US1364856A - Apparatus for returning water of condensation to steam-boilers - Google Patents

Description

J. H. BANKS.

APPARATUS FOR RETURNING WATER 0F CONDENSATION TO STEAM BOILERS. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 2 1917.

1,364,856. Patented Jan. 4,1921.

3 SHEETS- SHEEI I- Boller J. H. BANKS.

APPARATUS FOR RETURNING WATER F CONDENSATION T0 STEAM BOILERS. APPLICATION -FH.ED JUNE 2. I9l7.

1 364 856. Patented Jan. 4, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEEI Z.

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1,364,856 APPLICATION HLED JUNE 2. I917. 4., 3 SHEETSSHEET 3.

44 gg 4 E75 5 mm E 75 Bol/er 8 nvemtoz Joseph. H. Banks hi5 attozmus' UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIcE.

JOSEPH H. BANKS, or NEW YORK, n. Y.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 4, 1921.

Application filed June 2, 1917. Serial No. 172,486.

To all to ham it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OSEPH H. BANKS, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at 531 West 159th street, New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Returning Water of Condensation to Steam-Boilers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus for returning the water of condensation from a steam heating system to the boiler.

The primary object of the invention is to provide an apparatus by the use of which water of condensation maybe returned to the steam boiler under a pressure greater than that existing in the boiler, whereby the apparatus, being independent of the action of gravity, may be located at any desired or convenient and accessible position with respect to the boiler.

The invention consists in the construction, arrangements and combinations of parts hereinafter more particularly described and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate embodiments of the invention,

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic elevational view of one embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic plan view of another embodiment of the invention,

Fig.- 3 is an enlarged View in side sectional elevation of a vessel for receiving the water of condensation to be returned to the boiler; also showing a controlling valve in side elevation,

Fig. 4 is a side sectional elevation of the controlling valve shown in Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the valve, taken on th line A-A in Fig. 4., and

Fig. 6 is a part cross-sectional view of the valve, taken on the line 13-13 in Fig. 4.

Referring firstly to the arrangement of the apparatus as illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 1, the steam boiler 1 is of any suitable known type and is connected to the heating coils or radiators of a steam heating system in the usual manner which it is not necessary to illustrate herein.

Beneath the boiler 1 and supported by or let into the usual bridge 2 of the boiler structure is a steam generator in the form of a header 3, to which a supply of water is conducted from the boiler by means of a pipe 4,

which may be provided inside the boiler with a suitable strainer. The header 3 is so located that the water therein is subjected to the heating action of the hot gases produced by the fuel burning on the grate 5 and passlng Over the bridge 2, and the steam thus generated in the header is carried by a pipe 6 and a branch-pipe 7 to the controlling valve 8 hereinafter referred to.

The water of condensation from the coils or radiators of the heating system is carried by a pipe 9 and introduced into the water receiving vessel 10 and it is forced from this vessel, by the pressure of the steam generated in the header 3, as hereinafter described, through a pipe 11 into the boiler 1, a double check valve 12 preventing return movement of the water from the boiler into the vessel.

A valve 13 is, provided in the pipe 7 in order'that the apparatus may be cut out of operation when desired, in which event the steam generated in the header 3 passes through the pipe 6 and into the steam dome 14 of the boiler, so that even when the apparatus is not in operation to return the water of condensation to the boiler, the steam generator may be usefully employed to supply additional steam to the boiler. The pipe 6 has a valve 15 therein to cut off the passage of steam to the boiler when theapparatus is in operation.

The pipes 6 and 7 may be connected by a branch 16 in which is located a safety or' back pressure valve 17 set to open when the steam in the pipe 7 reaches apressure in excess of the predetermined pressure required to return the waterlof condensation into the boiler, the excess steam passing through the pipes 16 and 6 into the steam dome.

The flow of water from the boiler through the pipe 4 may be controlled or cut off by means of a valve 18, and the passage of steam into the boiler through this pipe is prevented by a check valve 19.

