Improvements in or connected with Water Gauges.
Year: 1897

page_text: Improvements in or connected with Water Gauges.
I, Sir CHARLES STEWART FORBES Baronet of Castle Newe, Strathdon, Aberdeen
N.B., do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows; -
My invention consists in an improved construction of water gauge suited for
marine, road-car or ordinary steam boilers, by means of which an audible or
other signal may be given when the boiler is short of water.
This I accomplish as follows:-I mount upon the lower brass fitting of an
ordinary water gauge, a conducting wire of platinum, silver, or the like.
Upon this I thread a light aluminium ball through which passes a tube of
small diameter. The wire passing through the tube ensures good electrical con-
tact with the ball which floats upon the surface of the water. A second wire is
now passed through, but insulated from the upper fittings and the respective parts
coupled up with a battery or the like and connected to the coils of a balanced
needle relay, or equivalent. When the gauge is mounted and the correct level
of the water ascertained the upper wire is lowered until it makes firm contact
with the ball or float. In this manner the electrical circuit is closed so long as
the water level is maintained; should however. the water level fall the circuit
is interrupted and the tongue of the relay or the balanced needle completes a
fresh circuit in which a bell or other means of producing an audible alarm is
included.
A variation of my invention consists in connecting the ball or other float, with
the lower part of the fitting, by means of a light metallic chain or strand.
In some cases I reverse the foregoing arrangement as follows: A float con-
nected to the lower fitting by a guide, wire, chain, strand, or the like, has a
T shaped piece mounted upon its upper side, which on the water falling engages
with one or more insulated wires, adjustably mounted in the top bracket.
will be seen that the circuit remains open with this arrangement so long as the
water level is maintained but is closed on its falling.
Dated this 30th day of January 1897
It
I, Sir CHARLES STEWART FORBES, Baronet, of Castle Newe, Strathdon, Aberdeen-
shire, N.B., Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
[Price 8d.1

page_text: what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
-
My invention consists in an improved construction of water gauge suited for
marine, road car or ordinary steam boilers, by means of which an audible or
other signal may be given when the boiler is short of water. This I accomplish
as follows:-I mount upon the lower brass fitting of an ordinary water gauge,
a conducting wire of platinum, silver, or the like. Upon this I thread a light
aluminium ball through which passes a tube of small diameter. The wire pass-
ing through the tube ensures good electrical contact with the ball which floats
upon the surface of the water. A second wire is now passed through, but in-
sulated from the upper fitting and the respective parts coupled up with a
battery or the like and connected to the coils of a balanced needle relay or equi-
valent. When the gauge is mounted and the correct level of the water ascertained
the upper wire is lowered until-it makes firm contact' with the ball or float. In
this manner the electrical circuit is closed so long as the water level is main-
tained. Should however the water level fall the circuit is interrupted and the
tongue of the relay or the balanced needle completes a fresh circuit in which
a bell or other means of producing an audible alarm is included.
A variation of my invention consists in connecting the ball or other float, with
the lower part of the fitting, by means of a light metallic chain or strand.
In some cases I reverse the foregoing arrangement as follows; A float con-
nected to the lower fitting by a guide wire, chain, strand, or the like, has a
Tshaped piece mounted upon its upper side, which on the water falling engages
with one or more insulated wires adjustably mounted in the top bracket. It will
be seen that the circuit remains open with, this arrangement so long as the
water level is maintained, but is closed on its falling.
The construction and operation of my invention will be readily understood by
reference to the drawings in which:-
Fig. 1, is a part sectional elevation of an ordinary water gauge fitted with my
improvements.
Fig. 2, is a variation of same the float being flexibly attached to the lower
fitting.
Fig. 3, is a part vertical section shewing my improvements arranged for open
circuit working.
Fig. 4, is a sectional plan on line A. B. fig. 1.
+1
In the drawings 1, 12, are part sectional views of one form of the ordinary top
and bottom gauge glass cocks in general use with or upon steam boilers. Upon
the lower fitting 1", and within the glass tube, plate, or equivalent replacing it 2,
depending upon whether the gauge glass be round or flat, I mount a conducting
wire 3, this I prefer should be made of platinum, silver, aluminium, or some
similar metal not easily corroded, and I prefer though I do not bind myself to this
particular method of mounting, that it should be screwed, stepped or otherwise
securely fastened into a light perforated metallic ring 4, which is held in firm
contact with the body of the cock 1", by the gland 5, and screwed cap or cover 6.
I also mount a terminal 7, upon this fitting as shewn. The wire 3, extends for
some distance up the tube and upon it slides a light aluminium ball, cylindrical,
or other float 8, a tube 9, also of aluminium or equally suitable light metal passing
through its centre ensures good metallic contact with the wire 3, and serves to
hold the ball, cylinder or other form of float in position. In the case of very
long glass tubes the wire 3, may be stiffened preferably by a skeleton triangular
plate or feather 3ª or projections 3ª may be formed on the float. I may also
employ a metallic stop 10, soldered or otherwise secured to the wire 3, which
arrests the descent of the float when blowing off the water from the gauge glass
in the well known manner. A second wire 3b is passed through an insulated plug
usually formed of vulcanized fibre 11, screwed or otherwise suitably inserted in
the top fitting 1. electrical connection being made with it by means of the cramp
screw 12, and binding screws 7" threaded into the metallic plug 11. After the
ii.

