US2574341A - Boiler feed trap - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 6, 1951 D. MGBRIDE BOILER FEED TRAP 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Feb. 19, 194V *Niv alim/man 5 Nov. 6, 1951 Filed Feb. 19, 1947 D. MCBRIDE BOILER FEED TRAP 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Egg.

,DZ-7 @y MBH@ NOV. 6, 1951 D, McBRlDE 2,574,341

BOILER FEED TRAP Filed Feb. 19, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Nov. 6, 1951 D. MCBRIDE 2,574,341

BOILER FEED TRAP Filed Feb. 1 9, 1947 4 sheets-sheet 4 gmac/wrot- C Deiroyjlfcz'ie @www5 Patented Nov. 6, 1951 u N r11 Eo PAT EN o'FElec E; i

BOIEER FEED'TRP Delroy.McBride, Twin Falls, Idaho,

Application FebruaryllS, 1947;'Slial BT67295626 2.1312111115.;v (Cl. 137-101) i This-invention relates toboiler feedingfdevices f and: is f an improvement llover-i thecboileif feeding construction embodied: in: my VVVcopending application, No. 680.047,' filed-*June 28; 1946; for Boiler Feed '.Devices,: now.- Patent No.* 2,570596Lot Oct. 9,*- 19511.'-

Anobject of -this invention is tofprovide'an: improved automatic'feedingmeans for maintaining a1 predetermined lwater level .in a: boiler which eliminatesall forms :of packing glands'fand pumps or othermeans of forcing-` the Iwater. into theA boiler.

Anotherv object 4of.this..:inver1.ti'oi1..iistoprovidef an" embodimentmithis invention; showing thepositions -of fthe-parts when: the water tankislled with Water;A

Figure -2 lis `an-enlargedf fragmentary vertical section of thedeviceshowinginv fullL y lines the positions-of=fthe-partsl-when thewater tank is` in substantiallylffempty; positionf. and showing ,in

dotted lines -thepositionsof .the -parts when the tankishlledf Figure 3 lis a fragmentary' sectional-view` taken` on the line 3-3 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 lis -a fragmentarysectional View taken FigureA V5 lisadiagrammatic view showing* the system with which the -feeding' device is connected tothe boilenf Referringto1 thel draw-ings'A and rst to Figure .5. the-numeral ilsdesignatesgenerally. a vboi1er= of i conventional construction which` has associated i The...-

therewith =a Waterflevelactuated. switchy I I. switch I I `-is-inte11posed in awpairiof .electrical con.-

ductors I 2- andi` I3 aand theseY are. connected as* Willbe lhereinafter described; to.J aY controlling4 switch I4 connected to a source I5 and I6 ofvelec.-

aa.-.-feedingV means `of vthiskiridWhereinf.a series 25 tricecurrentsupply.

of-Loats lare mounted on :i4-.iframe Iwhichfis iin-L sertable-'through'zone end oithewater tank; the end of fthev tanklfb'eing closed lnorinally7 b'y' a:-re.r movable plate.

Afiurther object :of thisinvention-isltofprovidef in a device of thiskind; anlimprovedimeans-:for: holding the ylovvermost.` floats against movement during'i-theflling of? the Watertanlcuntilmtlie-Y tank-1f has reached a predetermined! level where#v uponrlthev-lower floats are automatically releasedV bly an'.v upperv oat andi 'at ther-same time aipr-es;4 sureequalizing-4 valve is moved to Vopen position-- forf equaliZin-g tlie A-pressureon the-upper sidevofi the watery witliir1=the tank y to az-pointl equa/'liftethebioilenpressure so that the Waterinthe-tanlr;A can gravitatingly flow ltof the boiler.

Af-furtherobject-"of` this invention-ist@ provide;- a boiler feeding'meansof-this kind which is-posi-IA tiverin itsoperation and-which can be made out ofi: relatively4 strong andf simply constructed ele'- mentsin orderlthatfthe 4moving-parts will notbe unduly damaged by corrosion.

