Improvements in Automatic Apparatus for Indicating and Recording at a Distance Changes of Level or Position of Water or other Fluid in Reservoirs, Tanks, or Tide Ways, or of Gasholders, or other Structures or Articles.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Mar., 1893-Accepted, 29th July, 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Automatic Apparatus for Indicating and
Recording at a Distance Changes of Level or Position of
Water or other Fluid in Reservoirs, Tanks, or Tide Ways,
or of Gasholders, or other Structures or Articles.
We, JOHN BARR, of 39 Dundonald Road, Kilmarnock, in the County of Ayr,
North Britain, Accountant, and WILLIAM MCWHIRTER, of Faraday Electric
Works, Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, Electrical 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, that is to say:-
Our present invention comprises various developments and improvements in
apparatus of the kind described in our Patent Specification No. 14902 of 1887;
and apparatus made with our improvements is shown on four accompanying sheets
of explanatory drawings which are hereinafter referred to.
Figure, 1, on Sheet, 1, of the drawings is a plan of the transmitting apparatus as
arranged to be directly acted on by a float rising and falling with the water level
in a reservoir; and
Figure, 2, is an elevation of the parts shown at the right hand side of Figure, 1.
Figure, 3, Sheet, 2, is a sectional plan of the receiving and recording apparatus;
and Figure, 4, Sheet, 3, is a corresponding sectional elevation.
Figures, 5, and, 6, Sheet, 4, are elevations as at right angles of a modification of
parts not fully seen in Figure. 4, Figures, 7, and, 8, being similar views of another
modification of similar parts, whilst a third modification is partly shown in Figure, 9,
on Sheet, 1.
In these drawings the same reference letters and numerals are used to mark the
same or like parts wherever they are repeated.
In the transmitting apparatus (Figures, 1, and 2) there are fixed on a horizontal
shaft, A, turning on conical centres, and which may be of any convenient length,
two pulleys or drums, A 1, A. 2, on one of which is wound the cord attached to the
float acted on by the water the level of which is to be indicated and recorded, the
other pulley having wound on it a cord attached to a weight which partly counter-
balances the weight of the float. The front end of the shaft, A, extends through'
a vertical plate, B, to which the various transmitting details are affixed, the front
end centre of the shaft being in a bracket, A 3, fixed to the plate, B. There is
fast on the shaft, A, a spur wheel, A 4, which gears with a pinion above it and in
one piece with a spur-wheel, A 5, on a stud, and the spur wheel A 5, gears with a
in
pinion loose on a spindle, C, carried on conical centres brackets, C1, and
another not seen. This gearing increases the velocity of any motion derived from
the float shaft, A, and is arranged in each case to suit the minimum change which
it is wished to have transmitted by the instrument, in such manner that a complete
revolution of the spindle, C, takes place every time the minimum change of level
takes place. Thus if the apparatus is arranged for a minimum of one, or for two,
or for three inches the spindle, C, will make a complete turn every time the water
level changes to the extent of one, two, or three inches respectively.
The pinion
loose on the spindle, C, has fixed on it a crank arm, C2, having fixed in it a
pin, C 3, which acts on the vertical limb of a tumbler, D, which is fixed on the
spindle, and which has a sector, D1, formed at its upper part. To prevent the
tumbler spindle, C, from turning too rapidly when the tumbler falls over, there is
fixed on the spindle a spur wheel, C 4, which gears with a pinion on a spindle, C 5,
which has fixed on it a pair of fly vanes, C 6. At the bottom of the tumbler
arm, D, there is fixed a hollow piece, D2, which contains a quantity of mercury,

page_text: and whenever the tumbler is turned up to the top centre in either direction and to
the slightest degree past that centre, the mercury runs from one end to the other
of the hollow piece, D, and causes a preponderance which insures the falling over
of the tumbler.
The tumbler, D, with its sector, D1, turns over in one direction for a rise in the
water level, and in the opposite direction for a fall, and it actuates electrical
contact devices on the right or left sides of it accordingly as the change of level is
upwards or downwards. These electrical contact devices are the same on both
sides and it will be sufficient to describe one set of them. If the sector, D 1, turns
in the direction of the arrow its corner, D 4, first encounters a balanced tongue, E,
jointed to the inner end of a lever, E 1, but it turns this tongue down and passes it
without moving the lever appreciably. When the tumbler has made rather more
than half a turn the corner, D4, encounters the tongue, E, on the other side (the
right hand side in Figure 2) but as the tongue is prevented by a stop from turning
up on the joint attaching it to the lever, E 1, that lever is moved by the sector
which turns up its inner end and passes it thereby depressing its outer end.
