Improvements in and connected with Water Level Indicators or Gauges.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Aug., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 14th May, 1897-4ccepted, 1 th June, 189?
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Water Level Indicators or
Gauges.
We, CHARLES HIBBERT BERRY of 16 Heslington Street, Moss Sile, Manchester in
the County of Lancaster, Engineer, and FREDERICK ROBERT PUTZ of 8 and 9 South
Parade, Deansgate, Manchester in the County of Lancaster, Merchant, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to water level indicators or gauges such as are used in
connection with steam generators, stills and the like.
Protectors have already been used with such gauges, to prevent injury to attendants
in case of breakage, to protect the gauge glass and for other purposes, but hitherto
the protection afforded has been incomplete, whilst their use has been attended with
inconveniences which it is the object of this invention to avoid. In addition to the
advantages incidental to the use of earlier protectors, we perfectly protect the glass
from eddies and currents of cold air, exclude dust, provide means for rotating or
moving the protector by hand, around the glass, and for rendering the water level
more distinctly visible from various points of view.
In carrying out our invention, we surround the gauge glass with a composite shield,
the front of which is composed of a suitable transparent material such as glass or tale
which may be curved or flat. The remainder of the shield consists of a material such
as perforated sheet metal, wire fabric or the like, which will permit the water, steam
or other fluids to pass freely in the case of a breakage. Or, it may be composed of
imperforate material of suitable character, in which case means are adopted by the
insertion of relief valves or otherwise, to permit the immediate and free escape of the
fluid or fluids.
We prefer to line the back of the shield with asbestos or other paper or with some
other suitable and similar material which will reflect light from the back of the gauge,
and will instantly give way, or in any event, will not obstruct the free escape of the
fluids. Upon the front of this lining there may be one or more distinct vertical lines
parallel with the axis of the gauge glass, to enable the liquid level to be more
distinctly made out by the difference in the apparent breadth of the lines above and
below the water level. We prefer to use three or more of such lines, because if one
only is used, it becomes invisible if the observer is not in such a position that the line
is about in line with the axis of the glass.
To provide for the ventilation of the interior of the protector, a small opening may
be made or provided near the upper end.
We may connect the shield with the gauge fittings by any convenient means, but
we at present prefer to arrange the ends of the shields in two loose sockets constructed
to fit over the top and bottom gland nuts respectively and to be secured thereto by
set-screws. With this means for connecting the shield, the shield may be moved by
hand around its axis without moving the sockets, and the latter may be employed to
turn the gland nuts if required without moving the shield.
Dated this 13th day of August. A.D. 1896.

page_text: Improvements in and connected with Water Level Indicators or
Gauges.
We, CHARLES HIBBERT BERRY of 16 Heslington Street, Moss Side, Manchester, in
the County of Lancaster, Engineer, and FREDERICK ROBERT PUTZ of 8 and 9 South
Parade, Deansgate, Manchester in the County of Lancaster, Merchant, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
This invention relates to water level indicators or gauges such as are used in
connection with steam generators, stills and the like.
Protectors have already been used with such gauges, to prevent injury to attendants
in case of breakage: to protect the gauge glasses: and for other purposes, but hitherto
the protection afforded has been incomplete whilst their use has been attended with
inconveniences which it is the object of this invention to avoid. In addition to such
advantages as have been claimed for earlier protectors, we perfectly protect the glass
from eddies and currents of cold air, exclude dust, provide means for rotating or
moving the protector by hand around the glass and for rendering the water level more
distinctly visible from various points of view.
We will describe our invention with reference to the accompanying drawings in
which-
Figure 1 represents a sectional front elevation and Figure 2, a similar side elevation.
Figure 3 illustrates a horizontal section taken along the line -y, Figure 2.
In each of the figures similar parts are denoted by similar letters.
In carrying out our invention, we surround the gauge glass G, with a composite
shield S, the front part of which consists of a suitable transparent material g, such as
glass or talc, which may be curved as represented by the drawings,
or flat. The
remainder of the shield may consist of a material such as perforated sheet metal, wire
fabric, or the like, which will permit water, steam or other fluids to pass freely in the
event of the breakage of a gauge glass. Or, and preferably, it may be constructed
of imperforate material, such as sheet metal, in which case means are adopted by the
insertion or application of relief valves, doors, flaps, or the like, to permit the free
escape of the fluid or fluids. As shewn by the drawings, the non-transparent part of
the shield is constructed of sheet brass m, in the back of which a hole or holes h are
formed.
We prefer to line the back of the shield with asbestos or other white or light
coloured paper, or with some analogous material which will reflect light from the back
of the gauge glass and which will instantly give way, or in any event will not obstruct
the free flow of the fluids in the event of a breakage. On the front face of this
lining L, there may be one or more distinct vertical lines l, drawn parallel with the
axis of the gauge glass, to enable the liquid level to be more distinctly made out by
the apparent difference in breadth of the lines above and below the liquid level.
Commonly five of these lines may advantageously be made, as indicated by Figure 1,
as by this means the water level may be distinguished from any position within a
semi-circle described in front of the gauge glass with its axis as a centre. If fewer
lines are used, they can be clearly distinguished only when the observer is nearly in
line with the axis of the gauge glass and the line to be seen.
To provide for the ventilation of the shield and to prevent the transparent front
from becoming "steamed," an opening may be made or left near the top and near the
bottom of the shield.

page_text: We may connect the shield with the gauge fittings by any convenient means, but.
w at present prefer to arrange the ends of the shields in two loose sockets S'S,
constructed to fit over the top and the bottom gland nuts N N' respectively, and to be-
secured thereto by set screws. With this means for connecting the shield, it may
be moved by hand around its axis without moving the sockets, and the latter may be-
employed to turn the gland nuts on which they fit, if required, without removing the
shield.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven--
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. A shield or protector for water level indicators or gauges, constructed and'
arranged substantially as hereinbefore described and as illustrated by the accom--
panying drawings.
2. In a water gauge glass protector, a transparent front, in combination with a
rigid back and a light coloured lining on which vertical lines are made, the back
being provided with an opening or openings for the escape of fluids in the event of
breakage and the lining being of such material or construction as not to resist the said
escape, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying-
drawings.
3. In connection with a water level indicator provided with a shield of the type.
set forth, means for connecting the shield to the gauge fittings, and consisting of
sockets fitting upon the gland nuts, constructed and arranged substantially as herein--
before described and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
www
W. E. HEYS & SON,
Agents for the Applicants.
W. E. HEYS & SON,
Agents for the Applicants.