US1707205A - Boiler feeder - Google Patents

Description

March'v 26, 1929 F. M. WEBSTER BOILER FEEDER Filed July 29, 3.926

"ll/l Patented Mar. 26, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK M. WEBSTER, oEWELLEsLEY FARMS, MASSACHUSETTS, AssIGNoE To W. n. CASHIN co., or EosToN, MASSACHUSETTS, A coEroEATIoN or MASSACHUSETTS.

BOILER FEEDER.

Application filed July 29,

This invention relates to boiler feeders of the general typeused to control the feeding 0f Water to a boiler from a city main or from any other source under pressure. While de vices of this kind ordinarily are referred to as boiler feeders, they are equally adapted for use in feeding water to tanks or any other apparatus Where it is `desired to maintain a Substantially constant level.

It is the chief object of the presentinvention to devise a boiler feeder which will automatically maintain the water in the boiler at an eliieient operating level notwithstanding conditions, such as surging, which introduce difficulties in the operation of such a mechanism. The inventionA also aims to devise a boiler feeder which will be unusually reliable inoperation, will be Simple in construction, and can be manufactured economically.

The nature of the invention will be readily understood from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, and the novel features will be `particularly pointed `out in the appended claims. i

In the drawings,

v Figure l is a central, vertical, cross-sectional view of a boiler feeder embodying this invention; and

l Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view on the line y The apparatus shown comprises a float chamber casing 2 which is adapted to be con# nected by pipes Bland 4: with the steam and water spaces, respectively, in a boiler, the casing being located at approximately the water level which is to be maintained. This casing is provided with openings at opposite sides thereof, one of these openings normally being closed by a cover 5, while the other is closed by the plate-like member 6 of a valve casing 7. Water from the city main or from any other suitable source of supply is, conducted to the valve easing 7 by a pipe 8, and additional pipe connections, including the pipe 9, conduct the water from this valve casing to the boiler. Slidably mounted in the valve casing 7 is a main valve 10 which controlsthe flow ofwater from the inlet port 11 `to the outlet port 12. This valve fits rat-her loosely in the casing so that Water under pressure can find its way up 192e. Serial No. 125,147.

behind the valve 10 into the valve chamber 14, and this pressure is relied upon chieiiy to seat the valve. A coiled spring` 15 which 1s interposed between the valve and a cap 16 threaded into the upper part of the valve chamber also tends to seat the valve.

`This general type of valve is Well known and 1s arranged to be opened or closed by the pressure of the water in the supply thereto.

For this purpose the valve chamber 14-is connected with the float chamber 17 in the casing 2-by means of a port or passage 18. Normally, however, this passage is closed by a v`alve comprisinga plunger 19 and a valve disk or plug 2O carried thereby, this plunger being Supported `in a `tubular housing 21 which projects into the "float chamber from the valve casing and preferably is integral with said easing. A spring 22 tends to hold this valve in its closed position, and an adjustable cap 23 backs up the spring and is threaded into the housing 21, this cap being secured in its adjusted position by `a loeli nut 24.

Mounted in the casing 2 is a float 25 preferably threaded on the end of a short pipe or tube 26 which, in turn, is threaded into the end of a yoke or lever 27. This yolre terminates in a T-shaped head which is fulcrum'ed on a shaft or pin 28 thatis supported by two lugs projecting inwardly from the valve casing plate 6, one of these lugs being shown at 80. A pin or projeetionl extends laterally from the `valve plunger-19 and is arranged to be engaged at .certain times by theupper arm of theT-sliaped lever 27.

`Normally the level of the Water `is such that itholds the float 25 in a position approximately as shown in Fig. 1the upright arm of the lever 27 being out of engagement with the p in 3l.` llVhen` the level of the water in the` boiler, and consequently, the

level in the iioat chamber 17, drops below a allowing thewater in the valve chamber 1li to escape through the duct`18 into the float chamber 17. It will be observed that a plurality of holes are drilled laterally through the Wall of the housing 21 where it `joins the plate 6, so that a very slight unseating movement of the valve 19 (usually referred to as the pilot 'valve) affords relatively freeescape for the water which has been confined in the valve chamber 14.

. vThe pressure of the water in the inlet port 11 immediately lifts the valve l() oil' its seat,`

. contact withv the pin or projection 31, the

s )rinor 22 seats the oilot valve 19 thus closing 1 b l. C

the duct 18 again.V Water from the supply quickly builds up a pressure in the chamber 14 behind the valve 10', which pressure, combined with that ofthe spring 15, is sufficient to v close or seat the valve,thus interrupting the flow of water to the boiler. These operations 1 continue uninterruptedly according to the re'- quirements of the boiler. v c

Itsometirnes happens that water is carried lout ofthe boiler in Vconsiderable quantities yinto the heating system, and later returns to the boileragain, theboiler feeder in the meantime' havingoperated to maintain substantially a predetermined level in the boiler. This returning waterraises the level in the rboiler excessively, and it is desirable for efficient operation to drain olf some of this water.

