Steam & Excursion > Hancock Lifting Inspirator

To add further knowledge and discussion on the Hancock Lifting Inspirator, started in the thread on SP AC-9's, here is some information from my operating instructiions for this gadget.

A drawing of its cross section and parts is attached.

Text of product description as follows:
Description.- An inspirator, or double-tube injector, consists of two parts.  The first part, called the lifter, raises the water and delivers it to the second part under a head of pressure.  The second part, the forcer takes the water from the first part and forces it into the boiler.  Double-tube injectors have this advantage over single-tube injectors: they are more nearly self-regulating, since a rise in boiler pressure increases the flow of steam through the lifter and forcer in the same proportions.
In Fig. 19 shown a sectional view of the latest form of Hancock Inspirator.  1 is the lifter nozzel, and 2 the lifter tube; 3 is the forcer nozzel, and 4 the forcer tube; 5 is the lifter steam valve; 6 the main steam valve, consisting of parts a and b; 7, the intermediate overflow valve; 8, the overflow valve; 10, the check valve; and 14, the regulating valve.  The inspirator should so be placed that the overflow nozzel N will be above the level of the water in the tank.
Method of Working.-- To start the inspirator, draw the lever H back slightly until the resistance of the main steam valve is felt.  When water is lifted, pull the lever steadily back to the stop.  The inspirator will then be in full operation.  When the pin p in the wheel of the regulating valve 14 is at the top, the inspirator will deliver its maximum quantity of water.  To reduct the feed, turn the regulating valve to the right.  This valve takes the place of the water valve in the supply pipe, and by means of it the rate of delivering water may be regulated from the maximum to the minimum amount without touching the lever H.  When the lever is slightly drawn back to raise the water, the lifter steam valve 5 is drawn from its seat on the steam valve 6; steam then flows from the boiler through pipe S, past valve 5, through valve 6, as shown by the arrows, and thence through the lifter steam nozzel 1.  The steam then passes through tube 2, overflow valves 7 and 8, and out of the nozzel N, creating a vacuum in W and raising the water, which at first flows ou of the overflow nozzel also.  The lever H is then pulled back to its full extent, which opens the main valve 6 wide at both a and b, while at the same time it closes the overflow valve 8 (see Fig.s 19 and 20), and causes the water in chamber h to be put under pressure by the lifting apparatus.  Steam then flows past valve 6 at a and b into chamber c, and through forcer steam nozzel 3 and combining tube 4, where the steam is condensed by the water, which it heats, and to which it imparts sufficient velocity to force open the boiler check 10.  Intermediate valve 7 closes, preventing water getting back into chamber h.  Fig. 20 shows how the lever H is connected to the overflow valve 8 by connecting rod  e, bell-crank lever d, and valve stem f.  When the lever is pushed forward to close the steam valve 6 it operateds the bell-crank lever and opens the overflow;  when it is pulled back to open the steam valve, it closes the overflow.  In order to prevent siphoning water through the overflow pipe when the injector is shut off, a small air hole o is drilled in it.
To use as a heater, throw back the cam n, so as to disengage the connecting-rod from the lever, and then pull back the connecting rod by hand to close the overflow;  open the regulating valve 14, and by means of the lever H regulate the quantity of steam to be used.

 
 

 

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Thank you for the explanation.

I studied this very carefully!  Thanks for it!