W-ith4V the above and otherfobjects ini'view, my invention consistslinthe arrangement, combination f and details of'Y construction disclosed the'- drawings and specification; and then more particularly pointed' outinthe appendedfclaims.'

In` the drawings;

Figure l iis a Ylongitudinal section'taken through af'boilerieedingmeans vconstructedA according-'to inneA water m. y theiboiler Ieril is'adapted zito Vte maintained at'f aapredetermined level .by means The tank I I is disposed on fia-level abovel the' top. .ofv the-,boiler Ilr and isfconnected tothe boiler Iii` of a-feeding tank generallydesignatedas Il.

byV means ofa pipe1I8.,vThef-pipe I8 is connected to the. bottom ofzthewater feedingnieans I1 and:A extends. downwardly. and forwardly, having interposed'. .thereina pair of checkiivalves I9 and1 2li.

cylindrical. wall' thereof.' and the-other end, of theL-tank- 2 I is closed byza Aremovable head 23.;

The.; water'A conducting pipes. I8;'isl connectedftoV a-bushing litxed'to-.the cylindric'alwallof the tank2l, andfitheA cylindrical, WalLof the tank alsonhasfavsecond t bushing or-nipple 25; fixedL thereto with which a water intake pipe: 26fis1 connected; The pipe. 2if:extends@upwardly,y from thetank- 2I1 andi-is?connected.y to the bottonrof anfupper supply tank-'21. Thesupply tank-2.1 isconnected to--a`water supply: source -by means ofa'pipe 28, havingA afloat operatedvalve 29-in terposed therein.

The-water pipe 261has; interposed'thereina check valve 35i opening-inthe-directionof the tank 2| and an electrically operated-valve 3i' is alsointerposedfin the pipe'26- andis connected at* one side'- to av conductor- I2; andaty the other.

The. boiler feeding means I'I in. cludes a cylindrical. ta11k. .2|,f having one vhead `22Y fixedly secured as :by :welding orthe like to the.

side by conductor 32 to switch |4. A manually operated valve 33 is also interposed in the pipe 28 so that if desired the ow of water from the pressure tank 21 may be manually regulated.

The tank 2| has mounted therein a removable frame structure 34 which includes a pair of vertically disposed side frame members 35 and 36 which engage on L-shaped guides or tracks 31 and 38 fixed as by Welding or the like on the inside of the tank 2| adjacent the end head 23. A rrame locking bolt 39 is adapted to extend through bushings 40 xed to the tank 2|, and the bushings 48 are extended outwardly through the tank 2| as indicated at 42 so that the bolt 39 may be removed or inserted through the bushings 48 from the outside of the tank.

The bolt 39 extends through the angled guides 31, 38, and through the lower outer portions of the frame members 35 and 36 as shown in Figures l and 2. The frame 34 has swingably mounted between the side members 35 and 38 v thereof a lower iioat 43 which is carried by an obtusely angled arm 44. The arm 44 is xed to a sleeve 45 which is rockably mounted on a shaft 46 extending across the frame members 35 and 36. The lever arm 44 has extending angularly from the outer end thereof a short lever arm 41 which is disposed at substantially right angles to the outer portion of the arm 44, and the arm 41 has pivotally secured thereto one end of a releasing link 48.

A second oat 49 is disposed within the tank 2|, being secured to an elongated lever arm 5U which is secured to a sleeve 5| rockably mounted on a shaft 52 extending between the frame members 35 and 36. The noat lever 58 has fixed thereto at a point inwardly from the outer end thereof a ilanged disk 53 formed with an annular flange 54 with which a hook 55 carried by the link 48 is adapted to engage. The hook 55 loosely enf 58 having a weight 59 on its outer end. The concave side of the lever 58 is adapted to confront the flanged disk 53 at the time the float 49 is in its lowermost position, as shown in Figure 2.

