Improvements in Heat-regulating and Registering Apparatus.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Sept., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 29th May, 1894-Accepted, 25th Aug. 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Heat-regulating and Registering Apparatus.
I BENJAMIN PRYOR STOCKMAN of 3 Poets' Corner Westminster Civil Engineer
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention has for its object the registering of low thermo-metrical
temperatures, and giving electrical warning of the same, as well as the giving
warning and registering high temperatures in like manner; also the setting in
action of electrical and electro magnetic, automatic apparatus. And to effect this
purpose I make an instrument which I call a "thermautostat," and which is
constructed as follows: I use a tube and bulb of glass or other non-conducting
material; the bulb being filled with alcohol, and the tube with mercury; as is
usual in the construction of thermometers; the tube and bulb are attached to a
back board; and, at the top of the instrument are two graduated scales, one right
and one left, divided into degrees as a thermometer. One of these scales I use for
rising temperatures, and the other for descending or low temperatures. At the bottom
of the tube, near the bulb is inserted a piece of platinum, or other wire, passing through
the glass or other tube, and sealed; the inner end of this piece of wire penetrates
into the mercury; and the outer end is connected with the conducting-wire of a
galvanic battery. The tube, containing the mercury is of a bore sufficiently large
to allow of a float resting on the surface of the mercury; the top of the tube being
open and the float is attached to a vertical wire-rod with a cross-piece of platinum
wire, in form of the letter T. The wire rod passes through the float so as to make
contact with the mercury in the tube. On each side of the scales is an upright
conducting-wire both being connected to one wire of the battery; and, on each of
these upright wires there is a sliding cross-piece with a projecting arm at right
angles forming an index point, which can be shifted up or down to any degree on
the scale and there set as desired. The platinum T piece, on the float-wire, as it
rises or falls with the mercury makes contact on one side or the other with one of
the index points; and circulates an electric current. For example; I may set the
index point on one side to a certain low temperature; and the index point on the
other side to a certain high temperature; and when the T piece rises with
the mercury, to the upper index point, electric contact takes place; and again
when the mercury falls to the low temperature as set, contact will take place with
the lower index point. At each or either of these contacts, an electric bell or bells
may be rung; or other automatic apparatus put in motion. I sometimes so
construct the head of the thermautostat as to enclose the whole in a glass cylinder
or tube with a stoppered top. The glass covering enclosing the floating T piece,
the index points, and the graduated scales; or I may cement the scales to the
outside, to be seen through the glass. In this arrangement all being sealed air
tight I move the index points by means of a magnet applied outside the glass;
they being provided with magnetic metal for that purpose.
When using the thermautostat for regulating the heat of liquids; as in brewing,
I use a cistern with a float or ball-cock to supply it from the main or tank; and I
lift the discharge valve by means of an electro-magnet, set in action by the
thermautostat and the valve when lifted is held up, by the slipping of a bolt into a
hole or slot in the stem of the valve thus allowing the liquor to continue to run
through the attemperater or cooling-worm; and when the thermautostat afterwards
makes contact at the low temperature set by the index point a second electro-
magnet withdraws the bolt allowing the valve to fall and close; and so shut off the
liquor from the attemperater.

page_text: The thermautostat is used for all purposes of regulating temperature, either in
air, or liquids, and it can set motion electrically various automatic apparatus for
regulating the temperature as may be desired.
Dated this 29th day of September 1893.
Improvements in Heat-regulating and Registering Apparatus.
I BENJAMIN PRYOR STOCKMAN late of 3 Poets' Corner Westminster but now
of Grosvenor Mansions Victoria Street Westminster Civil Engineer, 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:-
66
The object of my invention is to provide an automatic means of registering low
thermometrical temperatures and giving electrical warning or notification of the
same, as well as the giving warning or notification of high temperatures in a
similar manner,
also the setting into action electric and electro-magnetic automatic
apparatus, and for this purpose I make an instrument which I call a
thermautostat" and which is constructed as follows: I use a tube and bulb of
glass, or other non conducting material, the bulb being filled with alcohol or
mercury and the tube with mercury as is usual in the construction of thermometers.
The tube and bulb are attached to a backboard, and at the top of the instrument
there is a dial with 2 graduated scales, one right and one left, divided into degrees,
as a thermometer. One of the graduated scales I use for rising temperatures, and
the other for descending or low temperatures. At the bottom of the tube, which
has a syphon bend near the bulb, is inserted a piece of platinum or other wire
passing through the material of the tube and sealed, the inner end of this piece of
wire penetrates into the mercury in the tube, and the outer end is connected with a
terminal at the top of the instrument.
The tube containing the mercury is of a bore sufficiently large to allow of a float
resting on the surface of the mercury, the top of the tube being open; and the
float is attached to a vertical wire rod of aluminium, iron, or steel; with a platinum
cross-piece, or tee-piece at its top. The lower end of the vertical wire rod passes
through the float, so as to be in contact with the top of the mercury in the
tube.
On each side of the graduated scales, is an upright metal rod, which may be in
the form of a vertical screw; and both these are connected to the terminals at the
top of the instrument. On each of these vertical wires, or screws, is a movable
index, either sliding or screwed up or down by the turning of the vertical screw.
The indices can therefore be shifted up or down, and set to any degree on the
scale; and, as the column of mercury rises or falls, due to temperature, the
float with its wire and platinum tee-piece, rises or falle, and the tee-piece comes
into contact with an index, either on the rising or descending side; and, the con-
ducting wires from a battery being connected to the terminals at the top of the
instrument, an electric current flows at each contact between an index and the
platinum tee-piece; and an electric bell may be placed in the circuit. I use
the contact in the thermautostat for the purpose of putting into action an electro-
magnetic apparatus for regulating the temperature in brewing vats; by regulating
the quantity and duration of the liquor passing through the attemperater.
This electro-magnetic apparatus forms a second part of my invention. It
consists of a small cistern made of metal, or any suitable material; which may be
supported by brackets to a wall, or otherwise fixed. It is supplied with liquor
from the main, or brewery tank; and it has an inlet pipe and a ball-cock to

