US708101A - Vacuum steam-heating system. - Google Patents

Description

N9. 708,l0l. Patentd'Sept. 2, I902.

' J. n. WADE.

VACUUM STEAM HEATING SYSTEM.

(Application filed. Jan. 13, 1902.)

(No Model.)

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NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES R. WADE, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

VACUUM STEAM-HEATING SYSTEM.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 708,101, dated September 2, 1902.

Application filed Jannary 13, 1902. Serial No. 891 (N0 mildew To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES R. W DE, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vacuum Steam- Heating Systems, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

My invention has relation to improvements in steam-heating systems; and it consists in the novel arrangement and combination of parts more fully set forth in the specification and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings,,Figure l is a general elevation of my system, certain parts being shown in section. Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional detail showing highest position of the sink-pot or float employed in my system. Fig. 3 is a similar section showing the lowest position of the float, and Fig- 4 is an elevation of a modified form of the means employed for draining the condenser.

The present invention relates to that class of heating systems in which "exhaust or low-- pressure steam is employed to circulate through radiators (vacuum-pans, pipes,stills, and the like) and their systems of connecting-pipes, one object of the present invention being to exhaust the air contained in the radiators in order to create the'necessary rarefaction or vacuum therein for the free circulation of such low-pressure steam. Like in my United States Patent No. 659,776, granted October 16, 1900, the present system creates a partial vacuum by means of cold water injected into a condenser into which the circulating steam rushes, Where it is subsequently condensed and whence it is withdrawn by either a pump or injector, as presently will more fully appear. The present system, however, has the advantage over the patented one referred to in that it restores the condensed water back to the boiler at the highest available temperature, effecting thereby a maximum economy and saving of fuel without the aid of complicated mechanical devices. The present apparatus, too, is characterized by simplicity of construction, durability, and cheapness. It is reliable and thoroughly effective. In detail the invention may be described as follows:

Referring to the drawings, R represents a radiator whose vacuum or discharge pipe 1 communicates with a condenser orvacuumtank 2. The latter is surmounted by a trap 3, Well known and in common use, the capplate 4 thereof having depending centrally therefrom a guide-tube 5, serving as a guide for the upwardly-projecting hollow stem 6 of a float (sink-pot) 7 confined in the trap, the expanded base of the stem being open to allow for the discharge of the contents of the float under circumstances presently to appear. Passed throughthe cap-plate and entering into the float is a water-supply pipe 8, leading from any source of supply, (not shown,) the flow through said pipe being regulated by the screw valve 9, ofordinary construction. Normallythe pot 7 is kept floated, Fig. 2, on the water initially supplied'to the trap, the bottom of the pot in such position closing the adjacent inner endof a discharge-tube 10, which enters the trap through the guide-tube As Water is allowed to flow into the pot through the pipe 8 the pot eventually sinks, Fig. 3, therebyopening the inner end of the discharge-tube 10, (access of the water to such tube being had through the open base of the stem v6.) Leading from the capplate 4is a steam-pipe ll, conveying from any source (not shownlsteam at a suitable pressure, which forces the contents ofthe pot, Fig. 3, into and through the discharge-tube 10, the exhaustion of said contents again allowing the pot to float and close up the open end of the said discharge-tube. The latter bends around and penetrates the condenser, terminating therein in the shape of a spraynozzle 12, the water thus periodically sprayed in the condenser condensing the low-pressure steam entering therein from the radiator B through the pipe 1, the condensed vapors within the condenser inducing the proper flow of steam and air throughout the system and its connecting-pipes. The pressure of the steam by which the discharge of the contents of the pot under the circumstances related is accomplished may be controlled by a regulating-valve 13 or in any other way. The vacuum-pipe 1 is provided with a checkvalve 14 to prevent back pressure from the condenser under unforeseen circumstances.

