IMPROVEMENTS IN- APPARATUS TO BE APPLIED. TO STEAM BOILERS
Year: 1857

page_text: J.....:
LETTERS PATENT to Robert Harlow, of Stockport, in the County of.
Lancaster, Brassfounder, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN-
APPARATUS TO BE APPLIED. TO STEAM BOILERS,"
it
Sealed the 7th July 1857, and dated the 28th January 1857.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Harlow at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 28th
January 1857.
I, ROBERT HARLOW, of Stockport, in the County of Lancaster; Brass="
founder, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-L
MENTS IN APPARATUS TO BE APPLIED TO STEAM BOILERS," to be as follows:
The nature of my Invention consists in an improved mode of applying the:
steam whistle,and the glass tube by which the level of the water in the boiler
is indicated. The glass tube is connected to the metal socket by union joints
acting on vulcanized india-rubber packing rings, which produce a steam-tight-
joint without strain on the glass, consequently the usual stuffing boxes are
dispensed with, and the breaking of the tubes, owing to unequal expansion;is
avoided. The handles of the taps by which the water and steam are admitted:
to the tube are brought in front of the tube, and are so made that when the-
i

page_text: taps are closed by turning the lower one partly round, the passage is opened
from the boiler to the tube, or from the tube to the atmosphere, to blow off,
and by turning the upper handle the passage is opened from the boiler to the
tube, or to the tube and to a whistle, which may be placed above the tube. By
this arrangement the glass tube is brought closer to the boiler, the handles
are more conveniently situated, and the apparatus simplified.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Robert Harlow in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
28th July 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ROBERT
HARLOW, of Stockport, in the County of Lancaster, Brassfounder, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters.
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-eight day of January, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven,in the twentieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Robert Harlow, Her special licence that I, the said Robert Harlow, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Robert
Harlow, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and-
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
TO BE APPLIED TO STEAM BOILERS," upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the said Robert Harlow, my executors or administrators, by an instrument
in writing under my, or their, or, one of their hands and seals, should par-
ticularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the
Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Robert Harlow, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement (that is to say):

page_text: The nature of my said invention of improvements in apparatus to be
applied to steam boilers consists in an improved mode of applying thetglass
tube to steam boilers, and in securing the glass tube to the taps by union
વર્તુ
joints and Vulcanized india-rubber packings. By this arrangement the gliss
tube is brought closer to the boiler, the openings are enlarged, thereby.
rendering them less liable to be choked; the handles of the taps are more
conveniently placed; the glass tube can be put in its place without interfering
with the taps; the parts are more durable, and the apparatus is simplified.
In order that my Invention may be fully understood and readily carried
into effect, I will proceed to describe the accompanying Sheet of Drawings,
reference being had to the figures and letters marked thereon.
Fig. 1 is a front elevation, and Fig. 2 a side elevation, in section, of my
improved apparatus. The Drawings are made about half the real size.
a is the glass tube,connected to the metal socketsof the uppertapb and lower
tape by union joints d, d. These union joints act on vulcanized india-rubber
packing rings e, thereby producing a steam-tight joint without strain on the
glass, consequently the usual stuffing boxes are dispensed with, and the
breaking of the glass tubes, owing to unequal expansion, is avoided. Another
great advantage is that the glass tube can be taken out or replaced without
interfering with the taps. ' is the plug of the upper tapb; and c¹, the plug
of the lower tap c. These plugs are each made with three openings, and the
bandles 62 and 2 are placed in front of the glass tube, and consequently in
the most convenient position for opening or closing the taps. The steam
whistle is placed above the upper tap b,instead of being detached, as usual.
The taps b and c are secured by nuts to the end plate g of the boiler iu the
ordinary manner. When the handles are down the steam and water, from
the boiler enter the glass tube, thereby indicating the level of the water in the
ordinary manner. When the handle 62 is down, and the handle c2 is turned
to the right or the left, the steam and water can blow off at h. When the
handle c2 is up, and the handle 2 at right angles, the communication with
the boiler is shut off, and when the handle 62 is up the steam acts on the
whistle. I wish to remark that the steam whistle may be dispensed with, in
which case the plug would only require one passage.
Having thus particularly described the nature of my Invention, and the
manner of performing the same, I wish it to be understood that I do not limit
myself to the details herein set forth, as the same may be modified without
departing from the peculiar character thereof; but what I do claim is, the

page_text: combination and arrangement of the parts shewn when used in the manner
and for the purposestdescribed.vergi vario pliers
o
22
witness whereof, I the said Robert Harlow, have hereunto set my
asiado ass batalled at
hand and seal, this Twenty-seventh day of July, in the year of our
Lord One thousaud eight hundred and fifty-seven.
Witness,
H. B. BARLOW.
Manchester.
ROB HARLOW. (L.S.)