IMPROVED HIGH PRESSURE AND LOW WATER SAFETY APPARATUS FOR STEAM BOILERS, APPLICABLE ALSO AS A FIRE EXTINGUISHING APPARATUS
Year: 1885

page_text: Apparatus.
I JOHN BIDDULPH STUBBS, 52, Greenhill Street, Greenheys, Manchester,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "IMPROVED HIGH
PRESSURE AND LOW WATER SAFETY APPARATUS FOR STEAM BOILERS, APPLICABLE
ALSO AS A FIRE EXTINGUISHING APPARATUS," to be as follows:-
The object of these improvements are to form a high pressure and low water
automatic expansion valve to eject active steam from steam engine boilers, and
generators of steam of any type; also from bath and domestic boilers and cylinders,
hot water circulating boilers, hot water coils, and pipes for heating horticultural
buildings, churches, schools, entrance halls or any public or private building, or in
connection with any description of steam or hot water apparatus, the same being
suitably attached either inside or outside the aforesaid boilers or other apparatus
where it is necessary to eject active steam, for the purpose of preventing the
dangerous bursting of the aforesaid boilers, through the water supply running short
through frost, or being suddenly cut off, or the injector failing to work satisfactorily,
or from whatever other cause.
I also claim to apply the aforesaid apparatus as a Fire Hydrant to any water or
fluid supply pipe or vessel of any description either inside or outside any of the
aforesaid buildings for the purpose of supplying water or fluids automatically
through the heat, thus causing the valve or valves to open until the temperature
decreases.
To effect the said improvements I employ a solid or hollow rod, or more than
one rod of any suitable form, composed of iron, brass, copper or other metal or
combination of metals, the same being suitably attached inside or outside an iron
or other metal casing of the tubular or other form.
At one end of the aforesaid rod or rods is formed a valve or valves, made capable
of resting upon a seating or seatings fitted to the casing, by which means the
escape or outlets are completely opened, when expansion of the rod or rods is
caused by increase of temperature of the steam.
The rod or rods being adjusted in proper position by means of a lock wheel or
nut, in connection with the valve spindle, which passes through the spindle stuffing

page_text: box, casing or cap, or by encasement of the same so that it can be locked up to
prevent unauthorised tampering with the apparatus.
A suitable inlet or inlets are provided for steam or water, which entirely
surrounds the rod or rods.
When an increase of the pressure take place, the temperature of the rod or rods is
increased, causing the same to expand, and so lifting or projecting the valve or valves
from their seating or seatings permits the steam to be expelled at the consequent
opening or openings until reduced to the ordinary working pressure of the aforesaid
boilers, vessels, or pipes, or if adjusted or fixed for low water, the rod or rods on
being exposed to the heat of the steam through want of water, causes the necessary
expansion to open the valve, when the steam is emptied the water coming again
in contact with the rod or rods, decreases the temperature of the same and thus
causes the contraction necessary to close the valve or valves.
I also form the valve box, seating or seatings and nozzle so that they can be
cast in one piece, or the spindle stuffing box and nozzle may likewise be cast
together.
I also claim to work this my Invention either inside or outside for any purpose
whatsoever through any mechanism to which the same may be applicable.
I am aware the principle of expansion has already been applied, but this my
present Invention is entirely distinct from any which have preceded it.

page_text: Improved High Pressure and Low Water Safety Apparatus for
Steam Boilers, Applicable also as a Fire Extinguishing
Apparatus.
I, JOHN BIDDULPH STUBBS, Engineer, 52 Greenhill Street, Greenheys, Man-
chester do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "IMPROVED HIGH
PRESSURE AND LOW WATER SAFETY APPARATUS FOR STEAM BOILERS, APPLICABLE
ALSO AS A FIRE EXTINGUISHING APPARATUS," and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :—
The objects of my Invention are:-
To form a high pressure and low water automatic expansion safety valve, to
eject active.steam from boilers and other steam generators; also bath and domestic
boilers, cylinders, hot water circulators, and other water heaters, with low pressure,
in order to prevent explosions.
The improvements are also applicable as a fire hydrant, to cold water or other
fluid supply pipes, cisterns, cylinders, and other vessels in connexion with work-
shops, factories, mills, mansions, and other public or private buildings, to expel
water or other fluids, automatically through the heat, consequent on the aforesaid
buildings taking fire by accident or other cause.
To effect the Improvements I employ a solid or hollow rod or more than one rod,
straight, coiled, or any other suitable form, perforated or not, composed of iron,
brass, copper, or other metal, or combination of metals, the same being suitably
attached either inside or outside an iron or other metal casing of the tubular or
other form.
Instead of a union inlet formed on the spindle and stuffing box, or valve box,
the casing may be perforated to provide inlets, on being fixed at a previously
determined position within the steam or water space, of boilers and other steam
generators, either as a high steam or low water blow off; or in adapting it to bath
and domestic boilers, cylinders, hot water circulators, and other water heaters with
low pressure, to indicate a deficiency of water.
At one end of the aforesaid rod or rods is formed a valve or valves, which is
made capable of bearing against a seating fitted to the casing, by which means the
escape or outlet is completely opened, when expansion of the rod or rods is caused
by the increase of temperature of the steam.
In constructing the aforesaid rod or rods, I may employ suitable springs,
previously arranged to suit a determined pressure, mechanically attached, either to
the screw rod or valve, to allow for the expansion and contraction of the rod or
rods, on being set at a certain degree of heat to prevent an undue strain on the
extremities of the rod or rods, and which would cause an extra lift in the valve,
and thus grant a freer outlet of steam, whereby a double advantage would be
gained.
The rod or rods being adjusted in proper position by means of a screw attach-
ment or continuation, which' passes through the valve box; casing, spindle and

