IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR RAISING, SUPPLYING, AND MEASURING WATER TO STEAM BOILERS, PART OF WHICH INVENTION IS ALSO APPLICABLE TO MEASURING WATER FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Varley, of 57, Bloomsfield Road, Plumstead,
in the County of Kent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
FOR RAISING, SUPPLYING, AND MEASURING WATER TO STEAM BOILERS, PART
OF WHICH INVENTION IS ALSO APPLICABLE TO MEASURING WATER FOR OTHER
PURPOSES."
Sealed the 21st February 1868, and dated the 23rd August 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Varley at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
23rd August 1867.
J, JOHN VARLEY, of 57, Bloomsfield Road, Plumstead, in the County of
Kent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN APPARATUS FOR RAISING, SUPPLYING, AND MEASURING WATER TO STEAM BOILERS,
PART OF WHICH INVENTION IS ALSO APPLICABLE TO MEASURING WATER FOR OTHER
PURPOSES," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in apparatus for raising,
supplying, and measuring water to steam boilers, part of which Invention is
also applicable to measuring water for other purposes.

page_text: In order to supply water to steam boilers I erect a closed cistern in a
convenient position above the boiler. In connection with this cistern near
its bottom another vessel of comparatively small capacity is carried by a
trunnion with which it is able to rock; and in order that the water may be
able to flow freely into and out of this vessel froin or to the cistern there is a
small pipe passing from the top of the vessel through the trunnion to the
interior of the cistern, within which it rises up and terminates near the top.
There is an arm and counterbalance weight on the trunnion, which when the
vessel is empty holds it up, but when the vessel is full of water or sufficiently
nearly so the weight is overbalanced, and the vessel descends. In these
movements the vessel actuates valves as I will presently explain. The upper
part of the cistern is fitted with a steam pipe coming from the boiler and a
water supply pipe coming from a small can or box placed above the cistern and
communicating by a pipe fitted with a valve opening inwards with the well or
water reservoir. The can or box is closed at the top, where a pipe passes
from it to the upper part of the cistern, where within the cistern it is fitted with
a valve. Also within. the cistern and at the upper part thereof there is
another valve on the steam pipe, and a third on the water supply pipe coming
from the can or box; these three valves are all worked by the rocking vessel
already described, which by a ród in connection with it having a cam surface
upon it actuates another cam on an axis passing into the cistern, and having
arms upon it in such manner that when the rocking vessel is up. the water
supply is open, as is also the valve on the pipe leading to the top of the can or
box above the cistern. On the other hand when the rocking vessel is down
these valves are held closed, and the steam valve is open. There is also a
valve at the bottom of the cistern on a pipe leading to the boiler and dipping
beneath the water in it; this valve is counterbalanced, so that it requires to
open it the weight of a column of water somewhat longer than the distance
between the water line in the cistern when full and the high water line in
the boiler. A chain connected with an arm on the axis holds this valve closed
when the rocking vessel is up; the action then is as follows:-The cistern
and the rocking vessel I will suppose to have been filled with water until the
rocking vessel falls; in doing so it opens the steam valve so that the pressure
of steam in the cistern and in the boiler are rendered equal; it also frees the
valve at the bottom of the vessel; in this state things remain until the level
of the water in the boiler sinks sufficiently to leave such a column of water
acting on the valve as is necessary to open it (for the apparatus does not force
water into the boiler, but only holds it available for use as required); then
the column having become sufficient this valve opens, and the water flows to

page_text: the boiler out of the cistern, and after a time out of the rocking vessel, until
the rocking vessel is emptied to such an extent that its counterbalance weight
again raises it. This movement closes the water valve at the bottom of the
cistern and the steam valve, and it opens the two valves leading to the can or
box; by the one water descends from the can or box into the cistern, and by
the other steam passes into the can or box to take the place of the water..
The entry of the water into the cistern and of the steam into the can or box
which just before contained cold water causes a rapid condensation, and the
vacuum resulting draws the water from the water reservoir up into the can or
box, from whence it flows to the cistern and rocking vessel until the rocking
vessel again falls, when the position is the same as at the commencement of
the operation, except that it will require some little time for the continued
condensation in the can or box to cause it to fill. I cause the rocking vessel
to actuate a counter, which indicates the number of its strokes, and consequently
the measure of water which has been passed through the boiler.
When the apparatus is required simply for use as a water meter it consists of
the cistern and rocking vessel as before, and the rocking vessel in falling is caused
to open a cock which supplies water from the main to the cistern, and to shut
a valve which allows the water to pass from the cistern to the supply. The.
rocking vessel in rising reverses the position of the cock and valve. It will
be seen that in these arrangements only a small portion of the water supplied
and measured passes through the rocking vessel.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed:
by the said John Varley in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 22nd
February 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
VARLEY, of, 57, Bloomsfield Road, Plumstead, in the County of Kent, send
greeting..
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-third day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirty-first year of Her
reign, did, for Herself,' Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said John Varley, Her special licence that I, the said John. Varley,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
John Varley, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
T

