CS by means of a passage c6. Within the upper chamber C8 is located a weight G', which rests upon the valve G and tends to hold the same closed against the passage of steam, and which acts, therefore,to maintain a less pressure of steam in the upper chamber C8 than in the lower chamber Ci. In the particular construction shown the valve G is provided with an upwardly-extending stem g, upon which the weight G rests, said weight G being of cylindric form and being held and guided in the upper part of the chamber CS, which for convenience of construction is formed by means of a tube c7, secured in the upper part of the base-casting C and provided with a cap es for closing its upper end. The removal of said cap c8 or the detachment of the tube c7 from the base obviously enables access to be rcadilyhad to the weight G and valve G. c9 is ahorizontal passage connecting the passage c, which leads from the riser h, with the bottom of the lower chamber Ci. c10 is a passage communicating at one end with the bottom of the lower chamber Cg through a check-valve H, which is adapted to open inwardly, or toward said chamber, and at its opposite end with the pipe or coupling c2 at the side of the base opposite to that at which the passage c terminates, as clearly seen in Fig. 4t. The couplings c2 c2 are shown as arranged in alignment with each other at opposite sides of the base and the passage cm as extending rearwardly from the bottom of the chamber C to a point beneath the passage c and then laterally outward to the side of the base, as clearly seen in Fig. 7. rlhe inner pipe or riser h of the loop terminates at its upper end somewhat below the top of the outer pipe b', and the latter pipe is provided with a cap b2, having a blow-off pipe b3, controlled by a valve h4. The blow-off pipes h3 b3, belonging to the several loops, are shown as turned downwardly and arranged to discharge into a receptacle or trough I, extending across the loops and provided with a discharge or drainage pipe I. It is obvious that when the several loop-sections are connected with each other by the couplings described the upper chamber CS of each section will be connected with the lower chamber C9 of an adjacent section, and there will be free passage of steam from said upper to the lower chamber, and an equilibrium or pressure will exist in the said two chan'ibers, so that the same pressure will be maintained in the upper chamber of one base as in the lower chamber of the next adjacent one, and the upper and lower chambers thus connected will constitute in effect a single steam-chamber, which is in communication with similarly-constituted steam-chambers at each side of it through the medium of the weighted check-valves G G. Furthermore, the said several steam-chambers thus formed by the connected upper and lower chambers of adjacent loop-sections are subject to different steam pressures, which decrease between any two chambers to an extent depending on the weight applied to the checkvalve between them, that chamber with which thc steam -pipe D directly communicates being subject to nearly-full boiler-pressure, while that chamber remote from said steampipe is subject to a relatively small pressure. The said steam chambers or spaces so formed by connecting the upper and lower chambers C8 and C-9 of adjacent loop-sections therefore correspond with the several tanks or chambers described in my said prior patent, while the pipes b b constitute the risers and drop-legs of the steam-loops shown in said prior patent for transferring column of height due to the difference in.