page_text: t
stuffing box or cap, and set at a given point, by a hand lock wheel, screwed down
to the gland cap, and by encasement of the same, so that it can be locked up to
prevent unauthorized tampering with the apparatus.
A suitable inlet is provided for steam, which entirely surrounds the rod or rods.
When an increase beyond a previously determined point of the pressure takes place,
the temperature of the rod or rods is increased, causing the same to expand, and so
projecting the valve from its seating and thus permits the steam to be expelled at
the consequent opening, until reduced to the previously determined pressure.
Suitable inlets are provided for steam and water, on being fixed at a previously
determined low water mark.
The rod or rods on being exposed to the heat of the steam upon the water sinking
'to a depth previously determined, and thus causes the necessary expansion to open
the valve as long as there is any steam in the generator, unless prevented by the
water coming again in contact with the rod or rods, and thus causing the contrac-
tion necessary to close again the valve.
I am aware the principle of expansion of metals has already been applied, in
various ways, but this my present invention is entirely distinct from any which
have preceded it.
The elbow outlet may be provided with a suitable ball and socket joint or not,
which allows the casing to expand and contract without disturbing the joints in
connection with the apparatus within the steam or water space of boiler and other
steam generators; also bath and domestic boilers, cylinders and other water
heaters.
I also make the valve box, spindle and stuffing box, of any suitable form, and
with or without union nozzle.
Guides are formed for conducting the valve up to its seating, either by passing
the valve, conducting spindle through a bar placed across the elbow outlet or
coupling, or by forming the valve with guide legs.
The inlet may be provided with a suitable stop valve, which may form a part of
the union joint, to enable necessary repairs, or adjustments to be made.
I also attach to the outlet pipe of the low water blow off valve, a whistle which
is actuated by the steam, on the rod or rods being exposed to the heat of the
steam by the water falling to a previously determined level.
But that the Invention may be better understood, I will. by the accompanying
drawings proceed more clearly to explain the means employed by me.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a section, of one form of my Invention, Figure 2 is a slightly varied
section, and Figure 3 a part section, and part elevation of a variation therefrom,
The same letters indicate corresponding parts wherever they occur.
a, a,, is the iron or other metal casing, b, b, the expansive rod with screw con-
tinuation attached and passing through the stuffing and spindle box c, d is a valve
fitted to the reverse end of the rod and capable of being adjusted by the screw b¹,
actuated by the wheel e, and set at a previously determined point by the hand
lock wheel f, g is the lock up encasement, h and h¹ are inlets, i is the elbow.or
coupling outlet,j, j, is a bar to guide the valve conducting spindle k, is the valve
box, m, m, are legs to guide the valve, n, n, is the internal surface of the shell of
boiler.
A hollow perforated rod is shewn, and is attached, (in this case), to the screw
rod and valve; but it may be otherwise attached, by not being perforated, and the
inlet direct into the expansive rod, by forming the same, so that it may be suitably
fastened at one end to the casing itself, and a suitable seating fitted to the opposite
end of the rod, and the opening and closing of the outlet, actuated by means of a
combination screw rod and valve, adjusted in proper position; or by slight
modifications of the mechanism employed, the rod, or rods,, may be suitably
attached outside an iron or other metal casing, or in any other similar manner.

page_text: This Invention may be used, externally, either as a steam-pressure safety valve,
or a Fire Extinguisher, as shewn by Figure 1.
Also, low-water blow-off safety valve, externally, and horizontally attached at
low-water mark, having free communication with the steam space thereof, by
inlet h, and water space by inlet h¹, as shewn by Figure 2.
Also, either as a steam-pressure safety valve, to horizontally attach within the
steam space, of steam boilers, and other steam generators, of any type, to blow-off,
when the heat of the steam as attained the previously determined number of
pounds pressure; or as a low-water blow-off valve, to attach horizontally within
the water space of the aforesaid boilers, and other apparatus, at a previously
determined water level, at which it is arranged to fix the blow-off; or as a Fire
Extinguisher, to attach within water and other fluid supply cisterns, cylinders, and
other vessels, free ingress for steam, or water, gained by perforated casing, h and h¹
form the inlets therein, as shewn by Figure 3 of the drawings.
Or, it may be suitably attached without an iron or other metal casing, for
internal application.
I would have it fully understood, that I do not bind myself rigidly to the exact
details herein shown and discribed, as variations may be made without departing
from the peculiar character of my Invention, which mainly consists in the employ-
ment of an expansive rod or rods to govern a valve or valves, through any suitable
mechanism for the purpose of preventing explosions in steam generators, steani
economisers; also water heaters.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
Firstly. The employment of an expansive rod or rods to govern a valve or valves
through any suitable mechanism for the purpose of preventing explosions in the
aforesaid apparatus, substantially as shewn and described.
Secondly. The application of my Invention as a Fire hydrant, substantially as
shewn and described.
Dated this fourth day of Febrname One thousand sight hundead and night ni—