Improvements in Water-gauge Fittings for Steam Boilers.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Sept., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 10th Dec., 1890-Accepted, 10th Jan., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Water-gauge Fittings for Steam Boilers.
I, HARRY GRAY of 12 Grosvenor Road in the City and County of Newcastle-upon-
Tyne, Consulting Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
This invention has for its object, the securing of a true and reliable water level in
the gauge glass. and the protection of the pipes, fittings, and gauge glass from injury,
through their being choked by dirt or other foreign matter, or through variable
pressure, temperature, expansion, and contraction.
In order to obtain a true indication in the gauge-glass, of the water level in the
boiler, where the gauge-glass is mounted on a column or standard, and connected to
the steam and water spaces of the boiler by pipes, I fit on either, or both sides of a
shut off cock or valve placed in the pipe between the gaugo-glass and the water space
in the boiler, one or two test-valves or cocks, so that by closing the shut-off valve or
cock, the passages from the steam space in the boiler, through the pipes, gauge glass
cocks, and gauge glass can be blown through by opening the test valve or cock
between the gauge-glass, and the shut off valve or cock.
Again by opening the test valve or cock between the shut off valve or cock and the
water space in the boiler, all the passages from the shut off valve or cock to the water
space in the boiler can be blown through.
Upon the test valves or cocks being closed and the shut off valve or cock being
opened the water returns to the gauge glass.
To prevent the gauge glass from breaking, I maintain a part of the boiler pressure
in the gauge-glass when blowing through it, by means of a spring or otherwise loaded
valve fitted to the test valve or cock between the gauge glass and the atmosphere.
Where the gauge-glass mountings are fitted direct into the boiler itself without
external pipes I fit a spring or otherwise loaded valve to the ordinary test cock or
valve.
When a valve is used in testing. I combine the test and loaded valve in one.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Water-gauge Fittings for Steam Boilers.
1, HARRY GRAY of 12 Grosvenor Road in the City and County of Newcastle-on-
Tyne, Jonsulting Engineor, do hereby declare the nature of said invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement :—
This invention has for its object the securing of a true and reliable water level in
the gange glass, and the protection of the pipes fittings and gange glass from being
choked by dirt or other foreign matter or the gauge glass being fractured through
variable pressure and temperature causing contraction and expansion.
In order to obtain a true indication in the gauge glass of the water level in the
boiler, where the gauge glass is mounted on a column or standard and connected to
the steam and water spaces of the boiler by pipes, I fit on either, or both, sides of a
shut off cock or valve placed in the pipe between the gauge glass and the water space
in the boiler one or two, test valves or cocks so that by closing the shut off valve or
cock, the passages from the steam space in boiler through the pipes gauge glass cocks,
and gauge glass, can be blown through by opening the test valve or cock between
the shut off valve or cock and the gauge glass to the atmosphere.
Again by opening the test valve or cock between the shut off valve or cock and the

page_text: water space in boiler, all the passages from the shut off valve or cock to the water
space in boiler can be blown through.
Upon the test valves or cocks being closed and the shut off valve or cock being
opened the water returns to the gauge glass. To prevent the gauge glass breaking 1
maintain a part of the boiler pressure in the gauge glass when blowing through it by
means of a spring or otherwise loaded valve fitted to the test valve or cock between
the gange glass and the atmosphere.
