or Tanks or in any Vessel Containing Liquids.
Year: 1885

page_text: or Tanks or in any Vessel Containing Liquids.
LEWIS LEVI 5 Alice's Terrace, Pelham St. Hedon Road, Hull in the county of
York, Brass Finisher, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVED
APPARATUS FOR SHEWING THE DEPTH OF WATER IN SHIPS OR TANKS OR IN ANY
VESSEL CONTAINING LIQUID to be as follows :-
The indicator consists of a dial plate divided into a number of equal divisions
having a pointer working on the front of same the position of which shows the
depth of the water The pointer is actuated by means of a float which is con-
nected to the indicator by a chain passing over a chain pulley on the indicator: on
the other end of the chain is attached a lead weight to counterbalance the weight
of the float The float & balance weight are both confined in separate tubes to
prevent the motion of the ship affecting their working If required the float can
be counterbalanced by means of a spring instead of a lead weight.
A spur pinion is attached to the same spindle as the chain wheel & actuates a
spur wheel fixed on pointer spindle The size of the chain wheel & toothed wheels
to be so arranged as to indicate the position of float by the figures on the dial. This
invention is primarily intended to supersede the method employed at the present
time for obtaining the depth of water in ships, which is extremely dangerous in
bad weather, but is also applicable for showing at a glance the depth of the liquid
in tanks.
In this case by the use of fairleaders the dial can be placed in any convenient
position.

page_text: Improved Apparatus for Showing the Depth of Water in Ships
or Tanks or in any Vessel Containing Liquids.
LEWIS LEVI 5, Alice's Terrace, Pelham St. Hedon Road, Hull in the County
of York do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVED APPARATUS
FOR SHOWING THE DEPTH OF WATER IN SHIPS OR TANKS, OR IN ANY VESSEL
CONTAINING LIQUIDS and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:—
5
As the present method of sounding ships is very dangerous, and to a certain
extent unreliable, especially in bad weather, at which time soundings are most
required; the object of this Invention is to provide a means whereby the height of
water in ships can be much more safely & accurately ascertained.
The depth of water is registered by a pointer on a dial, which dial can be 1
placed in any suitable position & read at any time. If necessary the dials com-
municating to each compartment can all be brought together, in the Captains
chart house or other convenient place, & the height of water in the various
compartments can be at once seen.
My Invention is best carried into effect by fixing a tube to a bulkhead or other
suitable place in the ship, the lower end of which dips into the water requiring
measurement. To prevent the water rushing up the tube violently when the ship
rolls, at the lower end of the tube I fix a perforated box.
A float of suitable size & shape, floats in the water in the tube & a chain from
the float is carried up to the top of the tube & led by suitable fanleaders over a
chain wheel, the lower or loose end is carried down a second tube & is kept tight
by means of a balance weight. In some cases it would be advantageous to draw
up the loose chain by means of a spring. When so fitted the chain would be taken
up on a barrel with the spring suitably arranged internally. By these means
the vertical movement of the float causes a corresponding movement of the chain
wheel.
On the same spindle as the chain wheel is keyed a toothed pinion, gearing into
a toothed wheel on a second spindle; on the latter spindle a pointer is secured
working in front of the dial. The dial is divided into suitable divisions repre-
senting feet & inches, and the position of the pointer with respect to these divisions
represents the depth of water in the ship or tank.
When it is required to measure the height of water in different compartments,
the dials representing each can be fixed side by side in the same house & one
method of doing this is by the use of suitable fanleaders, as herein before mentioned.
The same object is attained by the use of tubes, connected to each compartment
& carried along at the bottom of the ship to the place over which the dials are
proposed to be placed. The vertical or "float" tubes, then simply connect at the
bottom with their respective horizontal tubes & are thus brought into immediate
connection with the liquid to be measured.
The apparatus is also applicable to tanks or any vessels containing liquids.

page_text: In order that my Invention may be fully understood & readily carried into effect
I will describe it more particularly by the aid of the accompanying drawings.
Figure 1 is a vertical cross section through the dial & case & shows the chain
wheel, gear &c. Figure 2. is a front view of the dial showing the pointers,
divisions, &c. Figure 3. shows an application of my apparatus for indicating the
depth of water in a tank at the bottom of a ship Figure 4, is a section of the
float, & Figure 5. is an outline of the balance weight. Like letters indicate the
same parts throughout the drawings.
"
The chain" a," communicating with the float working in the tube, is led over
the chain wheel "b," the latter being firmly secured to the spindle "c On the
spindle "c" is also secured a toothed pinion "d" which works into the toothed
wheel "e" secured to the second' spindle "t." The latter spindle is continued
through the dial "f," & has the pointer "g" secured thereto, on the outer end.
A separate pointer "h" is used to show the maximum height attained by the
float, and is restrained from moving back by the ratchet wheel & detent "j," or
other suitable arrangement.
n
The wheels & dial are enclosed in a case "," having a glass face "m."
Figure 3, shows an application of my apparatus to a ship, the tube".
" is led
from a suitable position in the upper part of the ship to the water at the bottom,
the float "o" floats in the water & the vertical movements are communicated to
the dial "f" by means of the chain "a," the loose end after passing over the
chain wheel is carried down the second tube "r" & is kept tight by a balance
weight "8" It is not necessary that this second tube should he carried down to
the bottom of the ship, the length is determined by the height it is proposed to
indicate on the dial.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention & in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that I do
not claim any of the parts of the Indicator separately or otherwise than working
in combination, for the purpose or purposes described, but I declare that what
I claim is
1. The arrangement & combination of the whole of the parts constituting the
apparatus adapted for showing the depth of liquids in vessels, simultaneously
in the manner & by the means substantially as described.
DL:
1
1000