IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR REGULATING THE SUPPLY OF WATER TO STEAM BOILERS, PART OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS MAY ALSO BE APPLIED TO THE REGULATION OF THE SUPPLY OF WATER AND OTHER LIQUIDS TO TANKS AND OTHER RECEPTACLES."
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Torkington, the younger, of King's Norton, in
the County of Worcester, Millwright, and James Heys, of King's Norton
aforesaid, Manager of Works, and Joseph Torkington, of Birmingham, in the
County of Warwick, Millwright, and Charles George Mountain, of Birmingham
aforesaid, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR
REGULATING THE SUPPLY OF WATER TO STEAM BOILERS, PART OF WHICH
IMPROVEMENTS MAY ALSO BE APPLIED TO THE REGULATION OF THE SUPPLY
OF WATER AND OTHER LIQUIDS TO TANKS AND OTHER RECEPTACLES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Torkington, James
Heys, Joseph Torkington, and Charles George Mountain at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents on the 20th February 1879.
CHARLES TORKINGTON, the younger, of King's Norton, in the County of Wor-
cester, Millwright, and JAMES HEYS, of King's Norton aforesaid, Manager of Works,
and JOSEPH TORKINGTON, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Millwright,
and CHARLES GEORGE MOUNTAIN, of Birmingham aforesaid, Engineer. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR REGULATING THE SUPPLY OF WATER TO STEAM
BOILERS, PART OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS MAY ALSO BE APPLIED TO THE REQU-
LATION OF THE SUPPLY OF WATER AND OTHER LIQUIDS TO TANKS AND OTHER
RECEPTACLES."
Our Invention consists in constructing and arranging, as hereinafter described,
the parts of apparatus for regulating the supply of water to steam boilers, by the
action of which apparatus the supply of water is automatically cut off when the
level of the water in the boiler has attained the height to which the apparatus has
been adjusted, and automatically turned on when by the evaporation of the water
its level has sunk below the proper level.
Part of the apparatus may be applied, as hereinafter explained, to the regulation
of the supply of water and other liquids to tanks and other receptacles.
We will describe our Invention as applied to a series of steam boilers fed from a
common supply pipe, to which water is supplied by a small steam pump.
In the interior of each of the boilers is a dip pipe, the open end of which
terminates at the level at which it is wished to maintain the water in the boiler;
the other end of the dip pipe external to the boiler is in communication with a

page_text: If
lever. The short arm of this lever is weighted, and the longer arm is hollow and
terminates in a closed spherical or other shaped vessel. This lever is connected
with a valve in the pipe which conveys water from the common supply pipe to the
boiler. When the level of the water in the boiler is below the end of the dip pipe,
the said dip pipe and the longer hollow arm of the lever and closed vessel termi-
nating the said hollow arm are filled with steam, the weighted short arm of the
lever maintaining the longer hollow arm in its raised position. When the lever is
in this position the valve through which the water passes to the boiler is open.
however the level of the water in the boiler rises so as to reach the end of the dip
pipe, the pressure of the steam in the boiler forces water up the said dip pipe into
the longer hollow arm of the lever and the closed vessel terminating it. The longer
arm of the lever is now heavier than the short arm, the said longer arm conse-
quently descends. By its descent it closes the valve through which water passes to
the boiler, and the supply is stopped. When by the evaporation of the water in
the boiler its level falls below the end of the dip pipe, the water contained in the
said pipe and in the hollow longer arm and its terminating vessel runs back into
the boiler. The weighted shorter arm of the lever is now the heavier arm and
descends. As the lever changes its position it opens the valve through which water
passes to the boiler and the supply is renewed. In this way the normal level of the
water in the boiler is maintained within very narrow limits.
The closed vessel is provided with a stopcock, by which air in it may be permitted
to escape when the apparatus is first put into operation or after it has been out of
use for a time.
The level of the water in each boiler is independent of that in the others.
