US1547830A - Fluid-pressure alternating mechanism for equilibrio action - Google Patents

Description

. H- 'G. SHORTT ET AL FLUID PRESSURE ALTERNATING MECHANISM FOR EQUILIBRIO ACTION 4 Sheets'Sheet 1 Filed Jan 24 July 28, 1925.

H. G. SHORTT ET AL I FLUID PRESSURE ALTERNATING MECHANISM FOR EQUILIBRIO ACTION 4 Shee ts Shee't 2 Fiie'd Jan. 24. 1924 July 28, 1925. 1,547,830 H. G. sHoRTT ET AL FLUID PRESSURE ALTERNATING MECHANISM FOR EQUILIBRIO ACTION IN NT 6 B l a ll! wm M I W 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 ill I. .i ll

Filed Jan. 24 1924 v J a\ /,//////z A I,

4 ATTORNEY July 28, 1925.

H. G. SH'ORTT ET AL FLUID PRESSURE'ALTERNATING MECHANISMFOR EQUILIBRIO ACTION Filed Jan. 24, 1924 4 Sh eets '-Sheet 4 INV NT 5' ed/ gum A vial 4' TI'RNEY Patented July 28, 1925.

UNITED STATES PfArEur OFFICE.

HOWARD G. SHORTT, OF GARTHAGE, AND ALDERIC COZRMIER, OF OGDENSBURG, NEW YORK, ASSIGNO RS OF ONE-THIRD TO HIRAM SANDERS, OF CARTHAGE, NEW YORK.

FLUID-PRESSURE ALTERNATING MECHANISM FOR EQUILIBBIO ACTION.

Application filed January 24, 1924. Serial No. 688,239.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that we, HOWARD G. SHoR'rr and ALonRIo COBMIER, citizens, respectively, of the United States and of Canada, and residents, respectively, of Carthage and Ogdensburg, in the counties of Jefferson and St. Lawrence and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fluid-Pressure Alternating Mechanism for Equilibrio Action, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

Our invention refers to a fluid pressure alternating device or mechanism for synchronizing equilibrio action and is adapted for use with steam, water, all kinds of gases or fluids, and in fact is intended to be applied for handling any kind of liquid or fluid or other similar substance or material, as, for example, the mechanism may serve in connection with a steam condensation plant, or a hot water heating system, or a water distribution apparatus, or any other mechanism or device having like or similar objectives and purposes. One of the essential features is a duplicate or alternating system employing a plurality of two or more tanks, reservoirs or receivers which receive the fluid or liquid in automatic alternation. The object of the invention is to provide a dual mechanism whose several members or units operate alternately or separately in an automatic progression in accordance with the action of a fluid pres sure, hydraulic or other regulating and governing valve, or an equivalent electrical substitute having the same function and purpose. And the invention may therefore be said to consist essentially of a dual or multiple arrangement of tanks or receivers for water or other fluid, as, for example, the condensation-water resulting from the condensation of steam, and means for introducing steam into the tanks separately for the purpose of forcing out the contents of the tanks and carrying the same back to the feed-water holders, or to any other point for any other purpose; and the invention also be said to consist, moreover, in the numerous details and peculiarities in the construction, combination and arrangement of the variousparts, substantially as will be hereinafter described and then more fully pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing illustrating our invention Figure 1 is a front elevation of our improved fluid-pressure alternating mechanism. I

Figure2 is a vertical longitudinal section of the valve mechanism constituting the main portion of the invention, but omitting the tanksfor receivers which are sufficiently delineated inFigure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail sectional view on the line 3, 3, of Figure 20f one of the steam inlet valves 'for controlling the passageof high pressure steam into one of the tanks.

Figure 4 is a similar Vertical section on an enlarged scale on the. line 4, 4, of Figure 2, of one of the exhaust valves through which steam is vented from one of the tanks after having been used therein.

