Improvements in Steam Boiler Water Level Indicators.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 14th July, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 14th Apr., 1891-Accepted, 20th June, 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Steam Boiler Water Level Indicators.
I WALTER SOMERS The Mount Halesowen near Birmingham Forge Proprietor
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Improvements in steam boiler water level indicators an improved apparatus for
definitely ascertaining the height of water in steam boilers under all ordinary
circumstances. The improvements consisting chiefly in that the passages throughout
are maintained the full area there being no projections or chambers where
impurities can lodge neither can the glass (where used) get out of place and thus
choke the openings-consequently the danger of any stoppage is removed.
Another special feature is that the usual cocks or valves on the gauge are not
required consequently its manufacture and subsequent maintenance is greatly
simplified.
The type can be varied to suit corresponding circumstances: in every case it is
self contained so that whilst allowing for expansion, it prevents-entirely-any
breakage from deflection.
In the first modification which is adapted to a glass with a right and left hand
thread on the ends screwed into corresponding brass fittings or where the ordinary
parallel glass tube is used secured by ordinary glands or by clips if desired or by
the pressure of the steam on the internal packing only: the glass is passed
through a loosely fitting brass or copper tube and internally packed the tube
having sufficient slot holes so that whilst the water would be plainly visible the
glass if broken-cannot fly so as to become a source of danger.
In each case the connections to the steam and water spaces on the boiler may be
made to close automatically by the provisions of a cock on the upper or steam pipe
or by a modification thereof which answers every purpose of blowing through
separately and distinctly either water or steam. Acting also automatically in case
the glass breaks through the water pressure acting on the valve next the boiler
causing it to be forced against the corresponding mitre on the face and thus close
the opening from the boiler-the steam being shut off by a similar device in either
case there is no danger of its becoming set fast or of glands difficult to keep from
leaking the working parts being well balanced & easy of access-one valve being
placed at the lowest part of the pipe or connection so as to clear out all sediment
whenever used.
An internal pipe (or other device) is provided and fitted to the lower or water
connection carried up to a safe working height so that if the water falls below this
only steam issues from the blow through valve.
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WALTER SOMERS.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Steam Boiler Water Level Indicators.
IWALTER SOMERS of Haywood Forge Halesowen Birmingham in the County
of Warwickshire, Forge Proprietor 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 relates to a steam boiler water level indicator the distinguishing
features of which are,
The full area of the glass is maintained from end to end of the connection there

page_text: being no projections or chambers on or within the glass or connections where
impurities can lodge.
The flow through valve is situated at the lowest part of the water connection so
as to clear out any sediment.
According to my present invention the usual plugs with their contracted orifices
are dispensed with and to a large extent the ordinary glands also are unnecessary.
The only valves I employ are one for safety which is fixed on the steam dome or
steam pipe connection and one at the water or bottom connection to the boiler.
The said safety valve may be a wheel valve having a mitre face and also mitre
face on its back so that when full open the mitre on the spindle side of valve meets
a corresponding one on the valve chest cover and thus very little if any pressure is
thrown on the packing which latter can be dispensed with where the valve is
placed in open air position instead of a wheel valve as aforesaid an automatic
closing valve may be fitted or arranged with a ball inside an ordinary plug or the
said automatic closing valve may be a modification of the special lower or water
valve I employ which consists of a gunmetal or other suitable casting bored out
and fitted with a hollow piston or ball or both and arranged with a suitable handle
so as to actuate the said hollow piston or ball or combined piston and ball over the
discharge orifice. By means of my said improvements it is impossible for a false
water level to show in the glass as in each trial the water and steam are tried
separately by the movement of the one operating handle of the valve at the lower
or water connection that is to say when the said handle is moved into one position
the piston or ball or combined piston and ball is or are moved so as to shut off the
steam connection and water only is blown through but when the said handle is
moved in the opposite direction the water opening or connection is closed and steam
is blown through the discharge pipe.
In marine boilers where an internal pipe is led from the said lower valve to the
top of water level in boiler it will be obvious that should the water fall below the
opening in the internal pipe steam alone will issue from the blow through pipe
when the handle is in position to open the water connection and will thus show
without fail that the water in the boiler is low whereas with the usual gauge fittings
frequent accidents have been caused by the water being forced up the glass when
really dangerously low in the boiler. Should the glass break the mitre face of my
improved valve which comes next the boiler would immediately be forced up to its
seat and thereby automatically cut off the water.
The said improved double mitre faced valve can be ground to its place but this
is seldom necessary because if not perfectly tight its action would not be impaired
as the only gland employed viz. round the spindle can be kept tight either by an
adjustable mitre or by suitable packing.
In every case my improved gauge is self contained and the fitting containing the
glass can be at once bodily removed for adjustment or repairs or a duplicate glass
holder may be kept ready when the glass breaks. In order that my invention may
be fully understood and so that it may be readily carried into effect I hereunto
attach a sheet of drawings of which the following is a description.
Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of my improved steam boiler water level indicator
fitted to the face of a marine boiler.
Fig. 2 is a front view of the same and Fig. 3 is a cross sectional plan taken on
line a, a, of Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 is an elevation of a modification of my improved fitting for the gauge
glass.
Figs. 5 and 6 are sectional elevations respectively of modified forms of my
improved automatic closing valves and
Figs. 7 and 8 are cross sectional elevation and longitudinal sectional elevation of
my improved valve constructed on the principle shown at Fig. 5 but with water
way closed.
Like letters of reference denote corresponding parts in each view.
Referring to Figs. 1. 2 and 3 my improved indicator is arranged with a semi-

