Improvements in Water Gauges.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 11th May, 1894
Complete Specification Left, 11th Feb., 1895-Accepted, 20th Apr.. 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Water Gauges.
We CHARLES REGINALD WINN, Mechanical Engineer, of 140 Granville Street
Birmingham in the County of Warwick and ARTHUR MOUSLEY, Draughtsman,
of 93 Aston Lane Perry Barr in the County of Stafford do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in the construction of water gauges in
regard to the valves employed to automatically prevent the escape of steam from
the top arm of these fittings in the event of the gauge glass breaking.
The top arm of water gauges, as at present constructed, is usually provided with
a removable area reducing disc fitted over the glass, in which is bored a small hole
for the purpose of throttling the escape of steam upon the breaking of the gauge
glass.
This hole however must necessarily be of such size as to pass sufficient steam to
maintain equilibrium of pressure between the gauge glass and the boiler and also
furnish the steam required to blow through & clean the gauge glass;-hence upon
a fracture of the gauge glass occurring the boiler steam has an unobstructed
passage through the top arm of the water gauge until the cock is closed in the
usual manner.
The object of this invention is to minimise the danger & inconvenience arising
from breakage of a gauge glass by providing in the top arm of the water gauge an
automatic ball valve fitted in combination with a plug cock preferably of the
asbestos packed type, the plug of which is provided with a passage or portway of
the usual type but with particularly shaped ends viz. :-one truly seated to receive
the ball & the other of irregular shape which the ball can only partially close.
A chamber is also formed in the top arm of the water gauge on the boiler side
of the plug with which it communicates, & in which the automatic ball valve is
contained.
The plug is so arranged that in the first or working position under normal
conditions the steam has free access through the chamber to the gauge glass, but
upon the gauge glass breaking the automatic ball valve is immediately driven to
the seating formed on the plug before described thus preventing any escape of
steam. In the second position the cock is closed, while in the third position, upon
opening the bottom or blow through cock the automatic ball is prevented from
closing the passage through the plug owing to the ball being forced against the
irregular shaped end of passage or portway thus enabling the glass to be blown
through or the water level tested without inconvenience.
This arrangement is also applicable to the lower arm in the same manner as
herein described.
Deted his 10th day of May 1894.
CHARLES REGINALD WINN.
ARTHUR MOUSLEY.

page_text: Improvements in Water Gauges.
We CHARLES REGINALD WINN Mechanical Engineer of 140 Granville Street
Birmingham in the County of Warwick and ARTHUR MOUSLEY, Draughtsman
of 93 Aston Lane Perry Barr in the County of Stafford 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 improvements in the construction of water gauges in
regard to the valves employed to automatically prevent the escape of steam from
the top arm of these fittings in the event of the gauge glass breaking. We provide
in the top arm of the water gauge an automatic ball valve fitted in combination
with a plug cock preferably of the asbestos packed type the plug of which is
provided with a passage or portway of particular shape communicating with a
chamber containing the said ball which automatically closes the steam passage in the
event of the gauge glass breaking at the same time allowing a sufficient blow-
through to clear the glass when the plug is turned in another position.
In order that our invention may be clearly understood and more easily carried
into practice we have appended hereunto one sheet of drawings upon which is
shewn three modifications of our said invention :-
Figure 1. is a longitudinal section and Figure 2. a part sectional plan of the top
arm of a water gauge with the plug A shewn in working position the automatic
ball valve B being contained in a chamber C on the boiler side of plug.
While the gauge glass remains unbroken the ball B lies on the bottom of the
said chamber C the steam being in equilibrium but upon a fracture occurring the
rush of steam immediately drives the ball to its seating D thus closing the aperture
and preventing any escape of steam. When required. to blow-through the glass, it
is only necessary to turn the lever E half a revolution as indicated by dotted lines
bringing the passage or portway F in contact with the opening G which permits a
free passage for the steam.
In the second modification as shewn at Figures 3 and 4 we form the seating for
the ball B upon the plug itself the passage or portway F being seated on the one
side at F to automatically shut off steam in case of fracture of glass, and elongated
or square on the other side at F2 to prevent the ball seating itself and thus
permitting sufficient steam for blowing through, the lever E being turned half a
revolution as in the previous case which brings the elongated side of plug in contact
with chamber C.
In Figures 5 and 6 we shew a modification in which, for blowing through
purposes, a small separate passage H is used leading into the chamber C and
communicating with the elongated portway or passage F in the plug A. when lever
is turned in a similar manner to the others, as shewn by dotted lines.
In this modification the ball may be placed in a chamber formed on the gauge
glass side of plug if desired with equal results.
An important advantage our invention has over automatic water gauges as
usually constructed is the facility with which the chamber and passages may be
cleaned by the removal of the plug nut K while at the same time in no way
interfering with the internal parts of the gauge being cleaned in the ordinary
manner.
Although we have only illustrated our invention as applied to the top arm of
water gauges it is obvious it is equally applicable to the lower arm.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is :-
1st. Improvements in automatic water gauges having a chamber C and ball
valve B for the purpose substantially as herein set forth and shewn upon the
drawings.
2nd. Improvements in automatic water gauges having a plug nut K for the
purpose substantially as herein set forth and shewn upon the drawings.
Dated this 9th day of February 1895.
CHARLES REGINALD WINN.
ARTHUR MOUSLEY.