Improvements in and connected with Water Gauges.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Feb., 1898
1000
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Water Gauges.
We, FREDERICK ALEXANDER GARIBALDI ROBIN, Engineer, of Cleugh Brae,
Jesmond Park East, and THOMAS NAUNTON WALLER, Engineer, of 10, Holly
Avenue, Jesmond, both in the City and County of Newcastle-on-Tyne, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to water gauges and more especially to those for use with
high pressure steam generators. It is the object of our invention to provide a water
gauge so constructed and arranged that the pressure within the glass gauge is
counter-balanced and relieved, thereby minimising the risk of the glass breaking
by internal pressure, at the same time we also provide a means of more clearly
indicating the water level to an observer and a imeans whereby the cocks will be
automatically closed should the glass or glasses become broken from any cause.
To these ends and according to our invention the water gauge glass which may
be mounted in the usual manner is surrounded by one or more glass tubes of
larger diameter, the intervening space or spaces between the tubes being occupied
by a suitable fluid such as glycerine under a pressure of half or more or less pro-
portion of the pressure in the gauge or vessel to which it is attached. The pres
sure is conveniently applied to the fluid by an adjustable pressure cap or device
formed by part of the mounting carrying the glasses or by the automatic apparatus
hereinafter described or otherwise conveniently. We also provide in one of the
spaces between the glasses a concave reflector adapted to give an increased breadth
and intensity to the appearance of the water level in the inner glass.
In order that the cocks may be, closed immediately the glass or glasses break
from any cause and to regulate the pressure upon the fluid between the glasses
referred to, we arrange in connection with the gauge a plunger or piston arranged
to operate the cocks of the gauge by suitably arranged connecting levers, cords or
the like and having two or more surfaces of different area, one acted upon by the
pressure within the boiler or vessel to which the gauge is fitted and the other or
others acting upon and communicating pressure to the fluid in the space or spaces
between the glasses.
In such an arrangement of gauge combined with an automatic apparatus, the
water level indicating glass of the gauge is mounted in end fittings in the usual
manner which fittings are extended and adapted to receive and secure. by suitable
packing an outer protecting and fluid enclosing tube which may be of glass.or
other suitable transparent material, the whole being preferably enclosed by a
protecting metallic casing. of suitable dimensions secured to the end fittings and
having apertures or slots at convenient points for observation of the inner gauge
glass and for adjusting the glands. The gauge is provided with controlling.cocks
which may be of the usual internal construction having handles or levers for hand
operation. The cocks are also arranged to be operated through an arrangement.of
levers acting independently of the handles and arranged to be operated by an

page_text: automatic apparatus consisting of an arrangement of plunger or piston mounted
and adapted to move in a suitably formed cylindrical casing and having two
operating or working surfaces of areas corresponding to the proportions of pressure
desired to be given to the fluid in the space between the gauge glasses. One
or more of these surfaces of the piston may consist of an annular shoulder formed
by a reduced part of the plunger, the latter being extended out of its cylinder or
casing through suitably packed glands at one end and carrying upon or in the
extended part a spring pressed or counterweighted pawl adapted to engage a rack
or series of indentations or projections in or on a rod or bar carrying a wheel or
pulley at its free end and arranged to slide in adjacently arranged guides or on or
within the said extended part of the plunger.
Attached at one end to the cylinder casing or adjacent parts and carrying a fixed
stop, is a cord or line of wire or other suitable material, passing through or ad-
jacent to an extended part of the spring pressed pawl and over the pulley on the
rod or bar before mentioned, and thence over or in suitably arranged pulleys or
guides to the cocks of the gauge to which it may be connected by a lever or levers
so arranged as to close the cocks simultaneously by the assistance or against the
action of a spring or springs surrounding and acting, upon a bar or rod attached
to the cord and adapted to operate the cocks when compressed, or released;. or the
spring or springs may be otherwise conveniently arranged. The operation of the
cocks may in some cases be obtained by connecting the cord or levers to a, spring
operated or counterweighted bar or rod sliding in suitable guides and having at
either end a lever or arrangement of levers adapted to operate the cocks when the
bar is released by the operation of the cord or levers in connection with the
plunger, which serve to withdraw a locking bar or rod passing through or other-
wise adapted to normally keep and lock the said sliding bar with the cocks in an
open position.
The moving bar or redupon the plunger extension may be provided with suit-
able guides and enclosed in a casing limiting its movement. The plunger cylinder
may be in two parts the joint being adapted for securing the packing separating
the acting surfaces of the plunger and to prevent the possibility of the steam or
water leaking past the said packing and into the glycerine side of the plunger
or the glycerine into the steam side of the plunger, we arrange in the centre of
the packing or between two packing rings a ring or rings of metal or other suit-
able material having a small transverse aperture in or between them and com-
municating with the outside of the casing by suitably arranged apertures in the
latter.
The automatic apparatus and the gauge may be arranged on one mounting or
frame and we may, instead of a cord connection employ an arrangement of levers
adapted to operate the cocks in a similar manner.
The operation of the apparatus is as follows:-Assuming the cocks to be open
and the gauge glasses to be in position, the intervening space for instance, being
filled with glycerine or other suitable fluid and in communication with and
receiving a pressure of half that within the boiler, from one surface of the plunger
of the automatic apparatus, the other surface of the plunger being open to a pres-
sure equal to that within the inner gauge glass. It will be seen that the pressure
within the inner tube is counterbalanced by half the pressure from without, and
at the same time the outer glass tube is only under half pressure. Should now
from any cause the outer glass become broken, the pressure on the glycerine is
at once reduced causing the plunger to move in its cylinder under the steam pres-
sure, carrying with it the pawl upon its extended part, which pawl rides over the
teeth upon the wheel or pulley carrying rod and comes against the stop upon the
cord, moving the latter and through it compressing its attached spring and
releasing the levers, thereby shutting the gauge cocks. Should the inner gauge
glass break, the pressure in the space occupied by the glycerine is increased, and
the area of the plunger in connection therewith being greater than that normally