lFor this purpose an yoverflow valve 33 has been provided, this valve normally closing an overflow port or outlet 34 which communicates with an overflow pipe 35, Fig. 2. The

' valve 33y is constructed substantially like the pilot valve'19 and is slidably mounted in a tubular housing 36 integral with the valve casing 7. VVA cap 37 is screwed lintol the end'of this housing and backs'up a spring 38 which normally holds the-valve 33 seated; Apin 39 projectslaterally from the valve 33 through a slot in the housing 36 and is arrangedto be engaged by an arm '40` projecting downwardly from the lever 27.- Such engagement, however, takes yplace only when the level of the water inthe float chamber 17 is abnormally high, but when this engagement occurs it unseats the valve 33, thusV allowing water to escape through holes in the housinf 36 and through the outlet34 into the overflow pipe 35 which leads to y'a drain, sump, or the like. It will be observed that the pins or projections 31 and 39 are so' located that thefloat 25 can have considerable freedom of ymovement `7 without operating' either the pilot valve 19 or the overflow valve 33. `In other words. there is considerable lost motion between these valves andthe lever 27 which operates them. Conseq'uently,the surging that frequently occurs in a boiler will notj result in flooding the boiler. which is an objectionable vfeature of many boiler feeders. Neither will such surging operate the overow valve under conditions which might result in draining the boiler to an undesirable degree.

Due to the fact that both the pilot and overflow valves are carried by thecasing 7 and main valve 10, the manufacture and assembly of the valve mechanism is greatly facilitated, such assembly being completed before the valve casing is bolted to the float chamber-casing 2. The invention thus pro vides a very simple and compact construction which can be manufactured economically and in which repairs can be made very easily in ease they become necessary.

' While I have herein shown and described the best embodiment of my invention that I 'i closed by the pressure of the water supply,

a pilot valve operable to relieve said pressure on one side of said main valve, and overflow valve, and a single float controlling the operation of'both said overflow valve and said pilot valve.

2. In a boiler feeder, the combination of a main valve controlling the flow of water to the boi-ler and arranged to be opened or closed by the pressure of the water supply, a pilot valve operable to relieve said pressure on one side of said main valve, an overflow valve. alloat, and connections whereby said float is operable to open either said overflow valve or Said pilotA valve upon predetermined changes in the elevation of the float.

3. In a boiler feeder, the combination of a main valve'controlling the flow of water to the boiler and arranged to be opened or closed by the pressure of the water supply, a pilot valve operable to relieve said pressure on one side of said main valve, an overflow valve, a float, and lost motion connections between said float and said pilot and overflow valves whereby said float is operable to open either' said pilot or overflow valve but is permitted to have considerable freedom of mov(-`- ment without operating either of them.

4. In a boiler feeder, the combination of a main valve controlling the llow of water to the boiler and arranged to be opened or closed by the pressure of the water supply, a pilot valve operable to relieve said pressure on oneside of said main valve, an overflow valve. springs tending to hold said overflow and pilot valves closed, a float, and connections for causing said float to open either of the latter valves depending upon 'its )'iosition', saidl connections being arranged to allow' the float to have a limited freedom of motion without opening either said overflow or pilot valves.

5. In a boiler feeder, the combination of a easing having a float Chamber therein, a float in said Chamber, a valve Casing having water inlet and outlet ports therein, a main valve controlling the flow of water through said outlet port and norn'ially held in its closed position through the aid of fluid pre sure in said valve easing behind said valve, a pilot valve for relieving said pressure, a spring tending to hold said pilot valve closed, a projection extending laterally from said pilot valve, and a lever connected with said float and arranged to engage said projection to open said pilot valve.

(i. In a boiler feeder', the combination of a easing havin e a float chamber therein, a float in said chamber, said easing having an opening in one side thereof, a valve easing secured to said float chamber easing and Closing said opening therein, said valve easing having water inlet and outlet ports, a main valve controlling the flow of Water through said outlet port and normally held in its closed position through the aid of fluid pressureinthevalveeasing behind said valve, said valve casing having a port therein leading from behind said valve to said ioat chainber and also having an outlet leading from said float chamber, a pilot valve for closing said port, an overflow valve for closing said outlet, and connections whereby said ioat is operable to open said pilot valve when the water in said chamber is abnormally low and to open said overfiow valve whenthe water in said chamber is abnormally high.

7. In a boiler feeder, the combination of a easing having a float chamber therein, a fioat in said chamber, said casing having an opening in one side thereof, a valve easing secured to said oat Chamber easing and closing said opening therein, said valve casing having water inlet and outlet ports, a main valve oon trolling the flow of water through said outlet port and normally held in its closed position through the aid of fluid pressure in the valve casing behind said valve, said valve easing having a port therein leading from behind said valve to said fioat chamber and also having an outlet leading from said float Chamber a pilot valve for closing said port, an over ow valve for closing said outlet, and a lever fulorumed between said pilot and overflow valves and having two arms for operating said valves respectively, said float being connected to said lever and arranged to operate the lever.

FRANK M. WEBSTER.

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