US660294A - Feed-water regulator. - Google Patents

Description

nu. 660,294. Patented Dct. 23, |900.

-c. B. EnwAnns.

FEEDv WATER REGULATOR.

(Application led July 31, 1900.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet I.

m'nesses: Inveno r.'

Patented Oct. 23, |900.

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2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

.End l l, r .mv l v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES B. EDVARDS, OFv WEYMOUTH, MASSACHUSETTS.

FEED-WATER REGULATOR.

SPEGIFCATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 660,294, dated October 23, 1900.

Application led July 31, 1900. Serial No. 25,374. (No model.)

To tI/Z whom it may concern.-

Beit known that I, CHARLES B. EDWARDS,

a citizen of the United States of America, and

An object of the present invention is to provide afeed-water apparatus of simplified, improved: and eiiicient construction and organization adapted automatically for controlling the supply of fluid to a receptacle and in which is employed two cooperative.

whereby to effect an opening and closing movement of said Huid-actuated valve.

A further object of the invention is to provide in an apparatus of the class specified improved float-actuated valve mechanism including two concentrically-disposed valves, one of which is normally retained in its closed position by an excess of iiuid pressure at one end and which controls the induction of feed-Water to the boiler or receptacle and the other of which operates in one direction to relieve the pressure at one end of said firstmentioned valve, whereby to permit the pressure at the opposite end of said valve to impart an opening movement thereto, and operates in an opposite direction to reestablish this excess pressure to effect a closing movement of said first-mentioned valve. With these objects in view the invention consists in certain details of construction and in the combination and organization of the several elements, substantially as hereinafter described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings accompanying and forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is 'a side elevation, partly in section, of a portion `of one form of feed-Water regulator or supply` apparatus embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a central vertical sectionyon an enlarged scale, of a portion of the supply apparatus, showing a portion of a receiver and the valve mechanism in its normal closed position.' Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the main or puppet valve that controls the iuid-supply; and Fig. t is a side elevation of a portion of the iioat-actuated supplemental valve or tube-valvethat controls the movements of the main valve.

Similar characters refer to like parts inall the figures of the drawings.

As a preamble to a detail description of the construction and organization of the several elements comprised in the feed-water regulator as a whole it is desired to state that the float-actuated valve mechanism which is shown constituting an element of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. l may be used, as hereinafter described, in connection with a separate iioat-chamber or supplemental receiver- A or in direct connection with a main receiver Yor boiler to which itis desired to supply fluid.

` ings the feed-water-regulatin g apparatus as a whole comprises a main receiver or boiler B; a supplemental receiver, float-chamber, or drum C, in communicating connection with said main receiver; a valve-body D, shown supported on the supplemental receiver C and having two pressure-fluid chambers 2 and'2 and an outlet-chamber 3; means (shown as a supply-pipe 4) for supplying fluid to the two. pressure-fluid chambers@ and'2 through the inlet-chamber 2, which is shown having communication with the chamber 2 through a conduit; an induction or feed pipe 5, connecting the outlet chamber or opening 3 with the main receiver B; a duplex-valve device including a main valve E and a supplemental rooM valve F, disposed in relatively-concentric relation within the valve-body, and the main valve of which controls the admission of iiuid from the inlet-opening to the outlet-opening and is normally subjected to an excess fluidpressure at one end, which normally retains the same seated, and the supplemental valve of which is adapted for relieving or nullifying this excess pressure on one movement thereof to effect an opening movement of said valve and for restablishing the excess pressure on another movement thereof to eect a closing movement of the main valve, and a Valve-actuating ioat G, i-n adjustable connection with the supplemental valve.

The supplemental receiver or oat-chamber C may be of any suitable general construction, may be supported in any suitable manner, and will preferably be connected to the boiler or main receiver B by pipes or conduits 6 and 6', which enter both receivers above and below the normal fluid-level thereof, so that a corresponding Huid-level will be maintained in both receivers.