The common supply pipe is provided with a weighted valve, which rises and
permits the escape of water from the said supply pipe when the pump delivers
more water than is required. This escaping water is received in an open vessel
hung upon the weighted lever of a valve through which steam passes to the steam
pump. When the escaping water has accumulated sufficiently in the said open
vessel to give the end of the lever on which it is hung a preponderance, that ond
of the said lever descends, and cuts off steam from the steam pump, thereby
diminishing its speed or bringing it to rest. At the bottom of the said vessel is a
small valve. The descent of the open vessel brings the stalk of this valve against
the bottom of the tank in which the open vessel empties itself; the valve is thereby
raised, and the vessel slowly empties itself. When empty the counterbalance
weight on the lever to which it is hung changes the position of the lever and opens
the steam valve. The pump is thereby made to recommence working, and the
supply of water to the common supply pipe is renewed. The emptying of the open
vessel described may be effected by means of a small hole at its bottom with nearly
the same effect as with a valve. The last described part of our Invention, that
is, the regulation of the steam pump by the overflow water, is applicable to the
regulation of the supply of water and other liquids to tanks or other receptacles.
In these cases an overflow pipe is fitted at the required height in the tank or
receptacle to which water or other liquid is being raised by a steam pump.
When the water or liquid has reached the proper level any excess runs down the
overflow pipe, and is received in an open vessel connected with and operating upon
the valve through which steam passes to the steam pump, in the manner already
described with reference to the regulation of the supply of water to steam boilers.
The level of the water or liquid is thus automatically maintained at the required
height by the action of the small quantity which escapes by the overflow pipe.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Charles Torkington, James Heys, Joseph Torkington, and Charles
George Mountain in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 19th August 1879.
CHARLES TORKINGTON, the younger, of King's Norton, in the County of Wor-
cester, Millwright, and JAMES HEYS, of King's Norton aforesaid, Manager of Works,
and JOSEPH TORKINGTON, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Millwright,
and CHARLES GEORGE MOUNTAIN, of Birmingham aforesaid, Engineer.
" IMPROVE-
MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR REGULATING THE SUPPLY OF WATER TO STEAM BOILERS,
PART OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS MAY ALSO BE APPLIED TO THE REGULATION OF
THE SUPPLY OF WATER AND OTHER LIQUID TO TANKS AND OTHER RECEPTACLES."
Our Invention consists in constructing and arranging, as horein after described,
the parts of apparatus for regulating the supply of water to steam boilers, by the
action of which apparatus the supply of water is automatically cut off when the
level of the water in the boiler has attained the height to which the apparatus has
been adjusted, and automatically turned on when by the evaporation of the water
its level has sunk below the proper level.
Part of the apparatus may be applied, as herein after explained, to tho regulation
of the supply of water and other liquids to tanks and other receptacles.
We will describe our Invention as applied to a series of steam boilers fed from a
common supply pipe, to which water is supplied by a small steam pump. In the
interior of each of the boilers is a dip pipe, the open end of which terminates at the
level at which it is wished to maintain the water in the boiler; the other end of
the dip pipe external to the boiler is in communication with a lever. The short
arm of this lever is weighted, and the longer arm is hollow and terminates in a
closed spherical or other shaped vessel. This lever is connected with a valve in
the pipe which conveys water froin the common supply pipe to the boiler. When
the level of the water in the boilor is below the end of the dip pipe, the said dip
pipe and the longer hollow arm of the lever and closed vessel terminating the said
bollow arm are filled with steam, the weighted short arm of the lever maintaining
the longer hollow arm in its raised position. When the lever is in this position
the valve through which the water passes to the boiler is open. If however the
level of the water in the boiler rises so as to reach the end of the dip pipe, the
pressure of the steam in the boiler forces water up the said dip pipe into the longer
hollow arm of the lever and the closed vessel terminating it. The longer arm of
the lever is now heavier than the short arm, the said longer arm consequently
descends. By its descent it closes the valve through which water passes to the
boiler, and the supply is stopped. When by the evaporation of the water in
the boiler its level falls below the end of the dip pipe, the water contained in the
said pipe and in the hollow longer arm and its terminating vessel runs back into
the boiler. The weighted shorter arm of the lever is now the heavier arm and
descends. As the lever changes its position it opens the valve through which water
passses to the boiler and the supply is renewed. In this way the normal level of the
water in the boiler is maintained within very narrow limits.