page_text: circular fitting B which is bored out perfectly true and within which the glass C is
secured. The said glass C may be either packed in the ordinary manner as shown'
at or a packing 62 may be placed in a conically formed chamber which is kept
steam or water tight by means of the screwed. cap D which has a perforated
annular portion d¹. Where preferred the fitting B may be made circular in cross
section as shown at Fig. 4 in which case it has suitable slots & so as to render the
water visible.
My improved blow through valve E is purposely placed at the lowest part of the
water connecting pipe G so as to be capable of clearing out any sediment which
may appear in the water.
By this arrangement the usual plugs with their contracted orifices and glands are
dispensed with the only valves I employ are the safety valve H at the top of the
steam pipe Q and the said valve E. The safety valve H may be a valve similar to
that shown it is secured to the spindle which is coupled up to a lever J which
latter may be operated by the cord from the engine room or other convenient
place. Where preferred however the said valve H may be a wheel valve having a
mitre face on its back so that when full open the mitre on the spindle will meet a
corresponding mitre on the valve chest or cover. In place of a wheel valve an
automatic closing valve may be used such as a ball inside an ordinary plug or the
said valve may be a modification of the valve E-Figs. 1. 5 and 6.
In Fig. 1 the valve E consists of a suitable casting e¹ bored out and fitted with a
valve E arranged with a bearing portion having two apertures f to cover the
orifice. The said valve E' has two heads or mitre portions which may be
closed alternately against corresponding seatings formed in the casting e'. A
spindle is secured to the valve E and is operated by a lever e³. In Figs. 5, 7
and 8 the valve E is arranged with a ball F so that when valve is in position shown
at Fig. 5 there is a free passage between the pipe G and pipe K (Fig. 1) and the
ball F closes up the orifice but when valve E is pulled to position shown at
Figs. 7 and 8 the web of the valve E pulls the ball Faway from the orifice f¹ and
steam can escape down said orifice f¹ the water connection K being cut off by the
closing of the right of valve E on its seating in the casting e¹.
In Fig. 6 the valve E is worked by a spindle e running at right angles therewith
and the orifice is covered by the segmentally formed valve F'.
By employing either form of valve E at the lower part of the water pipe
connection (it is impossible for a false water level to show in the glass C
inasmuch as in each trial the water and steam are tried separately by the movement
of one operating handle e thus when said handle e³ is moved to position shown by
dotted line L the valve E is moved so as to shut off the steam side and water only
is blown through the orifice" and when the said lever e³ is moved to position
shown by dotted line M the water opening e is closed and steam is blown through
the orifice. In marine boilers where an internal pipe K is led from this lower
valve E to the height of water level in boiler it will be obvious that if the water
falls below the opening that steam only will issue from the blow through pipe or
orifice when the handle is at M and will thus show without fail that the water in
the boiler is dangerously low whereas with the usual gauge fittings numberless
accidents have arisen by the water being forced up the glass when really
seriously low in the boiler. Again should the glass C break the mitre face of the
valve E is forced to the seat e" and automatically shuts off the water. The valves E
can be easily ground in their places but will seldom require this because if they do
not fit perfectly tight their action would not be impaired as only one gland p for
the spindle is required and this can be kept tight by an adjustable mitre of
suitable packing. With the introduction of high pressure steam it becomes
imperative that the manipulation of trying over the height of the water in the
boiler should be removed as far as possible from the danger of the glass breaking
and in this my present invention the handle ³ can be placed in any safe position on
the boiler away from the glass C and we prefer to surround the glass C with an
ordinary wire guard in all cases.

page_text: 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 I
claim is
1. In steam boiler water level indicators the use of a separate fitting such as B
arranged with a conical stuffing box and screw cap D substantially as described.
2. In steam boiler water level indicators the use of a stop or safety valve such
as H arranged with an operating lever J worked by means of a rod or chain j³ in
combination with fitting B and connection or steam dome or pipe Q substantially
as described.
3. In steam boiler water level indicators the use of a valve such as E operated
by one levere and arranged so that when lever e³ is forced to position L water is
free to escape through the discharge orifice f' and when said fever e³ is forced to
position M steam is free to escape through said orifice f¹ all arranged substantially
as described and set forth at Figs. 1, 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings or any
mere modification thereof.
Dated this 13th day of April 1891.
H. F. BOUGHTON, M.I. Mech. E.,
London, Sheffield, and Barnsley, Agent.
H. F. BOUGHTON, M.I. Mech. E.,
London, Sheffield, and Barnsley, Agent.