Patented May 29, 1934 1960,914

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1960,914 BOLER, FEED APPARATUS Werl E. McCoy, Milwaukee, Wis., assignor to Lyndon F. Wilson, Chicago, Ill. Application July 28, 1930, Serial No. 471,327 3 Claims. (C. 261-77) This invention relates to feed water heat 11 by an obvious manipulation of the 12 ers and the embodiment herein illustrated is de and 13. The water is delivered by the injector signed particularly for the heating and eject into a tank 14 and is prevented from rising be ing of feed water for locomotive . yond a predetermined maximum height by means 5. In the effort to increase the operating effi of a Suitable float ball 15 which operates a link 60 ciencies of locomotives, feed water heaters have 16, which in turn by varying the pressure on a in many cases been employed, usually of the kind fluid contained in a pipe 17 actuates the sylphon which raise the temperature of the feed water to Controlled 18 to close the latter valve when somewhat under 212° F. and hold it at that tem the maximum desired water level in the tank 14. 10 perature at atmospheric pressure until required has been attained, but to permit the valve to be 65 in the boiler. However, the injection of water opened at other times. When exhaust steam is of less than 200 F. temperature into locomotive being delivered by the pipe 1 and the valve 18 is boilers tends to lower the pressure and temper Open due to a low water level the steam will in ature in the boiler and of course considerable ject the Water past the 19 into the 5 time is required for raising such freshly injected tank 14. The reducing valve 2 will be so set and 70 feed water to the proper steaming temperature the injector so proportioned that the latter will of the locomotive. This invention provides means force the Water into the tank 14 against a con whereby a quantity of feed water can be heated siderable pressure which will be preferably about to a temperature substantially above 212 F. and 40 pounds per Square inch, although this may be 20 held at a pressure considerably above atmospheric varied considerably. pressure so that when this feed water is injected A thermostat 21 will be employed to operate 75 into the boiler there is less resultant pressure and a valve 22 of Suitable construction for admitting temperature drop in the boiler and less time is live steam from a live steam supply pipe 23 needed for further heating of the injected feed through the pipes 24 and 25, through a perforated 25 water. For the preliminary heating of this feed pipe 26 to thereby raise the temperature of the 80 water I employ exhaust steam which issues from feed Water in the tank 14 to any desired tempera the locomotive cylinders in a very considerable ture. quantity under normal operating conditions. In case the Supply of exhaust steam should be The principal object of this invention is to pro lacking live steam may be conducted from the 30 vide improved apparatus for preheating of and pipe 23 through a reducing valve 27, which would 85 injecting of feedwater in locomotives and various be opened for this purpose and regulated to re other objects of the invention should become ap duce the Steam pressure preferably to about five parent upon a perusal of this specification and pounds per Square inch. This live steam would the drawing attached thereto. then be admitted through the pipe 28 into the 35 In the drawing: exhaust steam injector to enable the operator to Fig. 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic illustra relenish the Supply of water in the tank 14 90 tion of a preferred form of the invention; and even though exhaust steam might not at that Fig. 2 is a partial sectional view of a feed water time be available for the purpose. injector which may be used to supplant the feed In order that pressure may be maintained at 40 Water shown in Fig. 1. all times in the tank 14 a pipe 29 communicates In the drawing a pipe 1 is connected with the With the interior of the tank 14 and with the live 95 exhaust steam line leading from the locomotive steam Supply and is provided with a reducing (not shown) and is provided with a suit valve 31 which will be so set as to regulate the able non-return reducing valve 2 for insuring a pressure in the tank 14 at a desired figure such, 45 Supply of exhaust steam to the injector 3 not ex for example, as 40 pounds per square inch. It is 100 ceeding a desired maximum pressure. obvious that instead of employing live steam for The exact form of the exhaust steam injector maintaining this pressure in the feed water tank is not a part of this invention, but a preferred a connection may be made with the compressed form is shown here in the drawing which con air Supply on the locomotive. To prevent the 50 sists of a steam nozzle 4, a delivery tube 5, a waste pressure in the tank 14 from rising too high a 105 valve 6, a Waste overflow pipe 7, the body 8 and a relief valve 32 will be provided communicating Water inlet pipe 9. Water is delivered from the With the top of the tank as shown, and discharge main water tender tank through the pipe 9, a it into the atmosphere. part of which may, if desired, be by-passed for Should any sludge accumulate in the bottom 55 water treatment through the chemical container of the feed water tank it may be withdrawn from 0 2. 