The closed vessel is provided with a stopcock, by which air in it may be permitted
to escape when the apparatus is first put into operation or after it has been out of
use for a time.
The level of the water in each boiler is independent of that in the others.
The common supply pipe is provided with a weighted lever which rises and
permits the escape of water from the said supply pipe when the pump delivers
more water than is required. This escaping water is received in an open vessel
hung upon the weighted lever of a valve, through which steam passes to the steam
pump. When the escaping water has accumulated sufficiently in the said open
vessel to give the end of the lever on which it is hung a preponderance, that end

page_text: of the said lever descends and cuts off steam from the steam pump, thereby
diminishing its speed or bringing it to rest. At the bottom of the said vessel is a
small valve. The descent of the open vessel brings the stalk of this valve against
a cross bar in the tank in which the open vessel empties itself. The valve is thereby
raised, and the vessel slowly empties itself. When empty, the counterbalance weight
on the lever to which it is hung changes the position of the lever and opens the
steam valve. The pump is thereby made to recommence working, and the supply
of water to the common supply pipe is renewed. The emptying of the open
vessel described may be effected by means of a small hole at its bottom, with
nearly the same effect as with a valve.
The last described part of our Invention, that is, the regulation of the steam
pump by the overflow water, is applicable to the regulation of the supply of water
and other liquids to tanks and other receptacles.
↓
We will now describe with reference to the accompanying Drawing the manner
in which our Invention may be performed.
Figure 1 represents in cross section, and Figure 2 in longitudinal section partly
in side elevation, a water feed regulator for a steam boiler constructed according to
our Invention applied to the top of a Cornish boiler.
The saine letters of reference indicate the same parts in Figures 1 and 2.
a is the common water supply pipe to which water is supplied by a small steam
pump in the usual way, the said supply pipe being in communication with the
interior of the boiler by the vertical delivery pipe b; c is the ordinary feed valve
for opening and closing the communication between the supply pipe a and the
delivery pipe b. The said valve is raised from its seat when at liberty to move by
the incoming water, and depressed upon and held to its seat by means of the
mechanism herein after described; d is the dip pipe passing into the interior of the
boiler, the open bottom end of the said dip pipe terminating at the level at which it
is wished to maintain the water in the boiler. The other end of the dip pipe d,
external to the boiler, is in communication with a lever which acts upon the valve
This lever, which turns on the centre e, consists of a short weighted arm fand a
longer hollow or tubular arm f³, the end of which longer arm f³ terminates in the
closed spherical (or other shaped) vessel f³.
C.
When the water in the boiler is above the bottom end of the dip pipe d as
illustrated in Figure 1 of the Drawing, water from the said boiler is forced by the
pressure of the steam within the boiler up the said dip pipe d into the longer
hollow arm f2 of the lever and closed vessel f³, and the said longer arm f³ and its
vessel f³ filled with water being heavier than the other arm f, the said longer arm
f descends and forces the valve c to its seat and closes the pipe a, and cuts off the
supply of water to the boiler, the several parts occupying the respective positions
represented in Figure 1.
When by the evaporation of the water in the boiler its level falls below the open
end of the dip pipe d, the water contained in the said pipe d, arm f³, and
vessel f³ runs back into the boiler, steam now passing into and filling the said pipe,
arm, and vessel. The weighted short arm ƒ of the lever being now the heavier
arm, descends and raises the longer arm f from the stem of the valve c, which
valve opens by the pressure of the water below it, and water passes to the boiler
by the pipe b. The lever f, f*, is maintained in the last described or raised
position by the weighted short arm, until the level of the water in the boiler rises
above the end of the dip pipe d, when the pressure of steam in the boiler forces
water up the said dip pipe into the hollow arm f2 and vessel fs, when the longer
arm again becoming the heavier arm, descends and closes the valve c, and cuts off
the supply of water to the boiler, the parts occupying the respective positions
represented in Figure 1.
