Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus for Applying Electricity to Steam and other Boilers, Compressed Air Machines, and Gasometers for the Prevention of Explosions, and also for Automatically Supplying the Feed Water to Boilers.
Year: 1887

page_text: Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus for Applying
Electricity to Steam and other Boilers, Compressed Air Machines,
and Gasometers for the Prevention of Explosions, and also for
Automatically Supplying the Feed Water to Boilers.
I FRANÇOIS MARTENOT, agent of the Union Nationale of 35 Rue Beaurepaire
Paris in the Republic of France do hereby declare the nature of the said invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF, AND APPARATUS FOR APPLYING ELECTRICITY
TO STEAM, AND OTHER BOILERS, COMPRESSED AIR MACHINES, AND GASOMETERS, FOR
THE PREVENTION OF EXPLOSIONS, AND ALSO FOR AUTOMATICALLY SUPPLYING THE
FEED WATER TO BOILERS," and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention consists in the employment of electricity or electric currents as a
means of preventing explosions in boilers, gasometers, compressed air machines and
for analogous uses.
The electric current being used for effecting the automatic escape of the excess of
steam, gas, or air.
Fig. 1 shows the application of the invention to a steam boiler, part of which only
is shown.
Fig. 2 is a front view of an apparatus for insuring the supply of feed, water to
boilers.
Fig. 3 is a side view of Fig. 2.
Fig. 4 is a front view of the apparatus for insuring the escape of steam:
Fig. is an enlarged view of the water gauge.
Fig. 6 is a transverse section taken at the line 1-2 of Fig. 5 of the upper part of
this gauge, also showing the points of contact.
Fig. 7 represents the pressure gauge on an enlarged scale.
In Fig. 1 the fore part of a steam boiler A is seen sideways. B is the pressure
gauge and the water gauge.
५
At a little distance from the boiler two electric batteries - are placed, likewise
at a short distance from these batteries as well as from a water reservoir, two
apparatus a. a', are established, which by aid of electric batteries produce the
effects above described in the manner hereinafter explained..
DQ77

