IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS CONNECTED WITH STEAM BOILERS
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Hopkinson the younger, of Huddersfield, in
the County of York, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS CONNECTED WITH STEAM BOILERS."
Sealed the 15th July 1856, and dated the 23rd January 1856.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Hopkinson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 23rd
January 1856.
I, the said JOSEPH HOPKINSON the younger, of Huddersfield, in the County
of York, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "Im-
PROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS CONNECTED WITH STEAM BOILERS" to be as follows:-
My first improvement relates to steam gauges of boilers, and consists, firstly,
in a method of adapting tubes of glass containing mercury. To accomplish
this, I place the tube between two flanges of a framework, and force the lower
end upward by a screw or other such apparatus, so that the upper end is
caused to press against a washer of india-rubber or other elastic material,
whereby it becomes securely closed.
Also, in a method of communicating steam pressure to the surface of the
mercury, and consists in the use of a steam pipe extending into a chamber
filled with water, which is thereby caused to pass through an opening, and
effect the required object. To the bottom of the water chamber I adapt a
cock, through which steam may at any time be blown in order to effect a
clearance.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Joseph Hopkinson in' the Great Seal Patent Office on the
23rd July 1856.
"
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOSEPH
HOPKINSON the younger; of Huddersfield, in the County of York, Engineer,
send greeting....-
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-third day of January, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the nineteenth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Joseph Hopkinson the younger, Her especial license that I, the said
Joseph Hopkinson the younger, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said Joseph Hopkinson the younger,, my executors, admi-
nistrators, 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 the Isle of
Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS CONNECTED WITH STEAM
BOILERS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Joseph Hop-
kinson, the younger, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal,
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.
"
143
NOW KNOW YE,, that I, the, said Joseph Hopkinson the younger, do
hereby declare 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 and accompanying Drawing, that is to say:
My improvements relate to steam gauges of boilers, and consist, firstly, in
a method of adapting tubes of glass containing mercury...To accomplish this
I place the tube between two flanges of a frame work, and force, the, lower
.end upwards by a screw or other such apparatus, so that, the: upper end is
caused to press against, a washer of,india-rubber, or, other elastic material
whereby it becomes securely closed..
Secondly, in a method of communicating steam pressure to the surface o
the mercury, and consists in the use of a steam pipe, extending into a chambe
filled with water or other fluid, which is thereby caused to pass through an
opening, and effect the required object. To the bottom of the water chambe

page_text: I adapt a cock, through which steam may at any time-be-blown--in-order-to
effect a clearance:
T...
The accompanying illustrative Drawing exhibits the arrangement of appa-
ratus I employ; Fig. 1 being a longitudinal section; Fig 2 transverse
sectional plan view, and Fig. 3 a front or face view shewing the graduated scale
for indicating the pressure: The tube of glass, having its lower end closed
for containing the mercury, is at a mounted or placed between the two flanges
or snugs b, cast upon the framework 'c, which forms the cistern or chamber
for the water or other fluid, the glass tube a being introduced into its proper
position through the aperture y in the flange or snug bis forced upwards at
its-löwer 'end by means of a screw'd and nute against a washer if recessed
into the flange or snug b; and made of vulcanized india-rubber or other suit-
able elastic material, whereby the tube will be securely closed. In the interior
of the glass tube a, and descending to within a suitable distance from the
lower end thereof, a vertical-tube or pipe g is placed, screwed into the flange
or part b, and to the top of which the pipe or tube gis screwed; of a sufficient
length to form along with the pipe or tube g aforesaid a column of the required
altitude or height for the passage of the mercury, according to the pressure to
be indicated, the internal diameter of the tube g, g, being regulated according
to the internal diameter and length of the glass tube a. The pipe forming a
communication with the boiler is at secured by means of a nut to the end
of the pipe or tube i, which extends into the cistern or chambers c aforesaid,
containing the water or other fluid, and the passage or opening forming a
communication between the water cistern or chamber c and the glass tube a
containing the mercury is at k. To the bottom of the water chamber or
cistern c a screw or plug m is introduced, to which a cock or tap (not shewn
in the Drawing) of any ordinary construction may be fixed, so that any sedi-
ment or deposit formed in the chamber or cistern c will be blown out by the
steam when the said plug m is removed, or the cock or tap opened. The action
of the gauge, arranged as above described, is as follows:-The steam from the
boiler entering the pipe h, exerts its pressure upon the water or other fluid
contained in the cistern c, causing the same to rise and flow through the
passage on to the mercury contained in the glass tube a, whereby the mer-
cury will be forced to descend in the same, and rise up the pipe or tube g, g",
the level of the mercury in the glass tube a, above mentioned, indicating the
When it is desirable that the steam
pressure upon the graduated scale o.
should not act as above described, the communication with the boiler is closed,
and the plug or screw p is removed, so as to reduce the pressure in the cistern
or chamber c, when the mercury will descend and indicate the quantity in the

page_text: glass tube a: The gauge or apparatus may be fixed in any suitable position.
And I would remark, that other modifications of my improvements may be pro
duced without departing from the principle set forth. ...
Having described and ascertained the nature of, my Invention, and the
manner in which the same is to be performed, I desire it to be understood that
I claim; as secured to me under the above in part recited Latters Patent,
Firstly, adapting tubes of glass containing mercury between two flanges of
a framework, and forcing the lower end upwards, so that the upper end is
caused to press against a washer of india-rubber or other elastic material.
3. Secondly, communicating the steam pressure to the surface of the mercury
by means of a steam pipe, extending into a chamber filled with water or other
fluid, whereby the same is caused to pass through an opening and effect the
required object.....
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Hopkinson the younger, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-second day of July, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six.