Figure 5 is anenlarged sectional view of a portion of one of the tanks and one of the operating valves associated therewith where by fluid-pressure actuates the main piston belonging to the steam valve operating mechanism, and indicates the float or diaphragm located within the contents of the tank for the purpose of enabling the level of such contents to automatically. actuate the aforesaid valve. 1

Figure 6 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the arrangement of valves for admitting and exhausting steam, similar to the arrangement shown in Figure 2 but having electrical devices actuated by float mechanisms in the tanks in lieu of the fluid-pressure piston shown in Figure 2.

Similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout all the dif ferent figures of the drawing.

In the present example of our invention we have indicated two tanks, reservoirs or receivers A and B which may be taken as arranged in connection with a steam condensation plant. The condensation ater flows into the tank ,A' through pipe 14 and is ejected also fromthe tank through said pipe for the purpose of being distributed to a feed water heater or elsewhere, and the tank B is similarly equipped at the bottom "with the pi e; 15 through which the con-' densation water flows into said tank and is ejected therefrom. Steam is allowed to enter the top of tank A at certain times through the steam inlet pipe a and the tank B is similarly equipped with a steam inlet pipe 5 through which high pressure steam reaches the interior of said tank.

Arranged in connection with the steam pipe as is a valve casing C which is entered by the pipe which conveys high pressure,

steam and leads from the boiler .01 some point in the steam line. Said casing C also has a vent pipe 0 through which the exhaust steam from the pipe a is delivered to atmosphere. Similarly the pipe 6 is arranged in connection with valve casing D which is entered by a high pressure steam pipe (Z leading from the boiler or steam line, and easing D has a vent pipe al through which exhaust steam is vented at the proper time to the atmosphere from the pipe Z). In the valve casing C (see Figure 2) there is a valve device for controlling the flow of the live steam from the pipe 0 into the interior of the casing C so that it may have outlet from the pipe a into the tank A, and in casing C there is also another valve having the function of an outlet valve for allowing the waste steam which at times fills the casing C from pipe a to pass out through said casing through the vent pipe 0 and in like manner the casing D contains a valve for controlling the supply of live steam from pipe 0? to pipe Z) and an exhaust or outlet valve for controlling the passage of the waste steam from the interior of the casing D to the vent pipe d Before explaining in greater detail the steam inlet and outlet valves just alluded to, we will refer to the means for automati oally operating the same in producing synchronous equilibrio action which consists, in one example of the invention, that shown in Figures 1 and 2, of a fluid pressure piston and cylinder and suitable connecting pipes, and in another example of the invention, that shown in Figure 6, of electric circuits, electro-inagnets and appurtenant devices, it being understood moreover that hydraulic devices may be substituted for the fluid-pressure mechanism and that in addition to these several specific kinds of mecha nism, there may be quite a wide diversity of other substitute means employed for effectuating the same result in the automatic pro duction of synchronous action.

In the fluid-pressure device delineated in Figures 1 and 2, 1 denotes a cylinder in which is a reciprocating piston 2 on one side ,of which is a chamber 3 and on the other side a chamber 3 ,,said chambers being designed to receive fluid pressure, as air, (which is delivered thereto respectively throughthe pipe 4 which enters the chamber 3 and the-pipe i which enters'the chamber 3. These pipes 4 and P run to points along side of the tanks A and B, the pipe 4 entering the valve casing 11 which contains valve device for controlling the passage of the air, said casing 11 being supported by bracket 27, or other means, on the side of the tank A, while the pipe P leads to another casing 11 similarly supported onthe tank 13, said casing containingan air-controlling valve device. These air valves are automatically actuated by means of a float, diaphragm or equivalent member 16, one of which is inside the tank A and the other inside the tank B, said floats 16rising and falling with the level of the liquid contents of the cylinders and opening and closing the aforesaid air valves in order that fluid pressure which is delivered to the valve casings 11 from pipes 13 running from some suitable air reservoir or supply may be delivered into said casings and thus, under control of the valves, through the pipes 1- and 45*, for the purpose of acting against the piston 2 and enabl ng it, through the medium of suitable leverage, to operate the steam valves and permit high pressure steam to enter the tanks ontop of the liquid con tents thereof, in order toeject said contents through the outlet pipes 14 and 1 5, or other outlet means with which said tanksare provided, as we have already indicated. It w'll be understood, therefore, that the admission of steam to one tank or the other is automatically efl'ected by the action of the floats whenever the tanks have been filled with condensation water to the point at which it becomes desirable to empty them, at wl ich time the a cam flows inquickly and with great force and causes the instantaneous discharge of the contents of the tank.

