AN IMPROVED COMBINED FEED WATER REGULATOR AND WATER GAUGE FOR STEAM BOILERS
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Oliver Rice Chase, of No. 25, Montague Street,
Russell Square, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, for the
Invention of "AN IMPROVED COMBINED FEED WATER REGULATOR AND
WATER GAUGE FOR STEAM BOILERS."A communication from abroad by
T
ANSAn 13
Sealed the 20th December 1867, and dated the 22nd June 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Oliver Rice Chase at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
22nd June 1867.
I, OLIVER RICE CHASE, of No. 25, Montague Street, Russell Square, in
the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "AN IMPROVED COMBINED FEED WATER REGULATOR AND WATER,
GAUGE FOR STEAM BOILERS," (a communication,) to be as follows:-
The said Invention relates to an apparatus for preventing injurious.
variations in the level of the water in steam boilers, and consists chiefly in.
the employment of certain devices which are operated by a float to open
and close the stop valve of the feed pump or otherwise control the supply
of water to the boiler. Two sliding blocks are connected to levers which
operate the stop valve or other regulator, and the float in rising or falling
elevates or depresses a cam and guide, whereby a vibrating link whose
motion is derived from some convenient working part of the engine is caused
to take hold of one or other of the said blocks, and thereby operate the

page_text: corresponding regulating fever to admit or cut off the supply of water to
the boiler.
The said Invention also consists in the combination of a scale and pointer
with the regulating mechanism, which pointer follows the movements of the
float, and is caused by the devices which operate the vibrating link to
oscillate over the face of the scale and indicate thereon the height and
variation of the level of the water. The working parts of the apparatus are
enclosed in a box or case of cast iron or other suitable metal which has a
circular compartment in front provided with a glass cover. The float is
by preference arranged to rise and fall inside a small cylinder formed on
or attached to the said case, this cylinder is connected to the boiler
with two pipes or tubes arranged to keep the level of the water at the
same height both in the boiler and cylinder. The float, which may be
formed of brass, is provided with guides to ensure its rising and falling freely
within the cylinder, and is connected by a metal rod to one end of an arm or
lever inside the case of the apparatus; this lever is fixed upon a spindle
which extends through a packing box in the front of the case, and carries a
pointer or finger which oscillates over a figured scale, and thereby indicates
the height of the water and its variation from the proper level in the boiler.
Two curved apertures are formed in a circular plate at the back of the front
compartment of the metal case, and in each of the said apertures a sliding
block is fitted. A stud or pin projects behind the said plate from cach of
these blocks, and is connected to a chain or belt which passes over a small
pulley turning on a stud fixed at one end of the curved apertures. Each of
the said studs is attached to the chain on opposite sides of the pulley, and
will therefore when moved forward pull the chain in different directions.
Each end of the said chain or belt is connected to a lever on the stop valve of
the feed pump or other regulator, and these levers are so arranged that
pulling one end of the chain will close the said stop valve and pulling the
other end will open it. When the feed pump is driven by a belt the said
chain may be connected to levers on the belt shipper and operated to change
the belt to either the fast or loose pulley. A projection or shoulder is formed
on each of the sliding blocks and extends inside the front compartment of the
case, a space is left between the two curved apertures in which these blocks
slide, and in this space a link moves to and fro within a curved guideway;
one end of this link is formed with two hooks which fit the projections on
either of the sliding blocks, and the said link is so arranged that when
adjusted to take hold of one block it will pass freely without coming in
contact with the other. When either of these blocks is carried forward by