Referring now to the modified arrangement of the apparatus as illustrated in Fig. 2, the steam generator is in the form of a coil of piping 20, supported by the bridge 2 of the boiler structure, and into which water is introduced from a pipe 21, which may be a water main, or may be the feed water pipe leading to the boiler. The coil is connected to the pipe 21 by the pipe 4 and the steam from the coil passes through the pipe 6' to the steam dome 14" or through the pipe 7 to the valve 8, valves 15' and 13 being provided in these pipes, which are also connected by a branch pipe 16 containing a safety valve 17., The pipe 4 is provided with a controlling valve 18 and check valve 19. The operation of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 2 is the same as that fully described with reference to Fig. 1, and further description is not therefore necessary.

With reference now to Fig. 3, which illustrates the water receiving vessel on an enlarged scale, it will be seen that the water of condensation from the coils or radiators of the steam heating system is conducted by the pipe 9, into the passage 22 which leads upwardly into the interior of the receiving vessel 10, the water rising in this vessel at a speed dependent upon the rate of condensation in the heating pipes. Formed in one with the receiving vessel 10 is a compart ment 23 in which is located a ball float 24, this compartment havinganupwardly extending passage or conduit 25 which communicates with the interior ofthe vessel at the extreme. upper end thereof. The compartment is provided with a cover 26, by removal of which the ball float may be inspected or removed. The ball 24 is carried by a tube 27 which is secured to a cross tube 28 mounted in suitable hearings in the walls of an extension 29 of the ball compartment, extending across the passage 22. The hollow interior of the ball is in open communication with the atmosphere through the tubes 27 and 28. Secured to the cross tube 28 is a lever 30 the outer end of which is connected by means of a link 31 to a lever 32 connected to operate the valve mechanism of the controlling valve 8, as hereinafter de scribed.

The lower end of the passage 22 communicates through an outlet pipe 33 with one branch of the double check valve 12, and the lower end of the ball compartment communi'cates through a pipe 34 with the other branch of the valve, the third branch thereof communicating with the pipe 11 leading to the boiler. The check valve 12 comprises a casing in which are a pair of valves 35, each pivotally mounted at 36, and adapted when closed to fit tightly against valve seats 37, 38 and to close communication between the outlet pipes 33, 34 and the pipe 11.

The vessel 10 is provided with a water gage 39 of any suitable construction, connected thereto at 40, 40, and by which the riseand fall of the water in the vessel may bee-observed.

A- steam pipe 41 leading from the controlling valve 8 communicates with theinterior of the vessel 10 through a m-uifler 42 connected by pipe 43 to the extreme upper end of the vessel.

The controlling valve 8 is illustrated in detail in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, and comprises a cylinder 44 in which is slidably arranged a'hollow piston valve 45, the stroke ofwhich is limited in opposite directions by the covers 46, 47 secured to the cylinder ends by studs 48. The steam pipe 7 leading from the header 3, or the coil 20, is connected to the boss 49 extending from and communieating with a steam chamber 50 at the upper part of the cylinder 44. This chamber 50 has in its lower wall. a pair of ports 51, 52 which are adapted to communicate alternately with a port 53 in the upper wall of the piston valve 45, whereby the chamber 50 is in constant communication with the interior of the piston. Clearly a single port in the wall of the'chamber 50 might be employed, this port, or that in the piston being of such length as to always allow communication between the chamber and piston. The piston is provided in its lower wall. with another port 54 which is adapted to communicate alternately with passages 55, 56 formed in the metal of the cylinder 44 at the lower part thereof, the passage 55 communicating with the steam pipe 41, leading to the vessel 10, and the passage 56 communicating with a pipe 57 which connects with the portion of the pipe 6 leading to the steam dome 14, Figs. 1 and 2.

The steam. chamber 50 communicates through a passage 58 with a valve chamber 59 in which is arranged a small slide valve 60 working on a. valve face formed on the exterior of the upper portion of the chamber 50, the valve chamber being formed by an apertured block 61 and cover 62 held together and in place on the chamber 50 by nuts or studs 63 screwed into the metal walls of said steam chamber. Extending from the valve chamber 59to opposite ends of the cylinder 44 are passages 64, 65 and between the ends of these passages which communicate with the valve chamber is an exhaust passage 66. \Vhen the valve 60 is in the position shown in Fig. 4, steam passes from through passage 64 to the left end of cylin- I (ler 44 and moves the piston to. the right, so that the steam passes from chamber 50 through ports 52, 53, 54-, passage 56 and pipes 57 and 6 to the steam dome 14.