Proceeding to analyse the mechanical features whereof the alternating mechanism is composed in greater detail than we have done hereinabove, it will be noted by referring to Figure that the side of thetank A is provided with a cover or plate 17 held securely thereto by means of a series of bolts 18, but readily removable to allow access to the interior of the tank A when it is desired to insert or remove the float 16. This circular cover 17 has a protuberance l9 thereon in which is mounted a horizontal shaft 22, tightly packed in the bearing 23, said shaft 22 having a rocker arm 24 which is pivoted to the cleft member 25 carried on the lower end of the valvestem 26, which belongs to the fluid-pressure Ivalve mechanism. The

horizontalshaft 22 is provided with a rod 21 which projects toward the interior of the tank and enters the tubular extension 20' on the float 16 so that an easy andefl'ective connection, the parts of which are readily separable,rmay be made between the float 16 and thearm21. It will be manifestthat as the float rises and falls, due to thechange of the water level, the stem 26 of the fluidpressure valve will rise and fall in sequence. Stem 26, as indicated in Figure 4 and in Figure 2, carries a valve 28 which functions in connection with a seat in the chamber 11 of casing 11 and also another valve 29 which functions in connection with a seat in the chamber 11 of casing 11, while the upper end 30 of stem 26 enters a guiding recess in the screw cap 31 which closes the top of the chamber 11. Said chamber 11 is provided with an outlet pipe 12 through which the air can exhaust to the atmosphere when the valve 29 is open. Between the chambers 11 and 11 is an intermediate chamber 11 in the casing 11 which is entered by the pipe 4 or the pipe 4 accordingly as we may be describing the air valve belonging to the tank A or that belonging to the tank B. In each case the chamber 11 which is the lowermost of the three chambers in the valve casing 11 is entered by the air-supply pipe 13. It is not necessary that the pressure in the reservoir from which the air is taken should be large, as a low pressure of from 20 to 30 pounds will usually be found sufficient for the purpose of supplying enough power to move the piston 2 and transmit motion therefrom to the steam valve devices. Thus it will be seen that the tanks A and B have each a fluid-pressure valve mechanism oper ated automatically by a float, diaphragm,

or other device controlled by the water level,

and that when the Water level rises and the float rises with it, it will-pull down the valve stem 26 and open the valve 28 so as to allow fluid pressure to pass from the chamber 11 into the intermediate chamber 11 and out through the pipe 4 or 4, as the case may be, and that when the float 16 again drops, due to the lowering of the water level, the valve 29 which has been previously closed so that the air could not escape to the atmosphere will now be lifted, as shown in Figure 5, where it is removed from its seat at the same time that the valve 28 is closed, and the pressure within the chamber 11 will be allowed to exhaust into chamber 11 and out to atmosphere through vent pipe 12. In this way the cylinder 1 is adequately vented.