page_text: the link it will pull the chain in the corresponding direction, and operate
the lever of the regulator to which that, end of the chain is attached. The
hook-formed link is carried on the upper end of a curved lever which is
fitted to vibrate upon a stud or pin secured in the lower portion of the front
compartment of the base, and the said lever is formed with a short arm
extending from its boss. A toothed wheel is arranged behind the vibrating
lever, and this wheel is provided with a stud or finger, which striking
alternately upon the long and short arms of the said lever causes it to vibrate
on its fulcrum and impart the required movements to the link at its upper
end. The toothed wheel gears into a. pinion carried on the end of a spindle
whose other end carries another pinion or a pulley which receives motion
from some convenient working part of the engine. The pointer is connected
with a cam extending from its boss or centre, and this cam is formed and
arranged to change the position of a curved bar which guides the vibrating
hook-formed link; this cam is provided with an arm which extends into
the path of the stud on the toothed wheel, and is thereby clevated and
depressed at each revolution of the said stud, the extent of its depression
being controlled by the float. The pointer to which the said cam is attached
is adjusted to correspond with any desired height of the water by means of a
slotted plate and set screw. When the water in the boiler sinks below the
proper level the float acting on the end of the lever raises the cam and guide
so that the link will pass below the latter, and when the vibrating lever
carries the link forward the said link will operate the block connected to the
lever for opening the stop valve and keep the latter open till the water in the
boiler rises to the proper level. When sufficient water has been admitted
the float rising with the water and acting on the end of the lever to which
its rod is attached then depresses the cam and guide and allows the link to
pass above the latter and operate the block connected to the lever for closing
the stop valve. When once closed the said valve will remain so till the
water again sinks below the proper level.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Oliver Rice Chase in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
20th December 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, OLIVER
RICE CHASE, of No. 25, Montague Street, Russell Square. in the County of
Middlesex, Civil Engineer, send greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-second day of June, 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 Oliver Rice Chase, Her special licence that I, the said Oliver
Rice Chase, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Oliver Rice Chase, my 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 of
"AN
IMPROVED COMBINED FEED WATER REGULATOR AND WATER GAUGE FOR STEAM
BOILERS." upon the condition (amongst others) that T, the said Oliver Rice
Chase, 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 Oliver Rice Chase, do hereby déclare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings forming
a part of this Specification:-
The said Invention relates to an apparatus for preventing injurious variations
in the level of the water in steam boilers, and consists chiefly in the employ-
ment of certain devices which are operated by a float to open and close the
stop valve of the feed pump or otherwise control the supply of water to the
boiler. Two sliding blocks are connected to levers which operate the stop
valve or other regulator, and the float in rising or falling elevates or depresses
a cam and guide, whereby a vibrating link, whose motion is derived from
some convenient working part of the engine is caused to take hold of one or
other of the said blocks, and thereby operate the corresponding regulating
lever to admit or cut off the supply of water to the boiler.
The said Invention also consists in the combination of a scale and pointer
with the regulating mechanism, which pointer follows the movements of the
float, and is caused by the devices which operate the vibating link to oscillate
over the face of the scale and indicate thereon the height and variation of the
level of the water,

page_text: Figure is a plan of the top of my
ven apparatu>';
front view of the same with the cover removed; Figure 3 is a back view of
the said apparatus; Figures 4 and 5 are a front and side elevation showing
the said apparatus drawn to a reduced scale, and arranged in connection with
a steam boiler. Like letters indicate the same parts in each of the Figures.
The box or case a is constructed of cast iron or other suitable metal, and
may be made of any convenient size and form. The circular chamber a' in
front is preferably provided with a glass cover, through which the index b and
dial c can be at all times distinctly seen. The float d is by preference
arranged to rise and fall inside a smaller cylinder e formed upon or attached to
the case a; this cylinder is connected to the boiler by two pipes or tubes g, g',
which, as shewn in Figures 4 and 5, are so arranged as to keep the level of
the water at the same height in the boiler and cylinder. The float or piston d
may be of brass or other suitable metal, and is preferably constructed in the
form of a cup. and is arranged with the open end downward, as shewn in
Figures 4 and 5. guides being provided to ensure its rising and falling freely
in the cylinder. I prefer to use for such guides the rods or wires which are
secured at each end of the cylinder e and are fitted to the tubular apertures d¹
in the float or piston d which slides upon the said rods or wires; the said float
or piston is connected by a metal rod to one end of an arm or lever i
inside the case a of the apparatus: this lever is fixed upon a spindle which
extends through the packing box in the front portion of the said case and
carries the pointer or index b which oscillates over the figured scale or dial c,
and thereby indicates the height of the water and its variation from the correct
height or level in the boiler. Two curved apertures 1, 1', are formed in the
circular plate at the back of the front compartment a¹ of the case or box a,
and in each of the said apertures a sliding block m, m', is fitted. Studs or
pins n, n', project behind the said plate from each of these blocks m, m³, and
are connected to a chain or belt o which passes over a small pulley p.turning
on a stud p¹ fixed at one end of the curved apertures 1, 1. Other pulleys p
are also provided which guide and support, each part of the said chain clear of
the other part.
Each of the said studs n, n', is attached to the chain o on
opposite sides of the pulley p, and each one will therefore when moved
forward pull the chain with it; each end of the said chain or belt is connected
to a separate lever or to the opposite ends of a two-armed lever on the stop
valye of the feed pipe or other device for admitting and regulating the supply
of water to the boiler; these levers are so arranged that by pulling one end

