IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD, OF AND APPARATUS, FOR INDICATING AND REGULATING THE HEAT AND THE HEIGHT AND SUPPLY, OP, WATER IN STEAM BOILERS, WHICH SAID IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES, SUCH AS INDICATING AND REGULATING THE HEAT OF BUILDINGS, FURNACES,: STOVES, FIREPLACES, KILNS, AND OVENS, AND INDICATING THE HEIGHT AND REGULATING THE. SUPPLY OF WATER IN OTHER BOILERS AND VESSELS
Year: 1852

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing
date at Westminster, the Seventeenth day. of April, in the fifteenth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs, and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said William Edward Newton, Her especial license, full power, sole
privilege and authority, that I, the said William Edward Newton, my
exors, admors, and assigns, and such others as I, the said William Edward
Newton, my exors, adiñors, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and
no others; from time to time and at all times during the term of years
therein, mentioned, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend,
within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, and in all
Her Majesty's Colonies and Plantations abroad, and in the Islands of Jersey,
Guernsey, Alderney, Sark, and Man, an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE METHOD, OF AND APPARATUS, FOR INDICATING AND REGULATING THE HEAT AND
THE HEIGHT AND SUPPLY, OP, WATER IN STEAM BOILERS, WHICH SAID IMPROVEMENTS
ARE APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES, SUCH AS INDICATING AND REGULATING THE
HEAT OF BUILDINGS, FURNACES,: STOVES, FIREPLACES, KILNS, AND OVENS, AND
INDICATING THE HEIGHT AND REGULATING THE. SUPPLY OF WATER IN OTHER BOILERS
AND VESSELS," being a communication from abroad; in which said Letters
i

page_text: Patent is contained a proviso obliging me, the said William Edward Newton,
by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, particularly to describe
and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, and to cause the same to be inrolled in Her Ma-
jesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar months next and imme-
diately after the date of the said in part recited Letters Patent, as in
and by the same, reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at large
appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the
said William Edward Newton, do hereby declare that the nature of the said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is to be performed, is parti-
cularly described and ascertained in and by the following description thereof,
reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the letters and
figures marked thereon (that is to say) :-
The first part of the Invention that has been communicated to me by my
Foreign Correspondent relates to the method of indicating and regulating the
degree of heat in steam boilers, which said method may also be employed to
indicate and regulate the heat of furnaces, stoves, ovens, kilns, and buildings,
and all other analogous purposes. The expansion of bodies, such as metals
and mercury, has long since been applied to act on or work dampers, registers,
ventilators, and valves, for the purpose of regulating heat, but heretofore with
only partial success, for the reason that such instruments have not possessed
the requisite sensitiveness. In some instances, as in regulating the tem-
perature of an apartment, it is necessary that the instrument should be acted
upon by a very slight variation of temperature; and as the expansion of metal
rods or mercury has heretofore been employed directly to work the damper, it
has been found that it requires too great a range of temperature to affect the
instrument to answer a good practical purpose.
The object of the first part of the Invention is to produce an instrument
which shall have the requisite power to open dampers, registers, ventilators, or
valves, of whatever magnitude and description, and which, at the same time,
shall be so sensitive as to be acted on by a very slight change in the temperature.
It is upon the application of the physical principle of the expansion and
contraction of substances, by varying degrees of heat to regulate the action of
a self-acting mechanism, which acts on or works a damper, register, ventilator,
or valve. This mechanism, which opens or closes the damper, is set in motion
by an independent agent, and the slightest variation in the temperature can be
made to affect the instrument, and thus render it practically efficient as a means
of regulating temperature.