pressure to which the opposite ends of said water column are subjected, and above the water column a space of less pressure than Y that of the chamber from which the riser leads and which may result either from radiation and condensation alone or of condensation assisted by the escape through the valved blow-off pipe b3. By reason of such relatively low pressure in the pipe above the water column steam is caused to flow upwardly within the riser Z2 with greater orlessl rapidity, and in its iiow carries along with it small bodies of water admitted to the lower end of said riser from the chamber with which it communicates. The water so carried upward within the riser is not lifted in a solid column, but consists of one or of several relatively small masses in the form of short pistons filling or closing the bore of the riser, or of waves on the sides of the riser, or of drops or globules suspended in the steam. The water so lifted through the riser is deposited in the descending part of the loop, or, in other words, in the annular passage between the pipes b and b', and when a column of sufficient height is formed to overcome the difference in pressure between the two adjacent steam-chambers conn ected by the loops finally enters the chamber subject to the higher pressure, and the trans-- fer of the water from the chamber subject to less pressure to the next chamber subject to a greater pressure is thereby accomplished. In the operation of the apparatus constructed as described, therefore, steam passing from the generator through the supply-pi pe D enters the base of loop-section B, and,overcom ing the resistance of the reducing-valve of that section, a part of it escapes into the upper chamber Csof said base and passes thence to the lower chamber C of the loop-section B2 C2, while part of the steam passes through the risers b b of said loop B'to the low-pressure space at the top of said loop, carrying upwardly with it water contained in the lower part of the chamber C9, and thereby securing the delivery of such water to the return-loop F, by which the same is transferred to the generator in the same manner as set forth in said Irving patent. It may be noted at this point that the difference in steam-pressure between the generator and .the lower chamber CJ of the loop B C (which is that nearest the generator) is that due merely to condensation in the steam pipe, so that the height of the water column in said loop F need be only sufficient to overcome such difference in pressure produced by condensation, .together with the pressure required to lift the water vertically and overcome the friction in the pipes. Of the steam entering the lower chamber of the loop-section B2 02a part passes through the reducing-valve of that section to the next section B3 B3, while a part passes upwardly through the riser b of said loop-section B2 C2 to the low-pressure space of said loop-section B2 G2, and thereby effects the transfer of water contained in the lower chamber C9 of the base C2 to the corresponding chamber of base C', it being obvious that water will accumulate in the space between the pipes l) b of loop B2 until the pressure produced by the water column thus formed against the under side of the check-valve H will be sufficient to lift said check -valve against the steam-pressurein the lower chamber of the base-section O,when the water will pass from the passage c through said valve into said chamber. In a similar manner a part of the steam delivered to the base of loop .B3 swee s u the riser of said loo carr finff 5 s with it waterfrom the base Owhich accumulates in the descending part of loop B3 and finallyl escapes through the check-valve of base C2 into the lower steam-chamber of said base. In a similar manner part of the steam delivered to the several loop-sections at gradually-decreasing pressures serves to transfer the water from the lower chamber of one sec-- tion to the lower chamber of the next section which is under greater steam-pressure. The several regulating-valves are so Weighted or the loops are made of such number that the loop-section B7 O7, to the base of which water is delivered through the delivery-pipe E, issubject to a steam-pressure sufficiently smallto be overcome by the column of water in said pipe E or in the tank or source of supply from which said pipe leads-as, for instance, if the water-supply were taken from the city mains or hydrant thc steam-pressure in the lower chamber C2 of the loop-section BT G7 would be less than that within the watersupply pipe or main, so that water may enter said chamber C through. the check-valve II thereof against the pressure in said chamber. It will of course be understood, however, that the quantity of water admitted through the supply-pipe E must be controlled or regulated so as not to exceed that which can be delivered by the action of the steam through the several loops to the generator. Manifestly any number of loops and connected steamchambers may be employed in the series by variation in the height of the loops, and the difference of pressure between two adjacent or connected loops may be so small that comparatively low loops may be employed, and any total difference of pressure between the source of supply and the generator may be overcome, no matter how high the pressure to which the generator may be subjected. Thus, assuming the diference of pressure between the steam-chambers of any two adj acentloopsections to be tive pounds, While each water IOO IIO

column in the descending part of the loop is not much higher than is due to a difference of pressure of live pounds, the several watercolumns of the seven loops shown give an aggregate pressure of thirty-five pounds, with a corresponding lifting capacity, so that by the aggregate energies of the several loops water is delivered to the loop F against thirty-five pounds greater pressure than that of the pipe E, from which it is taken. It will of course be understood that in first starting the apparatus it is necessary to discharge the air from the several loops, and this is accomplished by turning on the steam-pressure and opening the several blow-off pipes b3 792. After the air is thus discharged from the several loops the same will remain filled with steam, but no transfer of water will take place from one loop to another until sufficient water has accumulated in the descending portions of the loops to overcome the difference in pressure between the same-that is to say, assuming the boiler-pressure to be thirty-five pounds, steam admitted to the base of loop B will hold down the check-valve thereof with thirtytive pounds pressure. Some of this steam will pass back -to the generator through the loop F and some of it will lift and pass through the reducing-valve of loop B, by which it will lose five pounds pressure, and will there-- fore only give thirty-five pounds pressure in the lower chamber of loop B2. This steam at thirty-five pounds pressure passes through loop B2 and acts upon the under side of the check-valve in the base of loop B with -thirt y pounds pressure, but is unable to lift it,

because it is held down by thirty-tive pounds pressure. Water gathering in the descending part of loop B2 finally produces a water' column of sufficient weight to overcome the five pounds difference between the pressures in the two loops, and the pressure on opposite sides of the said check-valve at the base of loop B will then be equalized. Any water now admitted to the column in loop B2 will then lift and flow through said checkvalve in loop B', and as soon as it does so the water passing into the lower chamber of said loop B is caught in the sweep of the steam passing up the riser of loop B and is transferred back to the boiler. When the apparatus is lirst placed in operation, therefore,

water similarly accumulates in the descend-V reduced by the valve in the base of loop BG.