A third 01 upper oat 60 is fixed to an obtusely angled float lever 6| which is fixed to a sleeve 62 rockably mounted on a shaft 63, extending between the frame members 35 and 38., The float lever 6| also includes an angled lever extension 64, extending from the rear or outer end thereof, which has pivotally connected thereto a releasing link 65. The releasing link 65 extends downwardly and inwardly and is adapted to slidingly engage the upper peripheral side of the flange 54.

A weighted intermediate float locking member 68 is carried by a sleeve 61 loosely mounted on a shaft 68, extending between the frame members 35 and 36, and the locking member 66 is gravitatingly urged downward to locking position by means of a weight 69 extending substantially at right angles to the length of the locking member 66. When the locking member 66 is in locked position it will be slightly to the left of the vertical plane passing through the axis of the securing member 18 for the flanged disk 53 so that the locking member 68 will not accidentally be moved forwardly upon pressure exerted on the flanged disk 53 by upward movement of the float 49.

In order to provide for equalizing the pressure on the upper side of the water in the tank 2| when the floats 53, 59 and -60 are in their uppermost positions, I have provided a steam valve 1| which is secured to the top of the tank 2| and has a weighted stem 12 normally biasing valve '1| to a closed position. The valve 1| is connected to a steam supply pipe 13 which is connected to the top of the boiler |0.

In order to provide for the opening of the valve 1| whenthe intermediate float 49 is released for upward movement, I have provided a valve operating rod 14 which is connected at its lower end to the oat lever 50 adjacent the outer end portion thereof. The rod 14 is slidable through a guide 15 xed to the upper portion of the frame 34, being secured to a cross bar 16 extending between the upper portions of the frame members 35 and 36. The upper portion of the rod 14 has a sleeve 11 xed thereto and the sleeve 11 has extending horizontally therefrom a valve operating arm 18. The stem 12 extends through the arm 18, and preferably a pair of spaced nuts 19 and are threaded on the stem 12 so that the stem 12 will not be moved upwardly to valve opening position until the intermediate valve operating float 49 has moved upwardly to substantially the limit of its upward movement. The intermediate iioat 49 is limited to its upward movement by means of the upper stop 8| fixed to the frame member 36 and is limited as to its downward movement by means of a second stop 82 also fixed to the frame member 36 at a point spaced downwardly from the upper stop 8|. At the time the noats are in their lowermost positions, and assuming that water is entering the tank 2 i, the tank 2| is exhausted above the level of the water entering the tank through an exhaust valve 83.

The valve 83 is normally urged to a closed position by a pivoted weight 92 carried by the frame, and includes a stem 84 which is connected to a second Valve operating arm 85 carried by the sleeve or bushing 11. A lower nut 86 is threaded on the stem 84 so that the valve 83 may be accurately adjusted to provide for the opening thereof at the time the arm 85 is in substantially its lowermost position.

The intermediate oat 49 which is the largest of the three oats is substantially balanced in its vertical movement by means of a weight 81 rockably mounted on a pivot 88 extending through a supporting arm 89 carried by the frame 34. The weight 81 includes a lever 98 having one end of a link 9| pivotally connected thereto. The other end of the link 9| is pivotally connected to the float lever 50 at a point closely adjacent the outer end of the float 49. The system with which the feeding means |1 is connected is identical with the system shown and described in my copending application supra, and it is believed that a further detailed description of this system is not necessary in this application.

In the use and operation of this boiler feeding means, the flow of water from the supply tank 21 to the feeding tank 2| is electrically regulated by the float operated switch This switch is connected to the electrical valve 3| which upon drop of the water level in the boiler I0 will open the valve 3| and permit water from the supply tank 21 to now through the pipe 26 intcthe tank 2|. Assuming that the tank 2| is substantially empty, the several floats will be in the full line positions shown in Figure 2. The lower float 43 will be substantially in contact with the bottom of the tank 2| and the oat lever 5D will be in engagement with the lower stop 82.