page_text: In the accompanying Drawings Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the improved
regulating apparatus, as applied to a damper or register for admitting heated
air into an apartment. Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the spindle and
clutches; and Fig. 3 is a section representing some of the parts. The same
letters indicate like parts in all the Figures. a represents a bevel wheel on a
horizontal shaft, which is actuated by any desired motor, such as a spring or
weight, there being a train of wheels somewhat like the movement of a clock,
but not represented in the Drawings, or the said bevel wheel can be actuated
by any other desired means. The said wheel engages with and communicates
motion in opposite directions to two bevel wheels b, b, on the hollow shafts c, c,
that turn on a stationary vertical spindle d. On the said spindle there are two
sliding forked clutches e, e, one at each end, which slide freely on the said
spindle, and are each provided with a collar, embraced by an arm f, projecting
from a vertical rod g that slides freely in two studs h, h. The spindle between
the two bevel wheels is threaded as at i, and to this is fitted a nut j, with arms
k. k, at each end, and a collar 7 in the middle, embraced by one end of a lever
m, the other end of which is connected by a rod n, with a crank arm o of a
lamper or register p. The forks q, q, of the two clutches e, e, pass through
holes in the two bevel wheels, and also through holes in discs r, r, on the hollow
shafts of the bevel wheels, and the space between the ends of the two sets of
forks is just a little greater than the length of the nut j, so that when the
clutches and the nut are in the right position the two clutches and their
corresponding bevel wheels will turn freely without turning the nut; but if the
rod g be elevated the forks of the lower clutch will strike against the lower
arms k, k, of the nut j, and turn it on the threaded part of the spindle, and thus
cause it to rise and open the register, and when on the contrary the rod g is
depressed, the forks of the upper clutch will act on the upper arms of the nut j,
and by causing it to turn in the opposite direction the nut will be made
to descend and close the register. The rod g is held in place by a dog t, that
takes into a series of notches s in the side of the rod. The said dog is hung
on a stud pin at u, and is held in the notches by the tension of a spring v, and
from this it will be seen that as long as the dog is held in its place by the
tension of its spring, the rod and the two clutches will not be elevated or
depressed. There is a lever w, that turns on a fulcrum pin at x, and having
an arm running horizontally under a pin y on the rod g, and under a cam z on
the shaft of the wheel a, seen best in Fig. 3. This arm of the lever wis
drawn upwards against the cam z by a helical spring a', so that as, the cam
rotates the said lever w is vibrated, and according to its range of motion, will
tend to elevate the rod 9 by striking against the pin y, provided the dog t,

page_text: which holds the rod g, be disengaged at the time. This is effected by the same
cam z, which, as it rotates, permits the lever. w to be lifted by the spring, and
also acts on and forces out the dog t; and on continuing its rotation the cam z
permits the dog t to be drawn into catches or notches of the rod g, and hold
the rod at the point to which it may have been carried. up, or let down, by the
lever w.
The extent of vibration of the lever w, which regulates the action of
the motive force on the damper, is in turn regulated by the degree of heat to
which a compound rod of metal b' is exposed.. This compound rod of metal b¹ is
composed of two strips of metal, one brass, and the other iron, soldered. or
otherwise put together from end to end, so that they shall not slip, on each
other. This compound bar is attached. by its lower. end c¹ to the frame work
or plate of the instrument, and at the upper.end, the iron extends a little
beyond, the brass, and is there bent as shewn at Fig. 4, so that the end, shall
bear against a face or pallet d' on an arbor e', provided with an arm f', that
lies between two brackets g', g', that gauges the extent of its vibrations..
The end of this arm carries a small. toothed rack h; which is inclined so as to
form a moveable inclined plane or excentric sector. As the temperature rises,
the brass of the compound rod 61 expands more than the iron, which will
cause the upper end thereof to move from the pallet d', and-to permit the arm
f', with its rack, to descend, and when the temperature sinks, the compound
rod b¹ will be deflected the other way and bear: against the pallet.d', and
elevate the arm f¹ with its rack. The arm ¹ of the lever w, as it vibrates,
strikes against the face of the rack h', which gauges the extent of its motion,
and as the face of the rack h¹ is inclined, it follows, that when it is depressed
by the increasing temperature it reduces the range of motion of the lever w,
which permits the rod 9 and the clutches to descend and close the damper, or
vice versa. At there is a set screw which passes through a part of the
framing, and bears against the compound rod to set the instrument to any
desired temperature.
It will be obvious, from the foregoing, that, this method of regulating heat
can be applied to a great variety of purposes, such as regulating the heating
and ventilating of buildings, ovens, or kilns; the regulating the draft of
furnaces, stoves, and fireplaces; the draught of steam boiler furnaces by the
temperature of the steam, and the escape of steam from boilers with the view
to safety, employing the temperature of steam as the standard of pressure.
I do not deem it necessary to describe the motive force to be applied to the
snaft of the driving wheel a, as any. kind of motor can be applied; but, as stated
above, a weight or spring can be employed with a train of cog wheels,
resembling in arrangement the movement of a clock with a fly-wheel,

