IMPROVED SAFETY APPARATUS FOR Steam Boilers
Year: 1875

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Thomas Morgan at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 24th
December 1875.—A communication from abroad by Maximiliau
Moskovits, Engineer, of Halle, Germany.
°
I, THOMAS MORGAN, of 21, Cockspur Street, Charing Cross, in the
County of Middlesex, Secretary of the Inventors' Patent Right Association,
Limited, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVED SAFETY APPARATUS FOR Steam Boilers,” (a communication to mc
from abroad by Maximilian Moskovits, Engineer, of Halle, Germany,)
to be as follows :—
The object of this Invention is to regulate the level of the water in
steam boilers automatically, that is, in proportion to the pressure of the
steam, and moreover to reduce the fluctuations in the water level to a
minimum, also serving to give notice of deficiency of water and higher
pressure of steam.
In carrying out the object of my said Invention I prefer the following
second one in communication

page_text: which serves as a water reservoir. The two boilers are connected by a
feed pipe and steam connection pipe extending to the line of highest
water level in both boilers. A float is provided in one of the boilers
containing a vessel filled with quicksilver. The quicksilver is of the
same weight as the column of water flowing from the boiler, which
serves as a water reservoir. In the quicksilver there is a second float,
which is pressed into the quicksilver by a spring acting on a cylinder
composed of wood, said spring being held down by a screw.
The signalling or alarm apparatus consists of the float in the boiler,
which serves as a water reservoir, which presses a double-scated valve
against the seats, the valve being constructed in such a manner that it
has a constant tendency to slide away from the seat The valve is sup-
ported loosely upon the said float by means of a perforated pipe. A
continuous rod connecting the piston and float passes through the float,
and through the gas pipe. The double-seated valve is provided with a
perforated hollow cylinder at its upper part, upon which a steam regu-
lating plate for steam whistles lies loose, so that it can be pressed down
by a lever.
In working the apparatus when the boiler is heated the water in the
first boiler is at its lowest level. As soon as steam begins to be generated
it presses on the piston; when the latter rises the float also rises out of
the quicksilver, whereby the column of quicksilver in the vessel is
lowered. The now diminished column of quicksilver no.longer counter-
balances the weight of the column of water, and the water continues to
flow into the lower boiler until the float therein is raised to such an
extent that the thereby elevated column of quicksilver counterbalances the
column of water. As may, moreover, readily be perceived the water level
in this boiler will rise as the pressure of the steam increases in a more
effectual manner than by the means of feeding boilers hitherto employed,
as a smaller steam space will suffice with increased pressure, and more-
over by using a vessel of suitable dimensions these fluctuations may be
reduced to a minimum, so that an almost unvarying water level may be
obtained in this boiler.
In the case of excess of pressure the float in the quicksilver is so
high that the whole of the quicksilver is lodged in the lower part of the
vessel in which it is placed, and the contents of the upper boiler. flow
into lower boiler in an uninterrupted stream of comparatively cold water,

page_text: whereby the pressure of the steam is rapidly diminished, but at the same
time the rising of the water above the highest level is rendered impossible
by the closing of a pipe, and the surplus steam consequently carrying
the superfluity of water along with it back into the upper boiler. A
circulation of the water is thus established by the excess of pressure,
whereby the pressure is reduced so that the normal condition is restored
without waste of steam or heat.
The double-seated valve is of such proportions that when an excess
of pressure occurs it overcomes the buoyancy of the float in the upper
boiler and descends, on which movement the whistles begin to sound,
and warn the attendants of the danger. The same process takes place
when the level of the water in the upper boiler sinks below the minimum
appointed for; in this case also the float descends.
The double-seated valve can be controlled in the following manner :-
The signal for starting may be given with the same apparatus, but in
order that the workmen may not be in doubt as to the signification of
the signal one of the whistles is sounded alone, and this is effected by
depressing a lever and lowering the steam regulating plate, and closing
the other whistle. As soon as the pressure is removed from the said
lever the float in the upper boiler rises and presses all the parts back
into their former position.
With a small amount of steam pressure the float in lower boiler the
piston and spring may be replaced by a column of quicksilver, which
forms a manometer, though not an absolutely precise one.