IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR REGULATING THE SUPPLY AND DISCHARGE OF FLUIDS TO STEAM BOILERS, PIPES, AND OTHER VESSELS, AND FOR CLEANSING OR CLEAN- ING THE SAME
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Fletcher, of Accrington, in the County of
Lancaster, Machinist, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY
OR APPARATUS FOR REGULATING THE SUPPLY AND DISCHARGE OF FLUIDS TO
STEAM BOILERS, PIPES, AND OTHER VESSELS, AND FOR CLEANSING OR CLEAN-
ING THE SAME."
Sealed the 15th January 1861, and dated the 17th July 1860.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Fletcher at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 17th
July 1860.
I, JAMES FLETCHER, of Accrington, in the County of Lancaster, Machinist,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR REGULATING THE SUPPLY AND DISCHARGE OF FLUIDS
TO STEAM BOILERS, PIPES, AND OTHER VESSELS, AND FOR CLEANSING OR CLEANING THE
SAME," to be as follows:-
Firstly, I use a float to act on one or more taps or valves to regulate the
supply of water or other fluid to steam boilers.
Secondly, I cause the said float to act as a valve to regulate the supply and
discharge of fluid by making the float of any suitable light material, and
placing it in a vessel or chest with an aperture underneath the float, so that,
[Price 8d.]

page_text: according as the fluid is either deficient or in excess, the float will open or stop
the aperture.
Thirdly, if hollow floats are used, I attach to them a tube or tubes of any
metal or material working on a swivel or swivels, and communicating with the
atmosphere, by which I avoid all danger of collapse and carry off any liquid that
may accumulate in the float.
Fourthly, I cleanse the interiors of boilers by making one or more holes or
apertures in the bottom of the boiler to convey the sediment or dirt that accu-
mulates in the boiler to one or more reservoirs, fixed under the said holes or
apertures; to open one or more of the holes or apertures for the purpose of
taking out the sediment, I fix a longitudinal shaft or bar on bearings, with
projections so placed that by moving the shaft I can open or close one or
more of the apertures at discretion; and for taking off the dirt or scum from
the surface of the fluid I place one or more funnels inside the boiler to convey
the scum or dirt to the said reservoir or reservoirs.
Fifthly, to clean or cleanse the boiler flues I mount on one or more wheels
or slides brushes, scrapers, or other suitable materials, arranged so that by
forwarding the apparatus through the flue, the brushers, scrapers, or other
material will come in contact with the surface and clean it. The apparatus
may be moved or forwarded by hand, winch, or other suitable means.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Fletcher in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
16th January 1861.
10 ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES.
FLETCHER, of Accrington, in the County of Lancaster, Machinist, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Seventeenth day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-fourth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
James Fletcher, Her special licence that I, the said James Fletcher,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
James Fletcher, my executors, adininistrators, 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,

page_text: the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS POR REGULATING THS SUPPLY AND DISCHARGE OF
FLUIDS TO STEAM BOILERS, PIPES, AND OTHER VESSELS, AND FOR CLEANSING OR
CLEANING THE SAME,"upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said James
Fletcher, 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 James Fletcher, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement (that is to say):-
This Invention consis's, firstly, in an improved mode of causing a float to
act on one or more taps or valves to regulate the supply of water or other fluid
to steam boilers.
Secondly, in causing a solid or hollow float to act as a discharge and vacuum
valve, and also in an improved vacuum valve only.
Thirdly, in attaching to hollow floats one or more tubes of metal or other
suitable material and communicating with the atmosphere, for the purpose of
carrying off any liquid that may find its way into the float, and also to prevent
its collapse.
Fourthly, in improved modes of removing the sediment that accumulates in
boilers, and taking off the scum that collects on the surface of the fluid.
And, fifthly, in improved arrangements of mechanism for cleaning or
sweeping the flues of boilers.
These improvements will be clearly understood by referring to the figures
and letters on the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, the letters referring to
each Figure separately.
In Fig. 1, I represent my improved mode of causing a float to act on one or
more valves to regulate the supply of water or other fluid to steam boilers.
The float is shewn at a; it is attached to a lever b, working on a fulcrum c.
The short arm of the lever is attached to one end of the connecting rod d, the
other end of which is connected to the short lever or lifter e, having above it
the rod of the valve g, which is placed in the valve box, connected with the
supply. As the level of the water in the boiler is lowered, the float descends
with it, and by means of the lever band rod d, raises the short lever eand
lifts the valve g, which thereby allows the water to pass through the pipe i to
f