The
lever, E 1, is centered on a small bracket, E 2, and has attached to it a weight, E 3,
which returns it to its normal horizontal position, its outer part then resting up
against a stop, E 4. A pair of spring contact blades, E 5, are fixed to ebonite or
other non-conducting strips fixed to the lever E 1, and have flexible insulated
conducting wires, W 1, W 2, connected to them. When the outer end of the
lever, E 1, is depressed, its contact blades E 5, which are provided with platinum
contact points make rubbing contacts with contact blades, F, fixed to an ebonite or
other non-conducting plate fixed on a bracket, F 1, one of these blades, F, being
in electric communication through the bracket, F 1, the plate, B, and a terminal, F 2,
with an earth wire, E W; and the other having connected to it an insulated
conducting wire, W 3.
The wires, W 1, W 2, W 3, are held in position where required by small ebonite
clips, W, screwed to the plate, B, and they are connected up to terminal screws, G 1,
G 2, and, L. The terminal screw, F 2, for the earth wire, E W, is fixed at one
side of the plate, and in a corresponding position at the other side is fixed the
terminal screw, L, to which the line wire L W, is connected. The terminal
screws, G 1, G 2, are connected by wires, G 3, G 4, one to the positive and the
other to the negative electrode of a battery; and the connections and arrangements
of the wires and other parts are such that when the tumbler, D, with its sector, D 1,
turns in one direction a positive current is transmitted through the line wire, a
negative current being transmitted when the tumbler turns in the opposite direction.
Thus when the right hand lever, E 1, is moved, its blades, E 5, in connection by
the wires, W 1, W 2, and terminal screws, G 1, G 2, with the opposite poles of the
battery will cause a positive current to pass by the wire, W 3, to the line wire, L W,
and will connect the negative pole to earth. When, however the lett-hand lever, E 1,
is moved a negative current will pass to the line wire, L W, the wires being suitably
connected for that purpose.
In the receiving and recording instrument as shown in Figures, 3, 4, 7, and 8, the
parts are enclosed in a casing the upper part of which is made with glass sides and
top, and into the lower part of this casing various insulated wires are led, two of
these, G 5, G 6, being connected to the opposite poles of a local battery, and of the
other two one, L W, is the line wire from the transmitter herein before described
and the other, E W 1, is connected to earth. These wires are connected to double
terminal screws H1, H2, H3, H 4, H 5, H 6, fixed in a non-conducting plate, H.
A continuation of the line wire, L W, extends from the terminal screw, HI, up to
one of a pair of safety combs H7, H8, the teeth of which whilst far enough apart
for the ordinary currents are near enough to short-circuit any excess of electricity
due to lightning. The second safety comb, H 8, is connected to earth through the
terminal screw, H 3. The wires proceeding from the lower ends of the double
terminal screws, H 1, etc., are, for convenience passed through small holes to the
outer side of the back of the casing (which back is of wood or other non-conducting

page_text: material) and are continued along the outside up to other holes through which they
return to the inner or front side of the back at points near the parts to which they
are to be connected. In Figure, 4, of the drawings the parts of the wires thus
proceeding outside are, however, shown in full lines as if the back were transparent
(or of glass). Similarly in Figure, 3, wires are shown in full lines, as if parts under
which they pass were transparent. From the safety combs, H 7, H8, continuations
of the wires, L W, and, EW, are connected to terminal screws, R 3, R 4, of relay
apparatus, R, which may be of any suitable known kind, and which is arranged to
supply current of suitable strength from the local battery for actuating the
indicating and recording mechanism. One local battery wire, G 6, is connected
through the terminal screw, H 6, to a terminal screw, R 6, of the relay, R; and when
the switch tongue, T, is by the action of the electromagnets of the relay, R, moved
to the right hand, the said wire, G 6, is by it put in communication with a terminal
screw, R 5, which is connected by wires, J, and a metal plate, V, with the terminal
screw, H 5. A wire, J 3, connects the terminal screw, H 5, with the coils of the
right-hand electro-magnet, M 1, a wire thence proceeding to a back terminal screw,
H8 (Figure, 3).
This terminal screw, H 8, is connected by a wire, J 1, with a similar back
terminal screw,
H 7, (Figure, 3) connected to the coils of the left-hand electro-
magnet, M, (which is, however, unacted on when a current is acting on the right-
hand magnet, M 1). The wire, J 1, is, at its middle, connected by a wire, J 4,
with a metal plate J 5, (indicated by dotted lines in Figure, 4) and this plate, J 5,
has connected to it a wire, G 5, which through the terminal screw, H 4, is a
continuation of the other local-battery wire, thus completing the local-battery circuit.
When the switch tongue, T, of the relay, R, is moved to the left hand it through
the terminal screws, R 6, R 7, puts the local-battery wire, G 6, in connection
through wires, J 8, and a metal plate V 1, with the terminal screw, H 2, which is
connected by a wire, J 2, with the coils of the left-hand electro-magnet, M, which
is in consequence then acted on (the right-hand electro-magnet, M 1, being at the
same time unoperated on, as the circuit through its coils is broken at the relay
switch tongue, T). The circuit is completed through the wires, J 1, J 4, plate, J 5,
and wire, G 5.
