Improved Apparatus for Indicating Deficiency or Stoppage in the Flow of Liquid through Pipes, or the like.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 27th July, 1898-Accepted, 10th Sept., 1898
Improved Apparatus for Indicating Deficiency or Stoppage in the
Flow of Liquid through Pipes, or the like.
I, CARL PAUL KIRSTEN, of No. 48, Schiller Strasse, Chemnitz, in the Kingdom of
Saxony, German Empire, Engineer, 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 :-
My invention relates to an apparatus for indicating a stoppage in the flow of fluids
in pipes or the like.
The apparatus designed for this purpose is adapted to actuate a signal device as
soon as the liquid flowing through a tube or into a vessel ceases, or in case the flow
is stopped by any means. For this purpose the apparatus illustrated in the accoin-
panying drawing is interposed in the tube connection in such a manner that the
Huid passes through it, and thus for instance in Figure 1 of the drawings, the
entrance is at E and the out-flow at A.
The apparatus consists of a vessel of glass or other convenient material a which is
closed at both ends by the covers 64, 62 and secured together by bolts g (Fig. 1A) or
other convenient method. In the interior of this vessel is fixed a partition a¹ which
serves as the overflow partition, and divides the interior into two divisions I, II
(Figs. 1 and 1). If the fluid passes at E through the prolongation of the entrance
pipe, it will accumulate in the division I of the vessel a and rise in the same until it
overflows over the partition a¹. The liquid then passes in the direction of the
arrows into division II from which it flows further through a channel b into the
tube A, and from thence flows away. The fluid will remain at the same level in
the space I at the level of the overflow partition, as long as a sufficiently
strong inlet-flow is maintained. If, therefore, this inflowing becomes too weak, or
entirely ceases, then the fluid collected in the space I no longer overflows over a¹ and
through the channel 6+, but escapes directly through a smaller opening b³ provided
in the bottom of the division I, and leading to the exit pipe A. The size of this
opening 3 corresponds to the expected in-flowing quantity and can be so adjusted
by means of a cock or other convenient method, that less fluid escapes through it
than flows into the vessel. When the level of the fluid in the space I sinks, there
will also sink the float d with its shaft and closs-piece d¹, d². The said shaft passes
through the cover b¹. This motion continues until d² depresses the spring e¹ and
causes it to come in contact with the spring e thus completing the circuit of an
electric signal apparatus, and causing the same to act.
Instead of the inlet E as shewn in Figure 1, passing in at the top of the apparatus,
it might also be arranged to pass in from below, as shewn in Figure 2.
In this case
the fluid flowing through E takes its course through the opening c (Figures 2
and 2) into the vessel a, and then escapes at the overflow of the tube a¹ (which
corresponds to the division a shewn in Figure 1) and thus passes into the exit
pipe 6. When the flow decreases, and the level of the fluid sinks below the normal
point, it flows out of a or rather out of the division I, through e and through 63 or
even flows directly back into the tube E. Further, the overflow a¹ (Figs.
ГР..... 03-
and 2)

page_text: instead of being in the interior of the vessel a might be arranged outside the same in
a suitable manner, but this would alter nothing in the principle of the invention.
The above described apparatus can be made use of in all cases where it is necessary
to ascertain in good time the sudden decrease or complete interruption of a
continuous flow of liquid. Thus for instance, for engines with condensing apparatus
in order that it may indicate any stoppage of the cooling water. It would in this
case, as also in the case of pipes, which are in communication with a vessel of any
kind, be one and the same whether the apparatus be fixed in the inlet pipe, that is
to say, before the entrance of the water into the cooling apparatus, or be fixed in the
exit pipe through which the water flows from the cooling apparatus, the action in
both cases being the same.
In the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 illustrates one modification of the apparatus in sectional elevation and
Figure 1 the same apparatus in plan view, whilst
Figure 2 shews the other modification in sectional elevation and
Figure 2 in plan.
my said
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. An apparatus for indicating an interruption of the flow of fluids in tubes and the
like, characterized by the arrangement that the fluid passing into a vessel is
maintained therein by means of an overflow partition at a given level, until the flow
is interrupted, and the liquid remaining in the vessel instead of overflowing, runs
away directly through a side channel, whereupon a float hitherto maintained at a
given height sinks down and actuates a signal mechanism.
2. The improved apparatus for indicating entire or partial stoppage of the flow of
water in tubes or the like, constructed substantially as described and illustrated in one
modification in Figures 1 and 1^ and in another modification in Figures 2 and 2 of
the drawings.
Dated the Twenty-sovouth day of Lub, 20ne
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
322, High Holborn, London, W.C., Patent Agents for the Applicant.