page_text: 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 "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR RAISING, SUPPLYING, AND MEASURING WATER TO STEAM
BOILERS, PART OF WHICH INVENTION IS ALSO APPLICABLE TO MEASURING WATER FOR
OTHER PURPOSES." upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said John
Varley, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under
my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe
and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, 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 months next and immediately after the date
of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Varley, do hereby declare
the nature of the 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:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in apparatus for raising,
supplying, and measuring water to steam boilers, part of which Invention
is also applicable to measuring water for other purposes.
In order to supply water to steam boilers I erect a closed cistern of a given
capacity in a convenient position above the boiler. At the bottom of this
cistern and in connection with it is another vessel of comparatively small
capacity; this vessel is carried by a trunnion on which it is able to rock, and
through which water passes from one vessel to the other, and in order that
the water may flow freely from one vessel to the other a small pipe is led from
When the rocking
the top of the rocking vessel to the top of the cistern.
vessel is empty it is held up by a counterbalance weight, but when, the vessel
is full, or sufficiently nearly so, the weight is overbalanced and the vessel
descends. Above the cistern is a small case or box from the bottom of which
a water supply pipe passes into the cistern; the top of the case or box is also
connected by a pipe with the top of the cistern, and within the cistern each
of these pipes is fitted with a valve. A steam pipe from the boiler is con-
nected to the upper part of the cistern, and the end of this pipe within the
cistern is also fitted with a valve. These three valves are all worked by the
rocking vessel above mentioned, in such manner that when the rocking
vessel is in its highest position the valves on the water supply pipe and on the
pipe which connects the top of the case or box with the top of the cistern are
open, whilst the valve on the steam pipe is closed; but when the rocking
vessel descends the valve on the steam pipe is opened whilst the other valves

page_text: are closed. There is also a valve at the bottom of the cistern on a pipe
leading to the boiler and dipping beneath the water in it; this valve is counter-
balanced, so that it requires to open it the weight of column of water
somewhat longer than the distance between the water line in the cistern when
full and the high-water line in the boiler.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-The cistern and the rocking -
vessel I will suppose to have been filled with water until the rocking vessel
falls, in doing so it closes the two valves on the pipes leading to the case
or box, and it opens the steam valve, so that the pressures of steam in the
cistern and in the boiler are rendered equal: In this state things remain
until the level of the water in the boiler sinks sufficiently to leave such a
column of water acting on the valve as is necessary to open it (for the appa-
rátus does not force water into the boiler, but only holds it available for use as
required); then the column having become sufficient this valve opens and the
water flows to the boiler out of the cistern, and also out of the rocking vessel,
until the rocking vessel is emptied to such an extent that its counterbalance
weight again raises it. This movement closes the water valve at the botto
of the cistern and the steam valve, and it opens the two valves leading to t
the case or box; by the one the water descends from the case or box into the
cistern, and by the other steam passes into the case or box to take the place
of the water. The entry of the water into the cistern and of the steam
into the case or box which just before contained cold water causes a rapid
condensation, and the vacuum resulting draws water up into the case or box-
through a pipe leading from the water reservoir, and the water flows from the
case or box to the cistern and rocking vessel until the rocking vessel again
falls, when the position is the same as at the commencement of the operation;
except that it will require some little time for the continued condensation in
the case or box to cause it to fill. I cause the rocking vessel to actuate a
counter, which indicates the number of its strokes, and consequently the
measure of water which has been passed through the boiler.
When the apparatus is required simply for use as a water meter it consists
of the cistern and rocking vessel as before, and the rocking vessel in falling is
caused to open a cock which supplies water from the main to the cistern, and
to shut a valve which allows the water to pass from the cistern to the supply.
The rocking vessel in rising reverses the position of the cock and valve. It
will. be seen that in these arrangements only a small portion of the water
supplied and measured passes through the rocking vessel.
And in order that my Invention may be fully understood and readily carried
into effect I will proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto annexed.

