Improvements in and connected with Electrical Water-level Indicators for Steam Boilers.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Mar., 1896-Accepted, 22nd Aug., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Electrical Water-level
Indicators for Steam Boilers.
I, HERMANN BIERMANN, of 54, Paradiesstrasse, Breslau, in the Province of
Silesia, Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire, 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 an electrical water-level indicator for steam boilers,
which, when the water in the boiler reaches its lowest permissible level, causes a
warning signal to be given and, if desired, the feed water supplying apparatus, the
brake, or other safety apparatus to be put in action.
The accompanying drawings show the apparatus forming the subject of this
invention Figure 1 shows the water level indicating apparatus itself, and
Figures 2 and 3 the connection of the same with a water feeding apparatus,
(which in this case consists of a feed pump) and the devices for actuating such
feeding apparatus electrically.
A platinum wire a (see Figure 1) is fused into the water-gauge glass, and
protrudes so far out therefrom as to permit of its being connected to an electric
conductor i. Inside the glass is a float b which rises and falls with the water level
in the glass and boiler. This float b is connected by means of a thin wire and a
clamp c with the electric conductor .
When the water falls in the boiler to the lowest permissible level the float b
falls with it, comes in contact with the wire a, and, being made of conducting
material, closes the electric circuit through the battery or other source of
electricity i", and sounds an electric alarm bell or other signal included in the
circuit.
In the circuit is also included a contact making apparatus 1 (see Figures 2
and 3) which is brought into action in the following way :-
Immediately the circuit is closed through the conductors the electro-
magnet 12, round which the said conductors are coiled, becomes excited and
attracts the spring armature l', whereby the end of the latter is brought below
the catch of a pivotted latch 13 and is thereby held down; a second electric
circuit is thus established through the conductor h, armature 1, latch 13, and
spring 14. The stop pin 15 and the spring 14 hold the latch 13 normally in a
vertical position.
In the main conductor is inserted a battery or other source of electricity m,
and an electric motor n, which latter serves for driving the pump or other water
feeding apparatus.
is
When the circuit through the conductor his established the electric motor n is
set in motion, and actuates the feed pump p or other water feeding apparatus
connected with it, by means of suitable belt gear as shown in Figure 2, or other-
wise, until the level of the water has reached a certain prearranged height in the
boiler. As the quantity of water delivered at each stroke of the feed pump
known, the apparatus can be so arranged that the pump is put out of action when
it has made a certain number of strokes; devices for this purpose are shown in
Figure 3. On the feed pump shaft p³ is secured a worm g
which gears with a
worm wheel r. On the axis of this worm wheel is placed, so as to turn freely
thereon, a pendulous weighted arm s, which is carried round at each revolution of
the worm wheel r by a pin r secured to the latter. Immediately the arm & passes

page_text: being its highest central position it falls over into its lowest position, and strikes
against the latch 13, so as to move the same backwards, and thus release the spring
armature, thereby opening the main circuit through the conductor /, stopping
the electric motor n, and consequently the feed to the boiler.
In the apparatus above described the device for feeding water to the boiler is
supposed to be a feed pump, it is obvious, however, that any other suitable water
feeding apparatus may be employed, and be actuated in the same, or other suitable
manner. When the apparatus is employed on a locomotive the injector or the
brake or other safety apparatus may be so combined with the water level
indicator in a manner analagous to that above described, that they are brought
into action immediately the water level in the boiler reaches its lowest permissible
limit.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :
First. An electric water-level indicator for steam boilers of all kinds, which
consists of a float and electric connections in combination with the water gauge
glass, so arranged and operating that electric circuits are closed whereby alarm,
water feeding, brake or other safety apparatus is brought into action, whenever
the water level in the boiler reaches its lowest permissible limit, substantially as
described.
Second. In apparatus of the kind forming the subject of the first claiming
clause hereof an electric contact making device so arranged and constructed that
an electric circuit h is closed through a spring armature and a spring latch 13,
whereby an electric motor n, and the feed water supply, or other apparatus con-
nected with such motor is brought into action, whenever the electric circuit ii,
through the water level indicator, is closed by the level of the water in the boilėr
reaching its lowest permissible limit, substantially as described.
Dated this 20th day of Tune 1900.
H. BIERMANN,
Per W. H. Beck,
115 Cannon Street, London, E.C., Agent..
H. BIERMANN,
Per W. H. Beck,
115 Cannon Street, London, E.C., Agent..