The base of loop Blis, however, provided with a check-valve, through which water enters from the pipe E and which is subject to the downward pressure of steam in the said chamber and which can only be lifted for admission of water to the said chamber when the pressure of the supply-pipe exceeds that within the said chamber. As shown in my said prior patent, the several loops connecting the steam chambers were provided with hori- Zontals connecting the risers with the descending parts or drop-legs of the loops and giving increased radiatingsurface, tending to maintain an area of low pressure above the water columns. Such horizontals are not, however,in all cases needed, the conductivity of the metal risers in a construction such as is above described being so great as to secure such amount of radiation at the upper ends of the loops as is usually needed in practice. lf necessary, however, the loops may be provided with condensing spaces or chambers at their upper ends, or horizontals may be employed where desirable. A construction einbracing condensingchambers at the upper ends of the loops is illustrated in connection with another embodiment of my invention herein shown.

In Figs. 8 to l2 is shown another form of construction in connected or combined loops, wherein the risers and descending parts of the loops are separated from each other instead of being one within the other, as in the construction hereinbefore described. In this instance J J J2, dac., indicate theloops,which are connected with base castings or sections K K2, dac., and the risers]l and drop-legsj of each loop are continuous with each other or formed from a single piece of pipe bent into U shape, the lower end of the riseryl of each loop being connected with one base-section, as K2, while the drop-leg j of the same loop is connected with the next adjacent section, as K. Each base-casting is provided .with an upper chamber K8 and a lower chamber K9, said chambers being in communication with inlet and outlet passages 7a2 7a2 and being separated by a partition or diaphragm 7a2, in which is located a pressure-reducing valve L, opening upwardly from the lower chamber K9 into the upper chamber K8. A weight L engages a stem Z of the valve L and is located in a tube 7a4, which forms an upward eXtension of the upper chamber K8 and which is closed by a cap 765. Attached to the bottom of each base-casting is a T-shaped valve-casing K10,having aninlet-opening 756, with which the drop-legj is connected, and outlet-opening 707, with which the riser j is connected, and a passage ks, leading into the lower chamber K9 of the main base-casting. The inletopening k6 is separated from the outlet-opening 767 and the passage k2, leading to the chamber K9, by means of a diaphragm or partition 769, containing a check-valve M. The said valve M is shown as provided with a Valve-stem arranged to slide in a tubular guide 7010, supported in the passage ks in the manner illustrated. ln the operation of this form of loop the water column in the dropI leg j', when of su flicient height, lifts the check-valve M, and a portion thereof escapes into the lower portion of the riser j through which it is swept by steam passing from the lower chamber K9, through the opening KS, upwardly into said riser to the low-pressure space at the upper part of the loop of which that riser forms a part, in the same manner as hereinbetore described in connection with the form of apparatus illustrated in Figs. 1 to 7. T he loops shown in Figs. S to 12 are not provided with blow-oft pipes or openings at their upper parts, and to provide means fordischarglng the air therefrom when the apparatus is first put into operation abranch steam-pipe N, Fig. 8, is led from the main supply-pipe D to the base ot' the end loop at that end ot the apparatus subject to the smallest steampressure, or that at which the water is delivered. A Valve d is placed in the main steam-pipe D between the point at which the said branch N is connected therewith and the loop J, and a Valve n is also placed in the branch pipe N. Under ordinary working conditions the Valve d is open and the valve 'n closed. When it is desired to start the apparatus in operation, said valve d is closed and the valve n opened, when steam which enters the steam-chamber of the loop J 3, being unable to pass backwardly through the pressure-reducin g valves, will traverse all the loops, thereby driving from them air contained therein, which will be discharged through an outlet-opening f3, connected with a three-way cock f2, located near the lower end ot the riser F of the return-loop F.