page_text: Figure 1 shows a side elevation of an apparatus such as is above described
for supplying water to a steam boiler; Figure 2 is a plan view; and Figure 3
a plan view with the cover of the cistern removed; and Figures 4 and 5 are
sectional elevations of the same.
In these Figures A is the closed cistern; B, the rocking vessel turning on
a trunnion joint at B¹; B2 is a small jointed pipe connecting the top of the
rocking vessel with the top of the closed cistern. In place of the pipe B² being
a jointed pipe it might be a coiled pipe, which would yield to the movements
of the rocking vessel, or the pipe might be led down through the interior of the
rocking vessel to the trunnion, and from thence to the top of the cistern; in
this latter case the pipe might be fitted with a steam valve in a line with the
trunnion, and the steam valve inside the closed cistern might then be dis-
pensed with. C is the counterbalance weight for lifting the rocking vessel B
when empty; this weight in the arrangement shown in the Drawing is carried
by one arm of a lever C, the other arm of which carries a roller C which
rests against a cam surface B, carried by an arm projecting up from the pipe
or arm which connects the vessel B with its trunnion joint; this surface B³ is
formed with two depressions, into one or other of which the roller C² enters so
that the rocking vessel tends to remain either in its highest or lowest position.
D is the case or box above the cistern D¹, and D2 are pipes leading respec-
tively from the top and from the bottom of the case or box into the top of
the closed cistern A, and the ends of these pipes inside the cistern are both
fitted with valves, as shown at Figures 3, 4, and 5; E is the steam pipe
leading from the boiler into the top. of the closed cistern, and E¹ the valve for
closing its end. The valves at the ends of the pipes D1, D2, and E, are
worked by the movements of the rocking. vessel in the following manner :-
Projecting out from the arm or pipe which connects the rocking vessel B
with its trunnion joint is a pin which enters a slot in a link F¹; which at its
upper end is connected to a lever F.; above this lever are two curved arms
G1, G2, carried by an axis G, which passes through a stuffing box into the
interior of the closed cistern A. In the interior of the cistern the axis is
furnished with two arms G3, G4, the arm G³ being connected with the valves
on the ends of the pipes D1, D2, and the arm G' with the valve on the steam
pipe E, as shown at Figures 3 and 5. When the rocking vessel B is in its
lowest position then the right-hand arm of the lever F, shewn at Figure 1, strikes
against the arm G', and turns the axis G in the direction to close the valves at
the ends of the pipes D', D, and open the valve E', but when the rocking vessel

page_text: rises then the left-hand arm of the lever strikes against the curved arm G³ and,
turns the axis G in the direction to close the valve E' and open the valves.
at the ends of the pipes D', D; the movement of the lever F is limited by
stops, as shown at Figure 1. His a pipe leading from the bottom of the.
cistern A to the boiler; in this pipe is a valve box H' in which is a valve H³,
which is held up to its seat by a lever and counterbalance weight I. The
axis of this lever is carried by a standard or bracket from the bottom or sides
of the cistern; H³ is a valve fitting on a seat above the valve H; this valve H³,
is for the purpose of breaking the rush of water as it passes into the cistern,
so that the balanced valve H may recover itself when the rocking vessel
ascends to take in a supply of water; this valve is by a link connected to the
arm G on the lever G, and is closed when the rocking vessel is in its raised
position, but is opened when the rocking vessel descends. Supposing now
that the cistern and rocking vessel have been filled with water until the
rocking vessel falls, the axis G will then be turned so as to close the valves at
the ends of the pipes D', D, and open the valve E' to allow steam to pass from
the boiler into the closed cistern, the turning of the axis G will also raise the
valve H³, so that the water is free to pass from the cistern to the boiler as
soon as the level of the water in the boiler is low enough to allow of the
bead of water opening the balanced valve H; when the rocking vessel again
rises the axis G will be turned in the opposite direction, so closing the
valves Hs and E', and opening the valves at the ends of the pipes D', D³,
leading to the case or box D; then as the steam with which the vessel A was
previously filled is condensed water from the water reservoir rushes up the
pipe D (which is furnished with a valve not shewn in the Drawing) into the
case D, and from thence flows into the vessel A; the top of the case or box D
is fitted with an outlet valve held down by a spring as shown, this valve is for
the purpose of allowing air to escape from the case or box as the valve is
allowed to lift slightly whenever the pressure of steam is upon it; a similar
valve might be placed at the top of the closed cisteru. If the case or box D
be in connection with a head of water then the action of the apparatus will be
the same, except that the condensation will be somewhat quicker. As before
stated the rocking vessel may be caused to actuate a counter to indicate the
number of strokes and consequently the measure of water which has been
passed into the boiler. Also when the apparatus is required for use as a
water meter the case or box is dispensed with and the rocking vessel in
rising is arranged to open a cock or valve which supplies water from the
main to the cistern, and shuts a valve to prevent the water passing from the
cistern to the supply, the rocking vessel in falling reverses the position of the

page_text: cocks or valves. The relative capacity of the cistern to the rocking vessel may
also when the apparatus is used as a water meter be with advantage largely
increased from that shown in the Drawing. It is also obvious that the
apparatus might be used for lifting and measuring water into a tank or
otherwise, the operation being the same as in feeding a boiler. Steam is first
let into the cistern and rocking vessel, and the rocking vessel is raised to its
highest position, this cuts off the steam, condensation ensues, and water is thus
drawn into the two vessels; the rocking vessel then descends, shutting the
supply valve and opening the steam valve; the steam then forces the water
out of the two vessels, and when the rocking vessel becomes empty it ascends,
when the operation is repeated as before.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Varley, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-first day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.
JOHN VARLEY. (L.S.)