Year: 1886

page_text: Controuer.
I, JOHN JOSEPH CHEGAN, of Newark, New Jersey, United States of America,
Electrician, 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 :—
2
My invention consists chiefly in utilizing magnetism so that a float located
inside a tube connected with a steam boiler or other liquid receptacle operates a
circuit closer located outside said tube, there being no mechanical or electrical
connection between said float and said circuit closer. It also consists in devices for
practically applying said float and circuit closer as a liquid level indicator and
controller.
In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification,―
Figure 1 shows the invention connected to a steam boiler.
Figure 2 is a modification of the invention showing two contact points on the
circuit closer,
Figure 3 is a plan view of the same.
Figure 4 is a modification dispensing with the magnet, a simple polarized needle'
being employed.
Figure 5 is a modification in which the tube containing the float is placed:
directly between the magnet and circuit closer.
"
Figure 6 is a modification showing the armature between the poles of the
magnet
Figure 7 is a sectional plan view at line of Figure 1.
The same letters refer to corresponding parts in all the figures.
In Figure 1, A is a section of a steam boiler with the ordinary glass water gauge
tube B. This tube may be of brass or other non-magnetic material, and is con-
nected in the usual manner to the water and steam in the boiler. C.is one of the
usual guard rods of the water gauge. D is a float composed of or provided with
magnetic material and adapted to rise and fall with the liquid within the tube B.
A pivoted armature E, and a magnet N S are placed in such relative position to:
each other and to the tube B as to admit of the influencing of the magnetic field
by the movement of the float D within the tube B so as to produce motion in said
Die Q1

page_text: armature. The magnet N S may be either an electro-magnet in a constantly
closed circuit or a permanent magnet. The armature E is provided with suitable
contact points F to which are connected the electric circuits G and H, battery I,
and valve working electro-magnet J or alarm bell K. The electro-magnet J when
the circuit G is closed will open the valve L, which operates the pump M and
forces water into the boiler A through the pipe O.
PP are stops placed inside the tube B to prevent the float D from going beyond
the requisite limits. They are constructed so as not to interfere with the free
circulation of the liquid within the tube B.
The
The armature E is placed inside a dust proof casing Q of non-magnetic material,
and the magnet NS is attached to said casing in any convenient manner.
guard rod C is provided with a sliding sleeve R which may be fixed at any desired
point by means of the clamping screw S¹. The sleeve R has a projecting piece T
slotted at U. The casing Q is adjustably attached to said sleeve by set screw S"
passing through said slot. The side of the casing Q next the tube B is preferably
provided with a groove into which the tube fits.
"
The armature E may be composed wholly or in part of magnetic material but it
is preferable to have the armature entirely of magnetic material, permanently
magnetized, and so placed in relation to the poles of the magnet that the magnetism
alone holds the armature in a normal position and if swerved from this position by
the hand or otherwise the magnetism will return it to the normal position.
This magnetic balance is best obtained by using a magnet of the curved or
horse-shoe form and pivoting the armature E to, one side and behind the ends or
faces of the poles as shown in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 7 or directly between and behind
the poles as shown in Figure 6.
When the method shown in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 7 is employed the armature may
be longer than the distance between the poles of the magnet; when used as shown
in Figure 6 the armature should be considerably shorter than the distances between
said poles.
f₁
When by change of level of the liquid within the tube B, the float D approaches
one of the magnet poles N S, the magnetic field is disturbed so as to deflect the
armature E in one direction or the other and this deflection can be utilized either
as a visual signal or to close an electric circuit and thereby operate any suitable
electric device.
By reference to Figure 1 it will be seen that when the circuit G becomes closed
by the change of level of the liquid within the tube B bringing the float D in
proximity to the pole N of the magnet N S of the device located at V, the electro-
magnet J will open the valve L and the pump M will thereupon operate and force
water into the boiler A which will cause the float to rise and recede from the pole
of the magnet NS whereupon the armature E will assume its normal position
thereby opening the circuit G consequently closing, the valve L and shutting off
the water.
"
If a simple alarm for low water is desired then a circuit containing one or more
alarm bells is connected to the circuit, closer as shown at W, or if desired as a
precautionary measure in case of the pump or any other part getting out of order
and thereby letting the water sink below the proper level, the second circuit closer
connected with the alarm bells may be used to give warning.
L
The modification shown in Figure 2 illustrates how two circuits can be controlled
by one armature when said armature is provided with contact points at each end.
The modification shown in Figure 4 illustrates an ordinary polarized needle E
balanced in a horizontal position in close proximity to the tube B. In this case it
is preferable to have the magnetic material of the float D permanently magnetized.
The invention is also adapted to giving a visual indication of the height of the
water in a boiler or other reservoir without using a glass tube; by placing several
armatures arranged as described, but without the casing Q at different points on a
tube of brass, copper or other non-magnetic material which can be substituted for
the ordinary glass tube and connected to the water and steam in the usual manner,

page_text: the armature nearest the float will be deflected and thus visually indicate the
height of the liquid.
My invention is not limited to the precise construction herein described as it is
evident that many modifications may be made therein without departing from the
spirit of the invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is,
First. The combination of a float, D, provided with magnetic material, with a
polarized needle E which is deflected from a normal position by the movement of
said float, substantially as described.
Second. The combination of a float D provided with magnetic material, with a
magnetic circuit controlling device substantially as described.
Third. The combination of a float D with an automatic circuit controlling
device, which consists of a pivoted magnetic bar E provided with circuit closing
contact points F and a permanent magnet, substantially as and for the purposes
described.
Fourth. The combination of electric controlling and alarm devices and an auto-
matic operating device consisting of a float D provided with magnetic material with
adjacent devices consisting of a permanent magnet and a movable bar E, having
operating connection with the circuit which contains said electric controlling and
alarm devices, substantially as described.
Fifth. The combination of a tube B connected with the main liquid receptacle,
with a float D containing magnetic material, an electric circuit and a circuit closer
in said circuit consisting of a pivoted magnetic bar E substantially as described.
Sixth. The combination of the liquid holding tube B and a float therein provided
with magnetic material, with a magnet outside said tube and adjacent therete and
an armature pivoted behind and either between or to one side of the ends or poles
of said magnet substantially as described.
Seventh. The casing Q provided with a sleeve R having a slotted projection T
substantially as and for the purposes described.
Dated the 17th day of Angust 1886
0
HERBERT J. ALLISON,
Agent for the Applicant.