IMPROVE- MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR REGULATING AND INDICATING THE LEVEL OF WATER IN STEAM BOILERS, AND FOR SOUNDING AN ALARUM
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Bernoulli Barlow, of Manchester, in the
County of Lancaster, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR REGULATING AND INDICATING THE LEVEL OF WATER
IN STEAM BOILERS, AND FOR SOUNDING AN ALARUM."-A communication
from abroad by John Frank Stratton, of Gohlis, near Leipzig, in the
Kingdom of Saxony. Manufacturer.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Bernoulli Barlow
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 3rd February 1875.
I, HENRY BERNOULLI BARLOW, of Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR REGULATING AND INDICATING,
THE LEVEL OF WATER IN STEAM BOILERS, AND FOR SOUNDING AN ALARUM," being.
a communication to me from abroad by John Frank Stratton, of Gohlis,
near Leipzig, in the Kingdom of Saxony, Manufacturer, to be as
follows:-
The apparatus consists of a cylinder which is in communication with
the steam and water spaces of the boiler. In this cylinder works a floats,

page_text: the spindle of which rises and falls according to the level of the water.
This spindle is connected by a cord or chain with a tap which is in
communication with the feed pump. When the water rises in the boiler
the tap is opened and allows the pump to draw air, but when the level is
lowered the tap is closed and allows the feed water to be forced into the a
boiler.
The indicator consists of a dial with an index finger which is actuated
by the float. This dial and index with the steam gauge are placed in the
office or other convenient locality. The alarum is also actuated by the
float, and it consists of a bell with a spring clapper.
When the spring has been wound up the spring is held by a ratchet
wheel and catch, and when the water rises or falls beyond certain limits
the spring is released by a tappet on the float spindle, thereby allowing
the alarum to go off and calling the attention of the engine driver.
.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Henry Bernoulli Barlow in the Great Scal Patent
Office on the 31st July 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRY
BERNOULLI BARLOW, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Patent
Agent, send grecting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Third day of February, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in the thirty-
eighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Henry Bernoulli Barlow, Her special
licence that I, the said Henry Bernoulli Barlow, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Henry Bernoulli
Barlow, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
'use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR REGULATING AND INDICATING THE LEVEL OF
WATER IN STEAM BOILERS, AND FOR SOUNDING AN ALARUM," a communication

page_text: to me from abroad by John Frank Stratton, of Gohlis, near Leipzig, in
the Kingdom of Saxony, Manufacturer, upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Henry Bernoulli Barlow, my executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of
their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be
performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the
said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Henry Bernoulli Barlow, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement (that is to say)
The apparatus consists of a cylinder which is in communication with
the steam and water spaces of the boiler. In this cylinder works a float;
the spindle of which rises and falls according to the level of the water.
This spindle is connected by a cord or chain with a tap which is in
communication with the feed pump. When the water rises in the boiler
the tap is opened and allows the pump to draw air, but when the level is
lowered the tap is closed and allows the feed water to be forced into the
boiler.
The indicator consists of a dial with an index finger which is actuated
by the float. This dial and index, with the steam gauge, are placed in
the office or other convenient locality. The alarum is also actuated by
the float, and it consists of a bell with a spring clapper.
When the spring has been wound up the spring is held by a ratchet
wheel and catch, and when the water rises or falls beyond certain limits
the spring is released by a tappet on the float spindle, thereby allowing
the alarum to go off and calling the attention of the engine driver.
And in order that my Invention may be fully understood and readily
carried into operation I will proceed to describe the accompanying Sheet
of Drawings.
Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4 represent different detached views of this improved
apparatus, and Fig. 5 represents the apparatus placed in the office. This
apparatus consists chiefly of a cast-iron cylinder, shewn in Fig. 2, which
is connected. by tubes with the water. tank and the steam reservoir, and
1.

page_text: in which is the hollow float”, made of metal, and connected to a vertical
rod which moves upwards and downwards when the float rises or falls.
The motion of the float rod can easily be kept in good order, as it is not
exposed to any disturbing influences, and the rising and falling of the
water in the boiler is accurately indicated.
The self-acting apparatus for the regulation of the water supply and
the uninterrupted working of the pump is shewn in Figs. 3 and 4. The
float is connected with a tap i by means of a rod and chain / passing
over the rollers g, so that the position of this tap is dependant upon the
position of the float, that is to say, the tap is shut or opened when the
float rises or falls. When the float rises then the tap i is opened, and
the piston in the pump k sucks the water not only through the vertical
suction pipe but also through the curved tube into the pump. When
the piston turns back the valve in the suction pipe shuts, but the water is
driven back nevertheless into the latter since the tap is open. The valve
is fixed in such a way that the pump sucks air and supplies therefore
little or no water to the filled or overfilled boiler. When the float sinks
to a certain depth the tap shuts and the pump is set to work until the
normal level has been reached again.
In order to control the level of the water in the boiler from the office
or other room in the establishment the apparatus shewn in Fig. 5 is
employed. The apparatus is in a case containing a bell s, clock o, and
manometer or steam gauge q. The indicator consists of a dial and a
movable finger p, which is moved by the float. It might happen that
the regulating tap did not act and that the level of the water might not
be noticed either in the boiler house or in the office.
In order to prevent an accident even in such a case the following
alarm apparatus is employed. This apparatus rings the bell n first in
the boiler 'house and afterwards in the office in case of any irregularity
in the boiler. This is done by the tappet on the float spindle b, sec
Fig. 1.
When the float a rises or falls the tappet releases the catch of
the ratchet wheel and the spring clapper then strikes the bell n to give
the alarm.
Having thus stated the nature and particulars of the Invention com-
municated to me by the within named John Frank Stratton I declare
that I claim,
First. The application of a tap or a valve connected to the feed pump.

page_text: or to the feed pipe of a boiler, so that by the opening or shutting of
this tap or valve the water supply to the boiler is regulated as shewn and
described.
Secondly. Causing the water level in the boiler or in a cylinder con-
nected with the same to open or shut the regulating tap or valve by
means of a float or a similar apparatus, as shewn and described.
Thirdly. The application of a cylinder which is connected by tubes
with the space of the boiler containing the water and steam in order to
obtain a quiet and true movement of the float, as shewn and described
in reference to Fig. 2.
And, lastly. The application of a water level indicator and alarm bell
which shews the level in the office or any other room in the establish-
ment, and which rings a bell when the water level is too low, as shewn
and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Bernoulli Barlow, have
hereto set my hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of July, One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-five.