page_text: gauge is mounted on the boiler or other vessel replacing it and the correct height
of the water therein has been determined this wire 3b, is pressed downwards until
it is in firm metallic contact with the float S. Conducting wires 13, are fastened
to the terminals 7, 7", a battery 14, and a balanced needle 15, mounted in a coil
or coils 16, of high resistance say 1000 ohms being included in the circuit. The
operation of this first form of my invention will be readily understood as
follows-
So long as the water level is maintained at its proper height the ball or other
float is kept thereby in firm contact with the wire 3b, and the current flowing round
the coil or coils 16, deflects the needle balanced as shewn against the dead, or
electrically disconnected stop 17. A local battery 14ª, is connected to the
spindle 18, of the needle and through the coils of a bell 19, or other like means
for producing an audible alarm to the line or electrically connected contact pin
or stop 17. When the water falls the current in the main or gauge glass circuit
is interrupted and the coils 16, being no longer energized thereby, the counter-
balanced needle falls against the line contact 17ª, thereby completing the local
circuit and ringing the bell. A switch 20, may conveniently be included in either
or both circuits so as to cut out the battery when the apparatus is not in use.
will be understood that I may give an audible alarm by any of the well known
equivalent electrical relay or like apparatus in use for similar purposes other than
that described.
It
A variation of my invention consists in connecting the ball cylindrical or other
form of float 8, with the bottom gauge glass fitting by means of a strand 3, or
light metal chain. I sometimes modify the before described arrangement as
follows: A float 8, formed of light metal or other suitable material is electrically
connected to the lower fitting 1, by a guide wire, chain, or strand, or the like 3.
The upper part of float 8, is preferably of tubular shape and of such size as to
make good electrical rubbing contact with the conducting wire 3. The upper
extremity of the tube is fashioned to a T shape 8b. So long as the proper water
level is maintained the T shaped contacts 8b, are separated from the wire or other
contacts 3b, these I prefer to form as a light metallic split sleeve insulated from
the top fitting 1, by packing rings of fibre 21, or other like material unaffected
by heat. A wire soldered to the sleeve as at 22, connects it to the metallic cap 11º,
insulated by fibre 11 as shewn. Adjustment may be made by employing washers
of varying thickness. So long as the proper water level is maintained the T shaped
contacts are separated from the insulated tubular sleeve or the wires replacing it,
but on the water falling the circuit is closed, and an alarm given.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. In apparatus for signalling the height of water in steam boilers, the com-
bination with a top and bottom gauge glass fitting and the glass tube, plate, or
equivalent connecting the same, of a metallic float rising and falling therein and
thereby making or breaking an electric circuit traversing one or both said fittings
and actuating by means of a battery or equivalent source of current an audible
alarm when the circuit is broken.
2. In apparatus for audibly signalling a prearranged water level in steam
boilers, the combination with the gauge glass fittings of the wire conductor
secured by the gland and screwed cap in the bottom fitting. The metallic float
having steadying projections and sliding on said wire and within the tube. The
top contact mounted, insulated, and connected, to the circuit substantially as
described and shewn in fig. 1.
3. In signalling apparatus employed for the purpose described in claims 1, 2,
the combination use and employment of a float flexibly connected to the bottom
cock by a chain, strand, or the like flexible conductor substantially as and for
the purposes described.

page_text: 4. In apparatus employed for signalling the height of water in steam boilers,
the combination of the tubular float having T shaped contacts, the conductor
conveying current thereto and the contacts mounted in top cock and insulated
therefrom with electric apparatus arranged to sound an alarm when the circuit
is closed, the respective parts cooperating in the way and manner and for the 5
purposes described.
Dated this "0th day of October 1907
FRANCIS M. ROGERS,
21 Finsbury Pavement, London, E.C., Agent for Applicant.