Referring to the valve devices for introducing steam into the tanks A and B on top of the liquid contents therein, for the purpose of effectuating the discharge of such contents, we premise that each of the tanks has a steam admission and a steam vent valve, as already pointed out, one of the valve mechanisms being arranged in connection with the valve casing C and the other in connection with the valve casing D, the details thereof being fully delineated in Figures 2 and 6. The steam or pressure inlet valve 34 functions with relation to a seat 37 topermit steam to pass through pipe 0 into the chamber 38 whence itflows out through pipe at; Valve 34 has a stem which is made in two parts placed end to end, one of these parts being designated 33 and the other 10, the latter being the lowermost part and passing out through the packing 32 in the lower end of the casing C, while directly above the stem section 10 is the stem section 33 which is secured to said valve 34, while directly above the valve 34 an integral member rises andterminates in the piston 35 which operates loosely within the upper portion of the valve casing and below the hollow cap 36 which is screwed into the top of the casing. The stem 33 'istubular, see Figure 3, and within the same is a threeor four-winged rod 40 having a round terminal at its lower end which closes the lower endof the tubular stem 33 when the rod 40 is lifted, and said rod 40 has also a terminal valve 41 at its upper. end which plays back and forth with reference to a seat 42 in the center of the piston 35. At certain times, as we shall presently'show, steam may circulate past the piston 35, for it is a loose fit, and flow under the hollow cap 36 and this steam can return when the valve 41 is opened by flowing past said valve and along the channels betweenthe wings of the rod 40 through the tubular stem 33 and vent or exhaust through the lateral opening or openings 39 in said stem, all as clearly shown in Figure 3. When the stem section 10 reciprocates upwardly, therefore, it will lift the winged rod 40 and cause the lower end of the tubular stem 33 to be closed, thus opening the valve 41 at the same time that the valve 34 is'lifted from its seat 37 by the action of the stem 10 on the lower end of stem 33, and conversely, when the stem 10 drops it is obvious that the winged rod 40 will drop until the valve 41 closes down on the seat 42 and the valve 34 closes down on the seat37, these parts gravitating downwardly and being forced down by the exhaust pressure of the steam as soon as the stem section 10 drops.

It should be noted that a rocker arm 9 is pivoted near the bottom of the valve frame 0 and another one near the bottom of the valve frame D by means of a pivot pin 7 and that the middle portion 6 of rocker arm 9 has projecting therefrom an angular crank arm 8 which is pivoted to the, piston rod 5 projecting to the left from the piston 2, in the one'case, and in the other case, to the piston rod 5 projecting to the right from the piston 2, so that the movement of the piston 2 towards the left will rock the left hand rocker arm 9 in 'one direction on its pivot and will similarly rock the right hand rocker arm 9 inthe same direction on its pivot. Each valve stem 10 which we have been describing has at its lower end a slot 7 43 which engages a pin 44 projecting from the rocker arm 9 at one end thereof, while at the other end of said rocker arm is another similar pin 44 which engages a slot 43 in the lower end of the companion valve stem section l belonging to the steam exhaust valve, which is a counterpart in all respects of the steam inlet valve which we have just been describing.