The valve 60 is operated by means ofa.

forked lever 67 engaging a projection 68 on the valve, this lever being mountedon a squared portion 69 of a spindle 70 to the outer end of which is secured the lever 32 which is operated by the ball float 24, the

spindle passing through a suitable stuffing box 71 in the side wall of the block 61.

The piston 45 has a central core 72 which has a passage or bore 73, extending part way therealong, the bore being closed at its right end by a screw-threaded plug member 74. Extending downwardly from the core 73 are two tubular radial arms 75, the passages or bores 76, 77 of which communicate at their upper ends with the passage 73 of the core. The passage 77 is also adapted to communicate at its lower end with an exhaust passage 78 formed in the metal of the cylinder 44. The distance between the passages 7 6, 77 is such that when the piston is in the position shown in Fig. 4, =the passage 56 and the pipe 57 are closed by the blank wall of cylinder 44 at the end of passage 76 when the piston is moved to the right, the said passages 76, 73, 77 connect the passage leading to the vessel 10 with the passage 78. The exhaust passages 66 and 78 are connected by piping 80 with a suitable exhausting means. The plug member 74 is extended and flattened at 81 and passes into a fiatslotted portion 82 of the bore of a boss 83 on the cover 47 in order to hold the piston in the angular position shown in Figs. 46, the bore of the boss 83 being closed by a cap 84.

The manner of operation of the apparatus is as follows 7 By opening the valve 13, Fig. 1, or 13', Fig. 2, and closing the valve 15 or 15, the steam generated in the header 3 or in the coil 20 passes through the pipe 7 into the steam chamber 50 of the controlling valve 8 and thence through the passage 58 to the valve chamber 59. If during the working of the apparatus, an excess of pressure is produced in the pipe 7 and steam chamber 50, the valve 17, Fig. 1, or 17 Fig. 2, opens and the excess steam passes to the steam dome through the pipe 6. The valve 17 or 17 is adjusted to permit the pressure of the steam generated by the header 3 or coil 20 to reach a predetermined amount in ex cess of the pressure in the boiler 1 so that when this pressure of steam is applied to the water in the receiving vessel 10. such water will. be forced into the boiler notwithstanding the pressure therein. it has been found in practice that a pressure of between five and ten pounds in excess of the pressure in the boiler is suiiicient for the purpose. Obviously, however, the valve 17 can be set to open at any desired pressure in excess of the boiler pressure.

With the parts in the positions shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the water of condensation from the heating system is introduced through the pipe 9 to the passage 22 and rises therein and in the receiving vessel 10 until the latter is practically full, at which t me the water overflows throughthe passage or conduit 25 into the ball compartment 23, with the result that as the level of the water rises in this compartment the ball float 24 also rises, turning the tube 28 on its axis and through the lever 30 and link 31, moving the lever 32 downwardly from the position shown in Fig. 3. During this time the valves 35 will be held closed by the back pressure in the pipe 11, which will exceed that of the water in the vessellO.

