An Improved Automatic Attachment for Indicating Pressures and Levels of Fluids and Liquids in Vessels.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 17th July, 1889-Accepted, 31st Aug., 1889
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by JOHN DONALDSON, of Walpole Street, Kew, near
Melbourne, in the Colony of Victoria, Australia, Manager of a Life Assurance
Society.]
An Improved Automatic Attachment for Indicating Pressures and
Levels of Fluids and Liquids in Vessels.
I, HERBERT HENRY CHAPMAN, of 8 Leadenhall Street, in the City of London,
Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of the said invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement, reference being had to the accompanying sheet of drawings
and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say
:-
This invention of an improved automatic indicating attachment for denoting
pressures and levels of fluids and liquids in closed vessels has been devised for the
purpose of providing a reliable simple and cheap means of communicating an alarm
or otherwise calling the attention of the person or persons in charge to the pressure or
level of steam water or other fluids or liquids in steam boilers, water tanks or other
vessels as the case may be. In the case of steam boilers where an explosion is
disastrous to life and property the use of my invention obviates at once the cause of
such explosion as it renders the dangerous pressure of steam or level of water an
impossibility either both or one of which is in the large majority of boiler explosions
the primary cause. This undesirable state in the pressure of the steam or level of the
water is in most cases the outcome of neglect or inattention on the part of those whose
duty it is to keep a proper working pressure or level of steam or water respectively in
said boiler. When the steam or water would reach such improper pressure or level it
would (where my invention is in use) cause an alarm to be made thus calling the
attention of said person or persons and at the same time indicate such improper
pressure or level. Further it could also be made to alarm the manager or superinten-
dent in any part or parts of the works and by means of an indicator contained in a
locked box and marked "danger" "high"
"low
or other word or words or figuros
to denote the steam pressure or water level as the case may be a record of such
pressure or level would be secured till altered by him thus a double check and tell
tale would be obtained thereby bringing the neglect or inattention of the person or
persons in charge of the boiler under the direct notice of his or their superior officer.
In places where there are a number of boilers in use so as to enable the person or
persons in charge to know which boiler required attention a distinguishing mark or
number corresponding to each boiler could be shown on said indicator. In pumping
plants where the pumping power is stationed at a distance from the reservoir or tank
this invention will be found of great utility as at present great difficulty exists to
know when the reservoir or tank has been filled to the requisite point and great loss
of water and pumping power ensues.
"
I do not confine myself to a detailed application of this invention as it could be
used with great advantage and profit in all cases where a predetermined pressure or
level of any fluid or liquid is desired to be kept also I do not confine myself to the
number or nature of the indicators signals or alarms that may be used nor limit
myself to the design size or shape (as shown in the accompanying drawings) or
materials of construction of my apparatus.
On
My invention consists of an energised electric negative wire such wire being
energised by a battery or other source of energy and being connected at any con-
venient point to any or either of the float or pressure appliances at present in use.
any other approved part of the said float appliances I attach an adjustable arm or other
equivalent which is provided with fingers or tappets of the requisite shape and length

page_text: and made also adjustable if required (while in the case of pressure guages the energised
electric negative wire may be attached to said guages and in which the dial hands
become the equivalent of said fingers or tappets) which come in contact at any pre-
determined point with a positive electric pole (such positive electric pole being
energised by a battery or other source of energy) said pole may in the case of float
appliances be made rigid in and to a closed box said box being kept locked for the
purpose of keeping the electric apparatus clean and from being tampered with and is
stayed in any approved manner. To the positive electric pole is attached the "alarm
and "indicator circuit of wire or wires which are in connection with one or more
"aların" and "indicator "appliances stationed at any desired part or parts of the
works or factory for announcing the levels or pressures of water steam or other
liquids or fluids in boilers or other vessels as the case may be.
Reference may now be had to the accompanying drawings in which
"
Fig. 1 is a sectional view of the arrangement of my electrical apparatus the water
being shewn at low level.
Fig. 2 is a similar view but showing the water at high level.
Fig. 1 is a plan of my apparatus.
Fig. 3 shows my electrical apparatus as attached to a pressure gauge while
Fig. is a diagrammatic view shewing the working of my invention when one or
more boilers are in use. In said view boilers marked 1. 2. and 3 are at Low water
level High water level and sixty pounds pressure per square inch respectively. Their
corresponding indicators showing L. H and 60 simultaneously denoting in boiler
house and managers room that the predetermined limits of safety or proper working
levels or pressure have been exceeded.
