US95983A - Improvement in automatic boiler-feeders - Google Patents

Description

tinitmi tant 'JONATHAN E.' BURDGE,

'or CINCINNATI, onto.

Lette/rs Patent No. 95,983, dated October 19, 1869.

IMl-ROVEMENT IN AUTOMATIC BOILER-FEEDERS.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, J OXATHAN E. BURDGE, of Gincinnati, Hamilton county, State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Boiler-Feeders; and I do hereby declare the following to be a sufficiently full, clear, and exact description thereof to. enable one skilled in the artto which my invention appertains, to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification.

My invention relates to that class of devices which feeds the water to the boiler from an open water-tank or other suitable supply, without employing a forcepump, and which serves to preserve the'water-level at a certain point, or allows it to vary but little from a certain point.

My invention consistsi First, in a certain construction of the moving parts and connecting-devices, which permits of the employment of simple, tight elastic packing.

Second, in a peculiar arrangement of pipes communiating with the boiler, which permits of the feeding` chamber being located at a higher elevation than the water-level in the boiler.

Third, in a certain arrangement of steam-ports and steam-mechanism by which the feeding-mechanism is operated.

In the accompanying drawings- Figure 1 exhibits the feeding-devices, in connection with a steam-boiler, and fully illustrates my improved feeding-mechanism and the improved arrangement of pipescommu'nicating with the boiler.

'Figure 2 isintended. to illustrate my improved arrangement ot' steam-machinery for operating the feeding-plunger, or piston.

Figure 3 exhibits the cylinder of my feeding-device, attached to the boiler, with the old arrangement of pipes, viz, one to the steam-chamber and the other to the water-chamber.

A is a cylinder, provided with ports B ('l D.

The pipe E of an open waterftank or other watersupply connects with the port B.

To the ports C D, the pipes F Ii" are connected,

`Which communicate with the interior of the boiler X by the well-known arrangement of pipes shown in fig. 3, or by my improved arrangement exhibited in tig. l. To the cylinder A, a double-headed piston, G, is

tted, between the heads g g' of whiclra chamber, H,.

crank-engine mechanism shown in iig. 2. In this way steam is applied directly to the feeding-mechanism, making it independent of belting or any other method of driving, and, when required, capable of furnishing power itself for other uses.

.ltwill be seen, 'by reference to fig. 3, that with the arrangement of pipes therein shown, the cylinder' A, or the axis thereof, must, of necessity, be in line with the required water-line in the boiler', in order tov be automatic in regulating the supply of water.

By the arrangement of pipes shown in iig. 1, in

which the ends of both of the pipes F 11V terminate, at or near the water-line, the cylinder A may be located at a sufficient distance above the water-line to enable the feed-water in chamber Hto flow forcibly into the boiler, by reason of excessive gravitation, when` communication between chamber H and the boiler' is opened, and yet the level of the water in the boiler is` maintained at or about a certain point.

Operation.

A reciprocating motion is given to the piston G, which serves to bring the chamber H into alternate communication with the water-supply pipe E,'and with the boiler' through pipes F F'. 4

When in communication with :the pipe E, whatever steam may be in chamber H, escapes through port B, which latter may be at the top of the cylinder, it' desirable, and the chamber is filled with water.

\Vhen iu communication with `the boiler, (see par tial opening, iig. 2,) the pressure of steam is equalon the column of water in 'pipe 11" and chamber H, and the water ows into the boiler by gravity.

4The steam that escapes at port B, when the chamber H is in communication with the pipe E, serves to heat the feed-water, and is all condensed and returned to the boiler. 1t is, under some circumstances, condensed in the chamber H before there is a chance for escape.

The action of the apparatus, as shown in iig. 1, in the, regulation of the water-supply, may be described as follows:

When the water is below the terminations f f oil forced up both pipes equally, and fills the chamber H,g

it' it is not already filled, and in this condition no water can possibly iiow into the boiler' again until the height of the water has been reduced.

It will be seen, that in the passage of thc-piston G inthe direction of the boiler, the port C is opened a little in advance of port D. This is designed to give the pressure on top first, in order to facilitate the rapid discharge of the water in chamber H.

An inferior modification of my device for connecting the feeder with the boiler may consist in omitting the pipe F altogether, and using the pipe F' alone.

In this modification, the pipe F must be slightlyiin- 'clined from the boiler upward, and when the chamber H is in communication with the boiler, the steam, in suflcient' quantity, will rise through the water in pipe F', into the chamber H, and permit the water in said chamber to flow out.

Each of the heads g g of the piston Gr is packed at both ends by ordinary steam-engine elastic packing, hemp, or metallic rings, or cotton rope, and leakages are eifectually prevented by durable mechanism.

I ciaim herein as new, and of my invention'- 1. In connection with the water-supply pipe E and pipes F F', communicating with the interior of the steam-boiler, thedouble-headed piston G, chamber H, and ports B C D of cylinder A, the parts being constructed and arranged, and the whole operated, substantially in the manner and for .the purpose described.

2. In combination with an automatic boiler-feeder,

which embodies a Water-chamber, or feed-pocket, which is brought into alternate communication with the wat-ersupply and the boiler, the feed-pipe F', communicating with the boiler, when the same terminates inside the boiler, at the point corresponding with the required Water-line or level, as set forth.

3. In 'the described connection with the elements of the clause preceding, the pipe F, when the same terminates inside the boiler, at or near the water-line, as set forth. v

4. In .the described combination with the feedingmechanism embodied in the rst clause of claim, the side-passages or pipes J J', and cylinder-heads a a', for the purpose of adapting the feeding-mechanism for direct operation by steam, in the manner substantially as set forth.

Inv testimony of which invention, I h'ereunto set my hand.

J. E. BURDGE.

Witnesses FRANK MILLWARD, NELSON SAYLEs.

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