IMPROVEMENTS IN WATER GAUGES FOR STEAM BOILERS
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Webster, of Leicester, Engineer, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN WATER GAUGES FOR STEAM
BOILERS."
Sealed the 16th January 1854, and dated the 11th October 1853.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Webster at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 11th October 1858.
I, JAMES WEBSTER, of Leicester, Engineer, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN WATER GUAGES FOR
STEAM BOILERS" to be as follows:-
This Invention consists of applying a hollow float with a hollow stem
rising through an opening in the upper part of a steam boiler, in which
opening a metal tube is fixed, having a long slit or opening at two
opposite sides. In this metal tube a strong tube of glass is fixed,
within which the upper part of the stem of the float rises and falls
freely, according to the rise and fall of the water within, and thus
indicates the height of water in the boiler at all times. On the stem
of the float is fixed a valve to come into action to stop the opening
should the glass tube be broken.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said James Webster in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 11th April 1854.
•
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
JAMES WEBSTER, of Leicester, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eleventh day of October, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the seven-
teenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Janes Webster, Her special licence
that I, the said James Webster, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as-I,_the_said James. Webster, 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, excrcise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN WATER GUAGES FOR STEAM BOILERS," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said James Webster, by an instrument in writing,
under my
hand and seal, 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 Webster, 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 thereof (that is to say):
This Invention consists of applying a hollow float with a hollow
stem rising through an opening in the upper part of a steam boiler, in
which opening a metal tube is fixed, having a long slit or opening at
two opposite sides. . In this metal tube a strong, tube of glass is fixed,
within which the upper part of the stem of the float rises and falls
freely, according to the rise and fall of the water within, and thus indi-
cates the height of water in the boiler at all times. On the stem of

page_text: the float is fixed a valve to come into action to stop the opening should
the glass tube be broken.
Having thus stated the nature of my Invention, I will proceed to
describe the Drawing hereunto annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
Figure 1, shows a section, and Figure 2, an elevation of apparatus
constructed according to my Invention. a, is a ball or float connected
to a hollow stem b. The hollow stem b, of the float a, works within a
tube d, and has formed on or affixed thereto a valve e, which, should the
glass f, break, would rise and close the passage between the stem b,
and the tube d, within which it works, and thereby prevent accident
arising from escape of the steam. At the upper part of the stem b,
there is a valve c, to allow of the escape of any moisture which may
find its way into the ball or float a, by leakage or otherwise. 9, is a
ring of vulcanized india-rubber on which the glass f, rests, and
affords an easy method of replacing a glass should a breakage occur;
the cap or nut g', screws down so as to hold the glass f, firmly on to
the india-rubber ring 9. g², is a hole formed in. the nut which may,
by placing an instrument therein, be readily removed and replaced.
Having thus described my Invention, and also the manner of carry-
ing the same into practice, I wish it to be understood that I do not
intend to confine myself to the details shown and described, so long as
the peculiarity of my Invention is retained. But what I claim is, the
manner of forming water guages for steam boilers, as shown and
described.
9,
In witness whereof, I, the said James Webster, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Eleventh day of April, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four.
30 Witness,
A. CARPMAEL.
JAMES WEBSTER. (L.S.)