The valve-body D, shown in Fig. 1 as supported on the crown or top plate of the snpplemental. receiver, embodies in the preferred construction thereof shown in Fig. 2 two pressure-fluid chambers 2 and 2', one of which constitutes an inlet or valve chamber and the other of which constitutes a piston-chamber of larger diameter than and is disposed, preferably, in vertical alinement with the inletchamber; an intermediate outlet or exhaust chamber 3, disposed in a plane substantially at right angles to and intersecting the common axes ot' the two pressure-fluid chambers;

a valve-seat 7, having a valve-controlled open ing 7 and disposed between the inlet and outlet chambers, and a conduit or passage-way 8, extending around the outlet-chamber and establishing communication between the two pressure-huid chambers. The cond uit or pas sage-way 8 between the two chambers 2 and 2 has its inlet and outlet ends in communi cation with said chambers above and below the upper and lower faces of the valve, respectively, irrespective of the position of said valve, so that pressure uid will be conducted from the inlet-chamber to the piston-chamber to maintain a pressure at opposite ends of the valve, the effective pressure against the lower end of the valve being, when said valve is seated, considerably in excess of that against the upper end of the valve, whereby normally to retain the valve in its closed position and until the pressure is reduced below that at the upper end, as hereinafter described, to effect a closing movement of said valve.

As a convenient means for regulating the eective area of the conduit 8, whereby to determine the pressure of the Huid against the lower end of the valve, I have provided in adjustable connection with the valve-body and conduit a regulating device, which is shown in the nature of a needle-valve 9 in coperative relation with one arm of the conduit and `having a screw-threaded pin extending inward through a screw-threaded opening in the body and provided at the outer end thereof with a hand-wheel whereby the same may be turned in adjusting the valve.

The duplex-valve device consists in the preferred construction and organization thereof shown in Fig. 2 of two relativelyconcentric valves E and F, respectively, the former of which controls the feed-water su pply and will for convenience be herein referred to as the main or fluid-actuated valve, and the latter of which controls the movements of the main valve and will for convenience be herein referred to as the supplemental or iioat-actuated valve.

The main valve E, which is operated in its opening and closing movements by fluid and which is in the nature of a puppet-valve, has its valve-face l0, of relatively small area, in cooperative relation with the valve-seat 7 and has a diametrically-reduced tubularstem l2, with radial ports l2' preferably disposed to maintain constant communication between the outlet-chamber 3 and the interior of said ,valve-stem, and which stem has at the` lower end thereof a piston 13, whose lower face is of relatively large area as compared with the effective area of the valve-face l0 and is disposed for reciprocatory movement in the piston-chamber 2, said piston being preferably formed integral with the valve-stem and having an axiaLopening registering with the axial opening of said stem. The Valve E will preferably have radiating guides l/lat the upper end cooperating with the inner face of the valve-seat for directing the movements of this end of the valve.

It is desired to state in the above connection that the invention is not limited to the specific construction of main valve herein described, and illustrated in the drawings, as said valve is subject to various modifications within the purview of this invention.

The main valve E, which is operated in both directions by fluid, is so limited in its opening and closing movements with respect to the pressure-fluid chambers 2 and 2', as shown in Fig. 2, that the exit of the conduit will always be open to the piston-cham ber to admit pressure fluid to the chamber 2' from the chamber 2 and below the lower end of the -valvepiston whereby normally to retain the valve seated.

V The supplemental Valve F, which is in the nature of a tube-valve, has the upper end thereof extended through the piston into the stem of the main valve E, this end of the supplemental valve closely fitting the central opening in the main valve and having a central bore or recess l5, with one or more radial ports 16 at the lower or outer end thereof leading from the central bore to the outer face of the valve in position to communicate with the piston-chamber 2' and also havingl at'the upper or inner end thereof ports 17,

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leading from the central 'opening 15 preferably to an annular recess 1S in the periphery ofthe upper end of said valve and in position to communicate with the ports in the main- Valve stem during the descending movement of the supplemental valve to eect an opening movement of the main valve. words, the upper or inner end of the supplemental valve has port passages or conduits adapted in one position of the supplemental valve for conducting the pressure fluid from below the piston end of the main valve to the outlet-chamber 3, whereby to relieve the excess pressure at this end and cause the fluidpressure above the valve to force said valve to an open position. It isdesired to state in this connection that the invention is not limited to the specific construction of supplemental valve illustrated in the accompanying drawings, as the same is subject to some modification so long as it embodies means for conducting fluid from the piston-chamber to the outlet-chamber of the valve-body, whereby to reduce the pressure at one end of the main valve below that at the other end andl effect an opening movement to said valve.

The supplemental valve F is shown having a stem 19, which extends through and below l is provided at the lower end thereof with a packing-nut 19'. It will be obvious, 4however, that the means for eecting an adjustment of the fioat to determine the movements of the valve E and the water-level may be variously modified without departure from this invention.