ln Figs. 13, 14, and 15 is shown a form of the connected or combined loops differing in mechanical details only from that shown in Figs. 8 to 12. In this instance the several loops O O2 O3, the., consist of pipes of in verted-U shape, (forming risers o and droplegs o 0,) the lower ends of which are connected with rectangular base-castings P P2, &C.,which are secured or clamped together side by side by means of horizontal tie-rods p p, extending through projections or lugs p p at the front and rear surfaces of the said castings. In this instance upper and lower steam-chambers PS PJ are formed by means of tubular casings secured to the bases P P2 P3, said chambers being separated by diaphragms p2, formed in said casings and containing check-valves Q Q. Veights Q Q for the check-valves are located in cylindric extensions p3 of the upper chambers P8 PS, and each of said chambers P8 is connected with the lower chamber P9 of the adjacent loop by an oblique pipe p4. Passages p5 lead from the bottom of the chambers P9 to the risers o, while other passages p6 lead from the drop-legs o to points beneath the said chambers P9, with which they are connected through openings provided with upwardlyopening check-Valves R, said passages p5 p being cast in the base-castings P in the manner clearly shown in the drawings. The operation ot the loops thus constructed is the same as those forms hereinbefore set forth and need not here be stated in detail.

In Figs. 16 to 2O is shown a form of the connected or combined loops wherein the dropleg of each loop is contained within the riser, and enlarged spaces or condensing-chambers are provided at the Lipper ends ot the loops to afford additional condensing-surface, by which the maintenance of a space subject to low pressure is facilitated or made more certain. In this instance S S2 indicate steamloops,and T Tzbase castings to whichthe same are connected. Each loop comprises an exterior pipe s and an interior pipe s', the inner pipe constituting the drop-leg of the loop, while the space between the inner and outer pipes constitutes the riser ot' the loop. The outer pipe 3 is connected at its upper end with a tubular castin S3, having an integral lateral extension s2 at one side thereof, the main part of the said casting S3 being preferably made cylindric and somewhat larger in diameter than the pipe s,which is connected with said main part of the casting by a screw-threaded joint at its upper end, while the lateralextension s2 is made narrower than said main part of the casting, as clearly shown in the sectional view, Fig. 18. Inside the main port ot the casting S3 is another casting, consisting of connected inner and outer tubes si S4, the outer tube s3 forming1 an extension of the pipe s, while the inner tube s4 is connected at its lower end with and forms an upward extension ot' the inner pipe s. The said tubes s3 sfl extend to a point near the top ot the chamber S3, so that theannular space between them forms part of the riser and opens into the upper part of the said chamber. A lateral passage s5 passes through the said tubes s3 s4, near the lower ends of the saine and form an opening leading from the bottom ot said chamber Ss into the inner pipe or drop-leg s. The object of the construction described is to afford a' large condensing-surface at the top of the loop, while allowing water ot condensation which accumulates in said chamber to readily escape to the drop-leg through the opening S5. The said chambers SS are shown as provided at their lower ends with anges .56, adapted for contact with each other when the loops are placed together and through which are inserted bolts S7 for clamping the adjacent castings together. T T2 are basecastings to which the lower ends of. the pipes S S of the loops are secured. Said castings are each provided in its rear part with a vertical passage t of larger size than the inner pipe s and through which said pipe passes to a point near the bottom of the casting,

where it is secured in a horizontal partitionwall t', between which and the bottom of the casting is formed a horizontal passage 2,with which said pipe s communicates. The space between the said pipe s and the wall of the casting t forms a continuation of the annular space between the inner and outer pipes s s', and said space terminates at its lower end in a space or opening t3, located above the partition t and extending laterally outward IIO through the side of the casting. ln the outer or forward part of the casting above thehorizontal partition are `formed two chambers T3 and T4, separated from each other by a horizontal partition 4, within which is located an upwardly-opening check-valve U, to allow the passage of steam from the lower chamber T4 to the upper chamber T3. In a tubular extension 155 of the upper chamber T3 is located a weight U, ,which acts upon the check-valve U to hold the same upon its seat. The said chamber "3, above the partition 154, extends outwardly through the side of the basecasting at the same side thereof as that at which the recess 153 is located, while the lower chamber extends through the casting at the opposite side thereof, these chambers being so constructed that when the castings are secured together side by side by means of bolts 155, as shown, or otherwise, the