page_text: The battery, communicates with the pressure gauge B, by means of a conducting
wire connected to the index of this gauge, another wire is secured by the terminal f
of the apparatus d. A third wire from the terminal, of the apparatus a puts it in
communication with another index ¹, placed behind the gauge. This index marks
or indicates the degree of pressure beyond which an explosion might occur. A bend
or notch at the upper part of the index . enters, the slot y, made through the face of
the gauge, so that the index, in turning butts against this projection.
:
The battery, is for effecting the supply of feed water to the boiler for this
purpose it communicates by a wire with the terminal v, of the water gauge 7,
vide Fig. 6 another wire communicates with the terminal, of the apparatus a,
whilst a third puts the terminal', in communication with that ².
Fig. 2 shows a front view (on a larger scale) of the apparatus a, for insuring the
supply of feed water to the steam boiler A, it consists of a metal plate fixed by any
convenient method near the boiler. In rear of this plate, and fixed in any desirable
manner is a feed pipe g, which puts the boiler in communication with a water
reservoir, at a sufficiently high level. In the centre of this feed pipe, is a tap, the key
of which forms the axis of a wheel, with one or more grooves on the inner surface
of this wheel are four pegs ', or more or less as desired.
On this wheel a chain is wound of any suitable form and dimensions, to which a
weight, is attached, the rotary motion of the wheel is checked by one of the ends of a
bent lever on which the peg b' rests. This lover is articulated to the plate by means
of a piece or support and when it rocks in the direction of the arrow m, it leaves
the peg b¹, and then allows the wheel aided by the weight 1, to perform a quarter
turn, this quarter turn opens the tap and establishes the communication between the
boiler A, and the feed reservoir. The tap is closed by hand. Filling is regulated by
the usual and well known methods.
;
The bent lever c, is caught at the other end in the notch c, on which one of the
ends of a straight lever d, rests (also connected to the said plate) so as to admit of its
rocking the other end covers, or is above, an electro magnet e. e' mounted on the
same plate. When the magnet is connected with the battery, it draws the lever d,
to it, and this lever rocking unhooks the bent end of the lever c, which in its turn
rocking towards m, leaves the peg 6, of the wheel b, which then accomplishes its
quarter turn.
A piece c', soldered to the lever e, causes it to recoil immediately after-
wards, to again lock the wheel when it is held by the next peg b', this alternate
catching and releasing the wheel continues, a quarter of a turn being effected each
time, are the terminals of the wires communicating with the battery.
Fig. 3 is a side view of the apparatus shown by Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a front view on
an enlarged scale of the apparatus a, this is intended to insure the escape of the
excess of steam and is similar to the first, the wheel b, and its pegs being replaced by
a metal rod or bar k. square or other shaped which slides freely in two guides sup-
porting it on the plate. At its lower end, the weight is suspended, whilst its upper
end is attached to a tap k vide Fig. 1. mounted on the steam escape pipe, a notch is
made in this rod k, which is held suspended by the end of the lever c, introduced in
this notch.
The index, of the pressure gauge B, in turning on the disk under the influence of
the pressure of the steam in the boiler butts against the external notch of the index x'.
The electric current is then established and effects the unlocking of the rod k, as
already described in the description of the apparatus a, Fig. 2. The lever c, in
rocking allows the rod k to slide and opens the tap k and the steam escapes from the
boiler, all that is then required is to replace the rod k. The lever c again locks at
each end, and the apparatus is again ready to work.
Fig. 5 represents the side view (on an enlarged scale) of the water gauge.
The tube is of glass and communicates top and bottom with two taps n. n' which put
it in communication with the interior of the boiler A. The tap n is surmounted with
a kind of cup p, itself covered by a screw cap o, which also forms a chamber, which
facilitates the movements above and below of a rod t. Two small circular reservoirs
in ebonite vide Fig. 6, holding mercury, occupy the base of this cup forming

page_text: chamber, an opening w, in the centre allows the rod t, to move freely up and down.
This rod t, is supplied at its lower end with a float 1, which floats on the water in the
tube coming from the boiler by means of the tap. The rod therefore rises and
falls with the rise and fall of the water in the boiler and tube q.
The upper part of the rod is bent hook form, and terminates in two forks, which
when the float descends to the lowest level, plunge one into the reservoir w³, the other
into the reservoir containing the mercury.
Another regulating float, of ebonite is fixed at a point on the rod t, calculated to
limit its movement upwards, and prevent the contact of the bends, with the summit of
the cap o.
Two terminals . mounted on the cup p, each have a hent shaft of conducting
metal, these shafts penetrate the interior of the cup and plunge one into the
reservoir w, the other into the reservoir well, containing the mercury. By this means
the communication is established between the rod t, and the battery on the one
hand; and between the rod, and the water feed apparatus a, on the other. This
simultaneous communication takes place when the level of the water has descended to
its lowest in the boiler A and consequently also in the tube 7, the rod t following this
descent, the two prongs of the hooks, in their turn plunge into the mercury contained
in the reservoirs and w". The same effect is then produced as explained with
Fig. 2.
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 :-
1st. The application (in the manner herein described) of applying electricity to
steam boilers, compressed air machines, gasometers, and other analogous receptacles,
with the view of preventing explosions by the means herein specified.
2nd. The construction of the apparatus for the employment of electric currents as
represented in the accompanying drawings in two separate forms, which consist in
effecting automatically the ungearing of a wheel and lever, by aid of a counterweight,
which effects (by the means already described) on the one hand the escape of the
excess of steam, gas, compressed air and so forth; on the other hand the introduction
of the requisite supply of feed water to boilers, in the manner, by the means, and for
the purposes precisely as herein explained and as illustrated by the accompanying
drawings.
1.
1
" T 1
1130