The action of the pot 7 may be made as frequent as circumstances may demand by varying the rapidity of the flow of the cold water past the screw-valve 9, it being understood, of course, that such flow is at all times sufficiently rapid to prevent any undue heating of the water in the trap by the steam issuing from the steam-pipe 11, though in practice the water forced from the pot with each successive sinking thereof is sufficiently cold to effect the condensation of the vapors in the condenser 2 by reason of the pipe 8 delivering its supply to the bottom of the pot, where the bulk of the water so supplied is out of contact with the steam above the pot. The initial supply of water in the trap which is designed to float the pot when empty may be furnished by letting in an excess through the water-supply pipe 8, causing an overflow from the pot and before any steam is admitted through the pipe 11 to effect a discharge of the contents of the pot. The float-Water is subsequently kept practically constant by more or less condensation of the steam used as the driving medium for the contents of the pot when sunk.

To supplement the vacuum produced in the condenser 2, as above set forth, I connect the bottom of the condenser with eithera pump P, Fig. 1, or a steam-injector I, Fig. 4, either of which in addition to pumping out the waters accumulating at the bottom of the condenser serves as positive means of eduction of the gases, vapors, and air within the condenser, so that there is at all times a positive and constant draft on the contents of the system, and hence any desirable velocity of circulation within said system and its pipes maybe attained. Ido not, of course, wish to be limited to the precise details here shown, as they may in a measure be departed from without affecting the nature or spirit of my invention. The injector I serves to return the waters direct to the boiler, as seen by the arrows in Fig. 4, the arrrows indicating, respectively, the paths which the steam-jet and waters take in being conducted back to such boiler. (Not shown.)

Ilaving described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In a heating system, a tank or condenser having connection with a steam-circulating system, a trap disconnected from the system having a water-discharge tube leading into said condenser, a pipe for conducting cold water into said trap, a pipe for conveying fluid under pressure thereinto for effecting a subsequent discharge of the water therefrom into the condenser through the water-discharge tube, and means for withdrawing the water, vapor and gases accumulated in said condenser substantially as set forth.

2. In a heating system, a tank or condenser having connection with a steam-circulating system, a trap disconnected from the system having a water-discharge tube leading into the condenser, a float or pot normally closing the inner end of said discharge-tube, a waterfeed pipe delivering into the pot, a steampipe leading to the trap at a point above the surface of the water contained therein, suitable controlling-valves in said pipes, and mechanism for pumping out the contents of the condenser, the parts operating substantially as, and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a heating system, a tank or condenser having connection with a steam-circulating system, a trap disconnected from and independent of said circulating system, having a water-discharge tube leading into said condenser, a pipe for conducting cold water into said trap, a pipe for conveying fluid under pressure thereinto for effecting a subsequent discharge of the water therefrom into the condenser through said water-discharge tube, and means for positively withdrawing the contents of the condenser, substantially as set forth.

4. A heating system comprising a tank or condenser having connection with a low-pressure steam-circulatingsystem,a trap mounted on top of the tank, a float in said trap, a waterfeedpipe leading into the trap and discharging into said float, a guide-tube depending from the top of the trap, a hollow open stem carried by the float and loosely embracing the guide-tube, a water-discharge tube having one end inserted through the guide-tube and normally closed by the float, the said discharge-tube penetrating the walls of the condenser and discharging thereinto, a steampipe communicating with the interior of the trap above the level of the water therein, suitable valves in the pipes, and mechanism adapted to remove the waters, air and gases accumulating in the condenser, the parts operating substantially as, and for the purposes set forth.

5. In a heating system, a tank or condenser having connection with a steam-circulating system, a trap disconnected from the system having a water-discharge tube leading into said condenser, a pipe for conducting cold water into said trap, a pipe for conveying fluid under pressure thereinto for effecting a subsequent discharge of the water therefrom into the condenser through the water-discharge tube, and means for withdrawing the water, accumulated in said condenser and returning the same to the boiler, substantially as set forth.

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

JAMES R. WADE.

W'itnesses:

NELLIE ARKEBAUER, EMIL STAREK.

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