chamber T3 of one casting will open into or be continuous with the lower chamber T4 of the adjacent casting, and the recess i3 will also open into the annular part of said chamber T4, the side wall t7 of said upper chamber T3 and the side wall t3 of the lower chamber T4 being so shaped or curved, as clearly seen in Figs. 17 and 20, as to afford a space or opening t3 between the chambers T3 and T4 of adjacent castings. A check-valve V allows the passage of water from thelower passage 153 of the casting upwardly into the lower chamber T4 thereof, the stem of said valve being herein shown as being supported in a guide1545, held in an arm or bracket cast on the side of the chamber, in the manner clearly shown in the drawings. T5 is a casting secured to the base of that loop at which live steam is received,said castingbeingprovided with a vertical passage 1544, with which the steam pipe is connected, and with a horizontal passage 43, leading from the passage 1544 to the lower chamber T4 of the base of the casting Tof the first loop. Said casting T5 is also provided with a vertical passage 1543, communicating with the said lower chamber T4 by means of a recess 44, extending laterally through the side face of said casting T5 and openinginto thelower part of said chamber "4 when the parts are secured together, as seen in Fig. 19. Said passages 45 and 1544 are for the exit of water from the combined loops in its passage to the generator. At the opposite end of the group of combined or connected loops is secured a casting T5, which is provided with a vertical passage 1545, with which the supplypipe E communicates and which opens atits lower end into a horizontal passage 153, corresponding with the similar passages 153 0f the castings T T3, dpe., and communicating with the chamber T7, formed in the upper part of said casting, by means of a check-valve V, corresponding in function with check-valves V, hereinbefore referred to. The chamber T3 opens at the inner side of the casting T5 into the upper chamber T3 of the adjacent casting T3 and also into the recess t3 of said adjacent casting. In the operation of this form of the connected or combined loops steam is supplied through the passage t44,'and, passing through the several pressure-reducing valves, affords lessened steam-pressures in the several steam spaces or chambers formed by the communicating upper and lower chambers T3 and T'4of adjacentloopsections. Watersupplied by the pipe E and acting on the checkvalve in the casting T5 with sufficient force to lift said valve against the steam-pressure in the chamber T7 enters the lower part of said chamber and, passing through the recess 153 of the base-casting T3 to the bottom of the passage 15, is swept upwardly between the pipes S and S into the chamber S3. Water accumulating in said chamber fills the pipe or drop-leg s until a liquid column vis formed therein of sufficient height to overcome the steam-pressure in the lower chamber T4 of the loop-section S3, when it will lift the valve V, belonging to said section, and find its way to the riser of loop S', through which it will be swept upwardly to the low-pressure space within casting S in the same manner as before described. The water reaching the lower chamber T4 of the loop S', or that subjected to the highest pressure, passes through the passage 43 of the casting T5 and is carried through the same back to the generator. As shown in said Figs. 16 to 20, a steam-passage 1545 extends from the casting T5 through the several basecastings T T3 into the casting T5, where it opens into the chamber T7. In the steam-passage 43 of said casting T5 is placed a three-way cock XV, by which communication may be established between the steamepassage t44 and either the passage 1543 or 45. In the ordinary operation of the device the three-way cock lV is turned, as shown in Fig. 20, so as to close the passage 1545, and thus direct the flow of steam to the steam-chambers of the several loops. When, however, at the time of starting the apparatus it is desired to blow out the air from the several loops, the three-way cock XV will be turned so as to deliver steam into the passage 1545 and shut it off from the several steam-chambers. Steam will then enter the chamber T7 under full pressure and inasmuch as it will be prevented from passing backwardly through the pressure-regulatin g valves the steam will pass through the several loops and out through the passage 1543. The air thus discharged is delivered through a discharge-opening in the return-pipe controlled by a three-way cock, as hereinbefore stated, or otherwise. The said passage 1545, arranged as above described, obviously performs the same function as the pipe N. (Shown in Fig. S.) The connected or combined loops, arranged as described, will perform their work'no matter what the boilerpressure may be or whether it is high or low. Furthermore, the loops will work perfectly when there is a vacuum, instead of pressure,

ateneo in one or more ot the same-as, for instance, there may be a vacuum in loop B7, produced bythe action of the water column in the other loops. By placing the valve-chambers and connecting-passages in the base-sections in the mannerdescribed I am enabled to greatly cheapen the cost of manufacture of the loops and decrease the space occupied by the loops required to do a certainwork. This construction, furthermore, greatly facilitates the construction and repair ofthe loops, inasmuch as any loop-section is complete in itself and any number of them may be combined, as required, to fultill the duty required. y

An important advantage is gained by forming each loop ot' one pipe arranged within the other, not only by reason of the greater cheapness of construction thereby obtained, but by reason of the saving of loss of heat by radiation, which takes place Where both the riser and drop-leg are exposed to the atmosphere.