1,960,914 ...... time to time therefrom through the pipe 33 and it will, of course, raise the temperature of the Valve 34. Water which it injects into the tank 14 quite con For feeding the Water from the tank 14 into siderably and when both injectors are used the the boiler a pump 35, shown in Fig. 1, or the in Second injector Will further increase the tempera jector 36, shown in Fig. 2, may be employed. ture of the feed Water in an amount depending 80 When the pump 35 is used the outlet pipe 37 upon any desired adjustment made by the opera Will conduct the feed water to the pump 35 which tor. Will deliver it through the check valve 38 and It should be understood that this invention is pipe 39 into the boiler (not shown) as and When susceptible of incorporation in various embodi 10 needed. The pump will be supplied with live ments all of which will employ the principles of 85 Steam through the pipe 41 and valve 42 and its this invention and remain within the scope of exhaust Steam Will be taken away through the the appended claims. pipe 43. - Having shown and described my invention, I In case it is desired to use the live steam in claim: 5 jector 36, shown in Fig. 2, the pipe 37' will take. . 1. Boiler feed apparatus comprising a closed 90 the Water from the feed water tank 14 in the same tank normally sealed apart from the atmosphere, manner as does the pipe 37 while live steam will an exhaust steam injector constructed and ar be admitted into the injector through the pipe ranged for heating and supplying water to the 44 under control of the valve 45 and Will deliver tank...against pressure, means for controlling op 20 the mixture of steam and water through the pipe eration of the injector in accordance with the 95 39' and check valve 38' into the boiler (not tank water level, means independent of the ex ShOWn). The construction of the live steam in haust steam for maintaining a predetermined jector is obviously the same as that of the exhaust water temperature-within said tank; and means Steam injector 3 and requires no further descrip for delivering- water from the tank to a place of 25 tion, although it should be understood that both use thereof...... ; : . . . . . 100 of these injectors may be varied in the propor 2. Boiler feed apparatus comprising a closed tions of their parts to take care of different op tank normally-sealed-apart from the atmosphere, erating conditions. These variations, however, an exhaust steam injector-constructed and ar form no part of this invention. ranged for heating land-injecting-water into the 30 The device operates as follows: Whenever the tank against pressure, means for maintaining as iO5 Water level in the feed water tank is lower than uniform positive pressure in the tank, means for its maximum desired level the float ball 15 will controlling the operation of the injector in ac open the valve 18 and as soon as exhaust steam cordance with the water tank level; thermostati is available or should the operator admit live cally. controlled, means for injecting lives steam 35 steam through the reducing valve 27 the in into the tank, and means for delivering water 10 jector 3 will begin to operate and deliver water from the tank to a place-of use thereof: - - - against pressure into the tank 14, pressure being 3. Boiler feed apparatus comprising a closed maintained therein by means of the valve 31 and tank-normally sealed apart from the atmosphere, pipe 29 connected with the live steam source or an exhaust steam injector: constructed and ar 40 compressed air SOurce. AS SOOn as the proper ranged for heating and injecting-water into the 15 water level has been attained in the tank 14, the tank against pressure, means for controlling the valve 18 will close and cut off the injecting action operation of the injector-in-accordance with the . of the injector 3. The thermostatically controlled Water tank level, thermostatically coratrolled valve 22 will serve to maintain the proper water means for injecting live steam into the tank, temperature in the feed water tank. The pump means independent of the tank temperature for 12 35 or the live steam injector 36 will be employed maintaining a uniform: pressure therein, and to inject this preheated feed Water into the boiler means for delivering water from the tank to a when and as needed. place of use thereof...... When the exhaust steam injector alone is used ": ...... VERT, E. McCOY. 50 - 25

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