page_text: the lower part of the boiler, and give the required feed. The float a in the
Figure is hollow and spherical, but it may be solid and of any other form, and
made of cork covered with vulcanized india-rubber, whether connected with
the lever or otherwise.
In Figs. 2 and 3, I represent the second part of my improvements, which
consist in causing a solid or hollow float to act as a discharge and vacuum
valve, and also in an improved vacuum valve only. In Fig. 2 the float forms
a discharge and vacuum valve combined, and is employed to regulate the dis-
charge of water from steam pipes or other vessels where condensation of steam
takes place, and also to act as a vacuum valve to supply the same with air.
The float, which may be spherical, or otherwise, but shewn as a hollow
sphere, is made to act as a valve by attaching to it a disc lof vulcanized india-
rubber; the disc is enclosed in a clamp m, which is fastened to the float by
screws or other means. The seating of the valve is formed on the aperture o
of the discharge pipe, attached to or forming part of the vessel or chest p,
which has at the top or any other convenient place the aperture and flange 7,
connected to the steam pipes or other vessel where condensation is likely to
take place; and in communication with the bore of the discharge pipe thereisan
air pipe or passage 1. When there is excess of water in the chest arising from
the condensation of steam, the float rises and allows the water to be discharged
through the pipe o, but if there should be a vacuum arising from a deficiency
of water or steam, the air from without passes through the air passage rand
presses against the float, which is thereby raised, and allows air to pass through
the aperture o, and, by destroying the vacuum, prevents collapse and breakage,
or the float : may be solid or hollow, and made of cork coated with vulcanized
india-rubber.
My improved vacuum valve is represented in Fig. 3; the valve may be
either solid or hollow, and it is shewn as spherical, but it may be made of any
other shape; if solid, it is made of cork coated with vulcanized india-rubber,
and if hollow, of metal, vulcanized india-rubber, or other material suitable for
the purpose. The valve is shewn at s; it is placed in the box or vessel t, and
rests, when there is no vacuum, upon the seating u. The box is connected as
required to the steam pipes or vessels where condensation takes place, and
fixed to the box is the stop e, to prevent the valve from rising too high; and
for some purposes a spring may be introduced to keep the valve to its seating
when the box is reversed. When there is a vacuum in the pipes or hollow
vessels to which this valve is connected the air from without passes through
the aperturew and raises the valve, by which airis supplied to the vessels and
pipes and restores the equilibrium.

page_text: In Figs, 1, 2, and 4, I represent the third part of my improvements, which
consist in attaching to hollow floats one or more tubes communicating with the
atmosphere, for the purpose of taking off any liquid that may accumulate in
the float, and also to prevent its collapse. In Fig. 1 the long arm of the lever b
connected to the hollow float a is tubular, and its swivel or joint is made
hollow or with apertures communicating with the tube or tubes open to the
atmosphere, but shewn as connected with a vertical pipe w, the top of which
is open to the atmosphere, and the bottom to the lower part of the boiler, or
to a receptacle or reservoir beneath it, so that if liquid should find a passage
to the interior of the float it may be able to pass off through the tube and pipe,
and if steam should be condensed within the float, the external air may pass
through the pipe and tube into the float and prevent a vacuum being formed,
by which means the floating power of the float is constantly maintained, and
also collapse avoided.
In Fig. 2, the pipes or tubes for the admission of air to the interior of the
float are shewn at and r, and prevent a vacuum and avoid collapse, in the
same manner as described in Fig. 1.
In Fig. 4, I represent a tubular lever connected to a float acting on as
on a swivel,
which may be connected to the side, bottom, or other convenient position of
the trap or chest, so as to convey air to the interior of the float.
In Figs. 1, 5, and 6, I represent the fourth part of my improvements, con-
sisting of an improved mode of removing the dirt and sediment that accumu-
lates in boilers, and also an improved mode of taking off the scum that collects
on the surface of the fluid. In order to remove the sediment and dirt from
the boiler I make at the bottom one or more holes or apertures a², and fix
under them one or more pipes or reservoirs 6º, furnished with the necessary
blow-off cock. Above the holes or apertures I place, in suitable bearings, a
longitudinal shaft, shewn transversely at c, Fig. 6, having upon it as many pro-
jections or covers d as there are holes at the bottom of the boiler, so that by
moving the shaft one or more of the apertures can be opened or closed at dis-
cretion, the projections or covers being arranged so that one may have the lead
of the other, forming a part of a worm. For taking off the scum from the
surface of the fluid I place one or more funnels inside the boiler, as shewn at
e, Figs. 1 and 5, which funnels receive the scum from the surface and carry it
to the reservoir or reservoirs b².
In Figs. 7, 8, and 9, I represent the fifth part of my improvements, con-
sisting of improved arrangements of mechanism for cleaning or sweeping the
flues of boilers. I mount on one or more wheels or slides one or more brushes
or scrapers, arranged so that by forwarding the apparatus through the flue, the

