US496488A

US496488A - Automatic distilling apparatus

Info

Publication number: US496488A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1893-05-02
Anticipated expiration: 1910-05-02

Description

(No Model.) RUUD AUTOMATIOYDISTILLING APPARATUS. No. 496,488. Patented May 2, 1893.

wmuzsses: 20 Mon,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWIN RUU D, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

AUTOMATIC DISTILLING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 496,488, dated May 2, 1893. ApplioationfiledDecember 12, 1892. Serial No. 454,895. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWIN RUUD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburg, in

the county of Allegheny and State of Pennfurnished, the appliance being automatic in operation, and enabling the ordinary water back or other means ordinarily employed to be dispensed with.

To this end, my invention, generally stated, consists in the combination of a boiler, a condenser provided with supply and discharge connections, a gas burner located in position to heat the boiler, a distilled water receptacle, a boiler float controlling the supply of water from the condenser to the boiler, and a distilled Water receptacle float controlling the supply of gas to the burner.

The improvement claimed is hereinafter fully set forth.

The accompanying drawing is a vertical, central section through an automatic distilling apparatus illustrating an application of my invention.

In the practice of my invention I provide a condenser 1, having a lower supply connection 2, and an upper discharge connection 3, which may be secured to a removable cap 4, closing the top of the condenser. The supply' connection is adapted to be connected with a main or primary supply pipe 5 leading from the house water service pipe, and the discharge connection with a pipe 6 leading to a hot water receptacleyas, for example, an ordinary range boilerj A boiler 7,- which may be conveniently made in spheri-c cal form, and composed of two sections connected by flanges, as shown, is supported at a convenient distance below the condenser,

being, in the instance shown, screwed to a tubular projection 8, cast on the bottom of the condenser, and open at its lower end to the boiler. A boiler supply pipe 9, leads from the upper portion of the condenser, being, in

this instance, secured to a nozzle on the cap, to a port 10, in the upper portion of the boiler 7, which port is controlled by a downwardly opening water feed valve 11, on the end of a stem 12, the-lower end of which is connected to a curved lever 13, which is journaled, with the capacity of a limited degree of vibration, on a pin 14, fitted in lugs on the inside of'the boiler 7.

It will be obvious that there is a practical advantage in leading the boiler supply pipe 9 from the condenser, as shown, for the reason that, by such connection, warmer water will be supplied to the boiler than if the pipe 9 were led directly from the main supply pipe to the boiler. I do not, however, desire to limit my invention to a construction in which such indirect or intermediate connection is employed, as the pipe 9 may, if preferred, beled directly from the main supply pipe 5 to the boiler, without, in any wise, involving a departure from the essential principle of operation of the apparatus.

A ball or float 15, which is preferably of light sheet metal, and is of sufiicient buoyancy to float in water, is placed in the boiler, its curved upper surface fitting under the curved portion of the lever 13, against which it bears when the water in the boiler rises above a determined level, and thereby raises the lever 13 and the connected valve stem 12 and water feed valve 11, seating the valve 11 and cutting off the supply of water from the condenser to the boiler. The downward traverse of the float 15, after it has effected the full opening of the valve 11, is suitably limited by a fixed stop 21.

A delivery pipe 16, leads outwardly from the upper portion of the boiler 7, being, in this instance, connected to the open ended tubular projection 8 of the condenser, and passing through a suitably packed stuffing box 17, in the cap of the condenser, is led through the condenser in ahelical coil, or in the manner of the worm of a still, so as to present as large an amount of condensing surface as practicable, after which it is passed out of the condenser and led downwardly to a lower distilled water receptacle 18, which is provided with a cover 19, and a delivery cook 20.

Heat is applied to the boiler 7, for the generation of steam from water contained therein, by a gas burner 22, to which gas is supplied from a gas service pipe 23, delivering gas into a mixer 21, from which, with air which enters at the bottom of the mixer, the gas passes into the burner and is ignited at its upper openings. The gas burner is inclosed within an open bottomed casing 25, which is closed at top by the boiler and is provided with an upper discharge opening or flue connection 26. The flow of gas to the burner 22 is controlled by a gas supply valve 27, on the upper end of a stem 28, the lower end of which is connected to a lever 29, journaled, by a pin 30, to a lug or lugs on the inside of the distilled water receptacle 18. The lever 29 is moved upwardly, so as to seat the valve 27, and cut off the supply of gas to the burner, when the distilled water in the receptacle 18 has risen to a determined level, by a float 31, which rises and falls with the level of the water in the receptacle 18. An igniting jet 32, which is kept continuously lighted during the operation of the apparatus, is connected to the gas supply pipe 23, on the supply side of the valve 27, the opening of the jet being located in position to ignite a mixture of gas and air passing out of the burner 2, and being of such diameter that only a small gas flame is maintained at its outlet.

