Improvements in or relating to Low Water Alarms for Kitchen or Domestic Boilers.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Jan., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 28th Oct., 1892-Accepted, 31st Dec., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Low Water Alarms for Kitchen
or Domestic Boilers.
We, JOHN JAMES HUDSON of 8, Inman Road, Litherland in the County of
Lancaster, Plumber, and ALEXANDER LOWRIE CHAPMAN of 4, Inman Road,.
aforesaid, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention has for its object a low water alarm for preventing explosions in
domestic boilers, in which the subsidence of the water uncovers the end of a pipe
and admits the steam to a valve, which is so controlled by a spring or otherwise
that the pressure of the steam in excess of the pressure of the water will open the
valve and allow the steam to pass to a whistle.
In carrying the invention into effect, we provide a whistle having a valve which
is held down on its seat by means of a spring and a pipe which extends downward
into the boiler. This spring is so adjusted that the pressure of the water in the
boiler is not sufficient to open it, but immediately the water subsides below the end
of the pipe, owing to a stoppage in the feed pipe, due to frost or other cause, steam
is generated in the boiler which escapes through the pipe, lifting the valve, by
overcoming the pressure of the spring and blowing the whistle. Steps can then be
taken to avoid an accident to the boiler or the top of the whistle can be removed
and water poured through the pipe into the boiler, so as to maintain a sufficient
supply in the boiler until the stoppage in the feed pipe is rectified.
"
Dated this 27th day of January 1809
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Patent Agents for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Low Water Alarms for Kitchen
or Domestic Boilers.
We, JOHN JAMES HUDSON of 8 Inman Road, Litherland in the County of
Lancaster, Plumber, and ALEXANDER LOWRIE CHAPMAN of 4 Inman Road
aforesaid, 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:-
Many accidents have hitherto occurred to kitchen boilers, owing to the pipes
freezing or getting otherwise stopped up.
This invention has for its object a low water alarm for preventing risk of
explosion or collapse from this cause, in which the subsidence of the water in the
cylinder uncovers the end of a pipe and adınits the steam to a valve, which is so
controlled by a spring or otherwise that the pressure of the steam in excess of
the pressure of the water will open the valve and allow the steam to pass to a
whistle.
Referring to the accompanying drawings:
Figure 1 is a vertical section of a cylinder with the alarm whistle in position ;
and
Figure 2 an enlarged vertical section of the latter.
In these, A. is the cylinder, B the low water alarm, C the service pipe, D the
feed water pipe and E and F circulating pipes to and from the boiler. The alarm B
contains a valve a, Figure 2, held down by a spring b, which is so adjusted, that

page_text: the normal pressure of the water in the boiler is not sufficient to open it, but,
immediately the water in the cylinder subsides below the end of passage c owing to
a stoppage in the feed pipe, steam is generated, the pressure of which overcomes
the pressure of the spring b and opens the valve a and blows the whistle. The
blowing of the whistle at once directs attention and the cylinder can then be
temporarily filled up by hand by taking off the top of the whistle and pouring
water down the passage e formed in the lower part of the same, so as to maintain
a sufficient supply in the boiler until the stoppage in the feed pipe is rectified.
It will be obvious that the above described apparatus acts as a safety valve as
well as an alarm, also that it can be used in conjunction with the boiler instead of
the cylinder, though the latter is preferable.
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:
1. A low water alarm for preventing explosion in domestic boilers, consisting of
an alarm whistle and valve, the latter held down on its seat by the pressure of a
spring, and a tube or passage brought down from the valve to the top or upper
part of the cylinder or boiler, the said valve being so controlled by the spring that
it remains closed under the normal pressure of the water, but is opened by the
pressure of steam generated in the cylinder or boiler when the water subsides owing
to the stoppage of the supply substantially as described.
.
2. The combined arrangement and construction of parts forming our improved
low water alarm substantially as set forth.
Dated this 27th day of October 1802
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of Liverpool, Manchester, Nottinghain, and London, Patent Agents.