In the position shown in Fig. 3, the valve piston 45 will be in its right hand position, that is, opposite to the position shown in Fig. 4, and the steam from the pipe 7 and chamber 50 will flow through the ports 52, 53, 54, passage 56 and pipe 57 to the steam dome, the water receiving vessel 10 being connected to exhaust through the pipe 43, muffler 42, pipe 41, passages 55, 76, 73, 77 and 78. As the lever 32 is moved downwardly by the action of the ball float, the yalve is moved into the position shown in Fig. 4, and steam passes through the passage and moves the piston valve 45 to the left, the steam from the pipe 7 and chamber 50 then passing through the ports 51, 53, 54, passage 55, pipe 41, muitler 42 and pipe 43 into the upper end of the water receiving vessel 10. As the generator 3, or coil 20, is continuously generating steam and this steam is passing through pipe 7 and the passages mentioned, into vessel 10 and accumulating therein, the pressure of steam in said vessel quickly rises until it is in. excess of the pressure in the boiler and hence greater than the pressure in the pipe 11, and the valve 35 then op ens from the valve seat 37 and the water in the vessel 10 and passage 22 is forced downwardly therefrom through the pipe 33 and pipe 11 and into the boiler. The other valve 35 opens in turn from the valve seat 38 and the water in the passage 25 and ball compartment 23 is forced by the pressure of the steam down wardly through the pipe 34 and through the pipe 11 to the boiler. As the water level falls in-the ball compartment 23 the ball float 24 moves to its lower position and through the lever 30 and link 31. raises the lever 32 into the position shown in Fig. 3, and the valve 60 is moved to the right, Fig. 4, so that the steam passes through the passage 64 to the left end of the piston, moving the same to the right, and again connecting the chamber 50 through the ports 52, 53, 54 and passage 56 and pipe 57 with the steam dome. At the same time the water receiving vessel 10 is placed in communication with the exhaust through the pipes and passages previously mentioned,

so that the water from the pipe 9 again rises in the vessel, the operation being repeated as soon as the water overflows into and rises suiiicientlv within the compartment 28. The connection of the steam chamber 50 through pipe 57 to the boiler, when the valve l5 is moved to the right, Fig. 4, reduces the pressure in the pipes 6 and 7 and allows the water to readily flow into the generating means 3 or 20, and when the valve is in the position shown in Fig. at the back flow of steam from the steam dome through the pipe 57 is prevented by the closing of the end of passage 76 by the cylinder wall as shown in said figure. A valve 93- is provided in the pipe 57 which is closed and opened at the same time as the valve 13, fig. 1, or 13, Fig. 2.

A check valve 94 may be provided in the pipe 9, Fig. 1, in order to prevent back flow along this pipe when the water is being forced from the receiving vessel into the boiler.

The piston valve 45 may, of course, be provided with piston rings of any suitable or usual type to prevent flow of steam between the same and the inner surface of the cylinder 44.

A jet of water may be introduced into the vessel 10 through a pipe 95, in order to condense the steam remaining in the vessel and thereby assist in the reduction of the pressure therein after the water has been forced therefrom. This is not, however, essential, as the reduction of the pressure will be effected by the connection of the vessel to exhaust.

The use of steam at a pressure in excess of the pressure prevailing in the boiler for returning the water of condensation thereto, is of considerable advantage, as willbe readily understood, it being possible to locats the apparatus for returning the water of condensation to the boiler in any suitable or convenient location, irrespective ofthe position of the boiler and other apparatus adjacent thereto, since the operation of the apparatus is not dependent upon the location of the same above the water level in the boiler to return the water thereto by. the action of gravity, as in numerous other devices which have. been proposed. While two forms of generating means for producing the supply of excess pressure steam have been shown, it is to be understood that these forms are merely illustrative and that other forms of generating means might be e1nployed.

The location of the controlling ball float 2 1 in a compartment separate from but communicating with the water receiving vessel at the upper end thereof. permits of the vessel being completely filled with the water of condensation before the steam pressure is introduced into the said vessel.

The inventionis not, of course, restricted to the details of construction shown in the accompanying drawings, as various modifications may of course be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

\Vhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1; An apparatus of the class described, comprising incombination, a water receiving vessel, means for introducing water into said vessel, a boiler, a conduit establishing communication between saidboiler and said vessel, an auxiliary steam generator, and means operable to place said'generator alternately in communication with said vessel, to create a pressure in the latter in excess of that in the boiler to forcewater from the vessel through said conduit into said boiler, and with said boiler, whereby steam from the generator may pass to the boiler when it is not being admitted tothe vessel.

2. An apparatus of the kind defined by claim 1, having a steam conduit arranged between the generator and the vessel, a second conduit between the first conduit and the boiler, and a back pressure valve located in said second conduit and opening toward the boiler.

3. An apparatus of the kind defined by claim 1, having a. check valve, opening toward the boiler, located in the conduit connecting the boiler and vessel, said check valve being normally held in closed po ition by the pressure in the boiler.