At this time the locking member 66 will be gravitatingly held in its locking position with respect to the intermediate float and the releasing link 85 will be in the position shown in Figure 2. The lower oat may rise to a limited extent when the water level initially rises, the lower float being held against extreme upward movement by rearward pull on the releasing link 48 which is positioned between the lever 51 and the ange 54. As the hook 55 carried by the link 48 moves rearwardly, the locking member 66 will be rocked upwardly toward the flange 54 and the lever 51 will bind the hook 55 with respect to the flange 54.

After the water level passes above the lower oat 43, it will rise above the locked intermediate valve operating oat 49 which is locked in its lower position by the weighted locking member 56. The water level will thereupon rise until the upper oat 60 is engaged. This upper float 60 will then move upwardly and as lioat 60 rises, releasing link 65 will be pushed downwardly and inwardly, thereby forcing locking member 66 inwardly past the center of the anged disk 53 so that the valve operating float 49 can now move upwardly to steam valve opening position. With float 49 in the upper position which is limited by the stop 8|, valve 1l will be open and steam will enter the tank 2| on the top of the water, thereby equalizing the steam pressure on the upper side of the water so that the water can now gravitatingly ow past the downwardly opening check valves I9 and 20 into the boiler.

When the intermediate oat 49 is in its uppermost steam valve opening position, the holding or locking member 56 will be in its locked position as shown in Figure l, wherein the float lever 5U is locked in its upper position. As the water level drops in the tank 2|, the steam valve 1| is held in its open position until the water has been substantially discharged from the tank. After the water level drops below the lower float 43, this float will swing downwardly and upon downward swinging of this oat. releasing link 48 will be moved inwardly thereby pushing holding member 56 inwardly to released position. When holding member 56 is in released position, the oat 49 can gravitatingly swing downwardly and steam valve 1| will be spring-pressed g to its normal closed position. When valve 1| is in its closed position, exhaust valve 83 will be in its open position so that the tank 2| is again ready for its feeding cycle.

I do not mean to confine myself to the exact details of construction herein disclosed, but claim all variations falling within the purview or the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A water feeding means for a steam boiler comprising a tank including a removable head, a oat supporting frame in said tank, means removably securing said frame in said tank, a steam valve carried by said tank and connected to said boiler, said valve being normally biased to closed position, an exhaust valve normally biased to an opposite open position, a valve operating float rockably carried by said frame, means connecting said oat with said valves whereby upon upward movement of said float said steam valve will be moved to open position, and said exhaust valve simultaneously will be moved to closed position, gravity actuated locking means carried by said frame for locking said float against upward movement, and float operated releasing means carried by said frame correlated with said locking means to thereby move the latter to released position when the water level in said tank reaches a predetermined height, and means connecting said tank with said boiler whereby the water in said tank will gravitate to said boiler at the time said steam valve is open and the pressure in said tank is equal to the boiler pressure.

2. A water feeding means for a steam boiler comprising a tank including a removable head, a iloat supporting frame in said tank, means removably securing said frame in said tank, a steam valve carried by said tank and connected to said boiler, said valve being normally biased to closed position, an exhaust valve normally biased to an opposite open position, a valve operating oat rockably carried by said frame, means connecting said float with said valves whereby upon upward movement of said float said steam valve will be moved to open position, and said exhaust valve will be simultaneously moved to a closed position, gravity actuated locking means carried by said frame for locking said loat against upward movement, oat operated releasing means carried by said frame correlated with said locking means to thereby move the latter to released position when the water level in said tank reaches a predetermined height, means connecting said tank with said boiler whereby the water in said tank will gravitate to said boiler at the time said steam valve is open and the pressure in said tank is equal to the boller pressure, a second gravity actuated locking means for locking said oat in its upper valve opening position, and a second float actuated releasing means correlated with said second locking means for releasing the latter to thereby permit said float to swing downwardly when the water level in said tank drops to a predetermined point.

DELROY MCBRIDE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 341,737 Eastman May 11, 1886 346,146 Clarke July 27, 1886 377,305 Hladky Jan. 31, 1888 495,377 Searle Apr. 11, 1893

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