Improvements in Water-gauges.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Mar., 1891-Accepted, 18th Apr., 1891
CUMI LEIE
DIVIFICATION.
Improvements in Water-gauges.
I, SIDNEY MOORHOUSE, of Victoria Works, Stalybridge, in the County of
Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what
nanner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
n and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to the construction of that class of water-gauge wherein
automatic valves are employed to close the passages and prevent the escape of steam
water in the event of the breakage of the gauge-glass; the object being to simplify
and improve the construction of the gauge-cocks and valves and to ensure the proper
action of the latter in the event of a breakage.
The nature of my said improvements and the manner in which the same is to be
performed or carried into practical effect will be readily understood on reference to
the accompanying drawings and the following explanation thereof.
Fig. 1 on the drawings is a vertical section of the upper gauge-cock and its
valve and
Fig. 2 a similar view of the lower gauge cock and its valve, and
Figs. 3 and 4 are corresponding horizontal sections of the same.
The body of the upper gauge cock a Figs. 1 and 3 is formed with a valve
chamber above the upper stuffing box c of the gauge-glass d. Into the top of the
valve chamber is screwed a plug e into which is fitted the stem of a valve which
is provided with a spiral spring which, during the normal working of the gauge,
holds the valve up above the seating in the valve chamber thus leaving the
passage open between the boiler and the upper end of the gauge-glass d.
Upon the breaking of the glass however the rush of steam causing a vacuum
in the valve chamber will overcome the tension of the spring and the valve f
will become instantly closed and prevent the escape of any more steam.
The bottom automatic valve Figs. 2 and 4 is constructed and arranged as follows.
In the upper part of the valve chamber of the lower gauge-cock a¹ below the
bottom stuffing-box c¹ we insert a valve seating i which may either be placed in
loosely or screwed soldered or cast in its place." The automatic valve' is inserted
from below in the following manner.
In the upper part of the body of the try-cock or "blow-through" cock k, we
form a recess in which the valve f¹ is supported on four legs or prongs whereby
it is held in position just below the seating i when the water-gauge is working in
its normal condition ready to be instantly closed by the upward rush of the water
upon the breaking of the gauge glass.
It will be seen that the prongs or legs which support the valve f¹ will form no
obstruction to the cleaning out of the passage through the lower gauge cock into
the boiler and the said prongs will also serve to clear out the recess by merely
turning the valve f¹ round.
Neither of the valves for form any obstruction to the operation of trying or
blowing-through the gauge, as the opening of the "try-cock" being smaller than
the diameter of the glass tube the exit of the steam is slower and does not form a
sufficient vacuum to overcome the tension of the coiled spring 9 and close the
upper valve f
m and are the ordinary screw plugs for cleaning out the upper and lower
gauge-cocks a and a' and the passages to the boiler.
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
-
First. The general construction arrangement and combination of water-gauge

page_text: with automatic valves substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated by the
drawings annexed.
Secondly. I claim the combination with the upper gauge cock of a water gauge
of an automatic valve inserted from above and provided with a spring which
keeps it open during the normal action of the gauge substantially as described and
illustrated, and
Thirdly. I claim the combination with the lower-gauge-cock of a water gauge
of an automatic valve inserted from below and supported on legs or prongs in a
chamber formed in the upper part of the "try cock" or "blow-through cock"
substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated by the drawings annexed.
Dated this 6th day of March 1891.
GEO. DAVIES & SON,
4, St. Ann's Square, Manchester, Agents for the Applicant.