Improved Water Regulator for Heat in Gas Engine Water Tanks.
Year: 1897

page_text: Improved Water Regulator for Heat in Gas Engine Water Tanks.
We, JAMES MASON, 44, Croston's Road, Elton, Bury, Lancashire, Engineer,
FRANCIS RIXSON, 11, Broad Oak Terrace, Bircle, near Bury, Lancashire, Plumber,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Our improved water regulator for heat in gas engine water tanks is worked by
the heat produced from the water belonging the tank's of gas engines which gets
overheated by the length of time the gas engine work's our regulator is made to
open and close valves or taps at any heat that may be required for the cold water
to flow into the tank's which is conducted to the bottom of the said water tank's
connected to gas engines to keep the water nearly at one temperature as when the
water gets to hot the gas engine does not work satisfactorily our improved regu-
lator is worked by expansion of a sealed cavity contaning cemicals which rises
and fall's at set temperatures the rising or expansion. of same lifts a lever or
lever's connected to valve's or taps which will regulate the flow of water directly
into the tank or otherwise.
JAMES MASON.
FRANCIS RIXSON.
Improved Water Regulator for Heat in Gas Engine Water Tanks.
We, JAMES MASON; of 44, Croston's Road, Elton, Bury, Lancashire, Engineer,.
and FRANCIS RIXSON, late of 11, Broad Oak Terrace, Bircle, near Bury, Lancashire,
but now of 44, Croston's Road, Bury aforesaid, Plumber, 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;--
Our improved water regulator is worked by the heat produced from the water
belonging to tanks of gas engines which get over-heated by the length of time
the gas engine works. It is made to open and close valves or taps at any heat
required for the cold water to flow into the tanks, which is conducted to the
bottom of the said water tanks to keep the water nearly one temperature for when
the tank water gets too hot the gas engine does not work satisfactorily. Our
improved regulator is worked by the expansion of a sealed cavity containing.
chemicals which rise (expand) and fall (contract) at set temperatures the rise or
ΓΤΙ

page_text: expansion serving to lift a lever connected to the said valves or taps which regu
late the flow of cold water directly with the water tanks, or otherwise.
And in order that our said invention may be more readily understood and
carried into practical effect we have hereunto annexed a sheet of drawings which
we will now proceed to describe with the aid of the various figures and letters o
reference marked thereon.
Fig. 1 is a transverse vertical section, and Fig. 2 a part plan of our improved heat
regulator shewn on a scale of about half full size, and fitted to the water circulat
ing tank of a gas engine.
Fig. 3 illustrates a gas engine plant in diagram, with the regulator applied.
In accordance with our invention, we employ a small box or cistern (A) fitted
with water inlet valve fittings (1) adapted to close by the fall, and open by the
rise, of ball-float (C), and fitted with water outlet fittings (D). Such cistern or
box is provided with malleable iron or like bracket (E) adapted to hook on to the
top edge of water circulating tank (F), and to extend over the tank as illustrated.
Depending by rods from such bracket is a plate (G) which extends below the
level of the circulating water in tank (F) as shewn in Fig. 1.
Such plate carries, or is fitted with a capsule (H), containing ether or other body
sensitive to heat, and in a suitable socket or indent upon the top of such capsule
one end of a rod (1) rests, whilst the other and upper end of such rod fits beneath
and supports the lever (J). Such lever is fulcrumed between lugs (K) rising from
or fitted to the bracket (E) and its free end extends under, or is connected with
the rod of ball-float (C) as illustrated.
The inlet fittings of box (A) are connected to the cold water supply, and the
outlet littings (D) are connected either to the tank (F) direct, as shewn by dotted
lines in Fig. 3, or, by preference, to the flow pipe (Fi) leading to the gas engine
(see Fig. 3).
The action of the apparatus for maintaining the water in the tank (F) and tha
gas engine jacket at a uniform temperature, with the capsule (H) set to expand
at, or slightly below, such temperature, is as follows:-
-
When the water in the tank as it circulates to-and-from the engine exceeds
the maximum temperature the capsule (H) expands, thereby lifting rod (I), which
lying near the fulcrum end of lever (J) imparts a magnified movement to the free
end of the lever and causes it to raise the ball-float lever, and thus open the inlet
valve (B) and allow cold water to run into the box (A).
Such water mingling with the water in the box (due to the level of the water
in the tank) or passing through the outlet (D) (if above the level of the tank)
very soon cools the tank water, and in a very short time reduces the temperature
of the water to an extent which causes the capsule (H) (or its contents) to con-
tract, lower the rod (I) and with it the lever (J) and thus allow the ball-float to
fall, and shut off the supply of cold water, until it is again raised, and so on
continuously, the amount of cold water used at each cooling of the tank water
being comparatively slight. To outlet (F2) of the tank, which is at a point
where the tank water is hottest, allows for the overflow of water due to the intro-
duction of the cold water.
The relationship between the box (A) and the level of water in tank is such as
to ensure the float (C) being at its lowest point without being affected by the
water i.e., with the valve (B) shut.
The capsule (H) may be of any suitable form or make, but is preferably com-
posed of sheet metal (copper) containing blotting paper saturated with ether, and
then instantly sealed. The setting of the capsule to expand at the different tem-
peratures required is effected by the admixture of alcohol and ether. Other ex-
panding substances may be employed.
With the box (A) above the tank and the inlet valve (B) set to open when the
ball float falls, the lever (J) may operate upon a valve on the outlet (D) (as shewn 5
in dotted lines), but we prefer it to operate on the float lever in all cases.

page_text: To make our invention further useful we may utilise it for maintaining the
level of the tank water in dry weather, or hot climates when it is liable to evapo-
rate, and to that end we mount a ball-float and rod upon the edge of the box (A),
or tank (F), arranging the float in the tank and the free end of the rod beneath
the rod of the float in the box, as shewn by dotted lines in Fig. 2, consequently
when the level of the tank water sinks it is made up again by the float rod open-
ing the inlet valve (B).
Although we prefer the form and arrangement of apparatus aforesaid, or to
utilise the expansion of capsule (H) in the manner set forth, it will be obvious
that the movement may be otherwise applied for operating or controlling the water
supply, without departing from our invention.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said.
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is:
1 In means for automatically supplying cold water to gas engine cooling
plant, the use of a valve or tap controlling a cold water supply, and said tap or
valve under the control of an expanding and contracting body operated upon by
the temperature of the water to be cooled, substantially as set forth.
2: In a heat regulating device the use of box (A) with inlet valve controlled
by lever (J) and rod (I) operated by capsule charged with ether or the like, and
said capsule submerged in the water to be cooled, as and for the purposes set
forth.
3: The combination and arrangement of parts constituting our improved heat
regulator, as set forth and illustrated on the accompanying drawings.
Dated this foth day of August
JAMES MASON,
FRANCIS RIXSON,
By J. G. Wilson & Co.,
Agents, 55, Market Street, Manchester.