In giving :the details of the construction and arrangement of the steam outlet valve which enables the exhauststeam to pass to atmosphere, it will be seen, as we have said, that it is the same in all substantial respects as the steam inlet valve, having a valve member 34 which functions in relation to a seat member 37 through which the steam finds an outlet to the atmosphere from the chamber 38 through pipe 0 when the companion steam inlet valve 34 has been closed. Valve 34 has above the same a loose fitting piston section 35, which operates in the upper portion of the casing 0 immediately below the chambered cap 36 and the said valve 34 has a tubular stem 33 similar in all respects to the stem 33 and containing a winged rod 40 similar to rod 40, which winged rod 4O" carries at its upper end a terminal valve 41 which rises and falls with reference to its seat 42*. Below the enlarged lower end of the winged rod 40 the stem section 10 plays up and down in the bearing 32 in the lower portion of casing C (or D, as the case may be). The upper end of the stem 10 performs in relation to the stem 33 and its inner winged rod 40 the same functional activities that are performed by the stem 10 in relation to the stem 33 and other parts, and the lower end of the stem 10 has a slot 43 engaging a pin 44 on the rocker arm 9. Obviously, therefore, in view of the relative arrangement of these parts, as we have just described them, the steam inlet valve 34 will be open at the time that the steam exhaust valve 34 is closed and vice versa in consequence of the connection with the stem sections of the rocker arm 9. Furthermore, as will be clearly evident, the steam valve mechanism belonging to the tank A, while it is the same as the steam valve mechanism belonging to the tank B, each including a steam inlet ,valve and a steam exhaust valve which are similarly constructed, as shown, yet it should be evident by referring to Figures 2 and G and the details set forth on a larger scale in Figures 3 and 4 that by virtue of the fact that the actuating stems of one mechanism are operated similarly with the operating stems of the other mechanism, so longas a single piston with jointly movable rods is employed, which rods shift the rocker arms ofboth valve mechanisms in the same direction, when the steam inlet valve of one valve mechanism for one tank is open, the steam inlet valve of the valve mechanism for the other tank will beclosed, and in order that this may be so the two steam inlet valves have their valve rods attached to the outer ends of the rocker arms 9, while the two steam outlet valves have their valve stems attached to the inner ends of the said rocker arms 9, thus causing the steam outlet valves to be nearest each. other when the parts of the invention are assembled and arranged as shown in Figures 2 and 6, and similarly the two steam inlet valves, being the outermost valves in the grouping of .parts. Although this is the preferable arrangement, yet it is not essential that it should be carried out always in this way, though when a single fluid-pressure piston is employed for the purpose of actuating all these steam valves it would be necessary to arrange the parts so that the bell-crank devices or rocker arms may vibrate in the same way, because evidently when steam is being admitted to the full tank, it is desirable to simultaneously exhaust steam to the atmosphere from the empty tank and vice versa. It is unnecessary to go into a description of the details any further than we have already done in order to show clearly how these two valve mechanisms for the two tanks are twins in arrangement and function.

'lteferring again to Figures 3 and 4 and to the tubular construction of the valve stems 33 and 33 belonging to the valves 34 and 34 the winged rods therein, etct, it will be noted that when the steam inlet valve 34 or the steam exhaust valve 34 is closed tightly down upon its seat, the steam pressure will be on top of the same and will rise upwardly and flow past the loosely fitting pistons 35 or 35, as the case may be,'into the I chambers of the caps 36 or 36 the valve 41 or 41 at this time being closed. When, however, the valve 34 or 34 is lifted away from its seat, the valve 41 or 41 will be opened and steam which is in the upper portion of these chambers and parts will pass down through the seat 42 or 42 and out through the openings 39 or 39 as the case may be, so as to be disposedof in the natural way. For otherwise the steam would not have free employment through the channels and passages in the performance of its normal functions.

In Figure 6 I have shown electrical mechanism arranged as a substitute for the cylinder 1 and piston 2 which I have shown in Figures 1 and 2 as operated by air pressure. Of course it will be perceived that in lieu of air pressure, pressure may be exerted on the piston 2 by means of any other gas or the arrangement may be a hydraulic one, or any other liquid or fluid may be utilized for actuating the piston 2, but we find it extremely convenient to use at times the electrical mechanism shown in Figure 6 which is simple and efiicient. In the tanks A and B are the floats 52 attached to the ends of stems or rods pivoted at 55, which stems or of the proper currents will attract the armature levers 53 or 5a on the opposite sides of the opposite operating lever 47, which lever 47 stands in lieu of the piston 2 and has its upper end slotted at 51 to engage the pin 50 on a reciprocating member 46, the ends of which are pivotally connected with the bell crank arms 8 of the rocker levers 9 for the purpose of imparting the proper joint action to the different valves of the duplicate valve mechanisms-for the two tanks, all as shown in Figure 6, said valve mechanism being thesame in construction and arrangement as indicated in Figures 1 and 2; a

