IMPROVEMENTS IN WATER Gauges
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Louis John Crossley, Carpet Manufacturer, and
Richard Hanson, Engineer, both of Halifax, in the County of York,
and James Joseph Hicks, Optician, of Hatton Garden, in the County
of Middlesex for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN WATER Gauges.”
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION loft by the said Louis John Crossley,
Richard Hanson, and James Joseph Hicks at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents, with their Petition, on the 1st
December 1874.
We, LOUIS JOHN CROSSLEY, Carpet Manufacturer, and RICHARD
HANSON, Engineer, both of Halifax, in the County of York, and JAMES
JOSEPH HICKS, Optician, of Hatton Garden, in the County of Middlesex,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN WATER GAUGES," to be as follows:-
:-
The Invention relates to improvements in that class of water gauge in
which the level of the water is seen through a glass tube or in a chamber
having a glass face.

page_text: In such description of water gauge a difficulty is sometimes experi-
enced in seeing the water through the glass in consequence of the glass
becoming discoloured by the deposit thereon of dirt from the water.
Now we overcome this difficulty by the application of white or coloured
enamel to the back of the tube or to the back of the chamber. This we
effect either by painting the outside of the tube with enamel glass
powder, or by embedding a layer of enamel glass in the body of the tube
-to the extent required, so as powerfully to reflect the light through the
water, and thereby render the level thereof readily visible. The enamel
may also be applied to the inside of the back of the gauge chamber
when a glass fronted chamber is used instead of a glass tube. Other
suitable means for reflecting the light may however be employed.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Louis John Crossley, Richard Hanson, and James
Joseph Hicks in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 29th May 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, LOUIS JOHN
CROSSLEY, Carpet Manufacturer, and RICHARD HANSON, Engineer, both
of Halifax, in the County of York, and JAMES JOSEPH HICKS, Optician,
of Hatton Garden, in the County of Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the First day of December, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the thirty-
eighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto us, the said Louis John Crossley, Richard Hanson, and
James Joseph Hicks, Her special licence that we, the said Louis John
Crossley, Richard Hanson, and James Joseph Hicks, our executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said Louis
John Crossley, Richard Hanson, and James Joseph Hicks, our 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, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
WATER Gauges," upon the condition (amongst others) that we; the said
Louis John Crossley, Richard Hanson, and James Joseph Hicks, our

page_text: VACCHIVES Dauministrators, by ad instrument in writing under our or
their hands and seals, or under the hand and seal of one of us or them,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Inven-
tion, 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
monthis next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said James Joseph Hicks, on behalf of
myself and the said Louis Jolin Crossley and Richard Hanson, do hereby
declare the nature of our 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:-
-
The Invention relates to improvements in that class of water gauge in
which the level of the water is seen through a glass tube or in a chamber
having a glass front.
In such description of water gauge a difficulty is frequently experi-
enced in seeing the water through the glass in consequence of the glass
and water being nearly of the same color, or of the glass becoming
discolored and fouled by the deposit thereon of dirt and other solid
matter from the water. Our object therefore is to overcome this diffi-
culty by the application of white or colored enamel or other reflecting
means to the back of the tube or to the back of the chamber. This we
effect by painting or otherwise covering the outside of the tube to the
required width with enamel glass powder and fusing the same thereon
by the application of heat; or we embed a layer of enamel glass of the
required width in the body of the glass forming the tube. In cases
where a chamber with a glass front is used in lieu of a glass tube we
apply enamel to the inside of the back of the gauge chamber, or we
place a sheet of enamel glass in such position. By these means the
light is powerfully reflected through the water, whereby the level
thercof is rendered more readily visible.
Having thus described the nature of our said Invention, and the best
mode we are acquainted with for carrying the same into effect, we would
have it understood that we do not confine ourselves to the precise means
herein described, as other suitable means for reflecting the light through
a water gauge may be employed without departing from the nature of
our Invention; but what we do claim is, the improvements in water

page_text: gauges herein described, whereby the level of the water therein is
rendered readily visible.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Joseph Hicks, have hereunto
set my hand and scal, this Twenty-ninth day of May, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five.