In the form shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings the valve-body is provided with an externallyscrew-threaded plug 21 at the lower end thereof, which has at the upper end thereof an annular wall which constitutes a part of the piston-chamber 2 and the upper end of which forms a seat for the piston and limits the opening movement of the main valve and which wall has openings through which pressure uid from the conduit 8 enters below said piston. This plug is shown screwed into a plate 23, riveted at 24 and 24 to the upper recessed wall of the receiver, said plate having a boss extending into said recess.

The means shown for attaching the valvebody to the receiver may of course be variously modilied.

To permit the escape of any fluid which may have accidentally entered between the end of the supplemental valve and inner wall of the main valve a vent 25 may be provided, as shown in Fig. 2. In the .construction In othery thereof shown in Fig. 2 the lower ports 16 of the supplemental valve will be in constant communicationwith the piston-chamber irrespective of the position of the supplemental valve. In the normal position of the parts,

.as illustratedy in Fig. 2 of the dr-awings, (the main valve being in its seated position and the supplemental valve being in its elevated main-valve-seating position,) the upper ports piston to flow through the central chamber of the supplemental valv'e into the outletchamber 3 of the valve-body, thus reducing the effective pressure below the piston snflil ciently to cause the then preponderant pressure above to impart an opening movement to the valve to supply fluid to the receiver. When the water-level in the float-receiver rises sufficiently to impart a vertical movement to theffloat,hthe tube or supplemental valve will be elevated and will cut off communicationbetween the ports thereof and the ports in the main-valve stem, thus reestablishingan excess pressure in ^the, piston-chamber and causing the fluid at this end to impart a closing movement to the valve. From the foregoing it will be seen that the main valve is subjected normally, or when the valve is seated, to different fluid-pressures at opposite ends and that by the ascending and descending movements of the supplemental valve an excess pressure will be established first at one end and then at the other end of the valve to cause the fluid at these ends alternately to impart one an opening and the other a closing movement to the mainvalve. When the main valve is in its lowest or unseated position, it is practically balanced, as will 'be readily understood, so that immediately upon the cutting off of communicationbetween the piston-.chamber and outletchamber by the ascending movement of the supplemental valve a sufiicient excess of pressure will be established below the piston of the valve as compared with the pressure at the opposite end of said valve to effect a quick-closing movement thereof.

I claim- 1. A feed-water regulatorincludi'nga Iioatactuated valve having the opposite end faces thereof of different areas; `means supplying iuid to opposite ends of said valve whereby the valve will normally be retained in a closed position by the iiuid at thelarge end thereof;

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means including a float-actuated tube-valve in concentric relation with the fluid-actuated valve for alternately nullifying and establishing the effective pressure at the larger end of the valve whereby alternately to eect opening and closing movements to said valve.

2. The combination with a receiver, of a valve-body having an inlet and an outlet with an intermediate valve-seat; a puppet-valve in cooperative relation with the valve-seat and having a tubular stem with ports leading therefrom to the outlet; means for supplying iuid to opposite ends of the valve whereby normally to retain the valve seated; and a float-actuated valve extending into the stem of the puppet-valve and having ports disposed to relieve the pressure at one end of said valve on the descent of the ioat to effect an opening movement of the puppet-valve.

3. A feed water regulator embodying a fluid-actuated valve having a piston of different effective surface area in fixed connection therewith; means for admitting iiuid above the valve and below the piston; a concentrically-dispos'ed tube-valve having ports disposed to conduct fluid from below the piston to a point above said piston; and floatactuated means for operating the last-mentioned valve. i

4. A feed-water regulator embodying a valve-body having an inlet and an outlet chamber disposed with their axes in intersecting planes and having a piston-chamber of greater diameter than,and in substantial alinement with, the inlet-chamber; means for supplying liuid to the inlet and piston chambers; a puppet-valve for establishing communication between the inlet and outlet chambers and having a tubular stem with ports opening from the interior thereof to the outletchamber; apiston on the valve-stem working in the piston-chamber; a tube-valve extending into the puppet-valve and having exhaustports adapted, on one movement thereof, for establishing communication between the piston-chamber and outlet through the ports in the valve-stem whereby to reduce the pressure of the piston end of the valve to effect an opening movement thereof; and float-actuated means in connection with the tubevalve.