The two tanks A and B being located in proper relation to the apparatus with which they are to perform their functions by way of synchronizing equilibrio actions, will in the out-pumping of the condensed water gradually fill with said water and will obviously be alternative in their filling by reason of the flow of the water. When the tank fills to the point of causing the float or diaphragm, or other automatic means therein to be lifted sufficiently high as to actuate the air valve mechanism, opening the same and letting air pressure pass through so as to act upon the piston 2, or so as to cause one of the circuits in Figure 6 to be closed and the electro-magnet which is energized thereby caused to attract its armature and operate the leverage, the result will be that the steam inlet valve for one tank will be opened 7 while the steam exhaust valve for the same tank is closed, and the steam inletvalve for the other tank will be closed while the steam exhaust valve for that tank is open, whereby any steam in the empty tank or the one that is partly empty will be vented while the full tank will receive steam pressure which will instantaneously act therein upon the liquid contents of the tank and discharge the same through the piping arranged for the pun pose, as we have explained, it being manifest that when a tank is emptied the falling of the float or equivalent device will cause the air valve to close its inlet member and open its venting member and the supply of steam to the tank will be cut off because the valve mechanism will be reversed and the steam previously introduced will be vented discharged the actuating fluid pressure will afterwards he vented to the atmosphere.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In an alternating mechanism for equilibrio action of the kind described, the com bination of a plurality of liquid-holding tanks, a buoyant member in each, an external air valve on each holder automatically controlled by the buoyant member, a cylin- 'der and its piston, fluid pressure pipes runing from the tanks to opposite ends of-the cylinder to convey pressure to opposite sides of. the piston, duplicate valve mechanisms arranged in connection with each tank, and including a steam inlet valve for the tank and a steam outlet valve, and leverage con nections between the aforesaid piston and the valve mechanisms, so that when the buoyant member actuates one of the fluid pressure valves the piston will be reciprocate'd toactuate one of the steam valve mechanisms.

2. In an alternating mechanism for equilibrio action of the kind described, the com-,- bination of a plurality of liquid-holding tanks,' a cylinder and its piston, fluid pres sure pipes leading from the source of supply to opposite sides of the piston, automatic valves operated from within the tanks by the changing of the liquid level for the purpose of controlling the passage of pressure through the aforesaid pipes to the diflerent ends of the cylinder, a steam valve on each holder, and connections between said "valve and the piston whereby the movement of the piston is enabled to introduce steam into one of the tanks- 1 r g 3. In an alternating mechanism for equilibrio action of the kind described, the combination of a plurality of liquid-holding tanks, a cylinder and its piston reciprocable by fluid pressure, means for conveying fluid pressure from the source of supply to the opposite sides of the piston, float-operated valves for each tank arranged to control the fluid pressure in said means, said valves including a member admitting the passage of pressure to the cylinder and a member exhausting to atmosphere, and a steam valve for each tank together with suitable con-- nections between said valve and the piston in order to enable the close said valves.

4. In an alternating mechanism for equipiston to open and librio action of the kind'described, the comv bination of a plurality of liquid-holding tanks, a cylinder and its piston reciprocable by fluid pressure, meansfor conveying fluid pressure from the source of supply to the opposite sides of the piston, float-operated valvesifor each tank arranged to control the fluid pressure in said means, said valves including a member admitting the passage of pressure to the cylinder and a member exhausting to atmosphere, and a steam valve for each tank together with suitable connections between said valve and the piston in order to enable the piston to open and close said valves, each steam valve including a member for allowing the passage of steam into the tankand another member for allowing, steam to exhaust to atmosphere.

5. In an alternating mechanism for equi librio action of the kind described, the combination of a plurality of liquid tanks, a buoyant member in each, a cylinder and its piston. reciprocable by fluid pressure, valve devices operated from within the tank by the buoyant member to control the flow pressure to said cylinder, and steam valve mechanisms for each of the tanks, each valve mechanism comprising duplicate valves one of which allows the passage of steam to the tank and the other of which exhausts to the atmosphere, sectional valve stems for said valves, means for carrying the sections of each valve stem in rectilineal alignment with each other, and leverage mechanism between the ends ofthe valve stems'and the piston, all arranged so that the steam valves may beactuated in correspondence with the changing level of the liquid within the tanks.-