page_text: instead of the escapement, although it can be used for this purpose with
the escapement.
I do not wish to confine myself to the use of compound metal bars as the
means of acting on or regulating the mechanism which works the dampers, the
opening and the closing of which is effected and regulated by the variation of
temperature, as any of the 'known equivalents thereof may be substituted,
such as the differential lineal expansion of metal rods, or the linear expansion
of one rod attached to a plate or frame, made of some substance which will
expand proportionally more or less, or the expansion and contraction of
mercury, or alcohol, or other fluid, all these being the well known equivalents
for the flexure of the compound metal rods; nor do I wish to limit myself to
the use of any peculiar arrangement of parts for operating the damper, for it
will be obvious that these may be variously modified for the application of the
principle of this Invention, which consists, as before stated, in the application of
the principle of expansion and contraction of substances, by varying degrees
of heat to an arrangement of mechanism, which is actuated by an independent
motive force, by means of which combination dampers, registers,, valves,
ventilators, and all other equivalent devices for regulating the admission or
emission of heated air, or regulating the draft of fireplaces, or the admission or
escape of vapor, is effected.
What I claim as new in the first part of this Invention, and desire to secure
by Letters Patent, is, the application of the physical principle of the expansion
and contraction of substances, by varying degrees of 'heat to regulate and
control'a mechanism applied to operate a damper, register, valve, ventilator, or
other equivalent device, which mechanism is actuated or propelled by some
independent motive power.
The second part of the Invention relates to the method.of indicating and
regulating the supply of water in steam and other boilers, and other vessels.
Fig. 5 represents a front elevation of the improvements as applied to a
steam boiler, shewing such parts of the apparatus as are placed outside the
boiler. Fig. 6 is a view of the head of the boiler as seen from the interior;
Fig. 7 is a longitudinal vertical section of the boiler; and Fig. 8 is a section
or detached view representing a modification. The same letters indicate like
parts in all the Figures. As it has been generally admitted that the deficiency
of water is one of the principal causes of the explosion of steam boilers, many
inventions have been brought forward for the purpose of indicating the
deficiency and regulating the supply, with the view to prevent explosions, but
so far without success. Any apparatus to be good and useful must be imme-
diate in its operation, otherwise it will be positively bad, for it will be relied on

page_text: a
by the attendant, who will depend upon its operation instead of his own
attention, and thus occasion many accidents which his vigilance might other-
wise prevent. A float has generally been employed as the means of indicating
the level of water within the boiler, and of communicating motion to the
mechanism for regulating the supply of water; but as the float is within the
boiler, and the indicator and machinery for regulating the supply is outside, a
connection has always been made through the side of the boiler, which, to
prevent the escape of water and steam, must be packed, and which, therefore,
from friction and varying strain, and the liability to clog, prevents the freedom
of play of the float, and destroys that sensitiveness indispensable to an accu-
rate indication of the varying level of water in the boiler. The use of the
float as a means of communicating the required motion to an alarm, or to the
apparatus which effects or regulates the supply, is objectionable for another
reason (viz), that it throws too heavy duty on the float, which is in this way
prevented from following the varying level of the water. It is important,
therefore, to have the float and all its connections within the boiler, so that it
shall be free and sensitive to follow the varying level of the water, and that
it shall not be employed to give a visible indication of the level of water, or to
set in action an alarm or the apparatus which regulates the supply of water,
but simply to control or check a mechanism which is to be impelled by
a motive force outside of the boiler and independent of the float. It is the
object of this part of the Invention to carry out this principle, by the employ-
ment of an independent float within a steam or other boiler or other vessel,
which, as its position is varied by the change of level of the water, shall act as
a stop or check to the motions of a mechanism actuated by an independent
motive force outside the boiler, and thus, by varying the point of stop or check
by the varying level of the water, cause the independent motive force, what-
ever it may be, to act directly either on the apparatus that supplies the water,
and thus to increase or check the supply, or on an indicator, or whistle, or other
alarm, to give notice to the engineer or attendant. This part of the Invention
also consists in having the said float hung to one arm of a rock shaft, when
the said shaft is provided with another arm which acts as a stop or check to
determine the range of motion of the mechanism operated by the independent
motive force outside the boiler, so that when such mechanism is brought in
contact with and is checked by the said arm of the float, it shall not affect the
position of the float.
In the accompanying Drawings, a, (Figures 5, 6, and 7,) represents the
head of a steam boiler, and b a float within the boiler and attached to the
outer end of an arm c, which is fixed on a rocking shaft d. This shaft is