page_text: brushes or scrapers will come in contact with the surface of the boiler or flue,
and efficiently clean it, the apparatus being moved forward by hand, winch,
or other suitable means.
Fig. 7 is a longitudinal clevation of one apparatus for the aforesaid purpose,
and the left side of Fig. S a transverse view of the same. The brush or
scraper is shown at k in contact with a spring /, or otherwise connected to the
frame m of the wheel carriage n. The end of the flue o is provided with the
necessary covers or doors, as seen at p, Figs. 5 and 6, and if the apparatus is
placed in the flues and moved forwards and backwards, the parts of the boiler
acted upon are cleaned.
Fig. 9 is a longitudinal elevation, and the right side of Fig. 8 a transverse
view of an arrangement of apparatus in which I employ revolving brushes or
scrapers to clean the flues of boilers. The brushes or scrapers are shewn at r
and s, connected to springs and u, having centre pins v and w, which turn in
bearings, in the frame a, attached to the wheck-carriagey. To the upper centre
pin is fixed the bevil wheel a¹, which gears into the bevil wheel on the
upright shaft c', at the bottom of which is the bevil wheel ', gearing into the
bevil wheel et on the shaft f', which works in suitable bearings in the wheel
carriage y. To the lower centre pin is fixed the bevil wheel g¹, gearing into
another bevil wheel/', fixed to the shaft, to which is also fixed the wormk¹,
the threads of which gear into the spur wheel l', fixed to one of the shafts of
the wheel carriage. To the upper end or spring t is attached the small frame
m for carrying the steadying roller n', intended to be in contact with the out-
side of the flue, it being adjusted to the right position by means of the curved
slots o'. Thus when the apparatus is placed in the flue and the shaft carrying
the worm is turned round, it will cause the brushes to revolve and move for-
ward the carriage in the flue, which will clean the sides of the boiler very
effectually, the apparatus being arranged according to the size and shape of
the flues.
Having now described the nature and particulars of my said Invention, and
the manner in which the same is to be performed, I desire it to be distinctly
understood that I do not confine myself to the precise details herein set forth,
as such may be varied or modified without departing from the principle of my
Invention; but I claim,-
First, an improved mode of causing a float to act on one or more taps or
valves to regulate the supply of water or other fluid to steam boilers.
Secondly, the causing a solid or hollow float to act as a discharge and vacuum
valve, and also an improved vacuum valve only.
Thirdly, the attaching to hollow floats one or more tubes of metal or other

page_text: suitable material and communicating with the atmosphere, for the purpose
of carrying off any liquid that may find its way into the float, and also allow
the atmosphere to act on the internal part of the float and prevent its
collapse.
Fourthly, the employment of a float made of cork, covered with vulcanized
india-rubber, which may be used in boilers, steam traps, and other purposes,
for regulating the supply or discharge of fluids.
Fifthly, the improved modes of removing the sediment that accumulates in
boilers, and taking off the scum that collects on the surface of the fluid.
And, sixthly, the improved arrangements of mechanism for cleaning or
sweeping the flues of boilers, as all such improvements are herein described
and illustrated in the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, or any modification
thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Fletcher, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of January, in the year of our Lord
'One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one.
Signed, sealed, and delivered by the
within-named James Fletcher, in
the presence of
E. J. HUGHES, Patent Agent,
Machester.
JAMES FLETCHER. (L.S.)