page_text: in connection with the boiler the. plunger moves in the opposite direction to that
before described, the pawi engages the teeth upon the pulley carrying rod and
moves the latter outward, thereby operating the cord and shutting the cocks.
Should both gauge glasses become broken simultaneously the first mentioned
movement takes place the full pressure in the boiler acting upon the smaller
diameter of the plunger whilst its larger surface is open to the atmosphere.
It will thus be seen that gauges constructed and arranged as above described
will be perfectly automatic in action instantly acting to shut the cocks in case
of breakage of the gauge glass or glasses whilst the liability to breakage is reduced
to a minimum and the larger surface for radiation around the inner glass tends
to protect it from external draughts and sudden variations of temperature, and by
the use of the enclosing tube or tubes and the intervening reflector or reflectors
the inner tube. and water level is magnified rendering the latter distinct and easy
of observation.
PRYOR & HARVEY,
Agents.
We, FREDERICK ALEXANDER GARIBALDI ROBIN, Engineer, of Cleugh Brae,
Jesmond Park East, and TнOMAS NAUNTON WALLER, Engineer, of 10, Holly
Avenue, Jesmond, both in the City and County of Newcastle-on-Tyne, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
Our invention relates to water gauges and more especially to those for use with
high pressure steam generators. It is the object of our invention to provide a water
gauge so constructed and arranged that the pressure within the glass gauge is
counter-balanced and relieved, thereby minimising the risk of the glass breaking
from internal pressure, at the same time we also provide a means of more clearly
indicating the water level to an observer.
To these ends and according to our invention the water gauge glass which may
be mounted in the usual manner is surrounded by one or more glass tubes of
larger diameter, the intervening space or spaces between the tubes being occupied
by a suitable fluid such as glycerine, under a pressure of half or more or less pro-
portion of the pressure in the gauge or vessel to which it is attached. The pres-
sure may be conveniently applied to the fluid by an adjustable pressure cap or
device formed by part of the mounting carrying the glasses, or by a compressor
hereinafter described, or otherwise conveniently. We also provide in one of the
spaces between the glasses, a concave reflector, adapted to give an increased breadth
and intensity to the appearance of the water level in the inner glass.
In such an arrangement of gauge; the water level indicating glass of the gauge
is mounted in end fittings, which fittings are extended and adapted to receive and
secure by suitable packing, an outer protecting & fluid enclosing tube which may
be of glass or other suitable material, the whole being preferably enclosed by a
protecting metallic casing of suitable dimensions, secured to the end fittings &
having apertures or slots at convenient points for observation of the inner glass
gauge, and also for adjusting the glands.
The compressor consists of, an arrangement of plunger or piston, mounted and
adapted to move in a suitably formed cylindrical casing and having two operating

page_text: or working surfaces of areas corresponding to the proportion of pressure desired to
be given to the fluid in the space between the gauge glasses, to the pressure within
the inner glass. The compressor cylinder may be made in two parts the joint
being adapted for the packing separating the acting surfaces of the plunger, but
preferably in one casting. To prevent the possibility of the steam or water leaking"
past the piston into the glycerine, or the glycerine into the steam or water we
provide in the cylinder walls escape holes covered externally by a protecting
cape.
In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 represents a front elevation (part in
section). Fig. 2 represents a side elevation. Fig. 3 represents a plan view, and
Fig. 4 a sectional plan, & in the following description like letters designate like
parts. A is the inner glass tube... B are end fittings arranged to fit ordinary or
other gauge cock fittings on the generator. C is an outer glass tube. D is a
concave reflector fitted in the space E between the two glass tubes, this space also
being arranged to hold fluid under compression. F is an outer metallic protector
attached to end fittings G which are screwed internally for holding it in place.
H is a double gland box for taking the two different sizes of glass tubes A & C
& J & K are gland nuts for packing the same.
L is a plug to close up the hole after the fluid is passed into the space between
the glass tubes.
M is a compressor cylinder having two different internal diameters fitted with
cap N on the smaller end & cap 0 on the larger end, & protecting cape P', ex-
ternally around escape holes R. E is reservoir.
S is a piston rod fitted with piston T of smaller size corresponding to smaller
diameter of cylinder and double pistons U & V of equal diameter corresponding.
to the diameter of the large diameter of cylinder, & W is a distance piece between
the two.
X is inlet pipe to compressor for full pressure from generator. Y is a pipe
connecting fluid space in compressor with fluid space between the gauge glasses A
& C.
Z is a notched ring made of vulcanized fibre or other suitable material acting
as a cushion for outer glass to rest upon & the notches are to allow of the passage
of fluid from the gauge to the compressor.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said in-
vention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:
1. A water gauge in which the gauge glass is arranged to be surrounded by one
or more jackets of fluid under compression, the several parts being arranged or
adapted for use substantially as and for the purposes herein described & illus-
.trated.
2. The arrangement or combination of a compressor in connection with the fluid
jacket or jackets around the gauge glass, substantially as & for the purposes herein
described & illustrated.
3. The arrangement of a concave reflector in the fluid space & behind the gauge
glass whereby the water level line is maguified & visually elongated, making, it
clearer to an observer.
Dated this liftoonth day of Actahan Fightaan hundred and minate night