IMPROVE- MENTS IN STEAM BOILERS AND FURNACES, AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED THERE WITH
Year: 1854

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Joseph Hopkinson at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 3rd July
1854.
I, JOSEPH HOPKINSON the younger, of Huddersfield, in the County of York,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN STEAM BOILERS AND FURNACES, AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED THERE WITH,"
to be as follows:-
My Invention consists, firstly, in arranging a number of boilers side by
side, and adapting a furnace or furnaces in such manner that the products of
combustion are caused to pass over their surfaces in a transverse direction,
instead of in the direction of their length. This series of boilers I connect
together by means of a pipe or pipes, so as to constitute one steam generator,
and the flame is directed between each by means of bridges.
Secondly, my Invention consists in a method of admitting air to the furnace.
In the "dead plate" I form a series of holes, and on the under side thereof
place a plate, also provided with openings; to this plate is adapted a rack and
pinion, or other suitable mechanism, for enabling the attendant to move it so as
to bring the two sets of holes more or less over each other.
Thirdly, my Invention relates to the safety valve, and consists in mounting it
upon two or more seats surrounding the orifice or orifices by which the steam

page_text: escapes from the boiler. In order to point out clearly the principle of this part
of my Invention I will describe a practical method by which it may be carried
into effect. An annular opening is formed in a steam boiler, bounded by rings
of projecting metal, and a loaded disc placed thereon; this disc is open within
the inner circle, excepting where arms are situate, for the purpose of adapting
the weighted lever or other such apparatus; the pressure of steam is therefore
exerted against an annular valve, which when lifted up thereby will afford
lateral apertures for escape in two directions, viz., at its outward and inward
diameters, the steam from the latter passing through the central part of the
valve. Another improvement in the safety valve consists in making it oblong
or of curved forms, in order to obtain a greater length of boundary for given
areas than circles afford, so that upon the rising of the valve a greater lateral
opening for the escape of steam will be the result.
Fourthly, my Invention relates to the stean gauge, and consists in causing
the mercury within a glass tube to be displaced by the pressure of the steam,
and forced upward through a second tube, placed within and extending towards
the bottom of the first mentioned. A scale is adapted, which shews the quantity
of mercury that has been displaced, and indicates thereby the pressure of the
steam; or a float may be used, communicating with a finger upon a dial plate.
As the pressure decreases, the mercury falls thro' the inner tube and again
rises in the outward glass.
Fifthly, my Invention relates to the water gauge, and consists in securing
its ends between nuts or flanges formed upon a bolt which passes through the
glass tube. By this arrangement two objects are attained; firstly, there is an
improvement in the method of holding the tube; and, secondly, the internal
bolt assists in making the water line distinct.