IMPROVEMENTS IN Low WATER ALARMS FOR STEAM BOILERS to be as follows:
Year: 1885

page_text: I, HUDSON WILSON of No 1, Filey Street, Bradford in the County of York
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
Low WATER ALARMS FOR STEAM BOILERS to be as follows:-
"
The object of this invention is to arrange an apparatus independent of lever
low water safety valves; that will detect and raise an alarm whenever the water
level in the boiler becomes lower than is desirable for the safe working of the
boiler; I accomplish my object in the following manner:
My apparatus may be fixed to the top of boilers or attached to pipes in connection
with the same, and is arranged with a metal bridge casting supported by columns
screwed into a base plate. Into the base plate is also screwed a brass tube which
passes freely through the botton cross bar of the metal bridge, extending through
the same a sufficient distance to attach a bell mouthed casting thereon; to which
is secured a metal dome fitted with an inverted valve stopper with the spindle
extending to the outside of the dome. Above the spindle is an adjustable screw
enclosed within a suitable cover for protection.
The before mentioned brass tube is in the centre of the apparatus, and extends
to below the ordinary working level of the water; the pressure of steam, forcing
it up the central tube, closes the inverted valve, and the water having no circulation
therein becomes cool. As soon as the water level is below the end of the enclosed
central tube, steam rushes up, warms and therefore expands the tube, until the end
of the valve spindle presses against the regulating screw; thereby opening the
valve, and allowing steam to escape into the metal dome; to which is connected a
pipe, fitted with a whistle or other ordinary alarm, whereby to call the attendants
attention to the condition of the water level in the boiler,
Dated this 1st day of Anril 1885
WAUGH & CHAPMAN,
70, Chancery Lane, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: I, HUDSON WILSON, of No 1 Filey Street Bradford, in the County of York,
IMPROVEMENTS IN
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
"
LOW WATER ALARMS FOR STEAM BOILERS" and in what manner the same is to be
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement
The object of this invention is to arrange an apparatus independent of low water
safety valves, that will detect and raise an alarm whenever the water level in the
boiler becomes lower than is desirable for the safe working of the boiler.
My apparatus may be fixed to the top or to the front plate of steam boilers, and
consists in securing to the base block, columns that support a bridge casting, and of
screwing into the base block a tube made of brass or other well known alloy which
extends to below the water level and also through the bottom bar of the bridge
casting, where a bell mouthed cup is attached thereto, to which is secured a metal
dome or cover fitted with an inverted valve stopper kept in contact with the seating
by the pressure in the boiler forcing the water up the alloy tube, where in conse-
quence of the water having no circulation it is cool; but as soon as the level of
the water is below the end of the tube, steam rushes up, warms and expands the
same until the end of valve spindle comes in contact with a screw, which forces the
valve open and thereby allows steam to escape into the dome or cover to which is
attached an ordinary steam whistle that calls the attendants attention to the
condition of the water level in the boiler.
In the accompanying drawings Fig 1. represents the front elevation of the
apparatus fixed to the top of a steam boiler Fig 2 is a side view of the same. Fig 3.
is an enlarged sectional detail through the dome or cover shewing the internal
valve, and Fig 4. is a detail shewing the bottom block or base arranged to bolt to
the front plate of a boiler.
By Figs 1 and 2. the apparatus is represented as secured to the top of a boiler,
in which the base block is indicated by the letter A. and secured thereto are two
columns B. B. supporting the bridge casting C. through which the centre tube D.
made of brass or other well known alloy is free to pass: this pipe D. also extends
inside the boiler to below the water line, and to the upper end of the said pipe
within the bridge casting, I attach the bell mouthed cup E. to which is secured the
dome or cover F. fitted with an inverted valve stopper G. that is kept in contact
with the valve facing by the pressure in the boiler forcing the water up the central
tube D. against the back of the valve stopper G.
The water having no circulation in the central tube D is therefore cool: but as
soon as the water level is below the bottom end of the tube, the latter empties
itself of water, steam taking its place which warms and thereby causes the tube to
expand, bringing the end of valve spindle G¹ in contact with an adjustable screw H.
thus stopping the advance of the valve, but allowing the tube to continue expanding,
by which an opening is effected thereby allowing steam to escape into the dome or
cover F. to an ordinary steam whistle connected by pipes to the branch pipe F¹
thus giving an audible alarm as to the condition of the water in the boiler.

page_text: When the apparatus is fixed to the front of the boilers, the base block is arranged
somewhat as shewn by Fig 4. and placed at such an elevation that when the centre
hole J. is not covered with water, the steam rushes in expanding the centre tube G
and thereby causing an alarm in the manner as before described.
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
The combination of the central tube D with the valve G screw H. and steam
whistle all arranged substantially in the manner shewn and for the purpose
described.