The plates, V 1, J 5, and, V, are connected through coils, R 1,R 2, and wires, J 6, J7,
the coils being such as to offer greater resistance than the circuits through the
wires, J, and, J 8, and the arrangement constituting a device well known to
practical electricians for preventing damage by sparking when the electric currents
change.
arm,
The action of the magnets which will be best understood from Figures, 7, and, 8,
is such as to impart a definite uniform movement for every impulse to the indicating
and recording mechanism. The armature, N, is at the lower end of a pendulum
A small
N 1, swinging on conical centres which support it at its upper end.
open frame, N 2, is introduced between the armature, N, and the pendulum arm, N 1,
and has fitted to it two jointed catches, N 3, N 4, arranged to act on a pinion P, on a
spindle, P 1. When the armature N, (Figure 7) moves to the right hand the
left-hand catch, N 3, acts on the pinion, P, but on returning that catch turns on its
joint over the pinion teeth without acting on them. The magnets M, M 1, and other
parts are adjusted so that each action will move the pinion, P, to the extent of
just one tooth, and the pinion is prevented from moving further by horns, N 5, N 6,
forming parts of the catches N 3, № 4, respectively, and which engage under fixed
stops, N7, N 8, on approaching the ends of their strokes and hold the catches rigid.
To additionally impart steadiness there is fixed on the spindle, P 1, a round toothed
pinion, P 2, with which there engages a finger on a blade spring, P 3, seen in
Figure, 4, partly in dotted lines.
Before proceeding to describe the parts acted on by the spindle, P 1, actuated by
the magnets, M, M 1, certain modifications of parts last herein before described may
be referred to. In the modification shown in Figures, 5, and 6, each of the
magnets, M, M 1, acts on a separate armature, N, attached to a separate pendulum

page_text: two
arm, N 1; and each arm has fitted to it, in a manner to be adjusted by a screw nut,
a bar, N 9, to which is jointed the respective catch, N 3, or № 4, for acting on the
piniou, P. In the modification shown in Figure, 9, (Sheet 1) there are
armatures, N, which are jointed to pendulum arms, N 1, each armature being fixed
to a bell crank made with a toothed arm, 3 N, 4 N, to act on the pinion, P. When
either armature is drawn to the magnet, M, or M 1, the toothed arm, 3 N, or, 4 N,
is turned down into gear with the pinion, P, and whilst moving it to the extent of
a tooth prevents it from turning further by locking it as long as
the magnet
is active.
The spindle, P 1, has fast on it a pinion, P 4, which gears with a spur wheel, Q,
carried on a centre stud and having fixed to it a pulley, Q1, and to a projecting
central boss on it an index pointer, Q 2. This pointer. Q 2, moves round in front
of an annular dial, Q3, (supposed to be removed in Figure, 4,) which is suitably
graduated, the level of the water at the distant reservoir or other place where the
transmitting instrument is stationed being at all times indicated thereon by the
pointer.
The pulley, Q1, is for actuating the recording apparatus, and has wound on it
somewhat more than one turn of a cord, Q 4, which cord also passes round guide
pulleys, Q5, adjustable on a pillar, Q 6, in a manner to distend a part of the
cord, Q4, vertically. To the vertical part of the cord, Q 4, there is attached a
marker, Q7, consisting of an arm provided with a style or pen and an ink
reservoir or any other suitable pen or pencil marker may be used. The marker
arm is in the form of a spring blade, and it is guided on a rod, Q 8, fixed at its
top and bottom to the pillar, Q 6. The record is by the marker, Q 7, marked on
suitably ruled and lettered paper on a cylinder, S. fixed on a vertical spindle, S 1,
driven by means of a worm and worm wheel or of bevil wheels from a timepiece, S 2,
arranged to impart to the cylinder, S, preferably one complete revolution in every
24 hours; or the complete revolution may be arranged to correspond to any other
desired period of time.
It will be obvious that our improved apparatus may be applied for indicating and
recording at a distance changes of position of gasholders or other movable structures
or articles.
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. Constructing and combining or arranging the parts of automatic apparatus
for indicating and recording at a distance changes of level or position of water or
other fluid in reservoirs, tanks, or tide ways, or of gasholders or other structures or
articles, substantially in the improved manner herein before described and shown in
the accompanying drawings.
2. The construction and arrangement of the transmitting apparatus substantially
as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures, 1, and, 2, of the accompanying
drawings.
3. In the receiving apparatus the modifications of mechanism by means of which
the electro magnets act on the indicating mechanism substantially as herein before
described with reference to Figures, 3, to, 9, of the accompanying drawings.
Dated thin Wanntoonth day of Manch
1902
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicants' Agent.