page_text: regulate its filling, an overflow or waste pipe, and a discharge-valve at bottom,
which communicates directly with the attemperater in the vat. On the top of the
cistern is a supporting frame, carrying the electro-magnetic apparatus. An electro
magnet, set in action by the contact between the platinum tee-piece and the index
of the thermautostat, on the scale for high temperature, lifts the discharge valve at
the bottom of the cistern, allowing the cold liquor to circulate through the
attemperater. The electro-magnet lifts the discharge valve by means of a lever ;.
one end of which it pulls down by an armature; the other end lifting and pulling.
up the valve, by means of a rod and sling; and, when lifted, a little bolt shoots
into a hole in the sling, and holds the valve up and open; and the liquor continues.
to circulate through the attemperater-coil, and the temperature of the ferment in
the vat lowers to a degree to which the index on the low side of the scale is set,.
until the platinum tee-piece descends to it, making contact; when another electro-
magnet placed horizontally, on the frame, pulls the little bolt out of the sling, and
the discharge valve drops and shuts off the liquor from the attemperater.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings which form part of this
Specification.
First. With reference to the thermautostat.
Fig. 1 is a general elevation of the instrument, shewing it stripped of its covering
or casing.
The tube (a) is filled with mercury and the bulb (b) with alcohol.
The tube and bulb are fixed to a backboard or support. The tube is open at its
top end to admit of a float (c) made of ivory or other light material.
Passing through the float, and touching the mercury, is a wire of aluminium or
steel (d); this wire extends upwards; and, at its top end, it has a cross or tee-piece (9)
made of platinum.
At the top of the thermautostat is a dial (e) having two graduated scales (ff),
one for low temperatures and the other for high temperatures, the graduated scales
being similar to those on a thermometer. The vertical float wire is guided by
means of a loop round a fine wire, strained and fixed on the face of the dial. On
each side of the dial is a vertical screw (h) and working upon it, as a nut, is a
vertical cross piece (k) shaped as an index, each index being raised or lowered by
the turning of the vertical screw (4) so that the indices can be set to any position
on the graduated scales on the dial by turning the milled heads (1) of the
screws.
At the bottom, or syphon end, of the tube (m), a platinum or other wire (n)
passes through to the mercury and is sealed in, this platinum wire is continued
upwards on the outside of the instrument, and is soldered to one of the electric
terminals (o) while the side vertical screws and indices are connected, by metal, to
a terminal (o) and a third terminal (o) is for the bell circuit. Wires from a
galvanic battery being connected to the terminals, the instrument is put in action,
thus-One of the indices (k) is set, on one side, to a desired low temperature;
and the other to a high temperature; and the rise or fall of the mercury column,
carries the wire (d) till its tee-piece (g) touches one of the indices, when the
temperature is notified, by the ringing an electric bell; and the distant electro-
magnetic apparatus is put into action.
Second. In reference to the electro-magnetic apparatus used in brewing.
Fig. 2 shews the cistern in section.
Fig. 3 shews a plan of the same.
a is the cistern; 6 is the ball cock; c is the inlet from the brewery main or tank;
d is the overflow or waste, e is the discharge valve, at bottom, to the attemperater,
f is the frame or support for the magnetic work; is the vertical electro-magnet ;
A is a lever poised on a fulcrum (k) at the end of which is an armature (1) hovering
over the electro-magnet; at the other end of the lever (h) is a sling (m) with a
hole in it for the little bolt (n) with armature () in front of the horizontal electro-
magnet (o) the discharge valve, (Q) is lifted by means of the rod (p) and rrr, are
the electric terminals.

page_text: I sometimes make the thermautostat of any short or convenient size, for the
purpose of registering hot or cold temperatures, in hot-houses, conservatories, and
in any situation where the degree of cold is to be notified, as well as the heat, and
for such, or similar, purposes.
.
I sometimes enclose the head of the instrument in an air tight case of glass with
stoppered end; and in that case, I set the indices by means of a magnet applied
outside the glass.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is performed, 1 declare that what I
claim is: :-
1. The thermautostat as an instrument for registering cold temperatures, in
combination with the registering of warm temperatures; but which latter alone I
do not claim.
2. The means of making electric contact in the thermautostat by a float in the
mercury column, with float wire and platinum tee-piece, and moveable indices as
shewn and described.
3. The electro-magnetic apparatus as used for brewing-vats, or automatic
attemperating, set in action by the change of temperature in the vat causing the
thermautostat first to make electric contact.
4. The apparatus fixed to the cistern comprising electro-magnets and lever as
shewn on the drawings and described.
5. The combination, for the purposes of automatic heat regulation, substantially
as hereinbefore set forth, illustrated, and described.
Dated this 29th day of May One thousand eight hundred and ninety four.
B. P. STOCKMAN, M. Inst. C.E.