American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1845-05-27

VALUABLE INVENTION. We have before US
the report of the committee on Patents, Of the
House OF Representatives, for preventing Steam
Boiler ENplosons"- as we understand
that DR.. Wright is about to submit his inycn-
ton to the inspection of the citizens Of Bati-
more, we extract 50 much of the report as de-
scribcs the machine and mode of operating.
1.-The plan of Doctor Wright, which is the
subject of this report, is the use of a steam-tight
tube, of high expansive power Gas brass or cop
per- enclosing a rod of metal of less expansive
power, & as iron,) secured into the end of the
tube This tube and rod (Which is attached,
with its apparatus of pointer dial and reset
ting Coutrivance to Il plate of from is passed
into the boiler, and screwed at its mouth into
the boiler head, The expansion and contrac-
ton Of the tube by the change Of temperature,
moving the rod which is attached to the work
ing apparatus, gives it sufficient play to indI-
cate, accurately, the degrees Of temperature
and pressure to relieve the satety-valve at the
desired point; and as soon as the quantity OF
steam determined OH is blown off, to re-adjust
itself by means Of the return action of the
pointer, consequent on the immediate reduction
of temperature. The whole apparatus, outside
Vi TIC DblltIj OCCuDiCh DuL 81 SIIll SpuCt tIdL
it may be secured beyond the reach of inter
ference. The instrument completely avoids
the stuiiing box, the great obstacle to the ac-
ton OF most OF the contrlvances remarked upon
above. And although it operates by tempera-
ture, its power of indicating deficiency Of wa
ter is very manifest. For, suppose the appa-
ratus be set (as it may he at any proposed
pontl to 90 off at $50 deg. of the common
thermometer, which gives about $50 pounds
pressure on the square inch, (the minimum of
the proved strength Of the boilers and there
is an ample supply of water in the boilers; as
soon as the heat reaches $50 deg, the safety
valve flies open, and the escape of steam im-
medately cooling the boiler the apparatus re-
sets itself after blowing off the desired quantity
Of steam. lfthis warning is unhecded, and the
fires are not reduced, the same operation is con-
stantly repeated as quickly as the heat rises to
$50 deg; and if the hdes become SO heated as
to remain above that point, the valve remains
open, the water boils harmlessly away, and the
machinery stops its operations, Suppose, a.
gain, heat is not raised above $50 deg. as long
as a sufficiency of water remains, but that the
water, not being properly attended TO, gradual
ly sinks; the tube, which is located along the
top of the flue, tells the increasing heat: the in
dex gradually indicates it, and if not attended
to, the machine goes Off, throws up the safety
valve, and, the boiler instantly cooling, it re-
sets itself as before. If this is not needed by
the engineer, the operation is repeated; and if
1t is still unnoticed and the heat is kept up,
the machine will not reset itself, the water will
harmessly boil away, and the engine will
stop"
We have no skill in such matters, but shall
be truly reioced if the invention of DR.. Wright
prove, upon experiment, to be an efiectual safe
guard against the explosion of steam boilers
The committee on patents consider the inven-
ton to be valuable, and we hope that it will be
thoroughly examined and testified by some of
our citizens.