5. In an apparatus of the class specified a valve-body having an inlet-chamber and a piston-chamber of 'dierent diameters in substantial axial alinement and also having an `through the piston and into the valve-stem and having ports fon admitting duid from the piston-chamber to the outlet-chamber; and a valve-actuating ioat in connection with the tube-valve whereby on the gravitation of the float the tube-valve will be moved to reduce the excess pressure at one end and effect an opening movement of the main valve.

6. In an apparatus of the class specified, the combination with a feed-conduit of automatically-operative valve mechanism including a main and a supplemental valve disposed in concentric relation, the former of which is fluid-operated in its movements and is normally subjected to fluid-pressure at both ends, and the latter of which is in the nature of a tube-valve and extends into and controls the movement of, the former; and a lioat in adjustable connection with the supplemental valve.

7. A feed-water regulator including a valvebody having two alined pressure-fluid chambers of different diameters, an intermediate exhaust-chamber, and a conduit leading from one pressure-fluid chamber around the intermediate chamber to the other pressure-[luid chamber; a main valve disposed between the two pressure-fluid chambers and controlling the admission of iuid from one pressure-fluid chamber to the intermediate chamber; a supplemental tube-valve disposed, concentrically, Within the main valve and effective on' one operation thereof for admitting uidfrom the other pressure-fluid chamber of largest diameter to the intermediate chamber whereby to relieve the pressure atone end of the valve and cause the fluid in the chamber of smallest diameter to effect an opening movement thereof; supply means in connection with one pressure-duid chamber; and automatically-operative means including a loat in adjustable connection with the supplemental valve.

8. In a feed-water-supply apparatus, a valve-body having an inlet and outlet opening; a valve-seat between said openings; a piston-chamber` in alinement with the inletopening; a fluid-actuated main valve coperative with the valve-seat and having a tubular stem provided with a piston located in the piston-chamber and also having ports disposed between the piston and valve and leading from the interior of the stem to the outlet-opening; a concentrically-disposed floatactuated valve extending into the stem of the main valve and having ports for establishing communication between the piston-chamber and outlet-opening of the valve-body through the ports in the main valve.

9. In an apparatus of the class speciiied, the combination of a boiler or main receiver; a supplemental receiver or float-chamber having a communicating connection with said main receiver; afloat disposed in said supplemental receiver; a valve body or casing disposed outside of said supplemental receiver and having inlet and outlet openings separated by a valve-seat; a pipe leading to the IOO IIO

. and an intermediate outlet-chamber; a con-4 d uit extending around the intermediate chamber and maintaining constant comm unication vbetween the two pressure-fluid chambers;

supply means in connection with the lowpressure-fluid chamber; a puppet-valve nor-l 1n ally cutting off communication between the low-pressure-fluid'chamber and the outletchamber; a tube-valve extending into the puppet-valve and normally cutting o communication between the high-pressure-luid chamber and the outlet-chamber; ports in said tube-valve disposed to establish communication between the high-pressure-fluid chamber and outlet-chamber on the descending movementof said tube-valve whereby to permit the pressure in the low-pressure-iuid chamber to effect an opening movement of the puppet-valve; and means for actuating the tube-valve.

1l. The combination with thev valve-body having an inlet Land an outlet openingv separated by a valve-seat, and having a pistonchamber inalinement with the inlet-opening, of two relatively-concentric valves supported in said body and one of which is controlled below said valve. l. 4 l 12. The combination with the valvebody in its movements by the other; a valve-actu ating'float in adjustable connection with one valve; and a conduit leading from the inlet'-l opening at a point above one valve around the outlet to the piston-chamber at apoint having an inlet and an outlet-opening separated by a valve-seat, and having a piston'- chamber in Valinement with the inlet-opening,

.of two relatively-concentric valves supported'y in said body and one of which iscon'trolled in its movements bythe other a valve-*actuating float in' adjustable connection with one valve a conduit leading from the inlet-opening at a point above` one valve around the outlet to the piston-chamber at ay point below said valve; and adjustable meansxfor l varying the effective area of the conduit.l

13. An apparatus of the class specified coniii prising two communicating receivers; a float disposed in one lof said' receivers; feed-Water-l supply ineans in connection with one of'said ,A

receivers and including a valve-body, and two concentrically-disposed valves, 011e` of which is subjected to fluid-pressure atv both` ends and the other valve of which has ports for controlling the effective pressure of the fluid at opposite ends of the first valve to ef? fect an opening and closing movement'of said

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