IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM GUAGES AND WATER INDICATORS
Year: 1857

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Thomas Young Hall at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 24th March
1857.
J, THOMAS YOUNG HALL, of the Town and County of Newcastle-upon-
Tyne, Coal Owner, do hereby declare the nature of the 'said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM GUAGES AND WATER INDICATORS," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to an improved construction and arrangement of
steam and water guage, whereby enginemen and other persons appointed to
take charge of steam boilers are enabled to ascertain at any time the quantity
of water in a boiler without having recourse to cocks, water guages, floats, or
any other of the many contrivances now in use for that purpose, and which
are all liable, more or less, to derangement.
The improved guage consists of a rectangular metal box, the front or dial
plate being composed of two plates, one behind the other, through each of
which an aperture is made. Between these plates a piece of glass, protected
on both sides, if necessary, by corresponding pieces of mica or talc, is inserted
covering the aperture, and secured in proper position by grooves cut round

page_text: the inner surface of each orifice and by a packing of vulcanized india-rubber
or similar material. The remaining part of the box is attached to the second
plate, and is of smaller proportions. The back plate contains an opening,
intersected by a central cross bar of metal, for the purpose of cutting off the
water and steam separately, when necessary, by means of two slides. When
only one slide is required no cross bar is used. These slides may be fitted
up with glass or talc, &c., in the same way as the front plates, so that should
the indicator at any time require attention, the position of the water in
the boiler can be ascertained, & the boiler need not cease work. This
guage communicates with the boiler by the openings in the back plates
above referred to, so that when the box is inserted and slides open the water
shall flow into it and assume its proper or ordinary level, exactly in the
centre of the front glass or mica indicator, the dial plate being suitably divided.
The slides serve to shut out the water and steam from the indicator, should it
he necessary at any time to replace or alter that instrument. In such case
the small quantity of water accumulated between the slides and the front plates
is drawn off by means of a cock placed between the two plates in the bottom
of the box, and is so constructed as to admit a small cleaning stick for the
purpose of reinoving any scum which might settle on the glass. A similar
cock is placed at the top of the box for the purpose of trying and letting off
the steam; and these two cocks are capable of being turned to great advantage
by attaching open iron and flexible tubes to each, and carrying them to any
part of the works surrounding the boiler, say, to the engine house or clerks'
offices. By means of a glass syphon fixed at the proper level, securely attached
and intersected at the centre, so as to allow the one part to be used without
the other, and marked with figures on the dial plate, the position of the water
and steam in the boiler can be ascertained at those places as accurately as in
front of the dial plate, thus establishing a check upon the engineman and fire-
man, and providing a double precaution against accident.
In cases where the end or any convenient part of the boiler to which the
Invention could be applied is walled in with brick work, a tube or tubes of a
suitable width and 'length may be passed through the wall and inserted into
the boiler, and attached to the aperture or openings of the back plate, the
box itself being fastened to the two pipes, and set upon the brickwork,
say, immediately above the flue, where it cannot fail to be noticed by the
fireman.
The height of the water in the boiler may be indicated in a simple and
convenient manner by adding a float to the indicator or guage on the boiler,

page_text: such float being connected to a wire passing through a glass tube fixed to
the top of the guage, either in the engine house or office, and so arranged
as to turn a pointer or indicator, shewing on a divided dial the height of
the water in the boiler.