I claim as my invention- 1. An apparatus for delivering liquid from a space subject to one pressure into a space subject to a higher pressure, comprising a plurality of similar base-castings adapted for connection with each other and containing a pressure-reducing valve or valves, and pipes connected with thebase-castings, said basecastings forming a plurality of chambers, in which different pressures are maintained by the action of the reducing valve or valves, and the pipes forming steam-loops by which Water may be transferred from one to the other of said chambers, substantially as described.

2. An apparatus for delivering liquid from a space subject to one pressure into a space subject to a higher pressure, comprising a plurality of similar base-castings adapted for connection with each other and containing a pressure-reducing` and check valve or valves, and pipes connected with the base-castings, said base-castings forminga plurality of chambers, in which different pressures are maintained by the action of the reducing valve or valves and the pipes forming steam-loops by which water may be transmitted from one to the other of saidchambers through said check valve or valves, substantially as described.

3. An apparatus for delivering liquid from a space subject to one pressure into a space subject to a higherpressure, comprising a plurality of pipes forming steam-loops and basecastings, each of which is provided with upper and lower steam-chambers, an upwardlyopening pressure-regulating valve, a passage leading from the descending part ot' a steamloop connected therewith to the lower chamber provided with a check-valve, and a passage leading ;t'rom the said lower chamber to the riser of another steam-loop, the upper steam-chamber of each section being adapted for communication with the lower chamber of an adjacent section when the sections are secu red together, substantially as described.

.4. A loop-section comprising two pipes, one within the other and forming the riser and drop-leg of a steam-loop, and a base-casting provided with a pressure-reducing valve, substantially as described.

5. A loop-section comprising two pipes, one wit-hin the other and forming the riser and drop-leg ot a steam-loop, and a base-casting provided with a pressure-reducing valve and a check-valve, substantially as described.

6. A loop-section comprising two pipes arranged one within the other and forming the riser and drop-leg of a steam-loop, andabasecasting containing upper and lower steamchalnbers and in which the upper steam-cham ber is adapted for connection with the lower chamber ot' a similar base-casting at one side ot' it and the lower chamber is adapted for connection with the upper steam-chamber of a similar base-casting at the other side of it, a pressure-reducing valve between said chambers, and passages in the said base-casting for connecting the riser and drop-leg of said loop-section with the lower steam-chamber of that and adjacent loop sections, substantially as described.

7. A loop-section comprising two pipes arranged one within the other and forming the riser and drop-leg of a steam-loop, and a base part or casting containing upper and lower chambers, of which the upper chamber is adapted for connection with the lower chamber of an adjacent loop upon one side of it and the lower chamber is adapted for connection with the upper chamber of an adjacent loop at the other side of it when the castings are secured together, a pressure-regulating valve between said chambers and containing, also, passages for connecting the riser and drop-leg of said loop-section with the lower steam-chambers of that and adjacent loopsections, and a weight located in the upper chamber and acting upon the said regulatingvalve, substantially as described.

S. The combination, with a steam-generator, means for delivering water to the same, comprising a plurality of chambers subject to different degrees of steam-pressure, steamloops connecting said chambers with each other, and a water-return pipe havinga valved outlet, of a steam pipe or passage leading to the chamber subject to greatest pressure, another steam pipe or passage leading to the chambersnbject to the smallest pressure, and valves in said pipes, whereby steam may be allowed to flow through the several loops and outwardly through the said outlet, substantially as described.

9. The combination, with a steam-generator, means for delivering Water to said generator, comprising a plurality of steam-chambers and a pipe supplying the steam to said chambers from the generator, pressure-reducing valves located between the said steamchambers, steam-loops connecting the steamchambers and provided with check-valves,

IOO

lIO

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

TALTER BURNHAM.

NVitnesSes:

H. l1. NEWMAN, S. F. CHAMBERLAIN.

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