4. An apparatus of the kind defined by claim 1, in which the second-mentioned means includes a valve.

5. An apparatus of the kind defined by claim 1, in whichgthe second-mentioned means includes a valve automatically con trolled in accordance with the level of the water in the vessel.

6. An apparatus of the kind defined by claim 1, having means for placing the interior oi the vessel in communication with the atmosphere when steam is not being ad mitted thereto, said means beingcontrolled by the means for establishing communication between the generator and the vessel or boiler.

7. An apparatus of the character described comprising a boiler,a conduit for conduct ing steam to said boiler, a water. receiving vessel in communication with, said boiler, a steam generator, a conduit for. conducting steam from the generator, and means operable to alternately place the second conduit. in. communica i n w sai vessel an with the first conduit, to conduct steam from the generator alternately, into the ves sel and, boiler.

8. An apparatus of the character described, comprising in combination, a boiler, a furnace. beneath said boiler for heating the same, an auxiliary generator of'considerably d smaller capacity than said boiler located beneath the same in proximity to said furnace to be heated thereby,'a water receiving vessel in communication with said boiler, and means for periodically placing said auxiliary generator in communication with said vessel to create a pressure therein in excess of that in the boiler.

9. An apparatus of the character described, comprising in combination, a boiler, a water receiving vessel in communication with said boiler, an auxiliary steam generator of considerablysmaller capacity than said. boiler, a single conduit for conducting away from said generator the entire quantity of steam generated thereby, and means operating to periodically connect said conduit to said vessel to introduce into the latter the steam generated by said generator to force the water from said vessel into the boiler.

10. An apparatus of the character de scribed, comprising in combination, a boiler, a water receiving vessel in communication with said boiler, an auxiliary steam generator of considerably smaller capacity than said boiler, a conduit connected to said generator to conduct therefrom the entire quantity ,of steam generated thereby, a second conduit leading to said vessel, a third conduit, and means operable to place the firstmentioned conduit in communication with the second conduit and with the third conduit in alternation.

11. An apparatus of the character de scribed, comprising in combination, a boiler, a furnace for heating the same, a heating coil. heated by the gases from said furnace, means for introducing water into said coil at one end thereof, means for conducting steam from the other end of said coil, a water receiving vessel in communication with said boiler, and means for periodically placing the second named means in communication with said vessel to create a steam pressure therein in excess of that in the boiler. f

12. An apparatus of the character described, comprising in combination, a boiler, a furnace for heating the same, a heating coil located immediately adjacent said furnace and heated thereby, means for introducing water into said coil at one end thereof, means for conducting steam from the other end of said coil, a water receiving vessel in communication with said boiler, and means for periodically placing the second named means in communication with said vessel to create a steam pressure therein in excess of that in the boiler.

13. An apparatus of the character described, comprising in combination, a boiler, a furnace for heating the same, a heating coil heated by the gases from said furnace, means for introducing water into one end of said coil, means for conducting steam from the other end of said coil, a water receiving vessel in communication with said boiler, means for conducting steam .to said boiler, and means for placing the second named means alternately in communication with said vessel and with the third named means.

14. An apparatus of the character described, comprising in combination, a boiler, a furnace for heating the same, a heating coil in proximity to said furnace and heated thereby, means for introducing Water to said coil, means for conducting steam from said coil, a water receiving vessel in communication with said boiler, a conduit leading to said vessel, a third conduit, and means operable to place the second named means in communication with said conduits alternately.

15. An apparatus of the character described, comprising in combination, a boiler, a furnace for heating the same, a heating coil, means for heating said coil, means for conducting water to said coil, means for conducting steam from said coil, a water receiving vessel in communication with said boiler, means for conducting steam to said boiler, and means operable to place the third named means alternately in communication with said vessel and with the fourth named means.

16. An apparatus of the character de scribed, comprising in combination, a boiler, a steam generating coil, means for heating the same, means for conducting water to said coil, means for conducting steam from said coil, a water receiving vessel in communication with said boiler, and means operable to place the third named means periodically in communication with said vessel to create a pressure therein in excess of that in the boiler.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH H. BANKS.

Witnesses:

CHAS. B. CnoMP'roN, MAY Gr. LUTTRELL.

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