Feed Regulator

[SeaCat]

I am a newbie to this forum, so I have probably put this query in the wrong place so apologies in advance if I have!

I am going to build a working boiler, a vertical smoke tube boiler similar to a real life "Spanner" exhaust gas boiler that used to grace our merchant ships (when we still had a merchant navy).  It's also similar to the vertical fire tube boiler as fitted to Stanley Steam Cars.  The feed regulator on both these boilers was essentially very similar - a long tube arranged on a slope, connected to the steam side of the boiler at the top and the water side at the bottom operating a feed regulator using the expansion and contraction of the tube according to whether there was more steam or more water in the tube to ope or close the regulator.

Has anyone any experience of designing and building one of these regulators that could help me please?  The "Spanner" regulator was at quite a slope whereas the "Stanley" regulator has a slight slope around the line with the working water level, from what I can remember.

Regards, Chris.

[steamboatmodel]

Welcome Chris,
As far as I know Spanner Boilers were used to generate heating steam for trains http://www.locodocs.co.uk/manmanuals/SwirlyfloMkIII2ndEdition.htm
Could you cite some references on the regulator that you are describing as it may be the lack of caffeine, but I can't rap my mind around how it works. I have seen reference to units that use the expansion of glass rods due to temperature to open valves, but can not see where the contents of the tube is going to cause it to expand. What are you going to build your boiler from and what size?
Regards,
Gerald.
PS I did find a good site on a Stanley Boiler
http://www.stanleymotorcarriage.com/735restoration/Boiler/BoilerRestoration.htm

[steamboatmodel]

I did remember but can't find a idea mentioned for feed in a Yarrow Boiler, They proposed having a feed water pump driven by the boiler with the supply tube pickup at the top of the water level in the boiler.
The theory being when the water level is down the pump will be driven by steam, but when the water level is up it will be feed water, thus slowing down the pump. I have not heard of anyone trying this yet so can not say how well it would work. I do have a boiler I am redoing so I may try it out.
Regards,
Gerald.