In order to admit of the escape of any excess of water which may leak into the boiler when the apparatus is not in service, and thereby to prevent the entry of such excess of water into the distilled water receptacle an overflow pipe 33 is led out of the bottom of the boiler and after being carried upwardly to a level near its top, is connected with a suitable discharge. A cook 34: in the lower portion of the overflow pipe 33,is provided to admit of the periodical withdrawal of all Water from the boiler 7, to effect the removal of sediment or for other purposes. The proper distance between the boiler and the distilled water receptacle 18 is maintained by a rod or stem 35, which is, in this case, shown as connected to the cover 19 of the receptacle and to an elbow on the overflow pipe In the operation of the apparatus, water admitted through the supply pipe 5 fills the condenser 1, and thence passes, through the pipe 9 and port 11 into the boiler 7. \Vhen the water has risen to the determined normal level in the boiler, the float 15, through the lever 13 and stem 12, closes the valve 11 and shuts off the further supply of water to the boiler. The gas being ignited at the openings of the burner 22, the heat of its flame is applied to the boiler 7, evaporating the water therein, the vapor of which passes out through the delivery pipe 1G,and is condensed by the cold water in the condenser, in its passage through the coils of the pipe 16 therein. The condensed water passes through the downward extension of the pipe 16 into the receptacle 1S, and the water in the condenser which is heated by the steam which it has condensed, rises in the condenser and is collected in the ordinary kitchen hot water tank and used for domestic purposes, thus further utilizing the heat of the gas flame. As soon as the water in the receptacle 18 has risen to the determined level, the float 31, through the lever 29 and stem 28, closes the valve 27, and shuts oil the supply of gas to the burner 22. The small flame at the igniting jet 32 remains lighted, and, when sufficient distilled water has been drawn from the receptacle 18 to lower the float 31 below the determined level at which it closes the gas supply valve 27, said float will reopen the valve 27, and the gas thereby permitted to flow out of the openings of the burner 22 will be again ignited by the flame at the jet 32, and the operation of evaporation and condensation will be resumed and continued, as before, until the float 31 has been again raised to its determined level in the receptacle 18 by the supply of distilled water thereto, when the gas supply will be again shut cit, and the operation discontinued. It will thus be seen that the action of the apparatus is entirely automatic, and that it will perform its functions, in accordance with the conditions of delivery, so long as water is supplied through the pipe 5.

It is well recognized that a large proportion of the cases of illness and resultant death in many communities, is due to the use of impure drinking water, and that no effective purification of the water is attained by filtration. My invention provides, Within a com pass, and under a construction suitably and conveniently adapted for domestic use, an automatically acting appliance by which a constant supply of pure water is furnished, and which economically utilizes the heat required for distillation, in likewise providing a supply of hot water for washing and other household purposes.

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The combination, substantially as set forth, of a boiler, a water supply connection leading thereinto, a condenser provided with water supply and discharge connections, a gas burner located in position to heat the boiler, a distilled water receptacle, a connection leading, through the condenser, from the boiler to said receptacle, a boiler float controlling the supply of water to the boiler, and a distilled water receptacle float controlling the supply of gas to the burner.

2. The combination, substantially as set forth, of a boiler, a water supply connection leading thereinto, a condenser provided with water supply and discharge connections, a gas burner located in position to heat the boiler, a distilled water receptacle, a connection leading, through the condenser, from the boiler to said receptacle, a boiler float controlling the supply of water to the boiler, a distilled water receptacle float controlling the supply of ICC gas to the burner, and an overflow pipe leadboiler, a water feed valve controlling said supply pipe, a lever journaled on the inside of the boiler and connected to the stem of said valve, a float within the boiler bearing against said lever at a determinedwater level, a delivery pipe leadingfrom theboiler and through the condenser toa lower point of discharge, a distilled water receptacle located in position to receive the discharge from the delivery pipe,a gas burner located in position to heat the boiler, a gas supply valve controlling the flow of gas to the burner, a lever journaled inside the distilled water receptacle and connected to the stem of said valve, and a float Within said receptacle bearing against said lever at a determined water level.

4. The combination, substantially as set forth, of a boiler, a condenser provided with water supply and discharge connections, a gas burner located in position to heat the boiler, a distilled water receptacle, a boiler float controlling the supply of water from the condenser to the boiler, a distilled water receptacle float controlling the supply of gas to the burner, and an igniting jet located adjacent to the burner.

5. The combination, substantially as set forth, of a boiler, a water supply pipe leading thereinto, a gas burner located in position to heat the boiler, a delivery pipe having condensing coils and leading from the'boiler to a lower point of discharge, a distilled water receptacle located in position to receive the discharge from the delivery pipe, a boiler float controlling the supply of water to the boiler, and a distilled water receptacle float controlling the supply of gas to the burner.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand. v

EDWIN RUUD. Witnesses:

J. SNOWDEN BELL, R. H. WHITTLESEY.