In these drawings A is the boiler or vessel in which is the steam water or other
fluids or liquid actuating the automatic pressure or float appliance A'.
כ,
To the guide rod or spindle A² of said float A' is attached the negative electric
wire A³. On another part of said guide rod A² I place an adjustable arm A on
which is formed or otherwise attached adjustable fingers or tappets A which make
contact with the positive mediums B. To these mediums B are attached the positive
wires B' which are in connection with and form the "aları" and "indicator
circuit. These contact mediums B can be made in the form shown or in any other
approved form and made rigid to and inside of the closed box or covering B². This
box or covering B2 I so arrange that it encloses all the apparatus and also the rod A²
of the float A¹ thus keeping out all dirt or other obstructions to the proper working of
the apparatus.
This box B2 may be provided with a locked door to keep the apparatus inviolate
from manipulation by the person or persons in charge of the boiler or boilers A any
part of this box B can be made of glass so that the apparatus can be visible without,
having to open the door. When the arm A on which the fingers or tappets A³ are
formed has arrived at its prearranged point in either direction its further travel would
cause harm to the electric apparatus to obviate this 1 place set pins AⓇ or other
means of obstruction at the requisito opposing point to the said arm A'.
Fig. 3 shows a pressure guage C to which is attached my electric apparatus for
alarming and indicating when there is a dangerous or wasteful pressure of steam
water or other fluids or liquids and in which view the negative wire A³ is attached to
the shell of the guage C at any convenient point thus energising the dial hand C¹
which coming in contact with the positive pole or medium B at the prearranged
point and by means of the wire B₁ completes the alarm and indicator circuit as
herein before referred to. The medium B is shown in the form of a spring so as
not to retard the progress of the dial hand which cause barm to the pressure
guage this method of a non resisting medium or contact could be further
applied as a modification of the apparatus as shown in figures 1. 1ª and 2. I
also place or insert other contact pieces or mediums (at given points along the
line of travel of the dial hand or arm A¹ so 85 to indicate how far the
pressure or level went beyond or below the predetermined point. These contact

page_text: mediums Care so constructed that they do not resist the travel of the dial
band C¹ or arm A'. The mode of operation is as follows
Suppose the rod A³ or other equivalent of the actuating automatic appliance
being energised by the negative electric wire A³ the arm A' and the fingers A
are adjusted at a point which corresponds to the predetermined point which is
considered as the safe or proper working low or high level of the water or other
liquid in the boiler or vessel A and when the water falls or rises to the "low"
or "high" level as shewn in figures 1 and 2 beyond which points is considered
detrimental or dangerous the float or other appliance A' falling and rising simul-
taneously and automatically with the water brings the fingers A³ into contact with
the positive electric medium B and by means of the wires B' immediately causes
alarms to be made or rung or other intimations to be given as may be provided for.
By means of the obstructions A placed against the arm A the further unneces
sary travel of the float appliance A¹ in either direction is prevented. In the case
of the pressure guage the operation is somewhat similar. The energised electric
negative wire A being attached to the guage (energises the dial hand C which
by reason of the pressure exerted from the fluid or steam in vessel A.revolves
and so coming into contact with the spring or medium B at any prearranged
point as say at 60 and by means of the wire B¹ completes the alarm and indicator
circuit with the herein before described result.
Having now particularly described and explained the nature of my invention
and the manner of performing the same what 1 believe to be new and therefore
claim as the novelty of my invention is
First. The application of electricity by means of a mechanical contrivance or by
springs fingers tappets or any other means or methods of making contact arranged
in combination with and actuated by floats guages and (or) other existing auto-
matic devices for completing an electric current or circuit so as to cause alarms
signals or other indications to be given for calling attention to and denoting the
pressure or levels of fluids (and) or liquids in boilers or other vessels substantially
as herein described and explained and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Second. The peculiar mechanical construction and arrangement of the mechanical
contrivances as shewn in Figures 1 to 3 for making electric contact arranged in
combination with and actuated by floats guages and (or) other existing automatic
devices for completing an electric current or circuit so as to cause alarms signals
or other indications to be given for calling attention to and denoting the pressures
or levels of fluids and or liquids in boilers or other vessels substantially as
herein described and explained and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 15th day of July 1889.
H. H. CHAPMAN.
Per W. H. Beck,
115, Cannon Street, London, Agent.