Where the gauge glass niountings are fitted direct into the boiler itself without
external pipes, I fit a spring or otherwise loaded valve to the ordinary test valve or
cock. Where a test valve is fitted instead of a cock, I combine the test valve and the
loaded valve in one.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
On the accompanying 2 sheets of drawings my invention is fully illustrated both in
the construction of the double blow through or test valves or cocks applied to a shut
off valve on, or in connection with the water space of the boiler and as fitted to
existing water ganges with test valves and in a modified form to those having test
cocks. The drawings also shew different methods of fitting upon the boiler. Referring
to Sheet 1. Figs. 1 and 2 shew in cross section and in side view a shut off valve C
fitted with two test valves A and B. A is placed between the valve in (and the steam
space in boiler, through the pipes and gauge glass and, being opened by the screwed
spindle E, tests the whole system of pipes, cocks or valves and gauge glass between
the steam space of the boiler and the atmosphere and the valve B is placed between
the water space in the boiler and the atmosphere under the stop valve C and being
opened by the screwed spindle El tests the passages hotween the water space of the
boiler to the atmosphere. Figs. 3 and 4 shew the two test valves A and B fitted to a
cock, acting for the shut off valve C. In order to maintain in the pipes and gauge
glass, when blowing through from the steam space of the boiler, a pressure and
tomperature not greatly below that in the boiler and so prevent fracture of the gauge
glass by contraction and expansion through variable pressure and consequent variable
temperature [ propose to load the test valve A as shewn by Fig. 1 by a spring S
compressed by the screw cover D) so as to allow the valve to open at a pressure slightly
below that of the boiler, but the valve is kept normally closed by the screwed spindle E
which is attached to the valve by a loose horse shoe connection so that when the
spindle is slightly screwed back a corresponding space or "clearance" exists to allow
the valve to open against the resistance of the spring and when the pressure in the
boiler is less than that of the spring, as when raising steam, the valve can be opened
by the further serowing back of the spindle E against the resistance of the spring.
The operation of blowing through from the steam side is effected by closing the stop
valve and unscrewing the spindle E when the valve A opens against the resistance
of the spring S and the whole system is tested through the steam connecting pipe the
gauge cocks, gauge glass, water connecting pipes over the valve C and through the
test valve A the steam and water being discharged through the outlet branch of
the latter whilst, during the process of blowing through, the temperature in the gauge
glass is maintained slightly below its normal point thus obviating fracture of the glass
through contraction and expansion by any serious change of temperature. This part
of the system having been proved clear of obstruction the valve A is closed by
screwing up the spindle E the valve B is opened and proves the water connection to
under side of the valvo C and being closed the valve C is opened when the water in
the gauge glass rises to the true lovel of that in the boiler. Thus the whole system
is tested from one point und the pressure is so far maintained as to prevent fracture of
the glass from suriden change of temperature.
In Figs. 5, 6 and 7 different modes of fitting to the boiler are shown Fig. 5 being
that which have just described. In Fig. 6 tho shut off valve () is placed in a pipe
between the water gauge and the boiler without a steam cock or valvo on the steain
space and in Fig. 7 a cock C is fitted with the test valves A and B, in place of the
shut off valve C us before shown by Figs. 3 and 4.

page_text: Referring to Sheet 2. Fig. 8 shews my invention in a modified form as fitted to an
existing water gauge with cocks, the loaded valve A being attached to the tail end of
the existing test cock, the spring S being compressed by the screwed cover nut N
which, by being unscrewed, will allow the valve to open by relaxing the spring
when it is desired to blow through at a lower pressure or in raising steam. Fig. 9
shews the loaded valve and case complete attached in lieu of an ordinary test valve to
an existing water gauge and requires no further explanation. In both these forms it
will be seen that there is no second test valve E because the water gauge is in each
case attached direct to the boiler as shown by Figs. 10 and 11 and therefore the
blowing through from the steam and water spaces, by closing each of the gauge
shut off cocks alternately, effectually tests both the steam and water passages of the
gauge.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed 1 declare that what I
claim is :-
1st. The improvement in water gauges consisting in the application of a stop valve
or cock having formed with, inserted in or connected with it two test valves or cocks
so arranged that by closing the stop valve or cock and opening one of them the other
shut off connections being open the gauge with all its pipes cocks and connections can
be blown through from the steam space of the boiler to the atmosphere and by
opening the other the connections between the water space in the boiler to the
atmosphere can be blown through and by closing the test valves and opening the stop
valve or cock the water will ascend in the gauge glass to the true level of that in the
boiler.
2nd. The improvement in water gauges consisting in fitting between the steam
space and the atmosphere a test valve loaded, by a spring or other device, to a
pressure less than the working pressure of the boiler so that when blowing through
the gauge with its pipes cocks or valves and connections, from the steam space to the
atmosphere, a pressure and temperature may be maintained in the gauge which will
prevent fracture of the glass by contraction and expansion, substantially as described
and shewn with reference to Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 Sheet 1 or in the alternative
form as applied to the lower cock or valve of a water gauge fitted direct to the boiler
as described and shewn with reference to Figs. 8, 9, 10 and 11 Sheet 2.
Dated this 9th day of December 1890.