page_text: or part o of the chain o the said stop valve is closed, while by pulling the
other end o of the chain the said valve is opened. When the feed pump
is driven by belt or band passing over pulleys on the pump and engine the
chain o may be attached to levers or rods connected with the belt slipper, by
which the belt is changed to either the fast or loose driving pulley. A pro-
jection or shoulder m² is formed on each of the sliding blocks m, m¹, and
extends inside the front compartment a¹ of the case a. A space is left
between the two curved apertures 1. 1', in which these blocks slide, and in this
space a link r moves to and fro between the plate a and the sector s; one
end of this link is formed with two hooks r', r, which fit the projection m³ on
either of the sliding blocks m, m', and the said link is so arranged that when
adjusted to take hold of one block it will move freely with the same without
coming in contact with the other. When either of these blocks m, m¹ is
carried forward in the direction of the arrows. Figures 2 and 3, by the link
the said block will pull the end of the chain o, to which it is attached, in the
same direction, and operate the corresponding lever or arm of the lever on
the stop valve or other regulator. In the arrangement of parts herein illus-
trated the forward movement of the block m¹ opens the said regulator, and a
similar movement of the block m closes the same. The hook-formed link r is
carried on the upper end of the curved lever a which is fitted to vibrate upon
a stud or pin secured in the lower portion of the front compartment a' of
the case or box a, and the said lever is formed with a short arm u¹ extending
from its boss or eye. The upper end of the arm is provided with a guide
block which slides in the sector s, and serves to steady the said arm and
prevent its moving too far downward. A toothed wheel w is arranged behind
the vibrating lever u, and this wheel is provided with a stud or finger w',
which striking alternately upon the arms a', u², of the said lever causes it to
vibrate on its fulcrum and impart the required movements to the link rat
its upper end. The toothed wheel gears into a pinion a fixed on the end
of the spindley, whose other end carries the wheel which is geared into
the pinion. The latter is connected with the pulley z which is driven by the
belt z¹, or receives motion in any other suitable manner from some convenient
working part of the engine; or if a sufficiently slow motion can be obtained
without intermediate gearing the pulley z may be fixed directly upon the
shaft in the place of the wheel xl. The pointer b is connected with a cam b¹
extending from its boss or centre b³, and this cam is formed and arranged to
change the position of a curved bar A which guides the vibrating hook-formed
link r.
The cam b' is provided with an arm which extends into the path
of the stude¹ on the foothed wheel w, and is thereby elevated and depressed

page_text: at each revolution of the said stud: the extent of this elevation and depression
being controlled by the float d which is stopped as it strikes the water at each
oscillation of the pointer b; the said pointer can be set to stand at the central
point of the dial with any desired height of water in the boiler, and
in order that the variations of the water in the boiler above or below,
whatever height is fixed upon as the proper level, may be properly indi-
cated by the apparatus, the slotted plate b is provided, whereby the cam
is adjusted to any desired position with regard to the pointer b, the said
cam being secured when so adjusted by means of the set screw b' or other
suitable device. Motion being communicated to the wheel e by means of the
pulley and intermediate wheels the lever u oscillates on its centre and moves
the link to and fro between the curved guides m, m'. When the water in
the boiler sinks below the proper level the float d acts through the lever i,
spindle and cam b', and raises the end of the guide A. The link in its
return stroke towards the cam b' moves far enough to bring the stud or pro-
jection a short distance away from the end of the guide A. the said stud
then resting on the sector s. The link then commences another forward
stroke in the direction of the arrows, Figure 2. As the point of the guide A
is now slightly raised the projection passes under the said guide between
the same and the top of the sector s, the hook of the link r taking hold of
the block m and moving the same forward, with the said link; this block m'
operates the lever for opening the stop valve, and when the said block is
carried forward into its farthest position it will remain there and the said valve
will be kept open till the water in the boiler rises to the proper level. When
sufficient water has been admitted to the boiler the float d striking the surface
of the water in its oscillations acts on the cam b and depresses the guide A.
The stud of the link r as the said link moves forward will then pass above
said guide and operate the block m which actuates the lever for closing the
stop valve; when once closed the said valve will remain so till the water-
again sinks below the proper level, when the other block will be again moved
forward. A very slight elevation or depression of the float d will vary the.
position of the cam b', sufficiently to determine the direction of the link ras
it moves forward, and as the said link acts immediately to open or close the
stop valve or other regulating device any excessive or injurious variation of
the water level in the boiler is rendered impossible.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondent, and shown how the same may be conveniently and
advantageously carried into practice, I claim,-

page_text: First, the float or piston
arranged to operate the cam b¹ and guide A
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Second, a float or piston operated to rise and fall and adjust the regulating
and indicating devices by striking the surface of the water.
Third, the combination of the float d, cam b', and guide A, with the pointer b
and scale c, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Fourth, the vibrating or oscillating lever u, hooked link r, sliding blocks
m. m, curved apertures 1, 1, guide A, wheel u, and stud ¹, operating in
combination with a stop valve or other equivalent device and with any
convenient working part of the engine substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
Fifth, the lever ", link r, blocks m, m³, guide A, cam b', with slotted plate
b, float d connected to spindle i, pointer b, and scale c, combined and operating
together substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Oliver Rice Chase, have hereunto set
my hand and scal, this Nineteenth day of December, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
Witness,
ROWLAND GREEN,
OLIVER RICE CHASE... (L.S.)