Improved Automatio Low Water Alarm Apparatus.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Dec., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 24th Feb., 1897-Accepted, 27th Mar., 1897
[Communicated from abroad by FREDERIC FOWLER FARLOW, In Tents,
Esplanade Fort, Bombay, in the Empire of India, Engineer.]
Improved Automatio Low Water Alarm Apparatus.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of The Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, 322, High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex,
6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street, Manchester, both in the County
of Lancaster, and Lower Temple Street, Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to a mechanism for giving an alarm, preferably by means
of a gong, bell or the like, actuated by a rush of water, when the water level in
the vessel or tank to which it is fitted sinks below a given point. It consists of a
pipe attachment fixed to a hole bored either in the side or bottom of the tank or
vessel. A pipe in continuation of this outer pipe attachment is placed in the
interior of the tank and fixed to its side or bottom opposite the hole provided for
a connection with the exterior pipe. Both the exterior and interior pipes have
flanges at their connection with the metal wall of the tank, reservoir, or other
suitable receptacle for containing the water.
At the upper end of the inner pipe is a cup shaped receiver with a wide flange
at its top, over which is attached a valve box.
Cross bars are provided to steady the action of the valve spindle.
The top of this valve spindle passes through a hole in the bottom of a U-shaped
bar connected with a ball float, to allow the valve spindle free action at top so as
to ensure a tight fitting valve.
In the event of the liquid in the tank or other vessel falling below a certain
level, the ball float, which is kept up by its buoyancy in the water, will likewise
fall and in falling will depress the valve spindle and open the valve, thereby
causing a rush of water into the cup receiver and down the pipe. At the lower
end of this pipe and at say 12 feet or other suitable distance above ground level,
is attached a gong, bell, or like device to be actuated by the force of the water
passing through the pipe, thereby giving an alarm whenever the water in the tank
falls below the required level.
The height of the cup receiver from bottom or side hole in the tank and also of
the valve spindle, may be varied to suit the time during which the alarm is to
continue sounding, or according to the standard height of water required in the
tank.
Dated this 22nd day of December 1806
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
322, High Holborn, London, W.C., Patent Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: pro Automatic Low water Alarm Apparatus.
1, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of The Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, 322, High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex,
6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street, Manchester both in the County
of Lancaster, and Lower Temple Street, Birmingham in the County of Warwick,
Civil 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:
This invention relates to a mechanism for giving an alarm, preferably by means
of a gong, bell or the like, actuated by a rush of water, when the water level in,
the vessel or tank to which it is fitted sinks below a given point. It consists of a
pipe attachment fixed to a hole bored either in the side or bottom of the tank'or
vessel. A pipe in continuation of this outer pipe attachment is placed in the,
interior of the tank and fixed to its side or bottom opposite the hole provided for'.
a connection with the exterior pipe. Both the exterior and interior pipes have
flanges at their connection with the metal wall of the tank, reservoir or other
suitable receptacle for containing the water.
At the upper end of the inner pipe is a cup shaped receiver with a wide flange,
at its top, over which is attached a valve box, covering a valve.
The top of the valve spindle passes through a hole in the bottom of a U-shaped.
bar connected with a ball float, to allow the valve spindle free action at top so as
to ensure a tight fitting valve.
Referring to the accompanying drawings:-
Figure 1 shows a sectional elevation of the apparatus secured to the side of a.
tank.
Figure 2 shows a plan view on the line CD.
Figure 3 shows an elevation of the grating P.
In these drawings A indicates the side of the tank or vessel to which the
apparatus is attached, B the float serving to support the valve M with rubber
washer m pressed tightly against its seating by means of spindle K, secured to the
float B by means of a nut k within a U-shaped bar attached to the float and
having a hole through which the spindle passes so as to allow of oscillations of
the float without disturbance of the valve M. The rose box J has a central hole
in its top through which passes the spindle K and a series of holes R around its
periphery. It is secured to the valve seat H by bolts or otherwise.
Between the valve seat H and the inuer bend pipe G is secured the grating or
diaphragm P, shewn in detail in Figure 3. The centre may obviously be perforated
otherwise than shown, provided sufficient aperture be left for the flow of water:
its object to arrest the valve H should the same become detached from the
float B. The lower bend pipe G which supports the device is secured to the side.
wall of the tank as shown, around an aperture in the said wall and in communi-
cation with the pipe E outside the same. This pipe E delivers the water to the
alarm apparatus provided. The alarm apparatus preferably gives an audible
signal by means of a gong, bell, whistle or the like, but is not shown on the
drawing as it forms in itself no part of my invention.
In the event of the liquid in the tank or other vessel falling below a certain
level, the ball float, which is kept up by its buoyancy in the water, will likewise
fall and in falling will depress the valve spindle and open the valve, thereby
causing a rush of water into the cup receiver and down the pipe. At the lower
end of this pipe and at say 12 feet or other suitable distance above ground level,
is attached a gong, bell, or like device as aforesaid actuated by the force of the

page_text: water passing through the pipe, thereby giving an alarm whenever the water in
the tank falls below the required level.
The height of the cup receiver from bottom or side hole in the tank and also of
the valve spindle may be varied to suit the time during which the alarm is to
continue sounding, or according to the standard height of water required in the-
tank.
In the foregoing description and drawings I have set forth my invention in
the form which I prefer but many of the details are obviously capable of variation.
without exceeding the scope thereof: thus for instance, the bent pipe G might
be made straight and prolonged to an aperture in the bottom of the tank, instead
of in the side thereof, consequently I do not limit myself to the precise details
described and illustrated.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The method of indicating deficiency of liquid in tanks consisting essentially.
in the use of a float-supported valve closing the orifice of a tube communicating
with an alarm or signal apparatus outside the tank capable of being actuated
by the flow of liquid through the tube when the valve is opened, substantially
as described.
2. In combination with a signalling device, the apparatus for indicating
deficiency of liquid in tanks substantially as described.
3. The combination of a float such as B, loosely connected to the valve spindle.
of a reversed valve such as M, valve seating such as H and valve spindle such
as K, with or without means for limiting the fall of the valve such as diaphragm P,
with a perforated cover such as J substantially as and for the purposes described.
and shown in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 23rd day of February 1907
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of London, Liverpool, Manchester, and Birmingham,.
Patent Agents for the Applicant.