Improvements in Gauges or Water Level Indicators for Steam Generators
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Jan., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 3rd Oct., 1893-Accepted, 2nd Dec., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Gauges or Water Level Indicators for Steam
Generators,
THOMAS ELCOATE Chestnut House Norton Stookton on Tees Engineer de
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :—
This invention relates to improvements in gauges, or water level indicators for
steam generators and consists in providing means as hereinafter described for
automatically intercepting the communication between the generator and the gauge
glass in the event of the latter being broken.
In carrying out this invention the gauge glass is connected with the boiler
through an intermediate chambor or case provided with the requisite connections
of any suitable form, by means of two tubes provided with stop cocks and
communicating with the water and steam space respectively in the usual manuer.
The hole through the plug of the stop cock instead of being parallel as is uzual,
is cast or burned to form a recess or chamber spherically shaped, with a smaller
entering hole on either side, in this recess is a small ball about one third diameter
of chamber, but larger than the entering holes on either side. The top or steam
stop cock is formed the same way with addition of very small holes in the ball to
allow the escape of a little steam. The balls in their normal position are resting
on bottom of spherical chamber but a little in the line of direct action of stoam
violently passing outward.
On the glass breaking, the balls are both projected against exit hole of each
respective plug, thus shutting off escape of water and steam, the stop cocks can
then be closed without any danger, glass put in, cocks reopened, the escape of steam
through the small holes in top ball, will bring the pressure equal on both sides of
balls, and they will fall by gravitation into their normal position the bottom of
spherical chamber in plug.
The ball is put into plug, by a hole up through the centre of axis of plug, tapped
and filled up again.
To enablo the glass to be blown through, I have a small spindle passing through
stuffing box, with a button on outside end, and between the button and shell of
cock, a spiral spring, on pressing the button the spindle projects into hole of plug,
and prevents the ball from stopping the escape of water.
Dated this 30th day of January 1893.
THOMAS ELCUATE.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Gauges, or Water Level Indicators for Steam
Generators.
1, THOMAS ELCOATE of Chestnut House, Norton, Stockton-on-Tees, 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 is designed to prevent the dangerous escape of steam which is
liable to occur when the glass tubo of steam gauges or water-level indicators is
accidentally fractured.
It consists in providing intercepting chambers furnished with automatic valves,
between the steam generator and the gauge-glass.
I will now describe the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings
in which

page_text: Fig. 1 shows a side elevation partly in section of a gauge showing my invention
connected to it at each end.
Fig. 2 shows a side elevation of the upper plug a, showing a square-scat e', behind
the ball e, and also showing how the ball is inserted into the hollow chamber of the
plug by means of the movable screw h.
Fig. 3 shows a transverse section of the same on line 1-2 of Fig. 2.
Fig. 4 shows a method of keeping the ball off the faces of the steam pipe by
means of the push rod i, when the glass is being blown out.
a is a steam plug containing the hollow chamber a', in which the valve-ball
works. b, is the steam pipe leading to boiler. c, is the water plug containing the
hollow chamber c', which receives the ball e. d, is the water pipe leading to boiler.
,, are the metal balls cutting off the supply of steam and wator., is a square
hole formed in the plug forming a seat for the ball e. f, are stuffed boxes holding
the gauge glass., is the gauge glass. A, is a small screw plug filling up the
passage by which the balls e, e, are inserted in the chambers a', d¹.
Referring to Fig. 4, i, is a small push rod for forcing the ball off the seat of the
steam and water pipes when the water is being blown out. j, is a small shoulder
controlling the movement of the spindle i. k, is a button or spindle i, for operating
the same. 1, is a spiral spring which returns the spindle to its position.
The mode of action is as follows:-Directly the gaugo glass is broken and the
steam and water begin to rush out from the boiler, the balls e, e, are forced against
the seats in the chambers and they thus automatically stop the outlet. The upper
chamber may have a square seat or the ball may be perforated so as to allow a little
steam to pass, but the lower chamber closes water-tight when the ball is forced
against it. The square seat in the upper chamber is roquired whon the glass tube
is being blown through, the plug being then turned half round to bring the square
seat into operation. The intercepting chambers can if preferred be formed inde-
pendently of the taps but I prefer to form them in the plug of the tap itself. This
effect by forming a spherical recess in the plug with apertures on either side
which being smaller than the ball inserted thorein, will not allow it to escape.
The balls are introduced through a separate passage which is afterwards closed
with a screwed plug. In their normal position the balls rost on the floor of the
chamber partly in the direct line of any rush of steam or water passing outwarda.
The automatic action of the balls is thus instantaneous and the stop cocks can
be at once closed without danger, the glass replaced and the cocks reopened. The
elight escape of steam from the upper chamber when the plug is turned half way
round will soon equalise the pressure on both sides of the balle, and they will fall
by gravitation into their normal position, the bottom of the spherical chamber
in plug.
To enable the glass to be blown through the small spindle i, is provided with
recoil spring and button as shewn in Fig. 4. On pressing the button the spindle
acts as a push-rod and prevents the ball from stopping the escape of steam.
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 1
claim is :-
1. In a steam gauge or water level indicator, the addition between the gauge and
the boiler of two intercepting chambers furnished with automatic valves which
wholly or partly shut off the water and steam, as herein described and set forth.
2. In a steam gauge or water level indicator furnished with automatic closing
valves, the push-rod aud spring, as herein described and set forth.
Dated this 3rd day of October 1202
S. S. BROMHEAD,
97, Newgate Street, London, E.C., Patent Agent.