page_text: mounted in suitable bearings so as to be free to act. To avoid the deposit
of sediment on the journals, and which deposit might impede the free
motion of the rock shaft, this latter should be mounted in bearings placed
above the high-water mark. The rocking shaft d carries another arni e,
which at its outer end has an excentric segment or tangent piece f, with teeth
on its edge. So far all this is entirely within the boiler, and needs no packed
joints, so that the float will be free to move with the varying level of water.
Another rocking shaft g passes through the boiler, and should be provided in
the usual manner with a packed joint or stuffing box to prevent the escape of
steam or water. The outer end of this shaft carries an arm h, which is drawn
or forced downwards by a spring i, or weight, or other equivalent force, which
must be sufficient to overcome any friction or check caused by the packing of
the joints, or any tendency which they may have to stick. On the outer end
of this arm there is a pin j, which works or moves in an elongated hole
or slot k in a rod I, which is to be connected with and actuated by some motive
power. If the boiler be used for a steam engine, then this rod / can receive
the required reciprocating motion from some part of the engine, or it may be
actuated by a crank kept in motion by any other motive power, such as
a weight or spring acting on a train of wheels. But however the motion be
communicated to the rod 1, the latter must be kept in motion, so that as it is
drawn in the direction of the arrow it will lift up the arm h of the rocking
shaft 9, and on the return motion permit the said arm h to be drawn down by
the spring. On the inner end of the said rocking shaft g, and within the
boiler, there is another arm m (see Figures 6 and 7) with a pin n, so located
as to come in contact with the teeth on the stop arm f of the float b, and thus
check or stop the downward motion of the arm c; and as the toothed face ƒ of
the arm e is excentric or forms an inclined plane, the arm e will be checked
or stopped sooner when the float is up than when it is down, and as the rod
on the outside slides on the pin ; of the outer arm h, the direction of the
motion of this rod l, as it reciprocates, will be raised and be made to act
variously for the supply of water; as for instance, when the float sinks down
to the dotted line o, (Figures 6 and 7) below low-water mark, and thereby
arrives at a dangerous point in the boiler, the rod will act on a lever p,
(Fig. 5) which is to be connected with a whistle, or other alarm, to call the
5 attention of the engineer. When the float is carried too high, say to the dotted
line q above the high-water mark, the rod acts on another lever r, connected
with the same, or some other alarm. Between the two alarm levers p and r
there is another lever 8, with its two arms inclined to each other, and provided
with teeth resembling ratchet teeth. This lever can be attacled to a stop-

page_text: cock, valve, or other apparatus for regulating the flow of water into the boiler.
The end of the rod is formed to act on the teeth of the lever s, and as the
float continues' to sink from the true water level the rod continues to act
farther and farther on the lower arm of the lever s, and will thereby more and
more open the stopcock and increase the supply of water. And as the float
continues to rise from the true water level, the rod will have the 'reversed
action on the levers, and hence gradually close the supply cock or valve, and
thus reduce the supply. In this way it will be seen that the float is per-
fectly free to follow the level of the water, except during the instant of time
that the arm of the rocking shaft is stopped by the stop arm of the float; and
then, as the action on the stop arm is in a radial, or nearly radial, direction,
and the stop arm is provided with teeth, the independent motive force outside
can have no tendency to change the position of the float, which is again
released, and free to follow the level of the water in the boiler. As the
motion of the rod for operating the supply apparatus or the alarm is derived
from the engine, or some independent motor, any amount of force can be
given to it to insure working; and, finally, as the rocker, which acts on the
stop arm of the float, and which guides the rod that acts on the supply appa-
ratus for the alarm, is worked in one direction by the independent motive
power, and in the other by a spring or weight, or in both by the independent
'motive power, it will be obvious that there can be no danger of this motion
being arrested or checked by' the packing or sticking of the joints. It will be
obvious that, instead of the spring i or weight for drawing down the arm h of
the rocking shaft g, this can be done as represented in the detached view,
Fig. 8, by a springt interposed between the pin j of the arm h and the
inner end of the slot in the rod l. It will be obvious that this method of indi-
cating the level of water and regulating the supply or giving the alarm, can
be applied to all kinds of boilers, such as boilers for heating houses, and to
any vessel in which it may be desired to indicate the height of water and
regulate the supply. The mechanism actuated by any motive force, and s
which is regulated in its motions or positions, can be adapted to any kind of
indicator, alarm, or water-feeding or regulating apparatus.
I wish it to be clearly understood, that I do not intend to limit myself to the
construction and arrangement of parts herein above described, as they may be
varied without changing the principle or mode of operation of the Invention, nor
do I intend to claim the use of floats attached or connected to a rocking lever.
But that which I consider to be new, and therefore wish to claim under this
head of the Invention is, the employment of an independent float within a
steam or other boiler, or other vessel, which, as its position is varied by the

page_text: change of level of the water, shall act as a check or stop to the motion
of a mechanism combined therewith, and operated by an independent motive
force outside the boiler, so as to regulate and determine the supply of water to
be given, or to give the required indication or alarm as specified. I also claim
the method herein described of preventing the action of the mechanism, which
is actuated by an independent force, from reacting on and changing the
position of the float, so that the float may be free to follow the varying level
of the water.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Edward Newton, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Fifteenth day of October, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-two.
W. E. (L.S.) NEWTON.
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Fifteenth day of October, in
the year of our Lord 1852, the aforesaid William Edward Newton came
before our said Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the
Specification aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained and specified,
in form above written. And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped
according to the tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.
Enrolled the Sixteenth day of October, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-two.