9 is a stopcock in the closed vessel f³s of the lever, by opening which stopcock
air is permitted to escape when the apparatus is first put into operation, or after
it has been out of use for a time..

page_text: Figures 3, 4, and 5, represent a modification of the apparatus last described fixed
to the front of a boiler, Figure 3 representing a front elevation, and Figures 4 and
5 longitudinal sections of the apparatus.
In this arrangement the dip pipe and water delivery pipe are situated horizontally,
and a stopcock is used in place of a valve to open and close the supply pipe. a is
the water supply pipe, and b is the delivery pipe situated in the interior of the
boiler; d is the dip pipe. In the bottom of the supply pipe a is a stopcock, the
hollow plug h of which is in communication with the hollow arm f' and closed
vessels of the lever f. f*. The lever f,f,ƒ³, is connected to the outer end of the
hollow plug in the manner represented in the Drawing. When the plug h is
turned into the position represented in Figures 3 and 5 it opens communication
between the water supply pipe a and the boiler, and when the plug h is turned
into the position represented in Figure 4 the water supply pipe a is closed, and the
supply cut off from the boiler. In each case there is a free communication between
the dip pipe & and the hollow arm ƒ³ and vessel ƒ³ of the lever.
The action of this modification is the same as that herein first described, and
illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, that is to say, when the level of the water in the
boiler is above the level of the open end of the dip pipe d, as represented in Figure 4,
water is forced through the said dip pipe d and hollow plug h into the hollow arm fi
and vessels of the lever, and the said lever takes its lowest position, as indicated
in dotted lines in Figure 3, and thereby causes the plug h to cut off the supply of
water by closing the pipe a, as seen in Figure 4. When the water in the boiler
falls below the level of the dip pipe d, as illustrated in Figure 5, the water in the
arm fand vessel f returns to the boiler, and the short weighted arm of the lever
being now the heavier arm descends into the position represented in Figure 3, and
opens the stopcock h, as seen in Figure 5, and water now passes from the supply
pipe a to the delivery pipe b.
Figure 6 represents in vertical section another arrangement of our Invention. In
this arrangement the vessel i, into which the water from the boiler is forced, acts
as a dead weight on the valve k, which closes the supply pipe a, the said valve k,
and the vessel i, and parts connected to it being raised by the pressure of the
incoming water, as hereinafter described. The stem l, which connects the vessel i
with the valve k, is hollow or tubular, and within the said tubular stem 7 the dip
pipe m passes. The case n carrying the valve and the other parts represented is
open to the boiler in the manner seen in the Drawing. When the level of the water
in the boiler is above the lower end of the dip pipe m water is forced up the said
dip pipe, and made to fill the vessel i and hollow stem l. As the weight of the
filled vessel i is more than sufficient to counterbalance the pressure of the incoming
water upon the valve k, the said valve is pressed to and maintained on its seat, and
the supply of water cut off from the boiler.
When the level of the water in the boiler sinks below the bottom of the dip
pipe m the water in the vessel i returns by the hollow stem to the boiler. The
dead weight of the vessel i being now insufficient to overcome the pressure of the
incoming water upon the valve k, the latter is raised from its seat, and water is fed
to the boiler.
