IMPROVEMENTS IN GUAGES OR WATER LEVEL- INDICATORS FOR STEAM BOILERS
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 17th May, 1887.
Specification Accepted, 15th July, 1887.
Boilers.
I, JASPER WETTER, of the firm of Fairfax and Wetter, Patent Agents and
Consulting Engineers, of 433, Strand in the city of Westminster, do hereby declare
the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN GUAGES OR WATER LEVEL-
INDICATORS 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 :-
This invention relates to indicators or gauges for steam boilers, and more
particularly to that class in which valves are normally held in an open position and
adapted to be closed should the glass sight-tube be broken.
The object of the invention is to provide improved means for supporting the valves
from their seats and lowering them, should the glass sight-tube be broken.
A further object of the invention is to improve the construction of devices of this
character, and to make their operation simple and thoroughly effective.
The invention consists in the combination, with a glass sight-tube, and its
mountings, said mountings having valve seats, of valves to close said seats, and a rod
composed of a series of sections connected by links having each a laterally-extending
arm or arins.
The invention further consists in the features of construction, and combinations of
parts hereinafter fully described, and pointed out in the claims.
In the drawings:-
Figure 1 is a vertical section of a glass sight-tube and its mountings illustrating
the valves and the improvement applied thereto.
Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail view of the jointed rod detached, and
Fig. 3 is a detail view of one of the valves.
Corresponding parts in the several figures are denoted by the same letters of
reference.
Referring to the drawings, A A' represent the mountings for receiving the upper
and lower ends of the glass gauge-tube, B, said mountings being provided with
water-tight joints, a.

page_text: CC represent, respectively, the inlet and outlet tubes, which are each preferably
provided with a stop-cock (not shown).
D represents valve-seats which are formed in the mountings A A¹ and which are
adapted to be closed, when the sight-tube is broken by valves, E E¹, which valves
are normally held from contact with the seats, thus allowing a free circulation through
the sight-tube.
In the inner ends of the valve E E' are formed openings or seats, g, which are
adapted to receive the ends of a rod, F, for supporting the valves from contact with
the valve seats. This rod or support consists of a series of sections, e, of any desired
or suitable number, and connected by links, G, having bifurcated ends in which the
sections are pivoted.
H represents arms which project laterally from each side of the link and are
adapted to hear against the interior face of the sight-tube. These arms may be
formed integral with the links, or they may consist each of a single piece of metal
extending through openings in the links, as in the present instance.
It will be observed that should the glass sight-tube become broken, the jointed rod
will in its efforts to collapse, lower the upper valve to its seat and raise the lower
valve up against its seat.
The lower valve E¹ has a downward extension adapted to rest on the seat I and
provided with lateral recesses H'. The seat I communicates with a passage h, leading
to the exterior of the device and serving as a blow-out for the sight-tube. The
passage has a stop-cock in the opening crossing it. (The drawing shows the opening
without the stop-cock). When the stop-cock is open, the recesses H¹ of the valve-
stem or supplemental valve will allow the contents of the tube to escape. If the sight
tube breaks, the supplemental valve will be raised from its seat I, and the valve E¹
simultaneously raised up against its seat D so as to close the tube.
The device above described is simple in its construction, effective in its operation,
and at the same time cheap to manufacture and strong and durable.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention,
as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent and in what manner the same is
to be performed, I declare, that what I claim is :-
1. The combination, with a glass tube and its mountings, said mountings having
valve-seats, of valves to close said seats, and a rod for supporting said valves from
their seats, said rod consisting of a series of sections connected by links each having
a laterally-extending arm or arms, substantially as described.
2. The combination, with a glass tube and its mountings, said mountings having
valve-seats, of valves to close said seats, a jointed rod connected to said valve, said rod
comprising a series of sections connected by links having bifurcated ends in which
said sections are pivoted, and arms passing through openings in said links, substantially
as set forth.
3. The combination with a glass sight piece and its mountings having valve-seats,
of valves and a rod connecting the valves for normally holding them in an open
position, one of said valves being provided with a supplemental valve normally
engaging a seat in one of the mountings, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 17th day of May 1887.
FAIRFAX & WETTER,
Agents for the Applicant.