6'. In an alternating mechanism for equilibrio action of the kind described, the combination of a plurality of tanks, a buoyant member in each, an external air valve on each tank automatically controlled by the buoyant member, a cylinder and its piston reciprocable by said fluid pressure accordingly as one or the other of the fluid pres sure valves is actuated by one or the other of the buoyant members, steam valve de vices arranged in connection with each of the tanks, those for each tank having duplicate valves, one controlling the admission of steam to the tank and the other venting it to the atmosphere, sectional valve stems for said valves, the sections belonging to each stem being in alignment with each other and suitably supported so that the stems may be parallel toeach other, a piston rod projecting from each side of the piston, and crank levers pivoted to the ends of the pis ton rods and to the valve stems, whereby both valve mechanisms for both tanks may be jointly operated so that whensteam is be ing admitted into one tank it will be enhausted from the other.- 7

7. In an alternating mechanism for equilibrio action of the kind described, the combination of a plurality of liquid holders,- a buoyant member in each, steam valve mechanisms arranged in connection with each 01" the holders and consisting of duplicate valves one of which admits live steam'to the tank while the other exhausts it therefrom, znechanism' operated by the buoyant memkind described the combination of a number of tanks, a mechanism jointly operated from within each tank by the changing level of the liquid therein, means for introducing condensation or other water or liquid into the bottom of the tanks, a pipe system lead ing to the top of the tanks for conveying live steam thereto, a valve mechanism for controlling the passage of the'live steam in l connection with each tank, said valve mech-' anism being operated by the atoresaid automatic mechanism within the tanks, and comprising essentially a steam valve for admit-- ting steamto the tank, and a similar valve for exhausting steam from the tank, said valves having sectional stems, togetherwith bell crank levers pivoted tosaid stems and connected with the actu-atingmechanism so that when one member of each valve device is opened the other will be closed.

9. In an alternating mechanism of the kind described, the combinationof a number of tanks, a mechanism jointly operated from within each tank by the changing level of the liquid therein, means for introducing condensation or. other water or liquid into the bottom of the tanks, a pipe system leading to the top of the tanks for conveying live steam thereto, a valve mechanism for controlling the passage ofthelive steam in connection with each tank, said valve mechanism being operated by the aforesaidautomatic mechanism within the tanks, and com- Ion prising essentially a steam valve for admitting steam to the tank, and a similar valve for exhausting steam from the tank, said valves havmg sectional stems, together with bell crank levers pivoted to said stems,

and connected with the actuating mechanism, so that when one member of each valve device is opened the other will be closed, and said valve devices having integral therewith loosely moving piston sections above the same, past which-the steam isallowed to flow, valve casings for said valves having upper steam chambers together with seats for the valves, and underneath valves arranged in ho'llo w'p'ortions of the stems and adapted to open to allow the release of the steam in the top chambers at certain times during the operation. a a

10. in an alternating mechanism of the kind described, the eon'rbin'ation of a number of tanks, a mechanism jointly operated from within which each tank by the changing level of the liquid therein, means for introducing condensation or other water or liquid into the bottom of the tanks, a pipe system leading to the top of the tanks for conveying live steam thereto, a valve mechanism for controlling the passage of the live steam in connection with each tank, said valve mechanism being operated by the aforesaid automatic mechanism within the tanks, and comprising essentially a steam valve for admitting steam to the tank, and a similar valve for exhausting steam from the tank, valve stems formed in sections, the sections of each stem being in alignment with each other, and one of the sections of each stem being hollow, winged endwise-movable rods carrying valves and located within the hollow stem sections, loosely arranged pistons integral with the valve members above the latter and allowing the passage of steam by them, and valve'casings providing seats for the valve members and cylindrical bearings within which the piston sections slide, all arranged so that the live steam may hold the valves closely to their seats as required and may flow past the piston sections, but will be released from the upper chambers through the valve Within the stem whenever the valve member is open, all substantially as described. 7

In testimony whereof we hereunto aifiX our signatures.

HOWARD G. SHORTT.

ALDERIC CORMIER.

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