Figure 7 represents in section our arrangement of steam regulating apparatus to
be applied to the steam pumps by which the tanks of steam boilers are supplied
with water.
a is the steam valve situated in the course of the steam pipe, through which
steam passes to the steam pump, the said valve being worked by the weighted
lever b and the appliances herein after described. To the long arm of the lever b
the open conical (or other shaped) vessel e is hung, and on the other arm of the
said lever is a weight c, the said weight being sufficient to counterbalance the conical
vessel e when empty, and open the valve a, as represented in the Drawing. The
bottom of the vessel e is provided with a spring valve d opening upwards; the stem
or stalk of this valve projects from the bottom of the vessel, as represented. The

page_text: said vessel e is situated over the tank g, which has a cross bar h for the purpose
herein after explained. The common supply pipe of the boiler or boilers is provided
with a weighted valve of the ordinary kind, which rises and permits of the escape
of water from the said supply pipe when the steam pump delivers more water than
is required, the said surplus water being delivered into a tank or vessel. f is an
overflow pipe, which convoys water froin the top of the said tank, into which the
said surplus water is delivered.
The said overflow pipe f delivers the water into the open vessel c. When the
overflow water has accumulated sufficiently in the open vessel e to give the end of
the lever b, on which it is hung a preponderance, that end of the lever descends and
closes the valve a, and thereby cuts off steam from the steam pump, thus diminishing
its speed or bringing it to rest. As the vessel e descends the stalk or stem of the
valve d strikes against the cross bar h in the tank g. The valve d is thereby
raised, and the vessel e slowly empties itself into the tank g. When the vessel e has
been emptied the counterbalance weight e raises the lever b and opens the steam
valve a, as represented in Figure 7, and steam again passes to the steam pump
and the supply of water to the common supply pipe is renewed.
Instead of the valve da small hole may be made in the bottom of the open
vessel e for slowly emptying the vessel after the steam valve a has been closed.
The arrangement of the parts of the apparatus represented in Figure 7 for the
regulation of the supply of steam to the steam pump by the overflow water from
the tanks used with steam boilers may be applied to the regulation of the
supply of water and other liquids to tanks and other receptacles for various
purposes.
In these cases an overflow pipe is fitted at the required hoight in the tank or
receptacle to which water or other liquid is being raised by a steam pump. When
the water or liquid has reached the proper level any excess runs down the overflow
pipe and is received in an open vessel connected with and operating upon the valve
through which steam passes to the steam pump in the manner already described
and represented with reference to the regulation of the supply of water to steam
boilers.
The level of the water or liquid is thus automatically maintained at the required
height by the action of the small quantity which escapes the overflow pipe.
Having now described the nature of our Invention, and the manner in which
the same is to be performed, we wish it to be understood that we do not limit
ourselves to the precise details herein described and illustrated, as the same may
be varied without departing from the nature of our Invention.
But we claim as our Invention,-First. The construction and arrangements of
apparatus for regulating the supply of water to steam boilers herein before described
and illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, of the accompanying Drawing, that is
to say, apparatus in which the level of the water in the boiler rises above the
proper height, water is forced by the pressure of steam in the boiler into a hollow
lever and vessel at its end, by the weight of which water the position of the said
lever is changed, and made by its change of position to close the water supply valve
or stopcock, the said hollow lever and vessel emptying themselves into the boiler,
when by the evaporation of the water in the boiler its level has sunk below the
bottom or level of the dip pipe, the said hollow lever and vessel rising when they
are emptied of water by a counterbalance weight on the shorter arm of the said
lever, thereby removing the pressure from the supply valve or opening the stopcock
and permitting a supply of water to the boiler, substantially as described and
illustrated.
Secondly. The modification of the apparatus herein before described and
represented in Figure 6 of the accompanying Drawing in which the weight of the
water forced up the dip pipe when the water in the boiler has risen above the
proper level is made to act on and close the supply pipe directly, instead of through
the intervention of a hollow lever and vessel.

page_text: Thirdly. The construction and arrangement of parts of apparatus hereinbefore
described and represented in Figure 7 of the accompanying Drawing, for regulating
the supply of water to the tanks of steam engine boilers, and the application of the
said apparatus to the regulation of the supply of water and other liquids to other
tanks and other receptacles.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Heys, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Thirteenth day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.
Witness,
RICHARD SKERRETT,
Clerk to George Shaw,
Birmingham.
JAMES HEYS. (L.S.)